THERE'S JOHNNY!
Growing up in the sixties and seventies, I can never remember a time when Johnny Carson and the Tonight Show were not a part of my life. From the straight suited host to the Nehru jacketed one later on, Carson was always at the top of his game. Make that Carson made the game all his own. To this day no one, not even his successors, have come close to touching the legacy that he left behind.
THE ULTIMATE CARSON COLLECTION brings to DVD the same collection that has been offered on video, with a few extras. This three DVD set covers the entire Carson years. The first disc features the Best of the 60's and 70's and 70's to 80's. The second disc covers the 80's and 90's as well as the special program, Johnny Goes Home.
The last disc, the next to last episode on 5/21/92 and the very last episode of the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
Each of the discs features some of the greatest moments with Carson, ranging from the times he had animals from around the world to his now famous skits like Karnac to the unlimited number of celebrity guests he had on who were not only guests, but friends as well. The thing about Johnny was that he made it look so easy. It wasn't as if he was hosting a show, it was like he was sitting around and talking, joking, kidding around, with his friends. And he was.
Celebrities felt at ease with Carson. And in watching these clips, I noticed that although they were certainly there to promote what ever new movie or show they were on, they never made that the focus, relying more on camaraderie with Carson. You felt while watching that they were your friends too, sitting around and talking with one another.
Today's hosts try to repeat this sort of patter, but more often than not it seems forced and more like a infomercial. Carson made it all seem real.
And the celebrities, while perhaps not familiar faces today, were the cream of the crop at the time. Dean Martin, Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Jimmy Stewart, George Gobel, Buddy Hackett, Madeline Kahn, Jane Fonda, Bob Newhart, Robin Williams, Bette Midler. All of these and more made an appearance on the Tonight Show. And as for laughs, some of today's hottest comedians showed up first on the Tonight Show. Names like Jerry Seinfeld, Roseanne, Gary Shandling and Drew Carey. When one of these comedians did good, Carson signaled them to come on over to the couch. He was the one who saw the potential in each of these and many more.
The next to last episode and last episodes are touching tributes to a man who entered our homes each week night and made us laugh. He does so on these episodes as well. And then when he says his final goodbye, he makes us cry.
The bonus here of "Johnny Goes Home" is a fascinating look at who the man Johnny Carson really was. Shot on film, Carson goes back to his boyhood home, visiting the current residents, as well as the town that spawned this showbiz legend. From these simple beginnings came one of the greatest talents of all time.
It's hard to believe that it's been over 10 years since that final Tonight Show. It feels like only yesterday that Carson was there on my television late at night. Ten years. I read once that this year's graduating class was one that had no idea, no recollection at all of who Johnny Carson was or the impact he had on American television. While that may be a sad fact, at least it can be rectified to an extent. For those who are willing to take a moment to rent or buy this DVD set and watch it, are bound to fall under the spell of the master magician in every sense of the word, Johnny Carson.
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