Where'sssss Johnnnnnnny?

Be advised that if you think Jay Leno is the only host the Tonight Show ever had, you should skip this little piece and move on. No, even better, read on and see what you missed.

I turned to the Tonight Show and Jay Leno started his monologue with month old news -- it was a repeat -- he had the night off. I switched over to the CBS Late Show with David Letterman -- same story -- dated monologue lines -- it was a repeat, he had the night off.

That got me to thinking about the indisputable King of late night TV, Johnny Carson. A man so comfortable with himself that whenever he took a night off (and there were many) or went on vacation... he brought on substitute host comedians to replace him. And on those nights when he was present - he brought on a host of young comedians and gave them the floor and an intro to the American TV audience, letting them do their full 'stand-up' bit. They knew they had nailed it when they made Johnny laugh and he invited them over to the couch after their bit.

Picture our American comedic world without Joan Rivers, Bill Cosby, David Brenner, Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, George Carlin, Garry Shandling, David Letterman, Jackie Mason. Without Carson, we'd probably never have heard of them -- well some of them anyway. What a shame that today's hosts, Leno and Letterman, for whatever reasons, never have guest hosts and never offer a stand up segment to guest comedians. Are we missing out on a whole generation of future comics? That would be a shame.....
Steve Allen started the genre, Jack Paar nuanced it, and Johnny Carson perfected the art and structure for late night TV for thirty years from 1962 'til he retired in 1992. Thanks Johnny!
Oh and by the way, don't you kind of reckon that Leno and Letterman might just freshen up their acts by bringing on some new, young talent and letting a little of their youthful exuberance and topics rub off.