
Exclusive – Johnny Carson Returns
Long ago late at night, before Jay, Dave and the Jimmys, there was Johnny, a droll comedian out of Nebraska. A demographer’s dream, he evoked the viewer’s father, husband, son, or funny uncle.

Long ago late at night, before Jay, Dave and the Jimmys, there was Johnny, a droll comedian out of Nebraska. A demographer’s dream, he evoked the viewer’s father, husband, son, or funny uncle.

On Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show, talent coordinator Jim McCawley’s job was to root through comedy clubs for fresh standup meat. On a November in ‘78, he suggested I stick around to catch the intense young man awaiting the cue to uncork his initial six-minute chunk before his idol.