I'll Be Right Back
by Zayne Reeves

Johnny Carson was something we could all agree on. Like The Man In Black, Casablanca, and pizza by the slice, he effortlessly transcended boundaries to win a place in the hearts and minds of octogenarians and Morrissey fans alike.  His laconic, understated presence was perfectly suited for television and his durability as the king of late night is something we will never see again. Thirty years as the top guy in any industry is incomprehensible, let alone one as vicious and fickle as TV.  Carson's Tonight Show was a communal experience that brought us together to laugh, stargaze and chit chat show highlights with friends and coworkers the next day. In the age of digital cable, there really isn't anything comparable to that and it's our loss. I grew up during his final decade as Tonight Show host and although I wouldn't get half the jokes until I got older, I enjoyed watching him every bit as much as my parents did. I thought of him as an uncle and dreamed of being on his show one day.

He seldom gave interviews which was unfortunate because the few substantial ones that he did grant over the years showed a quicksilver mind who had a profound understanding of the entertainment industry and, beyond that, revealed a cultured and literate man who was far more interesting than most of the celebrities he had on his show. As a host, he was generous to a fault, never made the interview about Johnny and always did his best to make his guests look good, feeding them a solid punchline or two. That was class. His support of rising standup comics is legendary, and you can hear in the voices of those he endorsed just how much that encouragement meant to them, both personally and professional. As a comedian himself, he was a master class in timing and phrasing. He made good material great and bad material even better. His monologues helped define the national mood and his sketches contained some surprisingly trenchant political commentary that wouldn't be out of place on Jon Stewart's Daily Show.  Perhaps what is most remarkable though is that he stayed gone after his final Tonight Show. A beloved institution who could have done anything he pleased; he simply enjoyed his retirement and spent time with friends and family. He went out on top and allowed us all to remember him exactly that way. Thank you, Johnny.

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