Carson always declined, but after his death, Jones successfully approached Carson’s nephew, Jeff Sotzing, who controls his uncle’s archives.įrom that vast trove comes many clips from “Tonight,” including classic moments such as Ed Ames’ misdirected hatchet throw and novelty singer Tiny Tim’s 1969 marriage to Miss Vickie, which drew 45 million viewers - 85 percent of all television viewers. Narrated by Kevin Spacey, “King of Late Night” is written, directed and produced by Emmy- and Peabody-winning filmmaker Peter Jones, who for years penned an annual letter to Carson seeking his cooperation in the creation of a documentary about him. “King of Late Night” follows Carson from there all the way to his retirement from the show (and, as it turned out, his total withdrawal from the public scene) in 1992, and his death, at age 79, in 2005. No video exists of his debut, just an audio tape that finds him sounding cool and confident even as he jokes about his jitters. Hired to replace the departing Jack Paar on “The Tonight Show,” Carson made his first appearance on Oct. Then, his career flaring out, he retreated to New York in 1957 to host a daytime quiz show for also-ran ABC.ĭuring his five years on “Who Do You Trust?” he was able to establish himself as an attractive, quick-witted personality, while building bonds with his chosen sidekick, Ed McMahon, who, of course, would remain at his side for the rest of his career. He scored a prime-time network show on CBS, but it flopped. Soon he went to Los Angeles, where he hosted a sketch-comedy show on a local station.
A 1950 film clip captures him at work, blinking and breathless behind his desk - much in contrast to the cool, unflappable on-air manner he would grow into, but with the boyish looks and robust, man’s voice he kept for a lifetime.
#AMERICAN MASTERS JOHNNY CARSON TV#
And after college, he landed a job at an Omaha radio station, where, with the advent of TV soon after, he hosted a program on the infant medium. This led to showbiz as his chosen profession. As Peter Jones has mentioned in interviews, “even Johnny Carson will be forgotten if something is not done.” So, congratulations, not only on your EMMY nominations, but, also for your persistence in knowing that something needed to be done to tell the story of a king who reigned for 30 years over late night television.įor all those with fond memories of staying up late to hear Johnny’s monologue, or to watch the art of a true television host with unbelievable timing and quick wit, the theme song continues You came my way dear, and took away my heart.He grew up in small-town Nebraska, the son of a father who worked at the local power company and an emotionally withholding mother whose approval he seems to have sought, fruitlessly, his entire life.īut as a boy, he discovered the way to win approval - at least from others - was by performing magic: “You can be the center of attention without being yourself,” he explains as an adult. Johnny Carson, a television host who knew the true meaning of the word guest always wanted his guests to look good, if they looked good, then, he looked good.
#AMERICAN MASTERS JOHNNY CARSON PROFESSIONAL#
Finally, in 2010, Sotzing agreed to cooperate and the Carson Entertainment Group granted unprecedented access to Johnny’s personal and professional archives. Then, in 2003, Jones received a telephone call from Carson himself: “You write a damn fine letter, Peter, but I don’t have anything more to say.” In 2005 following Carson’s death, Jones directed his letters to Johnny’s nephew, Jeff Sotzing, who controls his uncle’s archives.
For 15 years, Peter Jones wrote an annual letter toCarson requesting his cooperation in the production of a documentary, but never received a response. The story behind the making of this documentary is just as impressive as Johnny Carson: King of Late Night. Now, the MFF congratulates writer and producer Peter Jones, OUTSTANDING WRITER for NONFICTION and Mike Catalena, OUTSTANDING EDITING for NONFICTION on their Prime Time EMMY Nominations. I, for one waited patiently to be the first to buy those tickets the minute they went on sale. It was no surprise to his fans that both events were sold out in advance. In May, the inaugural Montclair Film Festival proudly presented, not once, but, twice, the American Masters Johnny Carson : King of Late Night.
It’s really love dear, I knew it from the start how fitting are the first few lyrics of the theme song from The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson? Especially for those adult enough to tune in nightly or, those who tried to talk their parents into letting them tune in nightly.
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