Sometimes they're the last faces you see before you turn out the lights at night. Other times, they provide the comedy relief you need after a hard day at work. Today is the day to celebrate TV Talk Show hosts.
TV Talk Show Host Day is held on October 23, which is Johnny Carson's birthday. Carson, who hosted "The Tonight Show" from 1962 to 1992, was dubbed "The King of Late Night." No one could touch Carson in his day. His finale episode attracted 50 million viewers, one of the most watched episodes in television history. His last episode before a live studio audience featured Robin Williams and Bette Midler, who sang the classic "One for my Baby," to say goodbye to Johnny.
While generations of people grew up with Carson, there are still a few things you might not know about him.
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His Iowa hometown is just an hour from John Wayne's
Johnny Carson was born in Corning, Iowa about an hour southwest of Wayne's hometown of Winterset, Iowa. Both small towns restored the childhood homes of the mega stars, turning them into museums and tourist destinations.
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Midwestern appeal
After moving from small towns in Iowa including Corning, Avoca , Clarinda and Red Oak, Carson's parents Ruth and Homer moved the family to Norfolk, Neb. Some say Carson's longevity in the world of talk shows can be credited to his "nice guy" persona, letting his guests have the spotlight while he quietly listened.
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Intensely private
While his Midwestern persona helped him on the air, some say he was much different off the air. An introvert and shy, he abhorred parties and rarely spoke to guests once the cameras stopped rolling.
Betty Rollin once wrote that off camera he was "testy, defensive, preoccupied, withdrawn and wonderfully inept and uncomfortable with people."
WWII Vet
Carson joined the U.S. Navy in 1943 and served on the USS Pennsylvania in the Pacific.
Frat guy
Carson was a member of Phi Gamma Delta at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln.
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Life before 'Tonight'
Carson paid his dues before being named Jack Paar's successor on "The Tonight Show," working in radio and television from Omaha to Hollywood hosting variety shows.
In a Twist
In
1966,
Johnny helped popularize the new board game Twister,
when he played a round of the game with Eva Gabor on the show. Sales of "Twister" soon skyrocketed.
The one that got away
When asked who Johnny most wanted as a guest on "The Tonight Show," Carson always replied "Cary Grant." But Cary Grant never appeared on the show.
His last TV appearance was with the guy who didn't get his job
After Carson left "The Tonight Show" in 1992, he stayed out of the public eye. He made his last TV appearance on "The David Letterman Show," on CBS in 1994. Letterman had recently left his late night show on NBC after he was not named Carson's Tonight show successor. Carson had apparently not been consulted about plans to name Jay Leno as the new Tonight Show host. While Carson never spoke publicly about Leno or Letterman, he considered Letterman a friend, and his appearance on the rival network show
'spoke volumes.'
Johnny Carson died in the early morning hours of January 23, 2005 from respiratory failure from emphysema. A long-time smoker, he used to say of the cigarettes he'd smoke on the air, "these things are killing me." He was 79 years old.
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Other holidays this week:
Monday, Oct. 21 - Pumpkin Cheesecake Day
Tuesday, Oct. 22 - Nut Day
Wednesday, Oct. 23 - Boston Cream Pie Day
Thursday, Oct. 24 - Bologna Day
Friday, Oct. 25 - Breadstick Day
Saturday, Oct. 26 - Tennessee Day
Sunday, Oct. 27 - American Beer Day
