The Cinematic History of Late Night Television: From Radio Roots to the Golden Age
What if the most influential seat in American culture wasn’t located in a legislative chamber, but behind a mahogany desk in Midtown Manhattan?…
The Night Lucille Ball Took Over Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show – and the Empire Behind It
When Lucille Ball took over Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show, she’d just lost her movie and her series in 15 days – and already owned more of TV than he did.
Joanna Cassidy and Johnny Carson: The Woman He Couldn’t Read
Joanna Cassidy sat with Johnny Carson four times and never once played it safe. The story of the treehouse, the failed shows, and the raincoat she kept.
Why Bette Midler Was Johnny Carson’s Last Guest
In 1970 Bette Midler sang in a bathhouse. Johnny Carson put her on national TV — and 22 years later made her his last guest. Here’s the story behind it.
Why Johnny Carson Never Forgave Joan Rivers
In 1985, a confidential memo circulated among NBC’s top executives. On it were roughly ten names. These were the people the network considered capable of taking over The Tonight Show whenever Johnny Carson finally retired. Joan Rivers read the list. She’d been Johnny’s permanent guest host for two years by then. And it had been … Read more