King of late night JOHNNY CARSON DEAD!

LOS ANGELES - Johnny Carson (news), the "Tonight Show" TV host who served America a smooth nightcap of celebrity banter, droll comedy and heartland charm for 30 years, has died. He was 79. Carson "passed away peacefully" early Sunday morning and was surrounded by his family, his nephew, Jeff Sotzing, told The Associated Press.


AP Photo


AFP
Slideshow: Johnny Carson Dies at 79




Sotzing would not give further details, including the time of death or the location.


The boyish-looking Nebraska native with the disarming grin, who survived every attempt to topple him from his late-night talk show throne, was a star who managed never to distance himself from his audience.


His wealth, the adoration of his guests — particularly the many young comics whose careers he launched — the wry tales of multiple divorces: Carson's air of modesty made it all serve to enhance his bedtime intimacy with viewers.


"Heeeeere's Johnny!" was the booming announcement from sidekick Ed McMahon that ushered Carson out to the stage. Then the formula: the topical monologue, the guests, the broadly played skits such as "Carnac the Magnificent."


But America never tired of him; Carson went out on top when he retired in May 1992. In his final show, he told his audience: "And so it has come to this. I am one of the lucky people in the world. I found something that I always wanted to do and I have enjoyed every single minute of it."


His personal life could not match the perfection of his career. Carson was married four times, divorced three. In 1991, one of his three sons, 39-year-old Ricky, was killed in a car accident.


Nearly all of Carson's professional life was spent in television, from his postwar start at Nebraska stations in the late 1940s to his three decades with NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson."


Carson choose to let "Tonight" stand as his career zenith and his finale, withdrawing into a quiet retirement that suited his private nature and refusing involvement in other show business projects.


In 1993, he explained his absence from the limelight.


"I have an ego like anybody else," Carson told The Washington Post, "but I don't need to be stoked by going before the public all the time."
[Edited 1/23/05 11:43am]

WHAT??!!!!

I just saw this on CNN. Sad, sad news, indeed.

let the eulogies and tell-all books begin

This is mighty scary,,,

I was laughing at Eddie Murphy's jokes about Johnny Carson from the comedy stand-up movie "Raw" and I was wondering whats happening to him.

Harlepolis said:

let me find out you the harbinger of death

Harlepolis said:

Half!

R.I.P. Johnny

.
[Edited 1/23/05 12:44pm]