David Letterman Reveals His True Feelings about Jay Leno Hosting Tonight Show, Johnny Carson 1991

Original Airdate: 08/30/1991
#johnnycarson #thetonightshow #davidletterman
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[@MS-wb5mf]

I remember Conan O ' Brian saying " The great thing about America is you can do what ever you want to do " ; then he paused and said " Unless Jay Leno wants to do it "

[@lindaclark9925]

Leno was keener funner classier shrug

[@eliyates1691]

Classier? He hid in a closet during a meeting so he could hear what was going on... is that... classy?

[@lindaclark9925]

@@eliyates1691 nope probably the only way he could a beat their system though

[@louannbrill7255]

Dave changed comedy on television and was Johnny's choice to succeed him.Jay got the job by being a sneaky kissass. Dave reinvented comedy on television.Jay is a footnote.

[@lindaclark9925]

@@louannbrill7255 no...you really had to be.there. jay was GREAT SHREWD FUNNY ....David letterman? Trash tv. He in vented nothing and had zero class. Blah.

[@jdstox1]

whatever you do when you watch this interview......dont blame conan

[@SkySoFew]

No one's blaming Conan.

[@mikemiles1600]

Hahaha nice one

[@nurmadihahbintizulkifli1734]

@@SkySoFew say that to Leno baby

[@turtleanton6539]

Yuup

[@robbchristenson7280]

You weren’t thinking about blaming Conan now, were you?

[@DenizenMatt]

Johnny asks Dave if he could imagine staying on late night television another 20 years and Dave laughs and says no. Dave not only continued his late night run for another 24 years after this clip, he also ended up beating Johnny’s late night run (30 years) by 3 years (33 years). Incredible.

[@InsidetheCasino]

And he stayed until Jay was 100% done and off the air.

[@annstevens6223]

Pretty sure he meant with his show with NBC.

[@fortunecookie67104]

His “I hate waiting in lines but I’d do it “ might be his best line in all of broadcasting

[@wiseonelol25]

I also like him telling the band the gravy train is over! lol

[@Cludensyo]

Dave's got a lot of them. He interviewed Joaquin Phoenix one time. He came on as the character from the movie he was promoting, but Dave didn't play along. By the end of the interview Dave said to him "And Joaquin, I'm sorry you couldn't make it tonight."

[@jono3079]

@@Cludensyo I think you've got that a bit wrong. Joaquin was pretending to BE that character. He actually had Dave fooled that he'd completely changed as a person!

[@moaningpheromones]

Dave used it to nail Madonna too, in the infamous 'ok, what is that, a swimcap?' appearance. You've likely seen it.

[@mikestevenson576]

Always one of my favorites of his and it's just occurring to me now that it might not have been an adlib. Johnny kind of glances at his notes as he sets it up. I feel like that line and "how pissed off are you" may have been worked out in the pre-interview.

[@chrisklecker]

"If they told me I have a show then told me I don't have a show, then I would be angry". 20 years later, Conan comes to mind.

[@Dana_Danarosana]

Letterman told Oprah many years later that NBC actually HAD talked to him but changed course and went with Leno but this answer in this particular interview with Johnny was kind of a cryptic stab at NBC... and since Dave and Johnny were such good friends, I wouldn't doubt this was actually set up before hand...

[@dankirk3290]

Carson was producing Letterman Show and Letterman was bad mouthing NBC and others which made Carson go elsewhere

[@VickStarkiller]

NBC did him worse than they did Dave tbh. They ended up losing two late night legends. Jay was good but those are the only guys that could ever hold a candle to Carson

[@gallery7596]

@@Dana_Danarosana Yes, *NBC* was pretty much telling Dave the same thing they were telling Jay- "we want you for 'The Tonight Show'"- in order to hold onto them both. It was when Jay was tempted by a big offer from CBS that the network finally chose Jay to replace Carson. He should've gone to CBS, though. They treated their talent much better than *NBC.*

[@spectralthundr9525]

@@VickStarkiller IMO none of them can hold a candle to Carson, not even Dave and certainly not Conan. Never mind Kimmel, Colbert, or Fallon. The current breed of late night talk shows where it's all anti Trump all the time completely misses the mark of what made Caron's era so great.

[@kveld9893]

Why does this feel EXACTLY like that time Conan visited Letterman's show

[@beasaroze5596]

Because they screwed David like they did Conan.

[@joab757]

Kveld and Jay was the issue every time

[@everykneeshallbow]

Because its a script. They just keep playing the same script, different actors, and the public laps it all up. Sports, politics, showbiz etc etc etc, decade after decade.....distract the masses from The Truth. Who is Jesus Christ for 200 Alex?

[@trinesmith3362]

@@everykneeshallbow Script was the very first thing to come to mind .

[@richardbutkis]

@@everykneeshallbow you say showbiz is a script and then want to talk about Jesus. Where do you think showbiz got that idea? Religion kept the populace ignorant long before TV ever did.

[@getsome4806]

"Rule #1 in comedy. Never joke with the trades people." -Carson Love that old school class.

[@mymail3950]

I watch reruns of Carson on PlutoTV (streaming). It's clear that Carson had a BOATLOAD of class. A boatload.

[@007nadineL]

What does that mean pls. .

[@AZDC99]

@@mymail3950 Ha HA ..you just said "BUTTLOAD"

[@graemew7001]

@@007nadineL My taking of it is never be-little those in your team below you. He was saying that the whole team made this show, not just him and it wasn't right to make fun of them losing their jobs, I respect Carson for that.

[@Koldeman]

In hindsight, you can definitely see how much NBC kept Carson out of the loop. The whole thing with Joan Rivers blindsided him b/c he didn't know about the difficulties she was having w/NBC & the unstable contract they dumped at her feet, causing her to leave to do her own show. Likewise, he seemed to have every intention of making Letterman his successor but was insulated by the network from all the behind-the-scenes drama, decision-making, & mudslinging and had to tow-the-line after NBC announced Leno as the new host. But Carson got the last laugh. He never even mentioned Jay on his final show & never returned to the Tonight Show in any capacity; but he was regularly sending monologue jokes to Dave, even making a final public appearance on his show, which became a major television event. Things came full-circle years later when Letterman was in Carson's role as the accomplished, legendary veteran having a similar sit-down with Conan who also lost the Tonight Show to that big-chinned dope Jay. The similarities are nearly the same.

[@alenemarie]

I can’t stand Jay Leno. Big obnoxious dope. I remember when he was on “One Day At A Time”. He played a bid headed dope. What a stretch.

[@MagicAl5F4781]

The similarities were very ironically the same because there was one big difference. Letterman had naively assumed he'd be given the Tonight Show because he deserved it, and his contract only required NBC to pay him $1 million if he didn't get it. Conan, once he was successful at Late Night, wanted the Tonight Show too, and unlike Letterman did everything to get the most iron-clad guarantee possible that he would get it: Conan's deal with NBC required them to put a time limit on Leno's next contract and then give Conan the Tonight Show. There was no way Conan would not get it. And he did get it. But Leno wasn't ready to retire and NBC wasn't willing to let him become a competitor, so they set up an unsustainable compromise that was rigged against Conan.

[@rubyrayne8]

@@MagicAl5F4781 I bet Letterman talked Conan behind the scenes and said here’s where I went wrong. I suggest this. But no one foresaw Jay taking the freaking show back. I guess putting a time limit on it maybe worked against Conan in the end. Or maybe later time limit allowing Jay to be in the position longer. But you can’t know those kinda things. It was up to Leno to communicate that with his legal team and then not be immature about it afterward. Clearly Leno is a horrible communicator though.

[@claytonbill]

Great post!

[@plane_guy6051]

I think the NBC execs get VERY nervous when they sense somebody is a loose canon and Letterman was a loose canon.

[@ifthefooshitswearit.1802]

I think Craig Ferguson was underappreciated/underrated.

[@robertpryor7225]

I agree?I didn't appreciate him or rate him highly.

[@bluorangefyre]

The crazed Scotsman with a robotic sidekick bit got old for me fairly quickly.

[@Reala27]

100%. Only one who didnt have a planned monologue on a teleprompter. The show definitely reflected his personality.

[@TopStrikerMaverick]

The Scotsman right?

[@ifthefooshitswearit.1802]

@@TopStrikerMaverick ya. He also played Drew Careys boss on the drew Carey show. Mr Whick I believe.

[@anotherjoshua]

"just how pissed off are you?" beautiful.

[@dougdrazga4461]

The delivery of that line was what made it ... and Dave put respect on it by his reaction.

[@michaelmarshall1713]

GOLD.

[@chantalfinn6173]

Ed looked worried when Dave got up 3:29

[@1olddirtroad]

from half wit "comedy" to total obscurity....they even destroyed his old set and used it for firewood....it waslong overdue

[@anotherjoshua]

@@1olddirtroad what are you talking about?

[@aaronutley]

Boy, you forget how shot out of a cannon Dave was when he was younger. Always loved that Johnny took the time to signal that he actually understood comedy by essentially endorsing Dave. Just an all-time great episode.

[@davidc.2878]

Good point. Leno is actually a throwback to the kind of comedy Carson came up with--staid political jokes that never break the fourth wall--whereas Dave was the future. It's a rare artist who recognizes and approves of the genius of the generation that will replace him.

[@kennethmelnychuk9737]

Dave’s show was the only talk show that Johnny ever visited

[@essessessesq]

@@davidc.2878 Dave Letterman always admitted that he copied the wacky style of his hero, the original host of the Tonight Show, Steve Allen....Allen left Tonight after 3 years to host a prime time show on NBC...as Steve said years later "The Tonight Show was on 5 days a week, one and 1/2 hours very day...7 and 1/2 hours every week on the air...But the prime time show was just on ONE hour per week....and it paid me more than TEN TIMES the salary....it was an easy decisions."

[@d.e.b.b5788]

@@davidc.2878 The problem that Leno had, as well as with all the other late night hosts other than Carson, is that they didn't know when to shut up and let the guests talk. I don't know if it was an ego thing where they all saw themselves as the draw instead of their guests, but there was always this almost continuous habit of interrupting the guests to insert their own thoughts, and that still holds today. Colbert seems to be 'getting it' and letting his guests be the focus of the interviews, though. I remember reading about Carson's prep work every day, learning as much as he could about the prospective guests that were going to appear, in order to be able to get them to talk about themselves and what was going on in their life. He was the master at making those who were nervous, able to feel more at ease on the set, which made his show the best.

[@w0421006]

@@d.e.b.b5788 nice to read such a thoughtful and articulate comment.

[@ADF366]

I watched the Leno Letterman and Conan years in early 2000's onwards. Just watching some Carson material lately (was too young when he was on air) and boy this guy is pure class. It's a different level altogether. No wonder all the other hosts put him on a pedestal even now.

[@Twobarpsi]

The best.

[@jacobjones5269]

He was the best, no doubt.. Celebrities, regular folk, zoo animals.. He had them all on his show and made it entertaining.. I don’t tell people this often, but I took the time while traveling with my brother, on business, to watch his final show.. And my sister called our room to tell us our mother had passed from cancer.. May 22, 1993..

[@jacobjones5269]

1992* Big thumbs.. lol..

[@WalterLiddy]

He predicts the Conan situation and renders his verdict way ahead of time.

[@lawrence142002]

Funny enough, after the decision was announced that they were giving it to Conan, Howard Stern was a guest on Conan's show and predicted exactly what would happen and what Jay would do right to the T.

[@RREDDWARFF]

What are you talking about? With his beard that Dave has now, he's so hairy he looks like Bigfoot from those "Messing with Sasquatch" commercials.

[@ReddFoxx1562]

@@RREDDWARFF ....what are you talking about? Like seriously

[@ZacBLive]

I was going to say, you think this is impressive? Check out Howard stern on Conan. Nails it.

[@xtalviper]

@@ReddFoxx1562 I think he was trying to comment on the comment above about Letterman having so much hair but missed the mark.

[@williamm374]

It's hard to believe Johnny Carson hasn't been on the air for almost 30 years now. It seems like yesterday, I always enjoyed his show.

[@tastetherainbow9643]

And Carson KZbin channel has 500 000 subscribers- that is impressive.

[@Rob7194]

Well that's because he died

[@wuffalo]

@@Rob7194 lmao

[@DWQJVB]

@@Rob7194 he died on air, right?

[@DR-mq1vn]

I still miss Johnny Carson.

[@LoveMusic9973]

This is hilarious. David Letterman never forget why he got his break. He loved Johnny too. 🙏❤️

[@LastCommodore]

Wow, I remember watching this when it first aired, and here I am exactly 30 years later, 8/30/21. Carson and Letterman will always be part of my entertainment memories.

[@bettycogswell9851]

Mine too.

[@xtraflo]

One of those things where we were all watching that night..

[@willdrucker4291]

Johnny....”There were rumors you were going to firebomb NBC” Dave...”Well, I hate waiting in lines, but I’d do it”.....ROFL...GOLLLDDD

[@michaelmarshall1713]

FARKKING Funny .

[@citizen320]

My wish is that one day I'll find myself in a moment where this is the perfect line

[@mickm5097]

Dave had a quick mind to come up with that.

[@edwardh1003]

You can really see how much Carson and Letterman like each other

[@johnwise8433]

Lettermans original NBC late night show was simply amazing

[@jimmydean314]

Johnny was and remains the greatest. The pinnacle.

[@petersonlafollette3521]

The friendship of these two comics really comes through, but one of Letterman's finer moments- he's very unguarded and running with it.

[@roberth.5185]

That was Jack Parr. Look at the old clips; Carson ripped him off.

[@finddeniro]

Magic Trained...oh WW2 U S. Navy..

[@beetlejuice4357]

O'Brian was the funniest.

[@donarthiazi2443]

@@roberth.5185 You're thinking of Denis Leary and Bill Hicks

[@russellpottenger8584]

There will never be another Johnny Carson

[@selfishstockton6123]

Russell Pottenger there will never be a David Letterman either

[@elijahjakobsen7898]

but we can make one... we have the technology

[@karenmatthews5764]

except for Letterman

[@anthonybryan1961]

I know a Johnny Carson's top bloke went to school with him big nose and a wonky eye but super nice guy

[@richcountyratrodsjrod2329]

Absolutely amazing man

[@tylersamuels4438]

I can't cope with Letterman having this much hair.

[@joedick8779]

That's a weird thing to say.

[@cynthiaennis3107]

Tyler Samuels 😂😂😂 He probably can’t cope that he’s lost so much of it!

[@phoenixzappa7366]

On his head as opposed to his face

[@tcarpenter4703]

He sure fidgets a lot. I never thought he was very funny. Johnny,yes!!

[@rvpstudioscanada3991]

And no ZZ Top beard.

[@TheCommonSenseProfessor]

He laughed at 30 years and went 33 years himself.

[@MrAkaacer]

He went 30 years too long.

[@Transfixed]

I miss those days. Nan would watch Johnny and fall asleep in her rocking chair, and i'd stay up watching Letterman. They were both masters of wit and timing.

[@willcuza]

Carson, Letterman, O'Brien that's how history should have gone, but money and greed ruin things.....

[@quicksylver5684]

Whose choice was it that when Leno got the show Carson's or NBC's?

[@billcounts9516]

your correct ruined everything I now go to bed at 10pm.

[@sj4632]

Leno's ratings were better than all of those 3 clowns.

[@willcuza]

@@sj4632 maybe you should talk about him being funny or not. Yes they are clowns and still funny.

[@sj4632]

@@willcuza Leno was the funniest.

[@robdanowski2008]

I was actually at this show!!!

[@DonkeyLipsDA3rd]

You were 22..

[@bigbadwolf5870]

@@DonkeyLipsDA3rd Does him being 22 then make it not possible to visit shows or something?

[@DonkeyLipsDA3rd]

@@bigbadwolf5870 No, I was just trying to guess his age at that time..

[@michaelblockley3910]

Who’s side you on? Letterman or Leno?

[@bigbadwolf5870]

@@michaelblockley3910 Craig Ferguson

[@tski716]

3:18 "Just how pissed off are you?" Best opening question in the history of late night talk shows. Love Dave, like Conan but no one will ever touch Johnny.

[@Enregardant]

There seems to be a small hickup around the word pissed. As if there had been some post editing. If there was censoring, what do you think he actually said?

[@asterisk911]

Actually, Jay Leno's question to Hugh Grant is also up there.

[@patriciamorgan6545]

@@Enregardant I remember seeing it when it first aired, and I believe that's exactly what Johnny said. It was truly shocking at the time to hear Johnny use that phrase! Hence the audience roaring with surprised laughter. He never used questionable language on air. Didn't need to. Was supremely funny without it.

[@HylanderSB]

Ironically, Dave's run as a talk show host ended up being longer than Johnny's.

[@Naruto37887]

Johnny did a couple shows before the tonight show stretching back from 1953 through 1962, "Carson's cellar", "The Johnny Carson show", "do you trust your wife?"

[@IMP3TIGO]

That's not ironic but I get what you mean.

[@HylanderSB]

@@IMP3TIGO Dave literally laughed derisively at the idea of doing his show another 20 years but he also literally did just that. How is that not irony?

[@IMP3TIGO]

@@HylanderSB okay, that makes sense then. Sadly, the second half of his career was milquetoast compares to the first half, when he was the best ever (and why so many comedians idolize him).

[@HylanderSB]

@@IMP3TIGO No argument there. I watched a lot more of 80’s Dave than 2000’s Dave.

[@Archer335]

“If you play your cards right and don’t give it all away, you can!” One of Johnny’s many jokes about the fortune he spent on alimony. 😁

[@GregSchmidt711]

Can you imagine doing your show for another 20 years? Dave laughs hysterically. Twenty-ONE years later, Letterman is retiring.

[@MrGSfan]

Greg Schmidt He just followed what Carson envisioned for him

[@finkaiser5927]

Greg Schmidt You mean 24 years later.

[@antondelacruz9362]

Letterman really softened his edge when he got older. I always get surprised seeing how loud and commanding his personality was in old clips.

[@johnking5174]

When his son Harry was born in 2003 he changed his persona a bit - but of course he was still having sexual affairs with many interns even in the years after Harry was born. It barely ended before the extortion/blackmail case came about in 2009.

[@Danimal77]

@@johnking5174 He actually began slowing down even before that. It started around 2000 when he had his heart surgery. He essentially stopped "trying" around that time.

[@NoelKerns]

Yeah...he was actually a little obnoxious, but he was also so damn funny he could get away with it!

[@SavageHenry762]

I used to be a huge fan of letterman until he went off the rails deranged with political agendas.

[@thomasjust2663]

I think it happens to most of us as we age, it's probably a bit of wisdom and less energy

[@KentKaliber]

When I was in High School, Johnny Carson was still on and still HILARIOUS week after week! I was so sad when he finally retired :(

[@alangordon8906]

Oops forgetting two important points Letterman was never funny-snarky and a smart ass, but not funny And Conan was about as interesting and funny as tapioca pudding or a mashed potato sandwich These guys should have gone into other careers

[@KentKaliber]

@@alangordon8906 I don't think Conan has EVER made me laugh even once, I still don't understand how he got that spot.

[@rickheagerty5483]

"if they came to me and said, 'Dave, we'd like you to have this show', and then a week later said, 'Dave, we don't want you to have this show', then I'd be angry". Isn't that exactly what they did to Conan?

[@gallery7596]

And *NBC* said "Jay, we'll give you "The Tonight Show" if you turn down CBS," and then they offered it to Dave when *he* threatened to go to CBS. That's the way *NBC* rolls and Dave not staying there is the best decision he could've made.

[@daveteves]

@@gallery7596 i also find that Conan is more creative now, more free when he's on TBS than he was on NBC.

[@gallery7596]

@@daveteves Yes, Conan made a wise decision going to *TBS.* That's been a much better home for him (9 years and still running!) than *NBC* was ever likely to be.

[@daveteves]

@@gallery7596 so the best decision really is to leave NBC. I'm not a fan of Jimmy Fallon but i sure hope NBC screws him over in a couple of years and Jay Leno is once again involved. I want this thing to happen in three's.

[@gallery7596]

@@daveteves Oh, please no more. Jay's been screwed enough by *NBC.* Let them do it to Fallon with Seth Meyers.

[@WildCardAcres]

"I hate waiting in lines but I'd do it".....pure genius. Johnny was the original king of late night but Dave took the reigns no matter what anyone says. Miss them both.

[@msu1983]

Epic 7 1/2 minutes from the two greatest ever late night hosts.

[@daneb1880]

One of my best quips of all time “I hate waiting in the lines but I’d do it”. Gold

[@mbbuckeroo15]

“I hate waiting in lines but I’d do it” Most savage line ever 😂

[@e_hwhite6480]

buck7515 Dave is a Boss.

[@kevinbransky1817]

Except he says it while punching the air, as if you say he would rather push everyone out of his way instead of patiently waiting his turn. He did have a bad attitude and that's why TV networks thought little of him. Happenstance brought him to TV, his own personality pushed him away from it.

[@gmwilkiegeorge8685]

Born after 1985 here, "waiting in lines"?? A little help? #PleaseAndThankYou

[@kevinbransky1817]

@@gmwilkiegeorge8685 there are plenty of stories of shootings from people getting angry about people cutting in line to people getting mad about a car accident. These shootings happen everyday all over the nation. I thought you knew this by now, but maybe watching fox news has corrupted your perception and you believe whatever they tell you. Do you really think guns make America safer when you have to risk yet getting shot during a car accident? Many people are afraid of such a raw encounter with a cool holding a gun.

[@CarbageMan]

I remember when GE bought NBC and he took a fruit basket to GE management as a gag, on the show. This was classic Letterman.

[@mrvy33]

"I hate waiting in lines but I'd do it!" Classic...

[@nbadraft08]

Pablo Neruda ok so let’s break it down. I’ll paraphrase. Johnny says “you were going to firebomb NBC” Dave says “I hate waiting in lines but I’d do it.” Maybe seeing it will help. If you can’t figure out after seeing it and thinking about it I’ll tell you what it means.

[@Forevertrue]

Given to him, this is all Scripted by NBC and funded liberal BS.

[@miltonsmith974]

Actually, that's not original; it's just a variation of a VERY old joke. It was first used many years ago about "doing something" on a person's grave followed by the line: "but I hate waiting in long lines."

[@bundangkorea]

@@Forevertrue Wow, you're probably a great one to talk with at parties and I'm guessing those 'funded liberals' ruined your life somehow?

[@FredLord-sp4ym]

For me, Dave's final two appearances with Mr. Carson were his very best. Thanks for sharing.

[@ODUBlue]

He got his first gig as the host of Late Night, had a big blow-up over moving to The Tonight Show, left to start an entirely new show on a network with no pre-existing talk show in the time slot, and finally ended up doing whatever the hell he wants on a streaming platform. Dave is Conan’s forerunner in literally every single beat of their careers. Seriously, that comparison is eerie. Their career paths are so, so similar.

[@jamesrawlins735]

Although Letterman's first gig was hosting his ill-fated morning show - brilliant but absolutely the wrong concept for morning tv

[@ODUBlue]

@@jamesrawlins735 Yeah, I was thinking strictly in terms of 'late night tv.' Should've clarified.

[@lbcharlie05]

Mr. Carson had so much class! One of the perks of old age is I got to see him for almost 30 years. No one since him could fill his shoes!

[@egglardo]

The greatest!

[@DMS-pq8]

Yep we were so lucky getting to grow up watching Johnny

[@50centgotshot9times]

And now late night shows don't even come close to how classy and professional a late night host could be and still be so entertaining and hilarious. Now it's about pushing some kind of agenda or bringing politics into it to garner support from one side. Really poorly researched and foolish questions to interesting guests. It's so sad. I'm so tired of those shitty hacks. It was all over when Leno quit and then Letterman. Even Conan started to become a boring shill once he started to bring his politics into his show. Keep it non-political or neutral otherwise it's stupid and boring. I can't stand Fallon and those other 2 British clowns. Late night shows are a dead form of entertainment.

[@ProMrLecoq01]

Vladislav I think it’s also just because we’re moving on in time and things get more modern and more money gets in involved

[@ProMrLecoq01]

Man I remember when he was young and interviewed jimi hendrix! That was cool to see, now look at him here

[@Ladyzelda333]

I love how David Letterman practically foretells what happened with Jay Leno and Conan.

[@jonavuka]

I'm surprised no one made a conspiracy theory about this

[@changenoways9555]

what happened

[@mickybarpostproductor3451]

5:39 Check that

[@davejones5640]

Ladyzelda333 fbomb NBC.

[@aliciasciarrillo1022]

Ladyzelda333 Leno really hurt Conan career. He should of had Fallon's gig

[@curtisharrison4837]

Johnny had a calmness, that was felt across the nation, like seeing the flag is still there. He is a mark,in late night talk, that want be met.

[@doninmichigan]

Well said. Whatever had happened in your day, or what you faced tomorrow, Johnny calmed you down for an hour, and made you feel everything was all right with the world.

[@osomartinez]

So calm he left his son in a mental institution and was spiteful to so many people

[@cyborg266]

I was never much of a fan of David Letterman, but this clip does show him in full bloom. It takes a certain personality to thrive in that industry and damn if he wasn't MADE for it.

[@ddolgov]

I dunno about full bloom, his punchline delivery at 3:05 is bad and his reaction shows he knows it

[@cyborg266]

@@ddolgov I don't like the guy personally, but nobody is perfect.

[@jeffreysproul9110]

@@cyborg266 I like Colbert better than Letterman but no one comes close to Johnny.

[@weshoward4968]

@@jeffreysproul9110 who cares who like you??? Karma

[@MdlAgedHeadbanger]

I never noticed the line before from Letterman. "Had they said we want you to have the show then a week later said we changed our minds..." Oddly prophetic with what happened in the whole Leno - Conan debacle.

[@MathewRusso]

And Letterman did his show until 2015... which was past the 20 years Letterman thought he would never do, per this interview. This is true television - two legends, one clip. Both are missed in their own ways. =M=

[@mazrio128]

Dave is still with us. So, Dave isn’t missed. He’s here. His show is missed. Never start a sentence with “And”. “True” television would literally be a physical television. Your name ends in a vowel so I know you’re not stupid, you just have to apply yourself to your writing.

[@mazrio128]

Letterman did his show ‘til 2015; which was longer than the 20 year window that he mentioned in this interview. This is the epitome of television: two legends - one clip. Both their shows are missed, immensely. =M= (I need 32 people to “like” this).

[@NS-wt8rg]

I remember watching this live , and I was young, but I still remember being floored by Johnny's action. It's only grown , my respect, over the years.

[@desstutchbury2365]

I have to admit I like Jay Leno over Dave

[@CrystalHotSauce1]

This interview took place 2 months after Johnny's son passed away in a car accident, plummeting off a cliff while taking scenic photos. Johnny was preparing for retirement. This is a public interview for who would be sitting in his chair. No body tucked in America for bed the way Johnny did. Long live the greats ✌🏻

[@tjpm]

I can say that Letterman defined my sense of humor. Having said that, this is why ppl dont like me that much!! lol

[@getpumped87]

I remember hearing someone once say that Dave was a comedian for the weirdos and awkward people....it resonated with me.

[@thenightingale8593]

@never stop fighting looks like you suck ...

[@voltz15]

I felt pretty sad when Letterman retired and Carson couldn't be there. He would have been proud.

[@harpoon_bakery162]

carson couldn't have cared less

[@hans-peterluttke7321]

@sid roth Yeah but he had to do something different then Leno also. If it was just like a 1:1 version of the tonight show it would be boring. Also in germany like every talk show or night show is political. They say here, if you go to the US and get invited to an american home, don't talk about politics, because the americans don't like to talk about it in private... In germany we talk about politics as well as about everything else when we are with other people.

[@UnseenLive1]

How flowing the banter is here makes it so easy to watch. Two legends doing what they do best.

[@TV-yb2bn]

Letterman says 20 yrs too long for show, but later went on to bless us with 30 yrs of show

[@zerkzy842]

Back when saying ‘pissed off’ got a huge reaction

[@jeffzest8393]

Foreshadowing cheap humor.....now they all just BLEEEP to get laughs. Irritating.

[@TheAmazed5]

It is so interesting watching this show now because you see how things turned out. Wow.

[@pasoparent1738]

Yep. Dave basically lied to Johnny when he said he wasn't angry at Jay Leno or NBC. Of course he couldn't say much publically at that time but he and Johnny Carson were very close friends and I would've LOVED to hear them talk privately about the whole situation off the air.

[@luciferjones8103]

Carson, Letterman, Conan, Ferguson. That's all that exists. Nothing else matters. Later.

[@jeffzest8393]

I would add Kilborn to that list. All the new ones are terrible.

[@niklazz7037]

Jon Stewart!

[@timetravelingoldman6839]

@@niklazz7037 Jon Stewart sucks

[@danieldougan269]

@@timetravelingoldman6839 I'm guessing you say that just because you don't agree with his political views.

[@adityasanthosh702]

@@bonnienadinenewman conan first. Because conan is more cannon

[@GeneBurnett]

Watching this friendship in action always makes me smile.

[@annajeehee]

Dave went 33 yrs on his show- Johnny knew

[@shaharazon2449]

Ya he knew this guy was awful host with a nasty style on interviewing. Why did Carson let this happen ? revenge on the audience??

[@timfischer]

Dave went to CBS for most of that.

[@dallasbrubaker6054]

@@timfischer 1982-93 on NBC, 1993-2015, CBS...so yeah, 2/3rds of it.

[@MrShieldsy100]

Carson (to Letterman): Can you imagine yourself, doing your show, 20 years from now? Letterman: (breaks out in hysterical laughter) Funny how life turns out, doesn't it..........

[@mikesmith6292]

“10 years seems just about right” He hosted for 33 years 😂😂😂

[@bmla88]

The greatness of Johnny is on display here. He patiently let Dave be Dave until getting to the one question: 3:24

[@alan30189]

I sure miss Johnny Carson.

[@hans-peterluttke7321]

You can watch a lot of his show on youtube. In germany we didn't know anything about Johnny Carson, most here even didn't know that the famous Shining line was a refence to Carson. Now I try to watch a lot of his shows on KZbin. I didn't even watch Fallon any more, I just watch old Carson clips. Especially the Don Rickles clips I watch over and over again.

[@drizzleprism5826]

I miss you

[@Forevertrue]

He had talent, Letterman not so much. Leno was as original as Johnny Letterman was written for and scripted. hardly talent.

[@steveheitz]

Me too!! Gets depressing when you think about how much time has passed.

[@maximumgainpodcast4835]

Carson, Letterman and Conan are not only the best hosts in the history of talk shows, but they are also the three most humble, generous, and dignified people who ever worked as hosts...

[@jokerbeatsbats4897]

Serial Fanalyzer let me throw in Craig Ferguson.

[@maximumgainpodcast4835]

@@jokerbeatsbats4897 oh yes definitely, sadly he didn't host for as long...

[@jokerbeatsbats4897]

Serial Fanalyzer no. sadly he didn’t. Shame too. He reminded me a lot of young Dave.

[@maximumgainpodcast4835]

@@jokerbeatsbats4897 Yeah, fearless and just so different

[@DIYDaveOK]

Conan couldn't hold Carson's jock. And Letterman was absolutely brilliant - for a while - until he became so full of himself that he became unwatchable. His own smugness translated from outstanding dry humor into intolerable arrogance, making him largely unwatchable toward the end of his run, and ended up vindicating NBC's decision to give the show to Leno.

[@michaelkeller5927]

My god what a stage presence Dave is. But he doesn't become a sad sack from what he lost, he started his own legend that, quite frankly, became bigger than the tonight show.

[@Steve-Richter]

He is not very respectful. Hardly says hello to Ed. And does not give much room for Johnny to speak or respond.

[@pe8324]

@@Steve-Richter Just his act and consider he was stressed and you can see it because he found out Jay was getting the tonight show. Johnny was Dave's hero and they had a great mutual respect for each other. Dave was Johnny's pick to take over the tonight show. Johnny had such a great influence that it was his advice that convinced Dave to go to CBS. After taking over Jay didn't thank Johnny and their was no mention of him. And in one of his last public appearances Johnny walked on to Dave's show and never went back to the tonight show.

[@oregonguy13]

Letterman was never funny, always a creep and didn’t he routinely get beat in the ratings by Leno and the Tonight Show?

[@oregonguy13]

Help make it easier for you = he was routinely beaten in the ratings. Here is a snippet - Even on one of David Letterman's best nights, he still couldn't beat his rival Jay Leno. The extra-long finale Wednesday averaged 13.7 million and was the largest audience for the host since February 1994.

[@oregonguy13]

Help make it easier for you = he was routinely beaten in the ratings. Here is a snippet - Even on one of David Letterman's best nights, he still couldn't beat his rival Jay Leno. The extra-long finale Wednesday averaged 13.7 million and was the largest audience for the host since February 1994.

[@garyw4211]

You can tell how much Johnny and Ed loved Dave. In their mind he was the golden boy.

[@UNisOUTDATED]

There'll never be another Johnny Carson and another Dave Letterman for a long looonng time...

[@anthonybernero9720]

I think Conan and Craig are right up there with them.

[@Brandespada]

There'll never be another anybody

[@AdamMann3D]

I'm 39 now, I was 12 when this aired. I was lucky enough to watch Carson with my Mom for his last 3 or 4 years. Long enough to know how good it was. Was shattered when they took it from Conan.

[@m0L3ify]

Leno was in a bunch of Doritos commercials when it was announced he was taking over the Tonight Show, and my sister and I were like "The Doritos guy??" We were very confused lol.

[@dragracer4775]

Late night TV is a thing of the past. I sure do miss it.

[@tonymontecino9761]

Damn miss Johnny. Guy has class and doesnt act like a nervous little college kid.

[@anthonybernero9720]

Why doesn't anyone use pronouns anymore?

[@thamechanic3324]

Both of them can never be replaced, The King and the Prince of talk shows.

[@ignorecorporatenews]

Wrong. Steve Allen, the guy who INVENTED and was the first host of The Tonight Show, was Thee Best by far.

[@IrOnCuRtAiN61]

@@ignorecorporatenews The problem is, not so much material available exist on the interwebs of the entirety of Steve Allen's show, so that's about it.

[@indieshack4476]

Letterman is very good here - this holds up 30 years later - wow!

[@rosethompson1964]

I'm glad both Tubi & Pluto free TV have a channel that only has the Tonight show with Johnny Carson.

[@tomhall7677]

Johnny Carson, king of the late night shows. 👍

[@EdTube444]

I have never watched a single Leno Tonight Show. And Letterman is doing just fine. I think he carved out a pretty good place for himself. I think if he had got the Tonight Show gig it would have been a mistake for him personally.

[@gregmccoy447]

***** Yeah... Dave owns his S**T. I always loved Johnny and miss him still. I have been watching Dave since the first "Late Night" show on NBC. I continue to stick with him for the reason that he HAS evolved over the years. Leno..? Not so much.

[@johnking5174]

1:40 - Actually Letterman spoke a lot of truth here when he said "the gravy train is being discontinued" - as I have read that members of the NBC Orchestra made a fortune from their own individual gigs, performances etc, all because they were able to say that they were part of the NBC Orchestra on Carson's Tonight Show - that increased their fees by 100%.

[@BillSmith-rx9rm]

I think you've got that wrong. The band members on The Tonight show were all well established studio and performing musicians. The Tonight show was just one of their many gigs.

[@johnking5174]

@@BillSmith-rx9rm It was just a joke Bill fro me.

[@tomsteger1]

Musicians actually making money is always a joke…

[@christopherewing9915]

Two goats in the same room. Two legendary talk show hosts the best to ever grace our TV screens at night

[@johncameron8730]

The two best ever together. The likes of this we'll never see again.

[@surfthewav3]

damn, i am too young, but looking back, Johnny Carson was pretty awesome.

[@traviscarlson6718]

2 of the Greatest talk show hosts ever bar none 👌❤️

[@cjtrickstar6060]

Miss Dave, that was great late night. I started watching him at 6yrs old.

[@kiidampuller97]

5:41 Dave foreshadowing Conan’s time on the Tonight Show

[@3434arc1]

Most baby boomers grew up with the great Johnny Carson. To me he's still in a class by himself.

[@greglaprade7507]

3434arc1 But it was also a much less dumbed down America. People had more class and they had attention spans. The schools were only partially disastrous back then.

[@willhudson5687]

Oh give me a break. The Baby Boomer generation was objectively the worst generation in America's history, and we're still recovering from it even today.

[@greglaprade7507]

Will Hudson Bc baby boomers brought us free love and feminism, etc? I would have to agree.

[@aliciasciarrillo1022]

3434arc1 he could be vindictive if crossed i.e. Joan rivers

[@mejsmith1]

Greg LaPrade They also gave us Ronald Reagan as President and neoliberalsim that has led to the crappy economics of today.

[@LEGASItv]

Good old-time interviews summed in one word: ENERGY 😊 second is STORY-TELLING ✍

[@ingamej21994]

I love how Dave hit Johnny in the chops and he fired right back like the full size man Johnny was! True American hero

[@morbidmanmusic]

He's a talk show host...not a hero. What is wrong with your perspectives?

[@rpowarz]

5:17 Exactly what happened to Conan O'Brian, ironically!!

[@toucansam3]

Rhonda No, it was very different, but had the same ultimate outcome.

[@stephieirene1]

Clutch Cargo Dave explained in this video what would happen to Conan: "if I had the show for a week and then they told me I didn't have the show."

[@snmthecloser]

Help me Rhonda! Help, help me Rhonda!

[@antdude]

Rhonda NBC sucks!

[@csabo1725]

Rhonda Well he got paid out on his contract and he is worth about 80 million, thats what happened. Dave is worth about 4 times that.

[@tomshaw6373]

We need more Johnny Carsons.

[@kwilde2387]

Tom Shaw This country is incapable of producing another Johnny Carson. Too much of its greatness has been diminished.

[@leonardo5893]

Ken Newton Also tweens viewers.. Now its all ass kissing, corporate puppets like the Jimmys.

[@meghanhagstrom5465]

Ken Newton Or really any of those old comedians. Because none of today's hold a candle to any of that era, Jack Benny, Carson, Don Rickles, etc.

[@davidoconnell4100]

Frankie Boyle

[@edjones8297]

Two of the very best!

[@rawpower12xu]

This clip reminds me of Johnny Carson's 911 call: “It feels like there's a yak on my chest”

[@JustinTymeMedia]

Dave never does interviews..this was really classic..thanks for the upload

[@AmeriTerry]

Yes, David has been on The View... Charlie Rose... Oprah ect ect... Letterman is not a totally uptight, he just jokes about it.

[@brianandrew9594]

This is one of my favorite clips for a few different reasons: - “The gravy train is being discontinued” ... that’s a great line. - “Just, um, ... just how pissed off are you?” ... that’s classic Carson with the timing, charm, and wit. - This always reminds me of the Conan/Letterman clip ... greatness coming full circle. - You can tell Carson loves Letterman ... like a father/son relationship that Letterman always cherished. - When Carson refers to Leno as Letterman’s “friend” ... and there’s an awkward silence, which tells it all. - Carson represented the old guard and Letterman represented the new, youthful one ... but their chemistry is superb. - The two kings of the late night world for 65 years ... American icons forever.

[@JohnQPublic345]

I watched Johnny every night. 10:30 to 11:30 pm. NBC. Still like yesterday

[@geomantilla]

Carson… the man.. the myth.. the legend ❤

[@voicetube]

Wow, it's amazing as Letterman DID go 20 years beyond this interview (and a few more!). Cool interview; thanks for posting!

[@joosunkmybattleship]

Damn I was a little too young to watch the Carson days but damn was he a charismatic guy

[@Amar7605]

He was a master entertainer and interviewer.

[@roddydykes7053]

People love that word charismatic thanks to a slew of RPGs popularizing it

[@theresaterry164]

I grew up with him... I was always a night owl... and would sneak downstairs to watch with my Dad... he worked all of the time , saw little of us... but would allow me to watch with him!

[@arnoldrivas4590]

I've only heard of Mr. Carson here and there thanks to Conan and David. But to see this video, I get it now. The DNA shared between the three in question is right there to behold. The same delivery and the same quick wit. It's brilliant.

[@ernestabrogar4658]

Fabulous intro by the band. Combined with the raucous welcome from the crowd, it's an electric start to this seminal late night talk moment.

[@KenJohnsonMusic]

No rich performer in the history of TV deserved his cash and fame more than Carson. He was class personified.

[@johnking5174]

+Ken Johnson He apparently have away millions to charity, but kept it all a secret. Only came to light years after his death. No publicity, no applause, he just donated millions to different charities. That is what I like about him.

[@johnking5174]

I agree 100%. This shows what he really was like. Everyone had bad traits, but he had some nice ones too.

[@robertgerber2533]

Johnny was the best by far. So much so that he was uncomfortable in life when he wasn't Johnny Carson from the Tonight Show.

[@kencummings953]

Robert Gerber Yes he was a very private person in real life and that's what separated him from Sammy, Deano, Sinatra, etc. He had the talent to hold his own with the Rat Pack, no doubt.

[@docpj72]

felt fortunate being old enough to watch him on late night-he always brought out the best out of guests #kingoflatenight

[@ryanofottawa]

Man, that "I hate waiting in lines" line was a fantastic comeback

[@roberthall6560]

Carson was THE KING of late night.

[@garrymcarthur9853]

Carson was another of my favourite entertaining stars who have made my life enjoyable!