Johnny Carson Brings His Own Desk To The Show | Letterman

Johnny brings an old friend along when he joins Dave on the big show.
(From "Late Night" in Los Angeles, air date: 5/16/85)
#johnnycarson #losangeles #letterman
Subscribe to Letterman: bit.ly/3GeOIAg
Follow Letterman on Social:
Facebook: / davidletterman
Instagram: / letterman
Twitter: / letterman
TikTok: / letterman
Welcome to the Letterman KZbin Channel, home to all your favorite clips from Late Night and Late Show - as well as conversations with the writers, producers and performers who helped make it all happen. The language may strike you as quaint & flowery, the clothing comically lacey & ornate - but that’s how things were back in this colorful and now bygone era.

[@willlyhickey]

How about throwing us the monologue from the day after Johnny Carson died? Dave did his monologue and then revealed that the entire monologue was composed of old jokes that Johnny Carson has sent him over the years

[@charleybarley914]

what a tribute

[@willlyhickey]

@@charleybarley914 it was so well done. He didn’t announce it before launching into the jokes. If memory serves, He told the jokes, some worked better than others, he sits down and makes mention of it. Classy move

[@229BlackHat]

There was a version of it on KZbin but it got taken down. Booooo

[@willlyhickey]

@@229BlackHat a damn shame. Well maybe if we get a lot of likes here they’ll post it.

[@dongiller]

Johnny passed away on Sunday, January 23, 2005. Late Show was in repeats that week. It was its first show back, on January 31, when Dave devoted it to Johnny.

[@richardreinertson1335]

Dave was GLOWING to have Johnny on his show. These two were so great playing off each other. What a classic episode!

[@southsideman4891]

Yes. Respect

[@marcpower4167]

​@@southsideman4891definitely respect, Johnny didn't appear on many other shows and as we all know now, Johnny actually wanted Dave to be his successor so he was clearly a fan.

[@southsideman4891]

@@marcpower4167 indeed

[@nl5828]

you’re right. it reminds me of when letterman went on conan’s late night show.

[@thakey651]

I’m too young to have seen him but I’ve been going through a lot of old episodes. You can see his influence in both Letterman and Conan

[@suprchickn7745]

Johnny's voice brings instant nostalgia for millions. Fantastic video!

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

Remember when Dana Carvey merged Johnny into Carsenio?

[@Ryan-mq2mi]

meaning carvy and carsin? Or was it some merge of Arsenio (Hall) or (jay) Leno?

[@3.2Carrera]

Amazing. Dave was a deer in the headlights with his hero in the guest chair, but the GOAT came to perform complete with props and multiple bits. I do miss Johnny very much as he brought sunshine into many millions of lives during the week.

[@mr.robinson1982]

He was a funny guy but a mean drunk. Just like the rest of us, he had his demons.

[@CrystalHotSauce1]

After Johnny's son passed, he felt that only David was capable of upholding Johnny's position for late night tv. Johnny tucked America in bed for 30 years & Dave followed suit for 33 years. We were blessed to have these two ending each weekday with joy & quality entertainment 💜

[@benf1111]

The Tonight Show just hits me right in the nostalgia. Trying to go to sleep as my parents were up laughing their asses off....just a cozy sense of everything is alright.

[@judydoyle1124]

I have that same warm memory of mom laughing in the living room. Thanks

[@teresagarrisonbieritz6459]

I'm tearing up, because it's all gone! Watching Carson reruns is wonderful & sad. So many have passed! 😭

[@esthershin9690]

Now…it’s not so cozy. World is not alright and we’re all going to die…a long prolonged terrible suffering inflicted upon us by robot trump and jimmy fallons

[@benf1111]

@@esthershin9690 that hit me right in the nihilisms. Thank you.

[@tonysc7610]

@@esthershin9690 To be fair, you would need to ad a few more people to that list.

[@MrTangent]

You can see and feel the deep love and respect David had for Johnny. Two giants of television. I miss Johnny Carson.

[@a.m11558]

It's sad that not many people remember Johnny, he was enormous back in the day. The biggest guy on tv.

[@Jiu-Jitsu-Robot]

Yeah, he was at least 7 feet tall and 400 lbs. He’s huge! Wait.

[@elkabong6429]

A veritable institution!

[@whatsreal7506]

I remember... Class and nonPC

[@Me97202]

That’s because people don’t care about anything before they were born. It’s sad.

[@wellesradio]

@@Me97202 That’s not true.

[@BGRUBBIN]

Hearing Carson laugh whole heartedly over the, "she doesn't hear well"

[@muxz]

Johnny was such a master at his craft. Seriously, it's like watching a comedic Samurai.

[@kstepko]

I was too young to fully appreciate Johnny while he was still on the air. My late night hosts were Dave, Jay, and Conan, but I have a few nostalgic memories of watching Johnny alongside my mom and dad during his final year and knowing that it was something special.

[@nickv2601]

Same. Dave, Jay, and Conan. So THAT MEANS - I watched Dave Letterman, skip to Jay during commercials, then after Dave is done go to Conan.

[@Cult-Free_Ang]

Conan dodging shoes being thrown at him in a monologue after president bush had a shoe thrown at him was my favorite Conan memory. 😅

[@polarofficial1598]

homies collecting them like pokemon

[@mittenil2972]

​@@nickv2601 SAME

[@teetoo3790]

2 legends. They don't make late night talk show hosts like that anymore.

[@mr.constitution]

Letterman wasn't/isn't a legend. He's a creep.

[@Autumnaul]

Carson isn’t funny. His stuff hasn’t aged well at all. Guess you just had to have been there to get it

[@mr.constitution]

@John Gaylor I think what he brought to the table was his personality; charm and charisma. He was humble and personable. His humor was definitely for a different generation. He is still 100× funnier than Kimmel, Fallon, Cordon.

[@idea999]

There was three channels to choose from back then and no internet so you had to watch this garbage.

[@1986Unlimited]

​@@Autumnaul Carson serviced a different generation, different era. He's a product of his time. You have to factor that into your criticisms and not evaluate based on 2023 standards.

[@Joey_Keys]

Wow, Johnny came super-prepared and was sharp as a razor. Great to see the affection between these two.

[@RickAP]

Johnny Carson was a true artist. One in a generation.

[@Adamo2JZ]

He’s one of a kind. There will never be anyone to ever come close to

[@jujujupiter]

My dad used to watch Johnny Carson most nights. Sometimes now I enjoy an episode and wonder if my father also watched the same episode and laughed in the same places as I did. It’s a connection I always make when I watch Johnny Carson. My father died of lung cancer in 1992.

[@camw9133]

It's a way to remember your dad. He might be watching them with you. Who knows?

[@JazTrance]

Johnny was a true gem

[@aBeatleFan4ever]

Dave really did NOT like it when he was not in control. The look on Dave's face when Johnny went into that "calling Dave's mom on the phone" bit was so funny.

[@johnking5174]

Johnny was Dave's boss. Carson Productions along with Worldwide Pants Productions produced the show. Carson had the right of who followed him in the 12.30 slot, so Johnny meant everything to Dave.

[@aBeatleFan4ever]

@@johnking5174 - Yes, Letterman was a HUGE fan of Johnny Carson. And having Johnny stop by to be on his show was a HUGE deal for Dave - every time Carson did it. That's what makes it so funny... that Johnny was messing with Dave about calling Dave's mom.

[@johnking5174]

@@aBeatleFan4ever I did laugh at how Carson felt it would have been nice to have done his appearance with Dave in New York, as Carson disliked New York a lot by the 80s, so it wasn't until 6 years after this appearance that Johnny finally appeared with Dave in New York, on the day he dropped the nuclear bomb that he was retiring. Notice that Dave's last ever on screen appearance with Carson on his CBS show was in Los Angeles, not New York in May 1994.

[@ooogyman]

​@@johnking5174 I remember Carson appearing on Letterman's Late Show. Man, that ovation was HUGE. And so telling that Carson never gave the rub to Leno's Tonight Show.

[@rickycole6327]

Carson never appeared on anyone else's show tells you who he really likes and respects.

[@tombstoneranch69]

"Another 20 years you will have this desk"

[@outtakontroll3334]

and he should have had it.

[@tombstoneranch69]

@@outtakontroll3334 Damn straight he should have.

[@Rnyargd]

You guys cut out the part right before the break where Dave points to the phone and looks at Johnny and says “Mom” with a big smile on his face. That’s one of the best bits in the interview!! The best though, is when Johnny calls Dave “son!” you could tell Dave’s heart absolutely melted, and his brain just stopped.

[@Gamzor]

yep thats where Dave found out his mom hooked up with Johnny

[@kostastsak]

Yeah, when Johnny said he met her 38 years ago. Dave was 38 at the time of this show 😂

[@rickycole6327]

During his life Johnny Carson never made talk show appearances with one exception it shows you the admiration and respect Johnny had for David Letterman and vice versa RIP Johnny 🌺

[@brucelee4996]

I remember watching this back in 1985. I thought the desk Johnny brought was genius. 👋👋👋

[@glenjo0]

Carson on Letterman in 1985! Started watching Johnny as a teenager and pretty much gave up late night TV when Dave retired. They were the best!

[@randallreid424]

I did the same thing the only late night I watch are old clips of Johnny and David

[@Tripper1075KZL]

Master class in the art of the talk show.

[@martina5296]

Sadly even the masters can't teach what they had naturally. You either have it or don't. Most don't. Johnny and Dave were the best at their jobs.

[@savyconstruction]

Listening to Johnnys voice brings me back to my childhood late when I was supposed to be in bed after watching hockey night in canada. Something very comforting about listening to johnnys voice again. God rest his soul.

[@MonsterSound]

Me too, from Toronto 🟥🍁🟥

[@user-qv2ur2bw3z]

One problem with that comment HNIC was on Saturday Nights and Carson and the Tonight Show was Mon thru Fri.

[@savyconstruction]

@@user-qv2ur2bw3z that’s very true. I guess I mean after weekday hockey games! 😊

[@jlouis4407]

It really is like a feeling of home watching the old Carson tonight show

[@markbrown9838]

Classic late night TV. Much better than what's on these days.

[@roccoryan]

The best talk show hosts of their generations… 😎👍🏻

[@laggyluke5700]

Two best talk show hosts in history!

[@How_are_ya_now_]

Add Conan and we're good

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

I don't see Arsenio and Chevy Chase in this. Do you?

[@deanepeterson9286]

Johnny and David were brilliant...super quick wits...and you could tell how much they admired each other.

[@franciscoandrade4535]

2 of the goats 🐐 Insane

[@jimmyjames2022]

Great clip, love Dave and Johnny together, you can clearly see the love Johnny has for Dave. The desk bit was hilarious.

[@matthewfarmer2520]

I was born in 1976 so I grew up in the 80s and saw what Johnny show at night was like. I was lucky to get a taste as you would say of how his show that's been on tv for years. Rest in peace 🕊️ Johnny.

[@ThunderPants13]

Just Johnny's voice and the way he says things makes them funny. He could read an insurance contract and make it hilarious.

[@tomlichnofsky.7048]

Two True Legends of TV Talk shows. 😊👌👍 RIP Johnny Carson 😔

[@Mrbeahz1]

Love the El Monte in the background.

[@martasatgo]

Thanks Letterman for all the years you gave us happiness.

[@LordZontar]

I saw this interview the night it aired. Johnny bringing his own desk was hilarious.

[@MT-tu8dt]

No one can replace Johnny.

[@Chadandgrace]

" In another 20 years you will have this desk" LOL

[@han1075]

There will never be another as great as Carson! Oh, BTW, Eddie Van Halen was playing in the band that night too! God, I miss the days of truly great, late night TV.

[@dmromm]

I remember watching this back in the day. Late night will never be the same.

[@JL-is9rg]

Dave's mom was the best. I loved the segments with her.

[@-C.S.R]

Johnny Carson told NBC that his successor will be David letterman. When Leatherman found out that NBC went behind his back and went with Jay Leno instead apparently he lost it! He liked Jay Leno, but it was always supposed to be letterman's job.

[@josephcornelius3198]

Johnny Carson and David Letterman both are icons.

[@Charlysfarm420]

Dave... you and Johnny were so good together. Like most ppl that are fans, you both were a big part of my life growing up and want to thank you for that ✌️❤️

[@skeletonmakesgood]

Just further evidence that Johnny was the best there ever will be at late night talk shows, even as a guest!

[@jdraven0890]

I miss Johnny AND old Dave Letterman

[@dottiegillespie8067]

I cant get enough Dave!!! So grateful for this channel

[@thenostalgicpodblast]

There is nothing not to love about this moment.

[@AS_Gringo]

Seeing Johnny brings back the memories of my grandparents watching him every night. Thank you for prompting that memory!

[@DustinSherrill]

Letterman: "I noticed your desk is bigger than mine". Johnny: "In another 20 years this desk will be yours" Leno: 😉

[@mattnewmark7607]

In 50 years people will talk about Dave, Conan, Johnny - no one is going to talk about Leno.

[@LOLERXP]

@@tatumhildebrand5397 Leno already is remembered chiefly for being an ass to Carson, Letterman and Conan. His show's clips are barely watched today either. Leno's Tonight Show is fast disappearing into the mist. With Fallon it will be the same. Their stuff is too cheap to stand the test of time.

[@SidneyFalco666]

out of all the memorable moments in Dave's life, i'm sure this ranks near the top. Having your hero come on you show, not only your hero but the greatest to ever sit behind the desk, the man who showed you how it was done. At this moment letterman knew he made it.

[@dalesherman697]

There was also a great spot after Johnny retired where Letterman was about to do his nightly Top Ten and asked for someone to bring it out to him. Carson comes strolling out to thunderous applause, and then Letterman offers him the seat behind the desk, leading to Johnny briefly sitting there before shaking his head and heading back off. A funny moment, but man, it would have been great to have seen them talk a little.

[@MrTexxan8]

So much better than the ones we have now

[@ZakTheFallen]

Colbert does a fantastic job with his show, and is a great successor to Jon Steward, Letterman, Carson, and all of the greats.

[@wildcardartsent]

​@@ZakTheFallenAre you being serious?

[@lincarrey]

The King and the Prince of Talk Shows!

[@stevenj9970]

Just THE best ever.......no one compared or compares to Johnny.

[@minutewithmark7564]

Best interview with Johnny I have ever seen..

[@ODUBlue]

Dave is sweating bullets by the end of this. So shiny 😂

[@lou1958]

I miss the maturity and class. Even vintage Dave.

[@treyb387]

Two absolute legends

[@mr.robinson1982]

2 of the *GREATEST ENTERTAINERS OF MY LIFETIME*

[@jdlaurence9900]

Johnny is an American Icon and Treasure

[@jayjensen6280]

The reverence that Dave shows Johnny is so palpable and so appropriate. It’s a pleasure to watch

[@availabledark]

The Joke from Carson's show: "There's an accident at a beer factory. Man goes to Mrs. O'Hara's house and says, 'there's been a terrible accident, I have some news, your husband drowned in a beer vat.' Mrs. O'Hara said, 'Oh my poor husband, he didn't have a chance...'

[@kmwatso1]

Much appreciated 🙂

[@alexandermckay8594]

That was very interesting. Whether it was Johnny or just the stage of his career Dave didn't have that cynical, sarcastic edge that he really had near the end. More genuine. I could have watched this for hours.

[@bluecalix]

These clips are a gift. Letterman rules.

[@chrisheffernan7540]

Johnny Carson #1 forever on late night TV. David Letterman #2 . Such a great interview. How I missed this is beyond me. Awesome.

[@guardiane]

I was a teen when Letterman was at his prime, the good ol'days. I wish I would've been around for the Carson days. I miss television...all I can do now is watch retro stuff on KZbin since I can't be bothered with modern programming.

[@jlouis4407]

I used to watch the Tonight Show when I was little with Carson, it was an institution, everyone watched it

[@Gigi-14]

I used to sneak out of my room at night to watch Johnny Carson - right up next to the tv (not good for the eyes) with the volume way low so I wouldn’t be caught up by my parents 😂😂😂

[@westleywest7259]

This was the greatest!

[@random22026]

Love the EL MONTE sign through the window. Quality. :D

[@suzannevega2289]

This NEVER gets old!😁😁😁😁

[@mysteriousj3019]

Never got to see Carson live, but seeing how revered he is by most hosts, I had to watch what I could. Needless to say, I found out why everyone respects him so much.

[@MarkCerbo]

Dave succeeds Johnny in the Tonight Show in a perfect world or alternate universe. But in reality, this was forever for everyone.

[@CailenCambeul]

South Australia here: It's 1985 and Carson is talking about 25 years. So 1960. I first saw Carson's Tonight Show on an episode of Here's Lucy in the 70's. Later it was late night in Australia after midnight - just bits and pieces jammed together without any full shows. Letterman didn't show up in Australia until some time in the 90's after 10 years of already doing the Late Show or Late Night(?) in the US. I had no idea either of them had been going so long.

[@stevethegrumpyoldman938]

The Top 2 Late Night Host ever in One Studio and on Tape at the same time. Priceless.

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

Where are Arsenio and Chevy Chase in this? I don't see them.

[@lorip.1110]

Johnny not pulling any punches about David Frost. Hayoo!

[@Hackney_Boy-DoesntReadReplies]

Nixon fan.

[@artonline01]

I remember watching this as a young child and I loved both these guys, It was like magic when Johnny brought out the desk with him and its like duh yeah of course.

[@KungEMuller]

You will never see late night TV legends like those ever again. They are truly the best. Conan O'Brien, Craig Ferguson, and Craig Kilborn came close to those legends, and Spike Feresten was close, too. As a matter of fact, Jon Stewart came close to replacing David Letterman at one point, but nobody can top Carson or Letterman. Nobody!

[@last808]

Kilborn is one I keep forgetting until someone mentions it and then I remember that I liked him. Probably because I was a kid back then so don't fully remember it.

[@KungEMuller]

@@last808 Hey, that's awesome. I started watching late night TV when I was a kid, too, and Kilborn was one of the first hosts I've watched.

[@KungEMuller]

@@patreekotime4578 Yeah, but his ratings went down as quickly as they rose, and he never recovered from that. His show was cancelled twice. Once in 1994 and another time 20 years later.

[@Chupacvabra]

Craig Kilborn...wow...you include him?😊

[@KungEMuller]

@@Chupacvabra Yeah! He did A Moment For Us, 5 Questions, and Dance, Dance, Dance. He was the inaugural host of The Daily Show.

[@newwavepop]

1:35 "well another 20 years you will have this desk" Oop yeah i felt that one.

[@peterrichards931]

God Almighty we need another Johnny Carson to take over late night TV...

[@briansmith2163]

He so clearly wanted letterman for Tonight.

[@johnking5174]

Exactly, Carson never appeared with Jay Leno on screen ever!

[@johnking5174]

@@patreekotime4578 lol

[@KingpinPadre]

I've watched this interview several times on Don's channel. Fantastic to see the picture today in such clarity. Two masters at work here underneath the warm glow of the "EL MONTE" sign.

[@ram0166]

I remember seeing this when it aired. I never forgot that bit with the desk.

[@Nightshade0013]

I know Johnny through reruns. Letterman was the big thing when I was growing up, but remember rarely watching him. In our house, we watched Johnny reruns. That man was a gem. I busted a gut laughing with him then and I still do at 36.

[@elizabethzajovits8088]

The absolute best graced everyone with his presence in the absolute 2nd best's home ! Late Night has, & will never hold a candle to these 2 icons ! I wept like a baby at Johnny's last show. I wept 10 times harder the day he died ! RIP Johnny Carson & TY David Letterman for all the yrs of great entertainment ! ❤️❤️❤️

[@charleybarley914]

two giants

[@mikesheridan4071]

Two of the absolute best!!

[@markgbrown6767]

I saw this when it aired!! HI-larious then, hilarious now!!!😂😂😂😂 I LOVE when Johnny would GET Dave!!!

[@danrodrigues3531]

Johnny was the best.

[@halwakka504]

Love how Dave was giggling at everything Johnny said.

[@RBweb24]

They just enjoy each other so much, similar to how Dave and Conan were to each other.

[@johndavis3921]

Now Johnny's channel needs to run the first part or splice the two parts together and run them on both channels.

[@adrianvanleeuwen]

I like the "Son" gag when Dave says Johnny met his mom 38 yrs. ago. In college I would watch Dave Letterman a lot to close out the day.

[@adamslater7486]

I kind of wish he had called Dave's mom

[@WalterDiamond]

Makes me wonder when exactly DID Dorothy first appear on the show? She went on to be come quite the co-star for many years.

[@sevadaj]

There was genuine love and respect between the both of them.

[@Dr.TJ_Eckleburg]

Pure class. We'll never see anything like this again.

[@timothydrumm2846]

These TWO - revolutionized TV & have never been equaled!

[@marlinweekley51]

Dam how’d I get so old as to remember when Johnny turned 40! And then Letterman and Leno took over and we’re very young! Wow that 55 years went by fast.

[@pmointernet]

Johnny loved Dave, what a gift to be on his show so early on.

[@michaellanglands1457]

2 legendary men. Thanks for all the memories. RIP Carson.

[@matthewrock4725]

Lmfao the nervousness on Daves face when Johnny tells him to wait a minute and leaves. Like "oh god whats he doing now"