Peter LaSalle & Doc Sevrinsen @ Letterman Tribute To Johnny Carson -2005

[@BernieBushell-yv4eo]

Even allmost 20 years after johnny Carson's passing I get a tear in my eye because he was the last of greats of comedy the world will never see again like the legends Jack Benny, Dean Martin and many others from the golden age of tv 50s to 80s. Maybie they come from a different era in a world which long has past. That's why maybie they mean alot of us, thanks Johnny for one of the best tv show johnny Carson show, fans of yours can enjoy anytime and future generations of fans to come.

[@cdman40]

In my opinion the finest live musical performance ever on late night tv including SNL.

[@fredfungalspore]

Ditto 100%

[@pattih7]

Just beautiful; the music and the Musicians. I’ve been partial to Doc Serverensen, always and Tommy Neusome. . Amazing! Thanks, Dave!

[@gstockwell5315]

After all these years....words fail me right now. Doc (97 and still going in 2024) Tommy, EdShaughnessy, Fred Decordiva, Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon all are gone. Awe that beautiful music is so hard to find. I miss the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. The final song was.. "Rainy Day".❤😢

[@danluben5082]

Thanks for this great posting! As an old "band guy", and someone who watched Johnny Carson my whole life, this means a lot to me!

[@gstockwell5315]

@danluben5082 I just added to the great jazz, big band and big swing players that kept me calm in difficult times. Thank you for responding to my heart felt post❤️ gratitude Hello , I so love yesb I still...I love jazz

[@gstockwell5315]

@danluben5082 ❤️ I hope your post was to me. I couldn't tell. But I'm a big band lover and I play musical instruments so I just assumed. I miss the swing and big band sound of Doc. I also mis David Sanborn that did the lead in for Tom Snyder. Oh, that beautiful. Music

[@lpkap7875]

Peter Lassally is still living at age 91, born in 1933.

[@cactaceous]

Peter Lassally is a class act. He was a mentor to Dave when he was Carson's producer, He was the one that upon finding out Dave was ridiculously passed up for the Tonight Show gig, not only advised Dave to not stay at Late Night but took it upon himself to begin the process of getting him an agent and start the evolution of negotiating with other networks that eventually led to Dave moving to CBS to start The Late Show.

[@thomasdonlin5456]

Where did Fred DeCordova fit into “The Tonight Show”?

[@OikPoinFive]

@@thomasdonlin5456 exactly!

[@bobbillings]

@@thomasdonlin5456 Fred and Peter split the EP duties. Fred was the meet & Greet charmer and dealt with Johnny while Peter was all too happy staying behind the scenes dealing with staff, budget, network brass etc. They were the right and left arms of the show.

[@thomasdonlin5456]

@@bobbillings Thank you!! I truly appreciate the explanation and that makes total sense.

[@untexan]

Fred also ran the production meetings, kept track of what was going to be on the show, who the guests would be, and for most of that time he would be in the studio keeping the show moving and talking to Johnny during commercial breaks.

[@cjrrun]

When the band serenaded the memory of Johnny, it was perfectly played.

[@georgeandrews6454]

Tommy Newsom was the unsung member of The Tonight Show Band, often serving as a foil for Johnny's jokes. Here we can enjoy Tommy's outstanding Tenor Saxaphone as he holds his own with Doc Sevrinsen. Kudos also to Dave for this moving tribute to his idol -- the man who MADE so many comedy careers -- Johnny Carson.

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

That sax was smooth as silk, as was the trumpet. Two total pros.

[@georgeandrews6454]

@@OMGWTFLOLSMH I'm still amazed at the totally effortless blend from Tommy's sax to Doc's horn near the end...

[@varrick1226]

I've been watching clips of Peter he's just a nice, gracious man. His life has been interesting and you can see he's a survivor. This is the way you go through life, humble and honest.

[@vrvaughn]

I’ve been doing the same. His Foundation interviews are great …

[@fredfungalspore]

I watched this late in the evening in 2005 in Australia Beautiful Song Beautiful Rendition Brought A Tier To My Eyes

[@kenfreeman9149]

My wife and I wen to the show in the 70's and Johnny and everyone else was there. The band is fantastic and we loved seeing Johnny and the gang. There will never be a late night host like Jonny Carson.

[@BroadswordNYC]

Johnny, when faxing a joke to Dave, "and no matter what happens at your end, it left here, funny". Priceless.

[@OikPoinFive]

Yes!

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

I miss Johnny.

[@rancidcrawfish]

You almost got it right

[@DrWho7481]

Unintended to be sure, but with Johnny’s death in early 2005, his 1985 comment that Dave would have the big desk in “20 years” serves as a reminder that he always hoped Letterman would inherit ‘The Tonight Show.’

[@Djm8520]

Peter Lassally was also the Exec Producer for Craig Ferguson’s LLS! Doc riffed a little phrase on ‘Here’s That Rainy Day’ that made Tommy smile-nice moment!

[@rancidcrawfish]

How do you spell his name wrong when it's the first thing in the title

[@Djm8520]

@ Gee, maybe because it’s spelled WRONG on the headline and I spelled it CORRECTLY!!

[@motley331]

Very impressed with Dave showing his respect to a man who helped him make it big. Those with larger egos would have diminshed the impact of Johnny Carson.

[@jayson8372]

Agreed, Dave had and has much respect for Johnny...and by extension, I have much respect for Dave.

[@hairyscotman]

Lovely tribute to a man that brought us so much laughter and class....Doc and Tommy's playing of this song was absolutely perfect....

[@hibob418]

As far as the musical number goes, Dave and Paul Shafer knew that network tv was made for moments like this. Bring 20 live string players in and pull off a very classy tribute number. Thanks for posting this whole thing.

[@krisscanlon4051]

Dave loved Carson...incredible the adoration it was the consensus of all of us

[@tomfear-ws4bo]

Ed Shaugnessy was such a classy drummer. I love those champagne Ludwigs he is playing here.

[@e2go]

I love Dave's undying admiration and respect for Johnny. I'm sure that meant more to Johnny than he knew.

[@boblowney]

Dave is a confident professional. he gives to Jonny what he deserves with joy. and that reflects on dave's own talent and security.

[@e2go]

Very well said. It is so beautiful and rare to see.

[@chrisb4331]

Music tearing me up😢

[@PEPPERJET7]

Yes, He is a class act 🎬 His legacy will not be replaced. Last of the Greats 👍

[@jc0730]

Great interview. Funny and touching. A fitting tribute to Johnny and to Dave's obvious respect for him. I could watch this clip dozens of times. For once it is not hyperbole to say that there will not be another like them when speaking of Johnny Carson.

[@JCDiamond526]

Tommy was amazing. He should've been interviewed.

[@tonelar415]

So greatful that Dave brought these folks together to pay tribute to Johnny Carson.

[@cciccone61]

I miss Johnny Carson as much as my own father.

[@eddielasowsky7777]

As in you never knew him?

[@fredfungalspore]

@@eddielasowsky7777 Boom Boom You still got it :)

[@TheEsquireClub]

20:04 “HERE COMES THAT RAINY DAY,” conducted by Doc Severinson!

[@muse7746]

Doc Severens' trumpet piece was so beautiful.

[@MrAitraining]

So many gens in this. Peter: "I don't want to be mean, but....she was dumb" Dave: "I don't think that's mean" hahaha

[@ineedausernamenow999]

He’s having flashbacks to Halle Barry

[@Dana_Danarosana]

I've watched this so many times... so many thoughts... But I love at the very end when Doc is done and the outtheme music starts... Alan Chez screaming trumpet... The only tv show trumpet player with a longer gig than Alan was Doc! So cool...

[@stephengiese7549]

This man was worried about how he was going to do on the show? No problem at all! Dave was a great help to him with the questions and his kind of funny demeaner. Let's face it hewas cute funny and matter of. fact. He was honest in his answers. Very good job😀

[@withalittlehelpfrom3]

Peter Lassally worked with Arthur Godfrey, a legend, before anyone else! He does his stuff with Johnny, then gets Dave both his shows and hangs out for a while. Then he scouts for a new guy to follow Dave, where he's impressed by this one guest host from Scotland named... Craig Ferguson!! That's right, folks: one guy gave us some of the best to ever do it. (Oh, and he went to school with Anne Frank in Germany.)

[@murraystewartj]

The only time Anne Frank went to Germany was in a cattle car to her death in the extermination camps. Prove me wrong with creditable evidence.

[@paoloalcantara2813]

David: "When Johnny Carson quit, he quit." one of dave's monologue when he was nearing retirement.

[@johnsjohnson448]

Peter Lassally was simply the best! He worked with the real Television Stars and achieved tenure through hard work and dedication to the tasks at hand.

[@DLZ2000]

I had to watch this again, when Regis died.

[@007missionary55]

Johnny would want you to laugh, Doc , that’s what I believe Johnny loved doing making people laugh and smile

[@Miketheman926]

20:15 CLASSIC 🥰

[@MrAitraining]

"david I'm gonna fax you this joke and no matter what happens there, it left HERE funny!" lol

[@afriend621]

Johnny Carson, Man of men.

[@Debby901]

I'm pretty sure the Charlie Angel's actress he was speaking on was Tanya Roberts. I remember her being on and seeing that glassy look in Johnny's eyes😄! I miss Johnny and Letterman's late-night show, but thank goodness for Netflix with Dave🤎. The art of conversation is priceless.

[@dabearcub]

Wow, she was great on that 70s show. I think she seemed like an airhead but probably wasn’t?

[@stickbrick8219]

What a great tribute

[@zozaazz8044]

Gosh the song is beautiful, thank you for posting!

[@johnking5174]

Did you notice, David Letterman had Peter Lassally, Doc Severinsen and Tommy Newsom on his tribute show to Johnny Carson, whilst Jay Leno only had Ed McMahon. Just shows how much Peter, Doc and Tommy liked David better than Leno. Ed had to appear with Leno, he was the only one left.

[@stevenfarnesi9126]

Exactly right. Everyone knows Johnny wanted Letterman to take over, but NBC ruined it.

[@bobkain350]

David and Peter had a relationship. Peter was the producer for David's late night show on NBC.

[@sammysouth8372]

Leno was and still is an unfunny AH and a jerk

[@motley331]

The current batch of late night comics (ha! now that is funny) have slaughtered late nite. Killed it. Dead.

[@videojameplayer1448]

Johnny Carson transcends the very format

[@ME-xd4he]

Johnny sure loved David Letterman. Johnny did very few appearances after retirement. Mr Lassally sure loves David. This absolutely killed Mr Lassalley to do these interviews. I love and miss Dave on my TV nightly.

[@msstroh]

Make me cry some more!!!

[@PlanetEarth3141]

The audiences of late night shows very rarely give standing ovations.

[@pauld205]

When the world trade center was attacked on 9/11, I immediately thought of johnny carson. I guess I was seeking comfort from the past.

[@johnking5174]

Johnny did the best thing and never ever came back to host a talk show. Never ever come back. Letterman has sort of done the same. If you come back, trying to rekindle the magic of yesteryear never ever works. Memories are best left where they are, in the memories and archives.

[@mistermac56]

Well said. When I retired after many years working at the same place of employment, the head of HR gave me great advice. She said, start weaning yourself from your day to day work and let the person that is going to take over your work responsibilities take the reigns. After I left work for my final time, I had no regrets and after a few months of getting adjusted to retirement, I hardly ever thought about my old workplace ever again, only the fine friends, co-workers, and the good times I had working with them.

[@dorothygale1104]

@tr7938 Yeah, Letterman sure was terrible and that is why between his NBC & CBS shows he was a late night host for over 33 years, which is almost 4 years longer than Carson was a host. Letterman was so terrible that his CBS show was more profitable than all other competing late night shows combined. That is some terrible.

[@YonatanDoron]

Peter Lassally.

[@dhpbear2]

10:55 - "Will you *please* have dinner with him." :)

[@msstroh]

Great interview. Need Freddy now!

[@xrrrismickey]

This is the only person I've ever heard day he was good friends with Carson.

[@mikesternmike]

Great stuff

[@lenjohnson2542]

My heavens I miss my Dad.

[@beagleman123456789]

Actually Peter Lassally was a German born Jew. Too often is his last name is misspelled as LaSalle

[@superfly9173]

Wish I knew the song Doc plays with Tommy and Ed at the end

[@jamesfeldman4234]

The song was "Here's That Rainy Day" with music by Jimmy Van Heusen and lyrics by Johnny Burke. Jimmy was a close friend of Frank Sinatra's and wrote many songs for the Sinatra Songbook, including this one that Frank recorded.

[@jimmyjordan4262]

Here's that rainy day

[@thomaskemer8109]

That one there

[@ms-vv2gg]

Doc just couldn't say the name of the song he loved Johnny so.

[@thomassullivan4742]

Johnny Carson…..still all do not add up to him!! And never will.

[@paulferranti8536]

Johnny Carson was as iconic as George Washington

[@ge376]

I felt Johnny lost it with the singing dogs and his reaction was discreetly hilarious

[@jasonhindle4399]

That Rainy day is here.

[@jamescherney5874]

I thought Fred DeCordava was the producer of the Tonight Show for most of it's run. I never heard of LaSalle.

[@MopShrudel]

Both were producers, Fred was used/willing to be on camera, when needed be.

[@OldRustySteele]

Both Fred and Peter had the title of Executive Producer. Fred was very outgoing and charismatic and had a razor-sharp wit. Peter was more methodical and not comfortable in the limelight. They worked well together with DeCordova being the guy on camera and Lasally being the guy behind the scenes getting everything done per plan and on time.

[@eddixon2015]

You know you've made it when you can pick up a 10 Grand tab by mistake and laugh it off

[@NPA1001]

Johnny -- David-- Conan. In that order… no one else comes close

[@paulferranti8536]

You got it….glad you mentioned Conan..

[@ericgarmendia750]

The true heirs to the tonight show

[@monicamckee5752]

Where was Ed McMahon? Why wasn't he interviewed? He was probably the closest person to Johnny.

[@dorothygale1104]

Actually Ed & Johnny were not close at all. It was strictly a work relationship and Johnny never associated with Ed outside of work.

[@fromtheperiphery]

19:40 In a nutshell, that was Johny Carson.

[@boppob1343]

@MyInnerEyeInterview2 btw it's Peter Lasally, not LaSalle. Great video otherwise!

[@nevillede-hoedt6520]

Johnny Carson is Definately missed, and highly thought of. David Letterman made a statement that he felt Reagis was like Carson, and came close to him in popularity, I don't see that, But as Letterman was a close alie and friend with Reagis, so it is a personal thing with them. I saw how Reagis was when he came on Letterman's show now and then, they did banter a bit with each other, and the sarcasm came out in both of them. I use to think Carson and Letterman were 2 of the best variety/talk show host's on Television, and I see the show's that have come since, lack substance in comparison. Letterman was instrumental in 'Cobere' taking over his show, and I notice Cobere does try to be Letterman in some of his hosting, but it doesn't quite reach the mark, and come off in the same way. He seems a bit forced and it lacks the Carson/Letterman spontaneity that these two naturally possessed. It could be partly due to them both being comedienne's in their own right, and able to anticipate quickly, even with using que prompt's. The other's seem forced, Ferguson seems to be a bit smutty, but that may be who he is! And his skeleton puppet just doesn't do it, he needs a bouncing board, but not that, it's lame. Especially since his show is adult riskei style entertainment. The english guy, James ? isn't too bad, he seems to put it across, and he is passionette with how he presents his show and guests. I don't think the house bands they use, are as good as Paul Shaffer, his band is/was world class. Graham Norton's show is good, he does something original, not pinching from any other's. Bring back Parkinson, he was always good. TV variety talk shows are hard, and there have been so many over the years, as Carson's producer said, Johnny wanted to go out on a high, which he did, 'leave them wanting more'! So did David Letterman. I didn't mind Don Rickles, he was always spontaneous, a true professional, no one could possibly know what they were getting into with him, it was his natural style, improvisation all the way. Even if he was at a rehersal of some sort, it was utter chaos, and nothing would ever get done. He'd have everyone in stitches, rolling around on the floor, before they got started.!!! 😅😂 Letterman was able to be spontaneous, as you can see in his interview's with Johnny Carson, and as a comedienne. Some people need help and prompt's, these guys didn't. Looking for something to watch on TV is difficult these days, there is nothing on. Poor quality reality style shows are not very good. Swearing away on TV is not a good look, it is degrading humanity. I use to think Freddie Starr was funny, he was very slapstick, but there was a lot of routine with him. He was a great singer, and entertainer. I played in a band that supported him when he came out to Australia back in the 70s, he had all his sheet music, which he handed to each of the band players, before the show, didn't reherse as I recall, but he had the audience eating out of his hand's. He didn't stay on the stage, instead went out in the audience and walked amongst the people, as it was a sit down dinner show, so he picked on member's of the audience at random, I wasn't sure if he had plant's in the audience, because he usually does. A very funny man, he did all his routine skit's into his show, sang many songs, and left the audience screaming for more. He did come back on, and ended with a song. The stage was a good 5 foot or more from the floor where the audience were seated, at the beginning of his show, he did one of his skit's, where he deliberately falls off the stage, and seemed to have hurt himself, got up limping with some help from security, but he brushed them aside, and continued on with his show. He knew how to fall without hurting himself. I'm sure he did end up with knocks and bruising, but obviously is used to it. A true professional. As a young fellow, I always admired Tommy Cooper's comedy. My Bean is another, but that seems to be whom Rowan Atkinson is, there is Mr Bean in a his routine's. The point here, is, some people have got it, or they haven't !

[@MuzixMaker]

Peter did well.

[@kindnessfirst9670]

Peter Lassally spent the last two years of World War Two in a concentration camp along with his mother and sister.

[@brianmoore5498]

LaSalle and his sister went to grade school with Ann Frank

[@rabiabegum6136]

Really? 😮

[@SlyFox4569]

6:52 😂

[@neildied26]

This is when Johnny died in 2005, not 1990.

[@jamesfeldman4234]

I think that Peter Lassally was going a bit far with his story regarding Johnny's interview with one of the replacement actresses for the Charlie's Angel's TV show. Peter was most likely referring to Johnny's interview with Tanya Roberts, since she was the least experienced of the replacements for that series at the time. (The other more experienced replacements were Cheryl Ladd and Shelly Hack, who were also more articulate.) I have an entirely different take on the interview, however, and, I think, a more objective one. While the interview with Tanya was an awkward one, it was still entertaining enough, as Johnny made the best of the situation. However, during that interview, Johnny never said, "Have you ever read a book?" Instead, in the middle of the interview, Johnny leaned over and asked her, “wanna go to bed?”--which drew laughs. I think that Johnny was annoyed with Tanya, but not so much because she was dumb. Rather, Johnny was peeved that Tanya immediately began flirting with Michael Landon, who was seated beside her. Had Tanya flirted with Johnny, was not so nervous, and was a bit more articulate, I don't think that Peter would be telling this story. But you be the judge. Here's the clip: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hanTf4OijbesgZY

[@bobkain350]

I watched the clip. Actually thought it was entertaining. Don't want to say Peter was making something up but I never saw the show he was referring to.

[@Mike-wf1nm]

She seemed really shy and out of her element, not really "dumb."

[@AdamThorton]

"I feel I'm entitl...." Lol. Apparently not, big random fella.

[@robdewey317]

🤔how am I first?????

[@Samy-q1g]

😆

[@rogerc23]

Dave obviously didn’t take his advice. He failed in his show the last 15 years. And then he came back. Total bore

[@dorothygale1104]

Dave’s CBS show generated more profit than all other competing late night shows combined….yeah, that sue is some kind of failure. Dave didn’t return to late night, ever. If you are referring to Dave’s infrequent episodes on HBO, that is not remotely “returning” to anything remotely similar to late night tv. Letterman’s work on HBO included traveling to Ukraine in the midst of war and interviewing the president of Ukraine. Dave’s HBO episodes are not entertainment or variety based, but rather informationally based. Dave effectively undertook a different type of work with HBO compared the comedy-based late night work he did for 33 years. Dave quit comedy-based late night hosting and he never went back to that. “Not going back” doesn’t mean never working again and sitting home like a potted plant. It is like an engineer, for example, who retires and decides to become a teacher. Two different careers that aren’t comparable. Yeah, Dave traveling to Ukraine in the midst of a war and interviewing the President of that country is really “coming back” to what be was doing on late night tv. Not.

[@dorothygale1104]

Dave’s CBS show generated more profit than all other competing late night shows combined….yeah, that sue is some kind of failure. Dave didn’t return to late night, ever. If you are referring to Dave’s infrequent episodes on HBO, that is not remotely “returning” to anything remotely similar to late night tv. Letterman’s work on HBO included traveling to Ukraine in the midst of war and interviewing the president of Ukraine. Dave’s HBO episodes are not entertainment or variety based, but rather informationally based. Dave effectively undertook a different type of work with HBO compared the comedy-based late night work he did for 33 years. Dave quit comedy-based late night hosting and he never went back to that. “Not going back” doesn’t mean never working again and sitting home like a potted plant. It is like an engineer, for example, who retires and decides to become a teacher. Two different careers that aren’t comparable. Yeah, Dave traveling to Ukraine in the midst of a war and interviewing the President of that country is really “coming back” to what be was doing on late night tv. Not.

[@luxurreview]

Their humor is up to Johnny's, but their class or ambiance can't.

[@m5760l]

Peter lessally seems very smug

[@Mike-wf1nm]

God, Peter is boring. God bless him.

[@johnking5174]

Which is why he never ever wanted to appear on screen. He loved being off camera, behind the scenes. He was better at that. He did this appearance as a special favor to Dave

[@cainster]

Not boring, just awkward. Peter was used to being more behind-the-scenes; it was his strength. He would rarely appear on camera, and this was done as a special favor to Letterman. If anyone else had asked him (David contacted him direct), Peter would have refused the interview.

[@Mike-wf1nm]

@@cainster Yes, very shy and unassuming.

[@Emacee1701]

Based on the comments, it seems almost everybody here knows Peter Lassally's correct name - except the dummy who made the original post.

[@mikestevenson576]

Can we figure out the Charlie's Angel in question? Had to be Shelly Hack, Cheryl Ladd, or Tanya Roberts, right?

[@tommybridges7143]

Someone wrote on this post it was Tanya Roberts.

[@mikestevenson576]

@@tommybridges7143 Thanks!

[@manouchehrjavidan5011]

I love David's honesty. Johnny was the best followed by David. The rest of them are not funny at all specially Leno and Connan and Fallon are horrible. Kimmel is tolerable and ok.