The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, NBC, May 21, 1992

On May 21, 1992, the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson aired with his final guests, Robin Williams and Bette Midler. Johnny retired the next night. The final episode is at • The Tonight Show with ... .

[@cjrrun]

When late night TV ended in terms of consistent quality

[@renatocosta8315]

May Johnny Carson, Robin Williams and Ed McMahon all R.I.P

[@Camop-iz9kt]

Bette won an Emmy for this performance.

[@HaldaneSmith]

49:20 Bette Midler's and Johnny Carson's duet of Here's that Rainy Day was too perfect. Unbelievable moment!

[@jackmeyhoffer5107]

Sadly the end of an era when Carson retired. The rubes on now can’t compare with Carson.

[@cjrrun]

Not many people could top Robin, but she did that night

[@stevengallant6363]

This was my 18th birthday. I would love to go back... Enjoy your youth. Because before you know it you wake up one day & your 45 years old wondering what the hell happened, where did the time go.... It goes by in a flash.

[@hudsony777]

I'm more than 20 years older and that's more than how I feel...! Last 20 years gone in a blink...but no time wasted. Use it well!

[@AllenJones-w3p]

This was the second-to-last episode of the Carson-era TONIGHT SHOW. NBC should've cancelled the program when Johnny retired!

[@Gene-gi8vh]

Never had a bad night with Johnny.

[@captaindj9790]

Johnny definitely looked tired. Man what a great comedian.

[@AllenJones-w3p]

If he looked tired, it's understandable; he'd been hosting the show for 30 years!

[@captaindj9790]

@@AllenJones-w3p I know 🙂

[@ronflatter1235]

I was there in studio 1 that afternoon. Spent the whole day at NBC. The tears were flowing. What we don't see is during the credit roll, the RW, BM and JC came back out and took a theater bow.

[@johnsjohnson448]

What a terrific story. The excitement from the audience felt palpable. Mr. Carson was at his very BEST. Thanks for Sharing.

[@September2004]

30 years ago today...

[@paulmorris4880]

Same!!

[@denverman22]

It’s like a rock concert

[@AllenJones-w3p]

The Ed Ames "tomahawk sketch" drew some of the biggest studio audience laughs in the history of the TONIGHT show!

[@AllenJones-w3p]

Johnny just HAD to crack a joke about General Electric(NBC's parent company at the time).

[@martyduncan2636]

I remember watching this originally in May of ‘92. It was unforgettable and amazing then…and it still is today! To see Bette & Johnny casually and unexpectedly fall in to an intimate and sweet rendition of “Here’s That Rainy Day” alone was forever memorable and has stood the test of time! We just don’t have television like this anymore.

[@johnsjohnson448]

Ed Ames became better known for this segment than his entire marvelous career. LOL. Thanks for sharing.

[@djdon60]

It occurs to me, I, just decided to watch this(I've seen it, previously but, didn't see it, or, the last show "live", as I was an overnight deejay)because, I do recall how good it was. I miss Mr. Carson...and, Mr. Letterman. I retire, early, now.

[@busean3288]

It's pretty absurd that what's probably the best Tonight Show he ever did was more or less the last one.

[@johnsjohnson448]

The excitement, enthusiasm, and love was both real, and palpable. This was a highly emotionally charged show. I remember watching this when it aired. Thanks for sharing.

[@LindaLehman-tp7sw]

How do u see the shows from the last shows from the last week

[@EXCELSIOR_INC]

I finally got that 1992 Toyota Camry

[@ronflatter1235]

The best. Just the best.

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

John William Carson (Corning, Iowa; 23 de octubre de 1925 - West Hollywood, California; 23 de enero de 2005) fue un presentador, comediante, escritor y productor de televisión estadounidense. 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️

[@richkennedy3134]

Williams was not that funny. Goofy, wacky, not funny

[@NoName-hs3sf]

I never that he was that funny. He was always bouncing off the walls as guest all over the place.

[@mikea8293]

I realize Robin was beloved. But I felt he made too many esoteric references. Just my opinion folks!

[@jnadle1]

Here's what needs to happen within the next couple years now that linear TV might be on its last legs. As soon as Jimmy Fallon's contract ends, send NBC's "Late Night" shows to Peacock, get a new host, and the house band a combination of Quincy Jones' big band/soul style.

[@olenfersoi8887]

I have to say, that Carson actually had a pretty good singing voice in that duet with Midler. Re: the Ed Ames tomahawk clip, the funniest line was Carson's response to Ames asking if he wanted to try a throw... "I can't hurt him any more than you did!" I commented about this on another video showing the Ed Ames clip...when I wondered if Carson was aware that Ames (actual last name Urick) actually was Jewish! Sadly, Ed, the last surviving of the 4 Ames Brothers, only died fairly recently May 21, 2023 at age 95.

[@flipcitypinball6243]

It’s hard to watch this and see the talent we took for granted. All we have left are cons, propagandists, shills, pretend comedians, and bad propaganda masking as comedy.

[@cjrrun]

And when Johnny made his last appearance on TV with Letterman, Bette was on that episode. Guarantee that was no coincidence

[@pika23]

Toys one of robins flops.

[@toddmiller6158]

Drum roll... Doc Severinson is still alive at 96!!!!

[@toddmiller6158]

Because of big tobacco Johnny died way too young..