Stephen Colbert’s Late Show aired its final episode Thursday night, ending a decade-long run that cost CBS roughly $40 million a year and alienated half the country.
Bridget Phetasy breaks down how Trump derangement syndrome turned late night television from a unifying institution into a smug resistance rally — and why no one is actually sad to see it go. Also: The case for Dumpster Fire to fill the slot.
The late comedian Sam Kinison, a fan favorite for his biting style of stand-up, tests his vocal chords in this vintage episode of “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” with his rendition of “Are You Lonesome Tonight.”
After completing a few stanzas of the song, the wild side of Kinison emerges, much to the delight of the studio audience. Video courtesy of the Johnny Carson channel.
The late, great Tommy Smothers, half of the iconic Smothers Brothers, strolls into the lighter side of life with his offbeat brand of comedy.
In the following clip from “The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson,” Smothers delights the studio audience with his dead-on impersonation of Carson. Video courtesy of David Perkins.
Tonight show host Johnny Carson talks about Joe Biden and his tall tales. This is back in the old days, when Biden was simply a lying senator — not yet a trash-talking president.
Johnny Carson traipses into the lighter side of life with a masterful impression of the iconic Mister Rogers, much to the delight of the audience. The vintage sketch is courtesy of The Incredible Impression.
Iconic comedian Jonathan Winters, aka Buck Edelhofer, saunters into the lighter side of life with a masterful performance on “The Tonight Show, Starring Johnny Carson.” In the following clip, Edelhofer reminisces over his career in the cannery industry. Video courtesy of Best Variety Shows Ever Seen On TV.
Before his claim to late-night fame on NBC, a young Jay Leno was a frequent guest on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.”
In this journey into the lighter side of life, Leno visits the Carson show in August 1987 to vent about flying the friendly skies, much to the delight of the audience. Leno, of course, would replace Carson in 1992 enroute to a 17-year run on NBC. Courtesy of the Johnny Carson archives.
Comedic giant Jonathan Winters was known for the many characters he portrayed during his performances. There was no script, no director, just a few props and Winters would take it from there.
In this segment of the lighter side of life, Winters wings it during an appearance on “The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson,” much to the delight of the audience.
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Nerdy Andy Kaufman makes an incredible transformation into Elvis Presley on this sojourn into the lighter side of life. Appearing on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” in 1977, Kaufman opens the skit as the foreign character Latka, which he made famous in the “Taxi” sitcom.
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