The Tonight Show
First Lady Laura Bush and Jay Leno. Laura Lane Welch Bush (born November 4 1946 is the wife of the forty-third and current President of the United States, George W
Format	Talk show, Variety show
Created by	Sylvester L. Weaver Jr.
Starring	Jay Leno (1992–present) Johnny Carson (1962–1992) Jack Paar (1957–1962) Steve Allen (1954–1957)
Country of origin	United States
No. A talk show ( American) or chat show ( Global) is a Television or Radio program where one person or group of people come together to A variety show or variety entertainment is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts especially Musical performances and Comedy Skits and Sylvester Laflin "Pat" Weaver Jr ( December 21, 1908 &ndash March 17, 2002) was a former radio advertising executive who was James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno (born April 28 1950 is an Emmy Award -winning American Stand-up comedian and Television host John William “Johnny” Carson ( October 23, 1925 &ndash January 23, 2005) was an American Television host and Jack Harold Paar ( May 1, 1918 &ndash January 27, 2004) was an American Radio and Television talk show host Steve Allen, born Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen ( December 26 1921 – October 30 2000) was an American The United States of America —commonly referred to as the  of episodes	4,531 (under Carson) 3,489 (under Leno) as of February 1, 2008
Production
Running time	varies
Broadcast
Original channel	NBC
Picture format	1080i HDTV (since 1999)
Original run	September 27, 1954 – present
External links
IMDb profile

The Tonight Show is NBC's long-running American late-night talk and variety show which has been hosted by Jay Leno since 1992. Events 1327 - Teenaged Edward III is crowned King of England, but the country is ruled by his mother Queen 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's High-definition television (HDTV is a Digital television Broadcasting system with higher resolution than traditional television systems (standard-definition The year 1999 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 1999. Events 489 - Odoacer attacks Theodoric at the Battle of Verona and is defeated again Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's A talk show ( American) or chat show ( Global) is a Television or Radio program where one person or group of people come together to A variety show or variety entertainment is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts especially Musical performances and Comedy Skits and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is an Emmy Award -winning American late-night Talk show currently hosted by Jay Leno, on Now in its 54th season, The Tonight Show is the third longest-running entertainment program in U.S. television history (after the soap opera Guiding Light and Hallmark Hall of Fame). Television is one of the major major mass media of the United States. Guiding Light (known as The Guiding Light prior to 1975 or simply GL) is an Emmy award winning American Television Hallmark Hall of Fame is a long-running irregularly scheduled anthology program on American Television.

The Tonight Show can date its origins to a local New York program called Broadway Open House, which started in 1950; its format can be traced to New York show hosted by Steve Allen and which premiered in 1953 on what is now WNBC-TV. Broadway Open House, network television's first late-night comedy-variety series was telecast live on NBC from May 29, 1950 to August 24 Steve Allen, born Stephen Valentine Patrick William Allen ( December 26 1921 – October 30 2000) was an American WNBC Channel 4 is the flagship station of the NBC television network located in New York City.

The longest-serving host to date was American comedian Johnny Carson who held sway over a 30-year run as the host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. John William “Johnny” Carson ( October 23, 1925 &ndash January 23, 2005) was an American Television host and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was a late-night talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under the ''Tonight Show'' franchise from 1962

History

Steve Allen

The original host of Tonight was Steve Allen. Thanks to his popularity on this program, he was given his own primetime Sunday series, leading him to share Tonight hosting duties with Ernie Kovacs during the 1956–1957 season. Ernie Kovacs ( January 23, 1919 — January 13, 1962) was an American comedian whose While Allen prepared his Sunday comedy-variety show, Kovacs hosted Tonight on Monday and Tuesday nights. Kovacs had his own announcer and bandleader, separate from Allen's. Allen's announcer was Gene Rayburn, who went on to greater fame as host of Match Game. Gene Rayburn ( December 22, 1917 &ndash November 29, 1999) was an American Radio and Television personality Match Game also called The Match Game was an American Television Game show that celebrities and contestants answering

During the later Steve Allen years, regular audience member Miss Miller became such an integral part, she was forced to join AFTRA, the television/radio performers union. Lillian Dorothy Miller ( 26 May 1897, Massachusetts &ndash 1 April 1990, Los Angeles California) better known as The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA is a performers' union that represents a wide variety of talent including actors in radio and television as well as radio

First Show change

Steve Allen (and Ernie Kovacs) departed Tonight in January 1957. NBC had ordered Allen to give up the Tonight hosting duties, wanting him to concentrate all his efforts on his Sunday night variety program, hoping to combat CBS's Ed Sullivan Show's dominance of the Sunday night ratings. Rather than continuing with the same format after Allen and Kovacs' departure from Tonight, NBC changed the show's format to a news and features show, similar to that of the network's popular morning program Today. The new show, renamed Tonight! America After Dark, was hosted first by Jack Lescoulie and then by Al "Jazzbo" Collins, with interviews conducted by Hy Gardner, and music provied by the Lou Stein Trio. Jack Lescoulie ( November 17, 1912, Sacramento, California - July 22, 1987, Memphis Tennessee) was a radio and Albert Richard "Jazzbo" Collins, aka Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins, (b Hy Gardner ( December 2, 1908 &ndash June 17, 1989) was a columnist for the New York Herald Tribune, host of The Hy Unfortunately this new version of the show was not popular, and in fact a good number of NBC affiliates dropped the show.

Jack Paar

In July 1957, NBC scrapped the news and features format, returning the program to a talk/variety show format once again, with Jack Paar becoming the new sole host of the show. Jack Harold Paar ( May 1, 1918 &ndash January 27, 2004) was an American Radio and Television talk show host Under Paar, most all of the NBC affiliates which had dropped the show during the ill-fated run of America After Dark began airing the show once again. Paar's era began the practice of branding the series after the host, and as such the program, though officially still called The Tonight Show, was marketed as The Jack Paar Show. Paar also introduced the idea of having guest hosts; one of these early hosts was Johnny Carson. John William “Johnny” Carson ( October 23, 1925 &ndash January 23, 2005) was an American Television host and

On February 11, 1960, Jack Paar famously walked off his show for a month after NBC censors edited out a segment, taped the night before, about a joke involving a "W. Events 660 BC - Traditional founding date of Japan by Emperor Jimmu. Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. C. " (water closet, a polite term for a flush toilet) being confused for a "wayside chapel. " As he left his desk, he said, "I am leaving The Tonight Show. There must be a better way of making a living than this. " Paar's abrupt departure left his startled announcer, Hugh Downs, to finish the broadcast himself. Hugh Malcolm Downs (born February 14, 1921) is a retired American broadcaster Television host

Paar returned to the show on March 7, 1960, strolled on stage, struck a pose, and said, "As I was saying before I was interrupted. Events 161 - Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius dies and is succeeded by co-Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. . . " After the audience erupted in applause, Paar continued, "When I walked off, I said there must be a better way of making a living. Well I've looked and there isn't. "

The W. C. joke that caused the controversy involved an English lady visiting Switzerland. She asked about the location of the "W. C. " The Swiss misunderstood her as talking about the Wayside Chapel, and left her a note that said (in part) "the W. C. is situated nine miles from the room that you will occupy. . . It is capable of holding about 229 people and it is only open on Sunday and Thursday. . . It may interest you to know that my daughter was married in the W. C. and it was there that she met her husband. . . I shall be delighted to reserve the best seat for you, if you wish, where you will be seen by everyone. "

Second Show Change

Jack Paar left the show in March of 1962, and Johnny Carson was chosen as his successor. The year 1962 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 1962. For contractual reasons, Carson could not take over as host until October 1, 1962, and the months between Paar and Carson were taken by a series of guest hosts, including Groucho Marx. Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The show was broadcast under the title The Tonight Show during this interregnum.

Johnny Carson

Main article: The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Marx introduced Carson as the new host on October 1. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was a late-night talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under the ''Tonight Show'' franchise from 1962 For all but a few months of its first decade on the air, Carson's "Tonight Show" was based in New York. The City of New York In May of 1972 the show moved to Burbank, California, (although it was announced as coming from nearby Hollywood) for the remainder of his tenure. The year 1972 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 1972. Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County California, United States. Announcer Ed McMahon was Carson's sidekick throughout his time with the program. Edward "Ed" Leo Peter McMahon Jr (born March 6 1923 is an American Comedian, Game show host, Announcer, and Television personality

Jay Leno

Main article: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Johnny Carson retired on May 22, 1992, and was replaced by current host Jay Leno amid mild controversy. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is an Emmy Award -winning American late-night Talk show currently hosted by Jay Leno, on Events 334 BC - The Greek army of Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of the Granicus. Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) David Letterman not only wanted to move into that earlier time slot from his late night spot after The Tonight Show, but was considered by Carson and others as the natural successor (despite Leno having been Carson's permanent guest host for several years). David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947) is an American late-night Talk show host and Comedian and the host since 1993 In the years following Carson's retirement until his death in 2005, he never appeared as a guest on Leno's The Tonight Show. Letterman, having had his heart set on the earlier time slot, eventually left NBC and joined CBS. Late Show with David Letterman, airing in the same slot, has been competing head to head against Leno's The Tonight Show ever since. The Late Show with David Letterman is an Emmy Award -winning American late-night Talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS Conan O'Brien slid into the late night time slot vacated by Letterman, and has himself enjoyed success. Conan Christopher O'Brien (born April 18, 1963) is an Emmy Award -winning American Television host and Comedian, best known

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno title card

Unlike Carson and Paar before him, Leno has been a "full-time" host, maintaining a five-day-a-week schedule and only rarely utilizing guest hosts during the 15-plus years of his tenure.

Conan O'Brien

On September 27, 2004, the 50th anniversary of the show's premiere, NBC announced that Jay Leno will be succeeded by O'Brien in 2009. Events 489 - Odoacer attacks Theodoric at the Battle of Verona and is defeated again The year 2004 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 2004. It was then that Leno explained that he did not want to see a repeat of the hard feelings and controversy that occurred following Carson's retirement when he was given the show instead of Letterman. It has also been speculated that NBC asked Leno to do this so that Conan would not accept a more lucrative offer. It was rumored that at the time of the announcement ABC was talking to Conan about possibly replacing Jimmy Kimmel. James Christian "Jimmy" Kimmel (born November 13, 1967) is an American Television host and Comedian.

Carson died on January 23, 2005. Events 393 - Roman Emperor Theodosius I proclaims his nine year old son Honorius co-emperor Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Leno, now the last living host of The Tonight Show, paid tribute to Carson soon after.

It was announced that The Tonight Show will be moving from its studios in Burbank to a new all-digital studio at Universal Studios Hollywood, when Conan O'Brien takes over in 2009. Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County California, United States. Universal Studios Hollywood is a Movie studio in the Universal City community of unincorporated Los Angeles County, California, Conan Christopher O'Brien (born April 18, 1963) is an Emmy Award -winning American Television host and Comedian, best known This article is about the year For the film see 2009 Lost Memories.

Since the announcement of the 2009 move, Jay Leno has expressed an unwillingness to leave his spot. Sources say he could also move to ABC or FOX to host a new late-night show. ^[1]

Music and announcers

Music for the series is provided by The Tonight Show Band, led since 1995 by Kevin Eubanks, who replaced Leno's original musical director, Branford Marsalis. Tonight Show Band is the band which plays on the American television Variety show, the Tonight Show. The year 1995 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 1995. Kevin Tyrone Eubanks (born November 15, 1957 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is a Jazz Guitarist who has been the leader of the Branford Marsalis ( August 26, 1960, Breaux Bridge, Louisiana) is an American Saxophonist, Composer and On March 29, 2004, the long-time announcer Edd Hall was replaced by John Melendez, whose acting credentials included The Howard Stern Show and I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!. Events 1461 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Towton - Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King The year 2004 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 2004. Edd Hall (born December 7, 1958) was the announcer for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno from 1992 to 2004 John Edward Melendez (born October 4, 1965) commonly known as " Stuttering John " is an American television/radio personality The Howard Stern Show is an American radio show hosted by Howard Stern on Howard 100, one of two channels on the subscription-based I'm a Celebrity Get Me out of Here! is a Reality television show in which celebrities live in jungle conditions with few creature comforts and have to earn Stern accused Leno of hiring Melendez due to his association with The Howard Stern Show as a ratings move to capture the lagging 18-25 male demographic ^[2]. Howard Allan Stern (born January 12 1954 is an American radio host and Television personality. - - Skitch Henderson was the band leader during the Steve Allen and early Carson years, followed briefly by Milton DeLugg (who later went on to become the musical director of The Gong Show). Lyle Russell Cedric “Skitch” Henderson ( January 27 1918 &ndash November 1 2005) was a Pianist, conductor, and Milton DeLugg (born December 2 1918 in Los Angeles California) is an American Composer and Arranger. This article is about the show which aired in the 1970s and 1980s Gene Rayburn served as Allen's announcer and sidekick and also guest-hosted some episodes. Gene Rayburn ( December 22, 1917 &ndash November 29, 1999) was an American Radio and Television personality The Lou Stein Trio provided musical accompaniment during the short run of Tonight: America After Dark, which ran for seven months between the Steve Allen and Jack Paar eras of the Tonight Show. Lou Stein (b Apr 22 1922 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American Jazz pianist Jose Melis led the band for Jack Paar, and Hugh Downs was his announcer. José Melis ( February 27, 1920, Havana, Cuba - April 7, 2005 Sun City California, United States) Hugh Malcolm Downs (born February 14, 1921) is a retired American broadcaster Television host For most of Johnny Carson's run on the show, the Tonight Show's band, then called "The NBC Orchestra" was led by Doc Severinsen, former trumpet soloist in Henderson's band for Steve Allen. Tonight Show Band is the band which plays on the American television Variety show, the Tonight Show. Carl Hilding "Doc" Severinsen (born July 7, 1927) is an American pop and Jazz Trumpeter. - - When McMahon was away from the show, Severinsen was the substitute announcer and Tommy Newsom would lead the band. Thomas Penn "Tommy" Newsom ( February 25, 1929 – April 28, 2007) was a Saxophone player in the NBC Orchestra On the rare occasions that both McMahon and Severinsen were away, Newsom would take the announcer's chair and the band would be led by assistant musical director Shelly Cohen. - - Severinsen's band featured several accomplished sidemen in addition to saxophonist Newsom, including trumpeter Snooky Young, pianist Ross Tompkins, and drummer Ed Shaughnessy. The band frequently appeared on camera in the "Stump the Band" segments, where an audience member would dare the band to play some obscure song title, and the band would comically improvise something appropriate. The routine was played for full comedy value and the band was not really expected to know the songs, but on two occasions the band did answer correctly, much to the maestro's surprise. Severinsen was heard to ask incredulously, "You mean we actually. . . !"

Milestones

• When the show began it was broadcast live. "Live TV" redirects here For the British TV station formerly known by this name see L!VE TV. On January 12, 1959, it began to be videotaped earlier the same broadcast day, although initially the Thursday night programs were kept live. ^[3]
• The show was first broadcast in color on September 19, 1960. ^[4]
• The Tonight Show actually began airing at 11:15 PM from its beginning until the late 1960s when Johnny Carson insisted that start time be changed to 11:30. In those early days most local news broadcasts were 15-minutes and had very few commercials, which is why the Tonight Show started at 11:15 PM. A television advertisement or television commercial (often just commercial or advert (US or ad (UK is a span of television programming produced As more and more affiliates expanded their local news programs to 30 minutes, the show was required to do two openings, one for the affiliates that joined at 11:15 and another for those who joined at 11:30. This required those joining at 11:15 to watch two openings. By the time that Carson insisted that the start be changed to 11:30, very few affiliates were still carrying that first fifteen minutes.
• The Tonight Show became the first American television show to broadcast with MTS stereo sound in 1984, although sporadically. Multichannel television sound, better known as MTS (often still as BTSC, for the Broadcast Television Systems Committee that created it is the method Regular use of MTS began in 1985.
• On April 26, 1999, the show started broadcasting in 1080i HDTV, becoming the first American nightly talk show to be shot in that format. Events 1467 - The miraculous image in Our Lady of Good Counsel appear in Genazzano, Italy. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) High-definition television (HDTV is a Digital television Broadcasting system with higher resolution than traditional television systems (standard-definition

Gag, skit, and segment highlights

See also The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

• "Man on the Street interviews" (Allen). John William “Johnny” Carson ( October 23, 1925 &ndash January 23, 2005) was an American Television host and Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela. Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 334 BC - The Greek army of Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of the Granicus. Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was a late-night talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under the ''Tonight Show'' franchise from 1962 James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno (born April 28 1950 is an Emmy Award -winning American Stand-up comedian and Television host Events 1085 - Alfonso VI of Castile takes Toledo Spain back from the Moors. Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) This article is about the year For the film see 2009 Lost Memories. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is an Emmy Award -winning American late-night Talk show currently hosted by Jay Leno, on Conan Christopher O'Brien (born April 18, 1963) is an Emmy Award -winning American Television host and Comedian, best known This article is about the year For the film see 2009 Lost Memories. Events 489 - Odoacer attacks Theodoric at the Battle of Verona and is defeated again Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) Events 869 - The Fourth Council of Constantinople is convened to decide about what to do about Patriarch Photius of Constantinople Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 314 - Roman Emperor Licinius is defeated by his colleague Constantine I at the Battle of Cibalae, and loses Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina. Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar) Events 1325 - Alfonso IV becomes King of Portugal. 1558 - France takes Calais, the last continental Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar) Events 1460 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Wakefield. 1816 - The Treaty of St Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. Events 366 - The Alamanni cross the frozen Rhine River in large numbers invading the Roman Empire. Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. Events 366 - The Alamanni cross the frozen Rhine River in large numbers invading the Roman Empire. Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. Events 1590 - Alexander Farnese 's army forces Henry IV of France to raise the siege of Paris. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Events 1325 - Alfonso IV becomes King of Portugal. 1558 - France takes Calais, the last continental Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar dedicates a Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 70 - Roman forces under Titus sack Jerusalem. 1264 - The Statute of Kalisz Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Events 1363 - Beginning date of the Battle of Lake Poyang; the forces of two Chinese rebel leaders— Chen Youliang and Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. Events 44 BC - Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion. Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was a late-night talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under the ''Tonight Show'' franchise from 1962 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is an Emmy Award -winning American late-night Talk show currently hosted by Jay Leno, on Frequently featured actors as recurring characters, most notably Don Knotts, Louis Nye and Tom Poston, though Allen also performed impromptu bits with non-professional civilians. Jesse Donald Knotts ( July 21, 1924 &ndash February 24, 2006) was an American comedic Actor best known Louis Nye ( May 1, 1913 – October 9, 2005) was an American Comedy Actor. Tom Poston ( October 17, 1921 – April 30, 2007) was an American television and film Actor.
• "Crazy Shots" (Allen). Later known as *"Wild Pictures. " Allen's supporting cast and guest stars would participate in quick visual gags while Allen played piano accompaniment.
• "Candid Camera" (Paar). Candid Camera was a Television series created and produced by Allen Funt, which initially began on Radio as Candid Microphone The off-again, on-again show, hosted by Allen Funt since radio's heyday, was a segment on The Tonight Show in 1958. Allen Funt ( September 16, 1914 &ndash September 5 1999) was an American producer-director best known as the creator and host of Old-Time Radio (OTR and the Golden Age of Radio refer to a period of Radio programming lasting from the proliferation of radio broadcasting in the early 1920s until The year 1958 in television involved some significant eventsBelow is a list of Television -related events in 1958. ^[5]
• "Stump the Band" (Paar, later Carson). Audience members are asked to name an obscure song and the band tries to play it. If the band doesn't know the song, it usually breaks into a comical piece of music.
• "Carnac the Magnificent" (Carson). Carnac the Magnificent was a role played by Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and later Carson plays a psychic who is given sealed envelopes (that McMahon invariably states, with a flourish, have been kept "hermetically sealed inside a mayonnaise jar underneath Funk & Wagnalls' porch since noon today"). Carnac holds an envelope to his head and recites the punchline to a joke contained within the envelope, then rips open the envelope and reads the matching question inside. Sample: "Saucepan. . . Who was Peter Pan's wino brother?" If a joke falls flat with the audience, Carnac invariably passes a comedic curse upon them (e. g. , "May a bloated yak change the temperature of your jacuzzi!").
• The Tea Time Movie, with "Art Fern" (Carson) and the Matinée Lady (originally Paula Prentiss, then a parade of one shots including Edy Williams, Juliet Prowse and Lee Meredith, then for many years Carol Wayne, then Danuta Wesley, and finally Teresa Ganzel). Paula Prentiss (born March 4, 1938) is an American actress well-known for her film roles in Where the Boys Are, Man's Edwina Beth Williams (born July 9, 1942) is an American television and film actress. Juliet Anne Prowse ( September 25 1936 – September 14 1996) was a South African Dancer, whose four decade career included Lee Meredith (born October 22, 1947) as Judith Lee Sauls in River Edge New Jersey) is an American actress who has appeared on several Carol Wayne ( September 6, 1942 – January 13, 1985) was an American Television and Film Actress Teresa Ganzel (born March 23 1957, Toledo Ohio) is an actress comedienne and cartoon Voice-over actress Carson once said that Art Fern was his favorite character: "He's so sleazy!" Huckster Art usually wore a loud suit, lavish toupee, and pencil mustache, and spoke in the high, nasal approximation of Jackie Gleason's "Reginald van Gleason III" character. Herbert Walton Gleason Jr, baptized John Herbert "Jackie" Gleason ( February 26, 1916 – June 24, 1987) was an A parody of 1950s-style, fast-talking advertising pitchmen, the Tea Time Movie consists of a rapid-fire series of fake advertisements for products and companies sponsoring a late-night movie. Invariably the jokes refer to his buxom Matinée Lady assistant, and at least once in every skit a variation of the "Slauson Cutoff" joke is made (e. g. , "You can find our store by heading down Hwy. 101 until you get to the Slauson Cutoff. Get out of the car, cut off your slauson, get back in the car. "), as is a reference to "Drive until you get to. . . (a map is unfolded to reveal a table fork) the fork in the road!" Art would then return us to today's movie (like "Tarzan and Cheetah Have to Get Married" or "Rin Tin Tin Gets Fixed Fixed Fixed," etc. ), followed by an antique. four-second film clip. Back to Art, caught necking with the Matinée Lady before announcing another movie and another commercial.
• "Headlines" (Allen, later Leno)

International broadcasts

Country	TV Network(s)	Weekly Schedule (local time)
Australia	The Comedy Channel	Weeknights 11pm eastern, 10:30pm central, 9pm western
Canada	A-Channel	Weeknights 11:35 PM EST
Europe	CNBC Europe
India	Zee Cafe
Portugal	SIC Mulher (as Jay Leno)
Romania	Antena 3 (as Jay Leno Show)	Weeknights 12:25 AM
Sweden	Kanal 5 (as Jay Leno Show)

The Tonight Show is also seen around the world. "Headlines" is a segment on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno airing weekly For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The Comedy Channel (promoted on air as comedy) is an Australian subscription television channel available on Foxtel, Austar and Optus Television Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The Eastern Time Zone ( ET) of the Western Hemisphere falls mostly along the east coast of North America and the west coast of South America CNBC Europe is a Business and financial news Television channel, the pan-European sister station of CNBC. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Zee Café is an Indian English language television channel It was launched on March 15 2000 as Zee English. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. SIC Mulher (lit SIC Woman) is a Portuguese cable Television channel owned by Sociedade Independente de Comunicação (SIC and launched in March Romania ( dated: Rumania, Roumania Antena 3 is a Romanian TV channel which focuses on news and current events "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. It is broadcast on CNBC Europe, usually three nights after it has been shown in the U. CNBC Europe is a Business and financial news Television channel, the pan-European sister station of CNBC. S. The show is screened at 11:00pm AEDST weeknights on The Comedy Channel in Australia, where new episodes are shown hours after its American broadcast. The Comedy Channel (promoted on air as comedy) is an Australian subscription television channel available on Foxtel, Austar and Optus Television For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. In Sweden, Kanal 5 has shown The Tonight Show (as Jay Leno Show) since the late '90s with one week's delay. "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. Since October, 2006, it is also being aired in India on Zee Cafe 12 hours after the show is shown in the USA. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Zee Café is an Indian English language television channel It was launched on March 15 2000 as Zee English. ^[6]

An early attempt at airing the show in the United Kingdom during the 1980s was unsuccessful, sparking jokes by Carson. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located On the October 23, 1984 broadcast, guest Paul McCartney had this to say of the show's British run:

Carson: (throwing to commercial) . . . we have to pay some bills here. It's not like British television which just goes and goes till they end it. McCartney: Oh you're just mad because they didn't like your show.

Shows such as Des O'Connor Tonight and Wogan were considered by many to be the UK equivalent of the show. Desmond Bernard O'Connor, CBE (born as Conrad Desmondson on 12 January 1932 is a well-known veteran English Television personality.

See also

• List of late night network TV programs

References

External links

• Tonight! (1953) at the Internet Movie Database
• Tonight! America After Dark (1957) at the Internet Movie Database
• The Jack Paar Show (1957) at the Internet Movie Database
• The Tonight Show interregnum (1962) at the Internet Movie Database
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) at the Internet Movie Database
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992) at the Internet Movie Database
• The Tonight Show from the Museum of Broadcast Communications website