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The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 1962

★ 7.5/10 · 93 votes TV-PG Talk 31 seasons · 3756 eps Ended
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★ 7.5/10
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Quick answer

What is The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson?

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is an American television talk show broadcast by NBC. Serving as the third installment of The Tonight Show franchise, the program was hosted by Johnny Carson and aired from October 1, 1962, to May 22, 1992.

Type
TV series
Year
1962
Status
Ended
Episodes
3,756
Runtime
60 minutes
First aired
Oct 1, 1962
Last aired
May 22, 1992
Original language
EN
Origin
US
Networks
NBC
Genres
Talk
Updated
Streaming Intelligence

Binge-Worthiness & Content Radar

79 /100 Solid Watch
⚡ Pacing & Momentum8/10
🧠 Narrative Depth7.8/10
🔄 Rewatch Potential7.7/10
🎬 Production Scale8.2/10
🎯 Bingeable Series #Talk
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Overview

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is an American television talk show broadcast by NBC. Serving as the third installment of The Tonight Show franchise, the program was hosted by Johnny Carson and aired from October 1, 1962, to May 22, 1992. Throughout its run, the show aired during late-night hours and featured Carson performing comedy routines and chatting with various celebrities. The series also featured Ed McMahon, Doc Severinsen, and Skitch Henderson. For the first ten years of its broadcast, the show was based in New York City with occasional trips to Burbank, California. In May 1972, the production moved permanently to Burbank. The program replaced Tonight Starring Jack Paar and was later replaced by The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In 2002, the show was ranked number 12 on TV Guide's list of the 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time. The show remains a notable entry in the history of the late-night talk show genre as a long-running staple of American television.

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Should you watch it?

“Johnny Carson hosts this iconic late-night talk show featuring comedy routines and celebrity interviews.”

Reasons to watch
  • features iconic host Johnny Carson
  • includes comedy routines and celebrity guests
Keep in mind
  • no longer in production

Watch it if you enjoy classic American late-night talk show formats and comedy.

The show is a standard talk show format suitable for general audiences.

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Mytharc (15): Crucial lore & season climaxes
Core (1078): Character development & subplots
Side Quest (0): Standalone / filler
Season 1 · 64 episodes Open the complete Season 1 guide & lore primer →
Season 2 · 258 episodes
Season 3 · 257 episodes
Season 4 · 258 episodes
Season 5 · 256 episodes
Verified insights

Frequently asked questions

Who hosted the show?

The program was hosted by Johnny Carson.

When did the show air?

The show aired from 1962 to 1992.

Where was the show filmed?

It was based in New York City for its first ten years before moving permanently to Burbank, California in 1972.

What is the show about?

The host performs comedy routines and chats with various celebrities.

How was the show ranked?

In 2002, it was ranked number 12 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.

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