A Tough Husband
Carson was not known for being the greatest husband in the world. In fact, while on his honeymoon with Alexis Maas, his fourth wife, he got frustrated with her and even publicly exclaimed: “We’ve been married for three weeks. If you say something like that again, this marriage won’t last another three weeks.”
A Tough Husband
More Strained Relationships
Johnny had three sons from his first marriage. One of the boys, Rick, long struggled with his mental health and was even taken to a hospital to help him deal with his difficulties. Johnny Carson did not ever go to visit his son there as he felt the whole ordeal was highly embarrassing.
More Strained Relationships
Carson Unhinged
One of Johnny Carson’s biggest vices was drinking too much. This led to his often aggresive behavior and poor decisions. At a party that NBC threw in honor of the 25th anniversary of The Tonight Show, Carson and his son both drank too much and ended up engaging in a screaming match which escalated so much that people had to restrain the father and son in order to prevent a physical altercation.
Carson Unhinged
The Final Straw
Caron’s years-long struggle with substance abuse would plague him for a majority of his life. In 1982, he was pulled over while driving intoxicated in his DeLorean car. He ended up getting three ears probation and had to take a course on substance abuse for drivers.
The Final Straw
60 Minute Reveal
Despite the fact that his addiction followed him throughout his life, Carson was at least aware of his problem. In an interview with 60 Minutes, Carson shared: “I don’t handle alcohol well at all, no. Really don’t.” However, his substance abuse gave him plenty of material for his show.
60 Minute Reveal
His First Love
Johnny Carson and his first wife Jody were actually college sweethearts. Their marriage produced three sons: Chris, Ricky, and Cory. However, their marriage would not be able to withstand Johnny’s budding career and wandering eye. They divorced in 1963.
His First Love
A Second Chance At Love
After his first divorce, Carson met Joanne Copeland, who he would marry shortly after they began dating. Copeland, a former stewardess and TV host on Video Village, became his second wife. Perhaps he had hoped for a better marriage the second time around, but that would not be the case.
A Second Chance At Love
The Doomed Relationship
Carson’s relationship with Copeland would not fare any better than his first marriage. Both Johnny and Joanne strayed from each other, engaging in affairs which would lead to their 1972 divorce. However, Copeland stayed dedicated to him and helped keep his TV legacy preserved.
The Doomed Relationship
A Sordid Affair
Johnny Carson’s friend and former lawyer Henry Bushkin released a tell-all book about Carson after he passed away. The book revealed that Copeland was engaging in an affair with Frank Gifford, New York Giants football star. Bushkin recounted the story of how Carson found out and how hard he took the news.
A Sordid Affair
A Risky Break-In
Bushkin shared that when Carson was first suspicious of Joanne’s affair he did some snooping and discovered that she had rented an apartment for her and her lover. Carson decided that he wanted to break into the apartment to see the proof for himself.
A Risky Break In
The Technicality
Being a lawyer, Bushkin felt he needed to find a reasonable excuse for the planned break-in. After asking Carson whether Joanne could afford the apartment on her own, Johnny replied: “No, not really.” To that, Bushkin said: “Then let me suggest that you have been the person who has been paying for this apartment. So arguably it’s your apartment.”
The Technicality
Getting In
When they reached the apartment’s building, the doorman was quite surprised and excited to see Johnny Carson. Despite this, he did not let Carson and his crew go upstairs. Thee building manager was called, and he decided to bend the rules and allow Johnny to go upstairs.
Getting In
What They Found
Carson and his entourage got into the apartment and it was immediately clear that Joanne and her lover were spending time together there. It was then that Carson discovered that her lover was Frank Gifford. Bushkin revealed that once Johnny realized everything, he broke down and began sobbing.
What They Found
Jealousy Followed
One the affair was officially confirmed, Carson turned to Ed McMahon, his right hand man, and the two went on a drinking bender. Frank Gifford ended up marrying Kathie Lee Gifford, who is the host of The Today Show. On her show, she asked Frank about the affair and he replied that he “couldn’t remember [it].”
Jealousy Followed
Feeling Guilty
When Johnny found out about the affair, he then began to feel feelings of guilt. He told Bushkin: “I shoulda been home more. Not out running around….I have three kids with my first wife and I don’t see any of them.” He felt that he should have been a better husband and father.
Feeling Guilty
His “Worst” Guest
Johnny absolutely could not stand Bob Hope due to the fact that he came on the show with scripted jokes. Carson’s co-head writer Andrew Nicholls shared: “There was nothing spontaneous about Hope. He was a guy who relied on his writers for every topic. Johnny was very quick on his feet. Very well read. He was a guy who learned Swahili, learned Russian, learned astronomy. He appreciated people who he felt engaged with the real world. There was nothing to talk to Bob about.”
His Worst Guest
There’s No “Hope” For Him
As the years went on, Bob Hope’s hearing and eyesight started to decline, which made his guest appearances on The Tonight Show to be even more annoying to Carson. He told his team: “If I ever end up like that, guys, I want you to shoot me.”
There’s No “Hope” For Him
Carson’s Ladies
It was no secret that Carson was quite the womanizer. Throughout the divorce process with his second wife, Carson wasted no time and spent a lot of time with actress Angel Thompkins. He then married his third wife, Joanna Holland. Holland was fully aware of his infidelities and Carson would freuquently give her lavish gifts to make up for it. Despite this, their marriage also ended in divorce.
Carson’s Ladies
He Blames His Mother
Carson was not shy about blaming his mother for his flaws. On the matter he said: “She’s the toughest son of a [expletive] of them all. There is no goddamn way to please that woman. She’s Lady Macbeth! My marriages failed because she [expletive] me up!” He even avoided her funeral when she died and merely stated: “The wicked witch is dead.”
He Blames His Mother
Her Attention Was Elsewhere
It was a known fact that Ruth Hook Carson, Johnny’s mother, always wanted a daughter. She first had two boys and then finally a daughter named Catherine. Apparently she focused all of her attention on Catherine and was much tougher on the boys. Her strictness led Johnny to want to rebel and he became a troublemaker in order to try to get her attention.
Her Attention Was Elsewhere
His Need For Attention Grew
The lack of attention from his mother may have been the root of Carson’s need to entertain. Whatever the reason, it’s a fact that Carson started performing and making people laugh from an early age. He said: “I can’t say I ever wanted to become an entertainer, I already was one, sort of — around the house, at school, doing magic tricks…people thought I was funny.”
His Need For Attention Grew
His Entertainment Roots
Johnny began his stint in entertaining when was just 14 years old. While he was over a friend’s house, he stumbled upon a book that taught magic tricks. He was quickly hooked and he started putting on magic shows, going by the name of “The Great Carsoni,” and even getting paid $3 for a show.
His Entertainment Roots
Joining The Military
Johnny Carson was a member of the U.S. Navy, having joined in June 1943. He trained at Columbia University and Millaps College to become an officer. However, while he was en route to the combat zone, Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed, ending the war.
Joining The Military
The Navy Days
Carson shared that his favorite memory of his Navy days was when he had the opportunity to perform a magic trick for James V. Forrestal, who was the then-U.S. Secretary of the Navy. He managed to make Forrestal laugh even though the Secretary was known for his cranky and burly demeanor. Carson felt if he could entertain Forrestal, he could make it as a professional entertainer.
The Navy Days
Early Gigs
While Carson was still in school, he started his entertainment business. For the magic shows that he performed while in college, he managed to get $25 per show. That’s a lot of beer money!
Early Gigs
Getting An Education
Carson attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He majored in journalism and minored in physics and his thesis was called: “How to Write Comedian Jokes.” He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Radio and Speech.
Getting An Education
Post Grad Life
Carson’s first job post-graduation was at a radio station called WOW, along with a job working at a TV station in Omaha. He was the host of morning show The Squirrel’s Nest and one of his running gags was his “interview” with the pigeons who reside on the top of local courthouses to get their opinions on political corruption they may be seeing.
Post Grad Life
Insensitive Jokes
Carson was not afraid of stepping on toes when it came to his comedy. He often liked to joke about overweight people. A frequent butt of these jokes was actor Raymond Burr, who eventually got so tired of the jokes that he stopped showing up to The Tonight Show altogether.
Insensitive Jokes
The Deal Falls Through
In 1980, Carson entertained the idea of buying the Las Vegas Aladdin Hotel & Casino, but at the last minute he decided against it. A competing group ended up acquiring the hotel instead. The media made it look as though Carson “lost” the deal and he actually made fun of the hotel’s new owner, Newton, on his show.
The Deal Falls Through
A War Of Words
Newton responded to Carson’s endless mocking while appearing on Larry King Live, saying: “Johnny Carson is a mean-spirited human being. And there are people that he has hurt that people will never know about. And for some reason at some point, he decided to turn that kind of negative attention toward me. And I refused to have it.” He then threatened Carson, and only after that did Carson relent.
A War Of Words
A Little Help From Skelton
In 1953, comedian Red Skelton noticed Carson’s sketch comedy show called Carson Cellar. Skelton was impressed with what Carson could accomplish with a low-budget and asked Carson to join as a writer on his own show. When Skelton accidentally knocked himself out in 1954, Carson had the opportunity to take his place on the show.
A Little Help From Skelton
Early Comedy Success
In 1955, comedian Jack Benny also began to notice Johnny Carson on the comedy scene. Benny asked Carson to appear in both the opening and closing portions of his show. Carson even impersonated Benny on his own show!
Early Comedy Success
Snyde-r Remarks
Carson would also go on to feud with Tom Snyder, who was the host of the Tomorrow Show. Carson allegedly felt that Snyder was untalented and boring, and was known to go on drunken rants about how much he disliked Snyder.
Snyde-r Remarks
Joan And John In The Picture
Joan Rivers and John Davidson served as guests hosts on The Tonight Show, and both would go on to host their own shows. Carson was angered by this, as he felt their new shows were competing with his show after he helped them. Rivers later shared that after she started hosting her own show, Carson stopped speaking to her for good.
Joan And John In The Picture
Their Secret Past
Although the rivalry between Joan Rivers and Johnny Carson was not a secret, she later admitted that she had engaged in an affair with Carson while she was still married to her husband Edgar Rosenberg. Despite the affair, Joan was married to Rosenberg for 22 years until the end of his life.
Their Secret Past
His Fourth Marriage
Carson married his fourth wife Alexis Maas in 1987 following his divorce for third wife Joanna Holland. Holland received a $20 million settlement. Maas remained Carson’s wife until he passed away in 2005.
His Fourth Marriage
Toilet Paper Issues
In 1973, Carson made a joke about there being a shortage of toilet paper. He was such an influential figure at the time that people took it seriously, panicked, and rushed out to buy all the toilet paper they could get their hands on until there was an actual toilet paper shortage.
Toilet Paper Issues
Legal Drama
Carson was faced with a bit of silly legal issues when a portable toilet company chose to name their portable toilets “Here’s Johnny!” The phrase was coined on Carson’s show and thus he sued the company. Two decades and two appeals later, Carson won the legal battle. However, the company is still fighting to regain the rights to the name.
Legal Drama
Mr. Rogers Wasn’t His Friend
In one skit on his show, Carson chose to spoof Mr. Rogers. He plate an alternate Mr. Rogers where he is actually evil and he encouraged children to steal money from their parents. The real Mr. Rogers, Red Rogers, was not pleased about this skit, and in an unusual move, Carson apologized to him.
Mr. Rogers Wasn’t His Friend
A Favor To Frank Sinatra
In 1981, Frank Sinatra produced Ronald Reagan’s Inaugural Gala and asked Carson to host it. Sinatra said it would be a personal favor, which helped persuade Carson to do it, albeit reluctantly. He was then told that Ronald Reagan requested him personally, and Carson replied: “Ronnie does know that I answered my country’s call once already, doesn’t he?”
A Favor To Frank Sinatra
He Lost Faith
Late in his life, Carson had dinner with Garry Shandling and Jerry Seinfeld where he told them that he did not have very high hopes for TV’s future. Peter Jones shared: “Apparently [he] went on about his disappointment in the direction television was going, with its tabloid nature and reality garbage…He had said he was sickened by what was going on, and was glad he got out when he did.”
He Lost Faith
He Couldn’t Take It
In his 2016 tell-all autobiography, Richard Little revealed that he believed that Carson absolutely hated him. He said that Carson couldn’t handle Little’s impressions of him. Carson’s lawyer and friend Henry Bushkin said: Richard brought out the worst in Johnny.”
He Couldn’t Take It
Carson’s Blonde
Actress and model Carol Wayne made frequent appearances on The Tonight Show. She would play the “matinee lady” who was a ditzy blonde. She was so well-received that she would also appear on the Red Skelton Show. However, when Carson decided to shorten the length of Tonight Show from 90 to 60 minutes, her career would never recover.
Carson’s Blonde
The Blonde Bombshell Loses Out
After the Tonight Show episode length was cut down to 60 minutes, Carol’s character did not make the cut. She experienced financial troubles and then fell into substance abuse. She later met Edward Durston, a used car salesman. When the two were vacationing in Mexico, they got into a passionate argument, and he left her alone on the beach.
The Blonde Bombshell Loses Out
Her Mysterious Death
Carol’s lifeless body was found several days later in a Mexico bay. Ed had left Mexico and had left her luggage behind at the airport. Many shocked people believe that he was definitely responsible for her death.
Her Mysterious Death
Jack Was Not On Paar
Jack Paar was the host of The Tonight Show from 1957 until 1962. He was a bit controversial for some choice he made, for example interviewing Fidel Castro. When one of his jokes was censored on air, he quit on the spot. He told the audience: “I am leaving the Tonight Show. There must be a better way of, uh, making a living than this. You have been…peachy to me always.”
Jack Was Not On Paar
Johnny’s Opportunity
After this incident, Paar left the show and also the country. He was convinced to come back and he agreed, hosting the show for another two years before retiring for good. This left an open position, which would be Johnny Carson’s career-defining opportunity.
Johnny’s Opportunity
Famous Friends
Throughout his life, Carson was always fascinated by astronomy and he owned several telescopes. He was also friends with Carl Sagan, the famed astrophysicist. Carson was also a lover of jazz music, played the drums himself, and befriending Buddy Rich.
Famous Friends
His Fidget Toy
While hosting The Tonight Show, Carson had a habit of fidgeting with a pencil. The show’s producer’s then decided to give him pencils with erasers on both ends in order to prevent anyone from getting hurt. Carson asked: “But how can I write with this?” Ed McMahon then replied: “There’s no need. You’re a talker. You’re not a writer.”
His Fidget Toy
His Sidekick
Ed McMahon was interviewed by Carson in 1957 for the role of an announcer on a show called Who Do You Trust? that Carson was the host of at the time. The interview ended after 5 minutes, making McMahon believe that he did not get the job. However, the studio soon called him offering him the position.
His Sidekick
The Catchphrase
After McMahon got the job, he continued working alongside Johnny. He would be best known for his famous introduction of Johnny on the show: “Heeeere’s Johnny!” The catchphrase became so well known that it was even referenced in the film The Shining by Jack Nicholson’s character.
The Catchphrase
A Love For Pageants
In 1979, Bert Parks, the original host of Miss America, was removed from the role because producers felt that he had outgrown it and due to the fact that they wanted to draw a younger audience. Johnny Carson was outraged and started a campaign to get Bert back as the host, however his efforts did not succeed.
A Love For Pageants
A Stab At The Hart
Johnny Carson was so influential that he even had an impact on the 1987 presidential election. A candidate named Gary Hart was running against Michael Dukakis on the Democrat side. Hart was part of a scandal when his affair came to light, and Carson mocked him on his show. After this, Hart dropped out of the race completely.
A Stab At The Hart
Some Monkey Business
Carson decided to make fun of the fact that Hart and his mistress were pictured on a boat that was called “Monkey Business.” TV Critic Greg Dawson said on the matter: “Isn’t it reassuring to know that the identity of the next president of the United States could be decided in large part by Johnny Carson’s joke writers? It this a great democracy or what?”
Some Monkey Business
An Octopus And A Guppy
Actress Sally Fields also opened up on her experiences with Johnny Carson. She said that their relationship was like “the octopus and the reluctant little guppy.” She also said that while she did date him, she was not interested in him and was not sure how to turn him down.
An Octopus And A Guppy
Sally Field Feigns Crazy
Field shared that she had a problem with saying no to people, and she would just “tell people I had lost my mind.” She said she did the same with Carson. She explained: “I told him I was having a breakdown and being sent away. I couldn’t figure out how just to say I’m really am just not into this. I just said, ‘I’m so sorry. I have to go away. They’re putting me in a home.'”
Sally Field Feigns Crazy
Accidentally Helping Uri Geller
Carson accidentally jumpstarted Uri Geller’s career. He did not think that Geller’s illusionist bit was real and he tried to expose him live on air. He put Geller on the spot while on the show, and Geller could not perform under pressure, leaving the show feeling humiliated. However, audiences felt his failure made his act more believable. Surely if he was faking it, he would not have admitted to failing on live TV.
Accidentally Helping Uri Geller
The DeLorean Investment
John DeLorean created the car that is most famously associated with the Back to the Future film franchise. Carson was one of the main investors of the car. However, DeLorean was arrested in 1982 and the whole business went down the drain, along with Carson’s investment.
Unveiling Of The DeLorean Motor Car February 8, 1981
No Mingling With Guests
Carson was not known for being particularly friendly, and that extended to the guests on his show. He did not like to mingle with them, and did not necessarily laugh at their jokes if he did not think they were funny. He even cut interviews short if he felt he was not enjoying the interview.
No Mingling With Guests
He Controlled Everything
The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson was NBC’s most profitable show in the 1970’s. It brought it between $50-60 million per year, which comes out to $180-220 million today. Carson took advantage of this and would always threaten to leave and join a different network whenever he did not get his way.
He Controlled Everything
