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Jones pulled clips from The Tonight Show that were entertaining, but also revealed something specific about him as a performer or person. Jones claims that Johnny revealed things about himself on the show that he felt uncomfortable sharing in his “real” life. Approach įilmmaker Peter Jones stated that he wanted to find clues to Johnny's character and his past from actual moments on The Tonight Show itself. Sotzing has said that his reasoning for granting this kind of access was because, “he didn’t want people to forget about Johnny Carson”. Carson's personal archive, which is preserved in an underground vault in Kansas, holds more than 3,500 hours of tape that have now been digitized. He bid farewell as host of The Tonight Show twenty years ago next week, a date that serves as a hook for an American Masters special titled Johnny Carson: King of Late Night (PBS, May 14, 9 p.m.
AMERICAN MASTERS JOHNNY CARSON PROFESSIONAL
In 2010, Sotzing agreed to cooperate and the Carson Entertainment Group granted Jones access to Johnny's personal and professional archives, including family photo albums, home movies, memorabilia, and all existing episodes of The Tonight Show from 1962 until his retirement in 1992. įollowing Carson's death in 2005, Jones began directing his letters to Carson's nephew, Jeff Sotzing, who controls his uncle's archives. When Carson made the initial phone call to Jones in 2003 he made a point of telling him that he appreciated the films about Bergen and Benny. Carson called Jones in 2003 and said, “You write a damn fine letter, Peter, but I don’t have anything more to say.” Jones stated that he also made documentaries about Carson's personal idols, Jack Benny and Edgar Bergen, in part, to get the attention of Johnny Carson. Production Access įor 15 years, Jones wrote an annual letter to Carson requesting his permission and cooperation in production of the documentary. Offstage, I’m aloof because I’m not very comfortable.” The documentary explores this dichotomy and enigma, unearthing clues about Carson's childhood, early days in the business, and personal and professional life. He once revealed, “I can get in front of an audience and be in control. Some interviewees include David Letterman, Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, Jimmy Fallon, Ray Romano, Drew Carey, Steve Martin, Ellen DeGeneres, and Bob Newhart.Ĭarson rarely gave interviews and remained a very private man, despite his public persona. Hours of entertainment that is definitely worth it.The film features 45 original interviews with Carson's friends, family, and colleagues. Buy it on 's like $70 for 15 DVDs.a good deal for never-before-released material that's not available on any of the other DVDs' they've put out. The set is a few years old and is cheaper than when it was first released. I've had enough of the clip shows so I was really looking forward to the newest set, "Tonight." I don't have that since I already have them seperately. The "Definitive DVD Collection" is them grouping the "Original Ultimate Carson Collection" set with the various "Tonight Show Memories" DVDs and other themed DVDs. I just finished watching this spectacular PBS American Masters documentary that captures the genius and sometimes bewildering paradox behind America's most popular late-night talk show host (NBC's 'The Tonight Show,' 1962-1992). They've done a ridiculous job recycling the same clip shows but with different packaging. 5.0 out of 5 starsWhy Was Johnny Carson A Tortured Genius Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2012. But hey, I'll take it over the "best-of" DVD sets we've gotten over and over again in the last decade or so. They cut corners wherever they can and that's how we get the 40 minutes. It's after the monologue where the show gets the sheers.panels, music guests, or comedy bits start to get cut a bit. Most of the monologues are in tact with hardly any cuts or edits. If you like the monologues the most (like I do) then the set delivers the goods.
AMERICAN MASTERS JOHNNY CARSON FULL
Still though, this is the closest we've come to full episodes. history - through unprecedented access to Carsons. Each show clocks in at about 40 minutes each, if I recall correctly.which as you know is a far cry from being complete especially for those earlier episodes that ran 90 minutes before it eventually went to a one hour broadcast. Explore the life and career of The Tonight Show host - seen by more people than anyone else in U.S. Yes, all the episodes are clipped and not really full episodes. The blue box called "Tonight." I love the set actually.