Johnny Carson 

Johnny Carson

Terry Teachout definitely captures something: when some of us were young, it was a big deal to stay up and watch Carson, on a good night he seemed really "on" and funny (or he allowed his guests to be funny), and the band was great. It was an enjoyable slice of Hollywood. Yet once the tube was turned off--to say nothing of years later--what can anyone remember? It gives "ephemeral" a new meaning.

Joseph Epstein wrote in an essay once (I don't remember which) that he thinks everyone is reduced in scale somehow by appearing on a talk show. To dramatize his use of "everyone," he says: even Katherine Hepburn, the way I might say: even Sigourney Weaver.

It used to be a cliche that you wouldn't want to be trapped in an elevator with an actor. Yet more and more, that seems to be exactly what people do want.

One obit has a nice touch about how Carson could ad lib when things went a bit awry--especially during the monologue. Coming out of the curtain, centre stage--he had at least a little theatre training. If the laughter was flat, and then there was a bit more nervous laughter, he might hold up his hand and say: No, I don't want your pity. And that would get a laugh.