Johnny Carson: 1925-2005

The Classy Generation of entertainers are fading away and they don't seem to have any replacements. I can't imagine anyone speaking of our current lineup of entertainers (Letterman being the exception) with the same superlatives as Carson, Parr, Hope etc.

Part of that is that Hope and Parr (Carson being their prodigy) were the pioneers of the medium, but at the same time they seemed to be using the medium to extend their vision of what's entertaining and what it means to be an entertainer. What distinguished them above their guests is their sense of place among the entertainers. They had the respect of their guests and their audience and it reflected in who they had on the show and how they treated them.

Their comedy was timeless. It didn't chase trends, but at the same time it viewed the trends through their own wicked sense of humor.

They also seemed to be more influential about who was on their shows and why they were there. Is the Tonight Show anything but a press junket for the flavor of the month right now? Will anyone remember Leno gladhanding the audience? Letterman is probably the last great late night host and he even falls prey to some of these criticisms. O'Brien is funny, but I don't see anyone opining over a bear fondling himself. He's got the aire about him, but he can't interview to save his life.

I guess what I miss most and admire the most from Carson and Letterman is their sense of confidence in what they are doing. The greats had a wonderful aire about them that made you belive they were ready for any situation and this fueled their wise-cracking, sardonic humor and made you want to be just like them.