Opinion: Late-night television's golden age is over

CNN ^ | 8/19/22 | Bill Carter

[Ciaphas Cain]

Something that Carson, and Letterman too to some extend did, was have interesting people on their shows. Not necessarily "celebrities" but men and women and at times children who had an interesting story to tell.

That may have been because Carson... and again, Letterman to a degree... came from more humble backgrounds so far as showbiz goes. That reflected well in the kind of shows that they hosted.

Today's late night is all about celebrities, not "average people who are intriguing". Its hosts ARE celebrities and they make damned sure you don't forget. They represent the worst of stardom and they don't care how repulsive they really are.

I haven't watched a late night show in well over a decade. From what I've heard, I'm not missing anything.

[Steve_Seattle]

"If late-night television had a true golden age, we probably passed it sometime in the past decade."

No, the golden age ended with the retirement of Johnny Carson, although Jay Leno wasn't bad. But he never had the impact of Carson.

[redshawk]

George Burns was always good in standup. Quick wit.

[fidelis]

The “Golden Age” of just about everything ended about the turn of this century. Everything else since then has been mere imitation and cruel caricature with an occasional bright spot.

[meowmeow]

Sometimes if I am awake late and can’t sleep, I watch old Carson clips on YT. Brings back memories of being a kid and listening to my parents watching him and hearing their laughter. Watched some with Rickles the other night!

My parents are still night owls but watch reruns of Pickers or TV preachers. They can’t stand the late night comics.

[Ciaphas Cain]

Here's an example of what I'm talking about: Grace Hopper on Late Night with David Letterman.

[MercyFlush]

Late night TV just isn’t funny anymore.

[redshawk]

The original Saturday Night Live, when it first came out, was brilliant. Today, just trash.

[Bonemaker]

It was over when Jay Leno retired.

[dfwgator]

Maybe Carson’s best guest of all was Robin Williams.

[Steve_Seattle]

Carson: "It was cold in New York City last night."

Ed McMahon: "How cold WAS it?"

Carson: "It was so cold that the flashers in Central Park were just describing themselves."

[OttawaFreeper]

Sometimes they are on TCM. I remember watching one from about 1980 with Angie Dickinson and she showed up simply wearing jeans and a casual sweater and she still looked so lovely and gorgeous.

[gundog]

Conan O’Brien could be hilarious

[OttawaFreeper]

That was back when Ackroyd, Belushi, Curtin, Murray, and the others made fun of everyone and everything. Not some puerile and inane hate show against conservatives and Republicans as it is today.

[gibsonguy]

My thoughts as well. SNL became unwatchable about the same time and now it’s as rancid as the late night shows

[mowowie]

Yup..

[CIB-173RDABN]

Copper Clapper - Jack Webb and Johnny Carson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgYbogp1Ha0

[posterchild]

Fortunately there are reruns of Carson available online.

Jay Leno was pretty good when his regular writers went on strike otherwise he was just OK.

I haven’t bothered watching much tv at all in the past 15 years other than things my children are interested in.

[dfwgator]

Johnny Carson - Commercials (Pies in the Face)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BPN2mbBSMM

[OttawaFreeper]

Knight Rider was better in it’s first one or two seasons. And the same with the Dukes in it’s first two or three seasons, especially the episodes filmed on location in Georgia during the first season. Also liked Magnum PI, Bret Maverick (the 1981-82 revival), Simon and Simon, and Remington Steele.