I read where Carson’s final show was seen by 41 Million people. Sorry Dave & Jay your final shows were not even close.
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I was a huge Carson fan! Wasn’t his final show before widespread cable TV, though?
Speaking of failures like Letterman and Conan, I would include Fallon. The guy is talented in singing/dancing, but is seldom funny and just flat looks wierd. He just sucks up to the NYC liberals and has little appeal across the US. Kimmel is much funnier and offers shows beyond the liberal genre.
Yes Carson’s final show was in May of 1992, see Letterman was trying to imitate Carson even at the end of his run.
You are correct that even there was cable it was not like it is today and for Johnny Carson to get 41 Million people watching the final show is unreal. Even network TV shows today can’t get numbers like that.