To me, this movie is perfection.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

.Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

For three decades, Johnny Carson hosted the long-running "Tonight Show" on NBC. He performed monologues, interviewed guests, and performed comedy sketches. Carson wasn't the first host of "The Tonight Show" (he was the third); but, he was certainly the best.Johnny Carson was remembered for his opening monologues. He told jokes about current events and poked fun at well- known media figures. Johnny Carson always managed to be funny during the monologues, even when the jokes themselves didn't work. Carson often used misfired jokes as a source of laughter and was often at his best when things on the show went unpredictably wrong.Johnny Carson was a skilled interviewer. Many famous people had the privilege of being interviewed on Carson's couch. He gave many stand-up comedians their first breaks on his show. If a comedian's stand-up routine went particularly well, Carson would invite the comedian to his couch for a visit. Some of the funniest moments on Carson's show occurred whenever he was interviewing a small child. The child would innocently say something which was unintentionally insulting; and, Carson would respond by staring into the TV camera.Johnny Carson served as the model for all other American talk show hosts who followed him. Carson's "Tonight Show" established the talk show format which has been imitated numerous times.Old episodes of "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" are as entertaining today as they were when they were originally broadcast decades ago. Repeats of the show are often aired under the title, "Johnny Carson." Viewing of the show is highly recommended!

Here's Johnny!!! - What did the Pearly Gatekeeper say when...Johnny arrived there? There will never be another Johnny Carson. The entertainment he provided with the help of thousands of guests over 30 years will never be equaled by anyone. I don't even know that anyone can ever do justice to comment on one of the rare things that rates more than a 10 on a scale of 10 in our lifetimes.Even before Johnny Carson died, a greater loss was when NBC lost most of his Tonight Shows from the 1960's. If only somebody could find these shows because these are the shows which made him number 1. They were 90 minutes each of Carson arriving at the top of his career. It has been forgotten how hard nosed an interviewer he was during that decade. Also lost are some of the most famous guests in show business during that era & the fact that he would have controversial guests on & face them on any subject during that era. The greatest thing was Carson arrived at his peak in the 1960's & then amazingly stayed there for three decades. Thank goodness NBC didn't lose any of those other shows. How they got lost makes me wonder if they didn't want the tough hard-nosed Carson who was not afraid to face any guest remembered or if they wanted to lose some of the early images of Johnny smoking on air. I mean, NBC managed to archive all the Original LET'S MAKE A DEAL programs in the same era. Why not the Johnny Carson's?I have the set of clips of his & every so often I turn them on. I taped his last show, & keep it in my archives. I wish somewhere, somehow, someplace those 1960's shows would show up. At least now that I've seen the best, I can only wish to see it again. We were all blessed to have had Johnny Carson.

I haven't seen the movie itself but I understand it's an overall view of JC's 30 years on the show. I lived in FLA one year and watched it sometimes during the week. What I saw was funny, smart and bright. I always liked the "monologue" and I wonder who actually started that tradition, or was it JC himself? And the big guy on the settee-McMann? what exactly was his function? I was sorry to see JC finish his run and thought he could have lasted at least another 5-10 years. He was a brilliant host - the best ever. When he paid tribute to his late son, it was very poignant and reserved.God bless Johnny Carson.

Dorothy "Stratten" is said to be on this collection of tapes. I have the whole set and did not see her. Her name is spelled as "Stratton" on the Johnny web site-this is wrong. If I'm wrong please let me know. I was really looking forward to seeing her in some form on one of the collection tapes. Although I didn't get to see her I still enjoyed the whole collection. I grew up with Johnny and will miss him very much.