Johnny Carson left ‘Tonight Show’ in part because of ‘SNL’ comedy, book reveals
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Johnny Carson’s biggest fan, Mark Malkoff, has written a new book about the life and work of the famous talk show host.
Parts of the book describe Carson’s distaste for the popular sketch comedy show, “Saturday Night Live,” and how many sketches they did of his show influenced his decision to leave the show.
There were many references to Carson’s dislike of the show throughout the book, with actor and director David Steinberg telling Malkoff, “[Johnny] watched ‘SNL’ a few times and never liked it,” and Malkoff wrote that in the late 1970s, Carson wasn’t booking any “SNL” cast members as guests, “because of his dislike of the show.”
In 1991, a choice made by the network, and “SNL’s” continued jokes about him, led Carson to end his tenure as host of NBC’s “The Tonight Show.”
Carson reportedly did not like “Saturday Night Live.” (Alice S. Hall/NBCU Photo Bank)
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“Leno, a guest that night, heard Johnny in the hallway saying, ‘If they’re going to make fun of me, it’s time to go,'” Malkoff wrote about the May 1991 taping, after Carson found out that “SNL” was planning to do another skit on him.
Two days after Carson said those words, Malkoff writes that “SNL” aired a “Carsenio” skit, in which Dana Carvey portrayed Carson as if he were calling rival talk show host, Arsenio Hall. Five days after the photo aired, Carson announced that he was stepping down and that his last show would be in May 1992.
A new book discusses Carson’s decision to end his run on the “Tonight Show.” (Carson, 1960, Archive Photos/Getty; Carson, 1969, by Ron Galella/Getty; Carson, 1985, Donaldson Collection/Getty; Carson, 1964, Keystone Features/Getty; Carson, 1992, by Jim Smeal/Getty)
While this seemed to be the sketch that pushed Carson over the edge, it was nowhere near the first time “SNL” played the famous host.
“In 1977, Jane Curtin joked on ‘Weekend Update:’ ‘In a sudden change of policy, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson will not be broadcast live, starting next week, as previously announced,'” Malkoff wrote. “‘The decision was based on California’s new euthanasia law, which states ‘The system need not be kept alive by artificial means and has the right to a dignified death.’
Curtin made a joke about the “Tonight Show” during a 1977 episode of “SNL.” (Alan Singer/NBCU Photo Bank)
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Carvey then began portraying Carson in a series of paintings by Robert Smigel in the 1980s. Many of his paintings highlighted the idea that Carson was “old and out of business,” with others stating that “Johnny was losing his energy.”
In his final months as host of the “Tonight Show,” Carson began firing back at those who spent years laughing at his expense, including Carvey, who had recently made a joke about Carson’s struggle with alcoholism.
“But Johnny had the last laugh,” the letter reads. “At his press conference on May 20, two days before his final show, he said, ‘We’ve had this network for thirty years, and this is what I’ve seen. [new] schedule, and they came up with a really cool, innovative plan. They’re going to try a Saturday Night Live type of comedy.’
Carson’s last show aired on May 22, 1992, and out of respect for the legendary talk show host, Malkoff writes that Comedy Central went dark for a full hour of his show, and Arsenio Hall reran his show for the rest of that week.
Carson hosted his last show on May 22, 1992. (Alice S. Hall/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
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“And it’s come to this. I’m one of the luckiest people in the world. I’ve found something I’ve always wanted to do, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” Carson said in his final outro, per book.
He continued: “I want to thank the gentleman who shared the stage with me for thirty years, Mr. Ed McMahon; Mr. Doc Severinsen. And the people watching—I can only tell you that it has been an honor and a privilege to enter your homes all these years . . .”
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