Good night, Johnny.
I knew I was a "grown up" when I was finally allowed to stay up to 11:45.
Just so I could watch Johnny Carson's monologue.
I didn't care that I missed the guests. Most of them were just actors hyping projects. He was the whole show for me. I loved everything about Johnny Carson -- his easy manner with Doc and Ed; biting, but never mean, jabs at the day's newsmakers; his stock characters and his "it's all fun" attitude.
Eventually I was old enough to watch the whole show. I'd suffer through the musical guests and the comedians just to get to Johnny at his desk talking to a guest.
When he retired I stopped regularly watching late night television. Dave is funny at times, but once Johnny's in your heart everyone else is just a guest host.
