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January 24, 2005

Goodnight, Johnny

Last night, I had posted about the passing of Johnny Carson, but somehow the post got eaten - or something - because it's no longer here.

I was saddened when I heard of his death - though I have to admit, the fact that when he retired, he actually retired (unlike some in show business who keep saying they're retiring, but never really go away) softened the blow a bit. In the next few days, though, we're sure to hear a lot about what a comedic genius Johnny was (and there's no denying that), and the impact he had on popular culture through all of the comics he helped introduce us to and by setting the standard for what a late-night talk show SHOULD be. And while these are certainly thing for which he should - and will - be remembered - they're not his only legacy.

In my family, we felt like we had kind of a connection to Johnny and The Tonight Show because he started hosting the show the same week my parents got married. His anniversary shows almost always fell on or near their anniversary, and it was kind of a running joke that they celebrated their anniversaries "together". Every night before they went to sleep, my parents would watch Johnny's monologue, and as I got old enough to stay up late, I would sometimes join them. Those were special times, when we could share a few laughs, exchange knowing grins, and just enjoy being together as a family. And I'm sure we're not the only ones like that.

Even after I moved out of the house, I would watch Johnny most nights, and it would remind me of those times - of hearing my dad laugh or make funny comments about Johnny's jokes. Laughter has always been a big part of our family, and Johnny's humour was special because it was something we could share. So after years of having you send us off to sleep, it's time to say goodnight to you, Johnny - and thanks for all the years of laughs and the very fond memories!

Posted by thorswitch at January 24, 2005 08:21 PM

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