2007-03-11 15:07:05 · 10 answers · asked by pete6356 1 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Television
NBC Wanted to keep Johnny like nobody's business. They would have kept him ANOTHER 30 years if they could have.
His personal life was a travesty. He was divorced twice, and did not want to ruin marriage #3. His son had recently died in a tragic accident, and he was SO work driven, that he really did not take the time out to really know his son.
Had he not been under contract at that time, he probably would have ended it there (with his son's death).
While Arsenio had attracted a younger crowd, he could NOT come CLOSE to touching the King of Late Night.
Lucky for Arsenio that Carson wanted to go out with an even 30 years in 1992, because that gave him 2 years of breathing room. Still no challenge for great late night TV, Arsenio's show went blank in 1994.
Carson closed his show by saying that he had hoped that he'd find another quality TV venue to return to. He never did.
Though many have tried, no one has been able to replicate his success since.
2007-03-11 15:29:58 · answer #1 · answered by bpgveg14 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
No. There were various "leaks" made to the media and "Saturday Night Live" was featuring "Carsenio," something that would never have been permitted during the height of Carson s power at the Network. He probably saw the writing on the wall but then the Helen Kuschnik story that was planted in a New York paper started to seal the deal for Leno.
Letterman never saw it coming either. I have always wondered if someone tipped Carson off that Jay was signed to replace him one week before the network up-fronts so that the timing of his "retirement" would be made on HIS own terms....
2015-04-01 13:55:36 · answer #2 · answered by Greg 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Johnny Carson left voluntarily and turned down NBC offers for him to return to television.
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Carson did not have guests on his final episode of The Tonight Show. An estimated 50 million people watched this retrospective show, which ended with him sitting on a stool alone on the stage, curiously similar to Jack Paar's last show. He gave these final words of goodbye:
“ And so it has come to this. I am one of the lucky people in the world. I found something that I always wanted to do and I have enjoyed every single minute of it. I bid you a very heartfelt goodnight. ”
During his final speech, Carson told the audience that he hoped to return to television with another project and that hopefully "will meet with your approval" but ultimately he chose never to return to television with another show of his own. In one of his few post-retirement interviews, Carson hinted in a December 1993 interview with Tom Shales of the Washington Post that he didn't think he could top what he had already accomplished.
2007-03-11 15:24:13 · answer #3 · answered by jbrandtc 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Carson was an icon and everyone loved him. He may have realized that in order for NBC to draw a continuing, younger crowd he would have to step down. I think he felt it was just the right time to do so. Miss you Johnny!
2007-03-11 15:12:25 · answer #4 · answered by staisil 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think they made him leave b/c he was getting old and the whole Arsenio Hall thing was was huge so they replaced Johnny Carson with the next best thing to Aresenio Hall........ Jay Leno.
2007-03-11 15:12:20 · answer #5 · answered by faithful 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
He left on his terms and he named the day. It's been our loss ever since. I would have settled for repeats of all his shows, much like the MASH or LUCY reruns, compared to what has been on late night since Johnny left. These people just aren't funny. It amazes me the amount of money they get paid... and I ask, for what?
2007-03-11 16:47:36 · answer #6 · answered by Rag Doll 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Johnny "WAS" the Tonight Show, there's no way they would have wanted Him to go.
2007-03-11 15:11:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
They wanted him to stay but family and health made him retire.
2007-03-11 15:14:33 · answer #8 · answered by Pantherempress 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
He chose to retire.
2007-03-11 15:15:00 · answer #9 · answered by SpaGirl 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think he just wanted to retire....
2007-03-11 15:09:35 · answer #10 · answered by Dusty 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋