Heeeeere's Saint Johnny

Brothers, Sisters, and Transgendered Comedists Everywhere,

Selecting an envelope from those that have been hermetically sealed in a mayonnaise jar on Funk and Wagnall's front porch since noon today...The answer is "Sherwin Williams, botulism, George W. Bush, and Johnny Carson." (rip) Name a paint, a taint, an ain't, a saint.

Yes, this week we celebrate the feast of Saint Johnny. Johnny Carson would have been 84 years old this week. Taking over the Tonight Show from Jack Paar in 1962, he was the ultimate comedic iron man being continuously funny for thirty years. His monologues were always well written and impeccably delivered -- indeed, no one blew a joke better than Johnny, the one's he lost often ended up funnier than the ones he hit. Coming from Iowa through Nebraska, he had the gentle midwestern clean feel about him that let him get away with lines on network tv that others might not have been able to.

He became an American fixture, who not only brought decades of laughs himself, but intentionally nurtured the comedic community being THE place for young comics to get the widest possible exposure. To play Johnny was the break of breaks for stand-up artists and Carson helped launch some of the greatest careers in comic history.

The funniest moment ever on Carson. Had to be either the marmoset or the tomahawk. Heck, here's both.




Favorite Johnny bits or moments?

Live, love, and laugh,

Irreverend Steve