Experience the Divine CD
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1/23/05 Like many of you, I heard the unexpected news this morning that the king of late night television, Johnny Carson had passed away. With so many deaths this week (Ruth Warrick, Virginia Mayo), I'm not really sure why this one sticks out so much for me. Maybe it's because with the passing of Johnny, so goes an era, a certain generation. For me, he represented the memory of that time in my life when staying up till 11:30 at night was a unique treat and just hearing the theme song fanfare, listening for Ed McMahon's signature introduction and waiting for those curtains to be dramatically swept back signified something special. Johnny Carson was someone who could entertain a political dignitary, a golden age actor, and a modern rock star with equal knowledge and respect. He was one of those extraordinary people who managed to combine a sense of utter personal dignity while maintaining an ability to laugh at himself. I had the extraordinary privilege to be there in the studio audience on that last televised night in 1992, watching Bette Midler sing her goodbye to the man. Even at that time I knew what an amazing moment in television history that was. He said goodbye to us, the audience, that last night and retired with the same dignity and class he showed onscreen. Today he said his final good-night and we the audience give him his final standing ovation. *The WriterGroupie stands and applauds* Thank you, Mr. Carson, and good night.
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