Johnny Carson Kept Americans Up Late for 30 Years

Reuters | Latest Financial News / Full News Coverage

"Sun January 23, 2005 7:34 PM GMT-05:00

By Arthur Spiegelman

Los Angeles (Reuters) - Johnny Carson, the iconic host of the most enduring U.S. night-time talk show, kept Americans up late for 30 years.

Introduced by sidekick Ed McMahon's nightly rallying cry of 'Heeeeeere's Johnny,' Carson's blend of humor, music and conversation on NBC's 'The Tonight Show' was the last thing millions of Americans heard before drifting off to sleep for three decades.

Carson, 79, died on Sunday after a long bout with emphysema, his family said."