“And now, ladies and gentlemen, heeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrs Johnny!!!!”
Even if you weren’t alive during Johnny Carson’s reign as King of Late Night, you’re probably at least familiar with his name, and understand that he left behind a legacy most late night talk show hosts aspire to and draw from. Carson set the standard, and he set it high. Now, everyone with cable will be bestowed the opportunity to relive the Carson era of late night television.
According to Variety Antenna TV will be airing full-length episodes of NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson each night. The episodes will air at 11pm ET beginning Jan. 1, under the title “Johnny Carson.” This is because NBC owns the title “The Tonight Show.”
The president of Tribune Media, owner of Antenna TV, told Variety, “Tuning in to The Tonight Show is like taking a walk down Main Street in Disneyland. The minute you step in there, you feel good and know it’s a place you want to stay. We cannot wait to bring this show to fans who remember Carson and to a new generation of viewers who have never had the chance to see Johnny in his prime.”
In May Carson’s second wife, Joanne Carson, passed away. The legendary host died in 2005. This will mark the first time since his death that his Tonight Show will air daily.