Will Letterman be a surprise guest on Leno's Tonight Show finale?

[LKellerIII]

I've never been a big fan of Jay Leno - either his stand up comedy or his Tonight Show, and I only watched the show from time to time. But I watched the finale because it was a bit of TV history. I agree with D to the J that it was very classy all the way - low key, but very well done. The focus on his crew, their status as his extended family, and the appearance of the crew's children born during the 17 year run of the show was quite touching.

I've never had anything against Leno - he's always seemed like a good guy - but his stature in my eyes has gone up considerably.

 

[Garrett]

Yes, Conan has been a guest on Letterman. I do not remember when, but it did happen, at least once.

 

[elchupacabras]

I am trying to track down Doc Severinson. He lives a few blocks away and plays at a local Italian restaurant, to see what he has to say, since he and Johnny passed things off to Leno.

 

[LKellerIII]

I am trying to track down Doc Severinson. He lives a few blocks away and plays at a local Italian restaurant, to see what he has to say, since he and Johnny passed things off to Leno.

I remember it was said at the time that Johnny Carson would have preferred Letterman as his replacement. This was somewhat confirmed when Carson made his brief final appearance a year or two later - not on the Tonight Show, but on Late Night with Letterman.

 

[WMC2006]

Nope. Johnny's final appearance was on Letterman's Late Show on CBS. Late Show was visiting Los Angeles for a week and Johnny came by on Friday with the Top 10 list.

From Wiki:


Post-retirement appearances

At the end of his final Tonight Show appearance, Carson indicated that he might, if so inspired, return with a new project, but instead chose to go into full retirement, rarely giving interviews and declining to participate in NBC's 75th Anniversary celebrations. He made the occasional cameo appearance, including voicing himself on a 1993 episode of The Simpsons ("Krusty Gets Kancelled") and appearing in the 1993 NBC Special Bob Hope: The First 90 Years. On May 13, 1994, Carson appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman. During a week of shows from Los Angeles, Letterman was having Larry "Bud" Melman (Calvert DeForest) deliver his "Top Ten Lists" under the guise that a famous personality would be delivering the list instead. On the last show of the week, Letterman indicated that Carson would be delivering the list. Instead, DeForest delivered the list, insulted the audience (in keeping with the gag), and walked off to polite applause. Letterman then indicated that the card he was given did not have the proper list on it and asked that the "real" list be brought out. On that cue, the real Johnny Carson emerged from behind the curtain (as Letterman's band played "Johnny's Theme"), an appearance which prompted a standing ovation from the audience. Carson then requested to sit behind Letterman's desk; Letterman obliged, as the audience continued to cheer and applaud. After some moments Carson departed from the show without having spoken to the audience, later citing acute laryngitis as the reason for his silence.

 

[1069_KIFR]

And Carson's 3 or 4 other appearances on Late Show with David Letterman, be it live on the set or in a taped segment.

 

[LKellerIII]

Nope. Johnny's final appearance was on Letterman's Late Show on CBS. Late Show was visiting Los Angeles for a week and Johnny came by on Friday with the Top 10 list.
From Wiki:

Post-retirement appearances

At the end of his final Tonight Show appearance, Carson indicated that he might, if so inspired, return with a new project, but instead chose to go into full retirement, rarely giving interviews and declining to participate in NBC's 75th Anniversary celebrations. He made the occasional cameo appearance, including voicing himself on a 1993 episode of The Simpsons ("Krusty Gets Kancelled") and appearing in the 1993 NBC Special Bob Hope: The First 90 Years. On May 13, 1994, Carson appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman. During a week of shows from Los Angeles, Letterman was having Larry "Bud" Melman (Calvert DeForest) deliver his "Top Ten Lists" under the guise that a famous personality would be delivering the list instead. On the last show of the week, Letterman indicated that Carson would be delivering the list. Instead, DeForest delivered the list, insulted the audience (in keeping with the gag), and walked off to polite applause. Letterman then indicated that the card he was given did not have the proper list on it and asked that the "real" list be brought out. On that cue, the real Johnny Carson emerged from behind the curtain (as Letterman's band played "Johnny's Theme"), an appearance which prompted a standing ovation from the audience. Carson then requested to sit behind Letterman's desk; Letterman obliged, as the audience continued to cheer and applaud. After some moments Carson departed from the show without having spoken to the audience, later citing acute laryngitis as the reason for his silence.

Thanks, good info on Carson. Yes, I knew Johnny had appeared on Letterman's CBS show. I was thinking "...Show", but my keyboard typed "...Night." . Yeah, that's it...it was my keyboard's fault...

 

[1069_KIFR]

To this day I still hear on newscasts and other entertainment programs, they will say something like, "Robin Williams appeared on David Lettermans show, Late Night last night." It bugs me because they should know, at the very least by now, it is Late SHOW!!!

 

[LKellerIII]

To this day I still hear on newscasts and other entertainment programs, they will say something like, "Robin Williams appeared on David Lettermans show, Late Night last night." It bugs me because they should know, at the very least by now, it is Late SHOW!!!

Part of the problem is that fogeys of a certain age (like me) remember that "The Late Show" title was for movies that the CBS O&Os (and possibly some affiliates) ran every weeknight after the 11:00 News - from the 1950s until the early late 1970s. It was followed by the Late Late Show (more movies at about 1:30 AM). The Early Show was the afternoon movie.

 

[adam95]

Nate, I'm not sure if Conan ever guested on Dave's Late Show but Dave did guest on Conan's Late Night not all that long after Conan took over that show. It was probably in 1993.

Yes, Conan has been on LATE SHOW (that really bugs me too) but I don't think since about '95 or '96 (I had tickets to the show, but ended up not being able to go). And as previously mentioned Conan was on "Late Night" with Dave shortly before taking over and Dave returned the favor after starting "Late Show".

As far as Leno goes, I have probably watched a half dozen episodes all the way through ever (debut, Carson tribute, first episode after 9/11, first show after strike, and now the finale) and yes, he's a nice enough guy and I think highly of him. I'm just a Letterman guy. The finale was low-key but it's not like Carson where Jay is going away for good, he's just taking the summer off. He's certainly come a long way since the debut in '92 with that god-awful opening with the montogue of curtains (remember that?).

And now I have to decide: between Letterman and Conan who gets watched and who gets DVRed???

 

[elchupacabras]

I have always been a Letterman fan, believing that he best shared the spirit of the Parr/Carson "Tonight Show." Leno was decent, but Conan is just sick and wrong! His brand of humor rubs me the wrong way. He probably will do will with the younger demos, but the older ones will give Letterman a big boost!