Johnny Carson warned late-night shows risked danger by preaching on 'serious issues'

WASHINGTON, DC: A resurfaced clip of Johnny Carson, the legendary host of ‘The Tonight Show’, is sparking debate about the state of modern late-night television shows in the wake of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ getting suspended from the ABC network after the host’s politicized remarks on the killing of Charlie Kirk.

In the 1979 interview with CBS’s '60 Minutes', Carson defended his decision to avoid politics and “serious issues” on his program, warning that comedians risked becoming too self-important if they tried to sway public opinion.

Johnny Carson defended comedy over controversy

In the interview, Mike Wallace raised a criticism from some at the time that Carson would "never take a serious controversy," to which Carson responded immediately.

“Now, tell me the last time that Jack Benny, Red Skelton, any comedian, used his show to do serious issues. That’s not what I’m there for. Can’t they see that?”

 “That’s a danger. It’s a real danger. Once you start that, you start to get that self-important feeling that what you say has great import. And you know, strangely enough, you could use that show as a forum. You could sway people. And I don’t think you should as an entertainer.”

Johnny Carson, the ‘King of Late Night’

Johnny Carson, who hosted ‘The Tonight Show’ from 1962 to 1992, is widely remembered as the ‘King of Late Night.’ With his quick wit, relaxed interviewing style, and knack for launching the careers of comedians and actors, Carson set the gold standard for modern talk shows.

His approach kept politics largely out of late-night comedy, allowing his program to become a cultural unifier in an era of fewer divides.

The resurfaced footage highlights his belief that late-night should be an escape from partisan battles, not a platform for advocacy.

Viral debate over modern late-night shows 

The clip has gone viral as critics point to the decline of late-night viewership in recent years, a downturn some attribute to overt political commentary by today’s hosts.

Programs such as ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ and ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ have increasingly embraced partisan politics, with both Kimmel and Colbert openly supporting Democratic causes and even fundraising for the party.

Critics argue this shift has alienated audiences, turning shows once meant for broad entertainment into ideological platforms. Carson’s warning about the “danger” of entertainers swaying public opinion has been widely shared as a contrast to the current late-night landscape.

Johnny Carson hailed on social media for his insight

A X user termed his show as 'gold standard of late night television' saying "I was too young to watch him near the end of his career (bed time for child Mikey) but Johnny Carson was the gold standard of late night television and how it should be done. I don’t understand why it’s so difficult for these people to get it. Can’t imagine why it’s failing now."

Another one said, "Johnny Carson: Actually knew what he was doing."

A netizen wrote, "‘When a comic becomes enamored with his own views and foists them off on the public in a polemic way, he loses not only his sense of humor but his value as a humorist.’ ~ Johnny Carson~ Could there be a stronger description for Jimmy Kimmel?"

Another person said, "PSA: All the current late night talk show hosts can’t hold a candle to Johnny Carson."

Another person wrote, "The king of late night, Johnny Carson, believed late night entertainment should not be used for serious issues to sway people’s opinions."

A user said, "In a world of Kimmel’s and Colbert’s….. we need more Johnny Carson’s."

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