Johnny Carson's First TV Show--Thought To Be Lost Forever--Comes To DVD! — 10 Episodes of The Johnny Carson Show (1955-56) and Rare Bonus Material — While working as a staff writer on The Red Skelton Show one night in 195... more »5, Johnny Carson filled in as a last-minute replacement when Skelton was injured during rehearsal. Carson did such a good job that CBS created The Johnny Carson Show as a showcase for the young comedian. The 39-week series served as a precursor of what would come later for Johnny, planting the seeds for the sketches he would perfect on The Tonight Show with his Mighty Carson Art Players.
The Johnny Carson Show features Carson in parodies of popular television shows of the era, including one of Edward R. Murrow's Person To Person, in which Johnny turns in a hilarious impersonation of Murrow. Carson also spoofs The Three Musketeers, Walter Cronkite, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Dragnet and the Russian ballet. Members of Carson's cast include Jamie Farr and Jack Albertson and guests include James Arness (promoting the premiere of his brand new series Gunsmoke), Eva Gabor and movie composer Dimitri Tiomkin.
Ten long-lost episodes of The Johnny Carson Show, from its lone season in 1955 - 1956, have been digitally restored from the recently-discovered kinescopes for this release.
Bonus features include a 1958 episode of Johnny's popular ABC quiz show Who Do You Trust?, a very rare episode of his short lived and little known 1956 CBS daytime show, and another recently discovered lost gem: a clip from Johnny's October 1958 stint as the two-week substitute host of The Jack Paar Show.
Michael C. Glancy | Clinton,OK United States | 05/17/2005
(1 out of 5 stars)
"There is another dvd titled "Here Is The Johnny Carson Show". That's the one you need to buy, NOT THIS ONE! This disc contains only 2 episodes of "The Johnny Carson Show". The other disc contains these episodes PLUS an episode of "Who Do You Trust" and "The Jack Benny Program" (guest starring Johnny), and 2 Budweiser promo films that Johnny and the gang made in 1972 on the Tonight Show set. What's more the other disc is cheaper. BTW, the audio and video quality is very good on the other disc, too. If you liked Johnny or early live television, then BUY IT!! I really enjoyed it."
A cool piece of TV history...
R. Catherine | Westport, CT | 02/27/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a fascinating slice of TV history and a chance to see the great Johnny Carson in his early days. I'm glad this material survived and was released on DVD with such care, five decades later. Thanks, Shout! Factory."
Interesting Early Johnny
Lemon | 06/09/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"A great look back at the King of Late Night's career. This is a very young, slim, and funny Johnny. However, most will enjoy him more in The Tonight Show setting, and I think the Ultimate Collection The Ultimate Johnny Carson Collection - His Favorite Moments from The Tonight Show (Vols. 1-3) (1962-1992)is the best of the many great sets available. However, major Johnny fans will want to own this."
Here's to Johnny
P. CROSETTI | California | 07/06/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The man was a genius; his timing, facial expression, everything worked. If you need to cheer up or just enjoy laughing until you cry, this is the CD set for you. It's timeless and warrants watching over and over again."