Johnny Carson
Director
The Johnny Carson Show (1955)
Season 1
While working as a staff writer on The Red Skelton Show, local Los Angeles television comedian Carson filled in as host when Skelton was injured during a show rehearsal. As a result of Carson’s performance, CBS created the primetime variety program: The Johnny Carson Show, a traditional potpourri of comedy, music, dance, skits and monologues. The short-lived 1955-56 series served as a precursor of what would come later for Carson, planting the seeds for sketches he would perform on the later The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson such as "Mighty Carson Art Players".
Released June 30, 1955
Episode 30 min
10+
Genres: Comedy, Music, Talk, Talk Show
Keywords: tmdb.variety-show, imdb.performer-name-in-title, imdb.guest, imdb.variety-show, imdb.stand-up-comedian, imdb.one-liner, imdb.musician + 8 more, imdb.musical-number, imdb.monologue, imdb.joke, imdb.stand-up-comedy, imdb.comedian, imdb.celebrity, imdb.based-on-radio-series, awards.golden-globe-nominated
Watch Providers: Amazon Prime Video, Tubi TV, fuboTV, Pluto TV, Shout! Factory TV + 6 more, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads, Cineverse, Xumo Play, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Dove Amazon Channel
Network: CBS
Country: United States
Languages:
English
S1E1 - Catch Up With the News
In the series premiere, Johnny imitates Edward R. Murrow in a spoof of Murrow's Person to Person program featuring Johnny's first wife Jody and their three children. In Catch Up With the News, Johnny plays a roving reporter.
June 30, 1955, midnight
S1E4 - Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Johnny imitates Walter Cronkite, takes a look at the pitfalls of marriage, and parodies Goldilocks And The Three Bears and You Are There.
July 21, 1955, midnight
S1E9 - Life in the 80's
Sketches include a spoof of the Russian ballet, Catch Up With The News and a 1950s-style look at the future, as Johnny imagines what life will be like in 1980.
Aug. 25, 1955, midnight
S1E10 - Dillinger, The Mental Wizard
Johnny plays Dillinger, The Mental Wizard, in a parody of Joseph Dunniger, the famous mind reader (This sketch is the early inspiration for Carson's most famous character from his Tonight Show years, Carnac The Magnificent). Another sketch finds Johnny playing tourist in Paris; we also get an idea of what might happen to your television reception near an airport.
Sept. 1, 1955, midnight
S1E11 - James Arness
James Arness visits the show to promote his new series, Gunsmoke, Jack Albertson appears in a grocery store sketch and Johnny plays Colonel John J. Carson in a military sketch.
Sept. 8, 1955, midnight
S1E16 - Jack Albertson
Johnny takes care of unfinished business; Jack Albertson appears in sketches about Johnny's fan club and bachelor life. Then Johnny plays violinist Yasha Carson.
Oct. 13, 1955, midnight
S1E19 - Dimitri Tiomkin
Legendary movie composer Dimitri Tiomkin appears in the Johnny's Record Collection sketch. Then Johnny salutes old time Vaudeville, and stars in an epic Greek-Trojan war sketch.
Nov. 3, 1955, midnight
S1E20 - Ed Sullivan Impersonation
Nov. 10, 1955, midnight
S1E25 - Stay-at-Home Husband
Johnny plays a stay-at-home husband whose wife has a very unusual job. Other sketches include the Giveaway Pet Parade, a precursor to the numerous segments Johnny would do with animals later in his career, and a look at what the detective show Dragnet might have been like during the time of Alexander the Great.
Dec. 15, 1955, midnight
Network: CBS
Episode Runtime: 30 min.
Season Runtime: 30 min.
Released: June 30, 1955
Last Air Date: Feb. 16, 1956, midnight
Status: Canceled
Certification: TV-PG / 10+
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