Old Johnny Carson show is coming to AntennaTV January 1,2016

https://www.facebook.com/AntennaTV/photos/a.177009655652742.36261.161315780555463/995342470486119/?type=1&theater

Nice pickup by Antenna.

This article says a bit more about it. Johnny Carson will air 7 nights a week, hourlong episodes weeknights at 11PM and 90 minute episodes weekends at 10PM. It will start the night of January 1st.

http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/johnny-carson-tonight-show-full-episodes-antenna-tv-1201568250/

Nice pickup, and a great way to get the younger generation familiar with Carson.

What's great about it is that it's the full episodes and not just the Carson's Comedy classics syndicated versions.

This should have happened a long time ago on some other TV channel! Good job AntennaTV for finally doing the obvious.

This is HUGE for Antenna TV.

I wish I could get the station at my home... Or even on Roku.

I just read about this on Yahoo. This is the best news! I'm so excited!

Will this include the episodes where Jay Leno guest hosted?

As a late night talk show addict (I was raised on 12:30 NBC Late Night with David Letterman), this leaves me in a quandary, because it comes on when I start watching the new shows, starting with :conan:

HUGE news!!!!! Can't wait!!!!

As a late night talk show addict (I was raised on 12:30 NBC Late Night with David Letterman), this leaves me in a quandary, because it comes on when I start watching the new shows, starting with :conan:

Can you DVR it? I also read that they'll re-air it at 2am eastern.

HUGE news!!!!! Can't wait!!!!



Can you DVR it? I also read that they'll re-air it at 2am eastern.

Sure, I can DVR everything. The problem is finding time to watch it:)

So THAT'S why they started squeezing the credits so much...they had to pay for all those Johnny Carson episodes! ;-)

this is great news and those of you who have never watched johnny are in for a real treat a lot of the jokes might be dated but he is still a lot of fun to watch

Hallelujah! Some late night TV worth watching again.

And guests that I've actually heard of.

I'm looking forward to seeing Johnny again, but I don't quite buy the angle that this is going to get a new generation to watch him. Who is going to want to watch a monologue that is 25-40 years old if they weren't alive then and don't get the references? I think that's the reason only clip collections have been marketed so far. Good luck to Antennatv, but this is a big risk for them.

I'm looking forward to seeing Johnny again, but I don't quite buy the angle that this is going to get a new generation to watch him. Who is going to want to watch a monologue that is 25-40 years old if they weren't alive then and don't get the references? I think that's the reason only clip collections have been marketed so far. Good luck to Antennatv, but this is a big risk for them.
That's a valid point, but to me, it's kinda like Match Game reruns on GSN...a lot of dated, topical humor there too, but the show has still pulled in younger viewers here and there. It still does pretty well for the network, and that's with episodes from 40 years ago.

The way I see it, today's college students only know of Leno, Conan O'Brien or Jimmy Fallon as Tonight Show hosts. Hell, I'm 32, and I only have a few memories here and there. Those college students don't even know of an era where Letterman came on after Johnny, so this pickup might raise a few curious eyebrows. But, I'm sure it's more for the Baby Boomers who swear that the late night talk show died when Johnny retired back in 1992...

The fact that a little-known subchannel picked up full episodes before any cable channel is pretty surprising though.

Antenna TV appeals to older viewers anyway, which is just the audience for this show. Honestly, Carson's show was made for the WWII generation. He hated rock and roll and would never have those acts on the show. Its just too bad that the first 10 years are 99.9% gone as in those days the guests that were booked were because they were interesting conversationalists, not people who had projects they were plugging. And the last half hour was always an author or something similar as opposed to an actor or comedian. Considering who Antenna is geared towards, this should do well, although its interesting that the 1972-80 years will only run twice a week. Those are the episodes I'd be most interested in.

How far back in time will the shows go. Will we see shows from 1960's or later era shows?.

I think it's early-70s to the end of the run. Most of the first decade of shows are believed to be erased.

This is great for DVD but will it attract a lot of interest now that we are in the internet, social media era?


Someone on this post was right, this should have happened 15 years ago when it was no competition from the internet and social media

I'm looking forward to seeing Johnny again, but I don't quite buy the angle that this is going to get a new generation to watch him. Who is going to want to watch a monologue that is 25-40 years old if they weren't alive then and don't get the references? I think that's the reason only clip collections have been marketed so far. Good luck to Antennatv, but this is a big risk for them.


Good Point, and the fact that it's on the same time as CURRENT LATE NIGHT TV:crazy:

They're already advertising this in pretty heavy rotation. I'm guessing that they have a deal that spreads the risk around, like that the Carson group will take a percentage of the commercial revenue instead of getting a flat rate.



It would be cool if this could get them some more mainstream commercials.

Maybe this is what's causing the credit crunches like someone stated earlier. I'm sure this cost a pretty penny to get. It certainly wasn't worth it if it was going to mean crunching the credits on all the other shows. I might check this out to see what he was like but I doubt it's something I would watch regularly. I was born in December 1990 and he went off in 1992 when I was just a wee child and I don't ever remember watching this as a baby. It might be enjoyable for people who grew up watching Johnny but probably not something people from my generation would care too much about.

Maybe this is what's causing the credit crunches like someone stated earlier. I'm sure this cost a pretty penny to get. It certainly wasn't worth it if it was going to mean crunching the credits on all the other shows. I might check this out to see what he was like but I doubt it's something I would watch regularly. I was born in December 1990 and he went off in 1992 when I was just a wee child and I don't ever remember watching this as a baby. It might be enjoyable for people who grew up watching Johnny but probably not something people from my generation would care too much about.
Well, I was born in 1994 and I love Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. I've seen clips of it, even a whole episode once, and it is a funny show. Better than current late night TV, in my opinion.

Maybe this is what's causing the credit crunches like someone stated earlier. I'm sure this cost a pretty penny to get. It certainly wasn't worth it if it was going to mean crunching the credits on all the other shows. I might check this out to see what he was like but I doubt it's something I would watch regularly. I was born in December 1990 and he went off in 1992 when I was just a wee child and I don't ever remember watching this as a baby. It might be enjoyable for people who grew up watching Johnny but probably not something people from my generation would care too much about.


Especially not at 11pm with the things airing below

1. Local News

2. Current Late Talk Shows

Good Point, and the fact that it's on the same time as CURRENT LATE NIGHT TV:crazy:Jay Leno remains my favorite late night host. But none of the current late night shows do much for me. I would watch Johnny Carson over them. He is considered the king of late night by many for a reason.

Maybe this is what's causing the credit crunches like someone stated earlier. I'm sure this cost a pretty penny to get. It certainly wasn't worth it if it was going to mean crunching the credits on all the other shows. I might check this out to see what he was like but I doubt it's something I would watch regularly. I was born in December 1990 and he went off in 1992 when I was just a wee child and I don't ever remember watching this as a baby. It might be enjoyable for people who grew up watching Johnny but probably not something people from my generation would care too much about.

I'm just a few years older than you (born February 1987) and I'm stoked about this.

Maybe this is what's causing the credit crunches like someone stated earlier. I'm sure this cost a pretty penny to get. It certainly wasn't worth it if it was going to mean crunching the credits on all the other shows. I might check this out to see what he was like but I doubt it's something I would watch regularly. I was born in December 1990 and he went off in 1992 when I was just a wee child and I don't ever remember watching this as a baby. It might be enjoyable for people who grew up watching Johnny but probably not something people from my generation would care too much about.

You're really not the age group that they are expecting to be interested.

I'm kind of hopeful, if this seems to succeed, that it will lead to Antenna or other networks bringing back shows like Laugh-In and Flip Wilson. I'm actually old enough to remember watching Flip with my family, when he did Geraldine.

Anything that shakes things up, I think, will be good -- especially when there's so much competition now for viewers' time.

What they should do, in my opinion, is run a weekly promo telling us the main star for each day of the Tonight Show airings -- in other words, let us know exactly which Carson interviews are coming up, so fans of those stars will want to watch.

Antenna TV appeals to older viewers anyway, which is just the audience for this show. Honestly, Carson's show was made for the WWII generation. He hated rock and roll and would never have those acts on the show.

I'm not certain that's an accurate assessment, considering Carson played drums as a hobby. The story I always heard was that a rock & roll band trashed their NBC dressing rooms badly when they were booked for The Tonight Show, and Carson got fed up at that point. That's why the booking of rock acts ended -- there HAD been some rock earlier on!

I'm kind of hopeful, if this seems to succeed, that it will lead to Antenna or other networks bringing back shows like Laugh-In and Flip Wilson. I'm actually old enough to remember watching Flip with my family, when he did Geraldine.


The Flip Wilson Show currently airs on the Aspire network.

The Flip Wilson Show currently airs on the Aspire network.


Not at the same as local news and current late tv


it airs at 6pm in the evening

I'm kind of hopeful, if this seems to succeed, that it will lead to Antenna or other networks bringing back shows like Laugh-In .

LAUGH IN would be good too. Someone was running them awhile back, but I don't remember who.

According to the article in Variety,the first show they are going to air is going to be from January,1,1982 with McLean Stevenson and Eddie Murphy who made his tonight show debut that night.

According to the article in Variety,the first show they are going to air is going to be from January,1,1982 with McLean Stevenson and Eddie Murphy who made his tonight show debut that night.

So I have to decide if I'm in the mood for Reagan or Obama jokes.

I'm not certain that's an accurate assessment, considering Carson played drums as a hobby. The story I always heard was that a rock & roll band trashed their NBC dressing rooms badly when they were booked for The Tonight Show, and Carson got fed up at that point. That's why the booking of rock acts ended -- there HAD been some rock earlier on!and later on he did book zz top Elton john and paul McCartney but to me it just seemed weird when he booked rock acts

LAUGH IN would be good too. Someone was running them awhile back, but I don't remember who.
Nick at Nite in the late-80s, but Trio aired it in the mid-2000s.

but Trio aired it in the mid-2000s.

I think TRIO is also the one who ran Late Night with David Letterman shows for a brief time around then too.

wonder will they show the eps when Bill Cosby guest hosted?

Or will it be all Johnny

I think TRIO is also the one who ran Late Night with David Letterman shows for a brief time around then too.
Correct. I remember seeing a few episodes.

wonder will they show the eps when Bill Cosby guest hosted?

Or will it be all Johnny

Didn't Cosby's guest-hosting take place earlier? They're starting with Jan. 1982 shows.

I think in the case of Joan Rivers, they're likely to skip her guest-hosting (took place circa 1982-86, "permanent" guest host '83-86) -- maybe partly because of the falling-out she and Carson had?

Didn't Cosby's guest-hosting take place earlier? They're starting with Jan. 1982 shows.

I think in the case of Joan Rivers, they're likely to skip her guest-hosting (took place circa 1982-86, "permanent" guest host '83-86) -- maybe partly because of the falling-out she and Carson had?
I think they're doing from 1972-1992.

Didn't Cosby's guest-hosting take place earlier? They're starting with Jan. 1982 shows.

I think in the case of Joan Rivers, they're likely to skip her guest-hosting (took place circa 1982-86, "permanent" guest host '83-86) -- maybe partly because of the falling-out she and Carson had?

Plus,quoted from the Variety story Because NBC owns the rights to “The Tonight Show” moniker, Antenna TV’s episodes will be billed simply as “Johnny Carson.”, that sounds like it would stay Johnny focused.

Didn't Cosby's guest-hosting take place earlier? They're starting with Jan. 1982 shows.

I think in the case of Joan Rivers, they're likely to skip her guest-hosting (took place circa 1982-86, "permanent" guest host '83-86) -- maybe partly because of the falling-out she and Carson had?


No I have a 1986 ep of Bill Cosby Guest hosting and sherman hemsley is the guest

No I have a 1986 ep of Bill Cosby Guest hosting and sherman hemsley is the guest
he also guest-hosted in the 70s; I remember the shows.

he also guest-hosted in the 70s; I remember the shows.

I didn't know he went back that far.

yea, I remember I was never a fan of his until he did them.

how are they going to show 90 minute ones? The show was cut back from 90 minutes to 60 minutes in 1980!

oops, my bad-I just read the Variety article and they're starting with Jan. 1972 not 82.

I never knew that his first 10 years-1962-72 are lost to history. That's a shame!

oops, my bad-I just read the Variety article and they're starting with Jan. 1972 not 82.

I never knew that his first 10 years-1962-72 are lost to history. That's a shame!


Good, I prefer the 72 to 80 era anyway

if the 62-72 episodes are lost, then how come clips from some of them are on You Tube?

Awesomesauce!

how are they going to show 90 minute ones? The show was cut back from 90 minutes to 60 minutes in 1980!
The 60 minute shows from 1980-1992 are going to air Monday thru Friday. The 90 minute shows from 1972-1980 are going to air Saturday and Sunday.

if the 62-72 episodes are lost, then how come clips from some of them are on You Tube?
According to the Carson website they only have 33-35 full Tonight Show episodes from the 1962-1972 era. The rest are bits and pieces from parts of shows that they have left.

I wonder what time the shows will air? Frankly I'm not a talk show fan, so I might pass on the shows.

I wonder what time the shows will air? Frankly I'm not a talk show fan, so I might pass on the shows.

That's already announced. 11 pm ET, starting Jan.1.

Wonder why they are announcing the acquistion of Johnny so early?

Jan 1st is like 4 months from now

Wonder why they are announcing the acquistion of Johnny so early?

Jan 1st is like 4 months from now



So what do they have planned for Sept.?

So what do they have planned for Sept.?


Not sure but talking about something that doesn't start until January is too damm early

So what do they have planned for Sept.?

Either go with One Day at a Time a little longer, or stick something else in there for a few months. It's apparently announced early September.

I didn't know he went back that far.actuillly he guest hosted a few times in the late 60s too

That's already announced. 11 pm ET, starting Jan.1.
yea, the article says they'll show the 60 minute ones on weeknights and 90 minute ones on the weekends.

wonder will they show the eps when Bill Cosby guest hosted?

Or will it be all Johnny

Antenna TV specifically said on facebook that it'll only be Johnny.

I wonder what time the shows will air? Frankly I'm not a talk show fan, so I might pass on the shows.

11pm ET weeknights (1 hour 1980-1992) and 10pm ET weekends (90 minutes 1972-1980).

Antenna TV specifically said on facebook that it'll only be Johnny.


Ok Thanks for the Info.

So what do they have planned for Sept.?

Family Ties starts September 14th. I don't think the new schedule has been posted yet.

Johnny, Ed and Doc. No one else came close.

I was floored when I saw Carson coming to Antenna TV. Talk about a show out of left field. I mean did ANYBODY think Antenna TV would get this show? I sure didnt. As a viewer of classic shows, I'm only 33, but I will check out the Carson shows. Big get for Antenna TV. To me, I think Antenna TV was slipping a little bit but I think they've rebounded now.

To me it was a bad decision if it meant crunching the credits on most of the other shows. I would rather then have waited for Carson until they had enough money that they wouldn't have to crunch the credits on the other shows. It cost them too much that they had to show more commercials which means they would have to crunch the credits. I hope one day this will all be paid off and they can go back to airing full credits.

To me it was a bad decision if it meant crunching the credits on most of the other shows. I would rather then have waited for Carson until they had enough money that they wouldn't have to crunch the credits on the other shows. It cost them too much that they had to show more commercials which means they would have to crunch the credits. I hope one day this will all be paid off and they can go back to airing full credits.
ME TOO!!!

Wonder why they are announcing the acquistion of Johnny so early?

Jan 1st is like 4 months from now

Probably simply because it's such a BIG acquisition for them.