R.I.P. dead at 79.

NO WAY!!!!!

My parents were also huge fans as was I in his later years. He will be missed.

He was an avid supporter of the University of Nebraska theatre, and had recently given a very generous contribution. I believe the performance hall will be named for him. He never forgot his midwestern roots.

His charm and humility made him such a rarity in television. Deeply, dearly missed.

Oh my gosh, I can't believe it. Bless him.

Yes, a sad surprise for us. He was so great, there will not be another like him.

Oh no. Too young. What a shame. Lots of laughs in heaven tonight I hope.

I remember the last week of his shows. We were in Panama City on vacation with friends. We made it a point to be back to the condo every night to see The Tonight Show.

I also bought that 4 set of videos they put out after he retired. They are great.

There will be a special on tonight at 7 pm I believe I heard them say.

R.I.P.

Of emphysema. A disease that almost wouldn't exist except for tobacco smoking...

I was so shocked, I really liked him,,,too sad .

Amen, mclaurie, amen.

He was truly a national treasure.

Could anyone look better in a suit? I had hoped he'd enjoy his retirement a lot longer.

My neighbor just told me as we were cleaning the snow away from our cars. I didn't even know he was ill. I remember thinking a few years ago that he was a class act, choosing to retire and leave on a high note, rather than continue to seek out the limelight, as some people do in choices not becoming to their stature or long after they have something to say.

It's sort of like hearing about the passing of an old friend whom you haven't seen for awhile. I watched the Tonight Show with my parents every chance I got while I was growing up. When my husband and I were first married, in the mid-70's, his first job out of college was several states away from "home". He didn't get off work until 1:00AM or later. It was such a comfort to me, as I sat in our apt alone, to be able to turn on the Tonight Show. It really did help me to feel a little less lonely and homesick. Johnny Carson was just such a constant in my life for so many years. While I really like Letterman, neither he nor Leno have really filled the void IMHO. Very sad to think we'll never see Johnny Carson again.

Ahhh, that's very sad.

I was still rehearsing my interview on the Tonight Show. And it was still with Johnny. For what, I don't know my Grammy, my first novel. (I had the same chance of that when he was alive as now that he's gone.)

He really mastered the art of the interview. If you want to see how good he was, watch some other guys who lose control of the subject matter, touch their guests or otherwise exhibit lack of decorum. He could be irreverant and yet still maintain the lead.

and I just heard last week that he was feeding jokes to the David Letterman show...
too sad.

frankie, I read that too, and was so happy for him to keep his thumb in the pudding.