European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 17, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Continued from Page 4 thousands of words of copy gushing admiration for his subjects telegenic talents and no knowledge of him As a person. The writers conclusion that talking with Carson offstage was like a addressing an elaborately wired Security system has been the most frequently repeated characterization of the Man Ever since. The official line is that we will miss Johnny Carson because he was a Superb comedian whose timing bemused takes and and Libs could Rescue even the bum Mest jokes supplied by his writers who could also Supply the bes because he gave Young talents including Leno their Breaks on network television because his nightly rituals were reassuring in times of private and Public stress. In truth the actual Content of a Carson show did not matter. At a time of anxiety who cares about the color and material of a Security Blanket alone and exhausted in an Antiseptic hotel room in a strange City you could turn off the volume of tonight and still be Tranquili Zed by a succession of images As formulaic and reassuring As Kabuki by the unchanging reaction shots of de Mcmahon and Doc Severinsen during the monologue by Carsons strange backward tilt on his heels while setting up a joke by the mimed Golf swing leading into the first commercial by the Way he fiddles with whatever phallic prop comes to hand at his desk for years a cigarette but in these health conscious times a Pencil by his raised eyebrows in response to a starlets inevitable and inane Breech of taste. Or you could Bury your head in a Pillow ignore the imagery and be lulled by the sounds the bouncy theme music a classic composition credited to Paul Anka and Carson himself eds obsequious a yes sirs a the Boyish midwestern Tenor of Johnny a questions his Hearty laugh of appreciation when an interviewee scores with a joke of his own. Its the Lack of surprises that makes Johnny Carson endure. As Tynan wrote he practices a the Art of the  there Are unofficial reasons to miss Carson too. Even when he seemed not quite human he was always humane. By his choices of guests and his treatment of them on the air he helped establish a kindly Hierarchy of stardom that spread to other Media and set a show business pecking order. He not Only promoted significant and offbeat new Talent whether a barbra Streisand in the Early 1960s or an Eddie Murphy in the Early 1980s, but also kept the spotlight on retired Talent. Carson has made a Point of keeping a William dem rest or James Stewart in View after their performing Days were Over even As he instinctively knew when the moment came to give up on passing sideshows like tiny Tim the troubadour who in 1969 married miss Vicki on the highest rated tonight show Ever. In a More modest Way Carson also played a role in determining the country a political priorities. He has credibility which is Why it was commonly and correctly believed that when his jokes turned on Richard Nixon during the watergate scandal the country would follow suit. Perhaps Lyndon b. Johnson a departure from of boxing promoter Don King and Johnny Carson combined for a hair raising tonight show in 1986. Fice was assured As Well once Carson declared the Vietnam War a stupid and pointless in a widely publicized interview conducted by Alex Haley for Playboy Magazine in 1967. Certainly George Bush should be grateful that the steady barrage of ridicule directed his Way from Carsons Corner will end five months before election Day. Carsons durable clout with the Public As a political prognosticator May be a product of his remoteness. Since he does not have an intimate relationship with his viewers the viewers can speculate that he keeps his distance from the Powers that be As Well. And perhaps he docs. Unlike nearly every other contemporaneous Showbiz Titan of his stature from Sinatra to Schwarzenegger Carson has never conspicuously been a crony or sycophant of the Kennedy or the reagans or any Royalty in Between. A secure Power in his own right he never had to Curry favor with others his sponsors and his network included. Since announcing his retirement he has not Only stepped up the anti Bush jokes but he has also been merciless in ridiculing Abc and its Parent company general electric for corporate ineptitude. When he so chose Carson also exercised his Power in More Subtle ways that arguably realigned american pop culture. When tonight moved at his insistence from no cd a studios at Rockefeller Center to those in Burbank in 1972, it was a migration that along with the demise of the de Sullivan show on lbs the year before essentially marked the end of continued on Page 6 j a Ain c a a. -.4cv�the late night race for the past 30 years Johnny Carson has been the undisputed King of late night television outperforming every challenger who sought to dethrone him. Here is a list of the Carson casualties As supplied by Abc a the Joey Bishop show Abc May 1967-Deccm-Ber 1969 averaged a 3.7 Nielsen rating compared to Carsons 7.3 rating for same period. A the Merv Griffin show lbs August 1969-feb-Ruary 1972 averaged a 4.5 to Carsons 7.5. A the Dick Cavett show Abc january 1973-dc-ccmber 1974 averaged a 3.4 to Carsons 7.9. A Thicke of the night hosted by Alan Thicke syndicated september 1983-Scptembcr 1984 averaged a 1.0 to Carsons 6.6. A the late show starring Joan Rivers Fox october 1986-May 1987 averaged a 2.6 to Carsons 7.0. A the Pat Sajak show lbs january 1989-april 1990 averaged a 3.0 to Carsons 5.5. A the Ron Reagan show syndicated August 1991-dccember 1991 averaged a .8 to Carsons 5.0.current Competition a the Arsinio Hall show syndicated debuted january 1989 averaging a 3.2 to Carsons 5.2. A the Dennis Miller show syndicated debuted january 1992 averaging a 1.7 to Carsons 5.2.carson�?Ts highest hits Here Are the five highest rated editions of the tonight show starring Johnny Carson according to Abc 1. Tiny Tim marries miss Vicki 1969 21.4 million Homes watch. 2. Glenn Campbell Dom Deluise and Susan Anton guest 1976 9.4 million Homes. 3. Don Rockies guests 1980 9.3 million Homes. 4. Barry Manilow Chevy Chase Dan Aykroyd and David Letterman guest 1985 9.2 million Homes. 5. Bob Hope and Angie Dickinson guest 1977 9.2 million Homes. Abc miss Vicki and tiny Tim helped Johnny Carson draw a record 45 million viewers in december 1969. May 17, 1992 sunday a Page 5