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PermalinkPioneers Of Television: Late Night
Airs Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at 8 p.m. on KPBS TV
Above: Johnny Carson, host of "The Tonight Show."
Friday, February 11, 2011
They were the stars of the small screen in the early years of television, and much of the nation came to a halt whenever their shows aired. They strolled, sprinted, fought, laughed, cried and loved through worlds that took viewers to places past, present and future. As the originators of these innovative television formats, they provided an essential escape for millions of viewers who eagerly waited to watch them each week.
The stories of Steve Allen, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson headline this episode about the formative years of late-night television.
Merv Griffin also emerges as a key player on the late-night scene. His interview for "Pioneers Of Television" was his last before passing away. Regis Philbin offers revelations about his years as a late-night sidekick (to Joey Bishop). Dick Cavett and Arsenio Hall also discuss their years in the mix, and Sigourney Weaver offers personal details about her father, Pat - the inventor of "Tonight."
The episode is peppered with dozens of never-before-seen clips, including Johnny Carson performing in his early 20s.
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