October 1, 1962-May 22, 1992.
Joined in Progress.
Guest is Mort Sahl and Elsa Lancaster, who briefly chimes in at times. Sahl comments on current events which include Time magazine, will there be an election in 1964? his impressions and observations of Governor Nelson Rockefeller, President Lyndon Johnson, race riots at the Shrine Auditorium Rally.
Sahl questions why negroes have become so militant and Jewish people have become minstals?
Impressions of Malcolm X who last month appeared in an interview in Playboy magazine. Mort mentions to Johnny Carson it is interesting that negroes currently seem to be the oppressor fighting for their rights.
Johnny asks Mort if he is a happy guy to which he gets an affirmative response. Mort states that USC is a "dingbat" school to attend, where he studied engineering.
Sahl discusses why he collects wrist watches and has many including one made for astronauts. He tells Johnny that he changes his watch everyday like clothing. Sahl mentions he gave a special watch with a viewable tuning fork to friend Bill Dana who commented that every time he looks at it he feels wanted.
Johnny Carson asks Sahl if he is a happy guy? Sahl responds and also has commentary about appearing on The Steve Allen Show.
Johnny Carson, host of NBC's network late-night "Tonight Show" reigned for 30 unprecedented years...five times the combined tenure of Steve Allen, and Jack Paar. Carson was impervious to competition, including efforts to dethrone him by Les Crane, Joey Bishop, Merv Griffin, Dick Cavett, Jack Paar, Pat Sajak, Joan Rivers, and Arsenio Hall. Sadly, very few complete "Tonight Show" broadcasts survive during Johnny Carson's first ten years of broadcasting. Around 1965, through the early 1970's, oldest tapes were first erased systematically by orders from myopic NBC executives, to be recycled for purposes of saving money. Ironically, in many cases, these older master tapes were too brittle, and portended probable drop-outs for re-use after being erased. Subsequently blank after being erased, these older questionable master 2" Quad tapes were either sparingly used or never used again for recording new programming and eventually were discarded. Saving thousands of dollars at the time (wiping master tapes for potential re-use) resulted in losing millions of dollars by NBC in today's marketplace, and more importantly wiping thousands of historic TONIGHT SHOW broadcasts, which contain precious personal anecdotes from political, show business, and sports icons of the past. We are introduced to the show's opening by announcer Ed McMahon, who also jokes with Johnny Carson during his monologue.