Parents' Guide to The Johnny Carson Show

TV Peacock Variety Show 1962
Poster art for the Johnny Carson show, feating a picture of host Johnny Carson sitting behind a desk, hands clasped, with a smile on his face.

Common Sense Media Review

Jenny Nixon By Jenny Nixon , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 13+

Late-night show's old-school humor can be hit-or-miss.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 13+?

Any Positive Content?

  • The Johnny Carson Show screenshot 1: Host Johnny Carson sits behind a desk with his hands gesticulating in the air, comedian Robin Williams is seated in the guest chair, laughing.
  • The Johnny Carson Show screenshot 2: Host Johnny Carson and an actress with platinum blonde hair and a red-and-yellow top act in a skit. Carson is in a red suit jacket and is wearing a black wig and fake mustache.
  • The Johnny Carson Show screenshot 3: Oprah Winfrey sits in the guest chair conversing with a laughing Johnny Carson behind his desk.
  • The Johnny Carson Show screenshot 4: Host Johnny Carson sits behind his desk, examining a giant fish his guest is holding up in front of him from his seat in the guest chair.

Parent and Kid Reviews

See all

What's the Story?

THE JOHNNY CARSON SHOW was must-see TV for Americans for 30 years, absolutely dominating the late-night market and inspiring knock-offs galore. The series, which ran from 1962 to 1992 with Carson as host, showcased his enviable listening skills, deadpan wit, and plain-faced straight man persona as he interviewed actors, musicians, comedians, animal handlers, magicians, and common folk alike. The show became known for singlehandedly launching the careers of many of Hollywood's biggest names in comedy, including Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, and Drew Carey.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

Carson was a charming, nimble host who brought out the best in his guests, but the show's humor occasionally punches down at the expense of people of color, women, and other marginalized groups. The Johnny Carson Show wasn't unusual for shows of this era, but modern audiences may be baffled at seeing a White talk show host doing "bits" in character as a guru-like Indian man called "The Maharishi" complete with flowing robes, long beard, and put-on accent. Other sketches included buxom female sidekicks who existed only to provide eye candy and be the butt of innuendo-laden jokes. Whether it's worth it to tolerate these downer moments to enjoy the times when the show shined is entirely subjective, but the mark the series made on television history is undeniable.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the way Johnny Carson spoke to his guests, and the level of preparation he seemed to do. Do you notice any difference in the types of conversations his show featured compared to some of the late-night shows of today?

  • What makes a late-night show successful: the person hosting it? The array of guests?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by

Poster art for the Johnny Carson show, feating a picture of host Johnny Carson sitting behind a desk, hands clasped, with a smile on his face.

What to Watch Next

See all

Celebrity Reality TV

See all

Classic Streaming TV Shows

See all recommended tv lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate