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\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: CBS Photo Archive\/Getty Images\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Today marks what would have been the 100th birthday of the man many still consider the king of late-night TV, Johnny Carson. Carson was born on October 23, 1925 in Corning, Iowa.<\/p>\n
For many, Carson is still the gold standard in late-night hosts. He interviewed everyone from presidents to peacocks, all with ease and aplomb, turning awkward situations into comedic bits.<\/p>\n
Oscar-winner Billy Wilder said of him, \u201cCarson is the best. He enchants the invalids and the insomniacs as well as the people who have to get up at dawn. He is the Valium and the Nembutal of a nation. No matter what kind of dead-asses are on the show, he has to make them funny and exciting\u2026What\u2019s more, he does it without a net. No rewrites. No retakes. The jokes must work.\u201d<\/p>\n
His stable of regular guests always made for great TV. They included Bob Hope, Burt Reynolds, Angie Dickenson, Don Rickles, Buddy Hackett, Robin Williams, Joan Rivers, Jonathan Winters, Bette Midler, Bob Newhart and Steve Martin.<\/p>\n
Scroll though the gallery below for photos of some of Carson\u2019s greatest TV moments.<\/p>\n
\tJohnny Carson On \u2018Ed Sullivan\u2019 (1955)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: CBS Photo Archive\/Getty Images\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Carson speaks with Ed Sullivan on \u2018Toast of the Town\u2019<\/p>\n
\t\u2018The Johnny Carson Show\u2019 (1955-1956)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Arthur Schatz\/Getty Images\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Carson flanked by four \u201cCarson Cuties\u201d from a pre-Tonight Show series he hosted.<\/p>\n
\t\u2018The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson\u2019 (1962)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: NBCU Photo Bank\/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Groucho Marx, who turned down the job, introduces the new host of The Tonight Show. Carson first sat behind the desk on October 1, 1962.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\tThe Rat Pack, Plus Carson (1965)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: CBS Photo Archive\/Getty Images\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr and Frank Sinatra perform on stage with Johnny Carson as part of a benefit concert at the Keil Opera House in St. Louis, Missouri. The concert was organized as a benefit for the Dismas House, one of the first halfway houses for established for ex-convicts in the US. The Count Basie Orchestra, under the direction of Quincy Jones is visible behind them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\tCarson In Vegas (1965)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Michael Ochs Archives\/Getty Images\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Johnny Carson performs at the Sahara Hotel<\/p>\n
\tThe Tonight Show (1968)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Michael Ochs Archives\/Getty Images\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Phyllis Diller in a skit with Johnny Carson<\/p>\n
\t\u2018The Johnny Carson Friars\u2019 Roast\u2019 (1968)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Hulton Archive\/Getty Images\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Carson\u2019s head is displayed on a platter in a promotional photograph for \u201cJohnny Carson Friars\u2019 Roast\u201d on NBC\u2019s Kraft Music Hall.<\/p>\n
\t\u2018The Tonight Show\u2019 (1969)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: NBC\/NBCU Photo Bank\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Then-California Governor Ronald Reagan and Carson<\/p>\n
\t\u2018The Tonight Show\u2019 10th Anniversary (1972)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Michael Ochs Archives\/Getty Images\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Carson cuts the cake at a party after taping the 10th anniversary show<\/p>\n
\tFred de Cordova\u2019s 3rd Anniversary Party (1973)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Fred Sabine\/NBC\/NBCU Photo Bank\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Johnny Carson, director\/producer Fred de Cordova celebrating de Cordova\u2019s 3rd Anniversary with the Tonight Show\u00a0<\/p>\n
\t\u2018The Tonight Show\u2019 (1973)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: NBCU Photo Bank\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Boxers Ken Norton and Muhammad Ali with Johnny Carson<\/p>\n
\t\u2018The Tonight Show\u2019 (1974)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Gary Null\/NBCU Photo Bank\/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Don Rickles makes Carson laugh<\/p>\n
\tNBC promotion (1975)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Hulton Archive\/Getty Images\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Johnny Carson, Angie Dickinson and Orson Welles hold vintage NBC microphones and smile as they stand in front of a wall plastered with photographs of celebrities<\/p>\n
\t\u2018The Tonight Show\u2019 (1976)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Fred Sabine\/NBCU Photo Bank\/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Audrey Hepburn speaks with Carson<\/p>\n
\t\u2018The Tonight Show\u2019 (1979)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Gene Arias\/NBC\/NBCU Photo Bank\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Carson as Adam and Betty White as Eve during an \u201cAdam & Eve Palimony Suit\u201d skit<\/p>\n
\t\u2018The Tonight Show\u2019 (1980)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Ron Tom\/NBCU Photo Bank\/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Musical guest David Bowie performs<\/p>\n
\t\u2018The Tonight Show\u2019 (1980)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Gene Arias\/NBCU Photo Bank\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Author and cook Julia Child during an interview Carson<\/p>\n
\t\u2018The Tonight Show\u2019 (1981)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: (NBCU Photo Bank\/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Carson as Tarzan and actress Betty White as Jane during the classic \u201cTarzan and the Apes\u201d skit<\/p>\n
\tMyasthenia Gravis Foundation Honors Ed McMahon (1982)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Ron Galella\/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Johnny Carson and Frank Sinatra speak at Beverly Hilton<\/p>\n
\t\u2018The Tonight Show\u2019 (1984)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: NBCU Photo Bank\/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Sammy Davis Jr. during an interview with Carson<\/p>\n
\t\u2018NBC 60th Anniversary Celebration\u2019 (1986)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: Paul Drinkwater\/NBCU Photo Bank\/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images\t\t\t<\/p>\n
The Tonight Show hosts Steve Allen, Johnny Carson and Jack Paar together<\/p>\n
\t\u2018The Tonight Show\u2019 (1987)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: (Gary Null\/NBCU Photo Bank\/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Madonna and Carson<\/p>\n
\t\u2018The Tonight Show\u2019<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\tImage Credit: NBCU Photo Bank\/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images\t\t\t<\/p>\n