Favorite "Tonight Show" Host: Carson, Leno, O'Brien or Fallon

I used to watch The Tonight Show when Leno was at the helm. His headlines on mondays were hilarious, I also watched Conan from time to time but it was after Leno went off the air. Who did you watch and who were your favorites?

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You forgot Jack Paar. I use to watch Johnny Carson back in the day.

I am a little too young to remember much of Carson, but it's Conan for me. Leno was good....not sure why Fallon is here haha

I never watched any live, unless it was an interview with someone from The Doors (David Letterman interviewed at least one) but I like


Steve Allen
Jack Paar


They're online.

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Don't think I've ever seen it. Not even sure it's broadcast over here.

I’ve never once seen it & I live here.

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I’m here only on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays. That’s why I’m here now.

You forgot about Steve Allen and Jack Paar, but Johnny Carson was the man.

I'm too young to have watched Carson. I don't like Fallon or O'Brien. I thought Leno was the most relatable, and he was an equal opportunity humorist and was not overtly political, which is why I think he was the most popular host when he was doing "The Tonight Show". He did humor that anyone could appreciate. He didn't take many risks, and you knew what you were going to get when you watched, but he was reliable. I wasn't a regular watcher of Leno. He was on too late for me, but when I did see his show, I found it amusing, even if not laugh out loud funny. I did see him live once, and he was funny. But, some of his jokes were very old. His act involved a lot of jokes about Bill Clinton, for example! It seemed like he hadn't really revised his stand up act in quite a long time.

Yeah, Paar was the best. No one close. He and his guests actually had interesting conversations, and Paar was a keen interviewer. I recall great shows with Robert Kennedy, Judy Garland, Alexander King, Oscar Levant, Richard Burton, Bill Cosby, Muhammad Ali, Liberace; and he was almost solely responsible for putting Jonathan Winters on the map.

Paar had an alluring, intelligent, unpredictable and very amusing personality. IMO the funniest and most innovative host was Steve Allen.

I've seen Highlights of the Best of Jack Parr on a DVD multi disk set. I seen some of those very interviews that you mentioned. It was fascinating to watch history right before my eyes. I agree, he was an intelligent conservationist who was also accessible to the audience by his emotionally open personality. If memory serves me he cried a couple of times on the Tonight Show over something that was disturbing. I'm guessing audiences responded positively to that.

I do know he had a big ongoing fight with Dorothy Kilgallen. She attacked him in her newspaper column 'Voice of Broadway" (sp?) and he would retort on the Tonight Show. I can't remember what started it but it was a pretty big deal at the time. I remember reading he left the Tonight Show over some kind of mental distress, but I don't remember if it was the DK fight or not. It might have been.

Jack Paar could be himself because he didn't need the job. His wife was the daughter of Mr. Lucky Strikes.


1960-Jack Paar Walks Off The Tonight Show

Carson and its not even close.

1. Carson
2. Parr
3. O'Brien
4. Leno
5. Fallon

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"Film is a disease. When it infects your bloodstream it takes over as the number one hormone. It bosses the enzymes, directs the pineal gland, plays Iago to your psyche. As with heroin, the antidote to Film is more Film." - Frank Capra

I'd forgotten all about that. I watched Paar for most of his entire 5 year run, although I missed some of them. I don't recall it being that big of a deal, and I'm sure the feud was good for both of their ratings. Keep in mind, there was very little public slandering in those days. Most everyone kept in fashionably civil. I loved both Paar and Kilgallen.

Here is a decent clip that covers the feud. BTW after I 3 month lay off Paar returned to the Tonight Show. His famous first words were, "As I was saying..."

I will say about Carson-- he became the master. He reinvented the Tonight Show format which is still in use today. He had a sharp wit combined with an American sort of self consciousness that appealed to most everyone. He became a mainstay of late night, and people loved him for it. He was the last king.

Excellent video Doc, thanks so much for posting that.

Great clip! Severinson had a great sense of humor.