Editing Johnny Carson (section)

== Legacy and impact on popular culture ==
Carson's show launched the careers of many performers, especially comedians and musicians. For a comedian appearing on the show, getting Carson to laugh and being invited to the guest chair were considered the highest honors.{{r|tynan19780220}} Notable among these were [[David Letterman]], [[Freddie Prinze]], [[Robin Williams]], [[Jay Leno]], [[Jerry Seinfeld]], [[Arsenio Hall]], [[Jeff Foxworthy]], [[Ellen DeGeneres]], [[Rodney Dangerfield]], [[Joan Rivers]], [[David Brenner]], [[Tim Allen]], [[Drew Carey]], [[Howie Mandel]], [[Roseanne Barr]], and [[Don Rickles]]. Carson was successor to ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'' as a showcase for different types of talent, as well as continuing a [[vaudeville]]-style variety show.{{Citation needed|date=December 2022|reason=uncited}}

In 1966, Carson popularized [[Milton Bradley Company|Milton Bradley's]] game [[Twister (game)|''Twister'']] when he played it with actress [[Eva Gabor]]. Not widely known up to that time, the game skyrocketed in popularity after the broadcast.<ref>"Menace to Morals: Twister." ''Minnesota Monthly'', January 2011, 70.</ref>

Comedians who credit Carson as an influence include [[David Letterman]],<ref>{{cite AV media|url=http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/6364 |title=An interview with David Letterman |medium=TV-series |publisher=[[Charlie Rose (TV series)|Charlie Rose]], [[WNET]] |date=February 26, 1996 |access-date=November 14, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218144132/http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/6364 |archive-date=February 18, 2009 }}</ref> [[Jay Leno]],<ref>{{cite web |url= https://people.com/celebrity/carlin-remembered-he-helped-other-comics-with-drug-problems/ |title=Carlin Remembered: He Helped Other Comics with Drug Problems |work=People |first1=Breuer|last1=Howard |author2-link=Stephen M. Silverman |first2=Stephen M.|last2=Silverman |date=June 24, 2008 |access-date=October 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012122818/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,20208460,00.html?xid=rss-fullcontentcnn |archive-date=October 12, 2012 }}</ref> [[Conan O'Brien]],<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/johnny-carson-king-of-late-night/about-the-documentary/2051/ | title = Johnny Carson: King of Late Night – About the Documentary| website = [[PBS]]| date = April 9, 2012}}</ref> [[Dennis Miller]],<ref>{{cite interview |last= Miller |first= Dennis |interviewer= Dennis Miller |title= The Dennis Miller Show |last2= Bladt |first2= Christian |url= http://www.dennismillerradio.com |date= October 28, 2013 |access-date= February 7, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190425013116/http://www.dennismillerradio.com/ |archive-date= April 25, 2019 |url-status= usurped }}</ref> [[Bill Maher]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.argusleader.com/story/blogs/scotthudson/2015/09/10/bill-maher-good-comedy-bad-america/71896076/|title=Bill Maher: 'What's good for comedy is bad for America'|work=[[Argus Leader]]|author=Scott Hudson|date=September 10, 2015|access-date=June 6, 2016}}</ref> [[Joan Rivers]],<ref>video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUKI-_TXuUY Joan Rivers on Johnny Carson Show]</ref> [[Larry Wilmore]],<ref name=tvg-influences>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/larry-wilmore/bio/251693 |title=Larry Wilmore biography |magazine=[[TV Guide|TVGuide.com]] |access-date=October 23, 2014}}</ref> [[Ray Romano]], [[Don Rickles]], [[Bob Newhart]], [[Angie Dickinson]], [[Carl Reiner]], [[Mel Brooks]], [[Dick Cavett]], [[Norm Macdonald]], [[David Steinberg]], [[Jerry Seinfeld]], [[Ellen DeGeneres]], [[Garry Shandling]], [[Steve Martin]], [[Ray Combs]], [[Arsenio Hall]], [[Craig Ferguson]], [[Orson Bean]], and [[Jimmy Fallon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paleycenter.org/2012-spring-american-masters-johnny-carson|title=American Masters: Johnny Carson: King of Late Night - The Paley Center for Media|website=The Paley Center for Media|date=March 22, 2012 }}</ref>

[[Brian Wilson]] was an avid fan of the show and in 1977 wrote a song titled "[[Johnny Carson (song)|Johnny Carson]]" as a tribute. It was released on the [[The Beach Boys Love You|''Beach Boys Love You'']] album.

In 1983 he was awarded [[American Library Association Honorary Membership]].