rubinville

I was about to sit down to watch the Eagles-Falcons game when I flicked the channel and now I see that Johnny Carson has passed away. Pretty ironic that my last entry on the Daily Dave, like 2 or 3 days ago, I mentioned how classy Johnny was, I don't think I've ever written about him before.

Johnny probably did more for comedians than anyone else out there. Everyone knows all the stories about how being invited to the couch after your set was the biggest thing that could happen to a comic back when Johnny hosted the Tonight Show. Though I really don't remember the show that well, I think somehow I was really affected by him, because I always try to incorporate the things that people say about him into how I do my comedy.

As their showing all these clips of Johnny I can't help but hope that maybe him passing will somehow help fix the mess that television comedy has become. Leno has just totally wrecked that show and no self-respecting comic can stand the guy. Though, as I have joked before, I probably shouldn't write that.

But Leno and the other crappy late night shows aren't the only problem. Reality TV and these horrific sitcoms have to run their course. I thought that phase would've ended about a year or two ago, but amazingly we're still stuck in the middle of it.

As I listen to Joan Rivers and Jackie Mason talk about Johnny on CNN I can't help but be jealous that there was once a guy on TV who was there to make people look better and to find young talent and to not so insecure than to feel that he has to top the guest at every turn.

The stuff that we have been doing at the Comedy Company lately is the type of stand up that Johnny would've loved, I'm sure.

So Dave Letterman, if you find yourself a lil nostalgic, and looking for new comics like how Johnny once found you, I'm only about 3 blocks away.

Anyway, I've always been committed to doing good things in comedy and figuring out what my place in it is, but Johnny passing will recommit me to figuring out where I belong and what I should be doing.

I'd imagine he's proably making God look pretty good right about now. Goodnight, Johnny.