For those of us Americans between thirty and forty-five who were occasionally allowed to stay up past the specified bedtime, there was always Johnny Carson.
Those who are older mostly appreciate his comedy, his comic timing, his ad-libbing talent and his class. I feel sorry for those who are younger; who never saw him live; who now never can.
Aside from Jack Benny (who?), never was there a man who could deliver a funnier line with a straighter face.
And, unlike the major stars of today, Mr. Carson never seemed to think that his political views (or any other views) were important enough for him to inflict them on an attentive public.
He did his job, that alone and quite well to boot. For that, I thank him.
