There exists a generation of late-night TV fans who argue things haven't been the same since Johnny Carson signed off. For them, good news is on the way.
Carson ended his tenure as host of The Tonight Show in 1992. It ended 30 years at the desk for the King of Late-Night. Following his retirement, Carson largely stayed out of the spotlight, save for sending in some jokes to David Letterman.
Now, Carson is returning to television thanks to streaming. Fifty episodes of The Tonight Show hosted by Carson, not seen in decades, are coming to Shout! TV. The streaming service operates Johnny Carson TV, a free ad-supported streaming channel dedicated to the late-night TV icon.
Per Vulture, the episodes will go live on Shout! beginning July 5. It brings the total number of Carson Tonight Show episodes available on the service to just over 470. Viewers can access the Carson archive through the Shout! website or app.
Shout! TV brings something different to its Tonight Show collection
While classic Carson clips are always available on YouTube, the Shout! TV collection brings something different to the table. Many of the 50 episodes coming next month will feature original musical performances.
Anyone who has tried to watch complete episodes of vintage Saturday Night Live episodes or other late-night TV classics knows this is a big deal. Music rights often prevent streaming services from rebroadcasting performances.
Performances by Jim Henson, Steve Martin, Johnny Mathis, The Jackson 5, and Paul Williams are expected to appear in the collection.
Other celebrity guests sitting with Johnny Carson in the batch of 50 episodes include Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, Lucille Ball, Sammy Davis, Jr., Betty White, Albert Brooks, Tom Hanks, and Robin Williams.