Johnny Carson retired as host of The Tonight Show in 1992, ending his 30-year tenure on his own terms. But the late-night TV legend believed someone else in the industry did their best to give Carson an early exit.
Carson was 66 years old when he signed off from The Tonight Show. Unlike other hosts who have come up with a second act, Carson largely retired from the entertainment industry save for a few bits on TV, most notably with David Letterman.
Prior to Carson's retirement, speculation grew regarding who would succeed him as host of The Tonight Show. According to Carson, things went too far when one comedian's camp allegedly began planting stories about the outgoing host.
In a 1993 interview with the Washington Post, Carson alleged that Jay Leno's agent planted rumors with the press. Carson claimed Helen Kushnick spread unfounded stories that NBC was upset with Carson's older audience and eagerly awaited Leno's takeover.
"She planted all of those items constantly in the paper, to Jay's detriment, and to her detriment," Carson said. The Tonight Show legend also suggested Leno had no idea what his manager was doing, giving his successor a warning about who he kept in his corner.
"What on earth was she trying to do?" Carson said. "Leno wouldn't have been there at all if it hadn't been for me," he added, in reference to Leno's countless appearances on Carson's show as as a guest and guest host.
NBC fired Kushnick as executive producer of The Tonight Show in September 1992. It came just four months after Leno took over for Carson. According to Entertainment Weekly, Kushnick's firing wasn't a surprise. She quickly developed a reputation as short-tempered and was blamed for fanning the flames of the late-night wars by banning guests who appeared on any competing shows.
It's perhaps telling that Carson didn't do much more to help Leno's iteration of The Tonight Show. Instead, he made a handful of appearances on Late Show with David Letterman. Carson also revealed he gave Letterman advice on signing with CBS after losing The Tonight Show to Leno.
Carson's accusations are also indicative of the late-night TV wars heyday. Comedians jockeyed behind the scenes for what few opportunities existed in the genre and things got nasty. It's a far cry from the friendly and collaborative environment created by the likes of Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, and Stephen Colbert.