# Carson was famous for giving Comics their big break. Why hasn't new talkshow hosts done the same? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 16, 2013, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carson-was-famous-for-giving-comics-their-big-break-why-hasnt-new-talkshow-hosts-done-the-same/658554 "2013-05-16T20:49:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![howye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9adbd/32.png) [@howye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/howye)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2013, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carson-was-famous-for-giving-comics-their-big-break-why-hasnt-new-talkshow-hosts-done-the-same/658554/41 "2013-05-17T16:32:04Z")
I don’t believe that Ferguson tapes the comics, or musical acts, in this fashion anymore. His old studio required some time reset for these acts, and thus the taping separately. Now he has plenty of room. Plus, he actually does interact with the guests. While I don’t think an appearance on the Late Late show is going to give to many people their big break, it does seem that most of the stand-up and musical acts are up and comers. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2013, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carson-was-famous-for-giving-comics-their-big-break-why-hasnt-new-talkshow-hosts-done-the-same/658554/42 "2013-05-18T21:34:49Z")
Regarding Regis on Letterman: Almost every time he’s on it’s because a guest canceled. Barbara Walters joked about this the other night saying that she was on because a guest canceled and Regis was busy. Letterman has some old friends that he brings on regularly just because he likes them. E.g., Tom Dreesen, Jimmy Walker (in their early days, Letterman and Leno both wrote for him), etc. And lest we forget, the late great George Miller. But Letterman doesn’t make friends easily and so he doesn’t seem to be interested in promoting newer comics in the same way. So it’s just an intro at the start, a handshake and a compliment at the end. No couch time. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2013, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carson-was-famous-for-giving-comics-their-big-break-why-hasnt-new-talkshow-hosts-done-the-same/658554/43 "2013-05-18T22:47:35Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] But please stop crediting Carson. It was Jack Paar’s Tonight Show that was noted for having on unfamous people who were good talkers and making stars of them. They’re mostly forgotten today - Genevieve, Dody Goodman, Alexander King, Jack Douglas and his wife Reiko - but they became huge celebrities for a few years. Carson never had regulars like that. He brought back professional comedians for many appearances, and he did have some people on for talk, but his Tonight Show was vastly more commercial than Paar’s. [/QUOTE] One reason why professional raconteurs like Alexander King, [Oscar Levant](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Levant), and [Elsa Maxwell](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsa_Maxwell) were more common during Paar’s term as host was because they had to fill 105/90 minutes of time. The cutting of the Tonight Show to 60 minutes considerably reduced the need to have guests like that. Other victims of the Tonight Show’s reduction in length included book authors (who mostly took the place of the raconteurs when Carson hosted). > [@ftg](#): > > Letterman has some old friends that he brings on regularly just because he likes them. E.g., Tom Dreesen, Jimmy Walker (in their early days, Letterman and Leno both wrote for him), etc. And lest we forget, the late great George Miller. But Letterman doesn’t make friends easily and so he doesn’t seem to be interested in promoting newer comics in the same way. So it’s just an intro at the start, a handshake and a compliment at the end. No couch time. At least it’s more than Leno does. Letterman does set aside Friday as an unofficial “New Comic Night” and slots them between the first guest and the music act. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carson-was-famous-for-giving-comics-their-big-break-why-hasnt-new-talkshow-hosts-done-the-same/658554/44 "2013-05-19T01:43:39Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > One reason why professional raconteurs like Alexander King, [Oscar Levant](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Levant), and [Elsa Maxwell](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elsa_Maxwell) were more common during Paar’s term as host was because they had to fill 105/90 minutes of time. The cutting of the Tonight Show to 60 minutes considerably reduced the need to have guests like that. Other victims of the Tonight Show’s reduction in length included book authors (who mostly took the place of the raconteurs when Carson hosted). Carson’s Tonight Show was 105 minutes the first five years and then 90 minutes until 1980. That’s 60% of the entire run. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carson-was-famous-for-giving-comics-their-big-break-why-hasnt-new-talkshow-hosts-done-the-same/658554/45 "2013-05-19T02:03:17Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Ok, checked with some people and so far I’m told that Chad Daniels and Hannibal Burress both talk about it on their episodes of WTF, and Maron talks about experiencing it himself during his set on Ferguson. > > If that’s not enough cites for you, Craig Ferguson himself was a guest on WTF and he and Maron talk about it. He basically said that it’s the end of his day and it’s time for him to go home. Part of the reason is that they tape the comic segments separately from the regular show so that they can drop them into a show whenever they want. It’s enough. Thanks for looking those up. I appreciate it. > [@howye](#): > > I don’t believe that Ferguson tapes the comics, or musical acts, in this fashion anymore. His old studio required some time reset for these acts, and thus the taping separately. Now he has plenty of room. Plus, he actually does interact with the guests. While I don’t think an appearance on the Late Late show is going to give to many people their big break, it does seem that most of the stand-up and musical acts are up and comers. I hope he does stay now. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carson-was-famous-for-giving-comics-their-big-break-why-hasnt-new-talkshow-hosts-done-the-same/658554/46 "2013-05-19T02:24:15Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Letterman and Ferguson both do this. Letterman calls in Regis Philbin all the time and Ferguson does the same with Kristen Bell. I don’t know about Regis, but I’ve always gotten the feeling that Kristin Bell is there when someone can’t show up or they can’t book someone. Don’t get me wrong, I love when she’s on–her chemistry with Craig is great–but I never got the vibe he was doingit just to talk to her. She just likes Craig enough that she’s willing to help out when he needs her. When she can’t, they bring out someone on staff, I think. I remember him doing the person who books the celebrities, and, of course, Josh Robert Thompson. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carson-was-famous-for-giving-comics-their-big-break-why-hasnt-new-talkshow-hosts-done-the-same/658554/47 "2013-05-19T06:23:56Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Carson’s Tonight Show was 105 minutes the first five years and then 90 minutes until 1980. That’s 60% of the entire run. True. That and the move to Burbank around 1972 brought about the disappearance of “professional” raconteaurs from Tonight Show guest list. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carson-was-famous-for-giving-comics-their-big-break-why-hasnt-new-talkshow-hosts-done-the-same/658554/48 "2013-05-19T06:38:16Z")
Conan is still giving big breaks. In fact, in his new show he’s been even favouring unusual up-and-comers (female comedians, non-stand up comedians, like podcast hosts…) over established names. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carson-was-famous-for-giving-comics-their-big-break-why-hasnt-new-talkshow-hosts-done-the-same/658554/49 "2013-05-19T07:01:38Z")
> [@Becky2844](#): > > I think I saw that same talent show: > What’s for dinner? > “Like he can’t lift the couch cushions and find his _own_ Cheetos.” “I figure if the kids are still alive when my husband gets home, I’ve done my job.” ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2013, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carson-was-famous-for-giving-comics-their-big-break-why-hasnt-new-talkshow-hosts-done-the-same/658554/50 "2013-05-19T16:32:55Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I don’t know about Regis, but I’ve always gotten the feeling that Kristin Bell is there when someone can’t show up or they can’t book someone. Don’t get me wrong, I love when she’s on–her chemistry with Craig is great–but I never got the vibe he was doingit just to talk to her. She just likes Craig enough that she’s willing to help out when he needs her. That’s probably true to an extent, but I do recall seeing “This Week on Craig” commercials during the weekend advertising a Kristen Bell appearance during the week when she’s got nothing to promote. And he took her to France (and Scotland too, I believe) as his weeklong guest. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carson-was-famous-for-giving-comics-their-big-break-why-hasnt-new-talkshow-hosts-done-the-same/658554.md?page=2)