Short answers, pulled from the story.
Johnny Carson was an American television host, comedian, and writer, best known as the host of NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson from 1962 to 1992. He is widely regarded as the King of Late Night Television and received six Primetime Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Johnny Carson hosted The Tonight Show from the 1st of October 1962, to the 22nd of May 1992. NBC gave the host role to Jay Leno, who had served as the show's exclusive guest host since fall 1987.
Carson believed Letterman was his rightful successor as host of The Tonight Show, not Jay Leno. Before his death, Carson regularly sent jokes to Letterman for use in his monologue. On the broadcast following Carson's death, Letterman revealed that his entire monologue that night consisted of jokes Carson had sent him.
In 1973, Carson, skeptical of Geller's claimed paranormal powers, enlisted magician James Randi to help prevent trickery. The show's staff prepared its own props without informing Geller, and Geller was unable to demonstrate any abilities on air. Paradoxically, the failed appearance helped launch Geller's career, as he was immediately booked on The Merv Griffin Show afterward.
Carson's best-known recurring characters included Carnac the Magnificent, a turbaned mock-psychic who answered questions before seeing them; Art Fern, a smarmy movie announcer Carson named as his personal favorite; and Floyd R. Turbo, a stereotypical working man who delivered satirical editorials. Art Fern's assistant, the Matinee Lady, was played by actress Carol Wayne in over a hundred appearances from 1971 to 1984.
Johnny Carson was born on the 23rd of October 1925, in Corning, Iowa. He began performing magic at age twelve after finding a book on the subject at a friend's house, and debuted as "The Great Carsoni" at age fourteen, earning $3 a show. He later studied radio and speech at the University of Nebraska, graduating in 1949, and began his broadcasting career in 1950 at WOW-AM and WOW-TV in Omaha, Nebraska.