All posts tagged: The Tonight Show

Harry Belafonte Hosted Everyone From Robert F. Kennedy and Paul Newman to Martin Luther King Jr. on ‘The Tonight Show’

Harry Belafonte Hosted Everyone From Robert F. Kennedy and Paul Newman to Martin Luther King Jr. on ‘The Tonight Show’

“I guess I could use some of this time to get into pleasantries,” Belafonte begins, “to talk about the many experiences I’ve had with you not only here but in Europe and other places.” This, it’s clear as he pauses to raise his head, isn’t what he wants to do. “What do you have in store for us this summer?” Now King joins in the crowd’s nervy laughter: the summer of 1968, everyone seems to sense, is going to be a doozy. And America’s foremost activist for justice is glad to explain, by way of a capsule history of the past few years in American life, what he’s focusing on now. King says that the passage of the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts were great victories. But they’ve done little, in the three years since the latter’s passage, to undo inequalities built over centuries. And redressing such ills will require more than confronting prejudice. “I feel,” he intones, “that we are in the midst of a most critical period in our nation. And the …

Johnny Carson, David Letterman Producer Was 93

Johnny Carson, David Letterman Producer Was 93

Peter Lassally, a concentration camp survivor who became known as the “Host Whisperer” for producing talk shows headlined by Johnny Carson, David Letterman and Craig Ferguson, has died. He was 93. Lassally died Sunday of natural causes at a memory care facility in Los Angeles, his son, Tom Lassally, a partner, producer and manager at 3 Arts Entertainment, told The Hollywood Reporter. Lassally had produced programs starring Arthur Godfrey and Mike Wallace before joining Carson on NBC’s The Tonight Show, then based in New York, in 1969. He served as the quiet behind-the-scenes guy in a producing partnership with the boisterous Fred De Cordova and remained with the show until Carson’s final broadcast on May 22, 1992. After just one week off, Lassally jumped to Late Night With David Letterman as an executive producer for what would prove to be the NBC program’s final season. When Jay Leno was picked over Letterman to replace Carson, Lassally advised Letterman what to do next. “I said to Dave, ‘If you’re going to follow Jay Leno at 12:30 when …

NBA Champs New York Knicks to Appear on Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon

NBA Champs New York Knicks to Appear on Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon

Two days after winning the NBA Finals, the New York Knicks will be featured in a special episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Members of the winning team will appear on Monday’s episode of the NBC late night show, airing at 11:35 p.m. ET/PT and streaming the next day on Peacock. Fallon, a Knicks superfan, will welcome NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges to discuss their championship run and most recent season. The episode will also feature appearances by the entire Knicks team and head coach Mike Brown, plus surprise guests. “A booking 53 years in the making,” Fallon said. In addition, New York City natives Wu-Tang Clan are scheduled to perform. NBC said that in a “tribute to the team’s loyal fanbase, the entire studio audience will be comprised of die-hard Knicks fans who were unable to attend the Finals in person, bringing unmatched energy and hometown pride to Studio 6B in 30 Rockefeller Plaza.” The New York team won its first title since …