ERAS SLOWLY GO

The recent death of Joan Rivers made me think about something that we rarely ever discuss, how eras really do disappear into the ether. I'm certain you are wondering what I mean with that statement and I can understand why. Joan Rivers to me was not just the plastic surgery loving, fashion policing, sometimes foulmouthed octogenarian that was simply tireless. Joan Rivers was a bridge to something else.

Joan Rivers was a bridge to an era where television was backed by a great deal of elegance. The term elegance here refers not only to fashion but also to humor, the way stars conducted themselves in public. Joan Rivers was the comedy superstar that appeared on Ed Sullivan, and would become a permanent guest host of the fabled Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Rivers would re invent herself with popular talk shows like her own daytime self titled program in the early 90's as well as Gossip, Gossip, Gossip which aired on USA.

Joan Rivers would also become a sort of fashion icon with her own line of stylish faux jewelry which she would sell on QVC for over 20 years. Joan is gone, the era of elegance is gone, but still there's the memories, and what great memories they are.

THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER CARSON

When you think of The Tonight Show in terms of its legend you think of everything from Steve Allen to Jack Paar's classic interviews but the only real legend of the the show was Johnny Carson whose 30 year tenure made him the late night measuring stick for generations to come. If you look at the history of the show for the last 20 years you are looking at a late night soap opera. Since Carson made his shocking retirement announcement in 1991 the show has been at the center of some serious controversy.

The first firestorm started when Carson made his announcement setting the stage for a major war between the rightful heir and Carson favorite David Letterman and guest host extraordinaire Jay Leno. Just about everyone initially maligned Carson when truthfully it was the Jay Leno's agent putting pressure on Carson to leave and on NBC to chose Leno. Things on the show only got worst as time passed because of declining ratings, Letterman's move to CBS in the same time slot and Jay Leno's intense agent almost causing dead air during the 1992 elections. After Hugh Grant's Divine Brown bonanza in 1995 the show took a turn of dominance that lasted 14 years.

The 2009 exit of Jay Leno paved the way for low ratings, Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno's failed primetime show and a comeback that made Leno the asshole of the 21st century. For the last few months they have talked about Jimmy Fallon becoming Leno's replacement and Leno has begun lobbing bombs at NBC in order to defend his spot. This is why there will never be another Carson.

Jay Leno has done to other people what David Letterman did not do to him. David Letterman was offered the show if Leno failed to turn ratings around during an 18 month period. David Letterman did not do that Jay Leno but Leno did it to O'Brien after 8 months and his own inability to provide NBC with the ratings he provided during his 17 years as Carson's replacement. Johnny Carson was going to leave the show in 1979 and was courted to stay by being allowed ownership of the show and the control over Letterman's show which his company produced.

Jay Leno will never come close to Carson, Conan could not do it and Jimmy Fallon can only dream of that zip code. Face it, there will never ever be another Carson.