One of my simple pleasures of watching broadcast television via the airwaves is some of the old television shows that appear on digital network sub channels.
Decades TV reruns the six seasons of “Laugh In” a show that was considered quite risque for it’s time. I love the early cast, especially the giggly bubblehead Goldie Hawn.
But it’s the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson on Antenna TV that sends me back in time.
Back then, I’d turn on Carson at 10:30 p.m., see who his guests would be, listen to his monologue, then decide if I would watch the rest of the show.
I do the same today, but with a twist.
The rerun’s opening credits include the show’s broadcast date. That makes me think of where I was and what I was doing at that time – in high school, at college or where I was in my career.
The monologue skewers the people, places and news of the day, something of a humorous review of the history I lived through and forgot.
The guests ranged from stars in their golden years, actors in their prime, and the shooting stars of TV, movies and comedy. Any segment with Robin Williams was hostage to his whims.
Carson was a heck of a way to end the day then, and it still is.
Watching broadcast