Johnny Carson’s character rule kept Paul Reubens off ‘Tonight Show’ guest list, book reveals

Actor Paul Reubens never sewage nan opportunity to beryllium crossed from Johnny Carson arsenic a impermanent connected “The Tonight Show,” and he ever wondered why.”

According to nan book “Love Johnny Carson,” written by Mark Malkoff, nan actor, known for playing nan iconic Pee-Wee Herman was not invited to beryllium a impermanent connected nan show pinch Carson successful nan hosting spot because, astatine nan time, “Reubens was only going connected shows ‘in character’ arsenic Pee-Wee.”

“Carson wouldn’t put connected guests that were ‘in character’ if he thought nan location assemblage mightiness beryllium confused if they were existent aliases not,” Malkoff wrote.

“It was nan aforesaid logic Carson refused to book Gilbert Gottfried aliases Bobcat Goldthwait.”

The writer explained that Carson only made exceptions for group erstwhile “it was plainly evident that it was a ‘put on,'” citing Super Dave Osborne (Bob Einstein) aliases Father Guido Sarducci (Don Novello) arsenic examples of exceptions to Carson’s rule.

Malkoff wrote that Carson’s norm was successful effect from nan opening of his show, noting he “was convinced that first clip impermanent Bob Uecker” was a impermanent connected his show successful 1969, that he was a “comedian ‘pretending’ to beryllium a erstwhile Major League shot player” and that a unit personnel had to show him newspaper articles to beryllium he wasn’t pretending.

“Carson’s biggest mobility if a impermanent was existent aliases going connected successful characteristic was vocalist Tiny Tim, who debuted successful 1968. Carson, by nan extremity of Tiny’s debut connected ‘Tonight,’ figured retired that Tiny was genuine. The adjacent year, successful 1969, Tiny Tim sewage joined to Miss Vicki connected Carson’s Tonight resulting successful 40 cardinal viewers tuning in.”

While Reubens was ne'er a impermanent connected nan “Tonight Show” pinch Carson successful nan hosting chair, he did look successful an section while Joan Rivers served arsenic a impermanent host.

In 1985, Reubens was a impermanent connected nan “Tonight Show” for a Halloween section while Rivers guest-hosted successful spot of Carson.

Reubens besides appeared arsenic nan first impermanent connected Rivers’ late-night talk show 2 years later.

“Pee-Wee appealed much to Rivers’ younger, hipper audience,” Malkoff wrote, while Carson’s older viewership mightiness not person appreciated that benignant of humor.

A number of celebrities person recovered themselves connected nan infamous “Tonight Show” prohibition list.

According to Malkoff, galore apical celebrities were barred from appearing arsenic guests during his tenure arsenic nan show’s host, including Ellen DeGeneres, Jay Leno, William Shatner and others.

Leno appeared connected nan show a number of times earlier getting banned, a determination made aft his 5th quality successful February 1978, erstwhile “the assemblage laughs were truthful ray that Johnny decided ne'er to induce him back,” according to Malkoff’s book.

“Tonight Show” stand-up talent scout Jim McCawley wrote successful his unpublished book that producers were told by Carson not to induce Leno back.

Malkoff wrote that McCawley tried to conflict for Leno, but shaper Peter Lassally unopen him down.

“‘Johnny conscionable doesn’t for illustration him. He doesn’t for illustration his jokes,’ said Peter,” Malkoff wrote. “That’s not going to change. … Once he doesn’t for illustration someone, he doesn’t commencement liking them later.”

Leno yet returned to nan show and hosted “The Tonight Show” for a mixed 22 years, first from 1992 to 2009 and past from 2010 to 2014.