Johnny Carson Wouldn't Let Betty White Disappear

Johnny Carson Wouldn't Let Betty White Disappear On August 14, 1981 - nine weeks after burying her husband Allen Ludden — Betty White walked back through Johnny Carson's curtain in a leaf bikini. Most of America saw a silly Tarzan sketch. What Johnny Carson was really doing was refusing to let his oldest friend disappear. This is the story of a friendship television almost never gets to keep. From their first appearance together on a 1961 CBS panel show — eleven months before Johnny took over The Tonight Show - through twenty-eight years of sketches, banter, and the night Betty said Allen's name on the couch nine weeks after his funeral. A documentary about Johnny Carson, Betty White, Allen Ludden, The Tonight Show, and what real friendship looked like on late-night television. ⏱ CHAPTERS 00:00 — Teaser 01:30 — Before The Chair (1952–1962) 04:30 — Comedy as Trust (1962–1980) 09:00 — The Grief The Audience Did Not See (1980–1981) 12:30 — The Tarzan Sketch — August 14, 1981 16:30 — He Kept Treating Her Like Betty (1986–1990) 19:00 — Closing 🔔 Subscribe for more #JohnnyCarson #BettyWhite #TheTonightShow #tonightshowjohnnycarson