
If the funniest man in America said something, it had to be true, right? Maybe, it was the power of Carson’s suggestions.Ĭarson had the ear of the American people. But then again, maybe it wasn’t just about the power of suggestion. The incident came to be known as, “The Great Toilet Paper Scare.” If there was ever any evidence of the power of suggestion was real, this was it. It took grocery stores and other businesses weeks to replenish their wiped-out inventory. Apparently, there is no shortage!" Despite his apology, the damage had been done. A Scott spokesman said unfounded rumors of a shortage has caused excessive demand at retail outlets.”Ĭarson later issued a clarification of his original joke stating, “For all my life in entertainment, I don't want to be remembered as the man who created a false toilet paper scare. CBS’ own Walter Cronkite reported on the story saying, “The Scott Paper Company, citing panic buying on the retail level, said today it is implementing an allocation system for the national distribution of toilet tissue. The incident was so significant, it became a topic of national news. People rushed to hoard bathroom tissue in a manic frenzy. The joke, intended to tickle and amuse, led to a 20-million American stampede on retail stores.

#Joke screen tunnel vision cracked#
In December 1973, Carson cracked a joke about a made-up, country-wide, toilet paper shortage. Many people made decisions based solely on the words of one, Mr. For others, he was more akin to a guidepost or beacon, providing a perspective, logical reason, and direction. For many Americans, he was their metaphorical mouthpiece, vocalizing the collective thoughts of the common man. His on-set interviews only rival in humor his well-scripted stand-up routines.Īstute, mentally nimble, and concise, Carson was able to cut to the comedic heart of any scenario. A born comic, Carson was astoundingly quick and shockingly witty. Featuring the most popular figures of the day, Caron’s list of guest celebrities, politicians, musicians, actors, and actresses stretches the length of the Hoover Dam. This was a significant moment in television history, as it was arguably Carson who made late-night television a household, entertainment staple.įor nearly three decades, Carson had woven himself into the nightly routine of millions of viewers. On May 21st, 1992, Johnny Carson ended his thirty-year stint as the host of The Tonight Show.


OctoThe Infamous Fruitcake Joke Johnny Carson: Fruitcake Friend or Foe?
