Johnny Carson Would Not Approve Of Today's Late Night Talk Shows

Johnny Carson never believed in letting his political or ideological opinions be known by the public. In a 1979 interview on "60 Minutes," the late-night host was asked by Mike Wallace if he ever gets sensitive to criticisms alleging he never talks about controversial issues. Carson replied, "Well, I have an answer for that. Tell me the last time Jack Benny, Red Skelton, or any comedian used his show to do serious issues. That's not what I am there for, can't they see that?"

Wallace then interjects by stating the comedian's monologues are full of various types of satire, which are some of the "best on the air." Carson continued by adding that he can do satire due to its strong correlation to humor, but sitting and having serious conversations with politicians was "not his job," and made him feel uncomfortable at the prospect of doing it. He concluded by observing, "It is tougher to make people laugh than it is to make them think." 

Despite modern late-night comedy's featuring those within or seeking election to government, this trend may be on the decline with viewers due to extreme oversaturation for the host's preference of one political divide over the other (per CNN Business).