Other Potential Hosts
While ultimately we know that Johnny Carson was a massively successful choice of host for The Tonight Show, he was not the only person who was considered. Although Carson was eventually convinced to take the role after initially declining, the role was then also offered to Bob Newhart, Groucho Marx, Jackie Gleason, and Joey Bishop.
Other Potential Hosts
The First And Last
The show’s very first guest was Groucho Marx, and the last was Better Midler. Carson’s dream guest was Cary Grant, but he never actually appeared on the show. Similarly, Carson wanted Bill Boyd to be a guest on the show, but Boyd never felt comfortable with the idea.
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The First And Last
