1955: 'The Johnny Carson Show' Debuts on CBS
On this day in 1955, CBS introduced the prime-time variety show, The Johnny Carson Show. The half-hour program was one of the first starring vehicles for Carson, a Los Angeles-based comedian who came to the network's attention as a monologue writer for The Red Skelton Show.
One could say it was a practice run for his eventual role as the long-running host of NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Ironically the CBS show wasn't well-received, and was cancelled eleven months later. Soon after, Carson was named host of the daytime game show, Who Do You Trust?, a role he held until being tapped by NBC to replace Jack Paar on The Tonight Show.