Johnny Carson

The longest-serving host of The Tonight Show to date was Johnny Carson, who 
hosted NBCs late-night talk show for 30 seasons, from Monday October 1, 1962 
to May 22, 1992 when he retired. Due to his success on Who Do You Trust?,  
Carson was asked by NBC to host the Tonight Show several months before 
the departure of then host, Jack Paar. Ed McMahon followed Carson from Who  
Do You Trust? as his announcer and sidekick on the show which became The
Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.