How did Johnny Carson start?

Johnny Carson's early career was marked by perseverance and a willingness to seize every opportunity. Born in Iowa in 1925 and raised in Nebraska, Carson served in the Navy before attending the University of Nebraska. He began his broadcasting career in Omaha, Nebraska, starting in radio before transitioning to television. Despite an initial up-and-down career, Carson consistently took advantage of every opportunity that came his way. Notably, he wasn't NBC's first choice to succeed Jack Paar as the host of The Tonight Show, but he eventually took over in October 1962, leading the show for 30 years until his retirement in 1992 1 2.