Reply #5: He got Carson's friendship & guidance..worth way more to him than the show [View All]

Had he continued with Johnny's show, he would have naturally made changes to it, to reflect his own style, but when NBC screwed him, the Johnny Carson Show remained an iconic memory, spoiled by Leno & crew.

leno got the "show", but Dave got Johnny..and the Johnny WAS the Tonight Show.

Dave was able to create his own show, with no chance of being accused of "changing Johnny's show". He was compared to Carson in a mentorship/friendship way, instead of as a usurper who took over and changed it all.

leno was the backstabbing schemer... a standup comedian who was not all that funny.. He may have wanted to shine brighter than Johnny Carson, but he ended up a lame version of Mike Douglas/Merv Griffin..

Dave "became" Johnny.. He's the one with protégés whose careers HE now mentors.. people like Ray Romano, Craig Ferguson, and even Jon Stewart.

Leno only mentors his warehouse full of cars..