Scandals From The Johnny Carson Show

Toilet Paper Drama

What if the world ran out of toilet paper? That is difficult to imagine, isn’t it? Well, in December 1973, that idea sparked panic when Carson joked on Tonight about an alleged shortage of toilet paper. Think about a number of viewers he had; so it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise to hear that panic buying and hoarding ensued across the United States.

The result? Consumers emptied stores, causing a real shortage that lasted for weeks. Stores and toilet paper manufacturers had to ration supplies and wait it out until the panic ended. Carson later apologized in January 1974 for the incident. The New York Times called this incident a “classic study” of how rumors spread.

No Butts About It

From toilet paper rumors and panic, to portable toilets with an interesting name. A portable toilet company wanted to use the name “Here’s Johnny” for their portable toilets. But the problem with that? Well, that is the phrase used to introduce Johnny Carson on his show.

In 1977, Carson successfully sued a manufacturer of portable toilets. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan ruled that Braxton could not use the phrase “Here’s Johnny.” Carson stated he had a right of publicity in that phrase, and the courts agreed after a legal fight that spanned a decade and two appeals. To this day, the company is still trying to reclaim the name.

Guess which celebrity was Johnny Carson’s least favorite guest? Read on to find out.