Tonight Show with Johnny Carson final episode - May 22, 1992 (1080p60) 

What blows my mind is that the same amount of time has elapsed since Johnny retired from the show that he actually hosted the show. I can’t believe it has been over 30 years.

I like that the commercials are not deleted. Makes the whole experience feel RIGHT!

Thanks for leaving the commercials in -- made it feel like it was 1992 again.

It's 2023 now, and I'm 66 yrs old. I've watched this more times than I can imagine. It still makes me teary eyed, even though it's been 30 yrs now since he signed off. I grew up watching most of his shows. God, I sure wish all of those guys were still with us, and in their prime. I know that's a ridiculous thought, but I'm just dreaming. They were a big piece in my heart. Thank you Johnny and the rest of the guys for all of the incredible memories. Doc is now 96, and he's the last one standing. As a former trumpet player, he was my favorite my entire life. God, the Tonight Show Band was SO hot. We'd often times ask each other, 'did you catch Johnny last night'? As has been noted many, many times - there will NEVER be anyone else that'll even come close to Johnny. The guy was so great at what he did. Thanks Johnny. You will forever be in my heart. There's nothing like laughter, and he provided lots of it for us.

Johnny has now been off the air as long as he was on it. Time fricking flies.

With the retirement of Johnny Carson. This ended a chapter in late night television. That will NEVER be equaled. A class act.

When i was a kid and used to wake up in middle of the night to get drink from kitchen i had to walk past family roomsofa. My dad always fell asleep oncouch with Tonight Show on and Johnnys voice in background.That familiar voice which was in everyones living room.great memories🙂

I remember this night. I even taped the show. Man how time flies! Johnny was a natural, and no one since can match his class and humor! He's missed.

If you’re reading this and weren’t alive for Johnny and Ed, do yourself a favor and watch a lot more of their shows. TV has never been the same since this sign off.

R.I.P. Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon... Thanks for all the great memories on The Tonight Show

30 years ago today. The most watched episode of any late night show ever, Over 50 million watched this. No one will ever match what Carson accomplished.

Johnny was, and STILL is, KING of talk shows.

R I P Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon, we all miss you.

Man...i was born in 1970 so this was the iconic show for decade's...served 20 yes in the Marine Corps and i just cried at watching this whole show, with the commercials, thanks for that, ...i miss those days.

This is surprisingly crisp footage of 1992, commercials and everything! Greatly appreciate this time capsule. Thank you.

I took the night off work to watch Johnny one last time and tape the show on old VCR May 22 1992 . Never get tired of watching him and Ed .. He tried so hard not to cry saying good bye . It was a night like tonight ... May 22 2021 .. We miss you Johnny .

Oh, man. The "I'll Be Seeing You" at the end. That just about did me in. Johnny's favorite song -- and my dad's. 😌💜💚 Miss you both.

Also as of December 2022, bandleader Doc Severinsen is still with us age 95.

Exactly 28 years ago this past Friday. I don't think anyone will ever do a show like this again.

I watched that show the evening of 05/22/92, and have watched recordings of it many, many times over the years. Each and every time it brings tears to my eyes. Here's to nostalgia, some melancholy, & memories of Johnny & the crew - 07/04/24.

I wasn't even born when this happened and I feel nostalgic when I watch this

2023 and Johnny is still the king 👑 Late night used to be so fun and equally informative.

Carson was a national treasure. He had no equal. Such wonderful memories watching the Tonight Show through the years with my parents, both of whom are now gone.

80 million people watched this live. Pretty much the entire country.

This man was a rare gift in our lives . Johnny wasnt just the life of the party he was the damn party .

Man... It's a damn crying shame that they lost the footage from that first show... WHAT a line-up it was. Thank you so much for putting this up!

My parents had a VHS tape of that last episode. I never really got to watch him, but my Boomer parents did. Just like many Boomers, Silent, and Greatest generation people that was something if you stayed up late at night to watch for many years. He was it at 10:30 at night that you could laugh at his monologue and then go to bed for work the next day or stay up for the entire hour. After that show, he essentially got to live his life in privacy and seclusion that not many people in the industry were able to do. He left out on his own terms and enjoyed his retirement. Sadly the years of smoking finally bit him in the ass. Emphysema took him in 2005 at age 79 and he always complained to his younger brother about those damn cigarettes. Speaking of his younger brother he would go on to live until 2021 at age 92. Luckily there is still all those years thanks to the internet and syndication licenses by NBC that you can still watch clips and shows due to modern technology.

I got hooked on watching when I was 13 in 1973. We had just gotten a color TV and I remembered how colorful the curtains were. You got to see all the Hoolywood greats and I saw a lot of comedians make there debut on there.

What a showman Johnny Carson was and he is LEGENDARY in not only his talk shows,but as a comedian.This was a time when interviewing was an art.Sadly no more.

Entertainment of the highest quality. Thank you.

He really was the best. I don't believe anyone was ever better or ever will be again.

No one did it better. Still miss Johnny. 😢

I will be 67 this year. I was so lucky to be able to grow up watching Johnny Carson. I've watched many of these shows over and over again on You Tube and the magic of this show just gets stronger. Thank you Mr. Carson for being the best talk show so many of us had the honor of watching

Still the undisputed King of Late night !!

This has been the only late night show I’ve ever watched, faithfully. ❤❤❤❤

There will never be another Johnny Carson, Johnny was a once in a lifetime kind of performer, a once a lifetime kind of talent

I remember driving up to the trailer in time to watch this last show and scrambling about trying to get a good enough signal to see all the details...ended up with coat hangers out the window!

I remember being fourteen years-old watching this and knowing it was the end of an era. Johnny was the biggest star in the history of television.

I saw the Tonight Show twice out in Burbank. I'm so thankful I got to witness a television legend.

He wasnt kidding about 2 billion people having their own shows in the future.

Johnny is still the King of late night. Letterman was good but became cynical and bitter in the early 2000s. Any of today’s late night hosts can’t hold a candle to Johnny.

Johnny Carson was the reason we put a TV in our bedroom back in the 1960's. Listening to his monolog & either staying awake to catch a particular guest he had on that night or you closed your eyes & fell asleep. The Tonight Show also provided subtle light for late night sexual activities too. "Here's Johnny" often meant more than his walking out on stage.....lol.

My Uncle John was here. He passed away in May, and I'm so glad I looked up this episode to see this. What a great show.

I must admit that I choked up and got a little misty all over again……..there will never be another version of this show or another show like this period, ever again….it was special!

59:04, Johnny Carson IS the best ever late night host, and that band is pure GOLD too, wow, pure class!

I was 21 and had life by the balls. I felt invincible. I kinda feel bad for the same aged kids during the pandemic.

The BEST late night show host of ALL time!! He is missed!

Being from the UK I never got to see the Johnny Carson shows live back in the day: having watched many of them now I can see why he was so big in the US. When TV was actually worth watching.

The commercials are awesome. They take me back more than the show. Rip johnny carson, you legend.

It's been 30 years since Johnny Carson left The Tonight Show. Carson still remains the king of late night talk shows. Letterman comes close, but nobody can beat Johnny.

Probably the most nostalgic and sentimental part of this final episode would be looking back of some of the people who visited Johnny with Doc's wonderful musical accompaniment at 40:58.

Thank you, a million times over for posting this, with original commercials even. What a time capsule treasure this is. Sincere thanks.

I was 14 at the time and realised even at that age what a legend we were losing on tv.

That generation is missed so badly.

What a legend he was, thanks to RU-vid I got to see this master as his work with Rodney Dangerfield, Don Rickles and the legend Robin Williams.

What a life he had, he was 36 when he started the tonight show,👏 god bless you johnny

30 years ago tonight. He's missed by many!!

This is really cool. This is just before my time, i've heard of most of these names, but never really heard them perform or sing. The talent from that era was insane, such star presence as well

Like many of us in the comments, I grew up with Johnny Carson. I missed this finale as I was being a mom without TV at the time. Feeling a little nostalgic and sad. It was the end of an era really. Glad to have finally seen it! RIP Mr. Carson. Thanks for the memories.

The musical look back was pretty remarkable. Judy Garland and Dizzy Gilespie to Elton John and Whitney Houston. Frank sinatra and Benny Goodman to Paverotti, Dolly Parton, and BB king. That's absolutely incredible. I'm so glad that so much of Carson's work has been persevered. I am fortunate to be able to watch it now, even though I was born 5 years after this was filmed.

The greatest talk show host that will EVER be!!!! God bless you, Johnny

30 years ago today. Can’t believe it’s been that long already.

Johnny Carson was...and he live in our heart. Thanks for greatest talk show, thanks for good mood!

Man, the similarities between Johnny Carson’s Last Tonight Show and David Letterman’s Last Late Show speaks volumes on how the Tonight Show’s order of hosts should have been. Should have been Johhny Carson to David Letterman to Conan O’brian

A complicated man, who had personal troubles, as many of us do. But every night at tape time, it all went out the window, and he was never less than professional, affable, kind, and easy going. We didn't really understand what we had in 1992- now he's been gone for 31 years, and we are poorer for it in many, many ways. Continue to Rest in Peace, Johnny.

It's now 30 years ago as I write this since Johnny Carson's last Tonight Show - it's been that long!! The king of late night - he was so good, great guests, great skits. I especially liked stump the band - Doc was a hoot and Johnny was great working the audience. Except for Doc all of his Tonight Show colleagues have passed - it was a golden age, but as always golden ages come to an end. The Tonight Show has never been as good since he left and probably never will be.

After seeing so many people who are no longer with us I see how good we had it, they were the best...what we have today is trash.

Johnny contributed more to this world than almost anyone else I can think of. What a magnificent legacy. I am now 73 and I still miss him to this day. RIP my hero. I am now dying of cancer but I always have this man in my heart and thoughts to light my way. ❤❤❤❤❤❤

I appreciated how they never changed the late night theme song. Indeed they are the best swing band. This show brought so much joy to people for so many years. ❤

So many of us remember this airing as elementary and junior high school kids. Time and life are so fleeting, we now have our own children that were our age back then to share this level of genius with today. Life is too short

Carson to the very end: understated, humility, no over-the-top hijinks or attention-seeking diva antics. Going out on his own terms: with pure class. God I miss this man.

Loved watching Johnny. Stayed up every night when going to high school and watched him and for many years after. At 73 it was a pleasure to having experienced such a talent.

A couple of things here. 1) A CLASS ACT! 2) QUALITY WILL NEVER GO-OUT-OF-STYLE!" Greg Bardakos

May 22, 2022 - 30 years ago; It's been 30 years since Johnny Carson did his last "Tonight Show", time flies.

The best of the best. The applause at the opening of the monologue, says it all. Love the old black and white openings... with Times Square touting Chevrolet, Canadian Club, and Admiral Television and Appliances....that's America....

The clowns they have had on lately combined couldn’t fill Carson’s shoes.

Thanks for all the memories, Johnny and crew....best late nite show ever!

Hard to believe it has been 30 years. A whole generation grown up without having experienced Johnny . There were hosts before Johnny and those after him and they were and are good but Johnny Carson was the best . Johnny took the hosting job of the Tonight Show and actually transformed it into being the best , most coveted job in American Show Biz.

29 years ago today...and he did the show for 29 years

So many mixed emotions, tears of joy and sorrow simultaneously, knowing that probably 90-95% of the people shown here have passed away 😢 It was so rich growing up with sooo much talent around for my generation and previous generations 😊

I love Johnny Carson! Good clean humor…A man with class such a natural comedian. So many great guests, so many laughs through the years! Here it is 2022 and my how the world has changed. It’s nice to be able to look back and relive a time when Johnny made the world a better place he just had a special way of making you enjoy life I love this man! Thank you Johnny ❤️ Never forgotten!

I cried that night for 3 hours missing Johnny.

Johnny was the best in the business, even now years later looking back at this video and his final goodbye, i still get teary-eyed. Once ur the best there is no higher u can go, and Johnny was the King. God bless him and his crew for entertaining us for 30 years. Who else got teary-eyed watching this?

Today marks 30 years since that episode aired. We will never forget

JOHNNY CARSON IS MISSED BY ME AND BY TONS OF FOLKS - THANKS FOR POSTING THIS INCREDIBLE HISTORICAL VIDEO! GOOD NIGHT TO YOU, JOHNNY - AND THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!

You were one classy guy Mr Carson RIP brother

The best of the best. David Letterman said it best when he gave tribute to Johnny Carson when he said that he wasn’t the gold standard, He was the platinum standard, and that statement rings true even today.

This might sound stupid or even trivial, but I'm glad this look back included the original station break television commercials! It completes the authenticity of the flashback experience!! I miss it all, naturally with Johnny being the centerpiece!!

I was born on this day, 22-May-1992 8.45AM IST :)

I was 9 when this show aired but I remember it because I got to stay up with my sisters and watch it I didn’t know it at the time what a legend he was but now that I’m almost 40 and watched as many old episodes I could I now understand how big of a legend he is

I was 15 and recorded it on VHS tape, because i knew it would be a big deal. Hard to believe he’s been off the air as long as he was on it now.

Thank you for sharing this video. Never gets old watching...Carson's final farewell speech always brings tears to my eyes. Carson is the still the BEST!! No one can ever come close!

Johnny...The King of Kings, Boss of Bosses of late night. Any kids out there want to have a career as long as deep as Carson's was, do what this guy did.

I really miss watching a great late night tv program at the end of a long work day before falling asleep. There hasn't been one worth watching in many, many years unfortunately. Thank you for posting this vid of the best there ever was to do it though, I have probably only watched this two or three times since it first aired live.

Man, 90s commercial were so much less annoying than commercials today.

One of the only men I've ever seen that knew to unbutton his suit when sitting....how many men I see with their suit still buttoned sitting down..makes me nuts. Johnny had such style. he knew.

Just today, Mr. Carson made this very last show on that evening on May 22nd, 1992. The greatest late tv show host ever. Rest In Peace Johnny.

Johnny will always be missed , honored and remembered.

My father Jerry Burling used to work at NBC and was a tape editor there. He would fill in on The tonight show when the regular editors were on vacation. The building on 5000 West Alameda were the tonight show was taped has been sold. Just another piece of history that is gone.

I remember as a little kid back in the early 80’s watching Johnny Carson at my grandma’s house on the couch falling asleep afterwards and sometimes now making it through the whole show. God bless Johnny Carson . May you R.I.P😢😢