It was 1986. Saturday Night Live was clawing its way back from the brink of cancellation, and a skinny guy from Missoula, Montana, named Dana Carvey had just joined the cast. He was already a human chameleon. But while the world was obsessed with the Church Lady’s "Isn't that special?" and the "Choppin' Broccoli" song, Carvey was quietly perfecting a heist. He was going to steal the soul of the King of Late Night.
Dana Carvey as Johnny Carson wasn't just another impression. It wasn't the polished, respectful caricature that guys like Rich Little had been doing for decades. It was something weirder. Something dangerous. Honestly, it might be the only time a comedy sketch actually helped end an era of television history.
The Secret Sauce of the Impression
Most people who tried to "do" Johnny Carson focused on the golf swing or the pencil tapping. You’ve seen it a thousand times. Carvey realized that the real Johnny lived in the gaps—the weird, staccato rhythm of his speech and the way he’d repeat himself when he was trying to fill dead air.
He didn't just mimic the voice. He mimicked the vibe of a man who had been sitting behind the same desk for twenty-five years and was starting to see the world through a very specific, slightly distorted lens.
"That is weird. That is wild. I did not know that," Carvey would say, his eyes darting back and forth like he was looking for a way out of the conversation. He nailed the "Whoop!" sound Johnny made during the monologue. He captured the odd, aggressive way Carson would interact with Ed McMahon, played to sycophantic perfection by Phil Hartman.
The "Carsenio" Turning Point
If you want to understand why this mattered, you have to look at the "Carsenio" sketch from 1990. At the time, Arsenio Hall was the cool new kid on the block. He had the "Dog Pound," the "Woof woof woof," and the youth demographic that NBC was desperate to keep.
Carvey’s Johnny Carson decided to try it out. He wore the oversized suit. He tried to do the fist pump.
It was hilarious, but it was also a bit brutal. It showed a legendary figure trying to be "hip" and failing miserably. Initially, Carson actually liked it. Carvey has mentioned in interviews that Johnny told him, "They're making fun of Arsenio as much as they're making fun of us." But that goodwill didn't last forever.
The Sketch That Got Dana Banned
There’s a legendary story about the "Susan Dey" sketch. This is the one where Carvey’s Carson interviews Jan Hooks (playing the actress from The Partridge Family) and acts like the show is still on the air. He asks about David Cassidy like it’s 1972.
The joke wasn't just that he was old. The joke was that he was senile.
Lorne Michaels supposedly told Dana it would be fine, but Johnny was deeply hurt. He felt the show was portraying him as an out-of-touch relic. Jay Leno, who was guest-hosting at the time, later told Carvey that Johnny would walk down the halls at NBC in Burbank, yelling, "They're making fun of me! Now it's time to go!"
It’s heavy stuff. Imagine being the guy who made the greatest talk show host of all time feel like he was past his expiration date. After that, the invites to The Tonight Show stopped coming. Carvey, who had been a regular guest and a personal favorite of Johnny’s, was effectively blacklisted.
Why We Are Still Talking About This in 2026
You might wonder why a sketch from thirty-five years ago still pops up in your feed. Basically, it's because Carvey and Hartman created a masterclass in chemistry. When you watch those old clips, you aren't just watching a parody. You’re watching the death of a certain kind of "Old Hollywood" formality.
- The Contrast: Carson was the ultimate professional. Carvey turned him into a frantic, repeating machine.
- The Sidekick: Phil Hartman’s Ed McMahon was arguably just as important. His "YOU SIR, ARE CORRECT!" was the perfect fuel for Carvey’s fire.
- The Timing: It happened right as the "Late Night Wars" were heating up.
Carvey eventually made peace with the legacy of the impression, though he’s often expressed regret that it caused Johnny real pain. In his Fly on the Wall podcast, he’s gone deep on how much he actually revered Carson. He wasn't trying to destroy the king; he was just doing what comedians do—finding the "thing" and poking it until it pops.
What You Can Learn from the Carvey Era
If you’re a fan of comedy or just interested in how media cycles work, the Dana Carvey as Johnny Carson saga is a perfect case study. It shows that satire is a double-edged sword. It can make someone a legend, but it can also be the thing that signals the end of their reign.
If you want to dive deeper into this specific era of SNL, I’d recommend checking out the oral history Live From New York. It’s got some incredible behind-the-scenes details about how these sketches were written in the middle of the night under insane pressure.
💡 You might also like: Chris Brown Exclusive Forever Edition: Why This Reissue Actually Mattered
Also, look up the 1991 sketch celebrating Johnny’s 29th anniversary. It’s got Chris Farley as Dom DeLuise and Phil Hartman as Burt Reynolds. It’s chaotic, it’s loud, and it’s a reminder of a time when Saturday Night Live wasn't afraid to bite the hand that fed it.
Next steps for you:
Go to YouTube and search for the "Carsenio" sketch specifically. Watch the way Carvey moves his hands—that’s the real secret to the impression. Then, find an actual clip of Johnny from 1989 and see if you can spot the exact mannerisms Carvey was "stealing." It'll change the way you watch late-night TV forever.