Johnny Carson’s Secret Blacklist: Why Jay Leno, Ellen, and Other Stars Were Banned From The Tonight Show

A new book has pulled back the curtain on one of late-night's most enduring secrets: Johnny Carson's infamous list of banned guests. The book, “Love Johnny Carson” by Mark Malkoff, reveals through interviews with those closest to the iconic host that a list of “over thirty names” existed, featuring stars who were permanently unwelcome on his couch.

Crossing the King of Late Night

According to Carson’s producer of over two decades, Peter Lassally, the reasons for being banned were often deeply personal. Even Carson's eventual successor, Jay Leno, found himself on the outs. During his fifth appearance in 1978, Leno's jokes reportedly fell so flat that, according to the book, “the audience’s laughs were so light that Johnny decided never to invite him back.” Lassally recalled Carson's final word on the matter: “Johnny just doesn’t like him. He doesn’t like his jokes.”

Ellen DeGeneres landed on Carson’s bad side by disobeying a direct order. During her third appearance in 1987, she told a joke that Carson had explicitly told her not to perform. The book quotes publicist Charlie Barrett, who recalled Carson chastising her in front of his staff post-show. “Pointing at her, he said, ‘I told you not to do that material,’” Malkoff wrote.

Disrespecting the Host—Or His Staff

Some offenses were against the unwritten rules of television. ‘Star Trek’ actor William Shatner allegedly broke three at once: speaking in a monotonous four-minute monologue, turning his back on Carson to talk to another guest, and mentioning the rival network (ABC) where his show aired.

Publicly correcting the host was another cardinal sin. Famed astronomer Carl Sagan made this mistake in 1986, correcting Carson twice while discussing Halley's Comet. While Carson “hid his embarrassment with his affable smile,” the book claims he “felt slighted” and ensured the astrophysicist was never invited back.

However, the fastest way to get banned was to mistreat Carson’s crew. Comedian Jerry Lewis and even the original ‘Tonight Show’ host, Steve Allen, were both blacklisted after incidents where they reportedly yelled at or were verbally abusive to staff members while guest-hosting. The book notes, “Carson did not abide bad manners. Nor did he tolerate anyone who disrespected his staff and crew.”