Back when award shows and their hosts had class.
For days now, people across the country have been discussing the disgusting comments by late night host Kimmy Kimmel, who like Stephen Colbert, has turned his show into a personal hate machine against President Trump and is now claiming that his line about First Lady Melania looking like a ‘widow’ was just a joke.
In response, an old clip of beloved late night host Johnny Carson has been going viral on social media. It shows Carson opening the 1981 Oscar Awards show right after President Ronald Reagan was shot and it reminds people of a very different time in this country.
Carson never used his position or his show to advance his personal political beliefs. Most people did not even know what Carson’s politics were, and there was a reason for that. He did not want them to. Carson wanted to appeal to all Americans.
🚨 MUST WATCH:
Johnny Carson (a Democrat) opens the 1981 Oscars, a day after the assassination attempt on President Reagan, with genuine class and respect.
The entire liberal Hollywood crowd erupts in applause.
Today? Jimmy Kimmel jokes about Melania Trump becoming a widow. pic.twitter.com/1P39HK6EyF
— Alec Lace (@AlecLace) April 28, 2026
Late night talk shows haven’t been watchable in decades. Johnny Carson set the standard, but mostly everything that followed—- with the exception of Jay Leno—-is garbage.