Here's Johnny! — 'Carson Tonight' at Lincoln's Lied Center to honor 'Nebraska's favorite son'

The rainbow curtains might have been rolled up more than 30 years ago, the hallowed desk shuffled away, but Johnny Carson's legacy and influence didn't end with his "Tonight Show" reign.

Far from it.

The likes of Letterman, Leno, Conan, Kimmel, Fallon and Colbert could speak to that, as could the University of Nebraska-Lincoln students who've studied at the school of theater and film and the emerging media arts center that now bear his name.

But beyond helping set the stage for the modern late-night TV show format, Carson, who was born in Iowa but grew up in Norfolk, was the launching pad for many a comedian and entertainer, who, by the very act of appearing on his show — and maybe even getting the coveted OK sign — had a career practically handed to them.

Such was the case for comedian Pat Hazell, who appeared on "The Tonight Show" on June 7, 1989, a little under three years before Carson would sign off for the last time.

"I had watched that curtain be (opened) and Johnny come out of it so many times in my life. It was pretty surreal," said Hazell, who grew up in Omaha and remembers his dad letting him stay up to watch the king of late night. "I guess there's a lot of adrenaline when you hit the stage and you realize, 'Wait a minute, I'm in charge of TV for the next six or seven minutes, whatever time.' And it's a big moment to sort of have it happen and have the audience response and then look over and Johnny gives you that OK symbol. And then you realize, 'Oh, this changes the trajectory of what I'm doing.'"

Hazell went on to make six more "Tonight Show" appearances with Jay Leno, who followed Carson as host, and worked as one of the original writers on "Seinfeld," which segued into a long career as a writer, producer and performer.

It's fitting, then, that Hazell is hosting "Carson Tonight," a celebration of the late Nebraska icon at the Lied Center for Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, which will mark Carson's 99th birthday.

The one-time special event will feature a variety of artists and personalities who, like Hazell, appeared on "The Tonight Show," including magician Lance Burton, comedian Cathy Ladman, ventriloquist Jay Johnson, Jon Wee and Owen Morse of The Passing Zone jugglers and jazz singer Nicole Henry, with live accompaniment by the UNL Jazz Orchestra under Gregory Simon playing from the original music charts of "The Tonight Show" orchestra.

And, of course, the show will include footage of Carson culled from the "Tonight Show" archives, including clips of him introducing the very same acts who will appear at the Lied Center.

The tribute event was, in part, born out of an immersive Carson exhibit Hazell, who is also producing the show, helped put on at the National Comedy Center in New York when Carson was inducted there. Hazell was acquainted with Jeff Sotzing, Carson's nephew, "Tonight Show" producer, and president of the Carson Entertainment Group.

Initially, that exhibit was pitched as a live show, but Hazell instead put forward the idea of doing some kind of separate reunion birthday celebration featuring past guests.

"I put out the call to lots of folks," Hazell said. "I will say the magical thing about it is, is that everybody who Johnny launched owes him a debt of gratitude, and they're always willing to do anything and jump through hoops."

Hazell is among that list, having become enamored as a kid with the man who could do magic tricks and stand-up comedy and reprise comic characters. Like Carson, Hazell grew up in Nebraska and even had a magic kit of his own when he was a kid. The idea that he could someday actually appear on Carson began to take root.

So, when he was older, Hazell moved to L.A. and threw himself into the comedy scene, working in the Hollywood clubs and on improv stages until he caught the eye of a talent coordinator. The goal was always the same: Get on Carson.

When that moment finally came — 10 days before his 10-year high school reunion, Hazell remembers — he not only got to deliver a monologue on "The Tonight Show," but he was able to share a special moment with a fellow Nebraskan.

"There was a guy named Pete Petrashek who was from the WOWT television station in Omaha, also a magician, and worked there when Johnny worked there, so he had tipped Johnny off that I was really good with a deck of cards," Hazell said. "And so Johnny wanted me to do some tricks for him in the office and we were like two kids in an attic, you know playing, doing magic tricks at his desk."

In addition to the birthday tribute, Hazell, who is now based in Austin, Texas, but returns to Nebraska often to visit family, has previously teamed up with Simon and the UNL Jazz Orchestra for a tribute to the music of Carson where the musicians played from Doc Severinsen's chart. Hazell also did interviews with a couple of guests, including Joan Embery, the San Diego animal ambassador whose frequent appearances on Carson with various animals — remember the marmoset? — led to some of the show's most memorable moments.

"Carson Tonight" also will be performed Thursday at the Johnny Carson Theater in Norfolk, the community Carson always considered his hometown.

"Johnny was Nebraska's favorite son for so many years, and I think probably something he wouldn't want credit for, but he should be acknowledged for, is that in that area, particularly in Lincoln and at the Lied Center and on the university, the Carson Foundation has helped develop their media centers and the programming and the stages and all that," said Hazell, whose son graduated from UNL. "And I would say that if ever there was a place he was more relevant, you look around that campus, you're going to see that."

Wednesday's show won't necessarily try to copy "The Tonight Show." Hazell, for example, intentionally avoided having a desk on stage "because that's hallowed ground as far as I'm concerned." Carson clips will be played on a screen and guests will sit at stage right after they perform. Cake will even be served at intermission.

As far as doing a show next year for Carson's centennial, Hazell didn't have any firm commitments to share.

"As they say on the bumpers, more to come," he said. "We'll be back after these messages."

IF YOU GO

What: "Carson Tonight," a tribute to Johnny Carson on his 99th birthday, featuring guests who appeared on "The Tonight Show."

Where: Lied Center for Performing Arts, 12th and Q streets.

When: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: Starting at $19 for adults and $9.50 for youths. Available at liedcenter.org , by calling 402-472-4747 and at the Lied Center box office.

Contact the writer at or 402-473-7225. On Twitter Love Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!

Night Editor