Johnny Carson: King of Late Night

May 14, 2012

1h 55m

★ 7.6

Overview

Chronological look at the life and career of Johnny Carson (1925-2005), with commentary from an ex-wife and more than 30 fellow comedians, friends, employees, and biographers. The biography defines why Carson was an enduring star (his cool, his timing, his genuine laugh, his breadth of knowledge) and pursues his motivations and inner self (a loner with a drinking problem, a decent Midwesterner whose mother withheld approval, a quiet person who loved to entertain). The key to understanding him, argues the biography, is his love of magic.

Genres

Documentary

Production Companies

Eagle Rock Entertainment

Johnny Carson: King of Late Night Trailers

Cast

Self

Johnny Carson

Self

David Letterman

Self

Jay Leno

Self

Ellen DeGeneres

Self

Jimmy Fallon

Self

Jerry Seinfeld

Self

Joan Rivers

Self

Conan O'Brien

A look at the life and legend of Sir Alex Ferguson, from his working-class roots in Glasgow through to his career as one of the greatest football managers of all time. While recovering from a traumatic brain haemorrhage in 2018, Sir Alex intimately recounts vivid details of his life and career to his son, including his legendary 26-year tenure as manager of Manchester United.

0.0

The B1G Story: George Taliaferro

Invalid Date

He was the first Black American drafted in the NFL, the only man to play 7 positions in the NFL. In college, his popularity enabled him to racially integrate the town of Bloomington, Indiana. He even integrated the local theater with the twist of a screwdriver. So why does no one know his name?

7.4

Carmen Miranda: Bananas Is My Business

Apr 13, 1995

A biography of the Portuguese-born Brazilian singer Carmen Miranda, whose most distinctive feature was her tutti-frutti hat. From her arrival in the US as the "Brazilian Bombshell" to her Broadway career and Hollywood stardom in the 1940s.

4.0

Garbo

Nov 6, 1969

Joan Crawford narrates this documentary about the career of Greta Garbo.

7.4

Kelce

Sep 11, 2023

An intimate and emotional documentary that chronicles Philadelphia Eagles team captain and All-Pro center Jason Kelce’s 2022 season, which began with him confronting one of the most challenging decisions any professional athlete will ever face—is now the time to hang it up?

7.0

One and Not Done

Apr 13, 2017

Examines the life and career of John Calipari, one of the most polarizing figures in modern college basketball, weaving his story around that of his 2015–16 Kentucky team.

0.0

Drive Like Andretti

May 11, 2019

A documentary of legendary driver Mario Andretti's career, including the driver himself discussing his childhood and involvement in the world of racing. Having spent nearly 50 years in the sport, Andretti is still involved in racing, and this documentary shows his journey from a refugee to an icon. Drive Like Andretti was released as a half-century celebration of his 1969 Indianapolis 500 victory.

10.0

Sarah Thankam Mathews: After All This

Nov 15, 2024

Following the success of her debut novel, All This Could Be Different, author Sarah Thankam Mathews embarks on her second novel, drawing from her adolescence between India and Oman. As Sarah excavates lost place and time, she must contend with the weight of truthful representation and the contradictions within her childhood memories.

7.6

Wait for Your Laugh

Nov 10, 2017

The life and career of comedian Rose Marie is documented through interviews with friends and colleagues as well as never-before-seen home movies shot by the actress herself.

7.8

Kobe Bryant's Muse

Feb 28, 2015

Documentary that goes behind the stats to reveal the story of Kobe Bryant's career, exploring the mentorships, allies and rivalries that have helped shape his stellar 18-year tenure in the NBA, and offering access to his daily experiences, his lifelong inspirations and the battle with his greatest personal challenge yet.

0.0

Dirty, Sexy & Totally Iconic

May 24, 2023

A documentary celebration of the 50th anniversary of British pop-noir classic 'Get Carter'

2.0

Vowellet - An Essay by Sarah Vowell

Mar 15, 2005

This Pixar documentary short follows Sarah Vowell, who plays herself as the title character, on why she is a superhero in her own way. (This short piece is included on the 2-Disc DVD for "The Incredibles", which was released in 2005.

5.9

Jordan Rides the Bus

Aug 29, 2010

In the fall of 1993, in his prime and at the summit of the sports world, Michael Jordan walked away from pro basketball. After leading the Dream Team to an Olympic gold medal in 1992 and taking the Bulls to their third consecutive NBA championship the following year, Jordan was jolted by the murder of his father. Was it the brutal loss of such an anchor in his life that caused the world’s most famous athlete to rekindle a childhood ambition by playing baseball? Or some feeling that he had nothing left to prove or conquer in basketball? Or something deeper and perhaps not yet understood?

6.5

Run Ricky Run

Apr 27, 2010

Ricky Williams does not conform to America’s definition of the modern athlete. In 2004, with rumors of another positive marijuana test looming, the Miami Dolphins running back traded adulation and a mansion in South Florida for anonymity and a $7 a night tent in Australia. His decision created a media frenzy that dismantled his reputation and branded him as America's Pothead. But while most in the media thought Williams was ruining his life by leaving football, Ricky thought he was saving it. Through personal footage recorded with Williams during his time away from football and beyond, filmmaker Sean Pamphilon takes a fresh look at a player who had become a media punching bag and has since redeemed himself as a father and a teammate.

6.2

The Birth of Big Air

Jul 29, 2010

In 1985, at the tender age of 13, Mat Hoffman entered into the BMX circuit as an amateur, and by 16 he had risen to the professional level. Throughout his storied career, Hoffman has ignored conventional limitations, instead, focusing his efforts on the purity of the sport and the pursuit of “what’s next.” His motivations stem purely from his own ambitions, and even without endorsements, cameras, fame and fans, Hoffman would still be working to push the boundaries of gravity. Academy Award nominee Spike Jonze and extreme sport fanatic Johnny Knoxville, along with director Jeff Tremaine, will showcase the inner workings and exploits of the man who gave birth to “Big Air.”

6.2

Tim Richmond: To the Limit

Oct 19, 2010

Natural. Rock star. Outsider. In the 80s, race car driver Tim Richmond lived his life the way he raced cars – wide open. Born into a wealthy family, Richmond was the antithesis of the Southern, blue-collar, dirt-track racers who dominated NASCAR. He also was a flamboyant showman who basked in the attention of the media and fans – especially female admirers. Nevertheless, it was Richmond’s on-track performances that ended up drawing comparisons to racing legends. And in 1986, when he won seven NASCAR races and finished third in the Winston Cup series points race, some believed he was on the verge of stardom. But soon his freewheeling lifestyle caught up to him. He unexpectedly withdrew from the NASCAR racing circuit, reportedly suffering from double pneumonia. In reality he had AIDS. Richmond returned to the track in 1987, but he was gone from the sport by the next year as his health deteriorated. He spent his final days as a recluse, dying on August 13, 1989, at the age of 34.

0.0

Tadao Ando

Jan 1, 1988

Tadao Ando, a self-taught architect, proposes an international architecture that he believes can only be conceived by someone Japanese. His architecture mixes Piranesian drama with contemplative spaces in urban complexes, residences and chapels. This film presents the formative years of his impressive career before he embarked on projects in Europe and the United States.

0.0

The Painter Sam Francis

Jan 1, 2008

Forty years in the making, 'The Painter Sam Francis' is artist Jeffrey Perkins' intimate portrait of abstract expressionist painter Sam Francis. The film retraces Francis' life and career from his childhood in California to his artistic maturation in post-war Paris, his time spent in Japan, and his prominence in the United States. It reveals a man in constant struggle with physical maladies and his own demons, but for whom creativity was a powerful life-sustaining force.

6.8

Vick

Jan 30, 2020

A comprehensive reminisce at each chapter of former NFL quarterback Michael Vick’s saga–the incredible rise, shocking fall and polarizing return.

7.2

Rand University

Nov 11, 2014

Randy Moss has long been an enigma known for his brilliance on the football field and his problems off it. Sometimes there's even been an intersection of those two qualities. "Rand University" gets to that crossing by going back to where he came from - Rand, West Virginia - and exploring what almost derailed him before he ever became nationally known for his extraordinary abilities as a wide receiver.