User reviews

I saw this show when it was first broadcast long ago and rediscovered it after purchasing the Johnny Carson Collection DVD set. This is nothing more than Johnny Carson's nostalgic visit back to his hometown of Norfolk, Nebraska in the fall of 1981, revisiting the places of his youth (including his childhood home) and talking with some of the people he grew up with. It's not an attempt to poke fun at the town or find laughs in small-town America. While much of today's TV is geared toward 'cutting edge' or 'extreme', this is a very relaxing, enjoyable way to spend 45 minutes.

It's simply a heartwarming time capsule within a time capsule - not only do we get to hear about the vanished era of a small town as it was back in the '30's and '40's from the people who were there (many of whom are probably gone by now), but for those of us who remember watching Johnny every night, it's a nostalgic trip back to the early '80's when he was still the king of late night TV, long before he dropped from sight. Now that he's gone, this show has an even more nostalgic feel to it.

With the inclusion of some of Johnny's old home movies from that era, as well as the soothing soundtrack, you are bound to feel a tinge of nostalgia for Norfolk, Nebraska in the '40's, even if you were never there.

I never saw this when in ran on broadcast TV (at that time I had never seen "The Tonight Show") but saw it when I got the box set of Tonight shows. Basically it has Johnny Carson visiting his hometown in Nebraska and reconnecting with old friends, visiting old places and basically talking all about his childhood there. They use old photos to show what Carson looked like back then. This may sound deadly dull but it wasn't! I found it pleasant, warm and VERY nostalgic (I mean that in a good way). Seeing and hearing how the small town has changed over the years was fascinating and Carson never gets preachy or weepy during the hour. A really sweet portrait of a small Nebraska town. Recommended.