Edition: U.S. / Global  So Long to Johnny, America's Sandman
Published: May 10, 1992 (Page 3 of 3)  The other pop-culture sea
change affected by Mr. Carson's reign was a redefinition of what
constitutes "live" television. Once the "Tonight" show ceased to
be broadcast live from 11:30 P.M. to 1 A.M. and instead was
taped in the early evening, West Coast time, it inevitably lost
some of its spontaneity (and eventually a half-hour of its
nightly running time). Naughty words could be bleeped out before
air time -- in a day when the networks bleeped out far more
words than they do now -- and hadn't half the fun of watching
the "Tonight" show come from the hope that someone might sneak a
no-no past the censors? (Jack Paar had set the precedent, in
more innocent times, with his notorious "w.c." joke.) Worse, if
Mr. Carson ceased to maintain the illusion of staying up late
with the rest of us insomniacs, could we still take solace in
his companionship?  Once Mr. Carson could get away with taping
his "live" program,