Johnny Carson, the consummate ‘King of Late Night,’ holds court on Antenna TV

Eureka! An impeccably dressed, princely 35-year-old Johnny Carson is captured during his five-year reign as host of the ABC game show “Who Do You Trust?” in 1960. Image Credit: Archive Photos / Getty

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson may have ended its 30-year run in 1992, but fans of the undisputed King of Late Night finally have a desert island lifeline guaranteeing the revival of classic episodes in contrast to the competitive, watered-down trenches of modern-day late night programming.

Hands down the most influential late night host, Carson and oft-imitated guffawing sidekick Ed McMahon presided over a bygone, pre-politically correct era fueled by tongues unloosened by specially catered backstage gin tonics.

Devoted to preserving retro television, Chicago-based network Antenna TV first unleashed Johnny Carson — billed so since NBC retains rights to The Tonight Show exclusive moniker currently hosted by wunderkind Jimmy Fallon — on New Year’s Day 2016.

Tune in every weeknight at 11 p.m. EST (repeated at 2 a.m.) to catch sixty-minute episodes not seen since their original broadcast run. Don’t forget that extended ninety-minute episodes from the 1970s — prior to Carson infamously demanding that his workload be shortened which paved the way for David Letterman’s revered dismantling of staid talk show structure on Late Night — also air on Saturdays and Sundays at 10 p.m. (repeated at 1:30 a.m.)