LATE-NIGHT SCENE

Thanks for the insightful pair of articles on Johnny Carson, Jay Leno and David Letterman (by Verne Gay and Brian Lowry, May 18).

As a Carson fan who tunes out both shouting Leno and sophomoric Letterman, I am reminded of Adm. Clarence Randall’s dictum: Great effort is not signaled by outward commotion. Carson, the class act, didn’t yell, didn’t talk too fast, didn’t giggle at a time of night when people at home aren’t looking for overly energetic entertainers.

Can anyone imagine Johnny Carson having a studio audience rise for a “spontaneous” standing ovation? Pathetic!

HARRY PARKER

Venice

*

Let me say it plainly and loudly: BRING BACK JOHNNY! BRING BACK JOHNNY! BRING BACK JOHNNY!

To hell with the others.

BRIAN LEE CORBER

Van Nuys

*

While I found Lowry’s article about Carson’s self-imposed exile quite compelling, I must take issue with one paragraph. To intimate that Jack Benny should have retired from show business and to say that his later performances were in some way flawed does a great disservice to the tremendous body of work to which Benny continued adding until the day he died.

Not only did Benny maintain his flawless timing and his well-known persona, but when you consider what “The Sunshine Boys” did for George Burns’ career, one can only imagine what that role would have meant to the Benny legacy had he been alive to complete it.

ART VERITY

Van Nuys

*

It’s time to stop comparing Leno to his predecessor. Carson’s sketches were invariably juvenile and sexist, and while I’ll agree that Jay’s recent breast implant gag was a clunker, the overall quality of comedy has improved since Leno’s been hosting.

As the only late-night comic working today who seems to know the difference between “funny” and “cruel,” Jay deserves all the praise he’s been receiving.

SUSIE PATTERSON

Burbank

*

Where are the female talk show hosts? If I felt my sense of humor was being represented in late-night comedy, I wouldn’t turn off the TV after “Nightline” and pick up a book. Women are half the audience. Why are we ignored?

BARBARA SIMS

Van Nuys