TELEVISION - Sept. 2, 1991

Heere’s David: At the close of his monologue Friday, Johnny Carson told “The Tonight Show” audience if David Letterman were sitting at Carson’s desk after the commercial, claiming that Johnny had stepped down for health reasons, “Don’t you believe it.” Letterman did show up, but took the guest’s position on the couch next to Carson, the first time since NBC announced that Jay Leno--not Letterman--would permanently replace Carson as “Tonight Show” host next spring. Claiming he had never asked such a question in more than two decades of hosting the show, Carson kicked off his interview with: “Just how pissed off are you?” Letterman answered: “Let me give you some advice. You keep using language like that, you’ll find yourself out of a job.” Letterman went on to thank Carson and NBC both for giving him his break with “Late Night.” Letterman said he would still like to host “The Tonight Show.”