NBC developing miniseries about late night icon Johnny Carson
NBC is developing a miniseries about Johnny Carson, who hosted the network’s “Tonight Show” for three decades.
The miniseries will be based on Bill Zehme’s upcoming biography “Carson the Magnificent: An Intimate Portrait.” NBC has not cast anyone to play Carson yet.
Zehme, who wrote a well-regarded profile of Carson for Esquire in 2002 and consulted on the American Masters documentary “Johnny Carson: King of Late Night,” will be the executive producer for the NBC program.
ON LOCATION: Where the cameras roll
On television, Carson was smooth as silk. Behind the scenes, it was a different story as Carson was married four times and had a complex relationship with the network he called home for 30 years.
Carson died in 2005.
This is the second big miniseries of a well-known figure NBC has in the works. This summer, it unveiled plans for a Hillary Clinton miniseries starring Diane Lane as the former first lady. However, it remains to be seen whether that project will see the light of day.
ALSO:Nikki Finke and Deadline owner Jay Penske still at odds
‘Grand Theft Auto V’ generates $800 million in first-day sales
Universal Pictures passes $2 billion in global box office in 2013
Follow Joe Flint on Twitter @JBFlint.
More to Read
From the Oscars to the Emmys.
Get the Envelope newsletter for exclusive awards season coverage, behind-the-scenes stories from the Envelope podcast and columnist Glenn Whipp’s must-read analysis.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
