Heeeere's Another Reminder of the New Reality

The passing of Johnny Carson reminds one just how much our media world has changed. I can't imagine any person or show having that much clout again — that kind of mass appeal now looks so quaint. It's not a question of talent — Carson was definitely talented, but certainly no more deft than the current crop of late night hosts. In fact, the last show of any kind that I think people really talked about the next day in the office was Seinfeld. I do wish there was more entertainment that forged common bonds, but I can't see it happening. And figuring out all this fragmentation is definitely interesting.

— Dean Gemmell