There's... Johnny!

{{Short description|US television series}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox television

| image = TheresJohnny.png

| genre = Comedy drama

| creator = {{Plainlist|

}}

| writer = {{Plainlist|

  • Paul Reiser
  • David Steven Simon

}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| composer = Steven Argila

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_seasons = 1

| num_episodes = 7

| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|

}}

| producer = {{Plainlist|

  • Carl Craig
  • Brandon James

}}

| cinematography = Benjamin Kasulke

| editor = {{Plainlist|

  • Jeff Seibenick
  • Jeff Israel
  • Phillip Bartell

}}

| camera = Single-camera

| runtime = 20–32 minutes

| company = {{Plainlist|

}}

| network = Hulu{{efn|name=fn1|There's... Johnny! was ordered by Seeso and originally scheduled to premiere on that streaming service. Following the service's closure, Hulu acquired the rights to stream the series.}}

| released = {{Start date|2017|11|16}}

}}

There's... Johnny! is an American comedy-drama streaming television series created by Paul Reiser and David Steven Simon and starring Ian Nelson, Jane Levy, T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh, and Tony Danza. The series takes place in the 1970s and depicts the fictional goings-on behind the scenes of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The series was ordered by streaming service Seeso and had been scheduled to premiere on August 24, 2017, but that release was canceled due to Seeso's closure. The streaming service Hulu subsequently acquired the streaming rights to the series and released all seven produced episodes on November 16, 2017.

Premise

There's... Johnny! follows "the lives and challenges of Andy, a wide-eyed 19-year-old Nebraskan who stumbles his way into a job at The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Joy, a young Talent Coordinator on the show, as they both try to find their way and prove themselves in this period of cultural and political upheaval." The series also touches on "major historical events of the time, including the Vietnam War, Nixon, and the strengthening counter-culture, as well the show’s status as one of the most popular and important cultural institution of its day."{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/10/seeso-theres-johnny-tonight-show-johnny-carson-behind-scenes-comedy-series-paul-reiser-1201834611/|title=Seeso Sets 'There's … Johnny!' 'Tonight Show'-Set Comedy Series From Paul Reiser|last1=Petski|first1=Denise|date=October 11, 2016|website=Deadline Hollywood|accessdate=August 27, 2018}}

Cast and characters

=Main=

=Recurring=

  • Roger Bart as Angelo
  • Nate Smith as Mike, a writer for The Tonight Show
  • David Hoffman as Jim, a writer for The Tonight Show
  • Daniel Strauss as Alan, a writer for The Tonight Show
  • Andrew Schulz as Mitch, a writer for The Tonight Show
  • Camrus Johnson as Rasheed, Andy's neighbor and friend
  • Alison Martin as Lorraine Klavin, Andy's mother
  • Abigail Klein as Chrissy-Ann Aldean, a beauty pageant winner from Andy's hometown who arrives in Hollywood
  • Don Stark as Bernie Greenfield, Joy's father who holds a powerful position within the entertainment industry
  • Johnny Ferro as Buddy Klavin, Andy's brother who returns after serving in the Vietnam War.
  • Ari Frenkel as Tom Donahue
  • Reggie A. Green as a security guard

=Guest=

{{div col}}

{{div col end}}

Episodes

{{Episode table |background=#000000 |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |country= |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 1

|Title = Andy Goes to Hollywood

|DirectedBy = David Gordon Green

|WrittenBy = Paul Reiser & David Steven Simon

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|11|16}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 2

|Title = Dog Day Afternoon

|DirectedBy = David Gordon Green

|WrittenBy = Paul Reiser & David Steven Simon

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|11|16}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 3

|Title = Owed to Joy

|DirectedBy = Andrew Bujalski

|WrittenBy = Paul Reiser & David Steven Simon

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|11|16}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 4

|Title = Take Me to Church

|DirectedBy = Andrew Bujalski

|WrittenBy = Paul Reiser & David Steven Simon

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|11|16}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 5

|Title = The Drop

|DirectedBy = David Rogers

|WrittenBy = Paul Reiser & David Steven Simon

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|11|16}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 6

|Title = The Getaway

|DirectedBy = So Yong Kim

|WrittenBy = Paul Reiser & David Steven Simon

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|11|16}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = 000000

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 7

|Title = The Anniversary Show

|DirectedBy = So Yong Kim

|WrittenBy = Paul Reiser & David Steven Simon

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|11|16}}

|ShortSummary =

|LineColor = 000000

}}

}}

Production

{{Quote box

| quote = "Growing up, the coolest thing imaginable was to someday get on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and make Johnny laugh. The fact that I got to do that was a dream come true, and going back now to explore that world, and pay homage to Johnny and that golden time is an absolute joy."

| source = — Creator Paul Reiser on what inspired him to create the series

| width = 24em

|bgcolor= #ADD8E6

| align = right

}}

=Development=

On October 11, 2016, it was announced that Seeso had given the production a series order for a first season consisting of eight episodes. The series was written by Paul Reiser and David Steven Simon, both of whom were also set to executive produce alongside David Gordon Green, Jeff Sotzing, Brian Volk-Weiss, Michael Pelmont, Cisco Henson, Matt Ochacher, Evan Shapiro, Kelsey Balance, and Dan Kerstetter. Green was also slated to serve as director for the series as well and Craig Knizek was set as a producer. The series was produced in conjunction with the estate of Johnny Carson and was granted access to the full Carson archives, allowing the show to mix newly filmed content with authentic footage of Carson and his guests onscreen. Production companies involved with the series were anticipated to include Nuance Productions, Rough House Pictures, and Comedy Dynamics.

=Casting=

On January 23, 2017, it was announced that Tony Danza, Ian Nelson, Jane Levy, Roger Bart, T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh, Nate Smith, David Hoffman, Daniel Strauss, and Andrew Schulz had been cast in the series.{{cite web |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |title='There's … Johnny!': Tony Danza, Ian Nelson, Jane Levy & Roger Bart Join Seeso Series |url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/theres-johnny-ian-nelson-jane-levy-tony-danza-seeso-series-cast-1201892486/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |accessdate=August 27, 2018 |date=January 23, 2017}}

Release

=Marketing=

On November 6, 2017, a trailer for the series was released.{{cite web |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |title='There's Johnny' Trailer: Co-Creator Paul Reiser's 1970s-Set Comedy Reveals Backstage Mayhem On 'The Tonight Show' |url=https://deadline.com/2017/11/theres-johnny-trailer-paul-reiser-1970s-set-comedy-the-tonight-show-tony-danza-1202202590/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |accessdate=August 27, 2018 |date=November 6, 2017}}

=Premiere=

On April 27, 2017, the series held its world premiere during the Tribeca Film Festival at the SVA Theatre in New York City. Following a screening of the first episode, a conversation was held with creators Paul Reiser and David Steven Simon, executive producer David Gordon Green, and cast members Tony Danza, Ian Nelson, and Jane Levy. The conversation was moderated by journalist Bill Carter.{{cite web |title=There's … Johnny! {{!}} Tribeca Film Festival |url=https://www.tribecafilm.com/filmguide/theres-johnny-2017 |website=Tribeca Film Festival |accessdate=August 27, 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927033914/https://www.tribecafilm.com/filmguide/theres-johnny-2017 |archivedate=September 27, 2017}}{{cite web |title=There's... Johnny! at Tribeca Film Festival - JohnnyCarson.com |url=https://www.johnnycarson.com/blogs/news/theres-johnny-at-tribeca-film-festival |website=JohnnyCarson.com |accessdate=August 27, 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709134737/https://www.johnnycarson.com/blogs/news/theres-johnny-at-tribeca-film-festival |archivedate=July 9, 2017 |language=en |date=April 18, 2017}}{{cite web |title=Tribeca Film Festival Announces Paul Reiser's 'There's…Johnny!' Premiere |url=https://shorefire.com/releases/entry/tribeca-film-festival-announces-paul-reisers-theres...johnny-premiere |website=Shore Fire Media |accessdate=August 27, 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170626194501/http://shorefire.com/releases/entry/tribeca-film-festival-announces-paul-reisers-theres...johnny-premiere |archivedate=June 26, 2017 |language=en |date=March 23, 2017}}

=Distribution=

On March 30, 2017, it was reported that the series would premiere on August 24, 2017.{{cite web |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |title='There's…Johnny!', 'Harmonquest' Season 2, More Get Summer Premiere Dates On Seeso |url=https://deadline.com/2017/03/theres-johnny-paul-reiser-harmonquest-dan-harmon-summer-premiere-dates-seeso-1202055789/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |accessdate=August 27, 2018 |date=March 30, 2017}} On August 9, 2017, it was announced that Seeso was shutting down and that the series would not premiere that month as previously announced.{{cite web |last1=Otterson |first1=Joe |title=Seeso to Shut Down 'Later This Year' |url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/seeso-shut-down-1202521126/ |website=Variety |accessdate=August 27, 2018 |date=August 9, 2017}} A week later, it was reported that NBCUniversal was actively searching for a new outlet for the series.{{cite web |last1=Jurgensen |first1=John |title=The Sitcom's Ready, But the Network's Canceled |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-sitcoms-ready-but-the-networks-canceled-1502899243 |website=The Wall Street Journal |accessdate=August 27, 2018 |date=August 16, 2017}} On September 27, 2017, it was announced that Hulu had acquired the streaming rights to the series.{{cite web |last1=Pedersen |first1=Erik |title=Hulu Lands SVOD Rights To '30 Rock', 'Parenthood' & Others In Deal With NBCUniversal TV |url=https://deadline.com/2017/09/hulu-30-rock-parenthood-face-off-paul-reiser-nbcuniversal-tv-1202178007/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |accessdate=August 27, 2018 |date=September 27, 2017}} On October 13, 2017, it was announced that the series would now premiere on Hulu on November 16, 2017.{{cite web |last1=Schneider |first1=Michael |title=Paul Reiser on Hulu Saving His Johnny Carson Comedy 'There's… Johnny!' and Giving It a Premiere Date — Exclusive |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2017/10/paul-reiser-hulu-theres-johnny-premiere-date-1201887190/ |website=IndieWire |accessdate=August 27, 2018 |date=October 13, 2017}}

The seven episodes of the show are currently available on the Peacock service.

Reception

The series received mixed response from critics upon its premiere. On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds an 83% approval rating, with an average rating of 7 out of 10 based on 6 reviews.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/there_s_johnny_/s01|title=There's...Johnny! |website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango|accessdate=September 15, 2020}} Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the season a score of 60 out of 100 based on 6 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/tv/theres-johnny!|title=There's...Johnny! |website=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|accessdate=August 28, 2018}}

In a mixed to negative review, The Los Angeles Times{{'}} Chris Barton praised the use of footage from The Tonight Show but criticized other aspects of the production saying, "Given its roots in comedy, There's... Johnny remains strongest in its reverent time travels with Carson as well as his fellow comedy giants such as George Carlin and Steve Martin, who also appear in Tonight Show clips. The appeal there is undeniable. But as the real world creeps in, There's... Johnny! strains under a weight that even the present is struggling to resolve." In a more positive review, Indiewire{{'}}s Steve Greene gave the series a grade of "B+" and praised it saying, "There's... Johnny! is unabashedly a tribute, filtered through the glow of fondness for a time gone by. Not without its second-guessing, there’s still a lovely underpinning of specificity that finds some honesty among the nostalgia. TV is an increasingly strange business, but There's... Johnny! argues that there’s still a bit of magic in the chaos."{{cite web |last1=Greene |first1=Steve |title='There's…Johnny!' Review: Hulu's Carson-Era 'Tonight Show' Dramedy Is a Sweet '70s Fairy Tale |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2017/11/theres-johnny-hulu-review-tonight-show-tony-danza-1201897101/ |website=IndieWire |accessdate=August 27, 2018 |date=November 16, 2017}}

Notes

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References

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