@Notanymore I did watch the complete one-man show at Carnegie Hal only because he feared he wouldn't make through, then when he started screwing up I was practically in tears, the started cheering for for him,as he finally got back into the flow and finished the show with a resound thunder of applause. A huge success!
(Years before the suicide I had this sinking feeling he was dealing with a dark mental illness which now that I think of it ma have added to my discomfort watcging him)
I would call Carson a wit, and the others comedians. That is, when he interviewed someone, he came up with a lot of funny ad lib reactions. (Actually, Paul Lynde was also a wit, on Hollywood squares, but he had those replies pre-written for him.)
@DrWatson True but he also got invited to parties for his ongoing commentaries. He was on the social "A" list until the booze just turned him into a complete psycho.