Carson remembered on Tonight Show

Johnny Carson hosted the Tonight show for more than 30 years

A special edition of NBC's The Tonight Show has paid tribute to its former host Johnny Carson, who died on Sunday at the age of 79.

Comedian Bob Newhart, singer kd Lang and Carson's former sidekick Ed McMahon were among those who joined current host Jay Leno on Monday's show.

Leno said Carson "had that special quality of grace, charm and dignity in the public arena".

"When you were invited into this show, you knew you were an honoured guest."

McMahon paid tribute to Carson's rapport with the audience on the top-rated late night entertainment show. "He was great with 10 million people, lousy with 10," he said.

Highlights

The special programme also featured several archive clips of Carson as well as footage of comedians Jerry Seinfeld and Roseanne, both of whom appeared on the show early on in their careers.

Other highlights included a clip of Jay Leno making his first appearance as a guest. Leno took over as host of The Tonight Show following Carson's retirement in 1992.

Meanwhile, members of the public have also been paying tribute to Carson, who died after losing a battle with the respiratory disease emphysema.

Flowers and notes were left at Johnny Carson Park, next to the NBC Studios in Burbank, California, and floral tributes were also placed on Carson's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

"This is a very sad day in Hollywood," said Johnny Grant, the honorary mayor of Hollywood. "I think we all figured that Johnny Carson would just live on forever."

A number of celebrities and public figures, including George Bush, Woody Allen, Steve Martin, Bette Midler and Joan Rivers have paid tribute to the presenter since his death was announced.