Johnny Carson's friend says late-night king wisely avoided partisanship, as Kimmel controversy grows

Legendary comedian Johnny Carson held political convictions like any other American. But when the "on air" light came on, he kept them off the show.

His longtime neighbor and weekly tennis partner, Howard Smith, is pulling back the curtain on the "King of Late Night’s" private life to reveal a man who refused to weaponize his platform, despite his own strong views.

"He felt that his job was to entertain people," Smith told Fox News Digital, adding that Carson avoided politics because it could alienate viewers.