You're right, people today don't realize how incredibly popular and important Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show" was. Even in an era where there were more limits on what could be said (yet more protection from tabloids/press), he came across witty, relevant, humble like no one else. Of course he knew his value and knew that if he bowed to NBC/Silverman he might become their "monkey" and lose his appeal. The Smothers Brothers fought the network and didn't have as much success. Contrasting late night humor with what they have in Russia, we can all be thankful (witness Trevor Noah's WH Correspondent's speech and the iron faces of Repubs). Political humor is truly on the front lines of Democracy.