Alex Haley Interviews Johnny Carson, 1967

This is an example of the best of kind of interview — revealing and honest.

Carson, on whether or not he is “conceited and egocentric” (and taking a stand for introverts everywhere):

Find me any performer anywhere who isn’t egocentric. You’d better believe you’re good, or you’ve got no business being out there. People are brought up to think, “It’s nice to be modest. It’s nice to hide your light under a bushel.” Well, bullshit! I’ve never bought that. In my business, the only thing you’ve really got is your talent; it’s the only thing you have to sell. If you want to call that conceit, go ahead. I don’t know where you’ll hear that word more than in show business—but it’s often not conceit at all. Often it’s a public compensation for shyness. That’s certainly the case with me. From the time I was a little kid, I was always shy. Performing was when I was outgoing. So I guess I am a loner. I get claustrophobia if a lot of people are around. But there’s a big difference between being a loner and being lonely. I’m far from lonely. My day is full of things I enjoy, starting with my show. Any time my work is going well and I have a relationship with a woman that’s pretty solid, that does it for me.