Johnny Carson Mug - Late night talk show host Johnny Carson from THE TONIGHT SHOW/NBC/1962-92 drank from the same coffee mug since 1974. The coffee mug that rested on the desk where he interviewed his nightly guests was first acquired by an NBC prop man. A photograph of a younger Johnny Carson was displayed on the side of the mug. None of the home viewers really knew what was inside the cup but since Johnny's sidekick, Ed McMahon was called Mr. Budweiser, the contents of the cup was often a source of humor and speculation.