Coworkers described Johnny Carson as quiet, controlled, and very serious about the show. Writers said he expected tight timing and didn’t hide irritation when material fell flat. People around him often called him reserved, keeping conversations short and staying in his office between segments. A few guests remembered small moments of dry kindness, but most said Johnny kept his distance and rarely opened up.  He was known to be generous and kind to guests he liked, but he could also be moody, impatient, and capable of holding a serious grudge, such as his permanent banning of Joan Rivers. Overall, colleagues viewed him as talented but emotionally closed and sometimes hard to read.