<P> Carson hosted his penultimate show , featuring guests Robin Williams and Bette Midler , on May 21 , 1992 . The last of Carson 's monologues was delivered on this episode and was written by Jim Mulholland , Steven Kunes and Rift Fournier . Once underway , the atmosphere was electric and Carson was greeted with a sustained , two - minute intense standing ovation . Williams was especially uninhibited with his trademark manic energy and stream - of - consciousness lunacy . Midler was more emotional . When the conversation turned to Johnny 's favorite songs , `` I 'll Be Seeing You '' and `` Here 's That Rainy Day '' , Midler mentioned that she knew a chorus of the latter . She began singing the song , and after the first line , Carson joined in and turned it into an impromptu duet . Midler finished her appearance from center stage , where she slowly sang the pop standard `` One for My Baby ( and One More for the Road ) '' . Carson became unexpectedly tearful , and a shot of the two of them was captured by a camera angle from across the set that has never been broadcast . The audience became tearful as well and called the three performers out for a second bow after the taping was completed . This show was immediately recognized as a television classic that Midler considered one of the most emotional moments of her life and eventually won an Emmy for her role in it . </P>
<P> Carson hosted his penultimate show , featuring guests Robin Williams and Bette Midler , on May 21 , 1992 . The last of Carson 's monologues was delivered on this episode and was written by Jim Mulholland , Steven Kunes and Rift Fournier . Once underway , the atmosphere was electric and Carson was greeted with a sustained , two - minute intense standing ovation . Williams was especially uninhibited with his trademark manic energy and stream - of - consciousness lunacy . Midler was more emotional . When the conversation turned to Johnny 's favorite songs , `` I 'll Be Seeing You '' and `` Here 's That Rainy Day '' , Midler mentioned that she knew a chorus of the latter . She began singing the song , and after the first line , Carson joined in and turned it into an impromptu duet . Midler finished her appearance from center stage , where she slowly sang the pop standard `` One for My Baby ( and One More for the Road ) '' . Carson became unexpectedly tearful , and a shot of the two of them was captured by a camera angle from across the set that has never been broadcast . The audience became tearful as well and called the three performers out for a second bow after the taping was completed . This show was immediately recognized as a television classic that Midler considered one of the most emotional moments of her life and eventually won an Emmy for her role in it . </P>
who sang for carson on his next to last episode
who sang for carson on his next to last episode
Bette Midler
Bette Midler