TV & VIDEO - Jan. 28, 1987

Johnny Carson’s famous introduction has withstood a federal appeals court challenge from a maker of portable toilets. A three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati unanimously affirmed Monday that Carson has a right of publicity to the phrase, “Here’s Johnny,” and refused to change a lower court ruling or a $31,661 award in his favor. Carson had successfully contested a Utica, Mich., company, Here’s Johnny Portable Toilets Inc., that had used “Here’s Johnny” to promote its product.