AboutWhat does the meme depict?

The "Here's Johnny" meme originates from a famous line used in both a TV show and a film. On the television side, the phrase was famously used by Ed McMahon during the introduction of Johnny Carson on 'The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,' which ran from 1962 to 1992. The scene most associated with the meme, however, comes from the 1980 horror film 'The Shining' directed by Stanley Kubrick. In this scene, the character Jack Torrance, portrayed by Jack Nicholson, breaks through a bathroom door with an axe. After creating a small opening, he thrusts his face into the gap and exclaims, "Here's Johnny!" This moment is often used in memes to depict unexpected or interruptive entrances.

OriginWho did it first?

The origin of the "Here's Johnny" meme can be traced back to its use on 'The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson', which first aired on October 1, 1962. Throughout the show's run until 1992, Ed McMahon would herald the start of each show with the announcement "and now, heeeeeere's Johnny!" This routine entry made its way into American pop culture. The phrase gained further notoriety when it was adapted in a chilling scene in 'The Shining', where Jack Nicholson’s character menaces by breaking through a door and using the line in a sinister, mocking tone, adding a layer of horror to the originally cheerful announcement. This scene has been immortalized in numerous videos and image macros, forever linking the phrase to both the realms of late-night television and psychological horror. The scene from 'The Shining' can be viewed here.^[1]

Origin: 1962