Why doesn't NBC run old Johnny Carson, Steve Allen or Jack Paar re-runs?

With the writers' strike and concomitant lock-out, why won't the major networks run GOOD stuff, like Steve Allen, Jack Paar, and Johnny Carson? I'd gladly stay up for a bit of Professor Julius Sumner or Gypsy Boots. Who doesn't need Jack Paar and an urbane booster shot? Heck, even Johnny would be good to re-live my youth. Not sure there's a good answer, but I'm listening ....

I was thinking just the other day along the same lines. I was thinking about just running old shows, have a themed week or month. All the shows on that week would be from the 70's or 80's. We could all watch Fonzie jump the shark again(well, I would hope they would find a better blast from the past)

They don't own the rights to the Carson shows or the Allen Shows and I am not sure if they taped many of the Paar shows. You have to remember video is a relatively new form of storage. But basically it has a lot to do with who owns those show and it is not NBC.

Besides, it might be problematic if reruns of older shows gain more attention than current ones. They would have to reconsider all their policy and it's never something confortable to work on.

NBC doesn't own the rights. Not good to live in the past.....but would be entertaining temporarily.
The younger people would just make fun of it anyway.

Johnny- those were the days & Merv Griffin- loved it! I know what you mean about shows that you can take you back-relive your youth!

Or Dean Martins toast

I think it would be to expensive to buy those shows, they arent owned by NBC CBS ABC, those guys were smart and owned their shows