TV & VIDEO - Sept. 14, 1987

Apparently a trial will go forward in the $10-million dispute between a Long Island dentist and Johnny Carson over some biting dentist jokes Carson rattled off during one of his monologues. Both parties were ordered by New York State Supreme Court Justice William McCooe to submit depositions in the libel suit against NBC and Carson by Jan. 15. Dr. Michael Mendelson demanded Carson apologize for likening dentists to the Gestapo, but instead Carson fired off more dentist jokes, with Mendelson’s name in lights behind Carson. Stephen Huff, the lawyer for Carson and “The Tonight Show,” said the remarks were “protected comments, which free speech permits.”