i i hide captionComedian David Brenner, a staple of TV in the 1970s and 80s, has died at age 78. He's seen here hosting his Nightlife show, with musician Frank Zappa, center, and his children, Dweezil, left, and Moon Unit. David Bookstaver/AP Comedian David Brenner, a staple of TV in the 1970s and 80s, has died at age 78. He's seen here hosting his Nightlife show, with musician Frank Zappa, center, and his children, Dweezil, left, and Moon Unit. David Bookstaver/AP Comedian David Brenner has died at age 78. A favorite guest of Johnny Carson's on the Tonight Show in the 1970s and 80s, the lanky comedian was famous for balancing his wry jokes with a toothy smile. Brenner had been battling cancer. When he introduced Brenner as a guest for the first time, Carson described him this way: "He's very clever. Somewhat warped. Which is if you're going to do comedy, you should be a little bit warped, I think." Brenner then opened his act by accusing the st...