Unless I'm missing something, Johnny died 11 months before D/ND premiered in the States.
I believe this was part of his "DoND is crap!!!" crusade, and he's implying that if there are people who "delight in crap", then that's why there was an audience.
And while none of that is untrue, there's no reason to rehash it every possible time he thinks he can find a way to work it in.