# Challenge! Who is the man sitting with all the stars on Johnny Carson? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 30, 2014, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321 "2014-04-30T00:42:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/21 "2014-04-30T03:43:13Z")
> [@MrKnowItAll](#): > > My guess is that it’s Mike Connors, who won the Golden Globe for “Mannix” in 1970. Burnett also won a Golden Globe that year, and Robert Young was nominated. That would have been for the 27th Golden Globe Awards. > > I know Connors had darker hair than he appears to have in this photo, but that might just be from the lighting, particularly since he’s sitting right next to the desk. Not [Mike “Touch” Connors](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0175528/).🙂 ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/22 "2014-04-30T03:44:19Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > The description [here](http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/classic-television-revisited/images/21373838/title/marlo-thomas-photo) says it’s [Ted Bessell](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Bessell). I figure that because he’s the only one in that picture you didn’t know. [Nope.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ted_Bessell.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/23 "2014-04-30T03:55:06Z")
Sort of looks like David Frost but I don’t recall him with hair like that, and I couldn’t find a picture. It could almost be Hal Holbrook who won an Emmy in 71, but it’s just not right. Burt Bacharach maybe, sorta, but also not quite right. It’s not Jim McKay, but somehow it reminds me of a an ABC sportscaster and Wide World of Sports won that year too. ---
**Author:** ![pachabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f19dbf/32.png) [@pachabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pachabel)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/24 "2014-04-30T04:00:08Z")
Sid Caesar? ---
**Author:** ![Inna\_Minnit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Inna\_Minnit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inna_Minnit)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/25 "2014-04-30T04:06:07Z")
> [@pachabel](#): > > Sid Caesar? Ding! Ding! Ding! I think we have a winner! ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/26 "2014-04-30T04:10:29Z")
> [@Inna\_Minnit](#): > > Ding! Ding! Ding! I think we have a winner! No way. ---
**Author:** ![Inna\_Minnit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Inna\_Minnit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inna_Minnit)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/27 "2014-04-30T04:12:03Z")
It totally is Sid Caesar. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/28 "2014-04-30T04:22:58Z")
> [@Inna\_Minnit](#): > > It totally is Sid Caesar. Show me a [picture of Sid Caesar](https://www.google.com/search?q=sid+caesar+images&hl=en&qscrl=1&rlz=1T4GGNI_enUS548US549&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=n3lgU4mYFYec2AWe0IDYBg&sqi=2&ved=0CCUQsAQ&biw=798&bih=478)that looks anything like that. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/29 "2014-04-30T04:26:32Z")
It’s not Sid. My first thought was Rod Taylor because of the hair, but I don’t think it’s him either – the mouth isn’t right. I’ve looked through five years of Tonight Show episodes, 1969-1974. In none of them do all these people appear together and a few of them don’t appear at all in some of those years. That’s way too many guests for one show anyway, so was this a publicity photo for award winners? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/30 "2014-04-30T04:26:56Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Sort of looks like David Frost but I don’t recall him with hair like that, and I couldn’t find a picture. It could almost be Hal Holbrook who won an Emmy in 71, but it’s just not right. Burt Bacharach maybe, sorta, but also not quite right. It’s not Jim McKay, but somehow it reminds me of a an ABC sportscaster and Wide World of Sports won that year too. Yup. David Frost. [22nd Primetime Emmy Awards](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/22nd_Primetime_Emmy_Awards) hosted by him and Danny Thomas. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/31 "2014-04-30T04:29:07Z")
[Here](http://www.cpinternet.com/~mbayly/callas2.htm) he is same year from a different angle. Note the same direction of the hair part too. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/32 "2014-04-30T04:47:57Z")
Still investigating but Jack Klugman is my best guess so far. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/33 "2014-04-30T04:49:08Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > [Here](http://www.cpinternet.com/~mbayly/callas2.htm) he is same year from a different angle. Note the same direction of the hair part too. Cool! ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/34 "2014-04-30T04:54:31Z")
I’ve looked and looked at Google [Images](https://www.google.com/search?q=david+frost&biw=1440&bih=805&tbm=isch&imgil=MHlOJbc-5rQu1M%253A%253Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fencrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com%252Fimages%253Fq%253Dtbn%253AANd9GcS7nLoC23CUBYJEMaEUnmalkKbihQ3lPPk8FLPh2ueMHWyFmmvR5w%253B293%253B473%253BMkuhvQfQTzTaEM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.eonline.com%25252Fnews%25252F454486%25252Fbroadcaster-david-frost-famous-for-nixon-s-post-watergate-apology-dead-at-74&source=iu&usg=__H1djuDAb09FUvqZyIoR3A4_pHDQ%3D&sa=X&ei=sIBgU7zsD4qsyATAzYGYCw&sqi=2&ved=0CJsBEP4dMA4#imgdii=_) of David Frost and I just don’t see it. My nominee is [Joey Bishop](https://www.google.com/search?q=joey+bishop&biw=1440&bih=805&tbm=isch&imgil=zY4urZ5zLo9S3M%253A%253Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fencrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com%252Fimages%253Fq%253Dtbn%253AANd9GcQR_fIqxo2H-HEKSongWaUQ9lzQCDiha4kG6lXQ_iGO4l1WZxHQyA%253B190%253B250%253BijeY0vQapVJCrM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.ratpack.biz%25252Frat-pack-archive.php%25253Fid%2525253D33&source=iu&usg=__zFz2oH97e93R7A9BTYIqfcoG4EA%3D&sa=X&ei=A35gU-mYI4GOyASJgoGgCQ&sqi=2&ved=0CI4BEP4dMAw#imgdii=_). There are images from around that time frame where he looks a lot like that picture. His nose has the broadening at the tip that the mystery guy has. Plus, other than the regular guest hosts (Joan Rivers, etc), he hosted Carson’s Tonight Show more than anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/35 "2014-04-30T04:56:55Z")
I wasn’t convinced it’s David Frost, although I know a photo can capture an instant when someone doesn’t look quite like he usually does. It’s that closed-mouth smile that throws me. I was gong to say that he was British, from the forward size of the bow tie and very correct clothes (compared to Robert Young who looks like he got lost on the way to his prom). I’ve been looking at a lot of photos of Frost online, and [here](https://www.google.com/search?q=david+frost+photos&biw=1460&bih=920&tbm=isch&imgil=ZutMpsOPR5yvXM%253A%253Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fencrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com%252Fimages%253Fq%253Dtbn%253AANd9GcTbIn94JfFPP1wCFVgwu7xOeY0a5qtRWA8qb9GRHUZnBAY9wf0L%253B620%253B413%253BEqCmPwoBfubBeM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.thetimes.co.uk%25252Ftto%25252Fopinion%25252Fobituaries%25252Farticle3857710.ece&source=iu&usg=__8ROTP5GAgIxEdy0UQuL2BjpxyRk%3D&sa=X&ei=6IBgU46iIuqg2QXzrYDQCA&ved=0CCoQ9QEwAQ#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=yUb23vDPW5mVzM%253A%3Bcz6_zs24QHNAOM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Famerica.aljazeera.com%252Fcontent%252Fdam%252Fajam%252Fimages%252Farticles%252Fdavid_frost_090113.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Famerica.aljazeera.com%252Farticles%252F2013%252F9%252F1%252Fveteran-broadcasterdavidfrostdies.html%3B1460%3B913)’s one that is pretty convincing, though - same hair and nose. It may be that he was never photographed from that angle except on this occasion - and never with that kind of smile. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/36 "2014-04-30T05:01:03Z")
Dick Cavett was my first guess, but the nose is definitely wrong. I’ll go with David Frost too. ---
**Author:** ![randompattern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@randompattern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randompattern)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/37 "2014-04-30T05:26:43Z")
Peter Mark Richman. Sorry I don’t know how to link it. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/38 "2014-04-30T05:46:36Z")
[Peter Mark Richman](https://www.google.com/search?q=peter+mark+richman&client=safari&rls=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=uI1gU8vuE-rU2AXU1oG4CQ&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1166&bih=857) I’m thinking you’re right. ---
**Author:** ![randompattern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@randompattern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randompattern)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/39 "2014-04-30T05:57:51Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > [Peter Mark Richman](https://www.google.com/search?q=peter+mark+richman&client=safari&rls=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=uI1gU8vuE-rU2AXU1oG4CQ&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1166&bih=857) > > I’m thinking you’re right. I dunno maybe, I never realized how hard it is to find a left side profile of a celeb! ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2014, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/40 "2014-04-30T06:14:11Z")
[Peter Mark Richman](http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2279838976/nm0725052). [Sid Caesar](http://www.upi.com/blog/2014/02/12/Comedy-legend-Sid-Caesar-dies-at-91/1821392237654/). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321.md?page=3)