# 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:** 29
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/561 "2014-05-06T22:27:42Z")
Grace Zabriskie and Ted Bessell-- separated at birth. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/562 "2014-05-06T22:35:06Z")
> [@tapu](#): > > I bet their agents were thinking of it more as exposing themselves for Exposure. Well I definitely would have tuned in at the time if anybody told me that Karen Valentine was going to be exposing herself. ---
**Author:** ![Mithras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mithras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithras)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/563 "2014-05-06T23:20:46Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > If these times/dates are to be relied upon–a June 1970 revelation of the 1969-award-winners–then why would people have been dressed up and appearing on the Tonight show in _November_? I don’t know why they did it that way, but all the evidence points to it being so. I chalk it up to that being a different time. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/564 "2014-05-06T23:26:27Z")
> [@randompattern](#): > > If we hear back from either Carol or Marlo I’m guessing they won’t remember, it was a long time ago. Chances are they’re aware of the flap over this photo. Richman certainly was. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2014, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/565 "2014-05-06T23:51:54Z")
Hal Holbrook…? No, I suppose not. I was just looking at 1971 Emmy winners, and he’s the only one even close. ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/566 "2014-05-07T00:33:41Z")
my vote is for Sid Caesar, I didn’t think so before but look at this photo of him in [EMAIL=“[Sid Caesar](http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2056886272/nm0128377?ref_=nmmi_mi_all_pbl_13)”]1969http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2056886272/nm0128377?ref\_=nmmi\_mi\_all\_pbl\_13 if my link doesn’t work it is on the IMDB page for him. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/567 "2014-05-07T00:36:49Z")
> [@adhemar](#): > > my vote is for Sid Caesar, I didn’t think so before but look at this photo of him in [EMAIL=“[Sid Caesar](http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2056886272/nm0128377?ref_=nmmi_mi_all_pbl_13)”]1969http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2056886272/nm0128377?ref\_=nmmi\_mi\_all\_pbl\_13 > > if my link doesn’t work it is on the IMDB page for him. I’m at 25% for Sid Caesar because of the face shape, but the hair just isn’t working for me. In particular that really deep part. ---
**Author:** ![randompattern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@randompattern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randompattern)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/568 "2014-05-07T00:39:56Z")
> [@adhemar](#): > > my vote is for Sid Caesar, I didn’t think so before but look at this photo of him in [EMAIL=“[Sid Caesar](http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2056886272/nm0128377?ref_=nmmi_mi_all_pbl_13)”]1969http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2056886272/nm0128377?ref\_=nmmi\_mi\_all\_pbl\_13 > > if my link doesn’t work it is on the IMDB page for him. That pic is c.1954. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/569 "2014-05-07T01:02:21Z")
The ears are wrong. MM looks like he has attached earlobes, and Caesar has long, unattached lobes. [The ears are the wrong shape, too.](http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/140212160132-02-sid-caesar-restricted-horizontal-gallery.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![cococ173](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ab097/32.png) [@cococ173](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cococ173)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/570 "2014-05-07T01:30:07Z")
Something occurred to me. This is not an on air shot because mm has his arm sprawled on the desk. If the show was hosted at that moment in time, it would be a very rude thing to do. And, the shot looks candid, not posed. Only Marlo is looking directly at the camera. Take any group of actors and if they are posing, they would look forward. So, a candid, not great shot on the Tonght Show set. Yet, this is the one published in a ‘movie magazine’. Why? Why this particular one? The only answer I can come up with is that mm is a Photoplay executive. It is possible if that movie mag was Photoplay. ---
**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:** [May 7, 2014, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/571 "2014-05-07T01:49:39Z")
They’re not actively posing, but they’re lined up for the TV camera or a photographer. It’s during a commercial if it’s TV, or between shots if they’re being photographed. I don’t know if the arm on the desk has any meaning in that context. ---
**Author:** ![oliversarmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/eb8c5e/32.png) [@oliversarmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oliversarmy)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/572 "2014-05-07T03:26:15Z")
Maybe it’s Dr. Paul Erlich. Or Fernando Lamas? ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/573 "2014-05-07T03:47:47Z")
Damn, we’re up to nearly 17K views! Still no answer… I fear this may go down as one of those mysteries of the ages… ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/574 "2014-05-07T03:52:59Z")
The guy who discovered gram-staining bacteria? ---
**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:** [May 7, 2014, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/575 "2014-05-07T03:57:56Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > The guy who discovered gram-staining bacteria? That’s it! It’s Edward G. Robinson. It doesn’t look like him because he’s 77 years old and wearing a disguise. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/576 "2014-05-07T04:01:58Z")
> [@oliversarmy](#): > > Maybe it’s Dr. Paul Erlich. Or Fernando Lamas? I thought of Paul Erlich earlier, as he was a perrenial guest back then. But the mystery man looks nothing like him. I already suggested Fernando Lamas and I think there’s a pretty good resemblance, but I don’t know that he can be linked to that event and the MM is wearing a tux so is probably part of the awards. Around 1970 Lamas was basically guest starring in short roles on TV, and his last movie was ‘100 Rifles’ in 1969. There are no awards for anything associated with the movie or the actor. Also, he would have been 55 in 1970, and the MM doesn’t look that old. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/577 "2014-05-07T04:22:31Z")
Has anyone considered it might be **this dude**? [http://cdn.filmschoolrejects.com/images/Hugh-Hefner-e1342702238265.jpg](http://cdn.filmschoolrejects.com/images/Hugh-Hefner-e1342702238265.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:** [May 7, 2014, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/578 "2014-05-07T04:28:13Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > Has anyone considered it might be **this dude**? > > [http://cdn.filmschoolrejects.com/images/Hugh-Hefner-e1342702238265.jpg](http://cdn.filmschoolrejects.com/images/Hugh-Hefner-e1342702238265.jpg) I considered that. Hair, chin, eyes are off. I think Hef looked younger than that in 1970. Anyone think McMahon and Brolin are checking out Karen Valentine’s cleavage? ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/579 "2014-05-07T04:53:09Z")
I still think Mystery Man has a very strong resemblance to Jean Paul Belmondo, even though he was in France for a lot of his career, he mingled with the Hollywood elite, was in Casino Royale,etc… _au currant_ for the times. Here he is with his girlfriend Ursala Andress in Hollywood c.1969. Born in 1933, Jean Paul is 36 here: [http://theselvedgeyard.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/be041379.jpg](http://theselvedgeyard.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/be041379.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/580 "2014-05-07T07:07:01Z")
> [@Andiethewestie](#): > > _au currant_ “_Au courant_.” The phrase is “_au courant_.” Currants are used to make jams. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321.md?page=28) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321.md?page=30)