# 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:** 44
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/861 "2014-05-13T19:02:11Z")
BTW, before this thread, Richman’s name had appeared only twice ever on this site. Once in 2005 in an MST3K thread, and once in March in “Who’s Left from Early TV.” Richman was a solid, reliable actor for so many years, one of those people whose face and voice you always remember, but not the name. This thread is probably his largest presence on the web, outside his own website. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/862 "2014-05-13T20:03:19Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > And Glen Campbell was accepting the award on behalf of John Wayne. Sure, why not? No mystery here. Campbell was Wayne’s co-star in\* True Grit\*. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/863 "2014-05-13T20:07:10Z")
Vashbul, you truly are a hero of the Scientific Method (getting the evidence!) We all do owe you thanks. At last we can devote our waking hours to something other than thoughts of “who IS that guy???” > [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Someone should contact Peter Mark Richman and give him the correct answer. That way he can give an informed answer the next time it comes up and not be such a grump. > (And to let him know that we not only didn’t let it rest but actually managed to ferret out the answer. ;)) > (Props to Richman though for at least taking the time and trouble to respond. Many others wouldn’t.) Well said. Richman was remarkably patient and kind about this. No doubt he will be happy to have a definitive answer to give any future questioners. ---
**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 13, 2014, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/864 "2014-05-13T20:52:00Z")
So, Conspiracy Nuts of The SDMB… how’s that workin’ for ya? ---
**Author:** ![cococ173](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ab097/32.png) [@cococ173](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cococ173)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/865 "2014-05-13T21:21:53Z")
Does this help? [Images](http://www.mem.com/Images/4088024/17953269/17953282?title=Images) 11th pic down on the left. Not to beat a dead horse or anything. I just think this pose is exactly what I would think the mm in profile would look like if he turned his head toward us. Pic is from Al Traina’s memorial page. ---
**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 13, 2014, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/866 "2014-05-13T21:27:30Z")
I wonder if people were constantly saying to Al Traina “You know, you look just like Sid Caesar”. ---
**Author:** ![Vashbul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Vashbul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vashbul)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/867 "2014-05-13T21:45:34Z")
> [@cococ173](#): > > Does this help? [http://www.mem.com/Images/4088024/17953269/17953282?title=Images](http://www.mem.com/Images/4088024/17953269/17953282?title=Images) 11th pic down on the left. > Not to beat a dead horse or anything. I just think this pose is exactly what I would think the mm in profile would look like if he turned his head toward us. Pic is from Al Traina’s memorial page. Waaaait a minute. That page shows another picture, with Traina and Johnny Carson but – _[who’s that person on the left](http://s29.postimg.org/h942rmu13/20091202_174632_e_orig.jpg)_? ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/868 "2014-05-13T22:04:52Z")
I sent an email to Peter Mark Richman telling him we now know who the man is and thanking him for his time, and included a link to the article that **Vashbul** posted. I just hope his reply isn’t “I don’t care who it is! I’m tired of hearing about it! That’s why I said let it rest!” ---
**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 13, 2014, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/869 "2014-05-13T22:08:26Z")
> [@Vashbul](#): > > Waaaait a minute. That page shows another picture, with Traina and Johnny Carson but – _[who’s that person on the left](http://s29.postimg.org/h942rmu13/20091202_174632_e_orig.jpg)_? Looks like Imogene Coca to me. ---
**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 13, 2014, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/870 "2014-05-13T22:22:48Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I move that we establish the \*\*Order of the Dope \*\*and confer it’s honor upon **Vashbul** for courage and fortitude in the fight against ignorance. > > Most awesomely well done **Vashbul**! Yes to an award, but it should be called something like the \*Vashbul Award for Dogged Persistence in the Quest for Answers. \* > [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Awesome work! It was fun watching the thread zeroing in on the answer, then to have a doper actually pull the physical evidence. I tell ya, it should be a movie. Didn’t a movie just come out where a guy spends the whole time talking on his cell phone? A film of this thread would be more interesting than **that**. Time to start casting. So you think Peter Mark Richman would consent to play himself? ---
**Author:** ![cococ173](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ab097/32.png) [@cococ173](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cococ173)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/871 "2014-05-13T22:56:33Z")
> [@Vashbul](#): > > Waaaait a minute. That page shows another picture, with Traina and Johnny Carson but – _[who’s that person on the left](http://s29.postimg.org/h942rmu13/20091202_174632_e_orig.jpg)_? I would love to know what Photoplay Award Winner that is. Dressed like a musician. > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Didn’t a movie just come out where a guy spends the whole time talking on his cell phone? A film of this thread would be more interesting than **that**. Time to start casting. So you think Peter Mark Richman would consent to play himself? And Carol Burnett cast as The Red Herring. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/872 "2014-05-14T00:57:12Z")
You know, that really is an ugly Tonight Show set. 1970s interior design strikes again. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/873 "2014-05-14T01:04:16Z")
I recall it looking better in color. ---
**Author:** ![D18](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@D18](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D18)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/874 "2014-05-14T01:17:02Z")
Wow! I haven’t seen anything like this since [this here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=44967)! ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/875 "2014-05-14T02:08:27Z")
> [@Vashbul](#): > > Waaaait a minute. That page shows another picture, with Traina and Johnny Carson but – _[who’s that person on the left](http://s29.postimg.org/h942rmu13/20091202_174632_e_orig.jpg)_? I don’t ever recall his hair getting that big, but it would be about the right time for [Marvin Hamlisch](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Marvin_Hamlisch_-_Oscars.jpg). ---
**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 14, 2014, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/876 "2014-05-14T02:58:07Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > I don’t ever recall his hair getting that big, but it would be about the right time for [Marvin Hamlisch](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Marvin_Hamlisch_-_Oscars.jpg). Not Marvin Hamlisch. And stop that!! Maybe we should lock this thread and send it to either the Smithsonian, the Library of Congress, or that vault in the Rocky Mountains where the Mormons keep all the genealogical records. ---
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/877 "2014-05-14T05:35:14Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > So much for all the conspiracy baiting… > [@DChord568](#): > > Yeah. I wonder if any of those who pushed so long and hard for this explanation of things will now have the cojones to step up and say “Gee, guess I was being a little silly, wasn’t I?” > [@Stoid](#): > > So, Conspiracy Nuts of The SDMB… how’s that workin’ for ya? Hmmm…the silence is deafening…just as I figured it would be. ---
**Author:** ![randompattern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@randompattern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randompattern)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/878 "2014-05-14T06:02:35Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![randompattern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@randompattern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randompattern)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/879 "2014-05-14T06:04:00Z")
> [@Vashbul](#): > > Waaaait a minute. That page shows another picture, with Traina and Johnny Carson but – _[who’s that person on the left](http://s29.postimg.org/h942rmu13/20091202_174632_e_orig.jpg)_? Mac Davis ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/880 "2014-05-14T06:12:36Z")
> [@randompattern](#): > > Mac Davis Nah, it’s Stan Freberg. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321.md?page=43) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321.md?page=45)