# 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:** 48
**Author:** ![DChord568](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@DChord568](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DChord568)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/941 "2014-05-15T20:46:42Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > He was my first thought, but I’m still leaning towards Itzhak Perlman. In most of the photos of the young Perlman I find on Google Images, he doesn’t look quite as nerdy as he does in the Carson photo. He looks almost handsome. Also, he’s not wearing glasses in the young photos, so he may have not started doing this till he was older. Finally, he doesn’t have an afro as extreme as the one seen on the guy who’s with Carson. None of this is definitive, but it’s fun for those of us who just don’t want to let go. ---
**Author:** ![cococ173](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3ab097/32.png) [@cococ173](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cococ173)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/942 "2014-05-15T20:48:47Z")
The presence of Al Traina and dress-up night indicates it was another Photoplay awards night!? The only Photoplay Awards I have seen are unframed smallish gold medals (John Wayne’s were up for auction on some site) so IDK what that plaque is. I do know gold records for singles were framed rectangular like albums were in those days. Albert Brooks appeared often on the Tonight Show in the early 70s. I got through 1973 on Wiki looking at guests. As before, there are blanks and no Photoplay anything, including Al Traina was listed. On to 74-75. ---
**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 15, 2014, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/943 "2014-05-15T20:50:17Z")
Actually, I take it back, Albert Brooks was my second thought. My first thought was “Some guy on his way back from the 1972 senior prom.” ---
**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 16, 2014, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/944 "2014-05-16T01:59:02Z")
I think MM#2 is Gary Grimes from the movie “Summer of 42”. [http://jenniferoneill.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Screen-Shot-2012-06-18-at-5.03.50-PM.png](http://jenniferoneill.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Screen-Shot-2012-06-18-at-5.03.50-PM.png) ---
**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 16, 2014, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/945 "2014-05-16T02:03:43Z")
Check out June 7, 1972. [http://jogrant1.tripod.com/the70stvcomedyarchive/id5.html](http://jogrant1.tripod.com/the70stvcomedyarchive/id5.html) ---
**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 16, 2014, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/946 "2014-05-16T02:09:14Z")
Albert Brooks is close, but I’m still thinking of someone else. I could believe it was Brooks though. Maybe someone should try to ask him. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/947 "2014-05-16T02:19:21Z")
I think Bumbershoot should ask Peter Mark Richman again. ---
**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 16, 2014, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/948 "2014-05-16T02:28:56Z")
“What about this guy? Is _this_ you?” Yeah, I’ll fire that off right away! 😃 ---
**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 16, 2014, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/949 "2014-05-16T02:43:32Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Check out June 7, 1972. > > [The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson](http://jogrant1.tripod.com/the70stvcomedyarchive/id5.html) > [@Maserschmidt](#): > > I think MM#2 is Gary Grimes from the movie “Summer of 42”. > > [http://jenniferoneill.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Screen-Shot-2012-06-18-at-5.03.50-PM.png](http://jenniferoneill.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Screen-Shot-2012-06-18-at-5.03.50-PM.png) Aaaaaaaand the link to the Photoplay awards. > **["The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" Episode dated 7 June 1972 (TV...](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0727026/)** > > | TV-G ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/950 "2014-05-16T03:02:31Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > I think MM#2 is Gary Grimes from the movie “Summer of 42”. > > [http://jenniferoneill.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Screen-Shot-2012-06-18-at-5.03.50-PM.png](http://jenniferoneill.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Screen-Shot-2012-06-18-at-5.03.50-PM.png) > [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Check out June 7, 1972. > > [http://jogrant1.tripod.com/the70stvcomedyarchive/id5.html](http://jogrant1.tripod.com/the70stvcomedyarchive/id5.html) I think we have a winner! And, apparently, [Grimes was at the Photoplay Gold Medal Awards after-party](http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1242&dat=19720629&id=XKRYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZoYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6489,2581194) where the 17-year-old was inadvertently served a drink by John Wayne. ---
**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 16, 2014, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/951 "2014-05-16T03:07:09Z")
Yeah, I’ll go with Grimes. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/952 "2014-05-16T04:23:03Z")
Man seems to live up to his name. ---
**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:** [May 16, 2014, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/953 "2014-05-16T05:19:22Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Check out June 7, 1972. > > [The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson](http://jogrant1.tripod.com/the70stvcomedyarchive/id5.html) > [@](#): > > ANN-MARGRET 06-07-1972 > SANDY DUNCAN 06-07-1972 > GARY GRIMES 06-07-1972 > HARVEY KORMAN 06-07-1972 > CHRIS MITCHUM 06-07-1972 > AL TRAINA 06-07-1972 That pretty well settles it for me. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/954 "2014-05-16T05:59:20Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > Man seems to live up to his name. I think **Maserschmidt** should be the first nominee for the 2015 Vashbul Memorial Research Award. ---
**Author:** ![Vashbul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Vashbul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vashbul)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/955 "2014-05-16T06:11:05Z")
I’m not dead. I’m getting better. ---
**Author:** ![randompattern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@randompattern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randompattern)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/956 "2014-05-16T06:34:55Z")
> [@Vashbul](#): > > I’m not dead. > > I’m getting better. Only mostly dead.😃 ---
**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 16, 2014, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/957 "2014-05-16T11:50:19Z")
> [@Vashbul](#): > > I’m not dead … _yet!_😃 ---
**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 16, 2014, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/958 "2014-05-16T19:54:34Z")
> [@Bumbershoot](#): > > “What about this guy? Is _this_ you?” > Yeah, I’ll fire that off right away! 😃 You just know he’d get out a restraining order on you. ☹ Also: congratulations, Maserschmidt, in re Gary Grimes. A triumph!–even if we now need _another_ Mystery Man to figure out… ---
**Author:** ![DonLogan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@DonLogan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DonLogan)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/959 "2014-05-16T20:10:38Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Yeah, I’ll go with Grimes. Or “Grimey,” as he liked to be called. ---
**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 16, 2014, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321/960 "2014-05-16T20:42:53Z")
> [@Vashbul](#): > > I’m not dead. > > I’m getting better. You’re not fooling anyone! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321.md?page=47) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/challenge-who-is-the-man-sitting-with-all-the-stars-on-johnny-carson/687321.md?page=49)