# Homage d'Johnny: What was your favorite moment on Tonight Show during his reign? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 24, 2005, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homage-djohnny-what-was-your-favorite-moment-on-tonight-show-during-his-reign/286387 "2005-01-24T07:33:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![malkabat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@malkabat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkabat)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homage-djohnny-what-was-your-favorite-moment-on-tonight-show-during-his-reign/286387/41 "2005-01-25T02:10:55Z")
A Carnac-ism that’s stayed with me through lo these many years: “Nic…aragua.” _rip_ _poof_ “What happens when you shave your ragua too close?” Thank you, Johnny, and goodnight. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![pesch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pesch/32/4925_2.png) [@pesch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pesch)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homage-djohnny-what-was-your-favorite-moment-on-tonight-show-during-his-reign/286387/42 "2005-01-25T02:54:57Z")
I remember watching a lot of Carson, but remember very few bits on my own. Once you start on the “exploding desk” joke, or “Sis-boom-bah” or “The Copper Clapper Caper” (which IMHO is as classic a routine as “Who’s on First?”), I’m right with you. To be completely honest, there were a lot of shows that didn’t work, and near the end, when he was on only three times a week, it was easy to skip him. But while reading this thread, I do remember these moments: - Any time Truman Capote was on, although I can’t remember a word he said. Just their weird Southern gentleman telling these strange stories in that squeaky voice. - Art Fern and the Slausen cutoff. And Carol Wayne, of course. - His feud with Wayne Newton, who apparently did not appreciate the gay innuendo and threatened Carson to knock it off. There was one guest I still remember: Tommy Smothers. He came on by himself and started talking to Carson about … his stamp collection. He brought out his scrapbook and went through the countries, until he reached China … and he started talking about Red China and the communists … and worked himself up into a frothing rage about the country. I can’t remember Johnny’s reaction to it, but it certainly made an impression on me. The irony of it is that, despite Jay Leno in the chair, Dave Letterman is truly Carson’s heir. I can imagine a thread like this when Dave retires, but not Leno. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homage-djohnny-what-was-your-favorite-moment-on-tonight-show-during-his-reign/286387/43 "2005-01-25T03:21:14Z")
> [@pesch](#): > > - Any time Truman Capote was on, although I can’t remember a word he said. Just their weird Southern gentleman telling these strange stories in that squeaky voice. I remember him telling a story on The Tonight Show about being at a signing when a man came up to him, removed his member from his pants and asked him to autograph it. In his little squeaky voice: “I tol’ him I really don’t think I can autograph that… but if you’ll hold still I might can initial it.” ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homage-djohnny-what-was-your-favorite-moment-on-tonight-show-during-his-reign/286387/44 "2005-01-25T03:25:34Z")
any Orson Bean appearance the night with Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, & wasn’t Red Buttons also involved?- eggs, a can of whipped cream & I am sure a great quantity of alcohol the marmoset using Johnny’s head to - was it pee or poo? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homage-djohnny-what-was-your-favorite-moment-on-tonight-show-during-his-reign/286387/45 "2005-01-25T03:31:06Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > the marmoset using Johnny’s head to - was it pee or poo? Pee. The little fellow appeared to be quite at home on Johnny’s head. Johnny felt something and said, “Oh no. He didn’t…” I’m sure Johnny was, uh, pissed, but the audience loved it. And you know Johnny, anything to make the audience laugh. ---
**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:** [January 25, 2005, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homage-djohnny-what-was-your-favorite-moment-on-tonight-show-during-his-reign/286387/46 "2005-01-25T03:57:36Z")
I loved the night with George Goebbels and Dean Martin. Especially funny was Dean constantly leaning over and tapping his cigarette on George’s drink. And you realize the scandal that show would cause today? One guy sitting there enjoying a scotch or whatever it is while the rest smoke openly? The Offenderati would be having kittens. ---
**Author:** ![MaggietheCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@MaggietheCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaggietheCat)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homage-djohnny-what-was-your-favorite-moment-on-tonight-show-during-his-reign/286387/47 "2005-01-25T04:16:49Z")
The night Ann-Margaret was on. For some reason, she brought her cat with her. The cat was sitting in her lap and she was petting it while she was talking to Johnny. Then, for some bizarre reason, she said, “Would you like to pet my pussy?” Complete pandemonium. Johnny never had to say a word. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homage-djohnny-what-was-your-favorite-moment-on-tonight-show-during-his-reign/286387/48 "2005-01-25T04:19:45Z")
> [@MaggietheCat](#): > > The night Ann-Margaret was on. For some reason, she brought her cat with her. The cat was sitting in her lap and she was petting it while she was talking to Johnny. Then, for some bizarre reason, she said, “Would you like to pet my pussy?” Complete pandemonium. Johnny never had to say a word. [Nope](http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/zsazsa.htm) ---
**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:** [January 25, 2005, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homage-djohnny-what-was-your-favorite-moment-on-tonight-show-during-his-reign/286387/49 "2005-01-25T04:22:58Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > I loved the night with George Goebbels and Dean Martin. BWAHAHAHA…It’s Gobel, Sam! (Sorry, I thought the ribbing would be best coming from a friend, which hopefully I am.) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MaggietheCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@MaggietheCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaggietheCat)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homage-djohnny-what-was-your-favorite-moment-on-tonight-show-during-his-reign/286387/50 "2005-01-25T04:31:51Z")
Well, then I apologize. I honestly thought I had a true memory of that. Thank you for educating me. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homage-djohnny-what-was-your-favorite-moment-on-tonight-show-during-his-reign/286387/51 "2005-01-25T04:33:48Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > I loved the night with George Goebbels and Dean Martin. Especially funny was Dean constantly leaning over and tapping his cigarette on George’s drink. And then old George had the Shutzstaffel execute Dino in the parking lot… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![whistlepig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/73ab20/32.png) [@whistlepig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whistlepig)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homage-djohnny-what-was-your-favorite-moment-on-tonight-show-during-his-reign/286387/52 "2005-01-25T04:41:42Z")
Johnny was doing his monologue and did a joke about how California had just decriminalized possession of an ounce of marijuana. He looked puzzled for a second and the turned to Doc Severson, asking, “Doc, how much is an ounce of marijuana?” “About a week.” Good times. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homage-djohnny-what-was-your-favorite-moment-on-tonight-show-during-his-reign/286387/53 "2005-01-25T04:44:51Z")
Yes, lots of hilarious moments. But the memory of Johnny Carson I hold most dear isn’t a funny one, but an example of the sensitivity and kindness he could show to his guests. I don’t recall who she was. A singer was performing a song that, as it turned out, must have packed one hell of an emotional wallop for her, because partway through the song she started to break down. She tried her damnedest to carry it off, but the tears were in her voice and rolling down her cheeks. As she was finishing the song Johnny came quickly to her side, put his arm around her comfortingly, spoke gently to her, while signalling for a commercial break – from the look on his face, to protect her and give her time to pull herself together. That was a truly classy moment. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homage-djohnny-what-was-your-favorite-moment-on-tonight-show-during-his-reign/286387/54 "2005-01-25T04:46:32Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > the night with Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, & wasn’t Red Buttons also involved?- eggs, a can of whipped cream & I am sure a great quantity of alcohol My memory’s a little foggy here, but didn’t Johnny once convince Burt Reynolds to shave off HALF his moustache on the show one night? I just seem to have this vague visual memory of Burt turning to face the camera with half his 'stache gone and Johnny going completely to pieces with laughter behind him. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homage-djohnny-what-was-your-favorite-moment-on-tonight-show-during-his-reign/286387/55 "2005-01-25T05:23:10Z")
“Forty pieces of silver” \<\< rips envelope \>\> “What does the Lone Ranger keep in his freezer?” ---
**Author:** ![Petey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f1d935/32.png) [@Petey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petey)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homage-djohnny-what-was-your-favorite-moment-on-tonight-show-during-his-reign/286387/56 "2005-01-25T05:29:16Z")
Most of the best moments are on the anniversary shows, but this is what I remember: In 1980, Johnny was threatening to quit, but got a contract extension that reduced the show from 90 to 60 minutes and ownership of the 12:30 show that he gave to Letterman. The first show back, he got a standing ovation and said: “All right, you’ve convinced me. I’m staying for another 20 years.” I had only been watching him a few years, but I was just so glad that I could continue watching. ---
**Author:** ![Booker57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Booker57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Booker57)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homage-djohnny-what-was-your-favorite-moment-on-tonight-show-during-his-reign/286387/57 "2005-01-25T05:52:32Z")
> [@LifeOnWry](#): > > My memory’s a little foggy here, but didn’t Johnny once convince Burt Reynolds to shave off HALF his moustache on the show one night? I just seem to have this vague visual memory of Burt turning to face the camera with half his 'stache gone and Johnny going completely to pieces with laughter behind him. I remember it being Steve Martin. I could be wrong. The one with Dolly. “I’d give a years salary to peek down that blouse” Said with a type of class that Johnny had. He wiil be missed. ---
**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:** [January 25, 2005, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homage-djohnny-what-was-your-favorite-moment-on-tonight-show-during-his-reign/286387/58 "2005-01-25T08:58:23Z")
> [@Booker57](#): > > I remember it being Steve Martin. I could be wrong. Yes, it was Steve Martin and it was half a beard, not a moustache. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homage-djohnny-what-was-your-favorite-moment-on-tonight-show-during-his-reign/286387/59 "2005-01-25T10:24:26Z")
Johnny once announced he had conducted an experiment to see what would really happen if a tree fell in a forest and there was no one there to hear it. He said he put a tape recorder near a tree that was ready to fall, set it to record, then left. Johnny put a tape player on his desk, then quieted the audience, turned on the player and waited. Nothing. The audience started to titter. Johnny quieted them again. Still nothing. This went on for about a minute, which is a quite a lot of time for what is essentially dead air. Suddenly someone in the audience shouted, “I’ve fallen. . . and I can’t get up!” The whole place exploded. Johnny probably laughed harder and longer than anyone. He later admitted that he didn’t have a planned ending for the bit. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homage-djohnny-what-was-your-favorite-moment-on-tonight-show-during-his-reign/286387/60 "2005-01-25T11:41:14Z")
Robert Blake was a guest and not a particular gracious one. Johnny said something like, “You think it’s easy sitting here, you think you just ask a bunch of questions.” So after the commercial, they switched places. Johnny sat in the guest chair with his hair mussed and I think an unlit ciagrette in his mouth (maybe his nose?). Then Blake asked him a question, and Johnny just burped. Blake asked him another question and he burped again. Then Blake asked one more question, and Johnny dropped his pants revealing his boxers. You never see that rebroadcast, don’t know why. It’s one of the few moments in TV that I have laughed out loud. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homage-djohnny-what-was-your-favorite-moment-on-tonight-show-during-his-reign/286387.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homage-djohnny-what-was-your-favorite-moment-on-tonight-show-during-his-reign/286387.md?page=4)