All the comments are great but here's one observation you won't read. I was a lounge piano player in Vegas for 40 + years. I know what it takes to accompany someone. The tonight show pianist Ross Young was just spectacular accompanying Midler. His emphasis and touch at the perfect time corresponding to the lyrics and cadences is nothing short of true musicianship. Everyone who has enjoyed this clip for 30 years go back and listen one more time and concentrate on the piano and the accompanist.
I remember calling my mom from a payphone at work to set the VCR to record this episode... the last song she did still chokes me up. What an iconic episode...
7:18- when Bette begins "Here's that Rainy Day" and Johnny spontaneously joins in (and when did he EVER seriously sing on his show?), a magic spell began on television. The audience knew it also. Just breathtaking.
Yes, when she and Johnny begin to sing "Here's That Rainy Day" it was magical. Something rare in TV, as one critic wrote the next day "Genuine spontaneity and love and affection." Two greats in sync! MAGIC MEMORIES.
He did join in at the end of the "Frank Sinatra Spectacular," a recorded live concert which was played in closed-circuit in 1965 for a benefit event, and aired for the first time when TV Land launched in the 1990s. The song was "The Birth of the Blues." Carson was filling in for Joey Bishop as emcee. I believe it can be found on RU-vid.
Obvious that they (Johnny and Bette) shared a deep respect and love for one another. Truly a historic best of TV moment. How sad that Johnny and Robin are both gone now. How great is Bette? True talents are rare and we have lost so many! So sad! But looking back at what they left us is awesome!
Dave Glo - She is amazing, isn't she? God, I LOVE the divine miss M. What a voice and what a talent. Thank you, Bette for all the music and laughter you have created. Love you girl!
And you know guys and gals let's give thanks to Johnny for bringing joy into our lives for many years, And only we can say "we were there" and lived in those times. Lucky us.
I saw this show when young, thinking that wow if there ever was a performing art personified, that's it~ After many decades, I am watching it again, and it just brings uncontrollable tears to my eyes~ How fleeting are the times, yet how still it has never left my heart~ Thank you, Bette... Thank you Johnny!
Tough to watch. I remember seeing it live and I knew that this was destined to be a defining moment. Gives me the chills. I miss that man so terribly much.
Add me to the club.....it's been sadly too many years since 11:30 meant I'd be turning on the TV no matter what else was going on (well most nights lol). In some ways folks who missed the Johnny era are lucky...they don't know what they are missing. True greatness always!!!
Bette helped Johnny Carson pull off the impossible that night in May of 1992. They did the single best, most memorable episode of The Tonight Show in the 30 year history of the show. Bette drawing Johnny out to sing Here's That Rainy Day was a stroke of genius on her part. One of the, if not THE only time that "Mr. Cool and Aloof" let his guard down and allowed emotion to show on camera. I was 22 at the time, and didn't realize the extent to which an era was ending. I'm sure glad we have these videos to watch on the internet. I wore out the VHS I recorded that night long ago. Rest in Peace Ed, Robin, and Johnny. Things really just aren't the same without you.
Johnny Carson was the best. I watched him every night after I got out of college. He saw me through some tough times. Maybe that is why the duet with Bett makes me cry.
Every once in a while I revisit this clip and watch it as if it were the first time. (I saw it live.) Her craftsmanship is incredible. Marc Shaiman, Bruce Vilanch, Charlo Crossley, Jenifer Lewis, and Bette Midler conspired and created an everlasting and iconic moment in television history that will live on for generations.
This whole farewell show was so beautiful because of bette Midler and the connection between them and the song that she sang in the end that I can watch over and over and it still waters my eyes😢💗
Over 30 years later and this is still one of the most genuine and heartwarming moments in TV history. I'm so glad this was on camera and is still available.
Not many people can get Carson to sing, but if anybody can do it, it's Bette. She never forgot Johnny gave her a big break early in her career. Too bad Johnny and Joan Rivers were never able to make up.
I'd come downstairs at midnight, and there'd be Johnny talking to this little frizzy-haired crazy girl : never saw her intro; never knew she was Miss Midler until one screamingly funny Grammy show years later......love you, Bette - almost as much as you loved Mr. Carson.
So fun to see two people who obviously love one another... Bette and John truly and simply cared and loved each other with not other strings attached... so simply gorgeous.
Perhaps THE most magical moment in all of television history! Typing this through buckets of tears remembering all those magical moments for which Johnny was responsible, and missing him (and that time) so very much!
Johnny Carson brought Bette Midler to my attention before I had ever heard of her. It is so fitting he chose her to be his final guest. She was the perfect choice and she let him know how much she loved and appreciated him. This was so special for anyone who was watching and lived through that era, it was surreal and just plain perfection. Funny, poignant and true, also qualities that Bette and Johnny shared. Bette could have shown up and just sang, but no, she prepared and boy did she deliver! PERFECTION!!
Thanks, I never appreciated Bette until just seeing this. I loved seeing how happy she made Johnnie, who was a mainstay of my (late-night) childhood (even got to sit in VIP seating at the show once.)
She deservedly won an Emmy 🏆 for this auspicious occasion. 🎶🎤🎹 I did see this & remember a part of my childhood was leaving. Thank u Ms. M & RIP Johnny, Ed & Robin.
The Divine Miss M, kibitzing with arguably the classiest man whoever hosted a late night talk show. Plus a sprinkling of the late, great, Robin Williams. Wow, talk about your fully-loaded TV segment. Their sponsors sure got their money's worth on that one!
The ending made me smile & tear. So glad I grew up aware of Bette & Mr. Carson. I'm 49 & got to experience the tale end of the 70's & all of the 1980's. Magic.
This was so amazing and so heartbreaking to watch now. I watched this when it aired in 1992 and it was bittersweet. It's so emotional to watch it now, seeing Robin Williams, but it is still and always will be one of the most memorable moments in talk show history.
We always hear about when she sang One for my Baby (which was fantastic), but this segment was wonderful too. Her version of the song You Made Me Love You was charming and funny. Then she starts in with Here's that Rainy Day. Johnny starts singing along. It was so intimate, the audience was mesmerized. You could hear a pin drop. Magic.
At 58 I've outlived FOUR SETS of best friends and am building #5. Glad Bette is still here. Everyone else in this clip has moved on -even Joan Rivers who she referenced. LoL Now I know how Lestat felt. xoxo :)
I remember being stationed at Luke AFB in Phoenix, and remember watching that show that night. 27 years later and it still brings tears to my eyes watching their impromptu duet.
Think I watched the last episode, age 15. Very touching and lovely. Hard to believe Johnny and Robin are both gone. Also sad Johnny became a recluse after the show and died alone.
Back when a late night talk show was full of grace, respects, talented guests and funny, but brilliant host. Today 2017..... well never mind. The ending got me teary..... The magical moment in a TV show that will never be seen again today. I'm sure that singing duets of Bette and Johnny was impromptu and never rehearsed even the reading of the letter. 💞❤👌👍
joe - Amen, Joe If kids today don't get to see Robin or Bette, they are trily missing some of our best performers ever! I love(d)then both immensely. RIP, Robin, and God bless Bette.
Good point. Now the talk crap is just political hackery and whining... Conan is the exception, he still entertains.... but THIS level is gone for sure.... She was truly touched by Carson leaving.
As a "kid" today, I resent that pity. To me, that pity comes with some distain, and I'd like to think that though young, all humans have a capability for intelligence which (apparently) would shock you. Please don't put words and attitudes in peoples' mouths simply because you grew up when things were different.
You may be attributing far too much to one simple word...regarding the original post only, at this point. He may simply mean he legitimately "feels sorry for"...or "is sad for".....there needn't be any "disdain" or other judgement applied in it's use in this case......it's certainly not evident when taken at face value.
She's so abundantly talented that it's almost unbelievable. Johnny was the greatest. THE Talk Show Entertainer of all time. There is good reason to believe that Johnny really REALLY enjoyed the last decade of his retirement and travels. There will never be anyone better at what he did best.
Beautiful. Just beautiful. One of the most poignant moments ever. I cried watching broadcast almost 30 years ago, and I’m crying again now writing this. Perhaps this was the moment that “old Hollywood” slipped away. I think maybe it was. Funny.... that rainy day is here.
Oh, and if I really need a good cry I just watch Doc, Tommy and the boys play this in tribute to the recently passed Johnny on the Letterman. Kills me every time. Gosh, I miss Johnny! I miss those days!
