Charles Nelson Reilly Talks With Johnny About Recently Bombing on Broadway, on Carson Tonight Show - 05/03/1979 #johnnycarson #charlesnelsonreilly #thetonightshow
Indeed. I used to work with a guy who was, if you can picture this, a cross between George Bush Senior and CNR. He was a dead ringer for George Sr but acted JUST like CNR, without acting. Like, that was his natural behavior and he always had us in stitches without even trying. There was a one man show with CNR on Netflix years ago. I don't think it's there anymore. Let me see if I can find it on RU-vid... Yep! Here's a playlist of it: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-U1gTQ5Gxhpw.html It's not only funny but surprisingly touching in places too.
I agree. CNR was my 'yardstick' for the Match Game. I always relaxed a little the weeks when he on, as I knew there would be witty answers and plenty of humor. So many times, the weeks without Charles fell flat.
As a youngster in Hollywood, perhaps 35 years ago, I was interested in learning to be an actor. I heard that Mr. Reilllly was teaching a class and I wondered if I could afford it. I called the phone number listed in the ad in the local theatre rag (Dramalogue) and left a message. I was VERY surprised when Mr. Reilly himself returned my call. As it happened, I couldn't afford even the very reasonable fee for his class, but we spoke for perhaps 15 minutes and the personal interest he showed in me and his genuine charm are fond memories.
I thought about taking his class, about 30 years ago, which was held on Wednesday evenings in a small theater in the Valley. I was so tempted. I’m sorry I didn’t make that call, that would have been a huge treat, if I had gotten to speak with CNR. Thanks for telling your story.
I think he loved teaching. Plenty of actors do, especially those who had great teachers themselves. You'd be surprised at how many well-known actors teach on the side. It's not unusual.
What ? Roy Clark is one of the most revered respected and well known guitarists EVER ! Maybe a 15 - 20 year old doesn't know him, but anyone else with a brain does. He was on HeeHaw every week for a hundred years and every show on tv. Roy Clark is a legend !!!
Roy Clark is not underrated, he was and is still considered of the best guitar/banjo players. Not to mention he could sing and play anything with strings including fiddle and was pretty funny.
Charles Nelson Reilly was always oh wonderful, Intelligent, funny man who I followed in his work throughout my life and until his death and still we see him here in this video, sad😭 that all the people on the panel are gone now but their legacies live on❤️ Love to them all.
Deborah Keefe I meant to write, ' Wind in the willows.'. was made in 1987. Judy Collins, sings throughout. Its Superb. I hope its still at Amazon. Roddy McDowell, and Jose Ferrer, voices, also
He really was a brilliant actor and director, but watching him and Brett on Match Game was and is pure heaven. One of the funniest human beings and best story tellers.
I loved watch Johnny when he had Charles or Rickles on. If I could just crawl thru this phone and be back to those days I would in a heartbeat. RIP Charles, you were one of the funniest people ever on television.
@@zippitydodaday6037 I remember him from HR Pufnstuf but unless you really enjoy programming aimed at little kids, I'd recommend staying with Match Game.
CNR was one of the nicest (and talented) people in the business! Would've given anything to be at a dinner party with him back in the day. Fun! Fun! Fun! Miss them all greatly. 💗
I'd like to have dinner with him and Paul Lynde. It would probably be a scream! Although I've read that Lynde was actually a bitter nasty drunk in real life.
Charles Nelson Riley, one of the great laid back comedians during the era when there were Stars. Today we don't have entertainers unless they use profanity and today we have actors but no true stars.
Interesting description when he mentioned Match Game and Johnny asked if he meant the game show. Reilly said "It's quiet, it's daytime, nobody knows about it. But it's good money" How things change. He could never have imagined then he'd be adored by generations to come for Match Game alone. The play is long forgotten, but thank God for TV and reruns!
I love the banter between these two. Carson was a master of conversation. Most hosts think THEY need to take the lead, but Johnny understood that he just needed to sit back, LISTEN and watch the magic happen. And how wonderful that a guest is willing to come on and talk about failure? Stars today are gagged by their PR people, everything is so sanitized.
I didn't realize this until I read your comment. But just like how Ed would perform 2nd banana to Johnny, Johnny would perform 2nd banana to the guest.
FYI: The show was called "Break a Leg" by Ira Levin... the same guy who'd, at the time, just written a huge hit called "Deathtrap" that was later made into a great movie with Christopher Reeves, Dian Cannon, and Michael Caine.
These Carson bits are the vest. Not dated at all... This is timeless and so very entertaining, especially when contrasted with what passes for late night these days. Johnny was the master of this form--besides being enormously funny, he was an excellent interviewer as well. He could do gags but also play straight man to whatever comic was in the chair.
Sincere thanks for this upload! This is my favorite Charles Nelson Reilly guest shot. I've got permanent nerve damage that, among other things, causes severe migraines, nausea, and vertigo. I put these classic Carson clips on when I can't sleep. The laughter is magic medicine.
In 1979, he directed Ira Levin's play Break a Leg on Broadway. Despite the previous year's success of Levin's Deathtrap, Break a Leg closed after one performance. He was 48 when he did this appearance, so kudos for not lying about his age.
Not only do I love Johnny hosting this show but the guest hosts had some great guests too, including Roy Clark! Sadly, nearly nobody from this era of the Tonight Show is still with us. If the guest host shows are part of the Carson estate, we would love to see those too!
I knew of him growing up as a kid from watching Match Game. Much later I saw him in a little theater doing Save It For The Stage. Side note-while standing outside waiting for the doors to open Lonnie Anderson showed with a guest. Anyway, Save It For The Stage was an autobiographical one man show. Very entertaining, in part of his show he explained the differences of what actors had to go through to become actors in his day as opposed to modern days. I realized what a talented actor he truly was. Glad I went to see his show, Reilly died a few years later.
Oh my goodness. He was always funny on The Tonight Show but this might be my favorite appearance. He was so “on” with the self-deprecation about the failed show; comic genius at work.
Charles Nelson Reilly was a lovely man. I was studying at HB Studio in New York where he taught on occasion. He invited a group of students to enjoy a live taping of the Dinah Shore Show. I remember standing between him and Len Cariou ("Sweeney Todd") ... totally entranced by their talent!!!
I heard a story about him auditioning actors for a play in Providence RI. A kid is auditioning for a part. O'Reilly yelled at him " speak up kid, for God's sake, my old mother FARTS louder than that"
We didn't know it at the time...that these were the real celebrities...NOT entitled singers and reality stars with attitude. Carson was right to leave the tonight show when he did. I miss ALL his guests ...Strange, with all these talent and singing contest shows- nobody can match the truly talented people of the 70s and 80s.
Billy DeWolf, Liberace, Paul Lynde and Reilly all played a rather complicated role with respect to how Amercans saw gay men. On one hand, they were 'allowed' into our collective conscienceness as 'gay' entertainers as non-threatening examples of homosexuality because they stayed in the closet, albeit with the door cracked open. You are right they did not overtly say they were gay and refused to confirm their sexual orientation through their careers ( Reilly did come out officially in his late years with his autobiographical one man show in 2000) They were playing it coy, hinting at something they never embraced professionally, because it worked for their careers. But it also perpetuated some stereotypes of the fey gay man , flamboyant, witty, entertaining but rather frivolous people. Often they were the first 'gay characters' we allowed into our homes and lives and that alone broke major boundaries, shoulders on which others could later stand.
I loved him in the Ghost and Mrs. Muir, and I saw him on game shows like Hollywood Squares (great name, huh?). It had a great collection of wits and characters. His sense of humor appealed to me, and things like that sort of become a part of you when you are a child and absorbing everything of value.
He didn't exactly play the most endearing characters. But some of the most enduring. He was just a guy trying to make it in show-biz, who happened to be gay, back in the days when everybody pretended not to be. We've come a long way, since then. For the better. And added some crazy on top, too.
He has an incredibly dry style of humor. I dont even know if dry is the right word but there is some intangible style to CNR that seems impossible to duplicate in the 70s. But listen to modern comedy podcasts today and the big figures in that show business all have that same style. But Carson just always played the straightman to all the characters that come on his show, and plays into their bit. Its why Carson is the paragon of talk show hosts, it doesnt matter who came on the show or what bit they were doing, Carson found a way to play off them. And then there were folks like your Game Show celebrities who played ball in an ensemble and were beloved for it, perhaps as not on their own. Thats kind of how CNR worked. Regardless, its a dynamic that rings even more clearly in 2021. And why we still find ourselves so sorely missing the both of them.
The play was "Break a Leg." It had 12 previews, opened April 29, 1979, and closed that day. Written by Ira Levin, starring Julie Harris and Jack Weston.
Does anyone else remember a Tonight Show sketch with Johnny and CNR, CNR was an airline clerk going down a checklist of questions (frustrating Johnny) and one question was "Is your belly-button an INNIE, or an OUTIE?" it was hilarious, I wish I could find it.
When I was a kid in the 70’s I would be waiting on my sister to finish her piano lesson at our teacher’s. Every week the same thing....Match Game. Those jokes just went right over my head. My favorite was Charles.
I'm trying to figure out the timing. The play opened (and closed) April 29. But a NYT article dated April 28 states that CNR resigned as director and asked to have his name removed the previous day (April 27). So if he resigned on the 27th how was he still the director 2 days later?
you could see how disappointed - maybe very depressed - he was, but he put on a “brave” face. There was a minute in the middle where you could just tell he truly was sad about it, then he switched back into comedy. It was funny, but kinda tough to watch. I’m sure he was in pain but didn’t want people to know.
CNR is so funny 😆 His character on Lidsville and H.R. Puffnstuff used to scare me when I was a kid but now when I need a laugh my go-to is a rerun of Match Game or an interview with Charles Nelson Reilly.
@7:30 when he says "I have a good friend Barbara, who was in four plays that lasted 7 performances." I think he's talking about Barbara Cook. She was a legend for her talent, but in her career, she went from flop to flop. She was in a few hits, most notably, she originated Marian the librarian in The Music Man.
Interesting that you wrote this. I'm sure others agree. I always liked the show but greatly disliked the character he played as a child. I don't think I disliked him, just the character. And I understand why now: the character was always bad, always greedy, always foolish. When I see it now, I understand he was comic relief because everybody else played very straight and serious. But still, there was no dimension to his character (usually), and I think it was unfair to him as an actor. Well, that was TV in the late 60s, I suppose. I was surprised and pleased when I noticed that he went on to directing stage plays and opera. Also, he doesn't have to explain that he was born in The Bronx. He still had a distinct NYC regionalism. That's my two (hundred) cents!
Charles Nelson Reilly (13 de enero de 1931 - 25 de mayo de 2007) fue un actor, comediante, director y profesor dramático de nacionalidad estadounidense, conocido por sus papeles en teatro, cine y programas infantiles televisivos, así como por su faceta de actor de voz en producciones de dibujos animados y por ser panelista del concurso Match Game.
