Love the way Johnny is so kind to the dog owners--doesn't make fun of them, doesn't go for the obvious cheap joke. And he was kind to the dogs, too. He was a class act.
It’s 2024.. I miss the innocence and wholesomeness of shows like this! I was personally impressed with Rubin! But I have to say, they’re all incredibly talented and precious! Columbo is the most adorable pup with the best name ever! May all these beautiful pups be playing peacefully and singing over the rainbow bridge! THEY WILL BE REMEMBERED FOREVER! 🐾🐾💙🩷
I remember it as if it was yesterday -- although it was 32 years ago. I guess you could call it my five minutes of fame. I am the contestant whose sheltie, Aladdin, won the coveted golden fire hydrant (which still sits on a bookshelf in my home office). For those of you who weighed in on the possibility that dogs howl to certain sounds because it hurts their ears, I can tell you with assurance that was not the case with Laddie. I got him as an eight week old puppy from a backyard breeder, and when he was just a few months old I discovered his fondness for the harmonica quite by accident. Whenever I pulled it out to play a tune, he would come running to me, sit up straight as an arrow, point his nose in the air and howl. Even if I played the harmonica so softly you could barely hear it -- so softly it couldn't possibly hurt his ears -- he would sing. Nothing deterred him, and I never trained him in this behavior. He LOVED that harmonica, and singing along with it just came naturally to him. So, of course, when I heard about auditions for the Tonight Show's singing dog contest in Burbank, (within an hour's drive of my home), I figured Laddie was a shoe-in. They auditioned several hundred dogs, but when I got the callback informing me that we were one of the six finalists, I can't say I was surprised. The show was taped earlier in the day on New Year's Eve, 1987 for airing that night. So I guess you could say the episode dates back to 1987 or 1988 -- take your pick. As for my memories of the experience -- I recall that Laddie and I shared a dressing room with Kona and her owner, and that one of the Smother's Brothers -- who were guests on the show that night -- dropped by to say "hello." I remember thinking, when we were actually onstage with Johnny, that he was a lot shorter than I realized. And I remember hoping that he wouldn't engage me in conversation because I was getting over a bad cold and had terrible laryngitis. I chose to play "Auld Lang Syne" since it was New Year's Eve, but afterwards wished I'd chosen a longer and more upbeat tune because it was just over much too quickly, and a toe-tapping tune would have been funnier (like that snazzy piano tune that Columbo's owner played). And I remember that while we, the contestants, were all standing onstage with our dogs waiting for the applause meter to determine the winner, that "washout" Columbo kept trying to sniff Laddie's butt, and Laddie kept trying to duck behind me to get away from him. Then, before we knew it, they were calling the winner -- and Laddie and I were holding the golden fire hydrant and beaming from ear to ear. I'm sure it helped that I had family and friends in the audience cheering us on. But I also think Laddie performed like the Blue Ribbon champion he always was, and deserved to win. In fact, when my friends and family gathered at my house that night to celebrate New Year's Eve and to watch "The Tonight Show," in real time, we all had a good laugh when Laddie -- who was, of course, the guest of honor -- stood in front of the TV and began to sing along with himself as soon as he heard the harmonica on the TV. Sadly, my sweet Laddie died at the rather young age of nine. He collapsed in the hills chasing a rabbit on a Memorial Day weekend, and though my husband and I rushed him to the Animal Hospital, he died in my arms in the car. Those of you who are dog lovers know that losing a dog is like losing a beloved member of your family. It was one of the saddest days of my life. But I'm happy that he lives on through this RU-vid video. And I'd like to think that he is in doggie heaven, still singing his little heart out.
I came searching for this as I remembered these dogs from 30 some years ago and the basset that had stage fright lol. Dogs sing for a thousand different reasons. Happy, sad, lonely, pain (of course). But how are they suppose to speak? I used to have a mastiff that never shut up lol he just wanted to tell me about his day and what all happened and how he felt about it lol. But most of mine speak - they have found vocalization easier then mind reading lol I fail their messages every time unless they tell me lol
Dogs 'sing' NOT because their ears get hurt........ I had been able to make every dog I kept, sing. All of them needed a musical single-note sound from something like a pitch pipe, to initiate them into 'singing' mood.
32 long years ago. Those dogs, and so many other pets from that time are long gone. But I'm sure they're all running around and having fun in pet heaven! 💕
How I miss you Johnny Carson! You never made the show about you, but about your guests, and you had the utmost tact, and grace. What a decent and classy man you were. Your sense of timing, diplomacy, finesse, and terribly funny skits left me laughing uncontrollably with tears running down. The best there was, and ever will be.
Just for instance, how he have that smile/expression to the piano player when the dog didn't sing.......so friggin funny...he could do it with just a look.
Lass-in-Angeles, Your comment wins the interwebs, good Sir. There was no finer host than Johnny Carson. I am sure he is keeping God entertained in Heaven.
I watched Johnny Carson every night with my mother when I was a teenager and when the show was over that was when we drove to pick my father up from work.Thank you Johnny for bringing me and my mother so close.
For me, it was my grandmother. She never missed Johnny. She used to say, she just "wanted a laugh". That was our time too! :) Thanks for the comment reminding me!
This was so funny, and the dogs were very well-behaved, when they were all together at the end, none of them fought. I think the last contestant, the Basset hound, was overwhelmed by the audience. I love dogs. Mr Johnny Carson, Rest in Peace. Amen.
Great memories of our great generation. I am so blessed that I was born in 1973! I know good the good TV shows of our past and the horrible TV shows (of today).
I miss You and your wonderful shows Johnny Carson You were the best and always will be THE BEST late night HOST... You set the standard for late night talk shows... A CLASS ACT ALWAYS Greatly Missed and Well Loved by ALL ...
@Jean Kennedy No, they weren't mindless fluff!! They were very entertaining, and not forum for cutting down whichever political figure that you choose!! We all have to escape the libtards and Demonrats who yammer 24/7 about how horrible things are, how they're going to indict, impeach, lock up, yadayadayada, and ad infinitum!!! Johnny Carson, wish you were here!!!😏✝️⚜️
Man...Johnny was an absolute MASTER of reacting to his environment in a funny way..even when something goes horribly wrong or not as planned, you can always just look at his reaction and facial expressions and have an awesome time...he's just so charming
Carson set the standard and the bar raised high for late night talk shows. Sadly, none after have even came close to even touching that bar. Thanks for the decades of great memories Mr Carson. ❤️💜💙😀RIP Johnny 🙏 (10/23/1925-1/23/2005)
@@sue2019 Lol - you need to realize that I made my original comment in the midst of the Covid-19 restrictions ... which (as of this comment) remain in place! Are you still shaking hands in a business setting this week??? That would definitely NOT be serving global interests!
I always told my friend's when they wanted to stay out late, " I can't stay. I'm going home, and spend the evening with Johnny ". For the longest time, they thought I had a boyfriend. But, Mr. Carson was it for me!!
In my hometown, more than thirty years ago, there was a guy who played blues harp really well. He had a big black Newfoundland named Perry which howled along improvised Blues harmonies.
I love all of those dogs they all should get first place because they all did soooo good give them a hug and kiss from Samantha and tell them they're so good thank you
Heeeeeeeres Johnny . 1971to 1972 a senior in high school was I. Can honestly remember watching these episodes . Whatta showman and great since of humor. This is why we need live TV again
So adorable. Especially love the sheltie. Reminds me of one I lost due to heart attack, aged 13 years. Love and miss my lucas Eugene. I have his ashes and he will be buried with me.
That was such fun to watch. Columbo (the last dog) had me laughing out loud. He was so adorable and entranced by the crowd. I still watch these shows in the evening on tv. Johnny was the greatest.
Columbo dog is the same kind of dog Columbo had on his show. How appropriate. I love all animals, especially dogs. How I miss the "Tonight Show with Johnny Carson! XO
I'LL NEVER EVER FORGET THE NIGHT WHEN I WAS LIVING IN HOLLYWOOD , I GOT TICKETS TO SEE JOHNNY CARSON ON THE TONIGHT SHOW . IT WAS BACK IN 1979 ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT . MYSELF AND A GAL I MET AT THE APARTMENT COMPLEX IN BURBANK CA WHERE I LIVED WHO WAS THE MANAGER AND ID HOOKED UP WITH HER THE FIRST WEEK I MOVED IN THERE , SHE AND I HAD TO BE DOWN AT THE STUDIO AT 4 AM THEN STAND IN LINE TO GET THE FREE TICKETS SINCE THE SHOW WAS TAPED EARLIER THEN SHOWN LATER OR HOWEVER THE HELL THEY DID IT BACK IN THE LATE 70'S ! ACTOR JAMES WOODS WAS ONE OF THE GUESTS THEN JOHNNY'S INTRODUCED BY ED MCMAN WHO STOOD RIGHT NEXT TO ME SO CLOSE I COULD'VE TOUCHED HIM AND AFTER ED BELLOWS < HERES JOHNNY > , HE BEGAN HIS MONOLOGUE , WHICH WASN'T GOING OVER VERY WELL AT ALL AND HE JUST KEPT RIDDLING OFF ONE FAILED JOKE AFTER ANOTHER , BUT I GOT ONE OF THEM AND UNDERSTOOD IT COMPLETELY , SO I LET OUT A ROAR OF LAUGHTER THAT COULD'VE BEEN HEARD ALL OVER HOLLYWOOD , BUT I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE ENTIRE AUDIENCE THAT WAS LAUGHING AND I MEAN UNCONTROLLABLY !! I'M SITTING RIGHT IN THE FRONT ROW NO LESS THAN 15 FEET FROM JOHNNYS DESK AND HE STIFFENED UP , LOOKED RIGHT AT ME AND SAID , AND I QUOTE , < WELL AT LEAST THAT GUY GOT IT > , AND FINALLY , THAT BROUGHT THE MUCH NEEDED LAUGHTER FROM THE WHOLE AUDIENCE !! SO THAT WAS MY FIRST AND ONLY TIME AS A GUEST ON THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING NONE OTHER THAN THE < ONLY KING OF LATE NIGHT > , JOHNY CARSON !!!!!!! THE END !!!!!!!!!
What a great memory! Thanks for sharing and for being brave in your support while on the show. So many people don't realize that a great time is a participatory thing. You must, as you did, put in energy to get the reward of comedy. I'll bet you're a fun date!
@@derekjustinwien7468 YES AN AMAZING MEMORY I'LL HAVE FOREVER , SA FOR A FUN DATE IN MY PRIME I WAS BUT NOW AT 74 DATING IS NOT IN THE PICTURE ANY MORE . BUT THANX FOR THE COMPLEMENT .
WHAT a great Show to have and who better to HOST BUT the Best Presenter/Comedian/Gentleman, The Icon Johnny Carson in his superb inimitable style! The Dogs were great even if some not Stage happy!! Wish I had been alive to watch all his Shows!! Never to be replaced!!!
Actually, Border Collies are #1 in doggie LA. It takes a lot of doggie brains to know how to herd cows, sheep, or humans-and my Border Collies didn't need any silly instrument to sing! My 3-Tess, her son, JackBNimble, and my Gypsy sang "Jeremiah Was A Bullfrog" together one night!
I remember one of Johnny's shows from just about 1969 or 1970 when he featured a lady who brought on a talking dog. It was some kind of mid-sized breed and when the lady said "I love my mama", the dog would wag its tail and mimmick her. But it came out more like "Rai Ruv Rai Rara" It would do it over and over again. I've never been able to find that episode again.
It was an amazing time the concerns of the day ended exactly at 11:30 moment you heard his music that was it for the day. He put America to sleep that was very true.
The caption states 1987, but Johnny Carson clearly states 1988, and says he was starting out the new year, 1988, with a dog singing contest. He then wishes everyone a Happy New Year at the end of the show. So technically, this show took place in 1988.
@@AlvaSudden . Ok. OUR PRESIDENT has brought soooo many good things to America... most significantly, companies back to the USA, jobs in every category. He's stopped dividing America race relations. Given dollars back to people through tax decrease(s). He's stood up to the world that has sorely taken advantage of us as trading partners. This list is L O N G. suggest u stop watching fake news on CNN, MSNBC, CBS, PBS and reading it in NY Times and WA Post.
@@sue2019 Wish he would bring masks, Ppds and covid test kits to the hospital where i work. Sure hope he leaves the injectable clorox and lysol under his sink and the UV rays in his tanning bed. His blame game is over the top ... he has that mastered fo sho.
+Jason Hough Those dogs are more immortal right now than you or I will ever be. (or at least : "I") I don't foresee myself getting invited to appear on the Tonight Show at any point in the future!!! LOL ~ RED ☮♥♫
Besides tons of compliments on cute dogs and beloved long lost johnny Carson, I must make one comment. How nice to see people coming to TV show dressed nicely and their hair made. Not today's fashion of course, but still, just looking nice and accurate. Comparing how today people come to make an appearance on TV, looking shabby, hair a mess... ugh. Completely lost all sense of style and dignity.
Alla Axelrod exactly! People used to take a little pride in their appearance, especially on national TV. I noticed in the past even in country music how the performers dressed compared to some today. The first time i saw Toby Keith with a raggedy shirt with the sleeves cut out and sweat under his arms soaking his shirt and wearing shredded jeans i about had a come apart. He didnt look shaved, bathed,or even had clean hair. I thought it was tacky and disrespectful to the viewers and fans. I suppose its the era i grew up in.
OMG I use to have those kind of shoes & I had a dress to match... black & white... dang!!! hahaha time flies. Haven't seen my kinda dog yet. My dog happens to howl with his bark & he's a black lab about two years or a bit more... awwww that collie is sweet!!! Woo Hoo Hurray for Johnny Carson putting on such a great show... he's so funny!!!
Loved Johnny Carson. He was a class act indeed. These were back in the good ole days. Before the cellphones and the Internet turned the World into Narcissistic copycats. 🙄......
My foxhound could be in anther room, fast asleep, and would wake up to howl to the opening song in 'Blast From the Past'. He'd start whining before the song even came on and would go into full blown opera mode once it started. He would also howl to the bagpipes in 'The Goon'.
