Reading the Steve Martin autobio book "Born Standing Up" right now and had to see this performance based on his story about it. He said this particular performance was the one that really put him over. He'd been on the show plenty of times previous and had plenty of gigs doing comedy leading up to this, but people actually started recognizing him after this performance. He described the camera cutting over to Johnny laughing as being a big part of what made this moment work in his favor. And of course having the lovable Sammy Davis come over for the hug was an amazing endorsement as well.
Steve Martin might have put himself on "the map" with his 1974 performance on the Tonight Show. Or, maybe he was already on the map. I just think that his sincerity, enthusiasm, and energy help his reputation as a growing star in stand-up. The humor was really good material and his presentation spoke volumes.
@@nickbrew3071 Well it was painted perfectly because he most probably saw this RU-vid video while writing the book lol ... It's not like 50 years ago anymore where you had to recollect past events from memory
I memorized the entire Let's Get Small album and I would perform parts of it for other people just to see what kind of reaction I would get. People would tell me, man you should be on tv. You're pretty good. They had no idea I was doing Steve Martin.
I really do think that Steve Martin was the best stand-up comedian ever. That might sound a bit much taking into consideration Eddie Murphy (his facial expressions), Jerry Seinfelds writing ability and maybe a few others. Yes. My vote goes to Steve Martin. His movies are classy too. Father of the Bride I & II and Parenthood for example. Don't forget the movie "The Jerk". Classic. (And all of those lines that he said at the gas station. Like, "he hates these cans".)
I am late but agreed! I know lots of other comedians get love too, but if I had to look for timelessness - it takes well, time-Steve is a legend and perfect. I’ve said this on like 5 things now lol
Actually, that wasn't always the case: At first, it took Johnny a long time to allow Steve on the show, because he thought his act wasn't sophisticated enough (for the lack of a better word).
@@VEGANSAM no it's even worse, he specifically asked Steve Martin off of the show after his antics like smashing an egg on his head and he was relegated to only appearing with guest hosts until the producers told Johnny, Steve had been a smash, this is his first show back.
I always tell people that - his ability to play multiple instruments, solid actor, good impressionist, of course - great dancer and singer. People who say MJ are flat out wrong.
I don't agree with you but I loved Sammy Davis he was one of the rat-pack and everyone loved him he was a gamical genius 2 and the thing is it wasn't that he tried he was just funny in his nature I believe he was a very loving caring human being Steve Martin was just a wild and crazy guy okay it was a little before that and I remember when Steve first started out I wasn't too sure that he could handle being in front of a camera but he proved me wrong I think his best performances were in movies and I think Sammy Davis's best performances were on the stage that's it for now
Steve looking over at Johnny over the pay: a masterpiece. And the audience loved it too! Watch Kennedy Center's tribute to Steve @ The Mark Twain Award. A great collection to honor the wit and humor of the man.
@@Joe26003 Yes, he was looking at Sammy... At the beginning of the video, we it wasn't apparent that Sammy was in the room at all, so I thought he was looking at Johnny, but clearly, he was making a reference to Sammy making lots of money in LV. What a shock to see Sammy break into the screen from the left at that end!
Going back and forth as to whether it was intended for Johnny or Sammy. It was obviously a joke, so I suspect it was aimed at Johnny, whereas if it were intended for Sammy, I don't think it would have been a joke.
This is actually only the last half of this iconic performance - the first 5 minutes ( Banjo Ramblin', My Real Name, Hot Dog Jokes, Questions and Answers, etc ) has been cut.
It's been so long since I read the book that I forgot that part! And I never looked up this video before, so thank you for making that connection. OMG and hearing "Frank Sinatra [gibberish] personal friend of mine" and not realizing until he walks into frame to hug Martin that Sammy Davis Jr. was RIGHT THERE… dude. What a moment! I gotta go back and read that book again…
Yeah the book brought me here. The cutout to Johnny laughing hysterically made him think he finally made it. Especially after being downgraded prior to that to only appear with guest hosts
I was 17 in 1974. I remember when Steve Martin hit it big. His thing was the white suit, tie, and clean shaven face. That might not seem unusual today, but this was at the end of the hippie era where comedians had long hair, beards, jeans, and did political humor. Martin's style was antithetical to that, and it caught on with a new post-hippie generation who was tired of war, riots, Watergate ... etc. They wanted to just laugh and enjoy life for a change.
You're right, Steve took on his iconic look in the post-hippie 70s intentionally...what's interesting about that is that he was very much into the whole hippie free love culture of the 60s before he became super famous. He had the long hair, the beard, the lifestyle, everything.
@@brucesmith1544 he specifically mentions the charles manson murders and drug overdoses as a reason that he shaved his hippie beard and changed his style, which was full blown hippie before then. However you're right, he did say in his biography that the white suit started as a way for the bigger audiences to see him
Oh my goodness! I have known Steve Martin only from some comedies (I'm not American, obviously). And suddenly this! Whole different universe for me! :o)) I love it!
His stand up makes you respect him so much more than some of his movies.. I feel like in the three amigos he was pretty much just doing some of his old bits
I think Sammy was acknowledging how Steve was literally making fun of him and his Vegas pack lol, the irony that he’s was also a guest and it was in Steve’s routine, when he looks over at Sammy 💜
this is like comedic deconstruction as it is happening. This must have been kind of shocking back in the day when he did this. It's like he is doing comedy while wondering out loud if comedy is even funny or worth doing. I just can't help but think this is genius.
It wasn't shocking, just very funny. We loved Carlin, Klein, Pryor, etc. Firesign Theatre, Monty Python and the Committee were what we really liked and before that Lenny Bruce. and the Goons.
Totally, it may be a touch cliche now, but, what people don't realize, it's Steve who started the cliche - he's a genius, and Johnny sat ringside next to the best, he damn well knew of what he spoke.
Martin was so 'on' for the 5 odd minutes the lighting crew turned the overhead lights off over Johnny's desk because he was overwhelmed with Martin's off the wall humor that he got out of his chair, I've never seen that..Robert at 67.
Think of all the crap Sammy had to deal with. He couldn't even go in the front door of half the places he performed in. I can't stand Frank Sinatra but he wouldn't put up with the bigotry those places showed. Basically he said, "Treat the guy with respect or forget about having me as a performer" or something along those lines. At least that is what I have read, several places.
Stephen Glenn Martin, más conocido como Steve Martin (Waco, Texas, 14 de agosto de 1945), es un actor, comediante, escritor, productor, músico y cantante estadounidense.
