I get to watch him 5 times a week on cable. When I was a kid and stayed up to watch Johnny, I was always tired the next day. It was always worth it. He really was the king of late night TV.
I was a kid and remember being so disappointed that Steve was leaving early. Then to not only have him come back but to come back in such a hilarious way made my night.
One of the great skits in talk show history. I saw it live and was floored by it. Everyone talked about it the next day. Steve Martin is one of those once in a generation talents and Johnny Carson had a great eye for such talent.
@@ejflor1313 don't know how it is for the guy you asked, but forvme it's freakin' awesome. But I live in a spendy place. The food here is unreal delicious.
Although Steve Martin belted his routine out of the park, credit must be given to Charles Nelson Reilly, for bringing attention to the subject matter, a year earlier: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gZMSHazFXEw.html (skip ahead to the 2-minute mark, for the above link, which is when Charles gets into it)
Yes, Johnny was the best.....and brings so many memories with him. How many of us can remember staying up watching him with one or both of our parents? I do, with my dad. Dad loved Carson and I miss them both very much.
I'm crying my eyes out with laughter. Brilliant. When he said, "I was lying." I lost it. His mockery of the self-important celebrities appearing on the show was on target.
Me too man.. when he cries "I don't have to leave".. I lost it. So was smokin' Johnny in on it? He seemed genuinely surprised at first.. Then picked it right up.. what a talent. Are Fallon's shows this funny yet? I've not caught any since the premier.
Johnny was always brilliant. My mother says that one of the reasons why he was so good was because he didn't need to be the funniest guy in the room. He didn't mind if guests came on that were funnier than him, and he always made room for them to be funny, and nobody was or is better with children.
So many people have no idea how funny Steve Martin was as a stand-up comic. I had all of his albums back then, and could recite them all. Totally hilarious and OUT THERE guy.
Although Steve Martin belted his routine out of the park, credit must be given to Charles Nelson Reilly, for bringing attention to the subject matter, a year earlier: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-gZMSHazFXEw.html (skip ahead to the 2-minute mark, for the above link, which is when Charles gets into it)
Talk about laughing at the sight of him. I don't remember the show, (it must've been late 70s), but he came on this one time, and had a dumb look on his face and the crowd went wild. He went with it and stood there for about 5 minutes without saying a word, and they never stopped laughing.
I saw Steve Martin perform in a San Francisco comedy club in 1974. He wasn't a big star yet but he was so funny he made my cheeks hurt from laughing so hard. He was definitely the best performer of the evening.
Still hilarious. I don't know how Martin holds it together, let alone Johnny. It's such a simple set up, but you need to be a real pro to make it work this good. Sweet memories.
I remember seeing this when it aired. I think it was the hardest I had ever laughed at anything on Tellivision up until that time. :) great memories. Miss you Jonnny.
God, I remember this like it was yesterday and Martin and Carson looked the same as they would 20 years later. How the hell was this 37 years ago?!!! Where did all those years go? Good God Almighty.
@@jpara617 You might be surprised what Trump has time to watch. What else does he have to do? We already know from Trump's past tweets - how he chooses to communicate his thoughts(?) with the world - that all 3 of the late night talk show hosts have gotten under his skin. Take care.
@@bobjohnson205 Not saying people don't get under his skin, but he's gotten quite alot accomplished in his tenure whether you love him or hate him. To me that doesn't reflect someone who has time to watch boring late night show hosts. Most of the comments on this video reflect how dumb and political these show hosts have gotten. Jay Leno was the last classic in my opinion that could make fun of everyone equally, without being divisive and dishonest
"I once asked Steve, I said, 'Steve, what would you be doing if you weren't a legendary comedic actor?'' He said, 'Probably what you're doing, you know.''" -- Martin Short
Martin Short once told a story where Steve Martin called him on the phone one day in March 1988. The conversation went like this: Steve: Hey Marty, did you hear Divine (the transvestite actor) recently passed away? Marty: Yeah, I think I did hear something about that. Steve: Don't get me wrong, I feel really bad for Divine, his-her family and all that, but you know, that's just more work for us now. Martin Short said it was one of the funniest things he ever heard and an example of why he's always thought Steve Martin is the funniest humorist around.
Steve insulted Marty by saying Marty's not legendary, which was in good fun because Marty is one of Steve's best friends, and Marty has been enormously successful, and Steve even more successful than that.
Just the absurdity of it. That what they do/did and what Divine did were somehow the same thing, and that the most important aspect of some one death was something completely banal like getting more work. Most of Martin's best humor is just absurd humor. He did a lot of social commentary, but some times he just put on a funny nose and played the banjo.
This country started going downhill when Johnny retired, simply the best, thank God I am old enough to have seen him and know what he did, everyone watched his monologue, maybe not the whole show but you always stayed up after the news to watch his monologue…and Steve Martin, what else can you say, just a brilliant guy!
I saw this when it first aired and I remember laughing so hard I lost my breath. What great timing between Steve and Johnny. Later on the show Anthony Quinn did have to leave, but then came back out crying just like Steve and I was on the floor! Too bad they couldn't show both clips.
See Johnny Carson never had to pretend to laugh like Jimmy Fallon, he just knew the right time to laugh and the right time not to. He paced himself.He didn't just laugh for the sake of it.
And Carson had guests that weren't there just to pitch their latest project. People who were just raconteurs...had good stories or something interesting to say. Would Fallon have the Potato Chip Lady on? Letterman would have in the day - but then he became a bitter old man.
Classic... anybody who remembers the big shots who had to leave can appreciate this bit...Steve was showing the ridiculousness of the people who "had to leave"!!! You mean you couldn't stay for Carson? WTF????
John Boran In the old days any celeb who was Invited on Tonight Show would stay to the end and contribute , it was like a party but later the egos got bigger and bigger and ruined The party ,
Johnny had no clue you can tell he was just as amused and surprised as the audience. I remember how funny Steve was back in the 80s I was a child but he was a funny comedian with a different approach to comedy.
@@richiewalker0114 perhaps you're correct, that was my initial perspective especially knowing today how much everything is set up and inauthentic I'm sure nothing is new under the sun. I just remembered hearing Johnny liked things to be spontaneous but he also did plan his bits from a documentary I saw.
I agree. Jett has a point. You could add Bob Newhart, Jonathan Winters and on and on but Steve broke a lot of new ground when it came to comedian fame.
Okay, I'll defend Evan on this one. I get what you say about Newhart, Winters, Prior, Carlin and company. But, I think what Evan is referring to is the "rock star" status that Steve Martin achieved. While all the others are/were absolute greats, it was Martin who drew crowds over 10,000 like "rock stars." I'll easily say at his peak during a 3-4 years period, Steve Martin performed before more people (live audience) then all those other great comedians mentioned combined over the span of the entire careers. I read years ago during a period of only a few years (from late 70's to early 80's, Steve Martin did over a hundred shows in huge arenas averaging 8,000-10,000 people. Do the math. We're talking a good one million people. That's not counting the hundreds of smaller venues he did of around a thousand people. The other great comedians would have killed to get that kind of gross. Like Evan said..."rock star" status.
In 1978 I saw Steve Martin in my home town. He performed his stand-up comedy act to a packed house of about 10,000. He was the hottest thing going at that time. As for Newhart, Pryor, Carlin, Sandler, etc., it all depends on what generation you're from, your taste in comedy, and other variables. They were all great in their own way.
classic...cant believe johnny is gone....some of these greats were so alive..so full of energy...its hard to believe that they are gone from this place...RIP JC
Oh my god, that was so funny ! That is so true. All the big time celebrities always have some where to go - or so they say. Steve Martin has no where to go. That is so funny.
All Late Night is is trump bashing, whether or not one likes the president is immaterial. Either way it's not entertaining or funny or cute or informative or whatever else they are thinking it maybe.
Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Will Ferrell do the "to the edge" comedy that Steve Martin and Albert Brooks used to do. This kind of comedy exists today, in lots of places. But Steve was the best.
I love Steve Martin, Robin Williams may be gone, but at least we still have Steve Martin, it will be a sad day when we don't anymore. His brand of humour is always so gentle. He prefers not to attack or make fun of anyone else. A sweet man.
Inlove WithOceans thanks to film we will always have Robin Williams sadly nothing new but we will always have what's archived just watched Patch Adams the other night pure classic.
Out of the prematurely dead comedians, I miss Phil Hartman the most, but yes, Williams death was horrible and very sad, and I don't want to lose the brilliant Steve Martin either. I never thought about how gentle his humor is, but you're right; good on you for pointing it out!
After rewatching this I noticed how perfect the timing was for both Steve Martin and Johnny. The great comics know when to talk and when to let the applause go and Martin does this perfectly. Also one of the many reasons Carson was the best is he knew when to talk and when to let his guests do the performance and never tried to upstage them (unless it was absolutely necessary)
Carson didn't try and "top" Martin. Watch how he leans back and lets him go. That's a confidence his mentor Jack Benny had. Let talented people bring up the whole show. I like Jimmy and others, but they have trouble knowing when to relax and let the guest lead...
That is exactly why I will never forgive conan for speaking for 80% of the gordon ramsay and norm macdonald cooking bit. Jesus fucking christ that broke my heart
That's why I can't watch talk shows anymore. No one is like Carson. It's a different generation. All about me. Every single TV show tries too hard except The Orville. That's just brilliant.
How many nights did I stay up until 1:00 a.m. watching his show -- probably twelve years, and then just for the monologues. Thanks, Johnny, for the laughs . . . and for the memories.
I just came across this video for the first time last week and have watched it numerous times. This is too funny. My new favorite RU-vid video by far. And I know it's a little late (about 38 years), but Steve Martin you are awesome!
This clip should be much longer to show one of the best sight gags ever, and also to show the REAL "punch line" to Steve Martin's cry-baby return to the show. First, Steve Martin comes out after his initial introduction wearing two tiny brown paper bags (penny bags) taped beneath his eyes. Johnny and the audience laugh, but as Steve sits there, Johnny plays it straight and asks, "So Steve, how are you?" Steve replies, "Well, Johnny, people tell me I have bags under my eyes . . . ", to which everyone cracks up and Steve gives us one of his faux-laughs and takes the bags off, and the (very funny) interview ensues. Then, after they return from commercial (after Steve has returned as in this video), Johnny interviews Anthony Quinn (as mentioned in at least one of the comments below). At the conclusion of the interview, maybe 8-10 minutes later, Quinn actually DOES have to go, and he leaves to great applause. As Johnny is beginning his introduction of his next guest, Quinn comes back on stage, crying like Steve was, and also saying "I don't have to go!", repeating Steve's schtick perfectly. Johnny and the audience crack up, of course, but Steve Martin is literally rolling on the floor. One of the best "one-up-manships" ever, coming a good 12-13 minutes (including commercials) after Steve's prank, and all the more hilarious as it was improvised by one of the best "serious" actors in Hollywood.
As I recall that show, the punchline came later when the next guest, actor Anthony Quinn, after a brief interview, excused himself for his own pressing engagement. Even though EVERYONE knew what was coming, it was still hilarious when he too came back and cried that he didn't really have to go anywhere either.
I'mAFemale,Age45-54 Might be because we're about the same age? You know, saw the same things on TV, the movies, and heard a lot of the same music. And we obviously loved Johnny!
Our church is setup to have multiple congregations share a building, and their schedules slightly overlap so it all work out ok. Then there are multiple buildings doing likewise nearby. The organization level one step up has individuals who serve in roles where they need to hit multiple congregations the same day briefly to conduct business in each - so that individual will be the 1st on the agenda so they can leave one to catch others... every time that happens and the person leaves from the rostrum I think of this skit (which I saw live)... I've busted up laughing before and had people looking very oddly at me for it.... ;)
I was on that Tonight Show that night. Steve Martin was really on that night. Him and I really struck up a great relationship. We've remained lifelong friends.
There was nothing that could compare to the Johnny Carson show . No matter how many time's I'd say "I'm going to bed early tonite" I'd Always wind up watching the Johnny Carson show. Really miss him and sell the memories he brings. Good night Johnny.y
Thanks, Jay Goldstein, for reminding us about the next part. Yes younguns, we were programmed to think all the "bigshots" had to leave, and, by that time, it was only on special occasions that "bigshots" would stick around. This was really, in my estimation, a slam on the growing number of "bigshots," because in reality, there wasn't anything bigger than being a guest on the Tonight Show at that time.
I remember one of his Carson appearances he comes out and just leaps into his most frantic bits. Then you see it's a Steve Martin impersonator because out from the curtains hops the real Steve, tied and gagged, trying to stop the performance. Great, funny moment.
Saw this show when it was first aired - dayum, I'm OLD - and it was funny then, and it's still funny now. Folks were talented back then and someone like Johnny can never be replaced. Good ol'Days indeed.
