Ironworks Gaming Forum - Goodbye, Johnny

Quote:

Originally posted by VulcanRider:
RIP Johnny. One of the funniest comedians on TV, and IIRC never used profanity.

Funniest thing I ever saw on his show (actually on a "best of JC" anniversary show) was the ax-throwing demo. They put up a piece of wood with a man outlined on it, and the guy throwing the ax stuck it in the target's crotch. Johnny's expression & body language had me ROFLMAO...

A lot of people claim to have seen an exchange between Johnny & Zsa Zsa Gabor, but Snopes says it didn't happen. Supposedly she was on the show and brought her persian cat & had it in her lap. She asked him "Would you like to pet my pu...?" and he said "Sure -- just as soon as you move that damn cat."

<font color=plum>Actually, that little exchange DID take place, but Robert Blake was the guest host (this was when his show Baretta was still on TV) and the guest was Raquel Welch. Blake was obviously drunk and - needless to say - it was his last time serving as guest host.

The exchange that DID take place between Zsa Zsa and Johnny was about their many former spouses. Johnny had been married several times, but the topic of his ex-wives was strict taboo. NO guests were allowed to mention it at all. Well, Zsa Zsa had the same reputation of having a large number of EX-husbands and that was usually the main topic discussed when she was on a talk show. So Johnny campily asked her about her ex-husbands and it apparantly hacked Ms Gabor off, so she purred back "And how are your ex-wives?" According the story I read, they cut to commercial and Zsa Zsa was gone when they came back.

And I agree the ax-throwing incident is probably the funniest clip I ever saw from any of his shows. Johnny was laughing so hard he was literally crying. The fellow throwing the axes was a Native American actor that (IIRC) starred on the Daniel Boone TV series from the 60's.

Another memorable clip from his "Best of" shows was when he had a stuntman as a guest. The stuntman told how many of his stunts were done and actually talked Johnny into trying the "falling" stunt for himself. They set a scaffold up on stage with the platform around 20-30ft high (can't remember exactly). Then they set up huge pads on stage for them to fall into (no airbag). The stuntman went first to show Johnny how it was done. You could tell that Johnny was scared out of his wits, and he almost backed out a couple of times. When he finally did jump, he came very close to missing the pads. He landed right on the edge and actually slid off them onto the stage. I have a feeling that he had to run backstage for a change of underwear during the next commercial break. But give the man his due, he DID overcome his fear and jumped off the platform, which is something a LOT of hosts would never THINK of doing. But that was what made Johnny so successful - the fact that he WOULD try stuff like that to see it from the guests perspective.

Johnny Carson had a serious reputation in Hollywood. If anybody crossed him, he did have the power and leverage to have them blacklisted - and he apparantly used this power on several occasions. His show was also considered an absolute "must do" for aspiring young actors, actresses, and comedians. Carson could quite literally make or break careers - depending on the mood he was in.

Still, he was an icon and a very talented comedian and talk show host. I think all other late night hosts will always be measured against the standard he set.

It's sad to hear of his passing. May he truly Rest in Peace.</font>