Carl Sagan on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson (full interview, March 2nd 1978)

Carl Sagan interviewed on The Tonight show in 1978. He discusses Star Wars, the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence, and more.

[@davesoverthere]

Carl Sagan was like the Mr. Rogers of science: he managed to explain things in a way that everyone could understand, but he somehow did it without talking down to anyone. I love that.

[@bphlatsax75]

That's why I like Dr. Neil Degrasse Tyson! He makes science understandable and fun! Dr. Sagan was a mentor to him.

[@LordZontar]

You'll find that the best scientists and teachers have that same ability to take the most complex subjects and explain them so elegantly that they are easily understandable, and they make you feel they're inviting you to share the secrets of the universe with them in the process. J. Robert Oppenheimer had that same ability which is how he was able to get along so well with Gen. Leslie Groves during the Manhattan Project. Richard Feynman could also make the complex comprehensible.

[@roeland195]

@@bphlatsax75 Yeah but for some reason NDT has an air of arrogance to him. None of which i see in carl Sagan. NDT is still a cool guy but wish he would tone it down a bit sometimes.

[@KenOtwell]

Mr. Rogers targeted 2 to 3 year olds with intelligent conversations. Carl Sagan targeted adults.

[@KenOtwell]

@@bphlatsax75 I used to like Tyson, but unfortunately it's all gone to his head.

[@robert4you]

Carl Sagan was 43 here. He died in 1996, only 62 years old. Far too early...

[@MultiBikerboy1]

robert4you exactly well said, if he was still around he would be able to see ‘To the Stars Academy’ how he would be amazed to have been proven wrong.

[@paulmichaelfreedman8334]

Yeah another one of the giants to succumb to cancer. Rick Feynman preceded him in 1988.

[@handhdhd6522]

Wish feynman was alive longer too, would have loved to meet them both

[@bastianrivero]

He left his mark though 😁

[@MultiBikerboy1]

Bastian Rivero yeah he certainly did....shame he was wrong about alien contact as the TTSA shows...but hey ya can’t be right about everything.

[@46metube]

"We are at a very dangerous moment in our history." Look where we are now Carl. Much missed, great educator.

[@hwoods01]

rigged elections by the people Carl supported. A fool.

[@karlakor]

This interview was void of laughs for its full duration of about fifteen minutes, and Johnny Carson kept it on that high level throughout. He had the integrity to pursue a serious subject on late night television and to give his audience credit for having the intelligence to appreciate it. I cannot imagine Jimmy Fallon having a serious discussion with the likes of Carl Sagan without bursting out in schoolboy giggles.

[@LordZontar]

Johnny Carson was a serious amateur astronomer (there is even an asteroid he discovered that is named for him) and even when he parodied Carl Sagan in a Tonight Show skit he made absolutely certain to get the science right. Sagan was one of Carson's most favourite guests and he had him on the show multiple times, along with other intellectual heavyweights like Capt. (later RAdm) Grace Hopper, the U.S. Navy computer pioneer.

[@Maddolis]

Yeah I'm really enjoying going back and watching interviews from before my time. Cavett and Carson had some phenomenal guests. KZbin can be a wonderful resource at times!

[@iwannaseenow1]

colbert loves science. unfortunately, we rarely get this length of uninterrupted discussion, so nothing really gets too deep.

[@jimg5669]

@@LordZontar ... Not a fan of Dave but for his enthusiasm for amateur/backyard astronomy. And I won't dismiss all current late night hosts as some might either. But I do hold Johnny in high regard for that rare trait... being a generous host. Carl was a favorite I'm sure, but for any... read what you can, ask what you need, and make them feel welcome and appreciated. Many do it... few truly excell at it. When you love the job... it ain't hardly like work at all. 😄 Miss you Johnny.

[@pedrocorrreia8581]

Carl sagan: we can now take pictures of the other planets Fallon:(slaps table laughing) maaaannn that's like so cool haha haha

[@daithiobroin]

There is something deeply satisfying about listening to Carl Sagan speak... we are lucky he lived in a time we could record video, and don't have to rely on just books for his wisdom.

[@thomastuohy829]

Just books?

[@lutaayam]

I don't like reading his books, because I would rather listen to them in his voice.

[@AngelLestat2]

Carl sagan speak to us, we can not speak to him :) Light years away separate us from this genius.

[@erivsquz1021]

Agreed

[@paulmichaelfreedman8334]

Chew(ie) on this: Carl Sagan is only one who can get away with dissing Star Wars!

[@nickzee7723]

I love Carl Sagan for his brilliance and I love Johnny Carson for his humanistic and friendly approach to topics outside his comfort zone.

[@robertcaldwell910]

Hi Nick See! You are right in the overall view, Johnny had that gift with just about anybody. Johnny, however, was an amateur astronomer, which greatly helped with his relatively astute questions to Carl, who also handled things smoothly...like in quick fashion talking about the Law of the Inverse Square. Thanks, Nick See, for the great observation here!

[@Obamafan6861]

Johnny was curious about everything, and did not suffer fools. He buried Uri Gellar.

[@TheFaithfulAtheist]

Johnny was a very well read man. I dont know that I would call this 'outside his comfort zone' necessarily. That said, you are still correct about him.

[@endokrin7897]

Thank God Johnny was intelligent; he could hold a conversation with Carl Sagan. Obviously they had time constraints, but I would LOVE to see Carl Sagan interviewed for an hour, 2 hours, ALL DAY by someone who is smart, but not a physicist. Someone who has questions, but can keep the conversation moving. And, gosh, Carl Sagan had a great way of breaking things down for normal people to understand... but not DUMBING them down! I love his voice.

[@robertpsotka3525]

excellent

[@dr.lairdwhitehillsfunwitha67]

When he was my advisor, he wasnt famous. He was amazing.

[@AmanExplorerBoy]

Please tell more about your experiences sir

[@dr.lairdwhitehillsfunwitha67]

He was kind. Just like on tv. But to everyone he spoke to. Including me. At the time, it was his kindness I valued most. And of course, everything he said was brilliant and original. In everyday conversation. I took me 50 years to risk being myself on KZbin, without worrying that I was no Carl Sagan. See my channel.

[@MultiBikerboy1]

Dr. Laird Whitehill's Fun with Astronomy Channel shame he is not around to see ‘To the Stars Academy’ he would be amazed....life’s so cruel.

[@janaprocella8268]

How blessed you were to have known him.!

[@igunashiodesu]

@@dr.lairdwhitehillsfunwitha67 I've had the opportunity of meeting various peoples in important positions. What I've found, is that those who are truly great don't like self-indulgence and are among the kindest peoples I have met. Most others are just egomaniacal charlatans who have been great at PR.

[@kaymarham5486]

Carl Sagan was so ahead of his time... and ours.

[@28Pluto]

No, he was NOT ahead of his time. He was exactly of his time. Scientists have been trying to convey these messages for decades. Global warming has been known since the 70s. But since politics rule the world, they get ignored.

[@Tessmage_Tessera]

@Peanut Buzzard Childish.

[@bigbruiser5713]

'Carl Segan' was a CIA hamactor larper who also played VP 'Walter Mondale'

[@Tessmage_Tessera]

@@bigbruiser5713 Do you also believe in mermaids and unicorns?

[@loganwilbur5131]

@@bigbruiser5713 you are the worst (assuming you're serious) 🙄

[@TheWaxworker]

Carl Sagan calls out racism in Star Wars years before this even became a thing. Sagan was truly an insightful man even for his time.

[@IsaacAsimov1992]

Yes, I noted that too. The great Isaac Asimov said he'd only met two people smarter than him: Marvin Minsky and Carl Sagan.

[@conniestone6251]

1978 was HUGE time for calling out civil rights and inequality! You need to do some research about those years :) look up some of David Bowie's interviews when he came to USA! Or just listen to 3/4 of the music and art...

[@miltonsmith974]

Sagan called out racism "years before this became a thing?" Are you serious? Confronting the problem of racism far, far predated this show. Racism was being "called out" by influential voices long before this show aired in 1978. The Civil Rights Movement didn't begin with Carl Sagan, it began in this country with people like Rosa Parks, Bayard Rustin, Martin L. King Jr., Dorothy Height, Et al. In reality, challenging racism has been a "thing" for as long as mankind has walked the earth.

[@IsaacAsimov1992]

@@miltonsmith974 True. But I'd be pretty sure that Kevin was referring to the more recent period of mass communications, beginning around 500 years ago with print and then moving onto radio, television and now internet.

[@Zeklore]

“Racism”

[@Incognito-vc9wj]

Such intelligent discourse is not allowed on television today.

[@theonlymonkeymagic]

Sad, but so true.. :-(

[@josephmango4628]

No truer words were ever said.

[@ericwidder2954]

I read that in carls voice.

[@rickgano75]

Neal deGrasse Tyson ably fills Sagan's shoes.

[@cybertron50]

Provided Jimmy Fallon gets time from his carpool karaoke gigs !!

[@jd.3493]

This is 42 years old and still fascinating!

[@HardRockMiner]

I was 10 and listening to Carl made me sit in amazement... Now I'm 53 and I am still amazed listening to Carl.

[@amycrunch3812]

Thinking both inside and outside the box.

[@jameswalker5223]

Your math doesn't add up

[@HardRockMiner]

@@jameswalker5223 - I was born in 68. This was from 78. It's not exactly trigonometry...

[@AustinRogers1]

I am amazed at God!

[@DavidLindes]

12:33 - "people who are dead convey their wisdom to us"... to Carl, it was Socrates. 41 years later, Carl does so to me here today. He's missed! Gone but not forgotten.

[@russellcampbell9198]

Well said.

[@dabprod4962]

Yep.

[@d.s.2016]

Interesting. I don't miss Socrates. But I do miss Carl.

[@jschapp77]

Pale blue dot. Best speech ever.

[@ispartacus1337]

Really amazing. I realized the significance of what he said but I didnt realize the relevance. Hes doing exactly that to me as well right now. Thank you for pointing that out.

[@pikkuadi]

LMFAO even Carl was wondering why the wookie wasn't given a medal!

[@erictaylor5462]

All those Black heroes in WWII wondered the same thing. Much the same reason I guess. Fucking racism.

[@dirkm1920]

Chewie indeed gets a medal in the novel.

[@The22on]

@@erictaylor5462 Where would you pin a medal on a Wookie?

[@masonhamlin8239]

It was plainly stated after the movie came out, chewy didn’t have a medal on because he was too tall for leia to put it around his neck. You know, because with all that advanced knowledge, they hadn’t invented the step stool yet.

[@theemailaddy]

@@The22on It wasn't pinned, but on a sash much like Olympic medals, put over your head.

[@KevinMurphy0403]

Carl Sagan was so ahead of his time, so ahead of everyone else. He seems even advanced now watching this in 2019. RIP Carl, a true inspiration. He speaks to the human soul more than any priest or rabbi ever could.

[@manofiske3318]

Sagan is , actually, quite narrow-minded in his thinking.

[@jasquer]

@@manofiske3318 I think the rest of your comment got lost or something. Please retype it, because now it's just an empty statement.

[@racebannon5523]

@@jasquer I would guess that Mano's mind has been stunted by religion.

[@Saitanen]

​@@manofiske3318 Actually, that's, like, your opinion, good sir, it does carry little substance. Have a lovely day.

[@maxdicklim9786]

For you that’s an accurate statement but your anti religious sentiment and hatred is not needed lol. There are plenty of people out there that don’t agree with your statement so speak for yourself and not others lol. At least Sagan never said anything directly disrespectful to people of different faiths lol

[@markyounger1240]

Even though this was many years before Carl wrote "contact" you can see the script in his head already. The prime numbers and old TV transmissions.

[@JoseGarcia-sm2yq]

That's true. Contact always was in his mind.

[@S3SSioN_Solaris]

Indeed. A Visionary and a man of Action.

[@kennethmarshall306]

Yes. That's what I was thinking.

[@zapfanzapfan]

From what I've read he and Ann started writing the movie script in 1979 when one of his friends went into the movie business and apparently he and Francis Ford Coppola had talked about it around 1975 so I'm sure a lot of the ideas were already formed. It was only when the movie didn't seem to go anywhere that it was turned into a novel instead.

[@davidhutchinson5233]

You are missed Professor Sagan.

[@thomaspick4123]

David Hutchinson They are both dead. Sagan was an atheist. Johnny allowed woman on his show if they slept with hm.

[@1115asmara]

Very much missed. We are lucky we lived in his time. Much respect professor Sagan.

[@joey22306]

@Jesus is Dog : hehe

[@S3SSioN_Solaris]

@Jesus is Dog : good game. well played.

[@johntechwriter]

I miss his optimism.

[@karkinissan]

That interview is super smart. He doesn't act dumb like most hosts on TV right now.

[@shrapnel77]

Carson was pure class and the best. He studied Astronomy and was fascinated by it. He loved having Sagan on the show and did impressions of him.

[@karkinissan]

Wow. That's amazing. No wonder he knew so many right questions to ask. I'm now sad I never got to see his show as it was airing.

[@jamesriley4364]

Nissan Karki that’s Carson. A legend

[@ceciliateixeira5195]

too smart for that, get it

[@user-yl4lf9mh1w]

This was before america was sold off to the rich.

[@wk845]

This interview highlights Johnny Carson’s intellect. He asked great questions and understood the answers.

[@maggs131]

Carl sagan was such a treasure. He had an eloquent way of explaining complicated concepts. Johnny asked what's the value in detecting a signal if correspondence takes fifty or a hundred years. Carl perfectly responded by saying our ancestors from hundreds of years ago speak to us and impart their wisdom.

[@spencerallbritton9459]

His comments about Star Wars were hilarious but spot on. "Everybody running the Galaxy looked like us." lol.

[@James-cb7nb]

Thought about captain Antilles but then realized the prequels weren't out by then

[@youferrer]

Lucas stated that he first wanted it to look all like alien life forms and no humans but they felt it would be too cartoonish and wouldn't sell.

[@drgonzo7806]

Star Trek had the same dilemma

[@ScottyColoradoKid]

He basically calls Lucas a racist!! I love it!

[@dpol4at]

Speak for your self. Or are your caught back in 1978? We know aliens are gray now and we know they come in any color size.

[@thankyouforyourcompliance7386]

That evening the average IQ of the people at the Johnny Carson show doubled.

[@ThisHandleFeatureIsStupid]

I, uh...I don't think that's how IQs work. 🤔

[@Piaseczno1]

@@ThisHandleFeatureIsStupid True, but I think I understand the point she's attempting to convey.

[@Jinka1950]

You are so right. Here’s a person who makes learning fascinating and exciting and intriguing. I’m so happy he was here on this planet.

[@gokurocks9]

@@ThisHandleFeatureIsStupid Carl made people feel smart and newly aware of something they once weren't before, as if you are learning with him.

[@markmcgowan5656]

The earth is flat and there isn’t anything but stars, angel’s and Yahweh up there.

[@sinethembanogaga9532]

I just time travelled to 1978!! This man was a gift to humanity. None like him

[@accnt22]

This is 15 minutes of pure class. A classy interviewer in Carson and a classy guest in Sagan.

[@fumingriley]

Carl was so cool, I sure do miss him.

[@EdWeibe]

indeed.

[@vijayshreenivos9417]

I only realised such a great man existed 10 years back in his evergreen video title COSMOS. deeply missisng him

[@ceciliateixeira5195]

will always be

[@bobcoughlan929]

Anyone who hasn’t already done so, should read Carl’s book called Contact, and watch the movie based on the book. That is how sci-fi is done.

[@magicalgold010]

All scientists 🥼 that smoke 💨 pot are super cool

[@2199SPUDMAN]

Props to Johnny for doing his homework, for asking intelligent questions, and for not going for cheap laughs at Sagan's expense. I wish we had billions and billions of dollars to fund space exploration. We miss you Dr. Sagan...thanks for all you taught us!!!

[@lakecountynaturalist7617]

Johnny was an amateur astronomer.

[@-danR]

@@lakecountynaturalist7617 He also had a minor in physics (1949) at University of Nebraska.

[@ImaginerImagines]

I miss this guy so much. He was a powerful communicator and overall was a great human being.

[@Bobahat]

"We are in the process of inadvertently altering our climate [through] exhaustion of fossil fuels." - Carl Sagan, 1978

[@mandala314]

THANK YOU

[@AnexoRialto]

I studied what was called the green house effect from CO2, now global warming, in 1974 in High School. Obsolutely insane that this is controversial in 2020.

[@jeschinstad]

@lRaziel1: There's no danger that our atmosphere won't be breathable to us. For us, the heat and the effects of the heat, is the problem. For aquatic life, it's different, since the oceans absorb CO2 makes the water acidic. We must get the CO2 emissions down, but we can easily handle the temperature issues, so I think we'll be good.

[@danceswithcritters]

@@jeschinstad We can handle the temps. but not the breakdown in the food chain .

[@jeschinstad]

@@danceswithcritters: Heat causes a breakdown in the food chain. Steak is made from grass, you know. That's literally the food chain. But people are already dying from heat every year. Here in Oslo, we hardly get any snow anymore, because it's just slightly warmer, causing new snow to melt, which allows the ground to absorb heat from the sun, which causes the snow to melt. Very small changes can have very significant results. We're in the vacuum of space, so it's very difficult for us to get rid of heat. Otherwise our planet would've been stone cold billions of years ago. No, we can't handle temperatures, but obviously, they'll cause global wars long before they kill us directly.

[@jasonluckett2263]

Johnny Carson seemed quite intelligent compared to today's talk show host. I'm sure some of the hosts are quite smart today, but the shows are dumbed down for mass consumption.

[@shrapnel77]

Carson was the #1 show for many years, so it appealed to mass consumption as well. Today, shows are dumbed down because most people do not like intelligent, thought provoking conversation. It scares them.

[@whoiscodyblood]

@@shrapnel77 i think they are suffering from catastrophe exhaustion... too bad shit just keeps on hitting the fan.

[@PC4USE1]

Carson had his own telescope and was an interested amateur.I guess those Nebraska nights away from the big city gave him a view of the night sky that we city boys didn't get. The night sky in the country blew my mind as a kid when on vacation.

[@Alex_1729]

@@shrapnel77 Why do you think such conversations scare people?

[@PC4USE1]

@@ago3241 Out of all the Late Night Hosts,Conan is the best as long as he doesn't stray into the political realm. Fallon is a talented singer and mimic but not a great wit. Colbert was never to my taste nor was Kimmel. Conan is very clever.

[@realitycheck5383]

carl has that voice that could read you a book before bedtime, just like morgan freeman, and just make you relax and fall asleep. you are missed, sir.

[@zapfanzapfan]

I have used the series Cosmos for that purpose on occasion. He has such a soothing voice :-)

[@echoecho3108]

@@zapfanzapfan Yes, his voice is soothing, but what he says so fascinating to me, that I'd be up all night, just listening, and learning.

[@MrEdwardCollins]

I could listen to Carl Sagan all day long. He left us too soon. Carl, thanks for the memories.

[@wer1ther]

both are brilliant in their own right. We missed them so much. World is not as happy a place without them.

[@anotherboredgenius283]

"socrates talks to us - we don't talk to socrates..." my thought of the day.

[@NessieAndrew]

wow wow, insane

[@conniestone6251]

and that statement made perfect sense.... explaining a difficult to imagine phenomena; That is the MAGIC of Carl!

[@thienle743]

How awesome it would be to have a chat with Carl Sagan

[@yangerjamir0906]

@turin turamba, I'll be so in awe that I'll be left speechless and just be a goofball.

[@inkyguy]

anotherbored genius, sometimes the obvious sounds the most profound. Said well, “the sky is blue” works equally well.

[@Pumpkinking64]

This brings me indescribable joy.

[@ADEehrh]

And sadness

[@The22on]

I agree with both of you - joy and sadness. Carson was almost part of my family growing up. He was on our TV almost every week night. And Carl Sagan inspired me with his talk of our big universe with billions and billions of stars lol. His TV show COSMOS was wonderful. I still remember his episode on THE COSMIC CALENDAR where the entire history of our universe is put on a one year calendar. Jan 1 is the big bang. dec 31 is now. Did you know that humans only appeared about 10 minutes before midnight on December 31?

[@keekwai2]

Indescribable? You need to build up your vocabulary.

[@garryheywood1]

Carl Sagan was an intellectual GIANT, I could listen to him for hours and hours and still there would be a multitude of things left for him to say that would fascinate me

[@HoonAgain]

I could listen to Carl speak every day. Thankful he was recorded. However, imagine him today when he’d have a super popular podcast. RIP Carl

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

Sagan's comments could be said today and he'd still be dead-on contemporary. Carson was a voracious reader and could keep up with his intellectual superiors while still remaining light and grounded for the average audience. Here we have two masters at work, and yes, a lot of us miss this.

[@steveblixt9437]

Luckily, today we have Stephen Colbert who absolutely loves Neil Degrasse Tyson.

[@mellownuance]

Respect for this gentleman Carl Sagan! What a man, the command over language, the eloquence, the style ...

[@johntechwriter]

The positive attitude, his personal warmth and optimism for humanity . . .

[@evolve101]

@@johntechwriter Yes! He invokes much respect. Very good human qualities.

[@policyfirst4399]

Carl Sagan correctly focused on the true threats to mankind even back then. His intelligence was scintillating.

[@carlsagan2561]

As someone born way after this aired, I'm really appreciative that this was recorded and is so easily accessible. Two greats having a conversation.

[@carlsagan2561]

Haha, just realized I posted co-incidentally on my Carl Sagan named account.

[@ryanpowell9847]

"Impoverished grad students"... over 40 years later, somethings never change!

[@DAFIZZIF]

Way too much hasn't. Carl would be ashamed, yet reticently hopeful in the current world I think.

[@davidm374]

‘The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr

[@panchorodriguez7246]

"...over 40 years later, some things never change!"

[@gokurocks9]

Dr. Sagan was a real one

[@csilt]

It's amazing how much info was dropped between them in a short 15 minute clip that I'm not sure would happen today.

[@adamwuksta3255]

So true, these days the presenters spend their time looking for quick audience laughs rather than taking the opportunity to genuinely interact with such wise people

[@spacekitt.n]

Johnny was such a good host--you literally forget he's there, because he perfectly frames all of his guests without distracting from them, and pulls up the slack only when it's needed. He looks straight into their eyes while he's interviewing them and really listens. Now every host has to have their own personality and try to out-funny all their guests. I was too young to see these when they aired but I can see why everyone loved him. RIP Johnny

[@stephencorbett2862]

Carl always made the difficult sound understandable,comprehensible and interesting to the layman. A unique person.

[@MrSevillian]

My life changed when my daddy brought the book COSMOS to home. Thanks dad. Thanks Prof. Sagan wherever you are.

[@giacomore]

The movie covered only the first story, Eli's travels and the politics involved but stopped short of the most profound part of the book where the (say, God's) "signature" is found in irrational numbers which is the real climax of the book. I wasn't surprised. Theatre audiences would have gone "what?". The idea would be hard to convey.

[@chriswaters926]

Mino Re do you mean Contact ?

[@dusanninic9572]

You are my brother! But, my father is a military man, and J discoverd Carl Sagan by myself. The Cosmos is the best book in my home library. Sagan, Tesla, Einstein, Feynman, Darwin, Mozart, Tolstoy and Ghandi. All my idols...

[@jeschinstad]

@@chriswaters926: The magnificent documentary TV series The Cosmos, was actually based on a book by the same title.

[@conniestone6251]

My HERO!! I cried and cried when he died... and most everyone thought that I was bonkers :'(

[@allenrussell1947]

Me too. A childhood hero. I watched COSMOS with my dad and it changed my life. So brilliant. I openly wept when I heard he had died.

[@Stevenowski]

Jesus Christ is my hero. Carl now believes in Him too.

[@allenrussell1947]

@@Stevenowski good for you.

[@allenrussell1947]

@DECLAN DOUGAN nope

[@Ziggyziggy1]

As you can tell, People haven't got time to reply to your meaningless comment, Unfortunately for me, I couldn't resist!

[@justgivemethetruth]

Thanks for posting this. Carl Sagan is still a huge hero of mine and the book they mentioned "Dragons Of Eden" was wonderful. He looks so youthful and vibrant here, it just make me feel sad he is no longer with us.

[@2fast2block]

Carl was a dumbass who believed the creation of the universe happened without God. Since you think he was a hero of yours, explain how we got creation without God.

[@littlechickeyhudak]

8:10 look at the genuine interest that Johnny shows here. It's fascinating how enthralling Carl Sagan's thoughts and words were. He provoked such deep thought and was able to provide such a firm understanding of broad topics and continues to do so even now through videos like this and his books and tv series. Incredible.

[@SardarBhaiForever]

thank you johnny for not dumbing down the conversation to get a few cheap laughs as is the wont of today's hosts.

[@LordZontar]

Johnny Carson was a serious amateur astronomer (there is even an asteroid he discovered that is named for him) and even when he parodied Carl Sagan in a Tonight Show skit he made absolutely certain to get the science right. Sagan was one of Carson's most favourite guests and he had him on the show multiple times, along with other intellectual heavyweights like Capt. (later RAdm) Grace Hopper, the U.S. Navy computer pioneer.

[@jayneneewing2369]

The cheapest laugh of all imho was Jimmy Fallon (from SNL) asked to, and then tousled tRump’s hair. Never watched him, not even a short clip, to this very day. Ugh. Can you imagine him sitting with Carl Sagan? Not in a billion lightyears.

[@pilsnrimgaard2507]

I used to LOVE Cosmos. "Billions and Billions of stars"...I never knew Carl Sagan had such a great sense of humor

[@larrylindgren9484]

Carl has said many time he never said that.

[@Gyrfalcon312]

​@@larrylindgren9484 Until he wrote it in his final book, _Billions and Billions_ . Lol. It was funny, how we wrote it there.

[@ProcyonAlpha]

Could listen to his voice forever.

[@rustycalvera977]

Sagan was simply the best...With no ego issues, no one made more sense of existence and communicated it better than he.

[@bluecollarguy67]

Gosh, how I miss hearing from and seeing this man! America is drowning in a sea of uneducated, arrogant, selfish, highly politicized talking heads who don't have a damn thing to say.

[@willnill7946]

Scott Salmins i would say that Carol Sagon represents that arrogant and highly politicized character you speak of

[@ozymandias1192]

will Nill In what way?

[@chrismofer]

@@willnill7946 who is Carol Sagan?

[@louiseclaridge8405]

How true.

[@laertesindeed]

@ScottS You just precisely described every major news network.

[@atticusfinch8652]

Sheer class, both Carl in his field, and Johnny in his. A lesson to today’s world not to take the dumb down route that seems to be the default now.

[@d.e.b.b5788]

When our leaders behave as morons, the truth is not the truth, don't believe what you see and hear, the news has become entertainment, not relying on facts, newscasters make shit up (Brian Williams) and keep their jobs, people with doctorates (more than one, but I refer to Ronald Lewis as the best known example) found to have plagerized their doctoral dissertation with no ramifications, what can you expect? a TV media that is almost always nonsense.

[@Atombender]

Carson was smart and polite enough not to interrupt this brilliant man. That's when great interviews happen.

[@2fast2block]

Carl was a dumbass who believed the creation of the universe happened without God. Since you think he was brilliant, explain how we got creation without God.

[@turdakuntashbolotov5244]

Sometimes I feel sorry for people like Carl Sagan who lived ahead of their time, when for others it took 30-50 years to start understanding what he was talking about.

[@ross302ci]

I get that feeling too, but I also think that having these people who think so ahead is a necessary part of helping us move forward. But it does kill me that we don't get to hear his takes on current technology and its impact on human experience.

[@inertiaforce7846]

This man was brilliant. His influence lives on far after his life.

[@steveblixt9437]

Luckily we have his reincarnation in the student he mentored, Neil Degrasse Tyson.

[@inertiaforce7846]

@@steveblixt9437 Carl Sagan was better overall than Neil Tyson in my opinion. But Neil is still good.

[@chriso3780]

Carl Sagans Cosmos is the true bible of the earth and beyond. . This was a truly great man. . RIP

[@dusanninic9572]

"Cosmos" is the best book J've read in my life.

[@Stevenowski]

@@dusanninic9572 Try the Holy Bible for the REAL truth.

[@chocktaebolanca757]

Stevenowski why are you watching this than?

[@roder51]

@@Stevenowski Yes because talking snakes, walking on water, virgin births and water turning into wine just makes so much more sense. F**KING IDIOT!

[@masudraja5979]

I can hear his voice for eternity

[@StephiSensei26]

Moments like this are a treasure. And when they are eventually received, by some intergalactic antenna, we may not be perceived as such a hopeless specie to the receiver, as we might have otherwise.. Thank you Carl Sagan.

[@rcbennett6592]

Sagan's "Cosmos" series was the first time I remember getting together with friends living apart to watch a TV show. He was the perfect scientist to be on Carson and communicate effectively to the public like any other person would, like he did on his show.

[@CloneShockTrooper]

We need more people like Carl Sagan.. Man is he missed!

[@michelangelobuonarroti916]

We still have Neil deGrasse Tyson.

[@MrLockitintight]

Don't worry, we have many Carl Sagan's now

[@moviesenthil]

Lovely how the discussion is so riveting that everybody is drawn into it completely. So much value in such a short time. Wish we had more shows like this.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

Does anyone miss Carl right now? I surely do.

[@xSpiralHorn]

Man I wish we had made contact with aliens in his lifetime just so he could have met them.

[@LordofMovies91]

*Carl gets facehugged...gives birth to the most intelligent Xenomorph ever, even smarter than the Gremlin in GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH

[@stanmonzon5788]

hollow what if they’d been malevolent and had committed vile, sadistic acts on Sagan? Why are you assuming they’d be nice?

[@keekwai2]

And HOW would he have "MET" them.

[@charlesmiddleton402]

Aliens,yet to be proven as existing, yes it make sense they are out there,but really,if they existed wouldn't someone know about it?

[@paperEATER101]

it was another ten years almost before that fateful day they landed

[@shrapnel77]

You could always see the unbridled joy in Carson when Sagan came on and today... god how I hate the 21st century.

[@The22on]

Cool comment! Such honesty. i don't know if I agree about the 21st century - I gotta think about it. But I do know that I had a very happy childhood. I didn't worry about anything but getting good grades in school and playing my guitar. My parents had to worry about the bills, making a living, etc. I know some people had crappy childhoods, but not me, praise Zeus. i grew up in the sixties which was a Golden Age for art, music, etc. Who knows how much more time is mine to enjoy? I feel like time is catching up, like a dog nipping at my heels. Every now and then I feel some teeth, but fortunately, no bleeding yet. I've done everything I wanted on this planet, so I don't feel cheated. I woulda loved an invitation to the Playboy Mansion lol. (ok - forget the "lol". I really woulda love an invite!) What do I still want to do? I'd like to write a book like Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park). i'd like to write a music score for a commercially released movie. And, most of all, when I die, I hope it's not long or painful (sorry to end this post on a downer, but you're being honest, so I will be honest also).

[@j.jasonwentworth723]

Shrapnel77, I agree, but I'd rather be here than *not* be here in the 21st century. In my lifetime (I'm 52), I have seen personal and societal standards of all kinds decline. I simply pursue excellence, hew to the old tried-and-true rules of basic decency and fairness, study the past, and encourage others (especially young people--I've been pleasantly surprised to meet many who feel strong preference for the way most things [not the racial and sexual equality problems, of course] were when I was young) who also feel like time travelers from the past who are stranded in our current times. By comporting ourselves according to the old ways, we will attract others who find the degraded mores of today repellent and off-putting. 1966 was, on the whole, a better year than 2019!

[@The22on]

@@j.jasonwentworth723 In 1966 I was 18 years old and in college. For me, it was a magical time. Girls, drugs, parties, fun, music - I wish lol. Most of the time I studied. I learned to be an engineer and you can't fake your way through physics exams. But i was happy enough. And the world was mine. My future was so bright -I gotta wear shades! to quote the song. I had enough money to buy a good new or used car every three or four years. It was a good time. I had a health issue that slowed me down (chronic throat infection). I would not choose to live my life all over again - once was/is enough. I wish i could believe the religion bullshit. As an engineer I was trained to think logically. I need evidence, testing, experiments, etc. - some form of proof. I can't just snap my fingers and believe something. Others can. I can't, not now, not ever.

[@erikbakker1531]

@@j.jasonwentworth723 I love your answer. Excellence, common fairness, decency. We were made to strive and endure. And we were made to be morally ambitious, to see ourselves as our own highest value, and to understand that, like all of our values, it has to be earned. We must, by our own effort, acquire the values of character that make our lifes worth sustaining. But the first precondition of such an achieved self-esteem is that radiant eagerness in us. An eagerness which desires the best in all things, in values of matter and spirit, while seeking above all else the achievement of moral perfection. We ought to value nothing higher than ourselves. The proof of such an achievement is our shudder of contempt and rebellion against the role of being a sacrificial animal, against the vile impertinence of any creed or behaviour that proposes to immolate the irreplaceable value which is our consciousness and the incomparable glory which is our existence to blind evasions and the stagnant decay of those who think otherwise. In the process we indeed become a shining light for others. Strive for excellence, justice, and common decency, and one lives well. It is not how long we live, it is how noble we live. Take care.

[@satchito]

What a titanic presence, mind and intellect. We miss you more than ever in 2020 Dr. Sagan.

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

This man gave us the golden records "message in the bottle" for the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecrafts and also their explaining protective plagues that went along them into space. Thanks to him there will be always something left of Mankind should we blow up this piece of solar driftwood that we call "Earth". Thank you Carl.

[@PedroAmA]

He also had the Idea 💡 of the Seti

[@danacoleman4007]

What kind of plagues did he send into space?

[@AFMMarcelD]

Two icons gone but not forgotten, their legacy ensures their immortality, this was when TV was fun to watch.

[@iminthemomentru3003]

Johnny must love talking to Segan because he was on for 16 min and is so truely interested!

[@jackiehopson8334]

In 15 minutes this man brought light to so many important issues that have been ignored. Remember this when you vote we have politicians in office today that were in office the night this aired and probably watched it and ignored it

[@vardellsfolly5200]

''If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe".

[@benjamincrom7276]

We sure could use a Carl Sagan in this day and age. What a brilliant man, I've loved reading his books.

[@robertcaldwell910]

Wow, you too??? Carl's books are AMAZING! Benjamin, do you also find that one can read his books over and over, learning something EACH time??? Now granted, I am no professional scientist, having done math in the past, otherwise relatively passive in science. Carl's explanations can reach just about anybody, but it pays to take one's time and absorb the RICH information he provides. Thank you, Benjamin, for your great insight !

[@steveblixt9437]

We have his student/protege, Neil Degrasse Tyson.

[@romulus_]

@@steveblixt9437 he's good but a parsec away from being sagan. and I say this as someone under 40 who didn't experience sagan in his prime.

[@diskoeric2248]

We do. Joe Rogan and Donald Trump

[@JmSantos78]

I just realized I was 1 month old when this aired. "Thank god" for the internet!

[@swapnilkumarsingh1521]

😃

[@natura808]

João Santos can you imagine how old you were when Socrates was writing his first work?

[@roder51]

Nope. Science.

[@JmSantos78]

@@roder51 That's why I used the quotes.

[@JmSantos78]

@@natura808 lol. I was so young I didn't exist yet. 😁

[@coultonharmon2266]

He has such a badass voice and personality

[@adamwuksta3255]

What enjoyable man to listen to speak, would be fantastic to be able to spend time listening and speaking with him. He comes across as not only scientifically brilliant but also just a genuinely nice person

[@2fast2block]

Carl was a dumbass who believed the creation of the universe happened without God. Since you think he was brilliant, explain how we got creation without God.

[@seankirby7055]

I love how Carl grabbed his book off the desk at the end after the dude poured a bump on his hand and snorted it. Uncle Carl ain't got time for that bullshit.

[@sephrinx4958]

What the fuck

[@colinferguson7400]

holy shit how did this moment make it on tv

[@11Sparky111]

It was probably just tobacco snuff i really doubt he'd be doing coke live on tv.

[@gothicel]

Pretty sure that guy was Ed McMahon, Johnny's announcer.

[@TheBear9000]

That comment had me dying homie lmao

[@CMDRRustyDog]

He's fascinating. I can listen to Carl Sagan all day.

[@ThalesF75]

Wow. Carl Sagan. What a man and a mind! THANK YOU for posting this!

[@ArnoldvanKampen]

He wrote the novel 'contact'. Did not realise. The one with Jodie Foster. I was very impressed with the movie.

[@dr.lairdwhitehillsfunwitha67]

He had a way of explaining things.

[@mellow5123]

So miss Carl. And even Johnny.

[@tnh723]

I jumped out of my couch to say THANK YOU CARL for standing up for the Wookie!

[@mandala314]

Who else is here from Dad's Life playlist? It's after the Act II Finale Sagan saying how Star Wars wrongly had humans in another galaxy makes sense, Kepler-22b is in our galaxy. But everything Carl Sagan says in this video could apply, to Andan's life

[@chriscallous1602]

One of the most captivating communicators of our time.... HAIL SAGAN!!

[@jeffreywillis9313]

Carl Sagan..brillant and amazing man.

[@michaelrch]

Sagan was worrying about climate change decades ago and yet we have a big chunk of the population who deny that it's happening even now 🤦‍♂️ He might be right that we actually don't make it out of our adolescence as a species 😢

[@jeschinstad]

Science has been worried about climate change since the 1800s. A lot of people were championing the idea of going for solar power before WW1, but then WW1, so... It's so unfair that we have to suffer through this when we could've had so much time.

[@Vingul]

@@jeschinstad ække sikker på at vi lider først og fremst takket være klimaet.

[@rebellucy5610]

The problem with the climate change debate today is the same people that got rich from fossil fuels are the biggest people to profit from the climate change agenda.

[@michaelrch]

Rebel Lucy How do you work that out?

[@rebellucy5610]

@@michaelrch look into who are the biggest players in the Climate change agenda. From Prince Charles to Klaus Schwabb to Central Banks to the UN. All extremely wealthy people who all held fossil fuel investments over the years. Now they want to tax YOUR carbon use. Wake up!

[@vilstef6988]

Carl said we're at a dangerous point in human history. It's even more dangerous today.

[@mTOXiicg]

how right you were 9 months ago when you made this comment

[@vilstef6988]

@@mTOXiicg Not a difficult conclusion when things are imploding all around.

[@DiRtYLaWs2007]

Even Carl thought the Wookiee deserved a medal.

[@HardRockMiner]

This was the golden age of television. I didn't know it at the time, but looking back from where I am now, I realize that television today is complete shit. My spare time is spent on KZbin watching 30 or 40 year old TV shows.

[@arthurfonzarelli9828]

Start using streaming channels like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu and many more. This is by FAR best time of for tv as there are dozens of new shows, documentaries coming out every week. Not even enough time to watch them all. Way better when then when you had just few options and most of the "programming" back then had an agenda too.

[@arthurfonzarelli9828]

Even podcasting nowadays is like this and is 100x better than these old interviews cause of all the commercials and fear of tv networks not only much to be said

[@HardRockMiner]

@@arthurfonzarelli9828 - If you don't like them why are you here watching? Seems very stupid.

[@arthurfonzarelli9828]

@@HardRockMiner I never said I didn't like them. I just said there's way more options and it's way better today it's not even close just because of the options. You can pick just about any subject you want that interests you nowadays and find loads of information from podcasts to documentaries. I just can't believe someone saying was better when there's so much awesome info today At your fingertips. I was watching this because I'm interested in science and Carl Sagan even years later is still someone we can learn from but overall the information nowadays that's out there is the best we've ever been privy too and that will only continue thru time

[@TitoTimTravels]

You can look at the YT stats and they show that the older demographic spends most of its viewing time on old tv & movies. I fit that demographic ha ha. The shows back then were of a much higher quality than most today. Even with the numerous channels we have, most of the channels are crap. Also, the Tonight Show dies with Johnnie. Leno and Fallon are talentless hacks, Conan did not have it long enough to know if he would be good or not.

[@plantpowered269]

I have recently discovered this amazing human being, I am watching his great documentary "Cosmos", and I feel a profound loss and sorrow that he is no longer among us. 😥. RIP. Hope, we will not let him down.

[@khamzatchimaev1009]

We are made of star stuff -CARL SAGAN ❤

[@Lagmire]

Nothing says that it’s the 70’s more than buddy doing blow during the end credits of a tv show @ 15:20

[@seanb88888888]

And Johnny watching having a ciggie

[@inkyguy]

Lagmire,cocaine really took off in the 80s. The 70s was more pot, LSD and pills.

[@jeschinstad]

@@inkyguy: You're wrong. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocaine_in_the_United_States#1970s_and_1980s. However, I think the guy used a tobacco snuff thing that was popular for a while.

[@philosopher0076]

That was Ed McMahon, the co-host stiff of Johnnie's for years who did nothing but say, " Heeeeere's Johnny! " and then collect a very fat paycheck for decades. "

[@josephneuwirth]

I was looking to see if anyone else was gonna comment on this

[@tikitavi7120]

Loved watching Carson, life has been just a little emptier since his show ended.

[@koru9780]

Wow wow wow ! So many memories. Thank you for this blast from the past. Hearing Carl and Johnny reciting 'There was a young woman from Bright' was outstanding!

[@OjoCritico_]

Carl Sagan = Timeless knowledge

[@blisteryworm]

Replace him with Kim Kardashian talking about her 100k pedicure and that would be 2019.

[@scotte4765]

Nobody had to wait that long. At the end of the clip Carson announced that the next night's show would feature Shirley MacLaine, famed at the time for popularizing reincarnation, past life channeling, and other pseudoscience bunk.

[@Dydy-kv3yx]

If only we could go back!

[@evolutionhasevidenceopinio5234]

Wow that went from intelligent, interesting, informative, worthwhile and refreshing. To vapid & useLESS in a nanosecond.

[@maxodgaard1335]

We do have Neil De Grasse Tyson, he is doing quite fine.....

[@gclintonpfunk2806]

Because we have no intelligent people today. /sarcasm

[@changofett77]

Thank you Carl for teaching us, the common men to look at the stars to see ourselves.

[@RobCLynch]

I'm so glad I discovered Carl Sagan.

[@danielb.m1075]

Carl Sagan was... I have no words to describe him. A superior man. I think I have seen and read all his 'opus' infinite times. Carl was not an usual smart man, was else something superior, he was able to teach us astronomy through poethics