Johnny Carson with some help from Tommy Newsom , Ross Tompkins, Ed and Fred - Feb 20, 1986.

[@jime6688]

Tommy was so naturally funny without even trying. He was awesome.

[@diamonddog13]

These videos are a bit of a revelation to me. I was not a regular viewer of the Tonight Show by any means, but in the 80's and early 90's I did tune in fairly frequently and I don't recall ever seeing Fred on camera. So it's a pleasure to come across these gems.

[@M231231]

Saw on here couple days ago when Johnny had Fred as a guest. And Fred was 77 years old then.

[@daveluttinen2547]

Tommy Newsome could get a platinum CD from his one-liners and comedic commentary. What a delightful man he was. Johnny was pure class: he gave every person respect even when he was having an off day. His goal was to provide entertainment - and it did not have to be him carrying the water. I pray they all RIP and am grateful for their gifts to us.

[@muffs55mercury61]

I wish such a CD was issued. I'd buy one !

[@TL2354]

Newsom

[@bigern32480]

Just hearing Ed laughing in the background sells it

[@mattygates1]

Love watching the band crack up when Tommy has a comeback.

[@tlava66]

Just can't get enough of this. God bless them. True entertainment

[@cats0182]

Tommy Newson was a funny man AND a fine musician.

[@mikewrasman5103]

Tommy Newsom was SO deadpan!

[@singergal57]

I always loved Tommy. So funny, humble and yet a brilliant musician and arranger.

[@bigsnyder01]

The wit and sarcasm of a big band musician is unparalleled when it comes to one-liners.

[@Yesterday5656]

Always loved it when he got upstaged by his staff!

[@princeharming8963]

Johnny did too.

[@charleswinokoor6023]

“Now we can do that and I’ll drink a glass of water at the same time.” Great quip by Tommy!

[@stephenwoehr6500]

And Tommy used to be so quiet and reserved.

[@charleswinokoor6023]

Stephen Woehr That was the key to his wit. He didn’t yell or shout. He just delivered deadpan zingers that were clever and funny as hell. And he had a slightly naughty boy sense of humor.

[@hankkingsley2976]

I go to clinics

[@MemphisTiger]

Nobody could die on stage better than Johnny! Honestly...nights he was dying on stage, many times, were the funniest bits!

[@gordonowens7794]

When Johnny said "I'm getting the big bucks and he's getting all the laughs". I wish Tommy would have said "Wanna switch".

[@muffs55mercury61]

LOL. That would have been a great response !!

[@jonkline709]

I’m almost 70 remember growing up no matter how bad my day was I look forward to 11:30 for Johnny Carson. Now it’s gone what’s on now their all just smucks.

[@Palootski]

God I miss the good old days when night time talk shows were FUNNY !!!!

[@lobo7792]

There will ever be another nite entertainer as great as Mr. Carson. NEVER.

[@mikewrasman5103]

Tommy Newsom was so deadpan! Newsom was an excellent musician and music arranger.

[@muffs55mercury61]

To this day I don't know what it was with Tommy but his simple answers and remarks made me laughing to no end as well as the audience.

[@craigjgomez]

It was his deadpan delivery that made anything he said very funny.

[@muffs55mercury61]

@@craigjgomez Tommy sure knew how to do it ! They could compile a whole dvd of it and it would make anyone's gut hurt from the laughing.

[@rtmairose7945]

He could have guest hosted. 😅

[@dennistucker9081]

It’s called dead-pan delivery and can be very effective! ✅

[@dennistucker9081]

@@craigjgomezYou got it!

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Off nights were On for Johnny, and he had such a great crew that they would make sure that every night was On.

[@stevenj9970]

A masterclass in comedy.......Carson, like Jack Benny, KNEW sometimes its the silence or the frozen face if even for only a few seconds that will get the laugh.......

[@rongiorgio8414]

When Tommy died and got to heaven, it was probably exactly like the first bit of this video. "Hello Thomas.."

[@Senorzilchnzero]

This is a great great monologue!

[@johnx6664]

The best Carson monologues were when he bombed and he would attempt to save it by doing the soft-shoe dance, or making K-Mart announcements into the boom microphone, or just all sorts of ad libs. They were always the funniest. The band and the others always played along.

[@newjeffersonian6456]

A lot of times on the show Tommy Newsom would make a comment or gesture that would go by so quick it was hardly noticeable but was absolutely hilarious.

[@charleswinokoor6023]

Tommy Newsom appeared laidback, but he had a quick wit. And he was bit of a smart ass, but I mean that in the best possible way. He was lovable and funny, and that’s pretty rare.

[@TL2354]

Newsom

[@charleswinokoor6023]

@@TL2354Thanks. I just fixed it.

[@RTF666]

Tommy Newsom was amazing when he replaced Doc. The right wit and foil to Carson.

[@johnsjohnson448]

Tommy Newsom was always a Scream! LOL. A talented musician and equally hilarious and terrific side-kick.

[@supercruiser4925]

That was bloody brilliant.

[@lelandfranklin3487]

He was always best when things weren't working....

[@sweetitis]

A lost and bygone era , when late night talk shows not only funny uplifting and entertaining but consistently as well for decades

[@michaelnelson1128]

The best to ever do late night 🌙!!!!!!!

[@lfilikozis]

Prince Charles wouldn't know he would have to wait for another 36 years

[@canyoubelievethis220]

Look at Johnny at 2:09 move his head when Ed says "get a drink". Too funny, too funny!

[@victorm1559]

Those were great times to live in LA

[@pronemanoldbutyoung5548]

However The Tonight Show could be seen across the whole of USA

[@mikehughes4969]

Oh, boy, did we ever realize just how good we had it in those days?

[@Shawkdogger]

Johnny was just pure gold!

[@thewolfdoctor761]

Back in an era where half the country didn't hate the other half. I loved the 80s.

[@BudSchnelker]

Also back in the era when the ruling class didn't hate half the country.

[@metaparcel]

Oh they did but there was no social media to amplify it more. Believe me the hatred today is built on the generational hate passed on from the past. Today social media allows you to have more clan like thinking and allows you to hate or love people much more vocally. When the telephone was invented and subsequently made affordable I bet gossip shot through the roof and I can assure you half the country hated the other half then. Technology just uncovers and amplifies what was already there. It may make it worse but the roots of animosity were already firmly planted.

[@thewolfdoctor761]

@@metaparcel Yes, the roots were planted, but the outward hate rarely raised it head.

[@MuzixMaker]

They did, but no one took it personally

[@thewolfdoctor761]

@@MuzixMaker Maybe your half did, but my half did not.

[@1223baddad]

Being a plumber in Chicago, I'd like to find that story. Tommy made for some hilarious moments.

[@63bplumb]

I'm a Plumber in Spokane. Did you find the story. Even more importantly did you get the ladies address?? Just KIDDING!

[@1223baddad]

@@63bplumb Haven't looked yet. When I find it I'll share it. Think I heard that story years ago.

[@scottjtube]

50k..... in 1986 dollars 😲

[@jeromecondon]

@@63bplumb loop

[@jonkline709]

After watching Johnny again he was just great all these clowns today are just smucks

[@OriginalPappy]

I loved it when Tommy subbed in for Doc

[@DrVonNostrand]

More Carson bombing! Even when he fails he's still King!

[@lewisc215]

Seek help.

[@nagantm441]

@@lewisc215 why does he need help

[@tonystone1016]

The writers would put a dud joke in occasionally to give Johnny a chance to use his improv skills and do some audience work. Johnny was a master at improv.

[@DrVonNostrand]

@@tonystone1016 this is fake news

[@willardlockejr2965]

Forever RIP Tommy " Mr. Excitement" Newsom.

[@lsrlsr7524]

Jonny always the true professional. The King of late night for all time . He will never be de- throned .

[@thomasmartin7425]

History repeats. The plumber joke and the senate declaring a fraud election could have applied easily to recent UD history.

[@MrNobody2828]

Ed needed a drink so he went to Granada...good one Ed!

[@lightningbrigade4722]

Even when Johnny Carson bombs he is still funny. God I miss him.

[@juniorjohnson9509]

Carson was one of the few comedians who could get you to laugh at his reaction to laying an egg. Absolute master at his craft.

[@garymcaleer6112]

Johnny was truly "The King of Late Night." Ole Tommy was told by a music professor years ago to give up music. We know how that worked out! 30 years performing and arranging in the Tonight Show band while that professor pined away in his little monastery.

[@buckhorncortez]

And you know that the professor "pined away"...? You're sure of that...?

[@garymcaleer6112]

@@buckhorncortez Yes, BC. Sidney Forrest was his name. He was a clarinet professor at the Peabody Conservatory where I studied violin/composition. When Tommy auditioned for Sidney, he was told that music was not his talent in life and should give up his desire in music. But Tommy loved music and turned the negative into a positive. Hence, the result. Tommy was nationally renowned while Sidney "pined away." He's not the only charlatan in music education. I could hold you for an hour, bro! :^) Hope all is well there. I'm doing OK.

[@mikewrasman5103]

And Prince Charles is still waiting to get on the British throne!

[@terryelliott3183]

"I'm dyin', you guys are hits!"

[@OriginalCoastalDistancing]

If only shows were still like this, instead of foolish, ignorant, political crapola they are today.

[@tlava66]

Tommy Newsom was just incredibly funny. Simple

[@leoaguirre2261]

Johnny was funny even when he thought he wasn't. So much talent.

[@psadelachute363]

0:45 - Johnny, which one would you rather have: The 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣 or the 💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵 🤔 🙏🏼RIP🙏🏼 Mr. Carson, thanks for the laughter 😢👍🏽

[@unassuminggentleman]

Seem to remember an exchange between Johnny and Tommy asking Tommy where he got his brown jacket similar to what Johnny was wearing - Tommy slays with "...in my closet at home..." Can't find that video...

[@dhpbear2]

There are several shows where Tommy would switch jackets with Ross. They both appeared in two-tone suits!

[@MuzixMaker]

I just saw that on KZbin a couple days ago. Search for Tommy Newsome.

[@stevenj9970]

Even more than the great Carson, I miss the BIG BANDS for late night 'talk' shows.....

[@RickJasonObrero11]

It's nice hearing Carson make fun of our dictator. :))

[@BlueSky-eb7ru]

At the time I did not like Tommy , I didn't understand his humor . All these years later I get it , Tommy is hilarious

[@bostonrailfan2427]

you know your monologue bombed when your biggest laugh was a poop joke…

[@renorailfanning5465]

Johnny's jokes were pretty good in this video.

[@tunderbar04]

Goes political amd gets booed. How I miss those days when the audience weren't idiots.

[@BeautifuLakesStreamsBiologists]

As Johnny often said.. "that was good stuff" .... except that it didn't come from Johnny!

[@Ron-d2s]

All those breakfast tacos down there...

[@anthonymariani3793]

Johnny was at his best when he bombed.

[@regalsurvivor3418]

Was TV really this good before? Wow. It makes everything from today seem like garbage for your brain.

[@bneale]

Back in the day when the host of the Tonight Show was the boss and lord help anyone who got more laughs than the boss.

[@NPCSingularity]

Conan is about the only late night host that can bomb in a monologue and keep it going. When NBC screwed him over and got Leno back, they shot themselves in the foot. Jimmy Fallon doesn’t even come close to this.

[@mikehughes4969]

Yeah, Conan definitely belongs on the Mount Rushmore of late night, alongside Johnny, David Letterman and Craig Ferguson.

[@classicentertainment2416]

David Perkins is Santa Claus, doesn't need a costume 😂

[@spuwho]

Prince Charles finally found his throne......37 years later!

[@marvinthiessen3454]

It's always comical watching Johnny slowly die during a failed monologue with a fickle audience.

[@jeffrose5622]

36 years later Queen Elizabeth will STILL NOT DIE!!!

[@aaronpeterson835]

these people never missed a beat and if they ever did what difference did it make?...

[@mikelp72]

Man that show was funny.

[@michaelbrooks1458]

Carson did late night non bias it's funnier than bias and HONEST which is why it's funnier HONESTY it does the body good

[@billie0429]

What is great about JC is he is not trying so hard to be funny, he is not afraid to embrace the jokes that would bomb, current late nights is so bad at this, they will laugh at their own jokes just to look and sound funny

[@mikewysko2268]

That was a fun day.

[@decafmocha211]

The gold standard

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

John William Carson 23 de octubre de 1925 23 de enero de 2005 98 años 79 años 19 años 🎙️🎙️📺📺🎭🎭🎤🎤🎥🎥

[@jefftappan3091]

See? Tommy's no fool.

[@tjstrong3607]

2020-- DOC HAS COVID, WERE ALL GONNA DIE...………..

[@stevenbatke2447]

Hitler still doesn’t get laughs....🤣🤣

[@pipesmoker4238]

Hopefully never will.....

[@adamtyson1257]

Some of the best moments were with Tommy and Doc

[@voiceguy3635]

Quick wit is right--and Carson usually laughed out loud at what Newsom said.

[@iflarnted]

Are you from Texas? NO.

[@wolfgangresch1650]

😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆

[@mikewrasman5103]

Hitler doesn't deserve jokes.

[@roballen8431]

The motherfucker is dead.hating him doesn t change anything.glad it makes you feel virtuous to say that

[@TMB247]

Covid Flu...

[@RK-ob4xq]

Carson must have had a hearing problem because he often misheard what band members said to him