Johnny Steals Letterman’s Truck and Judge Wapner Rules | Carson Tonight Show

[@Koldeman]

There was nothing better on late night TV than Dave at his prime. Carson, the King of Late Night, never lost his touch. These were giants at the height of their craft. What a treasure to be able to capture those moments & share them.

[@keefriff99]

Judge Wapner is 66 years old here. He passed away in 2017 at the age of 97. Awesome longevity.

[@LiPo5000]

Thanks for posting this information.

[@demef758]

He was one helluvan actor here, and played along perfectly, including a few zingers back at these best-in-class comedians.

[@simonsmith2642]

That sounds awful. I mean good for him, but… I have no desire to live that long

[@rickm3779]

I was 2 weeks away from turning 14 years old when this first aired. It was so funny then as it is now! What a wonderful time that was and to be that age. School had just finished, so it was summer break and I could stay up late and watch the great night tv we had. I remember plenty times staying up late on school nights just to watch Carson and Letterman. Had a small black and white tv in my room that only caught the local stations, which thankfully aired these absolute legends. Had the volume so low… cause if Mom knew I was still up and watching tv on a school night… there’d be hell to pay. How I miss those days, I’m 51 now. Thanks for the great memories.

[@mattkramer4132]

I’m 51 too and did the exact same thing! These guys are absolute legends.. even Wapner!😂

[@rachelh1445]

I’m 50 and I absolutely remember being SO excited getting to stay up late and watch this with my dad in real time because school was out. lol!

[@rickmontgomery3037]

Could be one of the only times Johnny sat in the guest chair on his own show. Either way he's so missed. And hat's off to Judge Wapner for being a good sport here and for his own show's longevity back in those days. RIP to both. :(

[@gregdebaggis5032]

Classic entertainment! Johnny was and always shall be the G.O.A.T!! Sorely missed especially in today's watered down entertainment world. ♥️ you Johnny!

[@peachespavalko1980]

Amen to that.

[@jerrycalhounjerryleecalhou4192]

THE SO CALLED ENTERTAINERS NOW ARE NOT COMEDIANS, THEY ARE POLITICAL PAWNS.

[@kiwiangeldust6912]

​@@jerrycalhounjerryleecalhou4192You're delusional

[@Benghazi_420]

"More or less, sir" is just gold

[@toddfrank3344]

Not as gold as "it better be more!"

[@dianewinters8628]

The best talk show hosts and comedians.

[@TeslaFamilyTravels]

This has it all! Letterman, Wapner and of course Johnny.

[@modernretroradio993]

All three shined in this segment! Superb!

[@chrisradtke]

3 of my favorite childhood heros in one place. True legends.

[@peachespavalko1980]

I’d never seen this bit before ... THANKS! 😂 Boy, Johnny sure hates losing - yeah, he was in the wrong here legally. Hilarious! I 💜 both of these comic geniuses.

[@markbirchette8740]

The whole truck gag is hilarious, and I so enjoyed it live!

[@danrussell3439]

Carson and Lettermen great shows back to back

[@jillkjv3816]

I remember this episode! Boy, I'm OLD! 😂

[@mikemasiello5965]

No, you're not. You just saw when entertainment was great

[@Minina-Nena-Celina]

😂😂😂

[@SpottoBotto]

"I'd like to thank Mr Zapruder for that footage" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@MrAitraining]

Lol. That went over a lot of heads

[@demef758]

@@MrAitraining Yes, it did.

[@brianbrino4310]

Two legends! What a treat!

[@arthuridis]

Three...if you count Judge Wapner. If "The People's Court" didn't premiere in 1981. Most reality based shows wouldn't exist.

[@garycoates4603]

@@arthuridisYes, it has a lot to answer for😬

[@eaglesfan32]

God I miss these two!!! What a treat that must’ve been for the audience!!!

[@rickardjonsson2926]

I love how Johnny says "i'll get it for you" about the affidavit, just such a funny and intelligent joke, a real laughing punch joke.

[@gregnicholls2524]

Must have missed this episode..because it’s so good, so funny…I’m sure I would have remembered it.

[@modernretroradio993]

I'm old enough to have seen it the night it originally aired. This spot has aged well over the years. Funnier than ever.

[@toddfrank3344]

Judge Wapner got some zingers in. My favorite was when he told Letterman, "Don't object, it won't help you anyway." 🤣😂 Close second, to Carson, "It better be more!" RIP Johnny Carson and Judge Joseph Wapner.

[@thanksfernuthin]

That was truly magnificent. What an awesome decision to turn it into a top rate gag.

[@demef758]

You can bet your last dollar that is was Carson who devised it all, from start to finish, stretching out the gag for as long as possible for maximum comedy effect. No writers were needed!

[@michaelshifflett76]

This comedy bit is TIMELESS!!

[@MrAitraining]

Lol I've had this on VCR since it aired. Watched it so many times. Dave was so good here.

[@blainerudy2255]

I remember watching this when it was on.When Dave offered the box of steaks ,it is sooo funny. And Judge Wapner was the fore runner of all the "court "shows on now.

[@Deke1]

I remember watching this back in the day, pure gold!

[@asmith8947]

Letterman is just naturally funny. He doesn't even have to try.

[@demef758]

He WAS. He has since lost his sense of humor due to Never Trump dementia.

[@kiwiangeldust6912]

​@@demef758You're clearly delusional.

[@duanelawrence78]

When funny wasn't vicious!!✌️🇺🇲

[@kindabluejazz]

This was TV comedy - heavily managed and censored. Almost all of these comedians worked blue in comedy clubs and in private and were often very cutting and vicious towards others they disliked. Carson was notoriously mean spirited and had a number of feuds with celebrities like Wayne Newton and Raymond Burr.

[@nick56677]

Idk about that. Johnny being ordered to pay 24.95 to Dave is pretty vicious.

[@demef758]

@@kindabluejazz Back in those days, were were a civilized society, and public profanity was not tolerated over the public airwaves. In today's environment, profanity no longer has any meaning. If a 7 year-old tells his teacher to f***-off, it's his "Constitutional right to free speech." 12 year-olds do OnlyFans videos. Nothing is immoral. We live like savages today.

[@kindabluejazz]

@@demef758 Of course you're wrong on just about every count, or you must have lived in a monastery. Public broadcast TV today still has its language limits, and is especially strict before 8PM. Cable TV is paid-for and opt-in, so I hope you aren't suggesting private video broadcasts I pay for should be censored. When I was growing up, kids said the nastiest stuff - I didn't learn it from TV - I learned it from the adults around me, the books I read, the movies I watched. I got into bars and comedy clubs with fake ID when I was 15. Before cable, in the 60s and 70s, there were lots of 8mm movies floating around and the teenagers would have parties and show them to anyone that showed up. In the 80s, of course VCR porn was everywhere. Stop pretending like the 'good old days' were something special. In the real world, there was always plenty of racism, sexism, violence, wars, depravity and corruption. None of that's new. You were just too young to know what was really going on, or kept in a bubble of of controlled reality.

[@v8vrooooom]

Wapner excellent!!! Well before Judge Judy!!

[@DonovanWert]

Awesome 😎 thanks brother!!🙏

[@FomorViceroy]

Dave was on fire that night. “Were you in New York, Mr. Letterman?” “Oh. Alright. Dammit.” “A couple of weeks ago we learned there was going to be an opening on the Supreme Court. And I think myself and the rest of America just naturally assumed you’d be going to Washington.” 😂

[@MrAitraining]

"Nah Ed just mail it in" 😅

[@JazTrance]

Omg this is hilarious. I don't remember ever seeing this

[@gm12551]

It would not be a Carson tonight show if you didn’t see the boom mic

[@demef758]

That's your only observation?

[@billystpaul8907]

When Letterman retired, late nite talk shows are not worth watching anymore.

[@demef758]

Particularly after he unretired and grew that godawful beard. He couldn't be funny anymore if his life depended on it.

[@jackmeyhoffer5107]

Wapner looked like he was having a great time.

[@sherricoffman]

Lol 😆 🤣 😂 😹 ThankYOU 4Sharing!❤ 🕊 MuchLove!

[@leilanirocks]

3:39 The Fixum Dudes burned down my house! 🔨🏠🔥

[@andromeda939]

This is pure gold🤣😂🤣😂

[@michaelpatrickhamilton3384]

Back when late night was funny not a joke like the shows today

[@toddfrank3344]

Back when late night TV really was funny and worth watching.

[@007.M-D]

The America the whole world Loved. What happened in such a short time ?

[@jackmeyhoffer5107]

The woke took over. That’s what happened.

[@Traderjoe]

I know you’ve been sworn in and I have read your complaints..

[@mattkramer4132]

They should’ve had Rusty the bailiff standing by that night!😂

[@murrynathan]

From what I understand Judge Wapner is working for Saint Peter now!

[@demef758]

As of 2017, yes.

[@rickycole6327]

1986 when talk show hosts could make jokes about any one and anything and not have to defend themselves for it Judge Wapner stood toe to toe with the two GOATS of late night television RIP JOHNNY AND JUDGE WAPNER 🌺

[@duckhive]

amazing television

[@chesterproudfoot9864]

Classic.

[@blainerudy2255]

the back story on this case was the truck was Dave's truck that he drove when he came to Calif. It had sentimental value. Also , it was in Malibu and had something to do about the rich people didn't like seeing a beat up old truck parked in the neighborhood

[@justinbrockshus8483]

"$24.95?!" ROFLMFAO!!!!! 🙂

[@Disciple793]

I wonder how frequent Johnny used to jog since he attested to being a heavy smoker, upwards of 4 packs of day.

[@modernretroradio993]

Johnny was also an avid tennis player. Lots of cardio in his lifestyle.

[@lorenecarden6312]

So that's why Letterman didn't get the Tonight show gig

[@MrAitraining]

Johnny always wanted Dave to replace him and even helped him with Dave's decision to go to CBS when letterman didn't get the show

[@demef758]

@@MrAitraining The story was that Johnny was so aloof with the NBC brass that they wanted someone to replace Johnny with someone who was more compliant. They knew that Letterman was anything but compliant, often zinging the "pinhead execs at NBC" that hit too close to home. They knew that Leno would stay away from such barbs, which is why Jay got the gig. Letterman then bolted after this "slight." But hey, live by the sword, die by the sword.

[@MrAitraining]

@@demef758 there was a little more than that. Jay also had Helen kushnick who Jay's mgr and a certified psychopath who threatened NBC that she would move Jay to CBS If Jay didn't get the tonight show and even planted a story in the NY post that NBC wants to replace johnny Carson before johnny announced he was leaving. Some think he announced to leave because of that newspaper story. She was a viper.

[@lukejackson9848]

13:28

[@leonardoh.dasilva5438]

The rightful successor of Johnny Carson who never was.

[@MrAitraining]

That's who johnny wanted and dave revered johnny

[@demef758]

Except it was NBC's sandbox to play in, not Johnny's or Dave's. They each found that out the hard way.

[@danielboguse4249]

$24.95 is pocket change for Johnny Carson.

[@clickr73]

I wish David would’ve kept that square body Chevy in his collection, instead he kept a C10!

[@aaronbruceladner1983]

5:58

[@nutandboltguy3720]

What about the interview with Doug as they are walking out of the courtroom?

[@zachbuchter]

Some people say Letterman didn't get the Tonight Show after Johnny retired because Jay Leno is a rat, but this must prove that Johnny held a grudge and didn't put in a good word.

[@syang7775]

Actually Johnny loved Letterman's talent. He appeared on Dave's show several times, even right after NBC/GE decision ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIC8e6CEbNmYrdk ), to give his support. According to the book and the TV movie, both titled "The Late Shift", NBC believed Jay's style appeared to broader audience for that time slot. And Jay knew how to please NBC executives while Dave didn't. Johnny was in an awkward position to say anything, but he was not happy with NBC's decision, and advise Dave to leave. Now we can find a number of videos showing Dave and Johnny on each other's show. But I do not remember Johnny ever went on Jay's program.

[@zachbuchter]

@@syang7775 sarcasm

[@demef758]

When Letterman followed Johnny, you don't remember Dave constantly throwing verbal bombs at the NBC brass? That's why Dave didn't get the gig. Johnny basically owned the Tonight Show gig, but Dave was not in a similar cat bird seat. He paid the price for being a little too ruthless with his shots at the NBC execs.

[@campsjams]

Adam Quardero sent me here.

[@GhostOfLorelei]

$24.95!? In _this_ economy?!

[@HH-bz6qi]

Funny that Ed talks about going to people's houses & giving them checks... but the Internet says that is a false collective memory & never actually happened!? Lies... Mandela Effect.

[@frannyleyden7988]

Before Letterman became so political and angry, he was funny.

[@mackdaddyg321]

Still funny.

[@frannyleyden7988]

Not as much.

[@bingojones4820]

NBC shoved Letterman down our throat, he was rarely funny.

[@jamesmcfadden6781]

Letterman is a genius. You live in your Mom's basement. Case closed.

[@MrAitraining]

NBC 80's letterman was the best. This is prime dave right here.

[@PeterSedesse]

This feels like the Jimmy Kimmel / Matt Damon thing.

[@demef758]

But without the humor.

[@echoerains9075]

Carson should have known he was going to lose. He had horrible luck in court. Just ask his ex wives.

[@demef758]

Johnny had only himself to blame for divorce #3 as he had ripped up the pre-marital agreement when he married her. He came to regret that decision.

[@bobchessick4282]

These 3 took a broken light and milked it into a half hour of comedy gold. If only people would find stuff like this "funny now".

[@palmereldrich]

I miss this era of cleean humour