Gallagher and the Sledge-O-Matic | Carson Tonight Show

[@cohencohen54]

I arrived in the U.S. in 1979 and Gallagher was the first show i saw not knowing anything about his comedy. I remember how much i laughed. We were in the 8th row so the watermelon almost reached us! He was a funny guy. Few days ago i was just thinking about him and remembered myself at 24 years old and how things were innocent and simpler than now. And i just found out that he died. He had a good life because he did what he wanted to do in life.

[@mikesilva3868]

Cool 😊

[@bobjohns-qt5uc]

I had never seen Gallagher too cause our family was kinda insulated socially but then I got a girlfriend at 16 and her mom loved Gallagher and they used to show his act on TV in the evenings sometimes in the late 80s, early 90s and my gfs mom would nearly roll off her chair laughing, it was always about mundane things too like why's it so hard to open the cat food can

[@ftoniaromano6480]

Gallagher was one of a kind!✨

[@tonymazz9912]

Johnny had that look on his face like" Where did you find this guy?". RIP Gallagher 🙏.

[@ouch74]

Yep and he was indeed a comic genius, right on point in this clip!😄

[@jimnfl7134]

@@ouch74 sad thing that we lost Louie Anderson, Bob Saget and Gallagher all in 2022 :(

[@harrisbobroff9813]

I did not know he passed away ...

[@ryanclark5254]

According to Leo, Johnny didnt like Gallagher or prop comedy and this may have been his only appearance with Johnny - he would have several appearances with a guest host on the Tonight Show, however.

[@sadboi7537]

A literal one-of-kind human being. The King of prop comedy, a very thought provoking show that changing with the times, completely crushed in the 80’s with numerous specials all the while creating his own brand of comedy that could not be replicated. RIP. Thanks for everything you did for comedy Gallagher.

[@kevinv2302]

Loved his act, one of the all time greats, thank you sir for all of the laughs, may you RIP Gallagher

[@psw4763]

Nothing says Gallagher like watermelon smashing. Just read where Gallagher just passed away. He brought entertainment and laughter

[@metatechnologist]

A true pioneer!

[@dlarremore]

😪 another part of my childhood gone

[@paulatwood998]

How long ago did he pas?s away and from what

[@metatechnologist]

@@paulatwood998 he passed today he had heart problems.

[@onlythewise1]

@@metatechnologist most do after they reach 100

[@DoctorJoanieTool]

Thanks for posting. Good memories.

[@scottclifford5594]

Hello 👋 joanie. How are you doing ?

[@markhurrell23]

Saw him twice live in NY and he slayed both nights, some of the funniest material I have ever seen. He even pulled my mother on stage for a segment. RIP one of the GOATS

[@kendallevans4079]

What exactly is funny abut smashing fruit/vegetables?

[@markhurrell23]

@@kendallevans4079 He was a stand up comedian so he had an entire act of fantastic jokes. The smashing of food only came at the end of the show and is funny because its an experience like no other. It wasnt just fruit flying at you in the audience it was a TON of different foods and the first few rows wears ponchos in anticipation of the sledge-o-matic.

[@kendallevans4079]

@@markhurrell23 Ok, but I still don't get it. That is just a mess, what's "funny" about that? Sounds like hillbilly humor to me, maybe 1 notch higher than a fart joke

[@markhurrell23]

@@kendallevans4079 what is the funniest comic in your opinion? This will help me to better explain gallaghers appeal to you.

[@kendallevans4079]

@@markhurrell23 I like wry, dry humor...Gallagher was to slap-stick for me

[@echoecho3108]

Two of my favorite guys. I miss both of them. RIP, Johnny and Gallagher, and thanx, gentle men, for many, many, many years of magic and memories.

[@auracyanwrotethis]

Rest in peace, Gallagher. Thanks for all of the laughs. 💜

[@susanbaker641]

I saw him in Vegas back in the 80's. He put on a great show. RIP Funny Man ❤️

[@GroceryStoreStories101]

R.I.P. JOHNNY CARSON, ED McMahon AND GALLAGHER. I would have loved to see Gallagher live. He was so hilarious.

[@BRUTUSPLAC]

DAMMMMMMMMMM SO LONG AGO !! I was in 6th grade here in CT. LOVED GALLAGHER problay since early HBO .

[@duanebetz9270]

I just found a bunch of Gallagher specials on Tubi last night. I watched the first one, and plan on watching all of them. I grew up seeing him on Comedy Central in the late '80s and early '90s. One of the best!!

[@ganderson158]

RIP Gallagher. You were unique & I loved it.

[@greetingsearthlings3710]

One of a kind comedy. Often imitated, never duplicated

[@siriuzbiz]

I used to enjoy watching Gallagher in the early eighties on Showtime

[@timothymccarthy4704]

My brother bought front row tickets to see Gallagher at the Westbury Music Hall in 1990. The entire front 2 rows were plastic bags. Great shows

[@dougfitzsimmons5288]

Rest in peace. Thanks for all the laughs.

[@ChrisPBacon-ok7ir]

I still haven't figured out why we drive on the parkway and park on the driveway.

[@minnesocold]

RIP Gallagher. You gave us so many laughs, thank you.

[@dougfitzsimmons5288]

I was lucky enough to see him live, twice. Once was in the front row. Yes, I sat there on purpose.

[@wecontrolthevideo]

My wife and I saw him perform in person a couple times and we found you needed to be at least ten rows back to miss most, but not all, the flying produce matter. When the concert was over the theater smelled like the produce section of your local supermarket.

[@Jamestele1]

This was awesome. He was really on here. RIP Gallagher and thank you for making me laugh over the years-That's priceless in this world

[@dennisnorried524]

I’m a veteran and had know idea Gallagher passed away yesterday on Veterans Day, always loved his comedy and Sledge-O-Magic R.I.P.

[@brianmccormick3837]

Such a funny man. So sorry to hear of his passing. Always made us feel better when he was around. His watermelon-smashing sledge made him a GOAT. Gallagher, thank you for entertaining us all these years. Go make God laugh.

[@paolo-n2000]

RIP! Thanks for the laughs and happiness...

[@peachmelba9333]

R.I.P. Leo; you truly were an original. The Sledge-o-matic was one of my favorite skits. My #1? The car one " Don't a- go Kicking my Tires if you're Not Gonna Drive ME Home!"

[@DAEDRICHHHH-TUCKER19]

Love it!! ❤️🔥

[@BigAl1976]

Saw him 4 times - 1993 (I was in the front row for this one), 1996, 2001, and 2004. His stuff was thought provoking, yet funny. RIP Gallagher.

[@johnbevan4684]

It's kind of sad to realise that almost all of the people in these Carson videos are gone. RIP Gallagher. As with others, you will be missed.

[@martybass7376]

It's life 🧬

[@crazycappy01]

His advertising of his "Sledge-O-Matic" was his BIGGEST bit he's EVER done. There's a couple of stand-ups he did for Showtime, I think, where members of the studio audience in the first five rows would have plastic in front of them to deflect ANYTHING Gallagher would smash. R.I.P. Gallagher. And thank you for the laughs.

[@chesterproudfoot9864]

Absolutely loved Gallagher back in the day. He played the place across the street from our hotel back in the day, and we (the cooks) learned that he was in the hotel restaurant (Holiday Inn, sorry man!) so we had a waiter send out a side plate with slice of watermelon and the "sledge-matic-junior" which was a corkscrew wrapped in aluminum foil. He came to the back kitchen to tell us we needed something wooden, but alas we did with what we had! Still, we got some laughs, shook hands, got tickets, and he enjoyed his meal nonetheless. Class guy! RIP. 😓

[@DebH.]

We saw him in Vegas once back in the 80's, what a fun messy show, they give you plastic to cover yourself from the sledge-o-matic!🤣🇺🇸✌🤣

[@fhb3]

#RIP Gallagher Thank You for being a major part of my childhood. 😭😭😭💔💔💔

[@scottanddebranelson8419]

funny dude with one of the most original acts out there. johnny didn't seem too impressed but there's no accounting for taste cause he entertained millions himself over the years.

[@carlloud1187]

I started smiling as soon as the curtain opened because I knew exactly what was about to happen! I wasn't disappointed! So sorry to hear of his passing😪 A really funny guy.

[@syndi_65]

RIP Gallagher 💔

[@michaelcharlesthearchangel]

A comic legend, goodbye old friend 😥

[@ssnoc]

Gallagher was funny as hell, a unique entertainer that people loved - RIP 🙏

[@metatechnologist]

Wow he just passed. Rest In Peace!

[@richardhamilton5610]

Saw him twice, once from the front row with a friend, it was like being in a massive food fight, great fun.

[@rayaltman3258]

Classic classic Gallagher ever time he went on stage he put on one hell of a show.

[@Modernaire]

Part of my childhood and into adolescence, teen years are going. It's sad. Gallagher was one of those comics that as a kid I grew up laughing too, but as I go a little older I LEARNED things from his comedy and then found myself agreeing with and views on things aligning. Gallagher was great, simply great. Few observational notes on this appearance... The entrance on the skates comes from him being a professional level skater ice skater I did not know that. As per Gallagher in the interview just a few years ago he said that Johnny didn’t like him. However some of Johnny’s comedic bits you know when he dresses up as a character are very similar to this. You can certainly sense a kind of tension with even Gallagher not letting Chevy Chase there hijack his interview and the look on Johnny’s face man I’ve never seen him more perturbed Woa. God bless Gallagher for daring AND being brave to be different!

[@doubleoddbs4357]

He was hilarious, I never got to see him at a live show but I wanted to but by the time I heard of him that’s when his health problems started and he never came to my area

[@sandrawhite2478]

Rest In Peace Gallagher and Johnny.

[@willhorting5317]

My dad and I loved to watch Gallagher!

[@OtterloopB]

RIP Gallagher. 2 legends in one day. Kevin Conroy and Gallagher. 2022 sucks. Heck, this entire decade seems fated to suck.

[@ModMokkaMatti]

The whole 21st century has pretty much sucked up to this point.

[@spb7883]

@@ModMokkaMatti Exactly

[@fluxcapacitor1621]

Gallagher got is start on the Tonight Show. He ultimately appeared 18 times.

[@tombasye1016]

Gallagher Will Not Be Forgotten. RIP

[@northcountry32]

Nice memorial for a very funny man... ✌❤

[@goodwilj]

I loved Gallagher. He will be missed!

[@kevinwalters6907]

He was Brilliant it was rough for him towards the end. Sad to hear he is gone but now smashing melons somewhere else.

[@davidcrawford6505]

One of my favorite comedians of all time. RIP

[@Better_Call_Raul]

03:00 *The sledge-0-matic hammer will also teach the dumbest dog to play dead* . 😆

[@Miketheman926]

🌈R.I.P. Leo Anthony Gallagher Jr. Thank You for all the laughs! The melons are safe now 🍉🍉 🤪

[@massapower]

Way before Carnot Top. There was the Genius GALLAGHER... Now he's entertaining in Comic Heaven worth all the heavy WEIGHTS 😎✌

[@ndspeedster]

saw him once live in pasedena at the oar house... back in about 82.. funny dude... RIP bro... you made people laugh.. can't beat that

[@davidfischer7895]

Johnny seemed very unimpressed. Funny thing is, I'm only watching an old Johnny Carson video to see Gallagher.

[@delsi3795]

Ok

[@lathamarea1437]

A nice surprise during his pre show was to meet him as he walked around saying hello to his fans outside the venue..

[@3rdandlong]

Never got the chance to see this dude live. He's making Angel's laugh now. RIP Gallagher.

[@bama1usaf]

Man I so remember him back in the late 70s thru the 80s. Make me laugh and other shows. RIP Funny Man maker of fun memories.

[@AngryRantsAndStuff]

He was always quite the entertainer. RIP, Gallagher.

[@shilohstore6086]

If you told me Chevy Chase would be the last one standing on that panel I probably would have called you a liar

[@VUrban-yr5ch]

R.I.P. 😢 Thanks for the laughs. We could all use a Sledge - O- Matic.

[@terrywellner1497]

Can't believe he's gone rip

[@christinalynn8143]

Cheerful. 👏👏👏

[@kwebster62]

Saw Gallagher, with free tickets, 4 times. He had some funny jokes. He had to be extremely tired of the Sledge-O-Matic after all those years. Funniest thing I remember him saying: "I'm not losing my hair. It's just slowly sliding down the back of my head!".

[@patrickfrancis1877]

I saw Gallagher live ...he really killed it. Alot of fun

[@GreenCloudArtOrg420]

Mitch Hedberg’s crazy uncle 😂 a true character, rest in #comedy paradise #Gallagher

[@ckersh74]

1:46 those people had no idea what was coming next.

[@terryprideaux]

May he Rest In Peace. I have seen his show live twice. I was in the splash zone once.

[@JPumpkinKing]

That’s the first time I’ve ever seen Johnny speechless. So funny.

[@SteveCChapman]

I’m watching this now after Gallagher just passed. RIP good sir!

[@troynov1965]

RIP Gallagher ....Godspeed

[@hermitthefrog8951]

People used to be different... they used to be free to be themselves. I remember that.....

[@jon3113]

RIP Gallagher. Carrot Top carries your flame and respectfully too.

[@pamczech5984]

Love him I remember when he sued a relative for copying him

[@green285]

Was it his brother, saw him all around the casino dressed just like him

[@pamczech5984]

@@green285 sounds like it I know there was a big fight and family took sides

[@AFMMD-q8]

@@green285 💯 correct, his brother is a weasel, copyright everything Gallagher did first, yet he was pretending to be the man himself, unbelievable! with a brother like that, who needs enemies?

[@anvilsvs]

I loved his airship.

[@noam65]

He was one of a kind... and, to me, a genius.

[@jimdavis2385]

Saw him live, but was away from the front. The first three rows all brought plastic sheeting and rain gear. Funny guy!

[@tootired76]

RIP Galagher! You were unique!!

[@dockennedy8091]

Johnny was anything but impressed. 😄 You'll be missed, Gallagher. Thanks for the laughs.

[@straycatttt2766]

Usually Johnny would signal to comedians whether to join him on set after the act. Gallagher seemed like he decided on his own to join Johnny. Maybe Johnny pre-planned for it since he did give Gallagher five minutes or so on set.

[@dockennedy8091]

@@straycatttt2766 It looked planned but Johnny wasn't impressed in the slightest. Gallagher had a great career regardless.

[@AFMMD-q8]

It wasn’t Carson’s humor, still Mr G made it big and he is remembered today as a comedic genius. I don’t think he was invited back to the tonight show after this.

[@echoecho3108]

Johnny did not like prop comedy Gallagher appeared on The Tonight Show twice when Johnny was host. He appeared many other times when there were guest hosts.

[@Unbridled13]

I got to see him live. It was a fun event

[@HRConsultant_Jeff]

I sat with him for about 20 minutes while we waited for our pizzas and he was the nicest person and very funny without trying to be. He even took me outside and showed me where his house was on a hillside.

[@tubapizza]

It's almost as if Gallagher wasn't invited over by Johnny. But he forced it and wow. One of his HBO shows he ended with a serious talk about pollution and nuclear issues, and reminded people to never forget the sprinkler system. Naturally, all the front rows had let their guards down.

[@joshuawaltz9484]

RIP Gallagher. You were so funny and very innovative.

[@charlesglaser4868]

RIP Gallagher, Thanks For All The Laughs!

[@ROGER2095]

I remember watching this live - Chevy Chase made wisecracks at Gallagher's expense and Gallagher let him have it!

[@mikefleck98]

May he Rest in peace.

[@ShaneBro]

RIP - He died on November 11, 2022.

[@masonandrews3613]

Rip Gallagher 🙏. You made us all laugh!

[@MadMike1978racing]

R.I.P. Gallagher

[@stevefisher8323]

I watched him back in the 70s and he was certainly alt comedy but a cool schtick.

[@thomaslichtle1178]

Great prop comic. Legend. Carrot top stole his act..

[@adriaanboogaard8571]

He always made my day gags or just smashing Water melons . Just helped you let life go and forget your troubles. Anyone that goes to a frog jumping contest is a real person. I never here about that anymore. The world is forgetting simple fun. He never did 😁

[@ronniewatkins]

RIP Gallagher

[@patrickfitzmichael5940]

They cut off the part where Chevy and Gallagher exchange insults.

[@markbirchette8740]

I have a Gallagher Tshirt signed by him...

[@Ottophil]

Or his brother, who knows for sure

[@syndi_65]

Sweet!

[@blinko656]

Save that T-shirt he passed today or yesterday sad

[@Ottophil]

@@blinko656 thats why this video was posted. We know

[@duncanwilkins2133]

"There ain't no way to look cool riding in the back of a pickup truck "

[@azhikingwithms2491]

RIP Gallagher. He was the one of the funniest comedians I have ever saw