LETTERMAN FIRST TONIGHT SHOW APPEARANCE CARSON FULL SHOW

[@joe4570]

I made a lofi song, as this video has blown up i might as well advertise it. Listen to it with the link below kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXrVoWiEfdl5Z7s

[@ThekiBoran]

The date of this, from what I could find, is November 24, 1978.

[@rafaelcarmany463]

I miss Johnny Carson so much. Watching how he relates to each Guest at their individual level is amazing. He's more masculine with Garner, more gentle with the Actress (Ellen?), funny with Letterman, inquisitive with the Policeman. His deft interaction proves why he was and always will be The King of Late Night. Letterman was great, especially for his first few years of Late Night Talk - but Carson was Amazing til The End. Even his joke bombs he could use to extract laughs by his clever recoveries. The Best!

[@cubnation]

@Joe Barone I agree! 😁😁😁

[@mikethebeginner]

This was very true. I used to know a life coach who would tell people to watch Carson as an example of a good listener. He was very respectful, engaged, and able to meet everyone at their own level. No one has ever quite lived up to that.

[@paldeusjaco9657]

I miss the simpler times and how the tv actually helped us forget the world troubles, not add to them lol.

[@cubnation]

@@paldeusjaco9657 Me too! ❤❤

[@SuperZytoon]

James Garner. Now, that was a MAN! Just loved him in everything he did. Rockford Files. Wow!

[@bethbartlett5692]

I did as well and back to the re-runs of his Western TV Series. Bart and Bret Maverick, I had a crush on his brother, (Jack Kelly, played Bart Maverick)! That man was a great actor and active in his community, he was later a Mayor in a So Cal town. He nearly usurped James Garner, I loved both of them, they shared that "stinker personality trait", that special carefree twinkle in their eye, William Powell ("Thin Man" with Myrna Loy) had that energy too and he remains my fav 20th Century male Star.

[@themanfromcabowabo1559]

I’m just passing through on my way to Australia but I agree wholeheartedly.

[@petegobeckli1386]

Mary Kay. MAVERICK!!!

[@The-Portland-Daily-Blink]

Hard to believe he was only 53 there... he sure was the greatest. I watched him for YEARS!

[@beals6631]

@@plane_guy6051 …. I think she was talking about Carson

[@HammerOfJustice124]

Anyone else wish it is like it was?

[@jeffdawson2786]

Truly, I didn’t think Dave or Gary Shandling we’re going to be anything special after I saw them on Carson. But then I forgot that Carson had great instinct. Same with Drew Carey many years later.

[@thomasleary2814]

Watched this because of Letterman, but I miss these old talk shows so much that I actually watched the whole show and was marvelously entertained - particularly by Garner. I guess it helps if you were around then and get all the references.

[@davefordavefor]

I did the same thing. I watched because of Letterman. I hadn’t originally noticed that it was a full show. When it started I figured I would watch Johnny’s monologue then move on to Letterman. But, then, of course, I’ve always like James Garner so I ended up watching the whole show.

[@benkleschinsky]

I love Ellen Burstyn. She's going to be 90 years old next year and still stars in roles.

[@AlicedeTocqueville]

I'm afraid I remember these talk shows, when they were new. That's called 'dating yourself',' which l'm afraid l'm pretty doing also.

[@drmorqWarrenProject]

There are a lot of us, most dont speak up... I remember watching this new. I did come here for Letterman but when I saw that Garner was going to be on, I watched the whole thing..

[@myphilippineamericanjourne4731]

Lol....me to

[@jeffreyphillips7312]

he was a natural right out of the gate. Carson was dying laughing

[@BrianFedirko]

I saw this as a kid, and was so excited to learn that Letterman had got his own show... I watched Dave every night because of this airing.

[@stevescontriano860]

So I guess you get excited watching the grass grow or paint dry ???

[@BrianFedirko]

@@stevescontriano860 seriously yes. I'm a botanist/chemist who paints with oils I grow/invent in the lab.

[@ekimp252]

For a time you could watch Johnny’s opening monologue then change channels and catch Dave’s top ten list. I miss those days.

[@theTRUTHgroup]

It's great to see this classic television posted here. Thanks!

[@ghanasoul]

Letterman was already on MTM and hosting stuff so he wasn’t exactly an unknown. He also did the Jackson’s variety show. He’s confident and established. Freddie Prinze, Garry Shandling, David Brenner, Drew Carey, Gabe Kaplan, Tom Dressen came on Carson as total unknowns.

[@pamelahaddad7488]

This was the first time I ever saw Dave and I just thought he was the funniest guy ever! Still love his irreverent humor!

[@pronemanoldbutyoung5548]

He is special. Both David and Johnny also was ofc.

[@jeffbaer5851]

"Diametrically opposed to using orphans as yardage markers at the driving range." THAT is the Letterman wit I have loved for 30+ years, summed up in one thought. Dave was WAAAAAAY ahead of his time. You can hear how he was way ahead of Johnny's audience. Those jokes were GOLD but the crowd wasn't ready for them. But Johnny was.

[@joelwexler]

Yeah, I'm sitting here alone howling and the audience is puzzled.

[@trentrock3210]

Good stuff. Letterman delivered, Johnny laughed a lot, and the rest is history.

[@at1212b]

Alot of times, comediens instead of laughing admire it from a deeper level.

[@joelwexler]

At the time, I thought the cop author was going to be a legend and be famous 50 years from then. Boy, I got that wrong.

[@AlicedeTocqueville]

@@joelwexler Boss of you to say so!

[@lumpy0100]

Thanks Joe Et Al🙂,

[@JamisenEtzel1]

Dave’s jokes on the couch, like the birdbath, were better than most of the set. Interesting bit of history

[@cubswin3838]

I think their both being from the Midwest was a big part of their chemistry.

[@cubnation]

@Joe Barone Amen to that! 😄😄😄

[@petegobeckli1386]

NEBRASKA & INDIANA. 🌽 🍿 Uh CORNHUSKER & uh HOOSIER!

[@JorgeCat78]

This Letterman guy is pretty good! Maybe he oughta get his own show!

[@mugilv]

Go to sleep lamo

[@administration8961]

i bet he does then gradually turns into a creepy grumpy old man..

[@JorgeCat78]

@@administration8961 Sad but true! But I'd still rather have him there than Colbert!

[@administration8961]

@@JorgeCat78 I agree

[@terridorn9077]

So true! Hateful!​@@JorgeCat78

[@prowlie]

Thanks for posting this... I missed this episode when it aired .. mainly cause I wasn't alive yet... :D But boy was he right about Dave working more after this..

[@roberty.9569]

Carson calls him over to chat and he basically gives him an extended set. Classic.

[@at1212b]

Johnny absolutely adored Letterman here and recognized the talent. Similar mid-Western humour and shyness they connected on it.

[@makeadifference4all]

Letterman had a strong first stand-up routine on the "Tonight Show," and his style of humor comes through well, but he seems uncertain what to do with his hands on stage. Johnny gave Dave a long time to be in the interview chair and is genuinely delighted to talk with Dave.

[@1SqueakyWheel]

I came to watch Letterman's first appearance, but was far more excited when I saw Jim Garner on the bill. He was the man! So was Carson. And Dave too, I suppose. ;-)

[@moniquemonicat]

Letterman's humor back then (1978) was actually groundbreaking. It may not seem that way to us now in the 21st century but back then his casual unconventional unpolished look and humor we are so used to these days was quite unique and new back then. Then with his messed up hair, gap teeth looking like Alfred Neuman (Madd Magazine). As Carson noted "young and fresh.' You'd have to see it from the view point of Carson's audience, many born circa 1915-1940. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_E._Neuman

[@Sunrayman123]

Letterman was so fast with his delivery, you'd be embarrassed to be discovered that you had no idea what he said. A genius! And THAT was what was his schtick....Fast as lightening off the cuff. A mark of real advanced intelligence.

[@darylking265]

Some prophetic moments in this show: That David would move on to bigger and better things and that the 55 MPH speed limit wouldn't last.

[@Steveross2851]

Based on Carson's comment about Franklin Pierce (at 9:55 - 9:59 of the video) this Johnny Carson episode was aired November 24, 1978.

[@graxjpg]

There’s was nothing like the relationship between Carson and his audience after him. Norm Macdonald once said that the old letterman show was unique in that there was a running joke, and the only one not in on the joke was the guest because they were the joke. In this show, theres one joke that *is* Carson and he isn’t in on it (as evidenced by his monologues.).There are many many more concurrently running such as the ones the studio audience are not in on that are for the tv viewers, and vice versa.

[@NoName-hs3sf]

Letterman always so calm. He could be a host rite here.

[@thebourbonscene845]

42:10 for letterman standup

[@gnbman]

Dave's humor was surprisingly dark. I like it a lot.

[@5xl100]

It always has been? How is this surprising.

[@gnbman]

@@5xl100 Because I'm used to him being just the old man on the other channel lol.

[@deletedwaffles]

Late Night Dave was always more colorful and edgy than Late Show Dave.

[@dans9463]

There is real communication between the officer and Jonny Carson. Letterman was using Carson as a prop just to continue the monolog. Carson plays along.

[@joelwexler]

That's what made him great, even when the monologue was filled with bombs, as this one was.

[@sfcmp7005]

The guy at the end who predicted the 55mph speed limit to go away, was spot on when he said, in time. Lol. The problem is that it took waaaaay too much time. I used to drive from AZ to the Midwest a lot. It was horrendous driving through parts of Texas being restricted to 55 MPH. The good news is, it's now 80 MPH in those parts of Texas. That may sound dangerous but honestly there are parts of Texas where you can't see anything as far as the eye can see. It's safer to get out of that zone so you don't fall asleep.

[@samyacoub4858]

Here in Czechia, Europe, all highways are limited to 130kmh/80mph. It was a stupid move by the U.S. government back then

[@AlicedeTocqueville]

You're not kidding! I, too, rode from AZ to Chicago, to be exact. On old Rte.66, and tho it only crossed a tiny part of Texas...it felt like forever! There actually was something in the vast nothingness; prayer billboards!

[@sfcmp7005]

@@samyacoub4858 I agree. The main reason they did it was because of the fuel/energy crisis we had here in the 70's. The concept being that we would save gas. This was true, but making cars more fuel efficient would have done the trick as well. I supposed it was easier to place the burden on the public instead of placing it on the companies to make better cars. Which by they way, they could have done it as we have now found out.

[@sfcmp7005]

@@AlicedeTocquevilleWow, it's a small world as they say. I used to do it quite a bit between 1978, and 2000 from AZ to North of Chicago in the McHenry area. After 2000 everyone moved to Arizona. My trip now is from Arizona to Kentucky, where my daughter lives. Not quite as far, and not quite as often. I'm getting too old to make that trip like I used to. That being said, I did make the trip back in September. I think I must have hurt all over for a week after that trip. Lol!

[@AlicedeTocqueville]

@@samyacoub4858 Almost everything the US does is stupid! I don't know what's worse, the greedy capitalists or the deliberately dumb.

[@MrFallingcats]

51:09 the moment Dave Letterman's career became inevitable

[@fastguned]

Notice at 42:55 Dave unbuttons his coat to show off that his belt is an Izod with the alligator

[@drServitis]

SHOULD HAVE PUT THE DATE THIS AIRED IN THE TITLE. Now I have to Google it.

[@BuildinWings]

49:28 My goal is to feel as good about my work one day as Dave does in this moment.

[@bethbartlett5692]

Work in your Passion and you will, you will also find success there. 🎈

[@johnl5350]

Johnny was funny even to a kid in the 80s and early 90s. I guess it all just comes down to charisma and timing.

[@DannyMercer1993]

It’s mad watching this in 2022. Carson makes a joke about pearl harbour, which was only three decades before this. In fact they were closer to WW2 than today!

[@sitbone3]

To James Garner. You aren’t eligible for a Purple Heart as a result of friendly fire.

[@hotlov72]

Thing about this, Dave was very comfortable as a performer. He looked like he could host The Tonight Show

[@tomnick5787]

I used to try to make it home in time to watch Carson!

[@krierp8]

"Dave was on my show the first time. That's wild, weird stuff I did not know that."

[@freddyfurrah3789]

I remember Thanksgiving very well. Poll Lamp. You had to be there.

[@samsmith4216]

The present guys doing the late night would have difficulty making. the average guy come off as entertaining. and interesting.. Johnny could make anyone look good. Today's shows depend on Star power... Johnny used that but wasnt afraid to have middle america average person on occasion. The King will always be. Johnny

[@andythompson3528]

My hair now looks like Dave’s hair back in the 80s. Now I feel so much better 😂

[@bethbartlett5692]

@ 34:10 -> I wish they had filmed that with Charles Groden, that man was so great and funny. Nothing against Alda (he's just a different sort of actor/personality).

[@riverraisin1]

Somewhere in that Tonight Show backdrop lives a happy little squirrel.

[@WaybackTECH]

Frankly I am more thrilled to watch James Garner than Letterman. I love Maverick during his time on that show, and his later cowboy comedy movies.

[@johnnypotenza7466]

Johnny was the best! Best from the Up Late with Johnny Potenza show

[@GFred1]

Joe Montana QB's for Notre Dame in the game mentioned during the Monologue.

[@mikeking7710]

I came here to see Letterman's first appearance on the Tonight Show, but on my way to that part of the show, Johnny was talking about the film where a husband was caught in bed with another woman and denied, denied, denied. Johnny thought it was maybe "Divorce, Italian Style". I don't know if there was a scene like that in that film, as I've never seen it. But the scene he described was definitely in "A Guide for the Married Man". Walter Matthau was teaching Robert Morse how to cheat on his wife, through little vignettes through the film. And one was a scene where a wife played by Ann Morgan Guilbert walked in on her husband played by Joey Bishop in bed with another woman. They calmly get up, and get dressed while he persists in denying it, and the wife is freaking out. And by the end of the scene, the other woman's gone, the husband's completely dressed and walking out, and the wife is left in the room thinking she's lost her mind. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXjYaaSfd7qZY5Y

[@ozzyruleshere]

I was expecting to just see Letterman but ended up watching the whole thing start to finish. Today's night shows really are lacking and I forgot how entertaining Carson's show was.

[@gouldbj]

Dave’s appearance was brilliant. As Johnny stated his income had to have skyrocketed. He went on to outlive Johnny’s record for late night host.

[@joelwexler]

The cop has been telling people for 50 years that James Garner and Dave once opened for him.

[@nicomoreno5028]

That guy, Letterman? Yeah. He's funny. Someone should give him a show.

[@asteverino8569]

Liked seeing Letterman, so fresh and not achieving greatness till the joint joke and after. But it was a tough night too.

[@petesmitt]

Best part is the Jim Garner segment; 17:38

[@petegobeckli1386]

🔫 shoot, Dave was giving 'em uh taste of the 80's b 4 it got here. I watched 👀 this episode & was like: this guy's got some BOOMERANG! comedy. When I started college in '82, the LATE SHOW premiered my 1st semester along with Paul &:LARRY BUD MELMAN.

[@StevenGSchassler]

Wow. Dave kinda bombed his first night with Carson...too funny.

[@patriciodasilva7902]

I grew up with Carson. I remember his first TV show, it was a game show called Who Do You Trust?

[@lisabutter6181]

Johnny looking so handsome. David Letterman im using these jokes lol

[@erichhitchcock3368]

What really cracked me up...David adjusting his waistband at the end of the set. One can tell that he does not enjoy doing stand-up.

[@mercedesaug]

To everyone defending this set...the audience is barely laughing.

[@Stevenowski]

You must be deaf!

[@mercedesaug]

@@Stevenowski You must be blind. Three people agree with my post. We can't all be deaf.

[@Stevenowski]

@@mercedesaug What?

[@ginaross5060]

Did YOU know Dave would go far???

[@zachbernheisel2239]

still holds up

[@zachbernheisel2239]

@Zach Zach squared!

[@stpaulimdog]

People still use bits from that sports murder joke

[@rhuephus]

for this one . the monologue is a DUD .. skip to 7:42

[@andrewmiller4885]

Johnny Carson has been criticised by a few well known people as being mean and petty . Well I have never ever seen even a hint of any of that . He treats his guests with the utmost respect even people who are not famous . Further more I have noticed if Johnny Carson thinks you have something and go a long way with it he is your biggest cheer leader .

[@sabio28]

This new guy David Letterman is good. NBC needs to give him his own show, maybe after Carson. Think about it.

[@dexterm1285]

Never realized how much Michael Shannon looked like a younger Dave Letterman.

[@davidwatson3456]

Daves Immigrant jokes will cause holy uproar today

[@JorgeCat78]

You are not kidding!

[@thomasjoyce1487]

Fun to watch shows that steered clear of political slants.

[@jediprice70]

I didn't think Letterman was all that funny. As far as I can tell he improved over the years, because I enjoyed his pre-show stand up on Late Night when he was on.

[@NewYork-tk5ry]

I know what you are saying. I did think his stand up here was funny, but all the tapings I attended of his show(s), his pre-show warm up was always very strong and not a set act. He worked off the crowed and just commanded the room. I thought, damn.... I would love to see 1 hour of this!

[@jediprice70]

​@@NewYork-tk5ry Well on his show, on both networks, I laughed at his jokes, and here I smiled a couple of times. No comparison for me, but of course, I don't think my view is the same for everyone. I guess he got more experience and that did change how well he could manage the crowds, and thus make it a bit funnier for more reasons than just the stand-up jokes. And I can add that never seeing this, my prior opinion of him based on his show was the same... I need a full comedy act from him without all the talking to guests. 👏😊

[@johnzwirn5050]

Holy shit. That interview though.

[@wannabe4668]

David letterman was the young man. Now that’s funny

[@TheDriveInGuys]

Letterman is as funny as a crutch. His routine missed, and he knew it. He was nervously playing with his fingers prior to ending his set.

[@charlesdjones1]

Watching this, it's easy to see Drew Carey completely forked Letterman's style, all Dave's missing here are some military specs.

[@pegna7404]

I wish Grodin HAD been in the movie of "Same Time Next Year"

[@kkampy4052]

Why don't they play Ed reading the introductions now?

[@KFCJones]

Seeds of Cagney and Lacey and Facts of Life in the "upcoming shows" segment?

[@executivesteps]

And today Celebrity Net Worth says Letterman is worth $400 million.

[@randallulrich]

I wonder what ever became of that David Letterman guy.

[@thefrase7884]

Not much…..Carson gave him his 15 minutes of fame and that’s about that

[@MightBeSmart]

The days where you were allowed to look dangerous, oh I miss them so much.

[@electrofunk5442]

Love Dave and James Garner

[@wannabe4668]

It is 75 in Texas at 2022, unless you are in west Texas and it is 85

[@wannabe4668]

I swear I heard Paul laughing in the back ground….

[@MS-wb5mf]

I remember Angie Dickenson flat refused to do this is your life and walked out of it even with everyone invited being there.

[@danimart3374]

Johnny Carson's LAST EVER public appearance was with that dashing young man named Dave.

[@christineblack4654]

yup that's Dave doing it at the extremes hahaha

[@brolybrutale881]

Mark Callaway@undertaker in Carson late night shows???

[@thefrase7884]

Just like so many other comedians I don’t think much will come from this Letterman person. Carson will give him his 15 minutes of fame and that’s about that

[@elizabethsibal995]

I miss how guests would stick around

[@at1212b]

It was a big deal to be around people back then and they weren't in a rush all the time.

[@fastguned]

Dave always had sort of funny looking haircuts his whole career. If you don't believe me look for the video on here called David Letterman haircut montage

[@phillipecook3227]

Etymologists take note: in 1978 Mr Garner says " I have a shower". In 2022 we " take" one : )

[@earlgray7003]

43:38 - Dave even brought Paul Schaffer along with him.

[@wannabe4668]

Rockford files paled in comparison to support your local sheriff/ gun fighter and of course the original maverick

[@angelthman1659]

I'm a Letterman fan, think he's very funny. But I wouldn't have known from this set. They saw something I didn't see, I guess, and they were right!

[@D.A.-Espada]

It's a generational thing

[@angelthman1659]

@@D.A.-Espada I'm old.

[@adamkadmon217]

Letterman comes in at 42:15

[@SuperC888]

44:14 Sooo nervous . Poor Dave … fidgeting with his hands

[@imienazwisko9188]

He was nervous but was breathing normally.

[@scottarivett496]

Dave soon became a regular replacement host for Johnny as did Leno later on