The Tonight Show April 8, 1977

Even in the opening, you can tell that something is "off" with Ed, and while we've all seen the clip of a drunk McMahon during the introduction to Joan Embry, you can see that even as Johnny walks out, he knows what's going on! Beyond Joan and the animals are guests Pat Henry, musical guests Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., and Carol Wayne.

[@johnsjohnson448]

Johnny knew that Ed was sloshed and was having fun with him. Hysterical. This show had a great monologue. Thank-You for sharing.

[@deputay]

You're welcome! This episode is a fun one

[@modernretroradio993]

This is the infamous episode when Ed had attended a corporate luncheon and had a few drinks (too many) and was pretty sloshed for that evening's episode. Johnny turned it into comedy magic.

[@modernretroradio993]

Reading all the previous comments, I am definitely NOT the first person to point this out. LOL!

[@kenaleneforbeck2310]

@@modernretroradio993 l😊

[@NetCerpher]

Thanks for confirming that. I was watching the introduction by Ed and I thought he’s been drinking. And you confirmed it

[@randyfloran1990]

You mean he was smashed 😵‍💫💯

[@antoniobaltierra9032]

Pm m

[@modernretroradio993]

00:25 ... LOL! Ed made a big ol' blooper there! "...and from the San Diego Jew -- Zoo...Joan Embry."

[@jchow5966]

I was a teenager who watched this show faithfully in the summer, friday night & over holiday vacations…. Johnny was a brilliant comedian. This show was fantastic. I niss Johnny Carson -but i am so glad that i watched those shows…….

[@ChrisN1344]

Aside from the show’s usual greatness and Ed’s hilarious predicament … quite a set of classy, beautiful ladies in this episode … Joan Embry, Carol Wayne and the incredible Marilyn McCoo.

[@TheVCRTimeMachine]

I was 20 years old when Johnny Carson retired. I was too young to watch him very much, but he was such a big deal and so great at what he did that I never watched another late night show except Letterman since he walked away.

[@chrisfreeman9960]

How nice to see an original hour and a half episode of "The Tonight Show", and one that flowed and worked so well. That late night show worked so well for people at the end of their day. Carson "put the country to bed", so to speak, at a time when the majority of people (on this show's air date) didn't have home taping devices. You had to watch the broadcast or you missed it. It's good to go to bed feeling comfortable and positive, and this show helped people out in that regard. This particular show had such variety, and of course Carson's quick wit always added so much. Not every show was gold, like this one (they couldn't all be, of course). But when they worked, you had a fine show ahead of you. Historically interesting, too. The last cigarette commercial ran on television, as well, in 1971, on "The Tonight Show", for Benson and Hedges. But beer commercials were still being shown. Interesting to see the Budweiser commercial with music featuring Lou Rawls. Thanks for putting the episode out where Ed had had a few too many. I had seen that clip of him interacting with Carson before they brought out Joan Embryo, and had wondered if his inebriation continued during Carson's interview with her. Apparently not. Anyway, thank you again for this gem.

[@deputay]

You're welcome! I agree & that's why I wanted to upload the episode - the rest of it gives more context than just the clip (which is funny by itself, of course). When this show was on, on most nights I'm sure no one thought it would be seen again - MAYBE it would be a repeat. That itself also gives it a different quality. If only they knew we'd be watching 45 years later!

[@CoryConti1]

I was 11 when Carson retired. I love this snapshot of time. Thank you

[@johnking5174]

6:45 - The moment Johnny says what he felt, that Ed was drunk.

[@jtking76]

She had a leopard kitten poop on her and just laughed it off with excellent dignity. A true professional.

[@georgesenda1952]

Carl Wayne was incredible. RIP to all of them.

[@echoecho3108]

Thanx again, deputay, for sharing! Always great to see a post from you. Really nice to see Johnny and the gang again Nice to see and hear Marilyn and Billy, too. Keep 'em coming, please?

[@deputay]

Thank you for the kind words! There will be another episode tomorrow morning!

[@echoecho3108]

@@deputay 😊👍

[@TERoss-jk9ny]

Johnny knew ED was drunk.

[@johnjaco5544]

Ed knew he was drunk.

[@chuckdieselkicksdisks2380]

great to finally see the whole episode

[@meijer78]

The infamous Ed McMahon drunk episode. Thank you.

[@deputay]

You're welcome!

[@johnking5174]

14:08 - Johnny strokes the little animal and then it craps itself. A bit like how every comedian felt when doing their stand up routine on Johnny's show.

[@dougholt2157]

I remember 1977 I was 10 years and life was good 😀 matter of fact once you start watching these videos of these times like the Johnny Carson show so much has changed since then to now and the change has not been good not good at all and it's all because of our politicians the corrupt lousy leadership! And a society that has just gone downhill like a roller coaster😢 very sad but these videos bring back good memories!

[@MyThirdPlaceLtd]

Thank you so much!!

[@deputay]

You're welcome!

[@thomasreagan6745]

0:24 Did Ed say “from the San Diego Joo…Zoo, Joan Embrey”?

[@deputay]

Yup!

[@markemark1484]

OMG this is the episode 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 thank you for sharing greatly appreciated

[@deputay]

You're welcome!

[@markemark1484]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻

[@pronemanoldbutyoung5548]

Seen this many times before. Classic TV in the making, absolutely fantastic

[@yabbadabba1975]

Aaaaaaah. The 90 min shows were usually awesome. With that much time to fill, stuff happens.

[@lastcrazyhorn]

I’ve seen the clip that precedes Joan’s entrance, but never the actual episode.

[@jchow5966]

Thank you!!!!!

[@deputay]

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it and I echo your statements! There are more Johnny (and old) Tonight shows on my page if you haven't seen them. Thanks again

[@capnkirk102]

0:32 "And the Mighty Carson ... Players."

[@johnking5174]

Poor Ed, one too many martinis earlier in the day and it led to this. You would have thought the producers would have known Ed was slightly hammered when he came into the studio?

[@brianoneill7186]

'Don't...don't saaAAAYY...that I wazh HAMMERED...'

[@thegameshowguy1]

He was must’ve been sweating the next day after seeing this episode that he was going to lose his job.

[@m.e.d.7997]

@@thegameshowguy1 Nah!

[@bleepiestofbloops]

Wow, Carol's own double entendres are way funnier than the ones in the Art Fern sketches.

[@wmbrown6]

I thought this was the Art Fern installment in which he plugged Iron Ball Builders and Tune-Up Manglers . . . would any Carsonologist know when that edition of "Tea Time Movie" aired? (It had the same exact wallpaper on the set.) I don't think I saw this one, however . . . don't think it turned up on any "Carson's Comedy Classics" episodes.

[@deanbrandl1987]

I always had a crush on Joan embry. what a babe.. like the girl next door every one had.

[@your_average_joe5781]

She had a stroke years ago 🥺

[@kimkelly5512]

Thr King of late night, Carson was and always will be the best!!!!

[@beatstreet570]

The San Diego what. Holy god.

[@kittendiotima4212]

I think Johnny looks a bit snockered too, Ed clearly is when gives that intro, but during the monologue Johnny keeps tripping over or slurring words, he laughs himself silly making fun of Ed drinking. I laugh so hard at this monologue.

[@wmbrown6]

Johnny did have an on-and-off drinking problem over the years . . . that to me made this instance all the more ironic.

[@maynardsmoreland]

Man, you can see at the end that Ed apologized to Johnny.

[@litealite]

OMG .He's wearing bell-bottoms

[@veroniquelaplante6237]

Thanks for sharing, do you by any chance have some episode with Lily Tomlin?

[@deputay]

Unfortunately, I don't. I do have the episode she hosted of Saturday Night Live in 1983 from the live broadcast, but SNL is much stricter on KZbin when it comes to posting episodes.

[@veroniquelaplante6237]

@@deputay Thanks a lot for the answer, and her SNL episodes are on the internet archive website so everyone can enjoy them there, thanks anyway! (:

[@poptart4260]

A quick hit on a sig , priceless

[@katiegrundle9900]

i saw that.

[@poptart4260]

I want to know why Johnny was rush n one , it’s his show 😂

[@MrMatteNWk]

5:14... run, chew gum, and murder at the same time.

[@chirelle.alanalooney8609]

I really like this couple, but I don't think that the song they just sang is going to be going over very well, because it is just too monotonous.

[@scottaw666]

They need The 5th Dimension probably. Usually, The McCoo’s sound great.

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

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

[@Ben_Hattie]

The San Diego Jew 😆