I loved the Tonight Show back in the day, watching hundreds if not thousands of episodes live when broadcast, and this random segment shown on a nostalgia cable channel reminded me of the greatness of comedian and host Johnny Carson.
That's because this is a prime case of "comeback" humor, in which Johnny, after a rather strained opening sketch, laments the absence of laughs this particular night, and is hilarious in his bouncing off of the potential calamity.
The guest stars are not among the show's luminaries, but all do a terrific job, demonstrating to me some 43 years later how the merely average talent of yesteryear is so far superior to today's so-called celebrities. Orson Bean, a terrific raconteur, gives the origins of his stage name from his and shows marvelous abilities with the English language in his verbal sparring with Johnny, and the double entendres are delightful. The great character actress, largely unsung, Joanna Cassidy is terrific and full of life in her stint, ostensibly just plugging a new movie with George C. Scott ("Bank Shot" directed by Gower Champion in a rare assignment for the choreographer).
Jose Molina is personable and terrific on his flamenco feet, but the highlight of the show is Jack Palance, delivering a fabulous recitation from a book he was writing, that is a powerfully moving anti-war tract. That this level of quality could emerge on just an off-night is testament to the classic status of this oft-imitated TV series.
That's because this is a prime case of "comeback" humor, in which Johnny, after a rather strained opening sketch, laments the absence of laughs this particular night, and is hilarious in his bouncing off of the potential calamity.
The guest stars are not among the show's luminaries, but all do a terrific job, demonstrating to me some 43 years later how the merely average talent of yesteryear is so far superior to today's so-called celebrities. Orson Bean, a terrific raconteur, gives the origins of his stage name from his and shows marvelous abilities with the English language in his verbal sparring with Johnny, and the double entendres are delightful. The great character actress, largely unsung, Joanna Cassidy is terrific and full of life in her stint, ostensibly just plugging a new movie with George C. Scott ("Bank Shot" directed by Gower Champion in a rare assignment for the choreographer).
Jose Molina is personable and terrific on his flamenco feet, but the highlight of the show is Jack Palance, delivering a fabulous recitation from a book he was writing, that is a powerfully moving anti-war tract. That this level of quality could emerge on just an off-night is testament to the classic status of this oft-imitated TV series.