guest post by mikl-em
Jerry Seinfeld made his 1981 debut on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show, so young he looks like he’s could have just come from his Bar Mitzvah. You can see where he’s headed, but he’s definitely not there yet.
YouTube has an even earlier clip of Seinfeled on something called “Celebrity Cabaret” in 1977. Definitely in that awkward phase.
Here is a compilation of other comedians making their first stand-up appearance on the Tonight Show. Including David Letterman, Jay Leno, and Eddie Murphy. I think that is Johnny Carson himself that you can hear kinda mumbling along appreciatively (also awkwardly) while he re-watches the video.
It’s fun to see the current comedy old guard in their early days. For one thing it’s a mad fashion slalom course to see what stand-up’s were wearing in the 70’s and 80’s. Leno shows tremendous commitment to a single color there.
And, yes, that’s right, someone hosted The Tonight Show prior to Leno. In fact there was someone before Carson, too.
Lastly, here’s Steven Wright’s first time on the Tonight Show or TV at all. It’s worth seeing the interview with him at the end–it turns out that a scout for Carson just called him out of the blue to invite him on the show.
Here Are A Few Related Posts You Might Enjoy:
- Non Sequitur Microsoft Ad Featuring Jerry Seinfeld & Bill Gates
- The World of Seinfeld, Mapping All The Characters
- Andy Kaufman on The Tonight Show With Host Steve Martin
- USB Co-Inventor Ajay Bhatt on The Tonight Show
- Ed McMahon 1923-2009, Tonight Show Announcer
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
In Born Standing, Steve Martin’s book about his early stand up career, he describes these early appearances with such insight. I highly recommend Born Standing to any performer.
I just found this video of Steve Martin on The Dating Show in 1968… 4 years before his Tonight Show debut! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOT7heJgVcc