For thirty years, Johnny Carson welcomed America into his living room every night, making The Tonight Show a cherished tradition in homes across the country. He wasn’t just a host; he was a master storyteller, a brilliant comedian, and the architect of countless unforgettable moments that helped define an era of television. These legendary appearances aren’t just history; they’re the vibrant threads of our shared American story, showing how laughter and genuine connection can create memories that last for decades.
Among the thousands who graced his stage, a select few carved out truly iconic moments, forever etched in television lore. We’re talking about the one-and-only Don Rickles, whose groundbreaking insult comedy debuted on The Tonight Show, and the surprising Ed Ames, whose seemingly simple tomahawk throw became a moment of pure, unscripted hilarity. These episodes weren’t just broadcasts; they were living proof of Johnny Carson’s genius, the power of live television, and how unforgettable characters can create enduring American stories.
📖 Read the Episode Transcript
Mark, Don Rickles, in 1965, made as Johnny Carson’s debut, and nobody would put Rickles on television. Johnny was the first one. People were too nervous to have somebody insult anybody on TV. It was decided at The Tonight Show that Don Rickles would not be allowed to make fun of Johnny, Ed McMahon, or anybody president. And Don said, “Then, what am I going to possibly do?” So it was decided that Johnny would take two or three minutes and explain to the audience that this is a man; his humor is making fun of people, but it’s okay, we’re allowed to laugh at him. So, after Johnny, for two or three minutes, would explain to the audience what was going to happen, it was very revolutionary to have an insult comic on television. It was decided that Don Rickles could make his network television debut, and he would make fun of Ed McMahon and make fun of the bandleader Skitch Henderson. And everyone would see Johnny laughing, and eventually, if Johnny was laughing, the audience would laugh. And then when the audience laughed, then Don could make fun of Johnny and see that Johnny was laughing, and it would work. And it did work.
Don Rickles is here tonight. He opens at The Resorts in Atlantic City tomorrow night, Friday, January 13th. Would you please welcome Mister Warmth. Don would.
Funniest monologue I’ve ever heard. I’ve heard you many, many years. Tonight was the funniest, so enjoy it.
What’s the worst place you ever worked? I mean, when you were starting?
No, ah, boo. Here, here’s your boo anyway. Boo is now the worst place.
That’s an Italian expression for, “How’s the family?”
It took him a couple appearances for the audience really to understand, and Don Rickles became an icon on the show.
How long have you been married now? And how does your wife, Barbara, put up with you?
Well?
I got news: We love each other.
You know you’ve been married? Yes, yes. All right, all right. But you like the way I sent this up for you. I’ll just feed him.
And you take a snap.
Kids, because I know all your wives, you know. And now you’re very, very well. I did. I did.
They were all friends of mine, and they’re friends of you. It was so, you’ve got in court and said you’re gonna take what? What?
One of Johnny’s favorite moments—and they would show this in anniversary shows—was one night Johnny was at the desk, and he noticed that his cigarette box was broken.
Oh, what the hell happened to this?
You know how long I’ve had this cigarette box on his desk? You brought that up from New York? I brought this from New York?
What on earth?
This was in the mid-seventies, and Doc Semmerson informed him that Don Rickles, the night before, had been on with guests host Bob Newhart and had broken Johnny’s cigarette box accidentally.
It happened last night? Oh, Don Rickles! I did not see Don. Did it last night? He’s taping across the hall, CPO Shark. I get over there!
Can I get over that?
And this was I’ve heard of. But Johnny said in the middle of the show, “Let’s go across the hall and ambush Don Rickles!”
I don’t give a damn on the Rickles! Rickle, hold! Stop the taping! Stop the taping!
Somebody broke my cigarette box!
Well, I really… And history was made with television, and every year that clip was shown.
No, I’m sorry about the box.
I will. I will come up with something.
Well, I hope so, but just keep me on your show.
You mean so much to me.
No, please, no, no, don’t humble yourself!
Please!
I want to be with you so much! Don’t humble yourself! And, brother, I want something bad? Okay, carry on.
In the mid-sixties, Ed Eames was known for being on Daniel Boone. He was somebody in the beginning of the show that would throw a tomahawk, but it was trick photography. Ed Eames did not know how to throw a tomahawk. Yet, it was decided on The Tonight Show, him and Johnny would throw tomahawks at a wooden cutout of a cowboy. And Ed Eames came in and said, “I don’t think I can do this. I don’t know how to throw a tomahawk.” They tried to show him. He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t make it stick. And then they said, said, “Hold it this way, the opposite way,” and he was able to make it stick. So, on air, it was decided that Ediames would throw a tomahawk first, and then Johnny, and they would take turn. Ed Eames throws the tomahawk, and it hits the cutout in the crotch. Right at the time, this was absolutely shocking. Eddames went home that night, and he told his wife, “The funniest thing happened, but I know you’re not going to see it tonight because the NBC sensors are never going to let this show.” Johnny told the NBC sensors, “This is staying.” Johnny and his brilliance held Ed Ames back. Ed Eames was going to go retrieve the Tamahawk, and he held Ames back, and Jack Benny mode kicked in. Jack Benny was famous for his pauses. They build up the laughs with comedy, and Johnny, for one or two minutes, just let the laughs build before he started doing his ad libs. And NBC ended up erasing most of the first ten years of The Tennant Show. But Johnny, after that episode, said, “I want a copy of this,” and he kept it in his desk, and that’s the only reason it exists today. Every anniversary show, Ed Eames and the Tamahawk was shown. There were a couple of years where Johnny thought it was too overexposed, and they might not put it in. And they would get so much mail from people that were outraged that they wouldn’t show it, so it became an annual tradition. Ed Aames, his career was really overall. That’s probably the most famous moment of his career. He was a singing star, he was a TV star, but the Tamahawk and Johnny Carson became the most iconic moment, maybe in the history of The Tonight Show.
And a terrific job on the production, editing, and storytelling by our own Greg anglic. And a special thanks to Mark Malkoff, author of In Love with Johnny Carson: One Obsessive Fan’s Journey to Find the Genius Behind the Legend. Get the book wherever you buy your books! You won’t put it down. Here on Our American Stories, Plea Habieb here again. Our American Stories tries to tell the stories of America’s past and present to Americans, and we want to hear your stories too. There’s some of our favorites. Send them to us. Go to OurAmericanStories.com and click the ‘Your Stories’ tab. Again, please go to OurAmericanStories.com and click the ‘Your Stories’ tab.
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