Remember This? Carson Crashes Rickles…
On August 28, 2014
- TV History
Remember This?
This was the night Johnny went from his set in Studio 1, across the hall to Studio 3 where Don Rickles was taping. The cameras are RCA TK44Bs. Enjoy and share! – Bobby Ellerbee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj2S2n64DeQ
Johnny Carson tracks down Don Rickles on the set of “C.P.O. Sharkey” to see if Don broke Johnny’s cigarette box on “The Tonight Show” in 1976. MORE JOHNNY CA…
I think it was spontaneous, or at least done with only minor planning. When it originally aired, I believe the entire segment was shot from the camera that was dollied into the hall. With a little notice, they could have switched to the cameras in Rickles’ studio. At least that’s how I remember it. Whenever we see it now, the footage from the different studios has been edited together.
Amazing job by the crew to do that.
the llady on the toilet was worth the look as well…lol
Carson used to “barge” in on the 11pm newscast, when the “TONIGHT” show was still at 30 Rock before the “migration” to beautiful, downtown Burbank in ’72. I felt a little sorry for viewers out of the NYC metro area, who may have had no idea of who Carson was talking about, when making references to “NBC’s crack meteorologist, (Dr.) Frank Field.”
I remember seeing this the night it happened, and I also think it was totally spontaneous. I remember the cameraman trying to dolly his way “live” out into the hallway so he could shoot through the other door. I think he actually rolled the dolly wheels over Johnny’s hand mic cable cause you saw the camera actually shake a little. I have seen a clip elsewhere, I believe on YouTube, with the original footage.
I love these kind of spontaneous moments. It makes me think of how Letterman would barge in on the Live at 5 show at WNBC-TV New York when they were in the same building at Rockefeller Center.
A very funny schtick. One would have to wonder if there wasn’t a bit of preplanning done on the part of the Carson production (i.e. making sure the camera cable was long enough; providing a mic for Johnny, and coordination with Studio 3 control, etc.) Still, it was great.
…this was so funny ! ..JC was p.o’d at the C.P.O., wasn’t he ?
A classic Carson moment. I remember seeing this before. Hilarious reaction from both Carson and Rickles. This was and is classic television.
I saw it in its original telecast….FUNNY!!!
I saw this on air. I think on of my favorite Carson moments. But always wondered just how spontaneous it really was?