In a 1986 episode of The Tonight Show, Johnny Carson had the audience rolling in the aisles with a monologue that was nothing short of comedic gold.
For those who may need a refresher, Johnny Carson was the king of late-night TV for nearly three decades.
He’s known for his impeccable timing, effortless charm, and his knack for making the day’s news both hilarious and relatable.
The show kicked off with Carson expressing gratitude towards the lively audience, a stark contrast to the previous night’s crowd.
However, it didn’t take long for him to zero in on Doc Severinsen’s attire for the evening.
The attire in question? A flamboyantly floral jacket that was impossible to ignore.
“You’re gutsy to wear a floral print,” Johnny quipped, “You have the face that can wear that,” sending waves of laughter through the audience.
This wasn’t the first time Doc’s fashion choices became fodder for Carson’s humor.
As one viewer nostalgically commented, “There was one night Doc had on a pinstripe suit with multicolored stripes, Johnny said he looked like a hit man for a circus.”
But Doc’s wardrobe wasn’t the only target of the night.
Carson didn’t shy away from political satire, taking jabs at world leaders with his signature wit.
One memorable line about Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi had the audience in stitches: “I just realized something weird. Do you realize that Gaddafi has more outfits than Cher?”
It’s jokes like these that showcased Carson’s ability to blend humor with sharp observations, making light of even the most tense political climates.
The monologue didn’t stop there.
From commenting on President Reagan’s foreign policy to poking fun at Liberace’s extravagant clothing, Carson covered a range of topics with ease.
His jokes about the stock market and the Columbia Space Shuttle demonstrated his knack for weaving current events into comedy, ensuring that his monologue was as informative as it was entertaining.
Granted, this particular joke nd another he threw out there about folks jumping from the WTC didn’t age well at all, but how could he have known?
Decades later, this particular monologue remains a fine-tuned example of Johnny Carson’s timeless appeal.
Fans old and new find joy in his humor, with one commenting, “No one will ever top Johnny Carson. He is forever the gold standard.”
Another viewer shared a personal connection to the show, mentioning how they won Doc’s floral print jacket at a charity auction but had never seen it in action until finding the clip.
“I’m so pleased you posted this. I actually won this jacket in a 1988 Muscular Dystrophy Association charity auction but in all these years had I never been able to find a photo or video clip from the night of the show the floral print jacket was worn (a Ralph Lauren Polo 39R. There was even an Italian cigar band in one of the pockets!)” they wrote.
What an incredible piece of entertainment history they’ve managed to hang onto.
Carson’s legacy lives on through these snippets of television history, reminding us of the power of laughter to unite and uplift.
His ability to craft monologues that resonated with audiences across generations is unmatched.
This monologue only solidifies his place as a true icon of American entertainment.
See Johnny Carson get the crowd rumbling while having a go at Doc’s jacket below!
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