European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 29, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse One More special before Carson Calls it a nightly Susan King los Angeles times David Brenner clearly remembers the night of Jan. 8, 1971. The comedian had $3 in his pocket and had to borrow $100 to buy a suit for his first appearance on the tonight show with Johnny Carson. A i Only did it As a Lark a Brenner recalled. "1 wanted to get on television once. In 18 months As a comic i Only made $8,000.�?� that All changed in less than 24 hours. A by the end of the business Day after 1 did Carson i had $10,000 in jobs a Brenner said. A i took them Brenner went on to guest Host for Carson countless times Between 1976 and 1983 before hosting his own syndicated talk show in 1986. Brenner is one name on a Long list of comedians and actors who credit their appearance on Carsons show As an event that made their career. Their reminiscences come on the occasion of the 29th tonight show anniversary program thursday stateside 11 . Get Friday on an and tentatively scheduled for late saturday on seb a the last before Carson retires May 22 As tvs late night icon. Burt Reynolds recalled that Carson himself wanted Reynolds for the show after seeing the actors comedic Side during an appearance on the Merv Griffin show. A you have to remember in the 1960s if you went on the Carson show and really scored the next morning you were hotter than a burning tree a Reynolds said. A this was Back when 1 was in new York and i was playing indians gangsters detectives a not a lot of funny lines Reynolds did some Homework before his appearance in 1971 and thought he came prepared. A i heard As everybody docs All these stories that he does no to talk to you when the commercial comes on a Reynolds said. A so i was prepared to talk to de Mcmahon and then the first commercial came up and he said a hey do you want to Host the show Quot i was the first actor to c or Host the Reynolds said he has appeared on the Carson show every year a whether 1 was no. 1 at the Box Ottliee or no. 83. At the lowest ebb of nov career. 1 heard from about four people and one of them was the tonight show also brought other work to Reynolds. Quot i got a Call from California from director John Boorman to come to . 1 got because most of his feature films up to that time had been forgettable. Reynolds wondered what Boorman had seen him in. To revnolds Surprise Boorman was impressed with the Way he handled the tonight guests a lie said. A you were in control of three people on the show and this character in deliverance must be in control of three a insult comic Don Rockies said Carson gave him work when no one else w Ould a no one would come near me. I was considered Adolf i Lite a As with Reynolds. Carson himself wanted Rockies on the show. Quot it must have been 25 years Rockies remembered of his first appearance. A the had seen me at Basin Street East then a club in new York City and was a fan from the beginning. 1 be said a lets take a Chance on Don he opened doors for me which gave me the Opportunity for my to series and some movies. He was very David letter Ian said his first visit in 1978, did not go so smoothly. Letter Ian was not joking when he recalled a red had a Small stroke on the Couch. It was unbelievable. When i sat Down he really did pitch face Down. 1 reached Over and began to do car. It turned out it was something he had eaten and we continued with the since then Letterman a association with Carson has clearly been better. Quot i was on the show three times when i started hosting. I got a contract to work with the Sahara hotel in Lake Tahoe Nev and about that time i got a Deal to do a Pilot at today Carson productions produces late night with David letter Ian. Garry Shandling who shared permanent cohost duties with Jay Leno until he got his own comedy series it s Garry Shandling s show said that the tonight show also was the starting Point of his career a though 1 did no to get to sit Down on the Couch the first time in 1981. It is sort of a Benchmark to sit on the Couch. Quot when you go to Johnny a House you stand the first few times you Are Dick Cavett had quit his Job As monologue Severinsen Johnny Carson and de Mcmahon Are ready for the 29th Csc writer for Carson and was doing stand up in new York s Greenwich Village when he inst appealed on tonight in the mid-l%0s. Quot the thing that helped the most was doing is act while sitting on the Couch a said Cavett. Quot having scored As a panellist on the Couch. I sat in for Carson. Through that Abc decided they should give me a talk his Abc series aired opposite Carson but Cavett never thought he was in Competition with his old Boss. Quot it always seemed amusing to me that 1 was opposite he said. Quot it was flattering when 1 Learned he watched the Singer actress Bernadette Peters has been a frequent guest on the show since 1967, when she was performing off Broadway in Dames at sea. A it really made a difference Quot she said. Quot you Are in a Little show in new York and just the people in new York get to Sec it. Then they bring you on National television and All Over the country people get an idea of who you Quot it was a huge thing in my life Quot said comic Steven Wright. Quot it was like going through the looking Glass in Alice in the shows producer Peter Lassalle. Had seen Wrights stand up act in Boston. Said Wright. A the was in Boston looking for a school for ins kids and he went into a club and three weeks later i was on. 1 was on aug. 6, 1982, and then aug. 12. 1982. It was a Complete fairy tale. It changed everything. From that i got l Etter Nian. Saturday night live i1bo specials and a record Deal with Warner Paul Reiser said a appearing on Carson is very validating for a comic. It is a huge stamp of approval for family and part of the Joy Reiser said is that Carson allows guests especially comics Quot to Bounce material off of him. T he most fun i have is when you Start playing with him. I made Johnny laugh personally and it is a great sense of discuss Carsons impending retirement with these regulars and friends and inevitably the conversation turns to one of sadness and a sense of loss. Quot its sort of like a head falling off mount Rush More a said Bob Hope. Quot i think lies had enough and he wants to relax. He a walking out and de Mcmahon and Doc Severinsen Are going with him. 1 think Jay Leno is Captain of the Shandling said he became disoriented when Carson announced he was going to i tire and that Leno would take his place. Quot i am going to miss him very much a a said Shandling. Quot it was an unsettling feeling for me that Johnny was Leav ing. I will have to get used to despite his grousing on late night that lie was t named successor to Carson letter Ian could t say enough about his Mentor. "1 know Troni my own perspective How hard it is to get through an hour when i am on a letter Ian said. Quot so when 1 watch his show and see him be so Ellor less it gives me a huge feeling of in significance. I can to watch him. A to me it s a real Symbol of Success m show business to maintain a relationship and intend ship with this Man. Our relationship is one o tin few things that has meant anything to me. He has always been there and he has always been great so what now 29 1991 a
