Johnny Carson Names The FUNNIEST Guests He Ever Had – HT

 

 

 

The next day I end up I usually wake up in some strange place with a kid with an accent playing with my feet.  Johnny Carson hosted nearly 22,000 guests. Most were forgettable promotional segments, but a few became legendary, turning a simple interview into comedy gold. How are you? Fine. I haven’t seen you in a long time.

I mean, except for last night, but I I mean, it’s  been These are the 15 guests Johnny Carson said were the funniest. Rodney Dangerfield, the no respect machine. I tell you, my neighbor don’t get no respect either. No respect at all. Are you kidding? No respect from anybody. I bought some rat poison.

 A girl asked me, “Should I wrap it up? You’re going to eat it here?” I mean, the girls always gave me a hard time. I’m not a ladies man. That’s why. You kidding? I know I’m ugly. I stuck my head out the window, got arrested for mooning. Rodney sits down, already sweating punchlines, and Carson barely has time to ask a question before the jokes start piling up.

I went to a wild party. Did you tell us about it? Yeah. Well, I played a new version of Russian roulette. Yeah, we passed around six girls and one of them had VD. The funniest moment is him rattling off a non-stop no respect barrage so fast that Carson can’t even respond between laughs. And I was an ugly kid, too.

 I worked in a pet store that people kept asking how big I’d get. Carson told his writers, “Rodney’s pace is what our monoly later said. Williams is the only guest where I became the audience. I just watched and laughed. Jonathan Winters, the Character Factory. Johnny Winters is a longtime friend of mine.

 I think I’ve known John for uh 20 20ome years. And next to Broadri Crawford, I think he’s the funniest man in the world.  Jonathan Winters doesn’t answer questions. He invents people who answer for them. The funniest [music] moment is when Winters tells the story of gluing the cat to the floor. I had a thing happening.

 I was painting um the other night and some glue some glue spilled on the floor and I forgot momentarily. I phase out, you know,  just little constantly, you know, just just phase out. Here was glue just all over and my cat came down and um I noticed Kitty was quite still and uh  so I said uh I said, “Come on, Kitty.

Kitty kitty kitty.  Come on, Tiger.” That’s that’s his name. Tiger. Come on, Tiger. Come on, Tiger. And Tiger’s just like this, you know.  And I looked down at these little paws and he was in quite hard in the glue.  And I said, “Well, it’s tough. You know, I’m strong. I can get out of it.

”  Carson told producers, “Give Winters extra time. You never know what he’ll create, but it’s always worth it.” [music] Don Rickles, the insult king. I wish you luck, John. I think I think it’s time you moved on. I think so. Hey, I’m not saying that for I’m not retiring.

 I’m just stepping down as the host of this show. Finished. These are the things I want to get. Stop trying to be graceful. They asked you to get out and you’re walking away.  Rickles walks out like the show belongs to him. And Carson [music] instantly becomes the target instead of the host. Done.

 Are you the governor of Guam?  Aren’t you Aren’t you getting your age? The prom’s over. All right. I mean, it’s summer. It’s summer. I know, but you’re dressing like some Chinese yo-yo or something.  How you feeling, Ed? Very good. Keep your name alive. Great. Thank you. You got heavy stuff going, but you’re a good guy and you know I love you.

Thank you, dog. I’ll testify to anything. I Course I heard the news. You’re the new host. The funniest moment is when Rickles starts throwing insults like live grenades and Johnny and Ed McMahon for no reason. You don’t you don’t live in in East Los Angeles. You’re in Beverly Hills. What are you talking about? A little Hubble and we keep alive.

 You know, we don’t have what you do. We call you up for dinner once in a while, but you and Alex are you have a place now in Utah or something, right? Yeah. Are these are these too fast? No. No. OH, NOW YOU KNOW WHY THEY WANT TO DUMP HIM. Carson later told his staff, Rickles is the only guest who can destroy my property and somehow make me look like the bad guy.

 Bob New Hart, the nervous storyteller. I was in the army with a guy named Gusso Brousard from Louisiana. Campy, Louisiana. And was he a cinjun? Cinjun. and he and we had the bunk next to each other and every day he’d wake up, he spoke to me for two years in the army. To this day, I I haven’t the slightest idea.

  New Hart sits down with that calm, nervous energy that makes every line sound like it’s barely holding together. The funniest moment is when he launches into one of his famous phone call routines on the couch and keeps Carson trapped in the rhythm. Johnny reportedly told Bob, “Your pauses are funnier than most people’s punchlines.

” Jack Benny, the timing master. When it came time to do the English horse, this is what he did. And we didn’t even know it.   Jack Benny walks out with perfect timing and weaponized stinginess, letting Carson set him up while he waits for the exact moment to undercut it. The funniest moment is Benny freezing in that classic, “How dare you” expression while the audience howls and Carson can’t move forward.

 Carson called Benny, the comedian who taught me that silence can be the best joke. Groucho Marks, the quick-witted legend. Groucho sits down like he’s there to fence with the host and not be interviewed by him. He twists Carson’s questions into insults and wordplay that feel older than TV, but sharper than most modern comics.

 The funniest moment is when Groucho turns a straight question into rapid insults that force Carson to laugh instead of followup. Groucho could make Johnny feel like the guest in his own chair. Carson treated those segments like masterclasses in comedy timing. Every setup Johnny gave him came back as a punchline aimed directly at the host.

The dynamic worked because Carson genuinely respected Groucho’s legacy and let him run wild. Their exchanges felt like watching two generations of comedy genius collide. Groucho would insult Johnny’s suit, his hair, his questions, and somehow make it feel like affection. Carson played the straight man perfectly, knowing that feeding Groucho setups was better television than trying to control him.

 The best moments came when Johnny would try to steer back to a topic and Groucho would derail it immediately. Joan Rivers, the brutal truth teller. Joan Rivers hits the couch like a fast-talking missile, turning celebrity gossip and self-deprecation into a single pace that Carson has to chase. She’s funniest when she’s half confessing and half attacking, saying the quiet part out loud before anyone can stop her.

 The funniest moment is when she lands a brutal punchline about Hollywood vanity, and Carson breaks because it’s too true. Rivers didn’t hold back on Carson’s show, which is exactly why he loved having her. She’d trash celebrities by name, make jokes about plastic surgery before it was common, and talk about her marriage with brutal honesty.

 Carson gave her the platform to push boundaries other guests couldn’t touch. Their relationship was built on mutual respect and the understanding that Joan would always bring material too sharp for most shows. She could pivot from self-deprecating humor to vicious celebrity takedowns without missing a beat. Carson trusted her to read the room and know exactly how far to push.

 The genius was she never punched down, only up at people with [music] more power and money. Her rapid fire delivery meant Johnny had to stay sharp because she’d steamroll right over a weak response. Joan became one of Carson’s most frequent guest hosts, proving how much he valued her comedy instincts.

 Their chemistry was electric because both understood the rhythm of late night television perfectly. Hey, enjoying the video so far. If so, comment down below your favorite moment and guest so far. Now, back to the video. Steve Martin, the absurdest genius. Steve Martin arrives with that nice guy face and then slowly reveals he’s there to mess with the format.

 He plays smart, dumb acts, innocent, and keeps nudging Carson into weirder territory until the interview becomes the joke. The funniest moment is when Martin commits to an absurd premise so confidently that Carson starts laughing at how seriously he’s pretending it makes sense. Martin’s comedy was built on subverting expectations, which made him perfect for Carson’s show.

 He’d bring props like his arrow through the head gag or balloon animals and treat them completely seriously. Carson would play along because he understood Martin was deconstructing the talk show format itself. Their best segments happened when Steve would answer a normal question with something completely absurd to deliver deadpan.

 The audience had to work slightly harder to get Martin’s humor, which Carson appreciated because it respected their intelligence. Martin never explained his jokes or winked at the camera he just committed fully to the bit. Carson gave him room to experiment, knowing [music] that Steve would deliver something memorable every time.

 The white suit, the banjo, the deliberately bad magic tricks all became part of Martin’s Tonight Show persona. Their dynamic worked because Johnny trusted Steve’s comedic instincts completely. Martin could pivot from highbrow intellectual humor to pure silliness without losing the thread. Carson’s reactions became part of the comedy as he’d laugh at the audacity of Martin’s commitment to stupid premises.

Carol Bernett, the physical comedy queen. Carol Bernett sits down like she’s about to tell a wholesome story, then flips into physical comedy that pulls Carson into her world. Her charm is that she can go broad without feeling fake, like the couch suddenly becomes a sketch stage. The funniest moment is when she breaks into a full body bit with faces and voices and gestures, and Carson can’t keep a straight host posture.

 Bernett understood how to use her entire body as a comedy instrument, which made her segments feel like live theater. She’d start answering a question normally, then suddenly shift into a character or impression that transformed the entire energy. Carson loved guests who could create moments, and Carol delivered every single time. Her Tarzananiel became one of the most replayed Tonight Show clips because it was so unexpected and committed.

 Bernett could make her face do things that seemed physically impossible, which sent [music] Carson into uncontrollable laughter. The best part was how effortless she made it look, even though every move was precisely calculated. Carol’s variety show experience meant she knew exactly how to play to a live audience and cameras simultaneously.

Carson would sometimes just sit back and watch her perform, knowing [music] that trying to interrupt would ruin the magic. Their friendship was obvious in how comfortable she felt taking over segments [music] and how willingly Johnny let her. Bernett represented old school showmanship that Carson deeply respected.

 She could sing, dance, act, and do comedy all in one appearance without any of it feeling forced. The audience loved her because she projected warmth even when doing [music] the most absurd physical bits. Carson told people she was one of the few guests who could genuinely surprise him. Betty White, the sweet but chaotic friend.

 Betty White appears sweet and controlled, which makes it even funnier when [music] the segment spins out around her. She plays calm while the situation gets chaotic and Carson ends up reacting like the straight man in a sitcom. The funniest moment is her elephant segment [music] where Carson gets knocked off balance and has to joke while trying not to get flattened.

 White’s genius was making chaos look accidental even when she orchestrated the whole thing. The elephant incident became legendary because Betty stood there completely unfazed while Johnny struggled with several tons of animal. She’d bring snakes, [music] marmicetses, and other unpredictable creatures, knowing exactly how Carson would react.

 Their dynamic worked because Betty understood Johnny needed genuine reactions to make the segments work. She never overperformed or tried to steal focus. She just created situations and let Carson’s responses do the comedy. White appeared on Carson nearly 50 times, which shows how much he valued her as a guest. She could pivot from wholesome game show host to edgy comedian without breaking character.

 Carson loved that duality because it meant every appearance felt slightly dangerous in the best way. Betty also participated in sketches, willingly becoming whatever character the bit required. Her Tarzen and Jane sketch with Carson became one of the most memorable Tonight Show comedy pieces. White’s professionalism meant she never complained about animals peeing on Johnny or segments going sideways.

 She treated every appearance like an opportunity to create television history. Carson told his producers to book Betty whenever she was available because she made his job easier. Their friendship extended beyond the show with genuine affection visible in every interaction. Tim Conway, the slowb burn master.

 Tim Conway sits down with that quiet, mischievous calm that signals he’s about to waste everyone’s composure on purpose. He builds a story slowly, choosing the most ridiculous details at the exact moments that make the host crack. The funniest [music] moment is when Conway stretches a simple premise into an endless escalation until Carson is visibly fighting laughter.

 Conway’s whole approach was based on [music] commitment to the slowest possible comedic build. He’d start with something mundane like going to the dentist, then add increasingly absurd details until the story became surreal. Carson would try to maintain composure, but Conway’s deadpan delivery made it impossible.

 The genius was Tim never laughed at his own material, which made it [music] funnier when Johnny lost it. Conway’s Carol Bernett show experience taught him exactly how to break another performer without cracking himself. He’d make small facial adjustments or add a tiny gesture that completely changed the energy.

 Carson appreciated that level of craft because it showed real comedic intelligence. Tim could stretch a 5-minute story into 15 minutes of pure escalating chaos. The audience would be crying, laughing while Conway maintained that innocent, confused expression. His physicality was subtle compared to other comics, but perfectly calibrated for maximum impact.

 Carson told friends that Conway was one of the few guests who could make him laugh against his [music] will. Their best segments happened when Tim would go off script and Johnny would have to improvise responses. Conway’s willingness to commit to stupidity with complete seriousness made him a Carson favorite.

 He [music] never needed props or costumes, just his face, voice, and impeccable timing. The fact that he could derail an entire segment with a single pause showed his mastery of rhythm. Don Knots, the nervous energy tornado. Don Knots brings nervous energy so sharp it becomes its own comedy engine. He can turn a basic anecdote into a physical performance complete with panic and faces [music] and stammered timing.

 The funniest moment is when he reenacts a story so intensely with hands and eyes and voice that [music] Carson starts laughing before the punchline even arrives. Knots perfected the art of playing terrified, which translated brilliantly to Carson’s couch. He’d tell stories about Andy Griffith show incidents, but act them out with such commitment that they became many one-man shows.

 Carson loved giving him space to perform because knots never needed prompting. His Barney Fe character had made him famous, but his real [music] personality was just as entertaining. Knots could make his eyes bug out in ways that seemed anatomically impossible. The shaking hands, the stammering voice, the panicked expressions, all worked together as a complete [music] physical comedy package that everyone at home and in the audience stands love.

 Carson would set him up with simple questions, knowing Don would transform them into performances. Their friendship dated back years, which gave their interactions genuine warmth underneath the comedy. Knots represented a specific type of physical comedian that Carson grew up admiring. He could be self-deprecating without seeming desperate, which is a difficult balance.

The audience rooted for him because his nervousness felt relatable even when exaggerated. Carson told producers that Knots was always worth booking because he delivered consistent laughs. Don never phoned it in, even for simple promotional appearances. Every story got the full physical treatment, complete with sound effects and character voices.

Carson’s biggest challenge was not laughing too early and ruining Knots carefully timed builds. Their best moments came when Don would go on a tangent and Johnny would just let him run wild. Sammy Davis Jr. The Showman Supreme. Sammy Davis Jr. comes in with pure showman confidence and turns the couch into a variety act.

 He can pivot from story to song to impression in [music] seconds and Carson treats it like a front row seat. The funniest moment is when Sammy fires off a rapid set of impressions so accurate and fast that Carson can’t even squeeze a question in. Davis represented the peak of old Vegas entertainment where performers had to master every skill.

 He could sing, dance, act, do comedy, and play instruments all in one Tonight Show appearance. Carson loved booking Sammy because he knew [music] the segment would feel like a mini variety show. Davis’s impressions were legendary, particularly his Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra bits that captured every vocal nuance.

 He’d switch between characters mid-sentence, creating entire conversations between Rat Pack members. Carson [music] would just sit back and watch the show unfold, knowing that trying to steer would only limit the magic. Sammy’s energy was relentless. He never gave the audience a moment to breathe between bits. The band loved when he appeared because he’d often grab an instrument and jam with them spontaneously.

 Davis also had incredible comedic timing that rivaled pure stand-up comics despite being primarily known as a singer. His self-deprecating humor about his height, his glass eye, and his rat pack status made him relatable despite the superstar persona. Carson appreciated that Sammy never took himself too seriously, even though he was one of the most talented performers alive.

 Their best segments happened when Davis would start telling a Hollywood story, then act out all the parts with different voices. He’d become Sinatra arguing with a director, then switch to the director, then become himself, watching it all. The physical comedy was just as sharp as the vocal work with Sammy using his whole body to sell each character.

 Carson told people that Davis was the most naturally gifted entertainer he’d ever had on the show. Sammy’s appearances felt like events because he brought that rat pack swagger that made everything feel larger than life. The fact that he could do all of this while making it look effortless showed his decades of professional experience.

 Which of these guests do you think was the funniest on Johnny Carson? Did you watch any of these comedians or celebrities live back in the day? And did we miss any of your favorites you think should have been on this list? Let us know in the comments. And don’t forget to subscribe to the channel as well as clicking the next deep dive right in front of you.