On a recent episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, comedy legend Steve Martin brought his unique brand of entertainment to the stage. Known for his offbeat and unconventional performances, Martin delivered a comedy act that was specially tailored for an unusual audience – dogs.
Martin started off by explaining his desire to appeal to a wide range of viewers, including dogs. He pointed out that while there are dogs who watch TV, there is very little content that caters to their interests. And so, he took it upon himself to develop a comedy act specifically designed for our four-legged friends.
Acknowledging that the jokes might not land with humans, Martin encouraged viewers to invite their dogs to join them in front of the TV screen. He promised that the dogs would crack up like never before. With anticipation mounting, Martin invited a group of dogs from the studio audience to be his test audience and began his comedy act.
The act, Martin explained, was best appreciated by dogs and not humans. He recounted classic jokes like the one about the Yorkshire Terrier biting the mailman and the timeless riddle of why a newspaper is black and white and wet all over. Each punchline was followed by uproarious laughter from the canine attendees, reinforcing Martin’s assertion that this act was truly for them.
To enhance the entertainment value, Martin even played a little tune on a dog whistle, which was inaudible to humans but greatly enjoyed by the dogs. The performance was met with resounding applause and laughter from both the humans and their furry friends.
After the act, Johnny Carson expressed his curiosity about Martin’s inspiration for entertaining animals. Martin explained that he began by trying to entertain fish, then ventured to the zoo to test various animals’ reactions. He found that dogs were the most responsive and became his go-to audience.
The conversation continued as Martin shared his upcoming plans, including a concert featuring the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Eric Weisberg on March 9th, where he would showcase his skills on the banjo.
Carson also took the opportunity to delve into Martin’s other talents, including his knack for magic. Martin proceeded to demonstrate some card tricks, revealing the secrets behind false shuffling and bottom dealing. He even attempted mind reading, accurately identifying Carson’s zodiac sign.
The segment concluded with Martin’s signature trick, where a selected card magically flew out of the deck and landed on stage. Although Martin initially misinterpreted Carson’s chosen card as the Queen of Spades, he promptly corrected himself when Carson revealed that it was actually the Fourteen of Spades.
With his distinctive blend of comedy, music, and magic, Steve Martin once again proved why he is a cherished entertainer. Always willing to experiment and go against the norm, Martin’s performance on The Tonight Show left both humans and dogs thoroughly entertained.
Tune in to The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for more captivating moments like this one. And who knows, maybe one day, your furry companion could be rolling on the floor with laughter at Martin’s comedy act designed exclusively for dogs.
Originally aired on February 15, 1973
