On November 27th, 1980, the legendary talk show host Johnny Carson delivered an unforgettable Thanksgiving Day monologue on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson“. The monologue began with Johnny’s iconic introduction, “here’s Johnny”, followed by thunderous applause and music. As the audience settled down, Johnny set the tone for the evening, expressing his gratitude to the viewers for choosing to spend their Thanksgiving night with him.
Knowing that his show was one of the last broadcasts before the end of Thanksgiving, Johnny acknowledged that most people had already enjoyed their Thanksgiving dinner. He humorously noted that the show business expression “a turkey” comes from people eating too much and then going to see a show. However, the audience at “The Tonight Show” was still energetic and ready for some laughs.
Johnny playfully commented on the crowd, stating that they hadn’t eaten yet but were “smoked.” Making a clever pun, he added that “This is The Tonight Show, the show with a message.” He then introduced his guest host for the evening, Mr. Thomas Nome, who stood in front of the orchestra. Johnny lightened the mood by teasing Tommy, saying that despite his childhood unhappiness, Tommy managed to handle his role with grace.
The monologue continued with Johnny discussing some Thanksgiving-related news. He mentioned the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and praised Ed, who hosted the parade in New York. Johnny revealed a little mishap during the parade, where some mooring cables snapped and Ed blew all the way to Brooklyn. However, Johnny also shared a funny incident that was not reported – the Snoopy balloon broke loose and ended up “neutered” by the Chrysler Building.
While the Macy’s parade in New York is a grand tradition, Johnny humorously reminded his audience that they, in the valley, have their own parade – the Zodis Thanksgiving Day Parade. He jokingly described it as three cashiers from Alpha Beta pushing Alan Hamill down Ventura in a shopping cart.
Continuing with his humor, Johnny shared a late-breaking news report from the newsroom. Tom Snider had invited Rona Barrett over for Thanksgiving dinner, but unfortunately, Rona’s food taster died. These amusing anecdotes showcased Johnny’s ability to find humor in everyday situations.
As the monologue progressed, Johnny began to reflect on his own childhood growing up in Nebraska. He shared a comical memory of his mother taking the “turkey’s temperature” because she never liked to kill a turkey with a fever. Johnny revealed that due to their financial constraints, his mother would make a turkey mold out of spam. Despite their limited means, they found ways to celebrate the holiday.
Johnny then took a playful jibe at liberal Democrats, implying that they don’t have much to celebrate this Thanksgiving. He quipped that they are all going to McDonald’s to try and win the sweepstakes, so they can make a comeback.
Naturally, Johnny couldn’t resist poking fun at President Carter and his family. He mentioned that they were spending the Thanksgiving weekend at Camp David when Soviet Premier Leonid Brezhnev called. President Carter wouldn’t let Brezhnev speak with Amy until she finished her green beans, causing laughter from the audience.
Moving on to President-elect Ronald Reagan, Johnny humorously described how Reagan celebrated Thanksgiving at his ranch in Santa Barbara. Reagan dressed up like a pilgrim and shot the turkey himself. Since he couldn’t find any Indians who were Republicans, Reagan had the Secret Service dress up as Indians. Johnny cleverly remarked that there was a joke in there somewhere but didn’t have time to go on a scavenger hunt.
Closing the monologue, Johnny expressed his relief that the football games were finally over. He comically shared a story about a husband who went crazy after receiving the turkey. The husband ran 96 yards and spiked the turkey into the ground, showcasing Johnny’s knack for bringing humor into any situation.
Johnny wrapped up the monologue by teasing the upcoming guests on the show, including Roberto Duran, who would discuss the Panama Canal and the $8 million. As always, Johnny ended with a gracious “thank you” to the audience, appreciative of their continued support.
Although Johnny’s Thanksgiving Day monologue aired over four decades ago, it remains a testament to his comedic prowess and ability to entertain millions of viewers each night. “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” was a legendary talk show that set the standard for what late-night television could be, and this memorable monologue is a prime example of why the show became such a cultural phenomenon.
