Johnny Carson At His ABSOLUTE Funniest! He Couldn’t Resist These Promiscuous Woman on Tonight Show

Like for instance, IF I WENT  WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS?  OH, I’M SORRY. You know, I mean, we couldn’t really get into it. Do you know what I mean?  WHAT’D YOU SAY?  JOHNNY CARSON RULED LATE-NIGHT television for 30 years. Guests usually followed his exact script. But a few legendary women completely refused to play by those rules.

They used raw honesty and razor-sharp wit to take total control. They effortlessly turned the tables on the king of television. Today, we break down the greatest appearances in Tonight Show history. Watch how these powerful icons completely disarmed Johnny Carson. Let’s begin. Diane Keaton, the art of vulnerable flirting.

Diane Keaton captivated Hollywood not with typical bombshell glamour, but with a deeply authentic, relatable charm. Notice how she masterfully uses her unconventional wardrobe to disarm the legendary host.  What are you What are you What are you wearing tonight? Is this a It looks like kind of a of a suit.

 Uh  Yeah, it is a suit. I’m just like you guys. [laughter]    I I have a suit on, yeah.  Was it a man suit that you had fixed for you?  Oh, no, it’s a female suit.  Uh-huh.  And I am female.  Well, I know that. No, I was  I don’t sometimes, you know.  There’s no no question about that.

 You promise?  Yeah.  You [laughter] do?  And And you’re wearing those clogs again tonight.  That’s right, yeah. Yeah. Well, now that we know what I look like.  That brilliant wardrobe defense immediately establishes a captivating, playful tension. Next, the conversation shifts to her personal life, but her reality as a rising star is delightfully unexpected.

 What you did Somebody told me what you did last night. Now, here you are, you’re successful, you’ve been in motion pictures.  Yeah.  And about the great evening you had out last night, sumptuous dining.  It’s Oh, that’s right. Yeah, that’s right. I just ate Big Bob’s, you know. You know, I picked up some burgers and some fries.

 Another exciting evening in Hollywood, folks.  Yeah, that’s about it. Right.  There’s just I don’t know what excitement is. I mean, this is  Big Boy.  Yeah, and just got some stuff to go, you know. And took it back to the hotel and ate it by myself and turned on the TV.  yourself?  Sure. Yeah, definitely. Yes, definitely.

Undeniably, yeah.  Great. You You don’t You don’t date much, do you?  Uh oh god. I mean, oh no. I don’t think so. Not a lot.  I don’t mean that I date him or you know. I I don’t think I don’t know what it is. Maybe it’s something about me. I don’t know.  Her raw, self-deprecating honesty acts as a powerful magnetic force.

This disarming vulnerability escalates moments later when a sudden, highly unusual physical adjustment shifts the entire interview’s mood.  I used to live here years ago. Where you going?  I don’t know. I just felt  [laughter] [laughter]  Never had a guest just get up and start to leave before.

 I thought thought my 5-D odorant pad had failed there suddenly.  Showgirls does that.  That’s right. You You get comfortable that way, don’t you?  Yeah, I feel if I get like this, I told you this before, I feel better. I guess it’s better for me.  It’s It’s like in the fetal position, right?  Yeah, that’s right. That is true.

 It makes me feel good, you know, just  Well, you can sit any way that’s comfortable before you.  Well, I think  The massive television studio instantly shrinks into an incredibly intimate, private space. However, beneath that timid exterior hides a razor-sharp comedic timing waiting to ambush a standard holiday question.

 Good old Santa Claus.  A lot of psychologists say that it’s not good to start that myth that uh  Oh, really?  that there’s a Santa Claus and then break it to the child.  Yeah.  You know, later in life because Yeah, because it you know, disillusions him. And  My folks did that. They’re here.  No, they’re here in the audience tonight.

 Yeah, well, we are going to do this to them. And I remember they came and told me there was no Santa Claus once and it was was devastating.  How old were you, John?  I was 26. Oh, we bring that one up every year, don’t we?  Zoom right into it.  But you’re so cute.  Did you have What did What did you get for Christmas?  That perfectly timed punchline proves her absolute comedic genius.

As the laughter settles, the mood shifts again. Making way for a striking moment of pure, unfeigned professional insecurity.  You like it?  I Well, I I hope to. I hope that I will get a better feeling about myself cuz as you can tell, I’m kind of negative about myself. I have a tendency to be a little negative and I want to be more positive.

I think that I could do more things if I was.  Yeah, I think you could, too.  so?  Yes.  Well, I hope so. Um  I don’t know. I’m not a  You know, I’m always on  on the fence about everything. I never know what I’m doing.  of self-deprecating to yourself sometimes. You shouldn’t be.  No.  Cuz you’re you’re a good talent.

 Oh, well, see, I don’t know about that, but, you know,  Well, you should say, “Yes, I know about that.”  I I Well, I  Don’t you think you’re good actors?  Well, I mean, I I Well,  This rare modesty makes her utterly irresistible to anyone seeking to validate her worth. To help break through her nervous barrier, Johnny attempts a highly creative, impromptu psychological tactic.

 Thank you. Well, that’ll be all for today. Miss Twombly, you want to send in the next patient? Have you felt any stronger or  Oh, I don’t know. I wish to say that I could, but I’m still petrified when I have to do this. I don’t know why this affects me more than anything. This show, I don’t know.

 You feel comfortable with me?  well, I’m beginning to loosen up now, but it takes like 10 minutes to get over everything. I mean, I just it’s, you know, it’s mortifying. I don’t know why. There’s something about a live audience, and it’s true. It’s It’s so scary to me. I I love it so much, and yet you know, I’m so scared.

 turn up.  [snorts]  You know, yeah.  I think you’re perfectly natural. And I find you very delightful.  Well, oh, well, that’s nice. [laughter] Thank you.  His lingering gaze and gentle reassurance reveal a genuine, undeniable attraction. Finally, the ultimate transformation occurs the very second she steps up to the microphone to perform.

 You know.  It’s all right. Are you going to do a number for us tonight?  Uh, yeah, yeah.  Well, I mean, you want to. You don’t have to do it.  I I I want to, but I hope I don’t fall on my face as I said.  Oh, gee.  Should I go over there?  Well, you’re not going to fall on your face.

 No, well, watch me do this now.  No, you don’t. Okay.    It’s Diane Keaton. It’s Ronnie sings.    Okay. Okay.  I I I Okay. The stars are still on high, but they don’t twinkle anymore.  Why does it seem    they’ve lost their gleam?    Somehow the lovely  flowers have no fragrance  anymore.

Where is their bloom? Their sweet perfume? Darling, that just shows  what your goodbye can do.   Every ounce of hesitation completely evaporates as she radiates pure, magnetic confidence. Diane Keaton conquered late-night television by proving that genuine authenticity    is the most powerful form of seduction.

 [singing and music]      Dolly Parton completely flipped the talk show script. Instead of acting shy, she weaponized her famous figure and sharp wit to disarm Johnny Carson right out of the gate.  I’m so doing the show. I’ve been excited for a month cuz people think me and you’re great friends and I feel like we are.

 We are.  Even though I only know you from the panel and you came by the dressing room to say hello.  I didn’t know you were busy. I didn’t know.  Well, I had a coat.  Just knock on the door and say hi. Here this noise coming from the hallway.  I can’t talk now. But anyway, uh the crowds always great and and they’re no different tonight.

 Yeah, you’re looking sensational. I had a I had a telegram today. I think I got I was going to have my secretary do answer it but since  That backstage revelation instantly created a wonderfully intimate, flirtatious mood. She then steers this playful energy directly toward her physique. Proudly showing off her incredibly tiny waist.

 I asked you during the commercial, you’ve lost some weight, haven’t you? I know you’ve been trying to lose some weight.  I’ve been working on it most of the summer cuz I enjoy eating and I’m a very healthy, hearty person as you can well tell. But But I’m getting ready to do some movies sometime in the fall and I’m trying to get skinny and lovely so I can be  Is it tough?  Well, it’s always tough to go on a  weight did you lose?   Well, too much.

 I always say that I weighed 100 plenty. I’m just saying now that I’ve lost the plenty.  Yeah.  I still  You’ve got one of the smallest waists I’ve ever seen.  Well, I don’t know if it’s my waist so little. It’s just my  Just in contract.  Her absolute physical confidence set a trap for the legendary host. Two years earlier, Carson publicly offered a fortune to peek under her shirt, prompting a legendary comeback.

 I don’t know, yeah, maybe.    You know what you do? You can’t be more than 22, 23 years  Well, I’m about 22 right now. I still got a little bit of of weight to lose, but I’ve always been  Don’t lose too much.  lucky in that way.  Yeah.  Well, [snorts] don’t lose my image.  Well, [laughter] you can get a new one.

 I GOT I can’t take all your joke material away from you.  No, no, I wouldn’t No, no, no, I wouldn’t joke about that.  No, I appreciate you keeping me hot. In fact, before we talk about my  She brilliantly transformed media obsession with her chest into a hilarious weapon against him. This undeniable chemistry heats up further when they discuss crossing paths during upcoming Vegas shows.

 In contract show.  Well, I’d like to to perform and these  days soon I think I’m going to be working Vegas. So, maybe if you don’t see me before when I go  We may cross paths up there.  At least it’ll be we’ll be closer. Maybe we’ll get to to be better friends. I can’t No, I’m serious. I really mean that.

 I I think Yes.  They’re already I  When you see this audience thinks everything the wrong way.  That direct, sultry invitation left the studio audience screaming. Their mutual attraction soon evolves into a highly suggestive exchange about her deepest, darkest personal secrets.  Sure.  We tattle everything or laugh and joke and  Yeah.

 and just all kinds of feelings, but it’s great to have  Well, my life is an open book.  Is it? Well, I’m very open and very honest with the little personal things that you talk about.  little secrets inside.  Yeah. I better I don’t know  He and I have a few of those. [laughter] I have the library card for his book.

We could probably send each other to the chair. Or or at least do hard time in prison.  Well, that’s how we That’s how we are.  They matched each other perfectly in this battle of seductive wit. She then delivers the ultimate ego boost to the undisputed king of late-night television.  Good good friends Good friends can say that.

 Yeah, well, that’s what I mean. We can say anything. But I I was only kidding cuz everybody kids you about it.  Yeah.  I only like the show. Well, I I think other people do a good job, but I only really watch it when you’re on.  you.  And I don’t call it the Tonight Show. It To me, it’s the Johnny Carson Show.

 Oh, you’re saying all right.  NO, I’M SERIOUS.    BENEATH THE PLAYFUL SEDUCTION LAY A DEEP, genuine gratitude for the man who propelled her crossover career. She then deploys her ultimate weapon, serenading him with a custom-written song.  I have come a long way from the hills of Tennessee, and I’ve worked hard to make the folks back home real proud of me.

  Now everybody knows my name, no matter where I go, but I never really made it till the Johnny Carson Show.  Wow.  Now I have dreamed of stardom since I was just a kid, and me and  all the dream beneath this $13 wig. In my bell-bottom jumpsuit with my rhinestones all aglow, I became an overnight success  from the Johnny Carson Show.

From polyester paradise to silk and satin  frills, from a 48-foot mobile home to a mansion on the hill, from moonshine to rare wine, from a picker  to a rose, but I never really made it till the Johnny Carson Show.  mesmerized him with her vocal talent, intelligence, and magnetic charm. Dolly Parton proved that a quick mind    and absolute self-confidence formed the most irresistible television seduction.

   [music and singing]   Ann-Margret, how to fluster the king of late night. Fresh off an Oscar nomination for Carnal Knowledge, Ann-Margret brought absolute femme fatale energy to television. Notice how she instantly weaponizes a standard compliment into a highly suggestive early morning proposition.

   I didn’t see it before the show. They told me I look gorgeous, and they’re right.  Oh, thank you. I had a lot of help. George Masters did me.  Really? You don’t really normally need much uh makeup and stuff, do you?  Oh, you should see me in the morning.  Okay. [laughter] I’m so easy, anything you say.

Certainly, I’ll be there about 7:00. Hello, makeup man.  That bold opening established her absolute dominance over the interview. The conversation soon shifts to her controversial media title, leading to a brilliant psychological trap for the legendary host.  Somebody says sex symbol. And you said something about when you get up in the morning, you didn’t like to look at yourself in a mirror.

 Now, am I quoting that about right?  Well, I when somebody says that I’m sexy, I I am very, very flattered. I think any woman would be  Mhm.  if she’s honest with herself. Just Don’t you enjoy being called sexy? Don’t you enjoy when a woman calls you sexy?  Yeah. Yeah.   This real-life Harley Davidson rider possessed a rugged edge that perfectly matched her undeniable glamour.

She uses this unique combination to corner Johnny into a remarkably direct on-air confession.  Can I ask you a question? Do you think I’m sexy?  Yes, I do.  Really?  You have a very boyish sexiness.  I have a boyish  A boyish  boyish sexiness. That’s That’s good.  get away with murder.  Look at him.

 I can get a couple of women who won’t verify that.  That was on me.  That was That was putting me down.  I’m just teasing.  You had to gain weight for that picture, didn’t you?  The king of late night completely loses his composure under her intense gaze. His nervous slip of the tongue immediately gives her the perfect opening to paint a delightfully scandalous scenario.

 She can stay all night. I mean, just  Just a little while.  Well, explain what you mean by all night. Do you mean till the end of the show?  Well, of course I meant that that she didn’t have to eat until the end of the show. I didn’t mean all night here physically IN THE BUILDING.

 BUT YOU CAN IF YOU WANT TO. I MEAN, it’s nice here. We got nice carpets on the floor and refrigerators. What? All of those things.  This suffocating chemistry somehow makes even mundane studio props sound incredibly provocative. With her career securely managed by her husband, she fearlessly tackles one of Hollywood’s darkest industry rumors.

 My boys were asking me last night. We were talking about the movies and somebody brought up about the casting couch cuz I think Rona brought that up on her show. Was that a myth? Uh in fact, you know, you hear about well, to get a part in a picture you have to play the  Yeah. I didn’t mean you personally.

The boys were asking me if that that did exist and I said I really didn’t know.  I think several uh women say that um they had to do it when they really didn’t have to.  In other words, make it sound like this is what I  in any uh career. It doesn’t only happen in show business.  Whether they were a plumber’s apprentice or in motion pictures.

Now, want want to thread the pipe, Harriet?  Her effortless confidence allowed them to navigate scandalous industry secrets with total ease. She soon delivers a sweet, calculated remark that completely strips the host of his television authority.  Yeah. Are you still doing your act, Rona, which gets great reviews, too?  That’s my first love.

 You’re doing like nightclubs and that.  Singing, dancing, cuz you have the the direct rapport with the audience.  I know. Well, I’m so glad you came to be with us tonight. This isn’t painful for you, is it? Hm? I mean, this is easy, isn’t it?  It’s fun with you. It really is.  See, you’re just like any ordinary guy.

No, really. I wish you real good luck.  Thank you.  Uh you know, you’ve had a smashing success the last couple years and you’ve worked for it, too. So, thanks for being with us and we’ll see you soon.  That masterful backhanded compliment reduced the most powerful man in broadcasting to mere putty. The undeniable tension finally peaks when a simple makeup choice nearly causes a major scandal.

 You know, she’s wearing flavored lipstick. You know the way they make lipstick now in colors? Strawberry. What is it you could find out the flavor, but if you’d kiss me here in front of everybody, you know. What What flavor is it?  Strawberry, I think.  Strawberry?  Yeah, very good.  It’s one of my favorites.

 Yeah.  No, no. No.    Even in jest, somebody  Ann-Margret was an unstoppable force who rode heavy motorcycles and commanded the silver screen. She proved that unapologetic sensuality could leave the sharpest television minds completely helpless. How a pixie, Sally Field, destroyed late night.

Sally Field had a very innocent image. She was also about to win an Oscar for Norma Rae. Watch how she quickly drops that polite act right here.  You know, the photo play in all of the fan magazines all the time is being uh I want to choose the right word here. Girlfriend or chum of of of Burt Burt Reynolds, right?  Yes.

That’s right.  when I when I was going with my wife, they they referred to us as my gal pal. Which I thought was kind of a dumb thing. I didn’t exactly know what they were trying to say.  Gal pal.  Gal pal. How would you would describe your relationship with Burt? Um  Um lovers.  Oh, lovers? Yeah.    Yeah.

 That bold word choice catches Carson completely off guard. She quickly smooths things over by dragging an older family member into the joke.  See, I didn’t want to come on and say something like that because I really You didn’t think I could think that sort  say that to me. I mean, I have a  You do.

 You have that little kind of  sweet kind of girl  I mean, you look like you’d have two pom-poms and a little kind of  face, let’s face it.  Are you really?  My gosh.  Yeah, I hope my grandmother’s not watching.  Was she pretty old-fashioned, would she?  Oh, yeah. My grandmother’s My grandmother Joy. Hi, Joy.

 She’s She’s real old-fashioned. She has She’s 112. I mean, you’ve got to be old-fashioned when you’re 112.  Yes.  And um  Would she be disenchanted and unhappy if if she heard you say that you were  I think all of a sudden her hearing aid would go off.  She switches between bold and sweet so easily. Behind the scenes, she once faked a breakdown just to avoid dating him.

Now, watch her expose a secret playbook.  Right, I I I traumatize myself. As a matter of fact, um I I was coming to see you for the first time and and I I know that you and Bert are very very close, so  we are.  I talked to him and I said, “Help me. I mean, I want to be just wonderful. I want Johnny just to love me to death and just say, ‘Come always to this show.

‘” So, he said, “Okay, I’ll help you out. I mean, we’re close and I’ll give you a list of little do’s and don’ts.” So,  Are you serious?  Yeah. This is called um tips on Johnny.  That he actually is  Yeah.  Did it help you?  you very well.  Okay.  And you guys work really really well together.  Yeah, we get a little crazed together.

 She openly admits her plan to win him over. This immediately puts the host on the spot. Next, she mentions a rule about praise before doing the exact opposite.  one is is that I I I should give you no compliments. Because you’re you’re shy and you it makes you  uncomfortable and uh So, I I’m I’m not really to tell you that I adore you or that I think you’re a genius, for instance.

 No, you’re not supposed to say that.  I can’t say that because it makes you feel uncomfortable.  Or Or that uh  you’re  Of course, a certain amount of discomfort sometimes is  good for one. Uh but I know that’s true. I am basically I feel uncomfortable.  I shouldn’t say that you’re always thought you’re probably the sexiest man to ever set foot on the old tube.

 Well, I don’t you have to go that far.  Let me see your  No, now you are embarrassed. You see now that’s calling me.  you and it goes a little too far and I certainly shouldn’t tell you that I grew up watching  Carson clearly struggles to handle that direct move. She does not let him recover. She moves to the next rule and delivers a random insult about his clothes.

 I think it’s nice for women, you know, if they just don’t sit sometimes. They get a little, you know, if they say something.  it would be good if I could come out and give you a little shot.  Yeah.  You know? And you could you like to work off of that. Couple of good, solid shots.  Oh.  And and I said, “Well, that’s not really my personality.

 I mean, I’m just, you know, I’m like what I see. I’m cute and sweet.” And I don’t I don’t you know, he said, “Well, think real hard, you know, and find something about Johnny you don’t like.”  Right.  So, I mean, Johnny, I thought for days. I mean, 3 days. What do I like least? I mean, I don’t want to use hate. I mean, that’s a strong word, you know?  Yeah.

   Hate is real strong. So, I thought and thought and thought. I mean, what do I feel? I I I guess I would just have to say, “I hate your suits.”  I mean, it’s that I don’t like plaids and and stripes. I mean, I hate them.  This is blue. It’s kind of like that. This is not any plaids or anything to it.

 Yeah, it’s it’s it’s I hate it.  Directors often ignored her because she looked too small. She turns that exact trait into an advantage here. She dares the host to try some physical comedy.  He’s always helping me out.  Uh-huh.  Um And and lastly, he told me that, of course, I know it to be true, you are the king of physical comedy.

 I mean, there isn’t anybody I can’t I mean, I should I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. That is a compliment. But I know you and Bert, I mean, when you guys get out here, you go a little crackers. And you have such a good time. But I, being this short, I mean, cute little woman. We Yeah, pixie.

 And and you would feel uncomfortable being this gentleman that you are, doing any of that physical kind of fun stick stuff with me, you know? It just wouldn’t work out.  That challenge is actually a clever trap. Carson has to sit still and take it. This leads straight into a crazy moment in late night television history.  Really? I mean, you like to work off of this kind of stuff.

 I mean, you’re pleased when you get to get your teeth into some physical shtick. Now, I know that that it isn’t fair because I’m this little short woman and and you can’t really it can’t be fulfilled because you can’t come back at me with anything wonderful. Like for instance, IF I WENT  [cheering]   I MEAN, THERE’S NOTHING YOU CAN DO.

 I MEAN, I’M SHORT, I’m cute, and I’m all OF IT.  [cheering]  I MEAN, I CAN I I I I I COULD I COULD COME OVER here and I could  I don’t think we’re going [laughter] to allow this.  Oh, I’m sorry. I could do that, you know. I mean, THERE’S NO WAY  THAT YOU COULD ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE couldn’t really get into it.

 Do you know what I mean?  WHAT DID YOU SAY?  GOLDIE HAWN, THE DUMB BLONDE WHO broke the script. Goldie Hawn often played the giggly blonde. She actually won an Oscar for her very first movie. They say her formula is 10% innocence and 90% calculation.  It’s a slip of a dress. That you’re slinky tonight.  I know it.

 Really slinky. Do you feel Do you feel slinky when you wear something like that? I mean, black.  I had a discussion about that today.  Did you really?  Yeah, because um I didn’t know whether to wear something like this or whether to wear something less.  You can’t wear much less, but mean I mean less provocative.

 Provocative, yeah.  Well, but black is provocative, isn’t  I like black. It’s my favorite um Is black a color?  Of my true love’s hair.  Not really. Yes. No.  What?  I know what  the Black is No, black is  of color.  No, white is the absence of color.  What is black?  Black is beautiful.

 Like I said, black is the  Hello. Got a couple of students here TONIGHT IN COLLEGE.    UH BLACK IS NOT A COLOR, RIGHT? WHAT IS BLACK? It’s the absence of color.  That’s right.  So, I have an absence of color on.  Yes, you do have an absence of color. We’ll check into that with our staff.

Staff, what is a black?  She uses her abstract mind to completely disarm the host. Next, she proves she has absolutely nothing to hide. Listen to this major Hollywood star share a hilarious story about her humble beginnings as a cheap club dancer.  Do you have any jobs for me? And he’d say, “Well, yeah, I got a job for you, Goldie.

 Uh There’s a place called the Peppermint Lounge and Peppermint Box, and it’s across from the Pacific Not the Pacific Palisades, the Palisades in New Jersey. So, I get in a Greyhound bus  Palisades.  New Jersey Palisades, right. And I get in a bus and I go and I stop in front of this little box, little little box.

 And I walk in and I had on my frills on and all the fringe, you know, that you shake.  yeah.  And it was very big. Then my spike heels and crisscross tights, and I went in with my bag and I looked at the girl there and she’s standing at the counter. And she says, “Hey, baby, come on in.” She says, “We are going to get it on tonight.

” I said, “Hey, I came here to dance. I’m here to dance. I make $25 a night. And I’m, you know, where do I change? And where do I dance? And where’s the boss?” She says, “Well, the boss is over here.” So, I went and I met the boss, and he was drunk out of his mind. He is leaning over the thing and he’s going, “Hey, baby.

” He said, “You don’t have to get dressed.” He said, “We’re going to have a great time tonight.” I said, “I want to know where my dressing room is. I want to I want to get dressed. I want to put on my fringe, and I want you to tell me where to go.” So, I went up, and I danced on a table that was about This is one story of many, but I I danced on a table about as big as this, and it was wobbling, and I danced, and uh  Her charm comes directly from that raw honesty.

At this exact time, her new movie was making $40 million. She completely ignores that glamour. Instead, she delivers a great self-deprecating joke about her character’s romantic life.  It’s a wonderful picture.  Yeah, I hear he’s kind of crazy.  successful. It’s uh It’s unbelievable.

 You know, you work on a picture, and you you you It’s a job. You work on  Beatty on the other night, and uh uh he plays a hairdresser in this who has affairs with his clients, right?  Uh all but me.  Yeah, that’s what I  I I don’t know  but you.  I’m the only one that doesn’t get any.  Oh, is there Is there a Is there a reason for that, uh  Well, uh I’m his girlfriend, and that’s reason enough, I guess.

 Oh, you’re his girlfriend in the picture.  I play his girlfriend, yeah. And usually the girlfriends or the wives don’t get as much as everybody else.  She loves making fun of herself to break the classic movie star image. Carson then tries to ask a very typical tabloid question about marriage. She completely derails him with an incredibly strange metaphor about fish.

 I hope so.  Are you contemplating marriage again? I don’t mean this to sound like a fan magazine interview.  No.  People always ask questions like that.  Yeah. No, I’m not contemplating marriage. I don’t understand it.  Well, none of us do.    We don’t even We don’t even know why salmon go upstream, but if there they are.

Uh you You married because it’s there.  Right.  Like the mountain climbers say, uh I guess.  She is fully driving the interview now. The host has no choice but to follow her lead. The topic then shifts to personal fantasies. Notice how she completely shuts down his physical hints with a wildly abstract idea.

 No, we were talking about fantasies.  Fantasies. You ever have a fantasy?  Uh I have a lot of fantasies, but my fantasies are strange because they don’t they designate colors and they they they have to do with sensuality.  Mhm.  They don’t have  to do with specific  Right.  things.

 They don’t have to do with specific actions. Like I have a fantasy that you’ll put your hand on my hand. That’s not a fantasy. To me I I think of other things. More abstract things.  They actually share the exact same zodiac sign. For both of them, the human brain is the ultimate weapon of seduction. This connection creates pure magic.

The king of television simply surrenders and joins her completely random train of thought. Mhm.  Are you a Scorpio?  Yes.  So am I. So you know what I’m talking about.  Yes, we have a Could you explain that to us?  What?  Could you explain that to us?  Aluminum siding plays a great part in our dreams.

 Aluminum siding Aluminum siding plays a great part. Wait, we do strange things with aluminum siding.  Never comes into the average person. You know, you don’t have to touch or have a physical act, is what you’re saying.  Well, I think that that uh sexuality is also mostly in the brain.  As Dr.

 David Reuben says, the the most important sexual organ.  Carson is genuinely enjoying this unpredictable ride. At the peak of her fame, she simply stopped working to travel the world alone. Here, she drops the comedy to share a very sweet, simple dream about her future.  Uh-huh.  Your father was a violinist. What a blend.

 I I go in and out of these conversations like a python.  Violin?  I think so.  Music?  Music is very sensual. My father’s a violinist and he’s  Did he urge you when you were young to study the violin?  He No, he didn’t. He helped me uh He encouraged me as my mother did to expand on my  She never needed traditional seduction to win someone over.

Her appeal came from a free spirit and an incredibly quirky mind. Goldie Hawn proved that raw authenticity is completely irresistible.  I am doing what I Tomorrow I will be confronted with another set of diversions. I will be able to take this road or that road and then I have to decide which which road I want to take.

 It’s a good way to look at it so you don’t say 5 years from now I want the little cottage with a picket fence and a Guernsey cow.  A Guernsey cow. I wouldn’t mind having a Guernsey cow.  Robbing Sophia Loren with a twist. Sophia Loren brought pure Italian royalty to late-night television. The usually sharp host treated her with incredible reverence.

Watch him cleverly break the ice using a tiny, meaningful gift.  Now you should explain so the audience knows why I got you this. You said in your book, if I remember, in one of the chapters  Yes, yes, I am. Since I was born, I always wear with me something red because it brings me luck.  You said every day of your life something You wear red whether it is seen or unseen, you wear something red.

 Yeah.  So I figured maybe if you forgot I would bring you a little something. Now you see you did it, right?  That’s for you.  No, come on now.  That’s for you.  Really?  Yes.  He remembered her daily superstition from her autobiography. That thoughtful gesture completely melted her defenses. The mood quickly turns romantic as the host attempts some foreign language charm.

 Ancora bona.  Ancora bona.  Means nothing at all to you?  Well, it depends if you speak slang.  Uh-huh. What was  Is it slang?  Um might be. What the Did I say something terrible?  No. No, very nice. Very flattering for a woman. Ancora bona in slang means still very  Terrific.

 You look terrific, right?  Yes.  Yeah, well, that’s okay. I’m one ahead. She won an Oscar for channeling her traumatic war memories into film. Her current glamour hides a very dark childhood. Listen to the heartbreaking reality behind her old nickname.  Stuzzicadente.  Believe it or not, before you were what, 14 and a half? When you were a young girl, they called you stuzzicadente, which means toothpick.

 Toothpick, yes.  Yeah. And it uh you  It surprises you.  It surprises me because you are living proof that  Because you look at me now. You shouldn’t look at me then.  Were you really skinny? A toothpick?  Uh sure. But I was skinny because uh You shouldn’t laugh about that. I had nothing to eat.

 I know that. She survived terrible bombings in dark tunnels. She wrote her book to release those painful ghosts. Now, the ultimate screen siren prepares to reveal her surprisingly fragile side.  Yes, because I think that when I when I rehearse, I I’m not at all the character I’m playing.

 And I have some reserves still, and I am some I have some inhibitions.  Right.  But when I start to play and when the camera is rolling, uh I have to give the best I can because it’s the last time anyway. So,  Right.  I better go very deep into it, and I just go.  Yes, it’s true.  Yeah.

 Are you uncomfortable if you walk into a room a lot of people that you don’t know? You mentioned them  like I can fall down very easily.  Yeah. I have a feeling I’m comfortable small groups of people.    I have fallen down.  Have you really? Do you go and hide in a corner? I mean when you see a lot of strangers around you and you feel comfortable?  Oh, no, no, no.

 I just pretend I feel fine, but no, I never hide.  But you pretend you are comfortable even though you’re not.  I’m comfortable, sure.  She only feels truly safe when performing. Carson wisely stays quiet and lets her speak from the heart. Then he playfully shifts the tone to fake jealousy.  I don’t want you to be.  No, because I didn’t write anything about you in my book.

 [laughter]   Well, that was damn unfair. But uh I will forgive you. I will be magnanimous tonight and forgive you for that. Well, you had too many other interesting people to write about. You wrote about Marcello Mastroianni. Did you  It’s really unforgivable.  It’s really unforgivable?  Well, in your next book would you maybe include a little little paragraph of me in there?  A good one.

 A good one.  A good one.  He begs for a tiny mention in her next story. She handles his playful teasing with pure class. She also knows exactly how to shut down vicious tabloid lies.  Uh my marriage going to pieces, you know, because they always make it very big.  Right.  Um that’s what upsets me.

 Because I think the base of my life is uh my marriage and my family and my children. And if somebody writes something about my marriage going apart, you know, just breaking, uh it’s something that upsets me.  In other words, you don’t mind personally what the critics say although you you may not like it about your work as an actress, it’s when they attack you personally or the family that  Like critics can write anything they want about my work because uh  I should hope  they have the right.

 I mean, it’s their own job to judge you. Huh?  Right.  Uh but when they attack you on your on your private life, I don’t think that’s that’s uh fair.  Right.  She fiercely protects her family above all else. Material wealth means very little to her now. This leads into a hilarious story about a very unlucky hotel thief.  Yeah.

 Finished. As a matter of fact, uh when I was in Houston uh just about 3 days ago, 4 days ago, and I had a lot of fake jewels with me that um were about 6,000, 8,000 dollars. It’s not It’s a lot of money.  Those are pretty good fakes.  And um when I arrived in Los Angeles and I started to unpack my suitcases, they were gone.

 In other words, somebody had stolen them.  Everything. Everything I had. Everything.  What did they do? Steal out of your luggage on the  I don’t know. If I knew, I would find out right away.  You mean they just  It would be very simple.  They mean they disappeared between Houston  No, no, in Houston.

 They disappeared in Houston. I just went out from my room about an hour, an hour and a half to do a show and I came back and everything was fine. I didn’t uh look  Mhm.  for the my things. So, I just uh closed my suitcases and I flew back to Los Angeles. When I opened it and when I started to um uh unpack,  She commanded respect without ever raising her voice.

Her legendary appeal came from a perfect blend of grace and deep vulnerability. She truly was the ultimate queen of cinema.    Let’s call the old pickpocket here.  Johnny Carson was the undisputed king of late-night television. But these legendary women proved that even the king could be completely disarmed.

They never relied on standard Hollywood scripts or cheap flirtation. In doing so, they created absolutely unforgettable television history. Which of these iconic guests is your absolute favorite? Drop a comment below to let us know. Please like this video and subscribe to the channel for more legendary pop culture moments.