There was a documentary about stand up comedians that had footage of Steven Wright in the green room before he was about to go on here. It was his first National tv appearance and he was nervously pacing watching the monitor when a producer told him he was up in 60 seconds, and Wright mumbled to himself “I’ve been working all my life for this moment but right now I’d give anything not to be here”.
@@kyledawes3236 @kyle dawes I didn't hear him say much about appearing on national television, but I watched the documentary and it was really cool. Thank you for sharing. :)
The king of dry humor. So many comedians come out like cheerleaders with crazy cocaine energy but Steven’s delivery really pulled you in. Even the silent pauses are hilarious
No kidding when he said, " One time during an interview, I took out a book and started reading.." Everybody starts laughing but the joke hadn't even started.
Seems his next appearance was on 11/23/82, so it was rather soon, but about 3.5 mo's later. I watched that appearance right before this one and based on what Carson said something about it being his 2nd performance. I searched on this channel, and the only other appearance on here was in 83.
Dude was / IS on a whole other level... genius!! “I broke a mirror at my house. I’m supposed to get 7 years bad luck, but my lawyer thinks he can get me 5.”
@heavnnnsent He's not my style of comic. I need the crazier more upbeat guys like Robin Williams or Dangerfield who are all over the place with their thoughts. Some of Wright's observations are great, but he feels way to scripted in his delivery.
Steven Wright is a genius. Saw him back in '85 at a college in NJ, we laughed our asses off the whole way home that night. Never seen anyone that original before or since.
I so agree. I saw him live in San Francisco three times. Each time I laughed so hard I had muscles aching all over my body from laughing so hard. Including my face. He delivers a bunch of long form material in his live acts that you don't see in most of his short form stuff that's recorded. He is one of the most brilliant comics ever.
👍Very astute. I just saw him on Conan's podcast and Steven said he actually studied painting, and feels like abstract & impressionistic painting was a big influence on him.
One word - the first word he spoke to a national audience - got laughs and it wasn't even the word he said, it was the way he said it. He's always been my favorite comedian - genius level.
I remember watching this with my uncle when it aired. My uncle, who was a great stand up in his day said, "This kid's got it." My uncle did alot of corporate gigs and auctioneering. He laughed hysterically at everything Steven said. Loved him. RIP, Uncle Bernie
Steven's greatest line was, something like, "I called everyone and no one was home, so I sat and watched cartoons and thought I was dreaming." You can tell that was such an honest statement of how grateful he was for the opportunity. There was a lot of greatness on stage that night. ✌️😎
Occasionally i'll here people say that line in every day speech or if someone says, "It's a small world" another will reply "but i wouldn't wanna paint it". I'd always thought it was an old saying from long ago. Didn't know it was another of Steven Wright's gems.
I loved that about Johny. He was a huge fan of comics and seemed to genuinely want them to do well. Whenever I would see a comedian on his show, I'd always listen close because you could make out his distinctive cackle. You could hear him laughing in this, in fact.
Steven and I (and 3 other high school buddies) spent a summer on Martha's Vineyard in 1977, it was the most amazing time. He had us on the floor laughing the entire summer. I'm thrilled and not surprised, that he took advantage of his obvious talent. Got to see him backstage at SNL years ago, and went to the SNL after party. Sorry that I haven't had a chance to see him in years.
@@texasgina I taped the show and still have the VHS tape! BTW Steve was so poor that he lived on PB&J sandwiches for almost every meal that summer of '77.
'The other day I bought an occasional table ... I don't know what it is the rest of the time' ... one of my favourite Steven Wright jokes. A stand-up genius !
Getting invited to sit and talk with Johnny has always been the moment when standup comics knew they had just been elevated to the next level, so to get invited to sit and talk with Johnny AND to have Johnny say he hopes he comes back on was the biggest endorsement someone like Steven Wright could ever hope for. His career as a headliner was solidified in those few minutes.
I brought a cancer patient to a drive in theater in my ambulance to watch Wrath of Khan. He passed away within a few days. Real nice kid. God Bless him.
we watching him lately courtesy of Pluto. I think I was just watching a best of from the 17th anniversary. It's here on UA-cam. There's a very strange skit he did free basically hung himself. I'm trying to figure out how this got okayed and what was the story behind it
Imagine how good it must have felt to go on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson where a successful gig could make you a star and this guy ROCKED IT his first time and had the audience eating out of his hand. What a great feeling that must have been for a truly unique, funny and talented comic. Very cool!
@@jonbongjovi1869 Because late-night TV hosts struggle to attract viewers nowadays, since viewers have so many options. Late-night shows can’t afford to risk unproven comedians anymore. Back when Johnny was the only thing on, the audience was built-in, so shows could take more risks
@@TomDavidMcCauley I must disagree. No one watches Colbert or Kimmel or Fallon for the GUEST! (Maybe in shorter clips later on YT.) And Colbert has the same 20 guests on over and over and NOT EVEN FAMOUS COMICS get to do sets on his show. (Maybe he doesn't want the competition?) ALL of COlbert's guests are ADVERTISEMENTS for Big Corporations. (Movies, books, etc.) STAND-UP COMICS who are unknown, don't have the MONEY to buy a slot! It's rigged top to bottom today, for GREED.
I'm so glad this clip is available on UA-cam because it confirms I actually saw this when it first aired. I remember Steven made such an impression on me that I couldn't stop talking about him the next day and repeated many of his jokes, which I can recall almost 40 years later. Absolutely mindblowing how original and brilliant he is. And Johnny immediately knew he had something special and his seal of approval made Steven a star. This was an amazing performance. I'm such a nerd that I counted the responses and in 5 minutes he got 29 laughs and 10 applause breaks. Not in a row ...
Same. was with a group of bandmates after a gig. we were pretty beat and no one said a word . Then we all looked at each other like did that really happen. Never skip over a clip of his that is posted.
"Got called in for jury duty. It's a strange case: 10,000 ants dressed up as rice and robbed a Chinese restaurant... I don't think they did it." - SW. The man is a f__king genius. I've never seen this footage of his first time on the national stage. I love how the awe and the total disbelief that he's made it for real can't help but peek through that Steven Wright wall. I felt like I was actually living it in real time. Truly one of the best non sequitur storytellers in the American pantheon. If he'd been British, he might've been a Python. So glad the audience bought in for the ride when he invited them to do so. We're all better for it.
I did see it when it happened, I was like...14 ish, laughed my ass off cause.... well.... I understood it the way he was telling it! Miss those days, and all those "new comedians', who now are some of the greatest ever.
Over the years Steven has refined his comedy to be even more deadpan and it worked even better. You can tell he was excited and nervous with this, his first Carson appearance. Incredible talent and a lot of work. One of my top 3 comedians, maybe number 1. I'd like to meet him one day and just shake his hand and say thanks (in the style Steven uses when he first begins his set).
He would love that I'm sure. Just watched his recent appearance on the Rich Eisen show and he comes across as extremely gracious and modest. Hilarious too obviously!
I actually came up to him after a show in 1996 or 1997 at Roy Thomson HAll in Toronto, right before I started doing stand up comedy. I asked him if he has any advice for me, as I was very nervous about my first show. He looked at me, and said (totally deadpan) "Yeah, go with your gut!" ... Best advice I ever got! :) And I did become a professional comedian...
"I have the world's largest seashell collection. Perhaps you've seen it. I keep it scattered on beaches all over the world so everyone can enjoy it" Truly a unique comedian.......
Same here, and I still quote so many of his unique one-liners. Sometime later i bought his comedy album on LP. His mind is so different than anyone elses.
I've never seen Steven's stand up before but I've always heard his name mentioned as one of the best to ever do it. Now I completely understand why, he's absolutely hilarious
He's so original that there are lists of his jokes on the Internet, and some aren't his. Though they are plausible, because he has such a distinctive style. My faves are "It doesn't matter what temperature a room is: it's always room temperature" and "I played poker with Tarot cards. I got a full house and four people died."
It's pretty cool that your first exposure to his comedy was his first appearance with Johnny. He has a ton of material. I saw him live in Boulder, Colorado after I had been a huge fan for about 15 years. He performed for 90 minutes and about 75% of his jokes were ones I had never heard. The joke I recall best from the first time I saw him is: I spilled spot remover on my dog. He's gone now. Since you like him, you would probably like Emo Phillips and Mitch Hedberg if you aren't aware of them.
Two Babies in a nursery side by side. Decades later they are side by side in a nursing home, one looks over at the other and says, " So What Did You Think?""
I love Stephen Wright. Seeing this and how confident he was, even while this was his first time on national tv, was supremely satisfying. I kept saying to myself, good for you man. One of my favorite jokes of Stephen's is "The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese." Brillant. Lol
Steven Wright has a different kind of comedic genius. No vulgarity, just sheer wit and brilliance that really gets your brain to working. Things that make you wonder, "I never thought of that", and make you laugh at the same time. A couple of his- "If you shoot a mime should you use a silencer"? "Ever wonder why you drive on the Parkway and park in the driveway"? I mean who thinks like that?..lol. Brilliant comedy genius. Hands down like no other. 👍
Love this guy! My brothers and I grew up with his material.. I met him in Vegas while I was working in the gym at the MGM Grand, in the mid-nineties. He gave me and my 2 brothers tickets to his show at the Sahara hotel that night. He knocked it out of the park. “ I was looking at my grandfather while he was lying in his casket, and I began thinking about the batteries in my flashlight at home. Then I thought, maybe he’s not dead, maybe he’s just in the wrong way” A comedy legend, and a real class act!
Boy, getting the couch the first time, and that little ovation he got after he sat down---that is about as good as it gets. He was a little too overwhelmed to really engage with Johnny, but no worries, "I hope this won't be the last time you'll be here." He must have been fist pumping like crazy (whenever he got to his fist pumping place). What a BOSS!!
With all due respect to Carnac, Aunt Blabby, his Reagan imitation, his recoveries from jokes that went awry, the best thing about Johnny was that he gave chances/took chances on young and/or struggling comics to help them out. Great clip indeed!
@@bryanmannoia8410I love the good old days when politics weren't a thing and everybody just agreed on everything because if you didn't you got beat up like you came from another country or something. These days people think they can say what they want and get away with it. We need to go back!
@@williamwatson4354 My favorite is..."Any Stones fans. (Audience applauds). Hard to believe they're still going strong after all these years...yeah, Fred and Barney". Check it Out! Ciao!!!
@@michaelt3308 Worth noting that he has a certain "character" that he uses for his stand-up performance, but he has also done a lot of writing for other projects. He knows and does more than most people may think. EDIT: From Wikipedia: His accolades include the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for starring, writing and producing the short film The Appointments of Dennis Jennings (1988)[3] and two Primetime Emmy Awards nominations as a producer of Louie (2010-15).[4] He is known for his supporting role as Leon in the Peabody Award-winning tragicomedy web series Horace and Pete.
Watching Steve here you have to remember that the size of the crowd in the STUDIO AUDIENCE was ten times bigger than he had ever worked with never mind the many many millions of TV viewers. He delivers a few of his pure and classic originals here but certainly went on to perfect his craft over many years.
“I sprayed spot remover on my dog and he disappeared” was always one of my favorites. It’s a level of genius there to be so simple in concept, and dry in delivery but makes everyone think for a second to get it and then laugh twice as hard
I used to work at the Fire Hydrant Factory. You couldn't park anywhere near the place! My Friend bought a house on a One Way, Dead End Street. He can't get out!
One of my favorite Steven Wright sayings... You know when you're sitting on a bar stool and you rock back on the back legs... To the point you feel like you're almost going to fall back... I feel like that all the time! Steven had some great stuff!!
i love comedy like that !! ... my brother in law was in edinburgh at the festival and saw emo phillips walking with a trombone case , he stopped him and said " im a big fan ... i never knew you played trombone too !!" .. emo saind .. " i dont" and walked away ... how long had he been walking around waiting for someone to ask !!? ... stephen wright makes me feel like that all the time
Steven is a unique and brilliant comedian. I've seen him live in Houston a couple of times years ago. He's so intelligent with his humor the crowd would have delayed laughter because he was already on the next joke and you re still processing the last joke and busting out laughing from the joke right before that. I enjoy his sense of humor!
I was a kid when I first heard Steven Wright. I remember laughing so hard while at the same time feeling like he was causing my brain to open up in ways that it never did before. From that moment on I was always eager to hear his performances because I knew he would say things that would amuse and bemuse. I loved every minute of every performance. He is truly one of the all time greats. So glad you posted this.
@@nowthatsjustducky I used that on a waiter at Dennys. Then he proceeded to ask me how I wanted my eggs ? Sunnyside down and don't turn them over. It rendered him dysfunctional for a few moments
About 20 years ago we were on a family vacation and I found "I Have a Pony" on cassette at a truck stop. We listened to it the whole trup. My kids are all adults now but they still remember it and repeat Steven Wright jokes.
I actually saw this back then. I even remember how much my face hurt from laughing so hard. And still does! That night, He became one of my all time favorite comedians.
First time on national television and he nailed it. You can tell he is gifted with a natural sense of humor. Just smart enough to get fame and fortune from it. Hey why not? A God given talent and providing the world with the best medicine. Glad you decided to buddy. The type of guy you could hang out with all day cause you're sure to have a great time laughing all the time. 👍
About 20 years ago I saw Steven Wright in a bar in New York. He was leaning against a juke box in a corner. Same hang-dog expression, not talking to anyone, in his own world. I thought, this guy is always on.
I remember seeing this on the TV in my college dorm’s lounge. To this day, I not only remember all these jokes, but I often retell many of them (and always crediting Mr. Wright) to this day. They never, ever fail to get laughs, no matter the context or audience, 40 years later!
He's one of my favorite comedians. He never fails to crack me up and no one can do deadpan dry literal humor like him. Some have tried but no one can come close to him, in my opinion.
There was a documentary about stand up comedians that had footage of Steven Wright in the green room before he was about to go on here. It was his first National tv appearance and he was nervously pacing watching the monitor when a producer told him he was up in 60 seconds, and Wright mumbled to himself “I’ve been working all my life for this moment but right now I’d give anything not to be here”.
What was the documentary called?
@@jamiev7165 I can't remember...I've been looking for the clip on UA-cam and can't find it :/
@@jamiev7165 I think it’s “when stand up stood out”.
@@kyledawes3236 @kyle dawes I didn't hear him say much about appearing on national television, but I watched the documentary and it was really cool. Thank you for sharing. :)
I know that feeling very well!
I love how Johnny noticed Steven's first time awkwardness and still got him through the interview-- True professional.
I think he was staying in character.
His awkwardness is all part of the act.
Johnny Carson was a gentleman and especially kind to comedians, knowing the business himself how hard it is to do. Insightful of you to see it.
Johnny was always a consumate host
You can tell Johnny liked him.
The king of dry humor. So many comedians come out like cheerleaders with crazy cocaine energy but Steven’s delivery really pulled you in. Even the silent pauses are hilarious
I AGREE .
I AGREE .
nobody could pretend to be Steven Wright and pull it off as good as this guy.
No kidding when he said,
" One time during an interview, I took out a book and started reading.."
Everybody starts laughing but the joke hadn't even started.
"That's wonderfully inventive stuff." Carson said it with genuine love. He appreciated great comedy so much.
I remember when this man hit the scene. Nobody had ever seen standup done like this before and he was an instant hit.
I remember when this guy came out. He sucked then and never got any better.....
@@Armored_Fist Yet here you are.
@@Armored_Fist Have one of the attendants at your rest home explain his jokes to you.
@@Armored_Fist Viking FISTER lol
@@Armored_Fist Why are you in the comment section on a video of a comedian you apparently don't like? Go somewhere.
"They say you don't know what you have until it's gone. So I sold everything to see what I had." - Steven Wright :)
"I bought some batteries, they weren't included so I had to go back and buy them again" Steve Wright
"If we're not supposed to eat animals, why are they made of meat?" - Steven Wright
@@KutWrite Hermits have no peer pressure. - Steven Wright
"The other day I found a diary from when I was a kid. I looked at the first entry. Day one. Still tired from the big move "
hahahaha that's funny!!!
I love that you could see him trying to keep a straight face. This is the most emotion I have ever seen come out of him.
Yep, the hare krishna pony joke almost broke him.
I saw him perform live back in the early 90s. There were several occasions when he looked like he was going to lose it.
So true !!
I've never seen Steven break character in his later performances but this was close. Like he said to Johnny, he was in a dream 💖
you can watch his interview with Conan O'Brien in his podcast. He laughed and looked so happy there
Steven Wright was so funny that Johnny had him back with in a week. Which was really unheard of at the time.
Seems his next appearance was on 11/23/82, so it was rather soon, but about 3.5 mo's later. I watched that appearance right before this one and based on what Carson said something about it being his 2nd performance. I searched on this channel, and the only other appearance on here was in 83.
Dude was / IS on a whole other level... genius!!
“I broke a mirror at my house. I’m supposed to get 7 years bad luck, but my lawyer thinks he can get me 5.”
Never heard of Steven Wright.....
@@henrythegreatamerican8136 You missed out. And he's still doing standup. See him live and you won't stop laughing. He's the anti Dangerfield.
How does a guy come up with all his material? He is my all time favorite comedian. I was fortunate to get to see him at UIS several years ago.
@@henrythegreatamerican8136 .... So now that you know who he is.... what do ya think of him?
@heavnnnsent
He's not my style of comic. I need the crazier more upbeat guys like Robin Williams or Dangerfield who are all over the place with their thoughts. Some of Wright's observations are great, but he feels way to scripted in his delivery.
That "I thought was dreaming" line felt very sweet and genuine.
Steven Wright is a genius. Saw him back in '85 at a college in NJ, we laughed our asses off the whole way home that night. Never seen anyone that original before or since.
I so agree. I saw him live in San Francisco three times. Each time I laughed so hard I had muscles aching all over my body from laughing so hard. Including my face. He delivers a bunch of long form material in his live acts that you don't see in most of his short form stuff that's recorded. He is one of the most brilliant comics ever.
Steven Wright is one of my favorites. If surrealism had a comedy act, this would be it.
he is the Salvador Dali of comedy
👍Very astute. I just saw him on Conan's podcast and Steven said he actually studied painting, and feels like abstract & impressionistic painting was a big influence on him.
One word - the first word he spoke to a national audience - got laughs and it wasn't even the word he said, it was the way he said it. He's always been my favorite comedian - genius level.
People forget, Johnny was a king maker. This appearance made Steven Wright.
I remember watching this with my uncle when it aired. My uncle, who was a great stand up in his day said, "This kid's got it." My uncle did alot of corporate gigs and auctioneering. He laughed hysterically at everything Steven said. Loved him. RIP, Uncle Bernie
Awww. What is your uncle's name if you don't mind?
@@heavnnnsent Bernie, did you read the comment
@@whosyodaddy763 you’re a jerk, but you made me laugh so more jokes funny man 😂
Steven Wright reminds me of George Carlin and Robin Williams All Unique and All Brilliant...
Ah, the great Bernie Jones.
One of my favorite Steven Wright jokes is this: "I once worked at a factory that made fire Hydrants. You couldn't park within a mile of that place."
My favorite: “I found my diary from when I was a baby. Day One: Still tired from the move. Day Two: Everyone talks to me like I’m an idiot.”
Laughed so hard I couldn't see
"I went to the store and bought some powdered water....didn't know what to add".
@Jim Morris….did he add…but the dogs in the area had a great time!
"I was reading the dictionary. I thought it was a poem about everything."
Steven's greatest line was, something like, "I called everyone and no one was home, so I sat and watched cartoons and thought I was dreaming." You can tell that was such an honest statement of how grateful he was for the opportunity. There was a lot of greatness on stage that night. ✌️😎
Didn't he just say that in the interview?
Yes he did I heard it too!
@@kenoneill8783 hilarious, I heard he liked wearing long-sleeved white button up shirts.
And Johnny, who could have teased him, was genuine and warm with him
Not cartoons, CAHtoons!
"I get up and everything in my apartment has been stolen and replaced with an exact replica."
Classic that'll never die.
That happened to me once. I only Rent unfurnished apartments now.
I miss the 80s!❤ Johnny was a classy man too! Bravo
"It's a small world, but I'd hate to paint it." my favorite one liner ever!
Occasionally i'll here people say that line in every day speech or if someone says, "It's a small world" another will reply "but i wouldn't wanna paint it". I'd always thought it was an old saying from long ago. Didn't know it was another of Steven Wright's gems.
That low fist-pump at the end. Johnny was the greatest and pure class.
What a barn-burner. And I love how Johnny is genuinely happy for him.
Carson's approval was kind of a seal of quality for upcoming stand up comics. Their career would really take off after that.
I loved that about Johny. He was a huge fan of comics and seemed to genuinely want them to do well. Whenever I would see a comedian on his show, I'd always listen close because you could make out his distinctive cackle. You could hear him laughing in this, in fact.
Johnny like him because his set is smart. You have to think.
I saw that appearance the night it aired. He was already a big deal in Boston and Cambridge and everyone was so happy for him.
Very well spotted. Johnny was cheering for him. That clenched fist at the end was his excitement barely restrained
"I was thirsty and bought some powdered water..... I didn't know what to add." 😂 That joke made me instantly love the dude.
I love that one!! The other one is "I put spot remover on my dog and he disappeared"
@@magdalenem4949 😆😆😆
Steven and I (and 3 other high school buddies) spent a summer on Martha's Vineyard in 1977, it was the most amazing time. He had us on the floor laughing the entire summer. I'm thrilled and not surprised, that he took advantage of his obvious talent. Got to see him backstage at SNL years ago, and went to the SNL after party. Sorry that I haven't had a chance to see him in years.
he seems like a great guy
Wow that’s awesome. I remember watching this exact show and I remember just laughing so hard.
@@texasgina I taped the show and still have the VHS tape! BTW Steve was so poor that he lived on PB&J sandwiches for almost every meal that summer of '77.
Now I see where why he seemed depressed.
Sure bud
He got the couch. As all greats did. RIP, Johnny.
"It's a small world but I wouldn't want to paint it" is one of the all-time great lines.
The guy on the couch. Half baked.
Notice Johnny's subtle air punch right at the end. Can't get higher praise than that.
@@thebrazilianatlantis165 Absolutely agree. I quote it all the time.
He was in shock on the couch.
Although there are too many too count, one of my favorites is, "No matter what room you're in, it's always room temperature."
My favorite is when he said he knows what he wants on his tombstone "You're Next."
That one is so amazing. Mine is still his one word opener...
"...thanks"
My favorite Steven Wright joke sums up my own life quite well:
"There's a time and a place for everything, but I must have lost the schedule."
"If i make instant coffee in a microwave oven, will i go back in time?"
One of my fav is "Everything's in walking distance, when you have the time."
'The other day I bought an occasional table ... I don't know what it is the rest of the time' ... one of my favourite Steven Wright jokes. A stand-up genius !
I spilled spot remover on my dog....now he's gone.
@@grendlsma
Brilliant !
Getting invited to sit and talk with Johnny has always been the moment when standup comics knew they had just been elevated to the next level, so to get invited to sit and talk with Johnny AND to have Johnny say he hopes he comes back on was the biggest endorsement someone like Steven Wright could ever hope for. His career as a headliner was solidified in those few minutes.
He was back the following week with an even funnier set.
I brought a cancer patient to a drive in theater in my ambulance to watch Wrath of Khan. He passed away within a few days. Real nice kid. God Bless him.
I've told his " not in a row" joke for years. Hes a master.
A person can truly see and feel that Johnny really liked Steven. Two legends right there
“I used to work in a factory that made fire hydrants. You couldn’t park anywhere near the place.”
steven breaks character at 6:56 and makes a self-satisfied smirk- he was never expecting that his first appearance would go so well
I saw that a few times. Later on, I don't think a bomb in the audience would faze him.
I caught that as well!
Like he suddenly woke up and realized he’s next to Johnny Carson on his couch, and not only did he survive the set, he killed.
@@leilanirocks can you imagine being him right there.. what!!!??? 🤯😅
One of my favorite comedians of all time with my favorite talk show host of all time. What a great combo!
we watching him lately courtesy of Pluto. I think I was just watching a best of from the 17th anniversary. It's here on UA-cam. There's a very strange skit he did free basically hung himself. I'm trying to figure out how this got okayed and what was the story behind it
Yes ...what a rush.
What a great guy Johnny is to make people feel comfortable...so gracious! Thank you, Johnny!
That was his job!
As a kid, I'd overhear adults say what a class act Johnny was. As an adult (now), I get it. Indeed he was.
I love Steven's deadpan delivery.
Johnny Carson is the goat of late night hands down
Fallon is #1
@@KokoTheGorilla69 don’t tell Wayne Newton that.
@@KokoTheGorilla69 Fallon couldn’t find his ass with both hands
@@KokoTheGorilla69 It's all subjective but Fallon seems like a hack to me. His humor is better suited to a kids' show.
Agreed and I would say Letterman is # 2
Proof that Steven Wright plays in a different league: “I’m not afraid of heights. I’m afraid of widths.”
Always remember, wants to put a humidifier & a dehumidifier in a room & let them fight it out 🤣
George Carlin: "I'm not afraid of heights. I'm afraid of falling from heights."
My favorite of his, to paraphrase: I've just written the Great American Novel. It's 800 pages long. It started out as a suicide note ...
Don't pull my Finger. I'm afraid of "whiffs."
My favourite: " I had a recurring dream...once "
Imagine how good it must have felt to go on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson where a successful gig could make you a star and this guy ROCKED IT his first time and had the audience eating out of his hand. What a great feeling that must have been for a truly unique, funny and talented comic. Very cool!
NOW ask yourself why COLBERT refuses to help UNKNOWN comics on HIS show!
@@jonbongjovi1869 Because late-night TV hosts struggle to attract viewers nowadays, since viewers have so many options. Late-night shows can’t afford to risk unproven comedians anymore. Back when Johnny was the only thing on, the audience was built-in, so shows could take more risks
@@TomDavidMcCauley I must disagree. No one watches Colbert or Kimmel or Fallon for the GUEST! (Maybe in shorter clips later on YT.)
And Colbert has the same 20 guests on over and over and NOT EVEN FAMOUS COMICS get to do sets on his show. (Maybe he doesn't want the competition?)
ALL of COlbert's guests are ADVERTISEMENTS for Big Corporations. (Movies, books, etc.)
STAND-UP COMICS who are unknown, don't have the MONEY to buy a slot!
It's rigged top to bottom today, for GREED.
Down and talk with Johnny that doesn't happen every time
@@jonbongjovi1869 Maybe lay off the bong, jon jovi, your crazy right wing conspiracy underwear is showing.
I'm so glad this clip is available on UA-cam because it confirms I actually saw this when it first aired. I remember Steven made such an impression on me that I couldn't stop talking about him the next day and repeated many of his jokes, which I can recall almost 40 years later. Absolutely mindblowing how original and brilliant he is. And Johnny immediately knew he had something special and his seal of approval made Steven a star. This was an amazing performance. I'm such a nerd that I counted the responses and in 5 minutes he got 29 laughs and 10 applause breaks. Not in a row ...
I really loved watching Johnny Carson.
@plev: Same here. I’ll never forget the first time I saw this.
This guys comedy actually stuck with me to this day. I still quote this funny bastard.
Same. was with a group of bandmates after a gig. we were pretty beat and no one said a word . Then we all looked at each other like did that really happen. Never skip over a clip of his that is posted.
Not in a row. You're killin me!
"Got called in for jury duty. It's a strange case: 10,000 ants dressed up as rice and robbed a Chinese restaurant... I don't think they did it." - SW. The man is a f__king genius. I've never seen this footage of his first time on the national stage. I love how the awe and the total disbelief that he's made it for real can't help but peek through that Steven Wright wall. I felt like I was actually living it in real time. Truly one of the best non sequitur storytellers in the American pantheon. If he'd been British, he might've been a Python. So glad the audience bought in for the ride when he invited them to do so. We're all better for it.
I did see it when it happened, I was like...14 ish, laughed my ass off cause.... well.... I understood it the way he was telling it! Miss those days, and all those "new comedians', who now are some of the greatest ever.
An absolute giant; you not only think but he puts you in a place where you feel the need to think differently.
and you do
Over the years Steven has refined his comedy to be even more deadpan and it worked even better. You can tell he was excited and nervous with this, his first Carson appearance. Incredible talent and a lot of work. One of my top 3 comedians, maybe number 1. I'd like to meet him one day and just shake his hand and say thanks (in the style Steven uses when he first begins his set).
He would love that I'm sure.
Just watched his recent appearance on the Rich Eisen show and he comes across as extremely gracious and modest. Hilarious too obviously!
I actually came up to him after a show in 1996 or 1997 at Roy Thomson HAll in Toronto, right before I started doing stand up comedy. I asked him if he has any advice for me, as I was very nervous about my first show. He looked at me, and said (totally deadpan) "Yeah, go with your gut!" ... Best advice I ever got! :) And I did become a professional comedian...
"I have the world's largest seashell collection. Perhaps you've seen it. I keep it scattered on beaches all over the world so everyone can enjoy it" Truly a unique comedian.......
Saw this when it first came out. Laughed my ass off. He introduced this humor.
And it's clean! Rare in this day and age.
Same here, and I still quote so many of his unique one-liners. Sometime later i bought his comedy album on LP. His mind is so different than anyone elses.
To each his own. I don't find him funny at all.
@@code-52 Who do you like?
I also saw this when it first aired. My first thought was, where did Johnny get this drunk guy from? Took a bit for me to catch on.
Johnny Carson...The Natural. No one yet has come close.
First time I saw him smile during a set. Guess it took some practice not to laugh or smile at his own jokes. He is HILARIOUS
It’s a small world but I wouldn’t want to paint it. Greatest line ever
"I once worked in a factory that made fire hydrants. You couldn't park anywhere near the place".
“I have a collection of seashells - I keep them on beaches all over the world.”
That's my collection actually
My fave Steven Wright observation!
"I also collect rare paintings. One is of Harry Houdini locking his keys in his car...
"Another one is of Norman Rockwell beating up a small child...?
@@DaDitka can I buy the Rockwell? He was a solid man
" You can observe a lot by watching." ------- Yogi Berra
I've never seen Steven's stand up before but I've always heard his name mentioned as one of the best to ever do it. Now I completely understand why, he's absolutely hilarious
He's so original that there are lists of his jokes on the Internet, and some aren't his. Though they are plausible, because he has such a distinctive style. My faves are "It doesn't matter what temperature a room is: it's always room temperature" and "I played poker with Tarot cards. I got a full house and four people died."
It's pretty cool that your first exposure to his comedy was his first appearance with Johnny. He has a ton of material. I saw him live in Boulder, Colorado after I had been a huge fan for about 15 years. He performed for 90 minutes and about 75% of his jokes were ones I had never heard. The joke I recall best from the first time I saw him is:
I spilled spot remover on my dog. He's gone now.
Since you like him, you would probably like Emo Phillips and Mitch Hedberg if you aren't aware of them.
I made instant coffee in a microwave oven. I went back in time. SW
@@michaeleaster1815 i like the voodoo accupuncture one
When Johnny Carson calls you inventive in comedy it is an amazingly huge compliment. There was no one like Steven Wright back then.
Saw this _when 1st aired._ Never heard of him prior. Instant fan. Tried to tell my friends his jokes...I suck.
Tried his jokes? Maybe they sucked.
I did as well. At first, I wasn't quite sure about his comedy, but after bit of time it sunk in . I got it. A week later he was back on the
show,,,
his timing is flawless
@@robschroeder5377 True. _Even if you know,_ and you _know_ it's coming, he hangs it out there...just a little..... and makes it 10 times funnier.
In my age group, younger at the time, he was an instant star. Just such a unique but hip guy.
Two Babies in a nursery side by side. Decades later they are side by side in a nursing home, one looks over at the other and says, " So What Did You Think?""
I love Stephen Wright. Seeing this and how confident he was, even while this was his first time on national tv, was supremely satisfying. I kept saying to myself, good for you man. One of my favorite jokes of Stephen's is "The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese." Brillant. Lol
Steven Wright has a different kind of comedic genius. No vulgarity, just sheer wit and brilliance that really gets your brain to working. Things that make you wonder, "I never thought of that", and make you laugh at the same time. A couple of his- "If you shoot a mime should you use a silencer"? "Ever wonder why you drive on the Parkway and park in the driveway"? I mean who thinks like that?..lol. Brilliant comedy genius. Hands down like no other. 👍
Love this guy! My brothers and I grew up with his material.. I met him in Vegas while I was working in the gym at the MGM Grand, in the mid-nineties. He gave me and my 2 brothers tickets to his show at the Sahara hotel that night. He knocked it out of the park.
“ I was looking at my grandfather while he was lying in his casket, and I began thinking about the batteries in my flashlight at home. Then I thought, maybe he’s not dead, maybe he’s just in the wrong way”
A comedy legend, and a real class act!
Great...
Nothing like killing it on the Tonight Show and then having Johnny invite you over to the desk.
It meant that you would easily have bookings for years to come. That one successful appearance literally made a career.
And on your first appearance! Even Steve Martin had many appearances before being invited to tje couch
Yep. Make Johnny laugh, get invited to the couch, you're made for life. So many famous comedians got their start that way!
And give you an open invitation to come back!
@@susanbartlett-ye6476 I didn't realize Johnny was into guys.
Boy, getting the couch the first time, and that little ovation he got after he sat down---that is about as good as it gets. He was a little too overwhelmed to really engage with Johnny, but no worries, "I hope this won't be the last time you'll be here." He must have been fist pumping like crazy (whenever he got to his fist pumping place). What a BOSS!!
Steven is the best. I can't get enough of his endlessly inventive and brilliant humor. He is the absolute master of what he does.
What about Rodney Dangerfield, Dave Chapelle, and Ron White?
I take Steven Wright's comedy for granted now, but it was such a fresh style back then.
Casa Blanca affect. When you discover it, it seems run of the mill, but you don't realize it launched all the tropes that make it seem unremarkable.
I find nothing funny .. straight stupidity
@@williamallen319 Remarkable. That's precisely what I find in your comment. Shalom.
@@williamallen319....it's over your head.....
Funny isnt it, how comedy can make one laugh . . .
With all due respect to Carnac, Aunt Blabby, his Reagan imitation, his recoveries from jokes that went awry, the best thing about Johnny was that he gave chances/took chances on young and/or struggling comics to help them out. Great clip indeed!
Art Fern was great also.
@@highvoltage6016 the guy with the checkered hat and ear flaps.
@@kennybluet5527 That would be Floyd R. Turbo.
@@highvoltage6016 yeah couldn't think of his name. Always thought that may have been influenced a bit by Jonathan Winters.
@@kennybluet5527 Yes, I can definitely see that.
It was great that Johnny put him on. Very kind to a new talent. I could feel Johnny appreciating what it is like to start out.
Every sentence a joke. Love it. Hate comedians who talk for 10 minutes for one weak punchline. One of the greatest comedians ever.
and no politics. the good old days indeed.
Pretty sure you just described Norm Macdonald 🤔
@@TrackpadProductions lol
@@TrackpadProductions He sure did. "One of the greatest comedians ever" is an apt description of Norm.
@@bryanmannoia8410I love the good old days when politics weren't a thing and everybody just agreed on everything because if you didn't you got beat up like you came from another country or something. These days people think they can say what they want and get away with it. We need to go back!
“I put SPOT remover on my dog..................now he’s GONE.......” one of my all time punny funny’s from Steven Wright. My type of cerebral humor.
My favorite has to be why do we drive on the parkway and park on the driveway?
@@williamwatson4354 My favorite is..."Any Stones fans. (Audience applauds). Hard to believe they're still going strong after all these years...yeah, Fred and Barney". Check it Out! Ciao!!!
I bought powdered water....what do i add.
I put instant coffee in a microwave and almost went back in time....
I lost a button hole once
Steven Wright is a genius.
Really? What makes him a genius?
@@michaelt3308 - His comedy material. What is it that makes you think otherwise.
@@jerrybrownell3633 I disagree about his " genius " label but respect your decision
@@michaelt3308 write 1 one-liner and try to compete with his comedy genius. We'll wait ...
Sincerely,
The guy on the couch
@@michaelt3308 Worth noting that he has a certain "character" that he uses for his stand-up performance, but he has also done a lot of writing for other projects. He knows and does more than most people may think. EDIT: From Wikipedia:
His accolades include the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for starring, writing and producing the short film The Appointments of Dennis Jennings (1988)[3] and two Primetime Emmy Awards nominations as a producer of Louie (2010-15).[4] He is known for his supporting role as Leon in the Peabody Award-winning tragicomedy web series Horace and Pete.
Watching Steve here you have to remember that the size of the crowd in the STUDIO AUDIENCE was ten times bigger than he had ever worked with never mind the many many millions of TV viewers. He delivers a few of his pure and classic originals here but certainly went on to perfect his craft over many years.
“I sprayed spot remover on my dog and he disappeared” was always one of my favorites.
It’s a level of genius there to be so simple in concept, and dry in delivery but makes everyone think for a second to get it and then laugh twice as hard
i bought batteries, but they weren't included, so I had to buy them again.
Agreed...
"I dated a chick who was a bilingual illiterate, she couldn't read in two different languages."
my 2 s.w. favs are: i bought powered water but i didn't know what to add. i am going to write an unauthorized autobiography.
@@underscorejojo 1st time i heard that one. some of these remind me of Yogisms..
One of my favorite Steven Wright quips: "What's another word for Thesaurus?"
i bought a dehumidifier and a humidifier and let them fight it out
I used to work at the Fire Hydrant Factory. You couldn't park anywhere near the place!
My Friend bought a house on a One Way, Dead End Street. He can't get out!
No matter what room you're in, it's always room temperature.
One time...I lost a button hole
The other day I... no, that wasn't me.
One of my favorite Steven Wright sayings... You know when you're sitting on a bar stool and you rock back on the back legs... To the point you feel like you're almost going to fall back... I feel like that all the time! Steven had some great stuff!!
i love comedy like that !! ... my brother in law was in edinburgh at the festival and saw emo phillips walking with a trombone case , he stopped him and said " im a big fan ... i never knew you played trombone too !!" .. emo saind .. " i dont" and walked away ... how long had he been walking around waiting for someone to ask !!? ...
stephen wright makes me feel like that all the time
My favorite comedian ever!
Steven is a unique and brilliant comedian. I've seen him live in Houston a couple of times years ago. He's so intelligent with his humor the crowd would have delayed laughter because he was already on the next joke and you re still processing the last joke and busting out laughing from the joke right before that. I enjoy his sense of humor!
Where is he now
@@ralphmerwin7183 I have no idea. Might goggle his name.
Got to say one thing about Johnny tried to help new acts, he didn't feel like they were competing with him. RIP Johnny Carson 🇺🇸🐱
True. He was quite gracious to new comedians on their way up. A single appearance on Carson was a once in a lifetime opportunity.
The best never do, only the pretenders. Same in all things, including work.
@@LaurieWilliams-lk8fc True
Johnny knew he shone brightest when the light was reflected off his guests. The King of Late Night.
@@lance31415 Fantastic way to phrase it.
Steven delivers a unique kind of stand up. Never saw someone like him. Timeless.
Mitch Hedburg must have garnered some insperation from this guy, lol.
"I bought a new coffee table last week, i got the decaffeinated style" (SW)
I tell anyone who's interested in comedy to watch Steven Wright. He is the funniest comedian I've ever seen.
@@johnbaer1528 yup. Love Steven and Mitch reminds me of him.
@@Marc-io8qm Me too. Both of them great; such a shame about Mitch.
"This morning I went out and bought a decaf coffee table..
You can't really tell the difference."
Steven Wright.
He could open with that one word, "Thanks" and receive laughs.
That little punch Carson did at the end - he knew he had something special
agree.that's what I got out of it.
I was a kid when I first heard Steven Wright. I remember laughing so hard while at the same time feeling like he was causing my brain to open up in ways that it never did before. From that moment on I was always eager to hear his performances because I knew he would say things that would amuse and bemuse. I loved every minute of every performance. He is truly one of the all time greats. So glad you posted this.
He is very thought provoking
one joke that always stuck with me: "WHY IS 'ABBREVIATED'.......SUCH A LONG WORD?"
@Jesus has given you all. Repent or die. That Habakkuk always has me rolling on the floor.
Yes..he is brilliant!
"I once knew a man with wooden legs and real feet". Unique humour.
So many funny laughs from Steven Wright. One of my favorites was " why do they put an expiration date on sour cream? Does it go sour 😂
"I went to a restaurant that serves breakfast at any time. I ordered French toast during the Renaissance."
My All Time Wrightism!
I have had to resist the temptation to use that one out in the wild many many times over the years.
@@nowthatsjustducky I used that on a waiter at Dennys. Then he proceeded to ask me how I wanted my eggs ? Sunnyside down and don't turn them over. It rendered him dysfunctional for a few moments
Jerry Lewis feeding bits of cookies to a deadpan Steven Wright on "Mad About You" is one of greatest scenes of 90s TV.
About 20 years ago we were on a family vacation and I found "I Have a Pony" on cassette at a truck stop. We listened to it the whole trup. My kids are all adults now but they still remember it and repeat Steven Wright jokes.
I actually saw this back then. I even remember how much my face hurt from laughing so hard. And still does! That night, He became one of my all time favorite comedians.
Steven really is a one of a kind. You never know what he'll say next. Beyond brilliant.
Carson telling you that your work is inventive - what a high.
He’s young here and more animated than usual. If you can believe it.
First time on national television and he nailed it. You can tell he is gifted with a natural sense of humor. Just smart enough to get fame and fortune from it. Hey why not? A God given talent and providing the world with the best medicine. Glad you decided to buddy. The type of guy you could hang out with all day cause you're sure to have a great time laughing all the time. 👍
Just think of all the great comedians getting their break on Johnny’s stage.
He was and is still the best king of all late-night shows.
I wish someone would make that list 😕
Quite interesting 🤔
About 20 years ago I saw Steven Wright in a bar in New York. He was leaning against a juke box in a corner. Same hang-dog expression, not talking to anyone, in his own world. I thought, this guy is always on.
2021 and nobody can beat this guy.
No one has what Steven Wright has. His brand of humor is unmatched. Incredible. Literal and unmatched. 🇺🇸😎
I know Johnny discovered and brought to us a lot of great comedians - Steven Wright is certainly at or near the top of that list.
GENIUS. I remember when he first started and people were blown away by his style. SO fresh and clever. I LOVE Stephen Wright !!!!!!!
Clean and hilarious. Now that takes talent.
I remember seeing this on the TV in my college dorm’s lounge. To this day, I not only remember all these jokes, but I often retell many of them (and always crediting Mr. Wright) to this day. They never, ever fail to get laughs, no matter the context or audience, 40 years later!
One of my favorite lines of his is the one about socks. "I don't go by color, I go by thickness".
He's one of my favorite comedians. He never fails to crack me up and no one can do deadpan dry literal humor like him. Some have tried but no one can come close to him, in my opinion.
At 00:32 notice the sly half smile on his face...he knew RIGHT THEN that he had them. Awesome. Steven Wright forever!!
This is the most excited I've ever seen him.
It was a big day for him.