As a host of an evening show filmed in front of a live audience, Johnny Carson was prepared for everything. But nothing could have prepared him for what happened on March 28, 1974.
Over the years, Johnny Carson had contended with off-kilter guests, animals hanging from his limbs, child actors and all kinds of accidents. But he was baffled when a man streaked during his monologue.
On the night of the recording, everything was going according to plan. Johnny Carson had a group of talented celebrities joining his show. He just had to get through his monologue before cutting to a commercial break.
But his eyes went wide when one of his writers, Jim McCormick, dashed across the stage in the buff. And believe us, there was no missing this man. Standing at a staggering six foot seven and weighing 300 pounds, he was a giant.
While this display was enough to shock viewers at the time, it was a big part of the cultural zeitgeist of the 70s. At the time, streakers were reported on a Pan Am 747, Wall Street and in the state legislatures.
Around the same time, the song “The Streak” by Ray Stevens hit number one on the Billboard charts. So, the time was too perfect for the mustachioed prankster, Jim McCormick.
If you are a fan of Johnny Carson, you have to watch this iconic moment of 20th-century television. Johnny’s response will have viewers laughing out loud. Watch this scene below!
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