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Buddy Hackett's Once-Forbidden Tale on Tonight Show

A man in a suit sits on a couch, smiling, with another man in a suit behind him, also smiling, in a talk show setting.

Hey there, fellow Carson fanatics! Time flies, doesn't it? Just the other day, I stumbled upon a video that whisked me back to August 27, 1987. Remember those days? Ronald Reagan was President, a gallon of gas cost you around 89 cents, and the average new car price was about $10,000. We were jamming to "La Bamba" by Los Lobos, and Dirty Dancing was making us swoon in theaters.

A man in a striped shirt and gray blazer is speaking, with a blurred background of greenery.

Now, back to the real reason we're here: a good ol' Carson classic. It was an evening when Buddy Hackett made a memorable appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. I can almost picture us all sitting in our living rooms, laughing along with every quip and antic.

In this particular episode, Hackett shared a hilarious story about his recent visit to Aspen, Colorado, where he attended a tennis tournament hosted by Martina Navratilova. He regaled us with tales of his antics as the umpire and his interactions with celebrities like Bill Cosby, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Don Johnson.

Two men in suits are seated, smiling, with a wooden desk and tropical plants in the background.

Then, he started recounting a story that his friend, Shecky Greene, had specifically asked him not to tell on the show. As you can imagine, the audience was in stitches as Hackett defied his friend's request and launched into the tale of a degenerate horse player seeking money from a wealthy friend. The punchline was pure Hackett gold, and it left everyone roaring with laughter.

The way Hackett delivered his stories was unmatched, and seeing him and Johnny banter back and forth was truly a joy. I still remember sitting with my friends and family, giggling as Hackett spun his comedic magic.

A man in a striped shirt and gray blazer is smiling, with greenery and a cityscape in the background.

I know you all cherish these memories as much as I do, so I want to invite you to relive this fantastic episode with me. Head over to MadlyOdd to watch the video and be prepared to laugh like it's 1987 all over again. Let's share the joy of these classic Carson moments with our friends and loved ones because, let's face it, the world could use a little more laughter these days.

Remember Buddy Hackett the first time around? There's plenty of it on AmazonAd if you want it. We make a little when you buy through there, and it keeps this small place running.