The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson was the best late-night television program in television, and Johnny Carson was instrumental in making his show so popular. Along with Ed McMahon, Johnny Carson was the undisputed king of late night.
One of his most popular segments was when he arrived at the set as Carnac the Magnificent – a mystical guru who had the ability to read the contents of an envelope without ever opening it.
This skit led to many incredible moments for the show, but the best moments were when Ed McMahon handed him a new envelope and he had to ‘read’ the contents by suggesting three things referenced by the inside note.
This classic Carnac sketch shows Carson at his best, using the gimmick to make jokes about celebrities and famous people of the day. Ed McMahon played the perfect comic sidekick as well.
Perhaps the funniest moments were not watching Johnny Carson open the envelopes to reveal the contents – but the interactions between Carson and Ed McMahon. They were clearly a dynamic duo on the set.
Ed McMahon plays the perfect straight man, lining up Carson with easy setups so Carson can land his punchlines. Their comic timing and mock arguments generate as much interest from the audience as the sketch itself.
For anyone who grew up watching The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, or new generations of viewers who are in the mood for a good laugh, this classic Carnac video will give you what you are looking for.
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