Get Ready to Giggle: Jonathan Winters’ 8th ‘Carson’ Appearance is a Hoot!

Jonathan Winters and Johnny Carson

Johnny Carson loved welcoming Jonathan Winters to ‘The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.’ Johnny says before Winters comes out that he wants to tell a story.

Jonathan Winters

Johnny says, “I was back in New York about- must’ve been almost 30- before we started Who Do You Trust? I was working locally at CBS and had gone back to replace Robert Q. Lewis.”

Johnny tells how he received a call from a large advertising company in N.Y. who offered him 10,000 dollars cash to do a commercial for Buick. Johnny had to turn down the offer because he couldn’t leave where he was currently.

Jonathan Winters and Johnny Carson

Johnny recounts the man on the phone making the job offer saying, “That’s just like you West Coast guys!” The man hung up on Johnny, and later on, he found out that it was Jonathan Winters pulling an elaborate prank.

After the story, Winters walks out wearing a large ten-gallon hat and sits. Johnny says, “I’m sorry, I don’t think I got your name.” Winters responds with a country accent, “Didn’t ya? Buck Ettlehoffer. I hope you don’t mind either one of ya if I chew.” He says it with a smug face, and the crowd laughs.

Jonathan Winters

He stated how he used to chew at 6 years old and would find dogs and spit at them for fun. Johnny asks about his origins, and Winters says, “I’m originally from Shawnee Run, Wyoming. Worked my way into Chicago, then I went up to Manitoba with a wheat, and my machine, just a lot of machinery, cut weight up there for a while.” The crowd laughs, and Winters looks at them and says, “Very serious, very serious.”

Winters continues the bit by saying he graduated from mining college at the age of 50 and now owns a ranch. The crowd laughs, and he says, “Just give me some dynamite, and we’ll find the damn stuff.” It was always a hilarious interview when Jonathan Winters visited Carson.

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Get Ready to Giggle: Jonathan Winters\' 8th \'Carson\' Appearance is a Hoot!