In 1968, ‘The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson’ welcomed movie star Raquel Welch. She walks out in a long, white, flowing dress and greets Johnny and Ed McMahon.
Johnny says right away, “You look like you’re entered in the ‘Cheer’ whiteness test.” Then, he mimics an older lady saying, “This dress is much whiter than dress B,’ as Raquel laughs.
Raquel says she was wearing that dress at the premiere and wasn’t sure if she’d have time to make it to Johnny’s show. Raquel tells Johnny, “I’d never leave the country without saying goodbye to you.”
She grabs his hand and laughs as he says, “Yes, every time she leaves the country, she comes back here and says goodbye to me.” Johnny switches gears and asks her if she gets bothered when she’s called a sex symbol.
She replies, “Not anymore. I used to get a little bit perturbed because it seemed to, I don’t know, it seemed to be a stereotyped idea of what a sex symbol was sort of vapid and not too bright and not much ability.”
She says it used to feel limiting, but she realized it’s something she can’t control. Raquel asks if Johnny understands. He replies, “I’ve had to control mine, you know.” The crowd gets a good laugh from Johnny’s humor.
Johnny says he understands she wouldn’t want to be known for “Divesting yourself of your garments.” He looks around, proud of himself for his intellectual word choice.
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