In 1981, Steve Martin returned to ‘The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.’ Steve walks out to the song “Pennies from Heaven,” which is the title of the movie he’s featured in.
Steve places a ‘Rubik’s Cube’ on Johnny’s desk and asks if he has a stopwatch ready as he rubs his hands together. Johnny says go, and Steve shuffles the cube until every last square falls off, and then he bows, and the crowd claps and laughs.
Steve sits and says, “14 seconds to destroy the Rubik’s Cube. Who would’ve thought?” Johnny says, “That’s a new record!” Steve says, “I haven’t been on the show for a year and a half. I thought you were counting the days?”
Steve says his new movie has received great reviews, and it’s embarrassing to be on the show because of it. Steve says he knows it’s going to happen tonight, and Johnny is going to read the reviews, and he will be embarrassed.
Johnny says, “Well, I don’t have one here.” Then, Steve pulls out a stack of newspapers from behind his chair and eagerly says, “Here.” Johnny reads, “Martin’s performance has a chilling intelligence.” Steve reacts disgustedly, and he covers his face and says, “Stop!”
Johnny continues, “He’s a haunted man with his arrow-collared look, nice guy grin, and desperate yearning eyes.” Steve says his yearning eyes are worth millions.
Steve said he wants to pre-record his Oscar-winning speech in case anything happens to him. Johnny agrees, hands him a fake award, and Steve begins saying, “I didn’t expect this! I did it all myself. I don’t have anybody to thank, not mom and dad or the people behind the camera. It was just me!”
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