OF “THERE’S ... JOHNNY!” ON NETFLIX
It’s a very surreal moment because as exciting and as pivotal as it is and it certainly was, it felt oddly familiar because we have all spent so much time imagining that from the first time you pick up a microphone or probably earlier. You know, when you’re a kid and if you’re born to do this, you watched Johnny Carson and you imagined yourself walking through there. So it’s like doing your rock and roll moves in the mirror. You know, you’ve been practicing this moment for years so when it came, it was like, ‘Oh, here it is. ’ ... How was your relationship with Johnny? He was great to me. Like I never socialized outside of the show, but he had me on really frequently. There was a spell like ’87 to ’89, I was on there a whole bunch of times, like every couple of months, and that was only per his invitation. He somehow took a shine to me, and he was awfully supportive, not only by having you on but when you were on, he was really a master at getting the material, setting up your material, teeing you up, giving you the space. You know, and if you hit a lull, he would pick up. I mean, he was gracious and a great partner in a way that I’ve never seen anybody else do. And I don’t know that we chatted a whole bunch, but his support and his seal of approval was evident, and as I said the thing that was so masterful about him was how he would help your comedy. You know, if you ever listened to the first time anybody comes on, he always gives that same speech: “Hey, I’m glad you’re in a good mood tonight because here’s ...” And he wants you to do well. Nothing made him happier than somebody scoring on his show.