“The Tonight Show” was the only venue for young comics. The nod from Johnny, the wink, the handshake–there was always a whole code among performers. “What did you get?” “Oh, I got a wave” or “I got called over to the couch.” “I got the thumbs-up and the wink.” Of course the greatest thing was getting called over to the couch on your first shot. I got the handshake.
Johnny worked on every level. He was good looking, appealed to men, appealed to women, was funny, was self-deprecating and didn’t have the type of ego that would come across as overbearing. There are some performers where you think they are really funny but their style grates on you or they’re really not attractive. Johnny was the kind of guy if you pulled a slot machine you would have cherries in every one. For example, when Johnny would take off his shirt and fall into the tub of water with Don Rickles, it was funny but guys would go, “He’s got a good physique.” And women would go, “Ooh, he’s got a sexy build.” If I took off my shirt, believe me that would not be the reaction.
