The Most FUNNY Guests Johnny Carson Ever Had! 

Oh, Larry, [applause] Bobby Kelvin. This is a craze group tonight. >> Good group. [cheering] >> I think what it is, you’re so happy to see something on television. It’s not a political speech. >> Tonight on the Tonight Show, we witness something Johnny Carson clearly did not expect.

 a guest who is only 10 years old, but armed with confidence, timing, and sharp wit that instantly takes over the room. This isn’t just an interview. It’s the birth of a star. >> Somebody running for office until next year. We wait for that. My first guest, the first time I saw this young man, I’ve not met him yet, was several months ago.

 I was watching television one night. I saw this charming young man come on television talking about a show coming up and I didn’t exactly put it together. He’s only 10 years old, but uh he’s got a lot of uh confidence far beyond his years and his name is Gary Cole. The >> moment Gary Coleman walks on stage, the energy shifts.

 Johnny notices it immediately. This is no ordinary child guest. There’s no nervousness, no hesitation. Gary arrives like a seasoned performer. Coleman. He’s starring in a new comedy series on NBC called Different Strokes, which premiered last week and will air tomorrow at 8:00 p.m. Would you welcome Gary Coleman? [applause] [applause] >> You came out like a cannon shot.

Somebody uh you couldn’t wait to get out here. How are you? >> Fine. >> Yeah, you’re looking good. You comfortable? >> Mhm. >> Yeah. >> Love the seats. >> You love the seats? Yeah. Well, we try to we we want you to feel comfortable. We’ve never met, have we? >> No. >> Do you know who I am at all? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Well, now you’re only 10 years old.

 You >> When Gary casually mentions he’s been working for 5 years, the audience realizes something special is happening. At just 10 years old, he speaks with the confidence of someone who already understands the business. Folks don’t let you stay up really this late, do they? And watch the Tonight Show. >> Well, on Fridays? >> Yeah.

>> That’s when it comes on Fridays. >> Yeah. So, you you have seen me before. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Nice show. >> Thank you. Thank you, G. [applause] Now, how long you been working? You’re just 10 years old. >> Five years, practically. >> Five years, huh? Mhm. >> What’s the first thing you did at 5 years? Oh, I started with fashion shows for a local department store, then some steel work, and then my first commercial, which was a which was a McDonald’s commercial.

>> It was >> How much you can I ask you that if you don’t mind, how much you got paid for that? Is that is that pretty good? >> Yeah. >> Pretty good pay. >> Mhm. >> Do you go to McDonald’s often? >> Yes, >> you do. Okay. You wanted wanted to make sure. Uh, so you’ve made how many you made other commercials, too, huh? >> Yeah.

>> Yeah. Yeah. >> You didn’t grow up here in Hollywood, though. I understand. You’re not uh you’re back in Illinois somewhere. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Illinois here. >> No, there’s a few of us up there. >> Yeah. Yeah, there’s a few around. [laughter] >> Uh >> you just [applause and cheering] you just loosen up, Gary.

 [laughter] >> I know the name of the town. Zion. Yes. >> Zion, Illinois. Now, where Zion, Illinois? >> Uh 6 miles from Kenosha. >> 6 miles from Kenosha. uh 3 miles from the state line. >> Yeah. >> And it has the famous cookie factory there. >> Famous cookie factory. >> And the famous nuclear plant you heard so much controversy over.

>> Oh, yeah. That’s right. >> This is the moment that truly stuns the room. When the topic of nuclear power comes up, Gary’s blunt and fearless response, “So what?” lands like a punchline no one saw coming. Even Johnny is caught off guard. [applause] >> You have a birth certificate on you? I don’t. >> No, I don’t.

 How do you uh how do you stand on nuclear energy, Gary? I mean, >> well, I’ve read in the newspapers and everything that that the Zion there was a Zion march, a march on Zion that marked their marching the the nuclear plant and everything. >> They’re afraid that it might blow up one of these days. Yeah. >> I said, “So what? It blow up? That’s the end of Illinois.

” >> That’s the end. >> Easy come, easy go. Right, G? ONE BLOWS UP, ALL OF THEM BLOW UP. >> That’s right. It’s like a chain reaction. So, might as well build them anyway, huh? >> Yeah. >> So, you grew up back there, went to school. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. Now, when did you come out here to Hollywood? >> H It’s been so long, I forgot.

>> Yeah. Time passes so quickly as you as you get as you get >> I just count the shows. This is my fifth show. So, I say I’ve been out here what? >> Five weeks. >> Five weeks. Yeah. >> Are any of your any other your family in the entertainment business at all? >> No. >> Yeah. Do you have any brothers or sisters? >> No, just cousins and aunts and uncles and >> Yeah.

>> all these other people. >> Yeah. But you do you do you have some friends your own age that you get to that you get to chum around with and play with? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Now tell me a little bit about the show. Uh it’s on tomorrow night >> and it’s called um >> Different Strokes. >> Different Strokes. >> You forgot the name already? >> No.

 No. No. No. [cheering] Here, [applause] Gary’s vocabulary and composure completely flip the dynamic. Johnny Carson stops leading the conversation and starts reacting. This isn’t an adult guiding a child. This is a host listening to a natural entertainer. Well, see, as you get older, Gary, sometimes the mind starts to you don’t remember things, you see, as you when when you as young as you are.

>> So, you want to tell me a little bit about the show, how you got it, and uh >> Well, as I understand, there’s going to be a clip shown on the show tonight. >> Yeah. We’re going to we’re going to show we’re going to show a clip. >> I think it’s the one where I scare the dickens out of Mrs. Garrett. >> Uh-huh.

>> And uh their room. Let me tell you something. When I did the first show, uh my uh my uh my brother, who is another star in the show, was not supposed to like it here. You know, we’re supposed to try and leave the first day we get there. >> Oh, I see. saying uh and well I like it there and he wanted to leave but now as we’re getting into the you know getting into more shows and more into each day he starts to liven up to the room and the place you know >> everything matches in this place except we have wild clothes so we kind of

[clears throat] >> interrelate to this place >> interrelate >> [laughter] >> told me the kid was coming out with an all day sucker. You didn’t tell me he was coming out. [laughter] >> You’re a very bright young man. Where’d you go to school? In Zion. >> Yeah. >> And you still go to school out here? >> Yeah, just set school. 3 hours.

>> That’s right. You have to They have to have somebody on the set. >> It’s funny though. I can get more done in 3 hours than I can do in 8 hours school. Maybe because I switch and maybe because there times to do everything and there’s not a chance to finish anything. I have to switch in the afternoon and in the morning.

 In the morning I switch three times and this is just fifth grade. In the morning I just switch um three times and in the afternoon I switched twice. >> Yeah. What’s your favorite subject? >> I would say social studies and science and English. And you have very good vocabulary. You must read a lot. >> Yeah.

 Well, I wouldn’t say I read a lot, but considering the scripts and everything that I read, that don’t count. I read the newspaper every once in a while. >> Uh-huh. >> That don’t count either. >> That doesn’t count either. >> Okay. >> I don’t read anything at any time. >> Yeah. >> I know what you’re going to say. It’s time for a commercial. Huh? >> [applause] >> What [applause] uh what night are you available at West Coast? Uh would you like to do a show like this? >> Well, with all the laughing and cheering I hear.

> Yeah, >> quite possibly. Yeah, >> quite possibly. >> That wasn’t an answer. No, I know it wasn’t an answer. Will we’ll discuss this at some designated time? [laughter] >> Oh, you’re picking on? >> I’m picking on. YEAH. [applause] >> When Gary casually reveals he’s invested about $8,000 into his model train collection, the audience erupts.

 It’s funny, shocking, and oddly impressive. Proof that this kid thinks far beyond his years. [applause] >> Somebody put a ringer in on me. We’re going to do this. We’re coming right back. Then we’re going to show the clip. We’ll talk. [applause] >> Welcome back. If you UH [applause] [applause] if you just join us, I’m being interviewed by Gary Coleman, uh who is to my right here, who’s got a a show that’s on tomorrow night at 8:00 on uh NBC.

 And um you were listening to the band. Do you like to dance? >> Oh, yeah. Well, not not literally dance, but I >> You like to get up and kind of kind of move with it. >> I try anyway. >> Yeah. Do you have an allowance every week? Do they give you a certain amount of money each week to spend on whatever you want to do? >> Yeah. >> What what do you spend it on? >> Oh, my model train hobby.

>> Oh, really? >> Mhm. >> Yeah. What? >> Have a nice big 4×8 board at home. Not this home, but >> at my home in Illinois >> back in Zion. >> Mhm. I’m trying to start a line of railroad out here. One I can set up. >> Yeah. >> Give me, you know, time I want to play with it. >> Right. >> Let’s see.

 I’ve got practically well a fair figure. I would say I would say about $8,000 invested in my railroad now. >> Practical. >> Yeah, that’s that’s nice little model train set there. >> Uh little >> No, no. I mean it’s big big. I meant when I >> I was being facitious there. You know what that means? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Oh, probably right. >> Now, we’re going to look at a little uh I think we got about a minute of your show tomorrow.

 Uh where does this scene take place? Do you know? >> In my bedroom. And as I said before, I’m going to scare the dickens. Really? Her house is going to come right out of her mouth. >> Okay. >> Because this time in this show, she was scared. She didn’t even, you know, expect >> Yeah. >> this. She knew I was going to jump out the closet at her.

>> Yeah. So, you’re going to scare it here? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Watch the monitor. And this is a little bit of Where is it? It’s It’s right over here. Right over here. [applause] >> That’s pretty good. That’s pretty good. >> You like to do practical jokes like that? >> Oh, yeah. >> Scare people? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> After Since I’ve been since I’ve did that show.

>> Yeah. >> I’ve been scaring the heck out of everybody. >> Out of everybody. Yeah. You You seem pretty outgoing. Are you are you ever shy at all around people when they make over you and >> No, >> you’re not. You’re not. Huh? How about young lady friends? You’re >> Yeah. >> You like Do you have >> No, >> not not at this age.

 Huh? >> No. >> You You think about that getting married sometimes? You don’t? >> No. If >> only I could have been that definite at that age. >> Yes. [applause] >> When you know a 10, you’re you’re head of the game. Well, kids today are kids. >> No, you’re right. Yeah, you grow up a lot faster. A lot faster. >> Well, I don’t Now, I don’t grow, but I grow in the mind.

>> Yeah. >> Questions about politics, fame, and the future get simple but honest answers. Gary knows exactly who he is and who he isn’t. Johnny can’t help but admire it. >> Do you know about the birds and the bees? >> No. I don’t want to know either. [applause] >> Yeah, you may be right there too. Uh Gary, uh you know, we just had an election all over this country yesterday.

>> Yeah. >> Would you like to uh >> I didn’t. >> You didn’t? Uh >> no. >> No. I mean, would you like to grow up and be a polit be a politician? >> Run for office of any kind. Would you like to be president of the United States? >> No. >> Why not? Just me. >> That’s all. >> Just me. Just my how would I say mellow comedy actor self.

 [laughter] [applause] >> Melody comedy actor self. In other words, you just want to be an entertainer. >> Yeah. >> I like to hear people laugh. >> Yeah. Well, you’re you’re a funny young man. >> Wow. Thank you. >> Well, you’re welcome. >> How how old were you when you knew that you you could get laughs? Was it in a school when you No.

>> No. >> I think it was around the age of >> Well, it wasn’t really jokes that I did. >> It’s just things that I did. >> Excuse me. Yeah. >> That was a um >> Yeah. You know, but anyway. >> Yeah. >> Um I think at the age of eight, I didn’t do any jokes or anything. It’s just things I did to make my mom and dad laugh.

What’s a flyer doing in here? I don’t know. I’ll have the place fumigated immediately. Probably dropped in from the gong show. Uh [applause] you uh I was just admiring your clothes there during the commercial. You you dress very sharp. Now, do you pick out your own clothes? >> Well, I had it out with my mom this morning.

 I hate to say >> you had it out with your mom. Yeah. >> Didn’t she like didn’t mean she didn’t like it or you wanted to wear this or what? He wanted to have me wear my best clothes to this show. And I said, “Why?” [applause] >> Not to be offensive. >> No, not to be offensive. >> Oh, no. I know it wasn’t offensive at all, but >> No, not to be offensive.

 I just, you know, no sense in dressing up. I wear the same thing I wore yesterday in rehearsal. >> Sure. Well, that’s the show that we’re doing. >> And she got all upset and everything. >> I think it looks very nice. >> I She made me feel bad. Well, I’m sorry. That’s a little quarter. It’s corduroy, isn’t it? >> It is.

 I mean, after all, but anyway, >> that’s enough of that. This is serious. >> This is serious stuff. >> Yeah. >> But anyway, I Well, she cooled down after about an hour cuz it wasn’t really, you know, >> such a big thing to get up and said about. Yeah. >> And I said to mom, cuz she was I said she was in the bathroom and she was all dressed up and everything.

 I [snorts] looked at her and I thought in my mind my mind, well gee whiz, she looking like nothing and here I am all dressed up. >> That’s that’s telling mom. All right. >> I’M NOT FINISHED YET. >> OH, I SEE. Excuse me. >> But anyway, I told her I thought these people and you and him or anybody else that’s here like the band, >> I thought they wanted to see me, not my clothes.

>> Absolutely. >> That’s what I said. [applause] That’s the famous quote that I like out of my George Washington Carver book. >> Was that the famous quote people want to see me? He’s the guy that invented the peanut, you know, make all these different things out of peanuts. >> You’re absolutely right. >> Sweet potatoes.

>> You’re absolutely right. You know your history pretty good. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, you’re welcome. >> Well, Gary, I want to wish you much luck on the show. I hope it’s a big hit for you. >> Thank you. >> And hope you come back and see us again sometime. Okay. Well, if they want me to. >> Yeah. Yeah. If they shove you over.

Thank you, Dad. [applause] [applause] This appearance proves that true charisma has nothing to do with age. Gary Coleman didn’t just entertain the audience, he impressed Johnny Carson himself. It’s a Tonight Show moment that still feels legendary. If you enjoyed this classic interview, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and tell us in the comments.

 Was this the most shocking child guest ever?