The Most SURPRISING Guest Johnny Carson Ever Had 

[applause] As you probably know, one of the most amazing pictures come out in the past few years is ET. And this young lady has earned a great deal of attention from her appearance in it. And um she is just 7 years old. Would you welcome? >> We’re revisiting one of the most charming moments in late night television history.

 7-year-old Drew Barrymore on the Tonight Show. Fresh off ET. This interview perfectly captures innocence, humor, and the effortless magic of Johnny Carson at his best. >> Please, Drew Barrymore. [music and screaming] [music] >> [cheering] [music and screaming] [applause] >> Well, that’s a pretty funny entrance. Did you rehearse that? >> No.

>> Are you okay? >> Yeah. You know, you’re not the first one ever to do that on the show. We’ve had some other people have come in there some night. Grownup people who who’ve missed that step and fallen right here. >> It’s probably my shoes because they’re real slippery. Are they Are they brand new shoes? >> Yeah.

>> They’re very pretty. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Do you you pick out your own clothes? >> Sometimes. >> Sometimes. Yeah. Have you seen something you like to wear sometimes and you want it and your mother or somebody won’t let you buy it? >> Notice how Carson adjusts his pace and humor. He never talks down to Drew.

 He treats her like an equal, which makes the exchange feel genuine and respectful. >> Sometimes. >> Sometimes. Dear, it’s nice to meet you. >> Nice to meet you, too. I’ve been waiting all my life to meet you, and I found you [laughter] on this show. >> Your whole life. [applause] It’s >> a miracle. >> It’s a miracle.

 Well, that’s why I stayed on the show an extra seven years, just so you you would show up here. Well, I wanted to meet you, too, because I’ve been reading all about you, and you’re a you’re a lovely young actress. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, you look very nice. Yeah. Yeah. >> Do you know I stay up till a couple of hours to watch your show? >> Do you really? >> Just because of you.

>> You’re kidding. >> No. >> Oh, come on now. Are you serious? >> Mhm. >> Do you understand all of the all of the jokes? [laughter] >> Uh, some of them. >> Well, you fit right in. [applause and cheering] This is where the magic really shines. Drew’s unscripted honesty and playful storytelling turn everyday childhood moments into television gold.

 [applause] >> Have you always lived in California? You look real healthy. Are you into you know what aerobics is? Aerobics, dancing, and all of those things. Are you >> practice it last? >> Do you really? >> I was getting um aerobicized because I didn’t want to get confused. >> You didn’t want to get confused? Well, I was dancing, you know, while my mom was always on the telephone, you know, >> right? [laughter] >> Always on the telephone.

>> Yeah. >> And she never gets to a chance to kiss me good night. Ring ring. >> Yeah. >> On the telephone. >> On the telephone. >> Yeah. What does she talk about on the telephone? Do you know? >> Oh, nothing pertain. You don’t have to give any secrets away. My My wife likes to talk on the telephone, too.

 Don’t you like talking on the telephone? I thought most women like to talk a lot. >> Yeah, I like to, but I can never get on the phone because my mother >> Cuz your mother’s on it. >> So, what do you what do you do besides aerobicize and dance? You like to swim or >> I love swimming, but I can’t go for um actually I don’t want to go yet.

 I I’ve been in the pool, but I just don’t want to go right now cuz I went in my friend’s pool. My when I got out I was my lips were black and blue. >> Was that cold you mean? >> Yeah. Did you ever did you ever scuba dive or snorkel? Do you know what that is? Where you put on the mask and going? >> Yeah, but I put on goggles.

 I can never pronounce that. >> Goggles. >> Goggles. >> Goggles. Well, you pronounce it very well. >> I can’t. >> Yeah. So, you did put on goggles once and looked underwater. >> Yeah. And and the goggles. The goggle was too big for me. The water got in my eye. >> A look, we’re going to cut away for a moment to do a commercial.

 You know what? You know what those are, don’t you? >> Of course. I’ve been >> Yeah, you’ve done some commercials. Then we’ll come back and we’ll talk some more. Okay. OKAY. [applause] [cheering] And if you just joined us, [applause] we are and my first guest tonight is this charming young lady, Drew Barrymore. You know, you you’re the only second lady I know named Drew.

 My secretary is named Drew. That’s kind of an unusual first name, isn’t it? Drew. It’s a pretty name. >> Thank you. >> Do you have any other friends named Drew at all? Do you know anybody? >> Uh, I know a Drew. I know three Drews. >> You do? >> And whenever I say I’m going to call Drew up, my mom gets confused. >> She doesn’t know what Drew.

This iconic moment became legendary because it’s so real. Drew’s confidence and openness are rare, even among adult guests, making this one of the most memorable Tonight Show interviews ever. >> Yeah, you have you have pretty smile. You have pretty teeth. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, pretty much. >> You know, tell me if you noticed this.

 It would be kind of easier to talk without my teeth. >> What are you talking about? [laughter] [applause] [applause] >> Let me see those now. Give me a little smile. >> They’re really growing, aren’t they? >> Yeah. >> So, you wear this when you do >> uh TV shows? Yes. Well, at least you’re honest. Now, most women I know would not do that.

[laughter] They wouldn’t like anybody to know that secret that you were wearing a little little clip in there. But you won’t have to wear that much longer, will you? >> Flipper. >> Yeah. That’s just so your teeth kind of line up and >> Yeah, but they kill. >> Yeah. Doesn’t [laughter] it feel very good? >> No, they don’t.

>> You want to keep it out then? We’ll just talk without it. >> Sure. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Just flip it. [applause] >> [cheering] [applause] [applause] >> Now, don’t forget that when you leave now, [laughter] not it’s not polite to leave teeth on somebody else’s desk. >> I know my mom would kill me if I left him here.

>> Your mother would kill you. >> Yeah, she was about to when I when I lost him the other day. >> Yeah. Yeah. Does your dentist Your dentist obviously made those for you? Yeah. Dr. Smith. >> Dr. Smith. >> He’s a real good dentist. >> Good dentist. >> He made my retainer, too. It’s purple. >> Yeah. >> Do you like You like going to the dentist? >> Of course.

>> Are you serious? You’re the first person I’ve ever met who likes to go to the dentist. >> Yeah. I like to have my teeth cleaned and have that yucky stuff in your mouth. It tastes good. >> Tastes good, huh? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> You know, you know why I like going to the dentist? Why? >> Guess. >> Okay. You got a crush on Dr. Smith.

>> That’s one reason. [applause] >> What? How old a man is your dentist? >> He never told me that. [laughter] >> What would you guess? Is he What would you consider an old man? Well, he’s not that old. >> He’s not that old. >> He’s I guess he’s about in his 30s or 20s. >> And his or 30s or 20s. >> Yeah. I don’t know.

>> Yeah. But that’s not the reason you like to go. Huh. >> And no, but because I like to because I don’t want to have cavity cavities. That’s right. >> And plus, guess why? >> Why? >> Cuz I like going to the dances. cuz he’s teaching me things and I get my teeth cleaned. And you know what? He’s very gentle with teeth.

>> He’s gentle. >> That’s nice. Maybe I should go to him, too. >> Maybe you should. >> Yeah. Now, let’s talk about want to talk about ET a little bit. >> Why not? >> Okay. >> Here we see something remarkable. Drew clearly understands her craft even at seven years old. Her explanation of auditioning shows instinct, imagination, and early star power.

[laughter] [applause] >> I may end up running off with you myself, you know. >> That’s what Steven says. >> Steven Steen Spielberg. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Is he he’s a good director, isn’t he? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. How did you get the part? Did you have to go in and and and and test for this? >> Well, first he interviewed me for Poltergeist.

>> Poltergeist. Mhm. >> And um actually I didn’t want to do that movie cuz it was kind of kind of scary. >> It’s too scary. >> And probably if I went in and and I said, “Excuse me, but it’s my film.” He probably say, “Isn’t it too scary for you to be in?” >> Yeah. So he interviewed me and he said, “Um, well, she has too much personality.

” So she said, “So he said, so he said, we’re going to interview we’re I’m going to make a movie and it’s going to be ET the extraterrestrial.” [snorts] And um and she and she said and Kathy Kenn and Kathy Kennedy said, “Wait a minute. Don’t you have to interview her?” And she goes, “That’s one good reason.” Yeah. >> And so he and so first he interviewed me see if I could be in awe of something >> in awe >> and whatever it’s called like okay some >> in wonderment in awe right you have to >> like oh my god the ceiling’s crashing and all [applause]

>> that’s good that’s that’s all that’s all >> then test me to uh scream Scream. Ah. >> Can you scream? Good. >> Okay. >> Can you Can you do it? Just give me a scream. >> Okay. >> Just >> guys ready? >> Okay, we’re ready. [applause] >> [applause] >> If you do that with your teeth in, they’d be over there about 40 ft away.

>> Cuz you did have to scream in the picture, didn’t you? That’s a good scream. >> Yeah. >> Have you always been able to do that? >> Just Yeah. >> But it was quite hard at the time. I had a sore throat. >> Had a sore throat. And you screamed. >> But you know what? >> What? >> I said, “Stephen, I’m going to try my best.

” So, I practiced so much at home that I was able to do it. Mhm. >> So, the other day I screamed my throat off. [laughter] >> When I got home, I was sweating. >> I need to take a shower badly. I was filthy. >> Cuz you know, floors are filthy these days. >> You can get filthy that way. Yes. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> My shoes were all scuffed up. >> Yeah.

>> I’m glad they weren’t these. Mom would >> Yeah. Somebody told me, now I don’t know whether you know this. Somebody said you had I was talking about your dentist. There’s a young man on your swimming team that somebody said you were kind of fond of. Is it true? >> Are you on a swimming team? >> Yeah. Well, wait a minute.

>> Yeah. >> You must be talking to I don’t think I am on a swimming team. >> Well, somebody said now in your swimming class, a boy named Steven. Oh, >> that’s awesome. Ring a bell? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So, you enjoyed making the movie. Are you going to make some more motion pictures? Is that what you’d like to do? You come from a very famous acting family, of course.

 You know that, don’t you? >> Mhm. >> Yeah. Your grandfather would be the great John Barrymore, right? >> Yeah. Did you ever see any of his pictures at all? >> Yeah, one, but I didn’t like one. >> Doll. >> I wasn’t interested in that kind OF [laughter] >> INTERESTING. >> He was a great actor. I think you’ve inherited the Barammore talent.

>> There was There’s only one movie that I didn’t like. >> Oh, well that’s not bad cuz he made >> it was kind of scary movie. >> Kind of. Well, wasn’t making ET scary? Did you like ET? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> He had a cute face. >> Cute face. >> Yeah. Well, a lot of people wouldn’t think it was cute, but you you came to kind of love it, didn’t you? >> Yeah.

>> Yeah. >> Can I say hi to Steven? >> Sure. You want to say hi to Steven? >> Yeah. >> Sure. >> Hi, Steven. I love you. [applause] >> Second best again. Story of my life with women. Yeah. >> Are you going to do another motion picture? >> I’m hoping. >> You hope so? Huh? >> I shouldn’t tell you this, but I think there’s going to be a a sequel.

>> You shouldn’t. Are you telling someone? >> You weren’t supposed to tell me. >> Well, I can tell you. [applause] I’ll keep it just between us then. >> That’s fine with me. >> That’s fine with you. There may be a sequel to ET, huh? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Would you think if there is, you might be in it? >> There’s a chance.

>> There’s a chance. All right. We have a little piece of film from ET about about 45 seconds. We’re going to For you people who haven’t seen the picture, what is this? The breakfast. >> The what? >> Dinner scene. >> Dinner scene. >> The dinner scene. Okay. Watch the monitors. Here’s a little scene from ET. This >> closing moment perfectly captures why audiences fell in love with Drew Barrymore.

Sweet, fearless, and completely herself. This is a star being born in real time. >> Some of you already know what it’s all about. Come see it right over here. [applause] That’s good. >> I enjoyed [applause] making that movie. >> You enjoyed making that movie? Well, I would guess so. >> Yeah. >> Yeah.

 Everybody in the world is going to see it. I understand besides Steven Spielberg, you also Dudley Moore is one of your favorite actors. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Have you met Dudley? >> No, but I’m hoping. >> But you’re hoping. >> Do you know I have a little song for you? >> You have a little song for me? >> Mhm. >> No, I didn’t know that. >> Okay.

 Can I sing it to you? >> Well, you sure can. >> Okay. >> It’s about your face. HOW ABOUT MY FACE? OKAY. >> You got the You got the cutest little baby face. It is so cute. No one can take your place. Baby face. Baby face. Baby face. That’s all. [applause] >> [applause] >> Thank [applause] you. >> You know, >> no woman has ever sung to me before with her teeth out.

 [laughter] >> Do you know it’s true? >> What’s true? >> You do got the cute little baby face. >> You think so? Huh? >> You deserve that song. >> Well, that’s very [laughter] nice. >> And I like you, too. >> Thank you. >> And I wish you much success. And would you like to come back and be on the show again sometime? >> I’d love to.

 Well, you’ve got an invitation anytime you want to. Okay. I want to thank you for coming. [applause] Okay. Now, don’t forget your teeth. Take your teeth. Okay. Thank you. [cheering] That was a truly timeless Tonight Show moment. Johnny Carson’s warmth paired with Drew Barrymore’s natural charm created television history that still resonates decades later.

 If you enjoyed this classic interview, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your favorite moment in the comments. Thanks for watching. We’ll see you in the next throwback.