I was in the audience with my wife the night of this taping in ‘76. When they went to a commercial break after Blake’s challenge to switch roles, Freddie DeCordova came over to the desk to whisper something to Johnny. Johnny then got up and switched places with Blake and started messing up his hair and loosened his tie. I don’t remember Blake or Carson even discussing what they were going to do once they were back from the break. They winged it, and it became a golden moment that was re-shown dozens of times over the years. I feel lucky that I got to see the behind the scenes set up to one of Johnny’s funniest moments.

Great to also see Burt Reynolds in there. His laughter is genuine as he was picking up on Johnny's subtle jabs.

I saw this live when I was in high school. My dad had just gone to bed and he heard me lose it when Johnny dropped his pants. He came back and shared the craziness with me. One of my all time great memories! Carson was one of a kind...

Johnny was by far the best talk show host ever. One of his great points that everyone else lacks is that he let his guests shine instead of trying to guide then in a direction.

Burt’s infectious laugh was always a pleasure to hear, him & Dom were quite the comic duo! 😂🤣👏👏👏👏

Johnny was one of the most talented men ever on TV. Loved him!!

It’s like three buddies just hanging out. Love it

Johnny was one in a trillion. He was so good at getting people to talk, laugh, and act out. Greatest entertainer for late night ever.❤️🔥

These were the good old days of late night tv!!!!! Johnny Carson, Burt Reynolds, Robert Blake!!!! What an excellent show!!!! ❤❤❤❤.....

The way Johnny reacts you would think everything had been rehearsed. By that I mean it is hard to believe he can come up with his comments & physical expressions so spontaneously. I loved watching his show.

My favorite memory regarding Johnny Carson is that my Dad watched him every night. The world was a better place back when both of those guys were in it. I remember at 9 years old being awakened by my Dad's laughter and walking out to the living room half asleep, climbing up on the couch and staring at the TV. My Dad smiled and let me sit there. It was the first time we watched "The Tonight Show" together and, when I got older, it was a common occurrence. Miss you Dad, tell Johnny I said "hey".

This episode of Johnny wouldn't have been half as funny if Burt Reynolds hadn't provided that fantastic laugh!!😁✨️♥️

Back when late night television was still entertaining. RIP Robert, Johnny and Burt.

You gotta love Burt's laugh.

No one can beat Johnny!!! The one and only late night talk show host that was always great! Always funny! We sure miss you Johnny!!! ❤❤

Carson here is at his absolute prime. No talk show host ever even approached Johnny in his prime. He could adapt to anything, anybody, even Robert Blake in an extra wacked out mood.

That’s what set Johnny apart from everyone else, he just knew what to do to make the show great. What an absolute legend he was.

Eat your heart out Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Trevor Nunn and the list goes on and on and on. This is why Johnny Carson is legendary!

Priceless. I was 17 when this aired. I loved Johnny and watched every time I could. This one slipped by. I'm so grateful to see it. Burt, Robert, and especially Johnny were in top form. Thank you.

14:50 Actually in tears, woke the kids up, dog is looking at me with the tilted head. RIP Johnny.

They’re so quick witted it’s mind blowing.

Burt Reynolds' laughter is wonderful. Hilarious interview.

Timeless!!! The 3 of of them together was oddly great chemistry.

So much better than the crap that passes for late night tv these days. Johnny Carson was the king. Those of us who were around to watch it live saw the best of the best. RIP, Robert Blake (Baretta, Mickey). Really good actor, he deserved better.

So sad these days are gone, glad we have tape. Burt's hearty and genuine laugh makes this all the more funny.

There will never be another Johnny Carson 😊 he is the G.O.A.T

Greatest laugh in the history of Hollywood - Burt Reynolds.

Johnny was the best! Sure, miss him, thank goodness for this KZfaq channel!!! Bringing smiles to all of us that need one today!

I reviewed Johnny pretending to be like Blake 3 times and I still laughed where rears ran down my cheek. Hilarious! The expressions and laughter from Burt Reynolds added to the silliness of it all. Great show.

Oh how I miss all of these brilliant entertainers. Carson was the true maestro of the Tonight Show. No one since has come near to his level. But, too, his guests were also high caliber. Together, they provided superior, intelligent & very creative humor that obviously lives on decades later.

Robert was an entertainer his whole life

Johnny Carson had a way about him without saying a word that could bring a smile to my face I love these old clips

No tv hosts even compare to tv back then, NONE!!! The good ol days. Thankful for this channel and others like it. 😊

Robert Blake was high as a kite. Carson was, and always will be, the king.

The last four minutes of this clip showed why everyone loved Johnny. Robert had admitted that he rarely interacted with Carson. But, you wouldn't know it by watching them.

A True Late Night Host.. and Comedians who were funny enough that they had no need, or time, to waste on talking to their Viewers about Politics Every Nite. Those were the days when u went to bed at nite still laughing.. ❤ Rest in Peace Johnny, Burt, and Robert.

As a teenager I would stay up every night to watch Johnny.

Robert Blake was doing he done best, acting and having a laugh, Rest in Peace Robert, thanks for the memories seeing you on television.

I've watched the JC show all of my life and I've watched most of the crazy stuff as it was broadcast but this has to be the goofiest, oddball clip ever. Johnny was genius!

You will never see entertainment like this ever again!!!! 🤣🤣🤣

Miss you Burt! 🤣 Miss you Robert! I loved Baretta growing up, especially the theme song. Love the humor back then. Simple and genuine.

Johnny and Burt were the best of friends and this episode shows it!

Carson was, is, and always will be, the KING of late night I don't think they could've rehearsed that for that could have come out that funny

The unfortunate part is these three stupendous personalities have passed away. RIP Robert Blake, Johnny and Burt the Bandit.

That was one of the funniest episodes I’ve ever watched.😂😂

You don't see any of the current late night hosts approaching this level of humor... Carson Rules... but we knew that!

Iconic moment on the Tonight Show! Loved all three😂! Rest in peace, Johnny and Robert and Burt!

I never thought Burt and Blake would get along,but this was a three sided comedy classic.

WOW... I HAD NEVER SEEN THIS .. 3 of the most off the cuff guys to light up your evening at home.

Blake is so underestimated. What a card. I wish he was here to appreciate my compliment. RIP you legend 🌟

These were very special moments people. They will never be again but glad was here to see them.

This is still hilarious. I miss Burt’s laugh! Be at peace guys.

I laughed through all of this. Robert Blake is actually quite funny as well. And Reynolds’ knew how to roll with a scene. Johnny knew how to spin straw into gold. And he never upstaged his guests-unless they asked for it, like Blake did here.

Moments in time we'll never see the like again. RIP to these cinema giants.

Robert Blake and Carson became close friends. Blake credits Carson for giving him timely advise about project choices and just life in general. Said in an interview that Carson would call him once in while and never failed to take a call from Blake.

Towards the last segment, THAT'S why Johnny was dubbed "The King of Late Night." And R.I.P Robert. As long as we have funny clips like this on KZfaq, you'll never be forgotten.

True classics... America doesn't have entertainers like this today... RIP Johnny, Burt and Robert

Nobody can replace Johnny. Nobody can put together an equal show to the Tonight Show during these years.😅😅😅

Robert Blake was such a unique, quirky and likeable character. He said it as it was and didn't bs. He also had such a strong presence in every movie and tv show he made. None like him since.

Johnny's instincts were impeccable

Doc's outfit. Lol. Smart to keep a wide shot to include Burt to get his reactions, too. Robert was totally spaced out here and yet he was incredibly interesting as long as he was with Johnny. And Baretta was a big hit. We'll get the comments about his wife but that was years later and he and Johnny just made it all very entertaining over many appearances.

Has to be one of the best Tonight Show segments ever.

Johnny Carson was a master of timing.

Johnny and Burt were so great together!

Those were the days my friend we thought they’d never end...RIP Johnny, Burt and Robert. We will never see their like again.

I remember as a child, watching Johhny Carson with my grandmother & grandfather on the weekends & in the summer. Brings back great memories 💕💕

I can't believe these three are gone.

Oh how I miss Johnny.

This was the best Tonight Show ever!

You could see Burt just gazing in awe of just how surreal this interview was. That Blake dude was fricken out there.

Too funny! Blake was pretty much correct Johnny whole purpose existed around hosting this show. Once he retired I sense he felt he had no further purpose. Thank you Johnny and Robert and Burt👍🏼🙏🏽🤣

always loved Blake, I loved watching Johnny when he was a guest...

These three were names that EVERYONE knew and loved back in the day. Too bad we no longer have such "entertainers" among us.

I never realized how hilarious Robert Blake was! And I was lmao along with Burt! This was so funny! May all three of them r.i.p.

🤣Oh my goodness, this made me lol! This one is a true gem!!! As a kid in high school, I used to make it a point to tune in to The Tonight Show when Robert Blake or Burt Reynolds were going to be guests. Robert Blake was especially entertaining with all his weirdness!😂

Those were the days my friend…🎸 best of the best gathered here tonight…Oh! how times have changed and not for the better I’m afraid. Love Burt, he was a king in every respect just as much as Carson was. Edit; Robert Blake was borderline genius in this interview, I thought he was fantastic, he’s masterful shtick made up for a great interview.

Blake was strange but a nice guy. Loved him in Baretta. God rest his soul.

Always loved Johnny Carson, looked forward to watching him. No one could ever replace his comic abilities as a talk show host. Epic. We will always miss him.

Love Bobby Blake. So cool, adorable. Rip

Childhood memories right there! 😎🍻

Modern late night TV can't hold a candle to Johnny.

RIP Robert. It was great while it lasted.

Carson taking the challenge and basically doing the best impression of all of his worst and most difficult guests combined in one hilarious character was brilliant.

I am so glad that I watched this. I didn't know that Robert Blake was so funny and I had forgotten just how.awesome Burt Reynolds's laugh was. These guys were true entertainers. It's a shame that Robert's life took a dark turn later in life.

I always loved Burt Reynolds laugh!

After they switched places, there were flashes when Blake was laughing so hard he couldn't remain in character.

So heartbroken hearing of Robert Blake's passing. I remember crying real hard when I was young when I had to go to bed after only seeing half of his Baretta tv series. I loved his humor. I'm sorry he thought Baretta wasn't a good show and he had trouble with it. I hope he knew we fans loved it as well as other things he did. You are so missed, Robert. I will be so glad to see you in the resurrection. Miss you, too Burt. I'll be happy meeting you, too.

Hilarious how they both totally changed demeanor and personality. Good actors

I am lucky to have grown up when Johnny was on the air. I can remember staying up late w/ Dad & Mom to watch him. Specifically, when Rober Blake was on. He was always cooky and funny. Robert's chilling portrayal of Perry Smith in the film "In Cold Blood" is excellent. rip, Mickey

I grew in the days of Barretta…he was so very cool in that show. Loved the Sammy Davis Jr theme song.

Three of my most favorite men all at one time. ❤️❤️❤️

Love Burt Reynolds laugh! It's as iconic and infectious as Jim Breuer's laugh. And Dom's.

RIP Robert. Was always a fan ♥

Wow! I think that has to be one of my top faves in tv history!!!

12:10: Blake to Johnny: "I like you because it seems to me you're still alive."

This was the best of late night, period. Miss you Johnny!

I loved watching Robert Blake on Johnny Carson's show !!! It was really funny !!! 🙂❤🧡💛💚💙💜💐🌹🥀🌺🌻🌼🌷🌈

The real Tonight Show

I loved Robert Blake r.i. p .......mr. Blake you were a legend and will be greatly missed 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Now this was a Talk Show !😂