Richard had sworn off appearing on talk shows six years earlier because, as he said, there would always come a point in the conversation when the host would turn to him and say, “Isn’t America wonderful, Richard?” And he would have to say, Yes, Merv/Mike/Joey/whoever, it sure is. Then the host would say, “See, guys? He said it. What’s the matter with the rest of you?”
On May 4, 1977, Richard and Chevy Chase both went on the Tonight Show to plug their respective TV specials, airing back-to-back on NBC the following night. Chase had left Saturday Night’s midway through its second season to pursue a solo career. Carson and Chevy only met for the first time the previous day. Although he was noticeably cool toward Chase, Carson could barely conceal his glee over Chase’s painfully inept performance, as the comic actor, visibly flustered, stumbled over even the simplest questions groping for witty replies but coming up with none.
Carson asked Chevy to demonstrate, for the benefit of folks at home who may not have seen it, the pratfall that made him famous on Saturday Night. Using a chair and a glass of water for props, Chase gives an overlong introduction, explaining what it is he’s about to do, what makes it funny, then instructs the audience (growing noisy and restless) on the proper way to land when taking a fall. Finally he does it. Applause. As he steps up onto the riser, returning to his chair, he trips and falls again.
Chevy became less tongue-tied once Richard came out and took the guest chair next to Johnny. Being pushed out of the spotlight seemed to energize Chevy. His comic style being better suited to the role of a sideline taunter than ball carrier, he kept leaning over from the couch into Richard’s frame and repeatedly interrupted with ineffective wisecracks. After suffering a number of verbal smack-downs from Richard—with the audience clearly on Richard’s side—Chevy attempted to make amends by saying that he had seen Richard’s special and that it was “hilarious. Not quite as funny as mine, but, really, it’s quite good.” Richard remained unmoved. When Johnny asked Richard if he’d seen Chevy’s special, he answered, “I don’t like Chevy.”
Carson went to a station break. When they came back, he asked Richard if he ever went back to visit Peoria. As a matter of fact, he told Johnny, he was going back that very weekend to spend Mother’s Day with his grandmother and to see his son perform in a talent show. When Johnny asked Richard what his son’s talent was, Chevy interrupted his answer by saying, “He’s a hooker.” Richard turned on him.
Richard: Huh?
Chevy: Nothing.
Richard: What was it you said?
Chevy: (raising his hands to protest his innocence) Hey, I didn’t say nothing, man. I didn’t say nothing.
Richard: I was going to ask you, why didn’t you tell Johnny you was going to take over his show?
Oooohs from the audience.
Chevy: I knew you’d bring that up and Johnny and I we’ve discussed it and neither of us cares.
Richard: That monologue you were doing with the chair is a perfect replacement for Johnny.
Chevy: A lot of chair falls. “My opening monologue will be a fall over a chair tonight, thank you very much.”
Carson: You guys better be big hits tomorrow night.
Richard: I’ve got mine. I love show business. That’s the only reason I’m in.
More oooohs from the audience at the punch he’d just landed.
It’s informative—and fun—to see Carson’s bemusement as he watches the two men spar. Carson had put in his time, honing his craft for more than a quarter-century starting out at a local radio station in Omaha, emceeing church dinners, hosting variety shows, and quiz shows before getting his own sketch comedy show, Carson’s Cellar at KNXT, the Los Angeles CBS affiliate, in 1951. He wrote for Red Skelton and hosted more game shows before finally achieving success with Who Do You Trust? on NBC in New York. He did that for six years before being tapped to host The Tonight Show. And now people at the network—important people—thought this clod had the chops to take over his job? Chevy Chase, the overnight sensation who’d been hired on as a writer for Saturday Night then added to the cast at the last minute despite having so little experience beyond performing in a few improv comedy troupes and providing voice talent on the National Lampoon Radio Hour? They wouldn’t think so after tonight.
http://www.salon.com/2014/11/28/i_d...chases_tense_post_saturday_night_live_battle/
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