You NEED to see how funny these talk show moments are! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most hilarious highlights that occurred on a talk.
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00:00Some guy yells out,
00:02Get your hair cut!
00:04And Mick says, and I'll never forget these words,
00:06Well, I look like you.
00:10Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most hilarious highlights that occurred on a talk show.
00:16If it's got Carrot Top in it, you know what a good name for it would be?
00:18What's that, Norm?
00:20Box Office Poison.
00:24Number 20. Steve Martin Almost Leaves.
00:26The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
00:28This comedian is always guaranteed to make people laugh when he's a guest on a talk show.
00:32I understand that you have to leave.
00:34Yeah, I have to go.
00:36You have to be somewhere this evening and go.
00:38I have to rehearse.
00:40I know.
00:42For this 1978 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,
00:44Steve Martin leaves the interview early for an apparent rehearsal.
00:48The actor tries to sound impressive like other celebrities, but it all ends up being a setup.
00:52Martin comes back with his best crying routine in a hilarious twist.
00:58I don't have to leave.
01:00I don't have to leave.
01:06Carson clearly loves the entire bit, playing along with his guest's amusing antics.
01:10It's especially funny to watch a grown man start acting like a child that needs to be consoled.
01:14I see all the big stars come on, they always have to leave.
01:18I just thought I'd say I had to leave, but I don't have to leave.
01:22Everyone's alright.
01:30Even famous actors have trouble talking with other celebrities, as this 2018 Graham Norton clip shows.
01:36And I was at this party with a couple of my friends, and an old friend of mine, who's a manager, comes up to me,
01:44and he's like, Tom, Tom, Tom, do you know Madonna?
01:48And I'm like, funny enough, no.
01:52As Tom Holland describes an exchange with Madonna, he mentions an awkward situation at a nightclub.
01:57To top it all off, the actor's friend told the singer that Holland could dance well.
02:01This absurd event sounds like a nightmare, as Holland describes his unimpressive moves.
02:06And Jason can see me panicking, and goes, Madonna, Tom is an incredible dancer.
02:14And I'm looking at him like, I'm gonna kill you.
02:17And she goes, really? Well, that's something I'd love to see, show me.
02:21Despite our second-hand embarrassment, we can't help but laugh along as he also discusses his quick exit.
02:27The only thing missing is an actual demonstration of his dance performance.
02:31The Spider-Man star could not be more relatable here, entertaining us with his ridiculous and horrifying tale.
02:37The next day, I'm telling my family on FaceTime, who's having a family dinner, about my evening and the Oscars,
02:43they wanted to know all the goss, and I end up telling them this story.
02:46My dad is wetting himself, my mom is cringing, and then my little brother Paddy goes, who's Madonna?
02:59Welcoming two rivals to his talk program, Dick Cavett presided over a war of words between Gore Vidal and Norman Mailer.
03:06Gore, you can afford to be fond of me because you've said the scurrilous things about me.
03:10What did I say about you that was so scurrilous? I attacked your piece...
03:14No, we'll just... bring a little bit.
03:17The latter guest is so testy that he also goes after the host, having already taken verbal shots at the others.
03:23This exchange then prompts one of Cavett's funniest lines.
03:27Why don't you fold it five ways and put it where the moon don't shine?
03:33The clever comeback is especially memorable, leaving Mailer momentarily speechless.
03:38You'll either be laughing or cheering along with the audience after Cavett's response.
03:43With a killer ad-lib, the host course-corrects this interview and gives the angry author a taste of his own medicine.
04:03You never know what to expect on this adult swim program.
04:06Eric Andre keeps Public Enemy's Flavor Flav on his toes, reminding everyone of his reputation for bizarre and gross-out humor.
04:21It all builds up until the confused guest endures the wrath of Hannibal Buress.
04:25The sidekick throws a kick that ends the segment in style.
04:29Yeah, man.
04:32While it might be doctored for effect, the wild moment isn't any less funny.
04:37Andre and Buress's unique brand of hospitality is perfectly exemplified here.
04:41The sound effects and editing only make this more effective, giving the show its trademark surrealism.
04:48All right, I'm dead serious here. I'm gonna punch you in the face, fam.
04:56Combining performance art and comedy, Andy Kaufman was a singular performer in every way.
05:02I'm not doing much special right now.
05:08This is, you know, I'm once in a while making appearances like on this show.
05:12Yeah, I know you're probably gonna do movies.
05:15Hopefully.
05:17This 1980 appearance of him on The David Letterman Show is an excellent example of his unique style and ability to let awkward comedy intensify.
05:25Coughing and staring, Kaufman tells an extended tale about his personal and financial setbacks.
05:31Saturday Night Live, it discovered me.
05:38I'd rather if you don't laugh because I'm not trying to be funny right now.
05:48This all leads up to the darkly comic conclusion where he asks the audience for money.
05:53Not only does he have the audacity to beg for money, he also enters the crowd to panhandle.
05:59It's gleefully absurd yet disturbing in a way that only this comedian could pull off.
06:06So anyway, if anybody could, I know this sounds like a cliche, but if you could, any extra money that you have, I'd appreciate it.
06:30The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
06:32Not everybody loves roller coasters.
06:34Kevin Hart definitely falls into that category, very reluctantly joining Jimmy Fallon for this 2014 segment.
06:48The two of them strap into the front seat of a coaster.
06:50Fallon jokes with Hart as the two prepare to drop, with the latter comedian ready to scream.
06:56The guest loses it as the ride throws him for a few surprising dips and turns.
07:00The Jumanji star then freaks out throughout the experience.
07:12If you remember waiting for your first big ride, this will bring back that worried feeling with some major laughs.
07:18If the first round isn't enough, the two keep riding in a shocking climax that rivals their journey into a haunted house.
07:27Stop it! Stop it!
07:38The Fly The Graham Norton Show
07:41During this episode of the British show, three comedic guests make the most of an unexpected situation.
07:46An insect starts buzzing around the couch, inspiring Steve Carell to reveal his fly swatting technique.
07:53If it landed here, what you do is you go, oh, get it over here.
07:57Because you put it there and you go, because the fly feels the pressure of the air coming from either side, so you trick it.
08:05And you go, and you get it every time.
08:08Clever murder.
08:09Later in the interview, Chris O'Dowd takes a sip of his drink, only to find a surprise inside.
08:15It's such a chaotic turn of events that you'd almost think it was scripted.
08:19Oh!
08:22Oh my God!
08:25Did you just drink the fly?
08:30If you aren't completely grossed out like Kristen Wiig, you'll be laughing along with everyone else.
08:35O'Dowd's play-by-play turns the hilarious moment into a dramatic and engaging story.
08:40At the end, he drops the fly on the table, and his fellow guests even hold an impromptu funeral.
08:46Oh, let's see, let's see!
08:47Okay, are you ready, Steve? Are you ready?
08:49Oh!
08:50No!
09:02Number 13. Conan spends NBC's money.
09:06The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.
09:08Even though his run was short-lived, Conan O'Brien had lots of fun during his time on The Tonight Show.
09:13This included jokes about spending NBC's money to do whatever he wanted.
09:17We can pretty much do whatever we want, and this is the best part.
09:24We can do whatever we want, and they have to pay for it.
09:29Taking this premise to the max, O'Brien reveals all of the outrageous purchases the program made,
09:34including a Bugatti dressed as a mouse.
09:36It's all played for laughs in a monologue at the network's literal expense.
09:40Say hello to our new Tonight Show character, the Bugatti Veyron Mouse!
09:49For those that didn't approve of NBC's treatment of the comedian, this feels like the best kind of comedic revenge.
09:55You can tell Conan is truly embracing the comedy that comes from not having to care anymore.
10:01That's right, ladies and gentlemen, total price tag for this comedy bit, $1.5 million!
10:11Sorry, NBC!
10:19After Tom Cruise challenged him to jump out of a plane, James Corden reluctantly took the actor up on his offer.
10:24You are here!
10:25I'm here!
10:26You're here, you made it!
10:27I'm here, and I'm terrified. Are we genuinely doing this?
10:30I'm just amazed you're here.
10:32This created one of the more memorable moments from The Late Late Show in this 2018 episode.
10:36During a tense build-up, Cruise tries to prepare the host with some rigorous training.
10:41Their odd-couple chemistry keeps this whole segment funny until the big jump.
10:45Corden is clearly scared out of his mind, and his guest is easygoing during the flight.
10:50Next time you come on the show, let's just do a chat.
10:53We'll do a chat segment at the desk, play a clip, that's it, that's what we'll do, okay?
10:58It's gonna be okay. Chances are, we're gonna make it.
11:04As the host jumps, you can tell he's more than terrified, ultimately making for some incredibly entertaining television.
11:26On this offbeat talk show, the host interrogates people next to the titular plants.
11:31I mean, I have to say, when I heard that, like, people actually watch this show, I was actually pretty surprised.
11:38Hi, welcome to another edition of Between Two Ferns. I'm your host, Zach Galifianakis.
11:42One of his most memorable moments came in 2014 when he welcomed President Barack Obama.
11:47The fact that he's interviewing a head of state does not faze the host or prompt him to hold back.
11:52Galifianakis asks a funny and pointed joke about Obama's legacy as a black president.
11:57I have to know, what is it like to be the last black president?
12:01Seriously?
12:02The line itself is bold and hilarious, but it also inspires a fantastic comeback from Obama.
12:07What's it like for this to be the last time you ever talk to a president?
12:11In this unforgettable moment, Between Two Ferns shows that even a powerful politician can make fun of themselves on such a comedic program.
12:23During his initial late night run, David Letterman proved that he was a subversive host with many comedic talents.
12:29NBC offered me a chance to star in an after school special aimed at this age group.
12:33I was ecstatic, of course, and well, the program was aired last month and received so much critical acclaim,
12:38we decided it was well worth repeating tonight.
12:42This particular short from 1983 showcases his ability to parody after school specials.
12:47He advises a younger boy that's just had his favorite program canceled,
12:51showing that there's hope even after losing something you love.
12:54Uh, Jimmy, what do you say we go for a little walk, alright?
12:59What about my show?
13:01Well, we can talk about that outside, okay?
13:05Okay.
13:06It's a well-written idea that mimics the popular and overdramatic format of many educational videos.
13:12Letterman's pitch-perfect performance reveals that he can act just as well as he can host.
13:17The self-serious tone makes the premise funnier, mocking the plight of canceled TV series.
13:22Just because a show is canceled doesn't mean it goes away forever.
13:27It can live on through reruns, syndication.
13:32You mean I might see Voyagers again?
13:35Well, yeah, maybe in some form or another.
13:44Nathan Fielder is considered by many to have one of the best and brightest comic minds of his generation.
13:49In this 2017 Jimmy Kimmel appearance, the comedian proves he can deliver on an extensive and mind-bending premise.
14:08He tells a dramatic story about a luggage mix-up, a mysterious baggie, and a police stop.
14:19It all sounds so detailed and naturally funny, but Fielder is harboring a secret.
14:44He actually orchestrated all of the events in an elaborate prank.
14:48This resulted in him being able to tell an exciting anecdote and not have to lie about it.
14:53Both shocking you and making you laugh, the guest completely pulls the rug out from under your expectations.
15:00And so I say to him, I'm like, what did he say was in the baggie?
15:06And he said, it's his mother's ashes.
15:18When her show sets up a hidden camera in a coffee shop, Ellen DeGeneres enlists Dennis Quaid to have some fun in this 2008 episode.
15:26Okay, so a few days ago we sent Dennis Quaid over to the Starbucks right here on the Warner Brothers lot,
15:30and I put a device in his ear so he could hear me, and we had hidden cameras, and no one in Starbucks knew what we were doing.
15:37The actor has to say whatever the host tells him, and the results are hilarious.
15:42Quaid's opening line in particular sells the entire bit as he makes a grand introduction.
15:47Willing to make fun of himself, the guest delivers a goofy line that sets up a funny exchange inside the coffee shop.
15:54Dennis Quaid is here! Say it loud.
15:58Dennis Quaid is here!
16:03This continues as the actor orders and interacts with the unsuspecting people inside.
16:08It also shows that Quaid has a natural comic presence, taking each of DeGeneres' prompts in stride.
16:14Dennis Quaid wants a coffee.
16:16Dennis Quaid wants a coffee.
16:24Rob Reiner was technically the main guest on this 1985 Late Night with David Letterman episode,
16:30but it was his friend and fellow comedian Albert Brooks that stole the show.
16:34Nice man to talk to on the phone or off the phone.
16:36A little cheap kid turned blue doesn't mean she's pregnant. Hello?
16:42Hello? Albert? Yes? It's Rob.
16:45Letterman and Reiner call up Brooks for some laughs over the phone.
16:48The call-in guest offers up his variation of the stupid pet trick segment, but without the necessary visuals.
17:06It's a hilarious subversion of the classic skit with the additional guest speaking for his own pet.
17:11Even when he's not in the same studio, Brooks can offer up a funny concept and get a big reaction.
17:18Yeah, what's he doing, Albert?
17:34On this 2008 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, Sarah Silverman had a surprise for the host,
17:39who she was then romantically involved with.
17:49I don't know why I haven't, but it's important.
17:51I mean, we've been together for so long, over five years, and I still haven't told you, and it's just not right, so...
17:57The actress shows a music video that she made with the host's rival Matt Damon.
18:01Not only did she write a song, she also claims to have had a relationship with Damon.
18:06This hilarious video entertains with fun choreography and high production values.
18:10I'm f***ing Matt Damon.
18:11She's f***ing Matt Damon.
18:13I'm sorry, but it's true.
18:17The only thing better than the surprise is Kimmel's stunned reaction afterwards,
18:21ratcheting up the tension of the fake feud.
18:23The conflict between Damon and Kimmel always provides maximum entertainment value.
18:29Oh, yeah.
18:31Well, congratulations.
18:35He was People's Sexiest Man of the Year.
18:37You know what? We're gonna take a break right now, and we'll be right back with Sarah Silverman.
18:47At one point in the 2000s, Conan O'Brien, Stephen Colbert, and Jon Stewart
18:51found themselves in a bitter feud over Mike Huckabee.
18:54If I see either one of these guys, I'm gonna kick some serious Comedy Central ass.
18:58Right, everybody? That's just what's gonna happen.
19:00Did someone order an ass-kicking?
19:03In 2008, the Late Night with Conan O'Brien host was confronted on his show
19:07by the two Comedy Central comedians,
19:09leading to a hilarious and over-the-top fight
19:12spilling out into the hallways outside O'Brien's studio.
19:15It is go time. Dance for everyone.
19:18Is this a good sort of area, I think?
19:20Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let's do it. Let's do it, man.
19:22If I just very quickly...
19:23Yeah.
19:24That is beautiful. Is that a Louisville slugger?
19:25It is a Louisville slugger.
19:26May I see that? Because that is...
19:27Gorgeous. I've had that a while.
19:28Oh, my God.
19:30Fans of pro wrestling will enjoy many of the moves on display here.
19:34There were also some spectacular falls down a flight of stairs,
19:37making a great skit that much more exciting.
19:40It's fair to say that there's never been a funnier or more impressive late-night brawl.
19:54Number four.
19:55Nicole Kidman reveals her crush on Jimmy Fallon.
19:59I don't know if you remember this, but we met before.
20:02Oh, I remember.
20:04Do you remember this? It was really embarrassing for me.
20:06Yes.
20:07Welcoming Nicole Kidman to a show,
20:09Jimmy Fallon might have thought he would have a typical interview.
20:12This 2015 segment proved to be anything but ordinary after a shocking revelation.
20:17Kidman recounts a time she went to Fallon's apartment years ago
20:20with the added announcement that she liked him.
20:22I just remember I liked you, and he was like, not now.
20:28I'm married now.
20:30But he was like, oh, well, you can make...
20:34The presenter looks completely taken aback by the news
20:36before asking for further clarification.
20:39With his life flashing before his eyes,
20:41the comedian questions everything in a hilarious moment.
20:44The audience's reaction alone shows how much the TV personality fumbled the ball.
20:49It's both funny and somewhat relatable to hear both people realizing
20:52they completely misunderstood each other.
20:54You didn't say anything.
20:56You were like, hey.
20:59I didn't say, I was very nervous.
21:01And I'm like, okay.
21:03I didn't know this was a thing.
21:05I thought this was a movie.
21:06It was like a hang.
21:07It was meant to just, I don't know.
21:09And then you put a video game on or something.
21:11And I'm like, this is so bad.
21:20Norm Macdonald was one of the most enjoyable and chaotic guests on talk shows.
21:24This 1997 interview on Late Night with Conan O'Brien showcases the comic perfectly.
21:29You know, because before, during the commercial,
21:31I was saying I had a huge crush on her.
21:33And then you said you did too.
21:36It starts when Courtney Thorne-Smith mentions working with Carrot Top in a movie
21:40and inspires Macdonald to react.
21:42After a back and forth, the host sets up Macdonald to do what he does best.
21:46It all builds to the comedian offering up his own spelling
21:49for the film Chairman of the Board.
21:51Are you talking about Melrose Place?
21:55No, because I...
21:57You're the biggest ass I ever met.
22:01The guest's quick wit prompts one of the funniest comebacks in talk show history.
22:05This could have been an ordinary interview,
22:08but the Dirty Work star transforms it into comedic gold.
22:12Do something with that, you freak.
22:17I bet the board is spelled B-O-R-E-D.
22:21Number 2.
22:22Emma Stone shows off during a lip-sync battle.
22:25The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.
22:27Many people have tried lip-syncing with Jimmy Fallon,
22:30but Emma Stone might be the best of them all.
22:40Her song choices are surprising and undeniably funny,
22:43from Blues Traveler to DJ Khaled.
22:45Stone gives such a dedicated performance here,
22:48showing that she can bring the same intensity to lip-syncing
22:51that she brought to her Oscar-winning performances.
23:00You'll likely be as hypnotized as Fallon is while watching her.
23:04If you need another reminder of her talent,
23:06the actress blows everyone away with her imitation of Ludacris.
23:09She almost turns the concept of lip-syncing into an Olympic sport.
23:19Drawing laughs and amazed reactions,
23:22the ongoing segment is among Fallon's finest bits
23:25alongside his history of rap skits.
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24:05No tribute to The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
24:08is complete without this segment.
24:10When Ed Ames and Carson try to throw axes,
24:12the former lands one in an unfortunate zone.
24:15The host milks the moment until he comes back with a hilarious one-liner.
24:26With the initial surprise and the subsequent joke,
24:29this is the exact combination of events that make for great comedy.
24:33Considering how much more restrained TV was in 1965,
24:37it's amazing the sequence made it on the air.
24:39It's also a showcase of the presenter's perfect timing,
24:42proving that Carson knows how and when to offer up the perfect ad-lib.
24:56Did we forget another hilarious talk show moment?
24:59Let us know in the comments below.
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