The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Season 16 Episode 215 David Steinberg

During the 215th episode of the 16th season of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Johnny welcomed comedian and writer David Steinberg to the stage. Steinberg, a frequent guest on the show, sat down with Carson to discuss the current state of comedy and his own experiences in the industry.

The episode began with Carson doing his monologue, which included jokes about current events and pop culture. He then introduced Steinberg, who came out to a warm round of applause from the studio audience.

Steinberg and Carson began by discussing Steinberg's recent appearance on The Dean Martin Show, where he performed a controversial stand-up routine that referenced religion. The two men talked at length about the role of comedy in addressing taboo subjects and pushing boundaries, with Steinberg arguing that "comedy is the only socially acceptable way to talk about things that people are uncomfortable with."

Throughout the episode, Steinberg shared stories from his time working as a comedy writer for shows like The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and The Carol Burnett Show. He talked about the challenges of writing for TV in the 1970s and the struggle to balance creative freedom with network censorship.

Carson and Steinberg also discussed the changing landscape of comedy in the 1980s, with the rise of stand-up comedy clubs and the emergence of new comedic voices like Jerry Seinfeld and Roseanne Barr. Steinberg commented on the importance of authenticity in comedy, saying that "realness is what people want to see."

As the episode drew to a close, Steinberg performed a brief stand-up routine for the studio audience, showcasing his signature style of observational humor. He and Carson then took a moment to thank the crew and say goodnight to the audience.

Overall, the 215th episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was a compelling discussion of the art and craft of comedy, featuring insights and anecdotes from one of the era's most influential comedic voices.