The Golden Era of Television: 20 Wild Animals Appearing on the 'Tonight Show'

Carly Tennes Published 10/20/2024 in Funny

Of all the star-studded guests that dropped by The Tonight Show during Johnny Carson's three decades as host, none quite compare to the menagerie of animals that lit up the stage. Whether they were sweet singing dogs or an irate elephant shrew, Carson's four — or sometimes six or eight-legged — guests were truly ones for the ages.

From a very presumptuous python to an adorable baby ape, here are the 20 craziest animal appearances from The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

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1.
A Burmese Python gets a little too friendly with Johnny Carson.
2.
Flatnose, a tree-climbing bulldog, shows off his chops.
3.
A singing parrot leaves Carson quite impressed.
4.
Howard the parrot freaks out Carson with his penchant for introducing himself.
5.
Carson braves a tarantula on his hand.
6.
A marmoset sits on Carson’s head.
7.
A Koala scales a tree on Carson’s set.
8.
Carson cozies up to a baby gorilla from the San Diego Zoo.
9.
A dog sings for Carson’s audience.
10.
Carson tries to keep his cool in the face of a giant beetle.
11.
Carson and a baby mountain lion stare each other down.
12.
A pair of ferrets pop by the beloved late-night series.
13.
Carson gets beat up by an irritated baboon.
14.
A coyote takes a bathroom break live on air.
15.
Carson befriends a bullfrog.
16.
 Carson wrangles a baby Siberian tiger.
17.
Carson greets his gator guests.
18.
A bat moments before breaking loose and flying towards the ceiling.
19.
Carson bottle-feeds a bear cub.
20.
Carson hangs out with a baby pygymy hippo.

1.
A Burmese Python gets a little too friendly with Johnny Carson.
2.
Flatnose, a tree-climbing bulldog, shows off his chops.
3.
A singing parrot leaves Carson quite impressed.
4.
Howard the parrot freaks out Carson with his penchant for introducing himself.
5.
Carson braves a tarantula on his hand.
6.
A marmoset sits on Carson’s head.
7.
A Koala scales a tree on Carson’s set.
8.
Carson cozies up to a baby gorilla from the San Diego Zoo.
9.
A dog sings for Carson’s audience.
10.
Carson tries to keep his cool in the face of a giant beetle.
11.
Carson and a baby mountain lion stare each other down.
12.
A pair of ferrets pop by the beloved late-night series.
13.
Carson gets beat up by an irritated baboon.
14.
A coyote takes a bathroom break live on air.
15.
Carson befriends a bullfrog.
16.
 Carson wrangles a baby Siberian tiger.
17.
Carson greets his gator guests.
18.
A bat moments before breaking loose and flying towards the ceiling.
19.
Carson bottle-feeds a bear cub.
20.
Carson hangs out with a baby pygymy hippo.