MovieChat Forums > The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) Discussion > The potato chip lady!

The potato chip lady!

posted 9 years ago by wordsatplaytoday
19 replies | jump to latest

You could, or at least I could tell, that she is not from a big city and from the mid-states.

That could be why Johnny kept her out there and bumped Jennifer Silly.

I liked how Johnny at first thought her hobby was peculiar but then grew to like her and probably related to her more and more also with his mid-states charm and she probably reminded him of the folks back home in Nebraska.

And the part where he eats the chip and unintentionally fools her was instant classic comedy gold!

It turned out to be a great bit.

Maybe I'm gushing because I'm from Wisconsin and I can relate to her a bit.

[–] vbv20 9 years ago

That was completely intentional, and that's what makes it funnier. Johnny knew exactly what he was doing. He had his hand in the chip bowl waiting for Ed's cue. Ed (who hadn't said a single word up to then) suddenly distracts her, when she turns her back, Johnny takes the chip and leans into his mic and crunches as loud as he can for the reaction. It was all timed perfectly.

Then he plays it off like "Oh no, it was an accident! I'm so sorry!" It was definitely a planned bit. Her stunned reaction was just the icing.

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[–] wordsatplaytoday 9 years ago

Watch closely and you will see that he wasn't being sneaky when he grabbed the chip.
And his reaction afterwards is sincere.
Anyone who thinks he did it on purpose is wrong.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuH1PhzOVR4

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[–] wordsatplaytoday 9 years ago

She even heated up the small screen when she had a part in a few Hill St. Blues episodes.

[–] vbv20 9 years ago

He was absolutely being sneaky. He wasn't listening to a word she said getting ready for his big moment. He stuck his hand in the bowl said "potato chips, eh?" which was basically Ed's cue to say "Look at this Johnny" which distracted her and Johnny finished it by eating the chip. He clearly felt bad that she reacted as seriously as she did, but it was absolutely pre-planned. He knew exactly what he was doing.

Anyone who thinks he didn't do it on purpose is in denial. It's all right there.

And seriously, show me one other clip in the history of The Tonight Show where Johnny starts eating potato chips in the middle of an interview.

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[–] wordsatplaytoday 9 years ago

I still say I had rather have seen Jennifer Tilly.

Any movies you liked her in?

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[–] bwalright 9 years ago

Potato chip lady was one of best guests and I'm NOT from Wisconsin. Average people opposed to Hollywood phonies must be a breath-of-fresh air for Johnny. This is where he sparkles!

[–] wordsatplaytoday 9 years ago

Potato chip lady was one of best guests and I'm NOT from Wisconsin. Average people opposed to Hollywood phonies must be a breath-of-fresh air for Johnny. This is where he sparkles!

Exactly and it's refreshing to have someone else comment and stay on topic of the OP.

This is what I miss about talk shows. When they would have on average Joe or Janes who were not celebs but did something interesting enough to discuss.

[–] wordsatplaytoday 9 years ago

I'm still not convinced that it was intentional.
We will just have to agree to disagree.
Only Johnny knows for sure and he took that to the grave with him and all we can do is take a guess.

[–] rycki1138 9 years ago

You think he just "happened" to have a bowl of potato chips sitting right there at just the right moment, but it wasn't intentional?

He reaches and eats a potato chip just to get a reaction from her when she has her back turned.

It's not like they always had a bowl of potato chips by the desk and he was seen numerous times reaching back and eating them. In the entire 30 years he was doing this show, this was the only time he reach back and grabbed a potato chip, just when the Potato Chip lady turned her back on him.

It was planned and he got the reaction he was expecting.

I remember this episode from when it originally aired and mostly because of the look of pure terror on her face when she thought he had eaten one of prized potato chips.

Sis Boom Bah! Describe the sound made when a sheep explodes 

[–] wordsatplaytoday 9 years ago

Yeah, I know that the chips were put out there for this guest.

When she turned her head, it was the first chance he had at eating one.

The way he was so apologetic to her doesn't have me convinced that it was intentional.

Johnny, to me, is not known for making jokes at others expense or for playing pranks.

I'm willing to let this go and agree to disagree. I dunno why others are being so stubborn and think headed and insisting that it was on purpose when it really is anybody's guess.

I'm just more open minded than others.

[–] hariseldon59 9 years ago

Johnny, to me, is not known for making jokes at others expense or for playing pranks.

Johnny actually had quite the reputation as a practical joker, although most of these were directed at friends. One time he had Ed McMahon's car loaded with office equipment, then had Ed stopped by security while leaving NBC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaXNKsDX0so

Then there was the time when Johnny had David Letterman's red pickup truck stolen from in front of his Malibu home and brought to the Tonight Show studio when Dave was a guest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_mGGRkbUxo

So the potato chip gag was very much in character for him.

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[–] vbv20 9 years ago

The way he was so apologetic to her doesn't have me convinced that it was intentional.

No, that's just it. I think once he saw her panic, he backpedaled on everything. I don't think Johnny was out to get her, he just wanted to pull a little prank and it went too far, and he realized it too late, and that is what made it funnier. She got upset, he realized the reaction was a little too strong and he copped out. But I think he overdid it which is why I say it's a tad obvious watching it now.

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[–] lunkerstool 9 years ago

Can you imagine if she had a chip shaped like a "you know what"?...She could've referred to it as a "dictator".