Johnny Carson and Hysterical Animal Moments!

Animal handlers Joan Embry and Jim Fowler were return guests who brought exotic animals like baby bears, orangutans and marmosets to the "Tonight Show" set.

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B. Emily Neal

Apr 12, 2015 11 photos 15 links

Although the animals were drawn to the late-night comic, often crawling across his desk and shoulders and even atop his head, he seemed to enjoy the attention. Unless, of course, the critters started to make a mess on his jacket. Joan Embery (San Diego Zoo’s “ambassador,” who in 22 years has brought more than 300 animals on Tonight) “I can trust Johnny. He knows when to back off and when to jump in, and how to handle an animal. He knows they are sometimes potentially dangerous, but he also wants to be involved; he is braver than most people think. When we go on, he flies by the seat of his pants, and I like that. Animals are spontaneous. In his own way, he has done more than anyone else for wildlife on network TV. “The most remembered animal, of course, is the marmoset that sat on Johnny’s head. Probably the ones that played the best with him were the gorillas and the chimps. I also liked the time I took this elephant on the show. She was 8 feet tall and weighed 8,000 pounds, and I had her pick up Johnny with her trunk. He wasn’t exactly in the right position, so she had this death grip on his leg. I’m sure he appreciated she held on tighter.”

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Funny Laughing Bird on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show- 1976

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Cute But Mean Little Animal, the Elephant Shrew, on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show

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Johnny Carson Blooper: A Coyote Answers Nature's Call on "The Tonight Show" - Johnny Carson - 1969

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Joan Embery Visits with Two Ferrets, Apr 1986, Part 2

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Jim Fowler & his sloth

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Singing Dog Contest on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, 1987

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Joan Embrey and All Her Animals!!!

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Baby Gorilla from San Diego Zoo: Orangutans on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show

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Baby Mountain Lion Stares Down Johnny Carson, Apr 1986, Part 3

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Johnny Carson Jumps into Ed McMahon's Arms

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Johnny Carson Bloopers: A Marmoset Gets Relief on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson"

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