Martin just smiled and said nothing.
I even remember Victor Buono reciting poetry on Carson. Or was is limericks? *sigh* Entertainment ain't what it used to be.
It never was.
Poetry, which he largely wrote himself. My favorite is this one
Fat Man's Prayer
Lord, My soul is ripped with riot
incited by my wicked diet.
"We Are What We Eat," said a wise old man!
and, Lord, if that's true, then I'm a garbage can.
I want to rise on Judgment Day, that's plain!
But at my present weight, I'll need a crane.
So grant me strength, that I may not fall
into the clutches of cholesterol.
May my flesh with carrot-curls be sated,
that my soul may be polyunsaturated
And show me the light, that I may bear witness
to the President's Council on Physical Fitness.
And at oleomargarine I'll never mutter,
for the road to Hell is spread with butter.
And cream is cursed; and cake is awful;
and Satan is hiding in every waffle.
Mephistopheles lurks in provolone;
the Devil is in each ice cream cone.
Beelzebub is a chocolate drop,
and Lucifer is a lollipop.
Give me this day my daily slice
but, cut it thin and toast it twice.
I beg upon my dimpled knees,
deliver me from jujubees.
And when my days of trial are done,
and my war with malted milk is won,
Let me stand with the Saints in Heaven
In a shining robe--size 37.
I can do it Lord, If You'll show to me,
the virtues of lettuce and celery.
If You'll teach me the evil of mayonnaise,
of pasta a la Milannaise
potatoes a la Lyonnaise
and crisp-fried chicken from the South.
Lord, if you love me, shut my mouth.
~ By Victor Buono ~
And I thin it WAS limericks.
And you're so right; it's just not the same.
And, damnit, I miss Tom Snyder!
As well as Charlton Heston. Good stuff...
Of course Johnny did that Carol Wayne skit with a sleazy Ferris whats-his-name ("stop at the Schlossen Cut-off, get out of your car, cut off your schlossen," lol.)