David Spade Talks About His Awkward First Appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson”

Spade was surprised when Johnny Carson called him over to the "Tonight Show" couch in his first appearance on the program.

David Spade told a funny story about his first appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," getting kudos from the late-night legend himself.

But before Spade told the story, he took the opportunity to bust Fallon's chops.

"Yeah, this is the new 'Tonight Show'," Spade said. "I don't know if you know this. You're the nineteenth host."

"That's right before me there was Edward James Olmos," Fallon joked.

Fallon chimed in while Spade was talking about his Carson appearance, to which the "Joe Dirt" star said, "I'll tell the story."

"It is a talk show, not a listen show," Spade joked.

Then, Spade explained that a producer told him to perform and get off the stage. Although he wanted to sit on the "Tonight Show" couch for more exposure, the producer said, "That's not going to happen. That's for the Seinfelds."

But when Spade finished his set, Carson called him over but Spade followed the producer's orders and left the stage.

There was a silver lining: when Spade went to his dressing room, he was visited by Carson, Ed McMahon, and Doc Severenson. They told him he had a great set and explained that he was told not to go over to the couch by the producer, who was fired after the episode.

Finally, Fallon surprised Spade with the actual clip of the awkward moment on Carson's show.

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