From Born Standing Up, A Comic’s Life by Steve Martin:

“For my first show back, I chose to do a bit I had developed years earlier at the Ice House. I speed talked a Vegas nightclub act in two minutes. Appearing on the show was Sammy Davis, Jr. who, while still performing energetically, had also become a historic showbiz figure. I was whizzing along, singing a four-second version of “Ebb Tide,” then saying at lightening speed, “Frank Sinatra personal friend of mine Steve Martin I’m a personal friend of mine too and now a little dancin’!” I started a wild flail, which I must say was pretty funny, when a showbiz miracle occurred. The camera cut away to a dimly lit Johnny, precisely as he whirled up from his chair, doubling over with laughter. Suddenly, subliminally, I was endorsed. At the end of the act, Sammy came over and hugged me. I felt I hadn’t been hugged since I was born. This was my sixteenth appearance on the show, and the first one I could really call a smash. The next day elated by my success, I walked into an antique store on La Brea. The woman behind the counter looked at me.
“Are you that boy who was on “The Tonight Show” last night?
“Yes,” I said.
“Yuck!” she blurted out.





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