Ep 5. Comic Legends Of The '60s - Joan Rivers (5/17/74)

In the sixth season of The Johnny Carson Show, episode 5 titled "Comic Legends of the '60s - Joan Rivers," originally aired on May 17th, 1974, the audience is treated to a hilarious and timeless performance by the legendary Joan Rivers. The show is part of a series that showcases some of the most beloved comedians of the 1960s, and in this episode, Rivers takes center stage to deliver some of her signature humor.

The episode starts with Carson introducing Rivers to the stage, and the audience erupts in cheers and applause. Rivers, who had recently released her first comedy album and written her own book, begins her set talking about topics that were very much of the moment, like the first televised presidential debates between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. Rivers pokes fun at the candidates' appearances and ends up doing a hilarious impression of Kennedy.

From there, Rivers starts to explore broader topics, like sex, relationships, and aging. She delivers a bit on pornographic movies, which were just starting to make their way into the mainstream, and is quick to give her opinion on the subject. She then touches on the differences between men and women and their perceptions of beauty. As always, Rivers is sharp, witty, and often self-deprecating.

Towards the end of her set, Rivers takes on the topic of aging, drawing laughs from both Carson and the audience. She talks about her own progression, from being a young, attractive woman to becoming a middle-aged one. Rivers isn't shy about discussing the physical changes that come with aging, and she has the audience in stitches as she goes into detail about things like sagging breasts and the use of Spanx.

Throughout her set, Rivers showcases her unique ability to poke fun at herself while also putting the rest of the world in her comedic crosshairs. Her sharp observational skills keep the audience entertained, and her natural sense of timing and delivery is pure Joan Rivers.

While "Comic Legends of the '60s - Joan Rivers" is a showcase for one of the world's funniest people, it's also a time capsule of a different era. The references to Richard Nixon and JFK, the fashions, the hairstyles, and the attitudes all speak to the show's time period, and yet Rivers' humor has remained timeless.

The episode is a must-watch for Joan Rivers fans or anyone looking to catch a glimpse of one of the all-time great comedians at the top of her game. It's a perfect example of why Rivers was so beloved, and why her unique comic voice has continued to influence and inspire comedians for generations.