Johnny Carson Interviews Oldest Farmer And He Ends Up Stealing The Show In This Classic Clip
April 25, 2023
In a vintage TV clip, Merritt Heaton appears as the oldest farmer on Johnny Carson. And as Johnny chats with Merritt, the spunky 97-year-old from Illinois ends up stealing the show!
Before the Jimmys, (both Kimmel and Fallon) before Seth Meyers, Jon Stewart, Arsenio Hall, Conan O’Brien, Bill Maher, and David Letterman, there was the beloved and oh-so-relatable Johnny Carson!
RELATED: Howard the Talking Bird Appears on The Johnny Carson Show And Completely Steals the Spotlight
To provide context, this episode of The Tonight Show aired originally in 1988. As Johnny opens the program and chats with his straight man, Ed McMahon, he does a shout-out to David Letterman. Dave was at the time celebrating the 6th anniversary of his late-night show. Ed calculates that they’d already been going 19 years when Mr. Letterman started, airing the first time in October 1962. This video takes us back!
Johnny introduces Merritt Heaton from Toulon, Illinois, stating that Mr. Heaton holds the record as the oldest living active farmer in the state of Illinois. Merritt takes his spot on the couch and the laughs don’t stop!
Johnny Carson Interviews 97-Year-Old Farmer
Johnny asks Merritt why he was initially reluctant to come on the show. Merritt says that he was scared, but Johnny challenges that, charging that he’s probably been in “10 or 12 world wars.” Merritt seems to relax quickly, and Johnny inquires as to how many times Merritt has seen the show over the years. Merritt’s a bit foggy on that, so Johnny lets it go. Farmers rise early!
Merritt and Johnny discuss coffee-shop culture, Merritt describing the critical political and farm-related conversations that take place each morning at the local java joint. That may be one tradition that has held firm over the years—many farmers still congregate at the coffee shop for a stint each day.
The gentleman farmer shares a bit about his typical day on the farm, but he confesses that he’s now turned over the supervisory responsibilities to his son, and the audience erupts in laughter when he responds to Johnny that his son is 78! Mr. Heaton’s family obviously has a great work ethic!
RELATED: Johnny Carson Tricks Potato Chip Lady Into Thinking He Ate Her Prize-Winning Chip
When asked what has brought about the greatest change on the farm, Mr. Heaton says it was electricity, and Johnny responds that he thought perhaps it was the intervention of the wheel. It is all in good fun. Both interviewer and interviewee demonstrate superb humor and goodwill.
Marriage Advice From Oldest Farmer On Johnny Carson
The conversation moves to the matter of Mr. Heaton’s love life. Merritt, while not much of a dancer, seems to have things figured out in the romance department. The 97-year-old was married 64 years before his wife died. So Johnny, making a joke of his own poor track record with wives, asks him how he made it work so long.
Merritt talks about how times have changed, how women have changed, and he’s pretty pleased with his relationships with two lady friends—one in California and one in his hometown in Illinois!
Merritt referenced “rural free delivery” and how that was new when he was a child. Without telephones, television, and, obviously, the internet, that was how his father first learned through the newspaper about the assassination of President William McKinley in September 1901!
Johnny wraps things up with Merritt, and Merritt expresses his thanks before leaving. Johnny comments on how very sharp and nice Merritt is. Ray Stevens, certainly a big deal in country music at the time, is set to come on after the commercial. But, instead, Johnny invites Merritt and his California sweetie, Peggy Taylor, to return for a quick introduction. Ms. Peggy is refined and ladylike, but a bit more reserved than Merritt. They look like a great couple!
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Ginger Rogers Dances With Johnny Carson In Classic Clip Until 1 High Kick Does Him In
The whole interview is just a joy! And, it’s an awesome piece of history to boot!
“Wisdom is with aged men, And with length of days, understanding.” Job 12:12
WATCH: Oldest Farmer On Johnny Carson Has Everyone Cracking Up
LISTEN: Dean Martin’s Family Shares Truth About Famous Singer | Police Respond to Look at 4-Year-Old's Toys
h/t: GodTube
Featured Image Credit: YouTube/Johnny Carson
Hally is a freelance writer, blogger, and mental health advocate. A former school counselor, Hally works for a nonprofit that distributes tax dollars to mental health and prevention education providers that serve her county's kids and families. She's a contributor to a devotional and two essay collectives, and she shares resources and wisdom regarding parenting teens, mental health, faith, adoption, and more at http://www.hallyjwells.com where she strives to "Dig Deep and Reach High." She and her husband have three adult children and one rascally beagle pup. Hally loves travel, her book club sisters, personality tests, and a great glass of iced tea.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer of Celebration for Jesus’ Birth - Your Daily Prayer - December 25
Jesus’ birth is a time for great celebration. Although born hidden away in an obscure stable, His appearing brought the most spectacular baby announcement on Earth, with angels breaking forth from Heaven to bring the Good News of His birth.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer of Celebration for Jesus’ Birth - Your Daily Prayer - December 25
Jesus’ birth is a time for great celebration. Although born hidden away in an obscure stable, His appearing brought the most spectacular baby announcement on Earth, with angels breaking forth from Heaven to bring the Good News of His birth.
Past Stories
- Husband Decorates His Neighbors' Homes For Wife Who Loves Christmas
- Couple Befriend Older Neighbor After Hearing Music Coming From His Apartment
- California Man Carpools With Adult Children On His Very Last Day of Work Before Retirement
- Family of Three Grows To Seven Overnight With Birth of Quadruplets
- The World's Oldest Dog Spike the Chihuahua Turns 25 Years Old
- Christmas Tree Planted Back in 1979 Inspires and Unites a Small English Village
- Dick Van Dyke Turns 99 After Evacuating From a Wildfire and Welcoming His Lost Cat Back Home
- Santa and Mrs.Claus Continue to Spread Christmas Magic Even With Santa's MS Diagnosis
- Little Girl Gets a Big Elf On the Shelf Surprise Honoring the Little Brother Who Passed Away
- Little Boy From England With Leukemia Delivers Over 400 Christmas Gifts To Kids At the Hospital
- Gold Star Family Receives a Big Surprise That Will Change Their Lives Forever
- 8-Year-Old With Down Syndrome Is a Hero After Saving Sister From House Fire
- Man Paralyzed At 17 While Snowboarding Has Found True Love and a Wonderful Life
- His Wife Passed Away, Now Their Special Tree is the 2024 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
- Granddaughter Captures Last Words Between Grandparents, Married For 69 Years
- New York State Police Rescue Woman Needing a Heart Transplant Stranded in Snowstorm
- Born the Same Year the Titanic Sank, World's Oldest Man Dies at 112
- Family Receives Support From School and Community After Losing House in a Fire
- Soldier Reunites With His Military Dog Yyacob After Years Apart
- Chicago Man Discovers That The Owner Of The Bakery He Loved To Visit Was Actually His Mother
- Husband Pays For 40 Pet Adoptions At Shelter For His Wife's 40th Birthday
- Parents Find Healing After Loss of Son By Donating His Beloved Key Collection To Little Boy
- Mom Dances With Son At His Wedding After Being Placed in Hospice Care 2 Weeks Before
- Grandmother and Young Granddaughter Battling Cancer At the Exact Same Time
- Community Brings Christmas Joy to Virginia Woman With Just Weeks to Live
- Four Friends Recreate A Fun Vacation Photo From 50 Years Ago
- School in Arkansas Mourns the Loss of Their Beloved Emotional Support Dog Abby
- 93-Year-Old Has Made Sure To Attend Every High School Football Game Since 1946
- Texas Mom Doesn't Remember Delivering Triplets After Rare Complication After Birth
- United Airlines Pilot Buys Pizza For 155 Passengers After They Make An Unexpected Stop
- Teenager With Down Syndrome Enjoys Playing Kickball After Parents Organize Neighborhood Game
- Woman in Shock After Finding Winning Lottery Ticket At the Bottom of Her Purse
- Australian Couple Walks Into Their Bedroom To Find the Cutest Koala
- 5 Boys and Their Father Were Saved By Good Samaritan After Explosion
- Daughter of WWII Soldier Finally Learns What Happened To Him, 80 Years Later
- Sisters Scream With Joy Watching Their 4-Year-Old Sister Take Her First Steps
- Her Mom Put a Message in a Bottle As a Child, 26 Years Later Her Classmate Found It
- This Missouri School Was Renamed After Their Much Loved and Dedicated Custodian
- Michael Strahan's Daughter is Now Cancer Free and Has Taught Him All About Perseverance
- These Two Newlyweds Found Love in Their Late 90s, After Meeting At Their Retirement Home
- Sisters Who Were Adopted By Separate Families Nearly 40 Years Ago Reunite After DNA Tests
- Oldest Living Person in the US Passes Away at 115, After a Long and Faithful Life
- At Just 20 and 22 Years Old, These Two Sisters From Minnesota Saved Their Family Farm
- After Over 450 Days in a Shelter, Boone and Rellie Find Their Forever Home, Together
- Sweet Kitten Named Coraline Loses Both Her Eyes, but Inspires Many with Her Spirit
- Donny Osmond Sees the 'End of the Tunnel' Coming After Performing for Over 6 Decades
- An Iguana Hitches a Ride on a Garbage Truck in Tennessee, Now Trying to Find Its Owner
- 6-Year-Old Starts 'Poop Scooping' Business to Help Animals and Adopt One of His Own
- Bride's Dad Drops During Father-Daughter Dance, but Things Lined up Perfectly to Save His Life
- Young North Carolina Father Risked His Life To Save a Couple and Dog From a Sinking Truck
Top Music Videos
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Mark Schultz 'Different Kind of Christmas' - Live From Mark Schultz
Riley Clemmons Riley Clemmons - All Is Well
Kari Jobe Kari Jobe - First Love
Brad Stine Has Issues Brad Stine’s Hysterical Take on Adam Naming the Animals is Pure Gold
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.