On This Day in 1968, Beatles Lennon and McCartney Endure Cringe-Worthy Interview on the ‘Tonight Show’

In May 1968, John Lennon and Paul McCartney appeared on an episode of The Tonight Show hosted by Johnny Carson. At this time, however, Carson had gone on vacation and left two guest hosts in charge. Joe Garagiola, a sportscaster, and actress Tellulah Bankhead were behind the desk that night. They had no idea what to say to The Beatles.

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The entire interview has since been lost, as NBC frequently reused tapes, permanently erasing many of Carson’s early episodes. Still, a few short clips remain as some rabid Beatles fans recorded their televisions with an 8mm camera. Additionally, one fan recorded audio of the interview, which was used to transcribe. The results are a cringeworthy spectacle as Lennon and McCartney try to share the news of their new record company.

Garagiola often interrupted, asked goofy questions, or didn’t let the two finish a thought. There were questions about being nervous, about New York, and about having privacy as a big star. Lennon and McCartney answered these in stride, but the embarrassment is palpable. Even through the transcript.

During a Ridiculous Interview, Paul McCartney Reveals What “Yesterday” Was Originally Called

The two Beatles were mostly on the Tonight Show to share the news of Apple Records. However, speaking with an actress and a sportscaster probably wasn’t what they had in mind. Still, Lennon and McCartney did their best to keep their attitudes positive.

At one moment, Garagiola shares his favorite Beatles song—”Yesterday”—following up by asking how the songwriting pair came up with the tune. After improvising a little ditty then and there, McCartney dropped some deep lore on the studio audience.

“You know, I just started playing it and this tune came,” he said. “Because that’s what happens. They just sort of—they come, you know. It just came and I couldn’t think of any words to it, so originally it was just, ‘Scrambled Egg’. It was called ‘Scrambled Egg’ for a couple of months.”

While Garagiola expressed disbelief that a Beatle would write a song about scrambled eggs, Paul McCartney assured him it was a true story.

“‘Scrambled Egg’ was over here as an instrumental first,” John Lennon added. “Didn’t do so well with that title, you know.”

Featured Image via Jay Spangler/www.beatlesinterviews.org