Behind the Curtain of The Tonight Show with Andrew Nicholls
Update: 2025-09-08
Description
Andrew Nicholls has lived a comedy career most people only dream about, from writing jokes for Rodney Dangerfield and George Carlin to becoming head writer on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.
In this entertaining conversation, he shares the wild journey of starting out in Canada with his lifelong writing partner Darryl Vickers, hustling jokes for $4 apiece, and eventually landing one of the most coveted jobs in late-night television. Along the way, Andrew talks about his experiences with legendary performers, the unpredictability of showbiz, and the craft of comedy writing that has carried him through decades of television, theater, and beyond.
Highlights
- The letter from Rodney Dangerfield admitting he used their jokes with a $50 check enclosed
- Taking a 78-hour Greyhound ride from Toronto to Los Angeles to pursue comedy
- Collaborating with George Carlin on his HBO special and later his sitcom
- Landing the Tonight Show head writer job after Johnny Carson personally noticed their material
- Behind-the-scenes stories of casting, pilots, and why some shows never make it past the network stage
- Lessons on surviving rejection, persistence, and finding humor in unexpected places
You're going to love my conversation with Andrew Nicholls
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