Jamie Lee Curtis’s Unexpected Debut on The Tonight Show

Back in 1977, early in her Hollywood career, Jamie Lee Curtis made a rather unassuming debut on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The story unfolded during her recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, sparked by Fallon’s generous offer of an open invitation to return.

“That’s very nice of you,” Curtis remarked, leading to a fascinating recollection. “Here’s what’s weird… I was on The Tonight Show for my second job in show business.”

While her first role was a guest spot on Quincy, and her second a part on Columbo, it was a clip from Columbo that unexpectedly landed her on Carson’s show. She played a “bitchy” diner waitress serving Peter Falk’s iconic detective. When Falk appeared on The Tonight Show in May 1977, just days before the Columbo episode aired, he shared a clip of their diner scene to promote the NBC crime drama.

“So, my second job in show business was on The Tonight Show,” Curtis beamed, realizing the serendipitous nature of her early exposure.

The Diner Scene & A Lasting Impression

Fallon prompted Curtis to recreate the scene, and she happily obliged, even slipping into a convincing Peter Falk impression. The scene revolved around Falk’s character entering the diner with a doughnut. “He walks in with a doughnut. And of course, [my character] says, ‘You can’t eat that here.’ And he goes, ‘Oh! Oh, yeah. Oh, I’m sorry…’ And then he hands me the doughnut. I glare at him. And then I leave.”

After a commercial break, the scene continued. “I come back and go, ‘Have you decided what you want?’ And he goes, ‘Oh, oh, I’m sorry… I’ll have a doughnut.’ And then I glare.”

That “glare,” Curtis revealed, became a signature move, a technique she still utilizes in her acting toolkit today. It’s a testament to the impact even a small role can have on a performer’s career.

You can watch the full interview with Jimmy Fallon here. (Example Link – Replace with actual link)

Late Night Lineup

Catch up with other late-night hosts:

• Jimmy Kimmel Live!: Featuring Zach Braff, Donald Faison, and Chris Fleming
• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert:
• Late Night with Seth Meyers: With Seth MacFarlane
• The Daily Show: Hosted by Michael Kosta

Stay updated with the latest in late-night television!