10 Eyebrow Arching Pics Of Tiny Tim's First Very Odd Appearance On 'The Tonight Show' In 1968

Tiptoe through the TV set?

Published 4 months ago in Wow

Though Tiny Tim may be most famed for tiptoeing through the tulips — and serving as a SpongeBob SquarePants icon in recent years, his stint on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is yet another claim to the comedy artist's fame.

From his two-song intro to his confession about how sports played a role in his love life, here are 10 eyebrow-arching pics of Tiny Tim's 1968 appearance on The Tonight Show.

1
Tiny Tim’s Tonight Show
Though Tiny Tim was never one to abide by the arbitrary rules of normal, he made one heck of a first impression during his inaugural appearance on ‘The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.’

2
High Praise
On April 4, 1968, the comic made his first appearance on the iconic late-night talk show. Touted by Carson as “very sincere,” “different,” and possibly jokingly as “the biggest record seller of this coming year,” Tiny Tim hit the stage with his ukelele to an uproarious bout of applause from the studio audience.

3
Tiptoe Through the Tulips
After blowing kisses to the audience — and one to what appears to be the rafters, Tiny Tim entered into his falsetto rendition of “Tiptoe Through The Tulips” and then, his later 'SpongeBob SquarePants' classic, "Livin' in the Sunlight, Lovin' in the Moon Light.”
4
“Thank you so much!”
Naturally, the audience loved his performance. “Thank you so much!” He said amid the applause. “It’s such a pleasure to be here tonight on the Johnny Carson Show.”

5
In The Hot Seat
Following his performance, Tiny Tim sat down for a chat with the beloved talk show host, who gave a very Johnny Carson compliment to the singer’s set. “That is the d—nest I've ever seen,” he said, sparking a bout of uproarious laughter from the crowd.
6
Coming Clean
After discussing Tiny Tim’s musical inspirations and his contracts in Hollywood, the pair delved into the artist’s bathing habits. “You’re a shower nut, somebody said?” Carson asked. “Well, it’s just I love to keep my body clean,” Tiny Tim replied, sparking laughter from the audience. “I love to keep my body clean afterward so that I can be pleasant in public,” he continued before adding how he likes to keep his skin clear for “lovely, wonderful girls.”
7
Marriage on the Mind
With his mention of girls, Carson began asking Tiny Tim if he was married, an answer that received a resounding no from the musician. “I couldn’t get married for a long time, because I love all those beautiful girls, just to look at them, of course, and to write songs and poetry to them and then to give advice about romance,” he explained.

8
Sports Singleton
But even with his apparent passion for women, Tiny Tim noted that the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team and the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team took up so much of his emotional energy, that he seldom went on dates.
9
An Encore For The Ages
With his personal life on full display, Tiny Tim decided to round out his appearance with one last song, his decidedly iconic hit, “Ever Since You Told Me That You Love Me (I’m a Nut).”
10
A Repeat Win
Despite his odd interview — and nearly getting caught in Carson’s curtains as he exited the stage — Tiny Tim would go on to appear on the show several times, even marrying his wife, Miss Vicki, in front of a studio audience.