Yo-yo Ma was booked on “The Tonight Show” decades ago when Carson was still hosting it. After the monolog, when Carson introduced the guests for the night, he called him “Yo-yo Mama.” The place erupted in laughter and catcalls. Carson looked around confused, wondering aloud what caused the reaction. Doc Severinsen, the bandleader, corrected him. “You sure?” Carson asked. “I’m sure,” Doc replied. “That’s not what I saw on his dressing room door,” Carson protested. After the break, Carson produced the card that was on the dressing room door. It read “Yo-yo Mama.” Some low-level staffer probably caught it after the taping.
Yo-yo Ma was booked on “The Tonight Show” decades ago when Carson was still hosting it. After the monolog, when Carson introduced the guests for the night, he called him “Yo-yo Mama.” The place erupted in laughter and catcalls. Carson looked around confused, wondering aloud what caused the reaction. Doc Severinsen, the bandleader, corrected him. “You sure?” Carson asked. “I’m sure,” Doc replied. “That’s not what I saw on his dressing room door,” Carson protested. After the break, Carson produced the card that was on the dressing room door. It read “Yo-yo Mama.” Some low-level staffer probably caught it after the taping.