In the early ’80s, while she was in her early 20s, Ellen DeGeneres was just getting started as a standup comedian. It later in that decade, however, when she really made her big break when she was invited onto NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.” The show was in November 1986, when DeGeneres appeared on set to do a standup routine, followed by a short interview with Carson. Most notable of all? Although it may not have been mentioned in the episode, she was the first-ever female comedian invited onto Carson’s couch, per People.
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Interestingly, Carson himself mentioned in the episode that he believed women had a harder time as comedians, given that he believed it was easier for men to be more aggressive and get away with it. DeGeneres responded, “I say that, and men think I’m being chauvinistic,” adding, “I think men can get away with a lot more.” Sure enough, DeGeneres proved right then exactly what women could do with comedy, and how well they could be received.
