In honor of Burt Reynolds, here’s a clip of him and Double Dare host Marc Summers on The Tonight Show

Ann Smajstrla
Sep 6, 2018 · 2 min read

They even pie each other in the face!

(source)

As I write this, I’m probably about an hour removed from the breaking news that acclaimed actor Burt Reynolds passed away at the age of 82. Reynolds’ career spanned decades, and he was known for his roles in films like “Smokey and the Bandit” and “Deliverance.”

“Boogie Nights” is one of my favorite films and Reynolds’ Jack Horner role is what comes to mind when he’s mentioned (although Reynolds reportedly hated working with Paul Thomas Anderson and never watched the completed version).

I also can’t think of the legendary actor without replaying in my head a clip I found on the subreddit r/obscuremedia of Burt Reynolds and Double Dare host Marc Summers in a 1994 appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. It’s possibly one of the most entertaining clips in late night TV history.

How and why did Reynolds and Summers, of all people, end up being guests on the same night? I don’t know, but it turns out that Reynolds and Summers didn’t exactly become fast friends. The two argue and exchange passive-aggressive verbal jabs while Jay converses with Marc about hosting Nickelodeon shows. Marc makes a point of telling newly divorced Burt that he and his wife are still together. Burt douses Marc with water. The tension grows until Marc and Burt finally pie each other in the face.

My description really doesn’t do it justice. Watch it for yourself:

Rest in peace, Burt Reynolds. No one catches pies to the face in heaven.

Ann Smajstrla
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