wolfgang puck's restaurant. and i got on the freeway. i kept going. and i see l.a.x. i turned off on l.a.x. and i couldn't find my way back. >> reporter: and there was no gps at the time. >> no gps. i'm telling you, i did 90 miles per hour. >> you must have been sweating bullets by then. >> i was sweating bullets. i went into the restaurant. and there he was, sitting there. and he had that long face on. he was angry that i was late. he was, i think, insulted. and of all the guys you don't want to insult. i mean, how stupid of me? >> reporter: was that your last experience with johnny carson? >> afraid to see him after that. >> reporter: oh. >> i'm sorry, johnny. thank you. >> reporter: he's had a few. it took more than 20 years, jumping around from station to station, before he finally hit the big-time. >> i wish i didn't have to wait until i was in my mid-50s before a good part of my life started in this business. >> reporter: but once "live with regis and kathie lee" went national, business started booming. >> by the way, i haven't asked you in a while. how are your