Video: 'John Lennon interviews an infantile Sean Ono Lennon'

(Thursday, December 11, 1975) — John Lennon turned an ordinary December evening into an unexpectedly tender broadcast moment tonight (perhaps early the following morning) as he recorded a light-hearted contribution for a WNEW holiday program — and conducted what may be New York’s youngest on-air interview.

Lennon, who had spent the earlier part of the night watching The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, sat down shortly afterward to tape answers to a series of New York-themed questions prepared by WNEW disc jockey Vin Scelsa.

The segment, modeled after The People’s Almanac surveys, will be folded into a Christmas special intended to lift spirits during the city’s financial crisis.

After nearly ten minutes of Lennon’s reflections — part humor, part affectionate commentary on his adopted city — the former Beatle closed with a warm sign-off: “All the best to New York, from John, Yoko and Sean, and holiday greetings to all, jolly listeners.”

But Lennon saved his most charming moment for last, turning the microphone toward his two-month-old son, Sean Ono Lennon, whom he introduced as “a brand new New Yorker.” Mimicking the tone of a seasoned interviewer, Lennon posed several of Scelsa’s questions to the baby, pausing for responses that, predictably, never arrived.

At one point, as Sean was having his diaper changed, Lennon leaned into the tape recorder with comic solemnity. “I see that you’re having your diaper changed,” he said. “Is this an enjoyable experience? ’Cause I do believe some people pay to have this done.”

Sean remained silent, prompting his father to deliver the punch line. “No comment, I see,” Lennon said. “I see you know which subjects to avoid, and which not to — very sensible.”

The exchange, playful and unscripted, added a disarming note of family warmth to the station’s year-end broadcast — and offered listeners a rare, intimate glimpse of Lennon reveling in new fatherhood.