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TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, THE {GEORGE CARLIN, LIV ULLMANN, GLORIA ESTEFAN} (TV)

Summary

One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by Johnny Carson. Carson's guests for this program are comedian George Carlin, actress/director Liv Ullmann, and singer Gloria Estefan. In his opening monologue, Carson touches on the following topics, among others: three astronauts' space walk to retrieve a wayward satellite; Governor Jerry Brown's whitewater rafting adventure; Exxon's latest financial woes; the upcoming retirement of Los Angeles Chief of Police Daryl Gates and his hopes to make some "big-name arrests" before departing; and the upcoming fortieth anniversary of Dick Clark's "American Bandstand." Carson and co-host Ed McMahon then chat about an amusing "Tonight Show" artifact from behind Carson's desk: a rubber chicken and an arrow from an unsuccessful sketch about General Custer from early in the show's run. Carson then presents some archival video footage of his own athletic adventures, including pitching at Yankee stadium, playing with the New York Jets, flying with the United States Air Force Thunderbirds, and parachuting from an airplane.

The first guest, Carlin, takes the stage and performs a stand-up routine in which he reveals that this is his 105th (and final) appearance on the show and discusses weird restaurant experiences; a road trip in Pennsylvania; his new policy for "specific short-term well-wishes"; and several other unusual life observations. He then sits down with Carson and comments on his recent Emmy nomination for the children's program "Shining Time Station"; his early days of radio comedy with Jack Burns and their fantasies of being interviewed by Carson's predecessor Jack Paar, which came true mere months later; his first sit-down with Carson in 1967; and the strange criminal adventures of his unusually-named (and imaginary) sons.

Next, Ullmann takes the stage and discusses her recent film "Sofie" (1992); her belief that Carson would make a strong dramatic actor, thanks to his well-honed listening skills; her increased fame in America thanks to her "Tonight Show" appearances; her husband Donald Richard Saunders' jealousy and her sometimes-flirtatious nature; the advantages of "mood swings" in a creative person; the ups and downs of arguing with one's spouse; and her decision to turn down a comedic role of an ill-tempered and much older woman.

Estefan performs "Nayib's Song (I Am Here For You)" from her recent album "Into the Light" (1991), and then briefly talks with Carson about her recent South American tour, during which she was almost mistaken for the president of Venezuela during a coup. Includes commercials and promos.

Details

  • NETWORK: NBC
  • DATE: May 13, 1992 11:30 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:52:52
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: B:42944
  • GENRE: Talk/Interview
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Talk/Interview; Comedy/Variety
  • SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1962-1992
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV - Commercials - "Sister Act" motion picture
    • TV - Commercials - Budweiser beers
    • TV - Commercials - Dawn dish soap
    • TV - Commercials - Kellogg's Frosted Bran cereal
    • TV - Commercials - Klondike Lite frozen dessert bars
    • TV - Commercials - LensCrafters stores
    • TV - Commercials - Lexus automobiles
    • TV - Commercials - Miller Sharp's non-alcoholic malt beverage
    • TV - Commercials - Mitsubishi automobiles
    • TV - Commercials - Price Pfister faucets
    • TV - Commercials - Rust-Oleum protective enamel
    • TV - Commercials - Sherwin-Williams paints
    • TV - Commercials - Sweet 'n' Low sweetener
    • TV - Commercials - Toyota automobiles
    • TV - Commercials - Tylenol PM painkillers
    • TV - Commercials - Wendy's restaurants
    • TV - Commercials - Western Union money services
    • TV - Promos - "A Different World"
    • TV - Promos - "Cheers"
    • TV - Promos - "Cruel Doubt"
    • TV - Promos - "Late Night with David Letterman"

CREDITS

  • The NBC Orchestra … Music by
  • Doc Severinsen … Conductor
  • Johnny Carson … Host
  • Ed McMahon … Co-Host
  • Gloria Estefan … Guest, Performer
  • George Carlin … Guest
  • Liv Ullmann … Guest
  • Jerry Brown
  • Jack Burns
  • Dick Clark
  • George Armstrong Custer
  • Daryl Gates
  • Donald Richard Saunders