TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, THE {BURT REYNOLDS, PETE BARBUTTI, AHMAD RASHAD} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by Johnny Carson. Carson's guests for this program are actor Burt Reynolds, comedian Pete Barbutti, and sportscaster Ahmad Rashad. In his opening monologue, Carson touches on the following topics, among others: the previous night's lackluster studio audience; President Bush's questionable promises about taxes, the now-defunct House Bank, from which House of Representatives members have been overdrawing checks; not-so-shocking revelations about steroid use in professional wrestling; the upcoming Presidential election and Pat Buchanan's campaign; and the United States military's lack of awareness of a North Korean ship traveling to Iran.
Carson chats with McMahon about their impending departure from the show in several weeks' time, and Carson reads several letters from elementary school students with amusing suggestions for his retired life. The first guest, Reynolds, then joins Carson onstage and discusses the following: his recent experience headlining the Orange Bowl parade and disappointment that Florida State University did not make it through; his sixty-plus appearances on "The Tonight Show" over the years; his role as guest host in an episode featuring his ex-wife Judy Carne; his "leather period" and other questionable fashion choices; landing his star-making role in "Deliverance" (1972) as a direct result of the guest-hosting gig and his gratitude towards Carson for aiding his career; and a memorable joke involving whipped cream from an earlier appearance, which he then recreates on the spot.
Barbutti then performs a stand-up routine in which he discusses the many "stupid acts" featured in Las Vegas, including silly shows featuring halfhearted animal tricks; and the unpleasant spectacle of "a bad magician with a good drummer."
The final guest, Rashad, then sits down with Carson and touches upon the following: their last encounter drinking and carousing together at the French Open, and his challenging experience giving interviews while nursing a hangover; his opinions on the recent Super Bowl; the difficulty of interviewing "psyched-up" athletes on the field; Reynolds' memories of an evening out with Rashad's troublemaking NFL colleague Joe Kapp; the importance of powering through injuries and not being intimidated by one's opponents on the football field; professional athletes' extremely large salaries; his involvement with the upcoming Olympic Summer Games and the "Triplecast" pay-per-view option through which "sports fanatics" can catch every event; and his experience auditioning for a television sitcom. Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: March 12, 1992 11:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:51:54
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:43234
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Comedy; Talk/Interview; Comedy
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1962-1992
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Advil painkillers
- TV - Commercials - Butter Buds sprinkles and mix
- TV - Commercials - Folgers Coffee Singles
- TV - Commercials - Hoover vacuum cleaners
- TV - Commercials - L.A. Gear shoes
- TV - Commercials - LensCrafters stores
- TV - Commercials - Matrix Vavoom! hair care products
- TV - Commercials - Miller beers
- TV - Commercials - Mr. Goodwrench Quicklube/GM automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Nissan automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Pop Secret popcorn
- TV - Commercials - Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes
- TV - Commercials - Sun Chips snacks
- TV - Commercials - Sweet 'n' Low sweetener
- TV - Commercials - Tide with bleach laundry detergent
- TV - Commercials - Van De Kamp's fish sticks
CREDITS
- The NBC Orchestra … Music by
- Doc Severinsen … Conductor
- Johnny Carson … Host
- Ed McMahon … Co-Host
- Burt Reynolds … Guest
- Pete Barbutti … Guest
- Ahmad Rashad … Guest
- Pat Buchanan
- George H.W. Bush
- Judy Carne
- Joe Kapp