TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, THE {BETTE DAVIS, RICHARD PRYOR} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by Johnny Carson. On this program, the guests are actress Bette Davis and comedian Richard Pryor. In his opening monologue, Carson comments on the following topics, among others: the ongoing ABC miniseries "The Winds of War"; Vice-President Bush's adventures in Europe; a recent study of various countries' living conditions, with Iran coming out at the bottom; Arizona politician Morris Udall's decision not to run for president; Director of the Office of Management and Budget David Stockman's upcoming nuptials; and some unusual Cracker-Jack box prizes.
Next, with Valentine's Day approaching, Carson reads out some audience comment cards on the definition of love, their ideal Valentines and their favorite romantic fantasies. Davis then joins Carson onstage and discusses the following topics, among others: her long-ignored 1976 music album "Miss Bette Davis Sings!" and her determination to promote it as "vengeance" against the label; her first onscreen musical number, "They're Either Too Young Or Too Old," in "Thank Your Lucky Stars" (1943); useful criticism from fans; her desire to be the first three-time Best Actress Oscar winner and losing out to Katharine Hepburn; the "thrill" of starring alongside Jimmy Stewart, with whom she was long prevented from working because of studio rules, in "Right of Way" (1983); her love of Italian actress Anna Magnani, who has a similar "reputation" to Davis' in her own country; her strong dislike of her early contractually-obligated "B-pictures"; her discomfort with her own work and former hatred of her looks; her sense of herself as a "very domestic person" with a love of family time; and the remarkably strong scripts of recent television films.
Pryor then takes the stage and discusses his past "Tonight Show" appearance canceled due to illness, and Davis' opinions on other guests' "charming" habit of not calling ahead; his recent trip to Zimbabwe, where he was given an elegant walking stick as a gift; his love of England and its people, who generally do not recognize him as a celebrity; his recent film "The Toy" (1982) and dislike of watching himself; awkward encounters with "friends" from his former drug and alcohol days; his role in "Superman III" (1983) and scary experiences filming the flying scenes alongside Christopher Reeve; details about Clark Kent's love life; his continued residence in Hawaii; and his decision to end his self-imposed year-long hiatus after only a few weeks due to boredom. Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: February 9, 1983 11:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:51:28
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:44937
- GENRE: Talk/Interview
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Comedy; Talk/Interview; Comedy
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1962-1992
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Alpo dog food
- TV - Commercials - Bell System telephone services
- TV - Commercials - Ekco Baker's Secret pans
- TV - Commercials - Kraft La Creme whipped topping
- TV - Commercials - La Choy Chinese food
- TV - Commercials - Lea & Perrins sauces
- TV - Commercials - Tio Sancho tacos
- TV - Commercials - Tyson Chick'n Quick products
- TV - Promos - "Bare Essence"
- TV - Promos - "Late Night With David Letterman"
- TV - Promos - "The Invisible Woman"
- TV - Promos - "Without a Trace"
CREDITS
- The NBC Orchestra … Music by
- Doc Severinsen … Conductor
- Johnny Carson … Host
- Ed McMahon … Co-Host
- Bette Davis … Guest
- Richard Pryor … Guest
- George H.W. Bush
- Katharine Hepburn
- Anna Magnani
- Christopher Reeve
- Jimmy Stewart
- David Stockman
- Morris Udall