TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, THE {SHELLEY WINTERS, OLIVER REED, CHARLES AZNAVOUR, DR. RONALD TAYLOR} (TV)

Summary

One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by Johnny Carson. Carson's guests for this program are actress Shelley Winters, actor Oliver Reed, French singer Charles Aznavour, and author and entomologist Dr. Ronald Taylor.

In his opening monologue, Carson touches on the following topics, among others: the eccentricity of Friday-night audiences; bandleader/announcer Doc Severinsen's characteristically outrageous attire; the exceptionally hot weather; Hubert Humphrey's installment of "Bicentennial Minutes"; singer Frank Sinatra's alleged plans to run for Senate; the new fall series, including Howard Cosell's dubious variety series, "Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell"; and rising mail prices.

Winters then joins Carson to dish about her backstage run-in with comedian Freddie Prinze; her thoughts on the double standard about May-December romances; her travel plans, including an upcoming roast in Las Vegas; a story about a date on which she attempted a "new romantic approach" with a man; her work as a drama teacher at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute, where she teaches aspiring actors to "listen with their eyes and look with their ears"; the hot gossip found in the Beverly Hills steam room; how women are "getting even" with men for their chauvinistic behavior; her memories of filming "A Double Life" (1947) and the censors' strict rules about a violent bedroom scene; how women "rate" men, including Carson's popularity with the Playboy Bunnies; why her wartime first marriage to Mack Paul Mayer "didn't count"; her phone call to Mayer after a 30-year estrangement; and her new film "Diamonds" (1975), from which a clip is shown.

Reed joins Carson and comments on why Americans are sometimes "intimidated" by Brits; his new film "Burnt Offerings" (1976), filmed in San Francisco and co-starring Bette Davis; whether the English are indeed "kinky"; his role as a colonel in "The New Spartans" (1975); his thoughts on "women's lib," which prompt a heated banter with Winters; his unfamiliarity with Las Vegas and how British rules about gambling differ from those in America; why he has not moved out of the United Kingdom despite rising tax rates; his love of his horses and his dilapidated Victorian home; and his further thoughts on women's liberation, including his sense that "a woman's place is looking after her man and her children." Winters, exasperated by his comments, pours whiskey over Reed's head, much to the shock of Carson and the audience.

Aznavour then performs "She" and "The Old-Fashioned Way," and then chats with Carson about why he, unlike Winters and Reed, is a former "rascal"-turned-"quiet man"; his time in Iran with Reed while filming "Ten Little Indians" (1974); Carson's trip to Paris, where pop star Aznavour is far more famous; Aznavour's upcoming plans to perform in Paris after a four-year absence; and thoughts on the presence of McDonald's restaurants in France.

Finally, Taylor takes the stage to discuss his book "Butterflies in My Stomach: Or, Insects in Human Nutrition" and notes that he is sorry to have missed out on a chat with Winters, then explaining how food items made from insects can alleviate the world's current protein shortage. Severinsen brings out several dishes, and Aznavour notes that he is not disturbed by the idea of eating bugs, as he is accustomed to such French delicacies as snails and frogs; Carson deems the "bee tempura" to be "excellent." Includes commercials and promos.

Details

• NETWORK: NBC
• DATE: September 26, 1975 11:30 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 1:24:27
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: B:81219
• GENRE: Talk/Interview
• SUBJECT HEADING: Talk/Interview; Comedy; Music
• SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1962-1992
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV - Commercials - Betty Crocker desserts
  • TV - Commercials - Continental Airlines
  • TV - Commercials - Fantastik household cleaner
  • TV - Commercials - General Foods International Coffees Suisse Mocha
  • TV - Commercials - Mars Milky Way candy bars
  • TV - Commercials - Nature Valley granola bars
  • TV - Commercials - Oil of Olay skin products
  • TV - Commercials - Pillsbury bundt cakes
  • TV - Commercials - RCA XL-100 color televisions
  • TV - Commercials - Revlon Cream-On eye shadow
  • TV - Commercials - Schlitz Beer
  • TV - Commercials - Simmons Beautyrest mattresses
  • TV - Commercials - Spray ‘n Wash stain remover
  • TV - Commercials - Taster's Choice decaffeinated coffee
  • TV - Commercials - Toll House Nestle semi-sweet chocolate morsels
  • TV - Commercials - Wamsutta bed linens
  • TV - Promos - "McMillan and Wife"
  • TV - Promos - "The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing"
  • TV - Promos - "The Midnight Special"

CREDITS

• NBC Orchestra, The … Music by
• Tommy Newsom … Conductor
• Johnny Carson … Host
• Doc Severinsen … Announcer
• Charles Aznavour … Guest, Performer
• Shelley Winters … Guest
• Oliver Reed … Guest
• Ronald L. Taylor … Guest
• Howard Cosell
• Bette Davis
• Hubert Humphrey
• Mack Paul Mayer
• Freddie Prinze
• Frank Sinatra