TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, THE {TONY RANDALL, FREDDIE PRINZE, JOAN VAN ARK, BURT MUSTIN} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by Johnny Carson. Carson's guests for this program are actor Tony Randall, comedian Freddie Prinze, actress Joan Van Ark and actor Burt Mustin. In his opening monologue, Carson touches on the following topics, among others: the anniversary of V.E. Day, which coincides with Hirohito's birthday; Hubert Humphrey's announcement that he will not seek the Presidential nomination; President Ford's statements about Ronald Reagan's inexperience and his "underdog" status in Texas; a strange story of two rogue baboons at Los Angeles International Airport; and the alleged discovery of Howard Hughes' will. Next, Carson performs his classic "Carnac the Magnificent" routine, though the audience is less than impressed by the psychic's amazing observations.
The first guest, Randall, takes the stage and comments on his "altruistic" reunion with "Odd Couple" co-star Jack Klugman at the Valley Forge Music Fair; his stern disapproval of Carson's smoking habit; why he has never owned a car; his enjoyment of rhymes and wordplay, as explored in "Almanac of Words at Play" by Willard R. Espy; and his new comedy album, "Façade," created with Arthur Fiedler and featuring twenty-one "high-class porn" poems set to music. He then performs two of the tongue-twisting songs, set to a tango and a polka.
Next, Prinze performs a stand-up routine touching upon the following topics: the elderly population of Miami; his fear of sharks, inspired by "Jaws" (1975); other racial groups' reactions to man-eating beasts; and a funny story about his father's drinking buddy's last hurrah. He then sits down with Carson and discusses the recent birth of his son Freddie James, whom he does not intend to call "Junior"; his "panicky" nature as a new father; and the experience of witnessing the natural birth process.
Van Ark joins the others onstage and comments on her unusual name, similar to that of a famous historical figure; her family's Dutch ancestry and her fondness for Holland; her love of jogging, despite a surprisingly report that it may be physically harmful to a person; her role as a bride in a coffee commercial while secretly five months pregnant; why, unlike Prinze, she chose not to have her husband present at their child's birth; and her former role on "Days of Our Lives" and the challenging nature of soap operas.
The final guest, Mustin, takes the stage and performs a vaudeville song about "sweet Juanita," a lovable girl with a big appetite, and then chats with Carson about his previous appearance on the show, during which he forgot the punchline of an elaborately-constructed joke, which he blames on his nonagenarian memory; his personal dislike of fishing; and a funny tale about a young man's ice-fishing techniques on Lake Chautauqua, the punchline of which sends Prinze, Randall and the audience into hysterics. Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: April 29, 1976 11:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:16:34
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:81897
- GENRE: Talk/Interview
- SUBJECT HEADING: Talk/Interview; Comedy/Variety
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1962-1992
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Beautyrest mattresses
- TV - Commercials - Charmglow barbeques
- TV - Commercials - Eureka vacuum cleaners
- TV - Commercials - Jaymar Sansabelt slacks
- TV - Commercials - Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Major League Baseball
- TV - Commercials - Polaroid cameras
- TV - Commercials - Revlon Natural Wonder eyeshadow
- TV - Commercials - Rival crock pots
- TV - Commercials - Sanka decaffinated coffee
- TV - Commercials - Sunbeam appliances
- TV - Commercials - United Airlines
- TV - Commercials - Vets dog food
- TV - Commercials - Wishbone salad dressings
- TV - Promos - "Sanford & Son"
- TV - Promos - "The Practice"
- TV - Promos - "The Tomorrow Show"
CREDITS
- Doc Severinsen … Conductor
- The NBC Orchestra … Music by
- Johnny Carson … Host
- Ed McMahon … Co-Host
- Tony Randall … Guest, Performer
- Freddie Prinze … Guest, Performer
- Burt Mustin … Guest, Performer
- Joan Van Ark … Guest
- Willard R. Espy
- Arthur Fiedler
- Gerald Ford
- Hirohito (see also: Emperor Showa)
- Howard Hughes
- Hubert Humphrey
- John Marshall
- Ronald Reagan