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TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, THE {MARY TYLER MOORE, DICK VAN DYKE, DICK VAN PATTEN, JUDITH BLEGEN, MARIETTE HARTLEY} (TV)

Summary

One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by Johnny Carson. His guests for this program are actress Mary Tyler Moore, actor Dick Van Dyke, actor Dick Van Patten, opera singer Judith Blegen, and actress Mariette Hartley.

In his opening monologue, Carson touches on the following topics, among others: the audience's unusually enthusiastic response, possibly due to the arrival of the first day of spring; the annual return of the "Swallows of Capistrano"; Henry Ford's recent retirement; the upcoming presidential election, in which Maureen Reagan may not support her father, given his "old-fashioned" views on women; the recent decision to allow television cameras into Congressional proceedings; Gerald Ford's decision not to run again in 1980; the ongoing saga of Greta Rideout, who briefly reunited with her husband John after suing him for rape; a midair divorce between two parachutists; and actor Lee Marvin's long legal battle with his former live-in girlfriend Michelle Triola. Carson then chats with co-host Ed McMahon about their vacations in New York City, including their experiences at the famous St. Patrick's Day Parade. Carson also shows several outrageous photographs from "his" vacation.

The first guests, Moore and Van Dyke, join Carson onstage and discuss their "good marriage" as friends and co-stars, which started on "The Dick Van Dyke Show"; their eleven-year age difference; their habit of making one another break character and laugh during funny scenes; their first television appearances, including Moore's work in commercials; Van Dyke's work at a radio station as a teenager; Moore's off-screen role on "Richard Diamond, Private Detective"; their near-appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show"; his upcoming appearance on her series "The Mary Tyler Moore Hour," in which they spoof their famous roles as Rob and Laura Petrie; working with the oft-imitated Stan Laurel; and changes in television rules about censorship since "The Dick Van Dyke Show," including their married characters' memorably separate beds.

Next, Van Patten joins Carson and chats about his forty-year career, including his role on "The New Dick Van Dyke Show" and his sister Joyce's role on "The Mary Tyler Moore Hour"; the success of his current series "Eight is Enough" and whether his fame has resulted in a loss of privacy; his participation in the Penguin Club, also called the Polar Bear Club, in which participants run into icy-cold waters; his love of tennis; a funny story from Van Dyke's earlier career; how his teetotaling ways affect his enjoyment of parties; and his current hiatus from "Eight" and plans to emcee the Kentucky Derby.

Next, Blegen performs "Quel guardo, il cavaliere ... So anch'io la virtù magica," also known as "Norina's Aria," from "Don Pasquale" by Gaetano Donizetti. She then chats with Carson about the relative fame of different operas; her upcoming concert tour and participation in the Wiener Festwochen, a.k.a. the Vienna Festival; her upcoming second anniversary with her husband, violinist Raymond Gniewek; the challenges of touring separately and whether they critique one another's work; and her personal high standards for her own work.

Finally, Hartley takes the stage and discusses her role on the second season premiere of "The Incredible Hulk," including her character's demise; why many people mistakenly believe that she is married to James Garner, her co-star in many Polaroid camera commercials; her not-so-"overnight" success in show business; her memorable role in the penultimate episode of "Star Trek," in which Spock (Leonard Nimoy) falls in love with her character; and her gift for animal sound effects. Includes commercials and promos.

Details

  • NETWORK: NBC
  • DATE: March 21, 1979 11:30 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:16:33
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: B:86762
  • GENRE: Talk/Interview
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Talk/Interview; Comedy/Variety
  • SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1962-1992
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV - Commercials - "Always" novel
    • TV - Commercials - 7Up soft drinks
    • TV - Commercials - Bell System telephone services
    • TV - Commercials - Clairol hair dryers
    • TV - Commercials - Comtrex cold medication
    • TV - Commercials - Eureka vacuum cleaners
    • TV - Commercials - Garanimals young people's clothes
    • TV - Commercials - Haggar apparel
    • TV - Commercials - Nestle Tollhouse chocolate morsels
    • TV - Commercials - Pillsbury Crescent rolls
    • TV - Commercials - Presto PopcornNow popcorn popper
    • TV - Commercials - Revlon Natural Wonder make-up
    • TV - Commercials - Sears stores
    • TV - Commercials - Sheraton-Universal hotels
    • TV - Commercials - Spray 'n' Wash stain remover
    • TV - Commercials - Van De Kamp's fish sticks
    • TV - Promos - "Harris & Company"
    • TV - Promos - "Mrs. Columbo"
    • TV - Promos - "Quincy"

CREDITS

  • NBC Orchestra, The … Music by
  • Doc Severinsen … Conductor
  • Johnny Carson … Host
  • Ed McMahon … Co-Host
  • Judith Blegen … Guest, Performer
  • Mary Tyler Moore … Guest
  • Dick Van Dyke … Guest
  • Dick Van Patten … Guest
  • Mariette Hartley … Guest
  • Gaetano Donizetti
  • Gerald Ford
  • Henry Ford
  • James Garner
  • Raymond Gniewek
  • Stan Laurel
  • Lee Marvin
  • Leonard Nimoy
  • Maureen Reagan
  • Ronald Reagan
  • Greta Rideout
  • John Rideout
  • Michelle Triola