TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, THE {TRACEE TALAVERA, CAROL BURNETT, TIM CONWAY, DONNA THEODORE, ROBERT EASTON} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by Johnny Carson. Carson's guests for this program are 12-year-old gymnast Tracee Talavera, comedians Carol Burnett and Tim Conway, singer Donna Theodore and actor/dialect expert Robert Easton.
In his opening monologue, Carson touches on the following topics, among others: ideas for Burbank tourists during the energy crisis; Chrysler's perilous financial situation, particularly surrounding their non-selling Cordoba model; "Tonight's" Primetime Emmy Award nomination in a "weird category" (Outstanding Program Achievement - Special Class); the irony of the Oscars and Tony Award broadcasts being nominated for Emmys; Jimmy Carter's "folksy" family trip down the Mississippi River; a poll concluding that 84 percent of Americans are dissatisfied with "the state of the union"; Carter's idea for quelling cost of living increases for poorer citizens; the 73rd anniversary of Philo T. Farnsworth's invention of the television; and hopes for bandleader Doc Severinsen's racehorse.
Announcer Ed McMahon then introduces opinionated hillbilly "Floyd R. Turbo," who offers disapproving thoughts on the "red-brained idea" of giving monetary raises to lifeguards, as well as fireman, paramedics and trash collectors.
Next, Carson welcomes young aspiring Olympian Talavera, who discusses her hopes to attend the 1980 Olympic Games, at which she will meet the required age requirement of 14; her older sister's interest in ballet over gymnastics; her seven hours of daily practice and training; her preference for the parallel bars; how she avoids worrying about injuries or mistakes; avoiding junk food and other unhealthy practices; why Russia and East Germany will likely offer the greatest competition in 1980; and how her strict exercise regimen affects her social life. Talavera then performs her compulsory and optional bar routines, and Carson attempts to imitate her demonstration of the "straddle-L" stretch, with predictable results.
Burnett then takes the stage and discusses her husband Joe Hamilton's writing of "I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together," the famous theme of "The Carol Burnett Show"; their recent attendance at James and Gloria Stewart's 30th wedding anniversary party, at which Burnett was starstruck by the many matinee idols from her childhood; her great excitement at meeting Stewart, similar to Carson's memories of encountering actor Jimmy Cagney for the first time; their past comedy work together; her amazement at discovering that her grandmother had been married six times throughout her life; her quiet and shy demeanor as a child and decision to enter show business to impress a schoolyard crush; her famous Tarzan yell; and Hamilton's idea for an annual "class reunion" of "The Carol Burnett Show" cast, which concluded in March 1978, leading to the creation of the four-episode summer series "Carol Burnett & Company."
Burnett's frequent co-star Conway then joins the conversation, chatting about his unfortunate experience with a wily "valet" at a big Hollywood party; his two new films with Don Knotts, "The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again" and "The Prize Fighter" (1979); his unimpressive past as a boxer; a TV special in which he convincingly pretended to tap-dance with the help of a body double; memories of meeting Burnett on "The Garry Moore Show"; and his poor singing voice. Burnett then relates her confusion about Carson's subtle change to his iconic opening monologue and "golf swing" routine, and a clip from "Fighter" is shown.
Next, Theodore sings "Cry Me a River," after which final guest Easton takes the stage and shares some of his expertise on dialects and accents, including the significance of a person's first years of life in determining their speech patterns; tricks for different accents and why many people believe that they "don't have one"; the specifics of a Cockney English accent, with reference to the instantly recognizable Michael Caine; how one can work to lose a certain accent; his diagnosis that Conway's famous "Burnett Show" character Mr. Tudball is "Swedish-Italian"; the subtle differences between Swedish and Danish sounds; and why a Hindu accent is particularly tricky. Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: August 10, 1979 11:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:16:32
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:87044
- GENRE: Talk/Interview
- SUBJECT HEADING: Talk/Interview; Comedy/Variety; Gymnastics; Music; Language and languages
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1962-1992
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - 7Up soft drinks
- TV - Commercials - 9 Lives cat food
- TV - Commercials - Bell System telephone services
- TV - Commercials - Cella Bianco wines
- TV - Commercials - Clairol Instant Hairsetters
- TV - Commercials - Clairol Skinvention device
- TV - Commercials - Dow Ziploc storage bags
- TV - Commercials - Ford automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Fresca soft drinks
- TV - Commercials - Garanimals young people's clothes
- TV - Commercials - Kraft Zesty Italian salad dressing
- TV - Commercials - Lipton Lemon Tree lemonade mix
- TV - Commercials - Murine eye drops
- TV - Commercials - Pillsbury Figurines diet snacks
- TV - Commercials - Unity Buying Service information
- TV - Commercials - Vidal Sassoon hair products
- TV - Promos - "Primetime Sunday"
CREDITS
- NBC Orchestra, The … Music by
- Johnny Carson … Host
- Ed McMahon … Announcer
- Donna Theodore … Guest, Performer
- Tracee Talavera … Guest
- Carol Burnett … Guest
- Tim Conway … Guest
- Robert Easton … Guest
- James Cagney
- Michael Caine
- Jimmy Carter
- Philo T. Farnsworth
- Joe Hamilton
- Don Knotts
- Gloria Stewart
- James Stewart (see also: Jimmy Stewart)