TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, THE {PATRICK DUFFY, RED BUTTONS, ANN REINKING, WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by Johnny Carson. On this program the guests include actor Patrick Duffy, actor/comedian Red Buttons, dancer/choreographer Ann Reinking, and writer William F. Buckley, Jr.
In his opening monologue, Carson comments on the following topics, among others: conductor Doc Severinsen's "powdered lilac" outfit; the arrival of Abraham Lincoln's birthday and confusion over the actual date of George Washington's birthday, celebrated nationally on Feb. 22; an update on "the ABSCAM thing," the FBI sting operation targeting dishonest members of Congress; distressing reports about diesel cars; NBC's shifting mid-season schedule, including the cancellation of the Karl Malden series "Skag"; and Senator S.I. Hayakawa's support of a military draft.
Carson and announcer Ed McMahon then clarify the story behind Washington's birthday, originally Feb. 11 but "changed" to the 22nd after 18th-century alterations to the Gregorian calendar. Next, Carson reads out some highly unusual quotes and "rules" from the "Sayings of the Ayatollah Khomeini" book, including oddly specific commands regarding prayer, marriage, and daily life, to which Carson adds some equally strange suggestions.
The first guest, Duffy, takes the stage and comments on his relief that his show "Dallas" reached number one in the ratings and also received a People's Choice Award; China's surprising decision to buy his short-lived sci-fi series "Man From Atlantis"; the recent birth of his second son Conor and why he plans to stop at two; his love of off-road racing, which worries the "Dallas" producers; and his funny on-set joke mocking his character Bobby Ewing's exaggerated nice-guy demeanor.
Next, Buttons joins the others and delivers a volley of jokes towards McMahon, Severinsen, and sax player Tommy Newsom, and then reels off a series of famous figures who never appeared on Carson's show, including birthday boy Lincoln, Confucius, and the Ayatollah Khomeini. Following this, he comments on his new film "When Time Ran Out ..." (1980) and shares a heartfelt story about his good pal Jimmy Durante, who passed away two weeks earlier, noting that it would be difficult for another actor to portray the iconic Durante onscreen in a biopic.
Reinking then joins Carson and discusses her recent dance-related injury; the itinerant life of a performer; why many professional dancers are "past their prime" by ages 35-40; her role in Bob Fosse's semi-autobiographical film "All That Jazz" (1979); and the complicated filming process for one elaborate dancer number, from which a clip is then shown.
Finally, Buckley takes the stage. After showing off a bit of Spanish, he discusses his new spy novel "Who's On First"; his views on why the actions of the CIA and KGB are not morally comparable; the beginning of the Soviet–Afghan War; balancing "adventure and moral ambiguity" in his works of fiction; debate about the United States' plans to boycott the Summer Olympic Games in Moscow; his opinions on the idea of a debate between political rivals Ted Kennedy and Jimmy Carter; and his predictions for the upcoming presidential election. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: February 12, 1980 11:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:15:24
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:87659
- GENRE: Talk/Interview
- SUBJECT HEADING: Talk/Interview; Comedy/Variety; Actors and actresses; Dancers; Authors
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1962-1992
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Alpo dog food
- TV - Commercials - Colombian coffee
- TV - Commercials - Color Tile stores
- TV - Commercials - EF Hutton financial brokers
- TV - Commercials - Eureka vacuum cleaners
- TV - Commercials - Ford/Lincoln/Mercury automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Keebler butter pretzel braids snacks
- TV - Commercials - Lipton chicken noodle soup
- TV - Commercials - Pepsodent toothpaste
- TV - Commercials - Schlitz beer
- TV - Commercials - Sta-Puf fabric softener
- TV - Commercials - Sucrets throat lozenges
- TV - Commercials - Sylvania television sets
- TV - Commercials - Taster's Choice freeze-dried coffee
- TV - Commercials - Volkswagen automobiles
CREDITS
- Johnny Carson … Host
- Ed McMahon … Announcer
- Patrick Duffy … Guest
- Red Buttons … Guest
- Ann Reinking … Guest
- William F. Buckley … Guest
- NBC Orchestra, The … Music by
- Doc Severinsen … Conductor
- Tommy Newsom … Instrumentalist
- Jimmy Carter
- Confucius
- Jimmy Durante
- Bob Fosse
- S.I. Hayakawa
- Edward Kennedy (see also: Ted Kennedy)
- Ruhollah Khomeini (see also: Ayatollah Khomeini)
- Abraham Lincoln
- Karl Malden
- George Washington