TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, THE {RICHARD PRYOR, SEAN PENN, KENNY G.} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by Johnny Carson. Carson's guests for this program are comedian Richard Pryor, actor Sean Penn, and jazz musician Kenny G. In his opening monologue, Carson comments on the following topics, among others: the past week's "big-time confrontations" between various athletes and politicians; President Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev's trip to Iceland for the Reykjavík Summit conference; new discoveries about Christopher Columbus' uncertain landing spot; U.S. Secretary of State George P. Shultz's doubtful claims about the absence of American troops in Nicaragua; the worryingly low ratings of Lucille Ball's latest show "Life With Lucy"; and the recent death of Candido Jacuzzi, one of the inventors of the famous hot tubs.
Carson then reads a letter announcing the death of Baby, a rooster who appeared on the show in 1978 but declined to crow on command as promised. Carson delivers a funny eulogy for Baby, describing his surprisingly full life as a government spy and "tireless crusader" for poultry rights, and is then joined onstage by his many "widows." He notes to McMahon that the birds used in the skit are in fact "showbiz chickens" with a list of impressive credits.
Pryor then joins Carson onstage and discusses the following: his last appearance on the show in an episode featuring racing pigs; his childhood visits to his grandfather's farm despite mainly growing up in the city; his recent weight loss for a film and concerns that he had become seriously ill; his sense of youthfulness despite recently turning forty-five and his decision to buy a Ferrari Testarossa; his cross-country trip in his new car, sometimes at great speeds; whether good comedy requires a difficult background and personal life; his praise for Carson's nightly witticisms; and his newest film "Critical Condition" (1987), from which a clip is then shown.
The next guest, Penn, then sits down to discuss the following: his notorious relationship with the "vultures" of the press, largely thanks to his marriage to pop star Madonna; his sense that audiences need a "neutral" view of an actor in order to fully appreciate their performances without bias; his recent purchase of new shoes at his wife's behest; his views on celebrity and what constitutes a reasonable amount of privacy; comparisons to famously hot-headed tennis star John McEnroe; the strong paparazzi presence at his wedding, which took place next door to Carson's home; Madonna's good sense of humor; and some harsh comments from his parents about his acting talent at the beginning of his career.
Kenny G. then performs a number from his newest album, "Duotones," and Pryor surprises everyone at the close of the show by remarking that he is getting married for the fifth time on the following day. Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: October 9, 1986 11:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:56:42
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:44199
- GENRE: Talk/Interview
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Comedy; Talk/Interview; Comedy
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1962-1992
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - ACE Hardware stores
- TV - Commercials - Brach's candies
- TV - Commercials - Bryant heating machines
- TV - Commercials - Burger King restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Color Tile stores
- TV - Commercials - Equal sweetener
- TV - Commercials - Green Giant vegetables
- TV - Commercials - Honda automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Milton Bradley Scruples board game
- TV - Commercials - Nissan automobiles
- TV - Commercials - O Cedar Light & Thirsty mops
- TV - Commercials - Rancher's Choice salad dressing
- TV - Commercials - Sanka decaffinated coffee
- TV - Promos - "Can You Feel Me Dancing?"
- TV - Promos - "Late Night With David Letterman"
- TV - Promos - "Saturday Night Live"
- TV - Promos - "When The Bough Breaks"
CREDITS
- The NBC Orchestra … Music by
- Doc Severinsen … Conductor
- Johnny Carson … Host
- Ed McMahon … Co-Host
- Kenny G. … Guest, Performer
- Richard Pryor … Guest
- Sean Penn … Guest
- Lucille Ball
- Christopher Columbus
- Mikhail Gorbachev
- Candido Jacuzzi
- Madonna
- John McEnroe
- Ronald Reagan
- George P. Shultz