TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, THE {ROBIN WILLIAMS, JEAN MARSH} (TV)

Summary

One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by Johnny Carson. On this program, the guests are comedian and actor Robin Williams, in his first "Tonight Show" appearance, and actress Jean Marsh. In his opening monologue, Carson comments on the following topics, among others: the previous night's disappointing audience; former president Jimmy Carter's recent visit to Washington; Rosalynn Carter's disapproval of First Lady Nancy Reagan's expensive taste in flatware; the recent birthday of Amy Carter; and Yasser Arafat's trip to Japan. Carson and McMahon discuss the rivalry between Russian chess champions Anatoly Karpov and Viktor Korchnoi, and they analyze some slowed-down "footage" of the two players psyching one another out in a variety of "subtle" ways. Next, Carson introduces a pretend deleted scene from the film "Patton" (1970), starring Carson himself.

The first guest, Williams, joins Carson onstage and discusses his eccentric San Francisco friends; entertaining evangelical ministers on Sunday morning television; his extreme nervousness before his 1979 appearance on "The Dick Cavett Show"; whether he dabbles in "foreign substances"; his "geeky" elementary school days; his marriage and current lack of children; his training at the Julliard School under actor John Houseman; his early experiences with performing Shakespeare; working with his idol Jonathan Winters on "Mork & Mindy"; Carson's own misadventures drinking with Winters; Williams' role in "The World According to Garp" (1982) and director George Roy Hill's dislike of his improvisational antics; his frequent appearances at famous California comedy clubs; and his sophomoric love of National Geographic magazine. Williams also ventures into the audience, entertaining the crowd and frustrating the cameramen, and performs a Fred Astaire impression.

Marsh then takes the stage and discusses why she has been "nervous all year" in her film work; fake reports about her dating life in the British press; her conservative nature and "dull" dress sense; her wittily-named pet geckos, useful for pest control; and her uncertainty about the scientific validity of her new television film "Goliath Awaits" (1981), which involves a group of survivors living for many years in a sunken ship. Includes commercials and promos.

Details

• NETWORK: NBC
• DATE: October 14, 1981 11:30 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 0:51:34
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: B:45068
• GENRE: Talk/Interview
• SUBJECT HEADING: Talk/Interview; Comedy
• SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1962-1992
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV - Commercials - Alpo dog food
  • TV - Commercials - Chrysler automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Dodge automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Heinz gravy
  • TV - Commercials - Jaymar Ruby coats
  • TV - Commercials - Kellogg's Product 19 cereal
  • TV - Commercials - Kibbles 'n' Bits dog food
  • TV - Commercials - Lipton seasonings
  • TV - Commercials - Pillsbury frosting
  • TV - Commercials - Renault LeCar automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Sears stores
  • TV - Commercials - Spray 'n' Wash laundry stain remover
  • TV - Commercials - Taster's Choice coffee
  • TV - Promos - "Hill Street Blues"
  • TV - Promos - "SCTV Comedy Network"

CREDITS

• Johnny Carson … Host
• Ed McMahon … Co-Host
• The NBC Orchestra … Music by
• Doc Severinsen … Conductor
• Jean Marsh … Guest
• Robin Williams … Guest
• Yasser Arafat
• Fred Astaire
• Rosalynn Carter
• George Roy Hill
• John Houseman
• Anatoly Karpov
• Viktor Korchnoi
• Nancy Reagan
• Jonathan Winters