TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, THE {GENE HACKMAN; MCLEAN STEVENSON; GEORGE CARLIN; GLORIA DEHAVEN} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by Johnny Carson. On this program, Carson welcomes actor McLean Stevenson, comedian George Carlin, actor Gene Hackman and actress Gloria DeHaven. In his opening monologue, Carson comments on the following topics, among others: his unintentional color-coordination with Ed McMahon; the arrival of spring; the artistic efforts of car-painter Earl Schreib; General Motors' latest troubles and rising gas prices; a recent visit from Prince Charles; and the Washington D.C. zoo's attempts to set a "romantic" setting for their two pandas, in the hopes that they will mate. Next, Carson chats with McMahon about the recent popularity of on-campus streaking, as well as number of college fads of the past, including goldfish-swallowing, and a list of "loser fads" that never caught on.
The first guest, Stevenson, joins Carson onstage and discusses his sixth-grade habits and attempts at poetry; his itinerary and upcoming events in Las Vegas, where he will soon have an act at the Hilton; the impressive feats of wrestler André René Roussimoff, known as André the Giant; his experiences visiting Vegas and seeing a performance by Liberace; his early days writing for musician Glen Campbell and memories of meeting him for the first time; his uncertainty about his Vegas act and its relative mathematical value to the guests; an embarrassing experience at Ralphs supermarket; his habit of doing his own laundry; and his failed attempt to get a suntan at the beach.
Carlin takes the stage and performs a stand-up routine in which he touches upon the following topics: tips on imitating President Nixon's distinctive face; the existence of ghosts and haunted places; and recent scandals involving football players and drugs, and his ideas for new penalties. He then sits behind a desk and does a comedic news report, offering absurd headlines about strange accidents, feats of science and medicine, and developments in the law, then capping it off with a weather report. Carlin then sits down with Carson and talks about his recent four-month vacation; his desire to "hide" occasionally from his public celebrity life; strange offers and advertisements on matchbook covers; his newscaster impressions and television as a "window" into American life; and memories of bad reception from the "rabbit ears" on his childhood television.
Next, Hackman joins Carson and the other guests and, after hearing praise for his talents from Stevenson, discusses his new film "The Conversation" and its themes of privacy and paranoia; its ironically Watergate-like story, despite being written before the scandal; his meetings with real-life surveillance experts and learning about various gadgets; his experiences receiving mysterious, anonymous phone calls; and ideas for his appearance in a sequel to "The Poseidon Adventure" (1972), despite his character's demise at the end of the film. A clip from "The Conversation" is also shown.
The final guest, DeHaven, then appears and talks about her decision to dress up for the show to impress the male guests; her opposition to women's liberation; her favorite perfumes and scented oils; her recent experiences performing alongside Sammy Davis Jr., who recently collapsed due to exhaustion from his hectic schedule; and her nervousness about appearing onstage without him during his brief illness. She then closes the show by singing "The Best Thing You've Ever Done."
McMahon conducts two in-studio commercials for Eureka vacuums and Matador automobiles. Includes other commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: March 21, 1974 11:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:15:58
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:76067
- GENRE: Talk/Interviews
- SUBJECT HEADING: Talk/Interview; Comedy
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1962-1992
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Congespirin children's cold medication
- TV - Commercials - Dutch Masters cigars
- TV - Commercials - Excedrin P.M. painkillers
- TV - Commercials - L'eggs pantyhose
- TV - Commercials - Ozite carpeting
- TV - Commercials - Pfeiffer salad dressing
- TV - Commercials - Revlon cosmetics
- TV - Commercials - Taster's Choice coffee
- TV - Commercials - Toyota automobiles
CREDITS
- The Tonight Show Band … Music by
- Tommy Newsom … Conductor
- Johnny Carson … Host
- Ed McMahon … Co-Host
- Gene Hackman … Guest
- McLean Stevenson … Guest
- George Carlin … Guest
- Gloria DeHaven … Guest
- Glen Campbell
- Sammy Davis Jr.
- Wladziu Valentino Liberace (see also: Liberace)
- Richard Nixon
- André René Roussimoff (see also: André the Giant)
- Earl Schreib