TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, THE {DIANE KEATON; SAMMY DAVIS, JR.; FREDDIE PRINZE} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by Johnny Carson. Carson's guests for this program are actress/singer Diane Keaton, actor/singer Sammy Davis, Jr. and comedian Freddie Prinze. In his opening monologue, Carson touches on the following topics, among others: the approach of Daylight Savings time; the current energy crisis and its negative effect on farmers; the declining popularity of oversized cars; and a recent UFO sighting in Italy.
Carson and McMahon then discuss Carson's current battle with a nasty head cold, McMahon's night out on the town with upcoming guest Davis, and a funny article about elaborate "curses," to which Carson adds several 1973-appropriate suggestions. The first guest, Keaton, then takes the stage and discusses the following: her long history of "neurotic" behavior; her enjoyable experience filming "The Godfather: Part II" (1974); her beloved cats Bill and Blanche, who accompany her in her various travels; her recent experience spotting Carson out Christmas shopping "in real life"; playing "a real jerk" alongside director Woody Allen in her new film "Sleeper" (1973); and details about her immediate family. Keaton then sings "You Made Me Love You."
Next, Davis performs "In the Still of the Night," after which he sits down with Carson and discusses his adventures in Las Vegas with McMahon and headliner Vikki Carr; his struggles to adjust to "the straight life" after many years of performing; the challenges of aging and losing one's energy; and his views on drugs and his sense that he, as a celebrity, is not quite the right person to educate disadvantaged inner-city youths about their life choices. He then performs his classic "I Gotta Be Me" and, with the help of the band, improvises a medley featuring "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" and "Candy Man." Rejoining Carson, he briefly explains that he will be celebrating New Year's in Los Angeles, having been "replaced" in Vegas by Wayne Newton.
Next, nineteen-year-old Prinze performs a stand-up routine, touching upon such topics as the "melting pot" of his hometown, New York City; his Puerto Rican/Hungarian – or "Hungarican" – heritage; the challenges of living in rundown Washington Heights; wise life advice from his mother; a suggestive Charmin toilet paper advertisement; and the strange lack of Puerto Rican astronauts and presidents. Carson, charmed by the young comedian, uncharacteristically invites Prinze to sit down for a brief conversation, noting that the audience responded very enthusiastically to his material.
The NBC Orchestra then performs an original composition by guest drummer Louie Bellson, "Space and Home." Carson closes the evening by apologizing to writer Erma Bombeck, who was originally scheduled as a guest for that evening's show. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: December 6, 1973 11:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:23:48
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:76129
- GENRE: Talk/Interview
- SUBJECT HEADING: Talk/Interview
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1963-1993
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Banquet frozen chicken
- TV - Commercials - Dutch Masters cigar jar
- TV - Commercials - Fisher-Price Play Family Village toys
- TV - Commercials - Jaymar apparel
- TV - Commercials - Kellogg's Product 19 cereal
- TV - Commercials - Kenmore dishwashers
- TV - Commercials - Medici Arnel apparel
- TV - Commercials - Munro sports games
- TV - Commercials - Prolong tree preserver liquid
- TV - Commercials - Revlon Intimate fragrance
- TV - Commercials - Scott's Liquid Gold furniture polish
- TV - Commercials - SuperScope electronics
- TV - Commercials - United Airlines
CREDITS
- Fred de Cordova … Producer
- Peter Lassally … Associate Producer
- Dick Manley … Commercial Producer
- Bobby Quinn … Director
- Hank Bradford … Writer
- Tom Moore … Writer
- Eric Cohen … Writer
- George Tricker … Writer
- Pat McCormick … Writer
- The NBC Orchestra … Music by
- Doc Severinsen … Conductor
- Louie Bellson … Instrumentalist, Drums
- Johnny Carson … Host
- Ed McMahon … Co-Host
- Diane Keaton … Guest, Performer
- Sammy Davis Jr. … Guest, Performer
- Freddie Prinze … Guest, Performer
- Woody Allen
- Erma Bombeck
- Vikki Carr
- Wayne Newton