TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, THE {FAYE DUNAWAY, PHYLLIS NEWMAN; THE NEW SEEKERS; JAMES HAMPTON; PHYLLIS MCGUIRE} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by Johnny Carson. Carson's guests for this program, which airs from New York, are actors Phyllis Newman, Faye Dunaway and James Hampton, and musical guests The Seekers and Phyllis McGuire.
In his opening monologue, Carson touches on the following topics, among others: the challenge of hailing a cab in Manhattan; the ongoing Watergate hearings; a foreboding letter from the IRS; and new rules regarding massage-parlor licenses. Carson and announcer Ed McMahon then "reward" the audience with the popular "The King is Dead" bit, after which Carson reads a viewer letter clarifying the etymology of the slang term "gams."
Next, the first guest, Newman, sings "A Cock-Eyed Optimist" from "South Pacific," explaining that she feels it to be an appropriate song in a tumultuous time, also discussing why she is often the first guest on Carson's show; whether he is "stimulated" mentally or otherwise by his various guests; his recent gig as host of the Primetime Emmy Awards; maintaining stamina through the use of vitamins and hard work; and a philosophical discussion about seeing oneself truly – or not – in a mirror.
After The New Seekers perform "Reach Out (I'll Be There)" and "Look What They've Done to My Song, Ma," Dunaway takes the stage and comments on seeing oneself from the outside; the unusual poster for her new film "Oklahoma Crude" (1973), in which she stars alongside George C. Scott and the "more even-tempered" John Mills; her role in "A Streetcar Named Desire" and how she refined an "aristocratic" Southern accent for the part; other distinctive regional accents, including Carson's own; whether married couples should consider separate bedrooms and/or bathrooms; and the rising popularity of "non-marriage" cohabitation.
McGuire sings "Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show," and then sits down with Carson and the others to discuss the phenomenon of "PKs," or "preachers' kids," and how many celebrities, including herself, Aretha Franklin, Della Reese and Elvis Presley, have been significantly informed by their church backgrounds in their performance styles.
Finally, Hampton chats about a recent rough flight and how he might overcome his fear of flying; returning to New York, where he formerly worked as a bartender and a jeweler's somewhat ineffective bodyguard; rising subway prices; and a harrowing incident in Harlem. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: May 23, 1973 11:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:15:34
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:76146
- GENRE: Talk/Interview
- SUBJECT HEADING: Talk/Interview; Comedy/Variety; Music
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1962-1992
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - 7-Up soft drinks
- TV - Commercials - Arm & Hammer baking soda
- TV - Commercials - Chrysler Airtemp air conditioning
- TV - Commercials - Curad bandages
- TV - Commercials - General Electric Lexan plastics
- TV - Commercials - Hormel Cure 81 ham
- TV - Commercials - Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats cereal
- TV - Commercials - Kraft caramels
- TV - Commercials - Lennox air conditioning
- TV - Commercials - Mitchum anti-perspirant
- TV - Commercials - Post Grape-Nuts cereal
- TV - Commercials - Sears Easy Living house paint
- TV - Commercials - Shakey's pizza restaurants
- TV - Commercials - United Airlines
CREDITS
- Fred de Cordova … Producer
- Peter Lassally … Associate Producer
- Dick Manley … Commercial Producer
- Bobby Quinn … Director
- NBC Orchestra, The … Music by
- Doc Severinsen … Conductor
- Johnny Carson … Host
- Phyllis Newman … Guest, Performer
- New Seekers, The … Guest, Performer
- Phyllis McGuire … Guest, Performer
- Faye Dunaway … Guest
- James Hampton … Guest
- Aretha Franklin
- John Mills
- Elvis Presley
- Della Reese
- George C. Scott