TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, THE {JOAN BAEZ, DAVID BRENNER, JILL SPRY, ORIA DOUGLAS-HAMILTON} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by Johnny Carson. Carson's guests for this program are teenage air-gun champion Jill Spry, comedian David Brenner, musician/activist Joan Baez, and environmentalist Oria Douglas-Hamilton.
In his opening monologue, Carson touches on the following topics, among others: the previous night's "mean" attendees; an audience "poll" about the ongoing recession; the end of spring and the unseasonably hot weather; a controversy surrounding female firefighters; strange package offerings from a local travel agency; a British woman's world-record-setting 13-month pregnancy; and reports that the CIA has attempted to assassinate Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
Carson sits down with announcer Doc Severinsen, in for an absent Ed McMahon, agreeing that they both prefer colder weather. The first guest, 14-year-old Spry, then takes the stage and discusses beating out thousands of competitors to win the 1975 National Air Gun Championship, making her the third female competitor in a row to win the annual competition; taking up the sport alongside her brothers at age ten; and why female shooters tend to be less nervous and more practiced than their male rivals. Spry then performs a demonstration of her shooting abilities and coaches Carson through several rounds, and he improves somewhat under her tutelage.
Next, Brenner takes the stage and performs a stand-up routine, touching upon the following topics: the current bankruptcy of New York City and the unfazed reaction of its citizens; his idea for an unusual New Jersey-themed disaster movie; the West Coast's love of astrology and newfangled religions; and his own superstitious nature regarding air travel. Brenner then sits down with Carson and elaborates on New York's current troubles despite its decrease in crime; why he does not intend to move to the West Coast; being invited to uninteresting parties and socializing with poor conversationalists; his disregard for nostalgia and regrets; and memories of his most boring job.
Next, Baez performs "Diamonds and Rust" from her recent album of the same name and then talks with Carson about an uncomfortable incident during her previous appearance on the show in April, about which she wrote Carson a letter; balancing her activism with her role as an entertainer; why her latest album is "apolitical"; her upcoming musical tour; how she developed an interest in music as a child as a way of making friends; the ease of performing onstage versus the tension of one-on-one interactions; her talent for impressions, including Lily Tomlin's famous busybody telephone operator "Ernestine"; and her plans to take a break from performing in order to spend time with her young son.
The final guest, Douglas-Hamilton, joins Carson to discuss her new book "Among the Elephants," written with husband Iain about their studies and adventures in Africa; introducing her infant to the animals, and why the average person should not attempt such an interaction; the elephants' individuality and their unexplained habit of visiting other elephants' carcasses and moving the bones; why her children are now more unnerved by white people than by wild animals; the dangers of ivory poaching and why America must stop importing the product; and her plans to return to Africa with her family. A film clip, narrated by David Niven, is also shown, depicting the elephants' habit of destroying trees in their habitats and of "scattering" their fellows' bones. Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: June 26, 1975 11:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:24:33
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:80541
- GENRE: Talk/Interview
- SUBJECT HEADING: Talk/Interview; Comedy/Variety
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1962-1992
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Charmglow barbeques
- TV - Commercials - Dial soap
- TV - Commercials - Dr. Scholl's Air-Pillo insoles
- TV - Commercials - Frigidaire appliances
- TV - Commercials - Gillette Cricket cigarette lighters
- TV - Commercials - Hormel Cure 81 ham
- TV - Commercials - Janar Daily Double toothbrushes
- TV - Commercials - MasterCharge credit cards
- TV - Commercials - McDonald's restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Nair hair remover
- TV - Commercials - Quiet Touch hair painting product
- TV - Commercials - Schlitz beer
- TV - Commercials - Sea & Ski suntan lotions
- TV - Commercials - Stuckey's restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Tone soap
- TV - Promos - "The Tomorrow Show"
CREDITS
- NBC Orchestra, The … Music by
- Tommy Newsom … Conductor
- Johnny Carson … Host
- Doc Severinsen … Announcer
- David Brenner … Guest, Performer
- Joan Baez … Guest, Performer
- Jill Spry … Guest
- Oria Douglas-Hamilton … Guest
- Fidel Castro
- Iain Douglas-Hamilton
- David Niven
- Lily Tomlin