TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, THE {RICHARD PRYOR, DOROTHY FULDHEIM, DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET} (TV)

Summary

One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by Johnny Carson. Carson's guests for this program are comedian Richard Pryor, journalist Dorothy Fuldheim and musical group the Dave Brubeck Quartet. In his opening monologue, Carson touches on the following topics, among others: the characteristically smoggy air in Burbank; a recent minor earthquake; a "chivalrous" act by McMahon during a trip to the beach; the narrowly-avoided postal-workers' strike and their unusual demands; the resignation of President Carter's drug advisor Dr. Peter Bourne; and Lillian Gordy Carter's recent audience with Pope Paul VI.

Carson pays "special tribute" to Morris, the 9 Lives cat food spokes-feline who recently passed away at age seventeen, with a somber eulogy describing the triumphs and "scandals" of his relatively long life. Pryor then joins Carson onstage and comments on the following: his recent bout of tonsillitis; how he "killed a car" several months previously and is now facing serious legal troubles; his views on suicide and conclusion that there are "more reasons to live"; his short-lived marriage to actress Deborah McGuire and his appreciation of her humor; the strange satisfaction in "feeling sorry for yourself" after a loss; his grandmother's recovery from several small heart attacks; his struggle with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, which causes heart attack-like symptoms; his many pet dogs; his discomfort with death and strange funeral practices; his "brutally honest" father and memories of his mother's wintry funeral; his first fistfight and unsuccessful boxing experiences; he and Carson's similarly shy demeanors at parties; his young daughter's "terrible" ballet recitals; his amusement at kids' fanciful imaginations and elaborate lies; the difficulty of explaining certain profane words to his children; and fathers' "double standards" regarding their sons and daughters.

Next, Fuldeim sits down and comments on the following topics: marijuana use and unfair laws about possession; the challenges of love and marriage; the relative value of expensive gifts from suitors; why most popular music groups are "not her bag"; her impoverished childhood and sense that "no one starves" in America anymore, which is then strongly contested by Pryor, leading to a heated debate; humanity's great potential, including space travel and immortality; a pointed comment from another comedian about her sizable diamond engagement ring; Pryor's wry speculation about how many years beyond her current age of eighty-five she will eventually live; and her interview with Albert Einstein, who famously failed several school lessons despite his genius.

Finally, the Dave Brubeck Quartet, which has recently released the album "The New Brubeck Quartet Live at Montreux," performs two musical numbers, and Carson concludes the "crackerjack" episode with goodnights. Includes commercials and promos.

Details

• NETWORK: NBC
• DATE: July 21, 1978 11:30 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 1:16:15
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: B:86688
• GENRE: Talk/Interview
• SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Comedy; Talk/Interview; Comedy
• SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1962-1992
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV - Commercials - 7-Up soft drinks
  • TV - Commercials - 409 household cleaner
  • TV - Commercials - Budweiser beers
  • TV - Commercials - Dannon yogurt
  • TV - Commercials - Hollywood bread
  • TV - Commercials - Honda automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Kodak cameras
  • TV - Commercials - Optique du Monde professional eye care
  • TV - Commercials - Radio Shack stores
  • TV - Commercials - Sheraton hotels
  • TV - Commercials - Signal mouthwash
  • TV - Commercials - Spray 'n Wash stain remover
  • TV - Commercials - Vidal Sassoon hair care products
  • TV - Commercials - Visa credit cards
  • TV - Commercials - Volkswagen automobiles

CREDITS

• The NBC Orchestra … Music by
• Doc Severinsen … Conductor
• Johnny Carson … Host
• Ed McMahon … Co-Host
• Dave Brubeck Quartet … Guest, Performer
• Richard Pryor … Guest
• Dorothy Fuldheim … Guest
• Peter Bourne
• Jimmy Carter
• Lillian Gordy Carter
• Albert Einstein
• Deborah McGuire
• Pope Paul VI