Summary

One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by Johnny Carson. Carson's guests for this program are actor James Caan, actress/singer Florence Henderson, actress Karen Black and Olympic runners Frank Shorter and Kip Keino.

In his opening monologue, Carson touches on the following topics, among others: the "incredible" rainy weather in L.A.; the unusual strain of flu going around the NBC offices; the challenges of smoking cessation; a strange story of a man claiming to be rendered infertile by an errant golf ball after fathering quintuplets; and a report about a surprising aged "lady of the night."

Carson chats briefly with Doc Severinsen, standing in for an absent Ed McMahon, about the streetwalker story and the relative value of superstitions. The first guest, Caan, then joins Carson and discusses his rainy-weather habits; tabloid speculation about his love life; the strong likelihood of his Oscar nomination for "The Godfather" (1972); a minor alcohol-related car accident; his recent experience at a charity tennis event; his enjoyment of chewing tobacco, of which Carson finds that he is not a fan; his dangerous rodeo pastime; and his failed experience with a hypnotist.

The second guest, Henderson, takes the stage and comments on growing up on a farm as the tenth child of ten, born when her father was sixty-seven; being "attacked" by eager young "Brady Bunch" fans during a recent trip to Disney World; her eccentric mother's decision to remarry in her seventies; how unmarried elderly people are "penalized" by Social Security; and her appreciate for Caan's performance in "Brian's Song" (1971). She then performs a medley of "I Believe in Music" and "I Want to be Happy."

Next, Black takes the stage and comments on Carson's recent marriage and her own single status; her upcoming film "Rhinoceros" (1974), also starring Zero Mostel; her ambiguous smoking habit; her interests in songwriting and her background in dance; and her previous appearance on Carson's show.

Finally, Shorter joins Carson and discusses his most recent 26.2-mile marathon, which he completed with an average time of 4:58 per mile; how marathon training affects one's weight; the importance of "staying relaxed" during a marathon and why the last six miles are the hardest; a harrowing experience in which he was nearly run off the road by an overzealous camera truck; the odd incident at the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich in which an "imposter," student Norbert Sudhaus, ran into the stadium during the men's marathon and briefly appeared to beat Shorter for the gold medal; and the challenges of staying hydrated – without a place to relieve oneself – during a long race. Fellow Olympic gold-medalist runner Kipchoge "Kip" Keino then joins the conversation from the audience, and he and Shorter briefly comment on their unusually low resting heart rates. Comedian Brian Bressler is introduced as a guest, but does not appear. Includes commercials and promos.