TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, THE {JOHNNY MATHIS; BARBI BENTON; BERT CONVY; PETER TOMPKINS} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by Johnny Carson. On this program, the guests include singer Johnny Mathis, model/actress Barbi Benton, actor Bert Convy and author Peter Tompkins. In his opening monologue, Carson comments on the following topics, among others: Ed McMahon's absence and Carol Wayne's temporary role as announcer; the drawbacks of certain gas stations; President Nixon's new ideas about energy conservation; a strange "even-odd" rationing system for acquiring automobile gas; a possible bread shortage and Lucille Ball's final show. Carson and Wayne then discuss her road trip adventures with Bob Dylan, her recent role in a television pilot, her personal energy-saving techniques, and technical details about her washing machine.
Mathis then takes the stage and sings "Life is a Song Worth Singing" and "Stone in Love With You," after which he sits down with Carson and briefly discusses his singing voice and techniques. He presents Carson with several Australia-themed gifts, including a boomerang, a bullroarer and a didgeridoo, then discussing his trips to the land Down Under. He then talks about his new album, "I'm Coming Home," and performs another song, "I Won't Last a Day Without You."
Benton then appears and discusses he audition for and role on the variety show "Hee Haw"; her habit of talking to and playing music for her houseplants; her appearances in Playboy magazine and early days of acting training; her musical aspirations despite boyfriend Hugh Hefner's discouraging words; and her opinion that they are both too young to consider marriage. She then performs the song "I Can't Touch the Sun," written by Shel Silverstein.
Convy takes the stage and talks about his former musical group, The Cheers; being mistaken for Italian; his early days as a minor league first baseman with the Philadelphia Phillies and troublesome contract negotiations; his eventual switch to acting because of his "showboating" on the baseball field; and memories of his team members' salacious reward for "home runs."
The final guest, Tompkins, author of "The Secret Life of Plants," then arrives to discuss his findings regarding plants' surprisingly human-like "emotions" and reactions, as monitored by machines, adding that they even react with accuracy to a polygraph. With the help of a pair of scientists, he demonstrates with two plants belonging to Carson, noting their fluctuating readouts. They attach electrodes to Carson as well to point out the plants' similarity to a human's feelings, suggesting that people and plants alike are both "love machines" and proposing that their research could transform the world "back into a garden of Eden." Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: February 28, 1974 11:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:30:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:76062
- GENRE: Talk/Interviews
- SUBJECT HEADING: Talk/Interview; Comedy; Music
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1962-1992
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - American Red Cross association
- TV - Commercials - Aquafilter cigarette filter
- TV - Commercials - Calgon bath oil beads
- TV - Commercials - Lil' Loafs snack bread
- TV - Commercials - One-A-Day vitamins
- TV - Commercials - Ozite carpeting
- TV - Commercials - Revlon Touch & Glow cosmetics
- TV - Commercials - Scott's Liquid Gold wood treatment
- TV - Commercials - Stay-Free sanitary mini-pads
- TV - Commercials - United Airlines
- TV - Commercials - Wildflower Kleenex tissues
- TV - Promos - "The Bob Hope Special"
- TV - Promos - "The Green Berets" motion picture
CREDITS
- Johnny Carson … Host
- Carol Wayne … Announcer
- Tommy Newsom and the NBC Orchestra … Music by
- Johnny Mathis … Guest
- Barbi Benton … Guest
- Bert Convy … Guest
- Peter Tompkins … Guest
- Lucille Ball
- The Cheers
- Bob Dylan
- Hugh Hefner
- Ed McMahon
- Philadelphia Phillies
- Richard Nixon
- Shel Silverstein