TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, THE {EMMANUEL LEWIS, MAUREEN MURPHY, WYNTON MARSALIS} (TV)

Summary

One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by Johnny Carson. Carson's guests for this program are actor Emmanuel Lewis, comedian Maureen Murphy and jazz musician Wynton Marsalis. In his opening monologue, Carson touches on the following topics, among others: the previous night's Grammys, at which Michael Jackson won eight awards; Gary Hart's defeat of Walter Mondale in the New Hampshire primary; and the surprisingly high auction price of Jerry Brown's old car.

Carson then introduces a sketch in which, in honor of Leap Day, several female audience members are selected to "dine and dance with a star." Carson goes on speedy "dates" with four women, the last of whom impresses him with her height and dance skill.

The first guest, twelve-year-old Lewis, joins Carson onstage and comments on the following: his experience at the Grammys and friendship with Jackson; a misunderstood tale about a missing tooth; an unpleasant recent trip to the dentist; his notably small stature and his hopes that he will "shoot up" soon; his various "girls that are friends"; his preference for Brooklyn over Los Angeles; his exciting rides on his brother's motorcycle; his dream purchases with his hard-earned "Webster" money; and his enjoyment of reading both the newspaper and books for his seventh-grade classes.

Murphy then performs a stand-up routine in which she touches upon the following topics: the challenges of shopping for clothes with the aid of "fun-house mirrors"; men's obliviousness about their own physical flaws; the ups and downs of dating; her mother's unusual explanation of "the facts of life," using an example from the animal kingdom; and the pros and cons of both male and female politicians. Murphy then reminds Carson that she is a "political cartoonist" as well as a comedian and banters with him as she sketches a caricature portrait of him, complete with tasteful fig leaf.

Marsalis, who won two Grammy Awards on the previous night, then takes the stage and performs a number from his newest album, "Think of One." Includes commercials and promos.

Details

• NETWORK: NBC
• DATE: February 29, 1984 11:30 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 0:50:41
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: B:44572
• GENRE: Talk/Interview
• SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Comedy; Talk/Interview; Comedy
• SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1962-1992
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV - Commercials - AT&T telephone services
  • TV - Commercials - Alpo dog food
  • TV - Commercials - Carrier heating and cooling systems
  • TV - Commercials - Century 21 realtors
  • TV - Commercials - DeBeers diamonds
  • TV - Commercials - Freedom Thin maxi pads
  • TV - Commercials - Hoover vacuum cleaners
  • TV - Commercials - Kraft Velveeta cheese
  • TV - Commercials - Land O' Lakes Pour-a-Quiche
  • TV - Commercials - Stouffer's dinners
  • TV - Commercials - Weight Watchers weight loss program
  • TV - Commercials - Woolite laundry detergent
  • TV - Promos - "Buffalo Bill"
  • TV - Promos - "Cheers"
  • TV - Promos - "Hill Street Blues"

CREDITS

• The NBC Orchestra … Music by
• Doc Severinsen … Conductor
• Johnny Carson … Host
• Ed McMahon … Co-Host
• Emmanuel Lewis … Guest
• Maureen Murphy … Guest
• Wynton Marsalis … Guest
• Jerry Brown
• Gary Hart
• Michael Jackson
• Walter Mondale