TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, THE {DAVID BRENNER, CHRISTIE BRINKLEY} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by Johnny Carson. On this program, the guests include comedian David Brenner and supermodel Christie Brinkley. In his opening monologue, Carson comments on the following topics, among others: the misleading ads of the Mr. Goodwrench company; the proper pronunciations of Dutch master Vincent Van Gogh's name; Walter Cronkite's upcoming final "CBS Evening News" show; recent changes made to the defense budget by President Reagan in lieu of agricultural funding; the recent dip in the price of gold; and the expansively-titled Prince Charles' upcoming wedding.
The Mighty Carson Art Players then perform a sketch parodying Cronkite's final show, in which the famed anchor (played by Carson) abandons his stalwart demeanor and complains about the presence of women in the newsroom, the relentless "tickety-tickety" background sound, his trademark dignified voice and appearance, and his inconvenient dinnertime timeslot. He reveals the true location of the missing Watergate tapes and partakes of some marijuana, finally bestowing his bitter "welcome" to his successor, "pretty boy" Dan Rather.
Carson and McMahon then discuss their memories of "the most trusted man in America," and Carson welcomes Brenner to the stage. His stand-up routine touches upon such topics as: the recent bad weather; the ancient tradition of "killing the messenger"; the phrase "vim and vigor"; speed readers and speed listeners; false advertising in produce; and funny signs in public stores. He then sits down with Carson and discusses his first, frightened appearance on the show in 1971, and his rise in popularity and strange experiences with fans, including nontraditional autograph requests.
The next guest, Brinkley, joins Carson and Brenner onstage and discusses getting lost in L.A. despite growing up in Malibu; her various appearances in Sports Illustrated magazine; the ins and outs of on-location fashion photoshoots, her background in art and experience working as an illustrator in Paris, being "discovered" on the street by a seemingly dubious character, her nervousness on television and challenging interviews with distracted hosts, her photography and love of boxing, and her experience visiting a prison for her work. Actress Brooke Shields also makes a brief appearance in the audience. Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: March 4, 1981 11:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:45427
- GENRE: Talk/Interview
- SUBJECT HEADING: Talk/Interview; Comedy
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1962-1992
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Alpo dog food
- TV - Commercials - Bell System telephone services
- TV - Commercials - Chewels chewing gum
- TV - Commercials - Emeraude fragrance
- TV - Commercials - Emery delivery services
- TV - Commercials - Kellogg's Product 19 cereal
- TV - Commercials - Lipton teas
- TV - Commercials - Purina Dog Chow dog food
- TV - Commercials - Ray-O-Vac alkaline batteries
- TV - Commercials - Ryder rental trucks
- TV - Commercials - Star-Kist tuna
- TV - Commercials - Taster's Choice coffee
- TV - Promos - "American Graffiti" motion picture
- TV - Promos - "Death Ray 2000" motion picture
CREDITS
- Johnny Carson … Host
- Ed McMahon … Co-Host
- David Brenner … Guest
- Christie Brinkley … Guest
- Prince Charles of Wales
- Walter Cronkite
- Dan Rather
- Ronald Reagan
- Brooke Shields
- Vincent van Gogh