TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, THE {ROGER MILLER; STEVE MARTIN; MADALYN MURRAY O'HAIR} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by Johnny Carson. Carson's guests for this program are singer Roger Miller, comedian Steve Martin, and activist Madalyn Murray O'Hair.
In his opening monologue, Carson touches on the following topics, among others: Senator George McGovern's speech at Illinois' Wheaton College; President Richard Nixon's plans for reelection; the arrival of National Penguin Week; why Carson, recently married to third wife Joanna Holland, is "still living like a newlywed"; bandleader Doc Severinsen's latest outrageous attire, displaying the "true tartans" of his Scottish heritage; some airlines' decision to boost sales by screening X-rated in-flight movies; Datsun automobiles' unusual offer to buyers; Secretary of State Henry Kissinger's extended stay in Paris; and the birthday of Sir George Williams, founder of the YMCA.
Next, Carson reads some bizarre facts from the thirteenth edition of "Ripley's Believe It or Not!", choosing the "or not" option for some of the more outlandish claims. In a round of "Stump the Band," audience members suggest such unusual tunes as "Making Believe You're Here," "Sweethearts," "I Love My Shirt," and "The Green-Eyed Dragon," none of which are known to Severinsen, McMahon, or the NBC Orchestra.
Miller performs "You Can't Roller-skate in a Buffalo Herd" and "Chug-A-Lug," and then sits down with Carson to chat about his love of performing, including performances at rodeos and state fairs; his appearance as an early guest during Carson's first decade on the air, when he didn't have any hit songs; his first inklings of success and his childhood desire for fame; his ambivalence about signing autographs for fans; why he would choose to save his guitar if faced with losing his possessions in a fire; and his love of relaxing and watching TV at home. Miller then performs "Husbands and Wives."
Next, Martin takes the stage and performs a stand-up routine touching upon his dislike for "phony audience-participation bits"; his "incredible shrinking man" impression; his thoughts on the strangeness of human anatomy; ideas for population control and avoiding muggings; and "the adventures of Hairy Man." Martin then joins Carson to discuss his "perverse, abstract" sense of humor; inspiration from Jonathan Winters; and whether he was funny in school, including his dubious talent for sound effects.
Finally, Carson welcomes O'Hair, known for her part in the official 1963 ban on prayer in public schools, who discusses Reverend Billy Graham's recent appearance on "The Tonight Show," during which he claimed to have received a profanity-laden letter from "crusty individual" O'Hair, which she refutes as a statement of "false witness"; her strong belief in the separation of church and state; why the church should not be allowed to dictate everyday decisions in normal people's lives, such as clothing and food choices; why matter-of-fact bodily function words, such as those for acts of "carnal knowledge" and bowel movements, are preferable to prudish euphemisms or obscure Latin phrases; Mark Twain's infamous fondness for "four-letter words" and frank anatomy talk; the church's hypocritical use of "damn" and "hell," as well as several misogynistic swear words used to suppress women; why outspoken atheists are usually shamed and "maligned" in American culture; atheism as an "exercise of reason," particularly for educated people; why many people seem to become "emotionally involved" in the issue of prayer in schools; why there's no such thing as "nondenominational prayer"; why religious institutions should not be tax-free; atheism as a form of independence in which religious people are also allowed to "do their thing" separately; why one doesn't need organized religion to make sound judgments and live a moral life; why her "battle" of being considered "the most hated woman in America" because of her views has been worth it; her appreciation of Carson's decision not to bring a "protagonist" onto the panel to argue with her; and why those curious about atheism should get their information straight from "the horse's mouth" and not from rumor. Includes commercials.
(Parts of O'Hair's interview were recreated in the 2017 film "The Most Hated Woman in America," which dramatizes O'Hair's life and her infamous 1995 kidnapping and murder.)
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: October 12, 1972 11:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:16:24
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:73251
- GENRE: Talk/Interview
- SUBJECT HEADING: Talk/Interview; Comedy/Variety; Atheism
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1962-1992
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Armour bacon
- TV - Commercials - Budweiser beers
- TV - Commercials - Dubonnet wines
- TV - Commercials - Dupont Lucite wall paint
- TV - Commercials - Dutch Masters Presidents cigars
- TV - Commercials - Hertz rental car services
- TV - Commercials - Lady Kenmore dishwashers
- TV - Commercials - Purina SeaNip Dinners cat food
- TV - Commercials - Scott's Liquid Gold wood cleaner
- TV - Commercials - Sears Kenmore trash compactor
- TV - Commercials - Simmons Beautyrest mattresses
- TV - Commercials - Vicks NyQuil cold medication
- TV - Commercials - Viva paper towels
- TV - Commercials - Volkswagen automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Weight Watchers low-fat cottage cheese
- TV - Commercials - Whirlpool appliances
CREDITS
- NBC Orchestra, The … Music by
- Doc Severinsen … Conductor
- Johnny Carson … Host
- Ed McMahon … Announcer
- Roger Miller … Guest, Performer
- Steve Martin … Guest, Performer
- Madalyn Murray O'Hair … Guest
- Billy Graham
- Joanna Holland
- Henry Kissinger
- George McGovern
- Richard Nixon
- Mark Twain (see also: Samuel Clemens)
- George Williams
- Jonathan Winters