TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, THE {BILLY GRAHAM, JOAN RIVERS, PETER GORDENO, JOSEPH SORRENTINO} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by Johnny Carson. Carson's guests for this program are televangelist preacher Billy Graham, singer Peter Gordeno, comedian Joan Rivers, and reformed criminal and author Joseph Sorrentino.
In his opening monologue, Carson touches on the following topics, among others: plans to screen late-night television movies in the Arctic Circle; President Nixon's recent prayer breakfast; and Carson's own upcoming 10 1/2-year anniversary with the show. Seeing that the audience is largely unimpressed with the jokes, Carson briefly adopts a Rodney Dangerfield persona as he jokes with announcer Ed McMahon, then briefly discussing a recent "tragedy" at the Patsy Awards, given to animal performers in motion pictures.
The first guest, Graham, takes the stage and discusses the surprising ease of breaking Ten Commandments, either in thought or action; the challenge of memorizing the entire Bible; updated version of the Bible in modern forms of English; the enormous crowds at his overseas "crusades," including clips of his arrival in Seoul and sermon alongside a Korean interpreter; why the topic of death has been largely "suppressed" in modern culture; his confidence in the afterlife as "a place where we work"; the "fearful price" of rejecting religion, including the views of "practical atheists"; his thoughts on explicit films and recent viewing of the violent action thriller "The Mechanic" (1972); rising rates of sexual and violent content in popular culture; the most common questions from his followers, include feelings of loneliness and isolation; and his upcoming travel plans.
Gordeno performs "Without You" and "Fever," after which Rivers chats with Carson about performing in Las Vegas, where there is "too much gambling"; shifting social norms, including premarital cohabitation and parenthood; her father's career as a doctor; her difficult childbirth with daughter Melissa; the recent marriage of Olympic swimmer Mark Spitz; attending her high school reunion as a celebrity; and her views on "late starters" who achieve success well after their teen years.
Finally, Sorrentino takes the stage and discusses rejoining the Marine Corps after being kicked out for bad behavior; a strange story about how he attempted to dissuade an armed kidnapper; his views on the need to combine psychiatric treatment and punitive imprisonment for mentally ill criminals; how he exacted "revenge" on a former boss while working for Twentieth Century Fox; his habit of giving out Fox premiere tickets to impoverished locals, rather than to the elite; a funny story about Carson's rebellious attire at the high-end Polo Lounge club; and Sorrentino's tale of a cross-dressing prank that nearly went seriously awry. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: June 13, 1973 11:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:15:17
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:75966
- GENRE: Talk/Interview
- SUBJECT HEADING: Talk/Interview; Comedy/Variety
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1962-1992
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - AMC Gremlin automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Bayer aspirin
- TV - Commercials - Calgonite Formula 211 dishwashing liquid
- TV - Commercials - Celanese Arnel polyester attire
- TV - Commercials - Chrysler Airtemp air conditioning
- TV - Commercials - French's Gravy Makins sauces
- TV - Commercials - Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Mrs. Smith's Thaw-and-Serve pies
- TV - Commercials - Nestea iced tea
- TV - Commercials - Pfeiffer salad dressing
- TV - Commercials - Shell pest control items
CREDITS
- NBC Orchestra, The … Music by
- Doc Severinsen … Conductor
- Johnny Carson … Host
- Ed McMahon … Announcer
- Peter Gordeno … Guest, Performer
- Billy Graham … Guest
- Joan Rivers … Guest
- Joseph Sorrentino … Guest
- Richard Nixon
- Melissa Rivers
- Mark Spitz