TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, THE {PAUL WILLIAMS; ADRIENNE BARBEAU; BUCK HENRY; BERT CONVY; DR. ROBERT NIDEFFER} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by Johnny Carson. Carson's guests for this program are Dr. Robert Nideffer, singer-songwriter Paul Williams, writer/actor Buck Henry, actress Adrienne Barbeau, and actor Bert Convy.
In his opening monologue, Carson touches on the following topics, among others: the arrival of the Chinese New Year; an unprecedented cost-of-living rise in America; Congress' return to session after the winter holidays; and how the energy crisis contributes to alcohol use.
The first guest, Nideffer, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Rochester, then joins Carson and discusses how one can minimize physical pain through distraction and avoidance of a "narrowing of focus" on a given event, such as a dental procedure; why "finesse" is preferable to physical strength in most sports; how one can avoid injury while putting a lit match inside one's mouth (which Nideffer demonstrates in front of a surprised Carson); how Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of aikido, apparently learned to "dodge bullets" by predicting the gunman's movements; and increasing one's pain tolerance with the use of a "shock apparatus," which he also presents onstage. Nideffer then demonstrates the surprising ease of breaking a pine board with one's head – and a somewhat doubtful Carson also achieves the trick in one try.
Next, Williams sings "Inspiration" and chats about his newest album, "Here Comes Inspiration," which will be released on his "thirty-three and a third birthday"; his devilish role as a "corrupted" music producer in the new film "Phantom of the Paradise" (1974); his recent stay at a creepy Dallas motel; and his Oscar-nominated song "Nice to Be Around," co-written with John Williams for the movie "Cinderella Liberty" (1973), which he then performs.
Henry then takes the stage to discuss writing the "unusual" new film "The Day of the Dolphin" (1973); getting to know his "enormously evolved" aquatic cast members and their unique language; how the movie differs from the original 1967 novel by Robert Merle; receiving odd letters from all manner of dolphin enthusiasts while writing the script; dolphins' "omnisexual" natures and habit of dying from "a broken heart" after the death of a mate; and a "semi-mystical event" that occurred at the end of filming.
Barbeau, currently starring on "Maude" as the title character's daughter, then joins Carson to discuss her own strange fan mail, including marriage proposals; why she is currently unmarried; and how shifting societal norms are now more accepting of happily single women. She then sings "Come Down in Time."
Finally, Convy rushes in wearing his costume from "The Front Page," the play in which he is currently starring alongside "the First Lady of American Theater" Helen Hayes, and he briefly discusses their use of the original 1928 script without alterations and the cast's nervousness at working alongside the famous Hayes. Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: January 24, 1974 11:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:23:20
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:76236
- GENRE: Talk/Interview
- SUBJECT HEADING: Talk/Interview; Comedy/Variety; Music
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1962-1992
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Budweiser beers
- TV - Commercials - Calgon bath oil beads
- TV - Commercials - Everynight shampoo
- TV - Commercials - Excedrin P.M. painkillers
- TV - Commercials - Kimbies disposable diapers
- TV - Commercials - Pine Mountain fireplace logs
- TV - Commercials - Revlon Milk Plus 6 shampoo and conditioner
- TV - Commercials - Ruffles potato chips
- TV - Commercials - Sucrets throat lozenges
- TV - Commercials - United Airlines
- TV - Commercials - Vicks NyQuil cold medication
- TV - Commercials - Victors throat drops
- TV - Commercials - Viva paper towels
- TV - Commercials - Weight Watchers meals
CREDITS
- NBC Orchestra, The … Music by
- Doc Severinsen … Conductor
- Johnny Carson … Host
- Ed McMahon … Announcer
- Paul Williams … Guest, Performer
- Adrienne Barbeau … Guest, Performer
- Robert Nideffer … Guest
- Buck Henry … Guest
- Bert Convy … Guest
- Helen Hayes
- Robert Merle
- Morihei Ueshiba
- John Williams