TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, THE {ROY CLARK, BUDDY HACKETT, STEVE LAWRENCE} (TV)

Summary

One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by Johnny Carson. Carson's guests for this program are singer Steve Lawrence, comedian Buddy Hackett, and musician Roy Clark.

In his opening monologue, Carson touches on the following topics, among others: Ronald Reagan's announcement of his plans to run for president in 1976 against incumbent Republican nominee Gerald Ford; Vice-President Nelson Rockefeller's apparent dislike of both candidates; a surprising discovery about the city of Venice; the decline of television's so-called "family hour"; various television specials airing that night on other networks; and advice from doctors about exercising after experiencing heart attacks. Next, Carson portrays dimwitted outdoorsman Clyde "Boom-Boom" Van Buren, who offers a rebuttal to a recent anti-hunting segment as he extols the virtues of killing for sport, complaining about the "Pinkos" and "do-gooders" who disapprove of the pastime.

The first guest, Lawrence, sings "Our Love is Here to Stay," then invites Carson to join him for an intimate duet of the song, which he describes as the last piece written by famous brother duo George and Ira Gershwin before the former's death in 1937. Lawrence then discusses his early musical training; meeting wife Eydie Gormé on "the old Tonight Show," hosted by Steve Allen; working with bandleader Doc Severinsen and the rhythm-challenged Eddie Fisher; his love of Buddy Clark and other "nostalgic" musicians; his attempts to learn Spanish, in which wife Eydie is fluent, during their trips to Mexico; and their upcoming Thanksgiving special, co-starring Gene Kelly. Lawrence also performs "Now That We're in Love" from the recent film "Whiffs" (1975), which he correctly predicts will receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.

Next, Hackett takes the stage in an unusual outfit apparently gifted to him by Elvis Presley and discusses Carson's impressive longevity; his past as an amateur boxer; his love of tennis, which he describes as being far more dangerous than his other passion, skiing; his thoughts on recreational hunting and a story about an evening spent with Sid Caesar; an interesting suggestion about men's preoccupation with firearms; and tales from his time in the U.S. Army, including his struggle to adapt to military time. Hackett also plugs his upcoming Thanksgiving appearance at the Hotel Sahara.

Finally, Clark joins Carson and chats about his upcoming appearance in "The Mac Davis Christmas Special," on which he will ice-skate with Olympian Peggy Fleming; his recent health problems, including pneumonia and a gallbladder attack; why the human body may evolve to eschew "unnecessary" body parts, like the smallest toe; and debate about the true experience of a root canal. Clark also plays an improvised number with the NBC Orchestra. Includes commercials and promos.

Details

• NETWORK: NBC
• DATE: November 20, 1975 11:30 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 1:24:23
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: B:81246
• GENRE: Talk/Interview
• SUBJECT HEADING: Talk/Interview; Comedy/Variety
• SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1962-1992
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV - Commercials - Alpo dog food
  • TV - Commercials - Brim coffee
  • TV - Commercials - Drano drain cleaner
  • TV - Commercials - Excedrin P.M. painkillers
  • TV - Commercials - Gillette Cricket lighters
  • TV - Commercials - Jolly Green Giant green beans
  • TV - Commercials - Jontue Revlon perfume
  • TV - Commercials - Mars M&M's candies
  • TV - Commercials - Nestle Toll House semi-sweet chocolate morsels
  • TV - Commercials - Pillsbury chocolate-chip cookies
  • TV - Commercials - Schlitz beer
  • TV - Commercials - Swift Premium Brown 'N Serve beef sausage
  • TV - Commercials - Tone soap
  • TV - Commercials - United Airlines
  • TV - Commercials - Vicks Formula 44 cough medicine
  • TV - Promos - "Doctor Zhivago"
  • TV - Promos - "Police Story"
  • TV - Promos - "The Rockford Files"
  • TV - Promos - "Tomorrow"

CREDITS

• NBC Orchestra, The … Music by
• Doc Severinsen … Conductor
• Johnny Carson … Host
• Ed McMahon … Announcer
• Steve Lawrence … Guest, Performer
• Roy Clark … Guest
• Buddy Hackett … Guest
• Sid Caesar
• Buddy Clark
• Eddie Fisher
• Peggy Fleming
• Gerald Ford
• George Gershwin
• Ira Gershwin
• Eydie Gormé
• Gene Kelly
• Ronald Reagan
• Nelson Rockefeller