TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, THE {GEORGE CARLIN, MARCEL MARCEAU, PETE FOUNTAIN} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by Johnny Carson. Carson's guests for this program are comedian George Carlin, mime artist Marcel Marceau, and clarinetist Pete Fountain. In his opening monologue, Carson touches on the following topics, among others: Ed McMahon's absence due to illness; Idi Amin's recent honeymoon; the opening of the new Alaskan pipeline; tennis star Jimmy Connors' controversial decision not to participate in a champions' parade to celebrate Wimbledon's centenary; and former Attorney General John N. Mitchell's prison sentence at a cushy minimum-security facility for his involvement in the Watergate cover-up. Carson then enters the audience for a round of Stump the Band, and as usual, the contestants – including overexcited waitress Brenda – are able to come up with sufficiently obscure songs.
The first guest, Carlin, takes the stage and performs a stand-up routine about the perils of everyday walking; pets' odd behavior, including cats "inability to be embarrassed"; and why a young Carlin was "mean to ants" during his New York City childhood. He then sits down with Carson and chats about their recent time together in Las Vegas; memories of his childhood pet dog Spotty; and why he is a "nostalgia freak" and enjoys re-visiting old haunts. He then performs his "crazy news thing," reading out outlandish and comical "true stories" from the newspaper.
Next, Marceau briefly performs his "walking against the wind" routine before sitting down with Carson and discussing his recent performance at the Kennedy Center, during which he met President Carter and his family; how he puts his shows together, including his interest in exploring genuine human emotions through movement; a routine in which he portrays an angel who grows "bored with Paradise" and ventures down to Earth; and the rising popularity of mime in America. He then demonstrates two more performances, "the amusement park" and "the sideshow," and then teaches Carson how to "catch a butterfly."
Finally, Fountain takes the stage and performs a number from his new album, "Pete Fountain's Jazz Reunion," after which he is joined by Doc Severinsen for "Tin Roof Blues." Seeing the audience's great enjoyment of the music, Carson then invites Fountain and Severinsen to play two more pieces, with apologies to would-be fourth guest Norman Fell. Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: June 22, 1977 11:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:23:17
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:84172
- GENRE: Talk/Interview
- SUBJECT HEADING: Talk/Interview; Comedy/Variety
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1962-1992
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Big Boy restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Cascade dishwasher detergent
- TV - Commercials - Coca-Cola soft drinks
- TV - Commercials - Country Time lemonade mix
- TV - Commercials - Datril 500 pain reliever
- TV - Commercials - Delta Airlines
- TV - Commercials - Drano drain cleaner
- TV - Commercials - Hefty Super Weight trash bags
- TV - Commercials - Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Nestle cookie mix
- TV - Commercials - Pillsbury Squoze lemonade mix
- TV - Commercials - Purina High Protein Dog Meal dog food
- TV - Commercials - Sheraton-Universal hotel
- TV - Commercials - Wishbone salad dressing
- TV - Promo - "Quincy, M.E."
- TV - Promos - "The Day of the Dolphin"
- TV - Promos - "The Rockford Files"
- TV - Promos - "The Tomorrow Show"
CREDITS
- Johnny Carson … Host
- Doc Severinsen … Co-Host
- NBC Orchestra, The … Music by
- Tommy Newsom … Conductor
- George Carlin … Guest, Performer
- Marcel Marceau … Guest, Performer
- Pete Fountain … Guest, Performer
- Idi Amin
- Jimmy Carter
- Jimmy Connors
- Norman Fell
- John N. Mitchell