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TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON, THE {RICH LITTLE, RICHARD PRYOR, DAVID SAYH, DAVID HOROWITZ} (TV)

Summary

One in this series of late-night talk/variety programs hosted by Johnny Carson. Carson's guests for this program are comedian/impressionist Rich Little, comedian Richard Pryor, comedian David Sayh and consumer advocate David Horowitz. In his opening monologue, Carson touches on the following topics, among others: California's current heat wave; a potential upcoming telephone strike; car companies' reluctance to comply with President Carter's new clean-energy standards; a large quantity of plutonium and uranium that has apparently gone missing; allegations about the CIA's use of mind-control drugs in brothels; and Idi Amin's plans to travel to New York City. The audience does not respond very enthusiastically to the monologue, however, eventually prompting McMahon to "rescue" Carson with a vaudeville hook.

Carson and McMahon discuss a report on Russian etiquette, explaining that they are somewhat "behind the times" because of the revolution, and they read out a list of seemingly obvious social faux pas to which they add their own suggestions.

Carson then urges the first guest, Little, to try his hand at some of the unsuccessful monologue jokes, and Little, doing an uncanny Carson impression, gets much bigger laughs. Little then chats about the following: some vintage photographs from Carson's earliest days of radio and television, including his 1950s morning program "The Squirrel's Nest"; the relative challenges of impersonating certain famous figures, with the non-idiosyncratic Gerald Ford as the hardest and the folksy Jimmy Carter as the easiest; his other impressions, including Peter Sellers' quirky French Inspector Clouseau and various Muppets characters; the occasional damage to his voice caused by his many eccentric personas; and a funny encounter with the real Jimmy Stewart.

Pryor then takes the stage and discusses the following: his new film "Greased Lightning" (1977), from which a clip is shown, and its New Orleans premiere; his sense of pride in his black fans' approval and enjoyment of his work; his upcoming series "The Richard Pryor Show"; his previous appearance on "Tonight" alongside Chevy Chase; the challenge of audiences who will not "give up their energy" to the performer; his sense that Carson's popularity affects the martial habits of his viewing audience; and his own gift for impressions, including one of Sidney Poitier.

Next, Sayh performs a stand-up routine in which he touches upon the following topics: nonsensical television ads; his attempts to obtain his high school diploma through an at-home program; his reasons for dropping out of school; and the relative value of transcendental meditation.

The final guest, Horowitz, then takes the stage and comments on the following: some recent deceptive products, including grow-it-yourself plants that falsely promise great bounty; the specific rules about what constitutes "juice" versus "flavored drink," and the fine print on the labels ignored by most consumers; the irony of a canister of "B.S. repellent" that comes in a recycled can with a new label; and the importance of using one's common sense when buying products to avoid being ripped off. Includes commercials and promos.

Details

  • NETWORK: NBC
  • DATE: August 5, 1977 11:30 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:24:08
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: B:84407
  • GENRE: Talk/Interview
  • SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Comedy; Talk/Interview; Comedy
  • SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1962-1992
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV - Commercials - American Standard plumbing fixtures
    • TV - Commercials - Excedrin P.M. painkillers
    • TV - Commercials - Hefty trash bags
    • TV - Commercials - Hotpoint refrigerators
    • TV - Commercials - National Endowment for the Arts
    • TV - Commercials - Pepto-Bismal stomach medication
    • TV - Commercials - Pillsbury Frosting Supreme
    • TV - Commercials - Pueblo consumer information catalogs
    • TV - Commercials - Revlon Moon Drops lipstick
    • TV - Commercials - Sears stores
    • TV - Commercials - Tabby cat food
    • TV - Commercials - United Airlines
    • TV - Commercials - Water Pik shower massager
    • TV - Commercials - Wishbone salad dressing
    • TV - PSA - National Safety Council
    • TV - Promos - "The Midnight Special"
    • TV - Promos - "Weekend"

CREDITS

  • Fred de Cordova … Producer
  • Peter Lassally … Associate Producer
  • Dick Manley … Commercial Producer
  • Bobby Quinn … Director
  • Pat McCormick … Writer
  • Raymond Siller … Writer
  • Norman Liebmann … Writer
  • Bill Daley … Writer
  • Allyn Warner … Writer
  • Hal Goodman … Writer
  • Larry Klein … Writer
  • The NBC Orchestra … Music by
  • Doc Severinsen … Conductor
  • Johnny Carson … Host
  • Ed McMahon … Co-Host
  • David Sayh … Guest, Performer
  • Rich Little … Guest
  • Richard Pryor … Guest
  • David Horowitz … Guest
  • Idi Amin
  • Jimmy Carter
  • Chevy Chase
  • Gerald Ford
  • Sidney Poitier
  • Peter Sellers
  • Jimmy Stewart