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The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Season 20 Episodes

184 Episodes 0 - 1982

Episode 1

Episode #20.1

90 mins

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Episode 2

Episode #20.2

90 mins

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Episode 3

Episode #20.3

90 mins

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Episode 4

Episode #20.4

90 mins

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Episode 5

Episode #20.5

90 mins

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Episode 6

Episode #20.6

90 mins

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Episode 7

Episode #20.7

90 mins

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Episode 8

Episode #20.8

90 mins

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Episode 9

Episode #20.9

90 mins

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Episode 10

Episode #20.10

90 mins

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Episode 11

Episode #20.11

90 mins

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Episode 12

Episode #20.12

90 mins

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Episode 13

Episode #20.13

90 mins

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Episode 14

Episode #20.14

90 mins

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Episode 15

Episode #20.15

90 mins

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Episode 16

Episode #20.16

90 mins

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Episode 17

Episode #20.17

90 mins

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Episode 18

Episode #20.18

90 mins

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Episode 19

Episode #20.19

90 mins

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Episode 20

Episode #20.20

90 mins

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Episode 21

Episode #20.21

90 mins

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Episode 22

Episode #20.22

90 mins

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Episode 23

Episode #20.23

90 mins

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Episode 24

Episode #20.24

90 mins

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Episode 25

Episode #20.25

90 mins

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Episode 26

Episode #20.26

90 mins

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Episode 27

Episode #20.27

90 mins

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Episode 28

Episode #20.28

90 mins

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Episode 29

Episode #20.29

90 mins

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Episode 30

Episode #20.30

90 mins

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Episode 31

Episode #20.31

90 mins

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Episode 32

Episode #20.32

90 mins

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Episode 33

Episode #20.33

90 mins

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Episode 34

Episode #20.34

90 mins

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Episode 35

Episode #20.35

90 mins

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Episode 36

Episode #20.36

90 mins

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Episode 37

Episode #20.37

90 mins

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Episode 38

Episode #20.38

90 mins

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Episode 39

Episode #20.39

90 mins

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Episode 40

Episode #20.40

90 mins

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Episode 41

Episode #20.41

90 mins

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Episode 42

Episode #20.42

90 mins

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Episode 43

Episode #20.43

90 mins

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Episode 44

Episode #20.44

90 mins

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Episode 45

Episode #20.45

90 mins

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Episode 46

Episode #20.46

90 mins

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Episode 47

Episode #20.47

90 mins

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Episode 48

Episode #20.48

90 mins

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Episode 49

Episode #20.49

90 mins

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Episode 50

Episode #20.50

90 mins

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Episode 51

McLean Stevenson/Eddie Murphy

Fri, Jan 1, 198240 mins

The comedy segment is psychic predictions for the new year. Some are from an unnamed tabloid, others from the "NBC psychic". McLean Stevenson first talks about his visit aboard a Canadian Armed Forces submarine. He also recalls being an assistant with Northwestern University's football program, and their lack of success since then. He and Johnny discuss that Stevenson and his wife - who had worked on The Tonight Show - are expecting a child within two weeks. He also talks about New Year's when he was growing up in Indiana. Eddie Murphy, making his first appearance on the Tonight Show, does a stand-up comedy routine.

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Episode 51

McLean Stevenson/Eddie Murphy

Fri, Jan 1, 198290 mins

The comedy segment is psychic predictions for the new year. Some are from an unnamed tabloid, others from the "NBC psychic". McLean Stevenson first talks about his visit aboard a Canadian Armed Forces submarine. He also recalls being an assistant with Northwestern University's football program, and their lack of success since then. He and Johnny discuss that Stevenson and his wife - who had worked on The Tonight Show - are expecting a child within two weeks. He also talks about New Year's when he was growing up in Indiana. Eddie Murphy, making his first appearance on the Tonight Show, does a stand-up comedy routine.

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Episode 52

Episode #20.52

90 mins

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Episode 53

Episode #20.53

90 mins

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Episode 54

Episode #20.54

90 mins

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Episode 55

Episode #20.55

90 mins

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Episode 56

Episode #20.56

90 mins

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Episode 57

Episode #20.57

90 mins

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Episode 58

Episode #20.58

90 mins

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Episode 59

Episode #20.59

90 mins

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Episode 60

Episode #20.60

90 mins

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Episode 61

Episode #20.61

90 mins

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Episode 62

Episode #20.62

90 mins

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Episode 63

Episode #20.63

90 mins

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Episode 64

Episode #20.64

90 mins

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Episode 65

Episode #20.65

90 mins

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Episode 66

Alan King/Charles Nelson Reilly

Wed, Jan 6, 198290 mins

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Episode 67

Episode #20.67

90 mins

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Episode 68

Episode #20.68

90 mins

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Episode 69

Episode #20.69

90 mins

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Episode 70

Episode #20.70

90 mins

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Episode 71

Episode #20.71

90 mins

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Episode 72

Episode #20.72

90 mins

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Episode 73

Episode #20.73

90 mins

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Episode 74

Episode #20.74

90 mins

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Episode 75

Episode #20.75

90 mins

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Episode 76

Episode #20.76

90 mins

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Episode 77

Episode #20.77

90 mins

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Episode 78

Episode #20.78

90 mins

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Episode 79

Episode #20.79

90 mins

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Episode 80

Episode #20.80

90 mins

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Episode 81

Episode #20.81

90 mins

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Episode 82

Episode #20.82

90 mins

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Episode 83

Episode #20.83

90 mins

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Episode 84

Episode #20.84

90 mins

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Episode 85

Episode #20.85

90 mins

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Episode 86

Episode #20.86

90 mins

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Episode 87

Episode #20.87

90 mins

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Episode 88

Episode #20.88

90 mins

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Episode 89

Episode #20.89

90 mins

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Episode 90

Episode #20.90

90 mins

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Episode 91

Episode #20.91

90 mins

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Episode 92

Episode #20.92

90 mins

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Episode 93

Episode #20.93

90 mins

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Episode 94

Episode #20.94

90 mins

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Episode 95

Episode #20.95

90 mins

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Episode 96

Episode #20.96

90 mins

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Episode 97

Episode #20.97

90 mins

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Episode 98

Episode #20.98

90 mins

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Episode 99

Episode #20.99

90 mins

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Episode 100

Episode #20.100

90 mins

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Episode 101

Episode #20.101

90 mins

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Episode 102

Episode #20.102

90 mins

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Episode 103

Episode #20.103

90 mins

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Episode 104

Episode #20.104

90 mins

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Episode 105

Episode #20.105

90 mins

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Episode 106

Episode #20.106

90 mins

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Episode 107

Episode #20.107

90 mins

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Episode 108

Episode #20.108

90 mins

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Episode 109

Episode #20.109

90 mins

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Episode 110

Episode #20.110

90 mins

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Episode 111

Episode #20.111

90 mins

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Episode 112

Episode #20.112

90 mins

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Episode 113

Episode #20.113

90 mins

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Episode 114

Episode #20.114

90 mins

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Episode 115

Episode #20.115

90 mins

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Episode 116

Jack Lemmon/Maureen Murphy

Thu, Mar 18, 198290 mins

The first comedy segment is Johnny as IRS spokesman G. Walter Schneer. As an additional comedy segment, Johnny reads cliches as completed by Albuquerque elementary school students in 3rd through 5th grades. Jack Lemmon is first asked about his worst pictures, and he names "Luv" and "Alex and the Gypsy" as big flops. He describes making various scenes in his movies "Days of Wine and Roses", in which a difficult emotional scene had to be re-done after the film was ruined in the lab, "Airport '77", which involved difficult underwater work, and "Mr. Roberts", when he had to be hospitalized after a reaction to a chemical in fake soap suds. He then discusses his new film "Missing", and a clip is shown. Maureen Murphy does a stand-up comedy routine. During her interview she talks about her early career, when she had a variety act with her sister, and the idea of having a child, joking that Johnny could be a good father.

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Episode 116

Jack Lemmon/Maureen Murphy

Thu, Mar 18, 198290 mins

The first comedy segment is Johnny as IRS spokesman G. Walter Schneer. As an additional comedy segment, Johnny reads cliches as completed by Albuquerque elementary school students in 3rd through 5th grades. Jack Lemmon is first asked about his worst pictures, and he names "Luv" and "Alex and the Gypsy" as big flops. He describes making various scenes in his movies "Days of Wine and Roses", in which a difficult emotional scene had to be re-done after the film was ruined in the lab, "Airport '77", which involved difficult underwater work, and "Mr. Roberts", when he had to be hospitalized after a reaction to a chemical in fake soap suds. He then discusses his new film "Missing", and a clip is shown. Maureen Murphy does a stand-up comedy routine. During her interview she talks about her early career, when she had a variety act with her sister, and the idea of having a child, joking that Johnny could be a good father.

Where to Watch

Episode 117

Episode #20.117

90 mins

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Episode 118

Episode #20.118

90 mins

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Episode 119

Episode #20.119

90 mins

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Episode 120

Episode #20.120

90 mins

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Episode 121

Episode #20.121

90 mins

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Episode 122

Episode #20.122

90 mins

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Episode 123

Joey Lawrence/Joan Rivers/Kim Lankford

Wed, Mar 31, 198290 mins

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Episode 124

Episode #20.124

90 mins

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Episode 125

Episode #20.125

90 mins

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Episode 126

Episode #20.126

90 mins

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Episode 127

Episode #20.127

90 mins

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Episode 128

Episode #20.128

90 mins

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Episode 129

Episode #20.129

90 mins

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Episode 130

Episode #20.130

90 mins

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Episode 131

Episode #20.131

90 mins

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Episode 132

Episode #20.132

90 mins

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Episode 133

Episode #20.133

90 mins

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Episode 134

Episode #20.134

90 mins

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Episode 135

Episode #20.135

90 mins

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Episode 136

Episode #20.136

90 mins

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Episode 137

Episode #20.137

90 mins

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Episode 138

Episode #20.138

90 mins

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Episode 139

Episode #20.139

90 mins

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Episode 140

Episode #20.140

90 mins

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Episode 141

Episode #20.141

90 mins

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Episode 142

Episode #20.142

90 mins

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Episode 143

Episode #20.143

90 mins

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Episode 144

Episode #20.144

90 mins

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Episode 145

Episode #20.145

90 mins

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Episode 146

Episode #20.146

90 mins

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Episode 147

Episode #20.147

90 mins

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Episode 148

Episode #20.148

90 mins

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Episode 149

Episode #20.149

90 mins

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Episode 150

Episode #20.150

90 mins

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Episode 151

Episode #20.151

90 mins

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Episode 152

Episode #20.152

90 mins

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Episode 153

Episode #20.153

90 mins

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Episode 154

Episode #20.154

90 mins

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Episode 155

Episode #20.155

90 mins

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Episode 156

Episode #20.156

90 mins

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Episode 157

Episode #20.157

90 mins

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Episode 158

Episode #20.158

90 mins

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Episode 159

Episode #20.159

90 mins

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Episode 160

Episode #20.160

90 mins

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Episode 161

Episode #20.161

90 mins

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Episode 162

Episode #20.162

90 mins

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Episode 163

Episode #20.163

90 mins

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Episode 164

Episode #20.164

90 mins

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Episode 165

Episode #20.165

90 mins

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Episode 166

Episode #20.166

90 mins

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Episode 167

Episode #20.167

90 mins

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Episode 168

Episode #20.168

90 mins

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Episode 169

Episode #20.169

90 mins

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Episode 170

Episode #20.170

90 mins

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Episode 171

Episode #20.171

90 mins

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Episode 172

Episode #20.172

90 mins

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Episode 173

Episode #20.173

90 mins

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Episode 174

Episode #20.174

90 mins

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Episode 175

Episode #20.175

90 mins

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Episode 176

Episode #20.176

90 mins

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Episode 177

Episode #20.177

90 mins

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Episode 178

Episode #20.178

90 mins

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Episode 183

David Brenner/Bob Uecker/Georgia Frontiere

Thu, Sep 23, 198290 mins

The comedy segment is Johnny talking to a Green Bay Packers rookie about the NFL strike. This is played seriously for the entirety of the interview; only when the player changes into his uniform and becomes much larger (and a different race) is the deception revealed. Georgia Frontiere discusses being a female owner of an NFL team. When discussing the strike, she is careful not to say anything that offends either side. She talks about running the team after the death of her husband Carroll Rosenbloom, and the extent to which she is involved in personnel decisions. David Brenner does a stand-up comedy routine and chats briefly with Johnny. Bob Uecker talks about his book "Catcher in the Wry" and jokes about his baseball career.

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Episode 195

Robin Williams

Thu, Jul 22, 198243 mins

For the comedy segment, Johnny first reads an actual form letter received from the Republican National Committee that treats the name of his production company (Carson Productions Inc.) as if it were the name of a person, "Mr. Inc." He then does a segment on supposedly upcoming films, and finally shows some commercials from Sweden (three spots for insurance company Trygg Hansa) and England (a Felix cat food ad). Robin Williams does many short bits, voices, etc. as usual. A clip from his film "The World According to Garp" is shown, after which he continues to comment on topics such as the Falklands War, the intruder into Queen Elizabeth's bedroom, and his upcoming engagements in the UK. Albert Hague does not appear due to lack of time.

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Episode 203

Jimmy Aleck/Raymond Smullyan

Wed, Aug 4, 198290 mins

Jimmy Aleck performs stand-up and is interviewed; Professor Raymond Smullyan (book "The Lady or the Tiger?") presents logic puzzles. Also: President Reagan has a hot tub summit with Leonid Brezhnev.

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Episode 221

Neil Simon/Joe Garagiola/Bill Maher

Tue, Aug 31, 198241 mins

There is no typical comedy segment after the monologue. Johnny chats a bit with Ed about doing things tourists do in California, mentioning that he had taken his kids to the opening of Disneyland over 25 years earlier - which he regretted due to the crowds. He then introduces members of the audience who have biked from Alaska (4,400 miles in 80 days) for charity. Neil Simon first talks about when he was on vacation with Johnny and had a slipped disk that immobilized him on the floor of his hotel room for three days; he recalls having to be carried from the hallway into his room, and the problems dealing with room service. He then talks about opening his new play "Brighton Beach Memoirs" in Los Angeles due to the economics of taking a play on the road. At Johnny's suggestion, he tells a story about how an unnamed actor couldn't handle a line change, botching the final scene of a play. They then trade similar stories of script changes and prop errors that caused problems. Bill Maher makes his first appearance on "The Tonight Show" doing a stand-up comedy routine. The jokes are primarily about the effect of politics and religion on his upbringing. Johnny first asks Joe Garagiola about baseball pitcher Gaylord Perry's suspension for using a foreign substance on the ball. Garagiola, a former catcher, doesn't see this as a big deal, and gives several examples of how players cheat to get an advantage. He shows a clip of his interview with Perry, who demonstrated many spots on the uniform where something could be hidden. Johnny asks Garagiola his most embarrassing moment; he replies by telling how he once went up to the plate to hit without a bat.

Where to Watch

Episode 224

Charles Nelson Reilly/Mack & Jamie/Susie Petrucci

Fri, Sep 3, 198290 mins

There is no initial comedy bit; Doc talks about his band Xebron's tour. Susie Petrucci, a 71-year-old maid in a Best Western hotel in Kissimmee, Florida, explains how she helped to subdue a much larger man robbing someone in the hotel. She was already retired after her sons took over the restaurant she and her husband had owned, but took the job to keep busy. For the comedy segment, Johnny is a spokesman for the airline industry, explaining their practices. Charles Nelson Reilly comes out with a small cake for the 20th anniversary of his first appearance on "The Tonight Show" (before Johnny was the host); he played the accordion in his first appearance. He talks about how he avoids promoting his projects in his appearances, and comments on how the careers of stars like Burt Reynolds and Candice Bergen have been helped by being on the show. Mack and Jamie are a comedy team who perform a routine.

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Episode 225

Steve Landesberg/Cindy Morgan/Barbara & Elden Hathaway

Tue, Sep 7, 198290 mins

The comedy segment is Johnny answering questions from the audience. Steve Landesberg talks about life after "Barney Miller". He also talks about no longer being in a romantic relationship. He then jokes about various topics including sports. Cindy Morgan talks about her upcoming series "Bring 'Em Back Alive". She also talks about her role in "Tron". Asked about her prior experience, she recalls working in TV and radio in Chicago. Her first job was her role in "Caddyshack". Barbara and Elden Hathaway operate the last telephone company in the country using hand-cranked equipment, with the switchboard in the living room of their home in Bryant Pond, Maine. They ran the company for 30 years until selling it a year ago; it is to be modernized next year.

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