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190 Episodes 1984 - 1984
Episode 1
Tue, Jan 3, 198490 mins
For the comedy segment, Johnny reads New Year's resolutions submitted by audience members; some of them are related to the Tournament of Roses Parade, as the audience includes many Illinoisans in town for the Rose Bowl. Martin Mull does a comedy routine about plugging his new series, and explains that - because it is on another network - there are over a thousand restrictions NBC has placed on how he describes it. He begins to offer his opinion on his series' competition on other networks, but his comments are muted out, with "Please Stand By" flashing onscreen. He humorously plays to the audience by repeatedly mentioning his Illinois background. During his interview, he talks about making a sitcom that is also a parody, and then about how good his marriage is. He recalls the origins of his comedic style, and also talks about his fear of flying and how it affects him, and how he has overcome it, recalling a turbulent flight in which the priest next to him was reading himself the last rites. Stephanie Zimbalist talks about charitable donations as Christmas gifts, and having a quiet New Year's. She also describes her New Year's resolutions, including trying to read a book every two weeks and reading the Bible daily. When Johnny asks about phobias, she admits to being compulsive about neatness, noting that she organizes things into piles to be tidy. Jane Goodall gives Johnny a poster of a chimpanzee from her institute, and then explains similarities between chimps and humans, including the use of tools. She notes that she used to believe that chimps were inherently good-natured, but has often observed their inclination toward warfare between groups. A clip from her upcoming TV special is shown. Finally she talks a bit about how chimps have learned sign language, and the possibility of communication with humans.
Episode 2
Wed, Jan 4, 198490 mins
Episode 3
Thu, Jan 5, 198490 mins
Episode 4
Fri, Jan 6, 198490 mins
Episode 5
Tue, Jan 10, 198490 mins
Episode 6
Wed, Jan 11, 198490 mins
Episode 7
Thu, Jan 12, 198490 mins
Episode 8
Fri, Jan 13, 198490 mins
The eye in the background behind Johnny - which had been put there as a reference to Orwell's "1984" - is retired. Johnny chats with Tommy about his judging a collegiate Dixieland competition in Columbus; then, for a brief comedy segment, Johnny reads possible nicknames for the offensive line of the Super Bowl-bound LA Raiders. Johnny first asks Susan Sarandon if she is superstitious, as it is Friday the 13th. She then talks about her film "The Buddy System" and how it has made her think about motherhood, and feeling her time shrinking. She also talks about being politically involved since the 1960s, and the importance of registering to vote, and says she has matured from youthful idealism to a more practical activism. The conversation then shifts to her discussing not currently having a romantic partner. Then comes Art Fern's Tea Time Movie with pitches for Florida real estate and discount furniture, and featuring Carol Wayne as the Matinee Lady. Brooke Shields talks about doing a Christmas special for the troops in Beirut with Bob Hope. Wayne then makes her first interview appearance on the show in several years (since the show cut back to 60 minutes), and talks about her role in the movie "Surf II". She then talks about her pictorial in the current issue of Playboy, and also about her bulldog and how she overcame his fear of shopping carts.
Episode 9
Mon, Jan 16, 198490 mins
Episode 10
Tue, Jan 17, 198460 mins
Episode 11
Wed, Jan 18, 198490 mins
Episode 12
Thu, Jan 19, 198490 mins
Episode 13
Fri, Jan 20, 198490 mins
Episode 14
Tue, Jan 31, 198490 mins
Episode 15
Wed, Feb 1, 198490 mins
Episode 16
Thu, Feb 2, 198490 mins
Episode 17
Fri, Feb 3, 198490 mins
Episode 18
Tue, Feb 7, 198490 mins
Episode 19
Wed, Feb 8, 198490 mins
Episode 20
Thu, Feb 9, 198490 mins
Episode 21
Fri, Feb 10, 198490 mins
Episode 22
Tue, Feb 14, 198490 mins
Episode 23
Wed, Feb 15, 198490 mins
Episode 24
Thu, Feb 16, 198490 mins
Episode 25
Fri, Feb 17, 198490 mins
Episode 26
Tue, Feb 21, 198490 mins
There is no comedy segment. Bill Johnson is the first American to win the Olympic gold medal in downhill skiing. He talks about the race, and comments on his pre-race prediction of a victory. After Johnny mentions his being from Van Nuys, he talks about training with the U.S. team after previously having to cover his own expenses, often sleeping in his car. He says he became serious about skiing after getting in some legal trouble as a teenager. Mariette Hartley talks about her enjoyment of skating, both ice and roller skating, and recalls her childhood hopes of being an Olympic figure skater. She tells about when she skipped from 7th to 9th grade and how she wanted to be popular, and recalls how one older girl often won over all the boys she liked. She mentions that she won all the class awards for popularity and likability in high school. She talks about being in the play "Detective Story" with Charlton Heston. She talks about how speaking her mind without thinking first gets her in trouble - a quality her daughter apparently inherited - recalling how she once told a classmate she had the face of a pig. Alice Neel is a painter whose works are presented in a new book by Patricia Hills. She talks about her career and her art, noting her similarity to Cezanne in preferring to paint people who have had difficult lives. She notes that going to an all-girls' school allowed her to focus on art rather than boys, and comments on not having an exhibition of her work until 1974, when she was in her 70s. She jokes with Johnny about her past romantic relationships. Several of her paintings are shown, including one of Andy Warhol's transvestite friend Jackie Curtis and another of her mother, while Neel describes the background of each painting. She mentions the current exhibition of her work at the Robert Miller Gallery in New York.
Episode 27
Wed, Feb 22, 198490 mins
Episode 28
Thu, Feb 23, 198490 mins
Larry Boyle, introduced from the audience, is a young actor and a volunteer with a local restoration committee who regularly polishes Johnny's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; his name was drawn out of a hat from those of 18 applicants who requested Johnny's star. The comedy segment is teasers from local news broadcasts during ratings sweeps to attract viewers. Suzanne Pleshette talks about her new series "Maggie Briggs" and says she has never been in a real hit show of her own. She and Johnny also talk about the difficulties of getting started in show business, and she comments on her disinterest in fitness fads. Michael Davis does a comedy juggling routine. During the act he works his way up to juggling five balls, and finally three bowling balls. Ed Begley Jr. first talks about his father's acting career. He recalls that his father traveled with his Oscar so that fans could be photographed with it, but that the first time he was allowed to touch it himself, he dropped it at an airport and broke it. He also talks about his early career as a stand-up comedian - originally as a team with Michael Richards - and being arrested in Los Angeles when he wore a police uniform as part of the act, spending three days in county jail. He also mentions that Carson's producer Fred de Cordova gave him his first acting role on "My Three Sons". Finally he talks about his character on "St. Elsewhere", and a clip is shown; he contrasts his character's unhappy marriage with his own good one.
Episode 29
Fri, Feb 24, 198490 mins
Episode 30
Tue, Feb 28, 198490 mins
Episode 31
Wed, Feb 29, 198490 mins
Episode 32
Thu, Mar 1, 198490 mins
Episode 33
Fri, Mar 2, 198490 mins
The comedy segment is the "Carson Caucus", in which Johnny has the audience make silly gestures depending upon which candidate they prefer in the Democratic primaries, choosing between Walter Mondale, Gary Hart, John Glenn, George McGovern and Jesse Jackson. Hart does better than the others combined - but when asked, about two-thirds of the audience expresses their support for re-electing President Reagan. After commenting on what stations will do for ratings month, Johnny seems concerned that his desk is off balance, and calls out the "carpenter", an attractive young woman in a leotard, to fix it; he then lifts her up slightly to do a minor repair on the set's background. John Ritter says that doing "Three's Company" is like doing a one-act play every week. He mentions having been student body president at Hollywood High School, an ambition he developed when his disabled older brother brought home a yearbook featuring a prominent photo of the student leader, but his interest in politics ended with the death of Robert Kennedy. He also talks about his interest in acting developing on a trip to Scotland with a theatrical group from USC. Johnny comments on his skill as a physical comedian, and Ritter notes that he emulated role models such as Dick Van Dyke, Jonathan Winters, Bill Cosby and Buster Keaton; he also recalls imitating a nervous Don Knotts (now his co-star) when a high school classmate jokingly nominated him for president of a school organization, resulting in his election. Ritter talks about his strange experiences doing a variety of commercials and his father Tex Ritter being a movie star. He and Johnny then discuss how when very young he didn't understand about his father being an actor and it not being real, as he thought of his father's westerns as simply depicting his younger years in Texas, causing him to think of his father as something of a congenial murderer. He notes how his young son Jason is coming to understand his acting profession, since he gets to meet Ritter's co-stars and even appears in his series' opening credits. Ritter also talks about getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, like his father, and he and Johnny (a past star recipient) compare their thoughts on the honor. Jimmy Aleck does a stand-up comedy routine. Robyn Douglass talks about playing a man in the show "Her Life as a Man" and the differences in how men and women walk and talk, discussing how she worked on her character's voice. She notes that NBC president Brandon Tartikoff had her introduced incognito for two days of network meetings, and embarrassed him by kissing him on the lips in front of onlookers.
Episode 34
Mon, Mar 5, 198490 mins
Episode 35
Tue, Mar 6, 198490 mins
Episode 36
Wed, Mar 7, 198490 mins
Episode 37
Thu, Mar 8, 198490 mins
Episode 38
Fri, Mar 9, 198490 mins
Episode 40
Tue, Mar 13, 198490 mins
Since it is Super Tuesday, the comedy segment is various political predictions about the candidates in the presidential primaries and the votes they will receive. Mickey Rooney first jokes with Johnny about their multiple marriages. He then has Johnny and Ed taste a watermelon-flavored drink he mentioned in a previous appearance. He then jokes about running for office. He talks a bit about doing "Sugar Babies" - he has not missed a show in five years, but is going to skip three days to do another role. They are soon taking the show to Japan. Paul Rodriguez does a stand-up routine with much of the humor about Mexican-Americans. During a brief interview, Johnny asks if he gets criticized for joking about stereotypes; Rodriguez says the stereotypes predate him, and he feels he should tell jokes about things he knows. Merie Earle talks about making a music video for the Beach Boys' "Little Old Lady from Pasadena". She says she could take some of modern music, but not all day. She mentions how she loved to dance waltzes and two-steps. Johnny asks her about Boy George - she thinks the popularity is making him do some things he shouldn't do. She says the first presidential race she remembers was McKinley-Bryan. She talks about that, and also tries Mickey's soft drink, giving it a positive review.
Episode 41
Wed, Mar 14, 198490 mins
Episode 42
Thu, Mar 15, 198490 mins
Episode 43
Fri, Mar 16, 198490 mins
Episode 44
Tue, Mar 20, 198490 mins
For the comedy segment, Johnny reads some humorous letters and clippings from viewers. The first relates a story about a campground tourist inquiring about the availability of a "B.C.", which the campground operator can't decipher; another notes the absence of movie theaters in Burbank, despite the large film industry presence there. Fran Tate runs a Mexican restaurant in Barrow, Alaska on the Arctic coast, the northernmost settlement on the North American mainland, and the northernmost location with over 1,000 residents in the Western Hemisphere. She brings Johnny a walrus oosik, a bone from the male. Originally from Seattle, she first came to Alaska as a field engineer, but found the area to her liking. She talks about life in Barrow, and hold cold it can get - during some winter months, the temperature never gets above 80° below zero, and she rarely puts on a coat until it's 30° below. During part of the winter the sun never rises, and for part of the summer it is always light. She talks about how she married her Mexican cook, 30 years younger than her; he proposed after working nine months for her, although he'd been hired to work just a few weeks. Her customers are either locals or people who have to fly in, often for government business, as Barrow is the county seat; there are no roads to Barrow. All supplies come in by air; some items she needs for the restaurant cost more in shipping than for the items themselves. Amy Irving talks about being nominated for an Oscar. She also tells of spotting Johnny when she was vacationing on a topless beach in the south of France. She talks about making "Yentl" with Barbra Streisand, and how they filmed their kissing scene. She also talks about why she likes living in Santa Fe, New Mexico, having bought a house there during the recent actors' strike after having been in town for just a day. Jerry Seinfeld does not perform due to lack of time.
Episode 45
Thu, Mar 22, 198490 mins
Episode 47
Fri, Mar 23, 198490 mins
Episode 48
Tue, Mar 27, 198490 mins
Episode 49
Wed, Mar 28, 198490 mins
Episode 50
Thu, Mar 29, 198490 mins
Episode 51
Fri, Mar 30, 198490 mins
Episode 52
Tue, Apr 3, 198490 mins
Episode 53
Wed, Apr 4, 198490 mins
Episode 54
Thu, Apr 5, 198490 mins
Episode 55
Fri, Apr 6, 198490 mins
Episode 56
Mon, Apr 16, 198490 mins
Episode 57
Tue, Apr 17, 198490 mins
Episode 58
Wed, Apr 18, 198490 mins
Episode 59
Thu, Apr 19, 198490 mins
Episode 60
Fri, Apr 20, 198490 mins
Episode 61
Tue, Apr 24, 198442 mins
Ed and producer Fred de Cordova announce that this is show number 5,508 since Johnny became host of The Tonight Show. The comedy segment is public service announcements. Martin Mull talks about his vocation for painting, which he studied in art school. He considers himself an artist who also works in entertainment, since all the artists he knows have day jobs. He talks a bit about art school, and one of his paintings (a dog in a bathtub) is shown. He also says that Steve Martin owns nine of his paintings, and they sell for up to $6,000. Jerry Seinfeld does a stand-up routine, and mentions that his 30th birthday is a few days away. Scot Morris is the puzzles editor for Omni magazine. He shows several "impossible objects", such as a pear inside a bottle with a small neck. He tells how some, but not all, were made.
Episode 62
Wed, Apr 25, 198490 mins
Episode 63
Thu, Apr 26, 198490 mins
Episode 65
Tue, May 1, 198490 mins
Episode 66
Wed, May 2, 198490 mins
Episode 67
Thu, May 3, 198490 mins
The comedy segment is "The circle of life in Washington, D.C.", showing with illustrations how one event leads to another with humorous results in the capital. Robert Blake first talks about his new haircut - a crew cut - and explains that he cuts his own hair. He then talks about how he refuses to be in a relationship with an actress due to his own personality. He also drives only four-wheel-drive vehicles and trucks; in a regular car he would go too fast and get in trouble. But he also says he is a romantic who hopes to get married again. Finally he talks about his dislike of traveling and the project he is working on, called "Hell Town", in which he would play a priest. Rich Hall does a stand-up comedy routine, including doing impressions using acrylic plastic. Richard Guindon draws cartoons. He talks a bit about his profession, calling it well suited for reclusive people, and a number of his cartoons are shown.
Episode 68
Fri, May 4, 198490 mins
Episode 69
Tue, May 8, 198490 mins
Episode 70
Wed, May 9, 198490 mins
Johnny makes Mother's Day phone calls for busy celebrities. Cloris Leachman (Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter (1984)); Patti LaBelle performs; middle-distance runner and 1912 Olympic champion Abel Kiviat discusses staying fit at 91.
Episode 71
Thu, May 10, 198490 mins
Episode 72
Fri, May 11, 198490 mins
Episode 73
Tue, May 15, 198490 mins
Episode 74
Wed, May 16, 198490 mins
Episode 75
Thu, May 17, 198490 mins
Episode 76
Fri, May 18, 198490 mins
Episode 77
Tue, May 22, 198490 mins
Episode 78
Wed, May 23, 198490 mins
Episode 79
Thu, May 24, 198490 mins
Episode 80
Fri, May 25, 198490 mins
Episode 81
Mon, May 28, 198490 mins
Episode 82
Tue, May 29, 198490 mins
Episode 83
Wed, May 30, 198490 mins
Episode 84
Thu, May 31, 198490 mins
Episode 85
Fri, Jun 1, 198490 mins
Episode 86
Tue, Jun 5, 198490 mins
Johnny looks at California ballot propositions. Joan Collins (Dynasty (1981), memoir "Past Imperfect"); National Spelling Bee champion Daniel Greenblatt.
Episode 87
Wed, Jun 6, 198490 mins
Episode 88
Thu, Jun 7, 198490 mins
Episode 89
Fri, Jun 8, 198443 mins
With the Olympics just a few weeks away, Johnny shows some symbols and signs for various items and services for international visitors. Charles Grodin goes back and forth with Johnny about his clothes and the unnamed film (Movers & Shakers (1985)) he recently finished making. He talks about how difficult it is to get a movie financed without drawing comparisons to a recent hit; Johnny declines Grodin's suggestion that his production company back Grodin's next movie. Asked about rejection as an actor, Grodin says the anger at rejection led to him getting parts as a villain in TV westerns. He tells a story of trying to appear meaner than Charles Bronson; he also recalls that when they were in a play together, Anthony Quinn once asked if he had offended him, due to Grodin's unexpectedly hostile demeanor in their scenes. There is also discussion of the title of his film The Woman in Red (1984). Brad Garrett does a stand-up comedy routine in his "Tonight Show" debut; he was the Grand Prize winner on the previous season of Star Search (1983). Merie Earle, who recently turned 95, talks about the party that was thrown for her with an old-fashioned picnic theme. She says that although she didn't get into show business until her mid-70s, she was always giving shows as a child. (This was Earle's last appearance on "The Tonight Show"; she died five months later.)
Episode 90
Tue, Jun 12, 198490 mins
Johnny adds captions to political photos. Dick Cavett discusses changes in comedy tastes and anagrams; Jimmy Brogan performs stand-up; Dave Barry (book "The Taming of the Screw").
Episode 91
Wed, Jun 13, 198442 mins
The comedy segment is questions from the audience. Joan Embery first brings out an 18-month-old gorilla. Next comes a striped hyena, followed by a Humboldt penguin, a warm-weather species. Next are a pair of three-month-old bushbabies, a primate. Finally she shows a tarantula and some large insects - a walking stick and a large millipede. Embery admits she doesn't like tarantulas. Wil Shriner does a stand-up comedy routine. Mary Gross talks about doing the Alfalfa character on "Saturday Night Live", and a clip is shown. She discusses her summer plans to visit her father, and keeping a long-distance relationship with her boyfriend for several years.
Episode 92
Thu, Jun 14, 198490 mins
Episode 93
Fri, Jun 15, 198490 mins
Episode 94
Tue, Jun 19, 198490 mins
Episode 95
Wed, Jun 20, 198443 mins
The comedy segment is "The Edge of Wetness", a soap opera monologue featuring members of the audience. Shelley Winters comes out wearing a blanket, and complains about the temperature in the studio, especially backstage. She also asks Johnny if he had been nude in the "Shower with a Star" sketch he did recently, and compliments him on how his body has improved. She also talks about writing a book and says she has excellent recall, but not for dates. She then talks about how Cary Grant advised her to take up a new interest every year to stay young. As she is writing her second book, she is taking typing at an adult education class at Fairfax High School, but is not very accurate; she prefers to type with her eyes closed rather than typing from a text. She comments on how exciting it is to see the many immigrants taking English classes, as she believes it demonstrates the promise of America. She and Johnny also talk about marriage; she doesn't believe she will marry again, and says that her three marriages were generally for publicity. She observes that she was more interested in getting married than in actually being married, and was sort of surprised her husbands stuck around after the honeymoon. Ronnie Shakes does a stand-up comedy routine. Annie Potts talks about being teased for her name, and how her parents met in Kentucky while her father was a military officer and her mother was a singer. She mentions "Ghostbusters", and Winters interjects that she seems familiar and has seen her somewhere. Potts replies that they did the film "King of the Gypsies" together, which they discuss; Winters eventually remembers a scene they were both in. Winters then recalls how she once forgot about having worked with Paul Newman on "Harper", in which they spent three days doing love scenes. Potts also mentions other films she has coming out soon.
Episode 96
Thu, Jun 21, 198490 mins
Episode 97
Fri, Jun 22, 198490 mins
Episode 98
Mon, Jun 25, 198490 mins
Episode 99
Tue, Jun 26, 198490 mins
Episode 100
Wed, Jun 27, 198490 mins
Episode 101
Thu, Jun 28, 198490 mins
Episode 102
Fri, Jun 29, 198490 mins
Episode 103
Tue, Jul 10, 198490 mins
Episode 104
Wed, Jul 11, 198490 mins
Episode 105
Thu, Jul 12, 198460 mins
Johnny answers questions from the audience. Miss Piggy (The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)); Howie Mandel (St. Elsewhere (1982)); Dr. John E. McCosker brings a leopard shark, and discusses great white sharks and other marine life.
Episode 106
Fri, Jul 13, 198439 mins
Johnny jokingly presents a shapely model who he suggests might replace Ed, and lets the audience vote. He comments on how proud he is of David Letterman, noting that he got his first major attention on the show; Letterman then mentions the first national TV show he was on - a 1978 variety show starring Mary Tyler Moore that lasted three weeks, with a cast including Michael Keaton, Dick Shawn and Swoosie Kurtz. He then talks about a member of a band called the Surf Punks who approached him near his beach house, asking him to listen to their record; when he told the man to forward it to his manager, he nonchalantly responded that the band knew where his house was and would drop it off. Letterman also jokes about flying, his preference for earthquakes over New York muggings, Geraldine Ferraro running for vice president, and taking the Metro-North train into NYC. He shows a clip from the "Late Night" salute to Velcro. Loudon Wainwright performs. The comedy segment is Ed's interview with an official from the L.A. Olympics, played by Johnny. (The Olympics are two weeks away.) He tries to speed through the bit's strained humor; at one point, he pokes fun at the actor playing a police officer for adding an unscripted remark. Scot Morris is the games editor for Omni Magazine. He shows various puzzles, odd items sent by readers, and optical illusions.
Episode 107
Tue, Jul 17, 198490 mins
Episode 108
Mon, Jul 23, 198490 mins
Episode 109
Tue, Jul 24, 198490 mins
Episode 110
Wed, Jul 25, 198490 mins
Episode 111
Thu, Jul 26, 198490 mins
Episode 112
Mon, Aug 6, 198490 mins
Episode 113
Tue, Aug 7, 198490 mins
Episode 114
Wed, Aug 8, 198490 mins
Episode 115
Thu, Aug 9, 198490 mins
Episode 116
Fri, Aug 10, 198490 mins
Episode 117
Mon, Aug 13, 198490 mins
Episode 118
Tue, Aug 14, 198490 mins
Episode 119
Wed, Aug 15, 198490 mins
Episode 120
Thu, Aug 16, 198490 mins
Episode 121
Fri, Aug 17, 198490 mins
Episode 122
Thu, Aug 23, 198490 mins
Episode 123
Tue, Aug 28, 198490 mins
Episode 124
Tue, Aug 21, 198490 mins
Episode 125
Wed, Aug 29, 198490 mins
Episode 126
Thu, Aug 30, 198490 mins
Episode 127
Fri, Aug 31, 198490 mins
Episode 128
Tue, Sep 4, 198490 mins
Episode 129
Wed, Sep 5, 198490 mins
Episode 130
Thu, Sep 6, 198490 mins
Episode 131
Fri, Sep 7, 198490 mins
Episode 132
Mon, Sep 10, 198490 mins
Episode 133
Tue, Sep 11, 198490 mins
Episode 134
Wed, Sep 12, 198490 mins
Episode 135
Thu, Sep 13, 198490 mins
Episode 136
Fri, Sep 14, 198490 mins
Episode 137
Tue, Sep 18, 198490 mins
Episode 138
Wed, Sep 19, 198490 mins
Episode 139
Thu, Sep 20, 198490 mins
Episode 140
Fri, Sep 21, 198490 mins
Episode 141
Tue, Sep 25, 198490 mins
Episode 142
Wed, Sep 26, 198490 mins
Episode 143
Thu, Sep 27, 198443 mins
Johnny explains the jargon in police shows. Farrah Fawcett (The Burning Bed (1984)); Ryan O'Neal (Irreconcilable Differences (1984)). Also: Pete Fountain performs.
Episode 144
Fri, Sep 28, 198490 mins
The comedy segment is "The Edge of Wetness", Johnny's soap opera monologue starring members of the audience. Kate Capshaw talks about her mother's love for Johnny's show. Johnny then asks her about how the success of the "Temple of Doom" movie has changed her life. The next topic is her film "Windy City", and a clip is shown. Bobby Kelton does a stand-up comedy routine. Ed Begley Jr. talks about his Emmy nomination, and then his time doing stand-up comedy. He then talks about times he was in a real hospital. Having heard that Begley is very good at Trivial Pursuit, Johnny quizzes him with various questions. Begley gets them all right, and then quizzes Johnny.
Episode 145
Tue, Oct 2, 198490 mins
Episode 146
Wed, Oct 3, 198490 mins
David Fuhrer demonstrates his unusual ability to speak backwards fluently.
Episode 147
Thu, Oct 4, 198490 mins
Episode 148
Fri, Oct 5, 198490 mins
Episode 149
Tue, Oct 9, 198437 mins
Johnny reads excerpts from Frederick De Cordova's diary. Bob Newhart (Newhart (1982)) discusses astrology; Erin Gray (Silver Spoons (1982)). Also: Clarinetist Richard Stoltzman performs.
Episode 150
Wed, Oct 10, 198490 mins
Episode 151
Thu, Oct 11, 198490 mins
Episode 152
Fri, Oct 12, 198490 mins
Episode 153
Tue, Oct 16, 198490 mins
Episode 154
Wed, Oct 17, 198490 mins
Episode 155
Thu, Oct 18, 198490 mins
Episode 156
Fri, Oct 19, 198490 mins
Episode 157
Tue, Oct 23, 198490 mins
Johnny shows off birthday cards with music chips; then the results of a survey to kids asking presidential questions. Paul McCartney and Mary Gross are interviewed. Jonathan Brown performs a magic act.
Episode 158
Wed, Oct 24, 198490 mins
Episode 159
Thu, Oct 25, 198490 mins
Episode 160
Fri, Oct 26, 198490 mins
Episode 161
Mon, Oct 29, 198490 mins
Episode 162
Tue, Oct 30, 198490 mins
Episode 163
Wed, Oct 31, 198490 mins
Episode 164
Thu, Nov 1, 198490 mins
Episode 165
Fri, Nov 2, 198490 mins
Episode 166
Wed, Nov 7, 198490 mins
Episode 167
Thu, Nov 8, 198490 mins
Episode 168
Fri, Nov 9, 198490 mins
Episode 169
Tue, Nov 13, 198490 mins
Episode 170
Wed, Nov 14, 198490 mins
Episode 171
Thu, Nov 15, 198490 mins
Episode 172
Fri, Nov 16, 198490 mins
Episode 173
Tue, Nov 20, 198490 mins
The comedy segment is trivia facts about McDonald's and other fast food restaurants. Robert Blake talks extensively about his project "Hell Town", returning to doing a series after having walked away from "Baretta", and tells various other stories from his career. He complains about his love life, and says that he would prefer to date older women, as they have more intellectual substance; he notes that he was working during the Depression, and says most people his age and younger are ignorant of the realities of life. Louie Anderson does a stand-up comedy routine in his national television debut, and includes some jokes which draw on Johnny's fast food segment. Selma Diamond tells some stories from her life. She notes that most of her friends aren't in show business, and talks about having a hard time carrying on an intelligent conversation with anyone born after World War II, going on to decry the ignorance of young voters in the recent election. She then talks about how wonderful Harry Anderson is to work with on "Night Court", and says he is unlikely to fall into the ego traps of celebrity.
Episode 174
Wed, Nov 21, 198438 mins
Johnny reads kids' comments about Thanksgiving. Don Rickles talks about his vacation to the south of France; Angie Dickinson (A Touch of Scandal (1984)). Also: The Oak Ridge Boys perform.
Episode 175
Thu, Nov 22, 198490 mins
Episode 176
Fri, Nov 23, 198490 mins
Episode 177
Tue, Nov 27, 198490 mins
Episode 178
Wed, Nov 28, 198442 mins
Johnny looks at holiday shopping at the Burbank Galleria. Howie Mandel (St. Elsewhere (1982)); Mimi Kennedy (Spencer (1984)); Calvin Trillin (book "With All Due Disrespect").
Episode 179
Thu, Nov 29, 198442 mins
For the comedy segment, Johnny reads questions submitted to librarians. Keshia Knight Pulliam brings Johnny a cookie. He asks about her age and the commercials she has done. She talks about making "The Cosby Show" and says that her favorite entertainer is Michael Jackson. Johnny asks her to dance like him, and she does a moonwalk. She also talks about what she wants for Christmas. A clip from "The Cosby Show" is shown. George Carlin does a stand-up comedy routine; during the interview, he talks about his book "Sometimes a Little Brain Damage Can Help" and reads some selections with Johnny. Ana Obregón, announced as a guest, does not appear due to lack of time.
Episode 180
Fri, Nov 30, 198490 mins
Episode 181
Mon, Dec 3, 198490 mins
Episode 182
Tue, Dec 4, 198490 mins
Episode 183
Wed, Dec 5, 198490 mins
Episode 184
Thu, Dec 6, 198490 mins
Episode 185
Fri, Dec 7, 198490 mins
Episode 186
Tue, Dec 11, 198460 mins
The comedy segment is excerpts from producer Fred de Cordova's diary, inspired by the publication of his real autobiography. Also shown are several "Moron Movies", strange humorous clips lasting just a few seconds, made by Len Cella. Buddy Hackett first talks about playing golf, and recalls his mother's reaction to his nightclub act. He also discusses television censorship of certain words in his jokes, but he feels the synonyms ruin the effect; he gives several examples. John Lithgow talks about his early career, and comments on the brief disastrous run three years earlier of his one-man play "Kaufman at Large", in which he portrayed George S. Kaufman. He then discusses his movie "2010", and introduces a clip.
Episode 187
Wed, Dec 12, 198443 mins
The comedy segment is various upcoming Christmas specials. Isabel Campbell is a 90-year-old wedding planner. She has been in the business for 35 years, and discusses how she handles various requests; she finds weddings in outlandish settings to be silly and outdoor weddings to be problematic, and believes it inappropriate for brides to wear a veil or walk down a white runner if they have been married before or have already been intimate, but leaves that issue to the bride. Married in 1920, she was widowed in 1934. Her marriage was the last held in a church on Hollywood Boulevard that was torn down the next day. She explains that her romantic partner is 99 years old, and that they have been dating for over 40 years; she declined his marriage proposal because she felt it was a bad idea to get their children involved. Steven Wright does a stand-up comedy routine. During his brief interview he says that he still gets nervous before a performance, and that some nights the whole audience doesn't quite understand him. Marilyn Horne performs "Habanera" from "Carmen". During the interview she describes dating a Greek man; their common language is Italian, but there are difficulties describing sports such as baseball. She discusses the challenge of gauging what an audience is hearing as opposed to what a singer can sense in their voice, and comments on knowing when one's vocal talents are diminishing.
Episode 188
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Episode 190
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Episode 192
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Episode 193
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