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187 Episodes 1985 - 1986
Episode 1
Wed, Jan 2, 198590 mins
Episode 2
Thu, Jan 3, 198590 mins
Episode 3
Tue, Jan 8, 198590 mins
Episode 4
Wed, Jan 9, 198590 mins
Episode 5
Thu, Jan 10, 198590 mins
Episode 6
Fri, Jan 11, 198590 mins
Episode 7
Tue, Jan 15, 198590 mins
Episode 8
Wed, Jan 16, 198590 mins
Episode 9
Thu, Jan 17, 198590 mins
Episode 10
Fri, Jan 18, 198590 mins
Episode 11
Tue, Jan 22, 198590 mins
Episode 12
Wed, Jan 23, 198590 mins
Episode 13
Thu, Jan 24, 198590 mins
Episode 14
Fri, Jan 25, 198590 mins
Episode 15
Mon, Jan 28, 198590 mins
Episode 16
Tue, Jan 29, 198590 mins
Episode 17
Wed, Jan 30, 198590 mins
Episode 18
Thu, Jan 31, 198590 mins
Episode 19
Fri, Feb 1, 198590 mins
Episode 20
Tue, Feb 5, 198590 mins
Episode 21
Fri, Jan 4, 198590 mins
David Howitzer looks at holiday purchase scams. Peter Fonda (A Reason to Live (1985)); Charles Nelson Reilly recalls Christmases from his youth; A. Whitney Brown performs stand-up.
Episode 22
Wed, Feb 6, 198543 mins
The comedy segment is films that didn't get nominated for an Academy Award, illustrated with photos. Ricky Schroder (two months shy of turning 15) and Johnny talk about maturing, in response to Johnny's beard and Schroder not quite shaving yet. Schroder talks about plans to get a car when he is old enough, and then he and Johnny talk about dating and relative ages between men and women. Schroder says he might start singing. Lisa Eilbacher first talks about her earlier film "Ten to Midnight". Johnny asks about her ring, which she confirms is an engagement ring, but she doesn't have firm plans about the wedding yet. She then talks about making "Beverly Hills Cop" and her earlier movie "An Officer and a Gentleman". Justin Wilson is a Cajun cook. He talks about crayfish, and has a plate of them cooked; he shows Johnny and Eilbacher how to eat them.
Episode 23
Thu, Feb 7, 198590 mins
Episode 24
Tue, Feb 12, 198590 mins
Since it is Lincoln's birthday, Johnny first reads a letter claiming that Senator David Rice Atchison was president for one day in 1849, due to Zachary Taylor declining to be sworn in on a Sunday. He then reads other presidential trivia from a book, and then items discovered by the Tonight Show staff. Bob Uecker discusses his baseball career, and one of his baseball cards provided by a show staffer is shown and discussed. He also talks about recently making a beer commercial underwater, his new show "Mr. Belvedere", and announcing baseball games. Mark Hudson talks about doing a show without his brothers. He also tells about when they would open for rock bands, and then discusses his kids. David Horowitz shows some examples of deceptive or incorrect packaging.
Episode 25
Wed, Feb 13, 198590 mins
Episode 26
Thu, Feb 14, 198590 mins
Episode 27
Fri, Feb 15, 198590 mins
Episode 28
Tue, Feb 19, 198590 mins
Episode 29
Wed, Feb 20, 198590 mins
Episode 30
Thu, Feb 21, 198590 mins
Episode 31
Fri, Feb 22, 198590 mins
Episode 32
Tue, Feb 26, 198590 mins
Episode 33
Wed, Feb 27, 198590 mins
Episode 34
Thu, Feb 28, 198590 mins
Episode 35
Fri, Mar 1, 198590 mins
Robert Blake talks about his new TV movie "Hell Town", and battling with network executives over its themes and airdate. He also talks about some dislikes: traveling, hotels, elevators, etc. Then he discusses the local obsession with cosmetic surgery, and how he often seems to sabotage his own career because of his difficulty handling success. Then comes the comedy segment, a parody of Dr. Ruth Westheimer. Christie Brinkley talks about modeling, studying in France, and how she was discovered while walking her sick dog, then relates several recent bad experiences while flying.
Episode 37
Tue, Mar 19, 198543 mins
The comedy segment is explaining the demands and gains by the TV writers in the strike that has just ended. Charles Grodin talks about his new film "Movers and Shakers". Johnny asks him about never being nominated for an Oscar, and Grodin explains that the Academy generally overlooks acting in comedies, which he and Johnny discuss; Johnny reminds him that Richard Dreyfuss won for a comedy. Grodin then says that being bypassed by the Academy doesn't bother him, and points out that other actors with the same initials - such as Clark Gable and Cary Grant - were never nominated, either. He says he will probably formulate a plan to tamper with the ballots in order to garner some nominations and a few Oscars. After Johnny is informed that both Gable and Grant were nominated multiple times for Oscars, with Gable winning, Grodin becomes irritated, and says that his being from Pittsburgh must be the reason he has been overlooked. Fred then notes that Gene Kelly was also from Pittsburgh, and was an acting nominee as well as an honorary Oscar winner, and Grodin coldly stares at him. He then discusses growing up in Pittsburgh, which was just named America's best city by Rand McNally. He also discusses his brother in Pittsburgh, and what led him to acting rather than something like accounting. Kevin Nealon does a stand-up comedy routine. Linda Thorson talks about appearing in the play "Noises Off" and doing physical slapstick while pregnant. She also talks about how her Canadian accent changed when she was studying acting in England, and Johnny recalls how he began talking in a Southern accent while stationed in Mississippi during World War II. She then tells of how she met her husband Bill Boggs while doing the play "Steaming", in which she appeared nude.
Episode 38
Wed, Mar 20, 198590 mins
Episode 39
Thu, Mar 21, 198590 mins
The comedy segment is Johnny doing captions for photos of politicians and celebrities. Johnny announces that the band is going to play a salute to J.S. Bach for his 300th birthday, but this is not shown (possibly only on re-broadcasts). George Carl is a vaudeville-style clown who does physical comedy such as getting tangled in the microphone cord, and flipping and rolling his hat. He does not speak, although he makes some sound effects. He gets an excellent reaction, and Johnny happily imitates some of his favorite bits; there is no interview. Candice Bergen and Johnny talk about her father, and she recalls various unusual vaudeville acts, including a man who vomited live frogs, and La Belle Titcomb, who sang arias while riding upside down on horseback. She talks about making "Hollywood Wives", and her marriage to Louis Malle; she had been urged by her father to not marry too young. She also talks about her relationships with her parents, and living in France and how the French don't feel the need to be polite to others; she was initially put off by their rudeness to Americans until she realized they were equally rude to one another. Tim Reid talks about graduating from college and going to work at DuPont as their first black management trainee, noting that everyone was awkwardly overeager to make him welcome. He recalls meeting his former comedy partner Tom Dreesen at the Jaycees in Chicago's south suburbs, and says that after doing some humorous drug prevention shows at schools they decided to try professional show business, but were rejected numerous times by The Tonight Show. He also says he was available to audition for "WKRP in Cincinnati" because he had just been fired from another show, one day before filming began, when the producers decided he wasn't "black enough".
Episode 40
Fri, Mar 22, 198590 mins
Episode 41
Fri, Feb 8, 198590 mins
Episode 42
Tue, Mar 26, 198590 mins
Episode 43
Wed, Mar 27, 198590 mins
Episode 44
Thu, Mar 28, 198590 mins
Episode 45
Fri, Mar 29, 198590 mins
Episode 46
Tue, Apr 2, 198590 mins
Episode 47
Wed, Apr 3, 198590 mins
Episode 48
Thu, Apr 4, 198590 mins
Episode 49
Fri, Apr 5, 198590 mins
Episode 50
Mon, Apr 8, 198590 mins
Episode 51
Tue, Apr 9, 198590 mins
Episode 52
Wed, Apr 10, 198590 mins
Episode 53
Thu, Apr 11, 198590 mins
Episode 54
Fri, Apr 12, 198590 mins
Episode 55
Tue, Apr 16, 198590 mins
The comedy segment is describing hybrid animals that genetic scientists have created. Amy Irving first talks about being an actress literally her whole life - she was first on stage at nine months and had her first speaking role at two and a half. Her parents were also actors. She then talks about her pregnancy - and acting while pregnant. Johnny also asks about marriage plans - she says she and partner Steven Spielberg want advice from Johnny. She talks more about acting and how it is therapeutic. Johnny then goes on to the question of whether women and men can understand what the other sex experiences. Jay Johnson does a comedy ventriloquist act with his dummy Bob. As part of the routine, he tries to teach Bob to be a ventriloquist. Calvin Trillin relates humorous observations from his experiences and travels, such as state slogans.
Episode 56
Wed, Apr 17, 198590 mins
Episode 57
Fri, Jan 3, 198690 mins
Johnny mentions a joke from November that was included in a segment on state rivalry humor; the joke contrasted a parrot and a girl from Nevada. He then reads an angry letter from Nevada Governor Richard H. Bryan in which he denounces the joke as bigoted, and insists on an apology. Instead, Johnny introduces the segment "Lighten Up", in which he ups the ante by expanding on the joke. Tim Conway talks about the origin of some of his characters from "The Carol Burnett Show", and then recalls working as an exercise boy at a Cleveland racetrack - which influenced his new movie "The Longshot"; a clip is shown. Johnny then interviews jockey Lyle Dorf, who talks about his exercise routine and race tactics. Hal Linden comments on the popularity of his former series "Barney Miller", and then discusses his new series "Blacke's Magic". He explains that he insisted on doing the magic on the show himself, although his lack of technical expertise required working with magicians who taught him the illusions, as well as some creative editing. He then performs a card trick for Johnny - one which requires very little handling of the cards.
Episode 58
Fri, Apr 19, 198590 mins
Episode 59
Tue, Apr 23, 198590 mins
Episode 60
Wed, Apr 24, 198590 mins
Episode 61
Thu, Apr 18, 198590 mins
The comedy segment is vanity license plates for celebrities - first real ones, then speculative ones. Mariette Hartley talks about being the victim of a prank for "Bloopers and Practical Jokes", produced by Carson's company and co-hosted by Ed; her husband helped set up the prank, which also involved her kids, and which had her being made to disappear by a magician. She then talks about putting together a one-woman show, and she and Johnny discuss their mutual apprehension of singing in public. Michael Palin first talks a bit about why Monty Python was more popular with men than women, and recalls how no one thought the humor would be appreciated in the U.S. because of references to such things as vicars and cricket. Carson asks him various questions about comedy, and then about his impressions of the U.S. when he first visited the country; Palin says that he was really taken by the big tractor units on 18-wheelers, which aren't found in other countries, while his children were more captivated by Las Vegas than by the Grand Canyon or Zion National Park. He talks about making the film "A Private Function" with a pig; sardine oil was rubbed into his shoes and clothes to make the pig like him. A clip from the film is shown. Due to lack of time, Cassie Yates does not appear on the show.
Episode 62
Thu, Apr 25, 198590 mins
Episode 63
Fri, Apr 26, 198590 mins
The comedy segment is questions from the audience. Dr. Jim King shows the "musical tendons" in his hand and some other tricks of extreme flexibility with his fingers. JoBeth Williams talks about acting in the Poltergeist movies and allowing for special effects. She also talks about the rebroadcast of her TV movie concerning missing children. Elya Baskin talks about becoming a US citizen; it took him nine years. He gives Johnny a quiz on some of the questions asked on the citizenship test.
Episode 64
Tue, May 7, 198590 mins
Episode 65
Wed, May 8, 198590 mins
Episode 66
Thu, May 9, 198590 mins
Episode 67
Fri, May 10, 198590 mins
Episode 68
Tue, May 14, 198590 mins
Episode 69
Wed, May 15, 198590 mins
Episode 70
Thu, May 16, 198590 mins
Episode 71
Fri, May 17, 198590 mins
Episode 72
Tue, May 21, 198590 mins
Johnny records public service announcements. Sylvester Stallone (Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)); A. Whitney Brown performs stand-up. Also: Pianist Horacio Gutiérrez performs a Franz Liszt composition and is interviewed.
Episode 73
Wed, May 22, 198590 mins
Episode 74
Thu, May 23, 198590 mins
Episode 76
Tue, May 28, 198590 mins
Episode 77
Wed, May 29, 198590 mins
Episode 78
Thu, May 30, 198542 mins
The comedy segment is the soap opera "The Edge of Wetness", starring audience members. Chevy Chase comes out wearing a Lakers uniform, with a basketball, and makes a shot on a hoop set up onstage. This is for his movie "Fletch", opening the next day. He talks a bit about the film, and says it took about 50 takes to get the basketball shot perfectly; he recalls having played basketball in high school and college. Then Johnny compliments him on "Vacation", and they talk about that film; he also mentions the upcoming sequel "European Vacation". A clip from "Fletch" is shown, and then Chase briefly discusses his newborn daughter and his family. Maureen Murphy does a stand-up comedy routine, and during her brief interview segment tells more jokes about her life. Vanity says that Prince chose her stage name, but she has come to like it, and mentions how she dreamed of being on "The Tonight Show". She also talks about vacationing in Tahiti, and says she enjoyed snorkeling nude.
Episode 79
Fri, May 31, 198590 mins
Episode 80
Mon, Jun 3, 198590 mins
Episode 81
Tue, Jun 4, 198590 mins
Episode 82
Wed, Jun 5, 198590 mins
Episode 83
Thu, Jun 6, 198590 mins
Episode 84
Fri, Jun 7, 198590 mins
Episode 85
Tue, Jun 11, 198590 mins
Episode 86
Wed, Jun 12, 198590 mins
Phil Collins gives a performance of "Against All Odds" on the piano, tells Johnny what he thinks about music critics, more outrageous pop stars such as Boy George and Prince, and how he got started as a drummer.
Episode 87
Fri, May 24, 198590 mins
Episode 88
Thu, Jun 13, 198590 mins
Episode 89
Fri, Jun 14, 198590 mins
Episode 90
Tue, Jun 18, 198590 mins
Episode 91
Wed, Jun 19, 198590 mins
For graduation season, the comedy segment is Johnny donning cap and gown and giving a commencement speech for the audience to become Tonight Show alumni. Dian Fossey talks about her research on mountain gorillas. She says the population has declined 50% in 25 years due to poaching, and tells how she met Dr. Leakey on her first trip to Africa. She also demonstrates the sounds gorillas make for different moods. Film footage of the gorillas is shown as she narrates. She says she is returning for more research, and for anti-poaching work. (Note: Fossey was murdered at her camp in Rwanda six months later.) Ronnie Shakes does a stand-up comedy routine. Tim Reid talks about starting out working with Tom Dreesen, recalling that they auditioned for "The Tonight Show" five times. He also says he was able to get his role on "WKRP in Cincinnati" because he was fired from another pilot.
Episode 92
Thu, Jun 20, 198590 mins
Episode 93
Fri, Jun 21, 198590 mins
Episode 94
Tue, Jun 25, 198590 mins
Episode 95
Wed, Jun 26, 198590 mins
Episode 96
Thu, Jun 27, 198590 mins
Episode 97
Fri, Jun 28, 198590 mins
Episode 98
Mon, Jul 8, 198590 mins
Episode 99
Tue, Jul 9, 198590 mins
Episode 100
Wed, Jul 10, 198590 mins
Episode 101
Thu, Jul 11, 198590 mins
Episode 102
Fri, Jul 12, 198590 mins
Episode 103
Tue, Jul 23, 198590 mins
Episode 104
Wed, Jul 24, 198590 mins
Episode 105
Thu, Jul 25, 198590 mins
Episode 106
Fri, Jul 26, 198590 mins
Episode 107
Tue, Jul 30, 198590 mins
Episode 108
Wed, Jul 31, 198590 mins
Episode 109
Thu, Aug 1, 198590 mins
Episode 110
Mon, Aug 12, 198590 mins
Episode 111
Tue, Aug 13, 198590 mins
Episode 112
Wed, Aug 14, 198590 mins
Episode 113
Thu, Aug 15, 198590 mins
Episode 114
Fri, Aug 16, 198590 mins
Episode 115
Tue, Aug 20, 198590 mins
Episode 116
Wed, Aug 21, 198538 mins
The audience plays Stump the Band. Chuck Yeager (memoir "Yeager") discusses his career as a test pilot; George Carlin (Apt. 2C (1985)) performs stand-up and is interviewed.
Episode 117
Thu, Aug 22, 198541 mins
Johnny records public service announcements. Arnold Schwarzenegger (Commando (1985), book "Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding"); Ed Begley Jr. (St. Elsewhere (1982), Transylvania 6-5000 (1985)); National Hollerin' Contest winner Ginger McLamb.
Episode 118
Fri, Aug 23, 198542 mins
The comedy segment is celebrities' answering machine messages; midway through the segment, the recorded messages become mismatched with the set-ups, which thoroughly amuses Johnny. Gary Busey first talks about his youth in Texas, getting into a rock and roll band and coming to California as part of the band, which performed at Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm, but got fired from many venues. He also talks about his weight changes when playing Bear Bryant and Buddy Holly. He then tells the story of being the last character to die on "Gunsmoke" in the last episode. He discusses his movie "Insignificance", and a clip is shown. Roseanne Barr does a stand-up comedy routine, her first appearance on national TV; much of her routine is about being a wife and housewife. Steve Trotter went over Niagara Falls in a container he designed from barrels, fiberglass, and inner tubes. A video of the event is shown, and he describes the event and the container. He says he wants to be a professional stuntman.
Episode 119
Sun, Aug 25, 198590 mins
Episode 120
Tue, Aug 27, 198590 mins
Episode 121
Wed, Aug 28, 198590 mins
Episode 122
Thu, Aug 29, 198590 mins
Episode 123
Tue, Sep 3, 1985106 mins
From Academy Award-winning filmmakers Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson comes the epic adventures of Tintin. Racing to uncover the secrets of a sunken ship that may hold a vast fortune - but also an ancient curse - Tintin and his loyal dog Snowy embark on an action-packed journey around the world that critics are calling fun for the whole family.
Episode 124
Wed, Sep 4, 198590 mins
Episode 125
Thu, Sep 5, 198590 mins
Episode 126
Fri, Sep 6, 198590 mins
Episode 127
Mon, Sep 9, 198590 mins
Episode 128
Tue, Sep 10, 198590 mins
Episode 129
Wed, Sep 11, 198590 mins
Episode 130
Thu, Sep 12, 198590 mins
Episode 131
Fri, Sep 13, 198590 mins
Episode 132
Tue, Sep 17, 198590 mins
Episode 133
Wed, Sep 18, 198590 mins
Episode 134
Thu, Sep 19, 198590 mins
Johnny tells his "record 4,192nd" joke, spoofing Pete Rose. Ted Danson (Cheers (1982)); Courteney Cox (Misfits of Science (1985)). Judy Schwartz and Rickey Berkowitz recount their survival after being adrift for 21 days off the coast of Indonesia.
Episode 135
Fri, Sep 20, 198590 mins
Episode 136
Tue, Sep 24, 198590 mins
Episode 137
Wed, Sep 25, 198590 mins
Episode 138
Fri, Aug 2, 198590 mins
For the comedy segment, Johnny plays a grizzled bearded forest ranger, giving advice about being in the outdoors. Carl Reiner first talks about regaining weight he lost the year before. Since he has an upcoming trip to France, that leads to a discussion of French cooking, and Johnny explains how poorly French fries compare to French pomme frites. Reiner says he does speak some French, having been taught in the Army, which then sent him to Hawaii. He then talks about his new film "Summer Rental", and a clip is shown. Reiner raves about John Candy, star of the film. George Miller does a stand-up comedy routine. During a brief interview he tells a few more jokes about summer camp and David Letterman. Teresa Ganzel first talks about having been in Zagreb, Yugoslavia to make a movie. Then she talks about returning to Bloomington, Minnesota for her 10-year high school reunion.
Episode 139
Thu, Sep 26, 198590 mins
Episode 140
Fri, Sep 27, 198590 mins
Episode 141
Tue, Oct 1, 198590 mins
Episode 142
Wed, Oct 2, 198590 mins
Episode 143
Thu, Oct 3, 198590 mins
Episode 144
Fri, Oct 4, 198590 mins
Johnny questions President Reagan in a press conference. Loni Anderson (Guilt Trip (1985)); Tim Thomerson comments on acting vs. comedy; Delia Owens and Mark Owens discuss their conservation work with African lions.
Episode 145
Wed, Oct 16, 198590 mins
Episode 146
Thu, Oct 17, 198590 mins
Episode 147
Fri, Oct 18, 198539 mins
The comedy segment is questions from the audience. This is Jackie Gleason's first appearance on The Tonight Show. He says he was waiting to see if the show would last. Johnny brings up a show Gleason hosted called "You're in the Picture", because Johnny was on the first episode. It was a failed concept, and in the second episode Gleason spent the half hour apologizing to the audience. Carson says it was a tremendously funny apology. Gleason says he was glad not to have made more episodes of "The Honeymooners", because they were running out of ideas and the quality would have suffered. They discuss other episodes from Gleason's career, and his new memoir "How Sweet It Is". Jim Stafford is a comedian who has a unique guitar attached to a synthesizer (due to music rights, most of his routine is edited out on re-broadcasts). During his interview he talks about doing a pilot to host a game show that did not get put on the air. He also had a recent movie called "Kid Colter". He closes the show demonstrating how to make the sound of water dripping by snapping his finger on his cheek. Rita Wilson does not appear due to lack of time.
Episode 148
Tue, Oct 22, 198590 mins
Episode 149
Wed, Oct 23, 198590 mins
Episode 150
Thu, Oct 24, 198590 mins
Episode 151
Fri, Oct 25, 198590 mins
This is the famous episode where Carson mentions that he and Dyan Cannon had gone out a couple times, Dyan starts laughing, and Carson gets a little embarrassed. Episode also includes Scott Cully, a champion giant pumpkin grower.
Episode 152
Mon, Oct 28, 198590 mins
Episode 153
Tue, Oct 29, 198560 mins
Episode 154
Wed, Oct 30, 198590 mins
Episode 155
Thu, Oct 31, 198590 mins
Episode 156
Fri, Nov 1, 198590 mins
Episode 157
Tue, Nov 5, 198590 mins
Ed talks about a recent foot ailment, and Johnny comments on hosting an unbearably long fundraiser the previous night; Johnny then congratulates director Bobby Quinn on recently getting married. Johnny then does several fake public service announcements. Peter Strauss talks about staying in Europe with his family and dogs while filming, and relates being in Arkansas witnessing live turkeys being thrown from helicopters. Teddy Bergeron has a pretty good stand-up set. World Series MVP and American League Cy Young winner Bret Saberhagen of the Kansas City Royals talks about life and baseball.
Episode 159
Wed, Nov 6, 198590 mins
Episode 160
Thu, Nov 7, 198590 mins
Episode 161
Tue, Nov 12, 198590 mins
Episode 162
Wed, Nov 13, 198590 mins
Episode 163
Thu, Nov 14, 198590 mins
First, Johnny and Ed discuss trying to see Halley's Comet, at this early point in its return to Earth's vicinity. The comedy segment is reading situations to the audience to record laugh tracks that could be sold to other shows. Eura Irwin is an 81-year-old with a paper route in Hope, Arkansas; she covers five miles every day, and can finish her route in an hour and fifteen minutes if she doesn't talk to her customers too much. She has been married 66 years, having married at age 14. She discusses various other aspects of her life, including growing up on a farm in Texas; Johnny compares his own experiences on farms, including his uncle's. Robert Blake discusses aging and other topics, including the fact that he is currently attracted to a married woman. David Horowitz shows a clip testing a Sears trash can that could supposedly survive a helicopter drop; it does, but he complains that the apparently high-quality product is no longer for sale due to its cost. He also complains that hamburgers from a chain he does not name do not look exactly like the photos in ads, and he and Johnny discuss how food is photographed; Johnny, Ed and Blake try the burgers, which nevertheless meet with everyone's approval. Horowitz then jokes about a product called "toboggan shorts", which Johnny tries on.
Episode 164
Fri, Nov 15, 198590 mins
Episode 165
Tue, Nov 19, 198590 mins
Episode 166
Wed, Nov 20, 198590 mins
Episode 167
Thu, Nov 21, 198590 mins
Episode 168
Fri, Nov 22, 198590 mins
Episode 169
Tue, Nov 26, 198590 mins
Episode 170
Wed, Nov 27, 198590 mins
Episode 171
Thu, Nov 28, 198590 mins
Episode 172
Fri, Nov 29, 198590 mins
There is no comedy segment. Barry Manilow performs "In Search of Love" from his new album. During his interview he talks about making his acting debut in the upcoming TV movie based on his song "Copacabana"; he has been pleasantly surprised by the positive reviews so far. He then performs "Sweet Heaven (I'm in Love Again)" from the movie. Dan Aykroyd and Chevy Chase come out together, and jokingly fight over the seat next to Johnny. They talk about making their film "Spies Like Us" at locations around the world, with Aykroyd's wife Donna Dixon playing Chase's love interest. They comment on the cast changes on "Saturday Night Live" since they left the show, and then show a clip from the movie. Chase then talks about his 10-month-old daughter, and Johnny comments on the pressure to get children accepted into elite schools before kindergarten. David Letterman talks about the "Late Night" book that has come out, which featured a production error. He has a discussion of flying out to California on an Airbus jet, complaining about the length of the flight, the irritating passengers, the bad food, and the restrooms; he then comments on NBC's slogans, and also dealing with network executives. He talks about his Christmas special which is airing the following night.
Episode 173
Mon, Dec 2, 198590 mins
Episode 174
Tue, Dec 3, 198590 mins
Episode 175
Wed, Dec 4, 198560 mins
Episode 176
Thu, Dec 5, 198590 mins
Episode 177
Fri, Dec 6, 198590 mins
Episode 178
Sun, Dec 8, 198590 mins
Episode 179
Tue, Dec 10, 198590 mins
The comedy segment is rejected Christmas TV specials. Vlasta, billed as the "International Queen of Polka", first performs "Roll Out the Barrel" with the band. During her interview, she talks about her life; she was known as the Shirley Temple of Czechoslovakia as a child star, and her family later emigrated to the US. She also talks about how she wrote songs and her husband gave her feedback. She then performs her composition "The Johnny Carson Polka". Alan King talks about the book he did with Mimi Sheraton about food, and what he calls "the pleasures of taste". He says that his mother was not a good cook, and his wife of 39 years doesn't cook at all. He also tells many jokes about restaurants. Spanish actress Ana Obregón is announced but does not appear due to lack of time.
Episode 180
Wed, Dec 11, 198590 mins
Episode 181
Thu, Dec 12, 198590 mins
Episode 182
Fri, Dec 13, 198590 mins
Episode 183
Tue, Dec 17, 198590 mins
Ed McMahon, Doc Severinsen, Bette Midler.
Episode 184
Wed, Dec 18, 198590 mins
Episode 185
Thu, Dec 19, 198590 mins
Episode 187
Fri, Dec 20, 198590 mins
Episode 188
Thu, Dec 26, 198590 mins
Episode 189
Tue, Dec 31, 198590 mins
Episode 201
Fri, Aug 1, 198643 mins
The comedy segment is items from the NBC gift shop promoting NBC shows; most of the items are real, though Johnny ends with a few joke props. Charles Grodin first talks at length about his previous appearance, when he asked some questions of Johnny and some viewers felt he was rude. He then asks more questions, inspired by a Los Angeles Times interview with Johnny, and tells a story about receiving an obscene phone call. Dom Irrera does a stand-up comedy routine. Tommy Walton is a hot dog vendor at various ballparks. He describes how he developed his vocal style to get customers' attention.
Episode 233
Wed, Sep 17, 198643 mins
The comedy segment is the "Tea Time Movie" with Art Fern, in which he promotes a housing development and a school for private detectives. Bob Newhart first talks a bit about his previous Emmy nominations (he is nominated again for "Newhart") and TV shows, commenting on how it's important to realize that not every episode can be a great one. He then talks at length about having gone a year since he quit smoking. The song during the next commercial break leads Johnny to ask Tommy Newsom if he has ever played burlesque; Tommy explains that his first job was playing for an underwater striptease act in Baltimore (she was in a tank). Newhart then talks about bad nightclub experiences early in his career. Saundra Santiago first tells of her former job selling "TV Guide" over the phone - she didn't sell a single issue. She then talks about not getting the perks her "Miami Vice" co-stars receive, such as free upgrades to first class, and traveling with her dog. She explains how her dog is called by different names (Prince, Scruffy and Boo-Boo) by various people, which leads Johnny and Newhart to comment that perhaps this is why the dog is high-strung. Teresa Ganzel tells how her landlord took her house off the market and made repairs, such as fixing her jacuzzi, after she discussed her home's problems in her previous appearance on "The Tonight Show"; she hints that perhaps her stove and garbage disposal could be looked at before next week. She also talks about selling her car, meeting prospective buyers at a local 7-Eleven, and learning from them that perhaps her car has a somewhat banged-up history.