The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Season 12 Episode 219 McLean Stevenson (guest host), Gabriel Kaplan

As the twelfth season of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson continued its run, fans tuned in for the 219th episode, which featured guest host McLean Stevenson and comedian Gabriel Kaplan. Known for his roles in M*A*S*H and Hello, Larry, Stevenson was a familiar face to audiences at the time, while Kaplan was best known for his work on the sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter.

The episode opened with Stevenson taking the stage, dressed in a sharp suit and looking poised and confident. He quickly kicked things off with some jokes about the latest news and current events, getting the audience laughing right away. Then, he introduced Kaplan to the stage, welcoming him warmly and chatting with him about his career and upcoming projects.

Kaplan was quick to bring the laughs, launching into a hilarious routine that touched on everything from his childhood memories to his experiences as a performer. He wove in plenty of audience interaction, too, riffing on everything from audience members' clothing to their hometowns.

Throughout the rest of the show, Stevenson and Kaplan kept the energy high with a mix of light-hearted banter, sketches, and interviews with other guests. In one segment, they welcomed actress Meredith Baxter-Birney to the stage, chatting with her about her latest projects and sharing some laughs along the way. In another, they played a game of "Stump the Band," challenging the show's house band to perform a variety of unexpected songs with just a few seconds' notice.

As the episode came to a close, Stevenson and Kaplan bid a fond farewell to the audience, thanking them for tuning in and promising to return soon. Fans of the show were no doubt left looking forward to the next episode, eager to see what Carson and his guests would have in store.