The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Season 16 Episode 170 Burt Reynolds (guest host), Charles Nelson Reilly
- June 8, 1978
In this 170th episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson season 16, Burt Reynolds takes over as guest host while Johnny is away. Reynolds brings his trademark charm and wit to the show and is joined by frequent guest and friend of the show, Charles Nelson Reilly.
The episode kicks off with Reynolds taking the stage to a warm round of applause from the audience. He jokes about his nerves taking over in Johnny's absence and talks about how much he's enjoyed guest hosting the show in the past. Reynolds then introduces his first guest, Charles Nelson Reilly.
Reilly, a Tony award-winning actor and comedian, sits down with Reynolds and the two of them reminisce about their friendship. They talk about their stage performances together and Reilly shares stories about the first time he met Reynolds and how they became friends. The two of them joke around and trade barbs with each other, making for a fun and lighthearted interview.
Next up is a musical performance by country singer T.G. Sheppard. Sheppard performs one of his hits and has the audience tapping their feet and clapping along. Reynolds comes back out on stage to thank Sheppard for his performance and to introduce the next segment of the show.
In the next segment, Reynolds introduces a group of comedians who will be competing in a stand-up comedy contest. The comedians take turns performing their best material for the audience and a panel of judges. Reynolds and Reilly watch from the sidelines and join in the applause and laughter. The comedians bring a range of styles and sensibilities to their performances, making for a varied and entertaining competition.
After the comedy competition, Reynolds welcomes actor and comedian David Brenner to the stage. Brenner and Reynolds talk about their community involvement and charity work, as well as their experiences in comedy and acting. Brenner shares some stories about his time working on The Tonight Show and Reynolds jokes about his own experiences as a leading man in Hollywood.
The episode closes with Reynolds thanking the guests and the audience for watching. He jokes about being nervous at the beginning of the show, but says that he had a great time guest hosting and hopes to do it again sometime soon. Reynolds and Reilly take one last opportunity to trade one-liners as the credits roll.
Overall, this episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a fun and engaging hour of television. Burt Reynolds proves himself to be a capable and charming guest host, and his chemistry with Charles Nelson Reilly is a highlight of the show. The musical performance and stand-up comedy competition add variety to the episode and keep things entertaining throughout. Fans of classic television and variety shows will enjoy this episode of The Tonight Show.