The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Season 16 Episode 37 David Brenner (guest host), John Travolta

David Brenner guest hosts tonight's episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, with special guest John Travolta. Brenner, a comedian and frequent guest on the show, takes over the host's chair for the night and delivers his signature brand of witty humor.

The episode starts off with Brenner joking about his experience as a substitute teacher before introducing his first guest, John Travolta. The actor is in the midst of a career resurgence following the success of his starring role in the blockbuster film Grease. He talks to Brenner about the challenges of playing a high school student at the age of 23 and how he approached the role of Danny Zuko.

Travolta also discusses his recent trip to Japan and his love of martial arts, revealing that he has been practicing karate for several years. He even demonstrates some moves for the audience, much to their delight. Brenner and Travolta also talk about their mutual love of disco music and Brenner jokes that Travolta has a permanent disco ball hanging over his head wherever he goes.

The conversation takes a more serious turn when Brenner asks Travolta about the tragic death of his co-star Jeff Conaway, who played Kenickie in Grease. Travolta speaks fondly of Conaway, calling him a talented actor and a good friend, and expresses his sadness over his passing.

After the interview, Brenner welcomes a musical act to the stage, The Village People. The band performs their hit song "Y.M.C.A" to enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Following the performance, Brenner returns to the desk to introduce his next guest, comedian Rita Rudner. Rudner, who has appeared on The Tonight Show several times before, shares some of her hilarious observations about life and relationships. Brenner joins in on the fun, riffing with Rudner about the quirks of marriage and parenthood.

The final segment of the show features a sketch in which Brenner plays a detective investigating a string of robberies at a toy store. The sketch includes appearances by several of Brenner's comedian friends, including Martin Short and Victoria Jackson. The segment ends with a musical number featuring the entire cast, giving the show a energetic send-off.

Overall, David Brenner proves to be a capable and charming host, delivering plenty of laughs and drawing out interesting stories from his guests. John Travolta is a particularly engaging guest, providing candid and thoughtful answers to Brenner's questions. The music and comedy segments, as well as the playful sketch, provide a well-rounded and entertaining episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.