The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Season 17 Episode 167 David Letterman (guest host), Chuck Berry

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson season 17 episode 167 titled "David Letterman (guest host), Chuck Berry" features David Letterman as the guest host for a night. The episode marks Letterman's return to The Tonight Show after previously filling in for Johnny Carson in 1978. The show opens with Letterman thanking the audience for having him as the guest host and welcoming his first guest, legendary guitarist Chuck Berry.

Letterman and Berry sit down to chat about Berry's legacy and his upcoming album, "Rockit." Berry shares stories from his early days in the music industry and talks about his influences. The two also discuss Berry's famous "duckwalk" performance move and how it originated. Berry then performs two songs, "Johnny B. Goode" and "Rock and Roll Music," both of which are met with applause from the audience.

After the musical performance, Letterman welcomes comedian and frequent Tonight Show guest, Don Knotts. Knotts enchants the audience with his signature humor and tells jokes about his life and career. Letterman and Knotts share a few laughs, and Knotts even plays a game with the audience called "Guess the Animal Sound."

Following Knotts' segment, Letterman welcomes actor Jack Klugman to the show. Klugman, known for his roles in The Odd Couple and Quincy, shares stories from his time in the industry and his experiences working with legendary actors such as Jack Lemmon and Tony Randall. He also talks about his work in the theater and his stage performance in the iconic play, Twelve Angry Men.

The show ends with Letterman thanking the guests and audience for joining him, and promising a great show for the following night. The episode is a classic example of the warm and engaging style of both Letterman and Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, showcasing the icons of entertainment and humor in a relaxed and comfortable setting.