The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Season 17 Episode 36 Bill Cosby (guest host), Sandy Duncan
- December 4, 1978
Bill Cosby is the guest host for this episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson with Sandy Duncan as the guest. Cosby takes over the hosting duties with his signature brand of humor and charm. The episode starts with a comedic monologue from Cosby where he jokes about current events and news headlines.
Next, Cosby welcomes his guest, Sandy Duncan, to the show. Duncan is an American actress known for her roles in Broadway musicals like "Peter Pan" and TV shows like "The Hogan Family." The two chat about her career and personal life, including her recent divorce. They share some laughs and Cosby even tries to set her up on a date with a member of the audience.
The show also features a performance from jazz musician Al Hirt. Hirt plays a solo on his trumpet before being joined by the show's band for a lively number that gets the audience clapping along.
Cosby and Duncan continue their conversation, talking about topics like parenting and the challenges of performing live on stage. Duncan shares a funny story about a wardrobe malfunction during a performance of "Peter Pan" and Cosby reminisces about his own time on Broadway.
Throughout the episode, Cosby also interacts with the audience, taking questions and comments from the crowd. He incorporates the audience into his jokes and keeps the mood light and lively.
The show concludes with a special performance from Sandy Duncan, who sings a lovely rendition of the classic song "Over the Rainbow" from "The Wizard of Oz." Cosby thanks her for coming on the show and closes out the episode with a final joke.
Overall, this episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a fun and entertaining hour of television. Bill Cosby proves to be a capable guest host, bringing his unique style of humor to the show and engaging both his guest and the audience. Sandy Duncan is a delightful guest, sharing insights into her life and career and delivering a beautiful performance to close out the episode. Anyone looking for some good old-fashioned entertainment will enjoy this installment of The Tonight Show.