The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Season 18 Episode 171 Robert Klein (guest host), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, June Havoc, Pat Paulsen
- July 21, 1980
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson season 18 episode 171 features Robert Klein as the guest host, bringing his signature brand of humor to the show. Joining him on the couch are basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, actress June Havoc, and comedian Pat Paulsen.
Klein starts the show off with a monologue filled with jokes about current events and pop culture, getting plenty of laughs from the audience. He then introduces Abdul-Jabbar, who talks about his new book and his experiences playing basketball. Klein and Abdul-Jabbar share some lighthearted banter, with Klein jokingly asking if he can dunk (he can't) and Abdul-Jabbar ribbing Klein about his height.
Next up is June Havoc, who discusses her long and storied career in Hollywood, including her experiences working with legends like Gypsy Rose Lee. Havoc shares some entertaining anecdotes about her time in the industry and talks about the challenges of being a performer.
Finally, Pat Paulsen takes the stage to deliver some of his trademark deadpan humor. Paulsen's dry wit and satirical take on politics and current events leaves the audience in stitches, and Klein chats with him about his work as a comedian and actor.
Throughout the episode, Klein is an energetic and engaging host, keeping the conversation flowing and making sure everyone on the couch has a chance to shine. The guests all offer unique perspectives on their respective fields, making for a well-rounded and entertaining episode of The Tonight Show.