The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Season 21 Episode 67 Teresa Ganzel
- February 17, 1983
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was a late-night talk show that aired on NBC from 1962 to 1992. During that time, it became a cultural institution and an essential part of the American entertainment landscape. The show featured a variety of guests including actors, comedians, musicians, and politicians, and each episode was hosted by the legendary Johnny Carson.
Season 21 episode 67 of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was a typical episode in many ways. It aired on October 28th, 1982 and featured a mix of comedy, music, and interviews. The guest for this episode was actress and comedian Teresa Ganzel.
Teresa Ganzel was a regular on The Tonight Show during the 80s and 90s, appearing on the show over two dozen times. She was known for her comedic timing and her ability to impersonate famous actresses like Marilyn Monroe and Mae West. Ganzel had also appeared in several movies and television shows, including The Toy, Transylvania 6-5000, and The Duck Factory.
During the episode, Ganzel and Carson had a lively conversation about her career and her various impressions. They also engaged in some playful banter, with Ganzel teasing Carson about his age and Carson jokingly flirting with her. The audience seemed to enjoy their rapport, and there were frequent bursts of laughter throughout the segment.
In addition to the interview with Ganzel, the episode also featured musical performances by Sammy Davis Jr. and country singer Eddie Rabbitt. Davis Jr. was a frequent guest on The Tonight Show and had a long-standing friendship with Carson. He performed a few of his signature songs, including "Mr. Bojangles" and "What Kind of Fool Am I?" Rabbitt, who was promoting his album "Radio Romance," performed his hit single "You and I."
The rest of the episode featured the usual mix of comedy bits, sketches, and audience participation segments. Carson performed his monologue, which included jokes about current events and pop culture. He also showed off some strange and amusing news stories from around the country. There was a segment where Carson read letters from viewers, some of which were funny and some of which were bizarre.
One of the highlights of the episode was a sketch in which Carson dressed up as a wrestler named "The Great Karnak." The character was a nod to the ancient Egyptian fortune-teller, and Carson would don a turban and a cape while making outrageous predictions. In this particular sketch, Karnak was predicting the future of the Reagan administration, and the punchlines were a mix of political and pop culture humor.
Overall, season 21 episode 67 of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was a fun and entertaining episode. Ganzel was a charming and talented guest, and her chemistry with Carson was evident. The musical performances were top-notch, and the comedy bits were silly and enjoyable. For fans of the show, it was just another great night of late-night television.