Helen Reddy
Host, Self
The Midnight Special (1972)
Season 5
The Midnight Special is an American late-night musical variety series that aired on NBC during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Burt Sugarman. It premiered as a special on August 19, 1972, then began its run as a regular series on February 2, 1973; its last episode was on May 1, 1981. The ninety-minute program followed the Friday night edition of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The show typically featured guest hosts, except for a period from July 1975 through March 1976 when singer Helen Reddy served as the regular host. Wolfman Jack served as the announcer and frequent guest host. The series also occasionally aired vintage footage of older acts. As the program neared the end of its run in the early 1980s, it began to frequently use lip-synched performances rather than live. The program also featured occasional comedic performances such as Richard Pryor and Andy Kaufman.
Released Aug. 19, 1972
Episode 90 min
None+
Keywords: tmdb.variety-show, imdb.musical-number, imdb.non-fiction, imdb.stand-up-comedy, imdb.singing, imdb.song, imdb.singer, awards.emmy-award-nominated
Production Companies: Burt Sugarman Productions, NBC
Network: NBC
Country: United States
Languages:
English
S5E19 - Hosts: The Electric Light Orchestra
Electric Light Orchestra (hosts) - "Livin' Thing," "Do Ya," "Telephone Line" & "Livin' Thing" --Electric Light Orchestra (on tape) - "Rock Aria" music video --Mary MacGregor - "Torn Between Two Lovers" & "I Just Want to Love You" --Don McLean - "Magdalene Lane," "Mule Skinner Blues" & "Cripple Creek" --George Miller (comedy monologue) - jokes about his childhood, friends, career, etc. --Santana - "Let the Music Set You Free," "Carnaval," "Let the Children Play" & "Jugando" --Santana (on tape) - "Give Me Love" --On film: clips from movie "Car Wash" with Rose Royce singing the title song.
Feb. 18, 1977, midnight
S5E32 - Hosts: Bread
Bread (hosts) - "Lay Your Money Down" "The Chosen One" "She's the Only One" & "Lost Without Your Love" --England Dan and John Ford Coley - "It's Sad to Belong" & "Soldier in the Rain" --Andrew Gold - "Lonely Boy" & "Go Back Home Again" --Joni Mitchell - "Big Yellow Taxi" --Eddie Rabbitt - "Rocky Mountain Music" --Johnny Rivers - "Slow Dancin'" --Valentine - "Take You Back" & "I've Got It" --Salute to Kenny Rogers
June 3, 1977, midnight
S5E22 - Hosts: Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr.
Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. (hosts) - ""You Don't Have to Be A Star,"" ""Your Love,"" ""I Hope We Get to Love in Time"" & ""Gone at Last"" --Themla Houston - ""Don't Leave Me This Way"" --Thelma Houston, Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. - ""Proud Mary"" --Manfred Mann's Earth Band - ""Blinded by the Light"" & ""Spirit in the Night"" --Fleetwood Mac (in concert from the University of California) - ""Rhiannon,"" ""Say You Love Me,"" ""Go Your Own Way"" & ""So Afraid""
March 18, 1977, midnight
S5E27 - British Rock hosted by Wolfman Jack
ELO (Electric Light Orchestra) - ""Do Ya,"" ""Rock Aria"" & ""Telephone Line"" --Salute to Elton John (narrated by Wolfman Jack) - includes clips of Elton John performing ""Bennie and the Jets"" & ""Philadelphia Freedom"" on ""Soul Train"" --Salute to Rod Stewart (narrated by Wolfman Jack) Music Videos / Promotional clips: --Queen - ""Bohemian Rhapsody,"" ""Somebody to Love"" & ""Tie Your Mother Down"" --Fleetwood Mac - ""Go Your Own Way"" & ""You Make Lovin' Fun"" --Genesis - ""Assault and Battery""
April 29, 1977, midnight
S5E5 - Co-hosts: Jackie DeShannon & Johnny Rivers
Guests: --Jackie DeShannon (co-host) - ""Put a Little Love in Your Heart,"" ""When You Walk in the Room,"" ""Needles and Pins,"" ""What the World Needs Now"" & ""The Weight"" --Johnny Rivers (co-host) - ""Secret Agent Man,"" ""Seventh Son"", ""Poor Side of Town,"" ""Summer Rain"" & ""Tracks of My Tears."" --Jackie DeShannon & Johnny Rivers close the show singing ""What the World Need Now"" --The Byrds (from 2-Feb-1973) - ""Mr. Tambourine Man"" & ""So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star"" --Gerry and the Pacemakers - ""Ferry Cross the Mersey"" & ""Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying"" --Sam and Dave - ""Hold On I'm Coming"" & ""Soul Man"" --Steppenwolf - ""Born to be Wild"" --The Turtles - ""Happy Together"" --Midnight Special salute to Jan and Dean (features clips of their songs & interview with Dean)
Oct. 15, 1976, midnight
S5E25 - Host: Gabe Kaplan
Gabe Kaplan (host) - does two comedy monologues. The first is about commercials for nose sprays; skin creams and a new deodorant for the ear. Second monologue is about the telephone, prank phone calls; blind dates --ABBA - ""Dancing Queen"" --James Darren & Hattie Winston - ""You Take My Heart Away"" --The Dirt Band - ""Fish Song"" & ""Disco Stomp"" --Rod Stewart - ""Tonight's the Night"" (taped in his home) & ""The First Cut Is the Deepest"" --Gary Wright - ""Water Sign"" & ""I'm Alright"" --Midnight Special salute to Judy Collins
April 8, 1977, midnight
S5E6 - Host: David Soul
David Soul (host) - ""Don't Give Up on Us,"" ""Silver Lady,"" ""Playing to an Audience of One,"" ""Nobody but a Fool or a Preacher,"" ""Flute Thing"" & ""Hooray for Hollywood"" --David Soul and Debby Boone - ""Oregon"" --David Soul and Lynne Marta - ""Tennessee Blues"" --Debby Boone - ""You Light Up My Life"" & ""My Dangerous Heart"" --Little River Band - ""Help Is on Its Way"" --Paul Nicholas - ""Heaven on the 7th Floor"" --Styx - ""Come Sail Away"" & ""Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)"" --Midnight Special to the Electric Light Orchestra
Oct. 28, 1977, midnight
S5E7 - Hosts: KC & the Sunshine Band
KC & the Sunshine Band - ""(Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty,"" ""That's the Way (I Like It),"" ""Get Down Tonight"" & ""Baby I Love You (Yes I Do)"" --ABBA - ""Fernando,"" ""Mamma Mia"" & ""S.O.S."" (might be music videos) --The Bay City Rollers - ""I Only Want to Be with You,"" ""Saturday Night"" & ""Rock 'n' Roller"" --Billy Braver (comedian) - monologue (re: unhappy childhood; shyness with girls; ex-wife) Later shows a picture of his missing uncle. --Rick Dees & His Cast of Idiots - ""Disco Duck"" --Midnight Special salute to Gladys Knight & the Pips
Oct. 29, 1976, midnight
S5E14 - Host: Tom Jones
Tom Jones (host) - ""Feel the Need"" --Glen Campbell - medley of Beach Boys songs --Tom Jones and Sly & the Family Stone - ""Everyday People"" --Tom Jones and Lynn Anderson - ""Don't Go Breakin' My Heart"" --Tom Jones - ""Delilah,"" ""Third Rate Romance,"" ""Why Me Lord,"" ""Get Back,"" ""Feelings,"" ""You Don't Have to Say You Love Me,"" ""Love Machine"" & ""Say You'll Stay until Tomorrow"" --Glen Campbell - ""Bloodline"" --Emerson, Lake & Palmer (on film) - ""I Believe in Father Christmas"" --Sly and the Family Stone - ""What I Was Thinkin' in My Head"" --Lynn Anderson - ""Stand by Your Man"" --Closing credits: Tom Jones - ""Say You'll stay till Tomorrow"" (reprise)
Dec. 17, 1976, midnight
S5E18 - Host: Glen Campbell
Glen Campbell (host) - ""Southern Nights,"" ""Sunflower,"" ""For Crying' Out Loud,"" ""This Is (Sarah's Song),"" ""God Only Knows"" & ""Early Morning Song"" --ABBA - ""Fernando"" & ""Dancing Queen"" --David Dundas - ""Jeans On"" --Queen - ""Somebody to Love"" (probably a music video) --Seals & Crofts with Glen Campbell - ""Dust on My Saddle"" --Seals & Crofts - ""Goodbye Old Buddies"" & ""Cause You Love"" --Sly and the Family Stone - ""Heard Ya Missed Me Well I'm Back"" & ""What Was I Thinkin' in My Head"" --Midnight Special salute to the Spinners --On film: clip from the movie ""A Star Is Born"" --Closing credits: Glen Campbell - ""Southern Nights"" reprise
Feb. 4, 1977, midnight
S5E21 - Hosts: KC & the Sunshine Band
KC & the Sunshine Band - ""(Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty,"" ""Get Down Tonight,"" ""That's the Way (I Like It)"" and ""Baby I Love You"" --ABBA - ""Dancing Queen"" --Jose Feliciano - ""Every Woman"" & ""The Hungry Years"" --Heart - ""Magic Man,"" ""Dreamboat Annie (Fantasy Child),"" ""Crazy on You"" & ""White Lightning and Wine"" --Andy Kaufman - sings ""I Trusted You"" in a comedy song routine --Gordon Lightfoot (performance taped in Canada) - ""The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"" & ""Race Among the Ruins"" --On film: clips from ""Rocky"" starring Sylvester Stallone
March 4, 1977, midnight
S5E23 - Host: Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin (host) - ""Respect,"" ""Hooked on Your Love,"" ""Sweet Passions,"" ""When I Think About You"" & ""Meadows of Springtime"" --The Babys - ""If You've Got the Time"" --Brian Cadd - ""White on White Eldorado"" & ""Heavenly Night in September"" --Glen Campbell - ""Southern Nights"" --Queen - ""Tie Your Mother Down"" (probably a music video) --Thin Lizzy - ""Jailbreak"" & ""Don't Believe a Word"" --Midnight Special salute to Neil Sedaka (Sedaka sings a medley of songs, talks about his career & shows clips from past appearances) --On film: movie clip from ""A Star Is Born"" with Barbra Streisand
March 25, 1977, midnight
S5E26 - Host: George Benson
Van Morrison sings "Moondance" (jam session with George Benson and other guests) --George Benson sings "Everything Must Change" and "Gonna Love You More" --Van Morrison - "Joyous Sound" --Etta James - "Tell Mama" --Carlos Santana & George Benson - "Breezin'" and "Valdez in the Country" (instrumental songs) --Midnight Special salute to Eric Clapton --Van Morrison - "Heavy Connection" & "Cold Wind in August" --Etta James & Dr. John - "I'd Rather be Blind" --Finale: Van Morrison - "Bring It on Home to Me"
April 22, 1977, midnight
S5E28 - Host: Helen Reddy
-Helen Reddy (host) - ""You're My World,"" ""The Happy Girls,"" ""Midnight Skies"" & ""Aquarius Mirable"" --The Babys - If You've Got the Time,"" ""Looking for Love"" & ""Wild Man"" --James Brown - ""Get Up Offa That Thing"" & ""I Refuse to Lose"" --The Kinks - ""Sleepwaker"" & ""Juke Box Music"" --Kenny Rogers - ""Lucille"" & ""In and Out of Your Heart"" --The Sanford/Townsend Band - ""Smoke from a Distant Fire"" --Midnight Special salute to Jerry Lee Lewis
May 6, 1977, midnight
S5E30 - Host: Lou Rawls
Lou Rawls (host) - ""Some Folks Never Learn,"" ""See You When I Git There,"" ""Spring Again"" & ""Some Day You'll Be Old"" --Lou Rawls and Donna Summer - ""Swing Low Sweet Chariot"" --Sammy Davis (cameo, walk on) --Andrew Gold - ""Lonely Boy"" & ""Go Back Home Again"" --Gordon Lightfoot - ""Race Among the Ruins"" --Melanie - ""Cyclone"" --Leo Sayer - ""When I Need You"" & ""You Make Me Feel Like Dancing"" --Gino Vannelli - ""Summers of My Life"" --Midnight Special salute to Earth, Wind & Fire
May 20, 1977, midnight
Network: NBC
Episode Runtime: 90 min.
Season Runtime: 17550 min.
Released: Aug. 19, 1972
Last Air Date: May 16, 1980, midnight
Status: Returning Series
Certification: NR
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