The Midnight Special
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.
Episodes
Pilot
Aug 19, 1972
Host: Helen Reddy
Feb 02, 1973
Host: Johnny Rivers
Feb 08, 1973
Host: Mac Davis
Feb 16, 1973
Host: Harry Chapin
Feb 23, 1973
Host: Anne Murray
Mar 02, 1973
Host: Paul Williams
Mar 09, 1973
Host: Paul Anka
Mar 16, 1973
Host: Lou Rawls
Mar 23, 1973
Host: Ray Charles
Mar 30, 1973
Hosts: The Bee Gees
Apr 06, 1973
Bill Cosby
Apr 13, 1973
Host: Doc Severinsen
Apr 20, 1973
Host: Jerry Lee Lewis
Apr 27, 1973
Host: Johnny Nash
May 04, 1973
Hosts: Burns and Schreiber
May 11, 1973
Host: Chubby Checker
May 18, 1973
Hosts: Gladys Knight & the Pips
May 25, 1973
Host: Paul Williams
Jun 01, 1973
Host: Curtis Mayfield
Jun 08, 1973
Host: Jim Croce
Jun 15, 1973
Host:The Bee Gees
Jun 22, 1973
Host: Paul Williams
Jun 29, 1973
Host: Jose Feliciano
Jul 06, 1973
Host: Smokey Robinson
Jul 13, 1973
Host: Joan Baez
Jul 20, 1973
Host: Dionne Warwick
Jul 27, 1973
Host: Al Green
Aug 03, 1973
Hosts: The Bee Gees
Aug 10, 1973
Host: Richard Pryor
Sep 17, 1973
Co-hosts: Loretta Lynn & Marty Robbins
Aug 24, 1973
Host: Billy Preston
Aug 31, 1973
Host: Mac Davis
Sep 07, 1973
Host: Curtis Mayfield
Sep 14, 1973
Host: Wilson Pickett
Sep 21, 1973
Host: Seals & Crofts
Sep 28, 1973
Host: Gladys Knight & The Pips
Oct 05, 1973
Host: The Bee Gees
Oct 12, 1973
Host: War
Oct 19, 1973
Host: Chuck Berry
Nov 02, 1973
