The Midnight Special
The Midnight Special
TV ShowReturning Series

The Midnight Special

7.8 / 10
1972
8 seasons
222 episodes

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.

Sign in to add to your list

What critics are saying

Verdicts use the same scale as your list: highly recommended through avoid — plus optional scores and blurbs.

Highly recommended Recommend Give it a go Neutral Avoid

Nobody on Critic, Sir! has logged a verdict for this title yet. The silence is either respectful or suspicious.

Sign in and use Add to My List below to share your own verdict.

Cast

Seasons

  • Ep 1

    1.Pilot

    19-08-197290m

    John Denver guest hosted Mama Cass, The Everly Brothers, The Isley Brothers, Harry Chapin, Linda Ronstadt, Argent and Helen Reddy. Among the musical highlights were Harry Chapin pe...

  • Ep 2

    2.Host: Helen Reddy

    02-02-197390m

    Helen Reddy (host) - ""I Am Woman,"" ""Peaceful"" & ""Come On John"" --Ed McMahon (walk-on cameo) - wishes the show sucess --Ike and Tina Turner Revue- ""I Can't Turn You Loose"" &...

  • Ep 3

    3.Host: Johnny Rivers

    08-02-197390m

    Johnny Rivers (host) - ""Blue Suede Shoes,"" ""Rockin' Pneumonia, Boogie Woogie Flu"" & ""Got My Mojo Workin'"" --The Ace Trucking Company (comedy troupe) - routines about an airpl...

  • Ep 4

    4.Host: Mac Davis

    16-02-197390m

    Mac Davis (host) - ""Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me,"" ""I Believe in Music,"" ""Dream Me Home,"" ""Home"" & ""Half and Half (Song for Sara)"" --The Doobie Brothers - ""Jesus Is Just...

  • Ep 5

    5.Host: Harry Chapin

    23-02-197368m

    Harry Chapin (Host) - "Sunday Morning Sunshine" "Sniper" and "Taxi." Kerrie Biddell - "Spirit in the Dark." Blood, Sweat and Tears - "Rosemary" "Hip Pickles" and "Snow Queen." The...

  • Ep 6

    6.Host: Anne Murray

    02-03-197368m

    Anne Murray (Host) - "Snowbird," "Danny's Song" and "I Know." Anne Murray, Steve Martin and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - "Shuckin' the Corn." The Association - "Along Comes Mary,"...

  • Ep 7

    7.Host: Paul Williams

    09-03-197390m

    Paul Williams (host) - ""Old Fashioned Love Song,"" ""Drift Away"" & ""That's Enough for Me"" --Edward Bear - ""Last Song"" & ""Close Your Eyes"" --Loretta Lynn - ""One's On the Wa...

  • Ep 8

    8.Host: Paul Anka

    16-03-197366m

    Paul Anka (host) - "Girl," "Put Your Head on My Shoulder," "Hits Medley" and "Jubilation." Bobby Darin - "If I Were a Carpenter," "Splish Splash," and "Roll Over Beethoven." The Co...

  • Ep 9

    9.Host: Lou Rawls

    23-03-197390m

    Lou Rawls (guest host) - ""A Natural Man"" & ""Dead End Street"" --Lou Rawls - medley: ""Memory Lane,"" ""It Was a Very Good Year"" & ""Old Folks"" --Brewer & Shipley - ""One Toke...

  • Ep 10

    10.Host: Ray Charles

    30-03-197390m

    -Ray Charles (guest host) - ""Eleanor Rigby,"" ""Georgia on My Mind"" & ""What'd I Say"" --Ray Charles with the Raelets (a.k.a. Raylettes) - ""I Can Make It Through the Days (But O...

  • Ep 11

    11.Hosts: The Bee Gees

    06-04-197390m

    The Bee Gees; guests: Jerry Lee Lewis; Gladys Knight; Johnny Nash; Skeeter Davis --The Bee Gees (guest hosts) - ""To Love Somebody,"" ""Lonely Days,"" ""I Saw a New Morning"" and a...

  • Ep 12

    12.Bill Cosby

    13-04-197390m

    Bill Cosby (guest host, appearing with a band) - "Ursulena (With Your Washing Machina)," "I've Got to Be Strong" (sung by member of his group) & "I Lost My Baby At the Dance Last N...

  • Ep 13

    13.Host: Doc Severinsen

    20-04-197390m

    Doc Severinsen (guest host) - ""I Just Want to Celebrate,"" ""Last Tango in Paris,"" ""Does Anybody Know What Time It Is,"" ""Introduction,"" ""Twenty-Five or Six to Four"" & ""Beg...

  • Ep 14

    14.Host: Jerry Lee Lewis

    27-04-197390m

    Jerry Lee Lewis (guest host) - ""Great Balls of Fire,"" ""High School Confidential,"" ""Drinking Wine Spo Dee O'Dee"" & ""Cold Cold Heart"" --Jerry Lee Lewis and Linda Gail Lewis -...

  • Ep 15

    15.Host: Johnny Nash

    04-05-197390m

    Johnny Nash (guest host) - ""Stir It Up,"" ""Groovy Feeling,"" ""I Can See Clearly Now"" & ""Merry-Go-Round"" --Chi Coltrane - ""Thunder and Lightning"" & ""You Were My Friend"" --...

  • Ep 16

    16.Hosts: Burns and Schreiber

    11-05-197390m

    -Jack Burns and Avery Schreiber (comedy team, guest hosts) --Mark Almond - ""What Am I Loving For,"" ""Just Another Road Song"" & ""The City"" --Kenny Colman - ""Last Tango in Pari...

  • Ep 17

    17.Host: Chubby Checker

    18-05-1973

    Chubby Checker - ""Let's Twist Again,"" ""Pony Time,"" Limbo Rock"" & ""Slow Twistin'"" --Jimmy Clanton - ""Just a Dream"" --Danny and the Juniors - ""At the Hop"" & ""Rock and Rol...

  • Ep 18

    18.Hosts: Gladys Knight & the Pips

    25-05-197390m

    Gladys Knight and the Pips (guest hosts) - ""Friendship Train,"" ""Daddy Could Swear I Declare,"" ""I Don't Want to Do Wrong"" & ""Neither One of Us"" --Dr. John - ""Right Place, W...

  • Ep 19

    19.Host: Paul Williams

    01-06-1973

    Paul Williams (guest host) - ""My Love and I,"" ""Let Me Be the One,"" ""We've Only Just Begun,"" ""Rainy Days and Mondays"" & ""I Never Had It So Good"" --Argent - ""God Gave Rock...

  • Ep 20

    20.Host: Curtis Mayfield

    08-06-197390m

    Curtis Mayfield (guest host) - ""Superfly,"" ""If I Were Only a Child Again"" & ""Back to the World"" --Canned Heat - ""Let's Work Together,"" ""Harley Davidson Blues"" & ""Woodsto...

  • Ep 21

    21.Host: Jim Croce

    15-06-197390m

    Jim Croce (guest host) - ""Operator,"" ""Roller Derby Queen,"" ""You Don't Mess with Jim,"" ""Speedball Tucker,"" ""Big Bad Leroy Brown,"" ""Careful Man"" --Little Anthony and the...

  • Ep 22

    22.Host:The Bee Gees

    22-06-197390m

    Hosts: The Bee Gees; guests: Wilson Pickett; Steve Miller Band; Jimmie Spheeris; Maxine Weldon ""I Gotta Get a Message to You,"" ""Alexander's Rag Time Band,"" ""Run to Me,"" ""Mo...

  • Ep 23

    23.Host: Paul Williams

    29-06-197390m

    Paul Williams (guest host) - ""Someday Man,"" ""That's What Friends Are For"" & ""Look What I Found"" --Paul Williams, Kris Kristofferson and Rita Collidge - ""Me and Bobby McGee""...

  • Ep 24

    24.Host: Jose Feliciano

    06-07-197390m

    Jose Feliciano (guest host) - ""California Dreamin',"" ""Compartments"" & ""Papa Was a Rolling Stone"" --Savoy Brown - ""Shot in the Head"" & ""Jack the Toad"" --The Staple Singers...

  • Ep 25

    25.Host: Smokey Robinson

    13-07-197390m

    Smokey Robinson (guest host) - ""Want to Know My Mind,"" ""Sweet Harmony"" & ""You Are the Sunshine of My Life"" --The Miracles - ""What Is Heart Good For,"" ""Tears of a Clown"" &...

  • Ep 26

    26.Host: Joan Baez

    20-07-197390m

    -Joan Baez (host) - ""The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,"" ""Joe Hill,"" ""Love Song to a Stranger,"" ""Prison Trilogy"" & ""Rider Pass By"" --Joan Baez and Mimi Farina - ""Best...

  • Ep 27

    27.Host: Dionne Warwick

    27-07-197390m

    Dionne Warwick (host) - ""I Say a Little Prayer"" and a medley of Burt Bachrach hits. --Dionne Warwick and Johnny Mathis - ""My Love"" --Johnny Mathis - ""Killing Me Softly with He...

  • Ep 28

    28.Host: Al Green

    03-08-197390m

    -Al Green (guest host) - ""Let's Stay Together,"" ""Tired of Being Alone,"" ""Call Me,"" ""How Can You Mend a Broken Heart"" & ""Here I Am"" --Ramblin' Jack Elliott - ""San Francis...

  • Ep 29

    29.Hosts: The Bee Gees

    10-08-197390m

    Guest Hosts: The Bee Gees; guests: The Hollies, Herman's Hermits, Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders, The Searchers, Billy J. Kramer & the Dakotas, Gerry & the Pacemakers --The Bee Ge...

  • Ep 30

    30.Host: Richard Pryor

    17-09-197390m

    Richard Pryor (guest host) --Electric Light Orchestra - ""Roll Over Beethoven"" --Joe Hicks - ""Train of Thought"" --Doug Kershaw - ""Fisherman's Luck,"" ""Diggy Diggy Lo"" & ""Lou...

  • Ep 31

    31.Co-hosts: Loretta Lynn & Marty Robbins

    24-08-197390m

    Loretta Lynn and Marty Robbins (Co-hosts) - ""The Midnight Special"" & ""Singin' the Blues"" --Loretta Lynn (Co-host) - ""One's on the Way"" & ""Love is the Foundation"" --Loretta...

  • Ep 32

    32.Host: Billy Preston

    31-08-1973

    -Billy Preston (guest host) - ""Will It Go Round in Circles,"" All Spaced Out,"" ""Music's My Life"""" & ""That's the Way God Planned It"" --Billy Preston and Buddy Miles - ""My Sw...

  • Ep 33

    33.Host: Mac Davis

    07-09-197390m

    Mac Davis (guest host) - ""Something's Burning,"" ""I'll Paint You a Song,"" ""Naughty Girl,"" ""Lonesomest Lonesome"" & ""I Believe in Music"" --Mark Almond - ""Neighborhood Man""...

  • Ep 34

    34.Host: Curtis Mayfield

    14-09-197370m

    Curtis Mayfield (guest host) - "Future Shock," "Back to the World," Right On for the Darkness." Sly & The Family Stone - "Everybody is a Star." Helen Reddy - "Delta Dawn." Jim Croc...

  • Ep 35

    35.Host: Wilson Pickett

    21-09-197365m
  • Ep 36

    36.Host: Seals & Crofts

    28-09-197370m

    Seals & Crofts (guest hosts) - "Diamond Girl," "Dust On My Saddle," " We Never Pass This Way Again," "Ruby Jean and Billie Lee" & "Pop Goes the Weasel." T. Rex - "Hot Love" & "Bang...

  • Ep 37

    37.Host: Gladys Knight & The Pips

    05-10-197370m
  • Ep 38

    38.Host: The Bee Gees

    12-10-197365m
  • Ep 39

    39.Host: War

    19-10-197370m
  • Ep 40

    40.Host: Chuck Berry

    02-11-1973

    Chuck Berry (host) - ""Tulane,"" ""School Days,"" ""Johnny B. Good,"" ""Got It and Gone"" & ""Rock and Roll Music"" --Rick Derringer and the Edgar Winter Group - ""Rock and Roll Ho...

Watching Lists

Sign in to create and edit public lists.

Loading lists…

Purchase & Discovery

Find this title on Amazon

Digital

Prime Video & digital

Amazon mixes rent, buy, and Prime in one place — one search covers the usual options.

As an Amazon Associate, Critic, Sir! earns from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure