List of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson episodes (1980)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 1980 episodes
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	194
Release
Original network	NBC

The following is a list of episodes of the television series The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson which aired in 1980:

1980

January

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
2,2??	January 2, 1980	Karl Malden, Teri Garr	Eubie Blake, Mel Tillis
Desk- "Most Intriguing People"
2,2??	January 3, 1980	George Burns, David Horowitz	Johnny Mathis
Desk- "Tonight Show Time Capsule"
2,2??	January 4, 1980	Robert Blake, Martin Mull	N/A
Desk- "Veteran Personalities Who Are Still Employed"
????	January 7, 1980	Richard Dawson (guest host), Jack Klugman	N/A
????	January 8, 1980	none	N/A
????	January 9, 1980	Cloris Leachman, Sydney Goldsmith	N/A
Desk- "The Book of Failures"
????	January 10, 1980	Phyllis George, Mike Farrell, Sean Morey, Jerzy Kosinski	N/A
Carnac the Magnificent
????	January 11, 1980	David Steinberg	Eubie Blake
Commercial Blackouts: "Paul Gasson Wine", "Beritol Vitamins", "V-8 Juice" and "Circle One, Two, Three, And Four Dog Food".
????	January 14, 1980	Martin Mull (guest host), Bea Arthur, Billy Crystal	Rita Moreno
????	January 15, 1980	Joe Namath, Stephanie Faracy	N/A
????	January 16, 1980	Tony Randall, Joe Namath	N/A
Edge of Wetness
????	January 17, 1980	Bert Convy, Tom Snyder, James Woods	N/A
Desk- "1980 Psychics Predictions"
????	January 18, 1980	Bob Hope, Angie Dickinson, Bud Greenspan	N/A
Sketch- "Super Bowl Interview"
????	January 21, 1980	Kenny Rogers (guest host), Sandy Duncan, Gallagher, Bob Hope	Larry Gatlin
????	January 22, 1980	David Letterman (guest host), Vince Ferragamo, Wayne Rogers	Marvin Hamlisch, Rupert Holmes
????	January 23, 1980	David Letterman (guest host)	Ben Vereen, Linda Lavin
????	January 24, 1980	David Letterman (guest host), Ralph Nader	Sarah Vaughan, Jim Stafford
????	January 25, 1980	George Carlin (guest host), Bernadette Peters, Ricky Schroder	Donna Summer
????	January 28, 1980	Bill Cosby (guest host), Arnold Schwarzenegger, George Gobel	Lola Falana
????	January 29, 1980	none	N/A
????	January 30, 1980	Candice Bergen	Mac Davis
Desk- "The Rule Book"
????	January 31, 1980	Michael Landon, Jim Fowler, Dr. Paul Ehrlich	Donna Theodore
Desk- "Who's in Charge Here?"

February

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
2,2??	February 1, 1980	Bob Hope, Teri Garr	Ray Charles
Floyd R. Turbo- "Against Televised Presidential Debates"
2,2??	February 4, 1980	Bill Cosby (guest host), Valerie Harper	N/A
2,2??	February 5, 1980	McLean Stevenson	Natalie Cole
Desk- "Unusual Expenditures Made by The Government"
2,2??	February 6, 1980	Rodney Dangerfield	Robert Goulet
Desk- "Famous People with February Birthdays"
2,2??	February 7, 1980	Lucille Ball, Kelly Monteith	N/A
Sketch- "Groundhog Interview"
2,2??	February 8, 1980	Bob Hope, Marsha Mason	N/A
Desk- "NBC Newsline"
????	February 11, 1980	Rich Little (guest host), Dick Shawn, Natalie Wood	N/A
????	February 12, 1980	Patrick Duffy, Red Buttons, Ann Reinking, William F. Buckley, Jr.	N/A
Desk- "Sayings of the Ayatollah Khomeini"
????	February 13, 1980	Steve Martin, Lynn Redgrave, Bob Newhart	Linda Hopkins
Desk- "Valentine's Cards"
????	February 14, 1980	Doug Henning, Phil Donahue	Pat Boone
Sketch- "Dan Cupid Interview"
????	February 15, 1980	Beau Bridges, Calvin Trillin	Dionne Warwick
Desk- "Edison's Less Famous Inventions"
????	February 18, 1980	Roy Clark (guest host), Suzanne Somers, Kreskin	Tammy Wynette
????	February 19, 1980	Alan King, George Segal	Beverly Hills Unlisted Jazz Band
Desk- "How To Throw a Party"
????	February 20, 1980	Dom DeLuise, Lauren Hutton, Johnny Yune	Mel Tillis
Carnac the Magnificent
????	February 21, 1980	Loni Anderson, Steve Landesberg	Engelbert Humperdinck
Sketch- "Waiting For a Bus at Olympics"; 'Who Is Bert Parks?' Letters
????	February 22, 1980	Dean Martin, Florence Henderson	N/A
Sketch- "George Washington Press Conference"
????	February 25, 1980	David Letterman (guest host), John Ritter, Irving Wallace	N/A
????	February 26, 1980	Sydney Goldsmith, David Horowitz	Buddy Rich
Edge of Wetness
????	February 27, 1980	David Steinberg, Oliver Reed	Jim Stafford
Desk- "Celebrities' Baby Pictures"
????	February 28, 1980	Robert Blake, Charlie Callas	N/A
????	February 29, 1980	Joan Embery, Helen Shaver, Jerry Weissman	Anthony Newley
Political Blackouts- (Johnny as Brezhnev with a new Afghanistan leader- a ventriloquist dummy, as Carter, as a Congressman, and Walter Cronkite.)

March

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
????	March 3, 1980	David Brenner (guest host)	N/A
????	March 4, 1980	David Brenner (guest host)	N/A
????	March 5, 1980	David Brenner (guest host)	N/A
????	March 6, 1980	David Brenner (guest host)	N/A
????	March 7, 1980	David Brenner (guest host), Bob Hope, Ricardo Montalban	N/A
????	March 17, 1980	Martin Mull (guest host), Rob Reiner, Betty White, Joseph Wambaugh	N/A
????	March 19, 1980	none	N/A
????	March 20, 1980	Suzanne Somers, Billy Crystal	Loretta Lynn
Desk- "The Celebration of Spring"
????	March 21, 1980	Bert Convy, Jean Marsh, Erma Bombeck	The Manhattan Transfer
Floyd R. Turbo- "Spending Tax Dollars on HEW"
????	March 24, 1980	Rich Little (guest host), Kip Addota	N/A
????	March 26, 1980	Henry Fonda, Fernando Lamas	N/A
Carnac the Magnificent
????	March 27, 1980	none	N/A
????	March 28, 1980	none	N/A
????	March 31, 1980	David Letterman (guest host)	N/A

April

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
2,3??	April 2, 1980	Teri Garr	Buddy Rich, Tony Bennett
Desk- "Tips When Being Audited"
2,3??	April 3, 1980	Joan Rivers, Dick Van Patten	N/A
Desk- "Spring Cleaning"
2,3??	April 4, 1980	Tony Randall	N/A
Mighty Carson Art Players- "Census Blackouts"
????	April 7, 1980	David Letterman (guest host), Don Rickles, Bob Uecker	N/A
????	April 9, 1980	Suzanne Pleshette	N/A
Desk- "Questions From The Long Census Form"
????	April 10, 1980	Jack Klugman, David Letterman	N/A
Desk- "Reader's Poll"
????	April 11, 1980	Liza Minnelli, Angie Dickinson, George Miller, Nedra Volz	N/A
Stump the Band
????	April 14, 1980	Bob Newhart (guest host), Richard Benjamin, Betty White	N/A
Desk- "Oscars Predictions"
????	April 15, 1980	Bob Newhart (guest host), Walter Matthau, Charles Nelson Reilly	Larry Gatlin
????	April 16, 1980	George Carlin (guest host), Valerie Harper, Phyllis Diller	N/A
????	April 17, 1980	George Carlin (guest host)	N/A
????	April 18, 1980	George Carlin (guest host)	N/A
????	April 21, 1980	Richard Dawson (guest host)	N/A
????	April 22, 1980	Richard Dawson (guest host)	Orson Bean
????	April 23, 1980	Richard Dawson (guest host)	Robert Goulet
????	April 24, 1980	Richard Dawson (guest host), Bernadette Peters, Dr. Joyce Brothers	Mel Torme
Desk- "Stopper Questions"
????	April 25, 1980	Bert Convy (guest host), Harvey Korman	Lola Falana
????	April 28, 1980	Joan Rivers (guest host), Judd Hirsch	N/A
????	April 30, 1980	Charlton Heston	N/A
Desk- "101 Ways To Save Money"

May

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
????	May 1, 1980	Shelley Winters	N/A
????	May 2, 1980	Michael Landon, Dr. Lendon Smith	Phyllis Hyman
Mighty Carson Art Players- "Big D" (Dallas parody)
????	May 5, 1980	Bill Cosby (guest host), Norm Crosby	Charo
????	May 6, 1980	James Garner	N/A
Desk- "Presidential Tidbits and Trivia"
????	May 7, 1980	James Coburn	Johnny Cash
Edge of Wetness
????	May 8, 1980	David Steinberg, Peter Strauss	N/A
Mighty Carson Art Players- "Raul Ruiz- Marathon Runner"
????	May 9, 1980	Robert Blake, Madeline Kahn	N/A
Desk- "Mother's Day Cards"
????	May 12, 1980	Bert Convy (guest host)	Gallagher
????	May 13, 1980	Omar Sharif, Sharon Gless, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar	Chuck Mangione
Desk- "Self Help Book Titles"
????	May 14, 1980	James Stewart, Don Adams	The Manhattan Transfer
Carnac the Magnificent
????	May 15, 1980	Bill Cosby, Howard Hesseman	N/A
Desk- "Weird Photographs"
????	May 16, 1980	Sammy Davis, Jr., Mariette Hartley, Merie Earle	Bob & Ray
Floyd R. Turbo- "Against the Census"
????	May 19, 1980	Richard Benjamin (guest host), Fernando Lamas, Teri Garr, Johnny Yune	Richie Havens
????	May 20, 1980	Charles Nelson Reilly, Tom Brokaw	N/A
Desk- "Trivia"
????	May 21, 1980	Cloris Leachman	N/A
Desk- "Fortune Cookies"
????	May 22, 1980	Dinah Shore	N/A
Desk- "Pyramid Clubs"
????	May 23, 1980	Calvin Trillin	Natalie Cole, Jim Stafford
Mighty Carson Art Players- "Tea-Time Movie"
????	May 26, 1980	Martin Mull (guest host), Betty White, George Gobel	N/A
????	May 27, 1980	Bob Hope	Gladys Knight & The Pips
Desk- "New Comic Books"
????	May 28, 1980	Richard Benjamin, Red Buttons	N/A
Desk- "Foreign Commercials"
????	May 29, 1980	David Brinkley	Beverly Sills, Buddy Rich
Desk- "Little Known Probabilities"
????	May 30, 1980	Dr. Carl Sagan	N/A
Mighty Carson Art Players- "Commercial Blackouts (on sleeping pills, hair coloring, beer, financial services, and coffee)"

June

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
2,3??	June 2, 1980	David Letterman (guest host), Florence Henderson	Ben Vereen
2,3??	June 3, 1980	David Letterman (guest host), Dick Shawn, Robert Mandan, Erich Segal	Neil Sedaka
2,3??	June 4, 1980	David Steinberg (guest host)	Anthony Newley, Sister Sledge
2,3??	June 5, 1980	Joan Rivers (guest host), Mike Connors	Mac Davis, Rita Moreno
2,3??	June 6, 1980	Joan Rivers (guest host), Barbara Walters, Milton Berle, Dick Van Patten	Donna Theodore
2,3??	June 9, 1980	George Carlin (guest host), Orson Bean, Peter Fonda, Peter Benchley	Patrice Rushen
2,3??	June 16, 1980	Bob Newhart (guest host), Paul Williams, Sydney Goldsmith	N/A
2,3??	June 18, 1980	Carl Reiner, Peter Ustinov, Steve Martin	N/A
Desk- "Johnny and Ed Talk"
2,3??	June 19, 1980	Suzanne Pleshette, David Steinberg	N/A
Desk- "Hospital Snapshots"; Mighty Carson Art Players- "Cainine Vs. Cainine"
2,3??	June 20, 1980	Buddy Hackett, Martin Mull	N/A
Desk- "Weird Phobias"
2,3??	June 23, 1980	Burt Reynolds (guest host), Angie Dickinson, Charles Nelson Reilly, Dom DeLuise	Anne Murray
2,3??	June 25, 1980	Lee Marvin, Buck Henry	Kenny Rogers, Kim Carnes
Edge of Wetness
2,3??	June 26, 1980	Elizabeth Ashley, Neil Simon, Bob Uecker	Pat Boone
Floyd R. Turbo- "Sexual Harrassment"
2,3??	June 27, 1980	Robert Klein, Teri Garr	N/A
Desk- "Foods Banned By The NBC Commissary"
2,3??	June 30, 1980	Rich Little (guest host), Cleveland Amory	Robert Goulet

July

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
2,3??	July 7, 1980	Bill Cosby (guest host), Steve Martin, Richard Benjamin, Kreskin	Aretha Franklin
????	July 21, 1980	Robert Klein (guest host), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, June Havoc, Pat Paulsen	Anthony Newley, Itzhak Perlman
????	July 23, 1980	Dyan Cannon, Rodney Dangerfield, Arnaud de Borchgrave, Jim Fowler	N/A
????	July 24, 1980	Charlton Heston, Charlie Callas	Rosemary Clooney
Desk- "Souvenirs from Johnny's Vacation"
????	July 25, 1980	Robert Blake, Steve Landesberg	N/A
????	July 28, 1980	Bert Convy (guest host), Orson Bean	Jim Stafford
????	July 30, 1980	Angie Dickinson, Charles Nelson Reilly	N/A
Desk- "Psychic Predictions"
????	July 31, 1980	Bruce Dern	Joe Williams
Sketch- "Mr. Coger's Neighborhood"

August

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
2,3??	August 1, 1980	Sammy Davis, Jr., Shelley Winters	N/A
Stump the Band
????	August 4, 1980	Bill Cosby (guest host), Charles Grodin	Rita Moreno
????	August 6, 1980	Tony Randall	N/A
Carnac the Magnificent
????	August 7, 1980	Dick Cavett, Margot Kidder	Roy Clark
Sketch- "Bucky Lincoln"
????	August 8, 1980	Ann-Margret, David Horowitz, George Miller	Pete Fountain
Desk- "Little Known Statistics"
????	August 25, 1980	Joan Rivers (guest host), Bernadette Peters, George Gobel, Dr. Wayne Dyer	N/A
????	August 27, 1980	George Segal, Elizabeth Ashley, Conrad Janis, Katherine Crumbley	Johnny Mathis
Desk- "Summer Vacation Pictures"
????	August 28, 1980	David Steinberg, Sy Kramer	Jim Stafford
Desk- "The Trivia Dispatch"; Desk- "This Is Your Life, Tommy Newsom"

September

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
2,395	September 1, 1980	Joan Rivers (guest host), James Coco, Phyllis Diller, Frank Abagnale	Nell Carter
2,396	September 3, 1980	Mayor Tom Bradley, Robert Klein	David Grisman Quintet
The New Set
2,397	September 4, 1980	Gabriel Kaplan, Mr. Rogers	Andy Williams, Buddy Rich
Edge of Wetness
2,398	September 5, 1980	Bob Hope, Richard Pryor	David Bowie
Commercial Blackouts: "Norton Sound", "Custer- Basketball", "Drugs- Carter", "Brezhnev- Sinatra", and "Chrysler".
2,399	September 8, 1980	David Steinberg (guest host), Dick Shawn, Mary Kay Place	Hoyt Axton
2,400	September 10, 1980	Joan Embery, Joe Namath	N/A
Desk- "Platforms Rejected by Major Parties"
2,401	September 11, 1980	Charles Nelson Reilly, Argus Hamilton	Judith Blegen
Desk- "Patents That Didn't Make It"
2,402	September 12, 1980	Erma Bombeck, Robert Blake	N/A
Floyd R. Turbo- "Against Imported Cars"
2,403	September 16, 1980	David Brenner	Bette Midler
Desk- "Extension Courses" (First One Hour Show)
2,404	September 17, 1980	Michael Landon	Tony Bennett
Carnac the Magnificent
2,405	September 18, 1980	Tim Conway	N/A
Desk- "Political Pix's"
2,406	September 19, 1980	James Garner, Suzanne Somers	N/A
Commercial Blackouts: "Turgrin", "Louie", "J.R. Jeans", and "Colonel".
2,407	September 22, 1980	Robert Klein (guest host), Gary Coleman, Christopher Reeve	N/A
2,408	September 23, 1980	Walter Matthau, Martin Mull	N/A
Aunt Blabby
2,409	September 24, 1980	Ron Lieske and his pig Ed	Crystal Gayle
Desk- "Carson's Believe It or Stuff It"
2,410	September 25, 1980	Charlie Callas	Mac Davis
Desk- "Little Known Facts About Japan"
2,411	September 26, 1980	Steve Martin, Dr. Carl Sagan	N/A
Sketch- "Archaeologist"
2,412	September 29, 1980	Don Rickles	N/A
18th Anniversary Show
2,413	September 30, 1980	David Brenner (guest host), Marty Feldman	Joe Williams, Rita Moreno

October

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
2,414	October 1, 1980	David Brenner (guest host), Erin Gray	Pat Boone
2,415	October 2, 1980	David Brenner (guest host), George Burns, Bob Uecker	N/A
Desk- David reads an article about a shortage of human bones and items made out of bones.
2,416	October 3, 1980	David Brenner (guest host), Eric Idle, John Cleese	Mel Tillis
2,417	October 6, 1980	Bill Cosby (guest host), Wayne Rogers	George Benson
2,418	October 7, 1980	Bill Cosby (guest host), Howard Hesseman, Rip Taylor, Diahann Carroll	N/A
2,419	October 8, 1980	David Steinberg (guest host), James Woods	Jim Stafford
2,420	October 9, 1980	Robert Klein (guest host), Steve Allen	Linda Hopkins
2,421	October 10, 1980	Gabriel Kaplan (guest host), Vicki Lawrence, Fred Travalena	N/A
2,422	October 14, 1980	Dom DeLuise, Brooke Shields	N/A
Desk- "NBC Shows Ready to Go"
2,423	October 15, 1980	Goldie Hawn	N/A
Mighty Carson Art Players- "G. Walter Schneer- D.M.V."
2,424	October 16, 1980	Buddy Hackett, Dr. Morris W. Goldberg	N/A
New Products
2,425	October 17, 1980	David Steinberg	Steve Lawrence
Commercial Blackouts: "Toxic Waste", "Los Angeles Smog", "Gambler", and "Operating Room".
2,426	October 27, 1980	Martin Mull (guest host), Elizabeth Ashley, Smothers Brothers	The Manhattan Transfer
2,427	October 28, 1980	Loni Anderson	Buddy Rich
Desk- "Presidential Trivia"; Desk- "Presidential Poll"
2,428	October 29, 1980	Robert Mitchum	Larry Gatlin
Desk- "Political Poll"; Mighty Carson Art Players- "Consumer Supporter"
2,429	October 30, 1980	George Carlin, Joe Garagiola	N/A
Desk- "What The Politician Really Means"
2,430	October 31, 1980	Bob Hope, Steve Landesberg, Gore Vidal	N/A
Desk- "Political Poll"

November

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
2,431	November 5, 1980	Angie Dickinson	Elton John
Edge of Wetness; Sketch- "Jimmy Carter's Concession Speech" (11/4/80 pre-empted for NBC News election night coverage)
2,432	November 6, 1980	Tony Randall, Rona Barrett	N/A
Desk- "Lesser Known Politicians"
2,433	November 7, 1980	Charlton Heston	N/A
Desk- "Hints from Heloise"
2,434	November 11, 1980	David Letterman	Pete Fountain
Carnac the Magnificent
2,435	November 12, 1980	Sammy Davis, Jr., Jim Fowler	N/A
Desk- "Saturn Photos"
2,436	November 13, 1980	Tim Conway	N/A
Talk with Ed
2,437	November 14, 1980	Jean Marsh	Joe Williams
Mighty Carson Art Players- "The Big Gamble"
2,438	November 18, 1980	Calvin Trillin	Dolly Parton
Desk- "Blue Cards"
2,439	November 19, 1980	Ricky Schroder	N/A
Desk- "Whatchamacallit Words"
2,440	November 20, 1980	James Coco	N/A
Mighty Carson Art Players- "Interview with Carl Sagan"
2,441	November 21, 1980	Carl Reiner, Raquel Welch	N/A
Desk- "Horror Movies"
2,442	November 24, 1980	Joan Rivers (guest host), Minnie Pearl	Linda Lavin
2,443	November 25, 1980	Harry Garrison	Eydie Gormé
Desk- "Vacation Destinations"
2,444	November 26, 1980	Don Rickles	N/A
Desk- "1981 Calendars"
2,445	November 27, 1980	McLean Stevenson, Charles Grodin	N/A
Floyd R. Turbo- "In Favor of Junk Food for Schools"
2,446	November 28, 1980	Shelley Duvall	Jim Stafford
Desk- "Ultimate Gifts"

December

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
2,447	December 1, 1980	David Letterman (guest host), Pete Barbutti, Marilu Henner	N/A
2,448	December 2, 1980	David Letterman (guest host), Jack Lemmon	Hoyt Axton
Desk- "People Who Will Not Be On The Tonight Show"
2,449	December 3, 1980	David Letterman (guest host), Rich Hall	Crystal Gayle
Desk- "Lesser Known Art Works by Famous Artists"
2,450	December 4, 1980	David Letterman (guest host), Teri Garr, Victor Buono	N/A
2,451	December 5, 1980	David Letterman (guest host), Steve Allen	N/A
2,452	December 9, 1980	Bill Cosby, Susan George	N/A
Desk- "Christmas Television Specials"
2,453	December 10, 1980	Jane Fonda, Pete Barbutti	N/A
Edge of Wetness; Desk- Johnny reads a letter sent in by a teacher from Niagara Falls, New York with examples of student test answers.
2,454	December 11, 1980	James Stewart	N/A
Desk- "Letters from Santa Claus"
2,455	December 12, 1980	Richard Pryor, Richard Benjamin	N/A
Stump the Band
2,456	December 15, 1980	Joan Rivers (guest host), Bob Hope, Charlton Heston	N/A
2,457	December 16, 1980	Buddy Hackett	Johnny Mathis
Sketch- "Dickie the Stick"
2,458	December 17, 1980	Johnny Yune	B.B. King
New Products
2,459	December 18, 1980	Suzanne Somers, Robert Klein	N/A
Desk- "Christmas Cards"
2,460	December 19, 1980	Bob Newhart, Frank Sinatra	Mac Davis, St. Matthews School Choir
Desk- "Frank Sinatra Walk-On"
2,461	December 30, 1980	Angie Dickinson	N/A
Desk- "How to Beat Those Holiday Blues"
2,462	December 31, 1980	Maureen Murphy	Sahara Girls, The Manhattan Transfer
News Years' Eve in Burbank