The Midnight Special 1972
★ 8.1/10 · 7 votes 8 seasons · 222 eps Returning Series
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Quick answer
What is The Midnight Special?
The Midnight Special is an American late-night musical variety series that aired on NBC. Created and produced by Burt Sugarman, the show premiered as a special before beginning its run as a regular series.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1972
- Status
- Returning Series
- Episodes
- 222
- Runtime
- 90 minutes
- First aired
- Aug 19, 1972
- Last aired
- May 16, 1980
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- US
- Networks
- NBC
- Updated
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Estimate the schedule using 222 episodes and an average 90-minute runtime.
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Find the trailer on YouTube ↗Overview
The Midnight Special is an American late-night musical variety series that aired on NBC. Created and produced by Burt Sugarman, the show premiered as a special before beginning its run as a regular series. It followed the Friday night edition of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, typically featuring guest hosts. The show's run spanned the 1970s and early 1980s, concluding on May 1, 1981. During a period, singer Helen Reddy served as the regular host, and Wolfman Jack served as the announcer.
Sources & verification
The Midnight Special — The Movie Database (TMDB)
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Should you watch it?
“This late-night musical variety series showcased live performances following The Tonight Show on NBC.”
Reasons to watch
- features iconic musical performances
- showcases 1970s variety television style
Keep in mind
- limited to musical variety format
Watch it if you enjoy classic musical performances from the 1970s and early 1980s.
The program is a standard musical variety show suitable for general audiences.
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Cast
Comprehensive Directory
Episode guide
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Spoiler-Safe Browsing Progress
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Season 1 · 40 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide & lore primer →- E1 Pilot Mytharc Aug 19, 1972
- E2 Host: Helen Reddy Core Feb 2, 1973
- E3 Host: Johnny Rivers Core Feb 8, 1973
- E4 Host: Mac Davis Core Feb 16, 1973
- E5 Host: Harry Chapin Core Feb 23, 1973
- E6 Host: Anne Murray Core Mar 2, 1973
- E7 Host: Paul Williams Core Mar 9, 1973
- E8 Host: Paul Anka Core Mar 16, 1973
- E9 Host: Lou Rawls Core Mar 23, 1973
- E10 Host: Ray Charles Core Mar 30, 1973
- E11 Hosts: The Bee Gees Core Apr 6, 1973
- E12 Bill Cosby Core Apr 13, 1973
- E13 Host: Doc Severinsen Core Apr 20, 1973
- E14 Host: Jerry Lee Lewis Core Apr 27, 1973
- E15 Host: Johnny Nash Core May 4, 1973
- E16 Hosts: Burns and Schreiber Core May 11, 1973
- E17 Host: Chubby Checker Core May 18, 1973
- E18 Hosts: Gladys Knight & the Pips Core May 25, 1973
- E19 Host: Paul Williams Core Jun 1, 1973
- E20 Host: Curtis Mayfield Core Jun 8, 1973
- E21 Host: Jim Croce Core Jun 15, 1973
- E22 Host:The Bee Gees Core Jun 22, 1973
- E23 Host: Paul Williams Core Jun 29, 1973
- E24 Host: Jose Feliciano Core Jul 6, 1973
- E25 Host: Smokey Robinson Core Jul 13, 1973
- E26 Host: Joan Baez Core Jul 20, 1973
- E27 Host: Dionne Warwick Core Jul 27, 1973
- E28 Host: Al Green Core Aug 3, 1973
- E29 Hosts: The Bee Gees Core Aug 10, 1973
- E30 Host: Richard Pryor Core Sep 17, 1973
- E31 Co-hosts: Loretta Lynn & Marty Robbins Core Aug 24, 1973
- E32 Host: Billy Preston Core Aug 31, 1973
- E33 Host: Mac Davis Core Sep 7, 1973
- E34 Host: Curtis Mayfield Core Sep 14, 1973
- E35 Host: Wilson Pickett Core Sep 21, 1973
- E36 Host: Seals & Crofts Core Sep 28, 1973
- E37 Host: Gladys Knight & The Pips Core Oct 5, 1973
- E38 Host: The Bee Gees Core Oct 12, 1973
- E39 Host: War Mytharc Oct 19, 1973
- E40 Host: Chuck Berry Mytharc Nov 2, 1973
Season 2 · 50 episodes
Open the complete Season 2 guide & lore primer →- E1 Host: Curtis Mayfield Mytharc Sep 14, 1973
- E2 Host: Wilson Pickett Core Sep 21, 1973
- E3 Hosts: Seals & Crofts Core Sep 28, 1973
- E4 Hosts: Gladys Knight & the Pips Core Oct 5, 1973
- E5 Host:The Bee Gees Core Oct 12, 1973
- E6 Hosts: War Core Oct 19, 1973
- E7 Hosts: Sly and the Family Stone Core Oct 26, 1973
- E8 Chuck Berry Core Nov 2, 1973
- E9 Host: Jerry Lee Lewis Core Nov 9, 1973
- E10 The 1980 Floor Show starring David Bowie Core Nov 16, 1973
- E11 Host: Peter Noone Mytharc Nov 23, 1973
- E12 Hosts: Procol Harum Core Nov 30, 1973
- E13 Hosts: The Four Tops Core Dec 7, 1973
- E14 Hosts: Loggins & Messina Core Dec 14, 1973
- E15 Host: Jose Feliciano Guests: Clarence Carter, Roger McGuinn, Linda Ronstadt, Sha Na Na Core Dec 21, 1974
- E16 Host: Marty Robbins Core Dec 28, 1973
- E17 Million Sellers hosted by Wolfman Jack Core Jan 4, 1974
- E18 Hosts: Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show Core Jan 11, 1974
- E19 Host: Smokey Robinson Core Jan 18, 1974
- E20 Host: Steve Miller Guests: Brownsville Station, Tim Buckley, The James Cotton Blues Band, Genesis, The James Gang Core Jan 25, 1974
- E21 Host: Helen Reddy Core Feb 1, 1974
- E22 Hosts: Ike and Tina Turner Mytharc Feb 8, 1974
- E23 Host: Roy Orbison Core Feb 15, 1974
- E24 Host: Gordon Lightfoot Core Feb 22, 1974
- E25 Hosts: Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show Core Mar 1, 1974
- E26 Hosts: Gladys Knight and the Pips Core Mar 8, 1974
- E27 Hosts: The Pointer Sisters Core Mar 15, 1974
- E28 Host: Bill Withers Core Mar 22, 1974
- E29 Hosts: The Guess Who Core Mar 29, 1974
- E30 Hosts: The Righteous Brothers Core Apr 5, 1974
- E31 Host: Roy Clark Core Apr 12, 1974
- E32 Host: Curtis Mayfield Core Apr 19, 1974
- E33 Host: Charlie Rich Core Apr 26, 1974
- E34 Hosts: The Spinners Core May 3, 1974
- E35 Host: George Carlin Core May 10, 1974
- E36 Host: Frankie Avalon Core May 17, 1974
- E37 Host: Richard Pryor Core May 24, 1974
- E38 Host: Marty Robbins Core May 31, 1974
- E39 Hosts: The Kinks Mytharc Jun 7, 1974
- E40 Host: David Steinberg (All-Comedy show) Core Jun 28, 1974
- E41 Host: Anne Murray Core Jul 5, 1974
- E42 Host: Bobby Womack Core Jul 12, 1974
- E43 Host: Helen Reddy Core Jul 19, 1974
- E44 Host: Leon Russell Core Jul 26, 1974
- E45 Host: Leon Russell Core Aug 2, 1974
- E46 Hosts: Sly and the Family Stone Core Aug 9, 1974
- E47 Host: Little Richard Core Aug 16, 1974
- E48 Host: B.B. King Core Aug 30, 1974
- E49 Marvin Gaye Mytharc Sep 6, 1974
- E50 Hosts: The O'Jays Mytharc Sep 13, 1974
Season 3 · 48 episodes
Open the complete Season 3 guide & lore primer →- E1 Host: Randy Newman Mytharc Sep 27, 1974
- E2 Host: Al Green Core Oct 4, 1974
- E3 Host: Jose Feliciano Core Oct 11, 1974
- E4 Host: Paul Anka Core Oct 18, 1974
- E5 Host: David Steinberg :Comedy show Core Oct 25, 1974
- E6 Host: Fats Domino Core Nov 1, 1974
- E7 Host: Redd Foxx Core Nov 8, 1974
- E8 Host: Barry White Core Nov 15, 1974
- E9 Host: George Carlin Core Nov 15, 1974
- E10 Host: Bobby Vinton Core Nov 29, 1974
- E11 Tom Jones Core Dec 6, 1974
- E12 Million Sellers (Part 1) - Host: Wolfman Jack Mytharc Dec 13, 1974
- E13 Million Sellers (Part 2) - Host: Wolfman Jack Mytharc Dec 20, 1974
- E14 Host: Charley Pride Core Dec 27, 1974
- E15 Hosts: The Guess Who Core Jan 3, 1975
- E16 Hosts: The Righteous Brothers Core Jan 10, 1975
- E17 Hosts: Electric Light Orchestra Core Jan 17, 1975
- E18 Hosts: The Marshall Tucker Band Core Jan 24, 1975
- E19 Host: Helen Reddy (2nd Anniversary Show) Core Jan 31, 1975
- E20 Host: Dave Mason Core Feb 7, 1975
- E21 Host: Neil Sedaka Core Feb 14, 1975
- E22 Host: Steppenwolf Core Feb 21, 1975
- E23 Hosts: B.T. Express Core Feb 28, 1975
- E24 Host: Olivia Newton-John Core Mar 7, 1975
- E25 Host: Clive Davis Core Mar 14, 1975
- E26 Hosts: Black Oak Arkansas Core Mar 21, 1975
- E27 International Acts hosted by Wolfman Jack Core Mar 28, 1975
- E28 Hosts: The Ohio Players Core Apr 4, 1975
- E29 Co-hosts: Wet Willie and Charlie Daniels Core Apr 11, 1975
- E30 Hosts: Earth, Wind & Fire Core Apr 18, 1975
- E31 Hosts: Rod Stewart & The Faces Core Apr 25, 1975
- E32 Host: Billy Preston Core May 2, 1975
- E33 Host: Wolfman Jack Core May 9, 1975
- E34 Host: Chubby Checker Core May 16, 1975
- E35 Host: Don Cornelius Core May 23, 1975
- E36 Host: Joan Baez Core May 30, 1975
- E37 Hosts: Seals & Crofts Core Jun 13, 1975
- E38 Host: Herb Alpert Core Jun 20, 1975
- E39 Host: The Temptations Core Jun 27, 1975
- E40 Host: Frankie Valli Core Jul 4, 1975
- E41 Host: Flip Wilson Core Jul 11, 1975
- E42 Helen Reddy / Mac Davis / Minnie Riperton Core Jul 18, 1975
- E43 Helen Reddy / Jessi Colter / Janis Ian Core Jul 25, 1975
- E44 Helen Reddy / Glen Campbell / Uriah Heep Core Aug 15, 1975
- E45 Helen Reddy / Roger Daltrey Core Aug 22, 1975
- E46 Helen Reddy / Johnny Rivers Core Aug 29, 1975
- E47 Helen Reddy / Frankie Valli Mytharc Sep 5, 1975
- E48 Helen Reddy / The Bee Gees / Janis Ian Mytharc Sep 12, 1975
Season 4 · 44 episodes
Open the complete Season 4 guide & lore primer →- E1 Helen Reddy / Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Phoebe Snow Mytharc Sep 19, 1975
- E2 Helen Reddy / Isaac Hayes / Barry Manilow Core Sep 26, 1976
- E3 Helen Reddy / Roger Miller / Keith Carradine Core Jun 11, 1976
- E4 Host: Helen Reddy / Bee Gees / Ike & Tina Turner Core Oct 10, 1975
- E5 Host: Glen Campbell / Mac Davis Core Oct 24, 1975
- E6 Helen Reddy / J. Geils Band / Hudson Brothers Core Oct 31, 1975
- E7 Helen Reddy / Merle Haggard / Roger Daltrey Core Nov 7, 1975
- E8 Host: Helen Reddy Core Nov 14, 1975
- E9 Helen Reddy / David Essex / Brenda Lee / Jimmie Walker Core Nov 21, 1975
- E10 Helen Reddy / Frankie Valli / KISS / Barry Manilow Core Nov 28, 1976
- E11 Helen Reddy / Natalie Cole / Bee Gees / Olivia Newton-John Core Dec 5, 1975
- E12 Helen Reddy / Anne Murray / Rufus feat. Chaka Khan Core Dec 12, 1975
- E13 Helen Reddy / Petula Clark / Peter Frampton Core Dec 19, 1975
- E14 Host: Helen Reddy / Dolly Parton / Charlie Rich Core Dec 26, 1975
- E15 Host: Helen Reddy Core Jan 9, 1976
- E16 Staple Singers / Poco/Kenny Rankin Core Jun 16, 1976
- E17 Helen Reddy / Natalie Cole / Petula Clark Core Jan 23, 1976
- E18 Helen Reddy / 5th Dimension / Tom T. Hall Core Jan 30, 1976
- E19 Host: Wolfman Jack (3rd Anniversary Show, Part 1) Mytharc Feb 13, 1976
- E20 Host: Wolfman Jack (3rd Anniversary Show, Part 2) Mytharc Feb 20, 1976
- E21 Host: David Brenner Core Feb 27, 1976
- E22 Helen Reddy / Miracles / Tanya Tucker / ELO Core Mar 5, 1976
- E23 Helen Reddy / Peter Frampton / Rufus feat. Chaka Khan Core Mar 19, 1976
- E24 Helen Reddy / Gordon Lightfoot / Little Richard Core Mar 26, 1976
- E25 Host: Natalie Cole Core Apr 2, 1976
- E26 Host: Helen Reddy Core Apr 9, 1976
- E27 Janis Ian Core Apr 23, 1976
- E28 Host: Ray Charles Core Apr 30, 1976
- E29 Host: Paul Anka Core May 21, 1976
- E30 Host: Neil Sedaka Core Jun 4, 1976
- E31 Host: Helen Reddy Core Jun 11, 1976
- E32 Host: Seals & Crofts Core Jun 18, 1976
- E33 Host: Natalie Cole Core Jun 25, 1976
- E34 Host: Glen Campbell Core Jul 2, 1976
- E35 Host: Rita Coolidge Core Jul 9, 1976
- E36 Host: Helen Reddy Core Jul 16, 1976
- E37 Hosts: The Spinners Core Jul 23, 1976
- E38 Host: David Brenner Core Jul 30, 1976
- E39 Host: James Brown Core Aug 6, 1976
- E40 Host: Paul Williams Core Jun 11, 1976
- E41 Host: Helen Reddy Core Aug 20, 1976
- E42 Host: Jimmie Walker Core Aug 27, 1976
- E43 Host: Aretha Franklin Mytharc Sep 10, 1976
- E44 Host: Neil Sedaka Mytharc Jun 4, 1976
Season 5 · 36 episodes
Open the complete Season 5 guide & lore primer →- E1 Hosts: The Spinners Mytharc Sep 17, 1976
- E2 Lesley Gore Core Sep 24, 1976
- E3 Host: George Carlin Core Oct 1, 1976
- E4 Host: James Brown Core Oct 8, 1976
- E5 Co-hosts: Jackie DeShannon & Johnny Rivers Core Oct 15, 1976
- E6 Host: Helen Reddy Core Oct 22, 1976
- E7 Hosts: KC & the Sunshine Band Core Oct 29, 1976
- E8 Host: Frankie Valli Core Nov 5, 1976
- E9 Host: Lou Rawls Core Nov 12, 1976
- E10 Host: Helen Reddy Core Nov 19, 1976
- E12 Million Sellers of 1976, Part 1 Mytharc Dec 3, 1976
- E14 Host: Tom Jones Core Dec 17, 1976
- E15 Million Sellers of 1976, Part 2 Mytharc Jan 7, 1977
- E16 Host: Judy Collins Core Jan 21, 1977
- E17 Host: Helen Reddy (4th Anniversary Show) Core Jan 28, 1977
- E18 Host: Glen Campbell Core Feb 4, 1977
- E19 Hosts: The Electric Light Orchestra Core Feb 18, 1977
- E20 Host: Loretta Lynn Core Feb 25, 1977
- E21 Hosts: KC & the Sunshine Band Core Mar 4, 1977
- E22 Hosts: Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. Core Mar 18, 1977
- E23 Host: Aretha Franklin Core Mar 25, 1977
- E24 Host: George Carlin Core Apr 1, 1977
- E25 Host: Gabe Kaplan Core Apr 8, 1977
- E26 Host: George Benson Core Apr 22, 1977
- E27 British Rock hosted by Wolfman Jack Core Apr 29, 1977
- E28 Host: Helen Reddy Core May 6, 1977
- E29 Host: Wolfman Jack Core May 13, 1977
- E30 Host: Lou Rawls Core May 20, 1977
- E31 Host: Neil Sedaka Core May 27, 1977
- E32 Hosts: Bread Core Jun 3, 1977
- E33 Co-hosts: Emmylou Harris & Little Feat Core Jun 10, 1977
- E34 Host: Neil Sedaka Core Jun 17, 1977
- E35 Host: Gregg Allman Core Jun 24, 1977
- E36 Hosts: KC & the Sunshine Band Core Jul 29, 1977
- E37 Hosts: The Spinners Mytharc Aug 5, 1977
- E38 Hosts: The Bay City Rollers Mytharc Aug 12, 1977
Season 6 · 25 episodes
Open the complete Season 6 guide & lore primer →- E1 Hosts: The Captain and Tennille Mytharc Sep 9, 1977
- E2 Host: David Brenner Core Sep 16, 1977
- E3 Host: George Benson Core Sep 23, 1977
- E4 Host: Kenny Rogers Core Oct 7, 1977
- E5 Hosts: Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. Core Oct 14, 1977
- E6 Host: Elvin Bishop Core Oct 21, 1977
- E7 Host: David Soul Core Oct 28, 1977
- E8 Host: Lou Rawls Core Nov 4, 1977
- E9 Host: Glen Campbell Core Nov 11, 1977
- E10 Hosts: The Spinners Core Nov 18, 1977
- E11 Host: Frankie Valli Core Nov 25, 1977
- E12 Host: Wolfman Jack Core Dec 9, 1977
- E14 Host: Pat Boone (Christmas Show) Core Dec 23, 1978
- E15 Hosts: Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. Core Dec 30, 1977
- E16 Hosts: The Bay City Rollers Core Jan 6, 1978
- E17 Hosts: The O'Jays Core Jan 13, 1978
- E18 Host: Aretha Franklin Core Jan 27, 1978
- E20 Host: Natalie Cole Core Feb 10, 1978
- E23 Host: Rick Nelson Core Mar 3, 1978
- E32 Host: Dicky Betts Core May 12, 1978
- E35 Host: Crystal Gayle Core Jun 2, 1978
- E36 Hosts: The O'Jays Core Jan 13, 1978
- E37 Hosts: The Spinners Core Aug 5, 1977
- E39 Host: Martin Mull Core Jun 30, 1978
- E44 Hosts: KC & the Sunshine Band Mytharc Sep 8, 1978
Season 7 · 5 episodes
Open the complete Season 7 guide & lore primer →- E1 Host: Blondie Mytharc Jan 19, 1979
- E20 Host: Natalie Cole Core Feb 10, 1978
- E24 Hosts: The Beach Boys Core Apr 27, 1979
- E25 Episode 25 Mytharc May 4, 1979
- E26 Host: Natalie Cole Mytharc Feb 10, 1978
Season 8 · 4 episodes
Open the complete Season 8 guide & lore primer →- E1 Episode 1 Mytharc
- E2 The Cars Core Sep 28, 1979
- E13 Episode 13 Core Jan 11, 1980
- E25 Roy Orbison Mytharc May 16, 1980
Verified insights
Frequently asked questions
When did the show premiere?
The program premiered as a special on August 19, 1972.
Who created the show?
The series was created and produced by Burt Sugarman.
When did the series end?
The final episode aired on May 1, 1981.
Who was the regular host?
Helen Reddy served as the regular host from July 1975 through March 1976.
Who was the announcer?
Wolfman Jack served as the announcer for the program.
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