The Midnight Special 1972
★ 8.1/10 · 7 votes 8 seasons · 222 eps Returning Series
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
Episode guide
Season 1 · 40 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide →- E1 Pilot Aug 19, 1972
- E2 Host: Helen Reddy Feb 2, 1973
- E3 Host: Johnny Rivers Feb 8, 1973
- E4 Host: Mac Davis Feb 16, 1973
- E5 Host: Harry Chapin Feb 23, 1973
- E6 Host: Anne Murray Mar 2, 1973
- E7 Host: Paul Williams Mar 9, 1973
- E8 Host: Paul Anka Mar 16, 1973
- E9 Host: Lou Rawls Mar 23, 1973
- E10 Host: Ray Charles Mar 30, 1973
- E11 Hosts: The Bee Gees Apr 6, 1973
- E12 Bill Cosby Apr 13, 1973
- E13 Host: Doc Severinsen Apr 20, 1973
- E14 Host: Jerry Lee Lewis Apr 27, 1973
- E15 Host: Johnny Nash May 4, 1973
- E16 Hosts: Burns and Schreiber May 11, 1973
- E17 Host: Chubby Checker May 18, 1973
- E18 Hosts: Gladys Knight & the Pips May 25, 1973
- E19 Host: Paul Williams Jun 1, 1973
- E20 Host: Curtis Mayfield Jun 8, 1973
- E21 Host: Jim Croce Jun 15, 1973
- E22 Host:The Bee Gees Jun 22, 1973
- E23 Host: Paul Williams Jun 29, 1973
- E24 Host: Jose Feliciano Jul 6, 1973
- E25 Host: Smokey Robinson Jul 13, 1973
- E26 Host: Joan Baez Jul 20, 1973
- E27 Host: Dionne Warwick Jul 27, 1973
- E28 Host: Al Green Aug 3, 1973
- E29 Hosts: The Bee Gees Aug 10, 1973
- E30 Host: Richard Pryor Sep 17, 1973
- E31 Co-hosts: Loretta Lynn & Marty Robbins Aug 24, 1973
- E32 Host: Billy Preston Aug 31, 1973
- E33 Host: Mac Davis Sep 7, 1973
- E34 Host: Curtis Mayfield Sep 14, 1973
- E35 Host: Wilson Pickett Sep 21, 1973
- E36 Host: Seals & Crofts Sep 28, 1973
- E37 Host: Gladys Knight & The Pips Oct 5, 1973
- E38 Host: The Bee Gees Oct 12, 1973
- E39 Host: War Oct 19, 1973
- E40 Host: Chuck Berry Nov 2, 1973
Season 2 · 50 episodes
- E1 Host: Curtis Mayfield Sep 14, 1973
- E2 Host: Wilson Pickett Sep 21, 1973
- E3 Hosts: Seals & Crofts Sep 28, 1973
- E4 Hosts: Gladys Knight & the Pips Oct 5, 1973
- E5 Host:The Bee Gees Oct 12, 1973
- E6 Hosts: War Oct 19, 1973
- E7 Hosts: Sly and the Family Stone Oct 26, 1973
- E8 Chuck Berry Nov 2, 1973
- E9 Host: Jerry Lee Lewis Nov 9, 1973
- E10 The 1980 Floor Show starring David Bowie Nov 16, 1973
- E11 Host: Peter Noone Nov 23, 1973
- E12 Hosts: Procol Harum Nov 30, 1973
- E13 Hosts: The Four Tops Dec 7, 1973
- E14 Hosts: Loggins & Messina Dec 14, 1973
- E15 Host: Jose Feliciano Guests: Clarence Carter, Roger McGuinn, Linda Ronstadt, Sha Na Na Dec 21, 1974
- E16 Host: Marty Robbins Dec 28, 1973
- E17 Million Sellers hosted by Wolfman Jack Jan 4, 1974
- E18 Hosts: Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show Jan 11, 1974
- E19 Host: Smokey Robinson Jan 18, 1974
- E20 Host: Steve Miller Guests: Brownsville Station, Tim Buckley, The James Cotton Blues Band, Genesis, The James Gang Jan 25, 1974
- E21 Host: Helen Reddy Feb 1, 1974
- E22 Hosts: Ike and Tina Turner Feb 8, 1974
- E23 Host: Roy Orbison Feb 15, 1974
- E24 Host: Gordon Lightfoot Feb 22, 1974
- E25 Hosts: Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show Mar 1, 1974
- E26 Hosts: Gladys Knight and the Pips Mar 8, 1974
- E27 Hosts: The Pointer Sisters Mar 15, 1974
- E28 Host: Bill Withers Mar 22, 1974
- E29 Hosts: The Guess Who Mar 29, 1974
- E30 Hosts: The Righteous Brothers Apr 5, 1974
- E31 Host: Roy Clark Apr 12, 1974
- E32 Host: Curtis Mayfield Apr 19, 1974
- E33 Host: Charlie Rich Apr 26, 1974
- E34 Hosts: The Spinners May 3, 1974
- E35 Host: George Carlin May 10, 1974
- E36 Host: Frankie Avalon May 17, 1974
- E37 Host: Richard Pryor May 24, 1974
- E38 Host: Marty Robbins May 31, 1974
- E39 Hosts: The Kinks Jun 7, 1974
- E40 Host: David Steinberg (All-Comedy show) Jun 28, 1974
- E41 Host: Anne Murray Jul 5, 1974
- E42 Host: Bobby Womack Jul 12, 1974
- E43 Host: Helen Reddy Jul 19, 1974
- E44 Host: Leon Russell Jul 26, 1974
- E45 Host: Leon Russell Aug 2, 1974
- E46 Hosts: Sly and the Family Stone Aug 9, 1974
- E47 Host: Little Richard Aug 16, 1974
- E48 Host: B.B. King Aug 30, 1974
- E49 Marvin Gaye Sep 6, 1974
- E50 Hosts: The O'Jays Sep 13, 1974
Season 3 · 48 episodes
- E1 Host: Randy Newman Sep 27, 1974
- E2 Host: Al Green Oct 4, 1974
- E3 Host: Jose Feliciano Oct 11, 1974
- E4 Host: Paul Anka Oct 18, 1974
- E5 Host: David Steinberg :Comedy show Oct 25, 1974
- E6 Host: Fats Domino Nov 1, 1974
- E7 Host: Redd Foxx Nov 8, 1974
- E8 Host: Barry White Nov 15, 1974
- E9 Host: George Carlin Nov 15, 1974
- E10 Host: Bobby Vinton Nov 29, 1974
- E11 Tom Jones Dec 6, 1974
- E12 Million Sellers (Part 1) - Host: Wolfman Jack Dec 13, 1974
- E13 Million Sellers (Part 2) - Host: Wolfman Jack Dec 20, 1974
- E14 Host: Charley Pride Dec 27, 1974
- E15 Hosts: The Guess Who Jan 3, 1975
- E16 Hosts: The Righteous Brothers Jan 10, 1975
- E17 Hosts: Electric Light Orchestra Jan 17, 1975
- E18 Hosts: The Marshall Tucker Band Jan 24, 1975
- E19 Host: Helen Reddy (2nd Anniversary Show) Jan 31, 1975
- E20 Host: Dave Mason Feb 7, 1975
- E21 Host: Neil Sedaka Feb 14, 1975
- E22 Host: Steppenwolf Feb 21, 1975
- E23 Hosts: B.T. Express Feb 28, 1975
- E24 Host: Olivia Newton-John Mar 7, 1975
- E25 Host: Clive Davis Mar 14, 1975
- E26 Hosts: Black Oak Arkansas Mar 21, 1975
- E27 International Acts hosted by Wolfman Jack Mar 28, 1975
- E28 Hosts: The Ohio Players Apr 4, 1975
- E29 Co-hosts: Wet Willie and Charlie Daniels Apr 11, 1975
- E30 Hosts: Earth, Wind & Fire Apr 18, 1975
- E31 Hosts: Rod Stewart & The Faces Apr 25, 1975
- E32 Host: Billy Preston May 2, 1975
- E33 Host: Wolfman Jack May 9, 1975
- E34 Host: Chubby Checker May 16, 1975
- E35 Host: Don Cornelius May 23, 1975
- E36 Host: Joan Baez May 30, 1975
- E37 Hosts: Seals & Crofts Jun 13, 1975
- E38 Host: Herb Alpert Jun 20, 1975
- E39 Host: The Temptations Jun 27, 1975
- E40 Host: Frankie Valli Jul 4, 1975
- E41 Host: Flip Wilson Jul 11, 1975
- E42 Helen Reddy / Mac Davis / Minnie Riperton Jul 18, 1975
- E43 Helen Reddy / Jessi Colter / Janis Ian Jul 25, 1975
- E44 Helen Reddy / Glen Campbell / Uriah Heep Aug 15, 1975
- E45 Helen Reddy / Roger Daltrey Aug 22, 1975
- E46 Helen Reddy / Johnny Rivers Aug 29, 1975
- E47 Helen Reddy / Frankie Valli Sep 5, 1975
- E48 Helen Reddy / The Bee Gees / Janis Ian Sep 12, 1975
Season 4 · 42 episodes
- E1 Helen Reddy / Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Phoebe Snow Sep 19, 1975
- E2 Helen Reddy / Isaac Hayes / Barry Manilow Sep 26, 1976
- E3 Helen Reddy / Roger Miller / Keith Carradine Jun 11, 1976
- E4 Host: Helen Reddy / Bee Gees / Ike & Tina Turner Oct 10, 1975
- E5 Host: Glen Campbell / Mac Davis Oct 24, 1975
- E6 Helen Reddy / J. Geils Band / Hudson Brothers Oct 31, 1975
- E7 Helen Reddy / Merle Haggard / Roger Daltrey Nov 7, 1975
- E8 Host: Helen Reddy Nov 14, 1975
- E9 Helen Reddy / David Essex / Brenda Lee / Jimmie Walker Nov 21, 1975
- E10 Helen Reddy / Frankie Valli / KISS / Barry Manilow Nov 28, 1976
- E11 Helen Reddy / Natalie Cole / Bee Gees / Olivia Newton-John Dec 5, 1975
- E12 Helen Reddy / Anne Murray / Rufus feat. Chaka Khan Dec 12, 1975
- E13 Helen Reddy / Petula Clark / Peter Frampton Dec 19, 1975
- E14 Host: Helen Reddy / Dolly Parton / Charlie Rich Dec 26, 1975
- E15 Host: Helen Reddy Jan 9, 1976
- E16 Staple Singers / Poco/Kenny Rankin Jun 16, 1976
- E17 Helen Reddy / Natalie Cole / Petula Clark Jan 23, 1976
- E18 Helen Reddy / 5th Dimension / Tom T. Hall Jan 30, 1976
- E19 Host: Wolfman Jack (3rd Anniversary Show, Part 1) Feb 13, 1976
- E20 Host: Wolfman Jack (3rd Anniversary Show, Part 2) Feb 20, 1976
- E21 Host: David Brenner Feb 27, 1976
- E22 Helen Reddy / Miracles / Tanya Tucker / ELO Mar 5, 1976
- E23 Helen Reddy / Peter Frampton / Rufus feat. Chaka Khan Mar 19, 1976
- E24 Helen Reddy / Gordon Lightfoot / Little Richard Mar 26, 1976
- E25 Host: Natalie Cole Apr 2, 1976
- E26 Host: Helen Reddy Apr 9, 1976
- E27 Janis Ian Apr 23, 1976
- E28 Host: Ray Charles Apr 30, 1976
- E29 Host: Paul Anka May 21, 1976
- E30 Host: Neil Sedaka Jun 4, 1976
- E31 Host: Helen Reddy Jun 11, 1976
- E32 Host: Seals & Crofts Jun 18, 1976
- E33 Host: Natalie Cole Jun 25, 1976
- E34 Host: Glen Campbell Jul 2, 1976
- E35 Host: Rita Coolidge Jul 9, 1976
- E37 Hosts: The Spinners Jul 23, 1976
- E38 Host: David Brenner Jul 30, 1976
- E39 Host: James Brown Aug 6, 1976
- E40 Host: Paul Williams Jun 11, 1976
- E42 Host: Jimmie Walker Aug 27, 1976
- E43 Host: Aretha Franklin Sep 10, 1976
- E44 Host: Neil Sedaka Jun 4, 1976
Season 5 · 30 episodes
- E1 Hosts: The Spinners Sep 17, 1976
- E2 Lesley Gore Sep 24, 1976
- E3 Host: George Carlin Oct 1, 1976
- E4 Host: James Brown Oct 8, 1976
- E5 Co-hosts: Jackie DeShannon & Johnny Rivers Oct 15, 1976
- E6 Host: Helen Reddy Oct 22, 1976
- E7 Hosts: KC & the Sunshine Band Oct 29, 1976
- E8 Host: Frankie Valli Nov 5, 1976
- E9 Host: Lou Rawls Nov 12, 1976
- E12 Million Sellers of 1976, Part 1 Dec 3, 1976
- E14 Host: Tom Jones Dec 17, 1976
- E15 Million Sellers of 1976, Part 2 Jan 7, 1977
- E16 Host: Judy Collins Jan 21, 1977
- E17 Host: Helen Reddy (4th Anniversary Show) Jan 28, 1977
- E18 Host: Glen Campbell Feb 4, 1977
- E19 Hosts: The Electric Light Orchestra Feb 18, 1977
- E21 Hosts: KC & the Sunshine Band Mar 4, 1977
- E22 Hosts: Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. Mar 18, 1977
- E23 Host: Aretha Franklin Mar 25, 1977
- E25 Host: Gabe Kaplan Apr 8, 1977
- E26 Host: George Benson Apr 22, 1977
- E27 British Rock hosted by Wolfman Jack Apr 29, 1977
- E28 Host: Helen Reddy May 6, 1977
- E30 Host: Lou Rawls May 20, 1977
- E31 Host: Neil Sedaka May 27, 1977
- E32 Hosts: Bread Jun 3, 1977
- E33 Co-hosts: Emmylou Harris & Little Feat Jun 10, 1977
- E34 Host: Neil Sedaka Jun 17, 1977
- E35 Host: Gregg Allman Jun 24, 1977
- E38 Hosts: The Bay City Rollers Aug 12, 1977
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.