The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson / Season 20 ▦ Season guide The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Season 20 178 episodes Premiered Jan 1, 1981 Updated Sep 25, 2026 Spoiler-safe Previously on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Season 20 Lore Primer Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season. ⚡ Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Season 19. ⚡ Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes. ⚡ Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings. ⚡ Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale. Advertisement Season 20 Episodes Episode Guide 🛡️ SPOILER SHIELD Season 20 Progress Shield All Safe I'm Watching Caught Up Season: Season 20 Last Watched: None (Not started) Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 Episode 5 Episode 6 Episode 7 Episode 8 Episode 9 Episode 10 Episode 11 Episode 12 Episode 13 Episode 14 Episode 15 Episode 16 Episode 17 Episode 18 Episode 19 Episode 20 Episode 21 Episode 22 Episode 23 Episode 24 Episode 25 Episode 26 Episode 27 Episode 28 Episode 29 Episode 30 Episode 31 Episode 32 Episode 33 Episode 34 Episode 35 Episode 36 Episode 37 Episode 38 Episode 39 Episode 40 Episode 41 Episode 42 Episode 43 Episode 44 Episode 45 Episode 46 Episode 47 Episode 48 Episode 49 Episode 50 Episode 51 Episode 52 Episode 53 Episode 54 Episode 55 Episode 56 Episode 57 Episode 58 Episode 59 Episode 60 Episode 61 Episode 62 Episode 63 Episode 64 Episode 65 Episode 66 Episode 67 Episode 68 Episode 69 Episode 70 Episode 71 Episode 72 Episode 73 Episode 74 Episode 75 Episode 76 Episode 77 Episode 78 Episode 79 Episode 80 Episode 81 Episode 82 Episode 83 Episode 84 Episode 85 Episode 86 Episode 87 Episode 88 Episode 89 Episode 90 Episode 91 Episode 92 Episode 93 Episode 94 Episode 95 Episode 96 Episode 97 Episode 98 Episode 99 Episode 100 Episode 101 Episode 102 Episode 103 Episode 104 Episode 105 Episode 106 Episode 107 Episode 108 Episode 109 Episode 110 Episode 111 Episode 112 Episode 113 Episode 114 Episode 115 Episode 116 Episode 117 Episode 118 Episode 119 Episode 120 Episode 121 Episode 122 Episode 123 Episode 124 Episode 125 Episode 126 Episode 127 Episode 128 Episode 129 Episode 130 Episode 131 Episode 132 Episode 133 Episode 134 Episode 135 Episode 136 Episode 137 Episode 138 Episode 139 Episode 140 Episode 141 Episode 142 Episode 143 Episode 144 Episode 145 Episode 146 Episode 147 Episode 148 Episode 149 Episode 150 Episode 151 Episode 152 Episode 153 Episode 154 Episode 155 Episode 156 Episode 157 Episode 158 Episode 159 Episode 160 Episode 161 Episode 162 Episode 163 Episode 164 Episode 165 Episode 166 Episode 167 Episode 168 Episode 169 Episode 170 Episode 171 Episode 172 Episode 173 Episode 174 Episode 175 Episode 176 Episode 177 Episode 178 Future titles & synopses blurred. Tap "Reveal" on any card to peek. Binge Efficiency Engine Season 20: Filler vs. Essential Canon Filter episodes by narrative weight. Focus on essential mytharc and skip standalone side quests. 98% Mytharc (3): Crucial lore & season climaxes Core (175): Character development & subplots Side Quest (0): Standalone / filler Show All (178) Crucial Mytharc (3) Essential Canon (178) S20·E1 Mytharc Episode 1 Jan 1, 1981 S20·E2 Core Episode 2 Jan 2, 1981 S20·E3 Core Episode 3 Jan 6, 1981 S20·E4 Core Episode 4 Jan 7, 1981 S20·E5 Core Episode 5 Jan 8, 1981 S20·E6 Core Episode 6 Jan 9, 1981 S20·E7 Core Episode 7 Jan 13, 1981 S20·E8 Core Episode 8 Jan 14, 1981 S20·E9 Core Episode 9 Jan 15, 1981 S20·E10 Core Episode 10 Jan 16, 1981 S20·E11 Core Episode 11 Jan 26, 1981 S20·E12 Core Episode 12 Jan 27, 1981 S20·E13 Core Episode 13 Jan 28, 1981 S20·E14 Core Episode 14 Jan 29, 1981 S20·E15 Core Episode 15 Jan 30, 1981 S20·E16 Core Episode 16 Feb 2, 1981 S20·E17 Core Episode 17 Feb 3, 1981 S20·E18 Core Episode 18 Feb 4, 1981 S20·E19 Core Episode 19 Feb 5, 1981 S20·E20 Core Episode 20 Feb 6, 1981 S20·E21 Core Episode 21 Feb 10, 1981 S20·E22 Core Episode 22 Feb 11, 1981 S20·E23 Core Episode 23 Feb 12, 1981 S20·E24 Core Episode 24 Feb 13, 1981 S20·E25 Core Episode 25 Feb 17, 1981 S20·E26 Core Episode 26 Feb 18, 1981 S20·E27 Core Episode 27 Feb 19, 1981 S20·E28 Core Episode 28 Feb 20, 1981 S20·E29 Core Episode 29 Feb 23, 1981 S20·E30 Core Episode 30 Feb 24, 1981 S20·E31 Core Episode 31 Feb 25, 1981 S20·E32 Core Episode 32 Feb 26, 1981 S20·E33 Core Episode 33 Feb 27, 1981 S20·E34 Core Episode 34 Mar 2, 1981 S20·E35 Core Episode 35 Mar 3, 1981 S20·E36 Core Episode 36 Mar 4, 1981 S20·E37 Core Episode 37 Mar 5, 1981 S20·E38 Core Episode 38 Mar 6, 1981 S20·E39 Core Episode 39 Mar 17, 1981 S20·E40 Core Episode 40 Mar 18, 1981 S20·E41 Core Episode 41 Mar 19, 1981 S20·E42 Core Episode 42 Mar 20, 1981 S20·E43 Core Episode 43 Mar 24, 1981 S20·E44 Core Episode 44 Mar 25, 1981 S20·E45 Core Episode 45 Mar 26, 1981 S20·E46 Core Episode 46 Mar 27, 1981 S20·E47 Core Episode 47 Apr 6, 1981 S20·E48 Core Episode 48 Apr 7, 1981 S20·E49 Core Episode 49 Apr 8, 1981 S20·E50 Core Episode 50 Apr 9, 1981 S20·E51 Core Episode 51 Apr 10, 1981 S20·E52 Core Episode 52 May 5, 1981 S20·E53 Core Episode 53 May 6, 1981 S20·E54 Core Episode 54 May 7, 1981 S20·E55 Core Episode 55 May 8, 1981 S20·E56 Core Episode 56 May 12, 1981 S20·E57 Core Episode 57 May 13, 1981 S20·E58 Core Episode 58 May 14, 1981 S20·E59 Core Episode 59 May 19, 1981 S20·E60 Core Episode 60 May 20, 1981 S20·E61 Core Episode 61 May 21, 1981 S20·E62 Core Episode 62 May 22, 1981 S20·E63 Core Episode 63 May 26, 1981 S20·E64 Core Episode 64 May 27, 1981 S20·E65 Core Episode 65 May 28, 1981 S20·E66 Core Episode 66 May 29, 1981 S20·E67 Core Episode 67 Jun 1, 1981 S20·E68 Core Episode 68 Jun 2, 1981 S20·E69 Core Episode 69 Jun 3, 1981 S20·E70 Core Episode 70 Jun 4, 1981 S20·E71 Core Episode 71 Jun 5, 1981 S20·E72 Core Episode 72 Jun 9, 1981 S20·E73 Core Episode 73 Jun 10, 1981 S20·E74 Core Episode 74 Jun 11, 1981 S20·E75 Core Episode 75 Jun 12, 1981 S20·E76 Core Episode 76 Jun 16, 1981 S20·E77 Core Episode 77 Jun 17, 1981 S20·E78 Core Episode 78 Jun 18, 1981 S20·E79 Core Episode 79 Jun 19, 1981 S20·E80 Core Episode 80 Jun 23, 1981 S20·E81 Core Episode 81 Jun 24, 1981 S20·E82 Core Episode 82 Jun 25, 1981 S20·E83 Core Episode 83 Jun 26, 1981 S20·E84 Core Episode 84 Jun 29, 1981 S20·E85 Core Episode 85 Jun 30, 1981 S20·E86 Core Episode 86 Jul 1, 1981 S20·E87 Core Episode 87 Jul 2, 1981 S20·E88 Core Episode 88 Jul 3, 1981 S20·E89 Core Episode 89 Jul 21, 1981 S20·E90 Core Episode 90 Jul 22, 1981 S20·E91 Core Episode 91 Jul 23, 1981 S20·E92 Core Episode 92 Jul 24, 1981 S20·E93 Core Episode 93 Jul 28, 1981 S20·E94 Core Episode 94 Jul 29, 1981 S20·E95 Core Episode 95 Jul 30, 1981 S20·E96 Core Episode 96 Jul 31, 1981 S20·E97 Core Episode 97 Aug 4, 1981 S20·E98 Core Episode 98 Aug 5, 1981 S20·E99 Core Episode 99 Aug 6, 1981 S20·E100 Core Episode 100 Aug 7, 1981 S20·E101 Core Episode 101 Aug 11, 1981 S20·E102 Core Episode 102 Aug 12, 1981 S20·E103 Core Episode 103 Aug 13, 1981 S20·E104 Core Episode 104 Aug 14, 1981 S20·E105 Core Episode 105 Aug 17, 1981 S20·E106 Core Episode 106 Aug 18, 1981 S20·E107 Core Episode 107 Aug 19, 1981 S20·E108 Core Episode 108 Aug 20, 1981 S20·E109 Core Episode 109 Aug 21, 1981 S20·E110 Core Episode 110 Aug 24, 1981 S20·E111 Core Episode 111 Aug 25, 1981 S20·E112 Core Episode 112 Aug 26, 1981 S20·E113 Core Episode 113 Aug 27, 1981 S20·E114 Core Episode 114 Aug 28, 1981 S20·E115 Core Episode 115 Sep 1, 1981 S20·E116 Core Episode 116 Sep 2, 1981 S20·E117 Core Episode 117 Sep 3, 1981 S20·E118 Core Episode 118 Sep 4, 1981 S20·E119 Core Episode 119 Sep 8, 1981 S20·E120 Core Episode 120 Sep 9, 1981 S20·E121 Core Episode 121 Sep 10, 1981 S20·E122 Core Episode 122 Sep 11, 1981 S20·E123 Core Episode 123 Sep 15, 1981 S20·E124 Core Episode 124 Sep 16, 1981 S20·E125 Core Episode 125 Sep 17, 1981 S20·E126 Core Episode 126 Sep 18, 1981 S20·E127 Core Episode 127 Sep 22, 1981 S20·E128 Core Episode 128 Sep 23, 1981 S20·E129 Core Episode 129 Sep 24, 1981 S20·E130 Core Episode 130 Sep 25, 1981 S20·E131 Core Episode 131 Sep 28, 1981 S20·E132 Core Episode 132 Sep 29, 1981 S20·E133 Core Episode 133 Sep 30, 1981 S20·E134 Core Episode 134 Oct 1, 1981 S20·E135 Core Episode 135 Oct 2, 1981 S20·E136 Core Episode 136 Oct 7, 1981 S20·E137 Core Episode 137 Oct 8, 1981 S20·E138 Core Episode 138 Oct 9, 1981 S20·E139 Core Episode 139 Oct 13, 1981 S20·E140 Core Episode 140 Oct 14, 1981 S20·E141 Core Episode 141 Oct 15, 1981 S20·E142 Core Episode 142 Oct 16, 1981 S20·E143 Core Episode 143 Oct 27, 1981 S20·E144 Core Episode 144 Oct 28, 1981 S20·E145 Core Episode 145 Oct 29, 1981 S20·E146 Core Episode 146 Oct 30, 1981 S20·E147 Core Episode 147 Nov 3, 1981 S20·E148 Core Episode 148 Nov 4, 1981 S20·E149 Core Episode 149 Nov 5, 1981 S20·E150 Core Episode 150 Nov 6, 1981 S20·E151 Core Episode 151 Nov 10, 1981 S20·E152 Core Episode 152 Nov 11, 1981 S20·E153 Core Episode 153 Nov 12, 1981 S20·E154 Core Episode 154 Nov 13, 1981 S20·E155 Core Episode 155 Nov 17, 1981 S20·E156 Core Episode 156 Nov 18, 1981 S20·E157 Core Episode 157 Nov 19, 1981 S20·E158 Core Episode 158 Nov 20, 1981 S20·E159 Core Episode 159 Nov 24, 1981 S20·E160 Core Episode 160 Nov 25, 1981 S20·E161 Core Episode 161 Nov 26, 1981 S20·E162 Core Episode 162 Nov 27, 1981 S20·E163 Core Episode 163 Nov 30, 1981 S20·E164 Core Episode 164 Dec 1, 1981 S20·E165 Core Episode 165 Dec 2, 1981 S20·E166 Core Episode 166 Dec 3, 1981 S20·E167 Core Episode 167 Dec 4, 1981 S20·E168 Core Episode 168 Dec 8, 1981 S20·E169 Core Episode 169 Dec 9, 1981 S20·E170 Core Episode 170 Dec 10, 1981 S20·E171 Core Episode 171 Dec 11, 1981 S20·E172 Core Episode 172 Dec 15, 1981 S20·E173 Core Episode 173 Dec 16, 1981 S20·E174 Core Episode 174 Dec 17, 1981 S20·E175 Core Episode 175 Dec 18, 1981 S20·E176 Core Episode 176 Dec 29, 1981 S20·E177 Mytharc Episode 177 Dec 30, 1981 S20·E178 Mytharc Episode 178 Dec 31, 1981