1. Episode dated 1 January 1981
Aired: Jan 1, 1981The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Season 20 (178 Episodes)
Host Johnny Carson performs comedy routines and chats with various celebrities.
Season 20 Episodes:
2. Episode dated 2 January 1981
Aired: Jan 2, 19813. Episode dated 6 January 1981
Aired: Jan 6, 19814. Episode dated 7 January 1981
Aired: Jan 7, 19815. McLean Stevenson/James Woods/Bum Phillips
Aired: Jan 8, 1981McLean Stevenson talks about being newly married to one of Johnny's staff; Ja...
6. Episode dated 9 January 1981
Aired: Jan 9, 19817. Episode dated 13 January 1981
Aired: Jan 13, 19818. Episode dated 14 January 1981
Aired: Jan 14, 19819. Episode dated 15 January 1981
Aired: Jan 15, 198110. Bob Hope/Argus Hamilton/Seven Lovelies from 'B.J. and the Bear'
Aired: Jan 16, 1981Johnny presents artifacts recovered from the La Brea Tar Pits. Bob Hope (Bob ...
11. Episode dated 26 January 1981
Aired: Jan 26, 198112. Episode dated 27 January 1981
Aired: Jan 27, 198113. Episode dated 28 January 1981
Aired: Jan 28, 198114. Episode dated 29 January 1981
Aired: Jan 29, 198115. Episode dated 30 January 1981
Aired: Jan 30, 198116. Episode dated 2 February 1981
Aired: Feb 2, 198117. Episode dated 3 February 1981
Aired: Feb 3, 198118. Episode dated 4 February 1981
Aired: Feb 4, 198119. Episode dated 5 February 1981
Aired: Feb 5, 198120. Episode dated 6 February 1981
Aired: Feb 6, 198121. Episode dated 10 February 1981
Aired: Feb 10, 198122. Episode dated 11 February 1981
Aired: Feb 11, 198123. Episode dated 12 February 1981
Aired: Feb 12, 198124. Episode dated 13 February 1981
Aired: Feb 13, 198125. Episode dated 17 February 1981
Aired: Feb 17, 198126. Episode dated 18 February 1981
Aired: Feb 18, 198127. Episode dated 19 February 1981
Aired: Feb 19, 198128. Episode dated 20 February 1981
Aired: Feb 20, 198129. Episode dated 23 February 1981
Aired: Feb 23, 1981
30. Carl Reiner/Catherine Deneuve
Aired: Feb 24, 1981Carl Reiner discusses dealing with the irritations of aging; Catherine Deneuv...
31. Barbara Eden/Bobby Kelton/Arnold Roth
Aired: Feb 25, 1981Johnny offers some crime prevention tips. Barbara Eden (Harper Valley P.T.A. ...
32. Episode dated 26 February 1981
Aired: Feb 26, 198133. Episode dated 27 February 1981
Aired: Feb 27, 198134. Episode dated 2 March 1981
Aired: Mar 2, 198135. Episode dated 3 March 1981
Aired: Mar 3, 198136. Christie Brinkley/David Brenner
Aired: Mar 4, 1981Walter Cronkite's last newscast is foreseen. Sports Illustrated cover model C...
37. Episode dated 5 March 1981
Aired: Mar 5, 198138. Episode dated 6 March 1981
Aired: Mar 6, 1981Aired: Mar 17, 1981
40. Richard Benjamin/Garry Shandling/Jan Stephenson
Aired: Mar 18, 1981Johnny and Ed discuss birds and sharks. Director Richard Benjamin (My Favorit...
41. David Steinberg/Lois Areno/Peabo Bryson
Aired: Mar 19, 198142. Suzanne Somers/Warren Thomas
Aired: Mar 20, 198143. Episode dated 24 March 1981
Aired: Mar 24, 1981Aired: Mar 25, 1981Ed, Doc and Tommy tackle a brainteaser involving hats. Peter Strauss (Masada ...
45. Homework School of the Air
Aired: Mar 26, 1981
46. Charles Nelson Reilly/Cathy Moriarty/Richard Lewis
Aired: Mar 27, 1981A lecture of the Commercial Actors School is presented. Director Charles Nels...
47. Episode dated 6 April 1981
Aired: Apr 6, 198148. Suzanne Pleshette/Dick Cavett
Aired: Apr 7, 1981Ed talks about driving through small towns across the country. Suzanne Pleshe...
49. Angie Dickinson/Joe Williams
Aired: Apr 8, 1981
50. Albert Brooks/Susan Sarandon
Aired: Apr 9, 1981Johnny and Ed continue their discussion on the sleeping habits of sharks. Alb...
51. Robert Blake/Calvin Trillin
Aired: Apr 10, 1981Johnny recounts trying to stay up for the first orbital launch of the space s...
Aired: May 5, 1981Aired: May 6, 1981Aired: May 7, 1981Aired: May 8, 1981Aired: May 12, 1981Aired: May 13, 1981
58. Joan Rivers/William & Amos Caulfield
Aired: May 14, 1981Floyd R. Turbo speaks out against baseball players making big money. Comedien...
Aired: May 19, 1981Johnny reveals pop culture survey favorites. Alan Alda (The Four Seasons (198...
60. Richard Pryor/George Carlin
Aired: May 20, 1981Johnny looks at strange names for unusual objects. Richard Pryor (Bustin' Loo...
Aired: May 21, 1981
62. Carol Wayne/Leonard Waxdeck & The Birdcallers/Larry Gatlin
Aired: May 22, 1981Aired: May 26, 1981Aired: May 27, 1981Aired: May 28, 1981Aired: May 29, 1981Aired: Jun 1, 1981Aired: Jun 2, 1981Aired: Jun 3, 1981Aired: Jun 4, 1981Aired: Jun 5, 1981Aired: Jun 9, 198173. Episode dated 10 June 1981
Aired: Jun 10, 198174. Episode dated 11 June 1981
Aired: Jun 11, 198175. Episode dated 12 June 1981
Aired: Jun 12, 1981Flow through krounchasana, ardha urdha upavishta konasana, baddha konasana an...
76. Episode dated 16 June 1981
Aired: Jun 16, 198177. Episode dated 17 June 1981
Aired: Jun 17, 1981
78. David Steinberg/Jim Fowler
Aired: Jun 18, 1981David Steinberg discusses cosmetic surgery and the royal wedding; Jim Fowler ...
79. Episode dated 19 June 1981
Aired: Jun 19, 198180. Episode dated 23 June 1981
Aired: Jun 23, 198181. Episode dated 24 June 1981
Aired: Jun 24, 198182. McLean Stevenson/Bob Uecker
Aired: Jun 25, 1981McLean Stevenson recounts how his '72 Porsche has been hit four times in five...
83. Episode dated 26 June 1981
Aired: Jun 26, 198184. Episode dated 29 June 1981
Aired: Jun 29, 198185. Episode dated 30 June 1981
Aired: Jun 30, 1981Aired: Jul 1, 1981Aired: Jul 2, 1981Aired: Jul 3, 1981
89. Suzanne Pleshette/Dr. Robert Altman
Aired: Jul 21, 1981There is no comedy sketch; instead, Johnny talks about his recent vacation to...
90. Episode dated 22 July 1981
Aired: Jul 22, 198191. Episode dated 23 July 1981
Aired: Jul 23, 1981Aired: Jul 24, 1981Ed interviews a Mediterranean fruit fly. Michael Landon (Little House on the ...
Aired: Jul 28, 198194. Episode dated 29 July 1981
Aired: Jul 29, 198195. Angie Dickinson/Dom DeLuise/Tommy Lasorda
Aired: Jul 30, 1981Hospital bureaucracy is explained. Angie Dickinson discusses sex appeal and s...
96. Episode dated 4 August 1981
Aired: Jul 31, 198197. Episode dated 5 August 1981
Aired: Aug 4, 198198. John Travolta/Erma Bombeck
Aired: Aug 5, 1981Johnny examines celebrities' last words. John Travolta (Blow Out (1981)); Erm...
99. Dudley Moore/Laurene Landon
Aired: Aug 6, 1981The comedy sketch is Aunt Blabby. Dudley Moore and Laurene Landon are intervi...
100. Episode dated 11 August 1981
Aired: Aug 7, 1981101. Episode dated 12 August 1981
Aired: Aug 11, 1981102. Episode dated 13 August 1981
Aired: Aug 12, 1981
103. Peter Strauss/Betty White/Victor Buono
Aired: Aug 13, 1981Peter Strauss (Broadway play "Einstein and the Polar Bear"); Betty White (The...
104. Episode dated 17 August 1981
Aired: Aug 14, 1981105. Episode dated 18 August 1981
Aired: Aug 17, 1981106. Episode dated 19 August 1981
Aired: Aug 18, 1981107. Episode dated 20 August 1981
Aired: Aug 19, 1981108. Episode dated 21 August 1981
Aired: Aug 20, 1981109. Episode dated 24 August 1981
Aired: Aug 21, 1981110. Episode dated 25 August 1981
Aired: Aug 24, 1981111. Episode dated 26 August 1981
Aired: Aug 25, 1981112. Episode dated 27 August 1981
Aired: Aug 26, 1981113. Episode dated 28 August 1981
Aired: Aug 27, 1981114. Episode dated 1 September 1981
Aired: Aug 28, 1981115. Episode dated 2 September 1981
Aired: Sep 1, 1981116. Episode dated 3 September 1981
Aired: Sep 2, 1981117. Episode dated 4 September 1981
Aired: Sep 3, 1981
118. Neil Simon/Sean Morey/Marsha Mason/The Oak Ridge Boys
Aired: Sep 4, 1981119. Episode dated 9 September 1981
Aired: Sep 8, 1981120. Episode dated 10 September 1981
Aired: Sep 9, 1981121. Episode dated 11 September 1981
Aired: Sep 10, 1981122. Episode dated 15 September 1981
Aired: Sep 11, 1981123. Episode dated 16 September 1981
Aired: Sep 15, 1981124. Episode dated 18 September 1981
Aired: Sep 16, 1981125. Episode dated 22 September 1981
Aired: Sep 17, 1981126. Episode dated 23 September 1981
Aired: Sep 18, 1981127. Episode dated 24 September 1981
Aired: Sep 22, 1981128. Episode dated 25 September 1981
Aired: Sep 23, 1981129. Episode dated 28 September 1981
Aired: Sep 24, 1981130. Episode dated 29 September 1981
Aired: Sep 25, 1981131. Episode dated 30 September 1981
Aired: Sep 28, 1981132. Episode dated 1 October 1981
Aired: Sep 29, 1981133. Episode dated 2 October 1981
Aired: Sep 30, 1981134. Episode dated 7 October 1981
Aired: Oct 1, 1981135. Martin Mull/James Woods/Peter Billingsley
Aired: Oct 2, 1981Johnny presents bad product mergers. Martin Mull performs stand-up and is int...
136. Episode dated 9 October 1981
Aired: Oct 7, 1981137. Episode dated 13 October 1981
Aired: Oct 8, 1981
138. Robin Williams/Jean Marsh
Aired: Oct 9, 1981Johnny examines the chess rivalry between Anatoli Karpov and Viktor Korchnoi....
139. Episode dated 15 October 1981
Aired: Oct 13, 1981140. Episode dated 16 October 1981
Aired: Oct 14, 1981141. Episode dated 27 October 1981
Aired: Oct 15, 1981142. Episode dated 28 October 1981
Aired: Oct 16, 1981143. Episode dated 29 October 1981
Aired: Oct 27, 1981144. Episode dated 30 October 1981
Aired: Oct 28, 1981145. Episode dated 3 November 1981
Aired: Oct 29, 1981146. Episode dated 4 November 1981
Aired: Oct 30, 1981147. Episode dated 5 November 1981
Aired: Nov 3, 1981148. Robert Klein/Calvin Trillin
Aired: Nov 4, 1981Ed interviews the commander of a foundered Soviet submarine. Robert Klein per...
149. Episode dated 10 November 1981
Aired: Nov 5, 1981150. Episode dated 11 November 1981
Aired: Nov 6, 1981151. Dom DeLuise/Betty White/Jerry Seinfeld
Aired: Nov 10, 1981Dom DeLuise (The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982)); Betty White (Stand ...
152. Episode dated 13 November 1981
Aired: Nov 11, 1981153. Episode dated 17 November 1981
Aired: Nov 12, 1981154. Episode dated 18 November 1981
Aired: Nov 13, 1981155. Episode dated 19 November 1981
Aired: Nov 17, 1981
156. Bob Hope/Susan Sarandon/Ricky Schroder
Aired: Nov 18, 1981Johnny and Ed continue their debate about a tree falling in the forest. Bob H...
157. Episode dated 24 November 1981
Aired: Nov 19, 1981
Aired: Nov 20, 1981159. Episode dated 26 November 1981
Aired: Nov 24, 1981160. Episode dated 27 November 1981
Aired: Nov 25, 1981161. Episode dated 30 November 1981
Aired: Nov 26, 1981162. Episode dated 1 December 1981
Aired: Nov 27, 1981163. Episode dated 2 December 1981
Aired: Nov 30, 1981164. Episode dated 3 December 1981
Aired: Dec 1, 1981165. Episode dated 4 December 1981
Aired: Dec 2, 1981166. Buddy Hackett/Rocky Graziano
Aired: Dec 3, 1981Johnny reveals the hidden meanings behind holiday remarks. Buddy Hackett perf...
167. Episode dated 9 December 1981
Aired: Dec 4, 1981
168. Jack Lemmon/Walter Matthau
Aired: Dec 8, 1981Johnny presents political photos with captions. Jack Lemmon and Walter Mattha...
169. Episode dated 11 December 1981
Aired: Dec 9, 1981
Aired: Dec 10, 1981Johnny reads children's letters to Santa. Gore Vidal suggests ideal gifts for...
171. Episode dated 16 December 1981
Aired: Dec 11, 1981172. Episode dated 17 December 1981
Aired: Dec 15, 1981173. Episode dated 18 December 1981
Aired: Dec 16, 1981174. Episode dated 29 December 1981
Aired: Dec 17, 1981175. Episode dated 30 December 1981
Aired: Dec 18, 1981176. Episode dated 31 December 1981
Aired: Dec 29, 1981177. Episode dated 28 July 1981
Aired: Dec 30, 1981Aired: Dec 31, 1981Main Cast
Appearances
