The Midnight Special

The Midnight Special (1972)


  • Genre:
  • First Air Date: 1972-08-19
  • Last Air Date: 1980-05-16
  • Total Seasons: 8
  • Total Episodes: 126
  • Status: Returning Series
  • Episode Runtime: 90 min.
  • Production Company: Burt Sugarman Productions
  • Network: NBC
star 7.2/10
From 4 Ratings

Summary

The Midnight Special is an American late-night musical variety series that aired on NBC during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Burt Sugarman. It premiered as a special on August 19, 1972, then began its run as a regular series on February 2, 1973; its last episode was on May 1, 1981. The ninety-minute program followed the Friday night edition of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The show typically featured guest hosts, except for a period from July 1975 through March 1976 when singer Helen Reddy served as the regular host. Wolfman Jack served as the announcer and frequent guest host. The series also occasionally aired vintage footage of older acts. As the program neared the end of its run in the early 1980s, it began to frequently use lip-synched performances rather than live. The program also featured occasional comedic performances such as Richard Pryor and Andy Kaufman.

  • Keywords: variety show
  • Where to Watch The Midnight Special Online

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    The Midnight Special Trailer

    The Midnight Special Seasons

    Season 1

    First Air Date: 1972-08-19
    40 Episodes

    Season 2

    First Air Date: 1973-09-14
    50 Episodes

    Season 3

    First Air Date: 1974-09-27
    18 Episodes

    Season 4

    First Air Date:
    14 Episodes

    Season 5

    First Air Date: 1977-06-03
    6 Episodes

    Season 6

    First Air Date:
    4 Episodes

    Season 7

    First Air Date: 1979-01-19
    3 Episodes

    Season 8

    First Air Date:
    4 Episodes

    The Midnight Special Episodes

    Title Air Date Duration
    Season 1Episode 1Host: John Denver65 min
    Season 1Episode 2Host: Helen Reddy65 min
    Season 1Episode 3Host: Johnny Rivers65 min
    Season 1Episode 4Host: Mac Davis65 min
    Season 1Episode 5Host: Harry Chapin65 min
    Season 1Episode 6Host: Anne Murray65 min
    Season 1Episode 7Host: Paul Williams65 min
    Season 1Episode 8Host: Paul Anka65 min
    Season 1Episode 9Host: Lou Rawls65 min
    Season 1Episode 10Host: Ray Charles65 min
    Season 1Episode 11Hosts: The Bee Gees65 min
    Season 1Episode 12Host: Bill Cosby65 min
    Season 1Episode 13Host: Doc Severinsen65 min
    Season 1Episode 14Host: Jerry Lee Lewis65 min
    Season 1Episode 15Host: Johnny Nash65 min
    Season 1Episode 16Hosts: Burns and Schreiber65 min
    Season 1Episode 17Host: Chubby Checker65 min
    Season 1Episode 18Hosts: Gladys Knight & the Pips65 min
    Season 1Episode 19Host: Paul Williams65 min
    Season 1Episode 20Host: Curtis Mayfield65 min
    Season 1Episode 21Host: Jim Croce65 min
    Season 1Episode 22Hosts: The Bee Gees65 min
    Season 1Episode 23Host: Paul Williams65 min
    Season 1Episode 24Host: Jose Feliciano65 min
    Season 1Episode 25Host: Smokey Robinson65 min
    Season 1Episode 26Host: Joan Baez65 min
    Season 1Episode 27Host: Dionne Warwick65 min
    Season 1Episode 28Host: Al Green65 min
    Season 1Episode 29Hosts: The Bee Gees65 min
    Season 1Episode 30Host: Richard Pryor65 min
    Season 1Episode 31Co-hosts: Loretta Lynn & Marty Robbins65 min
    Season 1Episode 32Host: Billy Preston65 min
    Season 1Episode 33Host: Mac Davis65 min
    Season 2Episode 1Host: Curtis Mayfield65 min
    Season 2Episode 2Host: Wilson Pickett65 min
    Season 2Episode 3Hosts: Seals & Crofts65 min
    Season 2Episode 4Hosts: Gladys Knight & the Pips65 min
    Season 2Episode 5Hosts: The Bee Gees65 min
    Season 2Episode 6Hosts: War65 min
    Season 2Episode 7Hosts: Sly and the Family Stone65 min
    Season 2Episode 8Host: Chuck Berry65 min
    Season 2Episode 9Host: Jerry Lee Lewis65 min
    Season 2Episode 10The 1980 Floor Show starring David Bowie65 min
    Season 2Episode 11Host: Peter Noone65 min
    Season 2Episode 12Hosts: Procol Harum65 min
    Season 2Episode 13Hosts: The Four Tops65 min
    Season 2Episode 14Hosts: Loggins & Messina65 min
    Season 2Episode 15Host: Jose Feliciano65 min
    Season 2Episode 16Host: Marty Robbins65 min
    Season 2Episode 17Million Sellers hosted by Wolfman Jack65 min
    Season 2Episode 18Hosts: Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show65 min
    Season 2Episode 19Host: Smokey Robinson65 min
    Season 2Episode 20Host: Steve Miller65 min
    Season 2Episode 21Host: Helen Reddy65 min
    Season 2Episode 22Hosts: Ike and Tina Turner65 min
    Season 2Episode 23Host: Roy Orbison65 min
    Season 2Episode 24Host: Gordon Lightfoot65 min
    Season 2Episode 25Hosts: Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show65 min
    Season 2Episode 26Hosts: Gladys Knight and the Pips65 min
    Season 2Episode 27Hosts: The Pointer Sisters65 min
    Season 2Episode 28Host: Bill Withers65 min
    Season 2Episode 29Hosts: The Guess Who65 min
    Season 2Episode 30Hosts: The Righteous Brothers65 min
    Season 2Episode 31Host: Roy Clark65 min
    Season 2Episode 32Host: Curtis Mayfield65 min
    Season 2Episode 33Host: Charlie Rich65 min
    Season 2Episode 34Hosts: The Spinners65 min
    Season 2Episode 35Host: George Carlin65 min
    Season 2Episode 36Host: Frankie Avalon65 min
    Season 2Episode 37Host: Richard Pryor65 min
    Season 2Episode 38Host: Marty Robbins65 min
    Season 2Episode 39Hosts: The Kinks65 min
    Season 2Episode 40Host: David Steinberg (All-Comedy show)65 min
    Season 2Episode 41Host: Anne Murray65 min
    Season 2Episode 42Host: Bobby Womack65 min
    Season 2Episode 43Host: Helen Reddy65 min
    Season 2Episode 44Host: Leon Russell65 min
    Season 2Episode 45Host: Leon Russell65 min
    Season 2Episode 46Hosts: Sly and the Family Stone65 min
    Season 2Episode 47Host: Little Richard65 min
    Season 2Episode 48Host: B.B. King65 min
    Season 2Episode 49Host: Marvin Gaye65 min
    Season 2Episode 50Hosts: The O'Jays65 min
    Season 3Episode 1Host: Randy Newman65 min
    Season 3Episode 2Host: Al Green65 min
    Season 3Episode 3Host: Jose Feliciano65 min
    Season 3Episode 4Host: Paul Anka65 min
    Season 3Episode 5Host: David Steinberg (All-Comedy show)65 min
    Season 3Episode 6Host: Fats Domino65 min
    Season 3Episode 7Host: Redd Foxx65 min
    Season 3Episode 8Host: Barry White65 min
    Season 3Episode 9Host: George Carlin65 min
    Season 3Episode 10Host: Bobby Vinton65 min
    Season 3Episode 11Host: Tom Jones65 min
    Season 3Episode 12Million Sellers (Part 1) - Host: Wolfman Jack65 min
    Season 3Episode 13Million Sellers (Part 2) - Host: Wolfman Jack65 min
    Season 3Episode 14Host: Charley Pride65 min
    Season 3Episode 15Hosts: The Guess Who65 min
    Season 3Episode 16Hosts: The Righteous Brothers65 min
    Season 3Episode 17Hosts: Electric Light Orchestra65 min
    Season 3Episode 18Hosts: The Marshall Tucker Band65 min
    Season 3Episode 19Host: Helen Reddy (2nd Anniversary Show)65 min
    Season 3Episode 20Host: Dave Mason65 min
    Season 3Episode 21Host: Neil Sedaka65 min
    Season 3Episode 22Host: Steppenwolf65 min
    Season 3Episode 23Hosts: B.T. Express65 min
    Season 3Episode 24Host: Olivia Newton-John65 min
    Season 3Episode 25Host: Clive Davis65 min
    Season 3Episode 26Hosts: Black Oak Arkansas65 min
    Season 3Episode 27International Acts hosted by Wolfman Jack65 min
    Season 3Episode 28Hosts: The Ohio Players65 min
    Season 3Episode 29Co-hosts: Wet Willie and Charlie Daniels65 min
    Season 3Episode 30Hosts: Earth, Wind & Fire65 min
    Season 3Episode 31Hosts: Rod Stewart & The Faces65 min
    Season 3Episode 32Host: Billy Preston65 min
    Season 3Episode 33Host: Wolfman Jack65 min
    Season 3Episode 34Host: Chubby Checker65 min
    Season 3Episode 35Host: Don Cornelius65 min
    Season 3Episode 36Host: Joan Baez65 min
    Season 3Episode 37Hosts: Seals & Crofts65 min
    Season 3Episode 38Host: Herb Alpert65 min
    Season 3Episode 39Host: Flip Wilson65 min
    Season 3Episode 40Host: Frankie Valli65 min
    Season 3Episode 41Host: Flip Wilson65 min
    Season 3Episode 42Helen Reddy / Mac Davis / Minnie Riperton65 min
    Season 3Episode 43Helen Reddy / Jessi Colter / Janis Ian65 min
    Season 3Episode 44Helen Reddy / Glen Campbell / Uriah Heep65 min
    Season 3Episode 45Helen Reddy / Roger Daltrey65 min
    Season 3Episode 46Helen Reddy / Johnny Rivers65 min
    Season 3Episode 47Helen Reddy / Frankie Valli65 min
    Season 3Episode 48Helen Reddy / The Bee Gees / Janis Ian65 min
    Season 4Episode 1Helen Reddy / Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Phoebe Snow65 min
    Season 4Episode 2Helen Reddy / Isaac Hayes / Barry Manilow65 min
    Season 4Episode 3Helen Reddy / Roger Miller / Keith Carradine65 min
    Season 4Episode 4Helen Reddy / Bee Gees / Ike & Tina Turner65 min
    Season 4Episode 5Host: Glen Campbell / Mac Davis65 min
    Season 4Episode 6Helen Reddy / J. Geils Band / Hudson Brothers65 min
    Season 4Episode 7Helen Reddy / Merle Haggard / Roger Daltrey65 min
    Season 4Episode 8Helen Reddy / Neil Sedaka / Freddie Prinze65 min
    Season 4Episode 9Helen Reddy / David Essex / Brenda Lee / Jimmie Walker65 min
    Season 4Episode 10Helen Reddy / Frankie Valli / KISS / Barry Manilow65 min
    Season 4Episode 11Helen Reddy / Natalie Cole / Bee Gees / Olivia Newton-John65 min
    Season 4Episode 12Helen Reddy / Anne Murray / Rufus feat. Chaka Khan65 min
    Season 4Episode 13Helen Reddy / Petula Clark / Peter Frampton65 min
    Season 4Episode 14Host: Helen Reddy / Dolly Parton / Charlie Rich65 min
    Season 4Episode 15Helen Reddy / Joan Baez / ELO65 min
    Season 4Episode 16Helen Reddy / Staple Singers / Poco65 min
    Season 4Episode 17Helen Reddy / Natalie Cole / Petula Clark65 min
    Season 4Episode 18Helen Reddy / 5th Dimension / Tom T. Hall65 min
    Season 4Episode 19Host: Wolfman Jack (3rd Anniversary Show, Part 1)65 min
    Season 4Episode 20Host: Wolfman Jack (3rd Anniversary Show, Part 2)65 min
    Season 4Episode 21Host: David Brenner / Fleetwood Mac65 min
    Season 4Episode 22Helen Reddy / Miracles / Tanya Tucker / ELO65 min
    Season 4Episode 23Helen Reddy / Peter Frampton / Rufus feat. Chaka Khan65 min
    Season 4Episode 24Helen Reddy / Gordon Lightfoot / Little Richard65 min
    Season 4Episode 25Host: Natalie Cole65 min
    Season 4Episode 26Helen Reddy / Fleetwood Mac65 min
    Season 4Episode 27Host: Janis Ian65 min
    Season 4Episode 28Host: Ray Charles65 min
    Season 4Episode 29Host: Paul Anka65 min
    Season 4Episode 30Host: Neil Sedaka65 min
    Season 4Episode 31Host: Helen Reddy65 min
    Season 4Episode 32Host: Seals & Crofts65 min
    Season 4Episode 33Host: Natalie Cole65 min
    Season 4Episode 34Host: Glen Campbell65 min
    Season 4Episode 35Host: Rita Coolidge65 min
    Season 4Episode 36Host: Helen Reddy65 min
    Season 4Episode 37Hosts: The Spinners65 min
    Season 4Episode 38Host: David Brenner65 min
    Season 4Episode 39Host: James Brown65 min
    Season 4Episode 40Host: Paul Williams65 min
    Season 4Episode 41Host: Helen Reddy65 min
    Season 4Episode 42Host: Jimmie Walker65 min
    Season 4Episode 43Host: Aretha Franklin65 min
    Season 5Episode 1Hosts: The Spinners65 min
    Season 5Episode 2Host: Lesley Gore65 min
    Season 5Episode 3Host: George Carlin65 min
    Season 5Episode 4Host: James Brown65 min
    Season 5Episode 5Co-hosts: Jackie DeShannon & Johnny Rivers65 min
    Season 5Episode 6Host: Helen Reddy65 min
    Season 5Episode 7Hosts: KC & the Sunshine Band65 min
    Season 5Episode 8Host: Frankie Valli65 min
    Season 5Episode 9Host: Lou Rawls65 min
    Season 5Episode 10Host: Helen Reddy65 min
    Season 5Episode 11Host: Diana Ross65 min
    Season 5Episode 12Million Sellers of 1976, Part 165 min
    Season 5Episode 13Host: Helen Reddy65 min
    Season 5Episode 14Host: Tom Jones65 min
    Season 5Episode 15Million Sellers of 1976, Part 265 min
    Season 5Episode 16Host: Judy Collins65 min
    Season 5Episode 17Host: Helen Reddy (4th Anniversary Show)65 min
    Season 5Episode 18Host: Glen Campbell65 min
    Season 5Episode 19Hosts: The Electric Light Orchestra65 min
    Season 5Episode 20Host: Loretta Lynn65 min
    Season 5Episode 21Hosts: KC & the Sunshine Band65 min
    Season 5Episode 22Hosts: Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr.65 min
    Season 5Episode 23Host: Aretha Franklin65 min
    Season 5Episode 24Host: George Carlin65 min
    Season 5Episode 25Host: Gabe Kaplan65 min
    Season 5Episode 26Host: George Benson65 min
    Season 5Episode 27British Rock hosted by Wolfman Jack65 min
    Season 5Episode 28Host: Helen Reddy65 min
    Season 5Episode 29Host: Wolfman Jack65 min
    Season 5Episode 30Host: Lou Rawls65 min
    Season 5Episode 31Host: Neil Sedaka65 min
    Season 5Episode 32Hosts: Bread65 min
    Season 5Episode 33Co-hosts: Emmylou Harris & Little Feat65 min
    Season 5Episode 34Host: Neil Sedaka65 min
    Season 5Episode 35Host: Gregg Allman65 min
    Season 5Episode 36Hosts: KC & the Sunshine Band65 min
    Season 5Episode 37Hosts: The Spinners65 min
    Season 5Episode 38Hosts: The Bay City Rollers65 min
    Season 6Episode 1Hosts: The Captain and Tennille65 min
    Season 6Episode 2Host: David Brenner65 min
    Season 6Episode 3Host: George Benson65 min
    Season 6Episode 4Host: Kenny Rogers65 min
    Season 6Episode 5Hosts: Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr.65 min
    Season 6Episode 6Host: Elvin Bishop65 min
    Season 6Episode 7Host: David Soul65 min
    Season 6Episode 8Host: Lou Rawls65 min
    Season 6Episode 9Host: Glen Campbell65 min
    Season 6Episode 10Hosts: The Spinners65 min
    Season 6Episode 11Host: Frankie Valli65 min
    Season 6Episode 12Host: Wolfman Jack65 min
    Season 6Episode 13Host: Lou Rawls65 min
    Season 6Episode 14Host: Pat Boone (Christmas Show)65 min
    Season 6Episode 15Hosts: Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr.65 min
    Season 6Episode 16Hosts: The Bay City Rollers65 min
    Season 6Episode 17Hosts: The O'Jays65 min
    Season 6Episode 18Host: Aretha Franklin65 min
    Season 6Episode 19Host: Shaun Cassidy65 min
    Season 6Episode 20Host: Natalie Cole65 min
    Season 6Episode 21Million Sellers of 1977 (hosted by Wolfman Jack)65 min
    Season 6Episode 22Host: Donna Summer65 min
    Season 6Episode 23Host: Rick Nelson65 min
    Season 6Episode 24Host: Ronnie Milsap65 min
    Season 6Episode 25Hosts: Player65 min
    Season 6Episode 26Host: Tom Jones65 min
    Season 6Episode 27Host: Roger Miller65 min
    Season 6Episode 28Hosts: England Dan and John Ford Coley65 min
    Season 6Episode 29Host: Jay Ferguson65 min
    Season 6Episode 30Host: Journey65 min
    Season 6Episode 31Host: Yvonne Elliman65 min
    Season 6Episode 32Host: Dicky Betts65 min
    Season 6Episode 33Host: Helen Reddy65 min
    Season 6Episode 34Co-hosts: Donna Summer & Wolfman Jack65 min
    Season 6Episode 35Host: Crystal Gayle65 min
    Season 6Episode 36Host: Elvin Bishop65 min
    Season 6Episode 37Host: Mac Davis65 min
    Season 6Episode 38Host: Burton Cummings65 min
    Season 6Episode 39Host: Martin Mull65 min
    Season 6Episode 40Host: Eddie Money65 min
    Season 6Episode 41Host: Leo Sayer65 min
    Season 6Episode 42Host: Frankie Valli65 min
    Season 6Episode 43Hosts: Todd Rundgren & Utopia65 min
    Season 6Episode 44Hosts: KC & the Sunshine Band65 min
    Season 7Episode 1Host: Larry Gatlin65 min
    Season 7Episode 2Hosts: REO Speedwagon65 min
    Season 7Episode 3Host: Dolly Parton65 min
    Season 7Episode 4Hosts: The Dirt Band65 min
    Season 7Episode 5Host: Wolfman Jack65 min
    Season 7Episode 6Hosts: Hall & Oates65 min
    Season 7Episode 7Hosts: The Atlanta Rhythm Section65 min
    Season 7Episode 8Host: Ted Nugent65 min
    Season 7Episode 9Disco Show hosted by Wolfman Jack65 min
    Season 7Episode 10Host: Wolfman Jack65 min
    Season 7Episode 11Host: Tina Turner65 min
    Season 7Episode 12Host: Wolfman Jack65 min
    Season 7Episode 13Host: Blondie65 min
    Season 7Episode 14Hosts: The Village People65 min
    Season 7Episode 15Host: The Jacksons65 min
    Season 7Episode 16Hits of 1978 (hosted by Wolfman Jack)65 min
    Season 7Episode 17Host: Alice Cooper65 min
    Season 7Episode 18Hosts: Brooklyn Dreams65 min
    Season 7Episode 19Host: Alicia Bridges65 min
    Season 7Episode 20Hosts: Rick James & the Stone City Band65 min
    Season 7Episode 21Host: Linda Clifford65 min
    Season 7Episode 22Hosts: The Babys65 min
    Season 7Episode 23Hosts: Sister Sledge65 min
    Season 7Episode 24Hosts: The Beach Boys65 min
    Season 7Episode 25Host: Amii Stewart65 min
    Season 7Episode 26Hosts: Peaches & Herb65 min
    Season 7Episode 27Hosts: Journey65 min
    Season 7Episode 28Host: Gloria Gaynor65 min
    Season 7Episode 29Host: Bob Welch65 min
    Season 7Episode 30Hosts: Raydio65 min
    Season 7Episode 31Host: Wolfman Jack65 min
    Season 7Episode 32Host: Suzi Quatro65 min
    Season 7Episode 33Host: Mac Davis65 min
    Season 7Episode 34Hosts: Little River Band65 min
    Season 7Episode 35Host: Bob Welch65 min
    Season 8Episode 1Host: The Charlie Daniels Band65 min
    Season 8Episode 2Host: The Cars65 min
    Season 8Episode 3Host: Blondie65 min
    Season 8Episode 4Hosts: The Captain and Tennille65 min
    Season 8Episode 5Hosts: Peaches and Herb65 min
    Season 8Episode 6Hosts: KC & the Sunshine Band65 min
    Season 8Episode 7Hosts: The Commodores65 min
    Season 8Episode 8Host: Roger Miller65 min
    Season 8Episode 9Hosts: The Pointer Sisters65 min
    Season 8Episode 10Co-hosts: Doc Severinsen & France Joli65 min
    Season 8Episode 11Hosts: The Village People65 min
    Season 8Episode 12Co-hosts: Lou Rawls and Rita Coolidge65 min
    Season 8Episode 13Host: Dr. Hook65 min
    Season 8Episode 14Host: Isaac Hayes65 min
    Season 8Episode 15Hosts: The Captain & Tennille (7th Anniversary Show)65 min
    Season 8Episode 16Hosts: The Captain & Tennille65 min
    Season 8Episode 17Host: Tom Jones65 min
    Season 8Episode 18Host: Bonnie Pointer65 min
    Season 8Episode 19Host: Mac Davis65 min
    Season 8Episode 20Host: Andy Gibb65 min
    Season 8Episode 21Hosts: Janis Ian and The Babys65 min
    Season 8Episode 22Host: The Spinners65 min
    Season 8Episode 23Co-hosts: Sissy Spacek and Levon Helm65 min
    Season 8Episode 24Host: Gladys Knight and the Pips65 min
    Season 8Episode 25Host: Roy Orbison65 min
    Season 8Episode 26Hosts: Billy Preston and Syreeta65 min
    Season 8Episode 27Host: The Temptations65 min
    Season 8Episode 28Host: The Brothers Johnson65 min
    Season 8Episode 29Co-hosts: Eddie Rabbitt and Kim Carnes65 min
    Season 8Episode 30Host: Ambrosia65 min
    Season 8Episode 31Host: Rupert Holmes65 min
    Season 8Episode 32Host: The Spinners65 min
    Season 8Episode 33Host: Olivia Newton-John65 min
    Season 8Episode 34Co-hosts: Glen Campbell & Tayna Tucker65 min
    Season 9Episode 1Host: Ted Nugent65 min
    Season 9Episode 2Host: Christopher Cross65 min
    Season 9Episode 3Hosts: Cher and Black Rose65 min
    Season 9Episode 4Host: Chevy Chase65 min
    Season 9Episode 5Host: America65 min
    Season 9Episode 6Hosts: The Spinners65 min
    Season 9Episode 7Host: Mac Davis65 min
    Season 9Episode 8Host: The Oak Ridge Boys65 min
    Season 9Episode 9Host: Stephanie Mills65 min
    Season 9Episode 10Host: Billy Crystal65 min
    Season 9Episode 11Hosts: The Captain & Tennille65 min
    Season 9Episode 12Host: REO Speedwagon65 min
    Season 9Episode 13Host: Robert Klein65 min
    Season 9Episode 14Host: The Pointer Sisters65 min
    Season 9Episode 15Host: Harry Chapin65 min
    Season 9Episode 16Host: Larry Hagman65 min
    Season 9Episode 17Host: Andy Kaufman65 min
    Season 9Episode 18Host: Lily Tomlin65 min
    Season 9Episode 19Host: Lynda Carter65 min
    Season 9Episode 20Host: Bob Uecker65 min
    Season 9Episode 21Host: Marilu Henner65 min
    Season 9Episode 22Host: Laraine Newman65 min
    Season 9Episode 23Host: John Schneider65 min
    Season 9Episode 24Host: Patricia Davis65 min
    Season 9Episode 25Hosts: Skip Stephenson & Byron Allen65 min

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