List of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson episodes (1981)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 1981 episodes
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	178
Release
Original network	NBC

The following is a list of episodes of the television series The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson which aired in 1981:

1981

January

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
2,463	January 1, 1981	Marie Osmond, Charles Nelson Reilly	N/A
Desk- "New Year's Resolutions"
2,464	January 2, 1981	David Letterman, Susan Sarandon	Linda Hopkins
Desk- "Eulogy for Baby"
2,465	January 6, 1981	Peter O'Toole, Victoria Principal	The Pointer Sisters
Desk- "25 Least Intriguing People of 1980"
2,466	January 7, 1981	Sugar Ray Leonard, Erma Bombeck	Joe Williams
Desk- "Blue Cards"
2,467	January 8, 1981	McLean Stevenson, James Woods, Bum Phillips	N/A
Sketch- "G. Walter Schneer- Insurance"
2,468	January 9, 1981	Burt Reynolds, Argus Hamilton	Doobie Brothers
Desk- "Psychic Predictions"
2,469	January 13, 1981	Shelley Winters, Martin Mull, Juanita Booker	N/A
2,470	January 14, 1981	Peter Strauss, George Gobel	Oak Ridge Boys
Carnac the Magnificent
2,471	January 15, 1981	David Steinberg, William Conrad	N/A
Edge of Wetness
2,472	January 16, 1981	Bob Hope, Argus Hamilton	N/A
Desk- "La Brea Tar Pits Remnants"
2,473	January 26, 1981	George Carlin (guest host), Debbie Reynolds, Kip Addotta, Dr. Joyce Brothers	N/A
2,474	January 27, 1981	David Letterman (guest host), Franklyn Ajaye	Ricky Nelson
2,475	January 28, 1981	David Letterman (guest host), Pete Barbutti	Aretha Franklin
2,476	January 29, 1981	David Letterman (guest host), Kelly Monteith, Marilu Henner	N/A
Desk- "Program Reminder"
2,477	January 30, 1981	David Letterman (guest host), Lily Tomlin	N/A
Desk- "Olympic Sports"

February

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
2,478	February 2, 1981	Joan Rivers (guest host), Larry Hagman, Ricky Schroder	Bobby Vinton
2,479	February 3, 1981	Rodney Dangerfield	Irene Cara
Desk- "Inaugural Trivia"
2,480	February 4, 1981	Charlie Callas	N/A
Talk with Ed
2,481	February 5, 1981	Jon Walter	Tony Bennett
Stump the Band
2,482	February 6, 1981	Michael Landon, Tanya Roberts	Jean-Pierre Rampal
Desk- "T.V. Guide"
2,483	February 10, 1981	Bill Cosby, Jack Klugman	N/A
2,484	February 11, 1981	Charles Grodin	Loretta Lynn
Floyd R. Turbo- "Editorial Reply Against Funding For The Arts"
2,485	February 12, 1981	George Segal, Lorna Patterson	N/A
2,486	February 13, 1981	Doug Henning	Bob & Ray
Desk- "Superstitions"
2,487	February 17, 1981	Robert Blake, Calvin Trillin	Linda Hopkins
Desk- "Blue Cards"
2,488	February 18, 1981	Lee Trevino	Pete Fountain
Desk- "First Photographs"
2,489	February 19, 1981	Rich Hall, Dr. Lawrence Kuznetz	Jim Stafford
Desk- "Guide to Los Angeles"
2,490	February 20, 1981	Tony Randall	Sarah Vaughan
2,491	February 23, 1981	Rich Little (guest host), Charlton Heston, Paul Williams, Peter Cook	N/A
2,492	February 24, 1981	Carl Reiner, Catherine Deneuve	N/A
Carnac the Magnificent
2,493	February 25, 1981	Barbara Eden, Bobby Kelton, Arnold Roth	N/A
Desk- "Crimebusters Bulletin"
2,494	February 26, 1981	Mickey Rooney, Priscilla Barnes	N/A
Stump the Band
2,495	February 27, 1981	David Letterman, Sydne Rome	N/A
Commercial Blackouts: "Alpo", "Static Gone", "Citi Corp Travelers Checks", "Kelvins" and "Harry's Bristol Cream"

March

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
2,496	March 2, 1981	Martin Mull (guest host), Morgan Fairchild, Bob Uecker	Mac Davis
2,497	March 3, 1981	Joan Rivers	Barbara Mandrell
Desk- "Library Questions"
2,498	March 4, 1981	David Brenner, Christie Brinkley	N/A
Mighty Carson Art Players- "Cronkite Sketch"
2,499	March 5, 1981	Charles Nelson Reilly	Slim Whitman
Mighty Carson Art Players- "Carl Sagan Sketch"
2,500	March 6, 1981	Steve Landesberg	Melissa Manchester
Edge of Wetness
2,501	March 17, 1981	Sally Field	Mel Tillis
Desk- "National Enquirer"
2,502	March 18, 1981	Richard Benjamin, Garry Shandling, Jan Stephenson	N/A
Desk- "Silliness with Ed"
2,503	March 19, 1981	David Steinberg, Lois Areno	Peabo Bryson
Desk- "Movies That Didn't Get Nominated for an Oscar"
2,504	March 20, 1981	Suzanne Somers, Dr. Warren Thomas	N/A
Mighty Carson Art Players- "Marharishi Psychic"
2,505	March 24, 1981	none	B.B. King, Phyllis Newman
Desk- "Blue Cards"
2,506	March 25, 1981	Peter Strauss, Gore Vidal	N/A
Desk- "Chapter Two of Dot Riddle"
2,507	March 26, 1981	Patrick Macnee, Pete Barbutti	N/A
Desk- "Homework School of The Air"
2,508	March 27, 1981	Charles Nelson Reilly, Richard Lewis, Cathy Moriarty	N/A
Mighty Carson Art Players- "Commercial Actor School"

April

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
2,509	April 6, 1981	Joan Rivers (guest host), David Brenner, James Coco, Rip Taylor	N/A
2,510	April 7, 1981	Suzanne Pleshette, Dick Cavett	N/A
Desk- "Talk with Ed"
2,511	April 8, 1981	Angie Dickinson	Joe Williams
Desk- "Library Questions"
2,512	April 9, 1981	Albert Brooks, Susan Sarandon	N/A
Carnac the Magnificent
2,513	April 10, 1981	Robert Blake, Calvin Trillin	N/A
Desk- "Talk with Ed"

May

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
2,514	May 5, 1981	Thalassa Cruso	Jimmy Buffett
Desk- "What Writers Really Want Out Of The Strike"; Desk- "Foreign Commercials"
2,515	May 6, 1981	Ringo Starr, Jerry Seinfeld, Barbara Bach	Oak Ridge Boys
2,516	May 7, 1981	Richard Harris, Mariette Hartley	N/A
Edge of Wetness
2,517	May 8, 1981	David Letterman, Charles Haid	N/A
Desk- "Foreign Commercials"; Desk- "Letters from Children: Rules for Marriage Partners"
2,518	May 12, 1981	Lorna Patterson	Jim Stafford
Desk- "Durations Book: How Long Certain Things Take to Do"
2,519	May 13, 1981	Martin Mull, Joe Garagiola	N/A
Desk- "What Famous People Will Look Like 25 Years From Now"
2,520	May 14, 1981	Joan Rivers, William & Amos Caulfield	N/A
Floyd R. Turbo- "Editorial Reply on High-Salaried Baseball Players"
2,521	May 19, 1981	Alan Alda, David Brenner	N/A
Desk- "People Magazine Poll"
2,522	May 20, 1981	George Carlin, Richard Pryor	N/A
Desk- "Whatchamacallit Words"
2,523	May 21, 1981	George Segal, Rich Hall	N/A
Carnac the Magnificent
2,524	May 22, 1981	Carol Wayne	Leonard Waxdeck & The Birdcallers, Larry Gatlin
Mighty Carson Art Players- "Tea-Time Movie"
2,525	May 26, 1981	Dr. Paul Ehrlich	Liza Minnelli ("New York, New York")
Desk- "Bride's Book of Etiquette"
2,526	May 27, 1981	Shelley Winters, Robert Klein	N/A
Stump the Band
2,527	May 28, 1981	Maureen Murphy	Steve Lawrence
Desk- "Tree Falling from a Forest Question"
2,528	May 29, 1981	Kathryn Harrold	Eydie Gormé
Desk- "Famous High School Graduates"

June

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
2,529	June 1, 1981	Rich Little (guest host)	Charo
2,530	June 2, 1981	David Brenner (guest host)	Connie Stevens, Linda Hopkins
2,531	June 3, 1981	David Letterman (guest host), Charles Grodin	Tina Turner
Desk- "International Signs"
2,532	June 4, 1981	David Letterman (guest host), Bert Convy, Teri Garr	N/A
2,533	June 5, 1981	David Letterman (guest host), Joan Embery, Dr. Lendon Smith	Hoyt Axton
2,534	June 9, 1981	Buddy Hackett, Dr. Richard Archer	N/A
Desk- "Free Things to Do This Summer in South California"
2,535	June 10, 1981	Madeline Kahn, Pete Barbutti	N/A
Desk- "Blue Cards"
2,536	June 11, 1981	Peter Cook, Garry Shandling	Chet Atkins
Desk- "Homework School of The Air"
2,537	June 12, 1981	Steve Landesberg, Shelley Long	Pete Fountain
Commercial Blackouts: "Like Cereal", "Gullo Wine", "Flab Cola", and "Shanka Coffee".
2,538	June 16, 1981	Arnold Schwarzenegger	Dionne Warwick
Desk- "Library Questions"
2,539	June 17, 1981	Gerald Lawton, Myrtle Whitcher, Terry Rich	Tom Jones
Edge of Wetness
2,540	June 18, 1981	Jim Fowler, David Steinberg	N/A
Carnac the Magnificent
2,541	June 19, 1981	Lou Holtz, Dr. Carl Sagan	Ross Tompkins
Mighty Carson Art Players- "David Horitzer- Consumer Supporter"
2,542	June 23, 1981	Robert Blake	Kenny Rankin
Desk- "Doublespeak"
2,543	June 24, 1981	Franklyn Ajaye, David Horowitz	Nicolette Larson
Desk- "Possible Vacation Trips People Might Take"
2,544	June 25, 1981	McLean Stevenson, Bob Uecker	N/A
Floyd R. Turbo- "Editorial Reply on Air Traffic Controllers"
2,545	June 26, 1981	Suzanne Somers, William Holden	N/A
Stump the Band
2,546	June 29, 1981	Joan Rivers (guest host), Gary Coleman, Dick Van Patten	N/A
2,547	June 30, 1981	Joan Rivers (guest host), George Hamilton, George Gobel	Mac Davis

July

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
2,548	July 1, 1981	David Letterman (guest host), Bess Armstrong, Joe Garagiola	N/A
Desk- "Program Reminder"
2,549	July 2, 1981	David Letterman (guest host), Richard Lewis	Jim Stafford
2,550	July 3, 1981	David Letterman (guest host), Margot Kidder, Richard Simmons	Natalie Cole
2,551	July 21, 1981	Suzanne Pleshette, Dr. Robert Altman with the opera singing bird named Nino	N/A
Talk with Ed
2,552	July 22, 1981	Jerry Seinfeld, Rona Barrett	The Angels Ensemble of California
Desk- "Behavior Book: Manual for Ladies"
2,553	July 23, 1981	George Segal, Mariette Hartley	The Beverly Hills Unlisted Jazz Band ("Ain't Nobody's Business" and "Won't You Come Home, Bill Bailey?")
Desk- "What Americans Are Doing During the Baseball Strike"
2,554	July 24, 1981	Michael Landon, Bo Derek	Doc Severinsen & The Tonight Show Band
Mighty Carson Art Players- "Mediterranean Fruit Fly"
2,555	July 28, 1981	James Stewart	Mac Davis
Desk- "Dental Charts of Prince Charles and Lady Diana"; Desk- "Memorabilia from England"
2,556	July 29, 1981	Robert Klein	Johnny Mathis
Desk- "Facts About The Royal Wedding by Sir Eton Crumpet"
2,557	July 30, 1981	Sylvester Stallone	B.B. King
Desk- "Blue Cards"
2,558	July 31, 1981	Angie Dickinson, Tommy Lasorda, Dom DeLuise	N/A

August

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
2,559	August 4, 1981	Charles Nelson Reilly	Loretta Lynn
Stump the Band
2,560	August 5, 1981	Alan King	Sheena Easton
Carnac the Magnificent
2,561	August 6, 1981	John Travolta, Erma Bombeck	N/A
Desk- "Famous Persons' Last Words"
2,562	August 7, 1981	Dudley Moore, Franklyn Ajaye, Laurene Landon	N/A
Aunt Blabby
2,563	August 11, 1981	Betty Thomas, Marge Carlson	Andy Williams ("New York, New York" and "The More I See You")
Desk- "Odds and Ends"
2,564	August 12, 1981	William Devane, Pat McCormick	The Manhattan Transfer
Desk- "Library Questions"
2,565	August 13, 1981	Richard Benjamin, Paula Prentiss, Henny Youngman	N/A
Edge of Wetness
2,566	August 14, 1981	Peter Strauss, Betty White, Victor Buono	N/A
Sketch- "Tarzan And The Apes"
2,567	August 17, 1981	David Steinberg (guest host), Charles Grodin	Bernadette Peters
2,568	August 18, 1981	David Steinberg (guest host), Joan Embery, Margot Kidder	N/A
2,569	August 19, 1981	David Letterman (guest host), Steve Allen, Sydney Goldsmith, Michael Keaton	N/A
Desk- "Program Reminder"
2,570	August 20, 1981	David Letterman (guest host), Elke Sommer	Al Jarreau
2,571	August 21, 1981	David Letterman (guest host), John Ritter, Andrea Martin	N/A
Desk- "Public Service Announcement"
2,572	August 24, 1981	Bill Cosby (guest host), Sugar Ray Leonard, Robert Culp	N/A
2,573	August 25, 1981	Bill Cosby (guest host), Norm Crosby, Richard Simmons	N/A
2,574	August 26, 1981	Bill Cosby (guest host), James Coco, Shelley Long	George Shearing
2,575	August 27, 1981	Bill Cosby (guest host), Dr. Lendon Smith	Tina Turner
2,576	August 28, 1981	Bill Cosby (guest host), Lynn Redgrave, James Hampton	Aretha Franklin

September

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
2,577	September 1, 1981	David Brenner	Tony Bennett
Talk with Ed
2,578	September 2, 1981	Joan Rivers, George Segal	N/A
Desk- "Boy Scout Hand Book"
2,579	September 3, 1981	Dom DeLuise	Steve Lawrence
Desk- "Whatchamacallit Words"
2,580	September 4, 1981	David Letterman, David Naughton	Linda Hopkins
Stump the Band
2,581	September 8, 1981	Neil Simon, Sean Morey, Marsha Mason	Oak Ridge Boys
Desk- Johnny explains that he is feeling a bit 'dippy' because he has been to a dentist this morning for deep cleaning. Tommy Newson was the next patient to see the dentist so Johnny dressed up as the dentist and checked over Tommy's charts and moaned.
2,582	September 9, 1981	Smothers Brothers, Brooke Shields	N/A
2,583	September 10, 1981	Tony Randall, Maureen Murphy	N/A
Desk- "Disaster Guide"
2,584	September 11, 1981	David Steinberg, Morgan Fairchild	Joe Williams
Commercial Blackouts: Spoofs on 'James Bond', 'Gone With The Wind', 'Casablanca' and 'The Elephant Man'.
2,585	September 15, 1981	Steve Landesberg	Larry Gatlin
Carnac the Magnificent
2,586	September 16, 1981	Margot Kidder, David Frank with his singing parrot Poncho	Al Jarreau
Desk- "Blue Cards"
2,587	September 17, 1981	Bert Convy, Rich Hall	N/A
Desk- "Unusual College Courses"
2,588	September 18, 1981	Robert Blake, Franklyn Ajaye	The Dixie Belles
2,589	September 22, 1981	Burt Reynolds, Charles Nelson Reilly	N/A
Edge of Wetness
2,590	September 23, 1981	Mariette Hartley	The 5th Dimension
Desk- "Shortcuts"
2,591	September 24, 1981	Robert Klein	Ann Jillian
Sketch- "The Entomologist"
2,592	September 25, 1981	Kelly Monteith	Eydie Gormé
Desk- "Library Questions"
2,593	September 28, 1981	Joan Rivers (guest host), Richard Simmons	Tony Orlando
2,594	September 29, 1981	Joan Rivers (guest host), James Coco, Erma Bombeck, Elizabeth Ashley	N/A
2,595	September 30, 1981	Joan Rivers (guest host), Cher, Charles Grodin, Helen Gurley Brown	N/A

October

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
2,596	October 1, 1981	David Steinberg (guest host), Phyllis Diller, Beverly D'Angelo, Peter Cook	N/A
2,597	October 2, 1981	David Letterman (guest host), Steve Allen	N/A
Desk- "Test Market Food"
2,598	October 7, 1981	Maureen Stapleton, Elliott Gould	Sarah Vaughan
Desk- "What's In a Name"
2,599	October 8, 1981	Peter Billingsley, Martin Mull, James Woods	N/A
Desk- "Corporate Mergers"
2,600	October 9, 1981	Candice Bergen, Doug Henning	N/A
Desk- "Blue Cards"
2,601	October 13, 1981	David Brenner, Elizabeth Tashjian	B.B. King
Desk- "Burbank Visitors Guide"
2,602	October 14, 1981	Robin Williams, Jean Marsh	N/A
Blackouts: Takeoff of 'Patton' and Takeoff of a 'Chess Match'.
2,603	October 15, 1981	Sammy Davis, Jr., Alan Alda, Alan King	N/A
Carnac the Magnificent
2,604	October 16, 1981	Bruce Dern, Andrea Martin	N/A
Mighty Carson Art Players- "Carl Sagan Sketch"
2,605	October 27, 1981	Tony Randall	Jim Stafford
Desk- "Quiz on Famous Quotes"
2,606	October 28, 1981	Dick Cavett, Lance Burton	Reba McEntire ("You Lift Me Up to Heaven")
2,607	October 29, 1981	Angie Dickinson, Garry Shandling	Pilobolus
Edge of Wetness
2,608	October 30, 1981	Michael Landon	Sheena Easton
Desk- "Odds and Ends"; Commercial Blackouts: 'Polaroid Camera', 'Roach Hotel', 'Michelob Beer', and 'Yodell Hills'.

November

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
2,609	November 3, 1981	Shelley Winters, Pete Barbutti	L.A. Dodgers Blue Wrecking Crew
2,610	November 4, 1981	Gabriel Kaplan, Teri Garr	Ronnie Milsap
Desk- "Euphemisms"
2,611	November 5, 1981	Smothers Brothers, Frank Nelson, Joan Dornemann	N/A
Sketch- "Mailman Sketch with Frank Nelson"
2,612	November 6, 1981	Robert Klein, Calvin Trillin	N/A
Sketch- "Russian Submarine Commander Interview"
2,613	November 10, 1981	David Niven	Barbara Mandrell
Desk- "Tonight Show Guest During Sweeps Week"
2,614	November 11, 1981	TBA	Buddy Rich, Dionne Warwick
Desk- "Blue Cards"
2,615	November 12, 1981	Dom DeLuise, Jerry Seinfeld, Betty White	N/A
Sketch- "Video Untouchables"
2,616	November 13, 1981	George Burns, Lorna Patterson	N/A
Desk- "Phobias"
2,617	November 17, 1981	Joan Rivers, David Horowitz	Linda Hopkins
Desk- "Golden Fleece Award"
2,618	November 18, 1981	Cassie Yates, Elizabeth Tashjian	Mel Tillis
Carnac the Magnificent
2,619	November 19, 1981	Suzanne Pleshette	Luciano Pavarotti
Desk- "Library Questions"
2,620	November 20, 1981	Ricky Schroder, Bob Hope, Susan Sarandon	N/A
Desk- Johnny and Ed Discuss the Riddle from Last Night.
2,621	November 24, 1981	David Brenner, Wally Lattimer	Aretha Franklin
Stump the Band
2,622	November 25, 1981	Louis and Bernice Eisenberg	Kenny Rogers
Desk- "Thanksgiving Letters from Kids"
2,623	November 26, 1981	Buddy Hackett, Bud Greenspan	The Angels Ensemble of California
Desk- "Blue Cards"
2,624	November 27, 1981	James Garner, Regis Philbin	N/A
Aunt Blabby
2,625	November 30, 1981	David Letterman (guest host), Mariette Hartley	Anne Murray

December

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
2,626	December 1, 1981	David Letterman (guest host), Rona Barrett, Dave Thomas	N/A
2,627	December 2, 1981	David Letterman (guest host), Dick Enberg, Jane Pauley	Natalie Cole
2,628	December 3, 1981	George Carlin (guest host), Victor Buono	Della Reese
2,629	December 4, 1981	George Carlin (guest host), Sandy Duncan	Helen Reddy
3630	December 8, 1981	Buddy Hackett, Rocky Graziano	N/A
Desk- "Euphemisms"
2,631	December 9, 1981	Elizabeth Ashley, Charlie Callas	N/A
Desk- Johnny talks about drunk driving, warning not to drive intoxicated, then reads an article sent in from a viewer regarding the penalties in foreign countries for drunk driving (ex. Execution for First Offenses).; Desk- "Foreign Commercials"
2,632	December 10, 1981	Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau	N/A
Desk- "Who's In Charge Here?"
2,633	December 11, 1981	Chevy Chase	Diana Ross
Desk- "Christmas Television Specials"
2,634	December 15, 1981	Jim Fowler, Gore Vidal	N/A
Desk- "Letters to Santa"
2,635	December 16, 1981	Stewart Granger	N/A
New Products
2,636	December 17, 1981	Robert Blake, Donna Dixon	B.B. King
Mighty Carson Art Players- "Bruce Lee's Fists of Christmas"
2,637	December 18, 1981	Bob Hope, Jane Fonda, Frank Nelson	Sarah Vaughan
Sketch- "Frank Nelson as Santa"
2,638	December 29, 1981	James Stewart, Steve Martin	N/A
Desk- "Things to Do on New Year's Eve"
2,639	December 30, 1981	Martin Mull, Bryant Gumbel	The Manhattan Transfer
Desk- "Less Intriguing People"
2,640	December 31, 1981	Lance Burton, Maureen Murphy	The Manhattan Transfer
Sketch- "Father Time"