The Midnight Special
Host: John Denver
TV Flash files “Host: John Denver” as a desk essential hour — The Midnight Special (1972–1981) on NBC, season 1, episode 1, aired 1972-08-19, 65 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S01E01: listed hour 1 of 350 in the The Midnight Special guide, first listed hour of season 1. It aired 1972-08-19 (65 min). No earlier hour is listed in this guide. Next is “Host: Helen Reddy” (S01E02).
Essential hour: “Host: John Denver”. Host: John Denver opens the late slot. After Carson, NBC hands the hour to actual rock and pop: guest-host roulette, live-ish sweat, speakers, no countdown clock.
Viewer FAQ
Where does Host: John Denver sit in the The Midnight Special guide?
S01E01 is listed hour 1 of 350 — first listed hour of season 1, season 1 episode 1.
When did The Midnight Special S01E01 air?
Host: John Denver aired 1972-08-19 and is listed at 65 minutes.
Do I watch in order?
No. Concert anthology after Carson. Sample for the acts; Wolfman Jack is the howl that stitches Fridays together.
In the series
Why this series still plays
Wolfman Jack howls after Carson, and NBC hands the late slot to actual rock and pop acts before MTV ate the model. Guest-host roulette, live-ish performances, post-prime anything-goes. The network stage where 1970s music television still had sweat, speakers, and no countdown clock.
Picture Friday after Carson, when the network still handed the late slot to sweat. NBC's The Midnight Special (1972–1981), from Burt Sugarman: a concert show of live-ish performances from the era's biggest and coolest musical acts, Wolfman Jack as announcer and host presence, guest-host roulette, post-prime anything-goes. Glam and disco and soul and rock crossovers captured on network tape. Primary network stage for 1970s rock and pop before MTV ate the model. On the palate: speakers, no countdown clock, a howl…
Filed against
- Wolfman Jack as Announcer / Host presence
Wolfman Jack howled The Midnight Special after Carson — NBC handing the late slot to actual rock and pop acts before MTV ate the model. Guest-host roulette, live-ish performances, post-prime anything-goes. TV Flash files him as 1970s…