The Midnight Special
Host: Aretha Franklin
TV Flash files “Host: Aretha Franklin” as the last listed hour of season 4 — The Midnight Special (1972–1981) on NBC, season 4, episode 43, aired 1976-09-10, 65 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S04E43: listed hour 174 of 350 in the The Midnight Special guide, last listed hour of season 4. It aired 1976-09-10 (65 min). The listed hour before it is “Host: Jimmie Walker” (S04E42). Next is “Hosts: The Spinners” (S05E01).
Viewer FAQ
Where does Host: Aretha Franklin sit in the The Midnight Special guide?
S04E43 is listed hour 174 of 350 — last listed hour of season 4, season 4 episode 43.
When did The Midnight Special S04E43 air?
Host: Aretha Franklin aired 1976-09-10 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…