The storyline was Mary was throwing a big party and her building had a power outage. So she planned for Johnny Carson to show up and he did but he was in the dark. You only heard his voice

Definitely the most pointless guest appearance by a celebrity in TV history:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

The storyline was Mary was throwing a big party and her building had a power outage. So she planned for Johnny Carson to show up and he did but he was in the dark. You only heard his voice

Definitely the most pointless guest appearance by a celebrity in TV history:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

I think that's how Mr. Carson wanted it. As witty and urbane as he was when he was 'on' during 'The Tonight Show' tapings, he was notoriously shy the instant the camera's red eye would dim. I suppose he and the Tinkers had been social friends and he agreed to be on the show but his shyness was so daunting, this wound up being the only way this could have been pulled off.

Let's not forget that he virtually dropped out of sight altogether with only a very small number of public appearances thereafter once he retired from 'The Tonight Show'

I think that's how Mr. Carson wanted it. As witty and urbane as he was when he was 'on' during 'The Tonight Show' tapings, he was notoriously shy the instant the camera's red eye would dim. I suppose he and the Tinkers had been social friends and he agreed to be on the show but his shyness was so daunting, this wound up being the only way this could have been pulled off.

Let's not forget that he virtually dropped out of sight altogether with only a very number of appearances thereafter once he retired from 'The Tonight Show'

I heard a lot of people didnt believe it was him at the time

I heard a lot of people didnt believe it was him at the time

Not surprising but then they DID get First Lady Betty Ford to play herself so why not a cine noir appearance by Mr. Carson to boot for that last season?

They probably did it this way on purpose. It was a running gag that Mary’s parties tended to be disasters. And a famous celeb turning up, who couldn’t be seen, would certainly add to making a party a bummer.

It might have even been Rich Little, who does a killer impression of J.C.

This isn't the only time a celebrity has made a voice only cameo. Frasier had a bunch of celebrities who were unseen callers to Frasier's radio show. And Gracie Allen was heard but not seen on an episode of The Jack Benny Program I saw this past weekend on Antenna TV's marathon.

It was actually Johnny Carson that "appeared" in the episode. There was quite a bit of publicity about it at the time.

I think they may have been also looking for some type of twist on the normal big celebrity guest appearances of the time. Here they had Johnny Carson who was a very big name back then. Then they announced he was going to make a guest appearance and then you wind up just hearing his voice in the dark. It was not what the audience expected. However even doing that, they really still should have shown him at least for a second or two.

I think they may have been also looking for some type of twist on the normal big celebrity guest appearances of the time. Here they had Johnny Carson who was a very big name back then. Then they announced he was going to make a guest appearance and then you wind up just hearing his voice in the dark. It was not what the audience expected. However even doing that, they really still should have shown him at least for a second or two.

Or in the closing credits

and it made it simple - Carson could just do a voice over recording from any studio and not have a cameo ... no need to show up ...

They probably did it this way on purpose. It was a running gag that Mary’s parties tended to be disasters. And a famous celeb turning up, who couldn’t be seen, would certainly add to making a party a bummer.

It might have even been Rich Little, who does a killer impression of J.C.
Of course they did it on purpose. That was the whole point. Having Johnny Carson just appear on the show would have been pointless. Rich Little? Don't you (any others here) know how to read credits?

I think they may have been also looking for some type of twist on the normal big celebrity guest appearances of the time. Here they had Johnny Carson who was a very big name back then. Then they announced he was going to make a guest appearance and then you wind up just hearing his voice in the dark. It was not what the audience expected. However even doing that, they really still should have shown him at least for a second or two.
Obviously, that would have ruined the joke. They did it right.

The storyline was Mary was throwing a big party and her building had a power outage. So she planned for Johnny Carson to show up and he did but he was in the dark. You only heard his voice

Definitely the most pointless guest appearance by a celebrity in TV history:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
Definitely the most pointless comment. Sorry if you don't understand comedy.

Definitely the most pointless comment. Sorry if you don't understand comedy.

I guess I dont since I didnt see him

It might have even been Rich Little, who does a killer impression of J.C.

260950

260950

I was so disappointed

I was so disappointed

You really didn’t think it was funny and clever?

You really didn’t think it was funny and clever?

Nope, I was getting myself ready to see him walk through the door

Nope, I was getting myself ready to see him walk through the door

Watch it again. Maybe this time the lights will stay on :lightb:

Iib4EsmIJW4
https://youtu.be/Iib4EsmIJW4

i found the show great but each year it got sadder and sadder cause first Rhoda left then Phylis then Mary moved, it was falling apart in front of my eyes, e mail me for more discussion ilysfrie@aol.com

i found the show great but each year it got sadder and sadder cause first Rhoda left then Phylis then Mary moved, it was falling apart in front of my eyes, e mail me for more discussion ilysfrie@aol.com

welcome to boards. What shows do you like? Feel free to post more

I just saw that one about a day or two ago.

I would have preferred it if Carson could have interacted with the characters and not the dark effect, Carson did do sitcoms even after the Tonight Show.

Actor (15 credits)
1993 The Simpsons (TV Series short)
Johnny Carson
- Krusty Gets Kancelled (1993) ... Johnny Carson (voice)
1992 Cheers (TV Series)
Johnny Carson
- Heeeeeere's... Cliffy! (1992) ... Johnny Carson
1989 Newhart (TV Series)
Johnny Carson
- Malling in Love Again (1989) ... Johnny Carson
1988 Night Court (TV Series)
Johnny Carson
- Russkie Business (1988) ... Johnny Carson
1977 The Mary Tyler Moore Show (TV Series)
Johnny Carson
- Mary's Big Party (1977) ... Johnny Carson (voice)
1969-1973 Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (TV Series)
Guest Performer
- Johnny Carson, Sandy Duncan, Arthur Godfrey, Charlie Callas (1973) ... Guest Performer
- Episode #5.4 (1971) ... Guest Performer (uncredited)
- Laughing (1971) ... Guest Performer (uncredited)
- Episode #5.2 (1971) ... Guest Performer (uncredited)
- Episode #5.1 (1971) ... Guest Performer (uncredited)
Show all 13 episodes
1969 Here's Lucy (TV Series)
Johnny Carson
- Lucy and Johnny Carson (1969) ... Johnny Carson
1965-1968 Get Smart (TV Series)
Herald / Special Guest Conductor
- The King Lives? (1968) ... Herald (uncredited)
- Aboard the Orient Express (1965) ... Special Guest Conductor
1967 The Danny Thomas Hour (TV Series)
Narrator
- The Royal Follies of 1933 (1967) ... Narrator

I just saw that one about a day or two ago.

I would have preferred it if Carson could have interacted with the characters and not the dark effect, Carson did do sitcoms even after the Tonight Show.

That was the dumbest guest appearance I ever saw

That was the dumbest guest appearance I ever saw

That you didn't see LOL

That you didn't see LOL

That I ever heard:lol:

This episode aired today, it was so stupid. Instead of seeing Johnny, you get a clip show.

This episode aired today, it was so stupid. Instead of seeing Johnny, you get a clip show.

I don't suppose any amount of explaining would make you (or others
complaining) understand that it was a clever way to combine a clip show and a guest appearance along with the continuing storyline of Mary's bad parties.

I remember being hyped up and was like....WOW i never knew Johny appeared on a sitcom and never saw his a$$:lol:

I remember being hyped up and was like....WOW i never knew Johny appeared on a sitcom and never saw his a$$:lol:

You can see him on some sitcoms including Get Smart, Night Court, and Cheers.

So back in 1977 if you read this episode description you would have been looking forward to seeing johnny carson only to find out he is only heard and not seen:lol:

You can see him on some sitcoms including Get Smart, Night Court, and Cheers.

and I only saw this episode because it was during the pandemic and I was working from home lol If there was never a pandemic I dont think I would have ever seen a episode of mary because it never aired in the evening. I would have it on as backgroud sound while I was working and started getting into it

NBC probably would have never allowed him to appear on-screen on a rival network. Notice how his guest appearances were mostly on NBC shows.

This was a way for them to get around it. It's not surprising how they promoted his appearance.

James L. Brooks on the "Mary's Big Party" episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, guest starring Johnny Carson. It starts around 7:55 into the video.

James L. Brooks Interview Part 5 of 11 - EMMYTVLEGENDS.ORG (https://youtu.be/QEiTTG3Nbt8?si=GFqdIeq6ECec2JyL&t=475)

QEiTTG3Nbt8?si=GFqdIeq6ECec2JyL&t=480

NBC probably would have never allowed him to appear on-screen on a rival network.

Johnny obviously quite well known, but still, any appearance anywhere was good free advertising for NBC.

NBC probably would have never allowed him to appear on-screen on a rival network. Notice how his guest appearances were mostly on NBC shows.

This was a way for them to get around it. It's not surprising how they promoted his appearance.

James L. Brooks on the "Mary's Big Party" episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, guest starring Johnny Carson. It starts around 7:55 into the video.

James L. Brooks Interview Part 5 of 11 - EMMYTVLEGENDS.ORG (https://youtu.be/QEiTTG3Nbt8?si=GFqdIeq6ECec2JyL&t=475)

QEiTTG3Nbt8?si=GFqdIeq6ECec2JyL&t=480



He mentions what happens and doesnt exlplain why

I disagree; I thought it was one of the funniest episodes! I remember Mary going on Johnny Carson plugging this show and I just love the flashbacks to various gone-wrong parties Mary gave over the years.

I actually loved it; it was like the old days when the radio was supreme and these actors made it come alive with JUST their voices.