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.
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40 episodes • 1972
| # | Episode | Air Date | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot | Aug 19, 1972 | 0.0 |
| 2 | Host: Helen Reddy | Feb 2, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 3 | Host: Johnny Rivers | Feb 8, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 4 | Host: Mac Davis | Feb 16, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 5 | Host: Harry Chapin | Feb 23, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 6 | Host: Anne Murray | Mar 2, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 7 | Host: Paul Williams | Mar 9, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 8 | Host: Paul Anka | Mar 16, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 9 | Host: Lou Rawls | Mar 23, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 10 | Host: Ray Charles | Mar 30, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 11 | Hosts: The Bee Gees | Apr 6, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 12 | Bill Cosby | Apr 13, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 13 | Host: Doc Severinsen | Apr 20, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 14 | Host: Jerry Lee Lewis | Apr 27, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 15 | Host: Johnny Nash | May 4, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 16 | Hosts: Burns and Schreiber | May 11, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 17 | Host: Chubby Checker | May 18, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 18 | Hosts: Gladys Knight & the Pips | May 25, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 19 | Host: Paul Williams | Jun 1, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 20 | Host: Curtis Mayfield | Jun 8, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 21 | Host: Jim Croce | Jun 15, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 22 | Host:The Bee Gees | Jun 22, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 23 | Host: Paul Williams | Jun 29, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 24 | Host: Jose Feliciano | Jul 6, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 25 | Host: Smokey Robinson | Jul 13, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 26 | Host: Joan Baez | Jul 20, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 27 | Host: Dionne Warwick | Jul 27, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 28 | Host: Al Green | Aug 3, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 29 | Hosts: The Bee Gees | Aug 10, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 30 | Host: Richard Pryor | Sep 17, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 31 | Co-hosts: Loretta Lynn & Marty Robbins | Aug 24, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 32 | Host: Billy Preston | Aug 31, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 33 | Host: Mac Davis | Sep 7, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 34 | Host: Curtis Mayfield | Sep 14, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 35 | Host: Wilson Pickett | Sep 21, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 36 | Host: Seals & Crofts | Sep 28, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 37 | Host: Gladys Knight & The Pips | Oct 5, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 38 | Host: The Bee Gees | Oct 12, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 39 | Host: War | Oct 19, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 40 | Host: Chuck Berry | Nov 2, 1973 | 0.0 |
50 episodes • 1973
| # | Episode | Air Date | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Host: Curtis Mayfield | Sep 14, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 2 | Host: Wilson Pickett | Sep 21, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 3 | Hosts: Seals & Crofts | Sep 28, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 4 | Hosts: Gladys Knight & the Pips | Oct 5, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 5 | Host:The Bee Gees | Oct 12, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 6 | Hosts: War | Oct 19, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 7 | Hosts: Sly and the Family Stone | Oct 26, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 8 | Chuck Berry | Nov 2, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 9 | Host: Jerry Lee Lewis | Nov 9, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 10 | The 1980 Floor Show starring David Bowie | Nov 16, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 11 | Host: Peter Noone | Nov 23, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 12 | Hosts: Procol Harum | Nov 30, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 13 | Hosts: The Four Tops | Dec 7, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 14 | Hosts: Loggins & Messina | Dec 14, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 15 | Host: Jose Feliciano Guests: Clarence Carter, Roger McGuinn, Linda Ronstadt, Sha Na Na | Dec 21, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 16 | Host: Marty Robbins | Dec 28, 1973 | 0.0 |
| 17 | Million Sellers hosted by Wolfman Jack | Jan 4, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 18 | Hosts: Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show | Jan 11, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 19 | Host: Smokey Robinson | Jan 18, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 20 | Host: Steve Miller Guests: Brownsville Station, Tim Buckley, The James Cotton Blues Band, Genesis, The James Gang | Jan 25, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 21 | Host: Helen Reddy | Feb 1, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 22 | Hosts: Ike and Tina Turner | Feb 8, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 23 | Host: Roy Orbison | Feb 15, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 24 | Host: Gordon Lightfoot | Feb 22, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 25 | Hosts: Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show | Mar 1, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 26 | Hosts: Gladys Knight and the Pips | Mar 8, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 27 | Hosts: The Pointer Sisters | Mar 15, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 28 | Host: Bill Withers | Mar 22, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 29 | Hosts: The Guess Who | Mar 29, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 30 | Hosts: The Righteous Brothers | Apr 5, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 31 | Host: Roy Clark | Apr 12, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 32 | Host: Curtis Mayfield | Apr 19, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 33 | Host: Charlie Rich | Apr 26, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 34 | Hosts: The Spinners | May 3, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 35 | Host: George Carlin | May 10, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 36 | Host: Frankie Avalon | May 17, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 37 | Host: Richard Pryor | May 24, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 38 | Host: Marty Robbins | May 31, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 39 | Hosts: The Kinks | Jun 7, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 40 | Host: David Steinberg (All-Comedy show) | Jun 28, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 41 | Host: Anne Murray | Jul 5, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 42 | Host: Bobby Womack | Jul 12, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 43 | Host: Helen Reddy | Jul 19, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 44 | Host: Leon Russell | Jul 26, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 45 | Host: Leon Russell | Aug 2, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 46 | Hosts: Sly and the Family Stone | Aug 9, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 47 | Host: Little Richard | Aug 16, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 48 | Host: B.B. King | Aug 30, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 49 | Marvin Gaye | Sep 6, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 50 | Hosts: The O'Jays | Sep 13, 1974 | 0.0 |
48 episodes • 1974
| # | Episode | Air Date | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Host: Randy Newman | Sep 27, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 2 | Host: Al Green | Oct 4, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 3 | Host: Jose Feliciano | Oct 11, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 4 | Host: Paul Anka | Oct 18, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 5 | Host: David Steinberg :Comedy show | Oct 25, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 6 | Host: Fats Domino | Nov 1, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 7 | Host: Redd Foxx | Nov 8, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 8 | Host: Barry White | Nov 15, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 9 | Host: George Carlin | Nov 15, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 10 | Host: Bobby Vinton | Nov 29, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 11 | Tom Jones | Dec 6, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 12 | Million Sellers (Part 1) - Host: Wolfman Jack | Dec 13, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 13 | Million Sellers (Part 2) - Host: Wolfman Jack | Dec 20, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 14 | Host: Charley Pride | Dec 27, 1974 | 0.0 |
| 15 | Hosts: The Guess Who | Jan 3, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 16 | Hosts: The Righteous Brothers | Jan 10, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 17 | Hosts: Electric Light Orchestra | Jan 17, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 18 | Hosts: The Marshall Tucker Band | Jan 24, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 19 | Host: Helen Reddy (2nd Anniversary Show) | Jan 31, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 20 | Host: Dave Mason | Feb 7, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 21 | Host: Neil Sedaka | Feb 14, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 22 | Host: Steppenwolf | Feb 21, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 23 | Hosts: B.T. Express | Feb 28, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 24 | Host: Olivia Newton-John | Mar 7, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 25 | Host: Clive Davis | Mar 14, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 26 | Hosts: Black Oak Arkansas | Mar 21, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 27 | International Acts hosted by Wolfman Jack | Mar 28, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 28 | Hosts: The Ohio Players | Apr 4, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 29 | Co-hosts: Wet Willie and Charlie Daniels | Apr 11, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 30 | Hosts: Earth, Wind & Fire | Apr 18, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 31 | Hosts: Rod Stewart & The Faces | Apr 25, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 32 | Host: Billy Preston | May 2, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 33 | Host: Wolfman Jack | May 9, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 34 | Host: Chubby Checker | May 16, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 35 | Host: Don Cornelius | May 23, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 36 | Host: Joan Baez | May 30, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 37 | Hosts: Seals & Crofts | Jun 13, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 38 | Host: Herb Alpert | Jun 20, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 39 | Host: The Temptations | Jun 27, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 40 | Host: Frankie Valli | Jul 4, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 41 | Host: Flip Wilson | Jul 11, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 42 | Helen Reddy / Mac Davis / Minnie Riperton | Jul 18, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 43 | Helen Reddy / Jessi Colter / Janis Ian | Jul 25, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 44 | Helen Reddy / Glen Campbell / Uriah Heep | Aug 15, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 45 | Helen Reddy / Roger Daltrey | Aug 22, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 46 | Helen Reddy / Johnny Rivers | Aug 29, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 47 | Helen Reddy / Frankie Valli | Sep 5, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 48 | Helen Reddy / The Bee Gees / Janis Ian | Sep 12, 1975 | 0.0 |
41 episodes • 1975
| # | Episode | Air Date | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Helen Reddy / Nitty Gritty Dirt Band / Phoebe Snow | Sep 19, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 2 | Helen Reddy / Isaac Hayes / Barry Manilow | Sep 26, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 3 | Helen Reddy / Roger Miller / Keith Carradine | Jun 11, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 4 | Host: Helen Reddy / Bee Gees / Ike & Tina Turner | Oct 10, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 5 | Host: Glen Campbell / Mac Davis | Oct 24, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 6 | Helen Reddy / J. Geils Band / Hudson Brothers | Oct 31, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 7 | Helen Reddy / Merle Haggard / Roger Daltrey | Nov 7, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 8 | Host: Helen Reddy | Nov 14, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 9 | Helen Reddy / David Essex / Brenda Lee / Jimmie Walker | Nov 21, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 10 | Helen Reddy / Frankie Valli / KISS / Barry Manilow | Nov 28, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 11 | Helen Reddy / Natalie Cole / Bee Gees / Olivia Newton-John | Dec 5, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 12 | Helen Reddy / Anne Murray / Rufus feat. Chaka Khan | Dec 12, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 13 | Helen Reddy / Petula Clark / Peter Frampton | Dec 19, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 14 | Host: Helen Reddy / Dolly Parton / Charlie Rich | Dec 26, 1975 | 0.0 |
| 15 | Host: Helen Reddy | Jan 9, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 16 | Staple Singers / Poco/Kenny Rankin | Jun 16, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 17 | Helen Reddy / Natalie Cole / Petula Clark | Jan 23, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 18 | Helen Reddy / 5th Dimension / Tom T. Hall | Jan 30, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 19 | Host: Wolfman Jack (3rd Anniversary Show, Part 1) | Feb 13, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 20 | Host: Wolfman Jack (3rd Anniversary Show, Part 2) | Feb 20, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 21 | Host: David Brenner | Feb 27, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 22 | Helen Reddy / Miracles / Tanya Tucker / ELO | Mar 5, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 23 | Helen Reddy / Peter Frampton / Rufus feat. Chaka Khan | Mar 19, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 24 | Helen Reddy / Gordon Lightfoot / Little Richard | Mar 26, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 25 | Host: Natalie Cole | Apr 2, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 26 | Host: Helen Reddy | Apr 9, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 27 | Janis Ian | Apr 23, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 28 | Host: Ray Charles | Apr 30, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 29 | Host: Paul Anka | May 21, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 30 | Host: Neil Sedaka | Jun 4, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 31 | Host: Helen Reddy | Jun 11, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 33 | Host: Natalie Cole | Jun 25, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 34 | Host: Glen Campbell | Jul 2, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 35 | Host: Rita Coolidge | Jul 9, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 37 | Hosts: The Spinners | Jul 23, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 38 | Host: David Brenner | Jul 30, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 39 | Host: James Brown | Aug 6, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 40 | Host: Paul Williams | Jun 11, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 42 | Host: Jimmie Walker | Aug 27, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 43 | Host: Aretha Franklin | Sep 10, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 44 | Host: Neil Sedaka | Jun 4, 1976 | 0.0 |
29 episodes • 1976
| # | Episode | Air Date | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hosts: The Spinners | Sep 17, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 2 | Lesley Gore | Sep 24, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 3 | Host: George Carlin | Oct 1, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 4 | Host: James Brown | Oct 8, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 5 | Co-hosts: Jackie DeShannon & Johnny Rivers | Oct 15, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 6 | Host: Helen Reddy | Oct 22, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 7 | Hosts: KC & the Sunshine Band | Oct 29, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 9 | Host: Lou Rawls | Nov 12, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 12 | Million Sellers of 1976, Part 1 | Dec 3, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 14 | Host: Tom Jones | Dec 17, 1976 | 0.0 |
| 15 | Million Sellers of 1976, Part 2 | Jan 7, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 16 | Host: Judy Collins | Jan 21, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 17 | Host: Helen Reddy (4th Anniversary Show) | Jan 28, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 18 | Host: Glen Campbell | Feb 4, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 19 | Hosts: The Electric Light Orchestra | Feb 18, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 21 | Hosts: KC & the Sunshine Band | Mar 4, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 22 | Hosts: Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. | Mar 18, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 23 | Host: Aretha Franklin | Mar 25, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 25 | Host: Gabe Kaplan | Apr 8, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 26 | Host: George Benson | Apr 22, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 27 | British Rock hosted by Wolfman Jack | Apr 29, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 28 | Host: Helen Reddy | May 6, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 30 | Host: Lou Rawls | May 20, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 31 | Host: Neil Sedaka | May 27, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 32 | Hosts: Bread | Jun 3, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 33 | Co-hosts: Emmylou Harris & Little Feat | Jun 10, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 34 | Host: Neil Sedaka | Jun 17, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 35 | Host: Gregg Allman | Jun 24, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 38 | Hosts: The Bay City Rollers | Aug 12, 1977 | 0.0 |
18 episodes • 1977
| # | Episode | Air Date | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hosts: The Captain and Tennille | Sep 9, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 2 | Host: David Brenner | Sep 16, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 3 | Host: George Benson | Sep 23, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 4 | Host: Kenny Rogers | Oct 7, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 6 | Host: Elvin Bishop | Oct 21, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 7 | Host: David Soul | Oct 28, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 8 | Host: Lou Rawls | Nov 4, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 9 | Host: Glen Campbell | Nov 11, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 10 | Hosts: The Spinners | Nov 18, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 11 | Host: Frankie Valli | Nov 25, 1977 | 0.0 |
| 16 | Hosts: The Bay City Rollers | Jan 6, 1978 | 0.0 |
| 17 | Hosts: The O'Jays | Jan 13, 1978 | 0.0 |
| 18 | Host: Aretha Franklin | Jan 27, 1978 | 0.0 |
| 23 | Host: Rick Nelson | Mar 3, 1978 | 0.0 |
| 32 | Host: Dicky Betts | May 12, 1978 | 0.0 |
| 35 | Host: Crystal Gayle | Jun 2, 1978 | 0.0 |
| 36 | Hosts: The O'Jays | Jan 13, 1978 | 0.0 |
| 44 | Hosts: KC & the Sunshine Band | Sep 8, 1978 | 0.0 |
3 episodes • 1979
| # | Episode | Air Date | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Host: Blondie | Jan 19, 1979 | 0.0 |
| 24 | Hosts: The Beach Boys | Apr 27, 1979 | 0.0 |
| 25 | Episode 25 | May 4, 1979 | 0.0 |
4 episodes • TBA
| # | Episode | Air Date | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Episode 1 | TBA | 0.0 |
| 2 | The Cars | Sep 28, 1979 | 0.0 |
| 13 | Episode 13 | Jan 11, 1980 | 0.0 |
| 25 | Roy Orbison | May 16, 1980 | 0.0 |
