The Midnight Special
Series Overview
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.
Broadcast Schedule & Network Information
Airing status, episode counts, upcoming schedule, and network syndication.
8 Seasons • 253 Episodes
90 min per episode
1972 – Present
Premiered: Sat, Aug 19, 1972
Creative Production Team
Latest Aired Episode
Season 8, Episode 25: “Roy Orbison”
-Roy Orbison (host) - ""Oh Pretty Woman,"" ""Only the Lonely,"" ""Crying,"" ""Running Scared,"" ""Hound Dog Man"" & ""Blue Bayou"" --On film: Roy Orbison - ""The Eyes of Texas"" (from the movie ""Roadie"") --David Bowie - ""Fame"" (1970's clip) --Genesis - ""Turn It on Again"" music video --Patti LaBelle - ""I Don't Go Shopping,"" ""Give It Up"" & ""You Are My Friend"" --Billy Preston and Syreeta - ""With You I'm Born Again"" --The Rockets - ""Desire"" & ""Oh Well""
Seasons & Episodes Breakdown
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Midnight Special.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Midnight Special
Key facts, seasons breakdown, and credits for search engines and AI assistants.
What is The Midnight Special about?
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.
How many seasons does The Midnight Special have?
The Midnight Special comprises 8 seasons available to explore.
Who stars in The Midnight Special?
Key cast members in The Midnight Special include Not specified.
Who created or directed The Midnight Special?
The Midnight Special was developed and directed by Not specified.