Ep 4. The Best Of The Mighty Carson Art Players (1/22/88)

The Johnny Carson Show season 4 episode 4, titled "The Best Of The Mighty Carson Art Players (1/22/88)," is a comedic masterpiece filled with hilarious sketches and memorable moments from the iconic show's beloved cast of characters.

Opening with Johnny's classic monologue, which touches on current events and pop culture, the episode quickly moves into one of the show's signature sketches, "Art Fern's Tea Time Movie Time." Played by comedian and actor, Johnny's longtime friend and colleague, the late great Al Alberts Jr. "Art Fern" is a flamboyant and over-the-top television host who introduces campy, low-budget movies with his trademark catchphrases like "Verrry Interesting (said in a thick Austrian accent)," "Hi-O-Silver!" and "Whoooooortles!" In this segment, Art Fern introduces a clip from a fictitious 1962 horror movie called "The Night of the Scarecrow's Revenge," which features Johnny in an absurdly silly costume as the titular monster.

Next up is another series regular, "Carnac the Magnificent," played by Johnny himself. Dressed in a turban and cape and holding an envelope to his forehead, Carnac delivers one-liner jokes and puns in response to the question inside the envelope. For example, the answer "Sis Boom Bah" becomes the punchline to the question "What does a sheep sound like when it explodes?"

The episode also showcases some rare and classic sketches from the early days of the show, such as "Mighty Carson Art Players - Rusedski and Phelps Advertising," which features Johnny and Ed McMahon as bumbling ad executives trying to come up with slogans for a cough syrup. In "Mighty Carson Art Players - Shakespeare in the Supermarket," Johnny and his cast of regulars perform a scene from "Hamlet" in the mundane settings of a grocery store.

As always, music plays a big part in The Johnny Carson Show, and this episode features a few musical performances. The legendary jazz pianist Dave Brubeck and his quartet join Johnny for a lively rendition of "Take Five," followed by a soulful performance from R&B singer and songwriter Smokey Robinson.

The episode also features a few guest appearances from some notable celebrities, including actress and comedian Ellen DeGeneres, who performs a stand-up routine about her struggles with being a struggling comedian in Los Angeles. Country music singer Randy Travis also stops by to perform his hit song "I Told You So."

Overall, "The Best Of The Mighty Carson Art Players (1/22/88)" is a fun and nostalgic trip down memory lane for fans of The Johnny Carson Show. With its mix of classic characters, hilarious sketches, and musical performances, this episode captures the irreverent and unpredictable spirit of the beloved late-night talk show.