Ep 50. Richard Pryor, Robert Ballard

On this episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, season 25 episode 50, the two guests are Richard Pryor and Robert Ballard.

Richard Pryor is a legendary stand-up comedian and actor known for his raw, honest and often controversial approach to comedy. Pryor has been a guest on The Tonight Show before and is always a favorite of Carson's audience. He is known for pushing boundaries with his humor and tackling taboo subjects like race relations, drug addiction and sexuality. He is sure to bring non-stop laughs to the show and keep Carson on his toes.

Robert Ballard is a marine biologist and deep-sea explorer who gained fame in the 1980s for his expeditions to locate the sunken Titanic. Ballard's work has helped to advance our understanding of life in the deep ocean and the history of the Earth's geology. He is sure to fascinate Carson and the audience with stories of his adventures and discoveries, and may even bring some underwater footage to share.

As always, Carson is the consummate host, welcoming his guests with warmth and humor. He engages in lively conversation with Pryor and Ballard, asking them about their lives and work and peppering them with jokes along the way. Carson's monologue at the beginning of the show is full of his trademark wit and zingers, sure to delight the studio audience and viewers at home.

The show also features Carson's sidekick Ed McMahon, who provides comic relief and assists Carson with introducing and bantering with the guests. McMahon is famous for his hearty laugh and his catchphrase "Here's Johnny," which always gets a big cheer whenever he delivers it.

Throughout the episode, Carson also interacts with the audience, taking questions and comments from them and keeping the energy high. He also showcases some up-and-coming comedians and musicians, giving them a chance to perform in front of a national audience and potentially launch their careers.

Overall, this episode of The Tonight Show is a prime example of why Johnny Carson was such a beloved and influential figure in the world of entertainment. His warmth, wit and skill at putting guests at ease made for a winning formula that kept viewers tuning in night after night. Pryor and Ballard are just two of the many memorable guests who graced Carson's stage and made The Tonight Show a cultural institution for decades.