8.9/1028 votes#1 - Pilot
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 8/19/1972
John Denver guest hosted Mama Cass, The Everly Brothers, The Isley Brothers, Harry Chapin, Linda Ronstadt, Argent and Helen Reddy. Among the musical highlights were Harry Chapin performing his hit "Taxi", Linda Ronstadt sang her popular ballad "Long Long Time", Helen Reddy sang "I Am Woman" and the Britsh group Argent performed their 1972 hit "Hold Tour Head High"
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.4/1014 votes
#2 - Host: Helen Reddy
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 2/2/1973
Helen Reddy (host) - ""I Am Woman,"" ""Peaceful"" & ""Come On John"" --Ed McMahon (walk-on cameo) - wishes the show sucess --Ike and Tina Turner Revue- ""I Can't Turn You Loose"" & ""With a Little Help from My Friends"" --George Carlin (comedian) - stand-up comedy monologue --Curtis Mayfield - ""Superfly"" --Don McLean - ""Dreidel"" & ""If We Try"" --Rare Earth - ""We're Gonna Have a Good Time"" & ""I Just Want to Celebrate"" --Kenny Rankin - ""Comin' Down"" --The Byrds - ""Mr. Tambourine Man"" & ""So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star"" --The Impressions - ""Preacher Man"" --Helen Reddy, Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions - ""Amen""
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- NaN/100 votes
#3 - Host: Johnny Rivers
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 2/8/1973
Johnny Rivers (host) - ""Blue Suede Shoes,"" ""Rockin' Pneumonia, Boogie Woogie Flu"" & ""Got My Mojo Workin'"" --The Ace Trucking Company (comedy troupe) - routines about an airplane flight; 2 old friends and a prayer meeting. --Albert Hammond - ""It Never Rains in Southern California"" and ""If You Gotta Break Another Heart"" --Merilee Rush - ""Start Again"" & ""Comfort and Please You"" --The Spinners - ""Could It Be I'm Falling in Love"" and ""I'll Be Around"" --Steely Dan - ""Do It Again"" and ""Reeling in the Years"" --Paul Williams (singer / songwriter) - ""Out in the Country"" and ""I Won't Last a Day Without You"" --Wolfman Jack - sings ""I Ain't Never Seen a White Man
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.1/1010 votes
#4 - Host: Mac Davis
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 2/16/1973
Mac Davis (host) - ""Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me,"" ""I Believe in Music,"" ""Dream Me Home,"" ""Home"" & ""Half and Half (Song for Sara)"" --The Doobie Brothers - ""Jesus Is Just Alright"" & ""Listen to the Music"" --Waylon Jennings - ""You Can Have Her"" --Billy Paul - ""Me and Mrs. Jones"" & ""Brown Baby"" --Billy Preston - ""Blackbird,"" ""Georgia on My Mind"" & ""That's the Way God Planned It"" --Joan Rivers (comedy segment) --On film: the ""Dueling Banjos"" segment from ""Deliverance"
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- NaN/100 votes
#5 - Host: Harry Chapin
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 2/23/1973
Harry Chapin (Host) - "Sunday Morning Sunshine" "Sniper" and "Taxi." Kerrie Biddell - "Spirit in the Dark." Blood, Sweat and Tears - "Rosemary" "Hip Pickles" and "Snow Queen." The Committee (comedy segment). The Hollies - "Magic Woman Touch" and "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother." Curtis Mayfield - "Freddie's Dead" and "Superfly." Timmy Thomas - "Why Can't We Live Together?"
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.2/108 votes
#6 - Host: Anne Murray
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 3/2/1973
Anne Murray (Host) - "Snowbird," "Danny's Song" and "I Know." Anne Murray, Steve Martin and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - "Shuckin' the Corn." The Association - "Along Comes Mary," "Crazy Songs and Looney Tunes" and "Names, Tags, Numbers and Labels." Badfinger - "No Matter What" and "Suitcase." Steve Martin (comedy segment) - routines on parts of the body, sound effects and plays the banjo. Don McLean - "Vincent," "Dreidel" and "If We Try." Sam Neely - "Loving You Just Crossed My Mind" and "Rosalie." Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - "Jambalaya." Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee - "People Get Ready" and "Walkin' My Blues Away."
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- NaN/100 votes
#7 - Host: Paul Williams
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 3/9/1973
Paul Williams (host) - ""Old Fashioned Love Song,"" ""Drift Away"" & ""That's Enough for Me"" --Edward Bear - ""Last Song"" & ""Close Your Eyes"" --Loretta Lynn - ""One's On the Way"" & ""Coal Miner's Daughter"" --Seals & Crofts - ""Hummingbird"" & ""Summer Breeze"" --Sha Na Na - ""Hound Dog,"" ""Yakety Yak"" & ""I Wonder Why"" --Lakshmi Shankar (Ravi's sister) - sings ""Nata Nagara"" in praise of Krishna. --Ravi Shankar - ""Tilak Shyam"" --Jonathan Winters (cameo appearance, following Paul Williams' first song) --On film: the ""Dueling banjos"" segment from ""Deliverance""
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.1/109 votes
#8 - Host: Paul Anka
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 3/16/1973
Paul Anka (host) - "Girl," "Put Your Head on My Shoulder," "Hits Medley" and "Jubilation." Bobby Darin - "If I Were a Carpenter," "Splish Splash," and "Roll Over Beethoven." The Coasters - "Poison Ivy," "Charlie Brown" and "Yakety Yak." Tammy Wynette - "Kids Say the Darnedest Things." The Ace Trucking Company (comedy segment). The Edwin Hawkins Singers - "Oh, Happy Day" and "New World." Paul Anka and The Edwin Hawkins Singers - "Sweet Georgia Mine." The Doobie Brothers - "Natural Thing" and "Listen to the Music." George Jones - "What My Woman Can't Do."
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- NaN/100 votes
#9 - Host: Lou Rawls
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 3/23/1973
Lou Rawls (guest host) - ""A Natural Man"" & ""Dead End Street"" --Lou Rawls - medley: ""Memory Lane,"" ""It Was a Very Good Year"" & ""Old Folks"" --Brewer & Shipley - ""One Toke Over the Line"" --George Burns - ""Mr. Bojangles"" and ""You Made Me Love You"" (2nd song with the Honey Cone) --George Burns & Honey Cone - ""You Made Me Love You"" --The Committee (comedy segment) - routines about a surprise party; movies; an argument; a police station --The Grass Roots - ""Midnight Confession"" & ""Love Is What You Make It"" --Honey Cone - ""Want Ads"" --The O'Jays - ""Backstabbers"" & ""Love Train"" (2nd song with Lou Rawls) --Eric Weissberg and Deliverance - ""Dueling Banjos"" and ""I'm My Own Grandpa""
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- NaN/100 votes
#10 - Host: Ray Charles
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 3/30/1973
-Ray Charles (guest host) - ""Eleanor Rigby,"" ""Georgia on My Mind"" & ""What'd I Say"" --Ray Charles with the Raelets (a.k.a. Raylettes) - ""I Can Make It Through the Days (But Oh Those Lonely Nights)"" --Bill Cosby talks with Ray Charles and dances while Charles sings ""Every Saturday Night"" --Carol Burnett talks with Ray Charles --Aretha Franklin - ""A Brand New Me"" --Aretha Franklin & Ray Charles - ""Takes Two to Tango"" --The Raelets - sing ""Shake"" (while Charles plays the piano) --The Earl Scruggs Revue - ""T for Texas"" & ""Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven"" --Freeman and Murray (comedy team of Freeman King and Murray Langston) - team reenacts the boxing scene from ""Great White Hope"" in slow motion
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- NaN/100 votes
#11 - Hosts: The Bee Gees
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 4/6/1973
The Bee Gees; guests: Jerry Lee Lewis; Gladys Knight; Johnny Nash; Skeeter Davis --The Bee Gees (guest hosts) - ""To Love Somebody,"" ""Lonely Days,"" ""I Saw a New Morning"" and a medley of hits (""New York Mining Disaster 1941,"" ""I Started a Joke,"" ""Massachusetts"" and ""How Can You Mend a Broken Heart"") --The Bee Gees and Jerry Lee Lewis - medley: ""Money,"" ""Good Golly Miss Molly,"" ""Long Tall Sally,"" ""Jenny Jenny,"" ""Tutti Frutti"" and ""Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On"" --Skeeter Davis - ""One Tin Soldier"" & ""End of the World"" --Gladys Knight & the Pips - ""Neither One of Us"" & ""I Heard It Through the Grapevine"" --Jerry Lee Lewis - ""Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On"" --Johnny Nash - ""Stir it Up"" & ""I Can See Clearly Now"" --Jim Weatherly - ""You Are a Song"" --Frank Welker (comedian) - does imitations of animals; Marlon Brando (""Godfather"" character); and other imitations.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- NaN/100 votes
#12 - Bill Cosby
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 4/13/1973
Bill Cosby (guest host, appearing with a band) - "Ursulena (With Your Washing Machina)," "I've Got to Be Strong" (sung by member of his group) & "I Lost My Baby At the Dance Last Night" --David Brenner (stand-up comedian) - jokes about airplanes; the moon shot; dating in New York City and King Kong --Ray Charles - "Early in the Morning" --Fanny - "All Mine" & "Last Night I Had a Dream" --Waylon Jennings - "Lovin' Her Was Easier," "Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues" & "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line" --Billy Preston - "Will It Go Round in Circles" & "Outa-Space" --Steely Dan - "Reelin' in the Years" --Taj Mahal - talks about "Sounder," plays "Cheraw" on banjo & sings "Texas Woman Blues"
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- NaN/100 votes
#13 - Host: Doc Severinsen
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 4/20/1973
Doc Severinsen (guest host) - ""I Just Want to Celebrate,"" ""Last Tango in Paris,"" ""Does Anybody Know What Time It Is,"" ""Introduction,"" ""Twenty-Five or Six to Four"" & ""Beginnings"" --Doc Severinsen - ""Celebrate"" (with the Now Generation and Today's Children) --Doc Severinsen (on fluegelhorn) and Henry Mancini - ""Brothers Go to Mothers"" duet. Mancini introduces his group including his son Chris. --Hoyt Axton - ""Jambalaya"" & ""Less Than the Song"" --Jerry Butler - ""Western Union Man"" ""Only the Strong Survive"" & ""Ain't Understanding Mellow"" --Dobie Gray - ""Drift Away"" & ""The 'In' Crowd"" --Carol Burnett - introduces Vicki Lawrence --Vicki Lawrence - ""The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia"" --Country Joe McDonald and his All-Star Band - ""Couleene Anne"" & ""Hold On It's Coming"" --Not Cut of Friends - ""Indian Warrior"" (another source listed the band as ""Hot Cup of Friends"
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- NaN/100 votes
#14 - Host: Jerry Lee Lewis
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 4/27/1973
Jerry Lee Lewis (guest host) - ""Great Balls of Fire,"" ""High School Confidential,"" ""Drinking Wine Spo Dee O'Dee"" & ""Cold Cold Heart"" --Jerry Lee Lewis and Linda Gail Lewis - ""Roll Over Beethoven"" --Freddie Cannon - ""Tallahassee Lassie"" & ""Way Down Yonder in New Orleans"" --Chubby Checker - ""The Twist"" & ""Huckle Buck"" --Bobby Day - ""Rockin' Robin"" --The Del Vikings - ""Come Go with Me"" --The Penguins - ""Earth Angel"" --Lloyd Price - ""Stagger Lee"" & ""Where Were You on My Wedding Day"" --Little Anthony - ""I'm Alright"" & ""Tears on My Pillow"" --The Ronettes - ""Be My Baby"" & ""Walkin' in the Rain"" --Del Shannon - ""Runaway"" & ""Keep Searchin'"" --The Shirelles - ""Soldier Boy"" & ""Tonight's the Night"
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- NaN/100 votes
#15 - Host: Johnny Nash
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 5/4/1973
Johnny Nash (guest host) - ""Stir It Up,"" ""Groovy Feeling,"" ""I Can See Clearly Now"" & ""Merry-Go-Round"" --Chi Coltrane - ""Thunder and Lightning"" & ""You Were My Friend"" --Freemen and Murray (comedy team) --Tom T. Hall - ""The Year That Clayton Delaney Died"" & ""Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon"" --Andrew Johnson (comedian) --Gladys Knight and the Pips - ""If I Were Your Woman"" & ""Neither One of Us"" --Kenny Rankin - ""You Are the Sunshine of My Life"" & ""In the Name of Love"" --The Raspberries - ""I Wanna Be with You"" & ""Let's Pretend"
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- NaN/100 votes
#16 - Hosts: Burns and Schreiber
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 5/11/1973
-Jack Burns and Avery Schreiber (comedy team, guest hosts) --Mark Almond - ""What Am I Loving For,"" ""Just Another Road Song"" & ""The City"" --Kenny Colman - ""Last Tango in Paris"" --The Crusaders - ""Put It Where You Want It"" & ""Don't Let It Get You Down"" --Ronnie Dyson - ""One Man Band"" --The Hollies - ""Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress"" --The Incredible String Band - ""Black Jack Davy"" & ""Old Buccaneer"" --Steve Martin (comedian, stand-up comedy segment) --The O'Jays - ""Love Train"
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.0/107 votes
#17 - Host: Chubby Checker
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 5/18/1973
Chubby Checker - ""Let's Twist Again,"" ""Pony Time,"" Limbo Rock"" & ""Slow Twistin'"" --Jimmy Clanton - ""Just a Dream"" --Danny and the Juniors - ""At the Hop"" & ""Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay"" --Ben E. King - ""Spanish Harlem"" & ""Stand by Me"" --Little Anthony and the Imperials - ""Going Out of My Head"" & ""Two Kinds of People in the World"" --Lloyd Price - ""Personality"" --Lloyd Price and the Skyliners - ""I'm Gonna Get Married"" --The Ronettes - ""Baby I Love You"" & ""Do I Love You"" --The Shirelles - ""Baby It's You"" & ""Will You Love Me Tomorrow"" --The Skyliners - ""This I Swear"" & ""Since I Don't Have You"
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 6.8/107 votes
#18 - Hosts: Gladys Knight & the Pips
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 5/25/1973
Gladys Knight and the Pips (guest hosts) - ""Friendship Train,"" ""Daddy Could Swear I Declare,"" ""I Don't Want to Do Wrong"" & ""Neither One of Us"" --Dr. John - ""Right Place, Wrong Time"" & ""Such a Night"" --Robert Klein (comedy segment) --Skylark - ""Wildflower"" & ""Woodstock"" --The Staple Singers - ""Respect Yourself"" & ""We the People"" --John Stewart - ""Road Away"" & ""Chilly Winds""
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 6.2/108 votes
#19 - Host: Paul Williams
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 6/1/1973
Paul Williams (guest host) - ""My Love and I,"" ""Let Me Be the One,"" ""We've Only Just Begun,"" ""Rainy Days and Mondays"" & ""I Never Had It So Good"" --Argent - ""God Gave Rock and Roll to You,"" ""Hold Your Head Up"" & ""It's Only Money Part 2"" --Gunhill Road - ""Back When My Half Was Short"" & ""Mr. Keyboard"" --Sydney Jordan - ""Sunday Morning Sunrise"" --Slade - ""Goodbuy T'Jane"" & ""Cum On Feel the Noize"" --The Statler Brothers - ""Flowers on the Wall"" & ""The Class of '57"" --The Stylistics - ""Betcha By Golly, Wow,"" ""Break Up to Make Up"" & ""I'm Stone in Love with You"
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.4/107 votes
#20 - Host: Curtis Mayfield
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 6/8/1973
Curtis Mayfield (guest host) - ""Superfly,"" ""If I Were Only a Child Again"" & ""Back to the World"" --Canned Heat - ""Let's Work Together,"" ""Harley Davidson Blues"" & ""Woodstock Boogie"" --Jose Feliciano - ""Simple Song,"" ""Compartments"" & ""Light My Fire"" --Leroy Hutson - ""Love Oh Love"" --Ravi Shankar - ""Ahir Bhairav"" --Lakshmi Shankar - ""A Bhajan"" --The Spinners - ""One of a Kind Love Affair,"" ""I'll Be Around"" & ""Could it Be I'm Falling in Love"" --Tufano-Giammarese - ""Music Everywhere"" & ""I'm a Loser"
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 6.4/107 votes
#21 - Host: Jim Croce
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 6/15/1973
Jim Croce (guest host) - ""Operator,"" ""Roller Derby Queen,"" ""You Don't Mess with Jim,"" ""Speedball Tucker,"" ""Big Bad Leroy Brown,"" ""Careful Man"" --Little Anthony and the Imperials - ""Dance to the Music"" & ""La La La at the End"" --Savoy Brown - ""Tell Mama"" & ""Coming Down Your Way"" --Barbara Fairchild - ""Teddy Bear"" --Shawn Phillips - ""Anello (Where Are You)"" & ""America"" --Wishbone Ash - ""Jailbait"" --Bobby Womack - ""It's All Over Now"" & ""Nobody Wants You When You're Down and Out""
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 6.4/107 votes
#22 - Host:The Bee Gees
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 6/22/1973
Hosts: The Bee Gees; guests: Wilson Pickett; Steve Miller Band; Jimmie Spheeris; Maxine Weldon ""I Gotta Get a Message to You,"" ""Alexander's Rag Time Band,"" ""Run to Me,"" ""Morning of My Life,"" ""Holiday,"" ""Let There Be Love,"" ""My World"" & ""Wouldn't I be Someone"" --The Bee Gees and Wilson Pickett - ""Hey Jude"" --Wilson Pickett - ""In the Midnight Hour"" & ""Mr. Magic Man"" --Steve Miller Band - ""Loving on the U.S.A."" & ""Shu ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma"" --John Kay - ""I'm Movin' On"" and ""Moonshine (Friend of Mine)"" --Jimmie Spheeris - ""The Original Tap Dancing Kid"" & ""Beautiful News"" --Maxine Weldon - ""Johnny One Time"" --The Muledeer and Moondoog Medicine Show English
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- NaN/100 votes
#23 - Host: Paul Williams
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 6/29/1973
Paul Williams (guest host) - ""Someday Man,"" ""That's What Friends Are For"" & ""Look What I Found"" --Paul Williams, Kris Kristofferson and Rita Collidge - ""Me and Bobby McGee"" --Kris Kristofferson - ""Loving Her Was Easier"" & ""Out of Mind, Sout of Sight"" --Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge - ""I Never Had it So Good"" --Rita Coolidge - ""I'll Be Your Baby"" & ""My Crew"" --Brewer and Shipley - ""Black Sky"" & ""Yankee Lady"" --Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen - ""Smoke, Smoke, Smoke (That Cigarette)"" & ""Jailhouse Rock"" --Electric Light Orchestra - ""Roll Over Beethoven"" & ""Kuiama"" --King Harvest - ""Dancing in the Moonlight"" & ""A Little Bit Like Magic""
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- NaN/100 votes
#24 - Host: Jose Feliciano
Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 7/6/1973
Jose Feliciano (guest host) - ""California Dreamin',"" ""Compartments"" & ""Papa Was a Rolling Stone"" --Savoy Brown - ""Shot in the Head"" & ""Jack the Toad"" --The Staple Singers - ""Oh La De Da"" & ""Be What You Are"" --Stories - ""Brother Louie"" & ""Top of the City"" --Tower of Power - ""So Very Hard to Go"" & ""What Is Hip?"" --Johnny Winter - ""Jumpin' Jack Flash,"" ""Johnny B. Goode"" & ""Rock and Roll"
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- NaN/100 votes
#25 - Host: Smokey Robinson
Season 1 Episode 25 - Aired 7/13/1973
Smokey Robinson (guest host) - ""Want to Know My Mind,"" ""Sweet Harmony"" & ""You Are the Sunshine of My Life"" --The Miracles - ""What Is Heart Good For,"" ""Tears of a Clown"" & ""Don't Let It End (Till You Let It Begin)"" --Bonnie Bramlett - ""Good Vibrations"" & ""Celebrate Life"" --Martin and Finley - ""It's Another Sunder"" --Rare Earth - ""Hey Big Brother,"" ""Big John Is My Name"" & ""Hum Along and Dance"" --The Stylistics - ""You'll Never Get to Heaven"" & ""You Are Everything"
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
The Best Episodes of The Midnight Special Season 1
Every episode of The Midnight Special Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Midnight Special Season 1!
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...
Network:NBC
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Pilot" is the best rated episode of "The Midnight Special" season 1. It scored 8.9/10 based on 28 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 8/19/1972. This episode is rated 1.5 points higher than the second-best, "Host: Helen Reddy".