BROADCAST DATE: Monday, February 2, 1981, NBC.
DESCRIPTION: Spanning from 1972 to 1981, "THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL" defied boundaries of late night television by presenting break through live performances from artists of all genres. It was a live concert event every week! 1981 find "THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL" final episodes being produced, and many of them were hosted not by musicians, but by television and film stars like Larry Hagman, Lily Tomlin Marilu Henner and Lynda Carter.

	Series Run: February 2, 1973 through May 1, 1981. Broadcast Network: NBC. Time Slot: Fridays, 01:00 A.M. Guest Host: LYNDA CARTER. Guests: Charles Grodin, Gail Davies, Devo, T.G. Shepard. Episode Number: Season 4, Episode #411. Songs Performed and Interviews: "The Last Song" by Lynda Carter / Charles Grodin Profile, Part 1 / Lynda Carter feature, Part I / "I'll Be There" by Gail Davies / Charles Grodin, Part 2 / "Whip It" by Devo / Robert Hilburn interview with Devo / Lynda Carter interview, Part 2 / "Tumble Down Love" by Lynda Carter / Charles Grodin, Part 3 / "Do You Want To Go To Heaven" by T.G. Sheppard / "It's a Lovely, Lovely World" by Gail Davies / "Fantasy Man" by Lynda Carter / "I Feel Like Loving You Again" by T.G. Sheppard / Lynda Carter Profile, Part 3 / "Tumble Down Love" by Lynda Carter. Announcer: Wolfman Jack. Executive Producer: Burt Sugarman. Producers: Stan Harris, Dick Ebersol. Editor: Harvey W. Berger. Lightning: Steven Castaneda. Camera Operators: Bruce Bottone, George Falardeu, Jim Herring, Roy Holm, Robert G. Holmes, William Landers, Peggy Mahoney, Michael Stramisky.
SYNOPSIS: Hosted by the lovely LYNDA CARTER this version of "THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL" featured more talk and less rock than virtually any other episode. Having recorded an album of songs called Portrait after "WONDER WOMAN" was canceled in 1979, was also pursuing work as a Vegas nightclub act. Lynda offered several numbers on this show, including "THE LAST SONG" and "TUMBLEDOWN LOVE".        Actor Charles Grodin, who played the doctor in 1968's Rosemary's Baby, was profiled by Albert Brooks on this show. Grodin would go on to star in 1978's Heaven Can Wait and win an Emmy for writing The Paul Simon Special. He was promoting two 1981 films, The Great Muppet Caper and The Incredible Shrinking Woman. and would go on to author three books. including one called It Would Be So Nice If You Weren't Here, and to host a popular and provocative talk show.          From a musical perspective, the focal point of the show was Devo, new-wave stars from Akron, Ohio, including college professors who formed the group on a dare. Their name was based on the tongue-in-cheek theory that human beings were in a state of genetic and cultural "devolution," but perhaps their success proved otherwise. "Whip It" provided one of new wave's sharpest images—the band dressed in yellow radiation suits and using upside-down flowerpots for hats—not to mention a defining sound, futuristic, robotic beats, a bubbling bass line, and punchy keyboards. Their influence would extend into the '90s, as alternative bands like Nirvana and Soundgarden started covering Devo tunes.          The other musical guest on this episode was country singer and Tennessee native T.G. Sheppard, who would soon hit the pop album charts for the first time with his I Love 'Em All album. In 1984 Sheppard would score a minor hit with "Make My Day," a duet with Clint Eastwood inspired by Eastwood's movie Sudden Impact.

© 1981 by Burt Sugarman, Inc in association with NBC-TV / Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved

			RUNNING TIME:	00:74:00 [90 minutes including commercials].
			VHS:	Not available on commercial video.
			DVD:	Not available on commercial video.
			INFO:	This is LYNDA CARTER's first and only appearance at "THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL".
			ADS:	[1]  "THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL". Original ticket for the taping of the show.
				[2]  "THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL". Original Argentine TV GUIDE ad.
			TRIVIA:	[•] This is LYNDA CARTER's first and only appearance on "THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL". Lynda appeared on the second episode of the fourth season. Only 6 more original episodes were produced before the series was cancelled.
				[•] LYNDA CARTER performed three songs on this show: "THE LAST SONG", "TUMBLEDOWN LOVE", and "FANTASY MAN".
				[•] Helen Reddy was the first host of the show and was its permanent host between 1975 and 1978 before returning to the weekly hosts.
				[•] The show was nominated twice for an Emmy award for "Outstanding Achievement in Technical Direction and Electronic Camerawork" in 1979 and 1980.
				[•] The program aired on Friday nights (or Saturday mornings) from 1:00 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. and featured over 1,200 performers during its run.
				[•] The series was canceled by NBC at the advent of the video age, to allow producer Dick Ebersol to take over then-ailing Saturday Night Live. It was eventually replaced by a music video show (Friday Night Videos), also produced by Ebersol.

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