List of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson episodes (1988)

The following is a list of episodes of the television series The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson which aired in 1988:

List of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson episodes
No. of episodes	132
Release
Original network	NBC
Season chronology

1988

January

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
3,767	January 4, 1988 (1988-01-04)	Jay Leno (guest host), Lance Burton, Baxter Black	Rita Moreno
3,768	January 6, 1988 (1988-01-06)	Franklyn Ajaye, Jester Hairston	Belinda Carlisle
Motivations to Lose Weight After the Holidays
3,769	January 7, 1988 (1988-01-07)	Bette Davis, Martin Short	N/A
Special Calendars
3,770	January 8, 1988 (1988-01-08)	Mark & Delia Owens	Robert Goulet
Questions from The Audience
3,771	January 11, 1988 (1988-01-11)	Jay Leno (guest host), Dan Aykroyd, Nigel Havers	Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
Headlines
3,772	January 13, 1988 (1988-01-13)	Whoopi Goldberg, Jerry Seinfeld	The Chieftains ("Dans Mod Koh A Vaod" and "Full Of Joy")
How Americans Slogans Translate In Foreign Countries
3,773	January 14, 1988 (1988-01-14)	Milton Berle, Carol Siskind, Don Yesso	N/A
Public Service Announcements
3,774	January 15, 1988 (1988-01-15)	Lisa Jane Persky	Buster Poindexter ("Hot, Hot, Hot", "Somebody Buy Me A Drink")
A videotape of Johnny trying his jokes out on shoe-shine man Floyd Jackson, security guard Eddie Murphy, and commissary worker Wyn Hoonahan while they sit at Floyd's stand.
3,775	January 18, 1988 (1988-01-18)	Jay Leno (guest host), Jimmie Walker, Deborah Raffin, Roy Blount, Jr.	N/A
Notes from a Church Bulletin
3,776	January 20, 1988 (1988-01-20)	Howard Cosell	Barry Manilow
3,777	January 21, 1988 (1988-01-21)	Jack Lemmon	K.T. Oslin
Mighty Carson Art Players - "Malibu Restaurant" (rerun from Betty White episode)
3,778	January 22, 1988 (1988-01-22)	Jim Fowler, Teresa Ganzel, Bob Nelson	N/A
Mighty Carson Art Players - "Tea Time Movie"

February

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
3,779	February 2, 1988 (1988-02-02)	Paul Reiser	James Taylor
Emergency backup statistics not used but ready for use at football games by the sports announcers covering them.
3,780	February 3, 1988 (1988-02-03)	Betty White, Merritt Heaton	Ray Stevens
Mighty Carson Art Players - "Breakfast at The Rather Household"
3,781	February 4, 1988 (1988-02-04)	Sammy Davis, Jr, Jason Bateman	N/A
Johnny's mock eulogy of Luicci the Capuccino Monkey
3,782	February 5, 1988 (1988-02-05)	Oprah Winfrey, Sydney Walsh	Daniel Rosen
Backup 'Wheaties' Box Covers
3,783	February 10, 1988 (1988-02-10)	Jay Leno (guest host), Sandy Duncan	Randy Travis
Headlines; Kid Inventors
3,784	February 11, 1988 (1988-02-11)	Jay Leno (guest host), Tim Reid, Tom Parks, Dr. David Dahl	Jerry Lee Lewis ("Rockin' My Life Away" and "Great Balls of Fire")
3,785	February 12, 1988 (1988-02-12)	Jay Leno (guest host), Brooke Adams, Kevin Meaney, Carl Weathers	Glen Campbell ("I Remember You")
3,786	February 16, 1988 (1988-02-16)	Tim Conway	Jonathan Butler
Diary of Things Johnny Did While He Was Sick
3,787	February 17, 1988 (1988-02-17)	Jackie Mason, Joanna Kerns	Kid Creole & The Coconuts ("Dropout", "Curiosity")
USA Today Poll About the Sexes
3,788	February 18, 1988 (1988-02-18)	Dudley Moore, Minnie Black	N/A
A Presidential Debate with Questions asked by Johnny.
3,789	February 19, 1988 (1988-02-19)	Gene Siskel, Roger Ebert, Bob Saget	Los Lobos ("In America", "La Bamba")
Forgotten Movies From the Past
3,790	February 23, 1988 (1988-02-23)	Louie Anderson, Jennifer Tilly	Dionne Warwick
3,791	February 24, 1988 (1988-02-24)	Ritch Shydner, Rita Rudner, Fred Roggin, Darryl Sivad	N/A
Questions From the Audience
3,792	February 25, 1988 (1988-02-25)	Burt Reynolds, Teresa Ganzel, Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards	N/A
Mighty Carson Art Players - "Tele-Scam"; Expensive Props
3,793	February 26, 1988 (1988-02-26)	Garry Shandling, Allyce Beasley	Donna Theodore
The Wheel of Candidates

March

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
3,794	March 7, 1988 (1988-03-07)	Jay Leno (guest host), Super Dave Osborne	Ben Vereen
Headlines

May

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
3,795	May 11, 1988 (1988-05-11)	Joe Piscopo, Bill Toone	N/A
3,796	May 12, 1988 (1988-05-12)	Dana Carvey, Joe Garagiola, David Teitelbaum, Jack Saltzberg	N/A
Carnac the Magnificent
3,797	May 13, 1988 (1988-05-13)	Fred de Cordova, Bob Hope	k.d. lang
3,798	May 18, 1988 (1988-05-18)	Bill Kirchenbauer, Dr. Terry Gosliner	Billy Vera & The Beaters
Blue Cards
3,799	May 19, 1988 (1988-05-19)	Jonathan Winters, Kristin Banerjee	N/A
Audience Questionnaire
3,800	May 20, 1988 (1988-05-20)	Sylvester Stallone	N/A
Stump the Band
3,801	May 25, 1988 (1988-05-25)	Paul Hogan, David Brenner	Linda Hopkins ("Born on Friday")
Direct Response Commercials, the 'Playette' and the 'Jog'r'.
3,802	May 26, 1988 (1988-05-26)	Chevy Chase, Iditarod racer John Suter, Thalassa Cruso	N/A
3,803	May 27, 1988 (1988-05-27)	James Stewart, Fred Roggin	Leonard Waxdeck & The Birdcallers
Johnny provides evidence that Bonzo the famous chimpanzee is really still alive.
3,804	May 30, 1988 (1988-05-30)	Garry Shandling (guest host), Elizabeth Perkins, Bob Saget	Jimmy Buffett
3,805	May 31, 1988 (1988-05-31)	Garry Shandling (guest host)	Harry Connick, Jr.

June

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
3,806	June 1, 1988 (1988-06-01)	Garry Shandling (guest host), Paula Poundstone	Natalie Cole
Comparison of Photos between Reagan at the Kremlin and a family at Disneyland.
3,807	June 2, 1988 (1988-06-02)	Garry Shandling (guest host), Angie Dickinson, Fritz Coleman, Allyce Beasley	Michael Bolton
3,808	June 3, 1988 (1988-06-03)	Garry Shandling (guest host), Stan Kann, Joanna Kerns, Roy Blount, Jr.	N/A
3,809	June 6, 1988 (1988-06-06)	Jay Leno (guest host), Marilu Henner, Cathy Guisewite	N/A
Headlines
3,810	June 8, 1988 (1988-06-08)	David Brinkley	Chuck Berry
3,811	June 9, 1988 (1988-06-09)	Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jerry Seinfeld, Andre Agassi	N/A
Jokes That Are Sent In By Viewers During the Writers Strike
3,812	June 10, 1988 (1988-06-10)	Don Yesso	Basia
3,813	June 13, 1988 (1988-06-13)	Jay Leno (guest host), Vincent Price, Dave Barry	N/A
Jay shows a film clip of his adventure with the Blue Angels.
3,814	June 15, 1988 (1988-06-15)	James Belushi	Julio Iglesias
Commencement Address to The Audience
3,815	June 16, 1988 (1988-06-16)	Bill Cosby, William Ennis	Belinda Carlisle ("Circle in the Sand")
3,816	June 17, 1988 (1988-06-17)	David Steinberg	Andrea Marcovicci
Blue Cards
3,817	June 20, 1988 (1988-06-20)	Jay Leno (guest host), Joan Embery, Marsha Warfield, Dr. Joyce Brothers	N/A
Jay reads unusual newspaper clippings.
3,818	June 22, 1988 (1988-06-22)	Jay Leno, Raquel Welch, garbage truck driver Ray Anderson	N/A
Johnny comments on the Lakers repeating as NBA champions
3,819	June 23, 1988 (1988-06-23)	Magic Johnson, Bruce Willis	Johnny Frigo
Rules of Thumb
3,820	June 24, 1988 (1988-06-24)	Dudley Moore, Lottie Hicks	Diane Schuur
Extracurricular Activities from Celebrity's High School Yearbooks
3,821	June 27, 1988 (1988-06-27)	Jay Leno (guest host), Dennis Miller, Erma Bombeck	Little Richard
Headlines
3,822	June 28, 1988 (1988-06-28)	Jay Leno (guest host), Steve Allen, Super Dave Osborne, Bill Maher	N/A
3,823	June 29, 1988 (1988-06-29)	Jay Leno (guest host), Charles Fleischer, Sydney Walsh, Frank Zappa	N/A
3,824	June 30, 1988 (1988-06-30)	Jay Leno (guest host), Sammy Davis, Jr., Connie Chung	N/A
Stamps by Mail

July

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
3,825	July 1, 1988 (1988-07-01)	Jay Leno (guest host), Stepfanie Kramer, Kevin Pollak, Michael Warren	N/A
Jay has a satellite interview with President Reagan.
3,826	July 18, 1988 (1988-07-18)	Jay Leno (guest host), Pee Wee Herman, John Cleese, Malcolm Forbes	N/A
Headlines
3,827	July 20, 1988 (1988-07-20)	Joe King, Yakov Smirnoff	Buster Poindexter
Photos of Famous Political People with Insertions of What They May Be Saying
3,828	July 21, 1988 (1988-07-21)	Arsenio Hall	Hall & Oates ("Missing Each Other", "She's A Monster")
The Tonight Show version of The Democratic Convention (audience members as the delegates)
3,829	July 22, 1988 (1988-07-22)	Tom Hanks, Brian Gillis	Michael Davis
3,830	July 25, 1988 (1988-07-25)	Jay Leno (guest host), Jamie Lee Curtis, Louie Anderson	Johnny Mathis
3,831	July 27, 1988 (1988-07-27)	John Larroquette, John Bogosian	Rosemary Clooney
A satellite interview with the 'still alive' Elvis Presley in a cabin in North Dakota. This Elvis is known as Ron Stein.
3,832	July 28, 1988 (1988-07-28)	Governor Bill Clinton	Joe Cocker
A film clip of the youngest pilot.
3,833	July 29, 1988 (1988-07-29)	Michael Landon, Smokey Tennison	k.d. lang
Celebrity Photos

August

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
3,834	August 1, 1988 (1988-08-01)	Jay Leno (guest host), Chuck Norris, Joan Van Ark, Abigail Van Buren	Oak Ridge Boys
3,835	August 3, 1988 (1988-08-03)	Bill Murray, Jeff Cesario	Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg
Psychic Predictions
3,836	August 4, 1988 (1988-08-04)	Paul Reiser, Mabel Hines Buck	Robben Ford
3,837	August 5, 1988 (1988-08-05)	Richard Pryor, Richard Jeni	Pete Fountain
Photos of celebrities showing tiny notes on their person supposedly enlarged by 'high resolution cameras'.
3,838	August 8, 1988 (1988-08-08)	Garry Shandling (guest host), Phoebe Mills, Ed Begley, Jr., Richard Lewis	Dizzy Gillespie
3,839	August 9, 1988 (1988-08-09)	Garry Shandling (guest host), Sugar Ray Leonard, Bill Maher, Patti D'Arbanville	N/A
3,840	August 10, 1988 (1988-08-10)	Garry Shandling (guest host), Joan Embery, David Steinberg, Catherine O'Hara	Linda Hopkins
3,841	August 11, 1988 (1988-08-11)	Garry Shandling (guest host), Tracey Ullman, Ken Olin, Fred Roggin	Brenda Russell
3,842	August 12, 1988 (1988-08-12)	Garry Shandling (guest host), Kirstie Alley, Mariel Hemingway, Cathy Guisewite Garry Shandling's final episode as guest host.	N/A
The Lobster Boy Letter
3,843	August 22, 1988 (1988-08-22)	Jay Leno (guest host), Shirley Jones, Wayne Gretzky Jay Leno becomes permanent guest host as of this episode; no other guest hosts were used between now and the end of the show's run.	B.B. King
Headlines
3,844	August 24, 1988 (1988-08-24)	George Carlin, Mark Harmon	N/A
The Tonight Show version of the Republican Convention (audience members as the delegates)
3,845	August 25, 1988 (1988-08-25)	Jonathan Winters, Karen Josephson, Sarah Josephson	N/A
Phobias
3,846	August 29, 1988 (1988-08-29)	Jay Leno (guest host), Holly Robinson	Dwight Yoakam & Buck Owens
Headlines
3,847	August 31, 1988 (1988-08-31)	Kirk Douglas, Ritch Shydner	The Temptations
Examples of Contemporary Slang

September

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
3,848	September 1, 1988 (1988-09-01)	Buddy Hackett, Dana Delany	N/A
Albums Sung by Celebrities in The Past
3,849	September 2, 1988 (1988-09-02)	Jennifer Tilly	Randy Travis
Comedy Crypt - Some Old Jokes
3,850	September 5, 1988 (1988-09-05)	Jay Leno (guest host), Norm Crosby	George Benson
The Tonight Show's Little Big Book of Romantic Phrases
3,851	September 7, 1988 (1988-09-07)	Bob Hope, Tim Conway	Joe Williams
Low-Down On The Candidates
3,852	September 8, 1988 (1988-09-08)	Martin Short	Johnny Clegg & Savuka
Different Sounds That Give People the Willies
3,853	September 9, 1988 (1988-09-09)	Shabana Kazi	Harry Belafonte
International Symbols
3,854	September 12, 1988 (1988-09-12)	Jay Leno (guest host), Betty White, Elvira	The Spinners
Newspaper Clippings
3,855	September 14, 1988 (1988-09-14)	Jim Fowler	N/A
3,856	September 15, 1988 (1988-09-15)	Bob Uecker, Sigourney Weaver	Reba McEntire
New Fall Shows

October

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
3,857	October 6, 1988 (1988-10-06)	David Letterman, Jay Leno, Garry Shandling	N/A
26th Anniversary Show
3,858	October 10, 1988 (1988-10-10)	Jay Leno (guest host), Robert Stack, Franklyn Ajaye	Kenny G
3,859	October 12, 1988 (1988-10-12)	Cody Carr	Ray Charles
A takeoff on the Presidential Debate in which Ed McMahon asks Johnny questions as if Johnny is Quayle or Bentsen.
3,860	October 13, 1988 (1988-10-13)	Tommy Lasorda	Jimmy Buffett
3,861	October 14, 1988 (1988-10-14)	Sandy Duncan, Steve Mittleman, Irv Kupcinet	N/A
Personalized License Plates
3,862	October 17, 1988 (1988-10-17)	Jay Leno (guest host), Super Dave Osborne, Robert Mitchum	N/A
Headlines
3,863	October 19, 1988 (1988-10-19)	Whoopi Goldberg, Kevin Pollak, Alice Chalifoux	N/A
Answers to the Questionnaire passed out to 2nd and 3rd Graders based on the Presidential Election
3,864	October 20, 1988 (1988-10-20)	Michael Caine	Eydie Gormé, Steve Lawrence
Blue Cards
3,865	October 21, 1988 (1988-10-21)	Orel Hershiser, Floyd Jackson, Susan Sullivan	Lee Ritenour
3,866	October 31, 1988 (1988-10-31)	Jay Leno (guest host), Stepfanie Kramer, Jimmie Walker, Richard Mulligan	N/A

November

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
3,867	November 2, 1988 (1988-11-02)	Christopher Reeve, Melanie Mayron, Jonathan Zachary	N/A
'If Election Was Held Tomorrow' Quiz; Local Propositions
3,868	November 3, 1988 (1988-11-03)	Michael J. Fox, Larry Miller, Harry Lorayne	N/A
Funny Advertising Ads: Johnny and Ed present mash-ups of billboard slogans
3,869	November 4, 1988 (1988-11-04)	James Garner, Jeff Cesario, Park Overall	N/A
'Politicboy' Magazine
3,870	November 7, 1988 (1988-11-07)	Jay Leno (guest host), Marilu Henner, Jester Hairston, Vanna White	N/A
Headlines (11/8/88 pre-empted for NBC News election night coverage)
3,871	November 9, 1988 (1988-11-09)	Candice Bergen, Steven Wright	Johnny Frigo
As The White House Turns
3,872	November 10, 1988 (1988-11-10)	Greg Irwin, Richard Jeni, Gore Vidal	N/A
Blue Cards
3,873	November 11, 1988 (1988-11-11)	Paul Reiser, Kitty Carlisle	Oak Ridge Boys
Cultural Customs of The World
3,874	November 14, 1988 (1988-11-14)	Jay Leno (guest host), Joan Collins, John Byner	N/A
Newspaper Clippings
3,875	November 16, 1988 (1988-11-16)	Harry Anderson, Argus Hamilton, Calvin Trillin	N/A
Messages From Home
3,876	November 17, 1988 (1988-11-17)	Bob Newhart, David Horowitz	N/A
Letters from Viewers Who Didn't Want Credit Cards But Got Them Away; Off The Wall Video Tapes On The Market Today
3,877	November 18, 1988 (1988-11-18)	Oprah Winfrey	Sheena Easton ("The Lover In Me" and "Follow My Rainbow")
Sketch - "UCLA vs. Stanford Game (with Johnny as a commentator)"
3,878	November 21, 1988 (1988-11-21)	Jay Leno (guest host), Tony Danza, Malcolm-Jamal Warner	Andy Williams
Tonight Show's Little Big Book of Romantic Phrases
3,879	November 23, 1988 (1988-11-23)	George Burns, Tracey Ullman	Jeff Healey ("See The Light")
School Kids' Answers To a Thanksgiving Questionnaire.
3,880	November 24, 1988 (1988-11-24)	Lucy Webb	Willie Nelson
Evening News with Zontar Rather in The Year 2008
3,881	November 25, 1988 (1988-11-25)	Teri Garr, Marsha Warfield	Johnny Clegg & Savuka
Celebrity Perfumes
3,882	November 28, 1988 (1988-11-28)	Jay Leno (guest host), Barbara Walters, Joanna Kerns	Stanley Jordan
Jay's High School Reunion
3,883	November 29, 1988 (1988-11-29)	Jay Leno (guest host), Mary Tyler Moore, James Earl Jones	Debbie Allen
Actual Notes That Parents Wrote to Schools to Excuse their Children From Class
3,884	November 30, 1988 (1988-11-30)	Jay Leno (guest host), Harvey Fierstein, Courteney Cox	K.T. Oslin
Headlines

December

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
3,885	December 1, 1988 (1988-12-01)	Jay Leno (guest host), Fred Savage, Joan Van Ark	Los Lobos
3,886	December 2, 1988 (1988-12-02)	Jay Leno (guest host), Larry Miller, Stephen Collins	Phil Collins ("Groovy Kind Of Love" and "Separate Lives")
Games
3,887	December 5, 1988 (1988-12-05)	Jay Leno (guest host), Kirk Douglas, Paula Poundstone, Eva Marie Saint	Linda Hopkins
3,888	December 7, 1988 (1988-12-07)	Carl Reiner, Zota Croughan	N/A
Titles For Some Christmas Specials
3,889	December 8, 1988 (1988-12-08)	Jonathan Winters	Kenny Loggins ("Footloose", "A Lesson Hard To Learn")
Johnny puts on a Christmas Helmet that was sent in.; Blue Cards
3,890	December 9, 1988 (1988-12-09)	Danny DeVito, Richard Benjamin	N/A
Johnny determines whether the audience is on the Naughty or Nice list; Also explains the Santa Ana winds.
3,891	December 12, 1988 (1988-12-12)	Jay Leno (guest host), Pee Wee Herman, Ricardo Montalbán, Ritch Shydner	Lou Rawls
3,892	December 14, 1988 (1988-12-14)	Steve Martin, Helen Shaver, Steve Jenne	N/A
Actual Children's Letters to Santa Claus
3,893	December 15, 1988 (1988-12-15)	Bob Hope, Jimmy Tingle, Ellen Greene	N/A
Photos of Supposed Relatives of Audience Members and The Strange Things They Have Done
3,894	December 16, 1988 (1988-12-16)	Arnold Schwarzenegger	Bette Midler ("Under the Boardwalk" and "I Think It's Gonna Rain Today")
Fred de Cordova wears a moose hat called 'Chris Moose'.; New Products
3,895	December 26, 1988 (1988-12-26)	Jay Leno (guest host), Brice Beckham, Joey Bishop, Louie Anderson	Dwight Yoakam
Jay ran into Chuck Norris at a store and saw he bought his wife an electronic automatic dog grooming brush for Xmas. He telephones Mrs. Norris to see if she really liked this Xmas present.; Psychic Predictions for Next Year
3,896	December 28, 1988 (1988-12-28)	'Poppa John' Venturello, Franklyn Ajaye, Catherine Hicks	N/A
Specialized Christmas Cards
3,897	December 29, 1988 (1988-12-29)	Haldan Martinson, Jessica Vallot	Cristin Morrison
Stump the Band
3,898	December 30, 1988 (1988-12-30)	A. Whitney Brown	Gregory Popovich, Sweet Baby Blues Band
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