TV.com

The Midnight Special was a late-night rock music series airing Friday nights (or rather early morning Saturdays). This 90-minute show followed "The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson."

In its first years, The Midnight Special began at 1:00 am. But when Johnny Carson cut his own show from 90 to 60 minutes, Midnight Special's starting time was changed to 12:30am.

NBC broadcast the pilot on August 19, 1972 as a 90-minute special. The Midnight Special became a weekly series beginning February 2, 1973.

For most of its run, the series featured guest hosts each week. The exception to this was from July 1975 through March 1976 when Helen Reddy was the regular host.

Wolfman Jack was a regular fixture on the series. He served as announcer and frequent guest host. In addition, he often interviewed the guests.

Around 1978, at the height of the Disco craze, the studio was changed to resemble a Disco nightclub complete with a platform dance floor. Wolfman Jack was even placed behind an elevated D.J. booth. But by Fall 1979, as the disco craze waned, the disco set was gone.

The Midnight Special was often criticized for not giving enough attention to the punk & new wave music of the late-1970s to early 1980s. While a few punk/new wave acts were featured, the majority of the guests continued to be MOR and disco acts.

Beginning April 11, 1980, The Midnight Special faced competition from ABC's Fridays, a Saturday Night Live style comedy series. Fridays' musical guests were often more cutting edge than those seen on The Midnight Special.

In May 1981, NBC replaced The Midnight Special with SCTV Network 90, an expanded version of Second City TV. Welcome to The Midnight Special guide at TV.com.

The Midnight Special was a late-night rock music series airing Friday nights (or rather early morning Saturdays). This 90-minute show followed "The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson."

In its first years, The Midnight Special began at 1:00 am. But when Johnny Carson cut his own show from 90 to 60 minutes,...