This was the second episode of NBC's "The Sammy Davis Jr. Show" but the first without its star. Let me explain, Davis at this time had a previous contract with ABC for a special which was going to air three or so weeks after this episode and it stipulated he couldn't appear on his own series during that time so this ep was hosted by Johnny Carson (the other two shows after that were hosted by Sean Connery and Jerry Lewis). Anyway, Carson does a funny monologue about the events of the early part of 1966 before first guest Diahann Carroll sings "What the World Needs Now". Next, Johnny talks with Joan Rivers who kvetches about her recent marriage to Edgar Rosenberg, which gets a little more bizarre and less funny as her story about a party goes on. Followed by a commercial for a medicine product. Then Tony Mottola plays his guitar. From there, magician Don Allen shows some tricks to Rivers and Mickey Rooney. Then another commercial for Almond Joy. After that, Carroll sings, "Jeepers Creepers" and then Rooney and partner Bobby Van do an unfunny sketch about a big game hunter. And then after the commercial for Alka Seltzer, Johnny explains what's coming next week (a "Peter Pan" special starring Mary Martin) and the following two (the aforementioned guest hosts) and that maybe Sammy will return following all that just before the credits roll which reveals the director as Carson's brother Dick. Like I said, some good stuff from Johnny and some from Rivers, entertaining music from Mottola and Carroll, but a pointless sketch from Rooney and Van. Still, a pretty entertaining show that I saw from Mark Evanier's site in a black-and-white kinescope of a color program.
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