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
Season 1988
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	132
Release
Original network	NBC
Season chronology

1988

January

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
5,832	January 4, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Lance Burton, Baxter Black	Rita Moreno
5,833	January 6, 1988	Franklyn Ajaye, Jester Hairston	Belinda Carlisle
Motivations to Lose Weight After the Holidays
5,844	January 7, 1988	Bette Davis, Martin Short	N/A
Special Calendars
5,845	January 8, 1988	Mark & Delia Owens	Robert Goulet
Questions from The Audience
5,846	January 11, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Dan Aykroyd, Nigel Havers	Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
Headlines
5,847	January 13, 1988	Whoopi Goldberg, Jerry Seinfeld	The Chieftains ("Dans Mod Koh A Vaod" and "Full Of Joy")
How Americans Slogans Translate In Foreign Countries
5,848	January 14, 1988	Milton Berle, Carol Siskind, Don Yesso	N/A
Public Service Announcements
5,849	January 15, 1988	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.
5,850	January 18, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Jimmie Walker, Deborah Raffin, Roy Blount, Jr.	N/A
Notes from a Church Bulletin
5,851	January 20, 1988	Howard Cosell	Barry Manilow
5,852	January 21, 1988	Jack Lemmon	K.T. Oslin
Mighty Carson Art Players - "Malibu Restaurant" (rerun from Betty White episode)
5,853	January 22, 1988	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)
5,854	February 2, 1988	Paul Reiser	James Taylor
Emergency backup statistics not used but ready for use at football games by the sports announcers covering them.
5,855	February 3, 1988	Betty White, Merritt Heaton	Ray Stevens
Mighty Carson Art Players - "Breakfast at The Rather Household"
5,856	February 4, 1988	Sammy Davis, Jr, Jason Bateman	N/A
Johnny's mock eulogy of Luicci the Capuccino Monkey
5,857	February 5, 1988	Oprah Winfrey, Sydney Walsh	Daniel Rosen
Backup 'Wheaties' Box Covers
5,858	February 10, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Sandy Duncan	Randy Travis
Headlines; Kid Inventors
5,859	February 11, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Tim Reid, Tom Parks, Dr. David Dahl	Jerry Lee Lewis ("Rockin' My Life Away" and "Great Balls of Fire")
5,860	February 12, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Brooke Adams, Kevin Meaney, Carl Weathers	Glen Campbell ("I Remember You")
5,861	February 16, 1988	Tim Conway	Jonathan Butler
Diary of Things Johnny Did While He Was Sick
5,862	February 17, 1988	Jackie Mason, Joanna Kerns	Kid Creole & The Coconuts ("Dropout", "Curiosity")
USA Today Poll About the Sexes
5,863	February 18, 1988	Dudley Moore, Minnie Black	N/A
A Presidential Debate with Questions asked by Johnny.
5,864	February 19, 1988	Gene Siskel, Roger Ebert, Bob Saget	Los Lobos ("In America", "La Bamba")
Forgotten Movies From the Past
5,865	February 23, 1988	Louie Anderson, Jennifer Tilly	Dionne Warwick
5,866	February 24, 1988	Ritch Shydner, Rita Rudner, Fred Roggin, Darryl Sivad	N/A
Questions From the Audience
5,867	February 25, 1988	Burt Reynolds, Teresa Ganzel, Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards	N/A
Mighty Carson Art Players - "Tele-Scam"; Expensive Props
5,868	February 26, 1988	Garry Shandling, Allyce Beasley	Donna Theodore
The Wheel of Candidates

March

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
5,869	March 7, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Super Dave Osborne	Ben Vereen
Headlines

May

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
5,870	May 11, 1988	Joe Piscopo	N/A
5,871	May 12, 1988	Dana Carvey, Joe Garagiola, David Teitelbaum, Jack Saltzberg	N/A
Carnac the Magnificent
5,872	May 13, 1988	Fred de Cordova, Bob Hope	k.d. lang
5,873	May 18, 1988	Bill Kirchenbauer, Dr. Terry Gosliner	Billy Vera & The Beaters
Blue Cards
5,874	May 19, 1988	Jonathan Winters, Kristin Banerjee	N/A
Audience Questionare
5,875	May 20, 1988	Sylvester Stallone	N/A
Stump the Band
5,876	May 25, 1988	Paul Hogan, David Brenner	Linda Hopkins ("Born on Friday")
Direct Response Commercials, the 'Playette' and the 'Jog'r'.
5,877	May 26, 1988	Chevy Chase, Iditarod racer John Suter, Thalassa Cruso	N/A
5,878	May 27, 1988	James Stewart, Fred Roggin	Leonard Waxdeck & The Birdcallers
Johnny provides evidence that Bonzo the famous chimpanzee is really still alive.
5,879	May 30, 1988	Garry Shandling (guest host), Elizabeth Perkins, Bob Saget	Jimmy Buffett
5,880	May 31, 1988	Garry Shandling (guest host)	Harry Connick, Jr.

June

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
5,881	June 1, 1988	Garry Shandling (guest host), Paula Poundstone	Natalie Cole
Comparison of Photos between Reagan at the Kremlin and a family at Disneyland.
5,882	June 2, 1988	Garry Shandling (guest host), Angie Dickinson, Fritz Coleman, Allyce Beasley	Michael Bolton
5,883	June 3, 1988	Garry Shandling (guest host), Stan Kann, Joanna Kerns, Roy Blount, Jr.	N/A
5,884	June 6, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Marilu Henner, Cathy Guisewite	N/A
Headlines
5,885	June 8, 1988	David Brinkley	Chuck Berry
5,886	June 9, 1988	Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jerry Seinfeld, Andre Agassi	N/A
Jokes That Are Sent In By Viewers During the Writers Strike
5,887	June 10, 1988	Don Yesso	Basia
5,888	June 13, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Vincent Price, Dave Barry	N/A
Jay shows a film clip of his adventure with the Blue Angels.
5,889	June 15, 1988	James Belushi	Julio Iglesias
Commencement Address to The Audience
5,890	June 16, 1988	Bill Cosby, William Ennis	Belinda Carlisle
5,891	June 17, 1988	David Steinberg	Andrea Marcovicci
Blue Cards
5,892	June 20, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Joan Embery, Marsha Warfield, Dr. Joyce Brothers	N/A
Jay reads unusual newspaper clippings.
5,893	June 22, 1988	Jay Leno, Raquel Welch, garbage truck driver Ray Anderson	N/A
Johnny comments on the Lakers repeating as NBA champions
5,894	June 23, 1988	Magic Johnson, Bruce Willis	Johnny Frigo
Rules of Thumb
5,895	June 24, 1988	Dudley Moore, Lottie Hicks	Diane Schuur
Extracurricular Activities from Celebrity's High School Yearbooks
5,896	June 27, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Dennis Miller, Erma Bombeck	Little Richard
Headlines
5,897	June 28, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Steve Allen, Super Dave Osborne, Bill Maher	N/A
5,898	June 29, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Charles Fleischer, Sydney Walsh, Frank Zappa	N/A
5,899	June 30, 1988	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)
5,900	July 1, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Stepfanie Kramer, Kevin Pollak, Michael Warren	N/A
Jay has a satellite interview with President Reagan.
5,901	July 18, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Pee Wee Herman, John Cleese, Malcolm Forbes	N/A
Headlines
5,902	July 20, 1988	Joe King, Yakov Smirnoff	Buster Poindexter
Photos of Famous Political People with Insertions of What They May Be Saying
5,903	July 21, 1988	Arsenio Hall	Hall & Oates ("Missing Each Other", "She's A Monster")
The Tonight Show version of The Democratic Convention (audience members as the delegates)
5,904	July 22, 1988	Tom Hanks, Brian Gillis	Michael Davis
5,905	July 25, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Jamie Lee Curtis, Louie Anderson	Johnny Mathis
5,906	July 27, 1988	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.
5,907	July 28, 1988	Governor Bill Clinton	Joe Cocker
A film clip of the youngest pilot.
5,908	July 29, 1988	Michael Landon, Smokey Tennison	k.d. lang
Celebrity Photos

August

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
5,909	August 1, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Chuck Norris, Joan Van Ark, Abigail Van Buren	Oak Ridge Boys
5,910	August 3, 1988	Bill Murray, Jeff Cesario	Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg
Psychic Predictions
5,911	August 4, 1988	Paul Reiser, Mabel Hines Buck	Robben Ford
5,912	August 5, 1988	Richard Pryor, Richard Jeni	Pete Fountain
Photos of celebrities showing tiny notes on their person supposedly enlarged by 'high resolution cameras'.
5,913	August 8, 1988	Garry Shandling (guest host), Phoebe Mills, Ed Begley, Jr., Richard Lewis	Dizzy Gillespie
5,914	August 9, 1988	Garry Shandling (guest host), Sugar Ray Leonard, Bill Maher, Patti D'Arbanville	N/A
5,915	August 10, 1988	Garry Shandling (guest host), Joan Embery, David Steinberg, Catherine O'Hara	Linda Hopkins
5,916	August 11, 1988	Garry Shandling (guest host), Tracey Ullman, Ken Olin, Fred Roggin	Brenda Russell
5,917	August 12, 1988	Garry Shandling (guest host), Kirstie Alley, Mariel Hemingway, Cathy Guisewite Garry Shandling guest hosts for the last time.	N/A
The Lobster Boy Letter
5,918	August 22, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Shirley Jones, Wayne Gretzky Jay Leno became the sole guest host.	B.B. King
Headlines
5,919	August 24, 1988	George Carlin, Mark Harmon	N/A
The Tonight Show version of the Republican Convention (audience members as the delegates)
5,920	August 25, 1988	Jonathan Winters, Karen Josephson, Sarah Josephson	N/A
Phobias
5,921	August 29, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Holly Robinson	Dwight Yoakam & Buck Owens
Headlines
5,922	August 31, 1988	Kirk Douglas, Ritch Shydner	The Temptations
Examples of Contemporary Slang

September

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
5,923	September 1, 1988	Buddy Hackett, Dana Delany	N/A
Albums Sung by Celebrities in The Past
5,924	September 2, 1988	Jennifer Tilly	Randy Travis
Comedy Crypt - Some Old Jokes
5,925	September 5, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Norm Crosby	George Benson
The Tonight Show's Little Big Book of Romantic Phrases
5,926	September 7, 1988	Bob Hope, Tim Conway	Joe Williams
Low-Down On The Candidates
5,927	September 8, 1988	Martin Short	Johnny Clegg & Savuka
Different Sounds That Give People the Willies
5,928	September 9, 1988	Shabana Kazi	Harry Belafonte
International Symbols
5,929	September 12, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Betty White, Elvira	The Spinners
Newspaper Clippings
5,930	September 14, 1988	Jim Fowler	N/A
5,931	September 15, 1988	Bob Uecker, Sigourney Weaver	Reba McEntire
New Fall Shows

October

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
5,932	October 6, 1988	TBA	N/A
Johnny celebrates his 26th anniversary as the host of The Tonight Show.
5,933	October 10, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Robert Stack, Franklyn Ajaye	Kenny G
5,934	October 12, 1988	Cody Carr	Ray Charles
A takeoff on the Presidential Debate in which Ed McMahon asks Johnny questions as if Johnny is Quayle or Bentsen.
5,935	October 13, 1988	Tommy Lasorda	Jimmy Buffett
5,936	October 14, 1988	Sandy Duncan, Steve Mittleman, Irv Kupcinet	N/A
Personalized License Plates
5,937	October 17, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Super Dave Osborne, Robert Mitchum	N/A
Headlines
5,938	October 19, 1988	Whoopi Goldberg, Kevin Pollak, Alice Chalifoux	N/A
Answers to the Questionnaire passed out to 2nd and 3rd Graders based on the Presidential Election
5,939	October 20, 1988	Michael Caine	Eydie Gormé, Steve Lawrence
Blue Cards
5,940	October 21, 1988	Orel Hershiser, Floyd Jackson, Susan Sullivan	Lee Ritenour
5,941	October 31, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Stepfanie Kramer, Jimmie Walker, Richard Mulligan	N/A

November

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
5,942	November 2, 1988	Christopher Reeve, Melanie Mayron, Jonathan Zachary	N/A
'If Election Was Held Tomorrow' Quiz; Local Propositions
5,943	November 3, 1988	Michael J. Fox, Larry Miller, Harry Lorayne	N/A
Funny Advertising Ads: Johnny and Ed present mash-ups of billboard slogans
5,944	November 4, 1988	James Garner, Jeff Cesario, Park Overall	N/A
'Politicboy' Magazine
5,945	November 7, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Marilu Henner, Jester Hairston, Vanna White	N/A
Headlines (11/8/88 pre-empted for NBC News election night coverage)
5,946	November 9, 1988	Candice Bergen, Steven Wright	Johnny Frigo
As The White House Turns
5,947	November 10, 1988	Greg Irwin, Richard Jeni, Gore Vidal	N/A
Blue Cards
5,948	November 11, 1988	Paul Reiser, Kitty Carlisle	Oak Ridge Boys
Cultural Customs of The World
5,949	November 14, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Joan Collins, John Byner	N/A
Newspaper Clippings
5,950	November 16, 1988	Harry Anderson, Argus Hamilton, Calvin Trillin	N/A
Messages From Home
5,951	November 17, 1988	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
5,952	November 18, 1988	Oprah Winfrey	Sheena Easton ("The Lover In Me" and "Follow My Rainbow")
Sketch - "UCLA vs. Stanford Game (with Johnny as a commentator)"
5,953	November 21, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Tony Danza, Malcolm-Jamal Warner	Andy Williams
Tonight Show's Little Big Book of Romantic Phrases
5,954	November 23, 1988	George Burns, Tracey Ullman	Jeff Healey ("See The Light")
School Kids' Answers To a Thanksgiving Questionnaire.
5,955	November 24, 1988	Lucy Webb	Willie Nelson
Evening News with Zontar Rather in The Year 2008
5,956	November 25, 1988	Teri Garr, Marsha Warfield	Johnny Clegg & Savuka
Celebrity Perfumes
5,957	November 28, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Barbara Walters, Joanna Kerns	Stanley Jordan
Jay's High School Reunion
5,958	November 29, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Mary Tyler Moore, James Earl Jones	N/A
Actual Notes That Parents Wrote to Schools to Excuse their Children From Class
5,959	November 30, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Harvey Fierstein, Courteney Cox	K.T. Oslin
Headlines

December

No.	Original air date	Guest(s)	Musical/entertainment guest(s)
5,960	December 1, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Fred Savage, Joan Van Ark	Los Lobos
5,961	December 2, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Larry Miller, Stephen Collins	Phil Collins ("Groovy Kind Of Love" and "Separate Lives")
Games
5,962	December 5, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Kirk Douglas, Paula Poundstone, Eva Marie Saint	Linda Hopkins
5,963	December 7, 1988	Carl Reiner, Zota Croughan	N/A
Titles For Some Christmas Specials
5,964	December 8, 1988	Jonathan Winters	Kenny Loggins ("Footloose", "A Lesson Hard To Learn")
Johnny puts on a Christmas Helmet that was sent in.; Blue Cards
5,965	December 9, 1988	Danny DeVito, Richard Benjamin	N/A
Johnny determines whether the audience is on the Naughty or Nice list; Also explains the Santa Ana winds.
5,966	December 12, 1988	Jay Leno (guest host), Pee Wee Herman, Ricardo Montalban, Ritch Shydner	Lou Rawls
5,967	December 14, 1988	Steve Martin, Helen Shaver, Steve Jenne	N/A
Actual Children's Letters to Santa Claus
5,968	December 15, 1988	Bob Hope, Jimmy Tingle, Ellen Greene	N/A
Photos of Supposed Relatives of Audience Members and The Strange Things They Have Done
5,969	December 16, 1988	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
5,970	December 26, 1988	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
5,971	December 28, 1988	'Poppa John' Venturello, Franklyn Ajaye, Catherine Hicks	N/A
Specialized Christmas Cards
5,972	December 29, 1988	Haldan Martinson, Jessica Vallot	Cristin Morrison
Stump the Band
5,973	December 30, 1988	A. Whitney Brown	Gregory Popovich, Sweet Baby Blues Band
Dictionary Terms