# List of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson episodes (1974)

The following is a list of episodes of the television series The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson which aired in 1974:

## 1974
### January

| No. | Original air date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 2828 | January 1, 1974 (1974-01-01) | John Davidson, Rebecca Ann King | Lola Falana |
| Carnac the Magnificent ||||
| 2829 | January 2, 1974 (1974-01-02) | Tony Randall, Jerry Van Dyke, Pat Derby | Harry Chapin |
| Desk- "Hangover Clues" ||||
| 2830 | January 3, 1974 (1974-01-03) | Carl Reiner, Johnny Brown, Dr. Carlfred Broderick | Burl Ives |
| Desk- "Comets"; Desk- "NFL Film Clips" ||||
| 2831 | January 4, 1974 (1974-01-04) | Rex Reed | Roger Miller |
| 2832 | January 7, 1974 (1974-01-07) | Lorne Greene (guest host), Rich Little | N/A |
| 2833 | January 8, 1974 (1974-01-08) | James Caan, David Steinberg, Garson Kanin | Helen Forrest |
| Desk- "Various Awards Given At This Time of Year" ||||
| 2834 | January 9, 1974 (1974-01-09) | Dom DeLuise, David Brenner, Beverly Sanders, Dr. Carl Sagan | N/A |
| Desk- "How to Get To Sleep" ||||
| 2835 | January 10, 1974 (1974-01-10) | Robert Blake, Darrow Igus, Bob Rosefsky | Phyllis Newman |
| Desk- "January Sales and Their Unusual Nature" ||||
| 2836 | January 11, 1974 (1974-01-11) | George Segal, James Whitmore, Jennifer O'Neill | John Denver |
| Desk- "California Weather"; Desk- "NFL Film Clips" ||||
| 2837 | January 14, 1974 (1974-01-14) | John Davidson (guest host) | N/A |
| 2838 | January 15, 1974 (1974-01-15) | Bob Hope, Marty Brill, Rufus Youngblood | Buddy Rich, Lana Cantrell |
| Desk- "Calendar of Events for 1974" ||||
| 2839 | January 16, 1974 (1974-01-16) | George Gobel, Carol Wayne, Dr. Carlfred Broderick | Lennon Sisters |
| Desk- "Johnny Creates a Toilet Paper Shortage" ||||
| 2840 | January 17, 1974 (1974-01-17) | Fernando Lamas, Richard Pryor, Robyn Hilton, William Peter Blatty | N/A |
| Desk- "Mailing Lists and Contests" ||||
| 2841 | January 18, 1974 (1974-01-18) | Orson Bean, Carol Wayne | Johnny Mathis |
| Desk- "Greeting Cards"; Stump the Band ||||
| 2842 | January 21, 1974 (1974-01-21) | McLean Stevenson (guest host) | Ronny Graham |
| 2842 | January 22, 1974 (1974-01-22) | Bob Hope, Dick Shawn | John O'Banion, Victor Borge |
| Desk- "Academy Awards Nominations" ||||
| 2843 | January 23, 1974 (1974-01-23) | Jack Benny, Mel Blanc, Jim Henson, Dr. Irwin Maxwell Stillman | Maria Muldaur ("Midnight at the Oasis" and "The Work Song") |
| Desk- "How to Get Rid of January Blahs" ||||
| 2844 | January 24, 1974 (1974-01-24) | Paul Williams, Buck Henry, Adrienne Barbeau | N/A |
| 2845 | January 25, 1974 (1974-01-25) | Karen Valentine, Scotty Plummer | Liberace, Ace Trucking Company |
| Desk- "First Drafts of Famous Speeches" ||||
| 2846 | January 28, 1974 (1974-01-28) | Joey Bishop (guest host), Minnie Pearl | Mel Tormé |
| 2847 | January 29, 1974 (1974-01-29) | Joey Bishop (guest host), Jack Klugman, Euell Gibbons | Sandler & Young |
| 2848 | January 30, 1974 (1974-01-30) | Joey Bishop (guest host), Danny Thomas | Tony Bennett |
| Tony Bennett first appeared on Johnny's first Tonight Show on October 1, 1962, becoming Johnny's first musical guest. ||||
| 2849 | January 31, 1974 (1974-01-31) | Joey Bishop (guest host) | N/A |

### February

| No. | Original air date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 2850 | February 1, 1974 (1974-02-01) | Joey Bishop (guest host), Georgie Kaye | The Golddiggers: Maria Lauren – Riccio and Linda Eichberg (Alberici Sisters), Patti Pivarnik – Gribow, Deborah Pratt, Susan Buckner, Lee Nolting, Colleen Kincaid – Jackson, Robin Hoctor – Horneff. |
| 2851 | February 4, 1974 (1974-02-04) | Joey Bishop (guest host), Roy Rogers | N/A |
| 2852 | February 5, 1974 (1974-02-05) | Susan Sarandon, Albert Brooks | N/A |
| 2853 | February 6, 1974 (1974-02-06) | Robert Blake, Freddie Prinze, Tisha Sterling | Talya Ferro |
| Desk- "Time Fillers" ||||
| 2853 | February 7, 1974 (1974-02-07) | Jonathan Winters, Franklyn Ajaye | Bobby Goldsboro |
| Desk- "Honeymoon Questionnaires" ||||
| 2854 | February 8, 1974 (1974-02-08) | Suzanne Pleshette, Jerry Van Dyke, Marcel Marceau, Tracy Newman | N/A |
| El Mouldo ||||
| 2855 | February 11, 1974 (1974-02-11) | Steve Allen (guest host) | N/A |
| 2856 | February 12, 1974 (1974-02-12) | Cathy Rigby | Connie Stevens, Wayne Newton |
| Carnac the Magnificent ||||
| 2857 | February 13, 1974 (1974-02-13) | Carol Lawrence, Jack Albertson, Euell Gibbons | Robert Goulet |
| Mighty Carson Art Players- "Robin Hood" ||||
| 2858 | February 14, 1974 (1974-02-14) | Fernando Lamas | Gladys Knight & The Pips |
| Desk- "What Kind of Person Are You?" ||||
| 2859 | February 15, 1974 (1974-02-15) | McLean Stevenson, Steve Landesberg, Dr. William Nolen | Helen Reddy |
| Desk- "T.V. Guide Listings" ||||
| 2860 | February 18, 1974 (1974-02-18) | Wayne Newton (guest host) | Buck Owens |
| 2861 | February 19, 1974 (1974-02-19) | Dom DeLuise, Orson Bean, Dr. Carlfred Broderick | Marilyn Horne |
| Desk- "Johnny, Ed, and Doc Talk" ||||
| 2862 | February 20, 1974 (1974-02-20) | Joan Embery, Sarah Miles, David Brenner, Kreskin | N/A |
| Johnny inquires about Doc's racehorses; Desk- "Do's and Don'ts in Singles Bars" ||||
| 2863 | February 21, 1974 (1974-02-21) | Michael Landon, Rex Reed, Suzanne Somers | Bill Withers ("Ain't No Sunshine" and "The Same Love That Made Me Laugh") |
| Aunt Blabby ||||
| 2864 | February 22, 1974 (1974-02-22) | Dennis Weaver, George Gobel, Barbara Howar | Lola Falana |
| Desk- "Blue Cards" ||||
| 2865 | February 25, 1974 (1974-02-25) | John Denver (guest host), Susan Saint James | Pat Boone |
| 2866 | February 26, 1974 (1974-02-26) | Joanna Cassidy, Dr. Carl Sagan | Ronny Graham |
| Desk- "What to Do While Waiting In Line To Get Gas" ||||
| 2867 | February 27, 1974 (1974-02-27) | Jason Miller, Paul Williams, Ashley Montagu | Phyllis Newman |
| Desk- "Laws That Are Still On The Books In Several States" ||||
| 2868 | February 28, 1974 (1974-02-28) | Bert Convy, Barbi Benton, Peter Tompkins, Carol Wayne | Johnny Mathis ("Life Is a Song Worth Singing", "I'm Stone in Love with You" and "I Won't Last a Day Without You") |
| Desk- "Energy Crisis"; Note: Carol Wayne filled in for Ed McMahon. ||||

### March

| No. | Original air date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 2869 | March 1, 1974 (1974-03-01) | Jack Palance, Susan Sarandon, Sidney Sheldon | Tom Sullivan |
| Desk- "New Magazines" ||||
| 2870 | March 4, 1974 (1974-03-04) | Shecky Greene (guest host) | Loretta Lynn |
| 2871 | March 5, 1974 (1974-03-05) | Raquel Welch, Mervyn LeRoy | Glen Campbell |
| Desk- "Things That Are Tacky" ||||
| 2872 | March 6, 1974 (1974-03-06) | Charlie Callas, Suzanne Somers | N/A |
| Stump the Band ||||
| 2873 | March 7, 1974 (1974-03-07) | Freddie Prinze, Buck Henry, Craig Pease | Lola Falana ("Lean On Me" and "You've Got a Friend") |
| Desk- "Television Pilots That Didn't Make It" ||||
| 2873 | March 8, 1974 (1974-03-08) | Bruce Dern, Gig Young, Gerard Nierenberg | Ricky Nelson |
| Band Number ("Ode to Billie Joe"); Commercial Blackouts ||||
| 2874 | March 11, 1974 (1974-03-11) | Don Rickles (guest host) | N/A |
| 2875 | March 12, 1974 (1974-03-12) | Don Rickles (guest host) | Roy Clark |
| 2876 | March 13, 1974 (1974-03-13) | Don Rickles (guest host), Jack Klugman | Charo |
| 2877 | March 14, 1974 (1974-03-14) | Don Rickles (guest host) | N/A |
| 2878 | March 15, 1974 (1974-03-15) | Don Rickles (guest host), Bob Newhart, Ernest Borgnine | N/A |
| Band Number: "There's No Business Like Show Business" ||||
| 2879 | March 18, 1974 (1974-03-18) | Don Rickles (guest host), Gabriel Kaplan | N/A |
| 2880 | March 19, 1974 (1974-03-19) | Robert Blake, Bert Convy | Cleo Laine, John Dankworth |
| Sketch- "Philippine G.I. Interview" ||||
| 2881 | March 20, 1974 (1974-03-20) | John Davidson, Rodney Dangerfield, Dr. David Reuben | Ethel Merman |
| 2882 | March 21, 1974 (1974-03-21) | McLean Stevenson, George Carlin, Gene Hackman, Gloria DeHaven | N/A |
| Desk- "Fads That Never Made It" ||||
| 2883 | March 22, 1974 (1974-03-22) | Lucille Ball, Dom DeLuise, Charlton Heston | Ace Trucking Company |
| Desk- "Lesser Known World Records from the Guinness Book"; Desi Arnaz Jr. makes a surprise appearance during Lucille Ball's segment. ||||
| 2884 | March 25, 1974 (1974-03-25) | Anthony Newley (guest host), Bob Newhart | N/A |
| 2885 | March 26, 1974 (1974-03-26) | James Garner, Suzanne Pleshette, Robert Klein, Jack Haley Jr. | N/A |
| Carnac the Magnificent ||||
| 2886 | March 27, 1974 (1974-03-27) | George Peppard, Richard Lewis, Dr. Lendon Smith | Leslie Uggams |
| 2887 | March 28, 1974 (1974-03-28) | Michael Landon, Carl Reiner, Joanna Cassidy | Gloria Loring |
| Desk- "When Should You Be Depressed?"; Stump the Band ||||
| 2888 | March 29, 1974 (1974-03-29) | Roger Moore, Orson Bean, Charles Nelson Reilly, Darrow Igus | N/A |
| Desk- "Objects For The Time Capsule" ||||

### April

| No. | Original air date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 2889 | April 1, 1974 (1974-04-01) | Roy Clark (guest host) | N/A |
| 2890 | April 2, 1974 (1974-04-02) | none | N/A |
| 2891 | April 3, 1974 (1974-04-03) | Steve Martin, Adrienne Barbeau, Bob Rosefsky | Buddy Rich, Charles Aznavour |
| Desk- "The Worst Awards" ||||
| 2892 | April 4, 1974 (1974-04-04) | Dinah Shore, Marsha Mason, Dr. Carl Sagan | N/A |
| Desk- "Things That Happen Backstage at The Oscars" ||||
| 2893 | April 5, 1974 (1974-04-05) | Debbie Reynolds, William Holden, Freddie Prinze, Richard Armour | N/A |
| Desk- "Blue Cards" ||||
| 2894 | April 8, 1974 (1974-04-08) | McLean Stevenson (guest host), Sandy Duncan | N/A |
| 2895 | April 9, 1974 (1974-04-09) | Andy Griffith, Jerry Van Dyke, Josephine Baker | Jackson Five ("Let It Be"/"Never Can Say Goodbye"/"Dancing Machine") |
| Desk- "Celebrity Tax Deductions" ||||
| 2896 | April 10, 1974 (1974-04-10) | Danny Thomas, George Gobel, Ron Leibman | N/A |
| Desk- "New Amusement Parks" ||||
| 2897 | April 11, 1974 (1974-04-11) | Joan Embery, Steve Landesberg, Diahann Carroll | Ronny Graham |
| Desk- "T.V. Guide's Listing of Various Television Shows" ||||
| 2898 | April 12, 1974 (1974-04-12) | Ricardo Montalbán, Susan George, Marvin Hamlisch, Peter Benchley | N/A |
| Desk- "Last Minute Tax Tips" ||||
| 2899 | April 15, 1974 (1974-04-15) | Barbara Walters (guest host), Fernando Lamas | N/A |
| 2900 | April 16, 1974 (1974-04-16) | John Davidson, Robert Blake, Michael Preminger, Elaine Joyce | N/A |
| Sketch- "Stupid Canupide- Daredevil Interview" ||||
| 2901 | April 17, 1974 (1974-04-17) | Bob Hope, Sid Caesar, George Segal, John Aspinall | N/A |
| Desk- "Messages for Ed" ||||
| 2902 | April 18, 1974 (1974-04-18) | Don Knotts, Cindy Williams, Bert Convy | N/A |
| Desk- "Game Shows That Never Made It" ||||
| 2903 | April 19, 1974 (1974-04-19) | Sammy Davis Jr., David Brenner, Carol Wayne | N/A |
| Desk- "How to Save Money" ||||
| 2904 | April 22, 1974 (1974-04-22) | Michael Landon (guest host), Lorne Greene, Vincent Price | N/A |
| 2905 | April 23, 1974 (1974-04-23) | John Davidson (guest host), Steve Allen, Lynn Redgrave | The Pointer Sisters |
| 2906 | April 24, 1974 (1974-04-24) | Dom DeLuise (guest host), Suzanne Somers | Charo |
| 2906 | April 25, 1974 (1974-04-25) | George Segal (guest host), Joan Rivers, Jean Stapleton | Roy Clark |
| 2907 | April 26, 1974 (1974-04-26) | John Davidson (guest host), Norm Crosby | N/A |
| 2908 | April 29, 1974 (1974-04-29) | Jim Nabors (guest host), Carol Burnett, Phyllis Diller | N/A |
| 2909 | April 30, 1974 (1974-04-30) | Tony Randall, Florence Henderson, Paul Williams, Euell Gibbons | N/A |
| Carnac the Magnificent ||||

### May

| No. | Original air date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 2910 | May 1, 1974 (1974-05-01) | Gabriel Kaplan, Cindy Williams, Kreskin, Donald Ashworth | Buddy Rich |
| Desk- "Comic Pictures of Johnny's Vacation to New York City and Nebraska" ||||
| 2911 | May 2, 1974 (1974-05-02) | James Coco, Myron Cohen, Carol Wayne | Ben Vereen |
| Mighty Carson Art Players- "Tea-Time Movie" ||||
| 2912 | May 3, 1974 (1974-05-03) | Cloris Leachman, John Amos | Lola Falana |
| Desk- "Burbank's Calendar of Events" ||||
| 2913 | May 6, 1974 (1974-05-06) | Rich Little (guest host), Dick Shawn | Della Reese |
| 2914 | May 7, 1974 (1974-05-07) | Jan Munroe, Buddy Hackett, Cass Elliot, Dong Kingman | N/A |
| Desk- "Blue Cards" Note: A musicians' strike begins resulting in the absence of Doc Severinsen and the band. ||||
| 2915 | May 8, 1974 (1974-05-08) | Alex Karras, Michael Skinner | N/A |
| Desk- "Celebrity Recipes" ||||
| 2916 | May 9, 1974 (1974-05-09) | Jonathan Winters, Susan Sarandon, Jack Anderson | N/A |
| Desk- "Folk Lore Cures" ||||
| 2917 | May 10, 1974 (1974-05-10) | Jack Palance, Orson Bean, Joanna Cassidy | Jose Molina |
| Sketch- "Interview with Patsy Award Loser- Jack Rabbit" ||||
| 2918 | May 13, 1974 (1974-05-13) | Florence Henderson (guest host), Charles Nelson Reilly | N/A |
| 2919 | May 14, 1974 (1974-05-14) | David Steinberg, Rob Reiner, Ronny Graham | N/A |
| Desk- "Mother's Day Cards" ||||
| 2920 | May 15, 1974 (1974-05-15) | Robert Blake, Fernando Lamas, Charles Fleischer, Victoria Principal | John Twomey |
| Desk- "Strange Money Grants Approved by The U.S. Government" ||||
| 2921 | May 16, 1974 (1974-05-16) | McLean Stevenson, Joe Flynn, Dr. Lendon Smith | N/A |
| Desk- "Lesser Known Scandals in Government" ||||
| 2922 | May 17, 1974 (1974-05-17) | Vincent Price, Joan Rivers, Bert Convy | Chaz Chase |
| 2923 | May 20, 1974 (1974-05-20) | Telly Savalas (guest host), Shelley Winters, O. J. Simpson | N/A |
| 2924 | May 21, 1974 (1974-05-21) | Bob Hope, Don Rickles, Michael Landon, Freddie Prinze, Carol Wayne | N/A |
| Carnac the Magnificent ||||
| 2925 | May 22, 1974 (1974-05-22) | Charlton Heston, David Brenner, Norman Mailer | Ian Whitcomb ("Hungry Women") |
| Desk- "Newlyweds: How They Met" (Johnny reads questionnaire responses by honeymooners in the Poconos) ||||
| 2926 | May 23, 1974 (1974-05-23) | Joan Embery, Eva Gabor, Madeline Peisakoff | The Persuasions |
| Desk- "3rd Graders Recipes"; Mighty Carson Art Players- "The Shah of Ababaland" ||||
| 2927 | May 24, 1974 (1974-05-24) | Suzanne Pleshette, Jim Henson, Bobby Kosser, private detective Hal Lipset | N/A |
| Desk- "Timmy Awards" ||||
| 2928 | May 27, 1974 (1974-05-27) | Steve Allen (guest host), Dr. Joyce Brothers, George Kennedy | N/A |
| 2929 | May 28, 1974 (1974-05-28) | Bill Cosby (guest host), Norm Crosby, Jerry Van Dyke | N/A |
| 2930 | May 29, 1974 (1974-05-29) | John Davidson, George Gobel, Richard Armour | N/A |
| Desk- "Acts Booked During the Musicians' Strike"; Stump the Band ||||
| 2931 | May 30, 1974 (1974-05-30) | Cloris Leachman, Gabriel Kaplan | Ian Whitcomb, Johnny Mathis |
| Desk- "Phone Messages for the Hand" ||||
| 2932 | May 31, 1974 (1974-05-31) | Shecky Greene (guest host) | Charo, Mac Davis |

### June

| No. | Original air date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 2933 | June 3, 1974 (1974-06-03) | George Carlin, Jackie Cooper, Marvin Hamlisch, Jack Knight | N/A |
| Desk- Discussion about Johnny booming tennis career. ||||
| 2934 | June 4, 1974 (1974-06-04) | Joan Rivers, George Peppard, Lena Zavaroni | Tom Sullivan |
| Desk- Discussion on the California election. ||||
| 2935 | June 5, 1974 (1974-06-05) | Rich Little, Truman Capote | Olivia Newton-John performed "If You Love Me (Let Me Know)" and "I Honestly Love You" |
| 2936 | June 6, 1974 (1974-06-06) | Michael Caine, Karen Valentine, Bert Convy | Ethel Merman ("Alexander's Ragtime Band" and "I Get a Kick Out of You") |
| 2937 | June 7, 1974 (1974-06-07) | Joey Bishop (guest host), Fernando Lamas | N/A |
| 2938 | June 10, 1974 (1974-06-10) | Joey Bishop (guest host), George Burns, Kreskin | N/A |
| 2938 | June 11, 1974 (1974-06-11) | Joey Bishop (guest host), Jack Klugman, Rip Taylor, Stephanie Edwards | Dick Roman ("Let Me Try Again") |
| 2939 | June 12, 1974 (1974-06-12) | Joey Bishop (guest host), Rex Reed, Suzanne Somers | Anne Murray |
| 2940 | June 13, 1974 (1974-06-13) | Joey Bishop (guest host), Steve Landesberg | N/A |
| 2941 | June 14, 1974 (1974-06-14) | Joey Bishop (guest host), Dr. Joyce Brothers | N/A |
| 2942 | June 17, 1974 (1974-06-17) | McLean Stevenson (guest host), Cloris Leachman, Alex Karras, Dr. Lendon Smith | Helen Reddy |
| Desk- McLean reads news clippings he had been saving (consisting of: sunflower seeds as a source of power, Nashville, Tennessee, heating the city with garbage, and flying chickens.) ||||
| 2943 | June 18, 1974 (1974-06-18) | McLean Stevenson (guest host), Juliet Prowse, Steve Martin, Robert Duvall | Lou Rawls |
| 2944 | June 19, 1974 (1974-06-19) | McLean Stevenson (guest host), Harvey Korman, Florence Henderson | Mac Davis |
| Band Number: Tribute to Duke Ellington ||||
| 2945 | June 20, 1974 (1974-06-20) | McLean Stevenson (guest host), Edward Asner, Chuck Barris, Doug Brown | Glen Campbell |
| 2946 | June 21, 1974 (1974-06-21) | McLean Stevenson (guest host), George Gobel, Peter Fonda | N/A |
| Desk- "Tips for Summer" ||||
| 2947 | June 24, 1974 (1974-06-24) | Jack Benny, Richard Harris | N/A |
| Desk- Johnny and Doc discuss an item in a Wisconsin newspaper. ||||
| 2948 | June 25, 1974 (1974-06-25) | Milton Berle, Susan Sarandon, Pat Derby | Leslie Uggams |
| Carnac the Magnificent ||||
| 2949 | June 26, 1974 (1974-06-26) | Elke Sommer, Myron Cohen | Wayne Newton |
| Desk- "Dangers of Being in the Sun Too Long" ||||
| 2950 | June 27, 1974 (1974-06-27) | Bob Uecker, Robert Klein, Dr. Carl Sagan | Donny Osmond, Marie Osmond |
| Desk- "Strange Movie Marquees" ||||
| 2951 | June 28, 1974 (1974-06-28) | John Davidson (guest host), Cliff Arquette, Sandy Duncan, Rip Taylor | N/A |

### July

| No. | Original air date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 2952 | July 1, 1974 (1974-07-01) | Tony Randall, Buck Henry, Richard Lawrence Williams, Carol Wayne | Tom Sullivan |
| Mighty Carson Art Players- "Tea-Time Movie" ||||
| 2953 | July 2, 1974 (1974-07-02) | Bob Newhart, Elliott Gould, George Segal | Monti Rock |
| 2954 | July 3, 1974 (1974-07-03) | Dom DeLuise, Orson Bean, Rodney Dangerfield, Mariette Hartley | N/A |
| 2955 | July 4, 1974 (1974-07-04) | Richard Harris, Ann Turkel, Burt Mustin | Ronny Graham |
| Desk- "How to Throw an Outdoor Party" ||||
| 2956 | July 5, 1974 (1974-07-05) | George Carlin (guest host), Jimmy Breslin, David Carradine | Kenny Rankin |
| 2957 | July 8, 1974 (1974-07-08) | Bert Convy, David Brenner, Adrienne Barbeau | Billy Strange |
| Desk- "Stills of Television Shows" ||||
| 2958 | July 9, 1974 (1974-07-09) | Robert Blake, Charlie Callas | Tommy Leonetti |
| Desk- "Letters from Children Describing their Fathers" ||||
| 2959 | July 10, 1974 (1974-07-10) | Rich Little, Jack Palance, Freddie Prinze | N/A |
| Desk- "The Art of Dislodging Your Summer Lodgers" ||||
| 2960 | July 11, 1974 (1974-07-11) | McLean Stevenson, Suzanne Pleshette, Ashley Montagu | N/A |
| 2961 | July 12, 1974 (1974-07-12) | Peter Bogdanovich (guest host), Cybill Shepherd, Madeline Kahn, Burt Reynolds | Ace Trucking Company |
| 2962 | July 15, 1974 (1974-07-15) | James Stewart, Suzanne Somers | Paul Anka |
| 2963 | July 16, 1974 (1974-07-16) | Bob Hope, Charles Nelson Reilly, Dr. Joyce Brothers | N/A |
| 2964 | July 17, 1974 (1974-07-17) | Fernando Lamas, Jerry Van Dyke | Lola Falana |
| 2965 | July 18, 1974 (1974-07-18) | Jaye P. Morgan | N/A |
| 2966 | July 19, 1974 (1974-07-19) | John Denver (guest host), George Gobel, Smothers Brothers | N/A |
| 2967 | July 22, 1974 (1974-07-22) | Danny Thomas, Bert Convy, Adrienne Barbeau | Kelly Garrett |
| 2968 | July 23, 1974 (1974-07-23) | Don Meredith | N/A |
| 2969 | July 24, 1974 (1974-07-24) | Bob Uecker, Adrienne Barbeau | Helen Reddy |
| 2970 | July 25, 1974 (1974-07-25) | Euell Gibbons | N/A |
| 2971 | July 26, 1974 (1974-07-26) | Roy Clark (guest host), Ernest Borgnine, Kreskin | N/A |
| 2972 | July 29, 1974 (1974-07-29) | TBA | N/A |
| 2973 | July 30, 1974 (1974-07-30) | Tony Randall, Jennifer O'Neill | Johnny Mathis ("Our Day Will Come") |
| Desk- Johnny described how his accident (falling off the slant board) occurred. ||||
| 2974 | July 31, 1974 (1974-07-31) | Orson Bean | Buddy Rich, Gerri Granger |

### August

| No. | Original air date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 2975 | August 1, 1974 (1974-08-01) | Joey Bishop (guest host), Robert Blake, Suzanne Somers | N/A |
| 2976 | August 2, 1974 (1974-08-02) | Joey Bishop (guest host), Shelley Winters | N/A |
| 2977 | August 5, 1974 (1974-08-05) | Joey Bishop (guest host), Bob Rosefsky | N/A |
| 2978 | August 6, 1974 (1974-08-06) | Joey Bishop (guest host), Fernando Lamas, Dub Taylor | Charo |
| 2978 | August 7, 1974 (1974-08-07) | Joey Bishop (guest host), Norm Crosby, Henny Youngman | Aretha Franklin |
| Audience Talent Show (Joey Bishop) ||||
| 2979 | August 8, 1974 (1974-08-08) | Joey Bishop (guest host), Steve Allen | N/A |
| 2980 | August 9, 1974 (1974-08-09) | Joey Bishop (guest host), Susan Sarandon | N/A |
| 281 | August 12, 1974 (1974-08-12) | John Davidson (guest host), Charles Nelson Reilly, Stephanie Edwards | Olivia Newton-John, Burns & Schreiber |
| 2982 | August 13, 1974 (1974-08-13) | John Davidson (guest host), Sandy Duncan | Larry Kert, Loretta Lynn |
| 2983 | August 14, 1974 (1974-08-14) | John Davidson (guest host), Cliff Arquette, Rich Little | Della Reese |
| 2984 | August 15, 1974 (1974-08-15) | John Davidson (guest host), Don Adams, Bob Uecker, Kip Addotta, | N/A |
| 2985 | August 16, 1974 (1974-08-16) | John Davidson (guest host), Pat Paulsen, Adrienne Barbeau | Charo, Hoyt Axton |
| 2986 | August 19, 1974 (1974-08-19) | Bill Cosby (guest host), Jack Klugman, Monte Landis, Barbi Benton, Marty Feldman | Jackson Five ("Dancing Machine") |
| 2987 | August 20, 1974 (1974-08-20) | Bill Cosby (guest host), Alex Karras, David Steinberg, Farrah Fawcett | The Temptations |
| With friends, Bill Cosby performs a 'dining room' sketch. ||||
| 2988 | August 21, 1974 (1974-08-21) | Rich Little (guest host), Jack Benny, Marvin Hamlisch | Lola Falana |
| 2989 | August 22, 1974 (1974-08-22) | Rich Little (guest host), Ted Knight | Mac Davis |
| 2990 | August 23, 1974 (1974-08-23) | McLean Stevenson (guest host), Gabriel Kaplan | Joe Williams |
| 2991 | August 26, 1974 (1974-08-26) | Sammy Davis Jr. (guest host), Robert Blake, Michael Landon | N/A |
| 2992 | August 27, 1974 (1974-08-27) | Sammy Davis Jr. (guest host), Evel Knievel, Burt Reynolds, Richard Pryor | Helen Reddy |
| 2993 | August 28, 1974 (1974-08-28) | Sammy Davis Jr. (guest host), David Brenner | Kool & The Gang |
| 2994 | August 29, 1974 (1974-08-29) | Sammy Davis Jr. (guest host), David Frye | Roger Miller |
| 2995 | August 30, 1974 (1974-08-30) | Sammy Davis Jr. (guest host), Gene Kelly | Liza Minnelli |

### September

| No. | Original air date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 2996 | September 2, 1974 (1974-09-02) | Doris Day, Rodney Dangerfield, Burt Mustin, Carol Wayne | N/A |
| Desk- Johnny talks about a nerve injury he sustained while working in Las Vegas which forced him to miss all of August. Note: Carol Wayne filled in for Ed McMahon; Mighty Carson Art Players- "Tea-Time Movie" ||||
| 2997 | September 3, 1974 (1974-09-03) | Joan Rivers, George Peppard | Gloria Loring |
| Aunt Blabby ||||
| 2998 | September 4, 1974 (1974-09-04) | Angie Dickinson, George Gobel, Bert Convy, Peter Gent | N/A |
| Desk- "What You Don't Want to Hear In The Hospital" ||||
| 2999 | September 6, 1974 (1974-09-06) | Diahann Carroll, Jack Albertson, Charles Nelson Reilly | Diahann Carroll performed ("Tell Me a Lie", "Help Me Make It Through the Night" and "No Love At All"), Phyllis Newman performed ("He Loves Me") |
| Desk- "Party Survival Manual" ||||
| 3000 | September 9, 1974 (1974-09-09) | Dom DeLuise (guest host), James Coco, Kip Addotta, Dr. Lendon Smith | Pat Boone |
| The 3,000th episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson airs. ||||
| 3001 | September 10, 1974 (1974-09-10) | Shecky Greene, Antony Armstrong-Jones, Graham Kerr | Lola Falana |
| Carnac the Magnificent ||||
| 3002 | September 11, 1974 (1974-09-11) | Robert Blake, Freddie Prinze | Bee Gees, Lou Rawls |
| Desk- "New Television Shows" ||||
| 3003 | September 12, 1974 (1974-09-12) | John Davidson, James Garner, Elizabeth Ashley, Dr. Carl Sagan | N/A |
| Desk- "Guinness World Records" ||||
| 3004 | September 13, 1974 (1974-09-13) | Joan Embery, Lawrence Welk, David Brenner, Ashley Montagu | N/A |
| Desk- "Little-Known Phobias"; Peter Falk makes a surprise appearance (in costume) to promote the upcoming Columbo season premiere. ||||
| 3005 | September 16, 1974 (1974-09-16) | Roy Clark (guest host), Jack Klugman, Charles Nelson Reilly, Alex Karras | Della Reese |
| 3006 | September 17, 1974 (1974-09-17) | Tony Randall, Florence Henderson, Jerry Van Dyke | N/A |
| Desk- "T.V. Guide Wrap-ups" ||||
| 3007 | September 18, 1974 (1974-09-18) | Dennis Weaver, Harvey Korman, Lucie Arnaz | N/A |
| Desk- "New Special Interest Magazines" ||||
| 3008 | September 19, 1974 (1974-09-19) | Sammy Davis Jr., Steve Martin | N/A |
| Desk- "Ripley's Believe It or Not" ||||
| 3009 | September 20, 1974 (1974-09-20) | George C. Scott, Gabriel Kaplan | N/A |
| Desk- "How to Tell When Your Car Needs Repair" ||||
| 3010 | September 23, 1974 (1974-09-23) | McLean Stevenson (guest host), Roger Moore, Arnold Schwarzenegger | N/A |
| 3011 | September 24, 1974 (1974-09-24) | Bob Hope, Sammy Davis Jr., Michael Landon, Joan Rivers | N/A |
| 3012 | September 25, 1974 (1974-09-25) | Orson Bean, Dr. Joyce Brothers | Buddy Rich, Tom Sullivan |
| Sketch- "An Evening with Eddie Edison" ||||
| 3013 | September 26, 1974 (1974-09-26) | Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Art Carney | Ace Trucking Company |
| Desk- "Next Year's Miss America Questions" ||||
| 3014 | September 27, 1974 (1974-09-27) | Dick Cavett, Karen Valentine, Richard Armour | Shirley Jones |
| Desk- "NFL Film Clips" ||||
| 3015 | September 30, 1974 (1974-09-30) | Euell Gibbons, Lauren Hutton, Robert Klein | Minnie Riperton, Roy Clark |
| Desk- Johnny and Ed talked about Lowell, Massachusetts giving a day for Ed. ||||

### October

| No. | Original air date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 3016 | October 1, 1974 (1974-10-01) | TBA | N/A |
| 12th Anniversary Show ||||
| 3017 | October 2, 1974 (1974-10-02) | Don Rickles (guest host), Redd Foxx | Pat Boone |
| Desk- "Discussion About Anniversary Show" ||||
| 3018 | October 3, 1974 (1974-10-03) | Don Rickles (guest host) | N/A |
| 3019 | October 4, 1974 (1974-10-04) | Don Rickles (guest host) | N/A |
| 3020 | October 7, 1974 (1974-10-07) | Don Rickles (guest host) | N/A |
| 3021 | October 8, 1974 (1974-10-08) | Don Rickles (guest host) | N/A |
| 3022 | October 9, 1974 (1974-10-09) | Don Rickles (guest host) | N/A |
| 3023 | October 10, 1974 (1974-10-10) | Don Rickles (guest host) | N/A |
| 3024 | October 11, 1974 (1974-10-11) | Don Rickles (guest host), Dan Rowan, Dick Martin | Carrie McDowell |
| 3025 | October 14, 1974 (1974-10-14) | John Davidson (guest host), Ruth Buzzi, Cloris Leachman | N/A |
| 3026 | October 15, 1974 (1974-10-15) | Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Kathryn Kuhlman | Linda Hopkins |
| Desk- "Johnny's Trip to England" ||||
| 3027 | October 16, 1974 (1974-10-16) | Paul Williams, Freddie Prinze, Bob Uecker | Ian Whitcomb |
| Desk- "Tonight Show Memorabilia" ||||
| 3028 | October 17, 1974 (1974-10-17) | Robert Blake, Flip Wilson, Buck Henry | Lee Horwin ("No More" and "Marieke") |
| Desk- "Tips to Really Beat Inflation" ||||
| 3029 | October 18, 1974 (1974-10-18) | Carl Reiner, David Brenner, Madlyn Rhue, Burt Mustin | N/A |
| Desk- "Items from Newspaper" ||||
| 3030 | October 21, 1974 (1974-10-21) | Dan Rowan & Dick Martin (guest hosts), George C. Scott | Ronny Graham |
| 3031 | October 22, 1974 (1974-10-22) | Tony Randall, Kip Addotta, James Dickey | Ethel Merman ("Someone To Watch Over Me" and "Some People") |
| Carnac the Magnificent ||||
| 3032 | October 23, 1974 (1974-10-23) | Buddy Hackett, Michael Preminger | Lana Cantrell |
| Desk- "Johnny's Early Days in Memory of His Birthday" ||||
| 3033 | October 24, 1974 (1974-10-24) | Rich Little, Cloris Leachman, Garson Kanin | Donna Theodore |
| Sketch- "Old Man Carson" ||||
| 3034 | October 25, 1974 (1974-10-25) | Charlton Heston, Dick Shawn, Ashley Montagu | Maxine Weldon |
| Desk- "What To Do If Your Boyfriend Jilts You" ||||
| 3035 | October 28, 1974 (1974-10-28) | Florence Henderson (guest host), Joan Rivers, Dr. Irwin Maxwell Stillman, David Hartman | Mac Davis |
| 3036 | October 29, 1974 (1974-10-29) | Truman Capote, John Davidson, Bert Convy, Kreskin | Lana Cantrell |
| Desk- "Propositions That Didn't Make It On The Ballot" ||||
| 3037 | October 30, 1974 (1974-10-30) | Orson Bean | Della Reese, Ace Trucking Company |
| Stump the Band ||||
| 3038 | October 31, 1974 (1974-10-31) | Gabriel Kaplan, Sharon Farrell | Lee Horwin, Roger Miller |
| Desk- "Halloween Tricks from Celebrities' Houses" ||||

### November

| No. | Original air date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 3039 | November 1, 1974 (1974-11-01) | Madeline Kahn, Fernando Lamas | N/A |
| Desk- "Guinness Book of Records" ||||
| 3040 | November 4, 1974 (1974-11-04) | Debbie Reynolds (guest host), Bob Hope, George Carlin, Shelley Winters | Liberace |
| (11/5/74 pre-empted for NBC News mid-term election night coverage) ||||
| 3041 | November 6, 1974 (1974-11-06) | David Steinberg, Dub Taylor | Buddy Rich, Dionne Warwick |
| Desk- "Capsule Comments from T.V. Guide" ||||
| 3042 | November 7, 1974 (1974-11-07) | Shecky Greene, Redd Foxx, Susannah York | Monti Rock |
| Stump the Band ||||
| 3043 | November 8, 1974 (1974-11-08) | Joan Rivers, John Davidson, Valerie Perrine | Ronny Graham |
| Desk- "Ways To Detect Inflation" ||||
| 3044 | November 11, 1974 (1974-11-11) | John Denver (guest host), Sandy Duncan, Marvin Hamlisch | N/A |
| 3045 | November 12, 1974 (1974-11-12) | Dyan Cannon, Carmel Myers | Phyllis Newman, Tiny Tim |
| Desk- "Replacement Television Shows for Second Season" ||||
| 3046 | November 13, 1974 (1974-11-13) | George Burns, Don Adams | Lola Falana |
| Desk- "Quiz to Determine Whether You're a Male Chauvinist" ||||
| 3047 | November 14, 1974 (1974-11-14) | Robert Blake, George Gobel, Madlyn Rhue | Charles Aznavour |
| Desk- "NFL Film Clips" ||||
| 3048 | November 15, 1974 (1974-11-15) | Lucille Ball, John Byner, John McKay | Jackson Five ("It's Too Late to Change the Time" and "Whatever You Got, I Want") |
| Desk- "Christmas Catalogues" ||||
| 3049 | November 18, 1974 (1974-11-18) | McLean Stevenson (guest host), Barbara Eden, Darrow Igus, Mr. Wizard | Donny Osmond, Marie Osmond |
| 3050 | November 19, 1974 (1974-11-19) | Orson Bean, Madlyn Rhue | Petula Clark, Ray Charles |
| Carnac the Magnificent ||||
| 3051 | November 20, 1974 (1974-11-20) | Jonathan Winters, Pearl Williams, Sammy Cahn | Kelly Garrett |
| Desk- "Burbank Drivers License Test" ||||
| 3052 | November 21, 1974 (1974-11-21) | Bruce Dern, Kelly Monteith, Dr. Michael Fox | Peggy Lee |
| Desk- "Letters from Newlyweds" ||||
| 3053 | November 22, 1974 (1974-11-22) | George Carlin | Gladys Knight & The Pips |
| 3054 | November 25, 1974 (1974-11-25) | Joey Bishop (guest host), Norm Crosby, Paul Williams | N/A |
| 3055 | November 26, 1974 (1974-11-26) | Joey Bishop (guest host), Steve Martin, Bert Convy, Rip Taylor | N/A |
| 3056 | November 27, 1974 (1974-11-27) | Joey Bishop (guest host), Dr. Joyce Brothers, Buddy Hackett, Jack Klugman | Second Nature |
| 3057 | November 28, 1974 (1974-11-28) | Joey Bishop (guest host), George Foreman, Shelley Winters | N/A |
| 3058 | November 29, 1974 (1974-11-29) | Joey Bishop (guest host), David Brenner | Frankie Avalon |

### December

| No. | Original air date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 3059 | December 2, 1974 (1974-12-02) | Joey Bishop (guest host), Christopher Lee | N/A |
| 3060 | December 3, 1974 (1974-12-03) | Bob Newhart, Gore Vidal | Kenny Rankin, Phyllis Newman |
| Desk- "Johnny's Vacation" ||||
| 3061 | December 4, 1974 (1974-12-04) | Shecky Greene, Buck Henry | Johnny Mathis, Ronny Cox |
| Desk- "NFL Film Clips" ||||
| 3062 | December 5, 1974 (1974-12-05) | John Byner, Carol Wayne | Beverly Sills, Billy Daniels |
| Mighty Carson Art Players- "Tea-Time Movie" ||||
| 3063 | December 6, 1974 (1974-12-06) | Peter Falk, John Cassavetes, Myron Cohen, Gary Mull | Lee Horwin |
| Stump the Band ||||
| 3064 | December 9, 1974 (1974-12-09) | Bert Convy (guest host), Burt Reynolds, Carol Burnett | Kentucky Fried Theatre |
| 3065 | December 10, 1974 (1974-12-10) | Flip Wilson, Tom Dreesen, Dr. Lendon Smith | Pat Boone ("Texas Woman") |
| Desk- "Letters from Children to Santa Claus" ||||
| 3066 | December 11, 1974 (1974-12-11) | Lauren Bacall, George Gobel, Raquel Welch | N/A |
| Stump the Band ||||
| 3067 | December 12, 1974 (1974-12-12) | Richard Harris, Bob Hope, Steve Landesberg, Adrienne Barbeau | N/A |
| 3068 | December 13, 1974 (1974-12-13) | Cloris Leachman, Rich Little, Dr. Carl Sagan | Bobby Vinton |
| Desk- "Johnny and Ed Cut Off Their Ties and Other Silly Things" ||||
| 3069 | December 16, 1974 (1974-12-16) | Michael Landon (guest host), Ernest Borgnine, Sandy Duncan | N/A |
| 3070 | December 17, 1974 (1974-12-17) | Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Florence Henderson, Billy Wilder | N/A |
| Desk- "Christmas in California" ||||
| 3071 | December 18, 1974 (1974-12-18) | Robert Blake, Jerry Van Dyke | Erroll Garner, Mac Davis |
| 3072 | December 19, 1974 (1974-12-19) | David Brenner, Burt Mustin | Vikki Carr |
| New Products ||||
| 3073 | December 20, 1974 (1974-12-20) | McLean Stevenson, Rodney Dangerfield, Bob Rosefsky | Lola Falana |
| 3074 | December 23, 1974 (1974-12-23) | Burt Reynolds (guest host), Jonathan Winters, Norman Fell, Dinah Shore, Robert Fuller | Della Reese |
| 3075 | December 25, 1974 (1974-12-25) | Burt Reynolds (guest host), Madeline Kahn, David Steinberg, Betty White | N/A |
| 3076 | December 26, 1974 (1974-12-26) | Burt Reynolds (guest host) (Postponed 30 minutes for NBC Jack Benny obit/remembrance report) Dinah Shore, Dub Taylor, Kaye Ballard | Kelly Garrett |
| 3077 | December 27, 1974 (1974-12-27) | Burt Reynolds (guest host), George Carlin, Cybill Shepherd, Ben Johnson, Linda Bennett | Mel Tillis |
| 3078 | December 30, 1974 (1974-12-30) | Joan Rivers (guest host), Bea Arthur, Harvey Korman, Rip Taylor | Mac Davis |
| 3079 | December 31, 1974 (1974-12-31) | Orson Bean, Madlyn Rhue, Gabriel Kaplan | Roy Clark |
| There was no monologue, with Johnny choosing to show the last Tonight Show appearance of his mentor, Jack Benny, who had died on December 26. ||||