# List of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson episodes (1987)

The following is a list of episodes of the television series The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson which aired in 1987:

## 1987
### January

| No. | Original release date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 5,654 | January 6, 1987 (1987-01-06) | Jay Leno, Scot Morris (Omni puzzles editor) | Pete Fountain |
| Psychic Predictions ||||
| 5,655 | January 7, 1987 (1987-01-07) | Alan King, Warren Chang | Jay Johnson |
| Sports Injuries ||||
| 5,656 | January 8, 1987 (1987-01-08) | Baxter Black, Waddie Mitchell | Robert Goulet ("Memory") |
| Calendars ||||
| 5,657 | January 9, 1987 (1987-01-09) | Joan Embery, Teresa Ganzel, Wil Shriner | Paula Kelly |
| Mighty Carson Art Players- "Tea Time Movie"; Expensive Props ||||
| 5,658 | January 13, 1987 (1987-01-13) | Jay Leno (guest host), John Larroquette, Dana Carvey | N/A |
| Blue Cards ||||
| 5,659 | January 14, 1987 (1987-01-14) | Garry Shandling (guest host), James Woods, Ellen DeGeneres | Ellen Greene |
| 5,660 | January 15, 1987 (1987-01-15) | Garry Shandling (guest host), Ed Begley, Jr., Taylor Negron | N/A |
| 5,661 | January 16, 1987 (1987-01-16) | Garry Shandling (guest host), Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, Kelly Monteith | Jimmy Buffett ("Take It Back" and "If It All Falls Down") |
| 5,662 | January 20, 1987 (1987-01-20) | Jerry Seinfeld, Mike Ditka | Pointer Sisters ("All I Know Is The Way I Feel") |
| 5,663 | January 21, 1987 (1987-01-21) | Barbara Schein, Robert Klein | N/A |
| Mighty Carson Art Players- "Carl Sagan" ||||
| 5,664 | January 22, 1987 (1987-01-22) | Richard Pryor, Dr. Robert Ballard | The Judds ("Turn It Loose") |
| 5,665 | January 23, 1987 (1987-01-23) | Lauren Bacall, Roseanne Barr | Robert Cray |
| Takeoff of 'Bob Hope's Look All American Football' ||||
| 5,666 | January 26, 1987 (1987-01-26) | Patrick Duffy (guest host), Steve Allen, William Shatner | Louise Mandrell |
| Blue Cards ||||
| 5,667 | January 27, 1987 (1987-01-27) | Jay Leno (guest host), Michele Lee, John Davidson, Randall "Tex" Cobb | N/A |
| Blue Cards ||||
| 5,668 | January 28, 1987 (1987-01-28) | Jay Leno (guest host), Pat Sajak | Kris Kristofferson |
| Blue Cards ||||
| 5,669 | January 29, 1987 (1987-01-29) | Garry Shandling (guest host), Phil Simms, Carrie Fisher, Justine Bateman | N/A |
| 5,670 | January 30, 1987 (1987-01-30) | Garry Shandling (guest host), Tracey Ullman, Bob Saget, Molly Cheek | Los Lobos |

### February

| No. | Original release date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 5,671 | February 3, 1987 (1987-02-03) | Paul Reiser, Lonette McKee | N/A |
| Foreign Commercials ||||
| 5,672 | February 4, 1987 (1987-02-04) | George Carlin, Susan Sullivan, Sheryl Lee Ralph | N/A |
| Johnny comments on the U.S. retaking the America's Cup; Public Service Announcements ||||
| 5,673 | February 5, 1987 (1987-02-05) | Ann-Margret | Phyllis Hyman |
| 5,674 | February 6, 1987 (1987-02-06) | Shelley Long, Bob Nelson, Liv Ullmann | N/A |
| Carnac the Magnificent ||||
| 5,675 | February 10, 1987 (1987-02-10) | Michael J. Fox, Elle Macpherson | Peter Schickele (P.D.Q. Bach Fanfare for the Royal Shaft & Her Majesty's Minuet from The Civilian Barber Suite) |
| Amount of Junk Mail The Average Household Gets ||||
| 5,676 | February 11, 1987 (1987-02-11) | Tony Danza, Ellen DeGeneres | Neville Brothers |
| Actors That Have Never Been Nominated for An Oscar ||||
| 5,677 | February 12, 1987 (1987-02-12) | Boris Becker, Teresa Ganzel, Gene Siskel, Roger Ebert | N/A |
| Mighty Carson Art Players - "Tele-Scam" ||||
| 5,678 | February 13, 1987 (1987-02-13) | Seth Green, Angie Dickinson | Sergio Mendes |
| Superstitions and Phobias That are Associated to Friday the 13th ||||
| 5,679 | February 17, 1987 (1987-02-17) | Jonathan Winters, Christina Pickles | Billy Vera & The Beaters ("I Can Take Care Of Myself") |
| Acronyms ||||
| 5,680 | February 18, 1987 (1987-02-18) | Bob Uecker, David Horowitz | Ellen Greene ("Suddenly Seymour") |
| Trivial Pursuit; Takeoff on General Health and Safety Tips ||||
| 5,681 | February 19, 1987 (1987-02-19) | Lily Tomlin | Ray Charles ("Mississippi Mud" and "Come Live With Me") |
| Many Things Stars Have Done In The Early Days to Make Ends Meet ||||
| 5,682 | February 20, 1987 (1987-02-20) | George Segal | Maureen McGovern ("I Could've Been A Sailor") |
| Kid Inventors; Mighty Carson Art Players - "George Washington" ||||
| 5,683 | February 24, 1987 (1987-02-24) | Charles Grodin, Ronnie Shakes | Leon Redbone |
| Mail Order Mistakes; Spoof on Ollie North; Document Shredding ||||
| 5,684 | February 25, 1987 (1987-02-25) | Burt Reynolds, David Horowitz | The King's Singers (The Barber of Seville Overture, "Stormy Weather") |
| 5,685 | February 26, 1987 (1987-02-26) | Carl Reiner, Christina Pickles | Gregory Abbott |
| Takeoff on local news programs during sweeps week. ||||
| 5,686 | February 27, 1987 (1987-02-27) | Whoopi Goldberg, Bob Saget | Wang Chung ("Let's Go!" and "Everybody Have Fun Tonight") |
| As The White House Turns ||||

### March

| No. | Original release date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 5,687 | March 10, 1987 (1987-03-10) | James Stewart, Carol Siskind | Eddie Daniels |
| Johnny does impression of Ollie North through car window; Dictionary of Regional English ||||
| 5,688 | March 11, 1987 (1987-03-11) | Dana Carvey, Christopher Reeve | Frank Olivier (juggler) |
| Johnny presents lesser-known songs from newly opened Warner Bros. archives of manuscripts by Gershwin, Porter, Kern and other songwriters; Johnny does impression of Ollie North through car window. ||||
| 5,689 | March 12, 1987 (1987-03-12) | Danny DeVito, Calvin Trillin, 4-year-old spelling prodigy Rohan Varavadekar | N/A |
| Evening News in 2007 with Zontar Rather ||||
| 5,690 | March 13, 1987 (1987-03-13) | George Hamilton | Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt |
| Blue Cards ||||
| 5,691 | March 17, 1987 (1987-03-17) | Tim Conway, Harry Anderson | Diane Schuur |
| 5,692 | March 18, 1987 (1987-03-18) | Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Alan Thicke, Rebeca Arthur | N/A |
| Irish Ancestry; Little Known Famous Irish People ||||
| 5,693 | March 19, 1987 (1987-03-19) | Sherman Hemsley, Joe Garagiola, Dalton Stevens | N/A |
| Johnny's Oliver North Imitation & reveals the results of a Ladies' Home Journal survey & follows with his own. ||||
| 5,694 | March 20, 1987 (1987-03-20) | Jimmy Brogan, Joseph Bologna, Dick Manley | Willie Nelson ("Always On My Mind" and "An Island In The Sea") |
| Homework School of The Air ||||
| 5,695 | March 24, 1987 (1987-03-24) | Patrick Duffy, Smothers Brothers, Mykelti Williamson | N/A |
| Letter from Elementary School Children ||||
| 5,696 | March 25, 1987 (1987-03-25) | John Larroquette, John Mendoza | Chris Isaak ("You Owe Me Some Kind Of Love" and "Heart Full of Soul") |
| El Mouldo ||||
| 5,697 | March 26, 1987 (1987-03-26) | Dick Cavett, Vernon Ray | Stanley Jordan |
| 5,698 | March 27, 1987 (1987-03-27) | Jim Fowler | Etta James |
| Collectibles ||||
| 5,699 | March 31, 1987 (1987-03-31) | Gene Siskel, Roger Ebert, Connie Chung | Judy Rodman |
| Johnny's Oliver North Imitation ||||

### April

| No. | Original release date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 5,700 | April 1, 1987 (1987-04-01) | Betty White, Tom Parks | N/A |
| Blue Cards ||||
| 5,701 | April 2, 1987 (1987-04-02) | Woody Harrelson, Allyce Beasley | Jeffrey Osborne |
| Sketch - "Ask President Reagan"; Blue Cards for the President (This episode was apparently cancelled on the date Buddy Rich died.) ||||
| 5,702 | April 14, 1987 (1987-04-14) | Rue McClanahan, Pam Matteson | Joe Snyder and The Burbank Dixieland Band ("Panama", "When The Roll Call Is Called Up There I Will Be Here") |
| Relationships Between Secretaries and Their Bosses ||||
| 5,703 | April 15, 1987 (1987-04-15) | Steve Landesberg, Kathleen Wilhoite | Robert Cray |
| 5,704 | April 16, 1987 (1987-04-16) | Victoria Principal, Robert Townsend | Billy Vera & The Beaters |
| Unlikely responses from people on the street to questions concerning how they feel about taxes. ||||
| 5,705 | April 17, 1987 (1987-04-17) | Bob Hope, Bill Maher, Helen Hunt | N/A |
| Foreign Commercials ||||
| 5,706 | April 21, 1987 (1987-04-21) | Sam Donaldson, Fred Greenlee | N/A |
| 5,707 | April 22, 1987 (1987-04-22) | David Steinberg | Kenny G |
| Videotape of those conspiring against Johnny, spoofing the Moscow spy scandal. ||||
| 5,708 | April 23, 1987 (1987-04-23) | Sammy Davis, Jr., Vanna White | N/A |
| Blue Cards ||||
| 5,709 | April 24, 1987 (1987-04-24) | Chevy Chase, Teri Garr | N/A |
| A spoof on the garbage barges that are combing the Eastern Seaboard. Johnny telephones EPA in Louisiana to find out why they won't let New York's garbage be dumped in their state. ||||
| 5,710 | April 27, 1987 (1987-04-27) | John Larroquette (guest host), Victoria Jackson, Gary Busey, Wil Shriner | N/A |
| Blue Cards ||||
| 5,711 | April 28, 1987 (1987-04-28) | Garry Shandling (guest host), Joan Embery, Carol Kane, Dennis Miller | The Commodores |
| 5,712 | April 29, 1987 (1987-04-29) | Garry Shandling (guest host), Kevin Nealon, Tracey Ullman, Paula Poundstone, Michael Talbot | N/A |
| 5,713 | April 30, 1987 (1987-04-30) | Garry Shandling (guest host), Tony Randall, Heather Thomas, Dom Irrera | Vlasta Krsek |

### May

| No. | Original release date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 5,714 | May 1, 1987 (1987-05-01) | Tony Danza (guest host), Burt Reynolds, Angie Dickinson This is the last time a guest host other than Garry Shandling or Jay Leno hosted. Leno became the sole guest host in August of 1988. | Yellowjackets |
| 5,715 | May 5, 1987 (1987-05-05) | Kristie Phillips, George C. Scott | Ray Stevens |
| A spoof on Burbank's 100th Anniversary with a videotape of the 'historical points of interest' in Burbank. ||||
| 5,716 | May 6, 1987 (1987-05-06) | Father Guido Sarducci, Whitley Strieber | Nitty Gritty Dirt Band |
| Situation Ethics ||||
| 5,717 | May 7, 1987 (1987-05-07) | Saundra Santiago | N/A |
| Advertisements for Mother's Day Gifts ||||
| 5,718 | May 8, 1987 (1987-05-08) | Paul Reiser, Margaret Whitton, Teresa Ganzel | N/A |
| Mighty Carson Art Players - "Tele-Scam"; Shelly Cohen fills in for Doc & Tommy ||||
| 5,719 | May 12, 1987 (1987-05-12) | Paul Shaffer | N/A |
| Stump the Band; Young Inventors ||||
| 5,720 | May 13, 1987 (1987-05-13) | Jonathan Winters, Anne-Marie Johnson | Dwight Yoakam |
| The effects of the New Amnesty Law ||||
| 5,721 | May 14, 1987 (1987-05-14) | Crispin Glover, Brett Butler, Thalassa Cruso | N/A |
| Politicians and Their Extra-Marital Affairs; A spoof on presidents through the years in compromising positions. ||||
| 5,722 | May 15, 1987 (1987-05-15) | Bob Saget, Jan Gan Boyd | Vlasta Krsek |
| Graduation Address to The Audience ||||
| 5,723 | May 19, 1987 (1987-05-19) | Dr. Birute Galdikas | Rosemary Clooney |
| Imponderable Questions ||||
| 5,724 | May 20, 1987 (1987-05-20) | Tony Danza, Pete Barbutti, Sally Love | N/A |
| Blue Cards ||||
| 5,725 | May 21, 1987 (1987-05-21) | Eddie Murphy, Ellen DeGeneres, Jane Leeves, Teresa Ganzel | N/A |
| Mighty Carson Art Players - "Eyewitless News" ||||
| 5,726 | May 22, 1987 (1987-05-22) | Carol Kane | Leonard Waxdeck & The Birdcallers, Jonathan Butler |
| A soap opera spoof of the congressional hearings, 'As The World Turns'. ||||
| 5,727 | May 26, 1987 (1987-05-26) | Pat Sajak, Ritch Shydner, Christina Pickles | N/A |
| Johnny and the Tonight Show decide to pay homage to the garbage scow crew by putting on a USO show for them, including entertainment and beautiful women for their amusement. ||||
| 5,728 | May 27, 1987 (1987-05-27) | Crispin Glover, Gore Vidal | k.d. lang |
| Objects Bought at the PTL Auction ||||
| 5,729 | May 28, 1987 (1987-05-28) | Gregory Peck | Peter Schickele, The Leningrad Dixieland Band |
| 5,730 | May 29, 1987 (1987-05-29) | Arnold Schwarzenegger | Anita Baker ("No One in the World") |
| Stump the Band ||||

### June

| No. | Original release date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 5,731 | June 9, 1987 (1987-06-09) | Madonna | Ray Charles |
| Takeoff of the Senate hearings, featuring Fawn Hall (Johnny portrays Sen. Inouye); Fun Facts About the Constitution ||||
| 5,732 | June 10, 1987 (1987-06-10) | Stephanie Petit (1987 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion), Dennis Miller | Randy Graff ("I Dreamed a Dream") |
| Public Service Announcements ||||
| 5,733 | June 11, 1987 (1987-06-11) | Dudley Moore, Tom Parks | Grover Washington |
| Cause and Effect Relationships in The Stock Market; Economic Trends ||||
| 5,734 | June 12, 1987 (1987-06-12) | Buddy Hackett | Ladysmith Black Mambazo |
| Pictures of President Reagan and Mrs. Reagan in Italy ||||
| 5,735 | June 16, 1987 (1987-06-16) | Tim Conway | George Benson, Peking Acrobats |
| Constitutional Amendments ||||
| 5,736 | June 17, 1987 (1987-06-17) | Magic Johnson, Bill Alexander | Bernadette Peters ("Broadway Baby") |
| 5,737 | June 18, 1987 (1987-06-18) | Steve Martin | Art Garfunkel ("I Only Have Eyes for You") |
| Johnny spoofs the Tonight Show as a public service outlet for tourists who need to accept emergency phone calls. ||||
| 5,738 | June 19, 1987 (1987-06-19) | Jerry Seinfeld, Veronica Cartwright | Billy Vera & The Beaters |
| Blue Cards ||||
| 5,739 | June 23, 1987 (1987-06-23) | Mel Brooks | Crosby, Stills, & Nash ("Southern Cross" and "Teach Your Children") |
| The Tonight Show version of the USA Today's survey on America's view of TV. ||||
| 5,740 | June 24, 1987 (1987-06-24) | Carl Reiner, Jester Hairston | k.d. lang |
| The Tonight Show version of the tabloids.; Psychic Predictions ||||
| 5,740 | June 25, 1987 (1987-06-25) | Dan Aykroyd, Bobby Kelton, Helen Shaver | N/A |
| Paying Money to Touch Vanna White's Dress ||||
| 5,741 | June 26, 1987 (1987-06-26) | Robert Klein, William F. Buckley, Jr. | Glenn Medeiros ("Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You") |

### July

| No. | Original release date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 5,742 | July 21, 1987 (1987-07-21) | Joe Piscopo, Paul Reiser, Maryam d'Abo | N/A |
| "Nightline" (with Joe Piscopo as Ted Koppel who interviews President Reagan (Johnny Carson)) ||||
| 5,743 | July 22, 1987 (1987-07-22) | Patrick Duffy, Prof. Jearl Walker | N/A |
| Desk - Johnny gives Doc Severinsen the third degree about not declaring his Italian suits at U.S. Customs. Doc also shows pictures of his tour with the NBC Orchestra. ||||
| 5,744 | July 23, 1987 (1987-07-23) | George Segal, Gene Siskel, Roger Ebert | N/A |
| Johnny spoofs Pete Holm and his much lauded but little known singing career; Blue Cards ||||
| 5,745 | July 24, 1987 (1987-07-24) | Mark Harmon, Barry Sobel, Charles Batton | N/A |
| Desk - Johnny does a bit with pictures of John Poindexter whispering to his lawyer during the Iran-Contra hearings. ||||
| 5,746 | July 28, 1987 (1987-07-28) | Harry Anderson, David Barker | Pete Fountain |
| Quickie Books ||||
| 5,747 | July 29, 1987 (1987-07-29) | Pat Cash, Ray Combs, John Clark Gable | N/A |
| Baseball Facts ||||
| 5,748 | July 30, 1987 (1987-07-30) | David Steinberg, Emily Lloyd | N/A |
| The Tonight Show version of what Pete Holm is really saying in the record. ||||
| 5,749 | July 31, 1987 (1987-07-31) | Penelope Ann Miller, Robert Townsend | Sheena Easton ("Strut" and "Still Willing To Try") |
| As The White House Turns ||||

### August

| No. | Original release date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 5,750 | August 4, 1987 (1987-08-04) | Graham Chapman | Midori |
| Translations of Useful Traveling Expressions in Foreign Languages ||||
| 5,751 | August 5, 1987 (1987-08-05) | Allyce Beasley | Dionne Warwick |
| Blue Cards ||||
| 5,752 | August 6, 1987 (1987-08-06) | Tom Selleck, Carol Kane | Eddie Daniels |
| New Products ||||
| 5,753 | August 7, 1987 (1987-08-07) | Jay Leno, Pat Sajak | Diane Schuur |
| Stump the Band ||||
| 5,754 | August 10, 1987 (1987-08-10) | Jay Leno (guest host), Annette Funicello, Frankie Avalon, Woody Harrelson | Spyro Gyra |
| Statistics From Harper's Index ||||
| 5,755 | August 11, 1987 (1987-08-11) | Jay Leno (guest host), Connie Chung, Fritz Coleman, Jami Gertz | N/A |
| Products with Funny Names ||||
| 5,756 | August 12, 1987 (1987-08-12) | Jay Leno (guest host), Ron Reagan, Jesse Ventura | N/A |
| Movie Posters ||||
| 5,757 | August 13, 1987 (1987-08-13) | Jay Leno (guest host), Beverly D'Angelo, Jimmie Walker | Los Lobos ("La Bamba") |
| Mistakes in Newspapers ||||
| 5,758 | August 14, 1987 (1987-08-14) | Jay Leno (guest host), Larry King, Michele Lee, Roy Blount, Jr. | N/A |
| Junk Food for College Kids who are Returning to Campus ||||
| 5,759 | August 25, 1987 (1987-08-25) | Joan Embery, Bob Nelson | N/A |
| Harmonic Convergence and the Mayan Prophecies ||||
| 5,760 | August 26, 1987 (1987-08-26) | Dana Carvey, Mildred Holt | Melissa Manchester |
| Post Cards and Examples of the types of things people send to the folks back home when they are on vacation. ||||
| 5,761 | August 27, 1987 (1987-08-27) | Buddy Hackett, Rick Rossovich | Michael Martin Murphey |
| Crime Figures ||||
| 5,762 | August 28, 1987 (1987-08-28) | Shelley Winters, Tom Parks | N/A |
| Desk - Johnny calls Irwindale, California spokesman Xavier Hermosillo regarding the Los Angeles Raiders possible move to their community. ||||

### September

| No. | Original release date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 5,763 | September 1, 1987 (1987-09-01) | Jon Lovitz, Paul Sorvino | Abbe Jaye |
| Network Television Slogans ||||
| 5,764 | September 2, 1987 (1987-09-02) | Christina Pickles, John Mendoza, Kayaker Ed Gillet | N/A |
| Doc's gardening experience with tomatoes ||||
| 5,765 | September 3, 1987 (1987-09-03) | Lauren Bacall, Victoria Jackson | The Temptations |
| A spoof on feeding the Pope in the commissary, complete with a Pope look-alike. ||||
| 5,766 | September 4, 1987 (1987-09-04) | Bob Saget, David Horowitz | David Sanborn |
| Carnac the Magnificent ||||
| 5,767 | September 7, 1987 (1987-09-07) | Jay Leno (guest host), Steve Allen, Lynn Redgrave, Tim Reid | N/A |
| Examples of Flowery Language for Simple Ideas ||||
| 5,768 | September 8, 1987 (1987-09-08) | Jay Leno (guest host), Anthony Perkins, Vanna White | The Judds |
| 5,769 | September 9, 1987 (1987-09-09) | Jay Leno (guest host), Michael J. Fox, Deidre Hall | N/A |
| Newspaper Headlines with Double Meanings ||||
| 5,770 | September 10, 1987 (1987-09-10) | Jay Leno (guest host), Bert Convy, Annie Potts, Erma Bombeck | N/A |
| Jay does a "Koppelesque" interview with President Reagan. ||||
| 5,771 | September 11, 1987 (1987-09-11) | Jay Leno (guest host), Carrie Fisher, Dennis Weaver | The Charlie Daniels Band |
| Headlines; Spoof of Ted Koppel doing a Nightline segment with Jay. ||||
| 5,772 | September 14, 1987 (1987-09-14) | Jay Leno (guest host), Sandy Duncan, Joan Van Ark | Donna Summer |
| Headlines; Comparisons Between Lincoln & Reagan ||||
| 5,773 | September 16, 1987 (1987-09-16) | Joe Garagiola, Dennis Wolfberg, Lisa Jane Persky | N/A |
| Quiz for Married Couples on How to Make Your Marriage Last ||||
| 5,774 | September 17, 1987 (1987-09-17) | Bob Newhart, Courteney Cox | B.B. King ("Payin' the Cost" and "When It All Comes Down") |
| Paraphernalia for the Pope's Visit ||||
| 5,775 | September 18, 1987 (1987-09-18) | Dabney Coleman, Paul Reiser | Joe Williams |
| Blue Cards ||||
| 5,776 | September 21, 1987 (1987-09-21) | Jay Leno (guest host), Charlton Heston, Kathryn Harrold, Malcolm Forbes | N/A |
| Headlines; Real Claims Filed with an Insurance Company with Strange Descriptions ||||
| 5,777 | September 23, 1987 (1987-09-23) | Dudley Moore, Bob Uecker, Kirstie Alley, Teresa Ganzel | N/A |
| List of Awful Shows That Have Been Rendered Service to The Public Well Being ||||
| 5,778 | September 24, 1987 (1987-09-24) | Denise Parker, JoAnne Astrow, Isabella Rossellini | N/A |
| Bass Solo ||||
| 5,779 | September 25, 1987 (1987-09-25) | Don Johnson, David Brenner, Dale Robertson | N/A |
| The Tonight Show version of modernized classic tales. ||||
| 5,780 | September 28, 1987 (1987-09-28) | Garry Shandling (guest host), Justine Bateman, Blake Clark, Rob Reiner | Cirque du Soleil |
| 5,781 | September 29, 1987 (1987-09-29) | Garry Shandling (guest host), Dave Coulier, Emma Samms | Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine |
| 5,782 | September 30, 1987 (1987-09-30) | Garry Shandling (guest host), Susan Sullivan, Cathy Guisewite, Kirk Cameron, Bill Maher | N/A |

### October

| No. | Original release date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 5,783 | October 5, 1987 (1987-10-05) | Jay Leno (guest host), Joanna Kerns, Wil Shriner, Jason Bateman | N/A |
| Products and Complaints Which Have Elicited Lawsuits; Headlines; Disabilities Claims ||||
| 5,784 | October 7, 1987 (1987-10-07) | Betty White, Barry Sobel | Tiffany ("I Think We're Alone Now") |
| Earthquake Tips ||||
| 5,785 | October 8, 1987 (1987-10-08) | John Larroquette, Paulina Porizkova | Kenny G |
| The Networks New Fall Shows ||||
| 5,786 | October 9, 1987 (1987-10-09) | Patrick Swayze, A. Whitney Brown, Alexandra Paul | N/A |
| Blue Cards ||||
| 5,787 | October 12, 1987 (1987-10-12) | Jay Leno (guest host), Valerie Harper, Brian Dennehy, Florence Henderson | Stanley Jordan |
| 5,788 | October 14, 1987 (1987-10-14) | Madeline Kahn, Don Rickles | Michael Franks |
| As The White House Turns ||||
| 5,789 | October 15, 1987 (1987-10-15) | Tim Conway, Kevin Rooney, Jester Hairston, Donald O. Cram | N/A |
| Tim Conway plays retiring quarterback Chubs Horton ||||
| 5,790 | October 16, 1987 (1987-10-16) | Myrtle Young | James Galway |
| How Americans Spend Their Time ||||
| 5,791 | October 19, 1987 (1987-10-19) | Jay Leno (guest host), Jacqueline Bisset, James Brolin | N/A |
| Bizarre Laws That Are Part of The Judicial Process in Certain Parts of the Country ||||
| 5,792 | October 21, 1987 (1987-10-21) | Helen Shaver, Calvin Trillin | George Benson |
| Classes Available through UCLA Extension ||||
| 5,793 | October 22, 1987 (1987-10-22) | Robert Klein, Connie Lew | N/A |
| Memorabilia from the year Johnny was born. ||||
| 5,794 | October 23, 1987 (1987-10-23) | David Letterman, Joe Piscopo | Cutting Crew |
| Sketch - "Elliott Ganway" ||||
| 5,795 | October 26, 1987 (1987-10-26) | Jay Leno (guest host), Brian Bonsall, Marilu Henner, Fred Dryer | Anita Pointer |
| 5,796 | October 27, 1987 (1987-10-27) | Jay Leno (guest host), Donna Mills, Paul Reiser | Linda Hopkins |
| 5,797 | October 28, 1987 (1987-10-28) | Jay Leno (guest host), John Davidson, Judge Joseph Wapner | Cirque du Soleil |
| Headlines ||||
| 5,798 | October 29, 1987 (1987-10-29) | Jay Leno (guest host), Tyne Daly, Alan Thicke, Mary Hart | N/A |
| Headlines; Jay has an NBC Satellite Interview with President Reagan on the possibility of the summit with the Soviets. ||||
| 5,799 | October 30, 1987 (1987-10-30) | Jay Leno (guest host), Joan Embery, Robert Klein, Corbin Bernsen | N/A |
| Postcards from U.S. Towns with Interesting Names; Jay's interview with Vice-President Bush ||||

### November

| No. | Original release date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 5,800 | November 3, 1987 (1987-11-03) | George C. Scott, JoAnne Astrow, The Amazing Randi | N/A |
| Johnny was presented a silvered rubber chicken for his birthday that has an inscription, 'Hic Cluckus Haltus'- roughly translated for 'The Joke Stops Here!' ||||
| 5,801 | November 4, 1987 (1987-11-04) | Candice Bergen, Cathy Guisewite | Frances Ruffelle ("On My Own") |
| Long List of Possible Supreme Court Nominees ||||
| 5,802 | November 5, 1987 (1987-11-05) | Chuck Berry | Chuck Berry ("Memphis Tennessee" and "Roll Over Beethoven") |
| 5,803 | November 6, 1987 (1987-11-06) | Shelley Long, Mabel Gaskill | Steve Lawrence |
| Slogans That are Now Associated with One Product That Were First Tried Out on Another ||||
| 5,804 | November 10, 1987 (1987-11-10) | James Stewart, Paula Poundstone | Linda Hopkins |
| Johnny's story about the little cut on his hand. ||||
| 5,805 | November 11, 1987 (1987-11-11) | Arnold Schwarzenegger, Thalassa Cruso | Rosanne Cash ("Tennessee Flat Top Box") |
| 5,806 | November 12, 1987 (1987-11-12) | Carl Reiner, Jeff Cesario, Holly Robinson | N/A |
| The Royal Couple's Troubled Marriage ||||
| 5,807 | November 13, 1987 (1987-11-13) | Farrah Fawcett, Gene Siskel, Roger Ebert | The Ed Shaughnessy Quartet |
| A tape of interviews of last night's audience members on the topic of Judge Wapner's nomination. ||||
| 5,808 | November 17, 1987 (1987-11-17) | Jay Leno, George Miller, Jayne Atkinson | N/A |
| Recommendations of Shows to See During Sweeps Month ||||
| 5,809 | November 18, 1987 (1987-11-18) | Paul Reiser, Rebeca Arthur | Diane Schuur |
| Public Service Announcements ||||
| 5,810 | November 19, 1987 (1987-11-19) | Saundra Santiago, Bill Maher, Hailey Nance | N/A |
| Cosmopolitan Quiz about Neuroses ||||
| 5,811 | November 20, 1987 (1987-11-20) | Ted Danson, Steven Wright, Nicholas Pryor | N/A |
| Sketch - "Kafeen - Icelandic Bugle Player" ||||
| 5,812 | November 24, 1987 (1987-11-24) | Harvey Korman, Cathy Guisewite | Bourgeois Tagg |
| Since most of the audience are from out of town, Johnny decides to perform a public service by relaying messages from friends and neighbors who were looking over audience members' houses. ||||
| 5,813 | November 25, 1987 (1987-11-25) | Jonathan Winters, Bob Pohle | Icehouse |
| Answers from Elementary School Children to Several Thanksgiving Questions ||||
| 5,814 | November 26, 1987 (1987-11-26) | Lane Smith, Louie Anderson | Jack Jones |
| New Products ||||
| 5,815 | November 27, 1987 (1987-11-27) | David Steinberg, Jann Karam, Don Yesso | N/A |
| Examples of Shop Discounts; Foreign Commercials - 'Kaiser Beer', a man at the urinal, 'Amway', 'BASF Tape', and 'Hamlet Cigars'. ||||
| 5,816 | November 30, 1987 (1987-11-30) | Jay Leno (guest host), Vincent Price, Susan Ruttan, Melvin Kiser | Joe Williams |
| Jay points out an L.A. Herald Headline, 'California's Death Penalty Gets Tougher'. ||||

### December

| No. | Original release date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 5,817 | December 1, 1987 (1987-12-01) | Jay Leno (guest host), Tracey Ullman, Patrick Swayze, Bill Alexander | Sheila E. |
| 5,818 | December 2, 1987 (1987-12-02) | Jay Leno (guest host), Tom Snyder | Oak Ridge Boys |
| Real Notices from Real Newspapers ||||
| 5,819 | December 3, 1987 (1987-12-03) | Jay Leno (guest host), Connie Sellecca, Paul Provenza | John Denver ("Today is The Day My Life Starts All Over Again" and "For You") |
| 5,820 | December 4, 1987 (1987-12-04) | Jay Leno (guest host), Billy Crystal, Christina Pickles | 10,000 Maniacs ("Peace Train", "Don't Talk") |
| New Products ||||
| 5,821 | December 7, 1987 (1987-12-07) | Jay Leno (guest host), Calvin Trillin | Roy Orbison, k.d. lang |
| Facial Photographs of Famous People ||||
| 5,822 | December 9, 1987 (1987-12-09) | Merv Griffin | Linda Ronstadt |
| List of Christmas TV Specials from the Hollywood Reporter ||||
| 5,823 | December 10, 1987 (1987-12-10) | David Brenner | Ray Charles |
| Opinions for Possible New Carpets for the set; Spoof on Santa's Naughty or Nice List ||||
| 5,824 | December 11, 1987 (1987-12-11) | Danny DeVito, Yakov Smirnoff | Pointer Sisters, "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" |
| Mighty Carson Art Players - "Reagan/Gorbachev Summit" ||||
| 5,825 | December 14, 1987 (1987-12-14) | Jay Leno (guest host), Debbie Reynolds, Robert Townsend | Air Supply |
| What Russians Left Behind in Their Hotel Rooms ||||
| 5,826 | December 16, 1987 (1987-12-16) | Bob Uecker | Colm Wilkinson |
| New Products ||||
| 5,827 | December 17, 1987 (1987-12-17) | Jack Paar | N/A |
| New Products; Kids' Letters to Santa Claus ||||
| 5,828 | December 18, 1987 (1987-12-18) | Robin Williams, Bob Hope | Tony Bennett ("White Christmas") |
| Master Pre-Christmas List ||||
| 5,829 | December 28, 1987 (1987-12-28) | Jay Leno (guest host), John Davidson, Robert Conrad, Connie Chung | N/A |
| Jay reads material from real newspapers. ||||
| 5,830 | December 30, 1987 (1987-12-30) | Gregory Peck, Argus Hamilton | B.B. King |
| Predictions for The New Year ||||
| 5,831 | December 31, 1987 (1987-12-31) | Smothers Brothers | Daniel Rosen |
| New Year's Eve Signs; Singing Dog Contest ||||