# 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:

## 1988
### January

| No. | Original release date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 3,767 | January 4, 1988 (1988-01-04) | Jay Leno (guest host), Lance Burton, Baxter Black | Rita Moreno |
| 3,768 | January 6, 1988 (1988-01-06) | Franklyn Ajaye, Jester Hairston | Belinda Carlisle |
| Motivations to Lose Weight After the Holidays ||||
| 3,769 | January 7, 1988 (1988-01-07) | Bette Davis, Martin Short | N/A |
| Special Calendars ||||
| 3,770 | January 8, 1988 (1988-01-08) | Mark & Delia Owens | Robert Goulet |
| Questions from The Audience ||||
| 3,771 | January 11, 1988 (1988-01-11) | Jay Leno (guest host), Dan Aykroyd, Nigel Havers | Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine |
| Headlines ||||
| 3,772 | January 13, 1988 (1988-01-13) | Whoopi Goldberg, Jerry Seinfeld | The Chieftains ("Dans Mod Koh A Vaod" and "Full Of Joy") |
| How Americans Slogans Translate In Foreign Countries ||||
| 3,773 | January 14, 1988 (1988-01-14) | Milton Berle, Carol Siskind, Don Yesso | N/A |
| Public Service Announcements ||||
| 3,774 | January 15, 1988 (1988-01-15) | 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. ||||
| 3,775 | January 18, 1988 (1988-01-18) | Jay Leno (guest host), Jimmie Walker, Deborah Raffin, Roy Blount, Jr. | N/A |
| Notes from a Church Bulletin ||||
| 3,776 | January 20, 1988 (1988-01-20) | Howard Cosell | Barry Manilow |
| 3,777 | January 21, 1988 (1988-01-21) | Jack Lemmon | K.T. Oslin |
| Mighty Carson Art Players - "Malibu Restaurant" (rerun from Betty White episode) ||||
| 3,778 | January 22, 1988 (1988-01-22) | Jim Fowler, Teresa Ganzel, Bob Nelson | N/A |
| Mighty Carson Art Players - "Tea Time Movie" ||||

### February

| No. | Original release date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 3,779 | February 2, 1988 (1988-02-02) | Paul Reiser | James Taylor |
| Emergency backup statistics not used but ready for use at football games by the sports announcers covering them. ||||
| 3,780 | February 3, 1988 (1988-02-03) | Betty White, Merritt Heaton | Ray Stevens |
| Mighty Carson Art Players - "Breakfast at The Rather Household" ||||
| 3,781 | February 4, 1988 (1988-02-04) | Sammy Davis, Jr, Jason Bateman | N/A |
| Johnny's mock eulogy of Luicci the Capuccino Monkey ||||
| 3,782 | February 5, 1988 (1988-02-05) | Oprah Winfrey, Sydney Walsh | Daniel Rosen |
| Backup 'Wheaties' Box Covers ||||
| 3,783 | February 10, 1988 (1988-02-10) | Jay Leno (guest host), Sandy Duncan | Randy Travis |
| Headlines; Kid Inventors ||||
| 3,784 | February 11, 1988 (1988-02-11) | Jay Leno (guest host), Tim Reid, Tom Parks, Dr. David Dahl | Jerry Lee Lewis ("Rockin' My Life Away" and "Great Balls of Fire") |
| 3,785 | February 12, 1988 (1988-02-12) | Jay Leno (guest host), Brooke Adams, Kevin Meaney, Carl Weathers | Glen Campbell ("I Remember You") |
| 3,786 | February 16, 1988 (1988-02-16) | Tim Conway | Jonathan Butler |
| Diary of Things Johnny Did While He Was Sick ||||
| 3,787 | February 17, 1988 (1988-02-17) | Jackie Mason, Joanna Kerns | Kid Creole & The Coconuts ("Dropout", "Curiosity") |
| USA Today Poll About the Sexes ||||
| 3,788 | February 18, 1988 (1988-02-18) | Dudley Moore, Minnie Black | N/A |
| A Presidential Debate with Questions asked by Johnny. ||||
| 3,789 | February 19, 1988 (1988-02-19) | Gene Siskel, Roger Ebert, Bob Saget | Los Lobos ("In America", "La Bamba") |
| Forgotten Movies From the Past ||||
| 3,790 | February 23, 1988 (1988-02-23) | Louie Anderson, Jennifer Tilly | Dionne Warwick |
| 3,791 | February 24, 1988 (1988-02-24) | Ritch Shydner, Rita Rudner, Fred Roggin, Darryl Sivad | N/A |
| Questions From the Audience ||||
| 3,792 | February 25, 1988 (1988-02-25) | Burt Reynolds, Teresa Ganzel, Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards | N/A |
| Mighty Carson Art Players - "Tele-Scam"; Expensive Props ||||
| 3,793 | February 26, 1988 (1988-02-26) | Garry Shandling, Allyce Beasley | Donna Theodore |
| The Wheel of Candidates ||||

### March

| No. | Original release date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 3,794 | March 7, 1988 (1988-03-07) | Jay Leno (guest host), Super Dave Osborne | Ben Vereen |
| Headlines ||||

### May

| No. | Original release date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 3,795 | May 11, 1988 (1988-05-11) | Joe Piscopo, Bill Toone | N/A |
| 3,796 | May 12, 1988 (1988-05-12) | Dana Carvey, Joe Garagiola, David Teitelbaum, Jack Saltzberg | N/A |
| Carnac the Magnificent ||||
| 3,797 | May 13, 1988 (1988-05-13) | Fred de Cordova, Bob Hope | k.d. lang |
| 3,798 | May 18, 1988 (1988-05-18) | Bill Kirchenbauer, Dr. Terry Gosliner | Billy Vera & The Beaters |
| Blue Cards ||||
| 3,799 | May 19, 1988 (1988-05-19) | Jonathan Winters, Kristin Banerjee | N/A |
| Audience Questionnaire ||||
| 3,800 | May 20, 1988 (1988-05-20) | Sylvester Stallone | N/A |
| Stump the Band ||||
| 3,801 | May 25, 1988 (1988-05-25) | Paul Hogan, David Brenner | Linda Hopkins ("Born on Friday") |
| Direct Response Commercials, the 'Playette' and the 'Jog'r'. ||||
| 3,802 | May 26, 1988 (1988-05-26) | Chevy Chase, Iditarod racer John Suter, Thalassa Cruso | N/A |
| 3,803 | May 27, 1988 (1988-05-27) | James Stewart, Fred Roggin | Leonard Waxdeck & The Birdcallers |
| Johnny provides evidence that Bonzo the famous chimpanzee is really still alive. ||||
| 3,804 | May 30, 1988 (1988-05-30) | Garry Shandling (guest host), Elizabeth Perkins, Bob Saget | Jimmy Buffett |
| 3,805 | May 31, 1988 (1988-05-31) | Garry Shandling (guest host) | Harry Connick, Jr. |

### June

| No. | Original release date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 3,806 | June 1, 1988 (1988-06-01) | Garry Shandling (guest host), Paula Poundstone | Natalie Cole |
| Comparison of Photos between Reagan at the Kremlin and a family at Disneyland. ||||
| 3,807 | June 2, 1988 (1988-06-02) | Garry Shandling (guest host), Angie Dickinson, Fritz Coleman, Allyce Beasley | Michael Bolton |
| 3,808 | June 3, 1988 (1988-06-03) | Garry Shandling (guest host), Stan Kann, Joanna Kerns, Roy Blount, Jr. | N/A |
| 3,809 | June 6, 1988 (1988-06-06) | Jay Leno (guest host), Marilu Henner, Cathy Guisewite | N/A |
| Headlines ||||
| 3,810 | June 8, 1988 (1988-06-08) | David Brinkley | Chuck Berry |
| 3,811 | June 9, 1988 (1988-06-09) | Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jerry Seinfeld, Andre Agassi | N/A |
| Jokes That Are Sent In By Viewers During the Writers Strike ||||
| 3,812 | June 10, 1988 (1988-06-10) | Don Yesso | Basia |
| 3,813 | June 13, 1988 (1988-06-13) | Jay Leno (guest host), Vincent Price, Dave Barry | N/A |
| Jay shows a film clip of his adventure with the Blue Angels. ||||
| 3,814 | June 15, 1988 (1988-06-15) | James Belushi | Julio Iglesias |
| Commencement Address to The Audience ||||
| 3,815 | June 16, 1988 (1988-06-16) | Bill Cosby, William Ennis | Belinda Carlisle ("Circle in the Sand") |
| 3,816 | June 17, 1988 (1988-06-17) | David Steinberg | Andrea Marcovicci |
| Blue Cards ||||
| 3,817 | June 20, 1988 (1988-06-20) | Jay Leno (guest host), Joan Embery, Marsha Warfield, Dr. Joyce Brothers | N/A |
| Jay reads unusual newspaper clippings. ||||
| 3,818 | June 22, 1988 (1988-06-22) | Jay Leno, Raquel Welch, garbage truck driver Ray Anderson | N/A |
| Johnny comments on the Lakers repeating as NBA champions ||||
| 3,819 | June 23, 1988 (1988-06-23) | Magic Johnson, Bruce Willis | Johnny Frigo |
| Rules of Thumb ||||
| 3,820 | June 24, 1988 (1988-06-24) | Dudley Moore, Lottie Hicks | Diane Schuur |
| Extracurricular Activities from Celebrity's High School Yearbooks ||||
| 3,821 | June 27, 1988 (1988-06-27) | Jay Leno (guest host), Dennis Miller, Erma Bombeck | Little Richard |
| Headlines ||||
| 3,822 | June 28, 1988 (1988-06-28) | Jay Leno (guest host), Steve Allen, Super Dave Osborne, Bill Maher | N/A |
| 3,823 | June 29, 1988 (1988-06-29) | Jay Leno (guest host), Charles Fleischer, Sydney Walsh, Frank Zappa | N/A |
| 3,824 | June 30, 1988 (1988-06-30) | Jay Leno (guest host), Sammy Davis, Jr., Connie Chung | N/A |
| Stamps by Mail ||||

### July

| No. | Original release date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 3,825 | July 1, 1988 (1988-07-01) | Jay Leno (guest host), Stepfanie Kramer, Kevin Pollak, Michael Warren | N/A |
| Jay has a satellite interview with President Reagan. ||||
| 3,826 | July 18, 1988 (1988-07-18) | Jay Leno (guest host), Pee Wee Herman, John Cleese, Malcolm Forbes | N/A |
| Headlines ||||
| 3,827 | July 20, 1988 (1988-07-20) | Joe King, Yakov Smirnoff | Buster Poindexter |
| Photos of Famous Political People with Insertions of What They May Be Saying ||||
| 3,828 | July 21, 1988 (1988-07-21) | Arsenio Hall | Hall & Oates ("Missing Each Other", "She's A Monster") |
| The Tonight Show version of The Democratic Convention (audience members as the delegates) ||||
| 3,829 | July 22, 1988 (1988-07-22) | Tom Hanks, Brian Gillis | Michael Davis |
| 3,830 | July 25, 1988 (1988-07-25) | Jay Leno (guest host), Jamie Lee Curtis, Louie Anderson | Johnny Mathis |
| 3,831 | July 27, 1988 (1988-07-27) | 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. ||||
| 3,832 | July 28, 1988 (1988-07-28) | Governor Bill Clinton | Joe Cocker |
| A film clip of the youngest pilot. ||||
| 3,833 | July 29, 1988 (1988-07-29) | Michael Landon, Smokey Tennison | k.d. lang |
| Celebrity Photos ||||

### August

| No. | Original release date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 3,834 | August 1, 1988 (1988-08-01) | Jay Leno (guest host), Chuck Norris, Joan Van Ark, Abigail Van Buren | Oak Ridge Boys |
| 3,835 | August 3, 1988 (1988-08-03) | Bill Murray, Jeff Cesario | Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg |
| Psychic Predictions ||||
| 3,836 | August 4, 1988 (1988-08-04) | Paul Reiser, Mabel Hines Buck | Robben Ford |
| 3,837 | August 5, 1988 (1988-08-05) | Richard Pryor, Richard Jeni | Pete Fountain |
| Photos of celebrities showing tiny notes on their person supposedly enlarged by 'high resolution cameras'. ||||
| 3,838 | August 8, 1988 (1988-08-08) | Garry Shandling (guest host), Phoebe Mills, Ed Begley, Jr., Richard Lewis | Dizzy Gillespie |
| 3,839 | August 9, 1988 (1988-08-09) | Garry Shandling (guest host), Sugar Ray Leonard, Bill Maher, Patti D'Arbanville | N/A |
| 3,840 | August 10, 1988 (1988-08-10) | Garry Shandling (guest host), Joan Embery, David Steinberg, Catherine O'Hara | Linda Hopkins |
| 3,841 | August 11, 1988 (1988-08-11) | Garry Shandling (guest host), Tracey Ullman, Ken Olin, Fred Roggin | Brenda Russell |
| 3,842 | August 12, 1988 (1988-08-12) | Garry Shandling (guest host), Kirstie Alley, Mariel Hemingway, Cathy Guisewite Garry Shandling's final episode as guest host. | N/A |
| The Lobster Boy Letter ||||
| 3,843 | August 22, 1988 (1988-08-22) | Jay Leno (guest host), Shirley Jones, Wayne Gretzky Jay Leno becomes permanent guest host as of this episode; no other guest hosts were used between now and the end of the show's run. | B.B. King |
| Headlines ||||
| 3,844 | August 24, 1988 (1988-08-24) | George Carlin, Mark Harmon | N/A |
| The Tonight Show version of the Republican Convention (audience members as the delegates) ||||
| 3,845 | August 25, 1988 (1988-08-25) | Jonathan Winters, Karen Josephson, Sarah Josephson | N/A |
| Phobias ||||
| 3,846 | August 29, 1988 (1988-08-29) | Jay Leno (guest host), Holly Robinson | Dwight Yoakam & Buck Owens |
| Headlines ||||
| 3,847 | August 31, 1988 (1988-08-31) | Kirk Douglas, Ritch Shydner | The Temptations |
| Examples of Contemporary Slang ||||

### September

| No. | Original release date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 3,848 | September 1, 1988 (1988-09-01) | Buddy Hackett, Dana Delany | N/A |
| Albums Sung by Celebrities in The Past ||||
| 3,849 | September 2, 1988 (1988-09-02) | Jennifer Tilly | Randy Travis |
| Comedy Crypt - Some Old Jokes ||||
| 3,850 | September 5, 1988 (1988-09-05) | Jay Leno (guest host), Norm Crosby | George Benson |
| The Tonight Show's Little Big Book of Romantic Phrases ||||
| 3,851 | September 7, 1988 (1988-09-07) | Bob Hope, Tim Conway | Joe Williams |
| Low-Down On The Candidates ||||
| 3,852 | September 8, 1988 (1988-09-08) | Martin Short | Johnny Clegg & Savuka |
| Different Sounds That Give People the Willies ||||
| 3,853 | September 9, 1988 (1988-09-09) | Shabana Kazi | Harry Belafonte |
| International Symbols ||||
| 3,854 | September 12, 1988 (1988-09-12) | Jay Leno (guest host), Betty White, Elvira | The Spinners |
| Newspaper Clippings ||||
| 3,855 | September 14, 1988 (1988-09-14) | Jim Fowler | N/A |
| 3,856 | September 15, 1988 (1988-09-15) | Bob Uecker, Sigourney Weaver | Reba McEntire |
| New Fall Shows ||||

### October

| No. | Original release date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 3,857 | October 6, 1988 (1988-10-06) | David Letterman, Jay Leno, Garry Shandling | N/A |
| 26th Anniversary Show ||||
| 3,858 | October 10, 1988 (1988-10-10) | Jay Leno (guest host), Robert Stack, Franklyn Ajaye | Kenny G |
| 3,859 | October 12, 1988 (1988-10-12) | Cody Carr | Ray Charles |
| A takeoff on the Presidential Debate in which Ed McMahon asks Johnny questions as if Johnny is Quayle or Bentsen. ||||
| 3,860 | October 13, 1988 (1988-10-13) | Tommy Lasorda | Jimmy Buffett |
| 3,861 | October 14, 1988 (1988-10-14) | Sandy Duncan, Steve Mittleman, Irv Kupcinet | N/A |
| Personalized License Plates ||||
| 3,862 | October 17, 1988 (1988-10-17) | Jay Leno (guest host), Super Dave Osborne, Robert Mitchum | N/A |
| Headlines ||||
| 3,863 | October 19, 1988 (1988-10-19) | Whoopi Goldberg, Kevin Pollak, Alice Chalifoux | N/A |
| Answers to the Questionnaire passed out to 2nd and 3rd Graders based on the Presidential Election ||||
| 3,864 | October 20, 1988 (1988-10-20) | Michael Caine | Eydie Gormé, Steve Lawrence |
| Blue Cards ||||
| 3,865 | October 21, 1988 (1988-10-21) | Orel Hershiser, Floyd Jackson, Susan Sullivan | Lee Ritenour |
| 3,866 | October 31, 1988 (1988-10-31) | Jay Leno (guest host), Stepfanie Kramer, Jimmie Walker, Richard Mulligan | N/A |

### November

| No. | Original release date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 3,867 | November 2, 1988 (1988-11-02) | Christopher Reeve, Melanie Mayron, Jonathan Zachary | N/A |
| 'If Election Was Held Tomorrow' Quiz; Local Propositions ||||
| 3,868 | November 3, 1988 (1988-11-03) | Michael J. Fox, Larry Miller, Harry Lorayne | N/A |
| Funny Advertising Ads: Johnny and Ed present mash-ups of billboard slogans ||||
| 3,869 | November 4, 1988 (1988-11-04) | James Garner, Jeff Cesario, Park Overall | N/A |
| 'Politicboy' Magazine ||||
| 3,870 | November 7, 1988 (1988-11-07) | Jay Leno (guest host), Marilu Henner, Jester Hairston, Vanna White | N/A |
| Headlines (11/8/88 pre-empted for NBC News election night coverage) ||||
| 3,871 | November 9, 1988 (1988-11-09) | Candice Bergen, Steven Wright | Johnny Frigo |
| As The White House Turns ||||
| 3,872 | November 10, 1988 (1988-11-10) | Greg Irwin, Richard Jeni, Gore Vidal | N/A |
| Blue Cards ||||
| 3,873 | November 11, 1988 (1988-11-11) | Paul Reiser, Kitty Carlisle | Oak Ridge Boys |
| Cultural Customs of The World ||||
| 3,874 | November 14, 1988 (1988-11-14) | Jay Leno (guest host), Joan Collins, John Byner | N/A |
| Newspaper Clippings ||||
| 3,875 | November 16, 1988 (1988-11-16) | Harry Anderson, Argus Hamilton, Calvin Trillin | N/A |
| Messages From Home ||||
| 3,876 | November 17, 1988 (1988-11-17) | 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 ||||
| 3,877 | November 18, 1988 (1988-11-18) | Oprah Winfrey | Sheena Easton ("The Lover In Me" and "Follow My Rainbow") |
| Sketch - "UCLA vs. Stanford Game (with Johnny as a commentator)" ||||
| 3,878 | November 21, 1988 (1988-11-21) | Jay Leno (guest host), Tony Danza, Malcolm-Jamal Warner | Andy Williams |
| Tonight Show's Little Big Book of Romantic Phrases ||||
| 3,879 | November 23, 1988 (1988-11-23) | George Burns, Tracey Ullman | Jeff Healey ("See The Light") |
| School Kids' Answers To a Thanksgiving Questionnaire. ||||
| 3,880 | November 24, 1988 (1988-11-24) | Lucy Webb | Willie Nelson |
| Evening News with Zontar Rather in The Year 2008 ||||
| 3,881 | November 25, 1988 (1988-11-25) | Teri Garr, Marsha Warfield | Johnny Clegg & Savuka |
| Celebrity Perfumes ||||
| 3,882 | November 28, 1988 (1988-11-28) | Jay Leno (guest host), Barbara Walters, Joanna Kerns | Stanley Jordan |
| Jay's High School Reunion ||||
| 3,883 | November 29, 1988 (1988-11-29) | Jay Leno (guest host), Mary Tyler Moore, James Earl Jones | Debbie Allen |
| Actual Notes That Parents Wrote to Schools to Excuse their Children From Class ||||
| 3,884 | November 30, 1988 (1988-11-30) | Jay Leno (guest host), Harvey Fierstein, Courteney Cox | K.T. Oslin |
| Headlines ||||

### December

| No. | Original release date | Guest(s) | Musical/entertainment guest(s) |
| 3,885 | December 1, 1988 (1988-12-01) | Jay Leno (guest host), Fred Savage, Joan Van Ark | Los Lobos |
| 3,886 | December 2, 1988 (1988-12-02) | Jay Leno (guest host), Larry Miller, Stephen Collins | Phil Collins ("Groovy Kind Of Love" and "Separate Lives") |
| Games ||||
| 3,887 | December 5, 1988 (1988-12-05) | Jay Leno (guest host), Kirk Douglas, Paula Poundstone, Eva Marie Saint | Linda Hopkins |
| 3,888 | December 7, 1988 (1988-12-07) | Carl Reiner, Zota Croughan | N/A |
| Titles For Some Christmas Specials ||||
| 3,889 | December 8, 1988 (1988-12-08) | Jonathan Winters | Kenny Loggins ("Footloose", "A Lesson Hard To Learn") |
| Johnny puts on a Christmas Helmet that was sent in.; Blue Cards ||||
| 3,890 | December 9, 1988 (1988-12-09) | Danny DeVito, Richard Benjamin | N/A |
| Johnny determines whether the audience is on the Naughty or Nice list; Also explains the Santa Ana winds. ||||
| 3,891 | December 12, 1988 (1988-12-12) | Jay Leno (guest host), Pee Wee Herman, Ricardo Montalbán, Ritch Shydner | Lou Rawls |
| 3,892 | December 14, 1988 (1988-12-14) | Steve Martin, Helen Shaver, Steve Jenne | N/A |
| Actual Children's Letters to Santa Claus ||||
| 3,893 | December 15, 1988 (1988-12-15) | Bob Hope, Jimmy Tingle, Ellen Greene | N/A |
| Photos of Supposed Relatives of Audience Members and The Strange Things They Have Done ||||
| 3,894 | December 16, 1988 (1988-12-16) | 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 ||||
| 3,895 | December 26, 1988 (1988-12-26) | 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 ||||
| 3,896 | December 28, 1988 (1988-12-28) | 'Poppa John' Venturello, Franklyn Ajaye, Catherine Hicks | N/A |
| Specialized Christmas Cards ||||
| 3,897 | December 29, 1988 (1988-12-29) | Haldan Martinson, Jessica Vallot | Cristin Morrison |
| Stump the Band ||||
| 3,898 | December 30, 1988 (1988-12-30) | A. Whitney Brown | Gregory Popovich, Sweet Baby Blues Band |
| Dictionary Terms ||||