As of July 2026, The Midnight Special Season 1 aired in 1972 with 40 episodes. Full episode guide and where to watch below.
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The Midnight Special Season 1

1972 40 Episodes ⭐ 8/10

The Midnight Special Season 1 is currently streaming on major platforms, and it rewards the patience it asks of you. Across 1 season, the show has had time to find its rhythm and keep it. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. The cast brings a seriousness the material deserves. Start it whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

The Midnight Special Season 1 arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The Midnight Special Season 1 trusts its audience to sit with discomfort instead of resolving it too quickly. Season 1 of The Midnight Special includes 40 episodes. It aired from August 1972 to November 1973. Episodes include "Pilot", "Host: Helen Reddy", "Host: Johnny Rivers". It was aired in 1972. The performances in The Midnight Special Season 1 do a lot of work in the silences between the dialogue. It rarely drops the ball, and when it does, it recovers fast.

For anyone looking for storytelling that takes its characters seriously, The Midnight Special Season 1 delivers. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. The complete run is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. The performances match the material at every turn. Worth starting sooner rather than later.

📡 Where to Watch The Midnight Special Season 1

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🎬 The Midnight Special Season 1 — Episode Guide

E1
Pilot
1972-08-19
John Denver guest hosted Mama Cass, The Everly Brothers, The Isley Brothers, Harry Chapin, Linda Ronstadt, Argent and Helen Reddy. Among the musical highlights were Harry Chapin performing his hit "Taxi", Linda Ronstadt sang her popular ballad "Long Long Time", Helen Reddy sang "I Am Woman" and the ...
E2
Host: Helen Reddy
1973-02-02
Helen Reddy (host) - ""I Am Woman,"" ""Peaceful"" & ""Come On John"" --Ed McMahon (walk-on cameo) - wishes the show sucess --Ike and Tina Turner Revue- ""I Can't Turn You Loose"" & ""With a Little Help from My Friends"" --George Carlin (comedian) - stand-up comedy monologue --Curtis Mayfield - ""Sup...
E3
Host: Johnny Rivers
1973-02-08
Johnny Rivers (host) - ""Blue Suede Shoes,"" ""Rockin' Pneumonia, Boogie Woogie Flu"" & ""Got My Mojo Workin'"" --The Ace Trucking Company (comedy troupe) - routines about an airplane flight; 2 old friends and a prayer meeting. --Albert Hammond - ""It Never Rains in Southern California"" and ""If Yo...
E4
Host: Mac Davis
1973-02-16
Mac Davis (host) - ""Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me,"" ""I Believe in Music,"" ""Dream Me Home,"" ""Home"" & ""Half and Half (Song for Sara)"" --The Doobie Brothers - ""Jesus Is Just Alright"" & ""Listen to the Music"" --Waylon Jennings - ""You Can Have Her"" --Billy Paul - ""Me and Mrs. Jones"" & ""Br...
E5
Host: Harry Chapin
1973-02-23
Harry Chapin (Host) - "Sunday Morning Sunshine" "Sniper" and "Taxi." Kerrie Biddell - "Spirit in the Dark." Blood, Sweat and Tears - "Rosemary" "Hip Pickles" and "Snow Queen." The Committee (comedy segment). The Hollies - "Magic Woman Touch" and "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother." Curtis Mayfield - "...
E6
Host: Anne Murray
1973-03-02
Anne Murray (Host) - "Snowbird," "Danny's Song" and "I Know." Anne Murray, Steve Martin and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - "Shuckin' the Corn." The Association - "Along Comes Mary," "Crazy Songs and Looney Tunes" and "Names, Tags, Numbers and Labels." Badfinger - "No Matter What" and "Suitcase." Steve...
E7
Host: Paul Williams
1973-03-09
Paul Williams (host) - ""Old Fashioned Love Song,"" ""Drift Away"" & ""That's Enough for Me"" --Edward Bear - ""Last Song"" & ""Close Your Eyes"" --Loretta Lynn - ""One's On the Way"" & ""Coal Miner's Daughter"" --Seals & Crofts - ""Hummingbird"" & ""Summer Breeze"" --Sha Na Na - ""Hound Dog,"" ""Ya...
E8
Host: Paul Anka
1973-03-16
Paul Anka (host) - "Girl," "Put Your Head on My Shoulder," "Hits Medley" and "Jubilation." Bobby Darin - "If I Were a Carpenter," "Splish Splash," and "Roll Over Beethoven." The Coasters - "Poison Ivy," "Charlie Brown" and "Yakety Yak." Tammy Wynette - "Kids Say the Darnedest Things." The Ace Trucki...
E9
Host: Lou Rawls
1973-03-23
Lou Rawls (guest host) - ""A Natural Man"" & ""Dead End Street"" --Lou Rawls - medley: ""Memory Lane,"" ""It Was a Very Good Year"" & ""Old Folks"" --Brewer & Shipley - ""One Toke Over the Line"" --George Burns - ""Mr. Bojangles"" and ""You Made Me Love You"" (2nd song with the Honey Cone) --George ...
E10
Host: Ray Charles
1973-03-30
-Ray Charles (guest host) - ""Eleanor Rigby,"" ""Georgia on My Mind"" & ""What'd I Say"" --Ray Charles with the Raelets (a.k.a. Raylettes) - ""I Can Make It Through the Days (But Oh Those Lonely Nights)"" --Bill Cosby talks with Ray Charles and dances while Charles sings ""Every Saturday Night"" --C...
E11
Hosts: The Bee Gees
1973-04-06
The Bee Gees; guests: Jerry Lee Lewis; Gladys Knight; Johnny Nash; Skeeter Davis --The Bee Gees (guest hosts) - ""To Love Somebody,"" ""Lonely Days,"" ""I Saw a New Morning"" and a medley of hits (""New York Mining Disaster 1941,"" ""I Started a Joke,"" ""Massachusetts"" and ""How Can You Mend a Bro...
E12
Bill Cosby
1973-04-13
Bill Cosby (guest host, appearing with a band) - "Ursulena (With Your Washing Machina)," "I've Got to Be Strong" (sung by member of his group) & "I Lost My Baby At the Dance Last Night" --David Brenner (stand-up comedian) - jokes about airplanes; the moon shot; dating in New York City and King Kong ...
E13
Host: Doc Severinsen
1973-04-20
Doc Severinsen (guest host) - ""I Just Want to Celebrate,"" ""Last Tango in Paris,"" ""Does Anybody Know What Time It Is,"" ""Introduction,"" ""Twenty-Five or Six to Four"" & ""Beginnings"" --Doc Severinsen - ""Celebrate"" (with the Now Generation and Today's Children) --Doc Severinsen (on fluegelho...
E14
Host: Jerry Lee Lewis
1973-04-27
Jerry Lee Lewis (guest host) - ""Great Balls of Fire,"" ""High School Confidential,"" ""Drinking Wine Spo Dee O'Dee"" & ""Cold Cold Heart"" --Jerry Lee Lewis and Linda Gail Lewis - ""Roll Over Beethoven"" --Freddie Cannon - ""Tallahassee Lassie"" & ""Way Down Yonder in New Orleans"" --Chubby Checker...
E15
Host: Johnny Nash
1973-05-04
Johnny Nash (guest host) - ""Stir It Up,"" ""Groovy Feeling,"" ""I Can See Clearly Now"" & ""Merry-Go-Round"" --Chi Coltrane - ""Thunder and Lightning"" & ""You Were My Friend"" --Freemen and Murray (comedy team) --Tom T. Hall - ""The Year That Clayton Delaney Died"" & ""Old Dogs, Children and Water...
E16
Hosts: Burns and Schreiber
1973-05-11
-Jack Burns and Avery Schreiber (comedy team, guest hosts) --Mark Almond - ""What Am I Loving For,"" ""Just Another Road Song"" & ""The City"" --Kenny Colman - ""Last Tango in Paris"" --The Crusaders - ""Put It Where You Want It"" & ""Don't Let It Get You Down"" --Ronnie Dyson - ""One Man Band"" --T...
E17
Host: Chubby Checker
1973-05-18
Chubby Checker - ""Let's Twist Again,"" ""Pony Time,"" Limbo Rock"" & ""Slow Twistin'"" --Jimmy Clanton - ""Just a Dream"" --Danny and the Juniors - ""At the Hop"" & ""Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay"" --Ben E. King - ""Spanish Harlem"" & ""Stand by Me"" --Little Anthony and the Imperials - ""Going Ou...
E18
Hosts: Gladys Knight & the Pips
1973-05-25
Gladys Knight and the Pips (guest hosts) - ""Friendship Train,"" ""Daddy Could Swear I Declare,"" ""I Don't Want to Do Wrong"" & ""Neither One of Us"" --Dr. John - ""Right Place, Wrong Time"" & ""Such a Night"" --Robert Klein (comedy segment) --Skylark - ""Wildflower"" & ""Woodstock"" --The Staple S...
E19
Host: Paul Williams
1973-06-01
Paul Williams (guest host) - ""My Love and I,"" ""Let Me Be the One,"" ""We've Only Just Begun,"" ""Rainy Days and Mondays"" & ""I Never Had It So Good"" --Argent - ""God Gave Rock and Roll to You,"" ""Hold Your Head Up"" & ""It's Only Money Part 2"" --Gunhill Road - ""Back When My Half Was Short"" ...
E20
Host: Curtis Mayfield
1973-06-08
Curtis Mayfield (guest host) - ""Superfly,"" ""If I Were Only a Child Again"" & ""Back to the World"" --Canned Heat - ""Let's Work Together,"" ""Harley Davidson Blues"" & ""Woodstock Boogie"" --Jose Feliciano - ""Simple Song,"" ""Compartments"" & ""Light My Fire"" --Leroy Hutson - ""Love Oh Love"" -...

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