The Mike Douglas Show originally aired on Friday, October 6th 1978 (in most markets).

It took former big band singer and pop music vocalist Mike Douglas to show America what a daytime talk show could be. With lively conversation, interesting musical, comedic and dramatic performances and an thoroughly entertaining, charming and disarming host this program would become the place to be on daytime tv. For over 20 years and over 5000 episodes it became the place that rock stars, television stars, movie stars, sports stars, politicians and even Presidents couldn't resist appearing. For many, The Mike Douglas Show would become and will always be the standard of daytime talk programs.

This week The Mike Douglas Show began televising from its new home in Hollywood California and many of Mike's friends in the entertainment industry would appear. Hollywood legend Jimmy Stewart was co-host for this episode as he was for the entire week of October 2nd through the 6th. Other guests on this day's show included: Bob Hope, Linda Lavin, Jimmy and Kristy McNichol, Robert Conrad and Scott Baio.

This is another interesting episode of this program that many of Kristy's fans still remember to this day. Among the guests on this episode was actress and Alice star Linda Lavin, she and Kristy had just completed a television movie, Like Mom, Like Me, which would premiere on Sunday, October 22nd on CBS. Kristy's brother Jimmy was also on this episode and together they performed the song Hot Tunes from their album Kristy & Jimmy McNichol. But probably the most interesting guest for Kristy fans though was Scott Baio. He was dating her off and on at the time and his appearance on the show really brought out a rarely seen side of her. Mike had many questions about their dating and it really put them under the spotlight, making for an awkward and embarrassing moment for the both of them. The questions also brought out Kristy's funny, silly side as well. But most importantly Scott got to answer a question that many of her young fans really wanted to know, just what it was like to go on a date with Kristy McNichol. This is yet another fascinating episode of this program giving viewers the opportunity to see a different side of Kristy, a side that we would normally never get to see.

Buying note: To my knowledge this program has not been seen in its entirety since it originally ran in 1978. Numerous clips of this episode can be seen however in the following programs: E! True Hollywood Story: Kristy McNichol, VH1 - 100 Greatest Kid Stars and VH1 - I Love the 70s Volume 2: 1978

3-6-2008