35 years ago tonight, on Monday, January 19, 1976 Freddie Prinze guest hosted “The Tonight Show” for the first time. Just 2 years after first appearing on the show, Prinze was the star of NBC’s “Chico and the Man” and now, at age 21, sitting in for Johnny Carson.
Freddie Prinze with Johnny Carson on an earlier "Tonight Show" appearance, circa 1975.
After the monologue, Bob Hope made one of his patented walk-ons to congratulate Freddie on his first time hosting the show. But Freddie’s first actual guest was his dear friend Tony Orlando, who was plugging his guest spot on “Chico and the Man” which would air January 28th.
Publicity photo of Prinze in "Chico and the Man" that was sent to NBC stations.
The night’s second guest was actor Richard Dreyfuss, followed by singer Anne Murray who performed a song. Freddie’s fourth and final guest was Helen Gurley Brown, the publisher of Cosmopolitan magazine.
Freddie Prinze as Chico, in a photo taken later in 1976.
All in all, it was a successful night, especially when you consider the talented actor and comedian’s youth. Freddie Prinze would guest host “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” twice more. He might have gotten a chance to host additional times, but one year later Freddie Prinze was dead.
Autograph signed by Freddie Prinze on September 27, 1974, after a taping of "The $25,000 Pyramid"
More on that tragic story next week.
Raised by TV 
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