The Tonight Show (1998)

Thanksgiving Eve, November 25, 1998

	Jay Leno is holding “The Movie Album” CD and asking everyone to say hello to “a good buddy of mine, he’s one of the most talented singer/songwriters - I love this guy.” Jay then says the newest CD is “The Movie Album, As Time Goes By” and says to watch for “The Making of the Movie Album” to be shown on American Movie Classics.
Jay then asks everyone to “Welcome – the one, the only – Neil Diamond.”

The audience applauds and cheers as the camera pans over to where Neil is standing in front of a small orchestra. Also there are Vince Charles, Ron Tutt, Alan Lindgren and Doug Rhone.

The intro music starts off lightly and Neil starts singing: “Whoa ….my Love…my Dar..lin’, I’ve hungered for your love…a...long….lonely time……..” It is one of the most heart-rending renditions of “Unchained Melody” I’ve heard --every word carefully and emotionally sung with great passion.

The strings of the orchestra add a very pleasant, soft, melodic tone in the background, helping to bring everyone closer to feeling the tender moments in the song. The audience is so quiet, you could hear a pin drop.

All you can hear is Neil's wonderful deep voice singing the song he calls "a singer's joy to sing." Throughout the song, the cameraman captures great shots of Neil's eyes and face, letting his love mingle with the words.

As the song ends, Neil is rewarded with loud applause and cheers from a satisfied audience.

	He walks away from the setting and is welcomed by Jay with a handshake and hug. Jay mentions the "Movie Album" being a good idea and asks Neil how the idea for it came about.
Neil explains they tried to find all the favorite movie songs, asking anyone and everyone they could think of for their opinions and collected about 100 songs to choose from.

Jay then points to the CD and asks if Neil's mom chose "Puttin' On the Ritz." Neil shakes his head yes and indicates that was his Mom's suggestion but, she was unhappy with it because "it was slow, where is the beat - she wanted to dance." Neil mentions that his Mom is old enough not to have to do that stuff but, he couldn't tell her age.

Jay asks if Neil is going to do the same thing for Thanksgiving tomorrow and hoped it wouldn't turn out like the previous year.


Neil laughs deeply and says "Oh, you heard about that? - the whole valley heard." He then starts explaining how they usually went to his brother's house for the traditional family dinner. His sister-in-law, Alice, who is a good cook "normally" (LAUGHTER), had a problem with the turkey last year and they ended up "sending out for Kentucky Chicken and pizza." Neil was hoping the turkey wouldn't stay in the oven too long this time.

Jay started teasing Neil saying this year he'd be lucky to get Kentucky Fried Chicken after what he'd just said on TV. Neil's sense of humor kicks in and they both laugh heartily.

Jay works into the conversation that he has a cold and knows that Neil being a singer must have some great remedies and wondered if they were just old wives tales or were they actual things that did work.

Neil mentions having tried just about every- thing possible for a cold. He then explains about the time in the early 70's, he was sent to a London drug store for a formula that the great opera singer, Lady Melba, used. He drank all of it even though it tasted horrible and said it only made him sicker than he was. He's now run out of remedies, honey and hot water, "you name it."


Neil then looks over at Jay with that mischievous twinkle of a gleam in his eyes. He recommends that Jay get four beautiful women (laughter) and have them rub chicken soup on his body. Jay asks if that would really work.
	Now Neil is laughing that wonderful deep laugh of his and says "I don't know how exactly but, you feel so much better". Both Neil and Jay are now laughing together, the audience is cheering and laughing. Jay is saying some- thing about it "being the love" from the chicken soup that makes the remedy work.


We are left seeing two good friends laughing and having a good time. Jay ends the segment telling everyone how great the Movie Album is and everyone waves good bye.