Alongside the son of Henry Mancini, neat. As the kiddoes say, she's giving brunette Michelle Phillips in this clip.

Last edited by Binson Echorec (February 17, 2026 4:55 pm)

Hansa wrote:

I always preferred her to Jennifer.

Agreed. And those librarian glasses!!

Ms. Smithers certainly is a looker but musically, Dobie Gray's "Drift Away" on that same Midnight Special" episode easily blows her song away.  

It's refreshing that someone in Hollywood is ok with aging naturally rather than getting plastic surgery (of course she also hasn't been an actor for decades)

Earlier in the video (just past the 26 minute mark) there’s a very enjoyable performance by Hoyt Axton; and here’s a coincidence, he would years later guest on an episode of WKRP.
Hoyt’s backup singers also offer a bit of an “Easter egg”. 
On the left, wearing the glasses is singer Donna Washburn, who was truly one of those 20 feet from stardom vocal artists.
She was backing vocals for Joe Cocker on the Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour/movie. She teamed with Jennifer Warnes to sing back up for Leonard Cohen on his 1972 tour of Europe and Israel. There’s also a documentary film on that; Bird on a Wire - it’s on YouTube and worth seeing.
Donna Washburn also sang backup alongside Linda Ronstadt before Linda hit it big and was a member of the Gene Clark and Doug Dillard band for a time.
She was notably shy, avoiding the camera so to see her here on Midnight Special is exceptional.
Another one of those who shoulda/coulda been a star.