Drew Carey
Drew Carey joins Mark to discuss his Tonight Show standup debut, being called over to the couch by Johnny, and how his Carson debut changed his life.
Jul 30, 2015•37 min
The Carson Podcast
Mark Malkoff talks with guests about legendary talk show host Johnny Carson. Guests include stand-up comics who debuted on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, individuals that worked on the show, frequent guests, and top entertainers that were influenced by Carson.
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Episodes
David Sayh
Comedian David Sayh talks to Mark about Johnny Carson discovering him at Catch a Rising Star in New York, his Tonight Show debut, and the helpful advice David Brenner gave…
Jul 25, 2015•54 min
Victoria Jackson
Former SNL cast member Victoria Jackson talks to Mark about her 17 appearances with Johnny Carson, being discovered by the Tonight Show’s art director which led to her…
Jul 14, 2015•1 hr 26 min
Cathy Ladman
Cathy Ladman joins Mark to discuss her four Johnny Carson appearances, being backstage for Roseanne Barr’s Tonight Show debut, and knowing Jerry Seinfeld before he got into…
Jul 01, 2015•39 min
Eddie Brill
Comedian Eddie Brill talks to Mark about being the artistic director of the Great American Comedy Festival which honors the legacy of Johnny Carson, his 17 years working…
Jun 17, 2015•49 min
Louie Anderson
Comedian Louie Anderson talks to Mark about his standup debut on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, being devastated after being repeatedly rejected by the Tonight Show, and the way Eddie Murphy…
Jun 17, 2015•47 min
Irving Davis
Irving Davis joins Mark to discuss holding the famous curtain open for Johnny Carson for nearly twenty years, saving Johnny from a crazed fan charging the…
Apr 01, 2015•30 min
Larry Miller
Larry Miller talks to Mark about the chaos backstage before his Johnny Carson debut. In addition he tells one of Johnny’s favorite all time jokes.
Mar 18, 2015•47 min
Ray Combs Jr.
Ray Combs Jr. discusses his late father Ray Combs’ debut on the Tonight Show, Johnny discovering him while doing audience warm up on the sitcom Amen, and the details…
Mar 04, 2015•1 hr 7 min
Yakov Smirnoff
Yakov Smirnoff joins Mark to discuss Johnny calling him over to the couch following his Tonight Show debut, Johnny speaking Russian with him on the…
Feb 18, 2015•28 min
Paul Block
Tonight Show talent coordinator/segment producer Paul Block joins Mark to discuss the difficulties of booking Alfred Hitchcock, why Billy Preston was a hit with the…
Feb 11, 2015•1 hr 15 min
Tom Shales
TV critic Tom Shales talks to Mark about visiting Johnny Carson at his Malibu home, Johnny’s reaction to Steve Allen thinking he ripped off Carnac…
Feb 04, 2015•1 hr 18 min
Kelly Carlin
Performer/writer Kelly Carlin, daughter of George Carlin, talks to Mark about her father’s appearances with Johnny Carson, Fred de Cordova allowing her to drive his…
Jan 28, 2015•23 min
Matthew Weiner
Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner talks to Mark about using Johnny Carson clips on Mad Men, comparisons between Johnny and Don Draper, and the impact Jon Hamm hosting…
Jan 21, 2015•1 hr
Fred Stoller
Fred Stoller talks to Mark about his 1989 Johnny Carson appearance, the challenges of writing for Seinfeld, and sitcom tales detailed in his book Maybe We’ll Have…
Jan 14, 2015•1 hr 24 min
Marc Shaiman
Marc Shaiman joins Mark to discuss Bette Midler’s Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson appearance on May 21, 1992, his idea for Bette to sing One…
Jan 07, 2015•39 min
Dave Thomas
Dave Thomas talks to Mark about Johnny’s love of his Bob Hope impression, dreaming as a kid of appearing on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny…
Dec 19, 2014•1 hr
Calvin Trillin
Calvin Trillin talks to Mark about his twenty-five plus Johnny Carson appearances, the fear of being on the Tonight Show with Hulk Hogan, and writing for the…
Dec 12, 2014•49 min
Tom Wilson
Tom Wilson talks to Mark about playing the tuba on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, his limo breaking down on the way to his Tonight Show…
Dec 05, 2014•1 hr 20 min
James Randi
Magician and skeptic, James Randi, joins Mark to discuss Uri Geller’s infamous Tonight Show appearance, Johnny’s similar interest in debunking psychics and televangelists, and his…
Nov 28, 2014•50 min
George Wendt
George Wendt talks to Mark about Johnny Carson’s appearance on Cheers, hosting SNL directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and the Cheers cast being part of…
Nov 21, 2014•30 min
Jim Fowler
Renowned naturalist, Jim Fowler, talks to Mark about his Carson appearances, taking Johnny on a safari to Africa, and sneaking a water buffalo past NBC security.
Nov 14, 2014•1 hr 1 min
Paul Provenza
Paul Provenza talks to Mark about his standup debut on the Tonight Starring Johnny Carson, Johnny apologizing for not being able to call Paul over…
Nov 07, 2014•1 hr 4 min
Fred Silverman
Television legend, Fred Silverman, talks to Mark about his dealings with Johnny Carson while as NBC President, his decision to put David Letterman in daytime,…
Oct 31, 2014•1 hr 3 min
Bob Saget
Bob Saget talks to Mark about his 13 appearances on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
Oct 24, 2014•1 hr 14 min
Ed Ames
Ed Ames talks to Mark about his famous Tomahawk toss with Johnny in 1965, Johnny having him sing the same song on the Tonight Show…
Oct 15, 2014•25 min
The Amazing Kreskin
The Amazing Kreskin talks to Mark about his memorable Carson appearances, why Johnny banned Orson Welles from the Tonight Show, and how him tripping on…
Oct 08, 2014•38 min
Buck Henry
Buck Henry talks to Mark and Dan Pasternack about why he never prepared for his Johnny Carson appearances, hosting Saturday Night Live when John Belushi sliced his…
Oct 02, 2014•1 hr 21 min
Jeff Cesario
Comedian/writer Jeff Cesario talks to Mark about his eight Johnny Carson appearances, the lessons he learned from Garry Shandling while working as a writer on the Larry Sanders…
Sep 24, 2014•50 min
Robert Klein
Standup legend Robert Klein talks to Mark about his Johnny Carson debut, Rodney Dangerfield’s advice to him about going on Carson, and the pressures of guest hosting the…
Sep 17, 2014•1 hr 11 min
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