Leslie Gates
Leslie Gates joins Mark to discuss working on The Tonight Show, Fred de Cordova, Bobby Quinn, and the Tonight Show control room.

Leslie Gates joins Mark to discuss working on The Tonight Show, Fred de Cordova, Bobby Quinn, and the Tonight Show control room.
Dyan Cannon joins Mark to discuss her Carson appearances, Johnny playing drums at parties at her Malibu home, and Johnny being there for her during…
Jon Hookstratten joins Mark to discuss doing work for Carson Productions, his famous father Ed Hookstratten being Johnny’s lawyer, and his father’s clients such as…
Janet Galea joins Mark to discuss working on The Tonight Show, the offices after Jack Benny’s passing, attending Doc’s wedding, and working with Paul Lynde…
Paul Block returns to join Mark to discuss working as a Tonight Show talent coordinator, Dick Shawn’s infamous 1974 appearance when Rich Little hosted, and…
Harry Thomason joins Mark to discuss Bill Clinton’s 1988 Johnny appearance, why Fred de Cordova initially wouldn’t book Clinton, and working with Burt Reynolds.
Bill Scheft returns to join Mark to discuss Johnny Carson and David Letterman. Author Scott Ryan then talks about his book, The Last Days of…
Elliot Manakides joins Mark to discuss being Johnny’s driver in NY, traveling with Carson to Las Vegas, Judy Garland, and the reason he stopped working…
Peter Isacksen joins Mark to discuss his Johnny appearance, working with Don Rickles on C.P.O. Sharkey, and his friendship with Pat McCormick.
Pam Alexander joins Mark to discuss working on The Tonight Show as a receptionist, assisting in the talent department, and being Johnny’s personal assistant.
Bobby Goldsboro joins Mark to discuss his 24 Tonight Show appearances, Ed McMahon opening up for him in Las Vegas, and his friendship with Burt…
Richard Chesterfield joins Mark to discuss Johnny frequenting his Malibu restaurant and Carson showing up with Frank Sinatra. Publicist Howard Bragman discusses representing Doc Severinsen…
Doc Severinsen joins Mark to discuss Johnny, working as Tonight Show bandleader, filling in for Ed McMahon, and the origins of his flashy outfits.
Charles Fox joins Mark to discuss writing music for The Tonight Show and his legendary TV themes. Vanna White discusses her Johnny appearances, Dick Carson, and Merv…
Angie Dickinson joins Mark to discuss her Johnny appearances, Frank Sinatra guest hosting The Tonight Show, her friendship with Charles Nelson Reilly, and first meeting…
Perry Massey joins Mark to discuss working on The Tonight Show as commercial producer in New York, his first encounter with Johnny, and Jack Paar…
Claudia McMahon joins Mark to discuss her father Ed McMahon, Johnny staying at their place in Philadelphia, and her visits to The Tonight Show.
Barbra Shotel joins Mark to discuss working as a Carson talent coordinator, booking tennis players such as Martina Navratilova, Network actor Peter Finich appearing with…
Justine Bateman joins Mark to discuss her Johnny appearance, hosting SNL, and her new book Fame: The Hyjacking of Reality. Former Carson talent coordinator Pat…
Ginny Beauregard joins Mark to discuss working as Johnny Carson’s assistant in NY, her nearly forty year friendship with Johnny, and being backstage for Johnny’s…
Neil Patrick Harris joins Mark to discuss his Johnny appearance, spending Thanksgiving with Burt Reynolds, and Steve Martin’s The Great Flydini.
Kelly Lange joins Mark to discuss Johnny on air granting Orson Welles’ wish to meet her, interviewing Carson, Doc Severinsen playing trumpet at her dog’s…
Betty Wesley joins Mark to discuss working on The Tonight Show in NY as assistant to director Dick Carson. Dennis Roof then discusses his job…
Bob Bain tribute episode (1924-2018). Bob Bain joined Mark before his passing to discuss being the guitarist in The Tonight Show band, his friendship with…
Donna Schwartz Mills joins Mark to discuss being a writers assistant on The Tonight Show, Johnny’s reaction to Buddy Rich passing away, and Ellen DeGeneres’…
Don Ashworth joins Mark to discuss playing in The Tonight Show band for Johnny’s entire run, the first 15 minutes of the program in NY with Ed…
Billie Freebairn-Smith joins Mark to discuss working as Fred de Cordova’s assistant, The Tonight Show staff, and having lunch with Johnny post-Tonight Show.
Marcy Carsey joins Mark to discuss working on The Tonight Show, Carson producer John Carsey, talent coordinator Shirley Wood, and the amazing persistence that got…
Bill Scheft returns to discuss Johnny sending in jokes to Letterman, talking to Johnny about writer Nick Arnold, and the backstory of Bill Hicks’ 1993…
Anita Gillette joins Mark to discuss her Johnny appearances, Ethel Merman saving her job on Broadway, and appearing on Ed Sullivan.