Mark Malkoff

The Carson Podcast

Comedy EN ↓ 394 episodes

Host 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.

Author

Mark Malkoff

Episodes

Melanie Workhoven 31.10.2025 27:36

Melanie Workhoven joins Mark to discuss her father, Merrill Workhoven’s longtime friendship with Johnny and knowing Johnny since his Omaha radio days at WOW.

Love Johnny Carson by Mark Malkoff comes out today! 21.10.2025 55:28

Mark’s new book Love Johnny Carson comes out today! His co-writer David Ritz joins Mark to discuss writing the book being published by Dutton Books.

Johnny Carson Book Announcement! 14.08.2025 1:02

Mark is excited to announce his upcoming book LOVE JOHNNY CARSON! It comes out October 21st and being published by Dutton Books. Please preorder here.

Robert Smigel and Dana Carvey 01.09.2022 1:10:10

Robert Smigel and Dana Carvey discuss their Carson sketches on Saturday Night Live, Carvey’s 5 Johnny appearances, and their thoughts on Carson’s 30-year run.

James Comisar 07.07.2022 2:19:22

TV Curator, James Comisar, discusses Carson personally giving him the famous Carnac turban, how he got Carson’s full Tonight Show set, & the amazing TV…

Gabe Kaplan 16.06.2022 2:20:13

Gabe Kaplan discusses his 40 appearances on Carson’s Tonight Show, 18 times guest hosting the Tonight Show, how going on Carson led to Welcome Back…

Barry Gibb 09.06.2022 58:42

Barry Gibb discusses Carson, Bee Gees, brother Andy, Streisand, McCartney, Dolly, Letterman, Leno, Hope, Burns, & being knighted by Prince Charles.

Tina Sinatra 02.06.2022 55:08

Tina Sinatra discusses Johnny Carson, her famous father, Don Rickles, Sammy Davis Jr, Suzanne Pleshette, David Janssen, and Dean Martin.

Richard Lewis 26.05.2022 1:23:13

Richard Lewis discusses his Carson appearances, nearly getting banned, an awkward airplane flight involving Carson, going on Letterman’s NBC show, David Brenner’s advice & Larry…

Carol Burnett 19.05.2022 40:25

Carol Burnett returns to discuss Johnny Carson, working with Carson on The Garry Moore Show, the Carson appearance discussing her daughter’s substance abuse issue, Carol Wayne, & Jimmy…

Jan Schwarz 12.05.2022 1:16:38

Jan Schwarz discusses her 15 years at the Tonight Show, her Carson interactions, working with Bobby Quinn, Carson’s loyalty, the issues with sketch rehearsals, &…

Roger Cortes 05.05.2022 46:19

Roger Cortes discusses working on The Tonight Show, the famous Malibu Restaurant sketch with Betty White, Tony Bennett, Linda Ronstadt, Alan King, Shelley Winters, Fred…

Baxter Black 28.04.2022 1:21:58

Cowboy poet, Baxter Black, discusses his Carson appearances reading cowboy poetry, why it took years to get booked on Carson, turning down Johnny’s request to…

Franklyn Ajaye 21.04.2022 1:30:47

Franklyn Ajaye discusses his Tonight Show appearances, Carson’s helpful advice, Why Make Me Laugh was more impactful than going on Carson, Richard Pryor, Freddie Prinze,…

Cathy Guisewite 14.04.2022 30:59

Cathy Guisewite discusses her Carson appearances, Johnny being a fan of the “Cathy” comic strip, Carson visiting her before the show, being a guest during the…

Don Mischer 07.04.2022 27:15

Don Mischer discusses working with Carson on the 1993 Kennedy Center Honors, Bob Hope’s 90th Birthday featuring Carson, asking Carson during retirement to host the Oscars and…

Rona Barrett 07.04.2022 1:26:43

Rona Barrett discusses going on Carson’s Tonight Show, working with Tom Snyder, Steve Lawrence, Mae West, Frank Sinatra, Cher, Eddie Fisher, Michael Landon, and much more.

Pete Hammond 31.03.2022 50:44

Pete Hammond discusses being an NBC Page, Johnny Carson, Ed McMahon, working at the Arsenio Hall Show, Lauren Bacall, Mel Brooks, & Bette Davis.

Carson Writers Round Table 3 24.03.2022 1:05:07

Carson Writers Round Table 3 with Tony DeSena, Andrew Nicholls, & Darrell Vickers discussing writing meetings at Carson’s home, Misery Bingo, buzz words to elicit laughs, & writing Carson’s famous long intro for Bill…

Ed Niles 17.03.2022 1:01:18

Architect Ed Niles discusses designing Carson’s Malibu home, working with Carson on the home, designing his tennis court, and some of Niles’ other Malibu house…

Saundra McClain 17.03.2022 26:26

Saundra McClain discusses working on Carson’s NY Tonight Show, her funny incident with Carson, Ed McMahon, Joanne Carson, Sidney Poitier, & Paul Newman.

Brian Ross 10.03.2022 51:34

Brian Ross discusses his NBC News 1980 investigative report on Wayne Newton and the mob, talking to Johnny Carson, Newton and Carson bidding on the Aladdin Hotel,…

Albert Fisher 03.03.2022 1:00:04

Albert Fisher discusses working with Carson & Ed McMahon, his 5 years at the Merv Griffin Show, Richard Pryor, Lucille Ball, 1962 NY World’s Fair, Carol Channing,…

Roger Owens 24.02.2022 1:04:30

Famed Dodgers peanut vendor, Roger Owens, discusses how his 1976 Carson appearance changed his life, teaching Carson how to throw peanut bags, Mel Brooks casting him in…

Carson Writers Round Table Returns 17.02.2022 1:10:26

Carson Writers Round Table returns with Darrell Vickers, Tony DeSena, & Andrew Nicholls discussing writing for Carson, their favorite sketches, joke topics that were off-limit, & why writing…