The Carson Podcast

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.

Bill Scheft joins Mark to discuss Freddie Prinze’s Carson debut, writing for David Letterman, and his relationship with Jay Leno.

Barry Diller and former Carson staff member, Rachel Travers, join Mark. Diller discusses playing in the famous monthly poker game with Johnny as well as…

Charlie Barrett joins Mark to discuss working as The Tonight Show publicist, the most visibly nervous guests, why Carl Sagan stopped doing the show, and…

Wolfgang Puck and actor Seth Green join Mark. Puck discusses how Johnny was directly responsible for his line of frozen pizzas and catering at his…

Gary Murphy joins Mark to discuss writing for Johnny Carson, originating the idea for the “Who’s on First?” parody with Johnny as Ronald Reagan, and…

Robert Morton joins Mark to discuss knowing Johnny, producing Carson’s 1985 appearance on Late Night with David Letterman, and executive producing Letterman.

Elliott Gould joins Mark to discuss his Johnny appearances, hosting SNL, and working with Robert Altman.

Liz Torres joins Mark to discuss her Johnny appearances, guest host Burt Reynolds, going on a date with Pat McCormick, and becoming friends with an…

Ramey Warren joins Mark to discuss working on The Tonight Show in the talent department, Fred de Cordova, Shirley Wood, and the reason Richard Dawson was never…

Connie Francis joins Mark to discuss Johnny Carson’s appearance in her movie, Looking for Love, saving Don Rickles from harm in Las Vegas, her father…

Uri Geller joins Mark to discuss his famous 1973 Johnny Carson appearance, Merv Griffin calling him the following day, and running into Johnny years later.

Marilyn Michaels discusses her Johnny appearances, working with Jerry Lewis, The Kopy Kats, and performing on Ed Sullivan.