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.

Chevy Chase joins Mark to discuss his Johnny appearances and the monthly poker game. Comedy writer Tom Leopold joins in as he and Chevy discuss…

Julie Budd joins Mark to discuss her Johnny Carson appearances, Johnny attending her Tonight Show rehearsals, her friendship with Liberace, and opening up for Frank Sinatra.

Teri Garr joins Mark for a mini-episode to discuss Johnny phoning her after slipping on stage during The Oscars, meeting David Letterman in Indiana when…

Dr. Paul Ehrlich joins Mark to discuss his 18 Johnny Carson appearances, having dinner with Johnny, and his first appearance resulting in The Tonight Show receiving 5000…

Marshall Brickman returns to discuss being Johnny’s head writer in NYC. Also Rick Traum, commercial producer for The Tonight Show in NYC, joins Mark to…

Kelly Monteith joins Mark to discuss his 30 plus appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Gabe Kaplan, and David Letterman.

Melissa Manchester joins Mark to discuss her Johnny appearances, working with Bette Midler, Bob Hope, and hosting The Muppet Show.

Cybill Shepherd joins Mark to discuss her Johnny appearances, winning a $100 bet from David Letterman, meeting Charlie Chaplin, and getting talk show guest advice…

Monti Rock III joins Mark to discuss his 30 plus Tonight Show appearances, his friendship with Carson talent coordinator Shirley Wood, and his role in Saturday Night Fever.

Rick Saphire joins Mark to discuss meeting Johnny over at Who Do You Trust?, Johnny’s difficulties performing in the Catskills, appearing on the Tonight Show…

Marsha Mason joins Mark to discuss her Johnny appearances, going on the show with her then husband Neil Simon, and starring in Mike Nichols’ unreleased…

Howard Papush returns to discuss working as a talent coordinator on The Tonight Show, his idea to book Carl Sagan, meeting an unknown Bette Midler,…

Rich Little returns to discuss Johnny Carson, guest hosting 31 times, Fred de Cordova, and the chaos involving Dick Shawn wrecking The Tonight Show set.

Kate Capshaw joins Mark to discuss her Johnny appearances, her parents seeing Johnny’s show in NY, and her acting career including Indiana Jones and The…

Peter Lassally joins Mark to discuss producing Johnny Carson, his challenge of getting David Letterman an 11:30pm show, and the reason Johnny didn’t care for Andy…

Mark Harmon joins Mark to discuss his Johnny appearances, his father and Johnny knowing each other, Carl Reiner directing him in Summer School, appearing on…

Patric Verrone joins Mark to discuss writing for The Tonight Show, the writers meetings at Johnny’s Malibu home, and the chronological order of the Carson writers from…

Howie Mandel joins Mark to discuss his Johnny appearances, Joan Rivers giving him his Tonight Show break, the appearance that caused him never to be booked again…

Comedian Michael Preminger joins Mark to discuss his Johnny appearances, working as a NBC page, and the difficulties of doing audience warmup on Pink Lady…

Arnie Kogen joins Mark to discuss writing for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, his friendship with Pat McCormick, and writing for The Carol Burnett…

J.J. McMahon joins Mark to discuss being president of Carson Productions, his friendship with Johnny, and going back to Nebraska for the filming of Johnny…

Denise Soulam joins Mark to discuss working on The Tonight Show, working with guest host George Carlin, interviewing Fred de Cordova for her college radio…

Sandy Hackett joins Mark to discuss his father Buddy Hackett’s Johnny appearances, Sandy appearing on The Tonight Show as a teenager alongside his father and…

Paul Reiser joins Mark to discuss his Johnny appearances and his new Hulu series set at The Tonight Show in 1972, “There’s Johnny”.

Trini Lopez joins Mark to discuss his 17 Johnny appearances, his awkward encounter with Carson at Chasen’s, and his friendships with Elvis Presley and Frank…