The Carson Podcast

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.

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…

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,…

Bob Saget talks to Mark about his 13 appearances on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

The hilarious Jeff Altman talks to Mark performing his Johnny Carson impression at the Comedy Store in front of Johnny, his Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson appearances,…

Laugh-In producer George Schlatter talks to Mark about Johnny Carson appearing on Laugh-In, Johnny in retirement doing a topical monologue for friends, and Johnny’s Las Vegas…

Filmmaker Peter Jones talks to Mark about his PBS documentary ‘Johnny Carson: King of Late Night’, writing a letter every year to Johnny Carson, and his shock when…

Mel Brooks talks to Mark about being a guest on Johnny Carson’s first show in October 1962, trying to convince Johnny to appear in Blazing Saddles, and…

Orson Bean talks to Mark about his Johnny Carson appearances and being a guest on Jack Paar the night he famously walked off his show.

Carson writer Michael Barrie talks to Mark about the unusual way he got hired on the Tonight Show, the joke he wrote that got Johnny…

Regis Philbin talks to Mark about filming with Johnny on set during his final weeks, Joanna Carson being instrumental in him securing a rare…

Former Tonight Show producer Jeff Sotzing talks to Mark about working on the Tonight Show, having Johnny Carson as an uncle, and running Carson…

Magician Lance Burton joins Mark to discuss his dream of wanting to perform on Carson, his recording-setting 12 minute Carson debut, and why he feels Johnny changed…

Appearing as a guest with Johnny over 40 times, Carl Reiner joins Mark to discuss his favorite Carson moments, their famous poker game, and writing for Your Show…

Carson writer Andrew Nicholls talks to Mark about his weekly writing meetings with Johnny at his Malibu home, the first 12 weeks on the job writing 988 pages…

Dave Coulier talks to Mark about initially turning down the chance to do standup on the Tonight Show, finally making his Carson debut, and being backstage for…

Memory expert Harry Lorayne discusses his twenty plus Carson appearances, Jack Paar originally not wanting him on his show, and the anxiety of having to remember the names…

Legendary late night talk show producer Peter Lassally discusses his 23 years producing The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, his tenure as Executive Producer on The Late…

Kevin Nealon joins Mark to discuss his dream of doing standup on Carson, sitting in the Tonight Show studio audience as a fan, and…

Florence Henderson talks to Mark about singing at Tiny Tim’s wedding, being the Tonight Show’s first female guest host, and the ingredients for being a good talk…

Everybody Loves Raymond creator Phil Rosenthal joins Mark to talk about Johnny wanting to meet him after directing President Clinton in a video for the…

Writer Tony DeSena talks to Mark about how Johnny Carson personally called to offer him a job, the differences between writing for Carson and…

Impressionist Rich Little joins Mark to discuss his Carson appearances, why he thinks the Tonight Show stopped booking him, and guest hosting the night Dick…

The Simpsons Executive Producer Al Jean talks to Mark about his stint writing for Carson, why Johnny hated doing Carnac the Magnificent, and Johnny’s 1993…

Comedian Mark Schiff talks about initially being told he wasn’t right for the Tonight Show, his numerous Carson appearances, and why he feels Rodney Dangerfield…

Comedy legend Carol Burnett talks to Mark about first meeting Johnny Carson pre-Tonight Show, her favorite Carson appearances, and Johnny finding comfort watching The Carol…

Bob Einstein sits down with Mark to discuss his numerous appearances going on Carson as Super Dave Osborne, Jay Leno’s manager being irate over one of his…

Dick Cavett talks to Mark about the transition from writing for Jack Paar to Johnny Carson, meeting Johnny for the first time as a child in a…

Marshall Brickman talks to Mark about being Johnny Carson’s head writer, being promoted to head writer because no other writer wanted the job, and inventing…

Byron Allen talks to Mark about making his stand-up debut on Carson at 18 years-old, sitting as a teenager at Johnny’s desk in an empty…

Martin Mull talks about his memorable Carson appearances, the terror of guest hosting the Tonight Show, and Johnny’s thoughts on Fernwood 2 Night.

Actress Teresa Ganzel performed sketches with Johnny Carson for a decade as a member of the Mighty Carson Art Players. Teresa talks about performing classic sketches with…

In his first ever podcast interview actor Charles Grodin discusses his memorable Carson appearances, his decision to go on in character as himself, and being…

Frequent Letterman guest Tom Dreesen speaks with Mark about how his Johnny Carson stand-up debut caused chaos backstage and how one appearance on the Tonight Show caused him to…

Comedian Steven Wright talks to Mark about his love for Carson growing up, his memorable Tonight Show stand-up debut in 1982, and how Johnny Carson changed his…