The Carson Podcast

The Carson Podcast

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.

Episodes

October 31, 2025 27 mins
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.
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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. 
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August 14, 2025 1 min
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.
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September 1, 2022 70 mins
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.
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July 7, 2022 139 mins
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…
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June 16, 2022 140 mins
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…
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June 9, 2022 58 mins
Barry Gibb discusses Carson, Bee Gees, brother Andy, Streisand, McCartney, Dolly, Letterman, Leno, Hope, Burns, & being knighted by Prince Charles.
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June 2, 2022 55 mins
Tina Sinatra discusses Johnny Carson, her famous father, Don Rickles, Sammy Davis Jr, Suzanne Pleshette, David Janssen, and Dean Martin.
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May 26, 2022 83 mins
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…
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May 19, 2022 40 mins
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…
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May 12, 2022 76 mins
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, &…
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May 5, 2022 46 mins
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…
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April 28, 2022 81 mins
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…
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April 21, 2022 90 mins
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,…
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April 14, 2022 30 mins
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…
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April 7, 2022 27 mins
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…
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April 7, 2022 86 mins
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.
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March 31, 2022 50 mins
Pete Hammond discusses being an NBC Page, Johnny Carson, Ed McMahon, working at the Arsenio Hall Show, Lauren Bacall, Mel Brooks, & Bette Davis.  
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March 24, 2022 65 mins
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…
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March 17, 2022 61 mins
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…
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