Posts

Larry Miller talks to Mark about the chaos backstage before his Johnny Carson debut. In addition he tells one of Johnny’s favorite all time jokes.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

Ray Combs Jr. discusses his late father Ray Combs’ debut on the Tonight Show, Johnny discovering him while doing audience warm up on the sitcom Amen, and the details of his tragic death.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

Yakov Smirnoff joins Mark to discuss Johnny calling him over to the couch following his Tonight Show debut, Johnny speaking Russian with him on the show, and performing with the Mighty Carson Art Players.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

Tonight Show talent coordinator/segment producer Paul Block joins Mark to discuss the difficulties of booking Alfred Hitchcock, why Billy Preston was a hit with the studio audience and not with the show, and Johnny’s pre-show backstage ritual.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

TV critic Tom Shales talks to Mark about visiting Johnny Carson at his Malibu home, Johnny’s reaction to Steve Allen thinking he ripped off Carnac the Magnificent, and his best selling book Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

Performer/writer Kelly Carlin, daughter of George Carlin, talks to Mark about her father’s appearances with Johnny Carson, Fred de Cordova allowing her to drive his golf cart around NBC Burbank, and her one-person show A Carlin Home Companion.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner talks to Mark about using Johnny Carson clips on Mad Men, comparisons between Johnny and Don Draper, and the impact Jon Hamm hosting SNL had on Mad Men.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

Fred Stoller talks to Mark about his 1989 Johnny Carson appearance, the challenges of writing for Seinfeld, and sitcom tales detailed in his book Maybe We’ll Have You Back.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

Marc Shaiman joins Mark to discuss Bette Midler’s Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson appearance on May 21, 1992, his idea for Bette to sing One For My Baby, and working with Jan Hooks and Nora Dunn on the Sweeney Sisters.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS

Dave Thomas talks to Mark about Johnny’s love of his Bob Hope impression, dreaming as a kid of appearing on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and the line during his Carson appearance that caused Johnny to fall behind his desk in laughter.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: RSS