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🔥New Johnny Carson book revisits Marlon Brando and Zsa Zsa Gabor's fiery clash on 'Tonight Show'
Marlon Brando and Zsa Zsa Gabor's explosive confrontation on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson in 1963 revealed in new book "Love Johnny Carson." read full news
The incident required the direct intervention of the iconic Rat Pack singer.
Talking with Mark Malkoff
One of the cool things I get to do on this blog is talk to people I find interesting. But it's even more enjoyable when that interesting person is an old friend I am getting a chance to reconnect with. Comedian / podcaster Mark Malkoff is known for quite a few things - viral stunts like going to 171 Starbucks in NYC in one day, his podcast The Carson Podcast about Johnny Carson, and his many appearances in late night TV documentaries. Now he is applying his expertise on late night TV legend Johnny Carson into a new book Love John Carson which hit stores this past week. I became friends with Mr. Malkoff when we worked together in the early 00s. Of all the interviews I've done over the years, this one was among my favorites because not only did I catch up with an old friend but we were able to match each other in pop culture knowledge and SNL obsessions! I recently caught up with Mr. Malkoff via zoom. NOTE: This interview was abridged from our longer chat.
book cover
Me: So Mark, you and I worked together on Hope and Faith's first season in 2003-04. I was in the art department and you were the audience coordinator. Even back then you were forward thinking because pre-YouTube you were making these "You Gotta See This" endeavors at the time like Lil' GNR.
MM: Wow - you have a good memory! Yeah, we did Lil' GNR, which was this Guns N' Roses kids cover band we did and played CBGB's Gallery and I'll never forget that Rolling Stone, Spin, everyone showed up. I had no idea, all these people showing up and giving us press. So believe it or not, I would make these videos like Lil' GNR that would be on YouTube now, but I would host and show them in a Blackbox Theater.
Me: So since that time, you have done so many cool things in online videos like going to 171 Starbucks in 24 hours, living in an Ikea store for a week, and racing a NYC bus with your big wheel just to name a few.
MM: It's always a curiosity, like me wondering could you go to 171 Starbucks stores in 24 hours and consume something. It's all curiosity of what would happen? Could a child's big wheel beat a NYC bus in a one-mile race? Turns out I beat it by two minutes! So I was able to make my living for a while doing those comedy videos, doing them with sponsors. People ask me all the time what my favorite project was and I always say going to the Netherlands for Mark Malkoff's 101 Other Things To Do In Holland. It was just a good time!
author photo of Mark Malkoff
Me: Has there been any stunts you haven't done that you'd like to do?
MM: I always have ones I wanna do it's just they're really hard to pull off. I'll give you one, and this is just how my mind thinks: I had a genuine fear of flying in airplanes, which I know is irrational - flying in commercial airplanes is like the safest mode of transportation apparently. I wanted to live on a commercial plane for a month and not get off the plane to force myself to fly over and over and get used to it. I ended up doing it and an airline came to me with the same idea, like "why don't we get the guy who lived in Ikea to live in our plane for a week" and I said "no it has to be a month". They wanted a month but thought it was too much to ask. So yeah, I set a Guinness World Record until about two years ago and I did get over my fear. [Mark on AirTran video]
Now it's a little more difficult because there's a billion videos on YouTube. It was a little bit easier at the time when I got started. I've kind of pivoted, but I'd like to go back and do something someday.
Tom Brokaw and Conan O'Brien in Feb. 1995 during the show I attended (read my remembrance here)
Me: So in addition to all of the viral videos, you are a quite an expert on late night television. You hosted The Carson Podcast about Johnny Carson from 2014 to 2022. Currently you have the Inside Late Night podcast about a number of late night TV veterans. You've even appeared in a number of documentaries commenting on late night TV history. You've managed to share your passion about late night TV, but tell me about your early interest in late night TV?
MM: I was always into comedy since I was like five years-old. My dad would show me a lot of classics. People like Jonathan Winters, Buddy Hackett, Rodney Dangerfield, all the comics and then I got into Carson and then got into [David] Letterman when I was a teenager. I would drive two-and-a-half hours to New York to see Letterman at NBC. I was sixteen. I would camp out for Saturday Night Live. I still have letters, I was pen pals with some of the SNL cast. You can see behind me a picture of me with [Adam] Sandler [he motions to a framed picture behind him]. That's us a long time ago. We used to write letters to each other, he'd call me on the phone and then he brought me up to the set. That was long before he was doing movies, he was just on the show early on. I was just always into late night. I worked at Late Show with David Letterman for a little while, I was there for eleven months and fifteen days, but who's counting! [laughs] and I was at Colbert Report. But I've always had a fascination with SNL and all of those shows. And Johnny Carson was just such an icon and I always had all of these questions about what went on behind the scenes. All these icons said yes to me to talk to me about Carson. Their assistants would be like "they're excited to talk to you" and then I'd find out they'd tell me they'd done a thousand interviews but no one's ever asked them about Johnny Carson. So it's just spiraled into this thing, I couldn't believe it.
I remember going to Late Night with Conan O'Brien when he first started in Sept. 1993. This is going to be really hard for young people to fathom, but they couldn't fill the audience. They didn't have enough people to want to see Conan, people didn't know who he was - but there would be empty seats in this small studio audience. So I ended up going and that's where I met Robert Smigel when I was seventeen. He's been a guest on my podcast and we've talked about meeting. He could not believe that somebody liked the show. He would get me VIP tickets. He'd ask my opinion what I liked, what I didn't like on the show. A couple months later, he confessed that he passed my notes onto Conan - and Smigel backs all of this. So that was interesting to be there in the early days of Conan and now to see what he's become.
Doc Severinsen, Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon during The Tonight Show's rein
Me: So with Johnny Carson, he signed off as host of The Tonight Show in 1992. Had you been watching him, or were you watching more with the advent of DVD and streaming of old shows?
MM: Sort of both. When I was a teenager, I think that was the point he was only doing three nights a week. But when he started in New York in 6B, where Jimmy Fallon is now, he was doing an hour and forty-five minutes each night. Then it went to ninety minutes and then sixty minutes. So I watched the show when he was on, I'd see reruns and watch the anniversary specials with the clip shows. So I got into Carson, I read all the books - and then he leaves and it was this giant mystery of what went on with him and the show. All these people who were not famous had said they owed their careers to him. Definitely the New York years from '62 to '72, which was almost all erased - I had a lot of questions. So I was into the show, but definitely with YouTube, DVDs and people trading stuff, my curiosity only grew from that.
Me: So with this book Love Johnny Carson, did this come about from doing the podcast and having all of these stories or did it happen naturally over time after the podcast?
MM: Everyone was like "You gotta do a book" and I didn't want to do a book, because I get overwhelmed. I am the posterboy for ADHD and a book overwhelms me. But everyone kept saying yes to me and I had all these stories that were too good and I go "ok, this is a book, I've done this for eight years, so much research" and back then, Eric, the way we're talking now you couldn't record over Zoom like this and have it sound good. I was going to Los Angeles and doing like three of those a day. Basically I was getting paid for my trips to L.A. I was able to make some good money, people were supportive on Patreon, we did some GoFundMe's. So I just had so much after eight years, I just needed someone who had been through the routine of doing the books, an author who has done to talk me through a little bit. There's where I just cold-emailed six people. I had done it as an oral history and every publisher said they did not want it. The older generation that like Johnny Carson does not buy oral histories. So I was like, I'm going to try this as my last attempt. I hit it off with David Ritz, we didn't know each other but he was so intrigued. We just started talking and we were able to get a book deal. He's amazing, such a good guy!
Me: So the book is being released on October 21. That week would have been Johnny Carson's 100th birthday.
MM: Yes, the 23rd!
Me: Was that intentional or coincidental?
MM: It was a coincidence. When I signed the contract I think they originally gave me like eighteen months and I'm like [nervous laughter], I just told them I needed more time and they were so patient. I think the contract was originally for 80,000 words and I said "I need more". I think it's like 100,000 words, 400 pages. They were wonderful the publisher for letting me do my thing and I'm grateful for it. But it was one of those things of thinking how am I going to get through this and do this?
Phil Hartman, Chris Rock and Dana Carvey in the 1990 SNL parody
Me: You had Dana Carvey on your podcast recently. That ties into SNL, where he played Johnny Carson and there was a controversial sketch where Carson thought SNL went too far.
MM: Yes, in October 1990, Patrick Swayze hosted and they did a sketch with Chris Rock as Arsenio Hall and Johnny was really upset. He was upset for a bunch of reasons, but the real reason was a Lorne Michaels suggestions that Susan Dey played by Jan Hooks is on the show and instead of asking about L.A. Law he just kept asking about The Partridge Family, which hadn't been on in forever and he came off as out of touch. He didn't like the sketch. And Robert Smigel told me it's one of his big regrets that Johnny got upset. Later, they did a Carsenio sketch where Johnny was kind of dressed like Arsenio Hall. Five days later, Johnny announced his retirement. They portrayed him as dated, a little senile and he was just like "I don't need this" and it definitely contributed to his decision to leave.
But yeah, talking to Carvey was amazing! I knew he was someone who never would have done the podcast in a million years if Smigel hadn't given him a nudge to do it. But it was really nice that he did it. Dana was into it and Smigel told me he had a really good time.
Me: In writing this book was there something big that you learned about Johnny Carson in the process of writing?
MM: I think in the people I talked to in writing this book it was the theme of his generosity and the people who knew him and were friends with him off-camera would say he was the same Johnny you would see on the show on and off. By his own admission, he was a bad drunk, when he drank he would say he would become Attila the Hun. His moniker was cold and aloof, which he would make fun of with the media. He was a really shy person but when he was with the people he felt comfortable with he was always the same. They tried to put Greta Garbo and J.D. Salinger in the same sentence with Carson in his retirement, but the truth was he retired from The Tonight Show in '92 but for two solid years he's going on The Simpsons, he does Bob Hope's 90th birthday special, he does the American Teacher Awards, he did a live cameo on Letterman, but then he would just go and have these lunches with his writers or on his yacht. But from this book, there's so many nice things he did under the table and just this other guy than the other Carson books that depicted him as cold and aloof with no friends.
I talked to someone recently and they asked me "is it pro-Johnny or anti-Johnny?" and I said I want the truth. But the truth that I told was overwhelmingly positive. I don't want to write a puff piece, there are flaws in there - a lot of them he acknowledged. Nobody's perfect, but I feel this is a good balance in terms of his struggles and those thirty years he was on television.
Me: It's interesting us talking about late night TV right now with the late night landscape of what's happened with Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert. What do you think Carson - if he was on TV right now - would be thinking about 2025 America?
MM: That's tough. I think he'd be doing the same show he always did. He made fun of the politicians but never took a side. He upset numerous presidential administrations. Nancy Reagan called him upset, Gerald Ford had a love / hate with Carson, Jimmy Carter's mom called him a word I'm not going to say in this interview. But yeah, I think Carson would be fine with doing the show he was doing. He made jokes about every president. He made jokes about Trump before he was in elected office. Carson even lived in Trump Tower at one point.
Me: After this book, could there be another book? A book about David Letterman perhaps?
MM: Oh my goodness! Holy panic! I think if I was to do a book, it'd maybe be a memoir about me and going to SNL when I was young and being pen pals with people on the show. I was like a fly on the wall, I was backstage for Will Ferrell's first show, and then I'd be back on Monday at Hershey, Pennsylvania in homeroom. I think that would be interesting. In terms of doing a research heavy book, I definitely feel like SNL does not have a definitive book. I feel like there still needs to be something. I've covered so many stories on Inside Late Night podcast, talked to so many SNLers and I know that haven't been told, so maybe something like that, but we'll see what happens.
Carson looking cool circa early 70s
Me: Carson's influence is immense through comedy, TV, and pop culture. What do you think made him so unique and special that still holds up today?
MM: In terms of all of his liabilities, I think it's just this guy from the Midwest. If you wanted to play to the masses you had to be able to play to the big cities and play to the Midwest. He had this skillset of talking to an A-list movie star and then talking to children or animals, he just made everyone feel comfortable. Even with what he was being paid, he was able to keep that shy guy from the Midwest intact. He was just so good at what he did. He was definitely a competitive guy, but his first rule was to make his guest look good, which some hosts don't do. People have told me it was way more important for the guest to look good and than get the laugh for Carson. I mean this is a guy who when he got the job at 36 had already put in time as a magician, going on other TV shows - he was more than ready. It's still a skillset to be able to do ninety minutes each night with interviews. He told Conan before he got the job "You have to be yourself. It's the guy behind the desk and you have to be yourself". I think when hosts have tried not to be themselves it's pretty evident. I think he was also very curious and I think that shined through. I don't think there was anything phony about him when he was on that show.
Me: Absolutely. I think today things are very different with every channel and cable all having late night TV options, but at the time him being one of the only games in town, he had to set the tone, be the best of the best and play the big top!
MM: Yeah! It was tough for him he had a bunch of years where Letterman was getting all of the accolades. At one point, I think in like '71, there were three shows competing against him. So he definitely had his competitors. But even the big late night shows on right now, they still ask guests about Carson - Fallon, Colbert. Just the fact that he's been off the air for thirty-three years and he still makes so much news. His official YouTube channel has over a million subscribers. I think people just miss the guy and a lot of his stuff still holds up. It's a real testament with comedy, it's very hard for comedy to be funny that many years later unless you're doing it right.
Me: We're talking about a month before the book's release, but I have to ask with your press tour will you actually be going on any of the late night shows to promote this book?
MM: As of now that is not in the cards and that's ok. I know the shows are aware of my book, but there's no plans. But that could change.
For info on Mark Malkoff
For info on Love Johnny Carson
(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMPsqmXk-ek)
Happy Birthday to Mark Malkoff! Celebrate by watching the 2018 Mr. Media interview with the host of “The Carson Podcast,” which is devoted to interviews with the people who knew, worked for, and appeared on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson”! (Conducted by Bob Andelman) MARK MALKOFF podcast excerpt: “I still have so many questions! People ask me if I’m running out of guests but I still have 200 people on my guest list. People like the big names, but the most emails I get are about the people behind the scenes at ‘The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,’ people that have never talked publicly about working on the show. They loved the man.” VIDEO: https://youtu.be/rMPsqmXk-ek AUDIO: https://mrmedia.com/2018/10/mark-malkoff-the-carson-podcast/ #TheCarsonPodcast #CarsonPodcast #MarkMalkoff #JohnnyCarson #TheTonightShowWithJohnnyCarson #EdMcMahon #DocSeverinson
Video podcast interview with podcaster Mark Malkoff, host of "The Carson Podcast," devoted to "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. (Sorry, Jay. Sorry, Jimmy.)
ALL NEW! Listen to my interview with Mark Malkoff, host of “The Carson Podcast,” which is devoted to interviewing the people who knew, worked for, and appeared on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson”! MARK MALKOFF podcast excerpt: “I still have so many questions! People ask me if I’m running out of guests but I still have 200 people on my guest list. People like the big names, but the most emails I get are about the people behind the scenes at ‘The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,’ people that have never talked publicly about working on the show. They loved the man.” https://mrmedia.com/2018/10/mark-malkoff-the-carson-podcast/ #TheCarsonPodcast #CarsonPodcast #MarkMalkoff #JohnnyCarson #TheTonightShowWithJohnnyCarson #EdMcMahon #DocSeverinson
(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMPsqmXk-ek)
One of my favorite podcasts this year is “The Carson Podcast,” hosted by Mark Malkoff. The show zeroes in on everything Johnny Carson, with Malkoff interviewing frequent guests on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,” as well as Johnny’s friends, employees and people that were influenced by him. It’s got a deep archive of interviews with people such as Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner, as well as comedians Bob Saget and Ritch Shydner. Check out my conversation with Malkoff and then look up his show! https://youtu.be/rMPsqmXk-ek #JohnnyCarson #TheTonightShowWithJohnnyCarson #CarsonPodcast #TheCarsonPodcast #MarkMalkoff #podcasthost #MelBrooks #RitchShydner #TheLateShow #DavidLetterman #comedians #BobSaget #CarlReiner #KateCapshaw
My first guest is Mark Malkoff, a comedian that hosts the Carson podcast. In that he talks all about Johnny Carson and the Tonight Show. He talks about the podcast, his videos, and how it never hurts to ask with some polite persistence.
Guys I am so proud of this project. Please subscribe on Apple podcast or wherever you listen. Or even download the anchor app. Casey Neistat also has a podcast on Anchor.
Credit Card Signatures Are About to Become Extinct in the U.S.
New on www.DailyBrian.com
http://bit.ly/2uYF84S
Credit Card Signatures Are About to Become Extinct in the U.S.
Target plans to eliminate them this month. Walmart considers signatures “worthless” and has already stopped recording them on most transactions, according to Randy Hargrove, a company spokesman. It will soon get rid of them completely. Mastercard said it has been wanting to make the......
