The comedian, writer and podcast host Mark Malkoff discusses his new book Love Johnny Carson: One Obsessive Fan’s Journey to Find the Genius Behind the Legend (Dutton, 2025), with Joseph Planta.
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Love Johnny Carson: One Obsessive Fan’s Journey to Find the Genius Behind the Legend by Mark Malkoff with David Ritz (Dutton, 2025).
Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Love Johnny Carson |
Text of the introduction by Joseph Planta:
I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.
Back in 2014, Mark Malkoff, who joins me now, took his interest, even obsession with Johnny Carson and The Tonight Show to another level, by starting The Carson Podcast, that delved into nearly every aspect of the late night television legend and how Carson and the show remade television and popular culture. With outstanding guests,known and unknown, over the next eight years, Mark brought an insider’s view into how the show was made, and what Carson was really like. He remains over twenty years after his death one of the more fascinating figures in show business, who leaned into stereotypes in the press as to his personality. For somebody so visible in the public eye, he remains so interesting, and Mark has captured so much of Carson and his legacy in a new book, Love Johnny Carson: One Obsessive Fan’s Journey to Find the Genius Behind the Legend. It’s such a wonderful read, because if you’re a fan of Carson and his version of the Tonight Show, you get all the good stories about what made the show appointment television. And if you’re a fan of Mark’s podcast, it’s wonderful revisiting the stories of the colourful people, including those behind the scenes, who intersected with Carson’s. I’ve already gotten the book a couple of times as Christmas gifts for people I know, who still love Johnny Carson as much as Mark does. Mark Malkoff is a comedian, writer, and podcast host. He has been featured on Today, Good Morning America, CNN, NPR’s Weekend Edition, and more. He wrote the book with the noted writer David Ritz. Visit www.markmalkoff.com for more, and of course www.carsonpodcast.com for all the episodes of his show. This new book is published by Dutton. We spoke last week, with Mark joining me from New York City. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Mark Malkoff; Mr. Malkoff, good morning.
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