212: Mark Malkoff KNOWS Entertainment, Comedy, Late Night TV, Obsessive Behavior & Johnny Carson

Mark Malkoff is a comedian, writer, and podcast host. He has been featured on Today, Good Morning America, CNN, NPR's Weekend Edition, and for eight years hosted the popular podcast The Carson Podcast. His new book, "Love Johnny Carson," is a wildly entertaining account by one of the world's most obsessed and informed fans of TV icon Johnny Carson, setting the record straight on Carson's legacy and shining a light on the personality behind the legendary comedian and talk show host. Carson aficionado Mark Malkoff has amassed more Carson stories from original sources than anyone in entertainment history, speaking to over four hundred individuals, and now, in "Love Johnny Carson," he sets the record straight in this comprehensive portrait of Carson's life, career, legacy, and character. The book covers the debuts of stand-up comics like David Letterman and Ellen DeGeneres, the never-before-detailed reasons why Johnny stopped talking to Joan Rivers, why he banned guests like William Shatner and Orson Welles, the true origins of Carnac the Magnificent (it wasn't stolen from Steve Allen), the part Johnny played in getting Nixon elected president, the beloved comedian who the Carson writers dreaded guest-hosting, and many other behind-the-scenes stories of the funniest and most beloved Carson moments of all time. "ON THE KNOWS with Randall Kenneth Jones" is a podcast that features smart, funny, and heartfelt conversations with celebrities, innovators, and everyday heroes. The show is designed to entertain, enlighten, and offer listeners new insights into the world, others, and themselves. The podcast is hosted by Randall Kenneth Jones, a bestselling author, speaker, and creative communications consultant. The announcer is the celebrated voice actor Susan Bennett, widely known as the original voice of Siri. The podcast offers a unique spin on knowledge and education, emphasizing the importance of conversation, laughter, listening, and critical thinking. It is often described as an "antidote to today's anxiety-ridden media landscape." Podcast Highlights: • Based on Mark's new book, this episode is an introduction to Mark's outstanding behind-the-scenes look at Johnny Carson's 30 years as leader of The Tonight Show. • Randy introduces a new "game show" entitled "Does Wikipedia Lie?" to introduce Mark and the various comedy stunts he has pulled off with Starbucks, Ikea, Netflix, & AirTran. • Let the name-dropping begin (from both guest and host): David Letterman, Michael J. Fox, Stephen Colbert, Joan Embery, Tiny Tim, Tommy Newsome, Rodney Dangerfield, Merv Griffin, Joey Bishop, Steve Lawrence, Don Rickles, Buddy Hackett, Jennifer Tilly, William Shatner, Diane Carroll, Lola Falana, Redd Foxx, Diana Ross, Gwen Verdon, The Pope, Dick Cavett, Buddy Rich, Steve McQueen, Shirley Jones, Jimmy Stewart, Jack Webb, Jimmy Cagney, Kate Capshaw, Jerry Lewis, Richard Nixon, Joan Rivers, Martin Luther King, Jr., Sammy Davis, Jr., • Mark and Randy both share touching, personal anecdotes about Regis Philbin. • Mark credits Carson's Midwest roots and his "likability" as major contributors to his success. • Randy's take-away from the book: "Carson is a combination of ego, paranoia, compassion, and above all, loyalty." • Mark discusses Carson's pet peeves (being corrected, someone turning their back on him). • The pair discusses the impact of being young white kids and the benefit of being introduced to black entertainers via the show. • The pair discusses their definitions of "star quality." Mark talks about the power of someone's "aura," onstage and offstage. Randy tells his personal story about interviewing Chita Rivera and how she shaped his view of star quality. Best Quotes: 0xEBggrOrtgDYi1K1NqL • Mark Malkoff: "For thirty years, Carson would become the one man who could calm a nervous nation during those anxious moments between wakefulness and sleep." • Mark Malkoff: He could listen to the guest, anticipate what he wanted to ask next, and, at the same time, scroll through the joke Rolodex in his mind to find the right quip." • Mark Malkoff: "That was Carson's brilliance. He knew what the audience wanted." • Mark Simone: "When you were a little kid growing up, Carson taught you this is how to be an adult. This is how to have a personality. This is how to conduct yourself in life." ON THE KNOWS is produced and edited by Kevin Randall Jones. www.OnTheKnows.com Mark Malkoff: www.MarkMalkoff.com Randall Kenneth Jones: www.RandallKennethJones.com Susan Bennett: www.SusanCBennett.com Kevin Randall Jones: www.KevinRandallJones.com