The Carson Podcast - Podcast Rankings and reviews

Mark is a member of Generation X, but possesses a passion for show business and the entertainment industry of generations past. An earnest and enthusiastic interviewer, Mark walks into interviews having done his homework (often to the shock and surprise of his guests). The comics have similar stories about auditioning for Jim McCauley and their first shot on Carson, yet I never get tired of hearing them. I became a fan of Peter LaSalley years ago when he appeared on Letterman’s Carson tribute and cheered when I saw Mark had interviewed him. It’s interviews like this and the ones with many staff and crew members that provide the real peek behind the multi-colored curtain into the world of not only Johnny Carson, but nearly every talk show-late night or otherwise-and the television industry in general. I now can watch a classic Carson interview and recognize half the names in the credits. A labor of love for Mark and a real treat for those of us that enjoy the “inside baseball” aspects of show business.

I grew up watching Johnny Carson with my dad. The American Masters episode on PBS made me sentimentally teary-eyed both times I watched it.

To have Mark - who is well on his way to becoming a recognizable name in his own right - go back and examine many of the elements of the show and the man with so many disparate viewpoints is just a delicious treat. I’ve listened to most of them at this point, and still can’t get enough.

Excellent research, great questions and a genuine likability make many of the interviewees melt and let down their guards, making this a warm and intimate inside view of an American institution.

Wow, I stumbled across this podcast when Dana Carvey was on. I was not a huge fan of Carson when he was on, my most vivid memory was trying to sleep while my college room mate religiously watched. But after listening to the one podcast, I am hooked. I am not sure I have come across a podcaster more prepared and informed that Mark. The depth of his research is astounding. I have found myself going back and looking at the broadcasts. I also love how light and joyful the Podcast is with all the guests. Thank you Mark

I just missed the Carson era. I was seven when he had his last show. I vaguely remember the buzz around the event but was too young to understand what was going on. My parents would talk about Johnny Carson’s show with fondness and glee, like they were talking about a relative. Though I had never consciously watched him, his legend loomed large. Later, I would stay up late to watch the infomercials about his show on VHS and DVD. His style, his wit, his charm, it was a version of show business long gone that I wanted to experience. I actually got depressed that I missed it. I’ve read every Carson book and loved the PBS Doc. So when I found this podcast, it was like a dream come true. I finally got a small taste of what I was too young to experience, what it was like when Johnny Carson was the king of late night. Mark is a great host and interviewer and his guests are a who’s who of show business now and then with incredible stories about Johnny, the show, and their careers. If your an old Hollywood nerd like me, you’ll like this podcast.