Author (along with David Ritz), Love Johnny Carson: One Obsessive Fan's Journey to Find the Genius Behind the Legend
Las Vegas wasn’t just a stop on Johnny Carson’s itinerary — it was his second home.
This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira sits down with Mark Malkoff, co-author (with David Ritz) of Love Johnny Carson: One Obsessive Fan’s Journey to Find the Genius Behind the Legend, for a fascinating deep dive into Carson’s unique and lasting bond with Las Vegas.
Drawing from hundreds of interviews and years of research, Mark reveals previously unknown stories about Carson’s life and career, including who persuaded Johnny to first perform in Las Vegas and why his debut at the Sahara was an instant sensation. Mark also explores how Carson’s relaxed, playful stage persona in Las Vegas differed from the carefully calibrated host audiences saw nightly on The Tonight Show.
The conversation uncovers Carson’s legendary friendship with Don Rickles, his love of discovering and championing new talent on Vegas stages, and the curiosity that fueled his creative life. Mark also shares how he teamed up with famed biographer David Ritz to bring this definitive portrait of Carson to life — and offers new details about Johnny’s earliest shows originating from New York.
For fans of classic Vegas, television history, and the entertainers who helped shape the city’s golden era, this episode offers a rare and intimate look at Johnny Carson away from the desk — and under the bright lights of Las Vegas.
ABOUT MARK:
Mark Malkoff is a comedian, filmmaker, and digital-age stunt storyteller whose work has been featured on the Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, NPR’s Weekend Edition, the BBC, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He first gained international attention for his viral web series Mark Lives in IKEA, which earned PR Week’s 2009 Campaign of the Year, followed by headline-making projects like visiting all 171 Manhattan Starbucks in 24 hours and setting a Guinness World Record by flying nonstop for a month to conquer his fear of flying.
Mark has partnered with major brands including Netflix, Skype, Ford, Microsoft, Disney, and IKEA to create inventive, boundary-pushing comedy videos, and most recently has worked with Edelman developing video concepts for their clients. He is also the host of The Carson Podcast, featuring legendary guests such as Mel Brooks, Carol Burnett, and Michael J. Fox, and lives in New York City with his wife, Christine.
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