Love Johnny Carson

One Obsessive Fan's Journey to Find the Genius Behind the Legend

By: Mark Malkoff, David Ritz

Narrated by: Mark Malkoff

A Vulture Best Comedy Book of 2025

A wildly entertaining book 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 light on the personality behind the legendary comedian and talk show host

Over the course of his thirty-year career hosting The Tonight Show, Johnny Carson appeared on some 4,500 broadcasts, interviewed over 25,000 guests, and solidified himself as a warm, witty, comforting presence to US audiences during turbulent times.

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. Read about 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.

In the end, Malkoff's book serves not only as a biography but also as a love letter; a love letter to show business, to personalities, and to the singular show-business legend of Johnny Carson.

A wonderful book for anyone who is Carson Curious.

Whether you're a huge Johnny Carson fan, or even curious about Johnny Carson, or just love good celebrity/entertainment stories, this is a great book to listen to. First of all, Mark Malkoff conducted something like 400+ extensive podcast interviews with everyone he could find associated with Johnny Carson, from people who had been on the show to people behind the scenes, from comedians to actors, from writers to stage managers to Carson's associates and assistants. The book does an amazing job on taking you behind the scenes into Johnny Carsons life and the Carson show, and even follows him into retirement. Mark reads the book, and his love and enthusiasm for Johnny Carson shines through. But despite his zeal for Carson, Mark doesn't whitewash anything and shares with you everything he learned in his plethora of interviews. It's amazing hearing what performers say about being a first time comic on the show, and perhaps being called over to the couch (or NOT!) or stories about the animal trainers on the show....or Johnny's wives, or his years hosting the Oscars, and on an on. It's the kind of audio book that.....when you arrive at your destination and you're playing this book in your car...you don't want to get out of your car but you want to keep listening and you literally sit in your car listening until you HAVE to play pause and come back to it later.

The sincerity of the author is love of Johnny

I thought before I listened to this book I would only mourn Johnny Carson twice. But this book brought him back to life for me, but in the end he is still gone and now for a third time morn him. But it does make me realize Johnny Carson is still better than anyone that is out there now. Thanking the author for lending me Carson for one last time .

Best written, most well rounded, and thoroughly researched book on Johnny Carson.

Best written, most well rounded, and thoroughly researched book on Johnny Carson. With 400 different people interviewed it is stuffed full of primary source information. As a person that works in the field of history it is something I've wanted for years.

I also recommend checking out the authors podcasts. It's great and the episode with Jim Fowler was particularly insightful.

An Intimate View Into Carson’s Soul

Anecdotes were never ending as specific stars and their interactions with Johnny Carson were shared. Don’t look at this book as Johnny’s life story. What you will revel in is literally 100’s of personal interactions that Johnny Carson had with his guests, close friends, and family. Loved every minute!

Malkoff Knows His Stuff

Passion flows out of this book. He’s done his research for the book and endless hours of research for hundreds of hours of interviews with people that worked on the show, were on the show, and so many people associated with the show. His love for Johnny pours out and he doesn’t shy away from the difficult topics either like Rivers, Bushkin, or Johnny’s drinking at times. A well rounded biography that any fan would love!