The Carson Podcast

Robert Smigel and Dana Carvey discuss their Carson sketches on Saturday Night Live, Carvey’s 5 Johnny appearances, and their thoughts on Carson’s 30-year run.

TV Curator, James Comisar, discusses Carson personally giving him the famous Carnac turban, how he got Carson’s full Tonight Show set, & the amazing TV artifacts in his Comisar Collection.

Gabe Kaplan discusses his 40 appearances on Carson’s Tonight Show, 18 times guest hosting the Tonight Show, how going on Carson led to Welcome Back Kotter, Battle of the Network Stars and Robert Conrad, friendship with Howard Cosell, Bob Hope, & Groucho Marx.

Barry Gibb discusses Carson, Bee Gees, brother Andy, Streisand, McCartney, Dolly, Letterman, Leno, Hope, Burns, & being knighted by Prince Charles.

Tina Sinatra discusses Johnny Carson, her famous father, Don Rickles, Sammy Davis Jr, Suzanne Pleshette, David Janssen, and Dean Martin.

Richard Lewis discusses his Carson appearances, nearly getting banned, an awkward airplane flight involving Carson, going on Letterman’s NBC show, David Brenner’s advice & Larry David.

Carol Burnett returns to discuss Johnny Carson, working with Carson on The Garry Moore Show, the Carson appearance discussing her daughter’s substance abuse issue, Carol Wayne, & Jimmy Stewart.

Jan Schwarz discusses her 15 years at the Tonight Show, her Carson interactions, working with Bobby Quinn, Carson’s loyalty, the issues with sketch rehearsals, & Carson having her on the show on her final day working.

Roger Cortes discusses working on The Tonight Show, the famous Malibu Restaurant sketch with Betty White, Tony Bennett, Linda Ronstadt, Alan King, Shelley Winters, Fred de Cordova, & Joey Bishop.

Cowboy poet, Baxter Black, discusses his Carson appearances reading cowboy poetry, why it took years to get booked on Carson, turning down Johnny’s request to do the show more often, & crying when Carson passed away.