Inside Late Night: Mark Malkoff and David Ritz Discuss 'Love Johnny Carson'

When Mark Malkoff set out to find a co-author for his new book, Love Johnny Carson, one name was at the top of his list: David Ritz. This week, in a special episode of LateNighter’s Inside Late Night podcast, the in-demand Ritz—who’s written with Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson, Don Rickles, Paul Shaffer, and more—explains why Mark’s note sparked his interest, as the two discuss the making of their new book.

Ritz says what drew him in was the tone: curiosity and affection, not gossip. “You were doing it from a position of love,” he tells Mark. That approach shaped everything—the structure, the sourcing, even the rhythm. The goal wasn’t to expose Carson but to understand what made him tick, and why his work still makes people feel good decades later.

The conversation moves between process and personality. Ritz describes learning to “channel” another person’s voice—something he first mastered while writing with Ray Charles—and how he approached capturing Mark’s tone on the page. They talk about the trust it takes to collaborate, especially on a subject as layered as Johnny Carson, whose on-air charm and off-air privacy remain legendary.

As they revisit clips and memories, Ritz says he came away liking Carson even more than when he started. What stood out was Johnny’s generosity—the way he shared laughs with guests and never seemed to need the last word. “He projected love,” Ritz says. Whether he was interviewing the biggest stars or a potato chip collector, Carson made people comfortable enough to be funny, spontaneous, and real.

They also touch on Carson’s relentless drive—the four-TV setup in his apartment to monitor competitors—and his quiet perfectionism that fueled The Tonight Show’s three-decade run. Their book’s title, Love Johnny Carson, Ritz notes, wasn’t invented—it came straight from how people talked about him. “They all said the same thing,” he adds. “They loved him.”

It’s a warm, reflective conversation about writing, legacy, and the enduring pull of a performer who made the country feel a little lighter at the end of the day.

Click the embed at the top of this post to watch now, or find Inside Late Night with Mark Malkoff on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts.