If there were an Olympic event for "Competitive Fan-girling," Mark Malkoff would be standing on the podium, wearing a 1970s necktie and weeping as the Tonight Show theme played. Because nobody loves Johnny Carson like Mark does. And I mean nobody.

His book is called Love Johnny Carson: One Obsessive Fan's Journey to Find the Genius Behind the Legend is the result of an eight-year deep dive that involved tracking down over 400 people who actually touched Carson's desk—or at least shared an elevator with him. In the book, Malkoff tackles the burning questions that have kept him up at night for decades:

The Grudge Match: Why did Johnny stop talking to Joan Rivers? (Spoiler: It involves more than just a missed birthday card). The Banned List: Why were icons like William Shatner and Orson Welles effectively ghosted by the King of Late Night? The Carnac Conspiracy: Setting the record straight on the true—and slightly less mystical—origins of the Great Snarky One.

It's less of a standard biography and more of a 464-page love letter from a man who clearly has enough Carson trivia to power a small city. Whether you're a die-hard fan or just someone who wonders why your parents still do the "golf swing" gesture, Malkoff's journey is a hilarious reminder that some obsessions actually pay off in hardcover. Happily, I enjoyed my interview with him as much as I enjoyed reading his book - which I heartily recommend.