For anyone who has made the pilgrimage to 513 W. 54th Street since “The Colbert Report” began, one of your most memorable moments probably involved meeting Mark Malkoff, the audience coordinator for the show. Mark’s primary job was to make sure that the audience was pumped up and ready to live the Colbert experience, to become part of the show by being the loudest and most enthusiastic participants possible. Stories of his kindness and enthusiasm are legendary with the hard core Colbert fans.
But today is a very sad, and happy day, for those of us who have had the honor of meeting this wonderful man. For those of you who haven’t heard the news from Mark’s twitter feed, Mark has moved on from the show, and is concentrating on his personal creative projects.
I have to say upfront, Mark has made doing this blog an amazing experience. He’s been very helpful in so many ways that most of you haven’t seen, and for those moments I am so very grateful. He always treated the fans like people, and appreciated every chat, laugh, and conversation that he got to have with each one of us that he’s had the pleasure to meet. Mark understood that people made special trips just to see the show, from all over the country and even the world, and he did everything in his power to make the experience positive and memorable. He also understood how much the fans mean to Stephen, and he made sure that Stephen knew of this admiration from us.
Mark wanted to let everyone know that he is so very grateful for all of the amazing love that the Nation has shown to him over the past 3 1/2 years. His experiences with “The Colbert Report” have been the best in his career, and while he is very excited about this new step in his life, it’s also bittersweet in the fact that he will miss so many things about the show. And a huge part of that is missing the fans that made the show one of the best on television.
He’ll be updating his blog, MarkMalkoff.com, with all of his new projects, and I can promise you we here at No Fact Zone will continue to support Mark by letting you all know of his new and exciting adventures, which should be starting very soon.
It’s been a pleasure working with you, Mark, and we wish you the very best of luck in all that you do. I tried not to get all choked up, but I’m not doing a very good job of that right now. You will be missed.
Aw, you posted my favorite Mark pic, and now I’m teary-eyed, too.
I’m so, so sad that Mark has left the show. Every time I went to the TCR studios, I always looked forward to seeing him, even though we never had a conversation that went beyond saying hi. He always made the fans feel welcome and appreciated, and I will miss that so much.
At the same time, I anticipate great things for him in the future. Much good luck to you, Mark! I’m sure you have the good wishes of everyone in Colbert Nation.
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Oh, man. I’m trying to imagine what going to the show the next time will be like without him, and I can’t. He was really great–a huge part of the experience. I wish him well.
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aww, this post is spot on, DB! in my mental story of the taping I went to, Mark plays such a big part. my thanks to Mark from me and I’m sure all other fans who’ve been made to feel so welcome!
I am very sorry to see that he’s leaving, but I cannot *wait* to see what new stuff he comes out with!
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Mark is a great guy who made all of us who trekked to W 54 for a taping special. Felicitations and salutations to you on your future plans, comedy ventures etc. and a big thank you for your warmth and kindness to the Colbert Nation.
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Don’t leave Mark! After Stephen, you are the best part of the TCR taping experience. Whatever projects are on your horizon, I have no doubt that they will be fabulous. When you seated me for the taping, I politely asked if it was possible to sit closer to Stephen’s desk and you politely assured me that my seat would be fine. Haha! You were right…and I felt so bad bothering you afterwards!
I talked only briefly to Mark during my visit last September, but he was so nice and confirmed my belief that Stephen’s staff is as down-to-earth and genuine as Stephen. While waiting in line, I remember he had to deal with a serious fanatic right next to me, but he remained so respectful and patient.
Farewell Mark! I hope the TCR staff gave you a fabulous farewell party!
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Have never met him for the obvios reason that I have never been to the USA or a taping. But i have heard nothing by good things about him from other people. Very sad. Good luck to him:)
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Mark, you were a swell guy when I attended a taping in January 2009! I wish you the best of luck. Yo go, boy!!!!
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Congratulations, Mark! I’ve never been to a taping, but I remember your Ikea experience. Best wishes.
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I’m so sad, especially since, when I was there in March, I didn’t say hi. But I’m very happy for Mark to be pursuing what he loves. Good luck in the future! We’ll all be rooting for you!
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Oh! While I haven’t made the pilgrimage to the show myself (yet!), I have heard of how kind and understanding Mark was with the fans. It’s really a shame that TCR is losing him, but I’m sure he’ll go on to bigger and better things. Good luck to you, Mark! =)
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Aw. Mark was always awesome. I was so surprised waiting in line at my first taping when I asked out of curiosity if he was Mark Malkoff, since I’d read so much about him on the Colboard, and he stopped and shook my hand and had a brief conversation with me and other people in line. :) And we talked a little in the studio too! His politeness and professionalism was always appreciated, and his Toys R Us ferris wheel, Starbucks, and Ikea projects made me laugh.
I will miss your face if I ever go back, Mark, but I wish you the best of luck and will watch for your next projects!
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I’m so terribly sad he’s leaving — I was so looking forward to meeting him too as I have tickets for a taping in a few weeks. I was really hoping to meet “Thor, the god of Swedish furniture.” : (
Mark, you will be extraordinarily missed — best of luck to you in all your future endeavors.
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I’m so sad you’re leaving but I know that you will have continued success in your work. I’m really looking forward to seeing your projects and your tea-drinking twitters.
ReCaptcha: o seraphs (and may they continue to be with you, Mark!)
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Mark is indeed a sweetheart and is as popular among the fans as Stephen himself. It was as much fun for me to see Mark in person when I went to a taping as it was to see Stephen. I’m sad to see him leave but I sincerely wish him all the best with his new projects.
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I actually had an honor of meeting Mark. I called the TCR office and he promptly asked me come and meet him personally. Being a writing student, I had a a few questions regarding the internships, etc. He literally spared like…an hour! One of the things I remember him saying is that he would carry his love for Stephen till his graveyard. He also told me a lot of stuff that Stephen told him when he was just starting his new job. It was amazing! It was one of the best days of my NYC stay in the whole year!
Mark, we’ll definitely miss you!
Also, my taping report also contains my kinda funny interaction with him.
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Wow. What a beautiful story Dee. Thanks so much. If only more people in show business would emulate the integrity of the TCR staff.
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Awww. This is sad news for TCR fans everywhere, but I’m sure Mark will move on to great things. I’m sure Mark was the only reason my husband, sis-in-law, and I got into the Report. There were absolutely no more seats, and here we were 1st in the Stand-by line.
Our visit to TCR was the Best. Day. Ever. And a big part of that was Mark Malkoff. Best of luck in your new projects, and I know we’ll all keep an eye on you to see what you do.
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A “Colbert Report” taping without Mark?! It’s hard to imagine!! Ah, I know life means change, but this is a bittersweet one indeed. I hope he gets an on-air shout-out — he deserves it! And those are truly going to be some big shoes to fill.
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I have to say, I was in utter disbelief when I was reading the twitter feed last night. Mark plays such an important role in getting the audience together and helping to put on a great show every night, and he will be missed. I wish him all the luck in the world with whatever he goes on to do, and I wish the person who has his shoes to fill as Audience Coordinator just as much.
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I wish Mark all the best in his future endeavors but, selfishly, I’m really sad to read this.
I’m using my copy of IAA-ASCY! as a kind of “Colbert taping yearbook” with the autographs of Stephen, the writers and people who’ve gone to tapings with me. Mark always went above and beyond the call of duty in his job at the show. He was a big part of what made the taping experience so wonderful for me and I really wanted his signature. I caught up with him after a show last year and, as always, he was gracious and generous with his time as he signed my book.
I don’t envy TCR trying to find someone to fill his shoes, future tapings just won’t be the same without Mark!
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Mark! I know you’ll succeed wherever you go as you are a driven and dedicated individual.
If for some mysterious reason you move to San Francisco, please do stop by Steps of Rome and say hello!
I might be there sometimes between now and the end of the year for sure! Perhaps more than once! LOL!
All the best and: CARPE DIEM!
warsucks
PS: glad I had a chance to say hello one more time on 05.20. You look great and you don’t age at all. I hate you. No… can’t… Damn you and your good DNA!
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Sad news indeed :( Bye Mr Malkoff; hope the projects are fun and plentiful :D
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Following you on twitter so I had a feeling those trips were leading to something that would make me sad and hopefully glad in the future. You are the world’s best audience coordinator for one of the world’s best shows but of course you have the talent to be so much more. I’ll be eagerly anticipating the next funny things that you do. I loved Ikea, the Ferris Wheel, the Manhattan Starbuck’s adventure..
Cheers!
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Oh no! This really breaks my heart, because I was so looking forward to meeting him at whatever point I could see a taping, as much as I was excited to see Stephen perform! I hope any future tapings won’t be slighted by his absence =(
I hear nothing but good things about you, Mark. I wish you tons of luck with all that you work on in the future, and I’m sure the Colbert Nation will be following you whole-heartedly. Best of luck, and I hope we hear from you often!
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