Chris DeLuca joins me to discuss the Staten Island / Long Island dichotomy; the Magic Garden; WPIX; Milford Plaza; first laugh in 3rd grade; writing in college; being a Letterman fan; Letterman's making comedy out of nothing vs. Conan's style; Conan product placement sketches; SNL internship; 1st week Chevy Chase / Robbie Robertson; Tom Hanks pacing back and forth trying to imitate Joe Pesci; eating a chili burger and grossing out Mike Myers; Jerry Seinfeld episode; coming back as a page in 1995; cast was friendlier; watching the Foo Fighters rehearse; playing basketball with the cast; Norm MacDonald; being allowed to "fax" jokes to Update; working on Conan; DB Frick; writing sample was used Update jokes; working on Conan and submitting jokes for Craig Kilborn; getting hired by Craig six months before he leaves; writing for guest hosts and then staying for Craig Ferguson; Lori Nasso's Scottish stalker character; bits he wrote; Video Game Awards bits on video game violence and Gamer Hall of Fame; doing a Master Class in putting up with your wife during quarantine; Trump Talk: the American Emperor, his podcast

Peter Montagna joined me to discuss the pronunciation of his last name; TV tubes; being a fan of monster movies; his goal of being a painter; graduating with a degree in nutrition; working at NYU; seeing SNL shoot a sketch near his job gives him the itch; reads Corsair's makeup book; quits his job; takes a class and then teaches with Burt Roth; corresponding with Dick Smith; not getting the ABC makeup apprenticeship; getting the NBC apprenticeship; working with Kevin Haney and being a floater from 1981 to 1984; being Makeup Department head from 1984 to 1989; turning Eddie Murphy white for the "White Like Me" sketch; turning Billy Crystal & Christopher Guest black for "Negro League Memories" sketch; turning Billy into Sammy Davis, Jr., and Yul Brynner's niece; the blooper with Billy's wig and Martin Short; a typical week; his Saturday 10:30 meeting with Department heads; working with Phil Hartman on Frankenstein; working with Billy Crystal on Princess Bride; working with Don Rickles; on Mr. Saturday Night; the work on Robot Repair causing Phil Hartman to give him a writing credit; working on Quick Change with Bill Murray; working on Cold Case; My Fellow Americans with Dan Aykroyd and James Garner; working with Robin Williams; retiring except to help out Billy Crystal.

Don McEnery joined me to discuss knowing how to ask where the library is in Spanish; It's a Wonderful Life; attempting to be a singer-songwriter; a panic attack makes him decide to pursue standup; starting Long Island; observational humor; touring with Howie Mandel; worst gigs; comedy condos; working clean; working with Glenn "Mr. Bullhorn" Super and Sinbad; Dry Bar Comedy; getting on Evening on the Improv; how Seinfeld stories come from real life; meeting his partner Bob Shaw; going to the Emmys; working for George Carlin; co-writing Hercules and A Bug's Life; writing the pilot The Eligible Dentist for Gene Wilder; Punchline; moving to North Carolina; retiring; Denny Johnston; performing for 10,000 people and never getting nervous

Eddie Feldmann joined me to discuss growing up in Saugerties, NY; comedy albums and cartoons being his entree into comedy; a 3rd grade Catholic school essay gone awry; working in his families deli; getting a criminal justice degree from SUNY Oswego; trying an open mic in Virginia; moving to Virginia Beach to pursue comedy; Bob Saget & Joe Bolster get him to come to NYC; not getting passed at Comic Strip b/c booker was attacked while he was performing; political humor; meeting Dennis Miller in 1984 when Dennis was practicing for Letterman debut; opening for Dennis on the road; tossing out a Clarence joke that Dennis used on Letterman and killed; Dennis asking him to submit jokes to his new Tribune talk show; Norm quits to go to Roseanne, Eddie moves to LA to join Dennis's staff; a typical day at the Dennis Miller Show; playing the "science guy" on Dennis Miller Show; the other writers; Larry Jacobson gets him and Peter Gaulke a freelance Married with Children; Fred Wolf hires him on Chevy Chase Show for 14 weeks, lasts 6; he joins Dennis Miller live as head writer for 10 years; my favorite rant; crafting the rant; how it was a once weekly show written as a daily show; Dennis telling writers not to watch other talk shows; freelancing his Law & Order; being a fan of Jerry Orbach; his episodes including Harm & Faccia y Faccia; being EP of The Showbiz Show with David Spade; working on Norm MacDonald is trending; how he would give Norm monologue jokes every day and Norm checking the ones he liked and they were all prison rape jokes; what he's working on now; attempting to reboot Comic Relief; and how Dennis Miller made his references.

Jon Beckerman joins me to discuss watching the UK "Friday Night Dinner" and adapting it for the US; Three's Company; writing farce; Michael Watkins; casting Carol Kane; Dayenu scene; playing full contact Jeopardy; Julia Louis Dreyfus gives helpful note on the DL; growing up near Mr. Rogers; writing for the Harvard Lampoon; getting on as an artist; writing on a pilot called Dirty Laundry; writing Harvard Education in a Book; Michael Ian Black; being Paul Sims guest for the Late Night 10th Anniversary special and writing there in less than six months; getting his packet to Steve O'Donnell; being a fan of Chris Elliot; moving to Brooklyn and working in 30 Rock; skating with Bill Murray; Buttafuoco jokes; Clinton's pasty white thighs; being portrayed by Tony Randall in a sketch; becoming head writer with Donick Cary; winning an Emmy; creating Fun with Rupert; groomsmen parody it in a video for wedding; Madonna; eating fast food with Zsa Zsa in L.A.; Dave works Taco Bell; saving Rupert; Manny the Hippie; Mo, the Bad Ass Meat Slicing Man; making Dave the "Bar" a Boston University star; Dave hosts Oscars and his pilot for a sitcom called Adam & Eve

Dawna Kaufmann joined me to discuss writing jokes for JFK, Khruschev, and Phyllis Diller as a child; JFK assassination; working for Don Kirschner's Rock Concert; her stage roles in the late 60's / early 70's; working on game shows for Allen Ludden & Grant Tinker; writing for Weekend Update; being the impetus for Phil Hartman's Anal Retentive Chef; Herb Sargent; Chris Farley being scared to "fly" as Bennett Brauer; Matt Foley; jumping to the Chevy Chase show; being told by Chevy that women can't be comedy writers and subsequently fired; Dean Martin; her crime book Final Exam; how OJ switched her career to true crime; Mad TV; Artie Lange; appearing as a regular on Wall George's Hot Seat; writing for the WWF; Menendez Brothers; don't believe Netflix documentaries; RFK and JFK assassinations; Bib Netanyahu's speech; Carol Wayne; still watching late night monologues; Kirk Douglas; possible Trump abortions; Dick Van Dyke; Carol Burnett; Bill Cosby; her and Chris Rock telling Adam Sandler about it in 1993; Epstein's two sides; Dennis Hastert; Lindsay Graham; crime and comedy; Charlie Chaplin; Alec Baldwin; still watching SNL and loving Dana Carvey

Dan O'Keefe joined me to discuss growing up in Chappaqua: writing for the Harvard Lampoon; joining the National Lampoon; writing letters from the editors; favorite pieces; writing for MTV and Comedy Central; writing for Cracked Magazine; submitting packets for Letterman & Conan; getting hired by Jay Leno; Jay-walking; Sprang (Spam and Tang); late night ghetto; grew up without TV; read a lot of books; Norm MacDonald; Michaell O'Donoghue; working on Married with Children; faxing ideas to Seinfeld; them liking the toothbrush in toilet and adopting a highway ideas; combining food and sex; milk baths; "The Frogger" and someone's quest to beat George Costanza's high score; Marx Brothers; can remember who pitched what in writers room; Joyce DeWitt and Three's Company; Puerto Rican Day Parade episode; Drew Carey Show; Drew's surprise cruise; episode "Drew and the Gang Law"; wanting to hang out with Joey Ramone but work had to be done; Brian Scully; Jerry Belson; Sam Simon sitcom Shaping Up; episodes "Racial Tension Play", "Cain and Mabel", "Good Vibrations" - director Gerry Cohen put a vibrator in Drew Carey's bag; "Tw Days of the Condo" episode; trying to produce a sitcom with UK comedian Al Murray; Elvis Costello; The League; Chelsea Handler; Beavis & Butthead

Mike Teverbaugh joins me and discusses his names pronunciation; his new play, The Mostly True Story of a Common Scold; his other play, The Dugout; watching Captain Kangaroo as a child; Batman 66; going to UCLA to become a sportswriter; meeting his wife and future co-writer; writing spec scripts; joining an entertainment softball team; that leading to working on Who's the Boss; Billy; working on Getting By; going to Roc for season 3; being thankful they didn't write for the live show; Almost Perfect and the resort episode; being writing partners with your wife; getting Drew Carey and not having to worry about being cancelled every year; huge writer's rom; mistakes episode; working with Jerry Belson & Sam Simon; Drew Carey's surprise end of season cruise and Mike gambles against Sam; Life on a Stick and being proud of writing for "one of the 25 worst sitcoms of all time"; Twenty Good Years; working with Marsh McCall & John Lithgow; choosing Sullivan & Son over a Bill Burr animated project; he and his wife writing on Dreamwork Dragons; Dreamworks interference leads to them leading; Last Man Standing; retiring from TV and writing ten minute plays with his wife.

T. Sean Shannon joined me to discuss his YouTube series "Baseball Card Theatre"; his favorite cards; going to the Astrodome with his six brothers and sisters for a whole day in the '70's; O-Pee Chee; his idol, his brother Charlie; having a funny mom; doing standup at 18; starting in club that Kinison, Hicks, and Andy Huggins started at; being influenced by Jack Douglas and Charles Bukowski; getting his first writing job on Paul Provenza's Comics Only; writing with Fred Wolf and others; writing for Comic Strip Live and In Living Color; sharing an office with Colin Quinn and Nick Bakay; writing the Dirty Dozens; going to all the baseball stadiums; not getting a scalped ticket to a game in the Tokyo Dome; heckling Gary Carter before he died; writing for MTV's Loveline before Adam Carolla; writing on Jay Leno allows him to cast Fred Willard in sketches; becoming friends with him and his wife; going to Italy with the Willards and portraying ugly Americans; Magic Hour; submitting to SNL and getting hired by Adam McKay; originally thought less than for being a Leno writer; writing a phone commercial wins respect of McKay and staff; Colin Quinn is his rabbi; writing topical cold opens with McKay; Lorne's rule to SNL's writers: you'll never be truly happy; Bill Paxton, Lucy Lawless; Monday pitch meetings ruined his Sunday football; JB Smoove funniest pitcher; Gwynneth Paltrow talks faster on a sketch to make sure all jokes get in; Tobey Maguire episode; Trampus was his wife's yoga teacher; naming an Ellen DeGeneres character his wife's name; Wade Blasingame; John McCain sings Streisand; Mccain real cool backstage; Derek Jeter; my packet; Bill Murray; asking about Chevy fight; Norm MacDonald, George Carlin, Jerry Seinfeld, Britney Spears, Dana Carvey & Queen Latifah; in audience for Paul Reiser; his dad came to dress and could not believe what was cut; Hugh Jackman making sure Christmas Kangaroo isn't cut; Barenaked Ladies have performance of "One Week" cut; watching the show at 11 and working their twenty years later; Tom Davis, Jim Downey, and Drake Sather

Rob Ulin joins me to discuss watching Gilligan's Island and Dick Van Dyke Show as a kid; wanting to be an actor; going to Harvard and being on Lampoon with Conan; writing a letter to Norman Lear who mentored him; writing the teleplay for a Married with Children; writing an episode of Hard Times on Planet Earth; how Ferris Bueller the TV series almost made him quit writing; Chloris Leachman; writing Dinosaurs made him enjoy writing; doing episodes poking fun at the elderly, religion; an episode in which homosexuality and vegetarianism are parallelled; "New Leaf" about drugs; and dancing as a metaphor for masturbation and wet dreams; joining the writing staff of Roseanne; writing emotional episodes that still had jokes; winning a Humanitas Prize; Ned Beatty; the famous writers T-shirt story; trying to edit the lesbian kiss episode; Shelly Winters; trying to get Shirley Jones & Florence Henderson for a TV mom's episode; getting fired; working with Dave Raether; going to Veronicas Closet and then Stressed Eric; working with Norm MacDonald on Norm; Norm was not able to be an exaggerated version of himself but could act; Jack Warden; Frank Sebastiano; working on Andy Richter Controls the Universe and George Lopez; tackling race on Roseanne; working on Malcolm in the Middle; writing a pilot, My Boys; writing Aliens in America the first post 9-11 sitcom featuring a Muslim cast member; working on The Middle, Anger Management with Charlie Sheen, The Carmichael Show & Young Sheldon; working on The Kids are Alright; Rami; writing his first play Judgement Day starring Jason Alexander; and future projects

Bruce Handy joined me to discuss how to write picture books; children's literature; his book on the subject Wild Things; Goodnight Moon, Judy Blume, Willy Wonka; his first TV memories of the JFK assassination and Romper Room; reading Mad Magazine and starting his own at 10 years old; writing for the Stanford Chaparral; All the President's Men; National Lampoon; college humor mags; starting at Vogue; his Spy articles on Yuppie porn, Eric Breindel and the Playboy Mansion; Spy Magazine's 1990 tv special; most likeable Americans in 1990; Harry Shearer; The Day the Clown Cried; Jerry Seinfeld; Paul Simms; working on a Spy Prank show with Kevin Nealon; Nealon gets him an interview with Lorne Michaels to help write Update; not knowing he was hired until seeing his name in the credits; writing Mr. Subliminal for Kevin; writing jokes and a Looney Tunes desk piece for Rob Schneider; did not understand how SNL works and it leading to that piece not working; a cut bit where Kevin Nealon shows a clip of him doing Weekend Update in the 50's; Herb Sargent; Weekend Update bagel breakfasts; his affection for Norm MacDonald, Michael Che, and Colin Jost; meeting Luke Perry as a host; his wife being excited by seeing Mick Jagger perform; writing the promo for Alec Baldwin / Paul Mccartney episode; Paul's legendary Thursday rehearsal; being in the read through for Matt Foley and Unfrozen Cave Man Lawyer; how he loved to use his imagination on read through; COVID vs. WWII rationing

Mary Jenifer Mitchell and I discussed her early Tv favorites Liberace and Oral Roberts; going to NY after high school graduation; spending the summer of '66 in NYC; going to college in Colorado and dropping out; moving to NYC to be an actress in 1967; becoming friends with Michael O'Donoghue; not trying out for SNL b/c she was visiting her injured sister; being part of the Tom Eyens Eye Repertory Company; being naked in The Dirtiest Show in Town; getting cast in Milos Formans' Taking Off; performing Ode to a Screw in the film; being in Oh, Calcutta; getting fired when she asked to be paid the same; being nude on stage; working with Carly Simon and Kathy (then Bobo) Bates; being in National Lampoons Foto Funnies; her friendships with Anne Beatts, Sean Kelly, and Brian McConnachie; Lemmings; Alice Playten; breaking her foot and getting fired; combative nature of production; playing Joan Baez; Christopher Guest being hard to work with but a great friend after; Chevy Chase and John Belushi; being an extra in SNL sketches Bee Capades and Hey You!; the film Foreplay; Pat Paulsen; Terry Southern; appearing in Manhattan Cable Access in 1977; the film Pelvis; the play Playing with Fire were she plays a mute prostitute; John Belushi's funeral; her love for Leon Russell; a documentary about her; finding out she's allergic to Quaaludes with John Belushi; and her surgeries.

Lori Nasso joined me to discuss watching Twilight Zone as a kid and SNL as a teenager; loving to play characters; going to college to study theatre; joining Second City and auditioning for SNL; getting hired as a writer and only knowing Cindy Caponera; being scared by the New York Magazine article; helping Will Ferrell with Get Off the Shed; writing the Rita Delvecchio sketches with Cheri Oteri; Laura Leighton psychic sketch; Blizzard of 1996; pitch meetings; dying singer sketch with Christine Baranski; writing monologue for Rosie O'Donnell; her and new writer Tina Fey saying we have to make fun of the View being invited backstage; Tom Hanks; Pamela Anderson; seeing Robert DeNiro hit on Scary Spice backstage; writing commercial parody Lobitol; Gwyneth Paltrow; Tina Fey as a head writer; working on the Sally O'Malley character with Molly Shannon and her husband Jerry Collins; leaving to do Hype on the WB; voice work on King of the Hill, The Goode Family, and Beavis and Butthead; Mike Judge; making Life Inside Out with Maggie Baird and Finneas O'Connell; writing for Nickelodeon; impressions; read through; working with hosts Dan Aykroyd, Bil Murray, Chris Farley, and Chevy Chase; celebrity watching at SNL 40; meeting Peyton & Eli Manning; sneaking in to watch Joni Mitchell play on Rosie O'Donnell; musical guest memories of Tina Turner; Ricky Martin; Courtney Love, Pavarotti, and Whitney Houston; souvenirs from the show

Norman Stiles and I discuss watching Howdy Doody and having a friend on Mr. Wizard; being a welfare worker and writing jokes for Allen & Rossi; writing for the Merv Griffin Show; getting into the Childrens Television Workshop and then Sesame Street; how Sesame Street is taped in chunks; creating Count von Count; Jim Henson not being around; the TV special Out to Lunch; working with Christopher Cerf; writing on the Muppet Show pilot; leaving to create When Things Were Rotten and why the series was cancelled; writing the Space Force pilot for Fred Willard; writing for The Captain and Tenille Show, Fernwood Tonight, and America Tonight; pitching a show for Aaron Spelling called Invisible Reporter; going back to Sesame Street; writing the "Death of Mr. Hooper" episode; the Sesame Street curriculum; guest stars including Phil Donahue; Between the Lions; and living in Hoboken.

Marc Warren & Dennis Rinsler joined me to discuss their childhood influences; meeting in college; becoming teachers in NYC in the 70's and writing a script based on it; getting it sold and moving to L.A.; working arduous hours on Madame's Place; working on 1/2 Hour Comedy Hour, the pilot for Putting on the Hits, and FTV; Fast Times the TV show; Together We Stand / Nothing is Easy; Frank Mula; getting hired at Full House in 1988; famous episodes - Beach Boys, Kity Crispies, Lake Tahoe; being parents helped them come up with ideas; very special episode on Alzheimer's, death, and anorexia; moving to the WB's The Parent Hood after Full House ends; creating Nick Freno Licensed Teacher; it failing due to creative differences; moving to Disney Channel with Even Stevens; Disney gives them free reign; going on to That's So Raven and Cory in the House; Dennis retires; Marc works on Bizardvaark with Olivia Rodrigo; Saget always had a fowl mouth; Coulier loved to fart; and Stamos was a class act; teaching now and banning cell phones

Eileen O'Brien joined me to discuss going to college to be a teacher; taking a job that led her to a South Carolina PBS station; discovering the world of production; becoming a PA on Great Performances; working as a PA for George Carlin; the hamburger story; getting started at SNL; Kevin Kay; doing cue cards for the Eddie Murphy showcase in September 1983 and messing up; Robin Williams; Audrey Peart Dickman; having to quit cue cards because of the toxic ink; Al Siegel and Raquel Welch; Al Siegel as mentor; helping Gary Kroeger get into the after party; doing cue cards for Madonna at 1st MTV Awards and later at SNL; Julia Louis-Dreyfus always being perfect; keeping Brandon Tartikoff on cue cards; Francis Ford Coppola terrified of cue cards; Christopher Guest; Michael Palin; Billy Crystal; Harry Dean Stanton and the Replacements; not realizing Spinal Tap is a joke; Tina Turner freaks out in dress; Sam Kinison; Ringo Starr; Charlton Heston; Jim Belushi and Robert Downey Jr.

Adam Lapidus joins me to talk about using his initial; being 6' 9"; Conan O'Brien; NYC real estate; his father being childhood friends with Dave Davis and then reconnecting; meeting James L. Brooks and being asked to be a PA on Taxi at 16; going to NYU; getting a PA job on the Ellen Burstyn Show; Norman Steinberg; Megan Mulally; Jim Burrows secret of TV directing; writing freelance for Charles in Charge, It's a Living, and Who's the Boss; first staff job on Throb; pitching a Simpsons to Dave Davis who pitched it to James L. Brooks; Sam Simon being against it; favorite jokes in it; writing Brooke Shields in to meet her; doing the commentary track; getting a job on Full House; writing the Rigby the Rhino episode and his theme song; Cleghorne; writing Secret Service Guy, which never aired; writing a Weird Science; working on a Smart Guy; WB wanted to turn it into Dawson's Creek; it's creepy very special episode; Much Ado About Nothing for MTV; The Jersey for Disney; Tripping the Rift; Fatherhood; Phil of the Future and having an episode rejected because "children don't get irony"; Xiaolin Showdown; Suite Life of Zach and Cody; Brenda Song; easy to discuss line readings with child actors; "Cooking with Romeo and Juliet" favorite episode; Suite Life on Deck; Debbie Ryan; Jesse; using your daughter for stories; Bunk'd; Team Kaley; Disney micromanagement vs. Netflix freedom; quitting writing to teach at Boston University; winning Professor of the Year Award.

John C. Larrochia joined me to discuss growing up watching Dean Martin's Roasts and Johnny Carson; his funny family members; opening up in high school; joining FDNY; forming his foundation; touring Dallas; mechanical bulls; holding an Almost Gala; his TV show on You tube and Optimum; joining hazmat team; D.B. Frick; the charities sponsor: Barish & McGary; working in the Hazmat division; how 9/11 affected him and his family; his health; playing pickleball; Pete Davidson; much help from Joe Piscopo; working with Jon Stewart; making a widow laugh during trying times; teachers; people whose first day at work on 9/11

Jay Moriarty joins me to discuss how "All in the Family" changed TV; he and his partner writing a spec AITF and getting turned down; writing the "IQ Test" episode of Good Times; pitching "Louise's Daughter" to The Jeffersons"; getting a staff job; his 2 favorite episodes about MLK's death and the KKK; writing Jeffersons episodes about age discrimination and suicide; the fight to make "Florida's Problem"; how his book, Honkey in the House" is a behind the scenes look at Norman Lear's sitcoms and how to write them; not liking writer's rooms; how writer's thought writing would be like The Dick Van Dyke Show; writing for three camera sitcoms; spec scripts vs. spec pilots; not liking the clip show or the disco episode; the creation of the "Sorry, Wrong Meeting" episode about the KKK; remaking "The Draft Dodger" live in 2021; Bill Cosby not being a writer; every show must have a problem, complication and solution using George's kidney episode as an example; Chuck Lorre writers rooms; using The Jeffersons to educate about CPR and the Heimlich maneuver; James Karen; abilities of the Jeffersons cast; Zara Cully; Louise vs. Mother Jefferson and George v. Florence; the problem with "Checking In"; trying to get Steve Martin; Archie says "God damn"; Joe Biden comes to Norman Lear's shiva; writing for Norman Lear is like a religion; Dear John; Jere Burns; there should be books on writing other shows, such as Taxi or Cheers; Modern Family has two writers rooms; Cheers writers spend hours topping each other on jokes, but not as much goes to story; Back to the Future: The Musical

Jay Madison joined me to discuss growing up in Madison, Wisconsin; watching superhero shows an d old movies; Al in the Family; Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and Fernwood 2Night; WC Fields; starting stand up in San Diego and moving to Minnesota; meeting Louie Anderson, Roseanne, and Tom Arnold; starting to write with Judd Apatow; rewriting a movie with Judd; getting hired at Roseanne; appearing at Evening at the Improv and Star Search; writing "Bird is the Word", the Vegas episodes and the episodes about Dan's father on Roseanne; Ned Beatty & Shelley Winters; Barry Rubinowitz; writing the Chris Farley ep of Jackie Thomas; working with Chuck Lorre & Bonnie Bramlett; making the show more authentic; nobody can be poor on TV; UPN made Malcolm & Eddie rich; doing Jackie Thomas, Herman's Head and Greg Kinnear in a three-year stretch; working on Fresh Prince; creating Malcolm & Eddie; Richard Pryor guest stars; "Strike" episode of Jackie Thomas with Norm MacDonald, Bill Maher, and Seinfeld bashing; Tom Arnold's great at playing dumb guys; picking up Gary Coleman; ABC wanted to renew but balked when Tom & Roseanne wanted to control slot; Tom's role on show was larger than supposed to be; Phil Leeds; Jackie Thomas writers based on real people; Michael Boatman's character was based on William Lucas Walker; Red Buttons; his acting career; Naked Gun 33 1/3; being on Fresh Prince; Bridesmaids; writing for Americas Funniest Home Videos; My Big Redneck Wedding and its spinoffs; doing stand up for fun; comics who don't change with times; when reality doesn't need punching up; stand up is a night time game; knowing when to hang it up; his writing disability which made it hard to type scripts before computers; Franken & Davis

Jerry Rannow discusses his love of old-time comedy and book about Mabel Normand; his comedy writer detective series; his first book on how to write for TV; growing up in Wisconsin in the 50's; meeting the head of Love American Style at a party and pitching; dropping out of UW Milwaukee to be in Bye, Bye, Birdie; his TV debut on Channing; guesting on My 3 Sons and The Beverly Hillbillies; being a regular and writer on the Jonathan Winters Show; his current play in production; Wisconsin; writing an All in the Family about Mike donating his sperm that CBS would net let on; The Doors guesting on Jonathan Winters; working with Red Skelton; The Masters Club: Percy Helton; having lunch with John Wayne; his play has been compared to The Purple Rose of Cairo; losing laughter in life; Fatty Arbuckle; Room 222 and his favorite episodes; writing for Love, American Style; Welcome Back Kotter - favorite episode Hotsy Totsy gets pregnant; writing with his wife; real life entering episodes; Kotter's opening joke; Travolta ad libs; he and Robert Hegyes write a Marx Brothers movie; his Happy Days ep where Richie becomes a DJ mirrored his life; Harper Valley PTA; Barbara Eden; George Gobel; freelancing on The Love Boat, What a Country!. Throb, Small Wonder, Check it Out; working in Canada on Snow Job and The Baxters for Norman Lear; pitching to Norman Lear; writing for Head of the Class; not going to Moscow; too many kids in the cast; Dan Frischman and Charles Fleischer; Pat Morita; leaving Hollywood and going to Wisconsin and opening up an ad agency; continuing to write every weekday

Ray Stewart joined me to discuss his love of movies, especially the Road Pictures; seeing a real life movie star in person; acting as far back in first grade; his mother who wanted to be an actress but directed all the towns productions with Ray coming along; going to the University of Texas; befriending Rip Torn; studying under Sanford Meisner; taking eight years to make a living from acting; his 1st off-Broadway job at the Cherry Lane Theater; his first Broadway show, Cry of Players; doing commercials; his plays Mary Stuart, The Lincoln Mask, and Postcards; Tv appearances on Dark Shadows, Ed Sullivan Show; guest starring on Bob Newhart and his role on Barney Miller; favorite episode; being brought back for the ending; AES Hudson Street; being on a Charo special; Silent Movie, comedy; losing his accent; playing the reporter who announced the shooting of Jr. on Dallas; The Vals; Space Raiders; Days of Our Lives; retiring; touring with Fantastics in Japan

George Beckerman joined me to talk about early TV, his first writing job, 1983's NBC Yummy Awards; Paul Winchell and Pinky Lee; growing up in Forest Hills; going to high school with Jerry Springer; going into the textile business; getting his suits on the cover of GQ; selling his business and moving to LA; writing a screenplay "Beverly Hills Shrink" for Fred Weintraub; writing a special "Blondes vs. Brunettes" directed by Steve Binder; seeing Joan Collins sans makeup and working with Don Novello; pitching 30 episode ideas to the producers of Alice; getting a job on TBS sitcom Safe at Home with pissed off cast; hiring Dan O'Shannon and Tom Anderson; an arrest during rehearsal; pitching for Head of the Class and a movie for Gene Wilder; first head of the Class "The Russians are Coming"; the problems and greatness of multi-cam comedies; writing "Child of the 60's" and meeting Lori Petty; writing "Parent's Night" and having 23 characters to write; writing Trouble in Perfectville for Robin Givens and having it changed; working with Tannis Vallely and her father on two different shows; Howard Hesseman; becoming friends with Robin Givens and her mother and needing to get Mike Tyson off the set; Leslie Bega and Khrystyne Haje; creating and leaving "Molloy"; becoming friends with Mayim Bialik; Jennifer Aniston; fighting with Bill Bixby on the set of "Man of the People"; Monty has great cast including Henry Winkler, David Schwimmer, and China Kantner - daughter of Grace Slick and Paul Kantner, but was short lived; The Jackie Thomas show was the most fun he had; trying to turn Jackie Thomas into a modern day Dick Van Dyke; playing tennis with Norm MacDonald; working with Chris Farley; meeting his wife Geraldine Leder writing for "Secret Service Guy" a show that never aired; having his film script optioned by Ben Stiller and not getting a budget; writing a Lifetime movie for Kirstie Alley; a Hallmark time travel movie; writing for children's television; making a short film "Autocowrecked"; writing a song with a member of Foster the People; the current state of TV as a business; Adam I. Lapidus and the Simpsons

Dave Hackel joined me to discuss growing up in Delaware, Ohio; being kept busy by TV; working in radio at 14; doing everything for a cable channel in Columbus for three years; moving to LA and getting a job that supplied prizes for game shows; Turtle wax; writing in the same building as game show writers; getting first break, on Fish; working with Abe Vigoda; getting staff jobs on Shirley, a Shirley Jones sitcom; writing the made-for-TV movie, The Great American Traffic Jam; writing a Love Boat; Harper Valley PTA; 9 to 5 and meeting with April Kelley; doing Webster and working with Bruce Johnson; problems on the set; Alex Karras & Susan Clark vs. Emmanuel Lewis & producers; Out of this World; writing for Dear John; an episode he writes wins Cleavon Little an Emmy; Bill Asher (Bewitched) was a fan of Becker; being a consultant on Frasier; writing #2 Wings fan favorite "Stand Up Kind of Guy"; the story behind it; Wings being a show the meant something to him professionally and personally; working with Al Franken on Lateline; Becker having come from a previous pilot; making him a doctor and casting Ted Danson; test pilot script read; Ian Gurvitz's contributions; trying to make Becker dramatic and showcase issues and still be funny; retirement; travelling the US with his wife, Peter Casey and his wife; Detroit; Motown Museum; Kansas City; Minneapolis; becoming a Padres fan late in life; game show writers; Markie Post; Monty Hall; guests over 90; meeting Carl Reiner; Shawnee Smith; teaching in NYC; teenage political apathy; April Kelly's memory and not knowing who the hosts and musical guests on SNL anymore.

Brandon Maggart joins me and discusses radio in the 1940's; how acting in a school play made him more verbal and popular with teachers; being a singer; going to Sewanee; getting invited to come to NY; going to University of Tennessee; singing and DJing; leaving the Air Force; his opera career; being a guide at NBC; working with Cathryn Damon, Renee Taylor (in Lil' Abner) and Sherry Britton in Top Banana; making his film debut in Armored Command with Burt Reynolds; guest starring in The Defenders, Naked City, and Car 54; doing Barefoot in the Park with Vivian Vance and her paying for his singing lesson; getting so drunk he jumps in the Atlantic Ocean to sober up and almost dies; performing in New Faces of 1968 and having it be old hat compared to Hair; learning burlesque from Sherry Britton; being in the cast of the 1st season of Sesame Street; being Tony nominated for co-starring with Lauren Bacall in Applause; almost making the original cast of SNL; his holiday horror film, Christmas Evil; his role that was cut short from Dressed to Kill; costarring with Robin Williams in The World According to Garp; Jennifer Slept Here; Brothers; Chicken Soup; Fiddler on the West Hollywood Roof; Brothers tackles AIDS; Philip Charles Mackenzie; do you have to be smart to be stupid?; acting in The Wedding Band, the first interracial play with Ruby Dee; being in a minstrel show America Be Seated with Lou Gossett; working in theatre gave him the privilege to work and befriend homosexuals; Purlie with Sherman Helmsley; guest starring in Adventures of Brisco County, Jr, Bakersfield PD, and Married with Children; starring in Spiritual Warrior; hurting his back and being unable to audition; time recovering from surgery leads him to writing and painting; his books length; he knew nothing of his father after he died; his book leaves his footprints

Ian Gurvitz joined me to discuss the derivation of his name; growing up in Plainview; TV he watched including Laugh-In and Batman; William Daniels; going to Ithaca College; moving to NYC and writing for comics; getting hired to write for short lived sitcom A Fine Romance; selling a Wonder Years; writing The Great TV and Movie Quizbook; creating Normal Life with Moon Unit and Dweezil Zappa; writing a Get a Life; creating Charlie Hoover; paying "Where's Sam?"; inspired by a Married with Children episode; joining Wings for a a six week tryout and lasting 6 years; how The Contest episode of Seinfeld deflated the writers room; hiring Amy Yasbeck; writing an episode while his mother is dying in the next room; writing his 1st episode with Kirstie Alley as Rebecca Howe; music rights; Tony Danza Show; watching Ted Danson become Becker; episode he wrote "Crosstalk"; the genesis of Becker; his film LA Blues; working on The Exes; keeping a journal while in development and publishing it as "Hello, Lied the Agent"; why is TV better; business model of TV has changed with streaming; The Bear; Only Murders in the Building; We Were the Lucky Ones; The Day the Crown Cried; his first book, Deconstructing God about religion; his second Dumbf*ckistan, about Sarah Palin's rise to power; anti-college stance of people who went to Ivy League schools; intelligence of other countries; Trump's crowd size; Nixon; Democrats can't brand or fight; Roger Stone; Roy Cohn; Democrats are pushing people away; don't be a dick

Comedian Trent Mabry joins me to discuss his podcast Echo Chamber; Rosie Ruiz: MLB umpires; watching Seinfeld at 6 made him want to be a stand up; his first and second times performing; differences between Indiana and NYC open mic's; importance of social media; not burning material; Norm MacDonald and Gilbert Gottfried; day jobs; winning Indiana's Funniest comedian and that driving him to come to NYC; supportive parents; comedy was the only thing he ever wanted to do; his old podcast where he interviewed comedians; Jeff Altman; no set comedy topics; getting bits to flow together; booking guests and guests he'd want; ultimate goal is a late night show; favorite host being Letterman; Seinfeld NYC vs. Actual NYC; Indiana; his father being a farmer; my great-grandfathers job selling lightbulbs on horseback in NYC; SNL; inability to act; David Spade; being an old soul and watching early TV; streaming doesn't introduce people to old shows; using COVID to watch Sopranos; Rockford Files; Par Bircher; Mark Normand; joke tellers vs. story tellers; playing with silence; alcohol; almost fighting a heckler; getting booked at a Chamber of Commerce dinner; watching the flow of the show he'll perform at; Rusty Kuntz; touchy jokes; recoding a set for SiriusXM

Karyl Miller joined me and talked about growing up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the late 1950's; being a loner; listening to radio and begging her father to buy a TV; going to Cal Arts for a summer program; not going to college; going to night fashion school; mom wanting her to marry a nice Jewish man; being inspired by Lily Tomlin; wrote spec scripts while designing dresses; met Garry Marshall; got a job writing interstitials for Love, American Style; wrote for a dress designer sitcom called Needles and Pins; her spec script got her hired for Lily Tomlin specials and season 3 of the Mary Tyler Moore Show; writing Lily Tomlin's monologues; turning down Lorne Michaels' offer for SNL; writing for Cher's 1975 variety show; her first MTM "Rhoda's Sisters Wedding" and the famous letter sequence; her other episode "WJM Tries Harder"; writing for Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice; writing a freelance episode of Karen; writing a Maude and being afraid of Bea Arthur; being brought into Diff'rent Strokes when Charlotte Rae wants a female writer and being fired after 9 days; teaming up with Richard Pryor to write a Sanford & Son that didn't get filmed; finishing writing a pilot Richard started; working on the Erma Bombeck sitcom Maggie; being picketed while going in to write Love, Sidney; writing an episode of the Bea Arthur sitcom Amandas; being a TV snob and not writing for "bad" shows; the nightmare that was The Cosby Show; Madeline Kahn; Kate & Allie; Foley Square; being on staff on My Sister Sam and fighting with Dianne English over an episode where Pam Dawber has an affair; writing an episode of David Rules; her career being hurt by turning down shows she didn't like and the shows she dd not hiring women; turning down The Love Boat; how doodling on scripts led to cartooning and creating her own font; becoming a political cartoonist and being the President of the Southern California Cartoonist Society

Ferris Butler and his biographer D.B. Frick joined me to discuss his garage band version of SNL "Waste Meet News"; his love for Sid Caesar and Ernie Kovacs; Brooklyn in the 50's and 60's; his pilot for the Vintage Seltzer Hour with Michael O'Donoghue and Garrett Morris; going to NYU film school and being taught by Martin Scorsese and classmates with Billy Crystal; creating Waste Meat News; having Radames Pera on; the budget; New York Magazine says Waste Meat is being copied by SNL; getting hired by Jean Doumanian; how the crew was excited for new season. but the press was already hostile; not getting anything on the premiere; getting Leather Weather on the Malcolm McDowell show; writing the tag to Eddie Murphy's first appearance; writing Tort-U-Matic and her monologue for Jamie Lee Curtis; co-writing Reagan Co for the Robert Hays episode; Howard Stern has beef about his Leather Weather Girl vs. Ferris' sketch; writing the Kung Fu prostitution sketch and slipping a watersports joke by the censors; the difference between head writers Mason Williams and Stevens and Moore; writing one joke for Weekend Update; Brian Doyle-Murray; Bill hosts; he was recommended by Letty Aronson; more Bill Murray stories; is Ferris Butler, Ferris Bueller - Del Close wanted to do a movie about him, Quentin Tarantino believes it; writing "Prison Confession" sketch for Ray Sharkey episode; writing a sketch that got cut at dress; writing the "Big Brother" sketch for Deborah Harry episode; the re-evaluation of season 6; Name That Sin; musical guests; saving his sketches; not being surprised Dick Ebersol didn't as him back; not getting credit for writing for SNL; not being invited to any anniversary; Waste Meat News is in the Paley Center for Media

Jeff Altman and I discuss growing up in Syracuse; his father, Arthur, teaching him slight of hand magic; learning more at Johns Hopkins; moving to LA and going to the Magic Castle; trying out at the Comedy Store; doing a comedy album with Denny Johnston; his Carson impression and two times he met him; doing his voice on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman; doing voices on Norman Lear shows and Archie Bunker's Place; Celeste Holm, who his uncle discovered; his year living off income from being on Merv Griffin; Starland Vocal Band Show; guest appearances on Mork and Mindy and WKRP; playing Huey Hogg on Dukes of Hazard; getting the co-hosting job on Pink Lady; being told they spoke perfect English; working with Sid Caesar and Jim Varney; impressions; Rich Little; talking to Johnny right before he announced his retirement; his on-air prank calls to Letterman; Tim Thomerson; the origins of butt steak; being in the Israeli Candid Camera and almost getting arrested; his appearance on Night Court; his tough times being a cast member on Nurses; hosting Sunday Comics; Franklin Ajaye; doing an episode for the troops in the Gulf War; impersonating Bob Hope to Brooke Shields; his "dad" character; his album, I'll Flip You Like a Cheese Sandwich"; having Seinfeld ask him to be in The Bee Movie; retiring from comedy and going full time into sleight of hand; getting married to a girl he knew from high school and moving to Raleigh, NC; Max Alexander; Pink Lady covers and original songs

Ivan Decker and I discuss his Netflix special; his current You tube special Popcorn; your wife asking you to get something that's closer to her; his son; grandparents; the frenulum; being behind on comedy in Canada; Paul F. Tompkins; debuting as a 16 year old doing Mitch Hedberg; being booed off stage; me seeing Carlin booed off stage; the internet allowing you to know who a comedian is before you see them; my standup career; calling comedy clubs; hunting for jokes; laughing during situations that aren't funny because you can turn them funny later; do ex-comedians think that way; doing Conan; late night TV; how phones ruin comedy; not doing jokes because they might hurt someone's feelings, are in bad taste or might have been done; being on tour means not getting to see his comedy friends; people afraid of going to the bathroom during shows; Vancouver; sports; income disparity between hockey and soccer; American vs. Canadian measurements; Canadian accent is waning; Vancouver sounds like California; Boston Pizza; his love of Curb Your Enthusiasm and the Simpsons; looking like Colin Jost

Robert Wolterstorff joined me to discuss being mentored by Norman Lear; a quick overview of his career; going to SFSU; being mentored by Norman Lear; selling a Good Times; going to work on the Jeffersons; turning down a chance to write / produce the Incredible Hulk; his pilot Pen 'n' Ink aided by Louis Schwartzberg; doing a college interview for Benjamin Spock for President that got picked up by PBS; Jeffersons episodes; befriending Roxie Roker and her husband Sy Kravitz; Jeffersons writer's were older; moving to Universal to write pilots; working for Nicholls, Ross, West; writing for Sheriff Lobo; his pilot for Pen 'n' Ink leads to a lifelong friendship with Fred & Mary Willard; his pilot, the Outlaw; Street Hawk was originally supposed to precede Monday Night Football; finished second to Dallas but not good enough; cost $1 million an episode; getting Tangerine Dream to do the music; hiring Joe Regalbuto and Rex Smith; "predicting the future"; great writing staff; his sitcom pilot Sisters with Sally Kellerman; Quantum Leap; his episode "Jimmy" is nominated for an Emmy; writes Little Rascals movie for Penelope Spheeris; hired to make snow version of Baywatch called Extreme; creates Slappy & the Stinkers based on original Little Rascals script; Extreme; his pilot for Stinger, a superhero parody; Blade Squad; Twice in a Lifetime; his fun in writing Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction; how he got the audience to believe anything; working for military intelligence creating battle drills, IED simulations, and writing military role playing table tops; and working for the Spy Museum

Debra Frank joined me to discuss Sky King; wanting to be Mary Tyler Moore and he Girl from Uncle; being an extra in WUSA and meeting Paul Newman; dreaming of being in Perry Mason; being a tour guide at Universal; doin a Columbo impression on The Peoples Choice Awards; doing theatre and having a lot of downtime; writing a spec Rhoda script and a female Woody Allen film; being a stand in for Kathleen Quinlan and playing a leper in I Never Promised You a Rose Garden; being Louise Lasser's dialogue coach on Mary Hartman; being a typist for a write on the New Laugh In and befriending Robin Williams and Ivana Chubbuck; joining the Improv group Off the Wall; entering a TV writers contest; winning and being paired with Scott Rubenstein; creating and not getting credit for Family Ties; writing sitcoms; switching genres and partners; Carl Sautter; writing a Trapper John; The Motion Picture Home; pitching with Carl a black and white episode to "Crazy Like a Fox"; writing "The Dream Sequence Always Rings Twice"; Orson Welles; not creating the Dennis Dugan character; not knowing who a credited co-writer is; being nominated for an Emmy, but losing to St. Elsewhere; the controversial "North by North DiPesto"; Imogene Coca; Eva Marie Saint; meeting a new writing partner; getting a two picture deal, writing pilots and a Wonder Years; having two children; taking a three year break; getting a new partner, Steve Hayes and writing 13 made-for-TV movies; Muppets Wizard of Oz; writing songs for the Muppets and getting an Emmy; re-writing My Stepmother is an Alien with Richard Benjamin;

Jim Pankovits discussed with me his father teaching him the game; being a catcher made him know all parts of the game; Doug Rader; watching the Braves; playing and losing the Little League and College World Series; Ed Lynch; getting drafted and moving to second base; minor league travel horror story; getting called up; his first major league hit; the pitchers he went deep off of; facing Dwight Gooden, Orel Hershiser, Steve Carlton; catching Nolan Ryan; facing Fernando Valenzuela; playing for Hal Lanier and Yogi Berra and with Davey Lopes; the Astros clinching the 1986 NL West with a Mike Scott no-hitter; feeling good about his teams chances against the Mets; Lenny Dykstra PH AB didn't surprise him; Kerfeld regrets taunting Carter; Charlie Kerfeld gets caught eating ribs at a Mets BBQ during a game; why the 1980's were the last Golden Age of Baseball; teammates Ray Knight and Phil Garner; Hatchers HR in the 13th; his at bat; coming back in the 16th; post-game exhaustion; Andy Ashby; irregular playing time for rest of career; Minor League manager and coach known for getting tossed and winning; playing with the Red Sox in 1990 and taping their clubhouse celebration for Roger Clemens and Joe Morgan; playing in 1989 for the Dodgers in the minor leagues after spring training with the Pirates; watching a young Barry Bonds

Babs Greyhosky joined me to discuss her love of early sitcoms; her and her father watching The Rockford Files; always wanting to be a writer; having a family friend in Don Bellasario; wrote spec scripts as a substitute teacher; moved to LA and became a secretary for Battlestar Galactica writers; typed pilot of Magnum, PI; humor; first assignment; her name; memorable episodes; stories the king; Greatest American Hero asked to write wedding episode and another fan favorite; Bill Culp; how writing The A-Team was part of the Cannell factory; left before Peppard / Mr. T feud; Cannell v. Larson; Juanita Bartlett; Babs being the only female one hour executive producer in Hollywood; Riptide; people wrote to TV Guide to find out if she was a woman; added depth to Riptide; parodied its competition "Moonlighting" in its last episode; Stefanie Kramer; J.J. Starbuck; got George Clooney his SAG card; writing for Xena, Farscape, and Sheena; residuals; teaching at USC film school; teaching Fernando Kalife of Seven Days; becoming a therapist for veterans with PTSD; her selection of short stories, Hero Avenue; EMDR; Hero Avenue - Kindle edition by Greyhosky, Babs. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Doug Sivco discussed early kids TV; watching SNL in high school; going to Rutgers and being on the radio; trying out to be an NBC page; NBC Nightly News; Space Shuttle Columbia; Election 1980; literally bumping into to Ted Kennedy; Letterman morning show; getting the job at SNL; taking messages for the cast; remembering hosts Elliot Gould, Chevy Chase, and Rodney Dangerfield; Burt Reynolds saves his butt; getting his brother in almost every week; carrying out Mick Jagger; escorting out Deborah Harry; Gabe Kaplan being a jerk; last episode and after party; the new cast; hanging out with Eddie Murphy; Joe Piscopo, Charles Rocket, and Charlene Tilton; finding Cheap Trick's guitar in the green room; working at WNBC; leaving to do news in Alexandria, La.; going to Wilmington, NC and then Harrisburg, PA; the grind of local news; covering Penn State & Philly sports; bloopers; R. Budd Dwyer; went to work for Dean Witter; his current job; living in Cape Cod; community theater; meeting Gilbert Gottfried and being smitten by Linda Ronstadt and Jamie Lee Curtis

Aubrey Solomon and I discussed being born in Canada; not watching TV since the 1960's; going to USC; his movie, The Klutz; working on the tv show The Art of Film; working on the TV show That's Hollywood and using his thesis on 20th Century Fox; he and his partner Steve Greenberg are asked to write a spec script about MLK & JFK; it gets to Jack Klugman; they pitch him an episode he likes; they get hired and moved up to story editors in the same season because they worked fast; Klugman ran the show; Dr. Asten and Sgt. Brill; Marc Taylor; Jack Klugman's brother would find a medical story in the news and get story credit; the writers would watch 60 Minutes for ideas; creating Quincy; his first name; John Astin wanted Dr. Asten's name spelled differently; writing the pilot tv film for Buck Rogers; Lazarus Syndrome; the "Ounce of Prevention" episode of Quincy; Beyond Westworld; Lou Shaw; Frank Lupo; The Fall Guy; Half Nelson; having to write a Quincy without Jack Klugman and a Rockford Files without James Garner; watching Jack Klugman fire a director; Blacke's Magic; Crazy Like a Fox; 40th Anniversary of Howdy Doody; his second book about Fox Studios; working on the Canadian series Danger Bay; 100 Years of the Hollywood Western; his mentor; Jack Haley, Jr.; his film, The Progeny; spending 20 years as a film editor; and writing the story for the fifth Ice Age movie.

Jay Johnson talks to me about being introduced to puppetry by Ricky Layne and Velvel; starting with his cousins Jerry Mahoney doll at 11; having dyslexia; reading scripts; doing 918 shows the summer after high school at Six Flags in Georgia; hiss first puppet, Squeaky; working Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs in Texas; going to college for marketing; finding Edgar Bergen's trunk; Bob is in the Smithsonian; being friends for 40 plus years with Harry Anderson; surviving Reno with Harry; his 7 foot partner, Ruben Hickory (Rube Hick); making his TV debut on Merv Griffin; working clean; Otto and George and Wayland Flowers and Madame; getting Soap; favorite memories; the mind reading sequence; coming up with ideas for Chuck and Bob; director Jay Sandrich; being married 51 years; being part of an HBO special The Vent Event in 1979; hosting Celebrity Charades; a memorable Pyramid mishap; being mistaken for Dick Clark; an idea for Chain Reaction where Bob would be a contestant that was nixed by NBC's S & P; Mrs. Columbo; Something is Out There; a pilot Sutters Bay; guesting on The Love Boat; being a guest on The Tonight Show; talking to Johnny; his talk/game show So You Think You've Got Troubles; being on the last Jerry Lewis telethon and the first without him; working the phones on the telethon; his Tony Award winning one man show The One and Only; his producers Paul Kreppel and Murphy Cross; going on David Letterman to promote; being cut from a ventriloquist episode of Night Court; the "New Night Court"

Larry Mollin joined me to talk black and white TV; going to Georgetown to study foreign service; going into acting in summer stock with Jeffrey Kramer and Marty Nadler; transferring to Ithaca College; going to Canada where they paid artists; touring Canada's schools and prisons; Santa Jaws leads to a three-album deal; being a roadie for Blood, Sweat & Tears; being friends with the Second City crew; Dan Aykroyd; getting heckled by and destroying Lorne Michaels; his CBC series "Workday"; Disaster land; accidentally setting his next show on fire; creating the Improv Olympics in Toronto; going to LA and getting a recurring role on Brothers and Sisters; writing a pilot for Max Baer Jr.; selling a story to Bret Maverick; being hired by The Devlin Connection; joining ChiPs for the last season; his episodes "Battle of the Bands" and "Rock, Devil Rock; guest stars Don Most, Susan Richardson, and Robert Trujillo of Metallica; John Astin not knowing what a music video was; going to Cutter to Houston and having to apologize to Alec Baldwin about a scene; loving to work on The New Gidget; getting hired to take 90210 to college and increase male demographic; believing in slowing down the romance; his episodes being considered the best by fans; getting fired for wanting to have The Spice Girls as guests; working with Milton Berle; writing for the WWE; his novels; his plays about the 1960's

Susan Lanier and I discuss MLB manager Hal Lanier; her song, "On the Way to Woodstock"; watching "The Miss America Pageant"; growing up in Dallas; being a DJ at 14; studying with Uta Hagen; acting in the film The Pickle Goes in the Middle; doing non-Union movies in NYC with Warhol and Putney Swope directed by Robert Downey, Sr.; going to LA and getting cast on Happy Days; not knowing the current stars; turning down an audition for SNL; Welcome Back Kotter; doing Night of the Iguana with Tennessee Williams; accidentally getting knocked out by Richard Chamberlain: Taryn Powers; Chloris Leachman; Over and Out; Pat Paulsen; Tony Orlando and Dawn Rainbow Hour; not liking doing con's; Henry Winkler; doing The Hills Have Eyes over agents' thoughts; the touring for the premiere; it being considered a terror classic; being cast and let go from Three's Company; the Facts of Life scale; being in the cast of Sha Na Na; Chuck Berry; moving into music; her cabaret act; an audition for a Brian DePalma movie gives her the singing bug; performs her late husband's composition Superstar and her own songs; Swamp Cabaret; getting into photography;

Podcaster / author Jonathan Rosen joined me to discuss growing up watching TV with his family; being a teacher; not wanting to be in show business; being an author of children's author; writing a blog about nostalgia; meeting his co-host Ike Eisenman; his guest want list; landlines; Kim Richards; guests Paul Williams and Meeno Peluce; crushes Cher, Lisa Whelchel, Audrey Landers; leaving things off you want to talk about; musical guests; guests he wouldn't have; guests who pass away after you as them on; his goals in five years; hosting a panel; Podcastcon; Joe Rogan; when to bring up a guests most famous work; and future guests

Julie Larson discusses growing up in Geneva Illinois; Mike Royko; her dad being her greatest comedy influence; growing up in a crowded house; southern sitcoms on the 1960's; Rose Marie; moving to Chicago in 1980; taking classes at Second City; moving to L.A. in 1984; becoming a Comedy Store Player; meeting Colin Mochrie & Ryan Stiles; performing with them at night while working for a law firm in the day; being asked to do improv in an Irish festival; meeting the co-creator of Dharma & Greg there and getting a job offer; what saved her job; prefers joke & story shows; writing credit is given by Chuck Lorre based on his feel of contribution; leaving to go to The Drew Carey Show; doing improv with him; sketch episodes; stunt episodes; in charge when viewers had a chance to be guest stars; her father's last wish; her pilot, Washington Street; how everyone is worthy and can be funny; Barney Miller; Norman Lear; her backyard stage; Keb' Mo; Beverly Hillbillies; Don Knotts; Paul Dooley in Breaking Away; being a woman writer; Last Man Standing; being a strike captain; helping younger writers; making videos for Biden; my stand up; Bob Smith; advice for new writers

Sal discusses growing up in Brooklyn and having TV and movies be his safe space; Catholic school; moving to California at age 12; going to public school; joining the drama department at UC Davis; studying at NYU under Olympia Dukakis; doing a few commercials and The Taking of Pelham 1,2,3 in New York; moving to LA and getting a role in The Montefuscos; The Montefuscos getting canceled; doing Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman; how being nice to a kid at an Elvis Costello concert got him booked on The Tonight Show; getting Soap; meeting Richard Nixon; befriending Diana Canova & Robert Urich; his mother's reaction; MASH; his father; Ray Abruzzo; Barney Miller; how his meatballs impressed Carl Reiner, Mel Broos, Anne Bancroft, and Dom DeLuise and got him three movies; Family Feud; Richard Dawson; Mike Douglas; his play A Steady Rain which landed him on Scandal; wanting to appear on The Bear; his meatball recipe

Markus Jennings and I discuss our mutual love for Saturday Night Live; Chris Farley; Jim Downey; getting tickets; my episode backstage; Chris Elliot; how he can't have a favorite episode; my favorite episodes; favorite cast; impressionists JAJ, Dana, Phil, and Joe Piscopo's versions of the same people; favorite musical guests; cast members; and trivia

Rick Mischel and I discuss being native NYers; growing up on film; went into law entertainment; read scripts at Electric Pictures; becoming Senior VP of Acquisitions for Live Entertainment; FHE; producing Suicide Kings; becoming President of Harvey Entertainment licensing Casper & Richie Rich; Mainframe CGI creates DVD films (Max Steele); Reach Games; Sony hires him to create a features studio; Hotel Transylvania, Open Season and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs tv series; Spiderman animated features; visual effects for MIB 3; Garfield; animation is worldwide; Smurfs; animation quality keeps getting better; working with Popeye; Diary of a Wimpy Kid; Ice Age; Rick & Morty; watching Family Guy, Bob's Burgers, and Simpsons;

Former child actor Sparky Marcus (Issoglio) discusses the origins of his name; being on TV before watching it; first job a McDonalds commercial at 3 1/2; being a SAG member; working on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman; playing a child evangelical preacher; being spanked by Dabney Coleman; Freaky Friday; working with actors who don't like children; not liking to watch himself; not remembering being on a Carl Reiner sitcom; going on AM LA in 1976; meeting George Lucas on the set of The Bob Newhart Show; shooting WKRP and Bad News Bears; being on a series is better than chasing work; child acting hours; working with Jack Albertson, Johnny Whitaker, and Henry Fonda; Grandpa Goes to Washington; What's Happening; David Hollander; Airplane; Goldie and the Bear Go to Hollywood with O.J. Simpson; Happy Days; working on Goodtime Girls with Peter Scolari; Marcia Wallace; Loni Anderson; voice work; Richie Rich; residual checks; Man with Two Brains; getting injured on Trapper John, MD; quitting at 18; not wanting show biz; being unaware of his earnings; having a part-time job parking cars to make his "own" money; Frank Welker; cartoon work; Nancy Cartwright; Don Messick; Rodney Alan Rippy; Norman Lear; Bad News Bears jersey; parents sold all his stuff; getting $30,000 at 18 and spending it in two years; working in PT; meeting his wife on the job and becoming best friends; Kim Richards; Kroft Supershow; his scripts

Covers of some of the most famous songs by people you didn't think would do it: Sammy Davis Jr, Jack Albertson, Carroll O'Connor, Glenn Close, Terry Bradshaw; Jim Nabors, George Burns, Frank Sinatra, and Tiny Tim

Kenneth Tigar joined me and discussed the pronunciation of his last name; his favorite radio shows; hist first TV; watching Requiem for a Heavyweight; Norman Lloyd; acting was just a hobby; getting a PhD in German from Harvard; translated Brecht plays into English; working on The Proposition improv troupe and Broadway show with Judy Kahan, Paul Kreppel; and Fred Grandy; leaving the Proposition to write his dissertation; his first theatre and television roles have been playing Germans; most recognized for Barney Miller; Norman Lloyd and John Randolph get him to L.A.; auditioning for Danny Arnold; shooting the episode "Werewolf"; Danny Arnold's directing; portraying Jesus in the episode "The Photographer"; Lou Grant; not able to be typecast; Bosom Buddies; shooting his Emmy Award winning Hill Street Blues; Cheers; playing Himmler; Night Court; Just one of The Guys; 18 Again; Lethal Weapon 2 & 3; Sam Anderson