Here’s math that even Bart Simpson won’t need a chalkboard to figure out: “The Simpsons” is “Gunsmoke.” That’s right: thanks to a new two-year renewal, “The Simpsons” is about to blow past the ancient western as the longest-running primetime series in American television history. And my guest today, “Simpsons” executive producer Al Jean, has... Continue Reading →
Comedian Michele Balan is still standing with Mr. Media! PODCAST INTERVIEW
Today's Guest: Comedian Michele Balan Not to put too much pressure on her, but Michele Balan is a standup comedian from New York, where every city block is bursting with comic setups and teardowns. So she’s gotta be funny, right? Balan first came to national attention on the comedy reality series “Last Comic Standing.”... Continue Reading →
Humbug! Mad cartoonists Al Jaffee and Arnold Roth talk shop! PODCAST INTERVIEW
Today's Guests: Legendary MAD Magazine and Humbug! cartoonists Al Jaffee and Arnold Roth. My mother bought me my first MAD magazine off the newsstand at a Stop & Shop supermarket in 1969. The cover featured a Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid parody that I believe was drawn by Jack Davis. I read... Continue Reading →
Yukking it up with actress and activist Elaine Hendrix! PODCAST INTERVIEW
Elaine Hendrix is an actress you’ve seen in the company of a lot of household names: Lindsay Lohan in The Parent Trap; Amber Tamblyn in “Joan of Arcadia”; Will Ferrell in Superstar; and Bam Bam and Celeste with Margaret Cho. This coming year, Elaine has an equally star-studded slate of films coming out: The... Continue Reading →
Blossom’s Joey Lawrence dances his way to Fake Fiance, Stars! PODCAST INTERVIEW
Today's Guest: Joey Lawrence, actor, "Blossom," "Gimme A Break," "Dancing with the Stars" You’ve gotta give Joey Lawrence credit. He survived being a child and teen TV star, hanging out with Nell Carter for 77 episodes of “Gimme a Break” and “Blossom”—Mayim Bialik— for 114 weekly shows. After that he spent some time establishing... Continue Reading →
Hornberger, normal? Not if 30 Rock’s Scott Adsit can help it! PODCAST INTERVIEW
Today's Guest: Scott Adsit, actor, "30 Rock" Food for thought: Is Pete Hornberger, producer of “The Girlie Show Starring Tracy Jordan” actually the most normal person on the show’s staff? Or do we only get to see actor Scott Adsit in such short bursts as Tina Fey’s straight man on “30 Rock” that we... Continue Reading →
Only comic Eugene Mirman has The Will to Whatevs! PODCAST INTERVIEW
Eugene Mirman is one of the driest comedians I’ve ever encountered. He’s so droll, so subtle, that at first it’s difficult to detect if he’s on or really believes what he’s saying. Here’s a hint: he’s on. Mirman, who you may know from his guest appearances on the HBO show “Flight of the Conchords”... Continue Reading →
Getting …Around with indie filmmaker David Spaltro! PODCAST INTERVIEW
Today's Guest: David Spaltro, indie filmmaker, ... Around I get pitched on an awful lot of potential interviews. This one caught my attention: "My name is David Spaltro and I'm an independent filmmaker and producer from NYC. Last year I completed my first feature film ... Around. It was a labor of love about... Continue Reading →
Plop! Plop! Really weird, it’s the work of Basil Wolverton! PODCAST INTERVIEW
Today's Guest: Monte Wolverton, author, The Wolverton Bible Cartoonist Basil Wolverton was known for his grotesque drawings, fantastically odd creatures, spaghetti-like hair, smoothly sculpted caricatures and insanely detailed crosshatching. His career in the golden age of comic books lasted from 1938 until 1952, after which his illustrations and caricatures extended into such publications as... Continue Reading →
No longer a punchline, no longer Stuttering John Melendez! PODCAST INTERVIEW
John Melendez has one of the most interesting careers in show business. During his 15 years as "Stuttering John," a punchline on Howard Stern’s radio show, he was the cast member you loved to hate, not for the stuttering but for the way he managed to piss off everyone around him. Still, you couldn’t... Continue Reading →