30 APR 2024 · David, fresh off of a weekend with Donny Osmond talks about a lifetime of celebrities. Idolizing them, meeting them, interviewing them, befriending them and eventually making them stars once again on his grammy specials. We also talk Neil Diamond, Joni Mitchell, Frank Sinatra, and Phil Rosenthal plus a special surprise call from Brad Paisley!  Bio: David Wild is a Peabody and Emmy-winning television writer and producer, a New York Times best-selling author and prominent pop culture commentator. Wild was a College Scholar graduate of Cornell University who then worked at Esquire and Rolling Stone where he served as Music Editor and wrote numerous cover stories for over two decades. Since 2000, Wild has also been writing and producing well over a hundred high profile TV specials including all of The Grammy Awards since 2001, working with Grammy hosts from Jon Stewart to Queen Latifah to LL Cool J to James Corden to Trevor Noah, as well as countless other award shows and network specials including The Academy Awards and The Emmy Awards. Wild has received numerous Emmy nominations for his work, and was most recently nominated in 2021 as a producer for The Grammy Awards, that same year winning a Daytime Emmy that same year as a writer for The Independent Film Spirit Awards. In 2021, Wild was also an Executive Producer for Shine A Light, CNN's acclaimed 9/11 tribute special hosted by Jake Tapper, marking 20 years since Wild received his first-ever Emmy nomination as Head Writer for 2001's Peabody and Emmy-winning America: A Tribute To Heroes.  Since 2022, Wild has co-hosted the “Naked Lunch” podcast with Phil Rosenthal — their “Lunch” guests have included Jimmy Kimmel, Jane Fonda and Keanu Reeves, to name just a few. And just before the WGA Strike of 2023, Wild served as Head Writer for hosts Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks on the ACM Awards. Wild has written numerous best-selling books both as an author and co-author, including New York Times best-sellers with the cast of "Friends" and Brad Paisley, as well as penning liner notes for artists including The Rolling Stones, Ringo Starr, Hall & Oates, Fleetwood Mac, LL Cool J, Aerosmith and Stevie Wonder. Wild lives in Los Angeles with his wife Fran and their two sons. From http://www.strawhutmedia.com/

23 APR 2024 · Eugene Garcia-Cross talks about growing up in Pennsylvania, losing his dad early, and becoming a literature professeur only to give it all up to be a Hollywood comedy writer. Only to wind up writing books on the side. He also talks about struggling as a 35-year-old assistant, how to be patient for the next job. making the most out of the writers room and having good times even on bad shows. Bio:  Eugene Garcia-Cross despite being born in Pennsylvania is an optimist. He received an MFA in fiction from the University of Pittsburgh, became a teacher and then threw it all away to pursue his dream of throwing it all away which forced him to find something else and that was becoming a professional writer. The author of the story collection Fires of Our Choosing, he lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two sons. As a TV writer, Eugene has written for NBC, the Disney Channel, and NBC’s Peacock streaming service.  His new novel, “Miss Me Forever” is on sale now.

16 APR 2024 · Nicole talks about the difference between creation and nervous activity and how hard it is to distinguish between the two. We also talk about procrastination, Elvis Costello, the need to let ideas simmer, collaborating on a show, making an album, the meaning of music, the tricks to productivity, and the joy of baby steps.  Bio: For two decades, Nicole Atkins has created her own brand of spectral American rock & roll. She's an old-school torch singer for the modern world, funneling her award-winning songwriting chops and genre-spanning influences — including psychedelic rock, Muscle Shoals soul, the pop grandeur of Roy Orbison, and the dark drama of Nick Cave — into six albums that have earned a global audience. Regularly featured on year-end "best of" lists by Rolling Stone, NPR, and The New York Times, Atkins has collaborated with artists from across the musical spectrum, including David Byrne, Chris Isaak, Spoon, Elvis Costello, Tommy Stinson, and the Old 97's. The title track of her major-label debut album won The ASCAP Foundation Sammy Cahn Award, and her songs have appeared in prime-time TV shows like Dexter, national ad campaigns for American Express, and on the Billboard charts, with tracks like "Domino" becoming Top 40 AAA hits. A road warrior who has performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall to Late Night With David Letterman, Atkins is also a professional illustrator and painter whose work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal and No Depression.

9 APR 2024 · We talk about how to pronounce Bowie, the love of Monty Python, Elvis Costello, growing up in New York, the Ramones. John’s new play, Brushstroke, my love of John’s wife, Jamie Denbo, John’s possible love of Jay’s wife if he ever meets her, John Cleese, John’s dad who wanted to be an actor but never did it but then turned John on to great movies, the freedom of giving up on expectations, and how they should be friends but weren’t… yet. Bio:John Ross Bowie is an actor and writer originally from New York City. TV: “The Big Bang Theory,” “Speechless,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” two “CSIs,” “Feel Good” (Netflix), “Brooklyn 99,” “Generation,” “Reno911,” and others. FILM: Jumanji: The Next Level, The Heat, He’s Just Not That Into You, and What the Bleep Do We Know? THEATER: Inherit the Wind (Pasadena Playhouse) Life Sucks (Interact Theatre Company) Laughter on the 23rd Floor (Garry Marshall Theater), Bad Person (Riot Act) John’s memoir No Job for a Man was published in 2022 by Pegasus Books. If you must: @johnrossbowie on Instagram.

2 APR 2024 · Paul and Jay discuss looking like losers and feeling like winners, and wearing clothes to match your goals and garner respect, being authentic, Mt. Clemens, Michigan, directing, collaborations, why Paul prefers dinners with girls, why I’ll have to fly to London to see him again, his next movie, his wife Laurie, drinking Artingstall Gin, Paul’s “Cocktail Time!” booze recipe book, and what made us think we could ever be funny.

26 MAR 2024 · We talk about trying to stay positive in a down comedy market, how Jay did or didn’t fit in writing a pilot with much younger people, what started the desire to perform, inspirations, Boy Meets World, and the trick to showbiz is just never leaving.  Bios: Lucy Blehar is an actor, writer, and musician from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (home of Heinz Ketchup). She received her BFA in acting from DePaul University in Chicago where she made her TV debut as a murdered sex worker on NBC’s Chicago P.D. Since moving to LA in 2016, Lucy has studied and performed at The Groundlings, co-hosted a popular comedy show called "Titty Committee," and performed in various independent films and series. Lucy co-created and starred in the live show “Dickmatized,” with Mary and Kyle which had a sold out run at UCB before the global pancetta. Lucy plans to sort out her stomach issues this year once and for all. Kyle Kasabian is an LA based actor, writer & director who has been performing live comedy in Los Angeles since 2013. He is a regular writer/performer at the Upright Citizen's Brigade Theatre for shows such as Maude Night, Characters Welcome, Dickmatized, and the wildly popular Dynasty Typewriter show, Bad Drag Race. As an actor, Kyle has been seen on Peacock's "Girls5Eva" and has written for Nickelodeon, CBS, and BYUtv. His most recent project, "Oversharing" is being developed as a TV series by Merman, Naomi Odenkirk, & Jay Kogen, along with a webseries that has appearances from Sarah Silverman, Kate Flannery, and other comedy talents. Mary Ryan is an actress, writer, and producer from the second smallest state in the US, Delaware. After pursuing a BFA in Acting from Ithaca College, she studied improv and sketch at The Upright Citizen’s Brigade. Mary has worked on numerous projects, including, co-writing and starring in her first feature, "Mary Tyler Millennial."  Mary co-wrote and performed the stage show “Dickmatized,” with Lucy and Kyle, with a sold out two year run at UCB. By day, you can find her hustling as a personal assistant, but by night she is frantically writing silly sketches and performing comedy to make her dreams come true! From http://www.strawhutmedia.com/

21 MAR 2024 · We discuss our friendship since 1985, teaching at USC, the graphic novel “Defiant” about slave Robert Smalls who stole a southern ship and gave it to the north, Rob’s analytical brain, being teamed with a monster, being fooled by a first meeting, insane show runners with guns on the table, being a black writer, the sunk cost fallacy, making The Princess & The Frog, Will Smith vs Martin Lawrence vs Chris Rock and the slap, AI asking, “What is art?”, wine lessons, and oxtail fried rice!  Bio: ROB EDWARDS is a veteran of movies and television who wrote and produced shows including "The Fresh Prince", "Full House", and "In Living Color" before writing two classic animated films for WALT DISNEY FEATURE ANIMATION, the Academy Award, and Golden Globe-nominated THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG, and the Academy Award-nominated TREASURE PLANET. He consulted on TANGLED, WRECK-IT RALPH, and FROZEN. He also wrote and directed the award-winning animated short film THE PARK BENCH and is currently writing projects for LEGION M, SHOWTIME, SONY, MOFAC, Chris Rock, Lengi, and MARVEL STUDIOS. He is an adjunct professor of screenwriting at the Newhouse School at Syracuse University and the School of Cinematic Arts at USC.

12 MAR 2024 · Comedian Kevin Nealon talks about being an older dad, and the butt of all jokes, bad impressions, secret to stand-up comedy, stumbling into SNL and making Weekend Update and how good Germany smells.  Bio:Emmy and SAG-nominated actor, comedian, and author Kevin Nealon is best known for his nine-year stint as a cast member of NBC's Saturday Night Live, and has received critical acclaim for his roles in Weeds, Man With A Plan, Glenn Martin DDS. He has two stand-up specials and produces and hosts digital series Hiking with Kevin, and tours his stand-up globally. He’s also an artist, an author, and probably an inventor although no one’s ever asked him. Currently, Kevin resides in Los Angeles with his wife and son.

5 MAR 2024 · On this episode we talk about making art for artsake. Suzy convinces Jay to start a second career as an actor and demands I put myself in my own show. We also talk about Chicago, Crate and Barrel, reliving one year, old people holding tissues all the time, and the greatest show about masturbation ever created. Bio: Born and raised in Chicago, Suzy moved to Los Angeles where she began guest starring on television. She now has over 100 credits, including series regular roles on Go On, Help Me Help You, Dr. Ken and HBO’s Avenue 5. In addition to her guest star roles, she has recurred on numerous episodics including The West Wing, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Goldbergs, Black-ish, Veep, Modern Family, Snowfall, and Dead to Me. After finishing a successful run of POTUS on Broadway, she starred with Michael Keaton in Knox Goes Away, and lent her voice to the soon-to-be-released animated series Exploding Kittens on Netflix. From http://www.strawhutmedia.com/

27 FEB 2024 · Comedian/Author Gary Gulman and Jay compare their latchkey childhoods with memories of being alone, watching endless TV and worrying about whether the real world would have more channels. We also talk about needing to be funny, the excitement of being on a soundstage for the first time, how one of us was built to play basketball, and how we owe our parents nothing but do a million things for them anyway. Bio: Gary Lewis Weston Gulman is a comedian’s comedian. His legendary routine about State Abbreviations went viral on Conan a few years ago. His special The Great Depresh about his bout with severe depression broke new ground comedy and his new special “Born on Third” and his book “Misfit” look back on his childhood as a very poor Jew in the Boston area. Gary lives in New York with his wife Sade (not that one) and plays basketball everywhere he goes. From http://www.strawhutmedia.com/