Ian Talks Comedy

Dan Vitale joined me and discussed social media presence; attention he got from Marc Maron's podcast; Lorne Michaels seeing him; his audition for The New Show ; his fluctuating weight from 1986 - 1991;  Cobra Kai ; streaming services give more content; Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Bill Burr & Louis CK; being Lorne Michaels protege; being funnier now than when he was "hot" in the...

Entertainer, comedian, and podcaster Mark Malkoff joined me to talk his early influences; Norm Macdonald; Andy Kaufman; our fanaticism for Saturday Night Live ; being in the audience for Letterman and Conan; Don Novello; Carl Reiner; Mel Brooks; Biff Henderson; working for the Late Show with David Letterman ; Donick Cary; the trials of being head writer; Rich Hall; guests he's still working o...

Jeff Abraham talked to me about the clients he had as a comedy publicist including The Amazing Jonathan, Pam Stone, Jeff Foxworthy, George Carlin, David Brenner, Andrew "Dice" Clay, Bill Maher and George Lopez; His book The Show Won't Go On - which chronicles the deaths of performers onstage including J.I. Rodale, Dick Shawn, and Parkyakarkus, The National Comedy Center, and his upcoming book on t...

We discuss Cheers using the perspective of two guys from the UK who were just born when it went of the air and me, a guy who watched it from when he was eight until it ended when he was fifteen.

Alan Safier joined me and we discussed the things we have in common; his first exposure to theater in kindergarten ; his 4th grade play; a summer camp play; Ohio University; his performance in the 30th anniversary of New Faces of 1952 ; working with Eartha Kitt; starring in Stop the World, I Want to Get Off with 10 year old Rob Lowe; playing John Adams in 1776 ; performing in Merchant of Venice an...

Dennis joined me to talk about books he didn't write, the first time he watched SNL , Dan Aykroyd and the Blog Diet sketch; his sketch group Kamikaze Radio; seeing Mr. Mike and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir; the Brer Rabbit Mr. Mike sketch; Michael O'Donoghue's third season; Attack of the Atomic Lobsters; Mr. Mike's Mondo Video ; Hugh Fink; Mr. Mike returns for SNL 's 7th season; Dennis has Mic...

Dennis Blair joined me to talk about originally being a musician; his love for Steve Martin; the first time he got laughs at a gig; auditioning at Dangerfield's; opening for Rodney; writing two specials with him; helping to write Easy Money; his fallout with Rodney; starting to open for Joan Rivers; working with Garry Shandling; getting back in Rodney's graces to be in Rover Dangerfield; what to d...

Donick Cary joined me to talk about interning and then writing (and head writing) Late Night / The Late Show with David Letterman, his character A Guy in a Bear Suit, working with Mujibur and Sirajul and Rupert Jee; The Simpsons, writing D'ohing in the Wind, The Last Temptation of Krust; producing and writing The New Girl, Parks and Rec, and A.P. Bio

William Ham joined me to talk about Mad magazine; his 1st SNL ; Chevy Chase; George Carlin; our SNL streaks; Fridays is the Cracked to SNL 's Mad; SCTV ; favorite SNL writers Michael O'Donoghue, Marilyn Suzanne Miller and Tom Schiller; Dan & Peter Aykroyd; Bill Murray; Phil Hartman; Dana Carvey; Eddie Murphy; Bill Hader; Will Ferrell; Jane Curtin; Gilda Radner; Joulia Louis-Dreyfus; Jan Hooks;...

Allan Havey joined me to talk about early comedy influence; studying drama in college; coming to New York as part of a comedy team; doing stand up in New York at the time of the comedy boom; The New Show; Young Comedians; doing David Letterman; Night after Night; HBO's One Night Stand; the success of Jerry Seinfeld & Larry David; Louie; Mad Men, and Billions

Robin Duke joins me to discuss how her friendship with Catherine O'Hara led to her career in comedy; getting into Second City; SCTV - her characters Edna Hydecker, Mollie Earle and Shelley Winters; getting SNL when Catherine O'Hara bowed out; her first episode before and after the writers strike; Paulette Clooney, "Be a Ho", "Mrs. T", The Girls of Saturday Night Live; the PTSD of SNL; her Christma...

The delightful Mary Gross talks about her love for Carol Burnett; her high school history club musical with Marilu Henner;  attending improv classes; getting on  main stage at Second City; working with Sid Caesar; Nuns on the Beach; hosting SNL Newsbreak; Marilyn Monroe singing Downers Are a Girls Best Friend; At Home with the Psychos; the Christmas bonus that wasn't,  Spitting Mad...

Jon and I meet to discuss all things SNL on this special episode.

Neil Levy talks abut getting the job on SNL as its 1st PA; smoking extremely strong pot; the generosity of Dan Aykroyd; the first show; George Carlin's monologue; Jane Crowley, the censor; being an extra in a jury sketch; meeting President Ford; booking Miles Davis; Frank Zappa; Louise Lasser; injuring himself as an extra in a sketch; being a Killer Bee with Elliot Gould; writing the promos, comin...

Actor-comedy writer-composer Tom Leopold

Craig Richard Nelson joined me to talk about his movie debut in The Paper Chase; Blood Sport; Marty Hartman, Mary Hartman; Maude; Fernwood Tonight; Stick Around; Barney Miller; Square Pegs;  working in 3 Robert Altman movies; Night Court; Get a Life; Another You, and Stark Trek

Ken Reid, host of the podcast TV Guidance Counselor, discusses the origin of his podcast; his theme song; childhood fears of the Incredible Hulk and Mr. Bill; meeting the original Not Ready for Prime Time players; SCTV; Fridays; New York / Massachusetts; WPIX; WSBK; Gimme A Break; and a lot more

Comedy great Hugh Fink joined me to discuss his comedy act; Silent Night Deadly Night 4; being on the last Rodney Dangerfield Special; getting SNL and writing Spade in America; working with Norm Macdonald on the Larry King sketches; sketches he's proud of; working with Tracey Morgan; his Comedy Central Present special; getting heckled by David Wells; being head writer of Late Show with Craig Fergu...

Leonard "Lenny" Rips joined me to talk about comedy as self defense; Joan Rivers giving him his first break; The Mac Davis Show ; George Burns; Van Dyke & Company ; Bob Einstein; Andy Kaufman; Redd Foxx; Star Wars Holiday Show ; Angie; Goodtime Girls; Bosom Buddies ; Rodney Dangerfield; 13 13th Avenue, Frankenweenie; What A Country; Full House; Top of the Heap; Me and the Boys; Can't Hurry Lov...

Bobby and I discuss his formative years; 60's TV; winning Best Actor for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest; Smokey Bites the Dust; Laugh Trax ; The New Battlestars; 1/2 Hour Comedy Hour ; Joan Collins; Jan Hooks; Dick Clark; Real Trivial Pursuit ; Ted Knight and the fart machine; Dennis the Menace and being friends with Phil Hartman; The New Truth or Consequences ;  Up Your Alley; The Gong Show...

Kevin and I discuss Face the Music ; Fridays ; Twilight Theater ; Laugh Trax ; No Soap, Radio ; The Jeffersons ; getting SNL ; Eddie Murphy's showcase; getting stuff on his second show; Subliminal Advertising Sketch, Lie Detector Sketch; Chess Club Coach sketch; Trivial Pursuit sketch; being locked in Dick Ebersol's office to write Eddie Murphy's Christmas 1984 show; Christopher Guest Auctioneer S...

Phil Proctor joined me to discuss his Amish roots; being a young actor; hanging with Brandon deWilde and Peter Fonda; reuniting with Peter Bergman; joining Radio Free Oz, Waiting for the Electrician or Someone Like Him ; Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers ; , I Think We're All Bozos On This Bus ; having Steve Jobs as a fan' and his friendships with Harry Anderson, Fred Willard, and Jonatha...

Jeff Richards joined me to talk about his love and impression of David Letterman, work on Mad TV and Saturday Night Live and his briiliant deep  fake podcast  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJBnwz5JYloiL9KpaPkAWgg http://thejeffrichardsshow.com

Actor, writer, and improviser Mel Green joined me for a chat about his early life, meeting his comedy partner, his year (1980-1981)  at Saturday Night Live , working on From Cleveland and his brilliant book Marker. https://www.amazon.com/Marker-Mel-Green/dp/1452893705

I had the opportunity to interview Gary Kroeger along with friend and fellow podcaster Andrew Dick of "That Week in SNL" Gary talks about his pre-SNL days, his work on SNL, and his work afterwards