The Friars Club Podcast

On the latest episode of "The Friars Club Podcast," Joe Sibilia talks with comedian Sandy Hackett about his father Buddy Hackett, attending Friars roasts for his dad and Willie Mays, and appearing on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson." Plus, Sandy talks about how he made the transition from studying hotel management at UNLV to following in the footsteps of his father as...

On the latest episode of "The Friars Club Podcast," Joe Sibilia talks with television host and comedian Matt Iseman about his participation in the 2013 roast of Dennis Rodman at the Friars Club. Matt also discusses his transition from a career in medicine to a career in comedy, his earliest television gigs, and stories from his days as the "Go-To Guy" on "Clean House." Plus, Matt talks about his l...

John Stamos talks with Joe Sibilia about participating in the Friars Club Lifetime Achievement Award Gala honoring Don Rickles in 2013, and goes in-depth about his close friendship with Rickles. John also talks about his time with Robert De Niro at the Friars testimonial, career advice from Friar Dean Martin, filming "ER" with Friar Jack Carter, his friendship with Jack Klugman, meeting...

On the latest episode of "The Friars Club Podcast," Joe Sibilia chats with comedian, actor, and television host Joel McHale about hosting the 2015 Friars Club Roast of Terry Bradshaw, seeing Joe Montana at the roast, the early influence of roasts on Joel's sense of humor, emceeing the White House Correspondents' Dinner and the advice he received from the likes of Conan O'Brie...

Legendary publicist and Friar Jim Mahoney joins Joe Sibilia to discuss his book "Get Mahoney!: A Hollywood Insider's Memoir" about his unparalleled PR career, his start in public relations at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the 1940s working with Clark Gable, how he came to represent Friar Frank Sinatra for 15 years, why he never watched the Rat Pack shows while he was with the group in Las V...

This week on "The Friars Club Podcast," Joe chats with Noel Blanc, the son of legendary voice actor and Friar Mel Blanc about the 1961 California Friars tribute to Mel following a near-fatal car accident, his father's friendship and collaboration with Friars Jack Benny and George Burns, and his legendary career as the voice behind cartoon characters such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Woody Woodpecker...

Philip Rosenthal, the host of the Netflix series "Somebody Feed Phil" and the creator of "Everybody Loves Raymond" joins Joe Sibilia to discuss the roast held in his honor at the Friars Club for his 40th birthday featuring Ray Romano and Red Buttons, his childhood friendship with longtime Friars Dean Freddie Roman and his son Alan Kirschenbaum, and his own career in comedy. Plus, Phil talks about...

Actor, comedian, and Friar Rob Schneider joins Joe Sibilia to discuss his participation in the 2001 Friars Club Roast of Hugh Hefner and the 2010 Friars Club Roast of Quentin Tarantino, shares some of his favorite jokes from the Quentin Tarantino roast and their preexisting friendship as Tarantino's neighbor. Rob also talks about Gilbert Gottfried and Jimmy Kimmel's performances at the Hug...

Legendary television producer George Schlatter talks with Joe Sibilia about attending a Friars Club roast of Jack Benny in his 20s, how he met Aaron Spelling (for whom he produced the Friars Club of California's Lifetime Achievement Award dinner in 2001), collaborating with Friar Ronald Reagan on his Las Vegas nightclub act, producing Friar Steve Lawrence's variety series on CBS, and much...

Former Friars Club Communications Director and Friars Club Historian Barry Dougherty joins Joe Sibilia to discuss his work documenting the history of the Friars Club, writing for roasts for Quentin Tarantino, Betty White, and Jack Black (among many other events), and talks about the origins of the Friars Club and its most cherished traditions. Plus, Barry recalls his odd visit to Uma Thurman's...

The Amazing Kreskin joins Joe Sibilia to talk about his history as a member of the Friars Club, filming a DVD at the Friars Club in 2005, the joke that was always made at the Friars roasts about Kreskin, and attending Friars roasts for the likes of Hugh Hefner and Jerry Lewis. Plus, Kreskin talks about appearing on the television shows of Friars including Johnny Carson, Joey Bishop, and Regis Phil...

Emmy and Tony Award-winning comedy writer, playwright, and Friar Alan Zweibel joins Joe Sibilia to discuss becoming a member of the Friars Club in 1983, writing for many Friars roasts before breaking into television, being approached about joining the Friars' "Under 40" committee, and utilizing the Friars Club as an office following his tenure at "Saturday Night Live." Plus, Alan shares his memori...

Carrot Top, the comedy icon known for his singular take on prop comedy, joins Joe Sibilia to discuss his visits to the Friars Club in New York and California, attending the Friars Club roast of Jerry Springer in 1999, the myth of the Las Vegas "Fryers Club," appearing in "The Roast" episode of "The Larry Sanders Show," and working with Friars including Regis Philbin, Don Rickles, Betty White, and...

Legendary radio & television talk show host and Friar Sally Jessy Raphael talks with Joe Sibilia about how she became a Friar and eventually the Prior of the Friars Club, her duties as Prior, the proposal she received for the Friars Club from Purdue to "roast" one of their chickens, being honored by the Friars Club in 2000, and attending many of the Friars Club roasts. Plus, Sally sh...

Filmmaker, comedy writer, and Friar Dean Ward joins Joe Sibilia to talk about his documentary about the Friars Club called "Let Me In, I Hear Laughter," joining the Friars Club, and documenting the history of the Friars Club. Dean sheds light on the behind-the-scenes of the film, including his unusual interview with Milton Berle, watching "Wheel of Fortune" and "Jeopardy" with Joey Bishop, playing...

Comedy writer, stand-up comic, author, and Friar Jeffrey Gurian joins Joe Sibilia to discuss how he went from practicing dentistry to writing for some of the biggest names in the history of comedy, including Joan Rivers, Rodney Dangerfield, and Jerry Lewis. Plus, Jeffrey talks about working on the Friars Club roasts as a writer, serving as the liaison to "Saturday Night Live" for the 1990 Friars C...

Television talk show host, politician, and Friar Jerry Springer passed away on Thursday at age 79 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. In this encore presentation, Joe Sibilia shares some of his memories of meeting Jerry through the years and revisits his appearance on "The Friars Club Podcast" from January 2023. In this episode, Jerry talks about being roasted by the Friars Club o...

Stand-up comic and Friar Turner Sparks joins Joe Sibilia to discuss recording two comedy albums at the Friars Club, being taken under the wing of Larry the Cable Guy, and reveals the nuts and bolts of putting together a comedy album. Turner also talks about his ideas for the Friars Club as a member of the Board of Governors, spearheading the digitization of the Friars archives, and talks about his...

Television's "Cake Boss" Buddy Valastro joins Joe Sibilia to discuss baking a life-sized cake of Friar Betty White on his television show for the Friars Club roast of Betty White in 2012. Buddy divulges the behind-the-scenes of the episode in which he is commissioned by the Friars to create a special cake for Betty in only 24 hours, and also shares some of his tricks of the trade. Pl...

Comedian, actor, and television host Cedric The Entertainer joins Joe Sibilia to discuss his performance at the Friars Club roast of Hugh Hefner in 2001, Friar Gilbert Gottfried's infamous 9/11 joke and telling of "The Aristocrats," and the party after the roast. Plus, Cedric talks about hosting "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," remembers Friar Regis Philbin, and shares the...

Singer, actress, Friars Club Trobairitz, and Friar Deana Martin talks with Joe Sibilia about her father, longtime Friar Dean Martin, joining the Friars Club with sponsorship from her famous father and "Uncle" Frank Sinatra, holding her wedding reception at the Friars Club in Beverly Hills, and participating in a roast in New York for Friars Abbot Jerry Lewis. Deana also shares her memories of "The...

Matt Paxton, host of the PBS series "Legacy List with Matt Paxton," expert on "Hoarders," and author of "Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff: Declutter, Downsize, and Move Forward with Your Life" joins Joe Sibilia to discuss signing the deal for his "Legacy List" series at the Friars Club, appearing on Friar Jimmy Kimmel's talk show, and shares his journey from journeyman downsizer to television sta...

Tony Award-winning Broadway producer, cabaret performer, and television host Jamie deRoy joins Joe Sibilia to discuss becoming the 8th woman to join the New York Friars Club, opening for Friars including Joan Rivers and Gene Baylos, former Friars Abbot Alan King's telling of the founding of the club, hanging out at Friar Sammy Davis Jr.'s house, and having Friars such as Kevin Meaney, Steve Allen,...

Legendary stand-up comedian, actor, and Friar George Lopez joins Joe Sibilia to discuss hosting the wrap party for his eponymous sitcom at the Friars Club of California, stealing oranges from Friar Richard Pryor's home, stealing the plaque from Freddie Prinze's grave, appearing on "The Tonight Show" with Friar Johnny Carson, and opening for Friar Bob Hope. Plus, George talks about learning how to...

Friar Robert Morton, longtime executive producer of "Late Night with David Letterman" and "The Late Show with David Letterman," joins Joe Sibilia to discuss NBC and Carson Productions executive Dave Tebet's sponsorship for membership into the Friars Club, serving on the Friars Board of Governors, and deciding to take the Letterman show from NBC to CBS at the Friars Club. Plus, discover how Robert'...