Dennis catches up with NY-based blogger Kenneth Walsh of "Kenneth in the 212" who talks about the humble beginnings of his blog eleven years ago, the discipline of blogging every day and reveals his most popular post ever. Kenneth also talks about why he loves tennis, meeting Renee Richards and Billie Jean King, working as a copy editor at the New York Times and Wall Street Journal and his obsessions with Desperately Seeking Susan and Family Affair. Kenneth discusses his memoir "Wasn't Tomorrow ...
Jan 30, 2016•1 hr 13 min
For this special movie-themed episode, Dennis sits down with his filmmaker friend Glenn Gaylord who reviews movies on his tumblr page Glenn on Film. Dennis shares his picks for the Unsung Movies on 2015 and Glenn shares his movie "Moments out of Time" for the year. Together, they cover everything from the J.Lo camp-fest "The Boy Next Doro" to the Holocaust drama "Son of Saul."
Jan 25, 2016•1 hr 14 min
Dennis visits the Sherman Oaks home of Dave Cobb from the Thinkwell Group, a company that conceives, designs and creates theme park attractions like the Terminator 2: 3-D and Men In Black attractions at Universal Studios, Ferrari World in Abu Dabi and the behind-the-scenes of Harry Potter studio tour in England. Dave talks about how a project goes from the idea stage to opening day, his role as Thinkwell’s unofficial court jester, the Survivor themed rollercoaster he helped conceive, and what it...
Jan 12, 2016•1 hr 25 min
Dennis visits the Silver Lake home of actor Kevin Chamberlin who will soon be seen in the Broadway musical "Disaster," a disaster movie send-up with 70's songs co-wrtten by Seth Rudetsky and former podcast guest Jack Plotnick. Kevin talks about the thrill of returning to Broadway, the worst thing that ever went wrong for him on stage and going to the Tonys three times as a nominee (for Dirty Blonde, Suessical and The Addams Family musical). Kevin also talks about his on camera work in films like...
Dec 29, 2015•1 hr 17 min
Dennis welcomes Christie Strong to the breakfast nook to talk about her job as Brand Ambassador and Social Media Manager for Kiva Confections, a company that makes cannabis chocolate products. She tells the story of what lead her into the field after working in the entertainment business for years and gives Dennis a crash course in medical marijuana terminology. Dennis tells her about his very limited adventures in the medical marijuana world and Christie shares insights into what could have mad...
Dec 22, 2015•51 min
Dennis visits the Silver Lake home of Edward Boyd, one of the Executive Producers of E!'s The Soup, which is ending its run this Friday after 12 laugh-filled years. Ed talks about the show's beginning and evolution, how his dog Lou came to be a regular on the show, his favorite clips and moments and how it feels to be saying goodbye. He also confesses to helping build buzz for the show early on by commenting on TV message boards anonymously, reveals which guests got it and which didn't and recal...
Dec 14, 2015•1 hr 17 min
Dennis visits the Hollywood hills home of Dr. Gary Cohan, author of the Facebook blog Dr. Cohan's Medical Soapbox, to talk about his long journey on the front lines of the AIDS crisis. Gary talks about the current state of AIDS treatment, consulting on the movie "And the Band Played On," tending to Anthony Perkins during his final days and being interviewed by Entertainment Tonight in the wake of Charlie Sheen's HIV revelation. Gary also talks about being named by the Hollywood Reporter as one o...
Dec 07, 2015•1 hr 22 min
After Thanksgiving dinner in Palm Springs, Dennis and his friends Danny, Brett, Rich, Justin, Kassie and Christy answer questions from the observation deck, share stories, tease each other mercilessly and reveal what they're thankful for.
Nov 27, 2015•55 min
Poolside in St. Thomas, Virgin islands, Dennis chats with acrobat Rocco Lapaire who is currently performing on the Regal Princess cruise ship. Rocco talks about discovering his calling later than most acrobats, his best and worst gigs, conquering his fears, avoiding injuries and the time he blacked out on stage. Other topics include serving in the military in Iraq, taking off his shirt of stage, what he loves about his job and being a whiz at the Rubik's Cube. www.roccotheacrobat.com
Nov 17, 2015•35 min
Dennis visits the Hollywood home of actress Adrienne Wilkinson to talk about her hilarious new web series “Club 5150,” in which she plays a therapist dealing with a very challenging patient. She also talks about her big break role as Xena’s daughter on Xena: Warrior Princess, working with Lucy Lawless, learning to fight and what it's like to have hot lesbian fan faction written about you. Other topics include what it’s like to be in both the Star Wars and Star Trek universe, the surreality of fa...
Nov 08, 2015•1 hr 14 min
Dennis visits the Hollywood apartment of actor-producer Roy Cruz to talk about the return of his brainchild "Streep Tease," an evening of Meryl Streep monologues performed by men. Roy talks about the inspiration and evolution of the show, hearing back from Meryl's camp and why he chose the cerulean sweater speech from "The Devil Wears Prada," for his monologue in the show. Cameo appearances via voicemails are made by some of the other actors in the show--Matthew Bridges, Ryan O'Connor, Teddy Mar...
Nov 03, 2015•48 min
Dennis pays a visit to Steve Holzer, Executive Producer of the new entertainment news show "Hollywood Today Live" to talk about working on the show, his crazy hours (his alarm goes off at 3 AM) and putting together the show's talented young cast of co-hosts. Steve also talks about working as a "crash producer" on Access Hollywood, his fond memories of working on Kris Jenner's talk show and helping the Reelz Channel save the Miss USA Pageant this year after NBC dropped it, due to Trump. Other top...
Oct 26, 2015•55 min
Dennis sits down with Leslie L. Smith, author of the novel "Sally Field Can Plan the Transexual or I Was Cursed By Polly Holliday" to discuss the inspiration for the book, where that title comes from and the Internet troll who was offended at Sally's name being in the title of a gay book. Leslie talks about his love of lists, the hot-button topic of barebacking in the gay community that is explored in his novel and his most surprising fan. Other topics include: Leslie's experiences working for t...
Oct 21, 2015•1 hr 5 min
Dennis visits the LA home of actor Mark Cirillo to talk about his role as a counselor in the Netflix series "Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp." Mark tells fun stories about the A-listers he got to work with, including Amy Poehler, Chris Meloni, Bradley Cooper, Janeane Garafalo and Paul Rudd, talks about the short shorts he had to wear and recalls riding in a van with Bradley Cooper. Mark also talks about starring in the popular web series "Day Drunk Gays," appearing on the shows "Will ...
Sep 28, 2015•1 hr 11 min
Dennis visits the Echo Park apartment of actress and writer Nicol Paone to talk about her new one-woman show "Riding with Nicol," which takes place a top a double-decker bus that drives through Hollywood, passing notable spots like her ex's house, Charlie Chaplin's former office and the Pantages Theater. Nicol and Dennis share memories from The Big Gay Sketch Show (Nicol appeared on the show all three seasons, Dennis was a writer on Season 3) and the Glenn Close sketch they collaborated on. Nico...
Sep 23, 2015•1 hr 2 min
Dennis welcomes two of the funniest folks he knows to his living room; John Cantwell and Terrence Michael of the sketch comedy trio The Nellie Olesons (The third member is former podcast guest Nora Burns). John and Terrence talk about their new 20th anniversary show, Evil Never Dies, the origins of the group, tucking their junk between their legs to play women, and what's kept them into it for 20 frickin' years. Dennis and John recall their first meeting at the Splash bar in New York City and ho...
Sep 17, 2015•1 hr 14 min
Dennis visits the Hollywood apartment of actor-writer Jimmy Fowlie, creator of the hit webseries "Go-Go Boy Interrupted," about a shallow Weho go-go boy who turns 30 and has a total life crisis. Jimmy talks about his real-life experience go-go dancing at Tiger Heat, dancing with a cast on his arm, outfit choices, his go-go boy audition, drinking on the job, the "Clueless" connection, having his body rolls dissed, ageism in he gay world, getting thrown out of half the bars in West Hollywood and c...
Sep 09, 2015•1 hr 7 min
While visiting his friends Scott and Peter in Cambria, Dennis meets their friend Jan Flanigan, a former prison worker in Fresno who has created a whole new career for herself as a visual artist with the creation of her company Flytown Comics. Jan shares the poignant personal story that lead to her creating the original Flytown drawings, how she happened upon her unique medium (dead flies!) and the reaction she's recieved from fans and fellow artists. She also shares a horror story from her weddi...
Aug 17, 2015•50 min
Dennis visits the North Hollywood home of his friend Michael Anthony, who is the foundder of the Anonymous Initiative, a non-profit anti-bullying movement dedicated to helping all people overcome the things that bully them. Michael talks about the "It Gets Better" video he made that ultimately led to him creating the Initiative, stirring things up back to his hometown Wheeling, Illinois and how the whole experience led to him going back to school to get his Masters in Psychology. Dennis and Mich...
Aug 10, 2015•1 hr 3 min
Dennis heads to Silver Lake to interview Mark Christopher, the writer-director of "54: The Directors Cut" to talk about how this new version came to be, what it was like emotionally to go back and work on the film 17 years after shooting it and how the cast feels about having Mark's original vision finally see the light of day. Mark recalls the casting of then-newcomers Ryan Phillippe, Selma Hayek and Breckin Meyer, his vision of shooting Ryan like the statue of David, what made him interested i...
Jul 31, 2015•59 min
Dennis visits the production office of the ABC Family hit "The Fosters" on the Warner Bros. lot to talk to one of the creators of the show, Peter Paige. Peter talks about the inspiration for the show, how he met his producing partner Brad Bredeweg, how they got J Lo on board as Executive Producer, the gay prom episode he's so proud of and the outcry that erupted over the kiss between two 13 year-old gay characters on the show. Peter also shares memories from his time playing Emmett Honeycutt on ...
Jul 24, 2015•49 min
Previous episode guest, actor Sam Pancake (Lovespring International, Kitchen Confidential, Space Station 76) answers a slew of questions from the Observation Deck and recalls the worst job he ever had, his most glamorous night, voicemails from a crazy actor, Emmy green room stories, his favorite bad movie, his first exposure to a dirty magazine, his favorite job perk, the day from his childhood he'd like to relive and much much more.
Jul 09, 2015•39 min
Dennis visits the Hollywood home of actor Sam Pancake for a holiday weekend poolside hang and gabfest. Sam talks about his upcoming stage show with Drew Droege "You're Welcome: Celebrity Self-Help with Pyotr & Grimsley," how he balances big film & TV gigs gigs with scrappy fun stage gigs and how times have changed for gay actors in Hollywood. Sam also discusses what it was like the grow up in rural West Virginia, his unique last name and the lessons he's picked up from being "fame adjace...
Jul 06, 2015•1 hr 20 min
For this webseries-themed episode, Dennis visits the home and office of Joe Dietl, one of the producers and stars (along with Ben Zook and Rick Kopp) of the hit webseries "Where the Bears Are." Dennis's other guest is Kieran Turner, creator of the webseries "Wallflowers." The pair discuss the inspiration for their webseries, what it took to get them made and the heartening and surprising reactions they've gotten from fans. Joe also discusses becoming a bear sex symbol, rewarding his Kickstarter ...
Jun 30, 2015•1 hr 24 min
Dennis visits the Los Feliz apartment of Phil Scanlon, one of the co-directors - with DJ Paul V. - of "Dragstrip 66: The Frockumentary" an in-the works film about the legendary L.A. underground gay nightclub Dragstrip 66. They talk about their reasons for making the film, the night the cops raided the place, the celebs that showed up (Karen Black, Traci Lords, Lance Loud etc.), the club's clever themes (Thoroughly Modern Military, Vegas In Space, Night of a Zillion Jans...as in Brady) and what t...
Jun 16, 2015•1 hr 9 min
For this podcast, Dennis heads to West Hollywood to chat up the hilarious comedy duo Frangela, AKA Frances Callier and Angela V. Shelton about their adventures and misadventures in the comedy trade. They talk about racism in comedy clubs, what they've observed about today's youth from playing college gigs, what it took to get them on VH-1's "Best Week Ever," and the nightmare that was "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here." Al Roker goes down a little hard, Meryl Streep gets extra credit for bein...
Jun 06, 2015•1 hr 25 min
Dennis visits the Echo Park home of writer-drector Javier Fuentes-Leon to discuss his new thriller "The Vanished Elephant," which makes its US premier at the Los Angeles Film Festival on June 16th. Javier talks about the inspiration for the complex, engrossing mystery, the pressure of having to follow-up to his Sundance Audience Award-winning breakthrough "Undertow", the difference between shooting in the U.S. vs his home country of Peru--where both of his features have been set, and how the Out...
May 31, 2015•1 hr 29 min
Dennis welcomes Eliot Laurence to the booth of truth to talk about the movie he wrote, "Welcome to Me" starring Kirsten Wiig that is currently playing in selected theaters across the country, on VOD and on Itunes. Eliot talks about the inspiration for the offbeat story, getting Oprah to let the film use her clips, Kristen's nude scene in the casino, how hard it is to make James Marsden look less dreamy and Wes Bentley soulfully eating a cheeseburger. He also shares the Cinderella story behind ge...
May 21, 2015•1 hr 13 min
Dennis welcomes playwright Howie Skora to his home and the booth of truth to discuss Howie's new play "Miserable with an Ocean View," which debuts June 6th in Los Angeles. Howie discusses the origins of the play, his decision to mount it himself, and the mysterious clown character played by former podcast guest Drew Droege. Howie also recalls starting out as a stand-up comic in New York alongside Jon Stewart, Louis CK and Sarah Silverman, entering a bodybuilding contest, quitting his corporate g...
May 15, 2015•1 hr 12 min
For this episode, Dennis journeys to Cambria in Central California to catch up with his old pal Scott Williams. They met at an audition for Princess Cruises in the late 80's and have been friends ever since. While driving to the train at the end of Dennis's visit, they talk about their cruise ship memories, specifically how they relate to Dennis's new mini-e book, "Mariner's Club Mixtape," which was just released on Amazon.com They swap stories of performing disasters, amazing destinations, frie...
May 06, 2015•47 min
