Oscar-nominated actor Gary Busey has been in over 150 movies, working alongside everyone from Barbra Streisand to Steven Seagal. On a recent visit to LA, Gilbert sat down with Gary to talk about his near-death experience, his character "process" and channeling the spirit of Buddy Holly. Also, Gary hosts "Saturday Night Live," spoons Mel Gibson, jams with Rick Danko and praises Gene Hackman. PLUS: Jack Elam! Jan-Michael Vincent! Rod Steiger eats a sandwich! And Gary tells Gilbert the meaning of l...
Feb 01, 2015•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 36
Writer, comedian and producer Bob Zmuda has had a busy career, performing, writing and producing comedy specials, co-creating the charity Comic Relief and collaborating with the late (??) great comedian/performance artist Andy Kaufman. Gilbert and Frank rang up Bob at his house in Lake Tahoe to talk about (among other things) his early days as half of the comedy duo Albrecht & Zmuda, his role in bringing the Kaufman biopic "Man on the Moon" to the screen, his controversial new book about And...
Jan 25, 2015•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 35
Although Susie Essman is best known to audiences for playing the acid-tongued Susie Greene on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm," she began her career as a stand-up comic, opening for people like Jerry Seinfeld, Richard Belzer and a young Gilbert Gottfried. For our first live episode (as part of the annual NYC Podfest) Gilbert and Frank sat down with Susie to talk about her obsession with Turner Classic Movies, her favorite "Curb" moments and how comedy saved her from a life of crime. Plus: Peter Lorr...
Jan 17, 2015•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 34
Character actor extraordinaire James Karen has appeared in over 80 movies, over 100 television shows and a staggering 5,000 TV commercials. In a career spanning nearly 7 decades (!), he's worked with Frederic March, Lauren Bacall, James Garner, Gene Hackman, Steven Spielberg, Jane Fonda, Robert Redford and Will Smith, to name but a few. Gilbert and Frank phoned James one recent Saturday night to cover a VERY wide range of topics, including his film debut in the immortal "Frankenstein Meets the S...
Jan 11, 2015•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 33
Veteran comedy writer Tom Leopold started out as an actor, working opposite James Mason, Robert Preston, Ted Knight and Wayne Newton before going on to create comedy material for legends Steve Allen, Bob Hope and Mary Tyler Moore and write on hit series like "Cheers" and "Seinfeld" (scripting the memorable "Babu" episode, among others). Tom sat down with Gilbert and Frank to talk about early acting roles on "Gunsmoke" and "Mannix," his days on the "National Lampoon Radio Hour" with Christopher G...
Jan 05, 2015•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 32
Actor, comedian and radio host Danny Bonaduce started in show business at age four and achieved fame at age ten as smart-alecky Danny Partridge on the hit sitcom "The Partridge Family." But within a year of the show's cancellation, he was homeless, battling substance abuse and piling up arrests. Gilbert and Frank dialed up Danny at his home in Seattle to ask him about his early roles on shows like "Bewitched" and "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir," his four years as a Partridge and his long, VERY strange...
Dec 29, 2014•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 31
Screenwriter/Producers Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski have written some of the most offbeat and imaginative movies of the last three decades, including Ed Wood, The People vs. Larry Flynt, Man on the Moon and the new Big Eyes (opening this week). Gilbert and Frank dropped by Scott and Larry's hotel as the boys prepped for their MOMA premiere to talk about everything from the success of their critically reviled debut film, Problem Child (featuring a certain shrill-voiced comedian) to their...
Dec 22, 2014•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 30
Manhattan-born Henry Winkler overcame a difficult childhood to carve out a memorable acting career that would see him work with everyone from Gene Kelly to Katherine Hepburn and portray one of TV's most indelible characters, Arthur "The Fonz" Fonzarelli. Gilbert and Frank dialed up Henry at his L.A. home to talk about his struggles with dyslexia, the genius of a young Robin Williams and Henry's enduring friendships with Ron Howard and John Ritter. Also: Henry helps discover Marlee Matlin, meets ...
Dec 15, 2014•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 29
Gilbert and Frank visit the George Burns Room at the historic New York Friars Club, where they're joined by actor, singer and musician MICKY DOLENZ for a fun and fascinating look back at "Monkeemania" and his own unlikely journey from 1950's child star ("Circus Boy") to 1960's pop/rock icon. Also, Micky drops in on a "Sgt. Pepper" recording session, makes movies with Jack Nicholson and Frank Zappa and hits the town with fellow "Hollywood Vampires" John Lennon, Keith Moon and Alice Cooper. PLUS: ...
Dec 07, 2014•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 28
Writer, journalist and pop culture expert STEVE COX is the author of more than twenty books on film and television, including books about Johnny Carson, The Three Stooges, The Addams Family, I Dream of Jeannie, The Munsters, It's a Wonderful Life and The Wizard of Oz. This week, Steve joins Gibert and Frank for a lively (and then some) conversation about Larry Fine's lady-killing, the unappreciated comic timing of Fred Gwynne and "Grandpa" Al Lewis, and Abbott and Costello's influence on Jerry S...
Dec 01, 2014•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 27
Former teen idol Frankie Avalon broke into show business as a child prodigy and was soon receiving 12,000 pieces of fan mail per week and working alongside Hollywood greats Jack Benny, Jackie Gleason, Lucille Ball, Groucho Marx and John Wayne. Frankie joined Gilbert and Frank for a look back at his humble beginnings in South Philly, his years as a teen heartthrob and his decades-long friendship with onscreen love interest Annette Funicello. Plus: The Duke makes Laurence Harvey cry! Buster Keaton...
Nov 24, 2014•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 26
In one of our more...er..."free-spirited" episodes, Gilbert's old pal BOB SAGET drops by the historic Friars Club to plug his New York Times bestseller "Dirty Daddy" and to look back on his early days in the biz, his 8-year gig as a wholesome sitcom patriarch and his friendships with Rodney Dangerfield and Don Rickles. Also, Bob starts his own hate society, dreams about Buddy Hackett and Buddy Ebsen and grills Gilbert about his most memorable "casting couch" experiences. PLUS: Sam Kinison as the...
Nov 17, 2014•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 25
Legendary B-movie king ROGER CORMAN has produced and directed over 400 films, giving early career breaks to actors like Robert De Niro, Sandra Bullock, Bruce Dern, Charles Bronson and Dennis Hopper and helping to launch the directing careers of Ron Howard, Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese and Peter Bogdanovich (among others). Gilbert and Frank phoned Roger in his Hollywood home to learn more about his life and fabled career, including where/how he first met longtime friend and collaborator ...
Nov 10, 2014•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 24
This week, music producer-turned-filmmaker BRIAN KOPPELMAN ("Rounders," "Runaway Jury," "Oceans 13") joins Gilbert and Frank to talk about everything from signing Tracy Chapman and Eddie Murphy to their very first record deals to working with celebrated actors John Turturro, Martin Landau and John Malkovich. Also, Brian trots out a Gilbert impression, names all four "Sweathogs" and heaps praise on "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre." PLUS: Al Pacino channels Paul Anka! The "Death Wish" muggers ma...
Nov 03, 2014•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 23
This week on "Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast," "Son of Dracula" BELA LUGOSI, JR. reminisces about visiting the set of "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" and points out what the film "Ed Wood" got wrong about his famous dad. PLUS: Karloff dances on "The Red Skelton Show"! Lugosi passes up the role of a lifetime! Sara meets the "Son of Gilbert"! And Bela Jr. takes a stand for The Three Stooges! Next, we get into the Halloween spirit by celebrating the lives of two of the screen'...
Oct 27, 2014•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 22
This week on "Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast," Gilbert's old boss ALAN THICKE joins us for a look back at the late, lamented talkfest "Thicke of the Night" and reminisces about everything from his short-lived disco career to scripting variety specials for Johnny Cash, Bobby Darin and Flip Wilson. Also, Alan and Gilbert swap wives, John Lennon praises commercial jingles and Paul Lynde drives into a ditch! Next up, comedy titans clash as we extend a peace offering to legendary funnym...
Oct 19, 2014•50 min•Ep. 21
The man with the #1 album in America, the wildly inventive Weird Al Yankovic joins us to talk about everything from the history of novelty records to why he's forbidden to make eye contact with Prince. Also, Gilbert flashes Marge Simpson, prays to a statue of Red Buttons and loses a part to 3' 9" Billy Barty. PLUS: Dueling Crazy Guggenheims! Irving Berlin vs. Mad magazine! "Disco" Art Fleming! And Weird Al's "Mount Rushmore of Comedy"! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoic...
Oct 11, 2014•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 20
To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Bob Kane and Bill Finger's Batman (and to coincide with this week's New York Comic Con) Gilbert and Frank tracked down the caped crusader of their childhoods, the legendary ADAM WEST, who shared memories of everyone from Gary Cooper to Jackie Gleason and joked about some of his more "challenging" gigs ("Voodoo Island" anyone?). Also, Adam duets with Dino, makes history with William Shatner and pays Gilbert one of the greatest compliments of his career. PLUS: ...
Oct 03, 2014•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 19
Emmy-winning actor JAY THOMAS is best known to audiences as doomed hockey star Eddie LeBec on "Cheers" and tabloid talker Jerry Gold on "Murphy Brown," but he's also a show business renaissance man, having worked as a stand-up comic, disc jockey, sportscaster and reality show host. Jay stopped by Gilbert's apartment on a late summer evening to share some hilariously candid anecdotes about everything from stealing Bill Cosby's jokes to getting kicked out of a "West Wing" audition. Also: Jay looks...
Sep 26, 2014•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 18
"Agent 99" herself, the funny and utterly charming Barbara Feldon invites Gilbert and Frank to her Manhattan townhouse to share warm memories of "Get Smart" co-stars Don Adams, Ed Platt and Bernie Kopell and gives us her take on the Steve Carell feature film version. Also, Barbara looks back on working with everyone from Dean Martin to Bruce Dern and tells us how she managed to win $64,000 on a quiz show. Plus: Gilbert channels John McGiver! A live rendition of the "99" song! Barbara auditions t...
Sep 17, 2014•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 17
Gilbert and Frank return to the legendary New York Friars Club to talk to the candid and colorful Danny Aiello about his uphill journey from Greyhound bus dispatcher to Oscar nominee. Also, Danny shares his memories of goofing around with Paul Newman, sightseeing with Rodney Dangerfield and singing backup for Bette Midler, and tells us why he's embarrassed by his role in the classic rom-com "Moonstruck." PLUS: Uncle Miltie meets Jack Ruby! Danny jokes about his notoriously fiery temper! Robert D...
Sep 13, 2014•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 16
Showtime recently aired "Quality Balls," a documentary about the life and surprisingly controversial career of legendary comedian, director and host of Showtime's "Inside Comedy" series, David Steinberg. Lifelong Steinberg fans Gilbert and Frank rang David up to talk about his friendships with Jack Benny and George Burns, his 140+ appearances on Johnny Carson's "Tonight Show" and how his standup act landed him on Richard Nixon's infamous enemies list. Also: the Smothers Brothers get hate mail! D...
Sep 08, 2014•57 min•Ep. 15
Five-time Emmy winner Bill Persky has led a charmed life in show business. Handpicked by comedy legend Carl Reiner to write (and eventually produce) "The Dick Van Dyke Show," Bill and partner Sam Denoff scripted many of the series' most memorable episodes, including "Coast to Coast Big Mouth" and "That's My Boy." Later, the duo would create the groundbreaking sitcom "That Girl" and write comedy specials for Bill Cosby and Mary Tyler Moore and Bill (now flying solo) would go on to produce and dir...
Aug 29, 2014•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 14
To kick off the launch of his new book, "Heroes of the Comics," Gilbert and Frank are joined by their favorite illustrator, the incomparable DREW FRIEDMAN. While sitting and admiring Drew's work adorning the walls of Manhattan's Society of Illustrators, we managed to cover everything from Drew and Gilbert's days at "National Lampoon" to Gilbert's Lon Chaney, Jr. obsession to the time a 15-year-old Drew paid a visit to the home of the legendary Groucho Marx. ALSO: why Drew is Howard Stern's favor...
Aug 25, 2014•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 13
With an epic marathon of 552 (!) episodes of "The Simpsons" launching this week (on cable channel FXX), Gilbert and Frank decided to sit down with someone who's been there from the very beginning (way back in 1988), writer, producer and former show runner, Mike Reiss. Mike joined the boys in Gilbert's Chelsea apartment to share a few "dark secrets" behind TV's longest-running prime time series, including the true story behind Itchy & Scratchy, how Groundskeeper Willie became a national hero,...
Aug 17, 2014•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 12
"Man of a Thousand Voices" Billy West has lent his unique talents to projects such as "Ren & Stimpy," Matt Groening's "Futurama," "Looney Tunes" cartoons and of course, "The Howard Stern Show," where he won over longtime listeners with his savagely funny impressions of Larry Fine, former Stern show writer Jackie Martling and late Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott. Gilbert and Frank rang up Billy at his home in Hollywood to compare notes on some of their favorite essential topics, including ...
Aug 09, 2014•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 11
Gilbert and Frank return to the famed New York Friars Club to sit down with Gilbert's old pal, magician-illusionist-comedian-provocateur Penn Jillette of Penn & Teller fame. In an amusing (and highly informative) hour, Penn shares some fond memories of Johnny Carson, George Carlin and Jerry Lewis, explains how his love of jazz inspired the hit 2005 documentary "The Aristocrats" (a movie he co-conceived and co-produced) and reveals the real, no-"Bullshit" story behind the death of legendary s...
Aug 03, 2014•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 10
Before Paar, Carson, Letterman, Leno and Fallon there was Joe Franklin. The talk show legend and showbiz historian is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the host of the longest running talk show in history (43 years and 300,000 guests, give or take) and often credited with inventing the format itself. Gilbert and Frank dropped in on Joe's infamously cluttered (an understatement!) Times Square office to nosh on chicken salad, dodge falling stacks of collectibles and ask the "King of ...
Jul 28, 2014•57 min•Ep. 9
Child actor Butch Patrick was barely 11 years old when he was asked to screen test for a CBS "family sitcom" and within hours, his life was forever changed. To mark the 50th Anniversary of the debut of one of TV's strangest (and most enduring) shows, "The Munsters," Gilbert rings up Eddie Munster himself to find out how he first landed the part way back in 1964, why the original Marilyn was replaced and if he still has his old "Woof Woof" doll. Also, Butch speaks with surprising candor about ove...
Jul 21, 2014•55 min•Ep. 8
Millions of movie buffs know Robert Osborne as the elegant, erudite film historian and host of Turner Classic Movies, but few know that he spent time as a struggling actor, was mentored by comedy legend Lucille Ball, and even appeared in the pilot of "The Beverly Hillbillies" -- a show he was certain would "never catch on." A while back, Gilbert sat in as TCM's "Guest Programmer" and now Robert generously returns the favor by traveling to Manhattan's Society of Illustrators on an oppressively ho...
Jul 14, 2014•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 7
