Sun, Jan 6, 2019
Gilbert and Frank kick off 2019 by welcoming back the legendary Dick Cavett, who shares delightful anecdotes about Jack Benny, Stan Laurel, Truman Capote and Walter Winchell (among others) and looks back on memorable interviews with Orson Welles, John Lennon, Frank Capra, George Harrison and Laurence Olivier. Also, Peter Lorre fails an audition, Lily Tomlin storms off the stage, Bob Hope comes to Lincoln, Nebraska and Jack Paar sabotages "Fat Jack" Leonard. PLUS: Oskar Homolka. "Chuckles Bites the Dust". The return of Richard Loo. Johnny Carson disses Jerry Lewis. And Dick introduces Groucho at Carnegie Hall.
Sun, Jan 13, 2019
Oscar and Tony-winning actor Joel Grey drops by the studio to have a bit of fun at the co-hosts' expense, to share amusing anecdotes about Bob Fosse, Buck Henry, Larry Hagman and Lana Turner and to discuss his new Yiddish language version of "Fiddler on the Roof." Also, Rita Hayworth breaks hearts, Pat McCormick plays Grover Cleveland, Gilbert pulls out his George Jessel impression and Joel shares the stage with the late, great Eddie Cantor. PLUS: "Man on a Swing". Loving Jack Gilford. (and James Garner). Hal Prince saves the day. The genius of Will Jordan. And Joel remembers his dad, the legendary Mickey Katz.
Sun, Jan 20, 2019
Gilbert and Frank are joined by Emmy-winning writer and Tony-winning composer David Yazbek ("The Full Monty," "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," "The Band's Visit") for a funny and freewheeling conversation about the golden age of kiddie show hosts, the comedy albums of Spike Jones and Allan Sherman, the long-lost era of Top 40 radio and the trials (and triumphs) of composing music for the Broadway stage. Also, Jerry Lewis goes to therapy, Larry David whistles a happy tune, Gilbert remembers Kathleen Freeman and David weighs in on the "Baby, it's Cold Outside" controversy. PLUS: Umm Kulthum. "The Sammy Maudlin Show". "Richard Kind Theater". Moe Howard meets Officer Joe Bolton. And David critiques Gilbert's "musical" abilities.
Sun, Jan 27, 2019
Gilbert and Frank (joined by guest co-host Michael Giacchino) chat with Oscar-winning special effects artist (and GGACP fan) Dennis Muren, who praises the artistry of stop-motion animation, looks back on the early days of Industrial Light and Magic and shares behind-the-scenes stories from the making of modern classics "E.T.," "Jurassic Park" and "The Empire Strikes Back." Also, Marlon Brando ages gracefully, Irwin Allen breaks up the Marx Brothers, Michael gets nostalgic for the "Temple of Doom" mine car sequence and Dennis remembers longtime friends Forrest Ackerman and Ray Harryhausen. PLUS: "Flesh Gordon". The magic of Willis O'Brien. "Casablanca" in 3-D. Bob Burns recreates "The Exorcist". And Dennis breaks down the transformation scene from "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde".
Sun, Feb 3, 2019
Gilbert and Frank (aided by guest co-host Michael Weber) pay loving tribute to some of the artists and performers we lost in 2018, including John Mahoney, Barbara Harris, Tab Hunter, Margot Kidder and Bill Daily as well as former GGACP guests Ken Berry, Will Jordan, Charlotte Rae and Chuck McCann. Also in this episode: Laverne DeFazio makes good, Jerry Van Dyke breaks through, Burt Reynolds turns down 007 and Connie Sawyer opens for Sophie Tucker. PLUS: Marty Allen, war hero. The last surviving Munchkin. The magic of Ricky Jay. The villainy of Hal 9000. And Gilbert remembers his dear friend James Karen.
Sun, Feb 10, 2019
Writer-director Larry Charles ("Borat," "Seinfeld," "Curb Your Enthusiasm") joins Gilbert and Frank for an engrossing discussion on a wide range of topics, including humor as a survival tactic, the hazards of guerrilla filmmaking, the persuasive powers of Sacha Baron Cohen and the new Netflix show, "Larry Charles' Dangerous World of Comedy." Also, Mel Brooks sends up Bill Cullen, Jerry Lewis inspires Bob Dylan, Gilbert guest stars on "Mad About You" and Larry remembers the late, great Bob Einstein. PLUS: "Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp". The Zen of Jack Nicholson. The influence of Jackie Mason. Larry hangs with Huntz Hall. And the "Seinfeld" episode that never aired.
Sun, Feb 17, 2019
Gilbert and Frank are thrilled to (finally!) welcome actor and director John Astin, who looks back on a 60+ year career in films and television, recalls his collaborations with Doris Day, Cary Grant, Rod Serling and Jonathan Winters and reveals the positive impact that "The Addams Family" has had on his life. Also, John meets Groucho Marx, spoofs Hugh Hefner, records an early "rap" single and chews the scenery on "Batman." PLUS: "Evil Roy Slade". "I'm Dickens, He's Fenster". The genius of Nat Perrin. The strange death of Edgar Allan Poe. And John remembers his friends and co-stars Jackie Coogan and Carolyn Jones.
Sun, Feb 24, 2019
Gilbert and Frank sit down with another sought-after guest, Tony-nominated actor-director Austin Pendleton, for an entertaining conversation about the randomness of success, the myth of comic timing, the plight of character actors and the secret of surviving in a business without rules. Also, Austin directs Elizabeth Taylor, replaces Dustin Hoffman, turns down Robert Altman and shares the screen with Jackie Gleason, Jack Lemmon, Paul Newman and Barbra Streisand (to name a few). PLUS: "The Muppet Movie". The wisdom of Otto Preminger. The diplomacy of Billy Wilder. Groucho ad-libs. Orson Welles disses Stanley Kubrick. And Austin remembers the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Sun, Mar 3, 2019
The OTHER "Man from Uncle," TV icon David McCallum drops by the studio to talk about his days as a sex symbol and pop culture sensation, his lesser-known recording career, his star turn in a memorable "Outer Limits" episode and his roles in the film classics "A Night to Remember" and "The Great Escape." Also, David hosts "Hullabaloo," sings with Nancy Sinatra, cuts the rug with George Burns and shares a bill with Ray Charles and Ike and Tina Turner. PLUS: "Frankenstein: The True Story". The durability of "Ducky" Mallard. The secret origin of Illya Kuriyakin. John Huston torments Montgomery Clift. And David remembers his friend and co-star Robert Vaughn.
Sun, Mar 10, 2019
Gilbert, Frank and the GGACP team celebrate episode #250 by fielding questions, comments and requests from fans and listeners in California, Ohio, Indiana, Washington, South Carolina and even Australia. Also in this episode: Lon Chaney grows a 'stache, Jackie Mason makes his move, Marty Allen inspires the masses and Danny Thomas perfects the "spit take." PLUS: Rod Hull and His Emu. Iago sings again. In praise of Wacky Packages. The Richard Kind Fan Club. The genius of Bob Einstein. And Gilbert picks his favorite member of the Justice League.
Sun, Mar 17, 2019
Historian, bestselling author and "King of Comedy Lore" Kliph Nesteroff returns to the podcast to serve up an all-new assortment of scandalous showbiz tales and to hold court on a host of essential topics, including Hollywood's flirtation with fascism, the strange predilections of Bud Abbott and George Jessel, the mob's iron grip on the nightclub circuit and the rise and fall of celebrity fast food franchises. Also, Stu Gilliam goes berserk, Rock Hudson "marries" Jim Nabors, Groucho runs afoul of the FBI and Kliph gets a surprise phone call from Steve Martin. PLUS: The Mad Russian. Mickey Rooney's Weenie World. Hitler vs. the Three Stooges. Jerry Lewis pulls a gun. And Sammy Davis Jr. joins the Church of Satan.
Wed, Mar 20, 2019
Gilbert and Frank show their appreciation for previous guest Alan Alda by posting this M*A*S*H cast reunion show (from Alan's podcast "Clear + Vivid") as a special GGACP Weekend Bonus Episode (for those who may have missed it): M*A*S*H is the most beloved and one of the most watched TV shows of all time. It set viewing records that have never been broken and is ranked as one of the top 25 shows of all time. In this exclusive podcast, actors from this legendary show gather together for an uproarious and totally candid conversation about how they learned to connect with one another to create their special brand of entertainment on the screen and lifelong friendships off-camera. Join Alan Alda ("Capt.Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce"), Loretta Swit ("Maj. Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan"), Jamie Farr ("Sgt. Maxwell Q. "Max" Klinger), Mike Farrell (Capt. B. J. Hunnicutt), and Gary Burghoff (Cpl. Walter "Radar" O'Reilly) for this intimate gathering of your M*A*S*H pals. The gang invites you to share in the memories and the laughter. Mostly the laughter - after all this is the 4077th. This episode is sponsored by the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University.
Sun, Mar 24, 2019
"Serpentine!" Screenwriter-director Andrew Bergman regales Gilbert and Frank with behind-the-scenes stories from two of cinema's most unforgettable comedies, "Blazing Saddles" and "The In-Laws," and looks back on working with showbiz legends George Burns, Red Buttons, Maximillian Schell, Jack Warden and (notably) Marlon Brando. Also, Johnny Carson turns down the Waco Kid, Richard Libertini "destroys" Alan Arkin, Gilbert writes a fan letter to Lon Chaney Jr. and Andrew's dad pens gags for Victor Borge. PLUS: "Honeymoon in Vegas". The genius of Bob and Ray. Deconstructing "Duck Soup". Mel Brooks sends up "The Caine Mutiny". And Bert Parks sings to a Komodo dragon.
Sun, Mar 31, 2019
The legendary "Supermensch," talent manager and producer Shep Gordon joins Gilbert and Frank from his Hawaii home to share storied tales of his 50+ years in rock 'n' roll and to talk about the pitfalls of fame, the importance of "making history," the secret of client-manager relationships and the benefits of "bad" publicity. Also, Janis Joplin packs a punch, Cary Grant adopts a cat, Elton John gets showered in panties and Shep saves Raquel Welch from a wardrobe malfunction. PLUS: Wolfman Jack. The late, great Teddy Pendergrass. Groucho dishes dirt. Shep hangs with the Dalai Lama. And Alice Cooper gets fired out of a cannon.
Sun, Apr 7, 2019
Gilbert and Frank welcome actress Nancy Allen ("Carrie," "Dressed to Kill," "RoboCop") for an engrossing conversation about her 40+ year career in movies, her firsthand experience of Hollywood's "New Wave," her love of film noir and her memories of working with influential directors Hal Ashby, Brian De Palma, Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis. Also, Roger Moore holds court, John Belushi turns on the charm, Gilbert stands in for Sissy Spacek and Nancy sees a (very) rough cut of "Star Wars." PLUS: Remembering Martin Landau. The chaos of "1941". Abel Ferrara talks turkey. Michael Caine puts on a dress. And Nancy reveals the horrors of "RoboCop 2".
Sun, Apr 14, 2019
Lifelong Marx Brothers fanatics Gilbert and Frank are joined by a panel of Marx aficionados, including authors Robert S. Bader("Four of the Three Musketeers"), Josh Frank ("Giraffes on Horseback Salad") and Harpo's son, Bill Marx. Also: Chico works blue, Salvador Dali meets Louis B. Mayer, Harpo shares a bill with Allan Sherman and Bill visits the set of "Love Happy." PLUS: "The Big Store". Harpo goes to Russia. Groucho livens up the party. Zeppo inspires Cary Grant. And Bill reveals his favorite Marx Brothers movie.
Sun, Apr 21, 2019
Writer, comedian, filmmaker and original "Mystery Science Theater 3000" cast member J. Elvis Weinstein visits the podcast to talk about the early days of MST3K, the originality of "Freaks and Geeks," the perverse appeal of "Skidoo" (and "Robot Monster") and the long lost art of novelty records. Also, Gregory Peck taunts Nazis, Foster Brooks breaks character, "WKRP" inspires Tom Servo and Albert Brooks sends up Dickie "Mr. Jaws" Goodman. PLUS: "Ghost Dad". "Manos: The Hands of Fate". The eccentricities of Michael Des Barres. The abandoned Casey Kasem movie. Gilbert runs a Halloween scam. And J. Elvis reveals the Greg Kinnear donkey incident.
Sun, Apr 28, 2019
Tony-winning actor Paul Sand joins Gilbert and Frank to discuss the birth of improv comedy and the early days of Second City and shares his memories of working with Carol Burnett, Sid Caesar, Mary Tyler Moore, Zero Mostel and Barbara Streisand. Also, Judy Garland beats a retreat, Marcel Marceau joins the French Resistance, Paul tries on Harpo Marx's wig and a teenage Gilbert watches the filming of "The Hot Rock." PLUS: Elaine May. "The Mad Show". Praising Valerie Harper. The genius of William Goldman. And Paul stars in a memorable episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm".
Sun, May 5, 2019
Gilbert and Frank welcome screen legend Robert Wagner, who talks about his years as a 20th Century Fox contract player, shares his memories of making the film classics "Harper," "The Pink Panther" and "The Towering Inferno" and looks back on his decades-long friendships with Cary Grant, Paul Newman, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor and Spencer Tracy. Also, Fred Astaire charms the crowd, Dean Martin drops by the set, David Niven comes in from the cold and Robert guest stars in a memorable "Seinfeld" episode. PLUS: Lionel Stander. "It Takes a Thief". In praise of Robert Osborne. The genius of Blake Edwards. And Robert pays tribute to Hollywood's greatest character actresses.
Sun, May 12, 2019
Oscar-winning producer Irwin Winkler ("Rocky," "Goodfellas," "Raging Bull," "The Right Stuff") looks back on a half-century of movie-making and shares behind-the-scenes stories about working with Robert De Niro, Jane Fonda, Sydney Pollack, Martin Scorsese, Jessica Lange and Kevin Kline (to name a few). Also, Al Pacino walks off the set, Sly Stallone sticks to his guns, Jerry Orbach befriends a mobster and Irwin tackles the Hollywood blacklist. PLUS: "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" Remembering Burgess Meredith. Peter Bogdanovich rides again. Elvis replaces Julie Christie. And Irwin reveals the movies he never got to make.
Sun, May 19, 2019
A long sought-after guest, singer-actor-TV host John Davidson (finally!) joins Gilbert and Frank to talk about his six decades in show business, his admiration for stand-up comedians, his ability to play the role of "John Davidson" and his memories of working with Julie Andrews, Lucille Ball, George Carlin, Bob Hope and Elvis Presley. Also, John dines with Walt Disney, opens for Jack Benny, steers clear of Paul Lynde and guest-hosts "The Tonight Show" 87 times. PLUS: "The Streets of San Francisco". In praise of Peter Marshall. The sex appeal of Ricardo Montalban. Don Rickles lays it on the line. And John looks back on the golden age of variety shows.
Sun, May 26, 2019
Gilbert and Frank are joined by Grammy-winning singer-songwriter (and amateur comedian) Richard Marx for a conversation about the disappearance of "story songs," the futility of "chasing hit records," the long-lost art of commercial jingle writing and the versatility of film composers John Barry and Dave Grusin. Also, Charlie Chaplin pens a standard, Kenny Rogers pulls a shrewd move, Ben Gazzara pops into Gilbert's head and Tony Bennett and Bob Newhart remember Richard's dad, Dick Marx. PLUS: Earth, Wind and Fire. The genius of Burt Bacharach. Lionel Richie makes a phone call. Lenny Bruce plays Mister Kelly's. And Richard reveals the song he wishes he'd written.
Sun, Jun 2, 2019
By popular demand, legendary television writer Ron Friedman ("The Odd Couple," "The Andy Griffith Show," "All in the Family," "Barney Miller") returns to discuss the structure of storytelling, the importance of escapism and the inspirations for Captain Marvel and the Sub-Mariner and to regale Gilbert and Frank with all-new stories about Lucille Ball, Lenny Bruce, Tony Randall, Danny Thomas and (of course) Pat McCormick. Also, Jack Benny takes a stand, Carol Wayne dodges a bullet, John Huston tangles with Errol Flynn and Ron remembers his friend, the late, great Stan Lee. PLUS: Stump and Stumpy. Herve Villechaize's doppelgänger. Marilyn Monroe converts. Buster Crabbe teams with Chuck McCann. And Ron kills off a beloved fictional character.
Sun, Jun 9, 2019
Comedian and Roastmaster General Jeff Ross returns to the podcast (along with special drop-in guest Dave Attell) to talk about performing in the age of political correctness, using comedy as a teaching tool, the lesser-known stand-ups of the '50s and '60s and the Netflix series "Bumping Mics" and "Historical Roasts." Also, Aretha Franklin flips the bird, Jeff takes down Jerry Lewis, Dave gives props to Steve Martin (and Rod Serling) and the boys remember the never-aired New York Friars Club roasts. PLUS: "The Omega Man". Uncle Miltie whips it out. Gilbert boards the Maxi-Bus. Dave launches a new series. And Jeff pays tribute to the late, great Don Rickles.
Sun, Jun 16, 2019
Award-winning designer, author and pop culture historian Chip Kidd joins Gilbert and Frank for a lively (and educational!) conversation about memorable movie posters, Jewish comic book creators, the convoluted history of Captain Marvel and the 80th anniversary of the Caped Crusader. Also, King Kong goes to Japan, Andrew Wyeth inspires Charles M. Schulz, Gilbert plays a Superman villain and Chip designs the iconic "Jurassic Park" logo. PLUS: Tobor the 8th Man. Batman vs. Godzilla. In praise of Alex Ross. The strange death of Jack Cole. And Saul Bass directs the "Psycho" shower scene.