One of Hollywood’s most admired and accomplished casting directors, Thurm played a key role in many of the most pivotal casting decisions in TV history. The book is must-have for pop culture lovers who spent their childhoods watching classic TV shows including Cheers, Taxi, Golden Girls, and Miami Vice—and/or anyone who binges these shows on cable. An added bonus: for Joel’s great stories about the movies Grease, Airplane, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. SEX, DRUGS and PILOT SEASON takes us on the wild ride of his career from working in the theatre with legends Pearl Bailey, Judy Garland, Ethel Merman, and Gloria Swanson to being part of the wise (and sometimes unwise) early career casting decisions involving Jason Bateman, Tom Cruise, Ted Danson, Farrah Fawcett, Don Johnson, Regina King, Madonna, Joaquin and River Phoenix and Susan Sarandon, to name a few. On the way, we learn “how the sausage was made” on shows that also include The A-Team, The Bob Newhart Show, Charlie’s Angels, Family, The Facts of Life, Family Ties, Fantasy Island, Knight Rider, L.A. Law, The Love Boat, The Rookies, and Starsky & Hutch. Because he was head of talent at NBC, Thurm also provides interesting insights about Seinfeld and The Golden Girls. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Collection is hosted by Brad Gilmore.
A production of Gilmore Media LLC.© 2025 Gilmore Media LLC. All rights reserved.
For inquiries, contact Brad at bradgilmore@cantwaitforever.com or visit bradgilmore.net.
Brad Gilmore is a Houston-based multimedia personality, author, and producer who has built a career at the intersection of sports, entertainment, and storytelling. Known to fans as The BOAT (“Best of All Time”), Brad has hosted and produced programming across ESPN Radio, CW39 Houston, and Reality of Wrestling alongside WWE Hall of Famer Booker T.He is the creator and host of The Collection, a podcast where he sits down with some of the most influential figures in film, television, and music. Brad is also an accomplished author, with forthcoming titles including Why We Love Back to the Future: 40 Years of Fandom, Flux Capacitors, and Timeless Adventures (Mango Publishing, 2025). His interviews, live events, and media work reflect his passion for pop culture and his gift for making conversations both insightful and entertaining.Beyond the microphone, Brad is committed to building platforms that spotlight creativity, amplify voices, and connect communities through media.
