Shows
This Is Not A BitHolly and Barry Tashian (music legends who have crossed paths with everyone from The Beatles to Emmylou Harris)Holly and Barry Tashian exemplify the best in the music industry - people who truly love the live music experience, and whose love of music conveys to their audience wherever they perform. They went to high school together in New England before marrying and performing music together. Barry's band The Remains opened up for The Beatles in 1966 on their final U.S. tour. After The Remains split up, Barry recorded with Gram Parson and Emmylou Harris. Later, both Holly and Barry performed with Harris, leading to a long and fruitful collaboration. Holly and Barry now live in Nashville, and the...
2022-10-1754 minThis Is Not A BitShel Talmy (producer of The Who's "My Generation," The Kinks' "You Really Got Me," David Bowie's debut single)Shel Talmy produced records that set the templates for hard rock and punk rock. After growing up in Chicago and learning the art of sound engineering in Los Angeles, he began his career as a producer in London in the early ‘60s. The list of the records he produced is staggering - singles by The Kinks (“You Really Got Me”, “All Day And All Of The Night,” “Sunny Afternoon”), by The Who (“My Generation”, “The Kids Are Alright”, “I Can’t Explain”), and even David Bowie’s debut single. He also produced the great “Friday On My Mind” by the Easybeats, and he worked with Man...
2022-03-0335 minThis Is Not A BitMichael Lembeck (director on "Friends," "Everybody Loves Raymond," and "Mad About You")
2022-03-0350 minThis Is Not A BitPaul Dooley (actor in “Breaking Away,” “Sixteen Candles,” “The Runaway Bride,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” "Waiting For Guffman")Paul Dooley is a legend of acting, improvising, and writing. He has played beloved father roles in such films as “Breaking Away,” “Sixteen Candles,” and “The Runaway Bride,” as well as Larry David’s father-in-law in “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” When Paul first moved to New York City from his home state of West Virginia, he contacted his college friend, the one and only Don Knotts, who helped Paul find acting work. From that connection, he later joined the New York City branch of “Second City” with Alan Arkin and Barbara Harris, and later starred on Broadway in “The Odd Couple” under the direction...
2022-03-0336 minThis Is Not A BitTribute to Television Comedy Writing Pioneer Lucille KallenIn this episode, we pay tribute to the late, great Lucille Kallen, a true pioneer in television comedy writing. Born in Los Angeles and raised in Toronto, Lucille’s first love was piano, but she soon showed her comedy chops writing live sketches at a “borscht belt” resort in New York’s Pocono Mountains. Based on the strength of her live sketches, she was recruited in 1949 to serve as co-head writer for Sid Caesar’s “Admiral Broadway Review” (later “Your Show Of Shows”), the very first nationally televised comedy sketch program. Her fellow head writer was Mel Tolkin, and the writing staff so...
2022-03-0335 minThis Is Not A BitRichard Edlund - Part 1 (Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor on original "Star Wars" trilogy" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark"))
2022-03-0331 minThis Is Not A BitTamra Davis (director of "Billy Madison," "Half-Baked", countless classic music videos)
2022-03-0342 minThis Is Not A BitMimi Pond (writer on "The Simpsons" and "Designing Women") and Wayne White (art director for videos by Peter Gabriel and Smashing Pumpkins)Mimi Pond and Wayne White are a creative couple extraordinaire. They first met at one of Wayne’s puppet shows in New York City in the early ‘80s. Both Mimi and Wayne went on to make their mark on American culture, starting on Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, where Mimi served as a writer and Wayne as a puppeteer and art director. Mimi went on to write the first full episode of “The Simpsons,” as well as writing on “Designing Women.” Wayne went on to work on the CBS series “Beakman’s World” and art directing the videos for Peter Gabriel’s “Big Time” and The Smash...
2022-03-0339 minThis Is Not A BitRichard Edlund - Part 2 (Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor on original "Star Wars" trilogy" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark")
2022-03-0348 minThis Is Not A BitJon Wilkman (documentarian and author)Jon Wilkman is an author and award-winning filmmaker whose work has appeared on the major networks, PBS, HBO and A&E. His seven-part Turner Classic Movies series, “Moguls and Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood,” was nominated for three Emmys. A founding member and three-term president of the International Documentary Association, Jon’s most recent book is “Screening Reality, How Documentary Filmmakers Reimagined America.” His previous book, “Floodpath,” was an Amazon Nonfiction Book of the Year.In this interview, Jon talks about the fragility of the public’s perception of “truth” and how documentary filmmakers have contributed to that perception ov...
2022-03-031h 03This Is Not A BitAndy Cowan (writer for "Seinfeld," "Cheers," "3rd Rock From The Sun")Andy Cowan has a comedy resume anybody would be envious of. After a stint as a stand-up in the late ‘70s at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles (alongside such comics as David Letterman), Cowan became a talent coordinator at the legendary Merv Griffin Show, where he met such luminaries as Sir Laurence Olivier, Andy Kaufman, Ethel Merman, Tony Curtis, and Orson Welles (the day before he died). Cowan then went on to write for some of the top sit coms in television history, including “Cheers,” “Seinfeld,” and “Third Rock From The Sun.” In this interview, Cowan explains the origins of the “O...
2022-03-0345 minThis Is Not A BitBarnet Kellman (director on "Murphy Brown," "Mad About You," "Designing Women," "ER")Barnet Kellman is a master in both the practice and teaching of comedy. After getting his start directing and acting in live theater, he became a director in both film and television. His films include “Straight Talk” with Dolly Parton and “Key Exchange” with Brooke Adams. He has directed countless television programs, including the pilots for “Murphy Brown” and “Mad About You,” as well as episodes of “Designing Women,” “Ally McBeal,” “Alias,” “The George Lopez Show,” and “ER.” He currently serves as the Robin Williams Endowed Chair in Comedy at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. In this interview, Barnet discusses his collaboration with Gen...
2022-03-0350 minThis Is Not A BitBill Grundfest (founder of The Comedy Cellar in New York City, co-writer of "Pryor Offenses" with Richard Pryor)
2022-03-031h 022022-03-0343 min2022-03-0337 minThis Is Not A BitDanny Jolles (actor in "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend," stand-up comedian)Danny Jolles is an actor-writer-filmmaker-comedian-singer-dancer-podcaster - a true multihyphenate. He is best known for his role as George on the CW’s “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” created by and starring his friend, Rachel Bloom. Danny and Rachel met when they were in the NYU sketch group Hammerkatz, later appearing in each other’s sketch videos. Danny began his stand-up comedy career in New York City before moving to Los Angeles, and he has performed stand-up on such programs as “Late Night With Stephen Colbert”. Danny’s rom-com “Blowing Up Right Now,” about a recently-separated couple coping with the imminent apocalypse, has shown at numerous film...
2022-03-0337 minThis Is Not A BitHarvey Brooks (bassist with Bob Dylan, Miles Davis, The Doors, and Mama Cass Elliot)Harvey Brooks is one of the most respected and emulated bassists and producers in the history of rock and jazz music. After being the lucky recipient of a B.B. King record at a synagogue dance contest as a kid, he was inspired to pursue playing the blues and R&B. After playing live gigs tirelessly for years, his old friend, keyboardist and guitarist Al Kooper, invited Harvey to a Bob Dylan recording session to play bass, the tracks of which became the seminal “Highway 61 Revisited” album. Harvey went on to appear on a mind-blowing string of classic...
2022-03-0346 minThis Is Not A BitJerry Schatzberg (ground-breaking photographer and film director)Jerry Schatzberg is a paragon of perseverance, who paid his dues to become one of the most influential photographers and filmmakers of the late 20th century. After getting his start with baby and catalogue pictures, he worked his way up to photographer at Vogue and Glamour magazines, where he initially met music industry executives like Atlantic Records President Ahmet Ertegun. After befriending Bob Dylan, Jerry’s pictures were used on the covers of Dylan’s first book, “Tarantula,” and the “Blonde On Blonde” album. Jerry went on to photograph some of the most famous people in the world, including The Beatles, Are...
2022-03-0359 minThis Is Not A BitJames Ward Byrkit (director of "Coherence," co-writer of Oscar-winning film "Rango")James Ward Byrkit is an innovative filmmaker whose projects range from blockbuster, big-budget tentpoles to low-budget, personal films. Raised in Flagstaff, Arizona, Jim was first inspired by Star Wars, the Twilight Zone television series, and musicals like West Side Story. These classics influenced his work as a story-board artist and conceptual consultant on the “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy, including his suggestion to director Gore Verbinski that the first film have a musical number. Jim also co-wrote the Oscar-winning hit film “Rango.” Between big-budget projects, he directed and co-wrote the mind-blowing 2014 sci-fi film “Coherence,” currently streaming on Amazon, Hulu and iTunes. In...
2022-03-0330 minThis Is Not A BitJonathan Taplin (producer of "Mean Streets" and "The Last Waltz," former road manager for Bob Dylan and The Band)Jonathan Taplin has found a unique and historic niche in the arts, in academia and in the public sphere. As a folk and blues fan in the early ‘60s, he watched performances by singers like Doc Watson, Muddy Waters, Mississippi John Hurt, Skip James, and Son House.Shortly after graduating from Princeton, Taplin became the road manager for Bob Dylan and the Band, touring the world with a perspective few others have had. Taplin had the rare opportunity to witness Dylan and The Band jam after hours with The Beatles, Neil Young, and many others.
2022-03-0345 minThis Is Not A BitJudy Rothman Rofé (Emmy-winning writer and producer of "Julie's Greenroom" with Julie Andrews)Judy Rothman Rofé is an Emmy-winning writer, producer, and lyricist behind some of the most popular children’s television programs in recent memory. Growing up a fan of musical theater, as well as rock and folk music, Judy’s songs have appeared on such programs as “Sesame Street” (sung by the late “Big Bird” puppeteer Caroll Spinney). Judy wrote and developed such series as “Madeline,” “Angelina Ballerina,” “Camp Candy” (with the late John Candy), and “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventures.” Judy co-created the Netflix series “Julie’s Greenroom” with Julie Andrews and her daughter, Emma. Judy’s current series is “Norman Picklestripes” on Universal Ki...
2022-03-0346 minThis Is Not A BitK Callan (actor in "Knives Out," “All In The Family,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Nip/Tuck,” “One Day At A Time,” “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” and “Veep”)Acting in a critical and commercial hit like Rian Johnson’s “Knives Out” is nothing new for actress K Callan. Throughout her storied career, she has appeared in numerous hit projects, including “All In The Family,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Nip/Tuck,” “One Day At A Time,” “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” and “Veep.” K even appeared in commercials with former podcast guest Paul Dooley. She is once again delighting audiences with her portrayal of the mysterious and hilarious Greatnana Wanetta, the matriarch of the dysfunctional Drysdale family in the Oscar- and Golden Globe-nominated “Knives Out”. In this interview, K recalls...
2022-03-0346 minThis Is Not A BitLaura Davis-Chanin and Michael Alago (co-writers of “I Am Michael Alago: Breathing Music. Signing Metallica. Beating Death.”Michael Alago and Laura Davis-Chanin have both lived rock ’n' roll from a unique insider’s perspective. As an A&R executive for Elektra Records starting in the early ‘80s, Michael signed such bands as Metallica and White Zombie to their first major label contracts, as well as signing veteran artists like John Lydon/Public Image Ltd., Cyndi Lauper, Nina Simone and many others. Laura was the drummer in the seminal New York City punk band The Student Teachers, opening for artists like Iggy Pop and MC5, and she co-wrote multiple songs for Blondie. Michael and Laura met during the prime...
2022-03-0351 minThis Is Not A BitMichael Blieden (executive producer on HBO's "South Side")Michael Blieden, along with fellow former “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” writers Bashir Sallahudin and Diallo Riddle (and Bashir’s brother, Sultan), form the creative backbone of the HBO series “South Side.” In this interview, Blieden discusses the genesis and creative decision-making of “South Side,” and how it stems from the team’s bonding on “Late Night.” Blieden discusses how his play “Melvin Goes To Dinner” was turned into a movie by director (and later “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul” actor) Bob Odenkirk, which led to his directing “The Comedians of Comedy” with Patton Oswald, Zach Galifianakis, Maria Bamford and Brian Posehn (one of the...
2022-03-0341 minThis Is Not A BitMalcolm Cecil (producer for Stevie Wonder, Billy Preston, The Isley Brothers, The Doobie Brothers, and Gil Scott-Heron)Malcolm Cecil helped shape the sound of 1970s soul, funk and R&B as co-producer and engineer of the some of the most iconic albums and singles of all time. Malcolm collaborated with such luminaries as Stevie Wonder, Billy Preston, The Isley Brothers, The Doobie Brothers, and Gil Scott-Heron. He designed and constructed one of the earliest and largest analog synthesizers in the world (nicknamed TONTO), and recorded one of the first albums comprised entirely of synthesized audio. In this interview, Cecil discusses his early musical experiences in England, leading to his role as principal bassist for the...
2022-03-031h 12This Is Not A BitMark Schiff (stand-up comedian, opener for Jerry Seinfeld)Mark Schiff has been slaying audiences with his stand-up comedy since the late ‘70s, getting his start at such legendary New York City clubs as Catch a Rising Star, The Improv, and The Comic Strip. He paid his dues just to get a few minutes of recurring stage time, and in the process met such up-and-coming comics as Jerry Seinfeld, Paul Reiser, Gilbert Gottfried, George Wallace, Larry Miller and Joe Piscopo. Mark now tours the U.S.A. with Seinfeld, in addition to being a columnist for the Los Angeles Jewish Journal. In this interview, Mark recalls being inspired as a...
2022-03-0352 minThis Is Not A BitMartha Wash (singer on "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now" and "It's Raining Men")Martha Wash is a singer of unparalleled power and soul, and has one of the most recognizable voices in music. Martha was raised in San Francisco, and started singing at age 3 after having heard her mother’s gospel records. Martha sang for her church choir, and had the benefit of an older brother who played guitar with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Taj Mahal. Her early influences included gospel artists like Mahalia Jackson, as well as Motown records from The Supremes and The Temptations. Martha’s high school choir recorded four albums in a professional studio and tour...
2022-03-031h 06This Is Not A BitJane Morris and Jeff Michalski (Second City and Fanatic Salon improv innovators and teachers)Ever wondered who helped Stephen Colbert, Chris Farley, Amy Sedaris, and Paul Dinello to hone their comedy chops when they were starting their careers? Our guests, Jeff Michalski and Jane Morris, have directed, taught, and worked with these and countless other improvisers and writers, encouraging their originality and unique comedy voices. Through their theater, Fanatic Salon in Culver City, Jeff and Jane bring the skills they developed at Second City in Chicago to new generations of improvisers and writers in Los Angeles and beyond. Jeff and Jane discuss working with improv legends Del Close and Paul Sills, taking acting cl...
2022-03-0355 minThis Is Not A BitMegan Williams and Eleanor Bingham Miller (producers of documentary "Boston" and video journalism pioneers)Megan Williams and Eleanor Bingham Miller are producers of the fascinating and heart-wrenching documentary “Boston” about the history of the Boston Marathon, the tragic 2013 terrorist bombing at the finish line, and how the Marathon came back the following year. Narrated by Boston native Matt Damon, the documentary (which is available on Amazon Prime and iTunes) highlights the marathon’s symbol of strength in the face of adversity, as well as the struggles faced by women, disabled contestants, and others to be included in the race. The theme of a community rebuilding itself after unspeakable tragedy is as resonant today as ever...
2022-03-0335 minThis Is Not A BitMichael Beinhorn (producer for Soundgarden, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Herbie Hancock and Aerosmith)Michael Beinhorn takes being a producer very seriously. This singularity of purpose shows in the ground-breaking albums he’s produced, including Soundgarden’s “Superunknown,” The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Mothers Milk” and “Uplift Mofo Party Plan,” Herbie Hancock’s “Future Shock,” and many more. Michael has worked with such artists as Ozzy Osbourne, Aerosmith, Hole, Violent Femmes, and Soul Asylum. Michael was also a member of the legendary genre-defying New York band Material in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.In this interview, Michael discusses his “alternate reality” approach to producing Herbie Hancock, why “Superunknown” shouldn’t be thought of as a “grunge” record, and w...
2022-03-0345 min