Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast

Emmy award-winning writer Alan Zweibel started out in show business by peddling jokes to Catskills comics at seven bucks a pop, before a chance meeting with Lorne Michaels led to a staff job on the hottest new show on television, "Saturday Night Live." Alan joined Gilbert and Frank at the George Burns Room at the Friars Club to talk about the earliest days of SNL, co-creating the groundbreaking "It's Garry Shandling's Show" and collaborating with everyone from Gilda Radner to Rob Reiner to Billy Crystal. Also: Alan heckles Larry David's act, "borrows from" Paul Simon, turns down "Hollywood Squares" and inspires a classic "Seinfeld" episode. PLUS: Totie Fields! Christopher Lee! The subversiveness of "Duck Soup"! Uncle Miltie gets banned! And Gilbert tries (unsuccessfully) to follow The Beatles! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a young boy growing up in Queens, New York, Chuck McCann worshipped stars like Stan Laurel, Buster Keaton and Groucho Marx, and within a few years, he would find himself befriending (or working with) all of them. Gilbert and Frank phoned Chuck (one of THEIR childhood heroes) to talk about his unusual and unlikely journey from obsessed fan to celebrated screen, stage and voice performer and beloved kiddie show host. Also: Chuck hitches a ride on Hugh Hefner's jet, inspires Billy Crystal, writes a part for John Carradine and co-stars in a legendary TV flop. Plus: Hal Roach! Tim Conway! Lionel Barrymore! Chuck and Groucho hawk deodorant! Mae West "works" the docks! And Chuck asks Gilbert for a lollipop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 life. Also, we apologize for the first minute or so of audio. It sounds rough but it clears up and get MUCH better. You're not going to want to miss this ep! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Andy's life, and his theory of how his old friend and collaborator pulled off the greatest hoax in comedy history. Also, Eddie Murphy takes a phone call, Tony Clifton (or was it Jim Carrey?) invades the Playboy mansion and Garth Brooks (almost) portrays Bob on the big screen. PLUS: The ventriloquist team of Dick & Stinky! Andy gets a woody! Larry the Lobster gets a reprieve! Gilbert gets the axe at SNL! And a surprise guest crashes the podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Lorre! Margaret Hamilton! Susie roasts Jerry Stiller! Larry David pens a pilot for Gilbert! And the curse of the "Shiksa Goddess"! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Space Monster," his years-long friendship with the legendary Buster Keaton and his experience sharing a townhouse with Marlon Brando, Wally Cox and Maureen Stapleton. Also, James "sells" Craig T. Nelson a haunted house, a Boy Scout uniform leads to an acting career and a controversial "Jeffersons" episode nearly torpedoes a plum TV pitchman gig. PLUS: James parties with Clark Gable and Louis B. Mayer! Gilbert gets a one-cent residual check! Moe Howard recites from "The Tempest"! And James teaches a teenaged Michael Doug

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 Guest and Bill Murray and his years-long friendships with pals Paul Shaffer, Richard Belzer and Harry Shearer. Also: George Chakiris vs. George Maharis, Chevy Chase hitches a ride with Paul Lynde and 80-year-old Georgie Jessel phones his mom. PLUS: Stubby Kaye! Gert "Goldfinger" Frobe! Donald O'Connor's coat! Tom brunches with Jerry Lewis! And the return of Perfecto Telles! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 trip from tabloid celebrity to reality show "train wreck" to top-rated shock jock and radio show host. Also: Danny meets a young Richard Pryor, bangs up Sonny Bono's Porsche, runs afoul of an angry chimp and dukes it out with Donny Osmond and Greg Brady. PLUS: Ray Bolger! Mick Jagger! Whit Bissell! Shirley Jones sends Danny to his room! And David Cassidy displays his hidden "talent!" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 attempts at a Marx Brothers biopic and an It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World sequel. PLUS: Margaret Keane's existential crisis! Kelton the Cop demands a cameo! Gallagher vs. Gallagher II! "Ed Wood & Bela Lugosi: A Love Story"! And Scott and Larry meet the King of Pop! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 John (and Julian) Lennon and explains the mysterious disappearance of Chuck Cunningham. PLUS: Fonzie parts the Red Sea! Sly Stallone paints his windows black! Henry turns down "Grease"! And Gilbert "sings" the "Lords of Flatbush" theme! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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: Lon Chaney Jr.! Micky's mom meets "The Creeper"! The Monkees take on "Faust"! Harry Nilsson quits his day job! And Sgt. Bilko sings "Yesterday"! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Seinfeld and Larry David. PLUS: A Munchkin suicide hoax! Mayor McCheese cleans up! Buddy Hackett enjoys a strawberry malted! And Frank goes to a Stooge funeral! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 meets Houdini! "Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine"! Dueling Draculas! And Cesar Romero and Arnold Stang hit a strip joint! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Messiah! Gilbert as "Weezie" Jefferson! Asian Elvis! Perfecto Telles! And the first joke Bob ever wrote! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Jack Nicholson, why the Hell's Angels threatened to murder him AND take him to court, and why "a monster should always be bigger than a leading lady." Plus: "The Beast with (not quite) a Million Eyes"! Roger experiments with LSD! Peter Lorre messes with Boris Karloff's head! The "acceptable level of insanity"! And the enduring mystery of "The Terror"! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 make it big! And Ol' Blue Eyes demands a slice of pie! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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's greatest horror icons, Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. First, "Frankenstein's Daughter" SARA KARLOFF looks back on her father's most indelible and unforgettable roles, from The Monster to The Mummy to The Grinch, and tells us why her father always referred to this time of year as his "busy season." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 funnyman SHECKY GREENE in the wake of the much-publicized Gilbert-Shecky Friars Club feud! (it was just like the Begin-Sadat summit) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/adchoices

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: The origin of the Batusi! Liberace gets tough! Adam turns down the part of James Bond! And the Riddler goes to an orgy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices