Media Path Podcast

From the wonderfully eccentric guests of Late Night with David Letterman to the groundbreaking political satire of The Daily Show, Madeleine Smithberg has spent her career finding the funny in unexpected places.

As a longtime Letterman segment producer and co-creator of The Daily Show, Madeleine helped shape two of television's most influential comedy institutions. She joins Weezy and Lisa to share behind-the-scenes stories of her remarkable career and to discuss her upcoming book, Finding the Funny.

Madeleine's comedic education began early, growing up in a Jewish-Catholic household where humor was a family tradition and where her father introduced her to the great silent-film comedians.

By age nine, she was so obsessed with The Dick Van Dyke Show that she feigned illness for six weeks to stay home and watch reruns. After college and a semester abroad, her Italian fluency landed her a TV career that eventually opened an unexpected door into Late Night with David Letterman. In a seismic existential collision, she learned she'd landed the job the moment her boyfriend broke up with her. The ensuing 'emotional rainbow,’ as she describes it, ended with a pot of comedy gold.

At Letterman, Madeleine developed a preternatural instinct for what would amuse and delight Dave, scouring the globe for peculiar hobbies, personalities, obsessions, and stories that could forge indelible television.

She recalls the pre-internet challenge of guest scouting to uncover avid bee enthusiasts, monkey, sheep and turtle trainers, and folks who collect buttons, hair, nuts, and potato chips

She also offers insights on working with animal expert Jack Hanna, the unpredictable nature of civilian and animal guests, and the memorable occasion when a flock of sheep wandered into the neighboring news set.

Madeleine then takes us inside the creation of The Daily Show, which she developed with fellow comedy trailblazer Lizz Winstead. She reveals how Comedy Central executive Doug Herzog persuaded her to take the leap by promising a full year on the air without requiring a pilot, and how the network gave her the freedom to assemble an extraordinary team of comedic talent which came to include Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Steve Correll and Mo Rocca. She then shares how her cat gets credit for the show's signature closing feature, a “Moment of Zen.”

From a childhood spent studying television comedy to a career devoted to reinventing it, her story is a celebration of curiosity, creative risk-taking, and the art of finding humor in the ordinary and extraordinary. Plus, we explore Lisa's viral social media posts and what's feeding Weezy's reality competition series obsession!

Path Points of Interest:

Madeleine Smithberg

Madeleine Smithberg on Facebook

Madeleine Smithberg on Instagram

Madeleine Smithberg on Wikipedia

Finding The Funny by Madeliene Smithberg

Pre-Order Finding The Funny by Madeliene Smithberg

Larry David has spent his career turning social discomfort, petty grievances, and everyday aggravations into comedy gold. But what truly explains the man behind Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm? The answer takes about 576 pages.

Author Blake J. Harris spent six years studying and writing and his book, Emperor of Nothing: The Making Of Larry David, is an expansive and revealing portrait of one of television's most original, and uncompromising, creative minds. Blake joins Weezy and Lisa (herself a veteran of Larry David Enterprises!) to share what he discovered about Larry,’ his life, his work, and his relentless determination to do things his own way.

After the unexpected political controversy surrounding his previous book about Oculus founder Palmer Luckey, Blake was ready for a project that would bring him some joy. Enter Larry David, who initially hated the idea of someone writing a book about him.

Blake recounts how he won Larry over by talking baseball rather than asking predictable Seinfeld episode questions, and how an unexpected revelation about the Seinfeld finale helped establish their rapport.

Blake traces Larry's journey from his childhood to his early stand-up days, when Larry was notorious for waking off stage if his rapport with the audience was not to his liking. Jerry Seinfeld was a young comic who completely understood and appreciated Larry’s riffs and Rhythms. One night at a birthday party for Carol Leifer, Carol had imbibed to the point where she felt ill-suited to read some birthday jokes that Larry had written for her. So, Jerry read them, marking the first time Larry’s words came out of Jerry’s mouth. It felt pretty good.

The two decided to team up when Jerry was offered a special which became Seinfeld. It was Larry's perfectionism and Jerry's levelheadedness that made Seinfeld both a triumph and a source of tremendous stress for Larry who needed every episode to be exactly right.

From Larry's insistence on absolute creative control, even as a struggling comic and screenwriter, to how he balked at the idea of friends and colleagues saying nice things about him in the book, a portrait emerges of a man who has an exacting vision of how he wants the world to see him, and will go to extremes to ensure that view is maintained.

The conversation also explores the origins of Curb Your Enthusiasm, which grew out of an HBO stand-up special featuring improvised scenes with Larry and his manager, played by Jeff Garlin, plus our own Lisa Arch has appeared in Seinfeld and Curb so in a fun reversal, Blake asks Lisa to compare the tone and culture on each set.

Blake is still somewhat in awe of the extraordinary access and unexpected friendship that developed over six years of researching and writing the first authorized Larry David biography. It's a fascinating look at the creative genius behind two landmark television comedies, and a man whose refusal to play by the rules helped redefine the rules of comedy.

Path Points of Interest:

The Emperor Of Nothing by Blake J. Harris

The Emperor Of Nothing by Blake J. Harris on Apple Books

Blake J. Harris on Facebook

Blake J. Harris on X

Blake J. Harris Amazon Author Page

Console Wars by Blake J. Harris on Wiki

Seinfeld on Netflix

Curb Your Enthusiasm on HBO

Life, Larry And The Pursuit Of Unhappiness on HBO

Nancy Olson Livingston joins Weezy and Lisa for a captivating journey through Hollywood's Golden Age and show business history, all seen through the eyes of a woman who was there for so many of its defining moments. Her memoir is titled A Front Row Seat and wait until you hear what she has witnessed!

Nancy Olson (now 98!) was once a UCLA student and a Paramount contract player learning every facet of filmmaking by simply spending time on the studio lot, where she first caught the attention of director Billy Wilder during the shooting of her screen debut in Canadian Pacific.

Impressed by her wholesome Midwestern authenticity, Wilder cast her as Betty Schaefer in Sunset Boulevard.

Nancy offers a fascinating look at Wilder's unique directing style which involved extensive rehearsals before shooting only one take! She then recounts the memorable love scene with William Holden that took an unexpected turn when Holden's wife interrupted their steamy embrace with a very emphatic "Cut!"

Although Nancy stepped away from Hollywood (Marrying Alan J. Lerner) before any of her first four films were even released, the success of Sunset Boulevard drew her back to the screen.

She returned at the personal invitation of Walt Disney to star in Pollyanna and then The Absent Minded Professor and she relished every moment spent working with the consummate professionals at Disney.

While married to legendary lyricist Alan Jay Lerner, Nancy played an instrumental role in reuniting the stellar songwriting team of Lerner and Loewe!

After an estrangement, she helped bring them back together and paved the way for the creation of My Fair Lady, a musical Lerner ultimately dedicated to her. She recalls serving as an unofficial first audience for the now-iconic, "The Rain in Spain!”

Nancy’s next chapter begins with her marriage to Capitol Records Exec Alan Livingston. The first time he played her music by a new British band called The Beatles she was not impressed but she did hatch the idea for the hottest ticket of the 60s, the Meet The Beatles garden party which took place at her parents’ home in Brentwood and raised money for charity while Hollywood insiders got to introduce their kids to The Beatles!

Nancy was also present at an inauguration night after party, in 1960, when she answered a knock at the door to find JFK standing there and just needing some quiet reflection with close friends before embarking on his next enormous task.

Plus, Weezy is recommending Season Three of the Podcast, The Telepathy Tapes and Lisa is re-binging Parks and Rec.

Path Points of Interest:

A Front Row Seat by Nancy Olson Livingston

Nancy Olson Livingston on IMDB

Nancy Olson Livingston on Wikipedia

The Telepathy Tapes

If you've ever found yourself quacking, Aflac!, singing "I don't wanna grow up, I'm a Toys 'R' Us Kid," or yearning for your own Yes! Yes! Yes! Herbal Essences shower moment, you've experienced the work of advertising legend Linda Kaplan Thaler.

A member of the Advertising Hall of Fame and one of the industry's most influential creative minds, Linda joins Weezy to discuss her new memoir, My Life in 30 Seconds, and share the remarkable stories and wisdom behind some of America's most iconic ad campaigns, proving that sometimes 30 seconds is all that’s required.

Linda tells us the story behind the Toys "R" Us jingle, co-written with pre-bestselling coworker, James Patterson. She was convinced it was a dud until four and five-year-olds began singing her words back to her. Gee whiz!

Linda takes listeners behind the scenes of her greatest hits, filling us in on the Aflac duck’s origin story. He was born a small quack from a coworker. Linda said, “Keep quacking,” and through a combination of animatronics, real ducks, and Gilbert Gottfried, one of the most recognizable mascots in advertising history was born. The duck now adorns the company logo.

The conversation is filled with unforgettable encounters, from collaborating with Stevie Wonder on a Kodak campaign and bringing tears to the eyes of Mike Tyson, to an embarrassingly hilarious phone call with President Bill Clinton during his 1992 campaign.

Linda’s go-to tools include: encouraging silliness, taking chances, collaborative brainstorming, a ton of research, and the “yes, and…” rules of improv. She brought a Cherry Coke to a ten-minute interview with Warren Buffett. It’s his favorite drink. He gave her two hours.

And in keeping with her book's objective of life-altering wisdom delivered in bite-size portions, Linda shares Harry Truman’s famous quote: “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.”

In media recommendations --

Weezy: Peacock Documentary, Kill. Bury. Print

Tech Aaron: HBO Original Series, Lanterns

Path Points of Interest:

Linda Kaplan Thaler

Linda Kaplan Thaler on Instagram

Linda Kaplan Thaler on Facebook

My Life in 30 Seconds by Linda Kaplan Thaler

Books by Linda Kaplan Thaler

Speaking Engagement Booking

Kill. Bury. Print

Lanterns

Can Lisa and Weezy keep up with Craig Bierko’s nimble (ADHD) mind? You decide as we raise the curtain on an adventurously waggish conversation, loaded with delightful detours, captivating tales and hilarity!

Craig reflects on growing up in Rye, New York, where his mom ran the community theater and he began imagining an acting career after seeing Ben Vereen in Pippin at the age of nine.

Among his first screen credits is the career-making Afterschool Special, The Day My Kid Went Punk from which there was no turning back from a life in the lights.

On Sex And The City, Craig played a sexy bass player with ADD years before receiving the very same diagnosis himself. A round of applause goes out to that casting director.

Our path takes us through several of Craig’s standout roles including that of Max Baer, the heavyweight heavy in Ron Howard’s Cinderella Man. Craig was asked not to reach out to Max Baer Jr. whose dad was being depicted as the villain. What happened when Craig and Max finally did talk? We’ve got that story.

Craig’s mother is very proud of his starring role in The Thirteenth Floor but she has yet to understand the plot which depicts a world inside a world inside a world… But that won’t ultimately matter if we really are a simulation.

In Lifetime's acclaimed series UnREAL, Craig played a television producer inspired by the creator's real experiences working on The Bachelor. He talks about embracing one of the darker roles of his career and how the #MeToo movement’s cultural shift impacted the arc of his character.

We hear what it was like to train alongside real fighters at Gleason's Gym, to work with Ron Howard and to play a sleazy Senate candidate opposite John Forsythe on Norman Lear's The Powers That Be. We also get stories about sharing scenes with Renée Taylor at Marlo Thomas’ house and Craig claims that amidst a sea of Richard Kind impressions, his is the best!

Plus in a revelatory round of IMDb Roulette, we uncover a hidden, internet gem entitled, Bathing With Bierko… It is exactly what you are picturing, only now, add John Malcovich. Plus, this rare masterpiece was recorded in Carrie Fisher’s bathroom.

(yes you read that right.) Lather up.

In current recommendations --

Lisa: Great British Bakeoff Season 17 on Netflix

Weezy: The Nanny, on Hulu and other streamers

Path Points of Interest:

Craig Bierko IMDB

Craig Bierko Wikipedia

Craig Bierko Instagram

Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital

Great British Bake Off

The Nanny

From classic Westerns to Emmy-nominated TV and modern-day hit streamers, Barry Corbin is the go-to-pro actor who adds his signature country charm to project after project, upstaging the leads and creating quotable TV and movie memories!

Barry joins Weezy to reflect on a remarkable career that began with a childhood dream inspired by movie cowboy Wild Bill Elliott. But Barry understood early that he had no interest in being the cowboy. He wanted to be the actor who plays the cowboy.

We revisit Urban Cowboy, discussing the film's enduring cultural impact and how younger generations still continue discovering it. Barry shares that Uncle Bob's memorable closing monologue was subject to his own rewrite, at the behest of director James Bridges.

The conversation turns to Barry's beloved role as retired astronaut Maurice Minnifield on Northern Exposure, which earned him back-to-back Emmy nominations.

He discusses the show's willingness to explore social issues long before those conversations became commonplace. He identifies Maurice as a man shaped by his era, and recounts a hilarious visit to the Smithsonian that ended with museum staff having to pry him out of John Glenn's Mercury capsule after an ill conceived photo op.

Barry also looks back on the landmark miniseries Lonesome Dove, sharing backstage stories about adapting Larry McMurtry's sprawling novel for television and the production's memorable budget battles.

He recalls learning to drive a six-horse stagecoach for Conagher in just two days, talks about a devoted One Tree Hill fan who had Coach Whitey's quotes tattooed up and down her arms, and confesses to some scene-stealing moments opposite Sylvester Stallone in Tulsa King.

Plus, Barry previews his latest project, the Apple TV+ comedy Brothers, starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson.

And in IMDb Roulette, Barry reveals that Wargames offered another opportunity to add some key lines to the final cut and he takes us behind his memorable scene in No Country For Old Men where the Coen Brothers had no notes for him or Tommy Lee Jones saying, “If you cast it right. There’s no need.”

In media recommendations --

Weezy: The Docuseries Murder 101, streaming on Prime

Engineer, Mason: (In honor of Barry), the book Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

Producer, Dina: Netflix original sitcom, Leanne

Path Points of Interest:

Barry Corbin

Barry Corbin's Texas History

Barry Corbin on IG

Barry Corbin on IMDb

Barry Corbin on Wiki

Chris Corbin Watching My Dad's Movies

Brothers on Apple TV+

Murder 101

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

Leanne

Before he was one of Broadway's youngest Tony nominees, the voice of Donatello, or a hot tot recording artist, Barry Gordon was a door-to-door performing toddler, entertaining any neighbor who would answer.

Barry joins Weezy and Lisa to reflect on an extraordinary career that began when, at age three, he entered The Ted Mack Amateur Hour and placed second with his heart wrenching interpretation of Johnny Ray’s “Cry.”

Barry shares the invaluable lessons he learned from his father, whose instinctive "method" approach to acting and song interpretation encouraged him to search for the deeper meaning inside every performance.

He explains why he considered himself a character actor even as a child, and how that mindset eased his transition into adult roles. As a small boy, Barry shared the stage and held his own with Milton Berle, Jerry Lewis, Elvis Presley, Jack Benny, Danny Thomas and Perry Como. By thirteen, he was starring on Broadway in A Thousand Clouds with Jason Robards and Sandy Dennis. Barry admits that opening night was less terrifying than his Bar Mitzvah.

In the film version of that role, Barry was pushing fourteen and to disguise his growth spurt, Jason Robards wore lifts. Barry’s career included a record deal and the hit Christmas novelty song, “Nuttin’ for Christmas.”

As a young adult Barry starred in sitcoms including Barney Miller, Fish and The New Dick Van Dyke Show before moving into voice work and landing the role of Donatello in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

We also take a look at his latest creative endeavor, writing and producing a new musical called Forever, which reimagines Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray as the story of a ‘60s rock star, using race as a modern parallel to the novel's themes of class and privilege.

And in IMDb Roulette, we celebrate Leave It To Beaver’s most heartbreaking guest, child of divorce, Chopper Cooper. And, with 0 degrees of separation, Barry recognizes Lisa as a Curb cast-mate!

In media recommendations --

Lisa: The Rory Scovel Netflix Stand-Up Special

Weezy: PBS Masterpiece Theatre’s The Forsytes

Path Points of Interest:

Forever Musical

Forever on Instagram

Forever on Facebook

Parson's Nose Theater

Barry Gordon on Wikipedia

Barry Gordon on IMDB

Barry Gordon on Facebook

Barry Gordon on Instagram

Rory Scovel

The Forsytes

Danielle Nicolet's journey stands as proof that mentorship and community make big dreams possible! This TV and film star’s directorial debut, Long Time Listener is now streaming!

When her mom joined a cult, Dani became emancipated at 15 and began supporting herself with roles in commercials, and on Family Matters, and 3rd Rock From The Sun. In fact, her first TV credit is Urkel’s first kiss!

Dani joins Weezy and Lisa to reflect on her scenic path that began with early roles on Step By Step, Loaded Weapon 1 andThe Jacksons: An American Dream, where she provided Jermaine Jr. with his first kiss! It had become a specialty.

In 2015, Dani began playing Cecile Horton (Virtue) in 107 episodes of The Flash. And since she had already voiced Storm in The X-Men for years, she became one of very few performers to traverse both the D.C. and Marvel universes.

Training for years as a child gymnast established a hard work ethic that met with the encouragement she received from Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart on the set of Central Intelligence, which served as a career turning point. They both believed that she has the mind and the heart of a writer/director. Kevin produced Danni’s first short film, Black Karen which you can now find on Peacock.

Dani’s debut feature, Long Time Listener is a thriller about a true crime podcaster who becomes a killer’s target. You will find it streaming everywhere and free of charge on Tubi.

Very short on time and budget, Dani was able to pull this film together with a tight group of friends and allies, including her husband, whose talents and support brought depth and breadth to her vision.

Plus, What did this true crime junkie learn about the explosive popularity of murder mysteries with women? She’s got theories. In IMDB Roulette we hear about Dani’s front row seat to a Brandi/Leann Rimes sing-off on Moesha, the mentorship she received from Samuel L. Jackson on Loaded Weapon 1, and we learn why she will never turn down life advice from Joseph Gordon-Levitt!

In media recommendations --

Lisa: Showtime reality series, Couples Therapy

Weezy: Mr. Burton (2025), available for rent on streaming

Path Points of Interest:

Long Time Listener

Long Time Listener on IMDb

Danielle Nicolet on Wikipedia

Danielle Nicolet on Instagram

Danielle Nicolet on IMDb

Couples Therapy

Mr. Burton

You may know her face best from her six years as Samantha Kanisky on Gimme A Break but her voice is now everywhere from The Loud House to Digimon Adventure to Doc McStuffins to Clifford’s Puppy Days and well beyond.

Laura Jill Miller was a little girl from Allentown, PA with a big talent who was starring in local dinner theater productions when she stuck her head into a Broadway door playing a familiar tune and earned a part in The Music Man with Dick Van Dyke!

Lara traces her remarkable show biz path with Lisa and Weezy, including some shared history with Weezy who was working as a studio page when she first met Lara on Gimme A Break!

Lara shares memorable Hollywood encounters, from Peter Scolari teaching her how to juggle and Kim Fields being the only other kid on TV with braces and an early friendship with Sarah Jessica Parker who was filming Square Pegs on the lot.

She also reflects on cherished memories of Nell Carter, who took Lara under her wing while Weezy was on the receiving end of a sharp admonition from Nell not tattle on her to The Enquirer. (She didn’t.)

Does Lara feel like she got to fully experience her childhood? Why did she leave acting for college and law school and how and why did she return!?

That second act led to an enormously successful voice acting career, beginning with Clifford's Puppy Days alongside Henry Winkler and some of the industry's most celebrated voice performers.

She gives a hilarious behind-the-scenes look at the realities of voice acting, from performing dramatic falls, injury sounds, and over-the-top video game death cries to discovering the unique voices that bring animated characters to life.

Lara also compares the worlds of sitcom and voice acting, revealing the very different skills demanded by each. And in IMDB Roulette, Lara recalls how Michael Keaton showed up for her 16th birthday party, how to share a stage with The Care Bears while violently ill and the intricate particulars of a death-defying balancing act on Circus of the Stars!

Plus, actor, writer, and journalist Brandon Ogborn stops by to discuss his one-man show, Stay At Home Dad, a brutally honest comedy about keeping tiny humans alive when you are dying inside. Brandon shares how and why he constructed his play and reflects on how his choice to parent differently than his own folks has become a deeply healing experience.

Path Points of Interest:

Lara Jill Miller

Lara Jill Miller on Wiki

Lara Jill Miller on IMDb

Lara Jill Miller on Youtube

Lara Jill Miller on Instagram

Lara Jill Miller on Facebook

Brandon Ogborn on Instagram

Stay At Home Dad with Brandon Ogborn - September 5th Show at the UCB Annex

Gimme A Break

Was Elvis Presley’s generosity as epic as his moves and his music? Author Sally A. Hoedel, says, yes!

Sally, who joined us back on Episode 82, returns with her latest book, Destined to Give: The Legendary Generosity of Elvis Presley. It’s the third installment in her acclaimed Destined series.

Sally traces Elvis' big heart back to his childhood in Tupelo, where growing up in deep poverty taught him that survival was collaborative and it depended upon neighbors helping neighbors.

Elvis' primary goal was not to see his name in lights but to keep the lights on for his parents who had poured their efforts into enabling Elvis to stay in school and become the first member of their extended families to graduate from high school.

We explore how Elvis' sudden rise to stardom and riches shaped his life, triggering what Sally calls "sudden wealth syndrome,” a sense of guilt and unworthiness that compelled him to flagrantly share his fortune.

Elvis’ range of charitable acts and deeds ranged from: surprising a widowed neighbor with a private performance, buying new wheelchairs for strangers, and including a teenaged onlooker in a motorcycle splurge for his entourage. Sally offers that giving wasn't something Elvis did, it was who he was.

Elvis' insatiable need to share his riches created his posse, “The Memphis Mafia.” Childhood friends who were payed to be his bodyguards, traveling buddies and social circle. The arrangement stifled the development of everyone concerned and limited Elvis’ access to experienced show biz professionals which deepened the entrenchment of con-manager, Colonel Parker.

Sally theorizes that, although his gift-giving was impulsive, under the thumb of Colonel Tom, it felt like the one part of his life he could control.

Filled with fresh insight and memorable stories, this episode reveals the deeply human and vulnerable side of The King and tells the story of his compassion, his gratitude, and a lifelong desire to share his bounty with those who had provided it.

In media recommendations -- Documentary, Jim Thorpe Lit By Lightning streaming on multiple platforms

Path Points of Interest:

Sally A. Hoedel

Sally A. Hoedel Books

Destined To Die Young

Destined To Give signed copy

Sally A. Hoedel on Facebook

Sally A. Hoedel on Media Path Episode 82:

Apple Podcasts

YouTube

Jim Thorpe Lit By Lightning

WARNING: THIS INTERVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR DEADWOOD (and almost for JUSTIFIED, but we caught ourselves!)

How do you know you've found your calling? For Jim Beaver, it happened the instant he stepped onto a stage, before even speaking his first line.

Jim joins Weezy and Lisa to reflect on a career that's taken him from sitcoms to Supernatural to Shakespeare and Shakespearean Westerns to some of television's most beloved dramas with the most devoted fans.

Jim looks back on his early work, including the network sitcom Thunder Alley with Ed Asner, before discussing the role that became a career-defining institution: Whitney Ellsworth on Deadwood.

Fans of the show won't be surprised to learn that the cast knew they were creating something extraordinary. Jim recalls the emotional experience of learning his character's fate and filming Ellsworth's heart wrenching exit, which quickly led to another collaboration with David Milch on John from Cincinnati.

The conversation turns to Supernatural, where Jim's portrayal of Bobby Singer became fertile fan favorite fodder. He explores how the show’s strongest moments had less to do with monster hunting and more to do with characters and relationships. Do you remember an episode called “Weekend at Bobby’s?” Jim shares the exhaustion of carrying the lead and the pride of starring in Jensen Ackles’ directorial debut!

Why are two of Jim’s most beloved characters, on Supernatural and on The Boys, named some version of Robert Singer? It’s an inside joke by creator Eric Kripke, at the expense of his friend, Director Bob Singer.

Jim also shares memorable experiences working alongside Timothy Olyphant on Justified, Bryan Cranston on Breaking Bad, and Jonathan Banks on Better Call Saul, and we delve into The Boys’ metaphor which mirrors our current political landscape.

Plus, IMDb Roulette is full of gems, from singing nuns to Third Rock From the Sun!

Also, we are recommending The Prime series Sterling Point and our own Lisa Arch's appearance on the finale of Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness

Path Points of Interest:

Jim Beaver on Wikipedia

Jim Beaver on IMDB

Jim Beaver on Facebook

Jim Beaver on Instagram

Jim Beaver on Bluesky

Life's That Way by Jim Beaver

Deadwood

Supernatural

Justified

The Boys
Sterling Point

Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness

She could not simply listen to the soundtrack of the 60s. She had to find a way inside of it… or, at least backstage. She is Glorious Groupie Goddess, Pamela Des Barres and she joins Weezy and Lisa for a captivating conversation about love, music and the cultural revolution that forever changed us all.

Pamela reflects on coming of age as the buttoned-up 50s gave way to the clothing optional 60s, when rock music moved minds, stirred loins and invited adventure.

Her “Meet The Beatles” album was not just a revelation. Pamela read it as an instruction. At 14, she and her Beatle besotted besties made their way into the hills of Bel Air, spotted a kid on a bike who looked like he lived there. He did. He was Jerry Lewis’s son, Ronnie, and he let the girls into his backyard where they crawled through the Beatles-mansion-adjacent bushes and remained there all night until they were picked up, in the morning, not by the Beatles, but by the cops.

By age 18, Pamela’s tactics had blossomed into: 1) Look cute. 2) Be legally of age. 3) Knock on the stage door. Her subsequent friendships and romances with rock superstars are chronicled in her groundbreaking memoir, I’m With The Band. Here, Pamela reveals remarkable details about her relationships with Keith Moon, Mick Jagger, Jimmy Page, Gram Parsons, Frank Zappa, Jim Morrison and the legends of Laurel Canyon.

Frank Zappa was so taken by the music muses that he fashioned Pamela and her fellow fangirls into a dance troupe called GTOs (Girls Together Outrageously). They set the dance tone at The Whiskey and The Shrine, eventually recording their own album!

Today, Pamela continues to inspire new generations through her women's writing workshops, rock-and-roll tours, one-woman shows, and live events.

She also hints at her next book, 'Sex, God and Rock 'n' Roll', revealing how a lifelong interest in spirituality has paralelled her passion for music.

Plus, we challenge Pamela with a round of Rock Star Boyfriend Trivia!

In media recommendations --

Lisa: Lifestyle influencer Stephanie Joplin, @betterwithchardonnay

Weezy: The series, A Woman Of Substance on Britbox

Path Points of Interest:

Pamela Des Barres

Books by Pamela Des Barres

Pamela Des Barres on Wikipedia

Pamela Des Barres on Facebook

Pamela Des Barres on Instagram

I'm With The Band by Pamela Des Barres

Stephanie Joplin

A Woman Of Substance

Media Path

Media Path on Facebook

Media Path on Instagram

Media Path on X

Lisa's Upcoming Comedy Dates at Flappers

How do you go from voicing a beaver in a sleep med commercial to portraying TV’s most amoral attorney on its most iconic crime drama?!

For actor, author, and teacher Michael Kostroff, the answer is: embrace the unexpected.

Best known as cunning defense lawyer Maurice Levy on HBO's The Wire, Michael joins Weezy this week to reflect on a career that has taken him from television dramas and Broadway musicals to films, teen comedies, sitcoms and commercials.

You will currently find him on the MGM+/Prime Marvel superhero series (available in both color and black & white!) Spider-Noir with Nicolas Cage, as New York City's mayor and he's also just wrapped up his first Broadway run as the bank manager in Dog Day Afternoon.

Along the way, he shares behind-the-scenes stories from the national tour of The Producers (where lightning-fast costume changes and a grueling schedule collided with back and forth flights to film The Wire). Michael’s career then took him to The Plot Against America, The Wizard of Lies (with Robert De Niro!) and The Blacklist.

Michael shares his thoughts on The Wire’s rarified role as a television landmark, why its richly layered characters continue to resonate, and whether he minds being typecast. He also talks about his four books, including Letters from Backstage, which grew out of emails that unexpectedly found a massive audience, and The Stage Actor's Handbook, born from his desire to provide aspiring actors with the practical guidance missing from their theater education.

Michael opens up about the life-saving community he found in theater and the salve it offered for his unhappy childhood. We peek at his viral apartment tour video, revealing the unglamorous truth behind the doors of a working actor. We get schooled on the perils of backstage "showmances," and we learn why, after decades of surprising turns, he's still excited to see where the next one leads.

This is a warm, funny, and inspiring conversation with an actor whose career proves that the most rewarding paths are often the least predictable.

In current media--

Weezy: The American Experiment and Little House on the Prairie on Netflix

Producer Dina: AMC/AMC+ Series Dark Winds, streaming on Netflix

Path Points of Interest:

Michael Kostroff

Michael Kostroff on Wikipedia

Michael Kostroff on IMDB

Michael Kostroff on Instagram

Michael Kostroff on Facebook

Michael Kostroff on Youtube

Apartment Tour

Books by Michael Kostroff

The Stage Actor's Handbook: Traditions, Protocols, and Etiquette for the Working and Aspiring Professional

By Michael Kostroff and Julie Garnyé

Letters From Backstage

The American Experiment

Little House On The Prairie

Dark Winds

If you had nearly 300 screen credits, would you spend your free time mentoring new SAG-AFTRA members and helping fellow performers navigate a rapidly changing industry?? If your hand went up, you may be this week’s guest, Lee Garlington!

Lee joins Weezy and Lisa to discuss the unique, "hired gun" craft of popping into iconic shows with scene stealing roles and becoming what she calls "a director's actor."

You had yet to learn her name when you saw her as Joey’s father’s mistress in Friends, as Bobby Cannavale’s mother in Will & Grace, as Betty White’s daughter on The Golden Girls and as Darlene’s friend on Roseanne. You will know it now!

Lee takes us behind the scenes on Psycho II and III, The West Wing, Sneakers, Six Feet Under and Seinfeld and shares harrowing axe-related stories from A Killing in a Small Town. She offers candid advice for aspiring actors, tells us about her work with the SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Conservatory and discusses the realities of longevity in Hollywood, and her work with the Ruskin Group Theatre.

Plus, an entertaining round of IMDb Roulette uncovers the horrors of sitting for a death mask fitting, why she ever so gently adjusted the placement of Robert Redford and how her performance went next level when Amy Madigan called her a nazi! This is a fascinating conversation about resilience, professionalism, and a lifelong love of the craft.

And in current media, Weezy and Lisa talk about Is This Thing On and additional films that explore the standup comedy experience.

Path Points of Interest:

Lee Garlington

Lee Garlington on Wikipedia

Lee Garlington on IMDB

Lee Garlington on Instagram

SAG-AFTRA L.A. Conservatory

Ruskin Group Theatre

Great Movies About Stand-Up

Is This Thing On?

From overnight heartthrob to enduring pop culture icon, Christopher Atkins joins us for a funny, revealing conversation that delves into Hollywood, celebrity, and changing cultural mores… all while cooking a Peruvian dinner for his girlfriend! #multitasker

Chris looks back at the Blue Lagoon phenomenon, reflecting on why the film remains such a lasting pop culture touchstone as a coming-of-age love story that explores the roots of desire and societal expectations.

He shares behind-the-scenes memories from filming on a remote island at the age of 18. (his first time away from home). Production erected a tent village that served as home, for cast and crew, for four and a half months. Exactly why did producers place a Brooke Shields poster above Chris’s cot? They were hoping to inspire sparks that looked real on camera! And it worked.

Our conversation explores Chris's unique position in time and space where LGBTQ+ people were beginning to live more openly just as he was becoming a male sex symbol.

How did all of this impact a teenager, coming of age himself and quickly recognizing just how recognizable he had become after making just one movie? Chris says his step-dad kept him grounded, reminding him that when the movie star at the table is getting the most attention, it’s time for him to ask other people how their day is going.

He looks back on being sexualized as a young man, and reflects on how dramatically attitudes towards nudity, consent, and gender dynamics on film sets have evolved since he entered the business. Through it all, Christopher maintains that true beauty always comes from within.

Chris fondly recalls his friendship with Brooke Shields, explaining that while he often felt protective of her, she was already the seasoned pro and he was the newbie, learning the ropes from her.

While Chris honestly owns his marginal singing and dancing capacities, The Pirate Movies gold album soundtrack he earned hangs proudly in his home and he loves attending fan events with co-star Kristy McNichol and meeting folks who claim they watch this movie on loop, stopping only briefly to snag some face time and an autograph.

At the cusp of his stardom, Chris attended the legendary Night of 100 Stars celebration, where he and Brooke enjoyed memorable encounters with James Cagney, Paul Newman and Princess Grace. Plus, do you know what Linda Gray did to Chris during their kissing scene on Dallas? We’ll let Chris tell you!

And we just had to put Chris through rounds of Blue Lagoon Trivia AND, IMDB Roulette, where we learn that Chris has co-starred with Lesley-Ann Warren, Cloris Leachman! And Diff’rent Strokes’ Mr. Drummond!?

In current media--

Weezy: Netflix Film, Voicemails for Isabelle

Lisa: HBO original Series, DTF St. Louis

Path Points of Interest:

Christopher Atkins on Wikipedia

Christopher Atkins on IMDB

Christopher Atkins on Instagram

Christopher Atkins on Facebook

2025 Playgirl Interview

Fanboy Expo June 10-12, 2026

DTF St. Louis

Voicemails for Isabelle

Media Path Podcast

Media Path Podcast on Facebook

Media Path Podcast on Instagram

Stephen Tobolowsky has gifted us with indelible character performances while living an extraordinary life that spans from Texas roots to show biz lore to telepathy and beyond.

Stephen reflects on his earliest pull toward Hollywood, when even as a child playing cowboys, he imagined the action as if it were being filmed. That instinct would carry him from Texas to Broadway to Los Angeles, constantly seeking opportunities to create.

And his capabilities stretch beyond acting and music to include a Universe connection that has invited intriguing insights, unexplained knowing and“coincidences.” In fact, Stephen’s abilities inspired David Byrne to write a song called Radiohead which led the band Radiohead to become exactly that.

Best known by many as Groundhog Day’s painfully persistent Ned Ryerson, Stephen comes loaded with behind-the-scenes intel on the film’s famously complex shoot, during which he and Bill Murray (portraying a weatherman!) were kept on constant standby to shoot the scene in every possible weather condition for director Harold Ramis.

The conversation winds from Stephen’s participation in Thelma & Louise’s iconic final moment to Brad Pitt’s instant star quality to a chilling moment, on location for Mississippi Burning, were Stephen, playing a KKK grand wizard, was pulled aside by a Klansman and told, “We will be watching you.”

Stephen opens up about his collaborations and creative relationships, including his connection to playwright Beth Henley and how he helped shape her Pulitzer Prize-winning Crimes of the Heart and his enduring love story and best-friendship with his wife, Actress/Director Ann Hearn.

From Memento to Silicon Valley, Stephen reflects on the wide range of roles he’s brought to life, offering insight into Christopher Nolan’s storytelling brilliance, Norman Lear’s landmark contributions and the stark terror of performing Live In Front Of A Studio Audience.

He also speaks candidly about being entirely recognizable and shares what folks tend to run over and say when they become HIS Ned Ryerson!

And Stephen brings his masterful storytelling to IMDB Roulette, covering One Day At A Time, The Goldbergs, Spaceballs, Glee and Nobody Wants This while weaving Hollywood history with personal perspectives and navigating the curious intersection of art and life.

In current media--

Weezy: Outlast The Jungle on Netflix

Lisa: Book, The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

Path Points of Interest:

Stephen Tobolowsky Books

Stephen Tobolowsky - Wikipedia
The Tobolowsky Files Podcast
Stephen Tobolowsky on IMDB

Stephen Tobolowsky on Facebook

Outlast The Jungle

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

As a small child, Ike Eisenmann manifested his dream of being a Disney performer when he landed the lead in Escape To Witch Mountain and became the top child star of the ‘70s.

But the joy and pride of appearing in Gunsmoke, Kung Fu, Mannix, Emergency, and Little House On The Prairie was shadowed by the abusively cruel insults hurled at him by his jealous and mentally ill actor father. Ike titled his new book after his father’s mantra: “You’ll Never Be A Star.”

Ironically, Ike had no interest in being a star. He wanted to take part. And that he did, working with Eddie Albert, Bette Davis, George C. Scott, William Shatner, Roddy McDowall, Beau Bridges, Kim Richards and so many more gifted artists.

Ike prided himself on being a one-take-wonder, often doing his own stunts, leaping through the sky, attached to wires, to snag a home run in Escape From Witch Mountain, sword fighting in The Bastard and horseback riding in Kit Carson And The Mountain Men.

Ike’s fantastic stories invite so many questions. Was Shatner method acting when he would strut around the set like a newly promoted Rear Admiral giving line readings to Ike? How did Ike, as a teenager, recognize the early promise of Kirstie Alley, Sam Kinison and Alfre Woodard and why was Kim Richards secretly kicking and jabbing Ike right in the middle of takes on Witch Mountain!? We cover so much, you’ll listen twice!

Current Media Recommendations:

Lisa - Hello, My Name Is Doris - Free on Tubi

Weezy - Every Year After on Prime

Path Points of Interest:

Hello, My Name is Doris Trailer

Every Year After on Prime

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

You'll Never Be A Star by Ike Eisenmann

Ike Eisenmann on Facebook

Ike Eisenmann on Instagram

From playing army on his boyhood farm to portraying some of film’s more memorable characters, Bill Sadler's journey proves that great storytelling often begins in the simplest places.

Bill and Weezy kick things off with shared memories of growing up in the Buffalo, NY area, where running through the woods, horsing around in the hay loft and inventing games, laid the foundation for Bill's future in storytelling.

He launched his performance career with a standup comedy character he created called“Banjo Bill,” who led to a high school teacher encouraging Bill to play the lead role in the school’s production of Harvey. By age 18, Bill had shared the stage with a banjo and an invisible rabbit and he was hooked on theater.

After studying at SUNY Geneseo and Cornell, Bill immersed himself in the New York theater scene, starring in 75 productions over the course of 12 years and making his way to Broadway in Biloxi Blue! He shares the skinny on working with Neil Simon, where constant rewrites were both challenging and thrillingly hilarious.

The conversation turns to some of Bill’s most iconic screen roles, including The Shawshank Redemption. He describes director Frank Darabont’s vision of a true ensemble and the A game expected from that stellar cast. Bill reminds us that the film closed in three weeks and only Oscar nominations and audiences discovering its brilliance led to its eventual cultural impact and enduring legacy.

He also discusses stepping into his villainous Die Hard 2 role following Alan Rickman’s iconic fall from the grace of Die Hard 1. Bill also shares a behind-the-scenes moment when force of childhood habit had him ruing takes with his own machine gun sound effects!

Fans of Bill & Ted will appreciate Bill’s Grim Reaper hot takes and his confession that in the decades between films, he developed an allergy to the makeup required for the role. So, yes, Bill is allergic to death.

The episode closes with a look at Bill’s latest work, the short film The Last Days of Byron Bray, which studies a love interest of Leonard Bernstein. Bill calls it his finest acting to date.

And in IMDB Roulette: How the Fonz made Shakespeare cool, Newhart slapstick and The Cartoon President provide the laughter that keeps us from crying.

Current media recommendations--

Weezy: The Way Home Season 4 on Netflix, Hallmark, Hallmark+ and Prime

Producer Dina: The Boroughs on Netflix

Path Points of Interest:

William Sadler Fan Site

William Sadler on Wikipedia

William Sadler on IMDB

William Sadler on Facebook

William Sadler on X

The Last Days of Byron Bray

The Boroughs

The Way Home Season 4

From improv stages to some of the most beloved comedies of the last two decades, Wendi McLendon-Covey joins Media Path for a lively, laugh-infused conversation about finding and trusting her voice.

Wendi looks back on her Groundlings run where she honed fearless comedic instincts and created characters that would define her career.

Though she always knew she wanted to perform, it took time, and a leap of courage for her to fully pursue it. While holding down a full time job, she signed up for a bunny slope Groundlings class called “Fun Shop” and stayed for ten years, moving all the way up to seven years in the main company!.

She shares behind-the-scenes Reno 911 deep dish! like how she created “Clementine Johnson” (based on a Groundlings character who was based on her real-life aunt) and the back stories behind iconic moments like the drunk catwalk and her Ill-fated “lottery win.”

Wendi’s favorite Reno 911 movie iteration is The Search For QAnon which was shot on The Queen Mary during the pandemic. And ghosts being vaccinated by death, the ship was still haunted!

A Steely Dan fangirl, Wendi recounts how a storyline revealing her Clementine as a groupie led to an unexpected real-life live show invitation, and an onstage shoutout from Walter Becker!

The conversation inevitably turns to The Goldbergs set, where a decade-long run fostered deep bonds among the cast. Wendi reflects on what she misses most, shares what it was like to meet the real Beverly Goldberg, and offers memorable stories about The Goldbergs’ beloved George Segal.

Now starring in St. Denis Medical, Wendi tells us how she embraced the role of Joyce and reflects on her career’s ongoing evolution. She also credits her husband Greg as a constant source of support and encouragement throughout her journey.

And we learn how Wendi has lent her impeccable comic skill and timing to some beloved and feel-good favorites in a memorable round of IMDB Roulette!

Plus, in a perfect Wendi moment, the episode wraps with a roll call of her eight cats!

And in current media recommendations, Lisa and Weezy discuss the Netflix comedy competition series, Funny AF with Kevin Hart.

Path Points of Interest:

Wendi McLendon-Covey on Instagram

Wendi McLendon-Covey on Wikipedia

Wendi McLendon-Covey on IMDB

St. Denis Medical

Funny AF with Kevin Hart

The Golden age, silver-screen legend who lived to tell a tale that could have only unfolded in Hollywood , Mamie Van Doren joins Media Path for a candid conversation about a life shaped by resilience, reinvention, and remarkable twists of fate!

The woman who helped define an extraordinary era of entertainment and cultural change has chronicled both her escapades and her conquered adversities in a page-turning new memoir called 'You Thought I Was Dead: My Life of Celebrities, Sex and Champagne.’

Mamie traces her grit back to a hard scrabble, Depression era, South Dakota childhood where poverty and hunger were a daily reality. Determined to escape that world, she set her sights on Hollywood, with a little help from lore, intentionally placing herself at a pharmacy soda counter in the in hopes of being “discovered,” just as Lana Turner had been. She was stunning and it worked. She was also 14!

What followed was a series of cinematic turning points. Including a TV role, broadcast from The famed Florentine Gardens and a close friendship with cocktail server Elizabeth Short, who horrifically became known as The Black Dahlia. Her brutal loss has affected Mamie profoundly and permanently.

Mamie recounts her rapid rise through the studio system after being spotted by a Universal executive, leading to a seven-year contract and her breakout role opposite Tony Curtis (and some handsome USC football stars) in 'All American'.

She shares the origin of her now-iconic name, coined by an AP reporter and inspired by First Lady, Mamie Eisenhower. Its coining helped a farm girl named Joanie Olander fully embody her new Hollywood persona.

After marrying bandleader Ray Anthony and starting a family, Universal dropped her contract, only to see her quickly courted by other studios.

She reflects on love, longevity, and her current 50+ year marriage to Thomas Dixon, as well as the complicated realities of navigating Hollywood at a time when powerful men often operated without accountability.

In a deeply personal revelation, Mamie speaks about a terrifyingly dark encounter with Jack Webb that she kept silent for years. He was selling “law and order” when he drugged, tied up and violated Mamie. She reflects now about how much (and how little) has changed.

Stories where Hollywood and history intersect are a common thread in Mamie's adventures, such as a romantic interlude with Che Guevara while filming in Buenos Aires, and a dangerous, self-funded three-month tour to the furthest outposts of the Vietnam War to entertain troops. The gravest danger she faced was an on-stage attack at an officers’ club in Saigon. But her time with the troops remains an experience that shaped her perspective on freedom and sacrifice.

And IMDB Roulette this week is raucous, racy and romantic, with a trip to the cutting edge of rock ’n roll! Is Mamie the girl who invented it!?

In current recommendations --

Lisa: Documentary (directed by our very own Weezy!) Family Band: The Cowsills Story, streaming on Prime

Weezy: TV Land original series Younger, streaming on Netflix

Path Points of Interest:

You Thought I Was Dead: My Life of Celebrities, Sex, and Champagne by Mamie Van Doren

Mamie Van Doren on IMDB

Mamie Van Doren on Wikipedia

Mamie Van Doren on Instagram

Mamie Van Doren on Facebook

Mamie Van Doren Facebook Group

Family Band: The Cowsills Story
Younger