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In his long career, magazine writer and biographer Bill Zehme had one white whale: the enigmatic TV giant Johnny Carson, whom Zehme called "The Great American Sphinx." In 2002, Zehme landed one of the most coveted assignments for a magazine writer: an interview with Johnny Carson-the only one he'd granted since retiring from hosting "The Tonight Show" a decade earlier. Zehme, who had been a diehard Carson fan since childhood, was tapped for the Esquire feature story thanks to his years of legendary celebrity profiles that included several high-profile show hosts-the resulting piece portrayed Carson as more human being than showbiz legend. Shortly after Carson's death in 2005 and urged on by many of those closest to Carson, Zehme signed a contract to do an expansive biography. He toiled on the book for nearly a decade-interviewing dozens of Carson's colleagues and friends and filling up a storage locker with his voluminous research-before a cancer diagnosis and ongoing treatments halted his progress. When he died in 2023 his obituaries mentioned the Carson book, with New York Times comedy critic Jason Zinoman calling it "one of the great unfinished biographies." Yet the hundreds of pages Zehme managed to complete are astounding both for the caliber of their writing and how they illuminate one of the most inscrutable figures in entertainment history: A man who brought so much joy and laughter to so many millions but was himself exceedingly shy and private. In CARSON THE MAGNIFICENT (Simon & Schuster; hardcover; on sale 11/05/2024), Zehme traces Carson's rise from a magic-obsessed Nebraska boy to a Navy ensign in World War II to a burgeoning radio and TV personality to, eventually, host of "The Tonight Show"-which he transformed, along with the entirety of American popular culture, over the next three decades. On a much more intimate level, Zehme also chronicles the turmoil and anguish that accompanied the success: four marriages plagued by infidelity and turmoil, troubles with alcohol that spurred physical and psychological cruelties, an emotional guardedness that was rooted in the criticisms of his hard-to-please mother, the struggles to connect with his children, and the devastation he felt at the loss of his middle son, Ricky, who died at age 39 when his car plunged off an embankment along the California coast. In one passage, Zehme notes that when asked by an interviewer in the mid-80s for the secret to his success, Carson replied simply, "Be yourself and tell the truth." Completed with help from journalist and Zehme's former research assistant Mike Thomas, CARSON THE MAGNIFICENT offers just that: an honest assessment of who Johnny Carson really was, told in parts with Zehme's trademark stylistic flourishes and astute insights. Zehme had an uncanny ability to capture his subject's essence, no matter how elusive or famous they were. This book, arguably the apex of his esteemed career, is the shining example of what Zehme did best, and readers will come away with a richer understanding of an American icon.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.
John is joined by New York Times critic Jason Zinoman. They discuss Hedberg's unique comedy style, his legacy within the industry, and comparisons to other influential comedians such as Steven Wright and Andy Kaufman. The conversation also touches on the potential use of AI in preserving Hedberg's work.While Jason is here, they discuss John Mulaney, Bill Burr, and Conan O'Brien. Unlock an ad-free podcast experience with Caloroga Shark Media! Get all our shows on any player you love, hassle free! For Apple users, hit the banner on your Apple podcasts app which says UNITERRUPTED LISTENING. For Spotify or other players, visit caloroga.com/plus. No plug-ins needed! You also get 20+ other shows on the network ad-free! This podcast supports Podcasting 2.0 if you'd like to support the show via value for value and stream some sats! https://linktr.ee/dailycomedynews Contact John at john@thesharkdeck dot com John's free substack about the media: Media Thoughts is mcdpod.substack.com DCN on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@dailycomedynews You can also support the show at www.buymeacoffee.com/dailycomedynews Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news--4522158/support.
In his long career, magazine writer and biographer Bill Zehme had one white whale: the enigmatic TV giant Johnny Carson, whom Zehme called "The Great American Sphinx." In 2002, Zehme landed one of the most coveted assignments for a magazine writer: an interview with Johnny Carson-the only one he'd granted since retiring from hosting "The Tonight Show" a decade earlier. Zehme, who had been a diehard Carson fan since childhood, was tapped for the Esquire feature story thanks to his years of legendary celebrity profiles that included several high-profile show hosts-the resulting piece portrayed Carson as more human being than showbiz legend. Shortly after Carson's death in 2005 and urged on by many of those closest to Carson, Zehme signed a contract to do an expansive biography. He toiled on the book for nearly a decade-interviewing dozens of Carson's colleagues and friends and filling up a storage locker with his voluminous research-before a cancer diagnosis and ongoing treatments halted his progress. When he died in 2023 his obituaries mentioned the Carson book, with New York Times comedy critic Jason Zinoman calling it "one of the great unfinished biographies." Yet the hundreds of pages Zehme managed to complete are astounding both for the caliber of their writing and how they illuminate one of the most inscrutable figures in entertainment history: A man who brought so much joy and laughter to so many millions but was himself exceedingly shy and private. In CARSON THE MAGNIFICENT (Simon & Schuster; hardcover; on sale 11/05/2024), Zehme traces Carson's rise from a magic-obsessed Nebraska boy to a Navy ensign in World War II to a burgeoning radio and TV personality to, eventually, host of "The Tonight Show"-which he transformed, along with the entirety of American popular culture, over the next three decades. On a much more intimate level, Zehme also chronicles the turmoil and anguish that accompanied the success: four marriages plagued by infidelity and turmoil, troubles with alcohol that spurred physical and psychological cruelties, an emotional guardedness that was rooted in the criticisms of his hard-to-please mother, the struggles to connect with his children, and the devastation he felt at the loss of his middle son, Ricky, who died at age 39 when his car plunged off an embankment along the California coast. In one passage, Zehme notes that when asked by an interviewer in the mid-80s for the secret to his success, Carson replied simply, "Be yourself and tell the truth." Completed with help from journalist and Zehme's former research assistant Mike Thomas, CARSON THE MAGNIFICENT offers just that: an honest assessment of who Johnny Carson really was, told in parts with Zehme's trademark stylistic flourishes and astute insights. Zehme had an uncanny ability to capture his subject's essence, no matter how elusive or famous they were. This book, arguably the apex of his esteemed career, is the shining example of what Zehme did best, and readers will come away with a richer understanding of an American icon.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.
Johnny Mac discusses a chaotic encounter between comedian Andrew Schulzz and Logan Paul at a wrestling event, saved by AJ Styles. The episode also covers Hulu's new 'Hularious' campaign featuring comedians Jim Gaffigan, Bill Burr, and Sebastian Maniscalco, and their innovative marketing strategy. Other topics include New York Times' profile of Jason Zinnaman, iHeart Podcast Awards, Conan O'Brien's series renewal, and Rami Youssef's new project. 00:00 Andrew Schulz's Wrestling Encounter01:28 Hulu's New Comedy Campaign06:07 Trae Crowder's New Special06:24 Jason Zinoman's Comedy Insights09:31 iHeart Podcast Awards Recap10:54 Conan O'Brien's Show Renewal12:07 Rami Youssef's New SeriesUnlock an ad-free podcast experience with Caloroga Shark Media! Get all our shows on any player you love, hassle free! For Apple users, hit the banner on your Apple podcasts app which says UNITERRUPTED LISTENING. For Spotify or other players, visit caloroga.com/plus. No plug-ins needed! You also get 20+ other shows on the network ad-free! This podcast supports Podcasting 2.0 if you'd like to support the show via value for value and stream some sats! https://linktr.ee/dailycomedynews Contact John at john@thesharkdeck dot com John's free substack about the media: Media Thoughts is mcdpod.substack.com DCN on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@dailycomedynews You can also support the show at www.buymeacoffee.com/dailycomedynewsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news--4522158/support.
On this week's show, the hosts reflect on 50 years of music, culture, and comedy with the 50th anniversary of SNL and QuestLove's new documentary Ladies & Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music. For that, the team is joined by Jason Zinoman, critic at large for culture at The New York Times. Then they discuss the Oscar-nominated animated film Flow – where we follow the adventures of an unlikely group of animals led by a curious black cat. Finally, Slate culture writer Nadira Goffe joins to talk about Kendrick Lamar's “double whammy” of a Super Bowl halftime show. Read her article reflecting on the performance here. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, the panel invites Jason Zinoman back to discuss his article on standup comedy's move to soften the punchline in exchange for a long, humor-infused setup. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements: Dana: Henry IV playing at the Theatre for a New Audience in New York and K.D. Lang's SNL performance of Johnny Get Angry in 1989 (audio only, as the video performance has been removed) or this other performance of the song (with visuals) on UK's Channel Four from 1991 Julia: Vulture critic Craig Jenkins' halftime show review – Kendrick Lamar Is Not Your Savior and Pom Pom maker Steve: Pope Francis' letter to Vice President J.D. Vance Podcast production and research by Vic Whitley-Berry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this week's show, the hosts reflect on 50 years of music, culture, and comedy with the 50th anniversary of SNL and QuestLove's new documentary Ladies & Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music. For that, the team is joined by Jason Zinoman, critic at large for culture at The New York Times. Then they discuss the Oscar-nominated animated film Flow – where we follow the adventures of an unlikely group of animals led by a curious black cat. Finally, Slate culture writer Nadira Goffe joins to talk about Kendrick Lamar's “double whammy” of a Super Bowl halftime show. Read her article reflecting on the performance here. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, the panel invites Jason Zinoman back to discuss his article on standup comedy's move to soften the punchline in exchange for a long, humor-infused setup. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements: Dana: Henry IV playing at the Theatre for a New Audience in New York and K.D. Lang's SNL performance of Johnny Get Angry in 1989 (audio only, as the video performance has been removed) or this other performance of the song (with visuals) on UK's Channel Four from 1991 Julia: Vulture critic Craig Jenkins' halftime show review – Kendrick Lamar Is Not Your Savior and Pom Pom maker Steve: Pope Francis' letter to Vice President J.D. Vance Podcast production and research by Vic Whitley-Berry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this week's show, the hosts reflect on 50 years of music, culture, and comedy with the 50th anniversary of SNL and QuestLove's new documentary Ladies & Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music. For that, the team is joined by Jason Zinoman, critic at large for culture at The New York Times. Then they discuss the Oscar-nominated animated film Flow – where we follow the adventures of an unlikely group of animals led by a curious black cat. Finally, Slate culture writer Nadira Goffe joins to talk about Kendrick Lamar's “double whammy” of a Super Bowl halftime show. Read her article reflecting on the performance here. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, the panel invites Jason Zinoman back to discuss his article on standup comedy's move to soften the punchline in exchange for a long, humor-infused setup. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements: Dana: Henry IV playing at the Theatre for a New Audience in New York and K.D. Lang's SNL performance of Johnny Get Angry in 1989 (audio only, as the video performance has been removed) or this other performance of the song (with visuals) on UK's Channel Four from 1991 Julia: Vulture critic Craig Jenkins' halftime show review – Kendrick Lamar Is Not Your Savior and Pom Pom maker Steve: Pope Francis' letter to Vice President J.D. Vance Podcast production and research by Vic Whitley-Berry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this week's show, the hosts reflect on 50 years of music, culture, and comedy with the 50th anniversary of SNL and QuestLove's new documentary Ladies & Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music. For that, the team is joined by Jason Zinoman, critic at large for culture at The New York Times. Then they discuss the Oscar-nominated animated film Flow – where we follow the adventures of an unlikely group of animals led by a curious black cat. Finally, Slate culture writer Nadira Goffe joins to talk about Kendrick Lamar's “double whammy” of a Super Bowl halftime show. Read her article reflecting on the performance here. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, the panel invites Jason Zinoman back to discuss his article on standup comedy's move to soften the punchline in exchange for a long, humor-infused setup. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements: Dana: Henry IV playing at the Theatre for a New Audience in New York and K.D. Lang's SNL performance of Johnny Get Angry in 1989 (audio only, as the video performance has been removed) or this other performance of the song (with visuals) on UK's Channel Four from 1991 Julia: Vulture critic Craig Jenkins' halftime show review – Kendrick Lamar Is Not Your Savior and Pom Pom maker Steve: Pope Francis' letter to Vice President J.D. Vance Podcast production and research by Vic Whitley-Berry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this week's show, the hosts reflect on 50 years of music, culture, and comedy with the 50th anniversary of SNL and QuestLove's new documentary Ladies & Gentlemen…50 Years of SNL Music. For that, the team is joined by Jason Zinoman, critic at large for culture at The New York Times. Then they discuss the Oscar-nominated animated film Flow – where we follow the adventures of an unlikely group of animals led by a curious black cat. Finally, Slate culture writer Nadira Goffe joins to talk about Kendrick Lamar's “double whammy” of a Super Bowl halftime show. Read her article reflecting on the performance here. In the exclusive Slate Plus segment, the panel invites Jason Zinoman back to discuss his article on standup comedy's move to soften the punchline in exchange for a long, humor-infused setup. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements: Dana: Henry IV playing at the Theatre for a New Audience in New York and K.D. Lang's SNL performance of Johnny Get Angry in 1989 (audio only, as the video performance has been removed) or this other performance of the song (with visuals) on UK's Channel Four from 1991 Julia: Vulture critic Craig Jenkins' halftime show review – Kendrick Lamar Is Not Your Savior and Pom Pom maker Steve: Pope Francis' letter to Vice President J.D. Vance Podcast production and research by Vic Whitley-Berry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hello Interactors,The weight of winter up north can have its cozy comforts, but cold, damp, and dark can take a toll. We also continue to face a convergence of daunting global challenges — climate change, inequality, political instability, and health crises — each amplifying the other straining our ability to find meaningful and sustainable solutions. So much for ‘Happy Holidays'.A recent article on avoiding despair turned to the concept of “tragic optimism.” This can sometimes be offered as a way to avoid our human tendency to seek “doom and gloom” while also not succumbing to “toxic positivity.” These topics struck me as a decent lens to kick off this winter's focus: human behavior. Let's unpack the emotional geographies that shape us. How do spaces and norms influence how we feel, process, and express emotions? SPACES, SMILES, AND SOCIAL SCRIPTSWhen I was in seventh grade, I was the lead in our middle school musical, Bye Bye Birdy. It featured the song, Put on a Happy Face that employed this cheery, but pushy, line: “Spread sunshine, all over the place…just put on a happy face.”Dick van Dyke played the starring role on Broadway from 1960-61 earning him an Tony award. He then appeared in the movie in 1963, launching him to stardom. In that role, many other roles, and in real life, he is a man who appears perpetually happy. Even now at age 98!But under that smile, lurks a darker side. Soon after his early success, Van Dyke became an alcoholic. The alcohol may have helped him put on a happy face society expected, but it came at a price. This insistence on relentless optimism regardless of circumstances is called “toxic positivity” — and it's more than a personal behavior. It reflects societal norms that prioritize surface-level harmony over emotional complexity. These norms shape how we navigate feelings and influence our individual well-being. But shared spaces, like our workplaces or homes also influence these emotional dynamics. Have you ever walked into a place knowing how you were expected to act? At work, you might slap on a smile and say “I'm fine” even when you're not. At home, you might feel the pressure to play the part of the cheerful parent, partner, or roommate. These emotional scripts don't come out of nowhere — they're baked into our cultural expectations about what different spaces are “for”.Geographer Yi-Fu Tuan explains that spaces acquire “moral properties” through societal norms, values, and cultural narratives. Workplaces, seen as sites of productivity, often suppress emotions like frustration, while homes, idealized as places of comfort, pressure individuals to adopt roles like nurturing parent or cheerful partner. These norms shape how people are expected to behave and feel within these spaces.America itself, as a cultural and geographic entity, carries its own "moral properties." These are reinforced by media narratives that frame the nation as a land of optimism, resilience, and emotional stability, projecting these expectations onto its citizens and then exported to the world to consume.Take one of the most-watched television programs in America from 1962 to 1992, Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show. His late-night TV persona was examined in a recent New York Times piece by Jason Zinoman. He described Carson as America's calm, neutral host, soothing the nation with his polite humor. He wasn't just a TV personality; he was part of a larger cultural push for emotional stability, especially during times of uncertainty. His show became a space where people could escape the messiness of real emotions.But these expectations aren't just about comfort — they're about control. By promoting harmony and cheer, society nudges us toward emotional conformity, discouraging anything that might feel too “messy” or unpredictable.This pressure doesn't fall on everyone equally. Women often bear the brunt of emotional labor, expected to keep things “pleasant” for others. Cultural geographer Linda McDowell highlights how professional women are frequently required to maintain an upbeat attitude at work, regardless of personal circumstances. This expectation extends beyond the workplace, shaping how women are perceived and allowed to express themselves.On The Tonight Show, Joan Rivers, a trailblazing comedian, faced this constraint. Despite her sharp, satirical wit, Rivers was often limited to lighthearted banter and self-deprecating humor to align with Johnny Carson's carefully neutral persona. Similarly, Carol Wayne, as the flirtatious “Matinee Lady,” reinforced the idea that women on the show were there to amuse or adorn, not disrupt. These portrayals reflected societal norms that confined women to roles as caretakers or decorative figures, both publicly and privately.SUPPRESSING SORROW WITH A SMILE SUCKSPutting on a happy face might seem harmless, but it can take a toll. When we suppress feelings like sadness, frustration, or anger, they don't just disappear — they build up, creating stress. They can even impact our physical health. Neuroscientists have shown that suppressing emotions can increase activity in the brain's fear center (the amygdala) while dampening the rational, problem-solving parts (like the prefrontal cortex). Basically, pretending you're okay when you're not can mess with your head and your body.James J. Gross, a psychologist and leading researcher in emotion regulation, has shown that suppressing emotions can heighten stress levels, activate the brain's fear center (the amygdala), and disrupt cognitive processes critical for resilience and problem-solving. Recent brain imaging studies by Wang and Zhang (2023) support this, demonstrating that expressive suppression, where feelings are actively withheld, triggers heightened amygdala activity and diminished prefrontal regulation. These findings highlight the significant physiological toll of emotional suppression, further validating Gross's work.Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and existential psychologist, offers a valuable framework for regulating these emotions with his concept of “tragic optimism.” Frankl introduced tragic heroism in his 1978 book, The Unheard Cry for Meaning, drawing on the existential and Greek tragic tradition of resilience in the face of suffering. He later expanded this with tragic optimism in a 1984 essay, emphasizing hope and meaning-making even amidst life's inevitable hardships. Drawing on his experiences from the Holocaust, he explores the human ability to confront inevitable suffering while maintaining hope and finding meaning. For Frankl, this approach was not about denying pain but about embracing life's full spectrum — its joys and its tragedies — as integral to human existence.But his view of suffering has been criticized as overly universal and idealistic, assuming that all individuals can derive purpose from adversity. His emphasis on personal responsibility may inadvertently shift blame onto individuals for not overcoming circumstances beyond their control. Constant pressure by systemic oppression can exist even in a society that claims to be free. Migrant women in caregiving roles, as McDowell highlights, often lack the freedom to balance suffering and hope on their own terms. Instead, they are required to project resilience and positivity, even under exploitative conditions, effectively masking systemic inequities. Similarly, Joan Rivers and Carol Wayne were cast into narrow roles that demanded cheerfulness, ensuring they complemented rather than challenged societal norms. These portrayals reflected the broader expectation that women embody emotional steadiness, regardless of personal circumstances.Frankl's insights remind us that the ability to engage with hardship meaningfully is a privilege that societal expectations often deny to those at the margins. Understanding the toll of suppression and the uneven distribution of emotional freedom is crucial in challenging the norms that perpetuate these dynamics.COMBATING CONFORMITY WITH COMMUNITYThankfully, norms aren't set in stone — they can be, and have been, resisted and redefined. Sara Ahmed, a feminist scholar, critiques what she calls the “happiness duty.” She shows how this duty pressures marginalized groups to appear cheerful, suppressing feelings like anger or pain to uphold the status quo. Movements like Black Lives Matter reject this demand, openly expressing grief and frustration to confront systemic injustice. Through “collective effervescence”, as sociologist Émile Durkheim describes, collective emotions in protests turn individual pain into powerful demands for change. Ahmed and Durkheim offer examples of how breaking free from the pressure to "stay positive" transforms emotions into tools for meaningful resistance.But even this kind of resistance can make those in power uncomfortable, so they demand order, calm, and happiness. When collective effervescence calls people to, as Public Enemy's song decries, ‘fight the powers that be', another collective encourages everyone to spread ‘sunshine all over the place, and just put on a happy face.' But in the face of this “toxic positivity” that Public Enemy mocks as, “'People, people we are the same'”, they respond ‘No, we're not the same / 'Cause we don't know the game'. They can't justify putting on a happy face when most of America refuses to wrestle with poverty and race. Summoning an inner Johnny Carson can be seen by some as not a neutral, but as just another way to paternally placate — to pat down incivility. It can be seen more like Jack Nicholson's infamous “Here's Johnny!” in The Shining — a menacing veneer of cheer masking a deep, dark, and discomforting societal reality.Ananya Roy, a geographer and urban theorist, takes a hard look at this in her work on the “rescue industry.” In Poverty Capital, she critiques how even well-intentioned aid organizations often portray marginalized communities as helpless and in need of saving, while ignoring the structural problems that keep them oppressed. These narratives don't just undermine real change — they also place emotional expectations on those being "rescued." They demand gratitude and resilience while leaving the bigger systems of inequality intact.Roy's work shows how this approach reflects a long history of paternalism and American exceptionalism, where those in power maintain control by shaping how others should act and feel.Geography plays a big part in how these expectations are enforced. Relief camps, aid programs, and even microfinance initiatives often create spaces where people are expected to behave a certain way — thankful, hopeful, and compliant. In the U.S., similar patterns show up in low-income neighborhoods, where anger or frustration is often punished, reinforcing norms that demand harmony and silence over real emotional expression.If we want to resist these dynamics, we need to rethink the spaces where care and support happen. Instead of controlling emotions or enforcing positivity, these spaces should allow for shared agency and the full range of human feelings. By rejecting savior narratives and making room for emotions like grief and anger, communities can start to challenge the systems that hold them back and move toward real change.From Johnny Carson's seemingly cheerful neutrality to the "happiness duty" imposed on marginalized groups, societal norms can slowly prioritize control over connection, faux harmony over brutal honesty. But resistance is possible. Movements like Black Lives Matter, the Women's March, Chile's protests for constitutional reform, and Hong Kong's pro-democracy demonstrations highlight how group effervescence can channel collective emotions into impactful resistance. However, these movements also reveal the limits of protest alone in achieving enduring change. Systemic barriers to change require sustained efforts beyond the initial wave of mobilization.As Ananya Roy reminds us, breaking free from narratives of saviorism and exceptionalism requires not just challenging these norms but rethinking the spaces where they take root. How can we build geographies of care that empower, rather than constrain? Perhaps the answer lies in acknowledging that resistance begins with feeling — and making space for emotions, no matter how “messy” they might seem. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit interplace.io
We did it, comedy fans. We withstood another year of craziness, hundreds upon hundreds of comedy specials, and have gotten my friend and colleague in …
Maybe late-night TV shouldn't be called “late-night TV” anymore, with so many viewers consuming it in clips the morning after, on their phones. Yet the genre's hallmarks — the avuncular host, the sidekick, the band, the monologue, the desk, the guests — linger. Most were stamped on America's consciousness by Johnny Carson.A new biography about an old reliable, Bill Zehme's “Carson the Magnificent” harks back to an era when doom and scroll were biblical nouns and Carson's “Tonight Show” was a clear punctuation mark to every 24-hour chunk of the workweek — less an exclamation point, maybe, than a drawn-out ellipsis. “They want to lie back and be amused and laugh and have a nice, pleasant and slightly … I hate the word risqué … let's say adult end to the day,” is how a producer in 1971 described the millions tuning in from home, to Esquire.Carson went off the air in 1992, after three decades on “Tonight,” and left this Earth in 2005. Zehme, a journalist known for his chummy celebrity profiles, struck a book deal almost immediately but struggled to get purchase on his subject— “the ultimate Interior Man,” he despaired to a source, “large and lively only when on camera” — and then was diagnosed with late-stage cancer. He died himself last year at 64, and a former “legman” and friend, Mike Thomas, has finished the project, giving it a doubly valedictory feel.There were plenty of earlier books to consult, like “King of the Night,” by Laurence Leamer (who wrote about Joanne Carson in “Capote's Women”), “And Now … Here's Johnny,” by a young Nora Ephron, and the memoirs of Carson's eternal second banana, Ed McMahon. His lawyer's tell-all, published in 2013, is tellingly unmentioned. Zehme and Thomas have taken, if not the high road, the yellow brick one, with Carson's Midwestern background left in dusty black and white while the nitty-gritty of show business is buffed to a high Emerald City sheen.Give the authors points for changing up the standard chronological format. We don't get to Carson's birth date of Oct. 23, 1925, in Corning, Iowa, until the 107th page; his rebirth on Oct. 1, 1962, in NBC's Studio 6B, midwifed by Groucho Marx, being the main event.On air, Carson would take on various goofy guises, including the turbaned Carnac the Magnificent. The book's title, and its light glide over his womanizing and sometimes violent alcoholism, suggest that in real life, too, he was a master of disguise and escape. After an unpleasant first date with Jody, he gives her a cactus in a bedpan with a note reading: “Sit on this. It will remind you.” After they married, she would sometimes wake with bruises. “Did he hurt you, Mom?” Joanna's son asks after blowups. Zehme attributes such behavior to a booze-poisoned “doppelgänger”; he credits Carson with destigmatizing divorce without considering how swiftly, today, his whole operation would be canceled.Visiting a proto-couples counselor, Carson “would taste shrinkage for the first time,” but he was far more comfortable overseeing Carson's Couch. He might have been his own best analyst. “My job is to give them that feeling,” he told the “Tonight Show” regular Tony Randall of his drowsing masses, “that there will be a tomorrow.” How very yesterday.
In this episode, we delve into Jason Zinoman's column from the New York Times on the best comedy of 2024. The conversation touches on his picks like Nikki Glaser's new HBO special, Ronnie Chieng's Netflix special, and other notable works including Tom Papa's clean comedy and Josh Johnson's prolific TikTok content. We also discuss Vulture's top comedy specials, which range from Ali Wong to Anthony Jeselnik, and the host shares his own opinions and plans for compiling his year-end list. Join us for an in-depth look at the year's standout comedy performances and specials. 00:22 Reacting to Jason Zinnman's Best Comedy of 202405:35 Vulture's Best Comedy Specials of 202409:26 Final Thoughts and Upcoming PlansUnlock an ad-free podcast experience with Caloroga Shark Media! Get all our shows on any player you love, hassle free! For Apple users, hit the banner on your Apple podcasts app. For Spotify or other players, visit caloroga.com/plus. No plug-ins needed! You also get 20+ other shows on the network ad-free! This podcast supports Podcasting 2.0 if you'd like to support the show via value for value and stream some sats! https://linktr.ee/dailycomedynews Contact John at john@thesharkdeck dot com John's free substack about the media: Media Thoughts is mcdpod.substack.com DCN on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@dailycomedynews You can also support the show at www.buymeacoffee.com/dailycomedynewsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news--4522158/support.
This week, Mike Thomas, co-author of the Johnny Carson biography Carson the Magnificent, sits down with Rick Kogan of the Chicago Tribune to discuss the highly anticipated biography—twenty years in the making—of the entertainer who redefined late-night television and reshaped American culture. Thomas—who finished the project Bill Zehme started after Bill's passing—shares insights into the reporting process, picking up where Zehme left off, and the influence of Carson on today's comedy.This conversation originally took place November 19, 2024 and was recorded live at the American Writers Museum.AWM PODCAST NETWORK HOMEMore about Carson the Magnificent:In 2002, Bill Zehme landed one of the most coveted assignments for a magazine writer: an interview with Johnny Carson—the only one he'd granted since retiring from hosting The Tonight Show a decade earlier. Zehme was tapped for the Esquire feature story thanks to his years of legendary celebrity profiles, and the resulting piece portrayed Carson as more human being than showbiz legend. Shortly after Carson's death in 2005 and urged on by many of those closest to Carson, Zehme signed a contract to do an expansive biography. He toiled on the book for nearly a decade—interviewing dozens of Carson's colleagues and friends and filling up a storage locker with his voluminous research—before a cancer diagnosis and ongoing treatments halted his progress. When he died in 2023 his obituaries mentioned the Carson book, with New York Times comedy critic Jason Zinoman calling it "one of the great unfinished biographies."Yet the hundreds of pages Zehme managed to complete are astounding both for the caliber of their writing and how they illuminate one of the most inscrutable figures in entertainment history: A man who brought so much joy and laughter to so many millions but was himself exceedingly shy and private. Zehme traces Carson's rise from a magic-obsessed Nebraska boy to a Navy ensign in World War II to a burgeoning radio and TV personality to, eventually, host of The Tonight Show—which he transformed, along with the entirety of American popular culture, over the next three decades. Without Carson, there would be no late-night television as we know it. On a much more intimate level, Zehme also captures the turmoil and anguish that accompanied the success: four marriages, troubles with alcohol, and the devastating loss of a child.In one passage, Zehme notes that when asked by an interviewer in the mid-80s for the secret to his success, Carson replied simply, "Be yourself and tell the truth." Completed with help from journalist and Zehme's former research assistant Mike Thomas, Carson the Magnificent offers just that: an honest assessment of who Johnny Carson really was.MIKE THOMAS is the author of two critically acclaimed books, The Second City Unscripted: Revolution and Revelation at the World-Famous Comedy Theater and You Might Remember Me: The Life and Times of Phil Hartman. He spent more than fourteen years as an arts and entertainment features writer at the Chicago Sun-Times and is a regular contributor to Chicago magazine. He lives in Chicago with his family.Born and raised and still living in Chicago, RICK KOGAN has worked for the Chicago Daily News, Chicago Sun-Times and the Tribune, where he currently is a columnist. Inducted into the Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame in 2003, he hosts "After Hours with Rick Kogan" on WGN radio and is the author of a dozen books, including A Chicago Tavern.BILL ZEHME was the author of the New York Times bestseller The Way You Wear Your Hat: Frank Sinatra and the Lost Art of Livin' and Lost in the Funhouse: The Life and Mind of Andy Kaufman. He coauthored memoirs by Jay Leno and Regis Philbin, served as a longtime writer at large for Esquire, and contributed to other publications including Rolling Stone, Playboy, and Vanity Fair. A native and lifelong resident of Chicago, he died in 2023.
Jason Zinoman, critic-at-large for the Culture section of the New York Times, comedy columnist and author Topic(s): Johnny Carson and the fantasy of America; Can Disney cut into Netflix's comedy dominance Articles: https://www.nytimes.com/by/jason-zinoman#latest Bio: https://www.nytimes.com/by/jason-zinoman Social Media: X: @zinoman Instagram: @zinomanj Threads: @zinomanj Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A Tribute to the Legendary Bob NewhartIn this episode, we honor the life and career of comedian Bob Newhart, who passed away at the age of 94. Friend of the show, Jason Zinoman, highlights Newhart's enduring influence on comedy in the New York Times. The episode includes clips from Newhart's performances, tributes from fellow comedians including Jay Leno, Carol Burnett, and Judd Apatow, and insights into his unique style. Additionally, details on where to catch Newhart's TV shows during this weekend's binge marathon on the Catchy Comedy Network.For an ad-free version of the podcast become a premium subscriber. Details at caloroga.com/plus or on Apple Podcasts click on the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news--4522158/support.
In this episode, Johnny Mac interviews Jason Zinoman, a distinguished comedy critic for the New York Times. The discussion spans a variety of topics, including Zinoman's approach to covering comedy, his observations on Dave Chappelle's recent work, the changing nature of comic fame, and the intricacies of the current comedy scene impacted by streaming and digital platforms. Timestamps drift depending how many ccommercials you get dynamicallys erved but here's the order01:59 Interview with Jason Zinnaman Begins03:16 Discussing the Comedy Scene07:28 Dave Chappelle's Controversial Legacy12:20 Jerry Seinfeld's Potential Political Turn15:31 The Fragmented Fame of Modern Comedians18:20 David Letterman's Late Night Legacy24:42 John Mulaney's Show and Its Potential25:42 Critics vs. Public Reaction27:01 The Challenge of Sustaining a Show27:27 The Art of Call-In Shows28:41 Saturday Night Live's Future31:08 The Comedy Special Landscape40:03 Comedy Criticism and Snobbery48:44 Regional Comedy and Internet Influence Timestamps may vary depending on how long the commercials are. Unlock an ad-free podcast experience with Caloroga Shark Media! Get all our shows on any player you love, hassle free! For Apple users, hit the banner on your Apple podcasts app. For Spotify or other players, visit caloroga.com/plus. No plug-ins needed! Subscribe now for exclusive shows like 'Palace Intrigue,' and get bonus content from Deep Crown (our exclusive Palace Insider!) Or get 'Daily Comedy News,' and '5 Good News Stories' with no commercials! Plans start at $4.99 per month, or save 20% with a yearly plan at $49.99. Join today and help support the show! We now have Merch! FREE SHIPPING! Check out all the products like T-shirts, mugs, bags, jackets and more with logos and slogans from your favorite shows! Did we mention there's free shipping? Get more info from Caloroga Shark Media and sign up for our newsletter here. See the full list of shows and sign up for our newsletter for more great news from Caloroga Shark Media. www.buymeacoffee.com/dailycomedynews Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/dcnpod - join us to to discuss comedy and your favorite comedians. YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@dailycomedynews?sub_confirmation=1 Twitter is @dcnpod because the person with what I want tweeted once Email: john at thesharkdeck dot com Daily Comedy News commentary includes satire and parody. Daily Comedy News is a production of Caloroga Shark Media, the leading company in short form daily podcastsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-the-daily-show-about-comedians-and-comedy--4522158/support.
Join Harry, Daniel, and their guest Jason Zinoman, critic at large for The New York Times, as they share a plate of ginger prawns (Kosher of course) at their favorite Chinese Restaurant and unpack the Jewishness of Barbet Schroeder's “Reversal of Fortune,” starring Glenn Close, Ron Silver, and Jeremy Irons in an Oscar winning performance.Tune in to hear them discuss the way protagonist Alan Dershowitz is faced with positive and negative stereotypes of his Jewishness, debate Judaism's perspective on upholding the law when things get morally ambiguous, and answer the question of whether or not Claus Von Bulow has a good sense of humor.Finally, they end the episode by selecting their most Jewish scenes, “stretches of the pod,” debating if the movie is “good for the Jews” and ranking the film's overall Jewishness.IMDB - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100486/Movie Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU7cBiiYcUgJason's LinksThe Martin Chronicles Podcast - https://martinchronicles.buzzsprout.com/Jason on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/zinomanj/Jason on Twitter - https://x.com/zinomanConnect with Jews on Film online:Jews on Film Merch - https://jews-on-film.printify.me/productsInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpodYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilmTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod
New York Times columnist and David Letterman biographer Jason Zinoman is the guest. There's pizza news, and the pizza topic is: "Pizza Jokes" (or, at least, that's what Arthur's trying to call them).In 2011, Jason Zinoman became the first comedy critic for The New York Times, writing the On Comedy column. Before that, he wrote theater criticism for The New York Times and Time Out New York. He is the author of 2017's “Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night,” and also 2011's “Shock Value: How a Few Eccentric Outsiders Gave Us Nightmares, Conquered Hollywood, and Invented Modern Horror.” Jason also co-hosts the podcast The Martin Chronicles.Jason discusses the benefits and problems with the comedy boom (AND pizza boom). He and the gang go over the problems with certain folks potentially ruining debates about pizza, and why Jason changed his mind (mid-podcast) on white slices. This podcast is brought to you by Ooni Pizza Ovens. Go to Ooni.com for more information.Follow us for more information!Instagram: @pizzapodparty @NYCBestPizza @AlfredSchulz4Twitter: @PizzaPodParty @ArthurBovino @AlfredSchulzTikTok: @thepizzapodpartyThreads: @pizzapodparty @NYCBestPizza @AlfredSchulz4
New York Times comedy critic Jason Zinoman has joined me every year since 2015 for our own traditional December To Remember the year in comedy. On …
Jesse David Fox covers comedy for Vulture, where he hosts the podcast Good One. His new book is Comedy Book: How Comedy Conquered Culture—and the Magic That Makes It Work. “There's a complete lack of anyone who's ever written about comedy seriously compared to any other art form. There's just nothing. … So the challenge was, how do you start a conversation that no one has been participating in?” Show notes: @JesseDavidFox Fox's Vulture archive 3:00 Jason Zinoman's New York Times archive 5:00 “What Is the Best Adam Sandler Movie?” (Vulture • April 2023) 6:00 Kathryn VanArendonk's Vulture archive 8:00 “A Note About Splitsider” (Megh Wright• Vulture • Mar 2018) 11:00 “Jerry Seinfeld at Vulture Festival 2015” (Vulture • June 2015) 12:00 WTF with Marc Maron Podcast (Marc Maron • WTF • 2009) 14:00 “Jen Kirkman Turned Catcalling Into One of the Best Street Harassment Jokes Ever” (Vulture • April 2017) 23:00 “An Appreciation of the Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart” (Ramsey Ess • Vulture • Mar 2018) 23:00 “Maria Bamford Wants to Tell You How Much Money She Makes” (Vulture • Oct 2017) 23:00 “How Funny Does Comedy Need to Be?” (Vulture • Sep 2018) 23:00 “Michelle Wolf on Correspondents Dinner, Social Media” (Vulture • Mar 2020) 23:00 “Disgust is Tom Segura's Love Language” (Vulture • Sept 2022) 23:00 “The Story Behind Bert Kreischer's ‘Machine' Joke” (Vulture • May 2023) 23:00 “Katt Williams Explains Jacksonville Florida” (Katt Williams • Netflix • Jan 2020) 36:00 “How the Internet and a New Generation of Superfans Helped Create the Second Comedy Boom” (Vulture • Mar 2015) 37:00 Las Culturistas (Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang • iHeartRadio • 2016) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The writer Martin Amis, who died last week at the age of 73, was a towering figure of English literature who for half a century produced a body of work distinguished by its raucous wit, cutting intelligence and virtuosic prose.On this week's podcast, Gilbert Cruz talks with The Times's critics Dwight Garner (who wrote Amis's obituary for the paper) and Jason Zinoman (who co-hosts a podcast devoted to Amis's career, “The Martin Chronicles”) about the life and death of a remarkable figure who was, as Garner puts it, “arguably the most slashing, articulate, devastatingly clear, pungent writer of the last 25 years of the past century and the first almost 25 of this century.”We would love to hear your thoughts about this episode, and about the Book Review's podcast in general. You can send them to books@nytimes.com.
Chris Rock appeared in a live stand-up special that could be viewed as Jason Zinoman of the New York Times described it as "comedy revenge." Exerpts from Mr. Zinoman's review and exerpts from Bishop Desmond Tutu's book The Book of Forgiving are excerpted and commentary by this podcast host Marc Medley is given during this episode. Take a listen in its entirety.
Jason Zinoman works for the New York Times, currently serving as their comedy critic, and is the author of 'Letterman, The Last Giant of Late Night,' one of the most encompassing books ever written about David Letterman & Company. Jason took some time out of his insane schedule to talk all things Letterman, and brings a unique perspective on a variety of topics. He and Mike discuss the levels of The Show's evolution over the years, how certain figures, like Merrill Markoe and Chris Elliott shaped the show, and what it was like to meet and interview Dave himself for his book. Jason is an expert on the behind the scenes of Letterman and his productions, and an invaluable resource for insight and anecdotes. He also is a podcast host as well, co-hosting 'The Martin Chronicles' which dissects and celebrates the work of British Novelist Martin Amis. As always, The Letterman Podcast is brought to you by Rupert Jee and 'The Hello Deli.' If you find yourself in Midtown Manhattan and want good food served by one of the kindest people on the planet, head to the Hello Deli. Also, if you would like official 'Late Show with David Letterman' merchandise, including mugs, t-shirts, hats and more, head to hello-deli.com and shop to your heart's content. If you ask really nicely, Rupert may even add onions to your order. Please show the love to our show by liking, subscribing, sharing, and leaving positive comments, here and all over the internet. We are growing a community and are excited about the future plans we have. Feel free to join and contribute to our group on The Facebook; especially if you are contributing something odd. We love odd.
It's the end of 2022, which means it's time once again for my annual year-end check-in with Jason Zinoman, critic at-large for The New York …
For the next few months, we're sharing some of our favorite conversations from the podcast's archives. This week's segments first appeared in 2017 and 2018, respectively.The longtime New York Times comedy critic Jason Zinoman is the first person ever to hold that position at the paper, and he's a natural fit for it: In 2017, when his biography of the late-night host David Letterman was published, he explained on the podcast that his early love of Letterman had shaped not only his love of comedy but to some extent his outlook on the world: “I worshiped David Letterman as a kid,” Zinoman told the host Pamela Paul. “He is one of these people who I loved before I thought like a critic. And I do believe that you love things as a kid in a deep way that you don't love things as an adult. And to a large degree I think my sense of humor was defined by David Letterman. When I was a kid I talked like him. I smiled like him. My sense of sarcasm came from him. Even as an adult I can sort of see traces of it.”Also this week, we revisit our 2018 conversation with the New York Times Magazine writer Sam Anderson, who talked about basketball, Oklahoma City and his book “Boom Town.”We would love to hear your thoughts about this episode, and about the Book Review's podcast in general. You can send them to books@nytimes.com.
Gabe Mollica! Comedian! Delight! Friend! "Birbiglian" story-teller, according to Jason Zinoman (who covers comedy for the NY Times). He's got a solo show called "Solo: a Show About Friendship" and we talk about it and friendship and a lot of other things! It's great and he's great and you're great and if you're in NYC, go see the show in November 2022 if you can, like I'm going to! Thanks for reading, thanks for listening, thanks for doing all that you're doing. PS Our bonus chat is available here!
In our first episode of WAIT FRIGHT MINUTES, we discuss 1963's splatter classic, BLOOD FEAST, and how Miami influenced the filmmakers into changing the horror genre forever. Go to the Wait Five Minutes website for more! Episode art by River Aparicio - check out more of their work here! Watch the trailer for BLOOD FEAST right here! - Audio from this trailer is used in this episode Pick up a copy of SHOCK VALUE by Jason Zinoman right here! Unless otherwise stated, all the music used in this episode was originally composed.
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for July 30, 2022 is: ineffable • in-EFF-uh-bul • adjective Ineffable is used to describe something that is indescribable or unspeakable and that cannot be expressed in words. It is also used for things which are taboo and are not to be uttered. // Ed felt an ineffable joy at the sight of his daughter walking toward him from the plane. See the entry > Examples: "But onstage alone, talking to a crowd, he's smooth as can be. A seductive presence, he has that ineffable quality of stardom: a preternatural ability to connect." — Jason Zinoman, The New York Times, 28 May 2022 Did you know? "Every tone was a testimony against slavery, and a prayer to God for deliverance from chains. The hearing of those wild notes always depressed my spirit, and filled me with ineffable sadness," wrote Frederick Douglass in his autobiography. Reading Douglass's words, it's clear that ineffable means "indescribable" or "unspeakable." And when we break the word down to its Latin roots, we see how those meanings came about. Ineffable comes from ineffābilis, which joins the prefix in-, meaning "not," with the adjective effābilis, meaning "capable of being expressed." Effābilis comes from effārī, "to speak out," which in turn comes from ex- and fārī, meaning “to speak.”
This week on Good One, host Jesse David Fox is doing something a little different. Instead of interviewing a successful comedian about one of their bits and how it fits into their comedy, Jesse sat down with fellow comedy journalist Jason Zinoman of the New York Times! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
"Culturally Determined" is back! Aryeh speaks with New York Times comedy critic Jason Zinoman, author of the recent essay "Is It Funny for the Jews?". They discuss Jewish comedy in a time of rising anti-Semitism, whether Jewish characters should be played by Jewish actors, Dara Horn's recent book "People Love Dead Jews," "The Merchant of Venice," Philip Roth, how younger Jewish comedians understand their heritage, and more! Recorded February 21, 2022LINKS:Jason's NYT piece, "Is It Funny for the Jews?"https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/17/arts/television/comedy-jewish-identity.htmlFollow Jason on Twitter: @zinomanFollow Aryeh on Twitter: @AryehCW See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
It's time once again for Jason Zinoman, the comedy critic for The New York Times, to sit down with me as we deconstruct the year …
This week, Steve and Dana are joined by author and co-host of Slate's Working podcast, Isaac Butler. First, the panel discusses the social implications of Netflix's biggest hit to date, Squid Game. Next, the panel reviews the incredibly divisive (and gory) Cannes Palme d'Or winning Titane. Finally, the panel is joined by writer, researcher, and host of the Talking Scared podcast, Neil McRobert, to dissect the horror genre trope of the Final Girl. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses representations of parenthood in art. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements The panel revisits their previous discussion on eBooks and endorses more media. Dana: Scottish actor Alan Cumming's harrowing, yet deeply moving book—particularly the audiobook version—Not My Father's Son: A Family Memoir. Isaac: Two books consumed in eBook format! The first, a tome composed of every novella from author Ursula K. Le Guin titled, The Found and the Lost. The second, in this episode's shadow theme of Halloween, Jason Zinoman's book Shock Value: How a Few Eccentric Outsiders Gave Us Nightmares, Conquered Hollywood, and Invented Modern Horror. Which is, not clearly, a history steeped in love of 1970s horror cinema auteurs. Steve: Keeping it simple this week with three songs. First, the indie rock band from Leeds, The Wedding Present and their 1992 song “Blue Eyes.” Second (friend of a friend of the podcast) Courtney Barnett's cover of The Velvet Underground's “I'll Be Your Mirror” from the recent Velvet Underground & Nico tribute album. Finally, Willow Smith's (yes, as in Jada Pinkett and Will Smith) song with artist Tyler Cole “Meet Me At Our Spot,” which was released under their alias THE ANXIETY. (The live version has been blowing up on TikTok.) Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Meet Me At Our Spot" by THE ANXIETY, WILLOW, and Tyler Cole Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts, a bonus segment in each episode of the Culture Gabfest, full access to Slate's journalism on Slate.com, and more. Sign up now at slate.com/cultureplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Steve and Dana are joined by author and co-host of Slate's Working podcast, Isaac Butler. First, the panel discusses the social implications of Netflix's biggest hit to date, Squid Game. Next, the panel reviews the incredibly divisive (and gory) Cannes Palme d'Or winning Titane. Finally, the panel is joined by writer, researcher, and host of the Talking Scared podcast, Neil McRobert, to dissect the horror genre trope of the Final Girl. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses representations of parenthood in art. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements The panel revisits their previous discussion on eBooks and endorses more media. Dana: Scottish actor Alan Cumming's harrowing, yet deeply moving book—particularly the audiobook version—Not My Father's Son: A Family Memoir. Isaac: Two books consumed in eBook format! The first, a tome composed of every novella from author Ursula K. Le Guin titled, The Found and the Lost. The second, in this episode's shadow theme of Halloween, Jason Zinoman's book Shock Value: How a Few Eccentric Outsiders Gave Us Nightmares, Conquered Hollywood, and Invented Modern Horror. Which is, not clearly, a history steeped in love of 1970s horror cinema auteurs. Steve: Keeping it simple this week with three songs. First, the indie rock band from Leeds, The Wedding Present and their 1992 song “Blue Eyes.” Second (friend of a friend of the podcast) Courtney Barnett's cover of The Velvet Underground's “I'll Be Your Mirror” from the recent Velvet Underground & Nico tribute album. Finally, Willow Smith's (yes, as in Jada Pinkett and Will Smith) song with artist Tyler Cole “Meet Me At Our Spot,” which was released under their alias THE ANXIETY. (The live version has been blowing up on TikTok.) Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Meet Me At Our Spot" by THE ANXIETY, WILLOW, and Tyler Cole Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts, a bonus segment in each episode of the Culture Gabfest, full access to Slate's journalism on Slate.com, and more. Sign up now at slate.com/cultureplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Steve and Dana are joined by author and co-host of Slate's Working podcast, Isaac Butler. First, the panel discusses the social implications of Netflix's biggest hit to date, Squid Game. Next, the panel reviews the incredibly divisive (and gory) Cannes Palme d'Or winning Titane. Finally, the panel is joined by writer, researcher, and host of the Talking Scared podcast, Neil McRobert, to dissect the horror genre trope of the Final Girl. In Slate Plus, the panel discusses representations of parenthood in art. Email us at culturefest@slate.com. Endorsements The panel revisits their previous discussion on eBooks and endorses more media. Dana: Scottish actor Alan Cumming's harrowing, yet deeply moving book—particularly the audiobook version—Not My Father's Son: A Family Memoir. Isaac: Two books consumed in eBook format! The first, a tome composed of every novella from author Ursula K. Le Guin titled, The Found and the Lost. The second, in this episode's shadow theme of Halloween, Jason Zinoman's book Shock Value: How a Few Eccentric Outsiders Gave Us Nightmares, Conquered Hollywood, and Invented Modern Horror. Which is, not clearly, a history steeped in love of 1970s horror cinema auteurs. Steve: Keeping it simple this week with three songs. First, the indie rock band from Leeds, The Wedding Present and their 1992 song “Blue Eyes.” Second (friend of a friend of the podcast) Courtney Barnett's cover of The Velvet Underground's “I'll Be Your Mirror” from the recent Velvet Underground & Nico tribute album. Finally, Willow Smith's (yes, as in Jada Pinkett and Will Smith) song with artist Tyler Cole “Meet Me At Our Spot,” which was released under their alias THE ANXIETY. (The live version has been blowing up on TikTok.) Podcast production by Cameron Drews. Production assistance by Nadira Goffe. Outro music is "Meet Me At Our Spot" by THE ANXIETY, WILLOW, and Tyler Cole Slate Plus members get ad-free podcasts, a bonus segment in each episode of the Culture Gabfest, full access to Slate's journalism on Slate.com, and more. Sign up now at slate.com/cultureplus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
New York Times Comedy Critic Jason Zinoman shares the downsides of being called a bitch by Dave Chappelle on Broadway, giving someone a bad review then finding out they live in your apartment, only having three columns a month to cover comedy in the New York Times, reviewing Pete Davidson, Louis CK, and The Fringe Festival, tv shows about rich people that aren't really critiquing them, and I somehow got him to call my podcast "necessary", a pull quote I will be using for the rest of my life. You can watch the full video of this episode HERE Join The Downside Patreon for early ad-free episodes the Friday before they're released on Tuesday, TWO bonus episodes a month (AUDIO & VIDEO), + the good feeling inside that you're helping keep my delusions alive. Follow JASON ZINOMAN on twitter Read JASON ZINOMAN's NYT articles here Follow GIANMARCO SORESI on twitter, instagram, tiktok, & youtube Check out GIANMARCO SORESI's special 'Shelf Life' on amazon & on spotify Subscribe to GIANMARCO SORESI's mailchimp Follow RUSSELL DANIELS on twitter & instagram E-mail the show at TheDownsideWGS@gmail.com Produced by Fawn Sullivan, Paige Asachika, & Gianmarco Soresi Part of the Authentic Podcast Network Original music by Douglas Goodhart Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We spoke with New York Times writer and comedy columnist Jason Zinoman about the life and legacy of comedy icon Norm Macdonald See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
At 22 years old, Suleika Jaouad was a recent college graduate who had moved to Paris, looking forward to everything life might offer. Then she received a diagnosis of leukemia. In her new memoir, “Between Two Kingdoms,” Jaouad writes about the ensuing years. On this week’s podcast, she discusses her experience with the disease and her effort, in writing the book, to avoid the many platitudes that surround serious illness.“When you’re sick, you get bombarded with all kinds of bumper-sticker sayings,” she says. “You’re told to find the silver lining, that everything happens for a reason, or — the one that I hated the most — that God doesn’t give you more than you can handle, because in my case it certainly felt like I had been given more than I could handle. So I was really focused on writing toward the silence and toward the shadows, and writing about the experiences that maybe aren’t as palatable but that, from my perspective, needed to be unveiled.”The Times’s comedy critic, Jason Zinoman, visits the podcast to discuss his favorite memoirs by comedians, including books by Harpo Marx, Joan Rivers and Tina Fey, and to discuss the genre as a whole.“The comedy memoir is the worst genre of book that I can’t get enough of,” Zinoman says. “I gobble up comedy memoirs, even though the vast, vast majority of them are terrible.” One reason for that, Zinoman says, is because “you don’t need to make a great book to become a best seller. It’s the same with political books; most books by politicians are bad because they don’t need to be good to be successful, and the same logic applies here.”Also on this week’s episode, Tina Jordan looks back at Book Review history during this year of its 125th anniversary; Alexandra Alter has news from the publishing world; and Gregory Cowles and John Williams talk about what people are reading. Pamela Paul is the host.Here are the books discussed in this week’s “What We’re Reading”:“Let Me Tell You What I Mean” by Joan Didion“Her First American” by Lore Segal“A Promised Land” by Barack Obama
Legendary weatherman Lloyd Lindsay Young calls in to help forecast the massive storm hitting New York. NY1's John Davitt also calls into the show to give the latest weather update. Jason Zinoman also joins the show to discuss Johnny Carson's impact on pop culture.
Writer Jason Zinoman joins Frank to discuss Johnny Carson.
How are we supposed to make any sense out of this year in comedy, 2020? There's only one way I know how…that's by reuniting with Jason Zinoman of The New York Times, the Siskel to my Ebert in comedy criticism, to hash out 2020 and give some shout outs to the most valuable players in […]
Once upon a time, 1-hour comedy specials were a rare bird. Will the big investments Netflix has made in stand-up comedy backfire? Jason Zinoman, comedy critic for The New York Times, weighs in on the business of comedy.
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 16, 2020 is: inveigh • in-VAY • verb : to protest or complain bitterly or vehemently : rail Examples: "Wearing a blue suit, [Hannah] Gadsby begins by pointing to a prop dog made of crayons onstage, immediately making fun of herself, a notable shift since 'Nanette,' when she inveighed against self-deprecation." — Jason Zinoman, The New York Times¸ 26 May 2020 "I see their anger spiking in Facebook conversations and unfurling across Twitter threads. They inveigh against the new high-occupancy lanes on Interstate 15; against the paid parking at casinos…." — Geoff Carter, The Las Vegas Weekly, 27 Feb. 2020 Did you know? You might complain or grumble about some wrong you see, or, for a stronger effect, you can inveigh against it. Inveigh comes from the Latin verb invehere, which joins the prefix in- with the verb vehere, meaning "to carry." Invehere literally means "to carry in," and when inveigh first appeared in English, it was also used to mean "to carry in" or "to introduce." Extended meanings of invehere, however, are "to force one's way into," "to attack," and "to assail with words," and that's where the current sense of inveigh comes from. A closely related word is invective, which means "insulting or abusive language." This word, too, ultimately comes from invehere.
Details, credits, errata: Episode 5, He Died Doing What He Loved, is written by Sam Thielman and Alissa Wilkinson, produced by Sam, and distributed by Alissa. This episode is about William Friedkin’s masterpiece The Exorcist, one of the scariest movies Sam and Alissa have ever seen, and a favorite of our guest Jason Zinoman, who features it prominently in his excellent book Shock Value, which he researched by interviewing both Friedkin and William Peter Blatty, author of the book and the screenplay about their relationship—contentious—their movie—tremendous—and their faith. If you would like to buy all of Jason’s books, you may.Sam now knows that The Exorcist was neither written nor adapted during the papacy of John Paul II, but of Paul VI, two popes behind JP2. John Paul I, the pope in between, wasn’t the Bishop of Rome for even five weeks before he died, incidentally. Alissa made reference to The Case for Spoilers, her terrific piece at Vox; here it is.For folks reading this on their favorite podcatcher rather than Substack, the image on our website for this episode, courtesy of the Louvre Museum in Paris, is the 8th-century BCE statuette of the Mesopotamian demon-king Pazuzu, not named in the film but portrayed using a statuette that looks exactly like this one. He’s also in Jacques Tardi’s first Adele Blanc-Sec graphic novel, The Demon of the Eiffel Tower, which you should all read. Sam really liked the Blatty novel, which you can buy here. Sam is perpetually frustrated over the difficulty of linking to an independent movie store and would rather stay away from Amazon, so if any of our brilliant listeners can tell him the name of a movie store with a website containing a search bar into which you can type the word “Exorcist” and come up with William Friedkin’s 1973 film on blu-ray, he would be most grateful and will send it everyone’s business each week. This week he has to settle for eBay again, through which your hard-earned dollars at least go to normal people after eBay takes its cut.Our theme song is Louis Armstrong and His Hot 5’s Muskrat Ramble, made freely available by the Boston Public Library and audio engineering shop George Blood, LP through the Internet Archive. The Exorcist is copyright 1973 William Blatty and Warner Bros., despite Friedkin’s protestations, which resulted in some interesting court filings, or at least court filings interesting to people with the same brain sickness Sam has. Brief audio clips are used herein for review purposes. All other content is copyright 2020 Sam Thielman and Alissa Wilkinson. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at yammpod.substack.com/subscribe
The Play That Goes Wrong is a great play about bad theater. Kevin says it's also one of the best plays, comedy or drama, to hit Broadway in the past decade. In part one, he interviewed creator and original cast member Henry Lewis (of Mischief Theatre), and actors Matt Harrington and Matt Walker, to figure out just how it packed so many laughs in a simple premise. Here in part two, Kevin gets the full backdrop from New York Times comedy critic Jason Zinoman (author of a bestselling book on David Letterman, Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night) on what the success of this play says about the current state of Broadway. Resources The Play That Goes Wrong opened on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre in April 2017. It moved to New World Stages in February 2019 where it is currently playing. For tickets and information, visit https://www.broadwaygoeswrong.com/index.php. Visit Mischief Theatre: https://mischiefcomedy.com/ Follow Jason Zinoman on Twitter: @zinoman Order Jason's book, Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night Credits The Backdrop is hosted by Kevin Bleyer and produced by Nella Vera. The Backdrop artwork is by Philip Romano. Follow Kevin Bleyer and Nella Vera on Twitter: @kevinbleyer / @spinstripes The Backdrop is a proud member of the Broadway Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This episode Nathaniel and Max have a conversation with New York Times reporter/author of Shock Value: How a Few Eccentric Outsiders Gave Us Nightmares, Conquered Hollywood, and Invented Modern Horror, Jason Zinoman! We discuss one of the most important and influential decades in horror film, get to be jealous of all the amazing horror legends Jason interviewed while writing his book, and discuss some modern favorites as well! Bear with the audio as it's a little less clean than usual because this is a recorded phone interview. Check out our merchandise at https://www.teepublic.com/user/screamkingspod Intro/Outro music: Apex by Simon Mathewson
As we put a bow on 2019, it's time once again for me to sit down with New York Times comedy critic Jason Zinoman to look back on the year's best and brightest moments in comedy, and which comedians brought out the best. We couldn't help but discuss cancel culture, and whom that actually applied […]
On The Gist, Elizabeth Warren and ICE. In the interview, Jason Zinoman, who writes about the New York Times, thinks the late-night shows need to return to the playful cruelty they once had. He and Mike talk about the current state of things, David Letterman’s reign, and why even Letterman seems to have lost his teeth on his new show. In the Spiel, Trump and tweets about the Congress squad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On The Gist, Elizabeth Warren and ICE. In the interview, Jason Zinoman, who writes about the New York Times, thinks the late-night shows need to return to the playful cruelty they once had. He and Mike talk about the current state of things, David Letterman’s reign, and why even Letterman seems to have lost his teeth on his new show. In the Spiel, Trump and tweets about the Congress squad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On The Gist, the South Bend shooting and Pete Buttigieg. In the interview, Jason Zinoman recently wrote about dad jokes for the New York Times so he’s here to talk with Mike about his grand theories, why we love to hate dad jokes, and if they really are as low-brow as people consider them to be. In the Spiel, the choice the Democrats face. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On The Gist, the South Bend shooting and Pete Buttigieg. In the interview, Jason Zinoman recently wrote about dad jokes for the New York Times so he’s here to talk with Mike about his grand theories, why we love to hate dad jokes, and if they really are as low-brow as people consider them to be. In the Spiel, the choice the Democrats face. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Luisa Diez is an anthropologist, museum worker, and comedy booker in New York City. She splits her time between making exhibitions and producing and watching comedy shows. She currently books Too Many Cooks, a weekly show in Manhattan, as well as one-off shows at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn and other venues around NYC. […]
Luisa Diez is an anthropologist, museum worker, and comedy booker in New York City. She splits her time between making exhibitions and producing and watching comedy shows. She currently books Too Many Cooks, a weekly show in Manhattan, as well as one-off shows at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn and other venues around NYC. Jason Zinoman writes the On Comedy column for The New York Times. In 2011, he became the Times’s first comedy critic. He is the author of the bestseller “Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night.” He has also written the history of 1970s horror “Shock Value,” as well as the kindle single “Searching for Dave Chappelle.” Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here’s How » Join the I’m Not Joking community today: petermcgraw,.org Peter McGraw Twitter Peter McGraw LinkedIn
Before we turn our calendars to 2019 and start making jokes about writing 2018 on all of our checks that we no longer write because …
Ever watch a movie and think, "I wonder if that dead body is real?" Well, as far as the movies in today's episode are concerned, the answer is a stomach-churning yes. Give this episode a listen and join the conversation by commenting here or reaching out to me on Twitter @fakingitsfx. TRANSCRIPT https://www.gaylemartinmakeup.com/blog/episode-1-no-guts-no-gorey MOVIES Poltergeist Cannibal Holocaust Men Behind the Sun Unrest Apocalypse Now Beyond the Darkness Blood Feast SOURCES https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/crime-history/body-horror-5-scary-movies-that-feature-real-human-corpses https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannibal_Holocaust#Filming https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yanomami#Violence https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_Feast https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splatter_film http://www.horror.land/films-that-used-real-bodies/ https://www.rogerebert.com/balder-and-dash/blood-feast-digging-into-the-guts-of-the-very-first-splatter-film https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/the-strained-making-of-apocalypse-now-1758689.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyond_the_Darkness_(film) Shock Value by Jason Zinoman, p. 33-34 MUSIC Theme: "A Tale of Vengence" by Aakash Gandhi Background Music: "Epilog - Ghostpocalypse" by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100666 Artist: http://incompetech.com/
Jason's new book, Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night ... Letterman's influences: Carson, Allen, and Paar ... Letterman as a postmodern figure ... Looking at Letterman and women through the lens of #MeToo ... Letterman's self-hatred and depression ... How the show changed on CBS and the war with Leno ... Late-period Late Show, a bizarre place to work ... Jason: Letterman helped normalize Donald Trump ...
How could someone so self-loathing as David Letterman)be able to accomplish all that he accomplished which includes having an indelible stamp on American culture? That's the basis of the discussion I have Jason Zinoman, author of the recent seminal book on David Letterman: Letterman, The last great King of Late Night. https://www.amazon.com/Letterman-Last-Giant-Late-Night/dp/0062377213/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= Jason is also New York Times Comedy Critic (first and only). I love Jason's writing and the particular comics he highlights, so I am really excited to talk to someone who, in my mind, super knows his shit about comedy. Also, I had a Stupid Pet Trick appearance in 1986, so I am fan-ravenous about getting Jason's close up perspective on Letterman, Letterman's managerial style, as well as his creative process and his relationships with ladies. Plus – I got to dig into Jason a bit personally; how does someone, seemingly so normal and well adjusted, manage a great career and stable family life while covering comedians for a living? I find Jason has some good life perspective that I think many comics and "civilians" could learn from themselves. This episode is sponsored by Spam. PS: The first few minutes are a brief call-in chat with artist Chris Bors. http://www.chrisbors.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Zinoman https://www.nytimes.com/by/jason-zinoman @zinoman http://www.spam.com/
Jason Zinoman is the writer of the column "On Comedy" for The New York Times. He's contributed to other prestigious publications such as Vanity Fair, The Guardian and Slate. The author of several books, recently his New York Times bestseller Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night was published as a soft cover. It's our pleasure to welcome Jason Zinoman for a discussion about a talk show host who would change broadcasting and the popular culture as a whole. You'll not want to miss this one! Support The Paul Leslie Hour by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-paul-leslie-hour
Playwright David Cale, actor Billy Crudup, and director Leigh Silverman of Cale's riveting, one-man thriller “Harry Clarke” now Off-Broadway, produced by (and available at) audible. Jason Zinoman of The New York Times co-hosts with Susan Haskins.
For a third consecutive year, New York Times comedy critic Jason Zinoman has invited me into his home so we can tackle the year in …
Actress/writer/comic Amy Schumer discusses starring in Steve Martin's “Meteor Shower” on Broadway, with New York Times critic Jason Zinoman and Susan Haskins. Also, LGBTQ performer/activist, the legendary Agosto Machado talks with Michael Musto & Haskins.
Follow Jason on Twitter @jjgoad; visit his website jjgoad.com Jack Reacher books by Lee Child; Robert B. Parker’s Spenser books; Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe books; Ross Macdonald’s Lew Archer books; Silver Screen Fiend by Patton Oswald; Sick in the Head by Judd Apatow; Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night by Jason Zinoman; Hope: Entertainer of the Century by Richard Zoglin; Gilbert Gottfried’s Amazing Colossal Podcast; Raised Eyebrows: My Years Inside Groucho’s House by Steve Stoliar; Krazy: George Herriman, a Life in Black and White by Michael Tisserand; So Deadly, So Perverse: 50 Years of Italian Gialo Films by Troy Howarth; Dario Argento, director; Hollywood Babylon by Kenneth Anger; The Complete Peanuts by Charles Schultz, published by Fantagraphics; Popeye by E.C. Segar; The Chocolate War & I Am the Cheese by Robert Cormier; A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck; The Outsiders, Rumblefish, & Tex by S.E. Hinton; Rumblefish movie directed by Francis Ford Coppola; Bosch, Amazon tv series, based on Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch books; The Talented Mr. Ripley & The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith; Harper’s Interview w/ Ottessa Moshfegh (http://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/art-books-music/a17696/ottessa-moshfegh-eileen-interview/); Rebecca, My Cousin Rachel, & The Birds by Daphne Du Maurier; Rebecca, The Birds, Psycho, North by Northwest, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Rear Window: movies directed by Alfred Hitchcock; Frank Ocean; Tai Pai by Tao Lin Theme song from Schnupp & the pups (schnuppthepups.bandcamp.com/album/demo Follow Brent @blentfryberg; brentflyberg.com Follow Kelly @kerlyhan; kellyhannahcomedy.com
(This program was originally aired on June 5, 2017) With more than 6,000 hours of shows logged during an influential career that spanned more than 30 years, David Letterman’s impact on the landscape of late-night is unquestioned. On today's Midday, a closer look at the life and work of the trend-setting funny man, through the eyes of a writer-journalist who's spent the past three years sizing up the Letterman legacy.Jason Zinoman writes about comedy for the New York Times, and has contributed to Slate, the Guardian and Vanity Fair. He’s the author of three books: Shock Value, a chronicle of the horror film industry, and Searching for Dave Chappelle, a probing look at the unexpected twists and turns in the career of that brilliant comedian.Zinoman's latest book is a study of another gifted and enigmatic comedian: David Letterman retired in 2015 after more than three decades on TV, during which time he became a cultural icon. Today, Zinoman joins host Tom Hall from Argot Studios in New York City to talk about his new biography: Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night.
Talkin' Movies episode 035 - George A Romero (1940-2017) 00:00:00 Driveway to the Cemetery by Spencer Moore from "Night of the Living Dead" / 01:34:00 The Gonk by Herbert Chappell from "Dawn of the Dead" NOTES, SOURCES, & FURTHER READING For an overview of the first two decades of Romero’s career, check out Paul R. Gagne’s The Zombies That Ate Pittsburgh (Laurel Entertainment,Inc., 1987) For an interesting look at the American horror renaissance of the seventies, check out Jason Zinoman’s Shock Value (The Penguin Press, 2011)
Volvo generates some electricity. Tesla decelerates. And Berkshire Hathaway makes a big buy. Our analysts discuss those stories and share some stocks on their radar. Plus, New York Times comedy critic Jason Zinoman talks about his new book, Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night. Thanks to Slack for supporting The Motley Fool. Learn more at www.slack.com.
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey discusses comedic storytelling and Amy Schumer’s career arc, from stand-up comedian to movie star, with Jason Zinoman of The New York Times (0:50). Then Sean is joined by filmmaker Jonathan Levine (‘The Wackness,’ ‘50/50’) to discuss collaborating with Schumer on his new comedy, ‘Snatched’, his own career arc, finding his path, and dealing with bad reviews (14:20).
Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey discusses comedic storytelling and Amy Schumer’s career arc, from stand-up comedian to movie star, with Jason Zinoman of The New York Times (0:50). Then Sean is joined by filmmaker Jonathan Levine (‘The Wackness,’ ‘50/50’) to discuss collaborating with Schumer on his new comedy, ‘Snatched’, his own career arc, finding his path, and dealing with bad reviews (14:20).
Jason Zinoman, the comedy critic New York Times, talks about his new book Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night. Jason discusses how Letterman created something totally different that parodied talk shows and rewrote the conventions of comedy and he talks about the many ways that Letterman’s legacy can be seen on every late night show on television today. We’ll get into the legendary “late night wars” between Leno and Letterman, what made Letterman a far superior interviewer to Carson or Jay Leno, his amazing ability as an ad-libber, and his subtle and not so subtle digs at the phoniness of celebrity. Plus, stupid pet tricks, top 10 lists, and Jason’s surprisingly candid interview with David Letterman himself. Order Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night on Amazon. Read Jason Zinoman's column in the New York Times and follow him on Twitter at @Zinoman. Today's episode is sponsored by Texture, Casper, and Bosch. Get access to over 200 magazines on your smartphone or tablet with a 14 day free trial at www.texture.com/KICKASS. Get $50 toward any Casper mattress purchase by visiting www.casper.com/KICK and using offer code KICK. Stream season 3 of Bosch on Amazon Prime on April 21st. Please subscribe to Kickass News on iTunes and take a minute to take our listener survey at www.podsurvey.com/KICK. Support the show by donating at www.gofundme.com/kickassnews. Visit www.kickassnews.com for more fun stuff.
Chris Hayes discusses "A Colony in a Nation," and Jason Zinoman talks about "Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night."
Episode 81, The Gentlemen's Dojo welcomes "Letterman" author Jason Zinoman. GET THE BOOK! Jason provides amazing insight to an extremely complicated and entertaining legend of late night.
David Letterman was full of contradictions. He hated celebrity, but he hosted a talk show. He was playful, but he never seemed to be enjoying himself. In The Last Giant of Late Night, reporter Jason Zinoman explores the many facets of Letterman’s art, and how the TV landscape has suffered without him. In the Spiel, the real stories behind the fall of Alabama’s governor, the Wells Fargo clawback, and one teenager’s quest for free chicken nuggets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
David Letterman was full of contradictions. He hated celebrity, but he hosted a talk show. He was playful, but he never seemed to be enjoying himself. In The Last Giant of Late Night, reporter Jason Zinoman explores the many facets of Letterman’s art, and how the TV landscape has suffered without him. In the Spiel, the real stories behind the fall of Alabama’s governor, the Wells Fargo clawback, and one teenager’s quest for free chicken nuggets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Interview with Jason Zinoman, Author of “Letterman the last giant of late night” and comedy critic for the NYT. LETTERMAN: The Last Giant of the Night: https://www.amazon.ca/Letterman-Last-Giant-Late-Night/dp/0062377213 https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/10/books/review/letterman-biography-jason-zinoman.html
Au programme de cet épisode sans Marina (sorry, not sorry) : - Des nouvelles rassurantes de Jimmy Fallon - Louis CK : 2017 - Julio Torres - Review with Forrest MacNeil - Detroiters - The Comedy Jam - What's Your F@%king Deal with Big Jay Oakerson - Letterman: The Last Giant of Late Night de Jason Zinoman
New York Times comedy critic Jason Zinoman is the one person analyzing comedy from the most prominent journalistic platform in the world. So naturally Jason and Marc would want to talk about the nuts and bolts of creating comedy and, very specifically, the origin of David Letterman's influential brand of comedy, which is the subject of Jason's new book. Plus, Hank Azaria is back in the garage to talk about bringing a gleefully drunk sportscaster to your televisions. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Sign up here for WTF+ to get the full show archives and weekly bonus material! https://plus.acast.com/s/wtf-with-marc-maron-podcast.
John and his guest, Steve Finn, discuss Robin Duke’s thoughts on Tony Rosato, Julio Torres in the news, Felicity Jones’ adorable incompetence, the sexism of Steve Martin, millennial suffrage, Sturgill Simpson’s standout performance, and self-important celebrities. Support the podcast... Amazon.com (USA) & Amazon.ca (Canada): The best price and fastest shipping on everything. Please bookmark this link (USA) or this link (Canada) and use it each time you shop. Shopify: The best way to start an online store. Start your free 14-day trial. No credit card required. More Free Options Notes Steve Finn hosts Transparency on CHMR 93.5 FM in St. John's Newfoundland. Connect with Steve on Facebook: @TransparencyCHMR Connect with us at: snlafterparty.fm feedback@snlafterparty.fm Twitter: @snlpodcast Facebook: @snlpodcast Instagram: snlpodcast SNL in Review Twitter account and article series. Robin Duke podcast interview where she discusses Tony Rosato. Jason Zinoman’s New York Times article about Julio Torres. ‘Fresh Pots’ video documenting Dave Grohl’s caffeine addiction. Best moments: Kenan Thompson losing face & Sturgill Simpson performs Best sketches: Donald Trump Press Conference Cold-Open & Susan B. Anthony MVP: Beck Bennett Rating: 4 (weak)
Jason Zinoman is the comedy critic for The New York Times, and has written a new book about David Letterman which will come out April …
This is a companion piece to Episode 6, which was about the creation and history of Shock Theater and Horror Hosts. When you’re creating podcasts like this, you have great ideas that just don’t make the final cut. Sometimes, though, there’s just more story to tell. Join me as I dig a little deeper into the world of Modern Horror Hosts. And… I make a confession about my own childhood Horror Host, “Uncle Ted.” This “Addendum of Doom” is called, “Close Encounters of the Horror Host Kind!” Enter The Addendum of Doom! If you like the show, please consider writing a review on iTunes. It really helps. Thanks a lot for listening. You can now subscribe to the Hellbent for Horror podcast now available on iTunes and Stitcher iTunes link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/hellbent-for-horror/id1090978706 Stitcher link: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/hellbent-for-horror?refid=stpr For you, the listeners of Hellbent for Horror, Audible is offering a free audiobook download with a free 30-day trial to give you the opportunity to check out their service. To download your free audiobook today, go to: http://www.audibletrial.com/HellbentForHorror Horror Hosts and Fantastic Fans: Mister Lobo: http://www.cinemainsomnia.com/ Outer Space International (Roku): http://osi74.com/ Miss Misery: http://www.lastdoorwayproductions.com/ Miss Misery’s Movie Massacre: http://www.missmisery.net/moviemassacre.html Lord Blood-Rah: https://www.facebook.com/LordBloodRahsNWT/ Bob Wilkins: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Wilkins John Stanley: http://stanleybooks.net/catchall.htm Eric Yee (Megga Fant): https://www.facebook.com/mega.fant.7 Sci-Fi Bob Ekman: https://vimeo.com/user4994485 Shock! Theater Package Pressbook: http://flashbak.com/shock-a-fabulous-1958-universal-studios-horror-movies-pressbook-42958/ Horror Host Underground’s List of Active Horror Hosts: http://spookyfests.com/html/hosts.htm E-Gor’s Chamber of TV Horror Hosts: http://myweb.wvnet.edu/e-gor/tvhorrorhosts/hostsz.html Shock Value: How a Few Eccentric Outsiders Gave Us Nightmares, Conquered Hollywood, and Invented Modern Horror-by Jason Zinoman: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shock_Value_(book) To sign up for a free month of an Audible.com membership and get a free audiobook of “Shock Value” today , go to http://www.audibletrial.com/HellbentForHorror Subjects discussed: Shock! Theater Package Horror Hosts Horror Movies Classic Universal Monsters Creature Features Shock Theater Chiller Theater Poltergeist (1982) Haunted Mansion (Dark Ride) Television in the United States Hollywood Studio System Midnight Spook Show History of Comic Books History of Punk Rock “Big Three” Television Networks Lights Out! (Radio Show) Tales from the Crypt (Comics) The Vampira Show Swami Drana Badour “Murder Before Midnight” Horror Hosts Marvin Morgus the Magnificent Roland Zacherley Ghoulardi Svengoolie Bob Wilkins John Stanley Count Gore De Vol Mister Lobo Cinema Insomnia Karlos Borloff Monster Madhouse Famous Monsters of Filmland Forrest J Ackerman “Son of Shock!” Package Ernie Fosselius August Ragone #Shock! Theater Package #Horror Hosts #Horror Movies #Classic Universal Monsters #Creature Features #Shock Theater #Chiller Theater #Poltergeist (1982) #Haunted Mansion (Dark Ride) #Television in the United States #Hollywood Studio System #Midnight Spook Show #Comic Books #Punk Rock #“Big Three” Television Networks #Lights Out! (Radio Show) #Tales from the Crypt (Comics) #The Vampira Show #Swami Drana Badour #“Murder Before Midnight” #Horror Hosts #Marvin #Morgus the Magnificent #Roland #Zacherley #Ghoulardi #Svengoolie #Bob Wilkins #John Stanley #Count Gore De Vol #Mister Lobo #Cinema Insomnia #Karlos Borloff #Monster Madhouse #Famous Monsters of Filmland #Forrest J Ackerman #“Son of Shock!” Package #Ernie Fosselius #August Ragone
Cue the spooky synth music! This week Kyle and Matthew sit down with musician Kasey Clark and comedian Andy Sell to talk about the films of director John Carpenter. In the third installment of their "Rad Directors" series, they go through Carpenter's complete filmography - with a few deviations along the way. They talk about their fond memories of Big Trouble in Little China (which they can quote almost entirely from memory), that time Andy got to meet J.C. in the flesh, and Kasey shows off his sweet "They Live" tattoo. Check out Tidemouth's new album Velvet and Stone and Andy's web series "Andy Talks to Bands" and web comic "Kyle and Grandpa Forever"! Weekly Rads: What you guys are radful for! Raddendums: Dark Star and the song "Benson, Arizona," Shock Value by Jason Zinoman, Assault on Precinct 13, Someone's Watching Me!, Elvis, Halloween, The Fog, Escape from New York, El Rey, The Thing, Christine, Stephen King & Joe Hill, Starman, Big Trouble in Little China, Prince of Darkness, They Live, Joe Bob Briggs, Memoirs of an Invisible Man, Body Bags, In the Mouth of Madness, Village of the Damned, Escape from L.A., Vampires, Ghosts of Mars, Masters of Horror, Pro-Life, Cigarette Burns, The Ward, Esther Williams
Adam was featured in the New York Times piece on storytelling in New York City "Telling Tales With a Tear and a Smile"by Jason Zinoman. He's performed on shows such as Magnet Theater's Armando Diaz Experience (guest monologist), Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre's Asssscat 3000 (guest monologist), Night Train with Wyatt Cenac, Big Terrific, The Liar Show, Mortified, and RISK.
Tablet staffers Mark Oppenheimer, Liel Leibovitz, and Stephanie Butnick sound off on the news of the week, including the death of the world’s oldest living Jew and a Palestinian prisoner's hunger strike. New York Times comedy critic Jason Zinoman discusses Amy Schumer, Sarah Silverman, and the new Jewish comedy. Dan Savage, this week's guest non-Jew, asks a question about a long-ago romance lost in translation: specifically, his German boyfriend thinking he was Jewish. Follow Jason Zinoman on Twitter: https://twitter.com/zinoman. Check out Dan Savage's Savage Love column here: http://www.thestranger.com/authors/259/dan-savage, For more Unorthodox, visit tabletmag.com/unorthodox. Email us at unorthodox@tabletmag.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Retrospective: John Hughes - Remembering the Laughs - John Candy, john belushi and Mitch Hedberg - Biggie smalls is remembered. - 'Shock Vaule' by Jason Zinoman is reviewed. - Playing with yourself w/ Gimpy Our favorite and not so favorite wrestling finishers.
Writer Douglas Carter Beane and composer Lewis Flinn discuss their new musical “Lysistrata Jones.” Also, critic Jason Zinoman of “The New York Times” talks about ‘new horror’ films, the subject of his book “Shock Value.”
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