GGACP Rewind: Episode #27: Steve Cox

Writer, journalist and pop culture expert Steve Cox has authored more than twenty books on film and television, including books about Johnny Carson, The Three Stooges, "The Addams Family," "I Dream of Jeannie," "The Munsters," "It’s a Wonderful Life" and "The Wizard of Oz." This week, Steve joins Gibert and Frank for a lively (and then some) conversation about Larry Fine’s lady-killing, the unappreciated comic timing of Fred Gwynne and “Grandpa” Al Lewis, and Abbott and Costello’s influence on Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David. PLUS: A Munchkin suicide hoax! Mayor McCheese cleans up! Buddy Hackett enjoys a malted! And Frank attends a Stooge funeral! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former teen idol Frankie Avalon broke into show business as a child prodigy and was soon receiving 12,000 pieces of fan mail per week and working alongside Hollywood greats Jack Benny, Jackie Gleason, Lucille Ball, Groucho Marx and John Wayne. Frankie joined Gilbert and Frank for a look back at his humble beginnings in South Philly, his years as a teen heartthrob and his decades-long friendship with onscreen love interest Annette Funicello. Plus: The Duke makes Laurence Harvey cry! Buster Keaton meets Houdini! “Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine”! Dueling Draculas! And Cesar Romero and Arnold Stang hit a strip joint! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Old pal Bob Saget drops by the historic Friars Club to plug his New York Times bestseller “Dirty Daddy,” and to chat with Gilbert and Frank about his early days in the biz, his 8-year gig as a sitcom patriarch and his friendships with Rodney Dangerfield and Don Rickles. Also, Bob starts his own hate society, dreams about Buddy Hackett and Buddy Ebsen and grills Gilbert about his most memorable “casting couch” experiences. PLUS: Perfecto Telles! Asian Elvis! Sam Kinison as the Messiah! Gilbert as “Weezie” Jefferson!  And the first joke Bob ever wrote! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Legendary B-movie king Roger Corman has produced and directed over 400 films, giving early career breaks to actors like Robert De Niro, Sandra Bullock, Bruce Dern, Charles Bronson and Dennis Hopper and helping to launch the directing careers of Ron Howard, Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese and Peter Bogdanovich (among others).Gilbert and Frank phoned Roger in his Hollywood home to learn more about his life and storied career, including where/how he first met longtime friend and collaborator Jack Nicholson, why the Hell’s Angels threatened to murder him AND take him to court, and why “a monster should always be bigger than a leading lady.” PLUS: “The Beast with (not quite) a Million Eyes”! Roger experiments with LSD! Peter Lorre messes with Boris Karloff’s head! And the enduring mystery of “The Terror”! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Music producer-turned-filmmaker and screenwriter Brian Koppelman (“Rounders,” “Runaway Jury,” “Oceans 13”) joins Gilbert and Frank at the legenday NY Friars Club to talk about everything from signing Tracy Chapman and Eddie Murphy to their first record deals to working with celebrated actors John Turturro, Martin Landau and John Malkovich. Also, Brian trots out a Gilbert impression, names all four “Sweathogs” and heaps praise on “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.” PLUS: Al Pacino borrows from Paul Anka! The “Death Wish” muggers make it big! And Ol’ Blue Eyes demands a slice of pie! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gilbert and Frank celebrate the lives and careers of horror icons Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff  with the help of their devoted offspring, Bela Lugosi Jr. and Sara Karloff. First up, the “Son of Dracula” recalls visiting the set of “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein” as a child and points out what the movie “Ed Wood” got wrong about his famous dad. Then, author and historian Sara Karloff looks back on her father's most indelible roles, from The Frankenstein Monster to The Mummy to The Grinch—and tells us why her dad referred to Halloween as his “busy season." PLUS: Karloff dances on “The Red Skelton Show”! Lugosi passes up the role of a lifetime! Sara meets the “Son of Gilbert”! And Bela Jr. takes a stand for The Three Stooges! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's two brief but memorable interviews in one episode as Gilbert’s old boss, actor, producer and songwriter Alan Thicke, joins the boys for a look back at the late, lamented 1983 talk show "Thicke of the Night” (featuring a young Gilbert Gottfried)! and reminisces about everything from his short-lived disco career to scripting variety specials for Johnny Cash, Bobby Darin and Flip Wilson. Also, Alan and Gilbert swap wives, John Lennon praises commercial jingles and Paul Lynde drives his sportscar into a ditch. Next up, it's a clash of comedy titans as Gilbert and Frank extend a peace offering to Las Vegas legend Shecky Greene following the much-publicized Gilbert-Shecky Friars Club feud!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In August of 2014, "Weird Al" Yankovic's "Mandatory Fun" became the first comedy album to top the U.S. Billboard charts in over five decades. Several months later, Al joined Gilbert and Frank at the legendary New York Friars Club to talk about an assortment of fascinating topics, including Dr. Demento's influence on his career, the history of novelty and parody records and the reason he was forbidden to make eye contact with Prince. Also, Gilbert flashes Marge Simpson, prays to a statue of Red Buttons and loses a film role to 3′ 9″ Billy Barty. PLUS: Dueling Crazy Guggenheims! Irving Berlin vs. Mad magazine! “Disco” Art Fleming! And Weird Al’s “Mount Rushmore of Comedy”! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sixty years ago, ABC's "Batman" premiered, revolutionizing both television and popular culture. Back in 2014, Gilbert and Frank tracked down the caped crusader of the swinging sixties (and their childhoods), the legendary Adam West, who happily shared his memories of everyone from Gary Cooper to Jackie Gleason and joked about some of his more “challenging” gigs (“Voodoo Island” anyone?). Also in this episode: Adam duets with Dino, makes history with William Shatner and pays Gilbert one of the greatest compliments of his career. PLUS: The origin of the Batusi! Liberace gets tough! Adam turns down the part of 007! And Batman and the Riddler go to an orgy!? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedian and Emmy-winning actor Jay Thomas is best known to audiences as doomed hockey star Eddie LeBec on “Cheers” and tabloid talker Jerry Gold on “Murphy Brown,” but he’s also a showbiz renaissance man, having worked as a stand-up comic, disc jockey, sportscaster and reality show host. Jay stopped by Gilbert’s apartment on a summer evening to share hilariously candid anecdotes about everything from swiping Bill Cosby’s jokes to getting kicked out of an audition for “The West Wing.” Also in this episode: Jay looks back on the infamous “Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?," Joe Piscopo runs afoul of the mafia and Jay runs afoul of Rhea Perlman. PLUS: The Lone Ranger “rides” again! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices