Christmas Novelty Songs with Mario Cantone Encore

Actor and alleged wiseguy Gianni Russo, who played the traitorous Carlo Rizzi in 1972's "The Godfather," stops by the studio to talk about people he's bumped off in real life (two, maybe three that he’ll admit to), sleeping with Liza Minnelli and Marilyn Monroe (!?) and taking acting lessons from Marlon Brando. Also, crime boss John Gotti and Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega get mentions! (Did you know that Liza and Noriega briefly toured together in the ’80s? Okay, we made that part up).  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the debut episode of GGACP, comedian, author and talk show icon Dick Cavett drops by Gilbert’s Manhattan apartment to sip Merlot and share personal memories of Groucho Marx, Johnny Carson and John Lennon, among others. Dick also talks about the time a guest dropped dead on his set (yes, it happened) AND favors Gilbert and Frank with some dead-on impersonations of his favorite obscure character actors! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In connection with this week’s “Fun For All Ages” encore episode about Johnny Carson’s 100th birthday, GGACP revisits part one of this wide-ranging 2019 interview with comedian-historian and host of “The Carson Podcast,” Mark Malkoff.In this episode: Mel Brooks takes on Tony Bennett, Ed Ames performs a “bris,” the mystery of the Zsa Zsa Gabor story, and Johnny turns down “The King of Comedy”!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GGACP celebrates the birthday (December 30) of Emmy-winning television director James Burrows with this ENCORE of an interview from 2019. In this episode, James talks about the importance of the “straight man,” the influence of his legendary dad Abe Burrows, the societal impact of “Will & Grace” and the winning formulas behind “Taxi,” “Friends” and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” Also, Andy Kaufman comes to dinner, Woody Harrelson changes the game, Norman Lear writes a fan letter and James meets John Steinbeck, Truman Capote and Groucho Marx. PLUS: Sydney Pollack! Remembering Ruth Gordon! The comedy of Patchett and Tarses! The generosity of Jay Sandrich! And James directs an “All in the Family” reboot! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GGACP celebrates Christmas Day by revisiting this fan favorite extravaganza from 2017 as holiday fixture Mario Cantone drops by the studio to chime in on everything from the infamous Bette Davis-Joan Crawford feud to the not-so-special effects of “Mighty Joe Young” to the strange predilections of Frosty the Snowman. Also, Dracula plays heavy metal, Carol Kane plays Gilbert’s wife, Mario learns the Perfecto Telles story (!) and the co-hosts rank the best (and worst) adaptations of “A Christmas Carol.” PLUS: Dueling Dylans! “The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas”! The genius of Alan Menken! In praise of Leonard Maltin! And the (triumphant) return of Carol Channing and Herve’ Villechaize! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don't miss any of the fun! Full episode available on Fun For All Ages. Links below Subscribe now on  Apple ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fun-for-all-ages-with-frank-santopadre/id1824012922⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Spotify ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/18EQJNDwlYMUSh2uXD6Mu6?si=97966f6f8c474bc9⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Amazon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/13b5ed88-d28d-4f0c-a65e-8b32eecd80f6/fun-for-all-ages-with-frank-santopadre⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgvlbF41NLLPvsrcZ9XIsYKkH_HvUXHSG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ iHeart ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-fun-for-all-ages-with-fran-283612643/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TuneIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://tun.in/pxOWO⁠⁠⁠ The "Amazing Colossal Podcast" holiday tradition marches on as Frank is joined by old friend Mario Cantone and comedian-actress Susie Essman to talk about the best (and worst) Christmas movies on TCM, the secret life of Frosty the Snowman, the musical genius of Irving Berlin and Leslie Bricusse, the existential crisis of "It's a Wonderful Life" and the conclusions of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Sex and the City." Also, Jerry Seinfeld plays Hamlet, Susie asks for a Patti Playpal, Mario praises the "Miracle on 34th Street" remake and Frank salutes Gilbert with "The Twelve Jews of Christmas." PLUS: "The Shop Around the Corner"! The return of "Yule Be Sorry!" Mario "outs" Yukon Cornelius! The brilliance of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" And the panel remembers the talents of Bob Einstein, Willie Garson and Richard Lewis! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GGACP welcomes Christmas 2025 with this ENCORE of the final (2021) GGACP holiday show featuring actor, singer and fan favorite Mario Cantone. In this episode, Mario discusses a sackful of topics, including the joys of Albert Finney’s “Scrooge,” the enduring appeal of the Snow Miser, the genius of Stephen Sondheim and the 100th birthday of Judy Garland. Also, Mel Gibson celebrates Hanukkah (!), Gilbert replaces Kim Cattrall, Bette Davis makes like Maria von Trapp and Emannuel Lewis learns the true meaning of Christmas. PLUS: “Cricket on the Hearth”! The ghost of Charles Nelson Reilly! Iago sings! Santa hangs ten! Mario reenacts “The Birds”! And the boys get a surprise Christmas visit from a showbiz legend! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GGACP celebrates the 2025 holiday season by revisiting this short but sweet mini-episode from 2018, as Gilbert gleefully opens Christmas gifts from worshipping fans — including coffee table (!) books, collectible magazines, homemade holiday CDs, hand-drawn greeting cards and other goodies. Also in this episode: Chick Tracts presents “The Death Cookie,” the music of the Johnny Gregory Orchestra, Gilbert warbles the Chock Full O’ Nuts jingle and the first mention of future staffer-funster Michele Mantynen! PLUS: Rondo Hatton! Blind Lemon Raybone! “Boris Karloff’s Tales of Mystery”! And “The Gilbert Gottfried Munchausen by Proxy Telethon”! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GGACP makes merry with this ENCORE of a memorable and musical mini-episode from way back in 2016, as the irrepressible Mario Cantone joins the boys for a loving look at Christmas novelty songs, including timeless classics and tuneless clunkers. Also in this episode: Dueling Dylans! Dominick the Donkey! Gilbert gets a Christmas tree! The return of Bob Hope’s ‘Jack Frost’! And Tony Curtis puts the moves on Bette Davis! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To coincide with this week's "Fun for All Ages" salute to 1960s and '70s New York television, GGACP revisits this 2014 interview with a legend of local broadcasting, the one and only Joe Franklin. In this episode, Gilbert and Frank drop in on Joe’s infamously cluttered (an understatement!) Times Square office to nosh on chicken salad, dodge falling stacks of collectibles and ask the “King of Nostalgia” about his memories of Charlie Chaplin, Woody Allen, Buster Keaton, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand and John Lennon (to name but a few). PLUS: The Ramones! Remembering the Toastmaster General! Joe interviews Boris Karloff (and Bela Lugosi?)! And the greatest entertainer of all time! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices