"TV Funhouse" Turns 25 (Part Two) w/ Robert Smigel and Dan Pasternack

The team at GGACP bids a fond farewell to our recently departed friend and one of the podcast's favorite guests, comedy writer Ron Friedman (“Get Smart,” “The Odd Couple,” “All in the Family”) by presenting this ENCORE of a memorable interview from 2018. In this episode, Ron recalls working with everyone from Lucille Ball to Milton Berle to Danny Kaye to Orson Welles and shares the war stories to show for it. Also, Herve  Villechaize packs a rod, Sammy Davis meets Charlie’s Angels, Ron writes “Murder Can Hurt You!” and Pat McCormick takes a…”dip” in Jonathan Winters’ pool. PLUS: Vaughn Meader! Stump and Stumpy! Forrest Tucker introduces “the General”! And Ron creates Paul Lynde’s Uncle Arthur!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Keeping with the theme of this week's "Fun For All Ages" game show episode, GGACP revisits this 2017 conversation with "Match Game" writer Dick DeBartolo, who recalls his days as a staff writer-consultant for Goodman-Todson and crafting quips and questions for "Match Game," "Tattletales" and "What's My Line?" Also, the boys look back at some obscure (and largely forgotten) game and quiz shows, including "Don Adams' Screen Test," "The Fun Factory," "The Wizard of Odds" and "The Magnificent Marble Machine." PLUS: The rise and fall of Allan Sherman! Remembering Bobby Van! Sonny Fox hosts "The Movie Game"! And Jackie Gleason apologizes for "You're in the Picture"! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

September marks the 50th anniversary of the debut of Mel Brooks' short-lived Robin Hood spoof "When Things Were Rotten," starring beloved character actors Dick Gautier and Bernie Kopell. Back in 2016, Bernie joined Gilbert and Frank to talk about that series, as well as his six decades in show business, working with legends Steve Allen, Jack Benny and Phil Silvers and his signature roles on "Get Smart" and "The Love Boat." Also, Charles Boyer apologizes, Raymond Burr takes a seat, Sid Caesar surrounds himself with comedy geniuses and Bernie "gifts" Harvey Korman with a bidet. PLUS: Jose' Jimenez! The world’s slowest agent! Louis Armstrong hails a cab! Jonathan Winters lays down the law! In praise of Dick Van Dyke (and Mary Tyler Moore)! And a surprise guest calls in to the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In connection with the latest "Fun For All Ages" disco episode, GGACP revisits this 2014 interview with the composer of the disco smash “It’s Raining Men,” musician, conductor and comedian (and friend of the podcast) Paul Shaffer. In this episode recorded in the New York Friars Club's Ed Sullivan Room, Paul talks about being influenced by '60s-era variety shows and working with icons James Brown, John Belushi, Sammy Davis, Jr., Brian Wilson AND the infamous Phil Spector. Also in this episode: Remembering Lou Jacobi! Rickie Layne and Velvel! And Paul shares the screen with Mickey Rooney! PLUS: Gilbert and Paul obsess over a Cindy Crawford-Valerie Bertinelli infomercial! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frank sets the FFAA time machine back to the decadent and "dancetastic" 1970s as comedian-author Frank DeCaro ("Disco: Music, Movies and Mania Under the Mirror Ball") and Grammy-nominated singer Cory Daye (Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, Kid Creole and the Coconuts) celebrate the songs, artists, movies, nightclubs and cultural impact of the disco era. In this episode: Dr. Buzzard meets James Bond, Ethel Merman records a camp classic, Frank weighs in on Disco Demolition Night and Cory recalls the heyday of the legendary Studio 54. PLUS: Mike Douglas! ABBA trading cards! The genius of Paul Jabara! "Playboy's Roller Disco & Pajama Party"! Frank interviews the Queen of Disco! And Cory hangs with RuPaul, Grace Jones and Cab Calloway! 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GGACP marks the recent 50th anniversary of ABC's "Welcome Back Kotter" (September 9, 1975) with this ENCORE of an 2020 interview with Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer and The Lovin’ Spoonful founder (and singer-composer of the "Welcome Back, Kotter" theme song!) John Sebastian. In this episode, John entertains Gilbert and Frank with anecdotes about Cass Elliott, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Moon and Jim Morrison and reveals the stories and inspirations behind hits like “Daydream,” “Summer in the City,” and “Do You Believe in Magic?” Also, Groucho co-hosts “Music Scene,” Richard Pryor plays the Cafe Au Go Go, Art Garfunkel nails a Spoonful cover version and John remembers legendary bandmate Zal Yanovsky. PLUS: Vivian Vance! “What’s Up, Tiger Lily?” John plays Woodstock! Boris Karloff plays Captain Hook! And Ed Sullivan introduces the “American Beatles”! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In connection with this week's "Fun for All Ages" William Castle tribute, GGACP revisits this 2015 conversation about Castle's 1959 horror "classic" (and longtime Gilbert favorite) "The Tingler." Also in this episode: the sex lives of Batman villains! Vincent Price gives it his all! Roy Scheider replaces Richard Dreyfuss! And the return of Herve’ Villechaize! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frank welcomes "Mystery Science Theater 3000" writer-performer Frank Conniff, horror host Rich "Svengoolie" Koz and filmmaker Jeffrey Schwarz ("Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story") for a loving look back at the B-movies of legendary producer, director and showman William Castle ("13 Ghosts," "Mr. Sardonicus," "House on Haunted Hill"), his innovative promotional gimmicks (Emergo, Percepto, Illusion-O) and his lasting contributions to the horror genre. Also in this episode, John Waters  introduces "Odorama," Jeffrey hangs with Grandpa Munster, Frank gets spooked by an "Adventures of Superman" episode and Rich attempts to explain the plot of "The Tingler." PLUS: "Rosemary's Baby"! "Carnival of Souls"! The wrath of Joan Crawford! Castle inspires Hitchcock! Hitchcock inspires Castle! And the first acid trip in cinema history! 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GGACP celebrates the birthday (September 9) of recurring guest and friend of the podcast, Emmy-winning writer-director-producer Bill Persky by presenting this ENCORE of his very first appearance back in 2014. In this episode, Bill talks about his working relationship with the late, great Carl Reiner, creating “That Girl” with partner Sam Denoff, directing episodes of "Kate & Allie" and "Welcome Back Kotter" and working with virtually EVERYONE in show business — including Julie Andrews, Tim Conway, Bob Hope, Gene Kelly, Mary Tyler Moore, Peter Sellers and Orson Welles (to name but a few). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In connection with the latest "Fun For All Ages" tribute to "The Love Boat," GGACP revisits this 2019 interview with Captain Stubing himself, actor Gavin MacLeod. In this memorable episode, Gavin joins Gilbert and Frank for a candid conversation about paying dues, playing bad guys, crushing on Marilyn Monroe, acting with (and without) a hairpiece and sharing a decades-long friendship with the late, great Ted Knight. Also, Gavin praises Cary Grant, ad-libs with Peter Sellers, cuts the rug with Bing Crosby and breaks into the business with Martin Balsam, Martin Landau and Jack Warden. PLUS: Big Chicken! “Chuckles Bites the Dust”! The brilliance of Blake Edwards! A surprise caller chimes in! And Gavin and Tony Curtis share a donut!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices