2 Degrees of Alie

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with the very funny Raphael Bob-Waksberg. His credits include The Exquisite Corpse Project and Olde English Comedy: Sketch Pilot and he's the creator of the hilarious new Netflix series BoJack Horseman. We talk about everything from Boy Meets World to being voted class clown to the inspiration for BoJack.

RAPHAEL BOB-WAKSBERG'S BIO

Raphael is the creator and executive producer of the new Netflix series BoJack Horseman. He was a founding member of the comedy group Olde English, whose viral videos appeared on Good Morning America, MSNBC, and Entertainment Weekly's Must List, and who performed to sold-out crowds at the HBO Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen and the San Francisco Sketchfest. Raphael co-wrote and appeared in the film The Exquisite Corpse Project, and wrote on a few TV shows that didn't last very long.

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with the multi-talented and kickass Steven Ho, whose credits include: "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," "Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End," Conan," "Mortal Kombat," "Soundman," and "The Departed," just to name a few. We talk about everything from Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots to being discovered by Jet Li to the surprising weight of a ninja turtle half shell.

STEVEN HO’S BIO

Steven Ho was born in Indonesia, where his father taught at the University in Jakarta. At age four, his family immigrated to Los Angeles as political refugees. Ho began his formal martial arts training in Orange County as an adolescent, and excelled in Southern California’s very competitive karate circuit. Shortly out of high school and at his first National tournament, Ho was spotted by Jet Li and recruited into the stunt business.

Known as one of the first martial arts tricksters in open competitions (NASKA), Ho helped to popularize the 540 kick and the Hawkeye Kick in the mid-eighties and first gained worldwide recognition for his stunt work as “Donatello” in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II (1991) and III (1993), and his role as “Chan” in Mortal Kombat (1995).

As a well regarded martial artist, action director, stuntman, and fight trainer in Hollywood, Ho works on a large number of high-profile film, television, commercial, and music video projects. He has privately trained many notable clients including Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, James Franco, Pierce Brosnan, Tobey Maguire, Pink, Method Man, Rachel Weisz, Gisele Bündchen, Josh Charles, Peter Krause, Bar Refaeli, Michael C. Hall, Brad Womack, Britney Spears.

As a regular guest on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien and Conan, Ho’s popular and memorable stunt segments taught Conan the fine art of stunts and fighting.

Ho co-founded Plush Home, Inc., an all-encompassing interior design firm and furniture line, in 2003 with his wife, Nina Petronzio, American Interior Designer and Furniture Designer known for her high end Transitional Style designs. Plush Home has established itself as a top and high-end turnkey provider of home building and interior design services. It’s branded furniture line is housed in influential homes and hotels worldwide.

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with writer/producer Andrew Weinberg whose credits include: "Late Night With Conan O'Brien," "Eagleheart," "The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien" and "Nathan For You." We talk about everything from affecting politics in Finland to literally hanging overhead on "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" to working with Chris Elliott.

ANDREW WEINBERG'S BIO

Andrew Weinberg was a staff writer for Late Night with Conan O'Brien and The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien for a combined 9+ years. Most recently, he was a co-creator/writer/executive producer of Eagleheart starring Chris Elliott, which just completed its award-eligible third season on [adult swim]. He is a graduate of both high school and college.

I will be back soon with more fun interviews. In the meantime, my LA listeners should check out the 2nd Annual LA Scripted Comedy Fest at IO West this month. I'll be teaching a class on January 23.

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with the very funny and talented Alison Becker. Her credits include: "Parks and Recreation," "Mayne Street," "The Newsroom," "The League," and "The Colbert Report," just to name a few. We talk about everything from playing a detective on several versions of "Law And Order" to apple boxes to how delightful it is to work with Amy Poehler.

ALISON BECKER'S BIO

Alison Becker is a comedian who plays Shauna-Malwae Tweep on NBC's Parks and Recreation. She can be seen as Sarah Morton in the Emmy-nominated ESPN webseries, Mayne Street, and she played Becky on the IFC improvised comedy Z Rock. Alison has also guest starred on FX's The League, Showtime's Californication, CBS's Rules of Engagement, NBC's Law and Order: SVU, and had a recurring role on Law and Order: Criminal Intent. She has appeared in sketches for Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Pete Holmes Show, Human Giant, The Colbert Report, Kroll Show and Nick Swardson's Pretend Time. Recently, Alison played opposite Will Ferrell in a Funny or Die production, playing Ron Burgundy's girlfriend. As a VJ for Vh1 (and before that, for FUSE), Alison hosted her own weekly show. You may also remember her as one of the pranksters on MTV's hidden camera show, Boiling Points, or from one of a million Vh1 clip shows. Still not sure where you know her from? Maybe it's from Adult Swim's Newsreaders, or from her recurring role on Aaron Sorkin's The Newsroom. Or maybe it's from The Other Guys, or from Above Average's webseries The Morning After (which was mentioned in USA Today's "must see" list of 2013). Or maybe you remember her from Dating Rules from my Future Self, one of the most viewed scripted webseries of all time. Or, maybe you just go to the same Starbucks... Alison has been involved with the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre for over 10 years, on four different house teams, and in many other live shows. www.alisonbecker.com Twitter and Instagram: @thealisonbecker 

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with the very talented Maggie Kiley ("Brightest Star," "Some Boys Don't Leave," "We Own The Night," "All Good Things"). I first met Maggie at the Austin Film Festival, where her directorial feature debut, "Brightest Star," was premiering. Her feature film was inspired by her short film "Some Boys Don't Leave," which was a number one selling short film on iTunes. We talk about everything from her beginnings in backyard performances to taking part in AFI's prestigious Directing Workshop For Women to directing her first feature two months after giving birth to her second child.

BRIGHTEST STAR will be screening in theaters and digitally starting January 31.

MAGGIE KILEY'S BIO

Filmmaker and actress Maggie Kiley most recently directed and co-wrote the feature film BRIGHTEST STAR which was inspired by her award winning short film SOME BOYS DON’T LEAVE.  As a recipient of the Panavision New Filmmaker Grant, BRIGHTEST STAR was shot on 35mm in New York City and stars Chris Lowell, Rose McIver, Jessica Szohr, Clark Gregg and Allison Janney.  BRIGHTEST STAR premiered at the Austin Film Festival and will be released theatrically and digitally in late January 2014.

Maggie was one of eight women selected to take part in American Film Institute’s prestigious Directing Workshop for Women and it was through her participation in this program that she made SOME BOYS DON'T LEAVE.  Maggie received the Student Visionary Award at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival and the Alexis Award for Best Emerging Student Filmmaker at Palm Springs International Shortfest.  SOME BOYS DON'T LEAVE was the number one selling short film on Itunes for several weeks, has played at over 40 festivals and continues to screen both nationally and internationally.  Currently, Maggie is developing her second feature, Dial-a-Prayer, to shoot in Michigan in the Spring of 2014.  She is also attached to direct the film 12 Reasons Why I Love Her, based on the graphic novel from Oni Press/Closed on Mondays Entertainment.

As an actress, Maggie has appeared in film, television and on stage.  She has worked extensively at Atlantic Theater Company in New York where she is one of just 40 ensemble members.  Maggie received her BFA in Theater from New York University and was invited to join the critically acclaimed ensemble after graduating.  Maggie has been fortunate to work with such great film and television directors as James Gray, Lesli Linka Glatter, Daisy von Scherler Mayer and Documentarian Nathaniel Kahn.  She recently appeared in Andrew Jarecki's  ALL GOOD THINGS alongside Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst and Frank Langella. 

You can find my podcast with Writer/Producer Andy Bobrow here.

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with the very funny Andy Bobrow. Besides being a guy who knows how to play the tuba (yes, the tuba), Andy is also very talented when it comes to writing comedy. His TV credits include: "Community," "Malcolm In The Middle," "Save Me," and "Sons of Tucson." We talk about everything from writing ads for Nissan to performing with the Groundlings to working on "Community."

ANDY BOBROW'S BIO

Andy Bobrow began his television writing career on the hit Fox show “Malcolm in the Middle,” and worked most recently as a writer and Co-Executive Producer on the critically acclaimed NBC cult phenomenon “Community.” Other credits include ABC’s “Samantha Who,” Fox’s “Sons of Tucson,” and several other pilots and shows now lost to the scrap heap of tv history. Andy began his writing career in advertising, and is an alumnus of the Groundling Theater Sunday Company.

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with writer/director Sanjeev Sirpal ("Screw Cupid," "iHeart," "Lovepocalypse,"). You can currently find one of his films, "Screw Cupid," on Sundance, IFC and Amazon. We talk about everything from writing about dirty cops to surviving working at an agency to directing an independent feature.

SANJEEV SIRPAL'S BIO

Sanjeev Sirpal, like 90 percent of all first generation Indian-Americans, was born near Chicago, IL and was immediately accepted into med-school. The details of his upbringing in sunny South Florida are captivating and poetic and were adapted into a series of successful films starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover.

Since watching Back To The Future at an early age, Sanjeev always knew that he wanted to make movies, and drive a Delorean, and he has been obsessed with them (movies that is, Deloreans turn like they're underwater) ever since. He cannot ever remember where he parked but he can quote Spaceballs from start to finish. He broke up with a girlfriend on-site because she told him she didn't like The Matrix. The only movie he has ever cried at was Honey, I Shrunk The Kids. For some reason, when the ant was killed he lost it. It is still a touchy subject.

Sanjeev can discuss Roland Barthe's Third Meaning as it relates to cinema at length and at the same time, will always think that the word "poop" is funny.

After graduating from the University of Florida with a degree in literary journalism and a minor in disappointing his parents, Sanjeev took a job with the Associated Press covering the Cops and Courts beat for the Southeast (lots and lots of meth labs). Sanjeev figured he had two choices: Go on a cross-country series of daring adventures, righting wrongs and capturing the hearts of women everywhere, or move to Los Angeles to pursue his dreams of becoming a writer. Due to his aversion to planning and a small bladder, he chose the latter.

Sanjeev's first film, SCREW CUPID, a romantic comedy Steve Persall of the St. Petersburg Times called "crisply written and full of wit," and ReelTalk dubbed "a winner," was made for less than Chris Evans' codpiece budget for THE AVENGERS and screened at the Delray Beach International Film Festival (AUDIENCE AWARD - BEST FEATURE), Florida Film Festival, Sunscreen Film Festival, and Seattle International Film Festival before being purchased by the Sundance Channel and IFC.

When he's not writing, Sanjeev enjoys revising his bio and elaborately setting up carefully controlled, extreme backgrounds to make his profile pictures look badass.

In this podcast, I have the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with Darryl Gudmundson. If you've ever laughed while watching a video on Funny Or Die, you probably owe that laugh to Darryl who serves as the Director of Digital Programming for the comedy site. We talk about everything from having Michael Shannon read a sorority girl's letter to Cat Video Festivals to meeting Will Ferrell. 

DARRYL GUDMUNSON'S BIO

Darryl Gudmundson is the Director of Digital Programming at Funny Or Die, where he oversees and curates FunnyOrDie.com. He also assists in the production of anywhere from 25-50 videos a month and is also a contributing producer of Funny Or Die's digital magazine, The Occasional. He can't be president because he was born in Costa Rica, he is a graduate of Ithaca College, currently resides in Los Angeles, loves the internet, music, taking pictures and high fiving.

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with showrunner/writer/producer/actor Dave Finkel. Dave is a hilarious guy whose many TV credits include: "New Girl," "30 Rock," "Pinky And The Brain,"  "Animaniacs," "Just Shoot Me" and "United States Of Tara," just to name a few. We talk about everything from performing nude on stage to making the transition from animation to sitcoms to what goes into running a hit show like "New Girl."

DAVE FINKEL'S BIO

You can find my podcast with Screenwriter/Producer/Director Daniel Petrie Jr. here.

In this episode, I have the honor of chatting with screenwriter/producer/director Daniel Petrie Jr. ("Beverly Hills Cop," "Big Easy," "Shoot To Kill," "Turner & Hooch," "About Cherry," "The 6th Day," "Dawn Patrol"). He's worked with actors such as Eddie Murphy, Tom Hanks, Dennis Quaid, Ellen Barkin, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sidney Poitier. We talk about everything from starting out in the mailroom at ICM to how the script for "Beverly Hills Cop" was developed to what goes into directing an action scene with multiple helicopters.

DANIEL PETRIE JR.'S BIO

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with re-recording mixer Larry Benjamin, whose credits include: "The Good Wife," "Swingers," "Bones," "CSI," "NCIS," "Gossip Girl," "Foo Fighters, Back And Forth," "Babylon 5," just to name a few. If you're looking for a sound guru, Larry's your man. We talk about everything from creating a cable Bingo show as a kid to working for Dick Clark to mixing a documentary for the Foo Fighters.

LARRY BENJAMIN'S BIO

My name is Larry Benjamin, I come from a suburb of Boston.  I've always had an interest in sound and used to bounce sounds between two cassette recorders when I was a kid.  We did radio shows with sound effects and music.  I've always played keyboards and was in various bands in high school.  My interest in sound and picture grew went off to Emerson College in Boston.  I worked at the campus radio stations and cut together audio for the clips used in our school's local comedy troops.  After college I moved to LA and started in the biz as a runner delivering tapes to a post house that I later ended up working for in the tape vault.  These entry level jobs were good training in learning about the entire post production process.  I then became a recordist (audio assistant) and later a sweetening mixer where I mixed trailers, promos and variety shows such as the American Music Awards, music specials and pre-produced packages for the Oscars.  After a few years of this, I moved into dub stage mixing where I started mixing music and foley and then later moved into the dialog chair where I am today mixing dialog and music.  I mostly mix long form and episodic television shows but have mixed a variety of documentaries, indie films and other passion projects.  I really love what I do and am currently a partner and employee of Smart Post Sound in Burbank.  I'm grateful to work with so many talented people and am working on "The Good Wife" and "Bones" as well as a variety of TV movies.

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with producer/director David Lincoln ("Reno 911," “Reno 911 Miami," "Hell Baby," “Balls Of Fury," “The Hunger Pains," “Funny Or Die Presents"). David worked his way up from set PA to producer on the show “Reno 911" and has been heavily involved in bringing more laughter to the world since. We talk about everything from slating on “Buffy The Vampire Slayer" to directing for Funny Or Die to being complimented by Robin Williams for a very particular performance.

DAVID LINCOLN’S BIO

David Lincoln is a producer and director with very serious eyebrows. Born in Manhattan and raised in the San Fernando Valley, he studied at Hampshire College and taught English in Toyama, Japan, before returning to Los Angeles for a career in film and television. 

He is producing partner to Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant and has worked with them for almost a decade on projects such as the Comedy Central series Reno 911!, Focus Features’ Balls of Fury, and the Fox film Reno 911!:Miami, as well as pilots for NBC, FX, and more. He wrote and directed a number of FunnyOrDie shorts, as well as the “trailer" for the Harvard Lampoon’s The Hunger Pains. Recently, he Executive Produced and Directed 2nd Unit on the forthcoming Millennium film Hell Baby, which stars Rob Corddry and Leslie Bibb as an expectant couple moving into a very haunted house, Garant and Lennon as elite Vatican exorcists, and Keegan-Michael Key as their maybe-neighbor, maybe-sleeping-in-their-crawlspace-guy. The film debuted at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.

He is currently in pre-production on @Midnight with Chris Hardwick, coming this fall on Comedy Central.

In this episode, I have the immense pleasure of chatting with the very talented writer/producer Jane Espenson. Jane’s name tends to pop up in the credits of a large number of my favorite television shows. Her many credits include "Once Upon A Time," “Battlestar Gallactica," "Husbands," "Game Of Thrones," and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer," just to name a few. We talk about everything from writing for Snow White to working with Joss Whedon to co-writing an award winning online sitcom about a married same-sex couple.

JANE ESPENSON BIO’S 

Jane Espenson created the award-winning online comedy Husbands with her producing partner Brad Bell. She is also known for her work as a writer/producer of shows including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly,The O.C., Gilmore Girls, Battlestar Galactica, and Game of Thrones among other series.She is currently proud to be writing for ABC’s Once Upon A Timeas well as for it’s spin-off, Once Upon A Time in Wonderland, while producing new episodes of Husbands with Bell for The CW Digital Studio.

Coming up: New episodes of "Husbands" will be available on the CW Digital Studio in August.

You can also find a comic book version of “Husbands" on Amazon.

In this episode, I get to chat with the very funny John Levenstein. John is an Emmy-winning comedy writer whose credits include: Kroll Show, Arrested Development, Portlandia, The John Larroquette Show and The Life And Times Of Tim. He also plays a judge on Kroll Show and voices John the Rat on Portlandia. We talk about everything from how an economics major gets into comedy to Emmy parties to writing for Michael Cera. 

JOHN LEVENSTEIN'S BIO

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with the very funny Fred Stoller ("Fred & Vinnie," "Seinfeld," "Friends," "Everybody Loves Raymond,""The Penguins of Madagascar," "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide"). Fred has guest starred on many a TV sitcom, so he's probably found his way into your living room on numerous occasions. He's a character actor who describes the characters he plays as usually "the guy who just misses or is off." He also wrote on "Seinfeld," and used that experience to write a Kindle Single called "My Seinfeld Year." Fred also used his own life experiences as inspiration for the feature film "Fred and Vinnie," which played at Slamdance and The Austin Film Festival. And now he also has a new book out entitled: "Maybe We'll Have You Back: The Life Of A Perennial TV Guest Star." Fred and I talk about everything from having Larry David ask to read his spec script to winning the Audience Award at The Austin Film Festival to having Dick Van Dyke follow him on Twitter.  

There is a book release party for Fred's book "Maybe We'll Have You Back: The Life Of A Perennial TV Guest Star" in Los Angeles on Thursday June 20 at Nerdmelt Theater.

FRED STOLLER'S BIO

As a stand-up comedian Fred was known for his dating woes, and his thrill-seeker persona. (I drank milk that expired yesterday!) He appeared on Late Night With David Letterman, The Tonight Show, and HBO’s Thirteenth Annual Young Comedian’s Special. 

Fred then guest starred on countless sitcoms, establishing himself as TV’s go-to nebbish: most notably as Ray Romano’s mopey cousin Gerard on Everybody Loves Raymond, Elaine’s forgetful date on Seinfeld, and Monica’s bossy co-worker on Friends. He’s appeared in the films Dumb and Dumber, Rebound and Little Man, among others. 

Fred & Vinnie, the indie feature he wrote and starred in, won the Audience award at The Austin Film Festival. 

Fred wrote for the animated series Handy Manny, where he also voiced the character Rusty The Wrench. He was a staff writer for Seinfeld and the author of Maybe We’ll Have You Back--The Life of a Perennial TV Guest Star published by Skyhorse Publishing. 

Fred's been traveling to colleges, theater groups, and other venues telling stories from his book about his life and the acting world.

In this episode, I have the immense pleasure of chatting with the very hilarious Deon Cole (“Deon Cole’s Black Box,” “Conan,” “Barbershop” 1st Amendment Standup,” “Def Comedy Jam”). You may have seen Deon performing standup all over the country or on TV. Or you’ve probably seen him in countless hilarious sketches on “Conan.” He was also recently the narrator of “Stories From The Road to Freedom” on the History Channel. And starting June 10, you can see Deon in his own brand new show “Deon Cole’s Black Box” on TBS. We talk about everything from his early days doing standup in Chicago to his love for “Star Wars” to touring with Def Jam.

DEON COLE’S BIO

Deon Cole is originally from the south side of Chicago.  Deon’s charismatic personality and original style make him one of the most popular performers in the comedy scene today.  As a standup, he has been featured on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, for Comedy Central he’s been featured on, John Oliver’s New York Stand-Up Show and Laffapalooza, Mash Ups and his own 1 / 2 Hour Special.  Deon has also been featured on HBO’s Def Comedy Jam, BET’s Comic View, NBC’s Showtime at the Apollo, BBC’s The World Stands Up, Lopez Tonight, and STARZ’ Martin Lawrence’s First Amendment which he also hosted in 2010.  

Deon is also an actor, having appeared in MTV’s Short Circuitz and Wild N’ Out with Nick Cannon, as well as Barbershop 1 and 2.   Most recently, Deon was featured in FX’s The League.

After Deon’s 2009 standup appearance on The Tonight Show, he was offered a job as a staff writer for the show and made multiple appearances as a commentator and sketch performer on the show.  TV Guide declared, “A Star is Born” after Deon’s commentary pieces kept growing as a bit on the show.  In 2010, he was nominated for an EMMY and Writers Guild Award along with the other writers of The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien and he was named one of the “Top 10 Comedians to Watch” by VARIETY. 

Since then, Deon has continued with Conan as a writer/performer on Conan’s new show at TBS, aptly titled, CONAN.  In 2011, Deon received his second Emmy Nomination for his work with the writers of CONAN.  He also had the experience of a lifetime touring with and performing his standup on Conan O’Brien’s THE LEGALLY PROHIBITED FROM BEING FUNNY ON TELEVISION TOUR.

And now, Deon has his own show premiering in June 2013 on TBS called, DEON COLE’S BLACK BOX.  A video clip and social commentary show where Deon will offer up his unique views the weeks events.   Deon also was recently the narrator for The History Channel’s STORIES FROM THE ROAD TO FREEDOM, a documentary on the Civil Rights Movement.

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with actress/comedian/YouTube star Angelina Spicer, whose credits include: "Sketchy," "Tosh.0," "Electric Spoofaloo," and "Conan." You can see Angelina in the standup special "Standup & Deliver" on Jennifer Lopez's new network NuvoTV on May 21 at 10pm. We talk about everything from doing a Tyra Banks impression to playing Snow Black to talking on the phone with Spike Lee as a kid.

ANGELINA SPICER'S BIO

A Brooklyn native, Angelina is the eldest daughter of hip-hop pioneer Jimmy Spicer. As a comedic actress, Angelina has built a substantial online presence with her portrayal of Tyra Banks, Beyonce and Nicki Minaj on the Disney's Web series Electric Spoofaloo. Some of her work has been featured on The Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The Hollywood Reporter. As a Stand up Comedian, Angelina has performed at The Hollywood Improv, The World Famous Comedy Store, Gotham Comedy Club and won the Fresh Faces Stand Up competition at The Ha Ha Comedy Club. She's appeared on VH1's 40 Greatest Hip Hop Songs of the 90's  and can be regularly seen The Yahoo sketch comedy series "Sketchy", or playing a crazy mix of characters like "Mrs. Butterworth" or "Snow Black" on Conan. If you wanna see her outside of Youtube, or Twitter (@AngelinaSpicer) check her out  on "StandUp & Deliver" at 8pm on Jennifer Lopez's new network NuvoTV.

In this episode, I have the honor of chatting with producer/development executive/digital media guru/filmmaker Josh Feldman. What happens when someone is equally passionate about both technology and storytelling? You get 2-time Streamys winner Josh Feldman. Josh's credits include: "Halo 4, Forward Unto Dawn," "Electric City," "Larry Crowne," and "Koreatown." His work on the web series "Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn," was viewed over 50 million times. We talk about everything from shooting on 16mm film at Ithaca College to working with Tom Hanks to bringing the Master Chief to a live action format.

JOSH FELDMAN'S BIO