Industry Standard w/ Barry Katz

Zachary Gordon found Fame as the Star of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Films. Now in his mid-twenties Zach is a Musician, Prolific Voice Actor, Television Regular & Star of the New Feature Film Max Dagan Produced by this Podcast's Host Barry Katz.

Orny Adams describes Himself as a Comedian, Actor, Coach on MTV Teen Wolf, Entrepreneur & Businessman. His Comedy Special More Than Loud has over 5 Million Views on YouTube. He Produces a Weekly Podcast What's Wrong with Orny Adams & Packs Venues around the Country. Barry Katz describes him as a Wordsmith skilled in Poetry, Diction & Alliteration. Hang Out with Orny Adams every week in his Vintage Trailer Podcast Studio with guests like Pete Holmes, Adam Carolla & Godfrey & Teen Wolf's Holland Roden for What's Wrong with Orny Adams. Check out his Specials More Than Loud, Takes the Third & Path of Most Resistance. His recognizable voice can be heard on KFI AM 640 & iHeart Radio. His recognizable character Coach was on MTV's Teen Wolf (2011 - 2017). This interview with Barry Katz reflects on Orny's Standup Comedy Career in New York & Los Angeles. He discusses self-management, self-promotion, appearances on David Letterman, financing his own specials and has some questions for Barry too.

Carol Baum is known for Producing Hit Films like Fly Away Home, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Father of the Bride & The Good Girl Starring Jennifer Aniston. She helped turn Stephen King's The Shining into a Film by Stanley Kubrick, was Vice President at 20th Century Fox & Co-President of Dolly Parton's Sandollar Productions. In this episode of The Industry Standard Podcast Barry Katz sits down with legendary Movie & TV Producer Carol Baum for a look at remarkable career producing over 34 Movies & TV Shows. This "Nice Girl" from 1950's American Graffiti-Style New Jersey grew up to become a fighter in Hollywood. Carol discusses how her career in Hollywood has lasted decades because she played the long game. Carol first worked in publishing then moved to Hollywood to raise a family and have a career. It was an uncommon combination for women at the time but Carol stuck to her principles & strong work ethic & succeeded. She's worked with legends like Barbra Streisand & Dolly Parton plus great writers like Mike White who wrote television’s The White Lotus. She executive produced Dead Ringers directed by David Cronenberg & Kicking and Screaming directed by Noah Baumbach who also wrote the Blockbuster Film Barbie. Carol has recently written a book "Creative Producing". In this Podcast she shares some of her book's wisdom such as: Don't keep people waiting, have great taste, watch out for horrible bosses, don't be afraid to call people & most importantly fight for what you believe in.

Tone Bell is a comedian and writer known for his infectious energy and relatable style of humor. When he started performing stand-up comedy he immediately gained recognition for his hilarious and engaging shows. When he first came to Los Angeles he quickly booked a recurring role on the show Whitney as RJ. After Whitney he then booked a role on the show Bad Judge and continued booking more and more series’ one after the other. In addition to his television roles, Bell has also appeared in critically acclaimed films like United States vs. Billie Holiday.

Russell Peters began performing comedy in Toronto in 1989 and is arguably the most popular stand-up comedian in the world… As his monumental reach--throughout several sold out tours--extends to several countries all around the globe, as he has performed in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Afghanistan, Sweden, South Africa, India, the Caribbean countries, Philippines, Vietnam, China, Sri Lanka, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, Denmark, Norway, Lebanon, Oman, The Netherlands and Malaysia, among others all over the world. 

In 2007, peters was the first comedian to sell out Toronto's Air Canada Centre, with more than 16,000 tickets sold in two days for the single show, while ending up selling over 30,000 tickets nationally over a two-day sales period. Additionally, he broke a UK comedy sales record at London's o2 arena when he sold over 16,000 tickets to his show in 2009, performed the largest stand-up comedy show in Australian history in 2010 with an audience of just under 14,000, and shattered attendance records for a single stand-up comedy show at the Singapore indoor stadium. 

Peters has also participated in multiple USO tours of Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, Africa and Greenland. He has released multiple record breaking albums and DVDs (“Outsourced,” “Red White and Brown,” and “Green Card Tour: Live From the O2 Arena”) as well as a best selling book (“Call Me Russell”). He won a Gemini award in 2008 for the "best performance/host in a variety program/series and was also awarded the 2013 trailblazer award by the association of South Asians in Media, marketing and entertainment, being one of the first south Asians to enter the field and becoming one of the most successful comedians in the industry.

Morgan Jay is a Musical Comedian for a Younger Generation. With over 2.9 Mil on TikTok & 760K on Insta his Funny Songs like "Friend Zone" & "Emotional Damage" draw inspiration from Bo Burnham & Adam Sandler's "Hanukkah" Song but not as far back as the Smothers Brothers. Morgan describes his 12 Year journey to Success in Comedy to Barry Katz & what he's learned along the way.

Michael Mendehlson studied business at the University of Pennsylvania. He started his career in the entertainment industry from the mail room of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and working himself all the way up to becoming a major producer and CEO of Patriot Pictures. He has produced hit major motion pictures such as The Matrix directed by the Wachowski sisters, What Women Want from director Nancy Meyers, Quentin Tarantino’s directorial debut Reservoir Dogs, and served as financier for David Fincher’s Fight Club.

Steph Tolev is a comedian and actress. She was the winner of the Best Female Comedian award at the 2015 Canadian Comedy Awards. Her 2019 album I'm Not Well was nominated the Juno Award for Comedy Album of the year. In 2022 she was hand-picked by Bill Burr to open for his tour. She can also bee seen in the feature films Drugstore June and Old Dads.

Earlier this month, the entertainment world suffered a tremendous loss with the passing of Norman Lear. At 101 years old, he never stopped working and creating. Known for creating popular series such as All in the Family and The Jeffersons, Norman Lear has been one of my biggest inspirations in this business. I am so tremendously honored to have known him and been able to interview him on Industry Standard. I hope his words and stories inspire you the way they did for me.

Earlier this month, the entertainment world suffered a tremendous loss with the passing of Norman Lear. At 101 years old, he never stopped working and creating. Known for creating popular series such as All in the Family and The Jeffersons, Norman Lear has been one of my biggest inspirations in this business. I am so tremendously honored to have known him and been able to interview him on Industry Standard. I hope his words and stories inspire you the way they did for me.

Judy Gold has had stand-up specials on HBO, Comedy Central, and appeared on Netflix’s Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration. She is the author of the critically acclaimed Yes, I Can Say That: When They Come For The Comedians, We Are All In Trouble, a book all about free speech and cancel culture. She has also made numerous appearances on MSNBC, CNN, and News Nation as a free speech advocate. The book was turned into a solo show directed by B.D. Wong in March of 2023 and has received rave reviews and will begin touring in 2024. Judy also is the host of her own podcast Kill Me Now with Judy Gold. She has numerous guest appearances and recurring roles on countless series. She has also won two Emmy awards for her work writing on The Rosie O’Donnell Show.

Judy Gold has had stand-up specials on HBO, Comedy Central, and appeared on Netflix’s Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration. She is the author of the critically acclaimed Yes, I Can Say That: When They Come For The Comedians, We Are All In Trouble, a book all about free speech and cancel culture. She has also made numerous appearances on MSNBC, CNN, and News Nation as a free speech advocate. The book was turned into a solo show directed by B.D. Wong in March of 2023 and has received rave reviews and will begin touring in 2024. Judy also is the host of her own podcast Kill Me Now with Judy Gold. She has numerous guest appearances and recurring roles on countless series. She has also won two Emmy awards for her work writing on The Rosie O’Donnell Show.

Nimesh Patel was born in New Jersey to immigrant parents. When he are up he moved to New York City and attended NYU where he got his degree in finance before pursuing comedy. He started his comedy career performing stand-up at the Stress Factory. In 2015 he was discovered by Chris Rock while performing inBrooklyn and was a part of Rock’s writing team for the 88th Academy Awards which earned him a Writers Guild Award nomination. He also wrote material for Hasan Minaj’s White House Correspondents dinner. In 2016 he became a finalist in Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud Network Pitch Panel at the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival. In 2017 he received his biggest break at that point when he became a full-time writer for Saturday Night Live, primarily contributing to the Weekend Update segments, work which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.

Nimesh Patel was born in New Jersey to immigrant parents. When he are up he moved to New York City and attended NYU where he got his degree in finance before pursuing comedy. He started his comedy career performing stand-up at the Stress Factory. In 2015 he was discovered by Chris Rock while performing inBrooklyn and was a part of Rock’s writing team for the 88th Academy Awards which earned him a Writers Guild Award nomination. He also wrote material for Hasan Minaj’s White House Correspondents dinner. In 2016 he became a finalist in Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud Network Pitch Panel at the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival. In 2017 he received his biggest break at that point when he became a full-time writer for Saturday Night Live, primarily contributing to the Weekend Update segments, work which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.

Dave Sirus is a writer, comedian, and actor who has worked on Saturday Night Live, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, co-wrote The King of Staten Island, and co-created Peacock’s original series Bupkis which released earlier this year to rave reviews. He started as a stand-up comedian in high school and eventually found success with the YouTube channel Brick Stone.  Dave is a frequent collaborator with Judd Apatow and Pete Davidson. He has worked with even more legendary names in the business such as Ron Bennington, Jon Stewart, and George Carlin. One of the most respected and hardest working artists I've ever had the pleasure of meeting and working with in this business.

Dave Sirus is a writer, comedian, and actor who has worked on Saturday Night Live, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, co-wrote The King of Staten Island, and co-created Peacock’s original series Bupkis which released earlier this year to rave reviews. He started as a stand-up comedian in high school and eventually found success with the YouTube channel Brick Stone.  Dave is a frequent collaborator with Judd Apatow and Pete Davidson. He has worked with even more legendary names in the business such as Ron Bennington, Jon Stewart, and George Carlin. One of the most respected and hardest working artists I've ever had the pleasure of meeting and working with in this business.

Adam Ferrara is a tremendous actor and comedian whom I’ve had the pleasure to know for a very long time in this business. He is known for co-hosting the BBC’S Top Gear U.S. for six seasons. He also starred on the Emmy-nominated FX drama Rescue Me with Denis Leary. He also featured on a number of episodes in the critically acclaimed Nurse Jackie starring Edie Falco. Some of his film appearances include Paul Blart: Mall Cop alongside Kevin James, Little Italy starring Emma Roberts and Hayden Christensen, and Definitely, Maybe with Ryan Reynolds. He has also made numerous guest appearances on hit shows like Criminal Minds, NCIS, and King of Queens over his long and storied career. He is also a two time nominee for the American Comedy Award for Stand-Up of the Year, has made 5 stand-up specials, and has performed for multiple U.S. senators as well as President Clinton.

Adam Ferrara is a tremendous actor and comedian whom I’ve had the pleasure to know for a very long time in this business. He is known for co-hosting the BBC’S Top Gear U.S. for six seasons. He also starred on the Emmy-nominated FX drama Rescue Me with Denis Leary. He also featured on a number of episodes in the critically acclaimed Nurse Jackie starring Edie Falco. Some of his film appearances include Paul Blart: Mall Cop alongside Kevin James, Little Italy starring Emma Roberts and Hayden Christensen, and Definitely, Maybe with Ryan Reynolds. He has also made numerous guest appearances on hit shows like Criminal Minds, NCIS, and King of Queens over his long and storied career. He is also a two time nominee for the American Comedy Award for Stand-Up of the Year, has made 5 stand-up specials, and has performed for multiple U.S. senators as well as President Clinton.

Keith and Kenny Lucas are brothers, actors, comedians, and writers currently rising as two of the freshest new faces on the comedy scene. Their first stand-up special, Lucas Brothers: On Drugs, premiered on Netflix in 2017. They also made appearances in season one of Netflix’s critically acclaimed Lady Dynamite. They also created their own animated series Lucas Bros Moving Co which aired for two seasons. They have also made appearances in the series Arrested Development and the 2014 summer blockbuster 22 Jump Street. More recently they received a story by credit and co-produced the critically lauded Judas and the Black Messiah, a film which earned them an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

Keith and Kenny Lucas are brothers, actors, comedians, and writers currently rising as two of the freshest new faces on the comedy scene. Their first stand-up special, Lucas Brothers: On Drugs, premiered on Netflix in 2017. They also made appearances in season one of Netflix’s critically acclaimed Lady Dynamite. They also created their own animated series Lucas Bros Moving Co which aired for two seasons. They have also made appearances in the series Arrested Development and the 2014 summer blockbuster 22 Jump Street. More recently they received a story by credit and co-produced the critically lauded Judas and the Black Messiah, a film which earned them an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

Troy Bond is currently one of the fastest rising stars in the New York comedy scene and all around the country. He began his career at 16 years old writing jokes and started performing at 17 where he became addicted to the laughter from the crowds and knew he had found his calling. Before he was even a senior in high school, Bond appeared in the Quick Improv interview on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, this video went viral and launched his career from there’s. He has made multiple small screen appearances on Hulu, Netflix, NBC and even hosted a game show, Reward the Fan. He gained even more popularity parodying Seinfeld on digital platforms all across social media  where his fanbase continues to grow at a rapid trajectory. His stand-up special Heckler Calls Me Racist, has been viewed on his channel more than two million times. I hope you enjoy this special full length episode of Industry Standard.

Kirk Fox is an actor, writer, producer and award-winning stand-up comedian. Fox was the host of the syndicated daytime conflict talk show The Test and had a recurring role on NBC’s hit comedy Parks and Recreation as Sewage Joe. Other acting credits include Nickelodeon’s How to Rock, NBC’s Community, The Carmichael Show, The Mick, and as a series regular on CBS’s hour-long dramedy Rush Hour. Fox’s extensive television background includes multiple guest appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Conan, as well as his own Comedy Central Presents. More recently, Fox has received critical acclaim for his role on Amazon Freevee’s Jury Duty. His experience is not only limited to television, though. Fox has also built an impressive list of film credits including Forgetting Sarah Marshall, The Postman, Post Grad, The Patriot, and Wyatt Earp.

Kirk Fox is an actor, writer, producer and award-winning stand-up comedian. Fox was the host of the syndicated daytime conflict talk show The Test and had a recurring role on NBC’s hit comedy Parks and Recreation as Sewage Joe. Other acting credits include Nickelodeon’s How to Rock, NBC’s Community, The Carmichael Show, The Mick, and as a series regular on CBS’s hour-long dramedy Rush Hour. Fox’s extensive television background includes multiple guest appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Conan, as well as his own Comedy Central Presents. More recently, Fox has received critical acclaim for his role on Amazon Freevee’s Jury Duty. His experience is not only limited to television, though. Fox has also built an impressive list of film credits including Forgetting Sarah Marshall, The Postman, Post Grad, The Patriot, and Wyatt Earp.

Don Reo is a producer, television writer, and author, who was an executive producer on Two and a Half Men and the creator of Blossom and The John Larroquette Showfor NBC, My Wife and Kids on ABC, and Brothers on FOX. He began his 40-year+ career writing for iconic comedians such as Slappy White, Red Fox and Jackie Gleason, and went on to write episodes for classic shows like M*A*S*H, Rhoda, Mary Tyler Moore, All in the Family, and The Golden Girls.

Don Reo is a producer, television writer, and author, who was an executive producer on Two and a Half Men and the creator of Blossom and The John Larroquette Show for NBC, My Wife and Kids on ABC, and Brothers on FOX. He began his 40-year+ career writing for iconic comedians such as Slappy White, Red Fox and Jackie Gleason, and went on to write episodes for classic shows like M*A*S*H, Rhoda, Mary Tyler Moore, All in the Family, and The Golden Girls.

Godfrey is an American comedian and actor  While performing impressions of his college football teammates, Godfrey realized his irreverent style of comedy might be more than just a hobby and found his passion in stand up. After graduating college with a degree in psychology, he moved to New York and landed a gig warming up studio audiences for The Cosby Show. As one of the most dominant forces in the comedy circuit, Godfrey has been seen on stages from New York and Los Angeles to Dubai. Along with his own one-hour special on Comedy Central, Godfrey’s credits include Zoolander, 30 Rock, and a recurring role on Louie. Godfrey also starred alongside Shaquille O'Neal on the TruTV series, Upload.

Godfrey is an American comedian and actor  While performing impressions of his college football teammates, Godfrey realized his irreverent style of comedy might be more than just a hobby and found his passion in stand up. After graduating college with a degree in psychology, he moved to New York and landed a gig warming up studio audiences for The Cosby Show. As one of the most dominant forces in the comedy circuit, Godfrey has been seen on stages from New York and Los Angeles to Dubai. Along with his own one-hour special on Comedy Central, Godfrey’s credits include Zoolander, 30 Rock, and a recurring role on Louie. Godfrey also starred alongside Shaquille O'Neal on the TruTV series, Upload.

Gavin Polone began his career as an assistant at ICM IN 1985. After becoming an agent, he joined Bauer/Benedek which became United Talent Agency, where Gavin was made partner at age 29. In 1996 he became a manager and producer when he partnered with Judy Hofflund to form Hofflund/Polone which led to being an executive producer on the Emmy-nominated HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm and the CW’s Gilmore Girls. In 2001, he formed the production company, Pariah, where he produced numerous TV shows including NBC’S Revelations, HBO’S Tell Me You Love Me, and TBS’S My Boys. In feature films, he produced HBO’S When Trumpets Fade, New Line’s Drop Dead Gorgeous, Artisan’s Stir of Echoes, Columbia’s Premium Rush, Panic Room, Secret Window and Zombieland, as well as the indy features Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop, Seeing Other People, Little Manhattan, My Super Ex-Girlfriend for New Regency and 20th Century Fox; Along with Disney’s Primeval and Dreamworks’ Ghost Town. Additionally, Polone has directed multiple episodes of Jane By Designand Twisted and has written numerous articles for publications like The Hollywood Reporter, GQ, and New York Magazine. 

Gavin Polone began his career as an assistant at ICM IN 1985. After becoming an agent, he joined Bauer/Benedek which became United Talent Agency, where Gavin was made partner at age 29. In 1996 he became a manager and producer when he partnered with Judy Hofflund to form Hofflund/Polone which led to being an executive producer on the Emmy-nominated HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm and the CW’s Gilmore Girls. In 2001, he formed the production company, Pariah, where he produced numerous TV shows including NBC’S Revelations, HBO’S Tell Me You Love Me, and TBS’S My Boys. In feature films, he produced HBO’S When Trumpets Fade, New Line’s Drop Dead Gorgeous, Artisan’s Stir of Echoes, Columbia’s Premium Rush, Panic Room, Secret Window and Zombieland, as well as the indy features Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop, Seeing Other People, Little Manhattan, My Super Ex-Girlfriend for New Regency and 20th Century Fox; Along with Disney’s Primeval and Dreamworks’ Ghost Town. Additionally, Polone has directed multiple episodes of Jane By Design and Twisted and has written numerous articles for publications like The Hollywood Reporter, GQ, and New York Magazine.

Steve McPherson is the former president & chairman of the ABC TV Entertainment Group, overseeing both the studio and network operations.  Under his visionary leadership, he is credited with orchestrating one of the most dramatic network turnarounds in history, transforming  ABC’s fortunes with iconic shows like Lost,Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy, Dancing With The Stars, and Modern Family. Throughout his 25 year career McPherson has held positions at Witt/Thomas/Harris productions, Fox, ABC Productions, NBC, and the Walt Disney Company and is also responsible for an unparalleled list of classic TV shows, like the CSI, Scrubs, Monk, and The Amazing Race just to name a few. He is regarded as one of the most influential programmers of his generation and has been awarded close to 10 Emmy awards and separately won best show in comedy, drama, animation and reality.

Steve McPherson is the former president & chairman of the ABC TV Entertainment Group, overseeing both the studio and network operations.  Under his visionary leadership, he is credited with orchestrating one of the most dramatic network turnarounds in history, transforming  ABC’s fortunes with iconic shows like Lost,Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy, Dancing With The Stars, and Modern Family. Throughout his 25 year career McPherson has held positions at Witt/Thomas/Harris productions, Fox, ABC Productions, NBC, and the Walt Disney Company and is also responsible for an unparalleled list of classic TV shows, like the CSI, Scrubs, Monk, and The Amazing Race just to name a few. He is regarded as one of the most influential programmers of his generation and has been awarded close to 10 Emmy awards and separately won best show in comedy, drama, animation and reality.

Illeana Douglas is an award-winning film and television actress, writer, director, and producer. Beginning her career as a stand-up in New York, she was once asked to dub screams for The Last Temptation of Christ, leading to a long collaboration with director Martin Scorsese, during which she appeared in several of his films including GoodFellas and Cape Fear. She has appeared in numerous television shows in guest and recurring roles, including The Larry Sanders Show, Frasier, The Drew Carey Show, Grey's Anatomy, and Entourage. She was nominated for an Emmy for her performance on HBO's Six Feet Under, and was a regular on the hit NBC series Welcome to Sweden. Her web series Easy to Assemble has won 6 Webby Awards and has ben viewed over 40 million times. Her first book "I Blame Dennis Hopper: A Life Inside and Outside Movies" came out in December 2015.

Illeana Douglas is an award-winning film and television actress, writer, director, and producer. Beginning her career as a stand-up in New York, she was once asked to dub screams for The Last Temptation of Christ, leading to a long collaboration with director Martin Scorsese, during which she appeared in several of his films including GoodFellas and Cape Fear. She has appeared in numerous television shows in guest and recurring roles, including The Larry Sanders Show, Frasier, The Drew Carey Show, Grey's Anatomy, and Entourage. She was nominated for an Emmy for her performance on HBO's Six Feet Under, and was a regular on the hit NBC series Welcome to Sweden. Her web series Easy to Assemble has won 6 Webby Awards and has ben viewed over 40 million times. Her first book "I Blame Dennis Hopper: A Life Inside and Outside Movies" came out in December 2015.

Kenya Barris is a prolific writer and director, known to many as the creator of the hit Emmy winning series Black-ish, a show loosely based on his own life. After leaving ABC he signed a 9-figure deal with Netflix to direct his first feature film, You People, starring Jonah Hill and Eddie Murphy which is out now. Some of his other writing credits include the 2017 comedy Girl’s Trip, the new Disney+ Cheaper by the Dozen film, and Amazon’s Coming 2 America.

Kenya Barris is a prolific writer and director, known to many as the creator of the hit Emmy winning series Black-ish, a show loosely based on his own life. After leaving ABC he signed a 9-figure deal with Netflix to direct his first feature film, You People, starring Jonah Hill and Eddie Murphy which is out now. Some of his other writing credits include the 2017 comedy Girl’s Trip, the new Disney+ Cheaper by the Dozen film, and Amazon’s Coming 2 America.

Rachel Watanabe-Batton is a film and television producer and founder of production company, Contradiction and Struggle. Some of her many credits include By Any Means Necessary, I Pity The Fool with Mr. T, HBO’s Cutting Edge, her debut narrative film Once You’re In, and most recently the Disney+ original film, Sneakerella, which was nominated for 11 Emmy awards, winning 4 of them.

Rachel Watanabe-Batton is a film and television producer and founder of production company, Contradiction and Struggle. Some of her many credits include By Any Means Necessary, I Pity The Fool with Mr. T, HBO’s Cutting Edge, her debut narrative film Once You’re In, and most recently the Disney+ original film, Sneakerella, which was nominated for 11 Emmy awards, winning 4 of them.

DIONNE WARWICK is a five-time GRAMMY® Award winning music legend, who has become a cornerstone of American pop music and culture. Warwick’s career, which currently celebrates over 50 years, has established her as an internationalmusic icon and concert act. Over that time, she has earned 75 charted hit songs and sold over 100 million records. She began singing professionally in 1961after being discovered by a young songwriting team (Burt Bacharach and Hal David) and had her first hit in 1962 with “Don’t Make Me Over.”  Less than a decade later, she had released more than 18 consecutive Top 100 singles, including her classic Bacharach/David recordings, “Walk on By,” “Anyone Who Had a Heart,” “Message to Michael,” “Promises Promises,” “A House is Not a Home,” “Alfie,” “Say a Little Prayer,” “This Girl’s in Love With You,” “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again,” “Reach Out For Me,” and the theme from “Valley of the Dolls. ” Together, Warwick and the songwriting team of Bacharach & David accumulated more than 30 hit singles, and close to 20 best-selling albums, during their first decade together. She received her first GRAMMY® Award in1968 for her mega-hit, “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?” and a second GRAMMY® in 1970 for the best-selling album, “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again.”  Warwick was also a key participating artist in the all-star charity smash hit single, “We Are the World,” and in 1984, performed at “Live Aid” and hosted and headlined an all-star benefit concert for World Hunger Day in London.  In addition, she was honored by AMFAR in a special reunion performance of “That’s What Friends are For,” alongside Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder at AMFAR’s Anniversary Gala in New York City.   Warwick also received the prestigious 2011 Steve Chase Humanitarian Arts & Activism Award by the Desert Aids Project and was recognized for her stellar career by Clive Davis at his legendary Pre-GRAMMY® Party in Los Angeles.  Adding to her list of landmark honors, Warwick was a 2013 recipient of the coveted Ellis Island Medal of Honor in New York…and she became the first African-American solo female artist of her generation to win the prestigious award for Best Contemporary Female Vocalist Performance—an award only presented to one other legend, Miss Ella Fitzgerald.

DIONNE WARWICK is a five-time GRAMMY® Award winning music legend, who has become a cornerstone of American pop music and culture. Warwick’s career, which currently celebrates over 50 years, has established her as an internationalmusic icon and concert act. Over that time, she has earned 75 charted hit songs and sold over 100 million records. She began singing professionally in 1961after being discovered by a young songwriting team (Burt Bacharach and Hal David) and had her first hit in 1962 with “Don’t Make Me Over.”  Less than a decade later, she had released more than 18 consecutive Top 100 singles, including her classic Bacharach/David recordings, “Walk on By,” “Anyone Who Had a Heart,” “Message to Michael,” “Promises Promises,” “A House is Not a Home,” “Alfie,” “Say a Little Prayer,” “This Girl’s in Love With You,” “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again,” “Reach Out For Me,” and the theme from “Valley of the Dolls. ” Together, Warwick and the songwriting team of Bacharach & David accumulated more than 30 hit singles, and close to 20 best-selling albums, during their first decade together. She received her first GRAMMY® Award in1968 for her mega-hit, “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?” and a second GRAMMY® in 1970 for the best-selling album, “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again.”  Warwick was also a key participating artist in the all-star charity smash hit single, “We Are the World,” and in 1984, performed at “Live Aid” and hosted and headlined an all-star benefit concert for World Hunger Day in London.  In addition, she was honored by AMFAR in a special reunion performance of “That’s What Friends are For,” alongside Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder at AMFAR’s Anniversary Gala in New York City.   Warwick also received the prestigious 2011 Steve Chase Humanitarian Arts & Activism Award by the Desert Aids Project and was recognized for her stellar career by Clive Davis at his legendary Pre-GRAMMY® Party in Los Angeles.  Adding to her list of landmark honors, Warwick was a 2013 recipient of the coveted Ellis Island Medal of Honor in New York…and she became the first African-American solo female artist of her generation to win the prestigious award for Best Contemporary Female Vocalist Performance—an award only presented to one other legend, Miss Ella Fitzgerald.

Over the close to 10 years of hosting this podcast, I’ve had the incredible honor of interviewing some truly amazing and extraordinary people, many of whom are unfortunately no longer with us. These individuals were some of the most brilliant comedians, managers, writers, and directors I’ve ever had the privilege of meeting, but even more importantly, they were my friends. Part 2 of this special 2-part episode is a collection of some great stories, advice, and insight these men all shared on Industry Standard over the years. I hope that by listening to these extraordinary individuals you can find inspiration in their words the way I did, and use that inspiration into taking your own career to the next level.

Over the close to 10 years of hosting this podcast, I’ve had the incredible honor of interviewing some truly amazing and extraordinary people, many of whom are unfortunately no longer with us. These individuals were some of the most brilliant comedians, managers, writers, and directors I’ve ever had the privilege of meeting, but even more importantly, they were my friends. Part 1 of this special 2-part episode is a collection of some great stories, advice, and insight these men all shared on Industry Standard over the years. I hope that by listening to these extraordinary individuals you can find inspiration in their words the way I did, and use that inspiration into taking your own career to the next level.

Henry Bushkin was only a few years into his legal career when Johnny Carson hired him as his personal lawyer/manager for a golden period that became the most productive 18 years of his career. His book Johnny Carson was a #1 New York Times Best Seller and one of the “Ten Best Books of the Year” in 2013.  Known as "Bombastic Bushkin," he was The Tonight Show host’s best friend and played a major role in his life that was very involved and complex, as he was equal parts sounding board, drinking buddy, tennis partner, travel companion, business manager, and all-around trusted confidant— with the power to clean up any mess that impeded Carson’s productivity or happiness. His inside information on one of America’s greatest treasures is both compelling and equally shocking, as he tells the intimate never-before-heard stories of the man, the myth, and the legend that was Johnny Carson.

Henry Bushkin was only a few years into his legal career when Johnny Carson hired him as his personal lawyer/manager for a golden period that became the most productive 18 years of his career. His book Johnny Carson was a #1 New York Times Best Seller and one of the “Ten Best Books of the Year” in 2013.  Known as "Bombastic Bushkin," he was The Tonight Show host’s best friend and played a major role in his life that was very involved and complex, as he was equal parts sounding board, drinking buddy, tennis partner, travel companion, business manager, and all-around trusted confidant— with the power to clean up any mess that impeded Carson’s productivity or happiness. His inside information on one of America’s greatest treasures is both compelling and equally shocking, as he tells the intimate never-before-heard stories of the man, the myth, and the legend that was Johnny Carson.

In November of 2022, a one of a kind comedian, Gallagher, passed away. He made a huge impact on my life and career. He was a misunderstood and brilliant man. Always saying things the way he wanted to when off stage, often getting him into trouble. But by listening to him in his final interview, you immediately notice how much insight he has to offer. Whether you agree with him or not, he was certainly one of the most unique to ever do it. I will miss him.

In November of 2022, a one of a kind comedian, Gallagher, passed away. He made a huge impact on my life and career. He was a misunderstood and brilliant man. Always saying things the way he wanted to when off stage, often getting him into trouble. But by listening to him in his final interview, you immediately notice how much insight he has to offer. Whether you agree with him or not, he was certainly one of the most unique to ever do it. I will miss him.

Stephen Glover and better known by his stage name Steve-O is an actor, stunt performer, producer, comedian, author, musician, and clown. His entertainment career is mostly centered on his performance stance on the groundbreaking and hugely successful MTV series Jackass and its related movies and spin off series, Wild boys. While performing the flea market circuit Steve-O began sending videos of himself the Big Brother magazine editor and future Jackass director Jeff Tremaine. After admitting that the only thing he was scared of was spiders, Tremaine recruited Steve-O for MTV his television series Jackass, which became an instant hit. MTV subsequently released seven movies based on the series from 2000 to 2022. Most recently, Jackass Forever opened at number one at the box office and became a massive success.

Stephen Glover and better known by his stage name Steve-O is an actor, stunt performer, producer, comedian, author, musician, and clown. His entertainment career is mostly centered on his performance stance on the groundbreaking and hugely successful MTV series Jackass and its related movies and spin off series, Wild boys. While performing the flea market circuit Steve-O began sending videos of himself the Big Brother magazine editor and future Jackass director Jeff Tremaine. After admitting that the only thing he was scared of was spiders, Tremaine recruited Steve-O for MTV his television series Jackass, which became an instant hit. MTV subsequently released seven movies based on the series from 2000 to 2022. Most recently, Jackass Forever opened at number one at the box office and became a massive success.

Eric Tannenbaum is one of the most successful television executives in history, holding titles of President of Columbia Tristar Television, President of Michael Ovitz' ATG, Co-President of the Tannenbaum Company at CBS with his wife Kim, and Executive Producer of one of the longest running sitcoms in history (Two and 1/2 Men).

Eric Tannenbaum is one of the most successful television executives in history, holding titles of President of Columbia Tristar Television, President of Michael Ovitz' ATG, Co-President of the Tannenbaum Company at CBS with his wife Kim, and Executive Producer of one of the longest running sitcoms in history (Two and 1/2 Men).

This summer we lost one of the most respected artists I’ve ever known in this industry—Kevin Rooney. He was a really special person to all of us fortunate enough to know him. He worked with the best, hung with the best, and his sense of humor was the best. The way he spent time with all the comedians and was able to navigate through any situation, made him one of the most original people in our business. I hope you enjoy Part 2 of this classic episode where you get to hear his insight on our business from the man himself. I’ll miss him dearly.