Classic Conversations: Pop culture Interviews with Jeff Dwoskin

Latest Episodes:

The Writer of Sharknado 1,2,3 and 4 Thunder Levin Dives Deep Into The Blockbuster Franchise Nov 21, 2022

Show notes

The story behind the story of the creative process of developing the blockbuster franchise: Sharknado. Writer of Sharknado 1,2,3 and 4, Thunder Levin gives us a glimpse behind the scenes of creating a phenomenon.

My guest, Thunder Levin and I discuss:

Thunder's path to becoming a writer/director
The art of pop-culture references in movies
Working for Roger Corman
Mutant Vampires from the Hood
AE: Apocalypse Earth
American Warships
Stories behind writing the original Sharknado, Sharknado 2: The Second One, Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! and Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens
Almost killing and saving the Syfy Original Film Department
a 411 on Mockbusters
That time Sharknado went super viral on Twitter and social media's role in Sharknado's success story
Celebrity tweet support for the original Sharknado
Creating those amazing "Sharknado Moments"
Being rejected by William Shatner
The story behind Wil Wheaton's impact on the franchise and his cameo
The almost casting of Donald Trump
The brilliance of David Hasselhoff
The amazing Sharknado 4 promo that never happened
Scrapped plot lines
Stepping away from the franchise
Thunder's review of Sharknado 5 and 6
and much more!

You're going to love my conversation with Thunder Levin

Hashtag Fun: Jeff dives into recent trends and reads some of his favorite tweets from trending hashtags. The hashtag featured in this episode is #AddSharksToMoviesOrTV from @SciFiTags. Tweets featured on the show are retweeted at @JeffDwoskinShow

Follow Hashtag Roundup to tweet along with fun hashtags daily!

Follow @HashtagRoundup on Twitter! Download the Hashtag Roundup app

Follow Jeff Dwoskin:

Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter
The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter
Podcast website
Podcast on Instagram
Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Crossing The Streams Goes Primal (Bonus Ep38) - Great TV binge watching suggestions! Nov 17, 2022

Show notes

Need TV binge suggestions? You've come to the right place. We've got you covered.

In this bonus episode we discuss a few great binge suggestions:

Primal (from live ep 94)
The Holiday Calendar (from live ep 55)
Andor (from live ep 84)

Crossing the Streams originated on this podcast in episodes 8 and 15. My idea was to record friends freely discussing TV shows (and movies) they binge on one of the many, many streaming services we all subscribe to.

Jeff Dwoskin is joined by Howard Rosner, Ron Lippitt, Bob Philips, and Sal Demilio are your co-hosts and we're joined weekly by special guests.

The assignment? We each come to the show with a TV binge suggestion. It might be a series, movie, or documentary but we'll give you the scoop so you can decide for yourself whether or not to dive in.

Each segment is pulled from a show and shared as is in all its LIVE goodness.

Join us LIVE every Wednesday at 9:30 PM ET / 8:30 PM CT

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/CTSYouTubeSubscribe

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hey Lassie, Jon Provost and Timmy Are Stuck In the Well... Again Nov 14, 2022

Show notes

How many kids become one of the most famous children's stars of all time simply as a result of their Mom really wanting Jane Wyman's autograph? As Timmy, Jon Provost, alongside Lassie is one of the most famous TV duos of all time.

My guest, Jon Provost and I discuss:

Jon's memoir, "Timmy's in the Well: The Jon Provost Story' co-written with his wife Laurie Jacobson
A day in the life of a child star of the 50s and 60s
Landing the role at 3yo in 'So Big' so his Mom could meet Jane Wyman
Landing the role in The Country Girl and becoming an RKO player
Landing the role of Timmy on Lassie
Transitioning Lassie from Jeff to Timmy
Bonding with Lassie and Lassie's owner/trainer Rudd Weatherwax
Chloris Leachman as Timmy's Mom
Meeting Bob Hope
Some really unfortunate dental procedures
Meeting the Lone Ranger
Working with Mr. Ed
Making the decision after 7 years to leave the show and Timmy behind
The New Lassie TV show
and a whole lot more!

You're going to love my conversation with Jon Provost

Hashtag Fun: Jeff dives into recent trends and reads some of his favorite tweets from trending hashtags. The hashtag featured in this episode is #WhyDogsAreBetterThanHumans from @WonderTags. Tweets featured on the show are retweeted at @JeffDwoskinShow

Follow Hashtag Roundup to tweet along with fun hashtags daily!

Follow @HashtagRoundup on Twitter! Download the Hashtag Roundup app

Follow Jeff Dwoskin:

Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter
The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter
Podcast website
Podcast on Instagram
Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Crossing The Streams is White HOT (Bonus Ep37) - Great TV binge watching suggestions! Nov 10, 2022

Show notes

Need TV binge suggestions? You've come to the right place. We've got you covered.

In this bonus episode we discuss a few great binge suggestions:

Turning Point: 911 and the War on Terror (from live ep 40)
White Hot: The Rise and Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch (from live ep 71)
Prey (from live ep 84)

Jeff Dwoskin is joined by Howard Rosner, Ron Lippitt, Bob Philips, and Sal Demilio are your co-hosts and we're joined weekly by special guests.

The assignment? We each come to the show with a TV binge suggestion. It might be a series, movie, or documentary but we'll give you the scoop so you can decide for yourself whether or not to dive in.

Each segment is pulled from a show and shared as is in all its LIVE goodness.

Join us LIVE every Wednesday at 9:30 PM ET / 8:30 PM CT

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/CTSYouTubeSubscribe

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rita Rudner on Life, Comedy, Dogs, and Staying True To Yourself Nov 07, 2022

Show notes

After leaving home at 15yo for New York City and finding success on Broadway, Rita Rudner turned her sites to comedy and became one of the most successful and hilarious comedians of all time.

My guest, Rita Rudner and I discuss:

Rita's memoir, "My Life in Dog Years"
Touring with Dennis Miller (including a stop in my hometown at Pine Knob Music Theater)
Performing with Tony Bennett at a state fair
Leaving home at 15yo for New York City
Touring with and upsetting Chita Rivera
Performing in Industrial shows
Making the decision to leave Broadway and become a stand-up comedian
Auditioning for the David Letterman Show
Standing firm on not changing her comedy style
Jack Benny's influence on Rita and the origins of Rita's unique style of comedy
Rita's difficulting getting booked on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson
Rodney Dangerfield and the 9th Annual Young Comedians Special
Her many collaborations with her husband, Martin
Vegas: becoming the Queen of Las Vegas and changing her life so she could have a family and still perform comedy
Danny Gans
HBO's Comic Relief
Debby Reynolds and Liza Minnelli
The Ask Rita Show
Writing for the Oscars with Carrie Fisher and Steve Martin
Being the first woman on the dais at the Friar's club
and a million more stories!

You're going to love my conversation with Rita Rudner

Our Guest, Rita Rudner

Follow Jeff Dwoskin:

Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter
The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter
Podcast website
Podcast on Instagram
Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Crossing The Streams Confesses (Bonus Ep36) - Great TV binge watching suggestions! Nov 03, 2022

Show notes

Need TV binge suggestions? You've come to the right place. We've got you covered.

In this bonus episode we discuss a few great binge suggestions:

Ozark (from live ep 27)
Confess Fletch (from live ep 89)
Lennox Lewis: Untold Story (from live ep 71)

Jeff Dwoskin is joined by Howard Rosner, Ron Lippitt, Bob Philips, and Sal Demilio are your co-hosts and we're joined weekly by special guests.

The assignment? We each come to the show with a TV binge suggestion. It might be a series, movie, or documentary but we'll give you the scoop so you can decide for yourself whether or not to dive in.

Each segment is pulled from a show and shared as is in all its LIVE goodness.

Join us LIVE every Wednesday at 9:30 PM ET / 8:30 PM CT

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/CTSYouTubeSubscribe

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Cigarette Smoking Man William B. Davis is Ready to Upload The The X-Files Oct 31, 2022

Show notes

A passion for teaching the craft of acting set the path toward the audition of a lifetime that would lead to fame as one of the greatest villains of all time.

My guest, William B. Davis and I discuss:

William's mastery of slalom skiing
Williams's book, "On Acting... and Life"
William Davis Center for Actors Study
His Passion for teaching acting
Answers the question: can anyone be a great actor?
When great actors deliver bad performances
Sudden fame from The X-Files
Being recognized in public
His infamous role as Cigarette Smoking Man
Crisis of consciousness when The X-Files was accused of promoting pseudoscience
Keeping the Bills out of the Superbowl
The many deaths of CSM
William's other roles he wants you to also know about
Upload (his current series on Amazon Prime)

You're going to love my conversation with William B. Davis

Our Guest, William B. Davis

Hashtag Fun: Jeff dives into recent trends and reads some of his favorite tweets from trending hashtags. The hashtag featured in this episode is #RejectedXFilesPlots from Friday Fondue. Tweets featured on the show are retweeted at @JeffDwoskinShow

Follow Hashtag Roundup to tweet along with fun hashtags daily!

Follow @HashtagRoundup on Twitter! Download the Hashtag Roundup app

Follow Jeff Dwoskin:

Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter
The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter
Podcast website
Podcast on Instagram
Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Crossing The Streams Decides To Go For It (Bonus Ep35) - Great TV binge watching suggestions! Oct 27, 2022

Show notes

Need TV binge suggestions? You've come to the right place. We've got you covered.

In this bonus episode we discuss a few great binge suggestions:

The Incredible Hulk Returns (from live ep 78)
1971 The Year That Changed Everything (from live ep 27)
Rita Moreno: Just A Girl That Decided To Go For It (from live ep 46)

Jeff Dwoskin is joined by Howard Rosner, Ron Lippitt, Bob Philips, and Sal Demilio are your co-hosts and we're joined weekly by special guests.

The assignment? We each come to the show with a TV binge suggestion. It might be a series, movie, or documentary but we'll give you the scoop so you can decide for yourself whether or not to dive in.

Each segment is pulled from a show and shared as is in all its LIVE goodness.

Join us LIVE every Wednesday at 9:30 PM ET / 8:30 PM CT

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/CTSYouTubeSubscribe

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Comedian Wendy Liebman Is Taller On TV Oct 24, 2022

Show notes

Grabbing someone else's mail changed the course of Wendy's life unlocking the tools and lighting the path to becoming one of the funniest comedians ever.

My guest, Wendy Liebman and I discuss:

Her amazing comedic delivery
The upside to Zoom comedy shows
How being hit by a car (twice) changed her perspective on life and comedy
Performing on America's Got Talent
Comedy origin story: How taking the wrong mail and an ill-fated acting class led to a life of comedy greatness
The Aristocrats movie
Winning a comedy contest that led to her first performance on The Tonight Show
Meeting Johnny Carson
Steven Wright's amazing advice on performing comedy on TV
Appearing on the Rosanne talk show
Winning the American Comedy Award for best Stand-up Female Comedian
The Sherman Brothers
Opening for Bob Hope
Some amazing Phyllis Diller stories
and much more!

You're going to love my conversation with Wendy Liebman

Our Guest, Wendy Liebman

Hashtag Fun: Jeff dives into recent trends and reads some of his favorite tweets from trending hashtags. The hashtag featured in this episode is #MyLowBarSecretTalent from @FletchyTags. Tweets featured on the show are retweeted at @JeffDwoskinShow

Follow Hashtag Roundup to tweet along with fun hashtags daily!

Follow @HashtagRoundup on Twitter! Download the Hashtag Roundup app

Follow Jeff Dwoskin:

Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter
The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter
Podcast website
Podcast on Instagram
Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Don't Make Author Pat Jankiewicz Angry You Wouldn't Like Him When He's Angry Oct 20, 2022

Show notes

Renowned TV expert Pat Jankiewicz takes me on a guided tour of the groundbreaking The Incredible Hulk TV series (1977 - 1982) starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno

My guest, Pat Jankiewicz and I discuss:

Our shared Michigan roots!
His TV companion book to The Incredible Hulk TV series: You Wouldn't Like Me When I'm Angry: A Hulk Companion
The deep approach to storytelling that grounded the series and made it the flagship Marvel show that led the way for everything that followed
Ted Cassidy's role as the opening show narrator
The various actors that played Banner after Bill Bixby
Eric Allen Kramer - the original Thor
Kenneth Johnson's negotiations with Stan Lee on proposed character changes for the show
Others auditioned for the Hulk and the actor that originally landed the role (not Lou!)
Bill Bixby's divorce and losing his son during the run of the show
The background of 'The Lonely Man' theme
Why the original series ended
What brought the Hulk back
The She-Hulk that could have been

You're going to love my conversation with Pat Jankiewicz

Our Guest, Pat Jankiewicz

Hashtag Fun: Jeff dives into recent trends and reads some of his favorite tweets from trending hashtags. The hashtag featured in this episode is #MakesMeWantToHulkOut from @HangoverTags. Tweets featured on the show are retweeted at @JeffDwoskinShow

Follow Hashtag Roundup to tweet along with fun hashtags daily!

Follow @HashtagRoundup on Twitter! Download the Hashtag Roundup app

Follow Jeff Dwoskin: