SnarkMonkey

Once Around The Zoom Nov 01, 2020

At long last we get the Snarkers back together from their respective Monkey Cages to chime in on some of the bingeing they've been doing, including some new release movies that have been made available for streaming while also "in theaters" (whatever THAT means.) We talk "The Witches", "Tenet", "Borat Subsequent Movie Film", "Bill & Ted Face The Music", "Enola Holmes", "The Trial of the Chicago 7" and a chilling little indie called "Fear PHarm." And that ain't even it! Like...what the heck is Blaseball? Settle in for the first - and maybe last??? - Zoom edition of SnarkMonkey, with your host Larry Morgan and regulars Trey Callaway, Mark S. Allen, Michael Ambers, Chris McGahan and Alexander Morgan.

GO TO MOVIES with James Arnold Taylor - "Defending Your Life" (1991) May 04, 2020

Who better to talk movies on Star Wars Day than the voice of Obi-Wan himself - James Arnold Taylor! Besides Star Wars: The Clone Wars you've heard him as Ratchet (Ratchet & Clank), Tidus (Final Fantasy X), Johnny Test and many many others. But do we talk Star Wars for comfort food movies? No! It's Albert Brooks' delightful romantic comedy from 1991, "Defending Your Life" co-starring a little-seen, barely-known Meryl...I wanna say...Streep? Go back to a long time ago in a decade far, far away (the '90s!) as well as hear James' other Go To Movie recommendations during this weird time. Enjoy! (And May The Fourth/Force Be With You.)

GO TO MOVIES with Peter Segal - "Heaven Can Wait" (1978) Apr 18, 2020

It's a socially distant discussion with frequent SnarkGuest, director Peter Segal as we discuss his "Go To" Movie for comfort and joy during this quarantine; the 1978 comedy-fantasy-semi-sports movie "Heaven Can Wait" starring Warren Beatty.

We also hear how COVID-19 has directly impacted his life with the upcoming digital premiere of his new action-comedy "My Spy" which WAS scheduled to be in theaters right now. Check out the trailer here

Also, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of his beloved comedy "Tommy Boy" which will have an online viewing party Saturday 4/18 at 8pm ET/5pm PT - join in here

Follow Pete on Twitter @pete_segal on Instagram @petesegal

Independent Spirit Awards with Film Independent's Josh Welsh Feb 07, 2020

What's the best awards show this weekend? No...not that one. It's the Independent Spirit Awards! It's a treasure trove of riches (...lots of "Uncut Gems" of cinema, if you will....see what I did there?...hmmm, do you?) and I talk once again with the President of Film Independent, the organization behind the Spirities (???) Josh Welsh. We get DEEP into great indie movies from the past year, and make right some snubs from those other awards shows. (Hmmph. HMMPH, I say!)

Watch the Independent Spirit Awards - hosted by Aubrey Plaza - Saturday, 2/8/2020, starting at 2pm PST/5pm EST on IFC or worldwide on Twitter. Get more information at filmindependent.org

Bad Snark for Life! Jan 20, 2020

After 17 years (25 after the first one!) WIll Smith and Martin Lawrence are back as those wise-crackin', rule-breakin' Miami cops. They're older...they're slower...but are they still funny? Does the chemistry hold up? Do things blow up real good? Join Larry Morgan with Chris McGahan, Jason E. Kelley, and first-time Snarker (and actually real live lady person) Teo Ashenafi as they answer all of the above - and more; including breaking down Will Smith's extraordinary appeal, Martin Lawrence's comeback (of sorts) and celebrate a couple of new directors on the scene who have a ton of promise.

Follow Larry on Instagram

Follow Chris on Twitter and Instagram

Follow Jason on Instagram

Learn more about Teo's nonprofit The Peg Effect here

2020 Movie Preview SnarkCast Jan 13, 2020

As everybody else is honoring and awarding movies from 2019 (that is SO "last year" of them), Monkeys Larry Morgan and Chris "The McGahan" McGahan and I look ahead to the movies of the future! Including "Bad Boys For Life" with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence (opening this Friday), the next thing from Christopher Nolan, the new Bond, the new Ghostbusters, the new Marvel and DC stuff, and a few wild cards that could be interesting.

Find Larry on instagram @thelarrymorgan

And Chris McGahan on Twitter @themcgahan and Instagram @themcgahan

The Rise of SkySnarker Dec 26, 2019

THE DEAD SPEAK! As in...SnarkMonkey is BACK from the dark recesses of space to inexplicably reappear to bring you the final SnarkFest of the decade as Larry Morgan, Trey Callaway, Jason E. Kelley, Chris McGahan, Michael Ambers, newbie Jessica Ambers and Alexander Morgan get geeky and granular on the final chapter in the final trilogy of the Star Wars Skywalker saga. Or....is it? Did J.J. pull it off? Could it have been done better? Is there any chance all of us will attempt to rewrite the whole damn thing? And what's ahead for the Star Wars franchise. Also, how does Gremlins 2 fit into all this??? Listen and find out.

WARNING! SPOILERS! LANGUAGE! DEEP DIVES INTO NERDOM!

Spider Man: Snark From Home Jul 06, 2019

Larry Morgan and an all-star Snark Crew gather together for the first big Marvel release since "the blip" of Avengers: Endgame to see how the web-slinger is holding up since the death of a mentor. Plus, he's got more than radioactive spider blood coursing through him right now, ifyaknowwhatImean....

Join writer/producer Trey Callaway, musician/podcaster Alexander Morgan, actor/curmudgeon Chris "The McGahan" McGahan and the Monkey-In-Chief for this swingin' episode.

CONTAINS SPOILERS starting about the 14 minute mark.

Avengers: Snarkgame Apr 30, 2019

Larry Morgan is joined by his SuperSnark Crew Jason E. Kelley, Chris McGahan, Mikey Ambers and new Snarker, a real, live actual lady, Emily Doyle to pick apart the biggest movie of our lifetime (...I mean, right?!) AVENGERS: ENDGAME.

WARNING: The first half contains some mild spoilage, but no major plot points. At the 30-minute-ish mark though we give you a heads up and reveal major plot points.

So, Snarkers Assemble...let's do this!

*Special appearance by Mary-Alice!

#65 - Film Independent's Josh Welsh Feb 21, 2019

The Independent Spirit Awards are this Saturday (February 23rd, 2019) and some amazing films and filmmakers are nominated and highlighted. K-Earth's Larry Morgan welcomes Film Independent's Josh Welsh to talk about the nominees, the show, the state of independent film, how we watch movies in general and more!

Learn more about the awards and Film Independent here, watch live this Saturday on IFC or Facebook Watch.

You can follow Film Independent on Twitter @filmindependent

Oscar Reactions and Predictions Jan 27, 2019

K-Earth's Larry Morgan & The Monkey Crew is ready to throw poop at the Academy Award nominations - as well as predict winners and give some love to deserving pictures and performances. And we can't help but slide into some Comic Book Nerd territory with a big push for "Black Panther" as Best Picture. AND Shawn alerts us to the Great Brit Infiltration conspirary.

Join Larry, Mark S. Allen, Shawn Edwards and Chris "The McGahan" McGahan for some serious, cynical snarking.

#64 - Sharon Lawrence Dec 12, 2018

You know Emmy-nominated Sharon Lawrence from...oh, let's say "NYPD Blue", "Shameless", "Grey's Anatomy", a thousand other movies and tv shows, and maybe the recent original Lifetime movie "Poinsettias for Christmas." She was recently honored by the Cancer Support Community of Los Angeles with a Gilda Award for her support of breast cancer awareness and research.

She's lovely, funny, delightful, and can really belt out a Pat Benatar tune.

You can keep up with Sharon on Twitter @sharonlawrence, on Instagram and learn more about the local cancer support community at csclagala.org

Watch the Lifetime movie "Poinsettias for Christmas" on demand now at MyLifetime.

-Larry Morgan

#63 - Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. Oct 31, 2018

Larry Morgan is joined by co-Snark-host, writer/producer Trey Callaway as they visit the home of singer/songwriter/producer/multi-instrumentalist Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. We are both huge fans of this man's body of work, from the legendary and influential power pop band Jellyfish to his projects with Imperial Drag, his contributions to many other artists and solo work, including his latest EP "Glamping."

Find out more about RJM, Jr. on his PledgeMusic page here, or follow him on Twitter @rogerjmanningjr.

#62 - Writer Seth M. Sherwood/Hell Fest Sep 27, 2018

We welcome Seth Sherwood ("Leatherface") back as one of the writers of the new movie "Hell Fest" (in theaters NOW) and we take a deep dive into the evolution and success of the horror film and his crusade to put the FUN back in the genre. We talk about Seth's vision for the film, break down the ups and downs of fandom, and get geeky about "Star Wars" for a minute.

Follow Seth on Twitter @SethMSherwood

Check out the trailer for Hell Fest here and the super cool throwback 80s version here.

#61 - Jennifer Cochis/Director, LA Film Festival Sep 19, 2018

The LA Film Festival kicks off THIS WEEK (Sept. 20-28) and we snag the delightful Jennifer Cochis, the director of the fest, to come in the MonkeyCage to give us some insight into what to expect. The lineup this year sounds amazing, and of particular interest to K-Earth listeners, opening night features the music doc "Echo in the Canyon" about the Laurel Canyon music scene borne in the 60s and its impact on musicians to this day.

For info on the full lineup, as well as pass and single event/screening ticket purchaes go to filmindependent.org. Support independent film! Support your local

#60 - Paul Feig returns! Sep 11, 2018

Director Paul Feig (Freaks & Geeks, Bridesmaids, Spy, The Heat, Ghostbusters) joins Larry Morgan in the MonkeyCage to talk about his new film "A Simple Favor" (opening Friday, 9/14) as well as his always-fashionable look, why directing a thriller was a natural step for him, why the casting director is the unsung hero of cinema, why "The Blues Brothers" is a Perfect Movie (Paul's words...no kidding) and much more!

Follow Paul on Instagram here, on Twitter here, and check out the trailer for "A Simple Favor" here.

SnarkReview - Mission: Impossible - Fallout Jul 31, 2018

In what may be the most adorable SnarkMonkey episode yet, the whole Morgan family (Larry, Charla & Alex) saw M:I6 together...and reviewed it together! So how's Tom Cruise holding up? Is it the best of the series? Is it one of the best action movies ever? Can you follow this crazy plot? You may not care what we think, but listen anyway because...well...adorable.

#59 - Terri Nunn and Berlin Jul 26, 2018

Terri Nunn and Berlin will play this weekend (7/27-28) at the Microsoft Theater in Downtown L.A. as part of the 80s Weekend #6 lineup! Terri just recently reuntied with original Berlin band members David Diamond and John Crawford and they join me backstage from a few months ago before a private K-Earth 101 show. They talk about the feeling of playing together after all these years, reminisce about a big show they played with The Police in '83 and how SnarkMonkey MAY have influenced the name of their new album....????

Go to berlinpage.com or follow Terri on Twitter @RealTerriNunn

SnarkReview - Ant-Man and the Wasp Jul 09, 2018

Larry Morgan is joined by fellow nerds Trey Callaway, Michael Ambers and Chris "The McGahan" McGahan for another cool summer dip back into the Marvel Universe. "Ant-Man and the Wasp" made a sweet $76 mil in its opening weekend...but is it good? Better than the first one? And what is its place in the MCU as a whole? And will Ant-Man show up in the next Avengers movie? And will Michael Pena get his own spin-off! MILD SPOILERS contained in this rollicking romp of a review.

SnarkReview - Ocean's 8 Jun 11, 2018

The all-star, (primarily) all-female cast of "Ocean's 8" won the box office over the weekend, so interest was high -- but was it any good? We let you know, with a rare appearance by non-male reviewer in the MonkeyCage; joining Larry Morgan is his lovely wife Charla to give her thoughts!

SnarkReview - Solo: A Star Wars Story May 31, 2018

Larry Morgan and writer/producer/showrunner Trey Callaway team up like the Han & Chewie of podcasting to break down "Solo: A Star Wars Story." Plus...Trey gets to do some belated "Avengers: Infinity War" bashing in a Bonus Super Snarky Segment.

SnarkMonkey #58 - Richard Blade May 17, 2018

Richard Blade (KROQ, SiriusXM) comes in the Monkey Cage to talk about how Dick Shepherd, from a quaint coastal town in England, became the radio/TV/film personality we know today. We talk musical influences, European adventures, and his favorite movies all time (and get ready for a pretty in-depth dissertation on the 1964 epic "Zulu" and the Battle of Rorke's Drift. Richard's book "World In My Eyes" is available now on Amazon and everywhere books are sold. Get more info at richardblade.com, follow him on Twitter @richardblade 1a

SnarkMonkey Review - Avengers: Infinity Snark Apr 30, 2018

SNARKVENGERS ASSEMBLE! The biggest movie in the world is getting the full-on nerd post-mortem, and we are no different. Join Monkey-in-Chief Larry Morgan along with Jason E. Kelley, Eric Schwartz and Chris "The McGahan" McGahan as give the film our rating, the need-to-pee test, The Good, The Not-So-Good, and some wild speculation about what the hell is gonna happen in the NEXT chapter. Agree? Disagree? Have better/different theories? Let us know in comments here, on Twitter @TheSnarkMonkey or on the SnarkMonkey Facebook page.

***SPOILERS!!!*** at about the 20 minute mark.

SnarkMonkey #57 - Karen Mason / "Love Never Dies" Apr 20, 2018

Karen Mason is a star of on-and-off Broadway, a recording artist and cabaret performer of renown, and currently can be seen as Madame Giry in the touring production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Love Never Dies"...the sequel to "The Phantom of the Opera."

Karen does the big pitch on why we need that sequel...why I should see it...and we delve into the history of a creative "freak" who knew early on that singing and performing in front of an audience was where she was meant to be. Plus we're joined by guest Lara Scott who has seen the show and shares her thoughts.

"Love Never Dies" is currently at the Pantages theater in Los Angeles (through April 22, 2018) and moves to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa (April 24-May 5) and will continue touring the country; get more info and tickets here and learn more about Karen and her latest collection of music "It's About Time" at karenmason.com

SnarkMonkey Review - Black Panther: Snarkanda Forever!!! Feb 23, 2018

Now that the hit movie Marvel's Black Panther has been in theaters for a week - and breaking all sorts of box office records - is it really living up to the hype? This group of snarky nerds let you know, as writer/producer Trey Callaway, actor/writer/etc. Jason E. Kelley, producer/writer Michael Ambers, and actor/comic enthusiast Chris McGahan join SnarkMaster General Larry Morgan in the MonkeyCage to break it down. Agree? Disagree? Let us know in comments below, on Twitter @TheSnarkMonkey, or on the SnarkMonkey Facebook page...

SnarkMonkey #56 - No Small Children Apr 21, 2017

SnarkMonkey returns with a very cool, rockin' ep with the band No Small Children! If you happened to stay through to the end credits of this past summer's Ghostbusters reboot (see previous Snarkisode with director Paul Feig) you heard a cover of the original Ray Parker, Jr. theme covered by these three ladies. As is says on their website - "rockin' chicks by night, school teachers by day." Yep...they actually do teach at the same school in Southern California, but the seeds of the trio were planted during recess and...well...just listen.

Lisa, Nicola & Joanie will be using their summer break to travel around the country and play their particular brand of pop-y, punk-ish, energized rock while, mostly likely, wearing matching dresses. It's what they do.

Super-inspiring and super-fun, enjoy NO SMALL CHILDREN! -LM

Get more info about NSC and where they'll be playing on their website - follow them on Facebook or Twitter @NoSmallChildren - and check out the latest single "Radio" as well as some of their videos below...

RADIO by No Small Children

SnarkMonkey Review - Rogue One: A Snark Wars Story Dec 18, 2016

It's become an annual holiday tradition - the gathering of friends, family & Snarkers to geek out on the latest addition to the Star Wars canon. A stellar group of manboys relaunch the group SnarkCast for a round table discussion (it's actually more oblong-ish) of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. I'm joined by writer/producer Trey Callaway (CSI: New York and the forthcoming Fox series A.P.B.), entertainment reporter Mark S. Allen (Extra Butter on ABC-TV), musician/actor Alexander Morgan (album For The King available on iTunes/Spotify) and actor Jason E. Kelley (Murder In The First and every other commercial on TV).

Part 1 of the podcast is SPOILER FREE - Part 2 definitely contains SPOILERS (we give you plenty of warning to pause, but come back to it and see how your opinion lines up with ours) - and in Part 3 we talk about the things that got our monkey going in 2016 and what we look forward to pop culture-wise in 2017.

The Snark Is Back, monkeys! And so much more to come in the new year.

Follow SnarkMonkey on Twitter @TheSnarkMonkey and on Facebook

Follow Larry Morgan on Twitter @Larry_Morgan and on Instagram

Follow Trey Callaway on Twitter @TreyCallaway and watch A.P.B. on FOX-TV, premiering February 6th! (trailer below)

Follow Mark S. Allen on Twitter @tvmarksallen and on Facebook and watch Mark talk Rogue On on his movie show Extra Butter here

Follow Alexander Morgan on Twitter @amorganmusic and on Instagram and check out his music, where he's playing live, and get updates on new tunes in 2017 at alexandermorganmusic.com

Follow Jason E. Kelley on Twitter @jkelley72 and he's got something cool coming up, he just can't tell us about it yet.

#55 - Kari Wahlgren Jul 29, 2016

Who does Fooly Cooly's Haruko, Final Fantasy XII's Ashe, Star Wars: The Clone Wars' Letta, Rick and Morty's Jessica, and Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!'s Nova have in common? Also Kagami in Lucky Star, Tigress in Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, Saber in Fate/Zero, Suzy in Phineas and Ferb, Chloe in The Fairly OddParents...well, this could go on for a while. It's THIS lady!

Kari Wahlgren is (or should be) well-known as the voice of every female character you've ever loved in anime, video games and animated series ever. It's an Over The Rainbow kind of story (Kansas to Hollywood...follow my analogy here) after establishing herself onstage in regional theater in her home state. But it started even earlier when she somehow had an innate knowledge of how voice acting worked, that there were actual people behind these imaginary characters, and fulfilled her destiny as a constantly-working professional voice actor (as well as on-screen on occasion.)

Kari is funny, candid, often inappropriately sarcastic (her dark streak DOES make an appearance) and gives some inspirational and practical insight into what is a very specific, odd, and often rewarding aspect of the entertainment biz. She also debuts the "Kari Fart." Enjoy! -LM

Follow Kari on Twitter @KariWahlgren - kari_wahlgren on Instagram - and check out kariwahlgren.net

#54 - Paul Feig Jul 14, 2016

Photo credit: Larry Horricks

Director Paul Feig has been battling the internet naysayers for months, ever since his reboot of Ghostbusters was announced. That reaction was fueled even further when his all-female cast was revealed and it has continued through the release of the film's trailers right up to its release weekend.

In our candid conversation we touch on how he has handled this outpouring of negativity, why he was hesitant to take on the project in the first place, and what convinced him he was the one to ultimately try a fresh, new take.

But, we also delve into his past - before the initial success of Freaks & Geeks and well before his worldwide hits Bridesmaids, The Heat & Spy - and try to glean where he honed his chops and why he was tagged by Hollywood as the go-to guy to direct women in comedy.

Paul Feig pointing at Larry Morgan's bow tie...hilarity ensues...

Part of that journey is reminiscing a bit about the heady days of USC's 80s-era film school environment with host Larry Morgan (hey...that's ME, writing about myself in the third person! Cool...)

Meanwhile the internet troll collective may have to slink back into their mom's basements and shut the hell up as the new-era GB is garnering largely positive reviews (as of this writing a 76% "fresh" rating from Rotten Tomatoes) and looks to make a pretty decent impact on the weekend box office.

Listen before you judge...then go see it anyway, ya big dummy...and enjoy this very special, big-time Hollywood edition of SnarkMonkey.

You can follow Paul on Twitter @paulfeig

Here's some collateral 'stuff' we reference in our conversation about Cinema 466 at USC...

#53 - Brad Williams Jul 07, 2016

Stand-up comic Brad Williams is super funny, not particularly politically correct, really smart and, oh yeah, he's a dwarf. Brad has successfully avoided using his size as a gimmick and, instead, has found a way to be unique, relatable and even inspiring.

We get into some serious nitty-gritty of comedy including how edgy material doesn't necessarily have to be offensive, how being on stage means being in complete control, and how being smaller than average doesn't define his material (or him).

We also hear about his brief stint in radio, about one of the several (!) times he's been mugged, and even touch on his relationship with the much-maligned Carlos Mencia.

You've probably seen Brad perform, but if you haven't seen his latest Showtime special Daddy Issues you gotta check it out.

Follow Brad on Twitter @funnybrad, like him on Facebook here and check out where Brad will be performing near you at bradwilliamscomedy.com.

#52 - Ian Bagg Jun 17, 2016

Ian Bagg has been a working comedian for some time now, but got a little bump in exposure after getting into the top 5 of last year's Last Comic Standing. So...who is this Ian Bagg fellow? What's his deal? Why does he talk kinda funny, eh? Well...turns out he's Canadian and grew up in an isolated area of British Columbia, worked in a gold mine (a literal gold mine) and was on the verge of studying Blasting Engineering when he instead decided to take the much more dangerous route of telling jokes on stage in front of people.

Ian's story starts out sounding a little like maybe David Lynch wrote it, but being of hearty Canuck stock and apparently with no fear, Ian's path includes a wild swing across North America from honing his skills in Vancouver, surviving in a youth hostel in New York, and finally figuring out where it's warm ALL the time after moving to Los Angeles.

We cover a lotta ground in this hour-plus, including a little hockey talk, why Ian's style of comedy can throw some audiences off,what the hell Weetabix is (see below) and there's a generous dose of conversation about monkeys. You'll see.

Ian Bagg is performing at the Irvine Improv this weekend (6/16-19) where he will be recording his as-yet-untitled special. Get more tour info on Ian's website ianbagg.com, follow Ian on Twitter @IanBagg and like his Facebook page here.

#51 - Christopher Titus Jun 09, 2016

Christopher Titus is probably best known for his half-hour show Titus which aired on FOX-TV between 2000-2002. but he's been an established stand-up doing dark, edgy, personal storytelling on stage for years. It was his one-man show Norman Rockwell is Bleeding - which dealt with being "raised by a raging alcoholic and a mentally ill mother" - that not only set him on a different path with his material, but got him the TV deal. The show was critically acclaimed and performed relatively well, but a fateful meeting with the network president resulted in cancellation and those wounds have yet to completely heal.

Titus gets deep into the nuts-and-bolts of his comedy path, including how he evolved on stage, and why every comic needs to discover how to "spew your pure truth." We also talk Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Peter Farrelly and why he is such a huge Prince fan. No...really...a HUGE Prince fan.

Chris Titus is at the Brea Improv as of this posting (June 9-11, 2016) and will be filming his special "Born With a Defect" on July 9th at the Central Theatre in Escondido. For more tour dates go here. Check out Titus Podcast here, on iTunes or Podbay.. (They'll be live at Flappers in Burbank on August 16th!)

Follow him on Twitter @TitusNation; like his Facebook page; and get all the info you need at christophertitus.com.

Here's a teaser for his upcoming film "Special Unit"...

#50 - Jimmy Pardo May 27, 2016

Jimmy is a long-time standing-up comedian (his words) who would have a similar story to many successful comics with one big exception - as a pioneer (my words) in the podcast world, Jimmy started Never Not Funny in 2006 when people had no idea what the hell what that was. Now ten years later it is one of the most downloaded comedy podcasts with a loyal following who actually pay good, American dollars to listen AND watch on video as Players Club members.

Hear Jimmy's journey from the rough-and-tumble streets of Chicago's South Side to a brief flirtation with an acting school in Pasadena - along with stints working in a record store, working in the record business - all the while honing his comedy stylings on club stages everywhere.

We cover his affection for radio, his passion for the band Chicago, his love of music and much, much more. A fast-moving, super-fun episode...enjoy!

Find out where Jimmy will be in your area on his website, jimmypardo.com - if you aren't already hooked, check out his podcast Never Not Funny at pardcast.com (or on iTunes...duh) and you can follow him on Twitter @jimmypardo or Facebook here.

#49 - Kira Soltanovich May 20, 2016

Kira is a super funny comedian, TV personality, mom and wife whose stand-up special You Did This To Me - which she did while 7 months pregnant! - is now streaming on the world wide web and is great! Despite having a nine-month-old baby who still isn't sleeping all night, Kira comes in to the MonkeyCage guns-a-blazin' to catch us up on life after Baby #2. We also get some backstory from her early life as a Russian refugee, as a teenager in San Francisco, as a Jew that may or may not have horns, and how her 5-year-old is possibly a spy from another dimension...and much, much more. Kira totally brings the Snark, so hang on to something...

Kira's stand-up special You Did This To Me is available on Amazon Instant Video and iTunes and almost anywhere you can stream funny stuff. Plus Kira can be seen in the new GSN game show WInsanity hosted by Donald Faison starting June 9th.

Follow Kira on Twitter @kiracomedy - on Facebook here - check out her website at kiracomedy.com and watch her fascinating (...ahem...) jogging adventures on Periscope.

#48 - Nina Tassler May 13, 2016

Nina Tassler is best known as the former President and then Chairman of CBS Entertainment, shepherding the network to great success and high ratings with hits like the CSi franchise, How I Met Your Mother, The Good Wife, Mom and many others.

We knew Nina loved monkeys!

No longer holding that particular lofty position (but still very much involved in the industry) she has now released a book as a gesture for her daughter but also available to the world called "What I Told My Daughter: Lessons from Leaders on Raising the Next Generation of Empowered Women." A self-proclaimed feminist, Nina was raised in New York state by progressive-minded parents who ran summer camps - she gained a love for theater after seeing shows on Broadway - studied at Boston University - and thus began her particular circuitous route to becoming one of the most powerful and successful television executives ever. Oh...and it just so happens that she is a woman.

Our conversation is inspiring for anyone who aspires to be creative, and also a must-listen for any young women who struggles with their place and identity in the modern world.

What I Told My Daughter from Simon & Schuster is available now wherever books are sold. For more information go here.

#47 - Ratchet &...Qwark? James Arnold Taylor and Jim Ward Apr 28, 2016

The game Ratchet & Clank was introduced in 2002 followed by multiple releases over the years and now, the Ratchet & Clank movie is (finally) in theaters in 2016! And two of the voice actors who have been part of the R&C universe for that loooong journey enter the MonkeyCage to talk about how they created their characters, what other familiar voices they're identified with, and give some practical advice and guidance to aspiring voice actors. There's also a lot of silliness and tomfoolery and Paul Giamatti fighting with Paul Giamatti.

Ratchet & Clank is in theaters now!

James Arnold Taylor (Ratchet) returns to SnarkMonkey (hear his amazing personal story in SnarkMonkey #1) and can be seen, heard, followed and stalked on Twitter @JATactor, on Facebook here, on his website and his YouTube channel. (See some of James' behind-the-scenes footage of our podcast session, below...)

Jim Ward (Captain Qwark) is on Twitter @JimWardVoices and Facebook here and can be heard as a lot of different people on The Stephanie Miller Show.

#46 - Barnet Kellman Apr 22, 2016

Barnet Kellman is most closely associated with being part of the creative team of the groundbreaking TV series Murphy Brown directing every episode of the first three seasons of the series (in addition to the series finale.) But he's done so much more and his journey to get there included displaying pure chutzpah at Colgate University to working in small theaters in daytime drama in New York to becoming a go-to name in Hollywood for directing TV pilots; a first episode that (presumably) sets the template for what is to come. (And, to his credit, those pilots included Mad About You, Suddenly Susan, The George Lopez Show and many others.) In fact, we get some insight into what can make a television pilot special enough that viewers will want to spend seasons/years with the people in that world.

Now he's imparting much of this wisdom to the young, creative minds of tomorrow as a Professor of Cinematic Arts at USC, as well as going back to his roots in the theater this summer directing Judith Ivey and Estelle Parsons in Israel Horovitz's play "Out of the Mouths of Babes" Off-Broadway at the Cherry Lane Theater.

A smart, funny, talented man - great storyteller - fantastic conversation - enjoy Barnet Kellman!

Also, indulge me for a few minutes as I share a few words about Prince and seeing him live in 1981 opening for The Rolling Stones. Things did not go well for him that day - but it obviously didn't seem to hold him back any. -LM

Revisiting RUSH HOUR with Trey Callaway Mar 31, 2016

We revisit, and update, our conversation with Trey Callaway as his show Rush Hour debuts TONIGHT on CBS...

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Writer/Producer Trey Callaway comes into the MonkeyCage with some good talk about being a working creative type in Hollywood - and, wow, what a wide range of stuff this guy has done; a Teen Slasher Movie (the script for I Still Know What You Did Last Summer), a Sci-Fi Medical Drama (Mercy Point), a Police Procedural (CSI: New York), an Action-Adventure Drama (Revolution) and the series that just had its untimely finale after one season, The Messengers. He's also a professor at the USC School of Cinematic Arts imparting his wisdom to young creative minds.

Trey's journey has taken lots of interesting twists and turns; coming out of radio, of all things, in his hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma where he was inspired by Star Wars to the training ground of USC's film school, to a short-lived career in advertising and being a part of the Corman B-movie canon.

We cover a lot of ground in this hour-plus conversation, but you'll get some great insight into the value of seeking variety in your creative life and Trey's enthusiasm for how he approaches his work (and life) is inspiring and infectious.

He also makes a pretty darn good pitch for why the new series he's working on - the TV reboot of the Rush Hour film series on CBS - will be worth watching.

Enjoy! -LM

You can follow Trey on Twitter @TreyCallaway

#45 - Lisa Yee Mar 04, 2016

Lisa Yee is a popular writer of Young Adult fiction (including Millicent Min, Girl Genius. The Kidney Hypothetical: Or How to Ruin Your Life in Seven Days and many others) as well as the American Girl, 2016 Girl of the Year books. Lisa's admitted geekiness has served her well with the release this week of the first DC Super Hero Girls novel, Wonder Woman at Super Hero High.

An early love for Batman (specifically a childhood crush on Robin) made her well-suited to enter the world of super heroes - but the path there is a circuitous one, including an early inclination to study law.

And even once the decision was made to become a writer, it took years of writing copy, commercials, slogans and even Red Lobster menus (not kidding) before a touch of luck (and wizardry) set Lisa on her creative way...

You can learn more about Lisa on her website LisaYee.com and follow her on Twitter @LisaYee1

Learn more about the DC Super Hero Girls here and the American Girl 2016 Girl of the Year books here.

#44 - Phil Hendrie Feb 26, 2016

Phil Hendrie is a brilliant maniac who has carved out a very unique space in the world of entertainment - for years as a terrestrial broadcaster and now a podcaster - creating an entire universe of characters that all come from one brain and out one mouth hole. (He's a pretty accomplished voice and on-screen actor, too.)

Part Jonathan Winters, part Robin Williams, part insane person, Phil Hendrie took a childhood passion for local radio which became a transient career and then became...well, something totally different.

Big comedy, subtle commentary and true humanity shine forth in Phil's work which is unlike anything else being created these days. Take a listen to how this wonderful world was borne as well as Phil (and my) take on the past, present and future of traditional radio and how technology is opening the way for this to be a Wild West of Creativity.

Phil's smart, really funny, tells a great story...it's all good. Enjoy! -LM

Check out The World of Phil Hendrie at philhendrieshow.com - follow Phil on Twitter @realphilhendrie - and on Facebook here.

#43 - Sarah Tiana Feb 05, 2016

Sarah Tiana is a very funny comedian who had a huge 2015; multiple appearances on @midnight on Comedy Central, a great gig on a CMT show, opening for arena acts like Brad Paisley and Aretha Franklin while still going up in clubs across the country constantly, plus gaining a reputation as a great joke writer and Roast Mistress. Girl's on a roll, yo.

It was not an overnight process. Coming from a small town in Northern Georgia Sarah wasn't even thinking about being a comic when she made a move to L.A. in her 20s and started the long, laborious process of standing up in front of strangers on a crappy stage and telling jokes.

This is one of those great stories of discovery, tenacity and what it means to be fearless when all the odds seem against you. And notice how I didn't qualify Sarah as a "female" comedian...we talk about the bias of being a woman in a male-dominated form, and how she used that to her advantage.

Sarah in the MonkeyCage rockin' the Waffle House gear...

We also take a quick tour of her hometown Calhoun, Georgia, talk Waffle House gear, accents and breakdown the mechanics of a really great insult that won't get you punched in the face.

Check out where Sarah is performing near you on her website, sarahtiana.com

Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahTiana or on Facebook here

#42 - Gary Kroeger RETURNS Jan 30, 2016

It's a rare repeat appearance from a previous SnarkMonkey guest - SNL cast alum, actor, host, advertising exec and congressional hopeful Gary Kroeger is BACK in the MonkeyCage just in time for the Iowa caucus hootenany (which just so happens to be his home state and, yes, they DO call it a hootenany. I mean...it's Iowa...)

In our last conversation (10/28/13) we determined that Gary was politically outspoken, but running for office wasn't necessarily in the cards. Well, things have obviously changed and now Gary is running for the hotly contested Democratic nomination for Iowa’s 1st District House seat. Gary gives us some real insight into the political process - what it takes to run and win - and shares his very candid viewpoint on what we really need in government now. Agree or disagree, you can't help but admire his passion and commitment.

SNL 40th Anniversary - McCartney, Carvey, Crystal...Kroeger!

But, we also cover his adventures backstage and in the audience at SNL's much-ballyhooed 40th anniversary show (where he had an awesome-yet-awkward moment with Paul McCartney.)

And a lot more...

Check out Gary's congressional site at garyforcongress.com and read his writing on the socio-political blog garyhasissues.com and follow Gary on Twitter @KroegerIA01

The Snark Awakens Dec 19, 2015

The night started with such promise for the MonkeyDad and his young padawan...

The long-awaited, much-anticipated, heavily-hyped return of...SNARKMONKEY...is here! And no better time than now to resurface with an extensive conversation about a little movie called; Star Wars: The Force Awakens - because you don't have enough white, nerdy males talking about Star Wars in your life. Join Matt Johnson, Mike Ambers, Alexander Morgan and me for an extensive, geeky, nitty-gritty breakdown of J.J. Abrams, new characters, old characters, The Force, insta-bread and other MAJOR SPOILERS!!!!!! ***Seriously - if you have not seen SW: TFA and plan on it, DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS until afterwards. Then we also do some major conjecture and relate some rumors associated with future chapters of the saga. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! And then leave comments about how wrong we are.*** You will also hear about the death-defying and harrowing adventure that Monkey-In-Chief Larry Morgan and his Monkey Offspring had in the attempt to attend the movie opening night. It is not for the faint of heart...

Hard tickets were acquired and celebratory beers were consumed...

Like Matt Johnson's New Frequency page on Facebook here

Follow Mike Ambers' Blind Reviews on Twitter @blindreviews

Follow Alexander Morgan @AlexMorganMusic and listen to his new album "For The King" now on iTunes here

Nerdy discussion ensued...

And that's when the descent into movie-going hell began....

#41 - Jerry Rocha Oct 17, 2015

photo courtesy Arsonhouse Entertainment

Comedian Jerry Rocha's stand-up special "Gabriel Iglesias Presents: The Gentleman Jerry Rocha" airs TONIGHT (10/17/15) on Fuse (check your local listings) and, hopefully, will air again or be available on-demand or streaming somewhere. However you see him, check out this terrific comic's work and see why he's being touted as one of the hottest up-and-comers on the scene.

Jerry and I get in-depth about his Texas upbringing, being Latino in a diverse neighborhood, how he found his funny via Eddie Murphy, Dana Carvey, Paul Rodriguez and the late Mike DeStefano and how big an influence "Weird Al", Hulk Hogan, Star Wars, his 5th grade teacher and Optimus Prime had on him.

It'll all make sense...trust me. Fast, funny, dark but lovable - this is a true gentleman, Jerry Rocha. Enjoy! -LM

Get more info at jerryrochacomedy.com; follow Jerry on Twitter @rochacomedy

#40 - Michael Lehmann Oct 11, 2015

Director Michael Lehmann immediately made a name for himself with his feature-length debut in Hollywood - the dark, quirky, decade-defining Heathers in 1988. Then three years later he also helmed the much-maligned Bruce Willis vehicle Hudson Hawk. It was a one-two Hollywood Punch, and could have been a high-profile Fall From Grace, but instead Michael persevered and his particular and unique directorial vision graced a few more box office efforts and a ton of episodic television. (Like what? Like...oh, The Larry Sanders Show, The Comeback, Big Love, Nurse Jackie, The Big C, Bored To Death, American Horror Story, Dexter, True Blood, Californication...basically any good show you've ever seen, ever, he's had a hand in.)

Most recently Michael has been involved with the HBO series The Brink and the Patrick Stewart series on Starz, Blunt Talk. And, who knows, he may have directed another twenty episodes of something new since I had this conversation with him two days ago.

The high points of Michael's path include growing up with eclectic cinema tastes and doing community radio at KPOO in the San Francisco Bay Area to studying art at Columbia in New York and philosophy in Germany to being the receptionist at Zoetrope Studios (via Francis Ford Coppola's babysitters) to pushing boundaries of convention at USC's cinema championing something called Beaver Gets a Boner...and beyond.

Michael is gracious, intelligent, quietly passionate and has unique insight into this so-called "Golden Age of Television" as he just happened to transition into the small-screen world with uniquely fortuitous timing, even if it included some personal resistance.

Enjoy! -LM

Follow Michael on Twitter @docstrangelove

#39 - Martha Davis of The Motels Sep 21, 2015

The band The Motels was perfectly suited for the New Wave music scene in the late 70s, as well as visually perfect for the MTV era a few years later. With hits like "Only the Lonely" and "Suddenly Last Summer" they secured enough of a following to put them on the road and in the studio for years to come. But the path to that success was by no means overnight or easy - especially for the voice, chief songwriter and, ostensibly, the face of the band - Martha Davis.

Martha comes in to the MonkeyCage to share her remarkable journey in the music business at the same time she is celebrating the release of a live concert film "The Motels Live at the Whisky a GoGo 50th Anniversary" which will premiere tonight (9/21/2015) at the Regent Theatre in downtown Los Angeles (tickets still available as of this posting). The red carpet starts at 8pm, screening shortly thereafter, there will be a Q&A session with Martha, Emmy winning cinematographer Roy H. Wagner and director Denise Faye, the choreographer of "Burlesque" and the co-director of Cher's current tour. (And while you're downtown, check out Beelman's Pub, as they have been a very kind sponsor for this event.)

The DVD and Blu ray of "The Motels Live at the Whisky a GoGo 50th Anniversary" will be released nationwide on Oct 23.

Thanks, also, to Nicholas Johns, a current member of The Motels lineup, for giving us his perspective as well!

Follow Martha and The Motels on Twitter; @TheMotels on Facebook here and on their website themotels.com

#38 - Jack Epps, Jr. Sep 19, 2015

Jack Epps had a hand in writing some very big hit movies in the 80s (Top Gun, Legal Eagles, The Secret of My Succe$s, Turner & Hooch) but getting those hits involved taking quite a few swings and dealing with quite a few misses. Jack talks about the tenacity and discipline it takes to be a screenwriter, including setting a high standard for your own work and the knowledge, going in, that your first draft is probably gonna suck. And that's okay. We also delve into the dynamic of writing with a partner, how television has seen a resurgence, and there's an Ethel Merman reference. (You have to listen.)

Jack is now teaching his craft at the USC School of Cinematic Arts and his forthcoming book Screenwriting is Rewriting will cover similar ground and will be required reading for anyone who wants to know what it really takes to get your amazing movie (or TV) idea into shape for mass consumption. (Hint: your butt is involved. You have to listen.)

Also, hello to fellow podcasters and attendees of the 2015 Los Angeles Podcast Festival - thanks for checking us out here in the MonkeyCage. Enjoy! -LM

#37 - UCB/The Smokes (Billy Merritt, Joe Wengert & Jim Woods) Sep 03, 2015

Three great improvisers from L.A.'s Upright Citizens Brigade sit down and get serious about funny stuff. Billy Merritt, Joe Wengert and Jim Woods come from different parts of the country, different backgrounds and different sensibilities but came together when the New York-based UCB founders started a theater on the West Coast to be members of one of the mainstay teams/shows known as The Smokes as well as several others. All three have also taught the school curriculum and coached teams while watching the UCB become a pipeline for talent into the entertainment industry.

We talk about how improv, and UCB in particular, has transformed the current comedic paradigm...if there is such a thing. I don't know, I just made that up and it sounded pretty awesome. Oh, and Billy gets a gold star for bringing monkey facts. Yay! -LM

Follow Billy and Joe on Twitter here; @BillyMerritt @joewengert

UPDATE - Alan Wenkus/Straight Outta Compton Aug 14, 2015

We catch up with a previous SnarkMonkey guest to get an update on his life now that Straight Outta Compton has made it into theaters as well as revisit our conversation from back in April on his circuitous path through showbiz...

---

One of the writers of the NWA biopic, Straight Outta Compton, Alan Wenkus has taken a circuitous path from the comedy clubs of New England, a wacky 80s teen comedy starring a young Johnny Depp, morning radio in New York, writing syndicated comedy bits in the Valley, and now being a big part of a major Hollywood release. Hear how tenacity, rolling with the punches and keeping your sense of humor (at all costs) can pay off in the long run. AND we'll figure out how one of the most Caucasian guys you ever met could write about one of the most groundbreaking rap bands ever. -LM

Follow Alan on Twitter @alanwenkus

#36 - Yakov Smirnoff Aug 07, 2015

Yakov Smirnoff came to the United States from Russia in the 70s and, landing in Los Angeles, literally lived at The Comedy Store in Hollywood where he began to develop his stand-up act. Rocketing to fame in the 80s Yakov was everywhere - The Tonight Show, in movies, his own sitcom and in commercials. But with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the cooling of the Cold War, Yakov's Russian-in-America act and persona began to lose its relevance and impact.

In the process of reinventing himself a faltering marriage drove him to learn more - about love, laughter and how those things go hand-in-hand. Yakov's journey includes revitalization in, of all places, Branson, Missouri, getting a degree from an Ivy League school, becoming a professor and now regularly going up at his old "home" The Comedy Store and bringing a new act and new perspective to appreciative audiences.

To hear more about his early years a great companion piece to this podcast would be Marc Maron's WTF conversation with Yakov, which you can get here as a subscriber, or listen on YouTube here.

Yakov will be appearing at The Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills on August 16th, as well as heading back to his 2000 seat theater in Branson in late September through early December, and will be shooting a PBS special, "Happily Ever Laughter" to air in early 2016.

Get more info about Yakov and his performing schedule at Yakov.com and you can follow him on Twitter @yakov_smirnoff

Enjoy! -LM

Yakov was everywhere in the mid-80s...even in a Miller Lite commercial...

#35 - Spandau Ballet Jul 31, 2015

For American audiences the 80s band Spandau Ballet seemingly came out of nowhere, but in the U.K. they had achieved a reputation for marrying soulful, beat-driven music with a sense of fashion and style as part of the New Romantics scene. Thanks largely to MTV, American audiences - and the rest of the world - embraced their massive hits "True" and "Gold" which sent them on tour around the world, including a high-profile spot on stage at Live Aid in 1985. But tension began to creep in. Their 1989 album Heart Like A Sky was a disappointment. Chief songwriter/guitarist Gary Kemp and his brother, bass player Martin Kemp, went off to shoot a high-profile film based on the real-life British gangsters The Krays. The band called it quits.

Chatting with Gary Kemp, John Keeble

Years later a court case over royalties drove an even bigger wedge between them. But in 2009 all five members put aside their differences and, after almost twenty years, re-formed to make new music and go on tour.

with John Keeble, Steve Norman

Their fascinating journey from the earliest days coming out of a punk and disco club scene in London in the late 70s to feeling stronger than ever about their music as they each reach their mid-50s is documented in the fascinating film Soul Boys Of The Western World.

Here, Gary Kemp, drummer John Keeble and multi-instrumentalist Steve Norman (the man responsible for that sweet sax solo in "True") sit down to reminisce and look forward. Enjoy! -LM

Go to SpandauBallet.com - follow them on Twitter @SpandauBallet - Like 'em on Facebook

Above, trailer for the excellent doc about the band Soul Boys of the Western World and, below, my personal fave Spandau song... "Gold"

We reference in the podcast a new film starring Tom Hardy as the infamous British gangsters, but in 1991 it was Gary and Martin Kemp who portrayed The Krays in this excellent film...

#34 - Trey Callaway Jul 25, 2015

Writer/Producer Trey Callaway comes into the MonkeyCage with some good talk about being a working creative type in Hollywood - and, wow, what a wide range of stuff this guy has done; a Teen Slasher Movie (the script for I Still Know What You Did Last Summer), a Sci-Fi Medical Drama (Mercy Point), a Police Procedural (CSI: New York), an Action-Adventure Drama (Revolution) and the series that just had its untimely finale after one season, The Messengers. He's also a professor at the USC School of Cinematic Arts imparting his wisdom to young creative minds.

Trey's journey has taken lots of interesting twists and turns; coming out of radio, of all things, in his hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma where he was inspired by Star Wars to the training ground of USC's film school, to a short-lived career in advertising and being a part of the Corman B-movie canon.

We cover a lot of ground in this hour-plus conversation, but you'll get some great insight into the value of seeking variety in your creative life and Trey's enthusiasm for how he approaches his work (and life) is inspiring and infectious.

He also makes a pretty darn good pitch for why the new series he's working on - the TV reboot of the Rush Hour film series on CBS - will be worth watching.

Enjoy! -LM

You can follow Trey on Twitter @TreyCallaway

#33 - David Isaacs Jul 16, 2015

David Isaacs is a writer and producer who was part of two of the most iconic television sitcoms of all time (M*A*S*H*, Cheers) as well as having a hand in scripts for shows like Frasier, Becker, Wings, Mad Men and many others - a lot of those scripts with partner (and previous SnarkMonkey guest) Ken Levine.

As a professor at the USC School of Cinematic Arts he helped establish a Comedy Initiative and imparts his knowledge and wisdom to a new generation of hopefuls looking to break into comedy writing for television.

We talk about how he adapted to a move from New York to Florida as a boy, how he and writing partner Levine found each other after growing up on opposite coasts, how Woody Allen inspired his creative thinking, plus we get pretty down, dirty and nerdy picking apart Cheers (in a good way.)

David gives great insight, instruction and inside info on what it takes to be serious about being funny. Enjoy! -LM

#32 - Jeff Altman Jul 03, 2015

Jeff Altman is a stand-up comedian and actor who has been seen on television for years - especially through the late 70s into the early 90s - and most notably on Late Night and then The Late Show with his close friend David Letterman.

Jeff talks about his start in comedy via The Comedy Store when it was just in its infancy, his passion for magic and sleight-of-hand, his close friendship with Letterman, the time he turned down Johnny Carson and The Tonight Show...and, yes...the notoriously bad 70s variety show known as Pink Lady & Jeff. And we find out, once and for all, was his dad really a guy who would get so mad he'd threaten to "flip you like a cheese omelette."

Take a fascinating journey through the days of the stand-up comedy explosion with the fun, funny and magical Jeff Altman. Enjoy! -LM

Vintage Jeff Altman with his buddy Dave from 1987

This is painful - but fascinating. The short-lived NBC variety show, Pink Lady & Jeff. It's not Jeff's fault...it's really not...

#31 - Brad Hall Jun 21, 2015

Brad Hall is an actor/writer/producer/director, alumnus of SNL, part-time rock 'n' roller and husband to some lady named Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Hear how he went from being the son of an Episcopal priest in sunny Santa Barbara to the comedy hotbed and serious theater scene of Chicago to then be plugged into the cast of Saturday Night Live (at the high-profile Weekend Update desk, no less.)

After two rocky seasons there he went on to work mostly behind the scenes in film and television, including shows like the critically-acclaimed Brooklyn Bridge and the "Must See TV"-era The Single Guy.

Brad's journey in entertainment has highs and lows and he tells his story with great insight, humor...and MUSIC! The first SnarkMonkey guest to perform live, Brad breaks out the guitar to play his hit viral tune "Don't Be An Asshole" and more. (He also address the rumor that his wife is a billionaire heiress. SPOILER ALERT: Not true.) Enjoy! -LM

Here's the SNL MTV Video parody we reference: "Look At Our Video"

Here's Brad manning the SNL National Phone-In Democratic Primary Desk

See more about the documentary Generosity of Eye here.

And here's Brad's performance of his song filled with good advice to seniors at Williston Northampton School in Easthampton, Mass.

#30 - Michael Reagan Jun 15, 2015

As the adopted son of Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman, he grew up as part of Hollywood Royalty, but Michael Reagan's story is much more than just that. Getting no leg up from him famous father, Michael found himself knocking around in a series of jobs and occupations until he landed in radio in the 90s which led to the nationally syndicated Michael Reagan Show.

I have a frank talk with Michael about the not-so-glamorous side of growing up amongst the stars in Beverly Hills, the struggle to find his own identity, the media that tends to hijack the name of his father, and much more.

Michael is currently active in a number of causes, including the Normandy Museum, the Checkpoint Charlie Museum and awarding USS Ronald Reagan Scholarships as part of The Reagan Legacy Foundation. Learn more on their website here.

Follow Michael on Twitter @ReaganWorld

#29 - Jeff Greenstein Jun 06, 2015

Jeff is a successful writer, producer and director who has had a major hand in shows like, oh, I don't know, maybe you've heard of a little something called Friends? Will & Grace, hmmm? Desperate Housewives, anybody? And most recently, as a director, a big part of the multi-cam hit Mom.

But Jeff's path to showbiz is unique in that, early on, he had zero inclination to be in the creative arts. So how did an Atlanta-born computer science nerd-to-be end up going to college in Boston to major in Film and Dance, land in Hollywood writing for television and being a part of some of the most-watched ("Must See") TV of all time?

Well, you have to listen, dammit, to get that answer. Jeff's take on being open to adventure, trying new experiences, learning everything you can about anything/everything is inspiring, hilarious...and exhausting - only because his exuberance and lust for life makes me feel like a lazy, good-for-nuthin' slug.

There's a LOT to dig into here; Jeff is warm, open, super-ultra-smart and funny as hell. (And, yes, there's a monkey. And Jennifer Aniston. And Italian Cinema references.) Enjoy! -LM

Tribute to David Letterman May 20, 2015

Me, Dave (and others) at KHOU 11 Houston, 1993

As David Letterman's final Late Show airs tonight (5/20) and Dave, presumably, heads off into the Montana sunset, it's truly the end of an era. We celebrate, reflect and pay tribute to the man with this special episode of SnarkMonkey with guests who have, in some way, been impacted by Letterman in very different ways. Long-time friend and fellow comedian Jeff Altman reflects on their relationship and how much Dave has done for him; Mark Jonathan Davis has had his own encounters over the years, but actually appeared on the Ed Sullivan Theatre stage doing a Stupid Human Trick; Crystal Zevon the former wife of musician Warren Zevon - the only guest to ever have an entire episode of The Late Show to himself; and the final word, literally, comes from the voice of Worldwide Pants himself, Jay Gardner.

In addition, Monkey-In-Chief Larry Morgan shameless shares his own thoughts and experiences in watching, meeting and enjoying Dave over the years. Hope you enjoy.

#28 - Peter Segal May 15, 2015

Pete Segal has established himself as a sure-handed comedy director with hits under his belt like Get Smart, Anger Management, 50 First Dates and, perhaps his most revered - Tommy Boy (which currently celebrates its 20th anniversary!)

On the set of Grudge Match...

He also happens to be my best friend. But I still learn some things about his path I didn't know. From a show biz-connected set of parents, going from New York to L.A. to Phoenix back to L.A. again, through USC as a Broadcast Journalism major, to working in local T.V., Pete showed that always pushing the envelope of creativity - at any level - would get noticed and appreciated.

It's not what it looks like...

You'll hear some great stories about the late Chris Farley, some insight into what it's like to direct strong personalities like DeNiro and Nicholson...and there's even a pretty great O.J. story. (Yes, that O.J.)

We also talk too much about stuff that nobody will think is funny but us. But listen anyway... -LM

You can follow Pete on Twitter @pete_segal

#27 - Lisa Arch May 07, 2015

Lisa Arch is the host of TLC's forthcoming series Labor Games - which is generating a lot of press (not all of it positive) but she maintains that it's fun, sweet and the moms LOVED it! (Not to mention, they won cool stuff for their kid, and it distracted them from the intense pain and extreme boredom of childbearing.) Lisa also takes us through her fascinating self-described "mediocre career" in Hollywood, from memorizing Whoopi Goldberg routines through doing sketch comedy on stage (with recent podcast guest, and brother, Bob Kushell) to the highs and lows of auditions, bookings and working in this business we call "show." You may not even know you've seen Lisa, but if you've watched Seinfeld, the movie Legally Blonde, MADtv, Crank Yankers, X-Files, the cult film Windy City Heat ("Jiggly Wriggly" anyone?) or that omnipresent Wheat Thins Yeti commercial - you've seen her. What's it like working with Miley Cyrus? Was it fun pretending to be a naked Farrah Fawcett? What's the deal with Seinfeld and Larry David? We cover it all and more as you kids get a pretty awesome primer of how to handle things in Hollywood with grace, style and a sense of humor. Enjoy!

Check out a sneak peek of Labor Games on TLC Wednesday night 5/6 (check your local listings) and also look for Lisa as Principal Hader on the Nickelodeon series 100 Things To Do Before High School.

Follow Lisa on Twitter @flawless_mom and check out her blog flawlessmom.com

Here's a sneak peek of Lisa's new hosting gig on TLC's Labor Games...

Tony Snark presents... May 02, 2015

SnarkVengers Assemble! It's been a while since the last groupcast, so there's been a lot of pent-up pop culture just waiting to burst forth into your ears (eww) so join Jason E. Kelley, Brad Bishop and Monkey-In-Chief Larry Morgan for all things media, including Avengers: Age of Ultron, how Netflix is killin' it with Daredevil, Bloodline and Chef's Table, trailers that are getting us excited and there's a lot of buzz (mostly generated by JK) on the new season of Murder In The First on TNT. Listen and you'll find out why.

Oh, and we get a little serious about racial tension and urban unrest. And FINALLY some Monkey News! Enjoy! -LM

#26 - Alan Wenkus Apr 24, 2015

One of the writers of the forthcoming NWA biopic, Straight Outta Compton, Alan Wenkus has taken a circuitous path from the comedy clubs of New England, a wacky 80s teen comedy starring a young Johnny Depp, morning radio in New York, writing syndicated comedy bits in the Valley, and now being a big part of a major Hollywood release. Hear how tenacity, rolling with the punches and keeping your sense of humor (at all costs) can pay off in the long run. AND we'll figure out how one of the most Caucasian guys you ever met could write about one of the most groundbreaking rap bands ever.

See below for several of the references we make in the podcast, including the red band trailer for Straight Outta Compton - coming this August. -LM

Follow Alan on Twitter @alanwenkus

How did Alan Wenkus go from this...

...then to this...

...to, now...this!

#25 - Scott Borchetta Apr 16, 2015

How does a rebellious teen in a punk-y band in Hollywood and part-time semi-pro race car driver become one of the most powerful people in the music industry based in Nashville...? Scott Borchetta's story is one of drive, passion and (eerily quiet) intensity. From being on stage and on tour playing bass guitar to being behind the scenes helping to build country artists' careers he is now back in the spotlight as the man who was instrumental in launching the juggernaut that is Taylor Swift and, currently, the Season XIV mentor on American Idol. And if you think AI got intense this week - wait 'til you hear what Scott wants from the contestants now! Tough, passionate, confident and super smart, here's some insight into a powerful player in entertainment. Enjoy! -LM

Like you don't already know, you can watch American Idol Wednesday nights on FOX-TV. Watch the two-night finale on May 12-13, 2015. More here. And learn more about the Big Machine Label Group here.

Follow Scott on Twitter here; @scottborchetta

#24 - Max Koch Apr 09, 2015

My oh my, the weird, wacky, sometimes creepy mind of Max Koch. An actor, sketch comedy player, animation voice guy, artist, wine blogger, podcaster, viral YouTube sensation - this guy is the personification of the phrase "does it all." But around the edges of his warm, cuddliness there creeps a dark, sinister ooziness which makes for an inviting-yet-dangerous mix. Intrigued? You should be. Oh, and by the way, he's hilarious.

Come with me on the warped, wonderful journey that is the life of Max Koch, and check out below for some of the stuff we reference in the 'cast. -LM

Follow Max on Facebook and Instagram and check out his YouTube page and wine blog Max Koch Uncorked.

National Association of Media Broadcasters Lacking Awareness Apr 01, 2015

Monkey-In-Chief

Spring has spung! Birds are chirping...flowers are blooming...water restrictions are tightening...and the Monkeys are Snarking! No April Foolin', we've cover some serious ground in this latest groupcast, including some movies we are FINALLY excited about seeing - eventually - as well as a plethora of new season debuts forthcoming (Mad Men, Orphan Black, VEEP, Silicon Valley and the new Daredevil) wrap-up Empire and give the Bieber Roast a final poke.

Brad Bishop

Briana Mordente

Oh, and American Idol, Trevor Noah, Jim Parsons, The Bible/A.D. and there's even a song from the ol' Iceman...even though he'd probably prefer you not hear it. But you have to hear it to know why.

Rob "The Iceman" Izenberg

Get in the cage with us, we've got a lot of poop to throw this week; duck...and enjoy. -LM

With Rob "The Iceman" izenberg, Briana Mordente & Brad Bishop

NOTE: Brad makes a reference to an indie horror film he just shot...for more info on when BIg Bad will be screening go to bigbadthemovie.com

#23 - Austin Winsberg Mar 27, 2015

Austin Winsberg is a hilarious television (and Broadway!) writer/producer who made a name for himself at a very early age as one of the youngest show runners ever in network TV. He was 9. No, I kid, but he was freakin' young. That series lasted only two years, but the path he took to get there, and what he's done since, makes for fascinating conversation!

Join us as we take you on fun-filled trek from the mean streets of Brentwood, CA to the hard-scrabble world of musical theatre summer camp in the Catskills to the dog-eat-dog existence of the Ivy League to...well, the no-kidding cutthroat battle of big-time television.

Along the way we befriend Fred Savage, get fired from Punky Brewster, get championed by John Stamos, crack the code of Gossip Girl, try to solve a problem like Maria, make it to The Great White Way, conceive and look for that elusive thing called Happiness. Oh, and there's a great deal of finger-banging.

Hilarious, inspiring, informative and ultra-snarky, enjoy Austin Winsberg... -LM

#22 - Camilla Cleese Mar 19, 2015

Imagine growing up the daughter of frickin' Comedy Royalty, being shuttled around the world as a very tall, geeky, British-accented adolescent, living a somewhat privileged life riding horses competitively, becoming a bit of a party girl, doing some modeling and then deciding to break into stand-up comedy. What the what...?

Camilla Cleese will always live with the last name of one of the most beloved comic figures of all time (John Cleese of Monty Python, if you're slow) which only adds another element of difficulty when you're trying to get into an already tough business. Not to mention she's been targeted by a short men advocacy group; I'm. Not. Kidding.

Check out this fascinating conversation with a young, female stand-up on the rise - and yes, as a major-league Pythonite myself there is some good inside info on that world to satisfy the comedy geek in all of us... -LM

Follow Camilla on Twitter and get more info and see where she's performing at camillacleese.com. She's got a lot of dates coming up, including; March 23rd 9:00pm @ The Parlor in Hollywood; March 25th-29th @ Laughing Skull Comedy Festival in Atlanta; April 1st 9:00pm @ Springbok in Van Nuys; April 3rd & 4th at 8:00 and 10:00pm opening for Jimmy Shubert @ Flappers Comedy Club in Burbank; April 7th @ Canter’s in the Kibitz Room; April 30th @ The Ice House in Pasadena.

The Bearded Monkey Mar 16, 2015

The Monkeys are back with a particularly hirsute episode that covers Empire, McFarland USA, the upcoming Bieber Roast on Comedy Central, the difficult life of celebrities, the return of the Kardashians and we do some in-depth beard talk. There's even a song from the ol' Iceman to celebrate your impending St. Patrick's Day celebration!

Come on in for the fun with Rob "Iceman" Izenberg, Chris "The McGahan" McGahan & Briana Mordente as things get hairy... -LM

#21 - Denny Tedesco/The Wrecking Crew Mar 13, 2015

In 1996 when Denny Tedesco learned that his father Tommy had been diagnosed with terminal cancer he began to document his dad's thoughts and memories about the practically unknown group of L.A. studio musicians Tommy had been an integral part of, now referred to as The Wrecking Crew. What began as a tribute to the life and work of Tommy and his unsung cohorts has turned into an almost 20-year battle to get this film released -- and that time has finally come!

The Wrecking Crew documentary is now officially released in theaters (as of 3/13/15) and on iTunes and On Demand; but besides the story of the blue collar, working musicians who created the indelible sounds behind Frank & Nancy Sinatra, The Beach Boys, Sonny & Cher, Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, The Byrds, The Monkees, The Partridge Family...the list literally goes on and on...the story of Denny's fight, passion and determination to bring this story to the world is compelling in its own right.

We talk about both stories in this fascinating conversation that is a true study in how work ethic and pride in your craft can joyously result in timeless art - and that goes for the men (and woman) of The Wrecking Crew as well as for Denny himself.

If you love music at all - and have ever hummed along to "God Only Knows", "And The Beat Goes On", "Wichita Lineman", "Tijuana Taxi", "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" and hundreds of other songs from the 60s and 70s, you MUST seek out this fantastic tribute to Tommy and the people who were (literally) instrumental in making the music we love.

See where it's screening near you, or learn more at wreckingcrewfilm.com

Put Your Face In It! Mar 10, 2015

The kids go back in the cage after a brief break, and we totally put our collective faces In the latest pop culture mishegas. We do a belated tribute to Leonard Nimoy, binge-talk House of Cards, break down The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, discover where Community is gonna be and when, intensely analyze SNL and lament the limp state of film while proclaiming a new Golden Age of TV...and much more.

Join Jason E. Kelley, Gabrielle Thomas, Chris "The McGahan" McGahan, Eric Schwartz aka "Smooth-E" with Desiree (last name withheld for privacy and, um...I don't know what it is) for all the fun. And a special thanks to "Shotgun Tom" Kelly for providing the title and catchphrase of this ep, even though it's almost impossible to explain exactly how and why it came about. Just trust us on this. Enjoy! #OnMyDougStamper -LM

#20 - George Noory Feb 26, 2015

George Noory has been the host of Coast to Coast AM on radios nationwide since 2003, talking ghosts, spirits, UFOs, conspiracy theories, unexplained phenomenae, etc. But he has lived a few lives before that, as a crooner-loving kid from Detroit who was destined to be a dentist but fell in love with news and radio, then TV, and had to reinvent himself at one point to become the Master of the Dark as he is today.

Listen to how a boyhood interest in the unusual has turned into a career and the rather circuitous path it took to get there. Oh, and he even sings a little Bobby Darin to me. *swoon* - LM

George is the co-author of a new book, Someone is Hiding Something: What Happened to Malaysia Airlines Flight 370? available now on Amazon.com, and you can listen to George Noory on Coast to Coast AM nationwide - find your station here...

Attack of the Tingling Vaginas Feb 24, 2015

Hey, provocative title, eh? Yeah we go deep (sorry) into an Oscar postmortem, going gaga(ish) over Gaga, trying to figure out what was going on during "Everything Is Awesome", unfairly picking apart NPH and trying to figure out why John Travolta is so damn creepy. We also finally have a female in the mix who has seen 50 Shades of Grey and get the low-down on what kind of effect (if any) it might have on society and certain body parts. And we give some love to Better Call Saul, Parks & Rec, Civ V (nerds know) and much more.

Oh, and speaking of creepy...Chloë Grace Moretz is 18, so everybody just calm down!

It's a good group in the MonkeyCage with Eric "Smooth-E" Schwartz, Jason E. Kelley, Rob "The Iceman" Izenberg, Brad Bishop and newbies Benjamin K. Martin and Briana Mordente.

Let the tingling begin!!! -LM

#19 - Sam Rubin Feb 19, 2015

It's our Oscar week special (you know the Oscars, right? It's that movie awards show...no, not that one, the other one...the BIG one...with the gold statue and everything? Yeah, now it's coming back to you) and who better to talk to than Entertainment Reporter Extraordinaire, Sam Rubin!

Sam spends his morning hours as the local entertainment reporter in the thick of Hollywood (every morning on the KTLA Morning News) but has also been seen nationally on his own show, specials - even "dancing" with Ellen...on Ellen.

We not only get Sam's Oscar predictions, but we hear how he has carved out a very unique and respected career in a vocation that doesn't always demand respect. He's met and talked to every star you could even think of - I mean, like EVERY one - and continues to get great joy from his chosen profession. Oh, and he's actually very humble and down-to-earth about the whole thing.

Great guy, funny guy, knowledgeable guy and a true movie nerd (talking to another movie nerd)...enjoy Sam Rubin.

You can follow Sam on Twitter @samontv

50 Shades of Oy Vey - The Valentimes Special Feb 14, 2015

We're two-thirds Jewish this week in the groupcast as Mike Ambers of @blindreviews, Eric "Smooth-E" Schwartz and I kvetch about 50 Shades, kvell about Walking Dead, downright plotz over Better Call Saul., wrap up all this mishegash over Kanye West (what chutzpah!) and finally we get all schmaltzy with our fave romantic movies of all time...

Also, be sure to check out Smooth-E's heartbreaking lament to grammar gone wrong...

#18 - Gregg McBride Feb 12, 2015

Gregg McBride has been making his way in Hollywood as a producer and writer - but his personal story is as compelling as any big-screen drama. A difficult childhood led to massive weight gain...at one point he was well over 400 lbs!

Listen to how Gregg's dramatic weight loss - 250 pounds in just a year! - led him to document his journey in two books, the most recent being Weightless (now available on Amazon and elsewhere.) Along the way he's managed to find a place in the entertainment industry of image-conscious Los Angeles.

Gregg's story is heartbreaking, hilarious, inspirational, practical and he also has a great anecdote about a disaster movie and Traci Lords. For real. -LM

Check out Gregg's weight loss blog juststopeatingsomuch.com and you can follow him on Twitter @GreggMcBride

A Weird Amalgamation of Shame Feb 08, 2015

The groupcast is back and this week the Monkeys throw poop at The Grammys, current movies and toe fungus; geek out about ELO, Daredevil and Conor Oberst; break down the recipe for Beer Cheese Soup (Spoiler Alert: it includes beer and cheese) and much more.

Join Chris "The McGahan" McGahan (#Inhumans2018), Rob "The Iceman" Izenberg, James "Jimmy Naps" Napoli and Katie "Too New To Have a Nickname Yet" Bain as we cover all-things-media-that-fits-in-an-hour-ish. There's even a song from the ol' Iceman!

Enjoy. -LM

#17 - Eric Schwartz aka Smooth-E Jan 28, 2015

Eric Schwartz is a stand-up comedian, parodist, Suburban Homeboy comedic rapper and all-around nice guy. As part of a series with great comics who are working consistently but also working to break through, Eric is a prime example of a guy who's carving out his own niche, putting out hilarious stuff, working the traditional stand-up circuit and making people laugh.

Eric and I talk about his upbringing, how he helped import rap and hip-hop into suburbia, and how music and comedy meshed into a career - as well as how he still manages to keep relevant and youthful with a *gasp* benchmark birthday fast approaching...

If you haven't heard or seen Smooth-E's stuff, definitely check out his website, YouTube page, follow him on Twitter @ericschwartz and like his stuff on Facebook. -LM

Lindsay Lohan as Mary Tyler Moore Jan 24, 2015

It's a fun and ultra-snarky groupcast this week as we throw poo at bad movies, bad TV and bad puns about deflated balls - but DO rave about Birdman, The Fall, Parks & Rec and other stuff. And Steve Guttenberg gets some love. Yes...Steve Guttenberg. No, seriously...Steve Guttenberg. There's even a song from the ol' Iceman! And a cameo from Javi the dog!!!

Join Rob "Iceman" Izenberg, Gabrielle Thomas and virgin Monkey Brad Bishop along with the Monkey-in-Chief for this week's rant-and-rave about the week in media. Enjoy! -LM

#16 - Joe Cipriano Jan 21, 2015

Joe and me in the MonkeyCage

You've heard his voice on Fox-TV, CBS-TV...heck even NBC-TV (I didn't know that either) as well as commercials, promos, movie trailers, radio imaging and who knows what else and where. Joe Cipriano started out on the East Coast doing radio, ended up on the West Coast doing radio, and now is the King of the Promo. He even wrote a book about his journey, "Living On Air: Adventures in Broadcasting" - but in the latest podcast we cover some territory that he only hinted at in the book (which is excellent, by the way) as well as reminisce about our own experiences in the mid-80s at what was then the biggest radio station on the planet, KIIS-FM in Los Angeles.

We also cover how a fluke in the on-air schedule launched a major career, the future of TV and how he works, the importance of always improving, why disc jockeys are fatties, and lots more. This is fun, funny, radio nerd-y and right up there on the Snark-O-Meter.

One of THE great voices and an even greater guy...enjoy. -LM

Learn more about Joe at joecipriano.com follow him on Twitter @JoeCip and like him on Facebook here...

7 Cynics & a Chick Jan 17, 2015

The intimate, sacred space of the MonkeyCage welcomes a cacophony of laughs and opinions as Oscar noms are the jumping off point for the Snarksters to get into good cinema, bad movies, the future of how we consume them and many other random topics all jammed into one tight package much like a delectable media sausage. *whew*

First-timers in the groupcast Eric "Smooth-E" Schwartz, Mark McCracken, Jeff Stein and John "Johnny Jon-Jon" Kearns join veterans Chris "The McGahan" McGahan and Gabrielle "The Chick" Thomas (along with the Monkey-In-Chief) in a rollicking, raucous and rambunctious rant on the weeks best and worst "stuff." Enjoy. Just try to. -LM

#15 - Kyle Cease Jan 14, 2015

Stand-up comic Kyle Cease had everything going for him; best-selling albums, a well-received Comedy Central special, a massive college tour - and then he dropped off the comedy radar. Or...did he? This is a highly philosophical, pretty deep, mildly funny yet ultimately fascinating conversation about being your true self, living in the moment, discovering your potential and lots of other "aerie faerie" stuff that I totally dug talking about...

By the way, if you want to hear more about Kyle's journey this conversation is, in a way, a companion to his talk with Pete Holmes on the You Made It Weird podcast which I encourage you to check out here

Find out more about Kyle and his workshops at kylecease.com and follow him on Twitter @kylecease -LM

#14 - Bob Kushell Jan 07, 2015

We go roaring into the New Year with an excellent new podcast featuring writer/producer Bob Kushell, who has just come off a Herculean effort as the show-runner for Charlie Sheen's show Anger Management which just completed 100 episodes. This Southern California native grew up in the San Fernando Valley and, with a vision and a lot of chutzpah, helped start up a sketch comedy troupe which got him his first writing job which led to a long and illustrious career in television (well...long, anyway...) that includes stints on The Simpsons, Dream On, Grounded for Life, Samantha Who and for a very long stretch 3rd Rock From the Sun.

Bob is funny, insightful and incredibly insecure, which makes him even funnier - but you will learn a lot about the business of making television, about being inspired by Bugsy Malone and Bob Fosse, and some revelations into the heretofore unknown life of Jeffrey Tambor. (Ya gotta listen...) -LM

Happy Crazy Banana Pants Dec 20, 2014

It's the holiday edition of the groupcast and the MonkeyBoys offer up a few of their favorite things from 2014 - but of course address the Sony hacking, The Interview controversy, why we're all goin' to hell in a handbasket, and The Flash. Again. Also the Serial podcast, Boyhood, a recap on Interstellar and we pay tribute to "Weird Al", Craig Ferguson and Stephen Colbert. There's even a song (eventually) from the ol' Iceman.

Join Rob "The Iceman" Izenberg, Chris "The McGahan" McGahan, new Monkey Jason "The Hubes" Huber and Larry Morgan for the last festive group session of 2014!

#13 - Dave Finkel Dec 16, 2014

Along with creative partner Brett Baer, Dave Finkel has been a writer and/or producer on shows like 30 Rock, Just Shoot Me, Norm, The United States of Tara not to mention animated fare like Animaniacs and Pinky & The Brain. They've also been part of Joey, the less-than-successful spinoff of the monster hit Friends, and they even spent their time as "Monkey Boys" Saturday mornings on ABC. Dave's path takes a winding route, from weird, experimental theatre, multiple college experiences, sketch comedy and radio bits to now one of the most popular and talked-about half-hour comedies on network TV as show-runner (along with Brett) for Fox's New Girl.

Find out how Dave's singularly unique, dark, bizarro vision - through trial and error as well as the support of a more, er...grounded...partner - was made adaptable to the mainstream while still staying true to his bent for the surreal.

A conversation that is definitely NSFW (or perhaps anywhere else, for that matter) but is raw, open, real, real funny and oh-so-dark; learn, laugh and cringe with the fabulously demented Dave Finkel.

Follow Dave on Twitter (when he OCCASIONALLY gets around to actually Tweeting) @finkel_is_great and watch New Girl Tuesdays at 9pm/8pm Central on Fox-TV. -LM

Pulling An Andy Dec 13, 2014

It's another rant-y, rave-y groupcast in the MonkeyCage this week with the low-down on Sony's leaked emails, what's hot at the box office, a public breakup with Paul Thomas Anderson and a group intervention about Andy's rage issues with telemarketers. Join Rob "The Iceman" Izenberg, Matt Johnson and welcome in The Comedy Couple themselves; Andy Harris & Rhoda Baldwin...

#12 - Jane Wells Dec 09, 2014

CNBC reporter Janes Wells covers retail, defense, agriculture, the West Coast economy and more. Snooze-o-rama, right? Well, not exactly - Jane has made a name for herself for highly irreverent-yet-still-informational pieces that get some real traction and attention, especially in the short attention span blogoTwitterverse we now live in...and that ain't an easy feat. Being a respected business reporter AND being genuinely funny (while sometimes being on camera behind a cow) requires some special skills; so how did she get to where she got? Here's a story that involves getting a start via Rick Dees to getting intimately involved with O.J. (not the way you're thinking, perv) to the powerful impact of Mother Teresa's death to Geraldo Rivera...and, on occasion, the aforementioned cow, pigs and a heartwarming report on the big business of ugly holiday sweaters (see that recent report here). We cover it all in this snark-laden ep...enjoy. -LM

See Jane frequently on CNBC (check your local listings) but follow her on Twitter @janewells

It Come A Gully Washer Dec 06, 2014

The Boys are Back with some post-Thanksgiving digesting of the latest in media - with reviews of Whiplash, Into the Woods the popular Serial podcast, "Peaky Blinders" and more. We'll cover the Star Wars teaser, the forthcoming P.T. Anderson film Inherent Vice, Josh Brolin AND James Brolin's career, our favorite holiday TV specials and much more.

Join Rob "The Iceman" Izenberg, Michael Ambers, Jason E. Kelley and new Monkey in the room James Napoli for riffing and rapping and ranting and raving and other words that start with "R".

#11 - Ralph Garman Dec 02, 2014

The Great Ralph Garman with not-that-great host Larry Morgan in the MonkeyCage

Ralph Garman is best known in Southern California as an integral part of the popular Kevin & Bean Show on 106.7 The World Famous KROQ doing his Show-Biz Beat, Movie Beat and numerous impressions and characters. But, you've also heard him in Family Guy, seen him as the smarmy-then-veddy-British-then-gruff-bounty-hunter emcee on The Joe Schmo Show as well as in a number of movies, and he's also filmmaker Kevin Smith's cohort on the popular Hollywood Babble-On podcast. But, oh, he's so much more; a proud Philly native with a Batman fixation who aspired to be a serious dramatic actor and makes a living doing funny voices and mocking celebrities. Sweet gig!

Here's the cool, strange, Bam! Boom! Pow! journey of the delightful Ralph Garman.

Follow Ralph on Twitter @RalphGarman

#10 - Joanie Fagan & Sarah Tiana Nov 25, 2014

Joanie Fagan and Sarah Tiana are two working comedians who came up in different eras, came from different backgrounds and perform very different material - but still have a LOT in common. Not only do we get to hear about the unique paths these two funny ladies took to get to where they are in the comedy world, but also the real-life obstacles they had to wrestle with as a female in yet another male-dominated world. But - man, woman or monkey - you'll find this conversation insightful, inspiring and really, really funny, Joanie and Sarah give you an inside peek into what it's like in the business of going up on stage and trying to get people to laugh at you.

Learn more about them and get their latest performance dates here;

Sarah Tiana: sarahtiana.com - on Twitter @sarahtiana

Joanie Fagan: joaniefagan.com and 3blondemoms.com and follow them on Facebook

Jack Off the Streets: Electric Boogaloo Nov 22, 2014

Iceman, Larry, Matt & Andrew "prepping" - not shown; McGahan & JK

It's a wide-ranging, free-for-all in the MonkeyCage this week as Snarksters Rob "Iceman" Izenberg, Matt Johnson, Chris "The McGahan" McGahan, Jason E. Kelley and new Monkey Andrew Fernandez cover the passing of the great Mike Nichols, the Aaliyah movie on Lifetime, Nightcrawler, Bronies, beaver, Bill Cosby, Let's Call Saul - we even get a Special Guest Dad review of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1.

Give thanks and get an extra large helping of Pop Culture Stuffing in this painfully swollen pre-holiday edition.

#9 - Jim Wise Nov 19, 2014

Creating comedy is not all fun and games - though it is sometimes. Emmy-winner Jim Wise has been a steadily working comedy writer, performer, voice actor and even a musician on some high-profile shows like MADtv, Even Stevens, The Tonight Show, The Arsenio Hall show and many others. This is Jim's story which takes him from early days as a class cut-up through two different colleges and time at LA's famous troupe The Groundlings (where he taught a young up-and-comer named Jimmy Fallon). Learn how to be funny in sometimes unfunny surroundings and how to appreciate the subtleties of a finely crafted dick joke.

Follow Jim on Twitter @Therealjimwise or learn more on his website here.

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When Goonies Attack Nov 15, 2014

It's an all-boy MonkeyFest this week, as the guys cover new movies - both Dumb and high-brow - we get into a debate over the cinematic merits of 80s movies and even bid a don't-let-the-door-hit-you-in-your-ginormous-ass-on-the-way-out to that oily internet lady in this wide-ranging edition of the podcast.

In the cage this week; Matt Johnson, Jason E. Kelly, Chris McGahan, Mike Ambers & Monkey-In-Chief Larry Morgan

#8 - Seth M. Sherwood Nov 12, 2014

You don't have to be an aficionado of the horror film genre to appreciate the tale of Seth M. Sherwood. Seth seemingly came out of nowhere to be tapped as the writer for the forthcoming prequel to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise entitled "Leatherface." Listen to how an early love for sci-fi and comics led to him pursuing a life in the visual and graphic arts, until the yearning to be a true storyteller became too great to ignore. To become a writer took years of toil, focus, and sacrifice, but all that effort seems to be paying off. Learn how a passion for Blade Runner, an appreciation for Devo and the repurposing of childhood Dungeons & Dragon skills (listen up, nerds!) have landed Seth on Hollywood's Blood List, on the radar of some high-profile filmmakers, as well as under the microscope of the genre's very vocal fandom - for better or worse. This is a chilling tale through the harrowing shadows of Tinseltown (it's not that scary, but it sounds good) with a few good splatters of snark but a little short on monkeys.

Find out more on Seth's website here.

Follow us on Twitter: @TheSnarkMonkey

The Mystery of the Barking Gungan Nov 09, 2014

Larry "Monkey-In-Chief" Morgan, Rob "The Iceman" Izenberg, and Gabrielle "Nickname Pending" Thomas give the final word on Chris Rock's SNL monologue, pick apart the just-announced title of the forthcoming Star Wars movie, review "Big Hero 6" and somehow find a connection between Robin Wright and Lurch. There's even a song from the ol' Iceman. Join the gang as they be like snarkin' it up and stuff in this weekly group meanderfest which we dedicate to the great Miskel Spillman. -LM

www.snarkmonkey.net - @TheSnarkMonkey - Gabrielle: @bunnyroader - Iceman: @IcemanTweeteth

#7 - Shira Lazar Nov 04, 2014

Shira Lazar has been called a Social Media Guru, an Online Queen of Media - she was once even named a Sexiest Geek by Wired magazine (which, for some, might be considered an oxymoron, but...). She is also a Canadian who invaded Hollywood by way of Boston, took a left turn at the Ellen show, a big right turn (far right) at Fox News, jumped over the bear trap of icky, gossipy entertainment reporting and found a way to use her passion, her unique set of skills, and her ability to recognize "what's the new thing" to build an online empire.

Here's another interesting, inspiring story about how to make your own way in the world by recognizing who you are, knowing your strengths, doing what you love to be fulfilled and, ultimately, not end up a "washed-up hag." (Her words...not mine. Just listen.) -LM

Shira can be seen doing her thing at whatstrending.com and you can follow her on Twitter @shiralzar & @WhatsTrending

Flashoween Nov 01, 2014

In the inaugural group MonkeyCast the snark is flying as the gang covers the big issues, from Favorite Scary Movie Ever to What's New At The Box Office to What We're Loving/What We're Loving Not So Much to Why All The Damn Cell Phones?! There's even a song from the ol' Iceman. We rant, we rave, we laugh, we cry...we all learn a little something.

Join host Larry Morgan and the rest of the Monkeys for some thrills and chills on this rollicking roller coaster through current pop culture.

Featuring: Rob "Iceman" Izenberg (@icemanTweeteth / robizenberg.com), Matt Johnson (check out his latest cinematic endeavor on Facebook), Gabrielle Thomas (@bunnyroader / gabriellethomas.com) and Chris "The McGahan" McGahan (@themcgahan).

Theme music created and performed by Alexander Morgan -LM

#6 - Gary Kroeger Oct 28, 2014

So you're plucked out of obscurity while doing sketch comedy in Chicago with friends like Brad Hall and Julia Louis-Dreyfus to be on Saturday Night Live as the fresh new comedy voices and save the franchise - only to then be in the shadow of strong personalities like Eddie Murphy, Martin Short and Billy Crystal - then you try to find your way through show business with that pedigree as your ticket - then you run a restaurant - then drop out and go back to the Midwest to try and lead a normal life - where you get divorced and get political...and...and...

That, and so much more, is the strange, fabulous journey of one Gary Kroeger. His story, tinged with no bitterness or negativity, is fascinating, funny and ultimately inspiring. Prescience, sword-fighting and even George Hamilton are included in this highly snarky episode - but, alas, no monkeys. -LM

#5 - John McCook Oct 23, 2014

John McCook has played the patriarchal figure in the fictional Forrester family on the daytime drama "The Bold & The Beautiful" since 1987. Inspired by Peter Pan and Mary Martin, he went on to spend years doing musical theatre, some flashy shows in Las Vegas and, in the process, worked with and met some interesting names (Elvis Presley, anyone?) John knew from an early age that show business was his life, but could never have predicted the path his career would take. Hear about how talent, luck, happy accidents and a strong work ethic has resulted in a life of consistent employment. Very funny - and very candid - John McCook tells it like it is with a high snark quotient but also with an obvious affection for this business we call show. (No monkeys.) -LM

"The Bold & The Beautiful" can be seen daily on CBS-TV - get more info and watch full episodes here.

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#4 - Frank Ferrante Oct 23, 2014

Frank Ferrante is an accomplished stage actor and director, but through a remarkable twist of fate - based on a childhood passion - has made a career out of performing as the one-and-only Groucho Marx. What started as an attempt in college to "put on a show!" simply to get a decent grade and a degree became something much more, including getting to know and receive the blessing from the Marx family. Listen as Frank immerses himself in, then attempts to break away from, then again embraces the persona of the great Groucho, which led to Frank becoming a true throwback performer doing drama, comedy and song on stages all over the country and around the world. Plus he's a kind, gentle, warm, caring soul who deserves your attention. So...bring it, monkeys! This one's only about a 5 on the SnarkMeter, but definitely plenty of Monkey Business. (seewhatIdidthere?)

Frank continues to perform as Groucho to this day - see his touring schedule here for An Evening With Groucho - as well as his performances as the great lover Caesar in the remarkable show Teatro Zinzanni.

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#3 - Kerri Kasem Oct 21, 2014

Kerri Kasem has been a working media professional - in radio and television - for years, but it was the saga during her father's last few months that thrust her into a new spotlight...and also gave her a new purpose and career. Kerri talks about life growing up the daughter of one of the most famous names in entertainment - Casey Kasem - and reveals how her dad instilled in her a strong work ethic, but also kindness and the need to stand for something. Kerri is still passionate (and understandably angry) about the treatment of Casey toward the end of his life, which has inspired her to seek legislation to protect the visitation rights of adult children.

Learn more about her cause at www.kasemcaresfoundation.org - follow Kerri on Twitter @KerriKasem. (And if you'd like to relive some of the great, classic Casey AT40 countdowns, listen to them here on iHeartRadio.)

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#2 - Ken Levine Oct 20, 2014

Ken Levine has truly been a jack-of-all-trades (whatever that archaic saying means); radio DJ, TV writer and director, baseball announcer, playwright and very popular media blogger. With writing partner David Isaacs he has written on two of the most iconic TV comedies of all time (MASH and Cheers) among many others. Listen how he got his start as a "Boss Jock" on 70s radio, got inspired by Woody Allen (and repelled by the song "Kung Fu Fighting"), took a wild left turn based on his passion for baseball and...well, jeez, just listen - it's a crazy, cool journey. And Ken most definitely brings the snark. (No monkeys this episode. My apologies.) -LM

Ken's blog here - his Twitter is @KenLevine - his play "A or B" is playing now at the Falcon Theatre in Toluca Lake, CA until November 16, 2014.

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#1 - James Arnold Taylor Oct 20, 2014

James Arnold Taylor is a talented voice actor and comedian who can be heard on everything from Fox-TV (the ANIMATION DOMINATION guy, for instance) to Star Wars: The Clone Wars to a rather controversial character (for gaming nerds, anyway) in the Final Fantasy franchise. But more than that JAT has shown that drive, positive attitude, faith and belief in yourself can help make all those voices in your head NOT make you crazy, but become an asset. Learn how a tough upbringing in a beautiful place, a weird ride through radio, a flirtation with black mold (!!!) and inspiration from TV, movies and some talented friends set him on a unique path in entertainment. And, yes, there is some snark - and at least one monkey. Enjoy. -LM

More about James on his site - on Twitter @JATactor - on Facebook

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