Mike Rowe talks about not being the “dirty jobs” Mike Rowe, planning for the future, being funny in high school, becoming an electrical engineer and giving it up for comedy, performing in NY comedy clubs, Alan Zweibel moving him to LA, roasts, jokes, his book “It’s a Funny Thing”, Rodney Dangerfield giving him hope, comedy cliques, and why he’s moving to Connecticut.  

Bio: Michael Rowe is an Emmy Award-winning writer and producer who has worked on many highly regarded comedy and animated shows on television. 

While still a teenager, Michael began his comedy career as a stand-up comic at such notable New York City clubs as The Improv, The Comedy Cellar and Caroline's. From there, he landed a job writing jokes for SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE’s Weekend Update, as well as sketches for shows on MTV, A&E and Comedy Central. Hollywood called, bringing Michael out west to work with Martin Short on his syndicated sketch-comedy show. This soon led to opportunities as a sitcom writer/producer on shows starring George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Ted Danson, and with Eddie Murphy on his groundbreaking animated series, THE PJs. Michael’s affinity for the comedic heart and artistic freedom of animation led to a seven-season run as a writer and Co-Executive Producer of the highly acclaimed series, FUTURAMA. From there, Michael joined FAMILY GUY as a writer/producer and soon after, he became the showrunner for Comedy Central’s animated series, BRICKLEBERRY. Along the way Michael was awarded 6 Emmy nominations (with 1 win), 2 Annie Awards (with 2 wins), and a WGA Award for his FUTURAMA episode, Game of Tones. He was also nominated for a Canadian Emmy for his work as Executive Producer and Director on Netflix’s animated series, THE TRAILER PARK BOYS. In recent live-action endeavors, Michael was a Co-Executive Producer on the hit TV series, 2 BROKE GIRLS for CBS. Michael is currently in development with Supercell creating an adult animated series from their megahit game franchises CLASH OF CLANS and CLASH ROYALE. He is also in development on an animated series with the incredible David Cross, and a separate animated series with Bob Odenkirk. He is also a long-standing, frequent contributor to the ongoing Comedy Central Roasts, featuring such celebrities as James Franco, Donald Trump, Justin Bieber and Roseanne, just to name a few.

Actor/Director Helen Hunt & Actor singer/songwriter psych/mythology PHD phd Helen Slater discuss a deep friendship and love, growing up in art, the beginning of their friendship on a trip to russia, Winnie The Pooh,, growing beyond your first dream, parenting, parenting artists, Helen H. introducing Helen S. to her husband, improv, acting styles, baseball, French Fries, & clown school.

Bio: Helen Hunt has enjoyed a distinguished career not only as an award-winning actor, but as an accomplished writer, director, and producer. As an actress, her extensive and diverse body of work includes roles in film, theater, and television.      Hunt enjoyed a residency at The Old Vic Theatre in EUREKA DAY, a story about parents on the Executive Committee of a progressive private school in Berkeley, California. While taking pride in their ability to accept everyone, a public health scare erupts, testing their tolerance and revealing their true colors. Written by Jonathan Spector and directed by Katy Rudd. It was the European premiere of a multi award-winning story. Hunt performed alongside Kirsten Foster, Mark McKinney, Ben Schnetzer and Susan Kelechi Watson. In television, Hunt can most recently be seen as Winnie Landell in HACKS, created by Paul W. Downs, Lucia Aniello, and Jen Statsky. She can also be seen as Rainey in Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal’s BLINDSPOTTING, a show based on the film with the same title. In 2022 it was nominated for a Film Independent Spirit Award for Best New Scripted Series. The second season was released in April 2023. Hunt returned to the stage this February in Susan V. Booth’s major revival of Pinter’s famed masterwork BETRAYAL at Chicago's Goodman Theatre. The Oscar, Emmy, and Golden Globe Award winner currently stars in the play alongside Tony nominee and Outer Critics Circle Award winner Ian Barford, respectively playing Emma and Robert. In 2019, Hunt revived her role as Jamie Buchman for another season of the hit show MAD ABOUT YOU opposite Paul Reiser. The show returned as a limited series on Spectrum Originals with all episodes available on demand.    In 2012 Hunt’s performance in THE SESSIONS earned her an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female and notations in the same category by the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, SAG Awards, Broadcast Film Critics’ Awards and the BAFTA Awards.  The film premiered in competition at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and took home the Audience Award as well as the jury prize for Best Ensemble.  Other film credits include: Netflix’s Comedy CANDY JAR, RIDE (which Hunt also co-wrote, produced, and directed), DECODING ANNIE PARKER, SOUL SURFER, EVERY DAY, BOBBY, THEN SHE FOUND ME (which Hunt again also co-wrote, produced, and directed), AS GOOD AS IT GETS, WHAT WOMEN WANT, CASTAWAY, A GOOD WOMAN, Woody Allen’s THE CURSE OF THE JADE SCORPION, Robert Altman’s DR. T AND THE WOMEN, PAY IT FORWARD, and TWISTER. Hunt can last be seen in HOW IT ENDS, Michael Cristopher’s THE NIGHT CLERK and Adam Randall’s thriller I SEE YOU. Early career film credits are: THE WATERDANCE, KISS OF DEATH, MR. SATURDAY NIGHT, PEGGY SUE GOT MARRIED, NEXT OF KIN, GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN, PROJECT X. and MILES FROM HOME.     Additional television credits include “MAD ABOUT YOU” and the critically acclaimed HBO Miniseries EMPIRE FALLS. For her role as Jamie Buchman in MAD ABOUT YOU, Hunt garnered four Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards (three as lead actress and one as Producer for Best Comedy), and a Screen Actors Guild Award.  She was also named “Best Actress” for her role in the film AS GOOD AS IT GETS for which Hunt won a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and an Oscar.     

Helen Slater is an American actress and singer-songwriter. In 1982 she was cast in the title role of the film Supergirl (1984) opposite Peter O'Toole and Faye Dunaway. Other credits include The Legend of Billie Jean (1985), Ruthless People (1986), The Secret of My...

Writing Legend, Arnie Kogen, talks with Jay and Jay’s son, Charlie, about his childhood, career, and what it’s like to be 91. Three generations of Kogens in one pod!

Bio: ARNIE KOGENComedy Writer/ TV ProducerHas written and/or produced for the Carol Burnett Show, The Tonight Show, Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore, Empty Nest, Mad TV, The Dean Martin Show, Sinbad, Donnie & Marie, The Jackson Five, Evening At The Improv, The Bob Newhart Show, Tim Conway, The New Dick Van Dyke Show, Candid Camera, Love, American Style, The Love Boat, The Golden Globes and contributed to The Academy Awards.  Has also written comedy material for Phyllis Diller, Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, Shelley Berman, Debbie Reynolds, Connie Stevens, Totie Fields, Jackie Vernon, Diana Ross, Flip Wilson, Ann Margret, Sammy Davis, Morty Gunty and Jerry Van Dyke.

For over five decades he has been one of the leading contributors to Mad Magazine.  Kogen has won three Emmy Awards (seven nominations) and one Writers Guild Award (three nominations)

Phil Stark talks about writing and learning it wasn’t really his dream, telling patients to find their bliss, deciding joy wasn’t in the writers room, writing “Dog With A Blog”, treating writers who are panicking about work, writer’s block, and where’s  the best Tex Mex in Houston. 

Bio:  Screenwriter (Dude, Where’s My Car?) turned therapist (Dude, Where’s My Car-tharsis?) Phil Stark sees clients virtually from all over the state of California. He also writes about mental health and personal growth as experienced through talk therapy.