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Felicia Day (PMC Podcast Ep 75 – click HERE):
Felicia Day was born in Huntsville, Alabama and grew up all over the South, part of a military family. She was home-schooled her whole life and started participating in theatrical productions when she was very young as an actor and a dancer. She attended college at the age of 16, and subsequently graduated as Valedictorian of her class, completing degrees in Mathematics and Violin Performance at the University of Texas Austin. Shortly thereafter she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting, her dream.
As an actress, she has appeared on TV shows such as House, Lie to Me, Monk, and in films such as Bring it on Again and the Emmy award-winning Warm Springs. She had a recurring role as “Vi” in the last season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and also recurred on the ABC Family sitcom Roommates, and on the Fox drama Dollhouse. Most recently she filmed the leading role in the SyFy movie Red, a modern adaptation of Red Riding Hood, and is recurring in the upcoming season 4 of the Syfy series Eureka.
Currently, Felicia is most widely known for her work in web video, and co-starred in Joss Whedon’s Internet musical Dr. Horrible’s Sing-a-long Blog, Voted the Best TV of 2008 by Time Magazine, Entertainment Weekly and People Magazine just to name a few. She also can be seen in the web series The Guild, which she created, writes and stars in. The Guild was the winner of the YouTube, Yahoo and SXSW Best Web Series Awards for 2008 and for the first season alone collected over 80 million hits web-wide. The Guild partnered with Xbox and Sprint to produce and release Seasons 2, 3 and 4 on the Xbox Marketplace as well as other Microsoft distribution platforms and has, to date, garnered over 80 million views. Felicia retained complete creative rights and control of the show.
Felicia launched Geek and Sundry, a new internet channel on Youtube on April 2nd. It includes original programming featuring the talents of people like Wil Wheaton, Paul and Storm, Veronica Belmont and many more, and will also host the new season of her smash show The Guild.
In her downtime, Felicia’s hobbies include video games, reading (particularly science fiction/fantasy), writing and performing sketch comedy and improv comedy. www.feliciaday.com.
Amber Tamblyn (PMC Podcast Ep 74 – click HERE):
Amber Tamblyn was born and raised in Venice, California and is a 3rd generation Californian. She has been a writer and actress since the age of 9. She has been nominated for an Emmy, Golden Globe and Independent Spirit Award for her work in television and film. In 2007 she won the Locarno Film Festival award for Best Actress for her work in the film Stephanie Daley, in which she starred opposite actress Tilda Swinton. She most recently recurred on the FOX television show House and had a role in Danny Boyle’s critically acclaimed film, 127 Hours, opposite James Franco. She will next appear in Horton Foote’s Main Street opposite Colin Firth. Amber is most recognized for her work as Joan on the CBS television program Joan of Arcadia. She starred as Tibby in both of the popular Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants films, and she headlined the horror-sequel The Grudge 2. She was also the lead in the acclaimed but short lived series The Unusuals, opposite Jeremy Renner.
Amber’s first published poem “Kill Me So Much” appeared in The San Francisco Chronicle when she was 12, having been submitted by her writing mentor Jack Hirschman (Poet Laureate of San Francisco 2009). In the years that followed, Amber self published two collections of poetry, art and photography entitled Plenty Of Ships and Of The Dawn. She collaborated with Semina Culture artist George Herms to create a limited edition book of collage and haiku dedicated to Jazz Musician Thelonious Monk entitled, The Loneliest. In 2005 Simon & Schuster published her debut collection of poetry Free Stallion which was written over more than a decade. Lawrence Ferlinghetti called the book, “A fine, fruitful gestation of throbbingly nascent sexuality, awakened in young new language”. The book won the Borders Book Choice Award for Breakout Writing in 2006. Her work has since been published in New York Quarterly, San Francisco Chronicle, Poets & Writers, Pank Magazine, Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Interview and others. She is the Executive Producer of “The Drums Inside Your Chest”, an annual poetry concert that showcases outstanding contemporary poets (Thedrumsinsideyourchest.com). She is the co-founder of the nonprofit Write Now Poetry Society which works to build an audience for unique poetry events (Writenowpoets.org) Her second book of poetry and prose Bang Ditto (Manic D. Press) was published in the Fall of 2009 and was an Independent Best Seller. She currently writes for The Poetry Foundation and is a poetry reviewer for Bust Magazine. Currently, she is working on a collection of persona poems accompanied with paintings by Marilyn Manson about child star actresses who grew up into virtual unknowns and died young. She lives in New York City with her betrothed, comedian David Cross. Check our her blog at amtam.com.
John Hodgman (PMC Podcast Ep 73 – click HERE):
John Hodgman is the author of two previous books of COMPLETE WORLD KNOWLEDGE, both New York Times Bestsellers. In 2005, THE AREAS OF MY EXPERTISE covered subjects as diverse as the secrets of the Loch Ness Monster; the nine US presidents who had hooks for hands; the nicknames and mottoes of the 51 United States; and a list of 700 traditional hobo nicknames. MORE INFORMATION THAN YOU REQUIRE followed in 2008 with information on how to rid your house of a Scottish Terrier infestation; how to win at poker and hermit crab racing; a day-by-day history of the past; and a list of 700 traditional mole-man nicknames. THAT IS ALL is John Hodgman’s final book of complete world knowledge, covering such subjects as wine, sports, and the end of the world. It was published in November of 2011.
After an appearance to promote his books on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Hodgman became a contributor to the program, returning periodically as that show’s Resident Expert to solve all of Jon Stewart’s problems. This led to a period of time as an accidental famous minor television personality, becoming the “Personal Computer” in a series of commercials for Apple computer, and most recently appearing on HBO’s Bored to Death as Louis Greene, a person who hates Jason Schwartzman.
Hodgman’s work has also appeared in McSweeney’s,The Paris Review, and The New York Times Magazine, and on public radio’s This American Life. He has a podcast, Judge John Hodgman, which is available on iTunes.
He lives in Brooklyn, and in Western Massachusetts, and at the Chateau Marmont.
Aimee Mann (PMC Podcast Ep 73 – click HERE):
From her work in the 80’s with MTV favorite Til Tuesday through her acclaimed solo discs Whatever and I’m With Stupid in the 90s, Aimee Mann has always been at the forefront of contemporary songwriters. The close of the millennium brought her greatest success, with the simultaneous releases of Bachelor No. 2 and the soundtrack to the film Magnolia, which garnered nominations for an Oscar, a Golden Globe and three Grammys. After a decade in which her music often took a backseat to corporate mergers and contractual obligations, the message was clear: Aimee Mann is here to stay.
From “Voices Carry” to the Oscar-nominated “Save Me,” Mann has always been known for her clever, literate, and dryly witty takes on emotional sabotage and self-destruction. Though happily married to Michael Penn (with whom she has toured extensively in a double-billed “Acoustic Vaudeville”), her fascination continues with “the freaks who could never love anyone.” With a songcraft often compared with the Beatles and Badfinger, Mann frequently pairs the bleakest of poetry with soaring, infectious melodies.
Mann continued her solo career with the 2002 release of Lost in Space the second release on SuperEgo Records, the label she co-founded with manager and former Til Tuesday bandmate Michael Hausman. The opportunity to release her own CD’s independently allowed Mann the power to soar creatively. With Lost in Space Mann produced an album of songs that, like a book of stories or a novel, work collectively to become something more than the sum of the individual parts. “There were aspects of liberation that hadn’t even occurred to me. I became more creative all-around, in terms of marketing and promoting the record as well as writing and recording.”
In November 2004 Aimee released her first live album and DVD with Live at St. Ann’s Warehouse recorded at a series of July 2004 shows in Brooklyn. In 2006 Mann released what might be considered her most daring album yet with the critically acclaimed The Forgotten Arm. In a natural progression of her literary writing, the album is a concept album that follows the story of two lovers who meet at the Virginia State Fair. The main character is a boxer who is sent off to fight in the Viet Nam war, the CD explores the themes of love, war, drugs and ultimately recovery and redemption.
Aimee Mann also released a Christmas album titled One More Drifter In The Snow. Harkening back to the classic Christmas albums of the 40’s & 50’s the CD features several classic songs and some lesser-known but no-less-classic songs: the Jimmy Webb song “Whatever Happened to Christmas,” which opens the record; “Christmastime” written by Michael Penn; the brilliant “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” from the Dr. Seuss cartoon “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” featuring Grant Lee Phillips’ inspired narration; and an original song, co-written with producer Paul Bryan, “Calling On Mary.”
2008 brought Smilers, her seventh solo CD, Mann presents thirteen exquisitely-crafted new songs about the inner life of people living far from the bright lights of success or fame. Some of them are wanderers searching for meaning on the road, others look for it in a shot glass or by losing themselves in the blue trance of a tv set, and still others believe their deliverance will come through money. From the punch drunk characters haunting the twilight world of a dusty downtown boxing gym, to a onetime financial big shot who’s returned home after taking a tumble, Mann paints spare, vivid portraits of people who seem to always wind up with the smallest slice of American pie. The songs are soulful, empathetic and somehow ultimately hopeful and optimistic.
John Roderick (PMC Podcast Ep 73 – click HERE):
John Roderick is the songwriter and singer/guitarist of The Long Winters, forming the band from a mound of clay back in 2001. Widely acclaimed as one of America’s preeminent artists, credited with resurrecting Seattle’s moribund music scene and bringing new life to the rock genre, John also writes his own press bios. A central figure in the Northwest music community, John nevertheless maintains his outsider status by being both dangerously edgy and completely huggable, in contravention of established Seattle practice. Equally talented at almost any instrument, (except guitar, at which he is even more talented), John has made it nearly impossible for any other musicians to find work in Washington State, effectively playing ALL the music that needs to be played. John is also a widely respected journalist, an extensively quoted author and philosopher, a prima ballerina, a cowboy and an astronaut. www.thelongwinters.com
Judy Greer (PMC Podcast Ep 72 – click HERE):
Judy Greer constantly captivates critics and audiences with her engaging performances in over 70 films and television shows. In her two latest films, Greer takes a dramatic turn with two heart-breaking performances. She can be seen in Alexander Payne’s The Descendants opposite George Clooney, for which she was recently nominated for a 2011 Gotham Independent Film Award as part of the ensemble cast. After that comes Jeff Who Lives at Home for directors Jay and Mark Duplass, opposite Ed Helms and Jason Segel. Paramount will release the film this March. She just wrapped production on Robbie Fox’s dramedy Playing the Field directed by Gabriele Muccino. Starring opposite Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, Uma Thurman, Dennis Quaid, and Catherine Zeta Jones, Greer plays ‘Barb,’ a new divorcee who begins an affair with Butler’s character to get herself out
of a slump. This film is set for a 2012 release. Greer is developing her own comedy series at ABC, along with the writing team of Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan. The project was inspired by Greer’s own life, and will likely launch next fall.
On the small screen, Greer can currently be seen playing Ashton Kutcher’s ex-wife in a multi-episode arc on the much anticipated new season of Two And a Half Men. She will once again voice ‘Cheryl’ on the upcoming third season of FX’s animated hit series Archer. She can also be heard as the voice of ‘Wendy’ on Nickelodeon’s animated series, Glenn Martin, DDS. She was recently seen opposite Jason Biggs, Sarah Chalke and Tyler Labine in the CBS comedy Mad Love Judy also stars in Yahoo!’s Reluctantly Healthy – a funny and informative web series where Judy teachers viewers how to live healthy on the go. The 6-episode series launched in October, 2011.
Greer’s numerous past film credits include Peep World, Henry’s Crime , Barry Munday, Love & Other Drugs, Marmaduke, Love Happens, Visioneers, The Go-Getter, 27 Dresses, The TV Set, American Dreamz, The Amateurs, Elizabethtown, The Village, 13 Going on 30, I Love Your Work, The Hebrew Hammer, Adaptation, The Wedding Planner, What Women Want, The Great New Wonderful, What Planet Are You From?, Three Kings, Jawbreaker, In Memory of My Father, The Specials, and Kissing Fools.
On television, Greer starred in the ABC comedy Miss Guided, garnering rave reviews for her role as a woman who returns to her high school alma mater as a guidance counselor. Other past television credits include Modern Family, How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory, House, E.R., My Name is Earl, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Californiacation, and Love Monkey. Greer is also noted for her memorable and hilarious portrayal of Kitty Sanchez on Mitch Hurwitz’s critically-acclaimed comedy Arrested Development.
On stage, Judy starred in Paul Weitz’s play “Show People” for Second Stage opposite Ty Burrell. Greer was born and raised in Detroit. She trained for nearly ten years in classical Russian ballet before shifting her interest to acting and was accepted into Chicago’s prestigious “The Theatre School” at DePaul University. She currently resides in Los Angeles.
Fred Stoller (PMC Podcast Ep 71 – click HERE):
Stand-up comedian, actor and writer Fred Stoller you’ll probably recognize as “oh, that guy!” as he has guest starred in a plethora of television shows and movies. He is best known as Ray’s obnoxious cousin Gerard on Everybody Loves Raymond. Other TV guest roles include stints on Murphy Brown, Friends, Raising Dad, The Nanny, The Wizards of Waverly Place, My Name Is Earl, The King of Queens, Dharma & Greg, The Norm Show, Sabrina The Teenage Witch and The Drew Carey Show. He also made a guest appearance on and wrote for the hit show Seinfeld. His adventures on the show are chronicled in his new Kindle single My Seinfeld Year, available on Amazon. He voices Fred the Squirrel on The Penguins of Madagascar; Chuck the Evil Sandwich Making Guy on Word Girl; and Rusty the Pipe Wrench on Handy Mandy. Film work includes the impatient guy outside the telephone booth in Dumb and Dumber, and the films The Change-Up, Little Man, Rebound, Austin Powers in Goldmember, The Animal, Joe Dirt, and Open Season 2 & 3. He has headlined comedy clubs across the country, and appeared on the 13th Annual Young Comedians Special on HBO.
Follow him on Twitter: @Fred_Stollar
Timothy Osmundson (PMC Podcast Ep 70 – click HERE):
Versatile character actor Timothy Omundson currently plays cynical Detective Carlton Lassiter on the hit USA comedy Psych, appearing in every episode as the high-strung foil to James Roday’s Sean. He starred as Maxine’s boss Sean Potter on CBS’ Judging Amy; the mystic healer Eli on Xena: Warrior Princess; and the doomed Brom Garret on HBO’s Western series Deadwood. Other TV work includes Seaquest DSV, Seinfeld, Fired Up, Jack & Jill, Jericho, Married…with Children, Frasier, Nip/Tuck, 24, Cold Case, CSI: Miami and NYPD Blue. He starred as the evil far darrig Seamus in the Disney Channel original movie The Luck of the Irish, and had supporting roles in Starship Troopers, Swordfish, Mission Impossible III, Down With Love, The Disappearance of Kevin Johnson, and the upcoming Voltron: The End. He studied drama at New York’s American Academy of Dramatic Arts and at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
Myq Kaplan (PMC Podcast Ep 69 – click HERE):
Myq Kaplan is a comedian named Myq Kaplan (pronounced “Mike Kaplan”). Myq made his network television debut on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien and has since gone on to appear on Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson and in his own half-hour Comedy Central Presents: Myq Kaplan special. He was a Top 5 finalist on the most recent season of Last Comic Standing 2010 and ended his tour this summer. He has also appeared on Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham, at the New Faces show of the 2009 Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, was voted 2008’s Best Local Comedian in the Boston Phoenix, and won the NY’s Funniest Standup Competition in 2009.
A Jewy-ish atheistic vegan who spells the name “Mike” weird (sorry or you’re welcome), Myq enjoys words, social justice, Netflix, and comic books. Also non-comic books, ping-pong, and being great with women. And grammar and run-on sentence fragments. And of course, entertaining his demographic, which is anyone who might know the word “demographic.” www.myqkaplan.com
Dave Holmes (PMC Podcast Ep 68 – click HERE):
Dave Holmes is a comic & writer who has hosted shows all up and down the TV dial. He was an MTV VJ, and hosted shows such as Say What? Karaoke, 120 Minutes and the Real World Reunion Special. He’s a regular performer at Los Angeles’ IO West and Upright Citizens Brigade theaters and a frequent guest on the popular podcast Never Not Funny. He’s one of NPR’s Ten Favorite Pop Culture People of 2010, and his blog My Year Of Everything was called “highbrow and brilliant” by New York Magazine.
Drew Carey (PMC Podcast Ep 67 – click HERE):
Drew Carey is a stand-up comic turned actor and producer who had the distinction of having two hit shows simultaneously: the long-running comedy The Drew Carey Show, which ran from 1995-2004, and the improv/sketch show Whose Line Is It Anyway? on which he was host and a producer. The success of that show led to the creation of Drew Carey’s Improv All-Stars, and Drew Carey’s Improv A Ganza an improv troupe that performs in showrooms across the country. In July 2007, Carey was named the host of The Price Is Right, succeeding longtime host Bob Barker.
While in the Marine Reserves, his military buzz cut and black wide-rim glasses became part of his trademark look. He began his successful career as a comedian in April of 1986 at the Cleveland Comedy Club. One of his first big breaks was competing on Star Search ’88.
In 1991, Carey landed a spot on HBO’s 14th Annual Young Comedians Special and appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Carey landed his own television development deal at Disney, which led to an opportunity for Carey to co-star in the series The Good Life. Carey also had the opportunity to work with Bruce Helford, who was a consulting writer on the series and hired Carey as a staff writer for The Gaby Hoffman Show. Their experience led the two of them to decide to co-create a series for Carey. Carey went on to star in his own comedy special for Showtime, Drew Carey: Human Cartoon and performed in Showtime’s Tenth Anniversary of the Montreal Comedy Festival. Other credits include HBO’s Mr. Vegas’ All-Night Party, the television movie musical Geppetto, and host of CBS’ The Power of Ten. Carey’s debut book, Dirty Jokes and Beer: Stories of the Unrefined, is a look at life from Drew’s unique and comical perspective.
Carey was born in Cleveland, Ohio and currently resides in Los Angeles.
John Lehr (PMC Podcast Ep 66 – click HERE):
John Lehr is a comedic performer, writer and producer working in television, film and theater. Lehr starred as Leslie Pool in 10 Items Or Less, the half-hour improvisational comedy series from Sony on TBS. Lehr also co-created and executive produced the series, which ran for three seasons. Lehr is one of the original Geico Cavemen from the wildly successful commercial campaign. He appeared in over a dozen spots including the first commercial as a caveman boom operator, the caveman in therapy with Talia Shire, the tennis spot with Billy Jean King, Superbowl spots with Phil Simms and many more.
Lehr’s producing partner is writer/director Nancy Hower. Under the card Howler Productions, they have created multiple projects, most involving their unique improvisationally-based “hybrid” style found in 10 Items and Memron (a Slamdance award-winning mockumentary). With Lehr starring and Howler directing, the team recently completed Let It Ride, a half-hour comedy pilot set in Las Vegas for Comedy Central, Retreat! a half-hour comedy pilot set in a corporate retreat for EUE/Screengems and JailBait a web series for Sony and Crackle.com. In addition, Howler Productions created the pilots Team McPhearson, an animated series inhabiting the world of Nascar for Fox starring Jeff Foxworthy, and John Lehr Movie Club for TBS. Currently Lehr and Hower are writing a pilot for Sony Television.
As an actor, John has appeared in numerous television series including Friends and was a series regular on Jesse — both for Warner Brothers/NBC. His feature film roles include The Sweetest Thing and three Noah Baumbach films (Kicking and Screaming, Mr. Jealousy, Highball). Lehr’s critically acclaimed Comedic Lectures solo performances have had sold out runs in LA and New York. He is also a respected improvisational performer having worked at the Organic Theater and Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago, The Montreal Comedy Festival, Chicago Improvisational Festival and multiple venues in Los Angeles and New York. John’s hosting credits include News Weasels for E!, ABC’s reality show I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here and John Lehr’s Movie Club for TBS. John is married to author Jennifer Lehr with whom he has two children. The Lehrs reside in Los Angeles.
Jim Rash (PMC Podcast Ep 63 – click HERE):
Jim Rash plays the flamboyant Dean Pelton on the beloved NBC show Community. Along with writing partner Nat Faxon and director Alexander Payne, he penned the critically-acclaimed George Clooney film The Descendants, for which he was recently nominated for a Golden Globe Award. That script was also included on the 2008 edition of the Black List, a list of the most popular unproduced scripts in Hollywood.
Other TV roles include Fenton on That ‘70s Show; Andrew the Whore House Guy on Reno 911!; and a guest starring part on the final episode of Friends. Film work includes Mr. Grayson/Stitches, a sidekick to supervillain Royal Pain in Sky High, and roles in Slackers, Minority Report, and Smiley Face. Rash is a member of the acclaimed comedy troupe The Groundlings in Los Angeles.
Phil LaMarr (PMC Podcast Ep 62 – click HERE):
A Los Angeles native, Phil is an alumnus of Yale University and The Groundlings, the award-winning sketch and improv comedy group where he worked alongside such comedic lights as Jennifer Coolidge, Kathy Griffin and Will Ferrell. An improvisor since his teens, he has also studied improv at Second City and at the ImprovOlympic in Chicago with Del Close. In addition to performing with Cold Tofu and Off the Wall, Phil has also performed and taught at The Groundlings, LA Theatersports, and the Purple Crayon of Yale University of which he was a founding member.
His stage credits also include The Tempest, “Guys & Dolls” and “Patty Patty Bang Bang: The Patty Hearst Musical” as well as productions with The Actor’s Gang, South Coast Repertory and Sacred Fools Theatre.
He was one of the original cast members of Fox’s Madtv. Phil has also appeared as a guest on numerous TV shows such as Fresh Prince of Bel Air and NYPD Blue to Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Reno 911!
Phil has been profiled in TV Guide and LAWeekly for his extensive voice-over work, which includes featured roles in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa and Bolt; regular roles on the animated series Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, Futurama, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Samurai Jack and Justice League as well as recurring roles on Family Guy, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Wolverine and the X-men, and Afro-Samurai.
In feature films, LaMarr is best known as Marvin, the guy who gets his brains blown out in Pulp Fiction. He also appeared in the comedies Step Brothers, Cherish and Cook-Off, enjoyed a supporting role in Quid Pro Quo, a 2008 Sundance Film Festival selection and just completed filming the lead role in the independent feature A Night at the Silent Movie Theater.
Ethan Suplee (PMC Podcast Ep 61 – click HERE):
Born in New York and raised in Los Angeles, Ethan Suplee landed his first role at the age of 16 on the popular television series Boy Meets World, playing the reluctant bully “Frankie” for three seasons. He’s familiar to many as Randy Hickey, the well-meaning but dim brother of Earl in the hit half-hour NBC comedy My Name Is Earl. Other TV appearances include Third Watch, Raising Hope, Sister Sister, Wilfred, No Ordinary Family, and Tales from the Crypt. His first film role came as Willem, the frustrated teen trying to see the sailboat in the Magic Eye picture, in Kevin Smith’s Mallrats. Ethan worked with Smith again in the films Chasing Amy, Dogma and Clerks II.
He also appeared in the comedies Without a Paddle, Evolution, Road Trip, Mr. Woodcock, Fanboys and Art School Confidential. He’s made his mark in dramatic pieces as well, with memorable roles in American History X, Blow, Cold Mountain, Brothers, The Butterfly Effect, and The Fountain. His breakthrough film performance came as a young football player in Disney’s Remember the Titans, marking his first of three collaborations with Denzel Washington (the others being John Q and Unstoppable).
You can follow him on Twitter @ethansuplee and check him out on his website, www.ethansuplee.com.
Greg Behrendt (PMC Podcast Ep 60 – click HERE):
Greg Behrendt should be known for may things. He’s a brilliant lifelong comedian who accidentally became the best selling co-author of the inescapable He’s Just Not That Into You and It’s Called a Breakup Because It’s Broken. He’s performed stand-up on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Conan O’Brien, and has had his own comedy specials like Mantastic (HBO) and Uncool (Comedy Central).
He’s the co-host of the popular Walking the Room podcast. He was the host of the weirdly named Greg Behrendt Show and he’s the musical force behind America’s instrumental surf and ska combo The Reigning Monarchs and the foremost collector of small glass pig figurines or (“pigurines”). It is because of all these unique, memorable accomplishments that he is singularly recognized world wide as That Guy From That Thing! Enjoy him in person or at a great distance but enjoy him just the same! Check him out at gregbehrendt.com!
Dave Anthony (PMC Podcast Ep 60 – click HERE):
Dave Anthony is a stand-up comedian, writer and actor. He’s the creator and co-host of the popular podcast Walking the Room, which he does weekly alongside friend and stand-up Greg Behrendt. He’s performed stand-up at clubs all over the nation, and is a frequent guest on podcasts such as WTF with Marc Maron, Never Not Funny, Comedy Film Nerds and Sklarbro Country.
He has appeared on TV on the shows Men of a Certain Age, Entourage, Boston Legal, Las Vegas, Pretend Time, Scare Tactics and The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn and Jimmy Kimmel Live, and the acclaimed HBO film Recount. Follow him on twitter @daveanthony.
Meredith Salenger (PMC Podcast Ep 59 – click HERE):
Meredith Salenger was born and raised in Malibu, California. As a child she enjoyed performing in front of her family and friends. Her mother took her to her first acting class when she was eight years old. Her first role was a small part as a ‘singing and dancing orphan’ in the feature film Annie directed by John Huston. She also did a number of television advertisements. Her first starring role was in the Disney film The Journey of Natty Gann costarring John Cusack and Ray Wise, which was the first US movie to win the gold award at the Moscow Film Festival. The film also garnered her “Best Actress in a Drama” at the Youth in Film Awards for her portrayal of the tomboyish Natty Gann. She also starred as Lainie in the 80s Coreys classic Dream a Little Dream; Lisa in the River Phoenix film A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon; Melanie in John Carpenter’s remake of Village of the Damned; and Deputy Sharon Gare in the silly horror film Lake Placid.
Other film work includes Race to Witch Mountain, The Kiss, My Best Friend’s Wife, and Sour Grapes. She voices a few characters on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and has appeared on the shows Damages, Life, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Men of a Certain Age, Robot Chicken, 24, Cold Case, Resurrection Blvd., and Tales from the Crypt. You can follow Meredith on twitter, @merdthsalenger (no “i”!)
Fred Dekker (PMC Podcast Ep 58 – click HERE):
Writer/director Fred Dekker was born on April 9, 1959 in San Francisco, California. An avid comic book fan, monster movie buff and film nerd from an early age, Dekker was rejected by both USC and UCLA film schools. He wound up attending UCLA as an English major instead. His fellow UCLA classmates included future screenwriters Shane Black (who collaborated with Dekker on the script for The Monster Squad), Ed Solomon and Chris Matheson.
Fred’s first film credit was writing the story for the amusing horror comedy House. He made his promising debut as writer/director with the terrific Night of the Creeps, which paid affectionate homage to the blithely silly low-budget horror flicks he grew up loving as a kid. He followed this fine feature with the equally delightful tongue-in-cheek pastiche The Monster Squad. Both movies received mixed reviews from the critics and flopped at the box office, but have gone on to acquire huge cult followings.
Dekker wrote five episodes of the immensely enjoyable cable TV horror anthology series Tales from the Crypt: “Split Personality,” “And All Through the House,” “Lower Berth,” “Only Sin Deep,” and “The Thing From the Grave” (Fred directed this episode as well). He wrote the stories for the exciting Denzel Washington thriller Ricochet and the goofy Richard Grieco spy spoof If Looks Could Kill. Dekker wrote several episodes of and served as a consulting producer on the Scott Bakula Star Trek prequel TV show Enterprise.
Tom Lenk (PMC Podcast Ep 57 – click HERE):
Charming character actor Tom Lenk is known to legions of Buffy The Vampire Slayer fans as the sweet-natured yet evil-leaning nerd AndrewWells, a role he also appeared as on the spin-off series Angel. He’ll soon be seen in the Joss Whedon-penned horror film Cabin in the Woods. His first film role was as Philip Baker Hall’s son in Boogie Nights.
Other film work includes Transformers, The Number 23, My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend, Boogeyman 2, and Date Movie. He was a series regular on the short-lived Do Not Disturb with Jerry O’Connell and Niecy Nash, and has also appeared on the shows How I Met Your Mother, Greek, Eli Stone, Samantha Who?, Nip/Tuck, Trust Me, Psych, Six Feet Under, Judging Amy, Popular and House, M.D. He was part of the hit Broadway show Rock of Ages both in New York and the original Los Angeles production, and tours his one-man show Nerdgasm, which he recently performed in Ediburgh, Scotland.
Adam Busch (PMC Podcast Ep 57 – click HERE):
Adam Busch is probably best known for his three-season stint playing the role of Warren Mears, Buffy’s nemesis and leader of the ‘Troika,’ on Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Adam’s television work includes a five-year run as a series regular on the Nickelodeon hit show, The Mystery Files Of Shelby Woo. Other episodic work includes Grey’s Anatomy, Law & Order, House M.D., Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Back to You, The Journey, Point Pleasant, Count Jeff and The Fugitive. He made his feature debut in Luc Besson’s The Professional, and also co-starred in the New Line feature Sugar & Spice. He also starred and co-directed (along with Buffy co-star Amber Benson) the indie comedy Drones.
Adam is also a member of Common Rotation, a folk band that combines a theatrical stage show with their brand of intelligent, eclectic, acoustic, guitar-driven pop music. Originally from Long Island, and now residing in Los Angeles, Common Rotation has developed a substantial following on both the East and West coasts as well as the United Kingdom. They’ve just released a new album entitled “Keep an Open Gallery,” and are touring with Indigo Girls.
Jonathan Silverman (PMC Podcast Ep 56 – click HERE):
Jonathan Silverman was discovered while acting in a play at Beverly Hills High School., and was thrust into stardom when he replaced Matthew Broderick in the role of Neil Simon’s teenaged alter ego Eugene Jerome in Simon’s Broadway play Brighton Beach Memoirs. He recreated this role for the 1986 film version, then continued the Eugene Jerome saga in Simon’s follow-up plays Biloxi Blues and Broadway Bound. Silverman’s first TV stint was as the husband of Laurie Hendler on the 1980s sitcom Gimme a Break, and his first big screen appearance was as Drew in the Dance TV flick Girls Just Want To Have Fun. He co-starred with Andrew McCarthy in the two Weekend At Bernie’s films, and played opposite Jack Lemmon in both For Richer, For Poorer and The Odd Couple II.
Other film work includes Caddyshack II, Little Big League, Death Becomes Her, Class Action, 12:01, The Inspectors, Just a Little Harmless Sex, Traveling Man and Stealing Home. Silverman headlined the NBC comedy The Single Guy and also appeared on the shows Caroline in the City, Friends, Free For All, In Case of Emergency, Close to Home, Psych, White Collar, Numb3rs, Medium, and Greek. Silverman will soon be seen in the horror movie Inkubus with Robert Englund and the romantic comedy Conception with Connie Britton and his wife, actress Jennifer Finnigan, as well as his directorial debut, National Lampoon’s Another Dirty Movie with Robert Klein.
Matt Berry (PMC Podcast Ep 55 – click HERE):
Actor/comedian/musician Matt Berry starred as eccentric explorer Dixon Bainbridge in the revered comedy The Mighty Boosh; Douglas Renhom in The IT Crowd; and Dr. Lucian Sanchez on the hilarious Garth Marenghi’s Dark Place. He wrote and starred with Rich Fulcher on the series Snuff Box, and also appeared on The Sarah Silverman Program, The Peter Serafinowicz Show, Saxondale, Man to Man with Dean Lerner, Five Daughters, and The Golf War.
He is currently filming the eagerly-anticipated Snow White and the Huntsman with Kristen Stewert, Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth. Other film work includes Duncan Jones’ Moon, The Wedding Video, Angry White Man, Huge, Braincell and One Last Thing. In addition to scoring Snuff Box, Saxondale, The Peter Serafinowicz Show and AD/BC A Rock Opera, he’s released three albums – Jackpot, Opium and Witchazel.
Rich Fulcher (PMC Podcast Ep 55 – click HERE):
Rich Fulcher is an American comedian, writer and improviser, dividing his time between Los Angeles and London. Rich is most well known for his roles in the hit comedy series The Mighty Boosh. He also appeared as Bob Fossil and other characters in the record breaking Mighty Boosh Live show, which toured the UK (inc. London’s Wembley Stadium and the O2 Arena) from September 2008 to January 2009. Rich starred in Snuff Box – his own sketch show series which he wrote and performed with fellow comedian Matt Berry. Due to massive public demand Snuff Box was finally released on DVD in 2008. Rich was also a core writer and performer in Unnatural Acts with Julian Barratt, Noel Fielding and Sean Cullen. Rich is currently in the film High Road starring Rob Riggle, Horatio Sanz and Ed Helms, He has also recently released a podcast to critical ignominy entitled Gone Riffin with Rich and Abed.
Rich has guest starred on Children’s Hospital, NTSF:SD:SUV:, The Sarah Silverman Program, Funny or Die Presents, Skins, The Omid Djalili Show and has appeared on Miranda Hart’s Unwrapped, The Wright Stuff, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, and Journey of the Childmen (The Mighty Boosh on Tour documentary).
Rich’s first book TINY ACTS OF REBELLION – 97 ALMOST LEGAL WAYS TO STICK IT TO THE MAN was published in October 2009 by Michael O’Mara books. Rich began his comedy career in Chicago, where he became a member of Improv Olympic and the Second City National Touring Company. He was also one of the early members of the Upright Citizens Brigade. He first appeared in the UK as Professor Fulcher in the hugely successful Modern Problems In Science ‘the world’s only completely improvised university lecture’ and then in The Rich Fulcher Show that was subsequently nominated for a Stella Artois Award at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. For more, check out richfulcher.com.
Julia Duffy (PMC Podcast Ep 54 – click HERE):
Comedic actress Julia Duffy is best known as Dick Loudon’s spoiled rich girl maid Stephanie Vanderkellen on the hit comedy Newhart, a role for which she was nominated for seven Emmys and one Golden Globe, and won three Viewers For Quality Television Awards. She joined the cast of Designing Women in the sixth season as NYC transplant Allison Sugarbaker, and starred as Maggie in the Look Who’s Talking television adaptation Baby Talk, opposite a young George Clooney.
She played Princess Ariel in the cult comedy show Wizards and Warriors, and Barb Ballantine on The Mommies. Other television work includes roles on Cheers, The Love Boat, Love of Life, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, The Wizards of Waverly Place, Reba, Drake & Josh, The Drew Carey Show, Shameless, Melissa and Joey, CSI: NY, Joey, Campus Ladies, True Jackson VP, 7th Heaven, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and Voyagers.
She reunited with Clooney in the Coen Brothers’ Intolerable Cruelty, and also appeared in the films Cutter’s Way, The Blue and The Gray, Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd, Bed and Breakfast and Be My Baby. She’s a frequent guest in Acker & Blacker’s The Thrilling Adventure Hour at Largo along with her husband, actor Jerry Lacy.
Nigel Dick (PMC Podcast Ep 53 – click HERE):
Award winning, British born, filmmaker Nigel Dick has directed over 300 music videos and more than 25 documentaries & feature films. He has won 3 MTV awards, 2 Billboard Awards and 3 MVPA awards. His videos have been nominated for a further twenty- one MTV awards, twenty-six Much Music Awards, a Grammy and won one Brit Award. His many personal nominations include a Cable Ace Award.
In his career Nigel has been responsible for some of the most influential videos in music video history: SWEET CHILD O’ MINE, WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE, PARADISE CITY by Guns n’ Roses; CHAMPAGNE SUPERNOVA by Oasis, BELIEVE by Cher and OOPS I DID IT AGAIN by Britney Spears. In October 2007 two of Nigel’s videos, WONDERWALL by Oasis and BABY ONE MORE TIME by Britney Spears, were voted into the top 15 music videos of all time in the United Kingdom. Recent video hits include THE LAST GOODBYE by David Cook, THIS AFTERNOON by Nickelback, STICKWITU by Pussycat Dolls, NOT A LOVE SONG by Wonderland, LOSE MY MIND by The Wanted, & GIVE ME A SIGN by Breaking Benjamin. In addition the enormous list of artists Nigel has worked with includes: The Backstreet Boys, Toni Braxton, Sheryl Crow, Dashboard Confessional, Def Leppard, Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, Good Charlotte, Green Day, Enrique Iglesias, Il Divo, Elton John, Amy Lee, Ricky Martin, John Mayer, Paul McCartney, NSync, Ozzy Osbourne, R.E.M., Rod Stewart, Sting and Tina Turner. It has been calculated that the videos he has directed have helped to sell in excess of 200 million records.
Nigel trained as an architect before pursuing a career in the record business where he worked for hot, independent label Stiff Records and the powerful corporate Polygram before starting his directing career and moving to Los Angeles, where he stepped off the plane and immediately started shooting his first feature, PRIVATE INVESTIGATIONS , starring Ray Sharkey and Martin Balsam. In the mid 80’s Nigel co-founded Propaganda Films. Over the next few years the company would become the hottest commercial and video production company in town before Nigel sold his share of the company to his old bosses at Polygram. In recognition of its groundbreaking place in the history of music video the MVPA awarded Nigel and the other founders (David Fincher, Greg Gold, Dominic Senna, Steve Golin & Joni Sighvatsson) Lifetime Achievement Awards in April 2000.
In 2000 Nigel directed the first ever made-for-MTV movie, 2gether, which was watched by 23 million viewers and spawned a TV series and a top 40 soundtrack album which contains three songs he co-wrote. He subsequently directed Seeing Double which became ‘Britain’s most successful film of 2003’ (The Guardian). In 2007 Nigel completed Millar’s Tale, an acclaimed short documentary about former world champion cyclist David Millar’s two-year suspension from international competition after his conviction for using performance enhancing drugs. In 2008 the E! Network announced that Nigel had been hired as Co-exec Producer on, Pam: Girl on the Loose an observational documentary series, that featured the iconic Pamela Anderson and starred Kathy Griffin, Hugh Hefner, magician Criss Angel and photographer David LaChapelle. Later that year he shot the Tour de France for the Sundance Channel documentary Blood Sweat and Gears which aired in June 2009.
His latest feature is Callback– an independant comedy starring Kevin Farley as an out of work actor trying to get hired as the bad guy in the next Die Hard movie. The film also features Bill Faggerbakke (Dawber from Coach) and, yep, the co-host of the Pop My Culture Podcast, Cole Stratton! www.nigeldick.com.
Superego Podcast (PMC Podcast Ep 52 – click HERE):
Superego is a hit comedy podcast featuring Matt Gourley, Jeremy Carter, Mark McConville and Jeff Crocker. The podcast was conceived in much the same way as an illegitimate child; someone scribbled something to someone on a cocktail napkin and a few months later a baby was born. They named it Superego, and though it’s a little deformed and walks with a limp, they love it very much. More than just a fledgling show, Superego became a chance for them to work together again after our Channel 101 collaboration, Ultraforce. After they settled on the name Superego and the format of psychological case studies, they began pressing the little red button and improvising stupid characters. With the exception of some of the music segments, all of the Superego sessions are improvised and edited down to a tidy 3-5 minutes. The podcast has been featured on the iTunes main podcast page and has over half a million downloads.
Superego boasts an impressive roster of guest specialists, including Jason Sudeikis (SNL, 30 Rock), Paul F. Tompkins (Mr. Show, There Will Be Blood), Drew Carey (The Drew Carey Show, Whose Line Is It Anyway?), Patton Oswalt (Big Fan, Ratatouille), and John Hodgman (The Daily Show).
About the guys:
Matt Gourley has performed with Upright Citizen’s Brigade, Second City, Improv Olympic, and ComedySportz. He has been seen in various commercials for some corporate giants and was known as the controversial ‘Carlton Draft Beer Guy’ in Australia until the campaign was pulled because it featured a guy whose nuts tell him to get a beer. Matt has been featured on the NBC improv shows World Cup Comedy and Quick Witz. He also edits the Superego Podcast as well as the Judge John Hodgman Podcast and select comedy pieces on Public Radio International’s The Sound of Young America. Matt teaches acting at Long Beach City and Riverside Colleges where he will most likely give you an easy A.
Jeremy Carter has performed with numerous improv companies, including ComedySportz, Improv Olympic and D.U.H. He is a founding member of the five man sketch group Der Monkenpickle and has appeared in numerous Channel 101 shorts, particularly: Ultraforce, Buckle Up! and Time Belt (where he was given the opportunity to play Adolph Hitler as Ricardo Montalbán). He performs at various venues in the greater Los Angeles area.
Mark McConville is originally from Wisconsin. He attended The University Of Wisconsin-Madison and graduated with a BA in Theatre and Drama. He has been improvising for nearly 15 years with several different companies including ComedySportz Madison, ComedySportz Los Angeles, Improv Olympic and Disney Entertainment Productions. Mark is also a nascent and aspiring stand-up comic and a guitarist/pedal steel guitarist with a handful of Los Angeles based bands including The Dust Bowl Cavaliers and Common Rotation.
Check out their podcast on iTunes and at gosuperego.com
Rider Strong (PMC Podcast Ep 51 – click HERE):
Rider Strong charmed many as Shawn Hunter on the popular ABC series Boy Meets World, where he starred in all 158 episodes alongside Ben Savage. He started his acting career at age 9 when he starred in a San Francisco production of Les Miserables, and then landed his first TV series regular role as Julie Andrews’ son on Julie. He headlined the Eli Roth-directed cult horror film Cabin Fever, the most profitable horror film of 2002, and also starred in its sequel, Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever. He returned to television to co-star as camerman Chick in the Rebecca Romijn headlined Pepper Dennis, and also appeared on the shows Veronica Mars, Bones, Castle, Empty Nest, Home Improvement, Party of Five, Evening Shade, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and The Practice.
He’s done voice work on the animated shows Kim Possible, Batman Beyond, Hercules: The Animated Series and Roughnecks: The Starship Trooper Chronicles. Along with his brother Shiloh, Strong has written and directed several award-winning short films including The Irish Twins (2008 Tribecca Film Festival); The Dungeon Master, Method and a 30-second television ad in support of Barack Obama. The ad, submitted to MoveOn.org, became one of 15 finalists from a pool of over 1,100 submitted ads, and was chosen as the funniest ad in May 2008. In August, MoveOn raised $200,000 to air the ad on MTV and Comedy Central; it was the first political commercial to ever appear on Comedy Central.
Emma Caulfield (PMC Podcast Ep 50 – click HERE):
A multi-talented actress, writer, and producer, Emma Caulfield rose to fame as lovable vengeance demon Anya on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She also played Brandon Walsh’s love interest Susan Keats on the original Beverly Hills 90201; starred as the love-seeking single Oona in the interesting indie film TiMER; headlined the horror hit Darkness Falls; and plays Emma Bradshaw on Life, Unexpected. Other TV and film work includes Gigantic, Leverage, Nash Bridges, Robot Chicken, Private Practice, Monk, Hollow, Confined and Removal.
She stars in and created the popular web series Bandwagon, now in its second season, and is the co-author of the webcomic Contropussy. Her latest comic book idea, Ripped, which she is working on with frequent collaborator Camilla Ransten, is being funded on Kickstarter now! Check it out HERE. You can follow Emma on twitter @emmacaulfield.
Dave Coulier (PMC Podcast Ep 49 – click HERE):
Dave Coulier is perhaps best known for his work on the long-running hit ABC television series Full House which aired for eight seasons (1987-1995, with 192 episodes produced) and can now be seen as part of the popular Nick At Nite and ABC Family network lineups. Additionally, the show is currently in worldwide syndication in over 100 countries. Dave followed this success by hosting his second prime-time hit series, America’s Funniest People, which ran on ABC for four seasons. Dave also handled the hosting chores for ABC’s The World’s Funniest Videos, and hosted his own series, Out of Control for Nickelodeon. Dave hosted the multiple-award winning TV series, Animal Kidding, on the Animal Planet Network. Dave also appeared on VH1’s #1 rated series The Surreal Life. Dave hosted two seasons of America’s Most Talented Kids for the i Network. He also stars as the voices of Felix The Cat, The Professor and Rock Bottom in several Felix The Cat animated feature films on DVD. Dave also partnered with Nancy Kerrigan in the Skating With Celebrities series on the Fox Network. Dave starred in two movies; Shredderman for Nickelodeon and The Family Holiday which aired on the Lifetime Network. Highly regarded for his voice-over talent, Dave’s additional credits include many Saturday morning cartoon favorites. He began by doing voices on Hanna-Barbera’s Scooby Doo and the re-syndicated version of The Jetsons. Dave then went on to lend his versatile voice to Jim Henson’s multiple Emmy Award-winning animated series, Muppet Babies, where he portrayed Animal and Dr.Bunsen Honeydew for the run of the series, and then became the voice of three additional characters; Waldorf and Statler (the two old guys in the balcony on the original Muppet Show) and Bean Bunny. Dave provided the voice of Peter Venkman for The Real Ghostbusters cartoon, as well as voices for the Cartoon Networks’ Robot Chicken. Dave is also teamed-up with fellow comedian, Dave Thomas on The Bob and Doug (McKenzie) animated series. Dave has just recently started work on The Professor Brothers for Cartoon Networks’ Adult Swim lineup. Dave’s clean stand-up has earned him appearances on The Tonight Show, HBO’s Detroit Comedy Jam and HBO’s Comic Relief at Radio City Music Hall. Dave continues to enjoy sold out performances of his stand up, and performs at many colleges, corporate events, casinos, nightclubs and theaters across the country. Visit his website, www.davecoulier.tv
William Zabka (PMC Podcast Ep 48 – click HERE):
Actor/Writer/Director William Zabka is best known as Daniel Larusso’s Cobra Kai foe Johnny Lawrence in the beloved film The Karate Kid, a role he reprised briefly in its sequel, and in the No More Kings music video for “Sweep The Leg,” which reunited the cast, and was also written and directed by Zabka.
Other memorable film roles include Jack, Audrey’s insensitive boyfried in National Lampoon’s European Vacation; Chas from the Rodney Dangerfield cult comedy Back to School; Greg Tolan in the genre-bending flick Just One of The Guy; and Rick in the high-concept comedy Hot Tub Time Machine. Other film work includes Shootfighter, Python 1 & 2, Valley Girl and Smiley Face. He also co-starred with Edward Woodward in TV’s The Equalizer. In 2003, he wrote and produced the Czech short film Most, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short Live Action Film. You can find out more about that film at mostthemovie.com.
Rob Paulsen (PMC Podcast Ep 47 – click HERE):
One of the most acclaimed and in-demand voice actors out there, with over 2,000 animated half-hours to his credit and 1000 commercial spots, Rob Paulsen is familiar to many as the voice of Pinky from Pinky and the Brain (for which he won a Daytime Emmy in 1999 for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program, and back to back Annie awards in 1997 and 1998); Yakko and Dr. Scratch ‘n’ Sniff from Animaniacs; Arthur from The Tick; Raphael from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Jack Fenton in Danny Phantom; Carl Wheezer in Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius; the title role in Mighty Max; Bobble in the Tinkerbell series; and the title role in The Mask.
On camera, he’s appeared in the films Body Double, Stewardess School, Eyes of Fire, The Perfect Match and Warlocked. TV work includes MacGyver and St. Elsewhere. Rob’s new weekly podcast, Talkin’ Toons with Rob Paulsen, is five episodes in and available on iTunes. Check out his website at www.robpaulsenlive.com
Kevin Pollak (PMC Podcast Ep 46 – click HERE):
Kevin Pollak has captured the attention of audiences worldwide with his range of both dramatic and comedic roles. Over the past two decades, he has appeared in over fifty films, as well as countless television projects, and has established himself as one of the few stand-up comedians to have a successful dramatic film career. In addition to his acting talents, he has also proven himself as both a writer and producer.
Pollak first started performing stand-up comedy at the age of ten. He became a touring professional stand-up at age twenty and then in 1988 landed a role in George Lucas’ Willow , directed by Ron Howard. In 1990, he appeared in Barry Levinson’s Avalon, for which he received an overwhelming response from the film community. It was Pollak’s role in the 1992 film A Few Good Men, directed by Rob Reiner, starring Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson and Demi Moore,that proved his ability to share the big screen with dramatic heavyweights. He then went on to co-star in the box-office success Grumpy Old Men and its’ sequel, Grumpier Old Men. In 1994, Kevin was offered a plum role opposite Gabriel Byrne, Kevin Spacy, Bennicio Del Toro, Chaz Palmeteri and Stephen Baldwin in a little indie film called The Usual Suspects. Although the director, Bryan Singer, and the writer, Christopher McQuarrie, were complete unknowns at the time, the script was simply the best he had ever read, so he took the leap. The film debuted at the Cannes Film Festival to a frenzied response, and then went on to win two Academy Awards and a special award from The National Board of Review for “Best Ensemble Cast.” Later that same year, the call came from Martin Scorsese for Kevin to join Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesce and Sharon Stone in his Vegas epic, Casino. It was a dream-like opportunity to work with the master, and the film would also garner several Academy Award nominations, and would soon after become known as one Scorsese’s classics. In 1999, he appeared opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gabriel Byrne in Universal Picture’s End of Days. He followed that with a starring role in Paramount Classics’ political thriller Deterrence, written and directed by Rod Lurie, for which Kevin received overwhelming critical praise.
Other filmwork includes Dr. Doolittle 2, Stolen Summer, The Santa Clause 2, Seven Times Lucky, Hotel Niagra, Million Dollar Mystery and Wayne’s World 2.
Pollak has also starred in several television projects including The Underworld, a crime telepic for Warner Bros. and NBC, which he co-created and co-executive produced with Chris McQuarrie (Academy Award winning screenwriter of The Usual Suspects) and Lucy Webb. He also starred in the CBS sitcom Work With Me, which he co-executive produced. When Tom Hanks called a few years back, Kevin starred in an episode of the multi-award winning series, From the Earth to the Moon. Before that, however, there was a call from Drew Carey for Kevin to voice his boss on a pilot for a show to be called, The Drew Carey Show. Mr. Bell’s often abusive relationship with Drew ran the entire first season. Pollak also hosted the first season of Bravo’s Celebrity Poker Showdown. Pollak has also starred in two of his own HBO stand-up comedy specials, the latest being Kevin Pollak, Stop With The Kicking, directed by David Steinberg. Kevin was recently named by Comedy Central as one of the Top 100 Comedians of all Time.
Kevin hosts the aptly named Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show, the extremely popular internet interview show, available on iTunes and kevinpollakschatshow.com. A new episode streams live every Sunday at 5pm pacific time, and features Pollak, contributors Samm Levine and Jamie Fox, and amazing guests from film and television. Past guests include Neil Patrick Harris, Christopher Guest, Eddie Izzard, Paul Rudd, Brian Cranston, Paul Dooley, Martin Mull, Jon Hamm, Matthew Perry, The Swell Season, JK Simmons, Billy Bob Thornton and countless others!
Mindy Sterling (PMC Podcast Ep 45 – click HERE):
Comedic actress and fantastic improviser Mindy Sterling has been working in television and film for over thirty years, but gained lots of attention for her scene-stealing role as Dr. Evil’s right hand woman, Frau Farbissina, in the Austin Powers trilogy. She was into comedy at an early age—her father is comedian Dick Sterling, who was partners with Shecky Greene.
In addition to the Austin Powers flicks, Sterling has appeared in the films Drop Dead Gorgeous, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Mars Needs Moms, Spring Breakdown, Idle Hands and Reno 911!: Miami. On television, she plays Ms. Briggs, the English Teacher, on iCarly; Christian Slater’s secretary Arlene on My Own Worst Enemy; and voices Miss Endive on Nickelodeon’s Chowder. Other film and voice over work includes Surf’s Up, Ice Age: The Meltdown, Just Shoot Me, Invader Zim, That’s So Raven, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Scrubs, Robot Chicken, Campus Ladies and Curb Your Enthusiasm. She’s also an alumnus of L.A.’s well-regarded comedy troupe, The Groundlings.
J. Elvis Weinstein (PMC Podcast Ep 44 – click HERE):
Josh “J. Elvis” Weinstein is one of the founding writer/performers of the cult hit Mystery Science Theater 3000, where he originated the roles of Tom Servo, Gypsy and Dr. Laurence Erhardt. Just 17 when it started, he was on its initial run on Minneapolis UHF station KTMA-TV from 1988 to 1989, and its first season on Comedy Central (then called the Comedy Channel) from 1989 to 1990. After leaving the show, he became a writer and a producer on shows like My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star, Malcom & Eddie, America’s Funniest Home Videos, Later with Greg Kinnear, and the beloved series Freaks and Geeks, where he penned the memorable episodes “Beers and Weirs” and “Noshing and Moshing.” He’s also an accomplished stand-up comedian, having also written material for Garry Shandling, Roseanne Barr, Dennis Miller and Louis Anderson, among others. Josh currently writes and performs with Cinematic Titanic, a feature-length B-Movie riffing show with fellow MST3Kers Joel Hodgson, Trace Beaulieu, Mary Jo Pehl and Frank Conniff.
Follow him on twitter @jelvisweinstein.
Garfunkel & Oates (PMC Podcast Ep 42 – click HERE):
Delightful musical comedy duo Garfunkel & Oates (Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci) got their start playing various venues in LA. As their act began to take shape, they began monthly shows at staples like The Upright Citizens Brigade Theater and Largo, and their songs and videos became insanely popular on the web. Their latest record, “All Over Your Face,” is available on iTunes, and features songs like “Weed Card,” “This Party Took a Turn for the Douche,” and “Sex With Ducks.” You can check out their videos on YouTube and their website, www.garfunkelandoates.com.
Riki Lindhome (Garfunkel) was born in Coudersport, PA but grew up primarily in Portville, NY. Her first break came when Tim Robbins cast her in his hit play, Embedded, which played at the Public Theater in NYC, Riverside Studios in London and The Actor’s Gang Theater in LA. Shortly after, Clint Eastwood cast her in her first film role, as Mardell Fitzgerald in Million Dollar Baby. Since then, she has appeared in several films and TV shows including The Last House on the Left, Changeling, My Best Friend’s Girl, The Big Bang Theory and Pushing Daisies. She also wrote and directed two short films, Life is Short and Imaginary Larry.
KateMicucci (Oates) was born in New Jersey and spent most of her school years in Pennsylvania. As a kid she focused on playing outside in the woods and playing classical piano. In college she majored in art, focusing on painting and making puppets. She received an A.A. in Fine Arts from Keystone College. After a small stint watering banana and pineapple plants in Hawaii, Kate decided to go to Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles where she made more puppets and received a B.A. in Studio Art. Kate currently recurs on the hit show Raising Hope as daycare runner Shelley, and has appeared on Scrubs, Rules of Engagement, Cory in the House and When in Rome.
Thomas Lennon (PMC Podcast Ep 41 – click HERE):
Thomas Lennon is a writer and comedian from Oak Park, Illinois. He attended the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, where he co-founded the influential sketch comedy group The State. The State’s hit television series ran on MTV for three seasons, and received an Ace Award nomination for best comedy series. After his work on The State, he and his partner Robert Ben Garant created two more hit shows: Viva Variety, which ran for three seasons and was also an Ace nominee for best comedy series, and Reno 911!, in which he also played Lt. Jim Dangle. Reno 911!” ran for six seasons, and is syndicated around the world.
As an actor, he has appeared in numerous films including: Le Divorce, Heights, Conversations with Other Women, Memento, 17 Again and I Love You, Man. Upcoming film work includes Bad Teacher and A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas.
As a writer, has written for the television series The State, Reno 911!, Viva Variety, and Strangers with Candy, and he is the author of 4 of IFC’s 50 Greatest Comedy Sketches of All Time. He and Garant have written nine feature films together, including: Night at the Museum, Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian, Taxi, Reno 911!: Miami, Balls of Fury, and The Pacifier.
He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, the actress Jenny Robertson and his son, Oliver.
Brice Beckham (PMC Podcast Ep 40 – click HERE):
Brice Beckham began his career in the entertainment industry as a child actor, most notably as Wesley T. Owens on the long-running television series Mr. Belvedere. A standout on the show, he was a fun foil for the title character played by the great Christopher Hewitt. In the twenty years that followed he has gone on to act, write, direct and produce for stage and screen, and he is a self-taught editor, illustrator and animator.
He’s one of the three guys behind Drama 3/4 Productions (pronounced Drama Three-Four), named after the theater class of the same name attended by high school students every day across the country. They’ve created many memorable viral videos and short films, such as Deliverance: The Musical, No Football For Old Men, and Mr. Robinson’s Driving School. Brice created the character of C.L. Fox for I Hate My 30’s, and his animated short film Choke Spot Choke was an official selection of Spike & Mike’s Sick and Twisted Festival.
