Don't Be Alone with Jay Kogen

J. Elvis Weinstein was a head writer on many shows so he knows a good joke while Jay just jokes often from character. On this show we sort out the differences. Also J. talks about his funny family. Hobbies like ice cream, bad jokes, bubble gum jokes, fortune cookies, losing money on documentaries, saving your marriage by wasting less money than your wife thinks, Mystery Science Theater,  old credits, and how jokes ruin dramas, hack jokes, improvisations, the perfect punchline, and hating Seinfeld.  Bio: J. Elvis Weinstein began his stand-up comedy career at age 15 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. At 17, he was one of the founding writer/performers of "Mystery Science Theater 3000” (MST3K) as the original voice/puppeteer of robots Tom Servo and Gypsy, and the role of Dr. Lawrence Erhardt.Since moving to Los Angeles, he has worked as a writer/producer on a wide range of network TV comedy, including "Freaks and Geeks", "Malcolm and Eddie", "Dead Last", and "My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star.” He was also the Head Writer on "America's Funniest Home Videos" and "Later with Greg Kinnear".  In 2008 he reunited with his MST3K co-stars to form “Cinematic Titanic” which toured U.S. Theaters as a live show and produced 12 DVDs, now available as a box set.J. Elvis has written and directed 3 films - 2 feature documentaries (“I Need You To Kill” & “Michael Des Barres: Who Do You Want Me To Be?”) and a comedy short (“The Mediocre Samaritan”). As a performer, he continues to perform as a stand-up (releasing the album “Chunks” in 2019), co-hosts the podcast “Thought Spiral” with comedian Andy Kindler, and recently co-starred in the feature film “The Fiddling Horse” (2020).

Andy and Jay talk about anger, falling down, therapy, neuropathy, parents, the power of singing, audio books, back aches, Quakers, the State of The Industry, the Thought Spiral podcast, Binghamton University, LSD, The Stump, and Moon Zappa’s new book “Earth To Moon”, and running away from Jay Leno.Bio:  Andy Kindler currently recurs on Fox’s hit animation, Bob’s Burgers and Comedy Central’s long-running Tosh.O.  He is also a regular on the critically praised Canadian web series, But I’m Chris Jericho (for which he was nominated as Best Supporting Actor by L.A. Webfest 2018).  Andy was the host of Season 4 and 5 of Hulu’s standup series, Coming to the Stage as well as a series judge on the seventh season of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, the star of two half-hour Comedy Central Presents specials and was a frequent guest and correspondent on The Late Show with David Letterman with over 40 appearances.  He has previously recurred on Everybody Loves Raymond, Showtime’s I’m Dying Up Here, Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Place, IFC’s Maron and Comedy Central’s The Daily Show.  Other noteworthy credits include Portlandia, the HBO Young Comedians Special, Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist, Home Movies and The Larry Sanders Show.  In July 2022, Andy became the first comedian to perform as a hologram, delivering his notorious State of the Industry Address from the relative safety of Van Nuys, CA. while appearing 3-dimensionally live at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal.

Screenwriting legend Zak Penn talks about how he got so savvy in the business of show.  We talk about how coming to LA and scouting out the city geared him up for his big move after college and his sale of “The Last Action Hero” started him on a 35 year journey of being one of Hollywood’s most sought after writers. We talk about the good times with Speilberg, JJ Abrams, Shawn Levy, Ryan Reynolds, & Dwayne Johnson and we talk about the bad times with others. Bio: Zak Penn’s career began as a screenwriter when he sold his first script, LAST ACTION HERO, at the age of twenty-three. Since then, Penn has become known for his work on numerous films based on Marvel comics, including X-MEN 2 and X-MEN: THE LAST STAND, ELEKTRA, THE INCREDIBLE HULK and THE AVENGERS. He has also dabbled in other genres, writing scripts for disparate films such as P.C.U., BEHIND ENEMY LINES and SUSPECT ZERO.Penn’s shift into independent cinema began when he collaborated with his idol, Werner Herzog, on the script for RESCUE DAWN. Penn directed and co-starred with Herzog in INCIDENT AT LOCH NESS, his award-winning “hoax” documentary about the legendary director’s attempts to make a film about the equally legendary monster. THE GRAND, Penn’s second completely improvised film, was his third film with Herzog, and featured an eclectic cast including Woody Harrelson, David Cross, Ray Romano, Cheryl Hines, Dennis Farina and Gabe Kaplan.In addition, Penn co-wrote the original story for ANTZ and produced the animated film OSMOSIS JONES. He has also acted in a number of independent films, including STAR MAPS and CHUCK & BUCK. His first foray into television was the critically acclaimed original series ALPHAS starring David Strathairn. Penn directed the documentary ATARI: GAME OVER for Xbox Entertainment Studios.More recently, Penn adapted the New York Times bestselling novel READY PLAYER ONE for Warner Bros. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the film was released in 2018. Penn also co-wrote the script for the action comedy FREE GUY, starring Ryan Reynolds and Jodie Comer. The film is directed by Shawn Levy and was released in August of 2021.

Comic/writer/cartoonist Mo Welch talks about her journey to find her dad and the Hulu special that came out of it called, “Dad Jokes”. She also dives into how she came fun humble beginnings to become a headlining comic who isn't so famous she gets hassled all the time. She talks about improv and drawing cartoons for the new yorker and being a mom and the difference between her upbringing and her wife's. She also talks about scolding her audiences and answers a few questions as basketball legend, Larry birdBio:  Mo Welch is a stand up comedian and cartoonist originally from Normal, Illinois. She appeared on CONAN in January of 2018 and in February of 2019. Her 10 part animated series BLAIR debuted on TBS Digital in January 2018. She was selected to be part of the CBS SHOWCASE in 2014 and 2024. Her comics have been published in The New Yorker, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Vice, and more. Welch is the author of How to Die Alone, published in 2019 by Workman Publishing. Her Audible series Come Out, Come Out, featuring guests like Roxanne Gay and Mae Martin debuted in 2020. Mo co-directed her own special DAD JOKES as well as Beth Stelling's special, If You Didn't Want Me Then on Netflix. Mo is currently on the road opening for Brett Goldstein. Mo lives in Los Angeles.

Writer/Producer Andy Gordon loves writing. He talks about writing for pleasure after all these years. He talks about how the characters can make him laugh or cry in the car. He also talks about breaking into show business on the day he arrived in Hollywood, Jon Landis, Tom Lynch, Chuck Lorre, sending messages to his daughters through his shows, working on Big Bang and Modern Family, and the joys of arrest videos. Bio: Andy Gordon is a writer/producer who worked on KIDS INC, DREAM ON, MAD ABOUT YOU, NEWSRADIO, FOXWORTHY, JUST SHOOT ME (2 pilots + 4 years), DAG, WHAT ABOUT JOAN in Chicago, COMPLETE SAVAGES with the Scullys, BACK TO YOU, TRUE JACKSON, LAST MAN STANDING, FRIEND ME, MYSTERY GIRLS, MODERN FAMILY, BIG BANG THEORY, US OF AL and CALL ME KAT.  Also the movie FIRED UP.

Meredith Salenger talks about fighting for justice, making peace, mediating, falling in love over text, growing up in Malibu, being picked to be a star by John Houston, being a good stepmother, having a dentist dad, Patton Oswalt, Natty Gann, sunsets, and wolves. Bio: Meredith Salenger is an actress, writer, producer from Malibu, CA who began her professional acting career at the age of 10, playing an orphan in 1982’s “Annie,” directed by John Huston. She is perhaps best known for her starring role performances in “The Journey of Natty Gann” with John Cusack, “Dream a little Dream,” and “A Night in Life of Jimmy Reardon” opposite River Phoenix. Meredith graduated cum laude from Harvard with a degree in psychology, before resuming her focus on acting to star in “H.U.D” with Steve Carell, and “Chicks” from the writers of “Seinfeld.”  Her varied additional credits from film and television include the likes of “Will & Grace,” “Anger Management,” “24,” “Dawson’s Creek,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Daredevil,” “Damages,” David Kelley’s “Lake Placid” and John Carpenter’s “Village of the Damned.” You can also hear her voiceover work in a trio of “Star Wars” vehicles – “The Clone Wars,” “Rebels,” and “The Force Awakens,” along with such projects as “The Secret Life of Pets 2,”  “My Little Pony,” “Teen Titans Go! to the Movies,” “Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!,” “Robot Chicken,” “Lego DC Super Hero Girls,” and Marvel’s latest, “M.O.D.O.K” on Hulu.  She is currently in development for an animated show with her writing and producing partner, Matt Boren, and also  produces and hosts a hilarious podcast with her husband, Patton Oswalt, called “Did you get my text?”Her most recent film “the prank”starring Rita Moreno is streaming now and she has a soon to be released dark comedy called “I hate myself and want to die.”

Marianne helps Jay try to find his spirituality. She talks about how we need to step into our own power. We talk about finding truths of the universe, faith in the people, and trouble at the bagel store.  Bio: For more than four decades, Marianne Williamson has been a leader of spiritually progressive circles. She is the author of 16 books, four of which have been #1 New York Times best sellers. A quote from the mega-bestseller A Return to Love, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure…” is considered an anthem for a contemporary generation of seekers.Her other bestsellers have included A Woman’s Worth, The Law of Divine Compensation, Tears to Triumph, THE MYSTIC JESUS: The Mind of Love and The Gift of Change. With her books and online classes she has taught millions of people the universal spiritual principles at the heart of miracle-minded thinking.Williamson founded Project Angel Food, a non-profit organization that has delivered more than 18 million meals to ill and dying homebound patients in the Los Angeles area since 1989. The group was created to help people suffering from the ravages of HIV/AIDS. She has also worked throughout her career on poverty, anti-hunger and racial reconciliation issues. In 2004, she co-founded The Peace Alliance and supported the creation of a U.S. Department of Peace.Instagram: @MarianneWilliamsonWebsite: Marianne.comSubstack: MarianneWilliamson.Substack.com

Writer Dan Ewen talks about his new show which was the last from Norman Lear, Dear Santa, growing up across the street from the good side of town, loving Athens. Bio:Dan Ewen is a writer/producer from Athens, Georgia. On the series front, he has written for Disney, USA Network and Amazon, where he serves as Executive Producer, co-creator and co-showrunner of "Clean Slate", Norman Lear's final comedy, starring Laverne Cox and George Wallace, He also created Paramount's feature, PLAYING WITH FIRE, starring John Cena, and the recent Jack Black vehicle, DEAR SANTA. Ewen has been doing improv for far too long, and owns two lovely cats.

David Silverman explores the history of The Simpsons from before it existed until now. He talks about animating the hard stuff and making it look easy as well as his love of Burning Man & the tuba.Bio: After graduating from UCLA in 1983, David Silverman worked as a freelance illustrator and animator until, in 1987, he landed a job animating on The Tracey Ullman Show — where The Simpsons began. Animating on all 48 shorts led to David directing the first shows of The Simpsons. Starting with the Christmas Special in December 1989, and then the premiere episode the following month, David soon became Supervising Animation Director and a producer on The Simpsons. All told, he has directed 24 episodes and has won 4 Emmys along the way.  When no one was looking, David snuck away from The Simpsons to work at DreamWorks (The Road to El Dorado – co-director), Pixar (Monsters, Inc. – co-director), and Blue Sky (Ice Age, Robots – writing and boarding). But, he came back to the show full-time at the end of 2003 and directed The Simpsons Movie. In 2012, David directed and co-wrote the short film The Longest Daycare about Maggie Simpson, which earned him an Academy Award nomination.And since the Disney acquisition of The Simpsons (via the purchase of Fox), David has directed 10 Simpsons shorts especially for Disney+, as well as several promotional pieces.

Patton Oswalt and I finish our discussion in this first ever two part DBAWJK! You can never get enough Oswalt. He has been one of the most original minds out there for the last 30 years and a touch stone for quality who seems to be committed to art, laughter, ideas, and making the world slighty less shity. Bio: Patton Oswalt is a comic/actor/writer, but in alphabetical order.