Classic Conversations: Pop culture Interviews with Jeff Dwoskin

Marc Sotkin has written and produced some of the most beloved sitcoms in television history, and the stories behind those shows are even better than the episodes themselves.

From selling underwear in Houston to running the writers room on Golden Girls, Sotkin's career is a masterclass in persistence, instinct, and surviving chaos with a sense of humor.

Show Highlights:

How an underwear salesman from Texas talked his wife into moving to Hollywood and somehow made it work.

The $15 quiz show question that was rewritten before it ever aired, and why it still bothers him.

The secret comedy duo Marc Sotkin formed with a young Gary Shandling before either of them were famous.

The Laverne & Shirley season that included a star quitting, a cast member dying the night before a shoot, and Jim Belushi saving the day.

Why the showrunner of Golden Girls eventually ran the show from Boulder, Colorado, flying in twice a week.

You're going to love my conversation with Greg Evigan

IMDB

Time Off for Bad Behavior

The Comatose Adventures of Lenny Rose

Kind of Dirty Paris Confessions

Marc's website

Follow Jeff Dwoskin (host):

Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter

The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter

Podcast website

Podcast on Instagram

Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show

Ways to support the show:

Buy me a coffee (support the show)

Dashery/TeePublic Store: Classic Conversations merch and more!

Love the books I talk about on the show? Here is my Amazon store to shop.

SPONSOR: STAMPEDE SOCIAL Drive engagement from your social channels and podcast with Stampede Social's Instagram and Facebook DM automation! Visit https://stampede.social Also check out: Why Instagram + Stampede Social Is the Growth Strategy Podcasters Need in 2025 (and Beyond)
Thanks for checking out Classic Conversations! Dive into pop culture nostalgia with comedian Jeff Dwoskin as he hosts the best TV and film interviews. Hear inspiring stories from actors, comedians, musicians, and pop culture icons about the road to success. Part comedy, part drama—always entertaining.

 

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

Greg Evigan has lived one of the most colorful careers in Hollywood, and this conversation brings all of it rushing back.

From the stages of Broadway to the cab of a big rig, from a home recording studio he built himself to Abbey Road in London, Greg sits down to revisit the stories, the shows, and the music that have defined his remarkable life. Along the way, he reveals that he has never stopped chasing the thing that started it all: the music.

Show Highlights:

Greg wrote the iconic My Two Dads theme song in just 20 minutes with writing partner Lenny Macaluso, then had to play it for producer Michael Jacobs on a cassette tape in a car 15 times before getting the greenlight.

BJ and the Bear pulled a staggering 47 share on its premiere night, meaning nearly half the country was watching. NBC executive Fred Silverman had tried to kill the show by scheduling it against the movie Network, and it crushed the competition anyway.

Greg turned down the lead role in Knight Rider, and he has no regrets. As he puts it, after years of talking to a chimp, he was not about to start talking to a car.

The new album, Greg Evigan with London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, features 8 original pieces Greg wrote and performs on piano, recorded with a 65-piece orchestra at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London.

Greg shares a jaw-dropping story from the Grease memoir book about a well-connected New Jersey "relative" who offered to handle a casting problem the old-fashioned way, involving Jeff Conaway's knees. Greg politely declined.

You're going to love my conversation with Greg Evigan

IMDB

Greg's website

Instagram

Buy the album

Facebook

Follow Jeff Dwoskin (host):

Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter

The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter

Podcast website

Podcast on Instagram

Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show

Ways to support the show:

Buy me a coffee (support the show)

Dashery/TeePublic Store: Classic Conversations merch and more!

Love the books I talk about on the show? Here is my Amazon store to shop.

SPONSOR: STAMPEDE SOCIAL Drive engagement from your social channels and podcast with Stampede Social's Instagram and Facebook DM automation! Visit https://stampede.social Also check out: Why Instagram + Stampede Social Is the Growth Strategy Podcasters Need in 2025 (and Beyond)
Thanks for checking out Classic Conversations! Dive into pop culture nostalgia with comedian Jeff Dwoskin as he hosts the best TV and film interviews. Hear inspiring stories from actors, comedians, musicians, and pop culture icons about the road to success. Part comedy, part drama—always entertaining.

 

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

A deep dive with Lindsay Denninger into the cultural phenomenon of Gossip Girl reveals just how powerful storytelling can shape generations.

From downloading episodes overseas to becoming fully immersed in the fashion, music, and drama, Lindsay Denninger shares how Gossip Girl became more than just a show, it became a defining force in pop culture. Through her new book, she explores the lasting influence of the series, from its groundbreaking pilot to its commentary on fame, identity, and the rise of digital surveillance. This conversation unpacks the nostalgia of early 2000s television while examining why certain storylines still resonate—and others don’t. It’s a candid look at fandom, storytelling, and the messy brilliance of iconic TV.

Show Highlights:

The unexpected rise of Gossip Girl during the 2007 writers strike

How teen dramas shaped identity and pop culture in the 2000s

The behind-the-scenes reality of writing about television and celebrities

Why the show’s themes feel more relevant today than ever

A critical look at controversial storylines and character arcs

You're going to love my conversation with Lindsay Denninger

Lindsay's website

Lindsay's book

Instagram

Linday's substack

Follow Jeff Dwoskin (host):

Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter

The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter

Podcast website

Podcast on Instagram

Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show

Ways to support the show:

Buy me a coffee (support the show)

Dashery/TeePublic Store: Classic Conversations merch and more!

Love the books I talk about on the show? Here is my Amazon store to shop.

SPONSOR: STAMPEDE SOCIAL Drive engagement from your social channels and podcast with Stampede Social's Instagram and Facebook DM automation! Visit https://stampede.social Also check out: Why Instagram + Stampede Social Is the Growth Strategy Podcasters Need in 2025 (and Beyond)
Thanks for checking out Classic Conversations! Dive into pop culture nostalgia with comedian Jeff Dwoskin as he hosts the best TV and film interviews. Hear inspiring stories from actors, comedians, musicians, and pop culture icons about the road to success. Part comedy, part drama—always entertaining.

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

Lahna Turner opens up about a journey shaped by creativity, loss, resilience, and reinvention.

From a shy photographer hiding behind the lens to commanding stages as a comedian, her path was anything but predictable. A life-altering car accident pushed her to confront fear head-on, ultimately leading her into stand-up comedy and a deeply transformative relationship with Ralphie May.

Her latest project, Come What May, is more than a documentary—it’s a decade-long labor of love capturing Ralphie May’s life, struggles, and legacy. Through raw storytelling, unseen footage, and personal reflection, Lahna reveals the complexities behind fame, addiction, grief, and healing. This conversation explores not only Ralphie’s rise and impact, but also the emotional weight of telling a story that’s both deeply personal and universally human.

Show Highlights:

How a near-death car accident pushed Lahna Turner to pursue comedy and abandon fear

The unexpected love story between Lahna Turner and Ralphie May before fame

Behind-the-scenes insight into Come What May and why it took nearly a decade to complete

The truth about Ralphie May’s rise to fame and the pivotal role of Jay Mohr

Lahna Turner’s personal growth, grief journey, and rediscovering love after loss

Lahna Turner shares the emotional journey of creating Come What May and what it revealed about love, loss, and legacy

You're going to love my conversation with Lahna Turner

Lahna's website

Come What May webssite

Instagram

YouTube

Lahna on Amazon

IMDB

to squish a bug (daughter's book)

Follow Jeff Dwoskin (host):

Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter

The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter

Podcast website

Podcast on Instagram

Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show

Ways to support the show:

Buy me a coffee (support the show)

Dashery/TeePublic Store: Classic Conversations merch and more!

Love the books I talk about on the show? Here is my Amazon store to shop.

SPONSOR: STAMPEDE SOCIAL Drive engagement from your social channels and podcast with Stampede Social's Instagram and Facebook DM automation! Visit https://stampede.social Also check out: Why Instagram + Stampede Social Is the Growth Strategy Podcasters Need in 2025 (and Beyond)
Thanks for checking out Classic Conversations! Dive into pop culture nostalgia with comedian Jeff Dwoskin as he hosts the best TV and film interviews. Hear inspiring stories from actors, comedians, musicians, and pop culture icons about the road to success. Part comedy, part drama—always entertaining.

 

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

Jeff Altman dives into the unpredictable reality of building a career in comedy, television, and entertainment, sharing behind-the-scenes stories from stand-up, acting, and life in Hollywood.

From early days at iconic comedy clubs to landing television appearances and working alongside legendary comedians, this conversation reveals what it really takes to survive—and evolve—in the entertainment industry. With humor and honesty, he breaks down career highs, brutal lows, and the unexpected pivots that kept him in the game.

Show Highlights:

How asking directly for opportunities led to a first major TV appearance

The reality of bombing in stand-up comedy—even on national television

Building a long-term friendship with David Letterman early in a comedy career

Working with iconic comedians like Rodney Dangerfield and Robin Williams

The behind-the-scenes chaos of starring in a TV variety show with a language barrier

Becoming a recurring television character and fan favorite on a hit series

Navigating the ups and downs of a long-term career in Hollywood

A career mistake that cost a multi-season TV opportunity

Transitioning between stand-up comedy, acting, and voiceover work

Reinventing a career later in life through close-up magic and live events

You're going to love my conversation with Jeff Altman

Jeff's website

IMDB

Follow Jeff Dwoskin (host):

Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter

The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter

Podcast website

Podcast on Instagram

Subscribe to my Youtube channel

Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show

Ways to support the show:

Buy me a coffee (support the show)

Dashery/TeePublic Store: Classic Conversations merch and more!

Love the books I talk about on the show? Here is my Amazon store to shop.

SPONSOR: STAMPEDE SOCIAL Drive engagement from your social channels and podcast with Stampede Social's Instagram and Facebook DM automation! Visit https://stampede.social Also check out: Why Instagram + Stampede Social Is the Growth Strategy Podcasters Need in 2025 (and Beyond)
Thanks for checking out Classic Conversations! Dive into pop culture nostalgia with comedian Jeff Dwoskin as he hosts the best TV and film interviews. Hear inspiring stories from actors, comedians, musicians, and pop culture icons about the road to success. Part comedy, part drama—always entertaining.

 

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