Dystopia Tonight With John Poveromo

Jay Leno, a true icon of American comedy, joins me on this episode of Dystopia Tonight! We swap Richard Lewis stories, chat about his start as a comic at Emerson College, his love for cars and motorcycles on "Jay Leno's Garage." comedy legends Robert Klein, George Carlin, Richard Pryor and Sam Kinison, his legendary Rodney Dangerfield story, Cabaret Cards, The Comedy Store and how he ended the strike, building your comedy community and more. Enjoy!

On this brand new episode of Dystopia Tonight we have the first-ever podcast appearance of Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Shawn Mullins! Shawn and I talk about everything from his early days as a young musician, his musical family, early inspirations, creativity, the Americana/Folk music genre, his long term friendship with Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls, his Grammy Nom, touring with Glen Phillips of Toad The Wet Sprocket, his collab with Elton John, a surreal and hilarious evening with Mel Gibson, how the music business has changed, John Candy (because who doesn’t wanna talk about John Candy) Comedy, and more. Enjoy!

Mama B (Jacq Becker) creates music the whole family can enjoy by melding contemporary production with timeless song craft. Her debut, Imaginology pairs lyrics directly inspired by the crazy things kids say with elegant retro-pop.

Jimmy Tingle and I discuss his upcoming one man show, "Humor and Hope for Humanity" at the SoHo Playhouse in NY, the influence of Jackie Mason, Lily Tomlin, Spalding Gray and John Leguizamo, stand-up, Boston Comics, The Ding Ho, Steven Wright, Paula Poundstone, Denis Leary, When Standup Stood Out, Competing with yourself and more! In his newest one person show, comedian and political humorist Jimmy Tingle takes audiences on a very funny and soul-searching journey from his Boston roots as an aspiring comic and street performer to network TV [“60 Minutes II”; “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson; HBO; “Veep”] to The Kennedy School of Government at Harvard and a decision to run for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. The show will speak to the issues of the day, including the upcoming presidential election with comedy, compassion, and common sense while delivering a humorous yet passionate and purpose driven performance. If laughter is the best medicine than Jimmy is the Surgeon General of humor. Clean, funny, and hopeful, Jimmy will make you laugh, think, and feel better. Just what the doctor ordered! For more info go to https://www.sohoplayhouse.com/upcoming-events/jimmy-tingle

Irish comedian Katie Boyle, now based in NYC, is a rising star in the comedy scene, known for her sharp wit and captivating storytelling. From her debut album hitting #1 on iTunes Comedy Charts to headlining sold-out shows across the US and Ireland, Boyle's comedic prowess knows no bounds. With appearances at prestigious festivals and features in top showcases, she's making waves on and off the stage. Follow her journey as she tours her latest hour, "Terapy," and keeps audiences laughing with her hilarious take on life, love, and everything in between.

The Cowsills have a rich history woven into the tapestry of music, captivating audiences in the 1960s and early 1970s with their unique blend of pop melodies and heartfelt lyrics. Their infectious tunes, like "The Rain, the Park & Other Things" and "Hair," became anthems of a generation, capturing the spirit of the era with their catchy hooks and uplifting melodies. Bob joins me to talk about their journey from humble beginnings to the heights of stardom which inspired the creation of the iconic TV show "The Partridge Family," internal conflicts and the ever-changing landscape of the music industry, the strong family bond that kept them together and helped them deal with anything that was thrown at them, stories about Carl Reiner, Carol Burnett, and Bruce Springsteen, His thoughts on music ranging from Taylor Swift to Alice In Chains, to Dave Grohl, and more. Enjoy!

Inspiring laughter and thought in equal measure, Robert Smigel is a comedic genius who has left an iconic mark in this history of comedy as an actor, comedian, writer, director, producer and puppeteer, known for his SNL "TV Funhouse" cartoon and as the puppeteer and voice behind Triumph The Insult Comic Dog. We talk about his new animated film, "Leo," a class pet Iguana voiced by one of his best friends and long time collaborators, Adam Sandler, Bugs Bunny and the art of character driven cartoons, Spongebob, Alvin and The Chipmunks, why he dislikes Animaniacs, wanting to be a cartoonist, Peanuts comic strips, award shows, Miley Cyrus, Tony Danza, Mel Gibson, starting out as a comedian, leaving dental school behind, and more. Enjoy!

Ivan Decker's got a new comedy special out titled, "Popcorn" and he's here to talk about that, life on the road, reality tv, family life, coming up in Canada, bad interviews, old timey headliners, the dreaded algorithm, and more. Enjoy!

Ted Lasso’s Brendan Hunt joins John to talk about his new solo show at the SOHO Playhouse in NY running from Feb 7-10 titled, “The Movement You Need.” The show comically explores his relationship with his departed mother, a fraught kinship that had one area of life-long concord: the music of The Beatles. In this episode we also talk about his time on Ted Lasso as Coach Beard, powerful connections we make with music, meeting your heroes and embarrassing stories that go with it, comedic confidence and more. Enjoy!

legendary comedian and actor Dom Irrera joins me after his final show at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal. We discuss his retirement from touring due to his parkinsons diagnosis, his early days touring with Cher, how comedy has evolved today, Bill Burr, Joe Rogan, Eddie Murphy, Carson, Seinfeld, the Pandemic, his parents divorce, his teaching days, Hey Arnold, and more. Enjoy!

The much-anticipated second issue of 1/6: The Graphic Novel is now available, offering a deeper and more complex exploration of a world where the January 6th insurrection was successful. Harvard Law School Professor Alan Jenkins and New York Times bestselling author Gan Golan, alongside veteran comic book artist Will Rosado, continue their provocative narrative under the auspices of the Western States Center. We cover the anniversary of 1/6 insurrection, going over the new details presented to us, how they implemented it into the graphic novel, Trump's shocking admission of losing the Election, the disturbing truth behind the Capitol violence, unveiling hidden agendas, Ted Cruz's cowardice, and more. Enjoy!

Had a fascinating conversation with William Goldstein. an American composer, recording artist, arts philosopher and improvisational pianist. We talk about his trajectory as a musician, the slow reveal behind his gift for improvisational composition, touring, movie scores, producing, speaking the language of music, fall back plans, great teachers, and more. Enjoy!

The legendary comedian, actor is now an author! We discuss his incredible new book, Out Of My Mind, his writing process, creating characters, his inspirations, comedy, the art of writing scientifically, and of course we go on some lovely tangents brought that can only happen when you're talking to Charles Fleischer. Enjoy!

Author of "My Peacock Tale: Secrets Of An NBC Page," Shelley Herman is an Emmy-nominated writer whose career began as an NBC Page in Burbank, CA. We discuss her writing process, her time as an NBC Page, the friends she made a long away, some scandals, sex, how the business has changed, her trajectory into television writing, and who we've both admired and come to know and love in show business. enjoy! Her Book: https://www.amazon.com/My-Peacock-Tale-Secrets-Page/dp/B0C2S7VKPZ/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=QAUmJ&content-id=amzn1.sym.cf86ec3a-68a6-43e9-8115-04171136930a&pf_rd_p=cf86ec3a-68a6-43e9-8115-04171136930a&pf_rd_r=142-5922623-8442305&pd_rd_wg=sK6n7&pd_rd_r=e8fad43a-91c4-4e91-96cf-673e0e588410&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk

Just some oversharing with the beloved Author, Activist, And Actor Ed Begley Jr. who returned to Dystopia Tonight to talk about his phenomenal new book “To The Temple Of Tranquility and Step On It!” We discussed the book, the influence of Alan Watts, His Parkinson’s diagnosis, his time as a standup, his parents, his close friendship with Harry Dean Stanton and life in general. Enjoy! Ed's Book: https://begleyliving.com/to-the-temple-of-tranquility-and-step-on-it/

Ed Byrne, the Dublin-born comedy maverick, who has spent decades unleashing his razor-sharp humor, fearless self-deprecation, and an electrifying energy is back in New York at the So Ho Playhouse from November 4th-6th and the 8th-12th. His comedy specials, unconventional insights, and TV appearances have cemented his status as a comedic renegade. Every performance comes with his signature badge of audacity, shatteing norms, proving that laughter is the ultimate rebellion, keeping the comedic riffs raw and unapologetic. In a world of conformity, Ed Byrne remains comedy's rebel rockstar, reminding us that humor can be the ultimate act of defiance. We had a blast covering his early years as a comic, meeting some of his idols, free speech in America vs free speech in the UK, pushing back against certain tropes, embracing spite and more. Enjoy!

The Spooky Season Has Officially Begun as LVCRFT Unveils V & Dominates the your Halloween Playlists with DeepKutz and Norman Cates joining me on @dystopiatonight! From Shaqtoberfest’s Block Party Stage to their haunting track in Chucky’s TV trailers, brace for a spine-chilling Fall filled with live spectacles and gripping tales! The brainchild of spooky pop aficionados, LVCRFT, renowned for delivering hook-filled ghoulish hits that resonate year-round, has announced the release of their eagerly anticipated fifth album V, featuring Monte Revolta, and The Remains. Out today on all digital platforms, V is not just a musical journey but also an exploration into the haunting universe of LVCRFT, delving deep into the chilling tale of Skeleton Sam’s desperate quest to rescue his lost love, Seraphina. https://lvcrft.net/ At the helm of LVCRFT are the dynamic trio: GRAMMY-awarded songwriters Evan “Kidd” Bogart and Amanda “MNDR” Warner, and GRAMMY-awarded producer Peter Wade. With iconic tracks under their belts for industry legends like Beyonce, Mark Ronson, Katy Perry, and Madonna, LVCRFT delivers music that elevates the eerie spirit throughout the year. Championing the mantra “Spooky Never Sleeps,” LVCRFT has amassed billions of streams with their everyday work, yet come together to craft iconic tracks for the Halloween lover in all of us.

Richie Furay, founder of Buffalo Springfield, a band that shaped an era, stands as a pillar in rock history. His legacy as a singer, songwriter, and all-around music legend, from the iconic “For What It’s Worth” to his solo work, continues to inspire new generations to this day. Enjoy this one guys it's filled with some incredible stories from Richie and everything he's been working on currently with his new documentary.

With Ted Michaels, the stage isn't just a platform – it's a portal to infinite creative dimensions. As luminary of the Jim Henson Company’s "PUPPET UP!" and a trailblazer of improv, he's a founder of the uproarious "The Crazy Uncle Joe Show" at the Groundlings Theater in LA, where his comedic brilliance shines as a main company member. Ted's improvisational genius reached new heights alongside Eddie Izzard in the "One Word Improv" spectacle at LA’s Coronet Theater. Beyond the limelight, his pen has contributed to hits like "MIKE TYSON MYSTERIES" on Adult Swim and "BUCKET AND SKINNER’S EPIC ADVENTURES" on Nickelodeon. Ted Michaels is a name synonymous with innovation, laughter, and an unparalleled artistic kaleidoscope.

Scott Sharrard is a highly talented musician and songwriter best known for his role as the musical director for the legendary Gregg Allman. With a deep passion for blues, rock, and soul, Scott’s guitar skills and dynamic stage presence have earned him widespread acclaim. He played a vital role in Gregg Allman’s band, contributing to their iconic sound and helping to keep the legacy of Southern rock alive. Scott’s impressive career as a musician, composer, and bandleader continues to make an impact in the music industry.