Overview

Comedy legends David Zucker and Greg Warren share insights into their careers, with Zucker revealing how casting serious actors like Leslie Nielsen in "Airplane!" created its distinctive comedic style, and Warren discussing his new special "The Champ" produced by Nate Bargatze.

The conversation explores how comedy must maintain internal logic to be effective, with Zucker developing a 15-rule comedy course and working on "The Star of Malta," an $11 million film noir project, while lamenting Hollywood's approach to franchise reboots.

Discussions about food misconceptions highlight how marketing deception led Americans to believe muffins were healthy breakfast options and margarine was superior to butter, contributing to obesity trends between 1996-2009.

The group critiques California's regulatory environment that has driven businesses away, with no California city making the "Best Places to Live" list, while film production companies face prohibitive fees and complex permitting processes despite recent promises to streamline.

Content

Early Comedy Work and Influences

The podcast features guests including comedian Greg Warren and filmmaker David Zucker.
The discussion begins with David Zucker's early comedy work, particularly "Kentucky Fried Movie":

- Directed by John Landis - Consisted of comedy vignettes/sketches - Predated Zucker's more linear films like Airplane - Featured comedic parodies like "Cleopatra Schwartz" segment - Represented early work before these comedic talents became established

"Police Squad" background is discussed:

- Was a TV series before becoming Naked Gun movies - Ran for only 8 episodes on ABC (later clarified as 6 episodes made, only 4 initially aired) - Canceled quickly but became a cult classic - Featured similar comedic style to Naked Gun - Starred Frank Drebin character - Adam Carolla mentions being a fan who watched the Police Squad episodes on VHS

Greg Warren's Comedy and Random Observations

Greg Warren mentions his new stand-up special "The Champ" is out on YouTube, produced by Nate Bargatze's production company.
An anecdote is shared about Jimmy Kimmel telling a writer that Greg can talk extensively about any topic.

The conversation shifts to a detailed, humorous discussion about stir sticks:

- Old stir sticks were hollow with two small holes - Greg speculates about people attempting to use them as straws - Suggests the design was potentially a cost-saving measure - Jokes about the "siren song of suck" that hollow stir sticks present

Business Efficiency and Food Discussions

The conversation moves to packaging and business efficiency:

- Discussion about material and shipping efficiency in product manufacturing - Lower weight and same volume can improve business profitability - Shipping and material reduction are key considerations for product design

Peanut butter becomes a major topic:

- Preference for processed peanut butter (Jif, Skippy) over natural varieties - Creamy peanut butter outsells crunchy by a 4:1 ratio (based on 1999 data) - Unique observation that peanut butter sandwich improves with time due to emulsification - Compared to other sandwiches (meatball, tuna) that degrade quickly - Brief discussion about peanut butter's origins - Mention of John Harvey Kellogg and his unusual views on diet and sexuality - Noted that George Washington Carver did not invent peanut butter (contrary to popular belief)

Greg Warren's Comedy Career and Barbecue Preferences

Greg discusses his Dry Bar comedy special from around 2017:

- The special led to an unexpected connection from a high school crush - Nate produced the special - Filmed at Columbus Funny Bone, which has a theater-like setting with high ceilings and a balcony

The conversation shifts to barbecue:

- Speakers discuss barbecue restaurant experiences and preferences - Metaphorical comparison of eating barbecue while traveling vs. at home - Critique of barbecue restaurant business model: - Restaurants frequently run out of menu items - Seem proud of being out of key dishes like brisket - Lack proper demand forecasting - Preference for big beef ribs over smaller pork ribs - Brisket is challenging to prepare correctly - Judging a barbecue place by the quality of its brisket - Coleslaw recommendations: - Prefer classic KFC-style: sweet, creamy - Avoid fancy additions like walnuts or golden raisins - Keep it simple and traditional

Food Trends and Dietary Misconceptions

The conversation centers around dietary misconceptions and food trends from the late 1990s and early 2000s:

- Speakers argue that large muffins are essentially cake and contributed to obesity in America between 1996-2009 - People mistakenly believed muffins were a healthy breakfast option - Muffins can be as caloric and sugary as cake

Discussion of dietary trends:

- "Snackwells" low-fat products that removed fat but kept sugar and carbs - People would eat more low-fat products, thinking they were healthier - Removing fat actually made people less satiated and potentially more prone to overeating

Nutrition misconceptions:

- Historical dietary advice discouraged butter and encouraged margarine - The speaker shares a personal anecdote about his grandfather being forced to eat margarine instead of butter - Margarine was marketed as healthier, but later research proved otherwise - Margarine was sold in reusable Tupperware-style containers, which was part of its appeal - Tupperware was a significant cultural phenomenon with elaborate sales parties

Advertising and Media Discussions

The speakers discuss old margarine commercials, specifically supermarket taste tests:

- One speaker critiques the marketing strategy as potentially misleading - They reference a Deacon Jones commercial for Parkay margarine

Deacon Jones Clip Discussion:

- The speakers found and discussed an unedited NFL clip featuring Deacon Jones - In the clip, Jones describes his "head slap" technique for rushing quarterbacks - A notable moment occurs when Jones unexpectedly includes "women" when describing who he might hit - They find humor in this unexpected inclusive language, noting no women have ever played as offensive tackles in the NFL - The speakers are surprised the clip ran unedited for 25 years before potentially being modified

The discussion shifts to media editing and context:

- The speakers argue that media outlets selectively edit quotes, removing important context - They suggest that media consumption can significantly alter one's perception of events - The conversation reflects broader concerns about media manipulation and selective reporting

TV Shows and Pop Culture

The conversation moves to generational media and pop culture references:

- Speaker is fascinated by people who don't know songs or shows named after them - Shares anecdotes about younger people being unfamiliar with older cultural references - Discusses specific examples like the Rolling Stones song "Angie" and a TV show called "Run Joe Run"

"Run Joe Run" TV Show Analysis:

- Describes a 1970s TV show about a German shepherd falsely accused of attacking his trainer - Discusses the show's premise of a dog on the run from military pursuers - Draws parallels between "Run Joe Run" and later TV shows like "The A-Team"

The discussion expands to compare The A-Team and Renegade:

- Both featured fugitive protagonists living "underground" - Both constantly pursued by authorities - Both highly noticeable and unable to truly blend in - The A-Team highlighted by BA Baracus's distinctive appearance - Renegade starred Lorenzo Lamas as a bounty hunter framed for murder - Both shows featured unrealistic "underground" lifestyles - Both protagonists were extremely conspicuous and unable to remain low-profile

Personal anecdote:

- One of the speakers mentions Renegade partially inspired his comedy career - Relates a story about watching Renegade the night before a Sunny Delight business presentation - Describes being distracted by a cliffhanger episode where the main character seemingly dies but miraculously survives

Law Enforcement and California Issues

Discussion about police undercover operations, focusing on controversial entrapment tactics:

- Speakers critique scenarios where undercover officers proposition individuals and then arrest them - They view this as unfair, especially if the person wasn't actively seeking illegal activity - Specific case mentioned involving Olympic wrestler Kyle Snyder

The conversation shifts to California's challenges:

- No California city made the top 100 "Best Places to Live" list by U.S. News - The speakers suggest this decline is due to poor policy decisions, not changes in natural geography - Discussion centers on how over-regulation has negatively impacted California - Specific examples include difficult oil refining regulations, high gas prices, and challenges in affordable housing development - California now pays more for gas than Hawaii - Housing development is extremely expensive due to regulations

Business and regulation context:

- Businesses like State Farm, Chevron, and film production companies are leaving California - Insurance companies pulling out due to inadequate fire prevention measures - Filmmakers facing multiple fees and complex permitting processes - Example provided of filmmaker Austin James Wolfe experiencing application fees, park monitor fees, notification fees, and strict payment requirements - Governor Gavin Newsom proposed a $750 million annual tax credit to retain jobs - L.A. Mayor Karen Bass issued an executive directive to simplify filming permits

Mayor Karen Bass criticism:

- Bass announced a plan to streamline film production processes and lower fees in Los Angeles - The speaker is skeptical, viewing the proposal as "lip service" - Criticizes existing bureaucratic processes that make doing business difficult - Discussion about the mayor's communication during a crisis (possibly a fire) - Criticism centers on the mayor's lack of transparency and unwillingness to answer questions

David Zucker's Film Career and Comedy Insights

The conversation returns to David Zucker, introducing him as a legendary writer/producer known for works like "Police Squad", "Airplane", and "Naked Gun"

Production and comedy insights:

- The speakers reflect on differences between movie and TV viewing experiences - They discuss the unique Quinn Martin production style (Act One, Act Two, Epilogue) - They explain their comedic approach of finding humor in serious movies - Discussed the genesis of "Airplane!" by re-dubbing and then remaking "Zero Hour"

"Airplane!" production details:

- They intentionally cast serious actors instead of comedians - Actors like Leslie Nielsen and Robert Stack were known for dramatic roles - The goal was to use actors who weren't traditionally seen in comedy - Studios initially wanted to cast recognizable comedy stars - The approach was to have actors play comedy straight, without trying to be "funny" - Leslie Nielsen was known for using a "fart machine" on set - Robert Stack and Peter Graves' initial reactions to the script - Peter Graves initially thought the script was terrible but was convinced by his wife and daughter

Discussion of Val Kilmer's involvement in Top Secret:

- Kilmer was Juilliard-trained and had never done a movie before - He was initially perceived as "moody" on set - The directors eventually connected with him personally - Kilmer was a serious actor who appeared in comedies

The speakers discuss a potential Ghostbusters remake/reboot:

- Criticisms include unrealistic premise and deviation from the original comedic style - The speakers emphasize the importance of comedy having internal logic and rules - Frustration with Hollywood's approach to reimagining established franchises

Current Projects and Comedy Philosophy

Naked Gun 4 update:

- Akiva Schaefer is directing - Schaefer met with Zucker at his house - Offered executive producer credit and payment, which Zucker declined

Comedy course development:

- Developing a comedy course with 15 rules - Glossary of 150 terms - Focus on what not to do in comedy/spoof genre

Upcoming projects:

- Working on a new script called "The Star of Malta" - It's a film noir, black and white movie set in 1949 - Estimated budget is 11 million dollars - Plan to use LED screens and studio sets to recreate the 1949 aesthetic

Comedy influences and favorites:

- Discussed comedic influences like Marx Brothers and Woody Allen - Specifically praised Woody Allen's early comedies - Highlighted "Love and Death" as potentially his funniest film - Mentioned other Woody Allen films like Bananas, Annie Hall, Take the Money and Run, and Sleeper - Referenced a documentary about Mad Magazine releasing on June 24th - Discussed how Mad Magazine pioneered movie spoofs and comedy

Additional comedy discussion:

- Monty Python (initially found weird, preferred TV series over movies) - Benny Hill (significant comedy figure in England who died in 1992 at age 68, never married) - Comedy philosophy that humor must go beyond being "merely clever"

Personal Histories and Closing

Biographical details:

- Discussion of early comedy days, starting Kentucky Fried Theater in Madison, Wisconsin in 1971 - One speaker was 24 when they moved to LA, with parents initially skeptical but supportive - One speaker describes being a "class clown" at North Hollywood High - Adam Carolla discusses his comedy training through the Groundlings comedy troupe - Took improv classes for a decade before entering radio - Saw radio as a natural fit - described it as "improv, but sitting down"

Closing information:

- Adam Carolla is performing standup comedy in Bellevue (first show sold out, second show still available) - Greg Warren's new standup special "The Champ" is available on YouTube - Adam mentions his vlog covering the Palisades, available at AdamCrolla.com - Podcast voicemail number: 888-634-1744

Karen Bass Under Fire (Again) + Comedian Greg Warren + David Zucker