Media Path Podcast

Media Path
  • 5.0 (96)
  • Film History
  • Biweekly

Have you ever become obsessed with a topic and taken a deep dive into consuming all you could uncover about it? Media Path podcast is here to indulge your obsessions. hosted by Fritz Coleman and Louise Palanker, the show takes you along on a scenic tour through books, movies, TV, podcasts and music related to a given topic of captivation. We are exploring entertainment, politics, history, true crime, world events and all of their intriguing intersections. Fritz Coleman is a legendary Los Angeles weatherman/humorist. Louise Palanker is a filmmaker/columnist and co-founder of Premiere Radio. Hop aboard. Discover more layers, intrigue and substance. Go beyond binging with Media Path.

  1. 16h ago

    Human Interest Humor At Letterman & Producing The Unpredictable with Madeleine Smithberg

    From the wonderfully eccentric guests of Late Night with David Letterman to the groundbreaking political satire of The Daily Show, Madeleine Smithberg has spent her career finding the funny in  unexpected places.  As a longtime Letterman segment producer and co-creator of The Daily Show, Madeleine helped shape two of television's most influential comedy institutions. She joins Weezy and Lisa to share behind-the-scenes stories of her remarkable career and to discuss her upcoming book, Finding the Funny. Madeleine's comedic education began early, growing up in a Jewish-Catholic household where humor was a family tradition and where her father introduced her to the great silent-film comedians.  By age nine, she was so obsessed with The Dick Van Dyke Show that she feigned illness for six weeks to stay home and watch reruns. After college and a semester abroad, her Italian fluency landed her a TV career that eventually opened an unexpected door into Late Night with David Letterman. In a seismic existential collision, she learned she'd landed the job the moment her boyfriend broke up with her. The ensuing 'emotional rainbow,’ as she describes it, ended with a pot of comedy gold. At Letterman, Madeleine developed a preternatural instinct for what would amuse and delight Dave, scouring the globe for peculiar hobbies, personalities, obsessions, and stories that could forge indelible television.  She recalls the pre-internet challenge of guest scouting to uncover avid bee enthusiasts, monkey, sheep and turtle trainers,  and folks who collect buttons, hair, nuts, and potato chips  She also offers insights on working with animal expert Jack Hanna, the unpredictable nature of civilian and animal guests, and the memorable occasion when a flock of sheep wandered into  the neighboring news set. Madeleine then takes us inside the creation of The Daily Show, which she developed with fellow comedy trailblazer Lizz Winstead. She reveals how Comedy Central executive Doug Herzog persuaded her to take the leap by promising a full year on the air without requiring a pilot, and how the network gave her the freedom to assemble an extraordinary team of comedic talent which came to include Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Steve Correll and Mo Rocca. She then shares how her cat gets credit for the show's signature closing feature, a “Moment of Zen.” From a childhood spent studying television comedy to a career devoted to reinventing it, her story is a celebration of curiosity, creative risk-taking, and the art of finding humor in the ordinary and extraordinary. Plus, we explore Lisa's viral social media posts and what's feeding Weezy's reality competition series obsession! Path Points of Interest: Madeleine Smithberg  Madeleine Smithberg on Facebook  Madeleine Smithberg on Instagram  Madeleine Smithberg on Wikipedia Finding The Funny by Madeliene Smithberg Pre-Order Finding The Funny by Madeliene Smithberg

    Human Interest Humor At Letterman & Producing The Unpredictable with Madeleine Smithberg

  2. Oct 22

    Larry David's Uncompromising Vision & How Nothing Became Iconic with Blake J. Harris

    Larry David has spent his career turning social discomfort, petty grievances, and everyday aggravations into comedy gold. But what truly explains the man behind Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm? The answer takes about 576 pages.  Author Blake J. Harris spent six years studying and writing and his book, Emperor of Nothing: The Making Of Larry David, is an expansive and revealing portrait of one of television's most original, and uncompromising, creative minds. Blake joins Weezy and Lisa (herself a veteran of Larry David Enterprises!) to share what he discovered about Larry,’ his life, his work, and his relentless determination to do things his own way. After the unexpected political controversy surrounding his previous book about Oculus founder Palmer Luckey, Blake was ready for a project that would bring him some joy. Enter Larry David, who initially hated the idea of someone writing a book about him.  Blake recounts how he won Larry over by talking baseball rather than asking predictable Seinfeld episode questions, and how an unexpected revelation about the Seinfeld finale helped establish their rapport.  Blake traces Larry's journey from his childhood to his early stand-up days, when Larry was notorious for waking off stage if his rapport with the audience was not to his liking. Jerry Seinfeld was a young comic who completely understood and appreciated Larry’s riffs and Rhythms. One night at a birthday party for Carol Leifer, Carol had imbibed to the point where she felt ill-suited to read some birthday jokes that Larry had written for her. So, Jerry read them, marking the first time Larry’s words came out of Jerry’s mouth. It felt pretty good. The two decided to team up when Jerry was offered a special which became Seinfeld. It was Larry's perfectionism and Jerry's levelheadedness that made Seinfeld both a triumph and a source of tremendous stress for Larry who needed every episode to be exactly right. From Larry's insistence on absolute creative control, even as a struggling comic and screenwriter, to how he balked at the idea of friends and colleagues saying nice things about him in the book, a portrait emerges of a man who has an exacting vision of how he wants the world to see him, and will go to extremes to ensure that view is maintained. The conversation also explores the origins of Curb Your Enthusiasm, which grew out of an HBO stand-up special featuring improvised scenes with Larry and his manager, played by Jeff Garlin, plus our own Lisa Arch has appeared in Seinfeld and Curb so in a fun reversal, Blake asks Lisa to compare the tone and culture on each set. Blake is still somewhat in awe of the extraordinary access and unexpected friendship that developed over six years of researching and writing the first authorized Larry David biography. It's a fascinating look at the creative genius behind two landmark television comedies, and a man whose refusal to play by the rules helped redefine the rules of comedy. Path Points of Interest: The Emperor Of Nothing by Blake J. Harris The Emperor Of Nothing by Blake J. Harris on Apple Books Blake J. Harris on Facebook Blake J. Harris on X Blake J. Harris Amazon Author Page Console Wars by Blake J. Harris on Wiki Seinfeld on Netflix Curb Your Enthusiasm on HBO Life, Larry And The Pursuit Of Unhappiness on HBO

    Larry David's Uncompromising Vision & How Nothing Became Iconic with Blake J. Harris

  3. Oct 15

    Wisdom Gleaned From The Golden Age & An Insider's View Of Pop Culture History with Nancy Olson Livingston

    Nancy Olson Livingston joins Weezy and Lisa for a captivating journey through Hollywood's Golden Age and show business history, all seen through the eyes of a woman who was there for so many of its defining moments. Her memoir is titled A Front Row Seat and wait until you hear what she has witnessed! Nancy Olson (now 98!) was once a UCLA student and a Paramount contract player learning every facet of filmmaking by simply spending time on the studio lot, where she first caught the attention of director Billy Wilder during the shooting of her screen debut in Canadian Pacific.  Impressed by her wholesome Midwestern authenticity, Wilder cast her as Betty Schaefer in Sunset Boulevard.  Nancy offers a fascinating look at Wilder's unique directing style which involved extensive rehearsals before shooting only one take! She then recounts the memorable love scene with William Holden that took an unexpected turn when Holden's wife interrupted their steamy embrace with a very emphatic "Cut!" Although Nancy stepped away from Hollywood (Marrying Alan J. Lerner)  before any of her first four films were even released, the success of Sunset Boulevard drew her back to the screen. She returned at the personal invitation of Walt Disney to star in Pollyanna and then The Absent Minded Professor and she relished every moment spent working with the consummate professionals at Disney. While married to legendary lyricist Alan Jay Lerner, Nancy played an instrumental role in reuniting the stellar songwriting team of Lerner and Loewe! After an estrangement, she helped bring them back together and paved the way for the creation of My Fair Lady, a musical Lerner ultimately dedicated to her. She recalls serving as an unofficial first audience for the now-iconic, "The Rain in Spain!” Nancy’s next chapter begins with her marriage to Capitol Records Exec Alan Livingston. The  first time he played her music by a new British band called The Beatles she was not impressed but she did hatch the idea for the hottest ticket of the 60s, the Meet The Beatles garden party which took place at her parents’ home in Brentwood and raised money for charity while Hollywood insiders got to introduce their kids to The Beatles! Nancy was also present at an inauguration night after party, in 1960, when she answered a knock at the door to find JFK standing there and just needing some quiet reflection with close friends before embarking on his next enormous task. Plus, Weezy is recommending Season Three of the Podcast, The Telepathy Tapes and Lisa is re-binging Parks and Rec. Path Points of Interest: A Front Row Seat by Nancy Olson Livingston Nancy Olson Livingston on IMDB Nancy Olson Livingston on Wikipedia The Telepathy Tapes

    Wisdom Gleaned From The Golden Age & An Insider's View Of Pop Culture History with Nancy Olson Livingston

  4. Oct 8

    30 Seconds To Enlightenment & How To Make A Not-To-Be-Missed TV Ad with Linda Kaplan Thaler

    If you've ever found yourself  quacking, Aflac!, singing "I don't wanna grow up, I'm a Toys 'R' Us Kid," or yearning for your own Yes! Yes! Yes! Herbal Essences shower moment, you've experienced the work of advertising legend Linda Kaplan Thaler. A member of the Advertising Hall of Fame and one of the industry's most influential creative minds, Linda joins Weezy to discuss her new memoir, My Life in 30 Seconds, and share the remarkable stories and wisdom behind some of America's most iconic ad campaigns, proving that sometimes 30 seconds is all that’s required. Linda tells us the story behind the Toys "R" Us jingle, co-written with pre-bestselling coworker, James Patterson. She was convinced it was a dud until four and five-year-olds began singing her words back to her. Gee whiz! Linda takes listeners behind the scenes of her greatest hits, filling us in on the Aflac duck’s origin story. He was born a small quack from a coworker. Linda said, “Keep quacking,” and through a combination of animatronics, real ducks, and Gilbert Gottfried, one of the most recognizable mascots in advertising history was born. The duck now adorns the company logo.  The conversation is filled with unforgettable encounters, from collaborating with Stevie Wonder on a Kodak campaign and bringing tears to the eyes of Mike Tyson, to an embarrassingly  hilarious phone call with President Bill Clinton during his 1992 campaign.  Linda’s go-to tools include: encouraging silliness, taking chances, collaborative brainstorming, a ton of research, and the “yes, and…” rules of improv. She brought a Cherry Coke to a ten-minute interview with Warren Buffett. It’s his favorite drink. He gave her two hours. And in keeping with her book's objective of life-altering wisdom delivered in bite-size portions,  Linda shares Harry Truman’s famous quote: “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” In media recommendations -- Weezy: Peacock Documentary, Kill. Bury. Print Tech Aaron: HBO Original Series, Lanterns Path Points of Interest: Linda Kaplan Thaler Linda Kaplan Thaler on Instagram Linda Kaplan Thaler on Facebook My Life in 30 Seconds by Linda Kaplan Thaler Books by Linda Kaplan Thaler Speaking Engagement Booking Kill. Bury. Print Lanterns

    30 Seconds To Enlightenment & How To Make A Not-To-Be-Missed TV Ad with Linda Kaplan Thaler

  5. Oct 1

    Showbiz Tales With The Best Tangents & A Range Of Memorable Roles with Craig Bierko

    Can Lisa and Weezy keep up with Craig Bierko’s nimble (ADHD) mind? You decide as we raise the curtain on an adventurously waggish conversation, loaded with delightful detours, captivating tales and hilarity!  Craig reflects on growing up in Rye, New York, where his mom ran the community theater and he began imagining an acting career after seeing Ben Vereen in Pippin at the age of nine.  Among his first screen credits is the career-making Afterschool Special, The Day My Kid Went Punk from which there was no turning back from a life in the lights. On Sex And The City, Craig played a sexy bass player with ADD years before receiving the very same diagnosis himself. A round of applause goes out to that casting director. Our path takes us through several of Craig’s standout roles including that of Max Baer, the heavyweight heavy in Ron Howard’s Cinderella Man. Craig was asked not to reach out to Max Baer Jr. whose dad was being depicted as the villain. What happened when Craig and Max finally did talk? We’ve got that story. Craig’s mother is very proud of his starring role in The Thirteenth Floor but she has yet to understand the plot which depicts a world inside a world inside a world… But that won’t ultimately matter if we really are a simulation. In Lifetime's acclaimed series UnREAL, Craig played a television producer inspired by the creator's real experiences working on The Bachelor. He talks about embracing one of the darker roles  of his career and how the #MeToo movement’s cultural shift impacted the arc of his character.  We hear what it was like to train alongside real fighters at Gleason's Gym, to work with Ron Howard and to play a sleazy Senate candidate opposite John Forsythe on Norman Lear's The Powers That Be. We also get stories about sharing scenes with Renée Taylor at Marlo Thomas’ house and Craig claims that amidst a sea of Richard Kind impressions, his is the best! Plus in a revelatory round of IMDb Roulette, we uncover a hidden, internet gem entitled, Bathing With Bierko… It is exactly what you are picturing, only now, add John Malcovich. Plus, this rare masterpiece was recorded in Carrie Fisher’s bathroom. (yes you read that right.) Lather up. In current recommendations --  Lisa: Great British Bakeoff Season 17 on Netflix Weezy: The Nanny, on Hulu and other streamers Path Points of Interest: Craig Bierko IMDB Craig Bierko Wikipedia Craig Bierko Instagram Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital  Great British Bake Off The Nanny

    Showbiz Tales With The Best Tangents & A Range Of Memorable Roles with Craig Bierko

  6. Sep 24

    For Each Performance, A Personal Touch & How A Western Set Was Wrangled with Barry Corbin

    From classic Westerns to Emmy-nominated TV and modern-day hit streamers, Barry Corbin is the go-to-pro actor who adds his signature country charm to project after project, upstaging the leads and creating quotable TV and movie memories! Barry joins Weezy to reflect on a remarkable career that began with a childhood dream inspired by movie cowboy Wild Bill Elliott. But Barry understood early that he had no interest in being the cowboy. He wanted to be the actor who plays the cowboy. We revisit Urban Cowboy, discussing the film's enduring cultural impact and how  younger generations still continue discovering it. Barry shares that Uncle Bob's memorable closing monologue was subject to his own rewrite, at the behest of director James Bridges. The conversation turns to Barry's beloved role as retired astronaut Maurice Minnifield on Northern Exposure, which earned him back-to-back Emmy nominations.  He discusses the show's willingness to explore social issues long before those conversations became commonplace. He identifies Maurice as a man shaped by his era, and recounts a hilarious visit to the Smithsonian that ended with museum staff having to pry him out of John Glenn's Mercury capsule after an ill conceived photo op. Barry also looks back on the landmark miniseries Lonesome Dove, sharing backstage  stories about adapting Larry McMurtry's sprawling novel for television and the production's memorable budget battles.  He recalls learning to drive a six-horse stagecoach for Conagher in just two days, talks about a devoted One Tree Hill fan who had Coach Whitey's quotes tattooed up and down her arms, and confesses to some scene-stealing moments opposite Sylvester Stallone in Tulsa King. Plus, Barry previews his latest project, the Apple TV+ comedy Brothers, starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson.  And in IMDb Roulette, Barry reveals that Wargames offered another opportunity to add some key lines to the final cut and he takes us behind his memorable scene in No Country For Old Men where the Coen Brothers had no notes for him or Tommy Lee Jones saying, “If you cast it right. There’s no need.” In media recommendations -- Weezy: The Docuseries Murder 101, streaming on Prime Engineer, Mason: (In honor of Barry), the book Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry Producer, Dina: Netflix original sitcom, Leanne Path Points of Interest: Barry Corbin Barry Corbin's Texas History Barry Corbin on IG Barry Corbin on IMDb Barry Corbin on Wiki Chris Corbin Watching My Dad's Movies Brothers on Apple TV+ Murder 101 Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry Leanne

    For Each Performance, A Personal Touch & How A Western Set Was Wrangled with Barry Corbin

  7. Sep 17

    Classic Entertainment Memories & The Life Of A Natural Born Performer with Barry Gordon~

    Before he was one of Broadway's youngest Tony nominees, the voice of Donatello, or a hot tot  recording artist, Barry Gordon was a door-to-door performing toddler, entertaining any neighbor who would answer. Barry joins Weezy and Lisa to reflect on an extraordinary career that began when, at age three, he entered The Ted Mack Amateur Hour and placed second with his heart wrenching interpretation of Johnny Ray’s “Cry.” Barry shares the invaluable lessons he learned from his father, whose instinctive "method" approach to acting and song interpretation encouraged him to search for the deeper meaning inside every performance.  He explains why he considered himself a character actor even as a child, and how that mindset eased his transition into adult roles. As a small boy, Barry shared the stage and held his own with Milton Berle, Jerry Lewis, Elvis Presley, Jack Benny, Danny Thomas and Perry Como. By thirteen, he was starring on Broadway in A Thousand Clouds with Jason Robards and Sandy Dennis. Barry admits that opening night was less terrifying than his Bar Mitzvah.  In the film version of that role, Barry was pushing fourteen and to disguise his growth spurt, Jason Robards wore lifts. Barry’s career included a record deal and the hit Christmas novelty song, “Nuttin’ for Christmas.”  As a young adult Barry starred in sitcoms including Barney Miller, Fish and The New Dick Van Dyke Show before moving into voice work and landing the role of Donatello in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. We also take a look at his latest creative endeavor, writing and producing a new musical called Forever, which reimagines Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray as the story of a ‘60s rock star, using race as a modern parallel to the novel's themes of class and privilege. And in IMDb Roulette, we celebrate Leave It To Beaver’s most heartbreaking guest,  child of divorce, Chopper Cooper. And, with 0 degrees of separation, Barry recognizes Lisa as a Curb cast-mate! In media recommendations --  Lisa: The Rory Scovel Netflix Stand-Up Special Weezy: PBS Masterpiece Theatre’s The Forsytes  Path Points of Interest: Forever Musical Forever on Instagram  Forever on Facebook Parson's Nose Theater Barry Gordon on Wikipedia Barry Gordon on IMDB Barry Gordon on Facebook Barry Gordon on Instagram Rory Scovel The Forsytes

    Classic Entertainment Memories & The Life Of A Natural Born Performer with Barry Gordon~

  8. Sep 10

    The Road To The Director's Chair & A Supportive Show-Biz Circle with Danielle Nicolet

    Danielle Nicolet's journey stands as proof that mentorship and community make big dreams possible! This TV and film star’s directorial debut, Long Time Listener is now streaming!  When her mom joined a cult, Dani became emancipated at 15 and began supporting herself with roles in commercials, and on Family Matters, and 3rd Rock From The Sun. In fact, her first TV credit is Urkel’s first kiss! Dani joins Weezy and Lisa to reflect on her scenic path that began with early roles on  Step By Step, Loaded Weapon 1 andThe Jacksons: An American Dream, where she provided Jermaine Jr. with his first kiss! It had become a specialty.  In 2015, Dani began playing Cecile Horton (Virtue) in 107 episodes of The Flash. And since she had already voiced Storm in The X-Men for years, she became one of very few performers to traverse both the D.C. and Marvel universes.  Training for years as a child gymnast established a hard work ethic that met with the encouragement she received from Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart on the set of Central Intelligence, which served as a career turning point. They both believed that she has the mind and the heart of a writer/director. Kevin produced Danni’s first short film, Black Karen which you can now find on Peacock. Dani’s debut feature, Long Time Listener is a thriller about a true crime podcaster who becomes a killer’s target. You will find it streaming everywhere and free of charge on Tubi. Very short on time and budget, Dani was able to pull this film together with a tight group of friends and allies, including her husband, whose talents and support brought depth and breadth to her vision. Plus, What did this true crime junkie learn about the explosive popularity of murder mysteries with women? She’s got theories. In IMDB Roulette we hear about Dani’s front row seat to a Brandi/Leann Rimes sing-off on Moesha,  the mentorship she received from Samuel L. Jackson on Loaded Weapon 1, and we learn why she will never turn down life advice from Joseph Gordon-Levitt! In media recommendations --  Lisa: Showtime reality series, Couples Therapy Weezy: Mr. Burton (2025), available for rent on streaming Path Points of Interest: Long Time Listener Long Time Listener on IMDb Danielle Nicolet on Wikipedia Danielle Nicolet on Instagram Danielle Nicolet on IMDb Couples Therapy Mr. Burton

    The Road To The Director's Chair & A Supportive Show-Biz Circle with Danielle Nicolet
See All (283)

Trailer

5
out of 5
96 Ratings

About

Have you ever become obsessed with a topic and taken a deep dive into consuming all you could uncover about it? Media Path podcast is here to indulge your obsessions. hosted by Fritz Coleman and Louise Palanker, the show takes you along on a scenic tour through books, movies, TV, podcasts and music related to a given topic of captivation. We are exploring entertainment, politics, history, true crime, world events and all of their intriguing intersections. Fritz Coleman is a legendary Los Angeles weatherman/humorist. Louise Palanker is a filmmaker/columnist and co-founder of Premiere Radio. Hop aboard. Discover more layers, intrigue and substance. Go beyond binging with Media Path.

Information

  • Creator
    Media Path
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    283
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Media Path
  • Show Website
    Media Path Podcast

You Might Also Like