Julie Brown

Julie Brown

Author: Ian Fermaglich February 21, 2026 Duration: 48:24

Julie Brown joined me to discuss Captain Kangaroo; being in her high school homecoming court; the scary nun's in elementary school; being funny in Van Nuys High; studying at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco; meeting her comedy partner Charlie Coffey; Denzel Washington being in the cast; starting a comedy team, Brown & Coffey; playing San Francisco and gay audiences; guest starring on Happy Days; doing an NBC late night pilot Road Show with John Candy; being in a slasher film, Bloody Birthday; guest starring in the pilot for Get a Life; being on two episodes of Laverne & Shirley; being in the repertory company of Evening at the Improv; performing "Homecoming Queens Got a Gun"; Newhart; Just Say Julie; her character made jokes, she didn't hate any performer; Gene Simmons; "Downtown" Julie Brown; MTV wouldn't pay for props, proper writers; Beavis & Butthead stealing her commenting on videos; her SNL audition in 1985; turning down a re-audition in 1986; Sam Kinison; SCTV; The Edge; Wayne Knight; Tom Kenny; being a fan of reality TV; her new podcast being improvised; doing improv once a week at the Groundlings


There's a particular kind of conversation that happens when someone who's been on both sides of the microphone gets to ask the questions. Ian Talks Comedy is exactly that: a series of relaxed, insightful dialogues hosted by Ian Fermaglich, who brings his own perspective as a former stand-up comedian and a current New York City teacher into every chat. Instead of standard interviews, these feel more like catching up backstage with a friend who happens to have incredible stories. Each episode features Ian in conversation with some of the most skilled and interesting voices from across the comedy world. You'll hear about the craft behind the laughs, the unexpected lessons from life on stage, and the personal journeys that shape a comedic voice. The tone is warm, curious, and devoid of pretension, focusing on the human experience within the performing arts. For anyone who appreciates the artistry behind a great joke or the real-life observations that fuel humor, this podcast offers a genuine and engaging listen. It’s about the process, the missteps, and the moments of connection that make comedy such a vital part of our culture.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Ian Talks Comedy
Podcast Episodes
Marilyn Suzanne Miller & Rosie Shuster (Enhanced Audio, from 2022) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:47
Rosie Shuster and Marilyn Suzanne Miller join me to talk about MSM's love of the musical Peter Pan; Rosie loving her dad's joke books, West Side Story, and being in the audience of the Ed Sullivan Show; Rosie meets Lorne…
Gary Seith & Brad Robinson (Not Ready for Prime Time Project) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:34
Gary Seith & Brad Robinson join me to discuss the A-Team; Mr. T's cartoon; 80's sitcoms; Alf; Pulp Fiction; high school journalism turns to making short films; college; Gary working for Fox Philadelphia and Clerks the An…
Stuart Pankin (Dinosaurs, Not Necessarily The News) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:28
Stuart Pankin joined me to discuss his first TV role; watching Winky Dink & Howdy Doody; Pats v. Geno's; Dickinson College English major; early off-Broadway and Broadway roles; San Pedro Beach Bus; Next Stop, Greenwich V…
Peter Gaulke (comedian, Season 21 SNL writer, author Max Fernsby) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:26
Peter Gaulke joined me to discuss seeing Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and It's A Wonderful Life recently in theatres; no new comedy films premiering; became bored in gymnastics, did comedy bits; tried to get on Gong Show…
Chuck Sklar (writer Conan O'Brien, Chris Rock) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:05
Chuck Sklar joined me to discuss his birth town; the Cubs and Blackhawks; his first memory of watching the 1968 Democratic National Convention; Captain Nice; Iowa comedians / comedy writers Harper Steele, Higgins Boys &…
Lowell Ganz (enhanced audio from 2022) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:53:43
Lowell Ganz joined me to discuss how watching classic sitcoms was his "college"; his parents reaction to his constant TV watching; meeting Mark Rothman; Mark Rothman's dad giving a script they wrote to Jack Klugman and T…
SNL Unboxing w/ SNN's Jon Schneider [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:03
SNN's Jon Schneider joins me to unbox an awesome assemblage of Saturday Night Live memorabilia sent to me by Eileen O'Brien including over 40 episode rundowns, 3 full scripts, tickets to after parties, and a graphic nove…
Peter Montagna (SNL make up artist 1981 - 1989) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:26
Peter Montagna joined me to discuss the pronunciation of his last name; TV tubes; being a fan of monster movies; his goal of being a painter; graduating with a degree in nutrition; working at NYU; seeing SNL shoot a sket…
Don McEnery (comedian / writer, Seinfeld "The Tape") [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:07
Don McEnery joined me to discuss knowing how to ask where the library is in Spanish; It's a Wonderful Life; attempting to be a singer-songwriter; a panic attack makes him decide to pursue standup; starting Long Island; o…