Bryan Safi on ‘Working Girl,’ 80s Bangs & Harrison Ford as Eye Candy

Bryan Safi on ‘Working Girl,’ 80s Bangs & Harrison Ford as Eye Candy

Author: Adam Unze - Music & Film Interviews July 29, 2026 Duration: 26:21

What happens when an eight-year-old kid sees the opening shot of Mike Nichols’ 1988 classic Working Girl for the very first time? If that kid is Emmy-winning comedian, actor, and podcast host Bryan Safi (9-1-1, Ask Ronna, Attitudes!), it sparks a lifelong dream to move to New York City and a career built on unapologetic, sharp comedy.


In this episode of The Spark Parade, host Adam Unze sits down with Bryan Safi to chat about his Spark: the iconic 80s romantic comedy Working Girl, starring Melanie Griffith, Sigourney Weaver and Harrison Ford.


They gush about the genius of Mike Nichols, the cultural impact of Carly Simon’s Oscar-winning anthem "Let the River Run" and the absolute madness of late-80s hair styling.


🎧 In this episode, we cover:


  • The Iconic Opening: Why the Statue of Liberty opening sequence remains one of the greatest movie intros in cinema history.
  • 80s Aesthetics & Staten Island Hair: The outrageous bangs, crimping and fashion that defined an era of film.
  • Sigourney Weaver vs. Melanie Griffith: How Working Girl subverted corporate tropes and delivered two masterclasses in comedic performance.
  • The Power of Creative Authenticity: Bryan on overcoming early industry homophobia in comedy and learning to lean into his signature camp sensibility as his greatest strength.
  • Behind-the-Scenes Movie Trivia: Why the studio almost replaced Carly Simon with The Eagles' "Witchy Woman" and how Harrison Ford took a back seat to let the women shine.


Catch Bryan live in NYC in Are You Mad At Me? at the HERE Arts Center, watch him on ABC's 9-1-1, and listen to his hit podcasts Ask Ronna and Attitudes!.




The Spark Parade is a podcast that dives deep into the films and albums that have inspired today’s creative icons. Hosted by Adam Unze, each episode features a unique conversation with an artist about their chosen film or album, and how it sparked their artistic journey.


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What single piece of art-an album, a film, a television show-fundamentally altered your creative path? That's the central question of The Spark Parade, a podcast hosted by Adam Unze. This isn't a standard interview format; it's a focused excavation of a singular, transformative work. Each conversation with an actor, musician, or cultural icon revolves entirely around that one catalytic piece of culture that ignited their journey. The discussion delves into the personal history and emotional resonance of the work, whether it's a cult classic or a mainstream hit, tracing how its influence continues to echo through their life and career. Listeners are invited into these intimate reflections, hearing stories from artists like Margaret Cho and Maya about the moments of inspiration that sparked everything. The podcast operates at the intersection of music, film, and personal narrative, offering a unique lens on the creative process. By concentrating on a single artifact, each episode provides a deep, nuanced portrait of both the artist and the art that made them. You'll come away from the podcast not just with a recommendation, but with an understanding of how art shapes identity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Spark Parade
Podcast Episodes
Cheat Codes' Spark Is Ready Player One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:03
Matt and Trevor of Cheat Codes sit down with Adam Unze to talk about their Spark: the movie Ready Player One.They share the story of how the film’s immersive virtual reality and flood of pop culture Easter eggs blew thei…
All Time Low's Alex Gaskarth's Spark Is Jimmy Eat World's Futures [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:01
Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low joins Adam to share the story of his Spark: Jimmy Eat World’s Futures.Alex takes us back to his teenage years in Baltimore, discovering Futures on a chance trip to the record store and insta…
Maggie Lindemann's Spark Is Lana Del Rey's Born To Die [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:34
Pop singer-songwriter Maggie Lindemann joins Adam to share how Lana Del Rey’s landmark album Born to Die sparked her creative journey. Maggie opens up about falling in love with Lana’s cinematic world, relatable storytel…
Cam's Spark Is Indigo Girls' All That We Let In [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:52
Grammy-winning country singer-songwriter Cam joins Adam for an intimate conversation about her Spark: the Indigo Girls’ acclaimed album All That We Let In. Cam explores her journey from discovering the Indigo Girls at ch…
Chanel Ali's Spark Is Fame [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:42
Award-winning comedian, writer, and actress Chanel Ali joins host Adam to talk about her Spark—Alan Parker’s 1980 musical drama Fame. Chanel discusses how the film shaped her creative journey, from childhood dreams of pe…
Mimi Webb's Spark Is How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:57
UK pop sensation Mimi Webb chats with Adam about her Spark: the timeless romantic comedy How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Mimi reveals how the film’s witty banter, unexpected twists, and real emotional moments shaped her lo…
G Flip's Spark Is Pixar's Cars [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:37
Australian music sensation G Flip sits down with Adam to explore the surprising source of their creative spark: Pixar’s beloved animated film Cars. G Flip shares how watching Cars with their dad became a powerful family…
Bonnie McKee's Spark Is Wayne's World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:30
Acclaimed pop songwriter and artist Bonnie McKee joins Adam to dive into her spark: the cult comedy classic Wayne’s World. Bonnie shares how the film’s humor, music, and fiercely independent spirit shaped her creative ou…
William Beckmann's Spark Is Desperado [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:45
Adam sits down with rising country star William Beckmann to talk all about his spark: Robert Rodriguez’s iconic action film Desperado. William shares how seeing Desperado—filmed right in his hometown of Acuña, Mexico—had…