The Grierson & Leitch Podcast: 'Backrooms,' 'The Breadwinner' and 'Exotica'

I return home from Cannes and immediately watch the worst movie of the year. On the podcast, we talk about The Breadwinner and dig deep into the A24 horror sensation Backrooms. Then, we go back to 1994 to reconsider Exotica and the once-promising career of Atom Egoyan. Check out the latest episode down below.

My Interview With Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong

Cheech & Chong have a new movie, a documentary called Cheech & Chong's Last Movie, which chronicles their legacy and their history of fighting. For Cracked, I talked to the guys about spirituality, drugs, Robert Altman, prison, the priesthood, the Palisades fires, and the things they still disagree about. Check it out here.

My Interview With George Wallace

He's been doing stand-up for nearly 50 years. His best friend is Jerry Seinfeld. (Back in the day, they used to be roommates.) And now he has a Prime Video show with Laverne Cox called Clean Slate. For Cracked, I had a long conversation with the legend about everything: comedy, Donald Trump, Johnny Carson, Twitter, Sanford and Son, growing up in the church, my bookcases, you name it. Hope you enjoy.

My Interview With Roy Wood Jr.

It's now been a couple years since Roy Wood Jr. left The Daily Show. And on Friday, he unveils his latest stand-up special, Lonely Flowers, which is all about our dwindling ability to connect with one another. For Cracked, I talked to the comic about isolation, masculinity, fantasy football, being vulnerable on stage, and why he still hasn't watched his set from the 2023 White House Correspondents' Dinner. Hope you enjoy.

My Interview With Anthony Jeselnik

Tomorrow, Netflix premieres Bones and All, Anthony Jeselnik's fifth stand-up special. It's really funny. For Cracked, I had a long conversation with him about playing the villain, getting tired of comedy podcasts, finding Donald Trump funny, not telling personal stories on stage, and feuding with Norm Macdonald. This was a blast. Hope you enjoy.

When Martin Lawrence Was Bigger Than Will Smith

Every once in a while, someone remembers that, for the original Bad Boys, Martin Lawrence was top-billed over Will Smith. That changed for the sequels, of course, but I wanted to look back at where he was in his career in 1995. Here you go.

My Interview With Taylor Tomlinson

I've been a big fan of Taylor Tomlinson since I saw her first special, Quarter-Life Crisis, back in 2020. So it was a pleasure to speak with her for the Los Angeles Times. We talked about turning 30, hosting After Midnight, her new girlfriend and her thoughts on the state of late night. And, of course, I had to ask her about stand-up and her most recent special, Have It All. Hope you enjoy.

My Interview With John Early, Star of 'Stress Positions'

John Early worries about being pretentious. We talked about that -- and Britney Spears and millennials and his sharp new film Stress Positions -- for Cracked. (Also, there's a lot of conversation about Early's 2023 special Now More Than Ever, which connects to Stress Positions in interesting ways.)

Steve Martin, Auteur

 

I make the case over at RogerEbert.com.

My Interview With Tig Notaro

Tig Notaro's superb new special, Hello Again, hits Prime Video on Tuesday. It was an absolute pleasure to speak with her about motherhood, health issues, music and happiness. You can check out our conversation here.

'Extra Hot Great': Raving About 'The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial'

William Friedkin died recently. His final film, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, is on Showtime and Paramount+. I was very happy to be on Extra Hot Great to sing the movie's praises. (We also talked about Scrubs, Julianne Moore, Netflix stand-up specials and Robert Altman.) Check it out down below.

My Interview With Eddie Izzard

Eddie Izzard talked a blue streak the other day when I interviewed her. It was pretty dizzying, and also very entertaining. If you read one article this week about Darth Vader, make it this one.

My Interview With Kyle Kinane

Kyle Kinane doesn't think about his image and isn't interested in being an actor. The guy just wants to tell jokes on stage. I had a fine time talking to the man for Cracked.

My Interview With Anna Drezen

Anna Drezen was one of the head writers over at Saturday Night Live. Then, she decided to leave the show (and New York) to move to Los Angeles to create the adult animated series Praise Petey. Now that the first season is over, I talked to her about her new life, her new job, and her panic garden. Hope you enjoy.

My Interview With Eugene Mirman

Eugene Mirman has gone through a lot in the last few years, including the death of his first wife. We talked about all of it for Cracked.

My Interview With Alex Timbers, Director of 'John Mulaney: Baby J'

I've long been curious about the process of directing a stand-up special, especially in the modern era when they're so much more cinematic than they used to be. So I was very happy to speak with Alex Timbers, who has directed John Mulaney's last two specials, which couldn't be more different. For the Los Angeles Times, I spoke with him about Kid Gorgeous, Baby J and Mulaney's journey to sobriety. Hope you enjoy.

My Interview With Maria Bamford

What a treat: Maria Bamford has a new stand-up album (Crowd-Pleaser!) and a new memoir (Sure, I'll Join Your Cult), and so I had a long conversation with her about grief, mental health, sibling rivalry, jealousy and doing comedy that's not for everyone. Check it out here.

My Interview With Hari Kondabolu

A few years ago, comedian Hari Kondabolu made The Problem With Apu, a documentary that expressed his issues with the inherent racism of The Simpsons' depiction of convince-store owner Apu. He has a new stand-up special, Vacation Baby, out now, so we talked about that, the documentary, the fallout, and fatherhood. It was a blast. Read all about it over at Cracked.

My Interview With Gina Yashere

Chuck Lorre had an idea for a sitcom in which a white man falls in love with his Nigerian nurse. But he needed to find a Nigerian comic to help him write it. Enter Gina Yashere, a successful stand-up from London who'd moved to America. I talked to Yashere about Bob Hearts Abishola and a lot more over at Cracked.

My Interview With Bobcat Goldthwait

Bobcat Goldthwait is not the man at 60 he was back when he was doing Police Academy movies. For Cracked, I had a long conversation with the filmmaker and comedian about getting older, embracing fear, annoying Jerry Seinfeld, and mourning his good friend Robin Williams. Hope you enjoy.