DENNIS ANYONE? with Dennis Hensley
L.A.-based writer, performer and journalist Dennis Hensley, joined by a different guest each episode, riffs on pop culture, dating and life in the Hollywood slow lane. Download and listen here or subscribe for free on iTunes.
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Producer Lotti Pharriss Knowles (Goddess): I Want to Be Tony Moss
04/11/2019
Producer Lotti Pharriss Knowles (Goddess): I Want to Be Tony Moss
Dennis visits the San Fernando Valley apartment of producer Lotti Pharriss Knowles, co-producer of the upcoming documentary Goddess: The Fall and Rise of Showgirls. The film is all about the making, the flopping and the re-appreciating of the 1995 movie Showgirls. She talks about her longtime obsession with the film, how the film brought her together with her husband, their Showgirls themed wedding in Vegas, her favorite scenes and characters and the thrill of dressing up as "Revenge Nomi" for Halloween.Dennis shares his memories of interviewing Elizabeth Berkley for Detour magazine on the eve of the film's release. Other topics include: the film's controversial rape scene, her desire to be Tony Moss, her lowest point professionally, Kickstarter stress, semi-stalking Jason Bateman, how she learned the facts of life and the movie she saw when she was way too young to see it. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/showgirlsdoc/goddess-the-fall-and-rise-of-showgirls
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Author Jeremy Bernard (Treating People Well): "For a Gay Man, You're a Really Bad Dancer"
04/03/2019
Author Jeremy Bernard (Treating People Well): "For a Gay Man, You're a Really Bad Dancer"
Dennis visits the Los Angeles home of Jeremy Bernard, former White House Social Secretary under President Obama and co-author of the book Treating People Well, which he wrote with Lea Berman, Social Secretary under George W. Bush. Jeremy talks about how the idea of writing the book came about, being the first man to serve in the position of Social Secretary, interviewing for the job with Michelle Obama and the running joke he has with the Obamas about his dancing. He also discusses the Obama's goal of inviting as many different people to the White House as possible, how his sexual orientation affected his job or not, meeting the Obamas back in the 2008 election, making the decision to leave and his biggest screw-up. Other topics include: growing up in Texas, his favorite memories of President Obama, living in DC, the scarcity of White House souvenirs, working with the White House calligraphers, getting Prince to the White House, meeting Frank Sinatra at Don Rickles' house, remembering people's names, the tip Anna Wintour gave him, the deliciousness of Shake Shack, being e-mail buddies with Aretha Frankln, his favorite room in the White House, the power of President Clinton's charisma, coming out to his parents and that time he slipped and fell in front of the First Lady. https://www.treatingpeoplewellbook.com/
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Author Don Cummings (Bent But Not Broken): "That Tile Knows How to Live"
03/26/2019
Author Don Cummings (Bent But Not Broken): "That Tile Knows How to Live"
Dennis visits the Hollywood home of author Don Cummings to talk about his new memoir Bent But Not Broken. It's about his experience with Peyronie's disease, which is a painful and sexually limiting condition that affects over 7% of men. He writes and talks humorously and honestly about the emotional fallout brought on by having a suddenly curved penis, how it affected his relationship with his husband Adam and how it made him feel about himself. Other topics include: that time Meryl Streep did a reading of his play A Good Smoke at the Public Theater in New York, finding a sex partner by picking up a ringing pay phone on the street in Manhattan, having recurring dreams about Diane Keaton and the Oscar-winning movie he walked out of. www.doncummings.net
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Actor-Writer David Dean Bottrell: "Booked It"
03/16/2019
Actor-Writer David Dean Bottrell: "Booked It"
Dennis meets David Dean Bottrell at a coffeehouse in Hollywood to talk about David's new book "Working Actor: Breaking In, Making a Living, and Making a Life in the Fabulous Trenches of Show Business." David talks about the L.A. Times review that inspired him to write the book, how he sold it and some of the topics the book addresses, like social media, networking and the role luck plays in building a career in entertainment. He also talks about the role on Boston Legal that changed the game for him, working on lots of crime shows where he kills people, leaving LA for New York in 2016, being in the stage show Streep Tease and getting work from it and wonderful moments of serendipity that landed him is manager and agent. Other topics include: the Ann-Margaret movie he saw when he was too young to see it, growing up as a minister's kid, his first concert and the worst thing that ever went wrong for him on stage. It evolves partial nudity and a bed. http://daviddeanbottrell.net/
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Writer-Producer Ryan Copple: Adventures in the Geek Space
02/17/2019
Writer-Producer Ryan Copple: Adventures in the Geek Space
Dennis visits the Hollywood home of writer-producer Ryan Copple, one of the creative forces behind the new Earwolf comedy podcast "Voyage to the Stars" about a group of misfits (Colton Dunn, Felicia Day, Janet Varney and Steve Berg) who accidentally board an alien spaceship and end up going through a wormhole and having crazy misadventures in space. Ryan talks about the origins of the show, selling it, the recording process and the themes at the heart of the zaniness. He also talks about the popular YouTube show he works on Escape the Night, which puts a group of YouTubers through escape room like challenges. Other topics include: his biggest frustration, where gays and geeks overlap, quitting life as an executive to pursue his creative dreams, that time he wished Halloween could be postponed and it was!--and the forlorn photo of him taken at a misbegotten Pokemon event in Chicago that went viral. https://www.earwolf.com/episode/sneak-peek-voyage-to-the-stars/
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2018 Movie Roundup w/ Glenn Gaylord & Michael Dougherty
02/10/2019
2018 Movie Roundup w/ Glenn Gaylord & Michael Dougherty
For the third year in a row, Dennis visits the Hollywood apartment of film lover Michael Dougherty to talk about last year's movies with Michael and film reviewer Glenn Gaylord from Glenn On Film. Glenn and Michael share their favorites of the year and celebrate specific "Moments Out of Time," specific scenes or images from films that will stay with them for years to come. Some of the movies discussed include: Roma, The Rider, The Sisters Brothers, Leave No Trace, Mind the Gap, BlackKklansman, Support the Girls, Bohemian Rhapsody, Paddington 2, Eighth Grade, Mission Impossible: Fallout and of course, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again. https://glenngaylord.tumblr.com/
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Singer-Actor Blake McIver: "I Beat the Girl that Beat Leann Rimes"
01/18/2019
Singer-Actor Blake McIver: "I Beat the Girl that Beat Leann Rimes"
On a rainy Wednesday, Dennis visits the West Hollywood apartment of singer-actor Blake McIver to talk about his cabaret show Blake Sings Barbra the Concert in which he pays homage to Barbra Streisand's iconic 1994 comeback concert, . He talks about the genesis of the show, how he became obsessed with the HBO concert at 9, the one time he met her, the challenge of singing Barbra and of course, finding the perfect tea set. He talks about his first break in the industry; competing in junior Star Search and winning the whole thing. He also recalls being cast in the LA production of Ragtime when he was a 11 and following it up with a 3-year stint on Full House with the Olsen twins. He talks about growing up in show business with a studio exec father and a mother who was one of Dean Martin's gorgeous goldiggers; going to a private Christian school and getting bullied from the get-go. Other topics include: the lunch he had with Trump when Trump played his father in the Little Rascals movie, the best and worst thing about being a go-go boy, the sitcom he did one episode with a super-unhappy vibe set and that time he sat on Sigourney Weaver's lap.
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Author & Entrepreneur Anna David: "Positive Vibes, Damnit!"
12/29/2018
Author & Entrepreneur Anna David: "Positive Vibes, Damnit!"
Dennis visits the Hollywood apartment of author Anna David, whose novel Party Girl--about a girl who gets hired to write a party column as she's getting sober--has just been released on audio. Anna talks about the inspiration for the book, her dream of creating an audio version, her hopes for a TV or film adaptation and who she'd love to see play the lead. (Hint: it's Lohan) She also talks candidly about her own journey to sobriety, hitting rock bottom, what makes coke addicts different from other types of addicts and what surprised her about sobriety. Other topics include: her 19 year-old miracle cat, the nightmare of collaborating with Tom Sizemore, how as a freelance writer she managed the demise of magazines, her coaching program and new company Light Hustler, spirituality, her best shoplifting move, horrible bosses and the trauma from seeing Jaws at 5. https://annadavid.com/ https://lighthustler.com
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Imagined Life-rs Stephanie Jenz & Michael Selditch: "It All Starts on the Spark Page"
12/18/2018
Imagined Life-rs Stephanie Jenz & Michael Selditch: "It All Starts on the Spark Page"
Dennis visits the West Hollywood apartment of writer-director Michael Selditch to interview Michael and Stephanie Jenz, the Executive Producer of the new Wondery podcast "Imagined Life." Dennis and Michael have both written multiple episodes of the show's first season, which wraps up this coming Sunday. Stephanie talks about where the original idea came from, casting the hosts Virginia Madsen and Robbie Daymond, the importance of iTunes reviews and ratings, nailing the music and sound design and the difference between the TV world and the podcast world. Other topics include: what a Spark Page is, memorable answering machine messages, why podcast fans are awesome, Emmys and urinals, early Elton John, riding in an elevator with Will and Jada, stealing stuff like mints and beer and cigarettes. https://wondery.com/shows/imagined-life/
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Game Designers Ariel Rubin & Juliana Patel: "I Think We'd Be Great"
12/12/2018
Game Designers Ariel Rubin & Juliana Patel: "I Think We'd Be Great"
Dennis visits the San Fernando Valley home of Ariel Rubin to talk with Ariel and Juliana Patel, the co-creators of "Escape Room in a Box" which is exactly what it sounds like; a home version of an escape room. They talk about how they met playing werewolf, getting the idea, creating the incredibly complicated prototypes, the support they got from the game community, finding a factory to make the game and the red locks that drove them crazy. They also talk about putting together their Kickstarter campaign, their nerves going in, following the advice of previous campaigners, working the media and making their goal of $19,500 in 14 hours and finishing the campaign with $135,000. They also talk about being women in an industry that's historically very male and being an inspiration to other women and girls. They recall how they got the licensing deal with Mattel, going in to pitch and play test with them and what it's like to work with Mattel on an ongoing business. Other topics include: getting flown to the Netherlands to speak at a conference, creating games for weddings, why they named their company Wild Optimists, juggling their busy leaves, winning a big award and the Halloween costume that was totally prescient. www.escaperoominabox.com
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Startups Guru Andrew Miller: "You Have to See Around the Corner"
11/17/2018
Startups Guru Andrew Miller: "You Have to See Around the Corner"
Dennis visits the West Hollywood office of marketing guru Andrew Miller to talk about the world of startups, how he got into it, the amazing exotic places he's worked remotely from and why founding a startup is kind of like coming out as LGBT. He also talks about why he's pro-online dating and the new dating app he's consulting on Crown, from the people who brought you Tinder. He discusses what it's like when a project he's working on blows up and also how it feels like when one crashes and burns. He describes the mindset that makes San Francisco ground zero for successful startups. Other topics include: why he's good at what he does, the pros and cons of dick pics, being a Power User, losing his iPhone in Zanzibar, working out with Will Farrell who was wearing SNL logowear and where he was when Michael Jackson died. https://www.andrewstartups.com/
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Creativity-Productivity Specialist Sam Bennett: "Weird Kids Rule!"
10/30/2018
Creativity-Productivity Specialist Sam Bennett: "Weird Kids Rule!"
Dennis ventures to beautiful Carpinteria, CA to interview creativity-productivity specialist Sam Bennett about the work she does inspiring people to make their creative ideas happen. She talks about how she got into this line of work, the difference between highly creative people and other people, why she moved on from acting to her current career path, that time her life fell apart and she had to totally reinvent herself and her days as an improv actor with Second City. She also talks about one of her creative babies that is about to be launched into the world; the musical In a Booth at Chasen's, which she wrote the book for. It's about the real-life Hollywood romance of Ron and Nancy Reagan. (It runs from November 9 - 25 at the El Portal Theater in North Hollywood). Other topics include: the joy of getting a C at something (as opposed to always have to get straight A's), what's great and not so great about being your own boss, her murder mystery party days, remembering that marketing is a conversation, the wonderful poem she wrote called Ode to a Drama Teacher, missing acting, her problem with Siri, having blinders on about acting, the Modern Family gig that surprised her and the sound her clients sometimes make that makes her really really happy. https://theorganizedartistcompany.com/ http://inaboothatchasens.com/
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1985 Filmmaker Yen Tan: Another Sign of Incoming Gayness
10/22/2018
1985 Filmmaker Yen Tan: Another Sign of Incoming Gayness
Dennis heads to Koreatown in L.A. to interview Yen Tan, the writer director of such films as Pit Stop, Ciao and his latest 1985, which is about a young man who has been diagnosed with HIV visiting his parents in Texas over the Christmas holidays. Yen talks about the insurance job he had in his early 20's that inspired the film, why he chose to shoot in black and white, working with the actors Virginia Madsen, Michael Chiklis, Cory Michael Smith (Gotham) and Jamie Chung, the challenge of shooting long takes and the moving comments he's gotten from audiences after screenings. He also talks about his sideline gig of doing graphic design for films, his current favorite font Brandon Grotesque, getting representation and lots of Hollywood meetings as a result of 1985 and how being gay and Asian-American has affected his career trajectory. Other topics include: the Goldie Hawn soundtrack that was his first cassette he ever bought, growing up in Malaysia and learning English from movies, his Elephant Man epiphany, coming to the U.S. for college, coming out, why he makes films and that time he sang in front of the whole school and it didn't go well. www.1985thefilm.com
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YOU DON'T KNOW MY LIFE! "That Sandwich Is My Jam-wich"
10/20/2018
YOU DON'T KNOW MY LIFE! "That Sandwich Is My Jam-wich"
A bit or a departure with this episode. Dennis gathers four friends to play the new party game he co-created YOU DON'T KNOW MY LIFE! which is currently available for pre-order at the link below. He's joined by the game's co-creator, game designer Jeb Havens as well as three performer pals Rachael Ferrara, Jen Caldwell and Matt Zarley. Topics include: things we did when we were younger that made us feel like grown-ups, our lunchtime routines in school, something we own that was previously owned by someone else, prom stories and our most glamorous nights. www.youdontknowmylifegame.com
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Uncabaret Creatrix Beth Lapides: "I'm Not Good with Hate"
10/09/2018
Uncabaret Creatrix Beth Lapides: "I'm Not Good with Hate"
Dennis visits the Hollywood home of comedienne Beth Lapides, the host and creatrix of the alternative comedy show The Uncabaret, which celebrates its 25th anniversary with a star-studded show November 18th at the Theater at the Ace Hotel in L.A. She talks about the origins of the show, starting out in comedy in LA in the early 90's and dealing with the Andrew Dice Clay-ness of it all and how her role as host keeps her from sharing too much about what's going on with her. She also discusses how social media has changed the show, the Father's Day show that got really dark, her first time performing in a comedy club, embracing the terms "performo-tainment" and "god-shot," and the goof she made the first time she did stand-up. Other topics include: why she cherishes her key collection, the celebrity death that hit her the hardest, why she loves comedy, apologizing to Betsy Johnson for stealing a skirt, and that time she ran for First Lady of the United States. www.UnCabaret.com
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Trump Family Special Creator Danny Salles: "I Built a Station Wagon..."
10/03/2018
Trump Family Special Creator Danny Salles: "I Built a Station Wagon..."
Dennis meets up with writer-director-producer Danny Salles, the creator of the musical comedy The Trump Family Special, which is currently playing at the Triad in New York City. He talks about taking the show from LA to NY, landing Gina Gershon at Melania, keeping up with the news cycle and how the experience has impacted his life. He also talks about his TV career, working on shows like Joan and Melissa: Joan Knows Best, Kathy Griffin: My Life in the D-List, Joe Schmoe and The Middle. He talks about how working in reality effects his scripted work, why he's good at it and the angst of not blowing the secret on Joe Schmoe. Other topics include: his favorite Joan Rivers moments, why he's good at working with mercurial talent, getting recognized in a diner, the 2012 Halloween costume he's super proud of the junior high drama teacher who still needs to suck it. https://www.trumpfamilyspecial.com/
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"Hot to Trot" Filmmaker Gail Freedman & dancers Ernesto Palma, Emily Coles and David Estrada: "I Dance for Life"
09/15/2018
"Hot to Trot" Filmmaker Gail Freedman & dancers Ernesto Palma, Emily Coles and David Estrada: "I Dance for Life"
Dennis goes to the Music Hall Theater in Beverly Hills for the L.A. premier of the new documentary about the same-sex ballroom dance scene called "Hot to Trot." Before the lights go down, he chats with the film's director Gail Freedman and two of the primary dancers featured in the film, NY-based Ernesto Palma and San Francisco-based Emily Coles. After the film, Dennis talks with dancer David Estrada who also appears in the film and how the mainstream American ballroom world seems to be going backwards in terms of same-sex partnerships. Other topics that come up in the interviews: on stage mishaps, getting over our own hangups about gender in dance and how this film speaks to this specific moment. (Apologies in advance for the uneven sound...the interviews were conducted in the bustling theater lobby) www.hottotrotfilm.com
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Story Worthy podcast host Christine Blackburn: "That Girl's Got a Hamster In Her Pocket!"
09/11/2018
Story Worthy podcast host Christine Blackburn: "That Girl's Got a Hamster In Her Pocket!"
Dennis visits the Los Feliz home of Christine Blackburn the host of the long-running podcast Story Worthy, which features all kinds of diverse interesting people telling stories from their lives. She talks about getting the inspiration for the podcast, why she loves comedians, spinning the podcast into a live stage storytelling game show Story Smash. She talks about the stories that made her laugh, made her cry and the one from July that almost made her faint. She talks about how the doing the podcast has changed her, what she's learned about people, settling vs. not settling and being diagnosed with cancer at 31 and how that changed the course of her life. She also recalls her first impressions of Los Angeles, her days as a flight attendant and all the fun gay guys she'd hang with on her trips, doing standup comedy all over the city and a stint in the Peace Corp that took her to Tonga. Other topics include: her one woman show Surviving the Ride, getting out of Pittsburgh, going to Larry King's house in Beverly Hills and Don Rickles' compound in Malibu, why flight attendants today have it way easier than she did, the greeting card that ended her first marriage and her first job in L.A. where she got to scream at people on Hollywood Boulevard. www.christineblackburn.com
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Barrymore Brands President & Revolver Owner Chris Miller: "Flower Is Also a Verb!"
08/30/2018
Barrymore Brands President & Revolver Owner Chris Miller: "Flower Is Also a Verb!"
Dennis goes to the office above Revolver video bar in West Hollywood to interview the bar's owner Chris Miller, who is also the President of Drew Barrymore's company Barrymore Brands to talk about his two very big, very different jobs. On the Barrymore brands front, Chris talks about how he first met Drew when she was looking for a personal assistant, the high and low moments of working on movie sets, why his relationship with Drew works, making the transition from film and TV producing to developing massive beauty and clothing lines. He also talks about his life as a bar owner in West Hollywood; why he decided to buy Revolver, the craziness of Pride and Halloween, what makes a good bartender and a good go-go dancer. firing people, working around alcohol and why he can sometimes be a pushover at the door. Other topics include: pinch-yourself moments like being on set on the Charlie's Angels movies after being an Angels fan forever, shooting in the shit with Demi Moore, turning 50, the Flower Films Christmas cards, living in LA vs. NY, meeting Cher, Madonna and Demi Moore, whether or not he feels successful and taking a ride with Donny and Marie Osmond. www.revolverweho.com
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Secret Movie Club founder Craig Hammill: "Life is a Hoot"
08/21/2018
Secret Movie Club founder Craig Hammill: "Life is a Hoot"
Dennis heads to downtown L.A. to the office of Craig Hammill, filmmaker and founder of the Secret Movie Club, a new-ish film screening series at the historic Vista Theater in Los Angeles. Craig talks about why he wanted to do the series, how he picks the movies, why he wears a suit to screenings, how his grandfather's salesmanship rubbed off on him, how to stay up for midnight shows, commissioning original posters for his screenings and the Fellini movie that totally rocked his world. He also answers all the movie-related questions from the Observation Deck, leading to mentions of The Seven Samurai, It's a Wonderful Life, The Shining, Blade Runner, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me and The Shop Around the Corner. Other topics include: his favorite Bonds, to program Polanski or not to program Polanski, his first kiss, chatting up Walter Matthau about his dog, that time when Michael Mann shut him down, being an optimist and the movie that makes him cry no matter how many times he's seen it. @secretmovie club on Instagram and Twitter
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Actress Haviland Stillwell (Santa Jaws): "A Rubber Chicken From Harvey Fierstein"
08/13/2018
Actress Haviland Stillwell (Santa Jaws): "A Rubber Chicken From Harvey Fierstein"
Dennis visits the West Hollywood apartment of actor-singer Haviland Stillwell, one of the stars of the Syfy Channel's new let's-hope-it's-a-franchise film Santa Jaws. She talks about how she came to be in the movie, doing her first real stunt in a film, running around in a bikini and her hopes that the film will be the new Sharknado. She talks about performing on Broadway in Les Miserables and Fiddler on the Roof, shares her peak Broadway moment and recalls the prank her Fiddler costar Harvey Fierstein played on her on stage. She also discusses her decision to move to L.A. She shares the meant-to-be story of how she meet her wife, Reed, the friend who predicted they would get married before they had even met and getting married in her hometown of Savannah, Georgia. She talks about her animated voice-over career--she played frenemy Rachel in Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse and has roles in the new shows Screecher's Wild and Miraculous. Other topics include: her Fun Home 'Ring of Keys' moment, discovering her activist side as a kid when the Olympics came to Atlanta and one of the counties didn't want to accept gay athletes (she protested and her side won), working on Ava Duvernay in Selma, being out in Hollywood, being a role model in her work and on social media, her Tracy Flick-ness, her obsession with Murphy Brown and that week she spent all up in Matt Bomer's naked business in Magic Mike XXL. https://www.havilandstillwell.com/
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Homophilia co-host Matt McConkey: "I Want My 'Big Mistake, Huge' Moment"
08/06/2018
Homophilia co-host Matt McConkey: "I Want My 'Big Mistake, Huge' Moment"
Dennis visits the Eagle Rock home of "Homophilia" podcast host Matt McConkey to talk about how the podcast came to be, his partnership with co-host Dave Holmes, scoring cool guests like Dan Savage, Scott Thompson and Pod Save America's John Lovett and taking the show on the road to places like Montreal and P-Town. He also talks about his writing career, working on shows like Heathers--which was pulled by the Paramount network in response to Parkland and other school shootings--and selling his own show to Pop! called Spinning. He recalls his earlier acting days; starring in a life-changing L.A. production of The Boys in the Band in 2010 and the high-powered manager who was desperate to represent him...until she found out he was gay and then shoe vanished. Other topics include: Mamma Mia 2, Matt's obsession with all things Jennifer Aniston, growing up with a gay posse, meeting his partner of 6 years at the Dresden Room and the song that makes him cry. http://www.earwolf.com/show/homophilia/
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Filmmaker Quentin Lee ("Gay Hollywood Dad"): "I Make Movies Because I Have To"
07/30/2018
Filmmaker Quentin Lee ("Gay Hollywood Dad"): "I Make Movies Because I Have To"
Dennis visits the Glendale home of filmmaker Quentin Lee to talk about his new documentary Gay Hollywood Dad, which is all about his journey to becoming a single father through surrogacy and also touches on other subjects including his relationships with his own parents and friends, Asian-American talent in film and TV...and even includes a horror short film within the film featuring Quentin's baby son Casper. Quentin talks about why he always wanted to become a father, what the process was like, why he named his son Casper, finding a surrogate and an egg donor, how fatherhood has changed him and why he put baby Casper in a horror short film. He also talks about growing up in Hong Kong, coming to the United States, falling in love with movies, going to UCLA film school, coming out, moving to Montreal at 15 and why he loves horror movies. Other topics include: going for your dreams vs. avoiding disappointment, the importance of being patient, that time he got to meet Steven Spielberg, starting out as a filmmaker with Fast & Furious director Justin Lin, the dream project he's determined to get made Campus Ghost Story. https://www.facebook.com/gayhollywooddad/
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Hollywood Tour Operator Philip Mershon: "David Bowie Stole My Earring"
07/16/2018
Hollywood Tour Operator Philip Mershon: "David Bowie Stole My Earring"
Dennis visits the Hollywood home of Philip Mershon, the man behind the Felix in Hollywood tour company. Philip guides a 2-hour-ish walking tour of a half-mile stretch of Sunset Boulevard where so much of early Hollywood took place. Philip talks about the big studio opportunity that fell through but ultimately led him to start the tour on his own, his addiction to Hollywood history and research, why he loves the Golden Age character actor Franklin Pangborn, how he deal with sirens and heat and people heckling him on the street and how he came to name is company Felix in Hollywood. He also talks about being a military brat growing up and how the classic movies he would see on TV were the one constant friend that he had. He talks about his career in wardrobe for TV and film, his first job on a roller derby show and touring the world as one of the wardrobe staff on Madonna's "The Girlie Show" in the early 1990's. Other topics include: the one person who made Madonna nervous, the two items he bought at Zsa Zsa Gabor's yard sale, that type he got caught shoplifting, working as a modeling coach in a mall, the lunch box that made him furious, the song that makes him cry and the 70's teen idol who left him a voicemail one time. http://felixinhollywoodtours.com/
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Author Richard Andreoli ("Battle at the Comic Expo"): "The Ruth Buzzi of Circus Performers"
07/04/2018
Author Richard Andreoli ("Battle at the Comic Expo"): "The Ruth Buzzi of Circus Performers"
Dennis visits the enchanting Highland Park home of Richard Andreoli, author of the new novel Battle at the Comic Expo, which is loosely based on the many years he spent volunteering at Comic-con in San Diego. He talks about the long evolution of the book, the mid-life crisis that motivated him to write it, his affection for the Comic-Con crowd and coming out as gay during the time when he was part of the world. He also talks about his super-serious side-passion; the circus arts and why he loves it. He discusses how it's changed his life, how it's changed his body and how it's enriched his marriage. Other topics include: being a go-go boy for a day for a magazine article, why he wears pantyhose for his circus performances, why it irks him when people refer to our current political situation as "a circus," writing an article about the gay section of the L.A. prison, posing on a trapeze for a fine art painter, being on HGTV's show Urban Backyards, that time he won a Star Trek plate, crushing on Kelly from Guiding Light, working at the Athletic Club in West Hollywood, how super nice author Neil Gaiman is, the Muppet Show lunch box that was everything to him and why Irene Cara's song "Fame" is still awesome. Rick and Dennis also go off on a Xanadu tangent. https://www.battleatthecomicexpo.com/
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Editor Philip Harrison: "Hold It, Punk! You Ain't Going Nowhere!"
06/17/2018
Editor Philip Harrison: "Hold It, Punk! You Ain't Going Nowhere!"
Dennis visits the Silver Lake apartment of television editor Philip Harrison who recently wrapped Season 2 of the Netflix show 13 Reasons Why and whose previous shows include Glee, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Mr. Robot. Philip talks about what it's like to work day after day on a show like 13 Reasons Why, where the subject matter is very intense and emotional. He also breaks down the step-by-step process of editing a television show, how he was able to break through and move from editing indie projects to major network TV shows and why he uses a special saddle chair and occasionally a mirror in his editing bay. He recalls the thrill of getting nominated for an ACE Eddie award for Mr. Robot for an episode that called on him to cut a faux 90's sitcom credit sequence. Philip also reveals the private ritual he does before showing a producer or director a new cut. He also talks about becoming a vegetarian, keeping in touch with people who might hire you, his surprise editing "audition" for Glee, working with Charles Busch on the film Die Mommy Die and being an assistant editor on American Psycho. Other topics include: his childhood obsession with Star Wars, that time he got fired, how big brothers have the best porn, the documentary he's currently making about gay historian Jonathan Ned Katz and that time he had a run in with the police.
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Kristine Oller & the Queer Eye Guys: "Things Just Keep Getting Better"
06/04/2018
Kristine Oller & the Queer Eye Guys: "Things Just Keep Getting Better"
This episode of Dennis Anyone is divided into two parts. In the first half, Dennis visits the Glendale apartment of professional change strategist and past podcast guest Kristine Oller to get the scoop on her new Cashflow for Creatives program, which Dennis is a part of. For the past 5 months, Dennis has gone to Kristine every two weeks to get coaching for his new businesses Lifecast and the game You Don't Know My Life. Kristine has turned these sessions into a podcast where she uses the real life examples of Dennis and three other creative entrepreneurs to show how her tips and philosophies work in the real world. Dennis got so much out the process and he hopes listeners will, too. Part 2 of the podcast is an excerpt from the FYSEE event showcasing Netflix's revival of Queer Eye. All five of the Fab Five--Antoni Porowski, Bobby Berk, Jonathan Van Ness, Karamo Brown and Tan France--were on hand along with the show's Executive Producer David Collins and the make-better subject of the episode they screened A.J. from Atlanta. "I started crying about a minute into the episode and didn't stop until the event was over," says Dennis. "This is the show the world needs right now."
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Filmmakers Mike Roma & Ashley Hillis ("Dating My Mother"): "Elizabeth Moss Liked My Instagram!"
05/25/2018
Filmmakers Mike Roma & Ashley Hillis ("Dating My Mother"): "Elizabeth Moss Liked My Instagram!"
Dennis goes to the West Hollywood apartment of Mike Roma, the writer director of the new film "Dating My Mother," to chat with Roma and producer Ashley Hillis. Mike talks about the autobiographical origins of the movie, shooting the film in his real mom's condo, getting his dream cast of Patrick Reilly, Kathryn Erbe, Kathy Najimy, James LeGros, Michael Rosen and Paul Iacono and the thrill of playing in the legendary Castro Theater in San Francisco. They also discuss the minefield of online dating, getting catfished repeatedly, being gay in suburbia, Ashley's new short film The Shiva List, going to film school at USC and sharing memories of Blockbuster nights. Other topics include: the famous actor Ashley gushed over an elevator, rigging a Secret Santa gift-exchange to get closer to a crush, hearing back from Magic Johnson, being scandalized by American Pie 2, going as a slutty Handmaid for Halloween, crushing on Zac Efron and Patrick Dempsey and of course, the glorious awfulness of Xanadu. https://www.datingmymother.com/
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Filmmaker Matt Kugleman ("Hurricane Bianca"): "Our Moms Only Have 9 Toes"
05/18/2018
Filmmaker Matt Kugleman ("Hurricane Bianca"): "Our Moms Only Have 9 Toes"
Dennis heads to West Hollywood to meet up with visiting filmmaker Matt Kugleman, director of the new drag comedy Hurricane Bianca: From Russia with Hate starring RuPaul's Drag Race winner Bianca Del Rio. Matt talks about how he first met Bianca on MySpace (MySpace, people!), being starstruck by Katya from RDR and getting her in the movie, why he loves the Bianca character, helping Bianca with her Drag Race audition tape, how Drag Race changed the game in terms of the film's crowdfunding campaign, his favorite Bianca scenes to shoot and the Drew Barrymore movie he said was his favorite on his first day in film school. Matt also talks about sneaking onto movie sets when he was a kid growing up outside Chicago, his history with firemen and firehouses, and how he got his foot in the door at CBS while he was working as a server on Fire Island. He tells a harrowing story about his first day as an editor on the CBS Evening News and describes the flair he uses to make his editing room extra-gay and homey. He also talks about his current day job, working as an editor on CBS This Morning, and shares a great story about one of the show's hosts Gayle King. Other topics include: that time he got puked on, getting a tattoo of a foot with nine toes on it and that time he got to warm his hands with Keanu Reeves. www.hurricanebianca.com
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Performers Jackie Beat & Mario Diaz: "Thank God We're Not Normal"
05/11/2018
Performers Jackie Beat & Mario Diaz: "Thank God We're Not Normal"
Dennis visits the Altadena home of drag superstar Jackie Beat to talk with Jackie and her BFF Mario Diaz about their upcoming stage show Who's Da Boss, a loving tribute to the 80's sitcom Who's the Boss? The pair talk about why they wanted to take on Who's the Boss? tapping into their Judith Light and Tony Danza alter-egos, getting one of the show's original stars Danny Pintauro to play himself and the fun of putting together their character's looks. They recall how they originally met in New York City in the mid-90s, starting a NY theater company together and juggling shows with money-making gigs. Dennis also talks to Mario about his career as one of the city's most successful and beloved club promoters, choosing and styling go-go boys and how it feels to bring fun, sexy, life-affirming times to the throngs of folks who love his clubs. Other topics include: the big piss contest, the two actresses who made Jackie starstruck, the International Male catalogue, dancing for Barbra Streisand and the biggest trouble they ever got in in school. http://www.missjackiebeat.com/
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