GGACP Rewind: Episode #34: Susie Essman
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In this landmark live episode of Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast, host Gilbert Gottfried and co-host Frank Santopadre welcome legendary comedian and actress Susie Essman to Fontana's Bar in New York City for a raucous, candid, and deeply personal conversation. The evening unfolds as a nostalgic and comedic deep dive into Essman's career, from her early days as a child performer playing the Wicked Witch of the West at sleepaway camp to her tumultuous journey through drug dealing, depression, and eventual redemption through stand-up comedy. She recounts her formative years at comedy clubs like Catch a Rising Star and the Comic Strip, her iconic role as Suzy Green on Curb Your Enthusiasm, and the surprising origins of her casting—discovered by Larry David after a Comedy Central roast. The conversation spans decades of comedy history, Hollywood secrets, Jewish identity in entertainment, and the absurdity of show business, with both hosts and guest trading stories of legendary nights, failed auditions, and the enduring power of movie nostalgia. The episode closes with Essman reflecting on her enduring love for classic gangster films and musicals, and her excitement for upcoming roles on Law & Order: SVU.
Your most powerful role often comes from embracing the 'wicked witch' instead of the 'ingenue'—authenticity beats conformity.
Success in comedy often comes not from being the most polished, but from being the most unapologetically yourself.
The best creative partnerships are built on shared hatred of the same people—common enemies create unbreakable bonds.
Curb Your Enthusiasm’s genius lies in its structured improvisation: Larry David’s story brain creates organic, hilarious narratives.
Classic Hollywood was shaped by Jewish immigrants who assimilated by marrying non-Jewish women and hiding their identities.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
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Live Episode Launch & Susie Essman's Introduction
Gilbert and Frank introduce the first live episode of the podcast at a New York City pod fest, welcoming Susie Essman as the guest and setting the stage for an intimate, unfiltered conversation.
Childhood & Early Career: From Wicked Witch to Comedy Rebel
“At eight years old I got that, that they didn't want me as the ingenue and you know what? I didn't want them. So that's when I started realizing that I was going to be a character actress. At eight. Much more fun to be the witch.”
The Dark Years: Drug Dealing, Depression & Comedy as Escape
“If I didn't find stand-up, where the fuck would I be now? I don't know.”
The Comedy Club Crucible: Catch a Rising Star & the Birth of a Voice
“I never went anywhere else. And that's where I met Joy. They had a women's comedy night. And that's where I met Joy Behar and Rita Rudner was there and Carol Leifer and all these girls that were, you know, had been doing it longer than me.”
“These guys who created Hollywood were these... They were a schmata salesman. He was a glove salesman. And they bought into Nickelodeons is what they first did, and then somehow it's amazing to think how they went from having a Nickelodeon with a schmata to MGM.”
“At eight years old I got that, that they didn't want me as the ingenue and you know what? I didn't want them. So that's when I started realizing that I was going to be a character actress. At eight. Much more fun to be the witch.”
“If I didn't find stand-up, where the fuck would I be now? I don't know.”
Hosts
Guest
Susie Essman
person
Gilbert Gottfried
person
Larry David
person
Frank Santopadre
person
Curb Your Enthusiasm
other
Catch a Rising Star
other
Caroline's on 8th Avenue
other
Joy Behar
person
Seinfeld
other
Robert Osborne
person
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