GGACP Rewind: Episode #38: Alan Zweibel

In this episode of Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast, host Gilbert Gottfried and co-host Frank Santopadre welcome legendary comedy writer Alan Zweibel to the George Burns room at the New York Friars Club. Zweibel, a multiple Emmy winner and co-creator of The Larry Sanders Show, shares a rich tapestry of stories from his four-decade career in comedy. From his early days writing jokes for Catskills comedians for just $7 to landing a job on Saturday Night Live after impressing Lorne Michaels with a single joke about a prostitution stamp, Zweibel recounts the highs and lows of show business with humor and honesty. He reflects on iconic moments like meeting Dick Van Dyke, the disillusioning encounter with Milton Berle on SNL, and the creation of the beloved Mr. Death sketch with Christopher Lee. Zweibel also discusses his work on The Larry Sanders Show, his novel The Other Shulman (which won the Thurber Prize), and his personal journey running the New York City Marathon after a career slump. The conversation is peppered with hilarious anecdotes about the improv scene, the early days of SNL, and the absurdity of celebrity culture, all delivered with Zweibel’s signature self-deprecating wit and deep affection for the craft of comedy. The episode culminates in a touching story about Zweibel’s college poetry class, where he submitted the lyrics to Paul Simon’s 'The Boxer' as his own poem—only to be praised by his 92-year-old professor, who had no idea it was a song. This moment of unexpected validation becomes a metaphor for the unpredictable nature of artistic success. Zweibel also shares his upcoming projects, including a young adult book with Adam Mansback and a new collaboration with Dave Barry. Throughout, the tone remains warm, reflective, and deeply appreciative of comedy’s enduring power, even in the face of rejection and failure. The episode is a masterclass in resilience, creativity, and the joy of storytelling.