This week's guest:

James Curtis, author of "Comedy is a Grim Business: The Making of 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World'"

Topic: How the film got started; Stanley Kramer and "The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T"; The reception of "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" on the heels of the John F. Kennedy assassination; Casting the Fire Chief; The origins of the Big W

This week's guest:
James Curtis, author of "Comedy is a Grim Business: The Making of 'It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World'"
Topic: How the film got started; Stanley Kramer and "The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T"; The reception of "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" on the heels of the John F. Kennedy assassination; Casting the Fire Chief; The origins of the Big W

"Nostalgia Tonight" is a love letter to show business and Americana. Join your host, Joe Sibilia, as he takes you on a journey through time to examine the people, places, and phenomena that have shaped popular culture.

"Nostalgia Tonight" is a love letter to show business and Americana. Join your host, Joe Sibilia, as he takes you on a journey through time to examine the people, places, and phenomena that have shaped popular culture.

Nostalgia Tonight with Joe Sibilia

The Making of "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World"

Nostalgia Tonight with Joe Sibilia | 8-23-2026

Joe Sibilia opens the show talking about his obsession with "bootleg characters"- unlicensed, knock-off costumed characters of cartoon characters and puppets like Barney, Snow White, Elmo, and Mickey Mouse. Joe shares some memories of Regis Philbin in observance of what would be his 95th birthday on August 25th, shared by guests such as Marshall Lichterman, Marc Summers, Mike Schur, Ruta Lee, and Mark Malkoff. Later, Joe comments on an old educational film called "Good Eating Habits" and talks with Mike Connors of Connors & Sullivan for another edition of "Estate Planning Gone Wrong."

Nostalgia Tonight with Joe Sibilia | 8-23-2026
Joe Sibilia opens the show talking about his obsession with "bootleg characters"- unlicensed, knock-off costumed characters of cartoon characters and puppets like Barney, Snow White, Elmo, and Mickey Mouse. Joe shares some memories of Regis Philbin in observance of what would be his 95th birthday on August 25th, shared by guests such as Marshall Lichterman, Marc Summers, Mike Schur, Ruta Lee, and Mark Malkoff. Later, Joe comments on an old educational film called "Good Eating Habits" and talks with Mike Connors of Connors &amp; Sullivan for another edition of "Estate Planning Gone Wrong."

Regis Philbin's 95th Birthday!

Nostalgia Tonight with Joe Sibilia | 8-16-2026

Joe opens the show talking about his "King of the Hill"-themed "promposal" from his senior year of high school. Joe goes inside his vault and shares clips from his 2022 "Friars Club Podcast" interview with Bob Costas, who shares stories of Conan O'Brien, David Letterman, Johnny Carson, and others. Later, Joe chats with Lauren Tom, voice actress on "Futurama" and "King of the Hill," and closes the show observing National Rollercoaster Day.

Nostalgia Tonight with Joe Sibilia | 8-16-2026
Joe opens the show talking about his "King of the Hill"-themed "promposal" from his senior year of high school. Joe goes inside his vault and shares clips from his 2022 "Friars Club Podcast" interview with Bob Costas, who shares stories of Conan O'Brien, David Letterman, Johnny Carson, and others. Later, Joe chats with Lauren Tom, voice actress on "Futurama" and "King of the Hill," and closes the show observing National Rollercoaster Day.

Joe's "King of the Hill" Promposal; Inside Joe Sibilia's Vault: Bob Costas; Lauren Tom (voice on "Futurama" and "King of the Hill")

Nostalgia Tonight with Joe Sibilia | 8-9-2026

Bill Carter, former New York Times television and media writer, LateNighter editor-at-large, and author of "The Late Shift" and "The War for Late Night," talks with Joe Sibilia about his friendship with the late Peter Lassally, executive producer of "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" and "The Late Show with David Letterman," as well as landing his interview with Johnny Carson for "The Late Shift" and his hot takes on late night television. 

Later, Joe pays a visit to Mike Connors at Connors & Sullivan for another edition of "Estate Planning Gone Wrong."

Nostalgia Tonight with Joe Sibilia | 8-9-2026
Bill Carter, former New York Times television and media writer, LateNighter editor-at-large, and author of "The Late Shift" and "The War for Late Night," talks with Joe Sibilia about his friendship with the late Peter Lassally, executive producer of "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" and "The Late Show with David Letterman," as well as landing his interview with Johnny Carson for "The Late Shift" and his hot takes on late night television.&nbsp;
Later, Joe pays a visit to Mike Connors at Connors &amp; Sullivan for another edition of "Estate Planning Gone Wrong."

The Making of "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World"

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