Oscar nominated actress, Jennifer Tilly, is a favorite.  She always brings honesty and fun.  

This time she brings a bottle of win too and the magic gets started right away.

It's an almost 2 hour visit with Jennifer.

The show starts with politics and more with Michael Shure: THE FAST 15.

Michael discusses the tax bill, the new senate seat, the death of net neutrality and the sliding scale of sexual harassment.

Kevin Pollak is a comedian, actor, director, writer and producer and has been part of some of the biggest film and television projects of the last 30 years.

(6 minutes in)  On The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Kevin was a favorite of Johnny’s and he tells us how he never had to do a stand-up monologue on the show (a miraculous fact within the standup comedy world).  Pollak explains how he was able to go directly to panel on the legendary couch alongside Carson on his very first appearance because of a seat of the pants strategy that paid off. 

(37 minutes in) Kevin also tells a never before told story about actor Kevin Spacey.  

(54 minutes in) There is a story from the movie set of The Whole 9 Yards involving per diem payments and Michael Clarke Duncan that is a piece of insanity.

He also takes us inside the Golden Globe nominated and critically hailed series, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in which Kevin is a series regular.

J.Elvis Weinstein (Josh) joins Mark for the conversation with Kevin Pollak.

Larry Merchant has spent his professional life writing, commenting and analyzing some of the biggest events in sports.

The world of boxing made Larry Merchant a household name for the way in which his fight analysis pulled no punches (pun sorta' intended) and neither did his post-fight interviews.

Larry joins at 0:17 into the show.

Mark Thompson, J.Elvis Weinstein and Lisa Foxx ask Larry about his life around the ring and about his controversial interview with Floyd Mayweather.

Larry talks about Ali, Foreman, Frazier and a history around the sport. 

Mark asks point blank whether Larry thinks boxing is, at times, fixed.

The show starts with THE FAST 15 with Michael Shure.

Mark talks with Michael about the acquisition of Time Inc by a company controlled by the billionaire Koch brothers.  The two also discuss Al Franken and Roy Moore and the way Congress handles matters of sexual harassment.

Entertainment journalist, Sam Rubin has connections that run deep in both Hollywood and in the TV news business out of New York.

With the news about Charlie Rose and his firing from CBS, Sam comes in and breaks down what is going on and the likely repercussions.

Half way through the conversation, a HUGE bombshell is dropped about a key Hollywood figure and the loss of his job.

Then, our annual visit around the holidays from THE PITBULL OF COMEDY, BOBBY SLAYTON.  

Bobby reminds Mark of his Woody Allen dinner and gives Mark a hard time about being a vegan.

Our guest, Chuck Negron, is one of the founding members of THREE DOG NIGHT, among the most successful bands in history.

He’s responsible along with the two other band members for a string of hits that dominated the charts from 1968 through 1975.

His voice has remarkable range (over four octaves).  And fronting the band led Chuck to drink in the fruits of that era.  Specifically, the world of sex, drugs and rock n’ roll.

But while Chuck was enjoying a decadent life, ultimately it brought him down.

He discusses with Mark and comedian Laura House both his rise, fall and rebirth.

Chuck’s book THREE DOG NIGHTMARE (available on his website www.Chucknegron.com ) chronicles all of this.

The show starts with Mark saying hello and updating the news…(1st 5 minutes)

Then...

THE FAST 15:  Michael Shure joins Mark to discuss politics and more. (runs until :29)  

Mark and Michael do the sexual harassment/misconduct roundup, check in on the state of the GOP tax bill and on plans to lift the ban on trophy hunters bringing parts of creatures they’ve killed back to U.S.

They tell the story of the most expensive painting ever purchased-- and it’s flawed! ( 25 mins).  The two discuss the DaVinci that was just sold, who owned it before and how the bidding got so high.

Finally, an honest and entertaining conversation with one of the founders of the legendary band, THREE DOG NIGHT, Chuck Negron.

Yes, Tehran is his real name and the crew talks romantic infidelity, the science of cool and, among other things, Mark asks him about who has a tougher time in the USA right now, Muslims or blacks.

Mark Thompson is joined by Lisa Foxx for the conversation with Tehran. (00:25)

The show starts with THE FAST 15.  Political analyst and correspondent, Michael Shure talks about the latest mass shooting (Texas), the election, the wealthiest and where they hide money around the world and the Saudi lock up at the Ritz-Carlton.

American forces occupying Iraq are ambushed in a Baghdad neighborhood. After multiple failed rescue attempts, 1st Calvary Division will call for help from a brave armor company.  That armor company and their 6 tanks will launch a brave but costly attack to rescue the ambushed unit.

THE LONG ROAD HOME is a Nat Geo 8 episode series that chronicles a real life ambush of U.S troops. Our guest, Mikko Alanne wrote and produced this television series.

He talks (19 minutes into this episode) with Mark Thompson and Laura House (comedy writer) about what went into bringing the story to the screen.

The show starts with Mark's quick thoughts on the Paul Manafort and assorted indictments (first 3 minutes of show) and then THE FAST 15 with Michael Shure talking about other political issues and ultimately challenging Mark to a game involving Vegas movies. Fun for the whole family.

The show starts with Michael Shure and THE FAST 15. 

Michael is just back from a Richard Spencer speech/white supremacist rally and randomly met the Neo-Nazi principles in an attempted murder which happens later in the day.

Mark and Michael also discuss the Gold Star family controversy.

Then, a call from India:

India's wildlife is under severe threat - every animal from the majestic elephant and the tiger, to the shy sloth bear and rare pangolins, is under threat of extinction.

An organization called Wildlife SOS works around the clock to rescue, rehabilitate and defend wildlife and the environment and one of the founders of this amazing organization, Kartick Satanayaran, calls in to explain the innovative economic strategies being employed to save so many innocent creatures caught up in the greed of the animal economy.

Wildlife SOS runs one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in India.

Frequently, the workers at Wildlife SOS are threatened, attacked and sometimes kidnapped by poachers during their rescues.  Kartick walks us through one of the highest profile rescues the organization has made. 

WildlifeSOS.org

Mark is hosting the Tusk After Dusk event, Nov 4th in Los Angeles click here for more information

http://wildlifesos.org/tusk-after-dusk/

Heather is moving away and starting a new life with her fresh out of prison fiancé.  This is her last episode.

For 4 years Heather Ankeny has been a fixture with Mark on THE EDGE.   Now she’s here for her last episode in the co-host chair.  

She is moving to Northern California and moving in with her fiancé who is the prisoner/inmate that the crew has made fun of all this time.

Guests have tried to figure out what her “prisoner boyfriend” had done to end up behind bars.  We replay some clips of those conversations.

Ultimately though, the main event is Heather’s “prisoner boyfriend” now fiancé calling in and giving us a sense of his life of incarceration and his new life as a free man.

THE FAST 15 … Politics and more with Michael Shure.  In this episode, Michael reviews the GOP Healthcare bill that’s just suffered another setback.  Then Mark focuses Michael’s attention on Puerto Rico rebuilding, the continent of Africa and notable deaths: Jake LaMotta, the man who created a standard for anesthesia and the richest woman in the world.

Comedy Producer and Writer, Mike Scully, has created a ton of TV comedy.

He's jumped in to run some of the biggest sitcoms in television history and taken them to new levels.  How he got started and how he got over being intimidated in one of the most formidable of writers' rooms.

Mike Scully produced the Simpsons, Everybody Loves Raymond, Parks and Rec and most recently, The Carmichael Show.

Mike shares a bit of his world and his view on the future of television comedy (with the arrival of Netflix, Hulu and Amazon) and the growing streaming empire.

Mark talks about where Mike and he first met and seems surprised that Mike even remembers it.

J.Elvis gets some love from Mike after Scully realizes who he is.

The show kicks off with THE FAST 15 (in this case, about 22 mins) with Michael Shure talking politics from Hurricane Harvey relief efforts, the failure of the EPA to get help to flooded superfund sites to Mark and Michael talking about the effort to get rid of Columbus's name in Columbus Day and then a Russia investigation update.

The two talk about a piece of video of a Houston man playing the piano during the flood and there's a link to it below.

The Cousteau's talk about their latest adventure which is all about finding treasure on the ocean floor.

Mark asks about what it was like growing up "a Cousteau" and we find out about some accomplishments that Jacques Cousteau was involved in beyond bringing the ocean to our living rooms.

Here's a link to the Cousteau show, CARIBBEAN PIRATE TREASURE

Here's the video of the flooded Houston home where the man is playing his piano in waste deep water 

http://metro.co.uk/video/man-plays-piano-beautifully-flooded-texas-home-1529075/?ito=vjs-link

Michael Shure joins by phone with The Fast 15, covering the Trump pardon of Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the acquisition of Whole Foods by Amazon and the promise of lower prices and Mark and Michael touch on deadly hurricane, Harvey (First 18 mins)

Then, comedian Bruce Smirnoff talks us through a few of the stops on his unusual journey through a show business career that has brought him in contact with some of the biggest names in classic modern comedy and television.

If filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich were just a successful Hollywood writer/director and actor, it’d be impressive enough.  His list of accomplishments, published work as an author, hit films, and awards makes him worthy of a ton of esteem already.

But Peter Bogdanovich is clearly more than even that.  His stories reflect a rich life surrounded by creativity and the art of theater and filmmaking.  

And beyond even that, he is a living link to a classic era in Hollywood.  An era of great filmmakers like John Ford, Howard Hawkes, Orson Welles and Alfred Hitchcock.  

As a young aspiring filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich in his 20s arriving in Hollywood Peter was befriended by all these men and Bogdanovich even goes on to make a documentary about John Ford and write books about Orson Welles.

He talks about his beginnings, working for Roger Corman and then vaulting to Hollywood household name status after he directs The Last Picture Show which he co-wrote with Larry McMurtry.   

The film gets 8 Academy Award nominations wins two Academy Awards, the BAFTA award for best writing and on that film Peter Bogdanovich falls in love with a 21 year old Cybil Shepherd who he goes on to marry.  That creates personal complications for him at a time of great professional success and he discusses that.

On the professional side, from Steve McQueen to Barbara Streisand, much of Hollywood is wanting to work with him after The Last Picture Show.

He goes on to next direct What’s Up Doc? starring Barbara Streisand and Ryan O’Neal. And the comedy is a smash hit.

He follows that with another smash hit called, Paper Moon, a depression era comedy starring Ryan and Tatum O’Neal.  Peter explains how and why Tatum was cast.  The 10 year old Tatum goes on to get the Oscar for her performance.

His relationship with the stunning leading ladies of two of his films captured headlines and created personal issues…marriages and divorces. 

But the most tragic romantic involvement of Peter Bogdanovich’s life had to be with actress Dorothy Stratten.  After her brutal murder, Peter entered a dark period and withdrew from making movies for a time.  He discusses this along with his eventual marriage to Dorothy’s younger sister, Louise.

Peter talks about writing a book on Dorothy and the entire episode.

He also talks bout his recent work as a filmmaker and directing an award winning documentary on Tom Petty.

We wish Peter could have stayed longer with us.  It was a pleasure and an honor to have him in. 

Writer/comedian Laura House and documentary producer/director and comic J.Elvis Weinstein join Mark Thompson for this conversation with Peter Bogdanovich.

Here are links to Peter’s books and movies.

GOP strategist, John Thomas, joins and explains what’s going on with this most unorthodox and, many would say, faltering presidency and administration.

John is a staunch conservative pundit and Mark is, well, not.  Mark and John discuss the environment, regulation and the undoing of everything Obama related.

Then, Derek Thompson (Editor at The Atlantic) stops by to talk about his new book, HITMAKERS The Science of Popularity in an Age of Distraction.

What makes something, an app, a piece of music, anything, break through the cultural noise and become a hit?  Derek breaks it down in a fascinating conversation.

J.Elvis Weinstein (Josh) and Laura House join Mark for the conversation with Derek.

Michael Wood Jr. says reforming the police force is simple.  Of course, his view of simple and yours might diverge.

Michael is part of a movement that is responding to a broken law enforcement model that has led to innocent civilian deaths and cops who are often afraid to patrol.

He walks us through his experience and perspective on how to bring on change.

More information on Michael Wood Jr.’s movement to reform policing: http://civilianledpolicing.org/

J.Elvis Weinstein joins Mark Thompson for the conversation with Michael.

We start with THE FAST 15 during which Michael Shure spends the 15 minutes reflecting on OJ Simpson's parole, Senator John McCain and getting a urine test for a new job.

That leads to urine test stories and questions.

Comedian/writer Laura House joins us for the very start of the show..We love Laura.

Sometimes an expert is in your own backyard.

Mark's father is not only a constitutional lawyer but he's written a book with an extensive legal analysis of past presidential impeachment proceedings and even the attempted impeachment proceedings to remove presidents.

But worried it was one of those shouting match shows on cable television, Mark's father, Arnie, initially rejected our show's invitation to join the show hosted by his own son!

After it was explained that we wanted a civilized conversation to address all the impeachment talk, Mark's dad agreed to give us a bit of history and handicap the reality of any actions rising to the level of "high crimes and misdemeanors".

The show starts with a a brief introduction and then The Fast 15 with Michael Shure talking politics, Russia and then making way for impeachment talk.

Comedians Laura House and J. Elvis Weinstein join Mark Thompson for the conversation with his father, Arnie.  

Then they share facts about their own parents including one being eerily near JFK's assassination and the other having tutored Bob Dylan.

As a creator, writer, director and producer of television and film, Dave Mirkin has made quite an impact.

He’s been behind some of the biggest television comedies both from the standpoint of audience and in terms of the impact on the culture of television comedy and entertainment.

From The Larry Sanders Show to The Simpsons and Newhart, Dave takes us through a bit of his world as it emerges through a robust career.

He talks about his good friend Carrie Fisher and their adventure together on a cruise ship filled with the best and the brightest from the arts and technology.

J.Elvis Weinstein joins Mark for this conversation along with comedy writer, Laura House.

Mark starts the show with a 3 minute update from last week's story on the police in L.A. and a community outreach young cadet program that has ended up in an arrest of an officer and cadets.

The show starts with Mark and an LAPD tale ripped from the headlines.

Then, political analyst Michael Shure stops by for THE FAST 15 with some extra time spent on stories of illegal gaming and even an Angela Merkel sighting.

Then writer, comedian and performer, Laura House ( Laurahouse.com ) sits in with Mark as they speak with a radio reporter turned podcaster, Jo Kwon (from KFI radio in L.A.)

The crew talks about pot (the focus of this season of Jo's podcast) and Jo's podcast generally which is called, Jo Kwon Reporting.

Finally, a former NFL cheerleader who is now a leading primatologist and expert on Madagascar, Mireya Mayor, stops in with husband , Phil Fairclough, who produces wildlife shows for television and film.  It's just a brief visit but enough to get a picture of the vanishing magical habitat that is Madagascar and why it's a tough fight to save it.

Comedy writer, producer and host, Spike Feresten is involved in many things...He was a writer/producer on both Seinfeld and David Letterman's show.  He also had his own successful late night talk show on FOX-TV.

How and why that show went away is a story that Spike shares on this episode.

Spike also co-wrote Bee Movie, the Jerry Seinfeld film that was a huge success. He talks about the process of writing that film and thinking through the bizarre world of a bee, or at least the bees in the movie.

This episode was recorded at Mark's home which is up the road from Spike's.  The two neighbors meet though on the wild roads of L.A. as is discussed in this episode.

Michael Shure begins the episode with THE FAST 15, 15 minutes of politics and other items.  This week, Mark apologizes to Michael for diminishing Michael's NHL fan status.

The two also talk London terrorism, animals and Wonder Woman (the Jewish superhero)

Dana Delany rocketed to fame on China Beach, landed on People Magazine's Most Beautiful People issue TWICE, both in 1991 and 2011 (and she comments on how ridiculous that whole thing is on some level).  

Dana has starred in some of the highest profile movie and television projects of the last 25 years. 

Promoting those projects, the randomness of events associated with decisions on what projects to take on and and be part of is something Dana talks about.

The group talks about Dana's trip to Vietnam during the time she's starring in China Beach, a television show about the Vietnam war.  And Mark mentions that he's just returned from a trip there but the group makes fun of him and his trip.

We get to the insane, hormonal shoot that was TOMBSTONE.  Plus, she also gets into the film EXIT TO EDEN directed by Garry Marshall in which she starred.

The episode begins with THE FAST 15: POLITICS AND MORE with Michael Shure, who has just returned from 2 weeks covering Washington in Washington DC.

Shure isn't bothered by Trump pushing his way past other NATO leaders for a photo opp.  He IS bothered by Jared Kushner's back channel attempt to communicate with the Russians BEFORE the incoming administration is in power and Jared's lying on the disclosure form about his Russian meetings at Trump Tower. Finally, Michael makes a pitch for the NHL Stanley Cup Finals.

Heather Ankeny and Josh Weinstein join Mark Thompson for the conversation with Dana Delany.

Tyler Cowen is a noted economist and professor at George Mason University in Washington.  He has published many books on economics and our culture.  

His latest is:

The Complacent Class: The Self Defeating Quest for the American Dream 

His book breaks down this moment in time in economic terms.

We are not as inventive, entrepreneurial, versatile, daring or even productive as past generations.  But within this cultural and economic moment in time there ARE members of society who take chances and make positive economic change happen.

J. Elvis Weinstein (Josh) and Heather Ankeny join Mark Thompson for this conversation.

Before that, Mark walks us through an Apple lawsuit, Elon Musk's day and a fact about millennials.

You can buy Tyler Cowens books by clicking here.

It's been an eventful period in Washington. Because of that Michael Shure and Mark have a lot to chew on to start the show during THE FAST 15 

Then the master of voices and madness, Josh Robert Thompson, explains his new dominance on Facebook Live.  Josh has turned that platform into a moneymaker and he's done it quickly. 

That doesn't stop him from making fun of some of his viewers but they seem to like being the butt of the joke.

JRThompson also recounts a bit of his old world with Craig Ferguson as the voice of Geoff the Robot and the other characters on the show.

J. Elvis Weinstein (Josh) joins Mark Thompson

Editors note: Since this conversation, Josh has actually moved onto the Youtube Live platform.

One of Mark's favorite podcast hosts is Dan Carlin who does a show called Hardcore History.

Mark pumps him for some historical perspective on what's happening today.

Is the USA a Fading Empire?  How Close Are We to War? How will this moment in time be seen in the view of history?

Dan is a clear mind with a keen historical vision.

We start with THE FAST 15: Michael Shure who is, oddly perhaps, a fan of how United Airlines handled their PR mess after they threw a passenger off one of their flights.

The two also talk Instagram, High Tech Casino Gaming and Famous Amos cookies. 

We start this episode with a quick Earth Day message from Mark.

Then, Michael Shure shares the political truth about the "flip the 6th" race in Ga.

Plus, he and Mark talk about fishing, whale watching and more.

Heather and Josh then join.

First they beat up on Mark for Steve Martin retweeting him.  Then the crew meets an Uber driver who, months before starting his Uber driving, was a successful lawyer.

Why would anyone give up an accomplished legal practice to move to Vegas and drive for Uber?  He explains.

Jimmy Dore is back and he wants to burn down the whole Democratic party.  A party that he feels has let down the working class it claims to represent.

Jimmy was an advocate for Donald Trump beating the corporatist (as Jimmy puts it) that is Hillary Clinton so Mark asks him if he's happy with the way things have turned out.

Also,  Michael Shure stops in with THE FAST 15, we read a negative e-mail, talk Sean Spicer, cellphone fingerprint technology that apparently isn't secure & Pulitzer Prize winning political cartoonist and columnist, David Horsey, visits too.

Link to David Horsey columns: http://www.latimes.com/opinion/topoftheticket/

Link to Jimmy Dore: http://www.jimmydorecomedy.com/

Andy Kindler is back with a free form conversation that J.Elvis Weinstein (Josh) helps along the way.

Josh and Andy are best friends and so the two play a comedic, verbal ping pong that makes for a fun hour.

Before Andy, we spend time with political analyst, Michael Shure.  

This week Michael talks about Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law and how he's been given a wealth of responsibility for extremely important things but he has virtually no record of accomplishments in the spheres he's been charged with navigating.  Also, how the White House is being run like a family business.

Mark talks about how that's not surprising if one looks at the way Trump runs his other holdings.

Before anything, Michael and Mark talk about the newest entry into the plant based food world: The Beyond Burger.  Michael is over the moon for it.

The episode is broken down with the first 22 minutes devoted to everything that's not Andy Kindler and after 22 minutes it's everything that IS Andy Kindler.

J.Elvis Weinstein and Heather Ankeny join Mark Thompson for the conversation with Andy.

Happy listening.

 Carol Leifer has been involved with a remarkable number of hit comedy shows.  From Seinfeld to the Academy Awards to her own show which was critically heralded as one of the best shows in primetime television. 

The crew asks Carol about some of the shows she’s been involved with a special eye on Seinfeld.

Having come out as a lesbian late in life and after having been married to a man, Carol’s story is both interesting and extraordinary.  The crew quizzes Carol about her wedding and Mark asks Carol about what he calls, “Lesbian World”.  

Mark’s a fan of her books and asks her about her latest book, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY CRYING.

All of Carol's stand-up dates and links to buy her book can be found on her website CarolLeifer.com

Heather Ankeny and J.Elvis Weinstein join Mark Thompson for the conversation with Carol Leifer.

The show starts with THE FAST 15: Politics and more with Michael Shure.  It’s a 15 minute conversation covering the Washington scene and this time Mark and Michael get into the evolution of the ticket broker.

IBM Watson is leading the pack in artificial intelligence.

Nish Parekh from the Watson team joins us to bring us up to speed on how the technology is finding it's way into more and more aspects of business and daily interactions.

Plus, Nish's father may have one of the great immigrant stories.  So great that he starts with nothing and his story culminates with him being a high stakes baccarat player.  

Mark of course cannot resist asking Nish about that.

Then, Jeff, talks about his 17 years in prison.  Why was he there and what happens behind bars?  

We know Jeff because Heather's boyfriend spent 5 years in prison and met Jeff during his time there.

The show starts, as it frequently does, with THE FAST 15 with analyst Michael Shure (this time it's closer to 25 mins).

Mark and Michael talk about politics and get around to the confusion of a misplaced Michelin star that ends up bringing a huge crowd to a beer joint in France.

Leading a global movement to protect the world’s oceans is no easy task but Captain Paul Watson has been doing it for 40 years.

As a founding member of Greenpeace, Paul Watson has been an environmental activist from his earliest days.

Watson went on to found SEA SHEPHERD and his work with Sea Shepherd is documented in the show Whale Wars in which Watson hunts down and attempts to stop illegal poaching of whales around the world.  The brutal struggle to stop those illegal activities takes the Sea Shepherd crew into some of the most intense climates and conditions imaginable.

After virtually shutting down illegal Japanese whale hunts, the Japanese government fabricated charges against him to the point that Watson had to remain at sea for over a year to avoid extradition.  He still has to move around the world cautiously because of that warrant.

His work to protect the ocean from illegal fishing and pollution that destroys habitats around the globe continues every day and has continues to make on new forms and faces.

The show begins even before Captain Paul Watson arrives with Heather Ankeny and J. Elvis Weinstein having a post-superbowl conversation which includes Heather walking us through a decadent Super Bowl party.

The first 20 minutes of the show is our conversation with our regular crew of Heather, Josh and Mark and then Captain Paul Watson joins and J. Elvis is traded out for Chris Little from iHeart Radio.

If you live on the west coast you may be aware of the dominance of The John and Ken Show.  

The show is on KFI radio and is top rated on the most listened to talk station in America.

It's known for being a nasty spot to end up if you are a politician and the guy with the nastiest bite in the John and Ken duo is our guest, John Kobylt.  

John describes his background and ascent through the ranks of sports journalism to radio dominance.

Mark Thompson is joined by political reporter, analyst and regular contributor Michael Shure for the conversation with John.