Former CBS president Gene Jankowski joins Classic Conversations to share vivid memories from the golden age of television. From the early days of network broadcasting to overseeing cultural icons like Dallas, M*A*S*H, and 60 Minutes, Gene reflects on the creative risks, behind-the-scenes decisions, and human connections that defined CBS's rise to dominance in the late '70s and '80s. His nostalgic insights, in his memoir, Behind the Eye: My Life in Media, capture an era when broadcast television shaped culture, united families, and delivered unforgettable moments that still resonate today.

Episode Highlights

• Gene's early path from the Navy and Michigan State to joining CBS in radio sales
• The career-defining leap into television and rise through CBS leadership
• The inside story of Dallas' "Who Shot J.R.?" and how the show kept TV's biggest secret
• The record-breaking finale of MASH* and why it remains unmatched in television history
• The creation of 60 Minutes' Sunday legacy and its lasting impact
• Behind-the-scenes memories of Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather, and network news integrity
• Reflections on Norman Lear's groundbreaking storytelling and the delicate line between culture and controversy
• Lessons from successes (The Waltons, Dukes of Hazzard) and near-misses (Law & Order)
• Gene's leadership philosophy and why he ultimately left CBS

You're going to love my conversation with Gene Jankowski

• Website
• Buy book: Behind the Eye: My Life in Media

Follow Jeff Dwoskin (host):

• Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter
• The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter
• Podcast website
• Podcast on Instagram
• Subscribe to my Youtube channel
• Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show

Ways to support the show:

• Buy me a coffee (support the show)
• Dashery/TeePublic Store: Classic Conversations merch and more!
• Love the books I talk about on the show? Here is my Amazon store to shop.

From Motown melodies to television magic, Telma Hopkins' career has defined generations of entertainment.

Raised in Detroit, she began as a young singer at Golden World Studios before joining Motown, lending her voice to hits by Marvin Gaye, The Four Tops, and others who shaped the soundtrack of an era. Her next act came with Tony Orlando and Dawn — catapulting her from backup singer to international fame during the golden age of variety television.

Telma went on to charm audiences in sitcom classics like Bosom Buddies, Gimme a Break!, and as the unforgettable Aunt Rachel on Family Matters. Now, she's celebrating that legacy with her iHeartRadio rewatch podcast Welcome to the Family with Telma and Kelly, where she revisits beloved moments and shares behind-the-scenes stories from one of TV's most cherished family shows.

🎧 Highlights

• Growing up in Detroit's music scene and recording with Motown legends
• From studio singer to television star: the leap from Tony Orlando and Dawn to primetime fame
• Candid memories of working with icons like Carol Burnett and Isaac Hayes
• How Family Matters became a cultural touchstone for Black family storytelling
• The heart behind Telma's new rewatch podcast Welcome to the Family and her reflections on legacy, laughter, and staying connected through storytelling

You're going to love my conversation with Telma Hopkins

• IMDB
• Welcome to the Family with Telma and Kelly
• Instagram

Follow Jeff Dwoskin (host):

• Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter
• The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter
• Podcast website
• Podcast on Instagram
• Subscribe to my Youtube channel
• Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show

Ways to support the show:

• Buy me a coffee (support the show)
• Dashery/TeePublic Store: Classic Conversations merch and more!
• Love the books I talk about on the show? Here is my Amazon store to shop.

Thanks for checking out Classic Conversations! Dive into pop culture nostalgia with comedian Jeff Dwoskin as he hosts the best TV and film interviews. Hear inspiring stories from actors, comedians, musicians, and pop culture icons about the road to success. Part comedy, part drama—always entertaining.

From soap operas and westerns to cult classics and academia, Dr. Amy Stoch has truly done it all.

Beloved for her iconic role as "Missy" in the Bill & Ted films, Amy takes us on a heartfelt and humorous ride through her incredible career, from Star Search to Days of Our Lives, Dallas, and Gunsmoke. Along the way, she shares stories of serendipity, persistence, and the pure joy of performing, proving that her passion for acting and storytelling burns brighter than ever.

Episode Highlights

• How Star Search kickstarted her acting career and led to an unexpected PhD promise to Ed McMahon!
• Behind-the-scenes memories from Days of Our Lives, including her time as a "Russian spy" and her DIY backstory method.
• Landing Dallas and the wild story of getting the role while on a cruise in the Aegean Sea!
• The origins of "Missy" in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and the real story behind that nostalgic Circle K visit.
• Reflections on returning decades later for Bill & Ted Face the Music and what she wishes Missy's next chapter could be.
• Heartwarming memories from Gunsmoke and sharing the screen with legends like James Arness.
• Why Dr. Amy believes acting and scholarship are forever intertwined and how she's still "excellent" in everything she does.

You're going to love my conversation with Dr. Amy Stoch

• IMDB

Follow Jeff Dwoskin (host):

• Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter
• The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter
• Podcast website
• Podcast on Instagram
• Subscribe to my Youtube channel
• Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show

Ways to support the show:

• Buy me a coffee (support the show)
• Dashery/TeePublic Store: Classic Conversations merch and more!
• Love the books I talk about on the show? Here is my Amazon store to shop.

Thanks for checking out Classic Conversations! Dive into pop culture nostalgia with comedian Jeff Dwoskin as he hosts the best TV and film interviews. Hear inspiring stories from actors, comedians, musicians, and pop culture icons about the road to success. Part comedy, part drama—always entertaining.

From child star to accomplished musician, Bill Mumy's journey through Hollywood is a tapestry of talent, longevity, and creativity.

In this episode, he reflects on his decades-spanning career — from Lost in Space and The Twilight Zone to producing Ancient Aliens and releasing his latest solo album, Wonderworld. Bill shares personal stories about working with legends like Lucille Ball, Walt Disney, and Cloris Leachman, the making of his memoir, and his enduring passion for music that began at just ten years old.

Episode Highlights

• The making of his memoir Danger, Will Robinson: The Full Mumy and why he wrote it non-linearly
• How a childhood accident set him on the path to television stardom
• Inside stories from Lost in Space, The Twilight Zone, and working with entertainment icons
• Reflections on the craft of acting and the challenge of being typecast
• His ongoing creative life — producing Ancient Aliens and releasing Wonderworld

You're going to love my conversation with Bill Mumy

• Danger, Will Robinson: The Full Mumy — available wherever books are sold
• Wonderworld — streaming now on all major platforms
• IMDB
• Website
• Instagram

Follow Jeff Dwoskin (host):

• Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter
• The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter
• Podcast website
• Podcast on Instagram
• Subscribe to my Youtube channel
• Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show

Ways to support the show:

• Buy me a coffee (support the show)
• Dashery/TeePublic Store: Classic Conversations merch and more!
• Love the books I talk about on the show? Here is my Amazon store to shop.

Thanks for checking out Classic Conversations! Dive into pop culture nostalgia with comedian Jeff Dwoskin as he hosts the best TV and film interviews. Hear inspiring stories from actors, comedians, musicians, and pop culture icons about the road to success. Part comedy, part drama—always entertaining.

Actor Anthony Hill brings humor and heart to this lively chat about his journey from college football player to beloved cardiothoracic surgeon on Grey's Anatomy.

From growing up obsessed with Halloween costumes to learning the craft of acting through persistence, Anthony shares how he turned creative curiosity into a steady Hollywood career. He opens up about his early TV experiences, how Grey's Anatomy changed his life, and the fun chaos of playing a doctor who (thankfully) doesn't perform real surgery.

Episode Highlights

• Finding the Spark: How childhood Halloween costumes inspired Anthony's love for performing.
• From Football to Film: His pivot from dreams of the NFL to acting full-time.
• Early Breaks: Stories from his first TV roles on NCIS, Silicon Valley, and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
• Grey's Anatomy Secrets: Behind-the-scenes of fake surgeries, cast chemistry, and life as Dr. Winston Ndugu.
• Lighthearted Laughs: What it's really like to fake medical jargon, improv with comedy legends, and work in Shondaland.

You're going to love my conversation with Anthony Hill

• IMDB
• Instagram

Follow Jeff Dwoskin (host):

• Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter
• The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter
• Podcast website
• Podcast on Instagram
• Subscribe to my Youtube channel
• Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show

Ways to support the show:

• Buy me a coffee (support the show)
• Dashery/TeePublic Store: Classic Conversations merch and more!
• Love the books I talk about on the show? Here is my Amazon store to shop.

Thanks for checking out Classic Conversations! Dive into pop culture nostalgia with comedian Jeff Dwoskin as he hosts the best TV and film interviews. Hear inspiring stories from actors, comedians, musicians, and pop culture icons about the road to success. Part comedy, part drama—always entertaining.

Jimmy Hanks shares his fascinating journey through Hollywood, from his early acting days and unexpected entrance into the industry, to his decades-long career as a writer, director, and the voice behind one of the most beloved characters in animation.

He opens up about building a creative path distinct from his brother, finding fulfillment in storytelling, and how persistence, humility, and humor shaped his long-standing career in entertainment.

Episode Highlights:

• From Reluctant Actor to Lifelong Creative: How Jimmy stumbled into acting while supporting his then-wife's Hollywood dreams and found his own passion in performance.
• Acting as a Craft: Why he compares acting to athletics — requiring constant training, focus, and discipline.
• The Voice of Woody: How a single gig turned into a 30-year role bringing Toy Story's iconic cowboy to life in toys, video games, and Disney attractions.
• Behind the Scenes of Forrest Gump: His experience as Tom Hanks' double for the legendary running scenes and what he learned about filmmaking from that set.
• Evolving as a Writer and Director: The creative satisfaction of shifting from in front of the camera to behind it, developing heartfelt projects like Mothers in Action and Black Like Me.

You're going to love my conversation with Jimmy Hanks

• IMDB

Follow Jeff Dwoskin (host):

• Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter
• The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter
• Podcast website
• Podcast on Instagram
• Subscribe to my Youtube channel
• Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show

Ways to support the show:

• Buy me a coffee (support the show)
• Dashery/TeePublic Store: Classic Conversations merch and more!
• Love the books I talk about on the show? Here is my Amazon store to shop.

Thanks for checking out Classic Conversations! Dive into pop culture nostalgia with comedian Jeff Dwoskin as he hosts the best TV and film interviews. Hear inspiring stories from actors, comedians, musicians, and pop culture icons about the road to success. Part comedy, part drama—always entertaining.

Author, playwright, and screenwriter Samuel Garza Bernstein takes us deep into the extraordinary life of Cesar Romero, the Hollywood icon who became the Joker in the 1960s Batman series.

In his new book Cesar Romero: The Joker Is Wild, Samuel uncovers surprising family history, reveals how Romero's career spanned six decades, and shares why Romero embraced being remembered as the Joker. From ballrooms to Broadway, Rat Pack hangouts to Falcon Crest, this is the untold story of a star who never stopped entertaining.

Episode Highlights:

• Cesar Romero's surprising family connection to Cuban national hero José Martí
• How Romero's ballroom dancing led him to Broadway and Hollywood stardom
• The unusual reason Romero refused to shave his mustache as the Joker
• Why Romero outshined the Rat Pack in Ocean's 11
• Romero's late-career comeback on Falcon Crest that brought him back into the spotlight

You're going to love my conversation with Samuel Garza Bernstein

• IMDB
• Instagram
• Website
• Buy the book: Cesar Romero - the Joker is Wild

Follow Jeff Dwoskin (host):

• Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter
• The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter
• Podcast website
• Podcast on Instagram
• Subscribe to my Youtube channel
• Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show

Ways to support the show:

• Buy me a coffee (support the show)
• Dashery/TeePublic Store: Classic Conversations merch and more!
• Love the books I talk about on the show? Here is my Amazon store to shop.

Thanks for checking out Classic Conversations! Dive into pop culture nostalgia with comedian Jeff Dwoskin as he hosts the best TV and film interviews. Hear inspiring stories from actors, comedians, musicians, and pop culture icons about the road to success. Part comedy, part drama—always entertaining.

For over five decades, Gregory Harrison has graced both the big and small screen, bringing unforgettable characters to life.

From his early break in Jim the World's Greatest to his starring roles in Logan's Run, Trapper John, M.D., and Falcon Crest, Gregory's career is a journey through television history. In this conversation, he reflects on his childhood on Catalina Island, his time in the army, and the lessons that shaped his craft and longevity in Hollywood. Filled with behind-the-scenes stories, serendipitous moments, and heartfelt reflections, this episode is a celebration of a remarkable career still going strong.

Episode Highlights:

• Growing up on Catalina Island and discovering acting through Doris Day on The Glass Bottom Boat
• Landing his first big break with Jim the World's Greatest and how it opened Hollywood doors
• Stories from Logan's Run, MASH, and the transformative experience of Centennial
• Behind-the-scenes memories from Trapper John, M.D., and working with legendary guest stars
• Finding joy in adaptation, family life, and sustaining a career across decades

You're going to love my conversation with Gregory Harrison

• IMDB
• Instagram

Follow Jeff Dwoskin (host):

• Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter
• The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter
• Podcast website
• Podcast on Instagram
• Subscribe to my Youtube channel
• Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show

Ways to support the show:

• Buy me a coffee (support the show)
• Dashery/TeePublic Store: Classic Conversations merch and more!
• Love the books I talk about on the show? Here is my Amazon store to shop.

Thanks for checking out Classic Conversations! Dive into pop culture nostalgia with comedian Jeff Dwoskin as he hosts the best TV and film interviews. Hear inspiring stories from actors, comedians, musicians, and pop culture icons about the road to success. Part comedy, part drama—always entertaining.

Actor, acting coach, and author Josh Pais shares a career filled with transformative roles, creative risks, and powerful lessons.

From originating Raphael in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to working alongside icons like Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, Joaquin Phoenix, and Molly Shannon, Josh has lived at the intersection of art and life. He opens up about growing up in New York's Alphabet City, making the documentary Seventh Street, and the intense experiences that shaped his artistic journey. Josh also discusses his new book, Lose Your Mind: The Path to Creative Invincibility, a guide to breaking free from mental roadblocks and embracing spontaneity.

Episode Highlights:

• Childhood in Alphabet City and documenting the neighborhood in Seventh Street
• Early lessons in acting and spontaneity, including a pivotal moment with Robert De Niro
• Collaborations with industry legends such as Meryl Streep, Joaquin Phoenix, and Wes Craven
• Behind-the-scenes of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and creating Raphael's voice and movement
• Insights from Josh's book Lose Your Mind on creativity, emotions, and artistic freedom

You're going to love my conversation with Josh Pais

• IMDB
• Josh's book Lose Your Mind: The Path to Creative Invincibility
• Instagram (Josh)
• Committed Impulse website
• Instagram (Committed Impulse)
• 7th Street documentary (on YouTube)

Follow Jeff Dwoskin (host):

• Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter
• The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter
• Podcast website
• Podcast on Instagram
• Subscribe to my Youtube channel
• Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show

Ways to support the show:

• Buy me a coffee (support the show)
• Dashery/TeePublic Store: Classic Conversations merch and more!
• Love the books I talk about on the show? Here is my Amazon store to shop.

Thanks for checking out Classic Conversations! Dive into pop culture nostalgia with comedian Jeff Dwoskin as he hosts the best TV and film interviews. Hear inspiring stories from actors, comedians, musicians, and pop culture icons about the road to success. Part comedy, part drama—always entertaining.

From Halloween II to The Last Starfighter and even Jaws: The Revenge, Lance Guest's career is filled with memorable moments that shaped an era of film.

In this conversation, Lance reflects on his journey through cult classics, working alongside legends, and the unexpected twists that brought his characters to life. With stories from early sci-fi special effects to Broadway stages, this episode celebrates the nostalgia and resilience of a career spanning decades.

Episode Highlights:

• How Lance landed the role of Alex Rogan in The Last Starfighter and the film's pioneering CGI effects
• Stories from working with Robert Preston and the magic he brought to set
• Behind-the-scenes memories from Halloween II and Lance's take on Jamie Lee Curtis' energy off-screen
• The challenges and rewrites that shaped Jaws: The Revenge
• Lance's transition to Broadway, performing as Johnny Cash in Million Dollar Quartet

You're going to love my conversation with Lance Guest

• IMDB

Follow Jeff Dwoskin (host):

• Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter
• The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter
• Podcast website
• Podcast on Instagram
• Join my mailing list
• Subscribe to my Youtube channel
• Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show

Ways to support the show:

• Buy me a coffee (support the show)
• Dashery/TeePublic Store: Classic Conversations merch and more!
• Love the books I talk about on the show? Here is my Amazon store to shop.

Thanks for checking out Classic Conversations! Dive into pop culture nostalgia with comedian Jeff Dwoskin as he hosts the best TV and film interviews. Hear inspiring stories from actors, comedians, musicians, and pop culture icons about the road to success. Part comedy, part drama—always entertaining.