Obsessed: The Podcast

The Office, Parks and Recreation, The Good Place, and Saturday Night Live—Mike Schur and J.J. Philbin have helped shape some of television’s most beloved comedies. On this episode of Obsessed, host Matt Wilstein sits down with the married couple to discuss their new Peacock series Dig, starring Amy Poehler and Hugh Laurie, including its casting, characters, and unconventional opening. They reveal behind-the-scenes stories from SNL, explain how Schur got involved with The Office, reflect on working together and creative collaboration, and weigh in on the future of Parks and Recreation and the changing television industry. And Schur also shares his take on SNL star James Austin Johnson’s Trump impression, and weighs in on whether Trump will end up in the “Good Place” or the “Bad Place.”  If you’re a fan of SNL, Amy Poehler, and Parks and Rec, this is a must-watch conversation about the people and ideas behind great TV comedy.

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Chris Colfer joins the podcast for a candid conversation about his time on Glee, the show’s lasting cultural impact, and if he’ll return for the reboot. He opens up about playing Kurt Hummel, reuniting with Darren Criss, working alongside Hollywood legends, and stepping back into acting with his new horror film, The Restoration at Grayson Manor. Chris also shares behind-the-scenes Glee memories, reflects on his bestselling The Land of Stories book series and writing career, discusses navigating fame and privacy, and reveals his fascination with Queen Elizabeth. From iconic television moments to life after Glee, this is a must-listen conversation with the actor, author, and fan favorite.

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Follow Kevin Fallon on Instagram ⁠⁠@kpfallon⁠⁠

Follow Matt Wilstein on Instagram ⁠⁠@mattjwilstein⁠⁠

Follow Obsessed on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@beastobsessed⁠

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Mackenzie Crook joins Matt Wilstein to discuss his new Apple TV series Small Prophets, the supernatural story 10 years in the making, and why he loves creating quirky, gentle British comedies. The actor and writer looks back on landing his breakout role as Gareth in the original British The Office, why he initially wasn’t thrilled about the American remake, and how the show’s unexpected success changed his career. He also shares behind-the-scenes stories from Pirates of the Caribbean and Game of Thrones, whether he’d return for another Pirates movie, and why The Office’s “cruel” humor now makes him cringe. Plus, Crook reveals what's next for Small Prophets and shares details about his first feature film.

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Follow Kevin Fallon on Instagram ⁠⁠@kpfallon⁠⁠

Follow Matt Wilstein on Instagram ⁠⁠@mattjwilstein⁠⁠

Follow Obsessed on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@beastobsessed⁠

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Andy Richter is spilling behind-the-scenes secrets about two very different hit movies: the horror sensation Obsession and the beloved Christmas classic Elf. On this episode of Obsessed, host Matt Wilstein talks with the longtime Conan O’Brien sidekick about how Elf became a holiday favorite, the surprising casting choices that almost changed the movie—including Chris Farley as Buddy—and why he doesn’t think a sequel should happen. Richter also reflects on his new book, Elf Unwrapped, his years working with Conan, the collapse of The Tonight Show, voicing Mort in Madagascar, and his unexpected journey on Dancing With the Stars.

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Follow Kevin Fallon on Instagram ⁠⁠@kpfallon⁠⁠

Follow Matt Wilstein on Instagram ⁠⁠@mattjwilstein⁠⁠

Follow Obsessed on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@beastobsessed⁠

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Timothy Simons is best known as Jonah Ryan, the walking insult magnet on HBO’s Veep—but his latest role in Netflix’s hit romantic comedy Nobody Wants This is giving audiences a whole new reason to love him. On this episode of Obsessed, host Kevin Fallon sits down with Simons to discuss his evolution into a romantic lead, the show’s surprisingly relatable take on relationships, and the brutal Veep insults that still follow him years later. Simons also weighs in on the unsettling ways real-world politics have started to resemble Veep, why the show’s satire feels more nightmarish than funny today, and what it’s like to have a character become a lasting pop-culture phenomenon.

Follow Kevin Fallon on Instagram ⁠⁠@kpfallon⁠⁠

Follow Matt Wilstein on Instagram ⁠⁠@mattjwilstein⁠⁠

Follow Obsessed on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@beastobsessed⁠

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Comedian Heather McMahan joins Kevin Fallon on Obsessed: The Podcast to discuss her new Hulu comedy special, By a Thread, and the bizarre experience of being briefly “canceled” after a controversial moment at the Ryder Cup sparked accusations that she was MAGA. Heather opens up about receiving death threats and disturbing messages, turning the political backlash into comedy, and why she thinks a man would have been treated very differently. Plus, she dishes on her love of The Real Housewives, her over-the-top Italian wedding, the realities of making it as a comedian, her cosmetic surgery, and the unhinged stories fans share on her podcast, Absolutely Not.

Follow Kevin Fallon on Instagram ⁠⁠@kpfallon⁠⁠

Follow Matt Wilstein on Instagram ⁠⁠@mattjwilstein⁠⁠

Follow Obsessed on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@beastobsessed⁠

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What makes Larry David one of the most fascinating—and famously difficult—figures in comedy? On this episode of Obsessed, host Matt Wilstein sits down with Blake J. Harris, author of the new authorized biography Emperor of Nothing: The Making of Larry David, to uncover the stories behind the mind that created Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Harris reveals how Larry David’s real-life experiences inspired some of television’s most iconic moments, why his disastrous stint at Saturday Night Live nearly derailed his career, and how the pressure of making Seinfeld pushed him to the brink. Plus, they get into David’s complicated relationship with fame, his personal falling out with Cheryl Hines, and the surprising stories behind his creative clashes and career-defining decisions. If you’ve ever wondered how much George Costanza is really Larry David—or what it takes to get the comedy legend to open up—this is a must-listen conversation.

Follow Kevin Fallon on Instagram ⁠⁠@kpfallon⁠⁠

Follow Matt Wilstein on Instagram ⁠⁠@mattjwilstein⁠⁠

Follow Obsessed on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@beastobsessed⁠

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Comedian and Emmy-nominated writer Nimesh Patel joins Matt Wilstein on Obsessed: The Podcast for a sharp, hilarious conversation about political comedy, free speech, and the line between provocative humor and controversy. Patel discusses his new Netflix stand-up special, By the Dip, including his jokes about FBI Director Kash Patel, the Trump administration, and why he chose to take on some political targets while leaving others alone. He also reflects on his time writing for Saturday Night Live alongside Colin Jost and Michael Che, the evolution of comedy in a polarized political climate, the backlash surrounding Shane Gillis, and his decision to reconsider performing at Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Comedy Festival. Plus, Patel revisits the Columbia University controversy that thrust him into the spotlight and shares candid thoughts on censorship, cancel culture, and the business of comedy.

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Judd Apatow chats with Matt Wilstein about his new documentary, Norm: The Tale of Norm Macdonald, and the complicated, singular comedian at its center. Apatow explains why he chose to let Norm tell his own story through archival footage, stand-up, interviews, and the strange truths hidden inside his fake memoir, before revisiting Norm’s infamous firing from Saturday Night Live and the decision to keep going after O.J. Simpson jokes angered NBC executives. They also get into Norm’s complicated relationship with politics, the pressures facing comedians in the Trump era, his later clashes with cancel culture, and the clues Apatow found about the illness Norm kept private until his death. Plus, Apatow opens up about why he thinks Hollywood has become less willing to take risks on comedies, his hopes for The Comeback King, and whether Bridesmaids or Superbad could ever get a sequel.

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Kathy Griffin joins Kevin Fallon on Obsessed to explain why her New Face, New Tour shows can swing from facelift stories and celebrity gossip to a call for political action. She recalls the years she says she was shut out of Hollywood after her infamous Trump photo, the advice Jim Carrey gave her when she feared she might never find the funny again and the surprising kindness Kim Kardashian showed her at her lowest point. Griffin also dishes on her third facelift, why she still considers herself a D-lister and how Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List keeps her late mother Maggie’s jokes alive. Through it all, she’s determined to make audiences laugh, speak her mind and leave the theater knowing the people sitting beside them.

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