Storytelling Saga

Ali discusses the first original animated Peanuts special, A Charlie Brown Christmas, written by Charles Schulz. She shares some interesting facts about the special and cites all the moments that make it so iconic.

Ali discusses the animated Christmas special based on the book of the same name, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! She shares her favorite moments and cites some lyrics from the classic song, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch."

Ali discusses the beloved Christmas comedy film, Elf, sharing her favorite quotes and a few fun facts along the way while emphasizing the joyful spirit that makes this a fun movie to enjoy all year round.

Ali interviews Emmy award-winning showrunner, writer and producer, Jerry Perzigian, who's worked on many classic sitcoms including The Jeffersons, The Golden Girls, Frasier, Married... with Children and more. Jerry shares how he got his start in the industry, his most rewarding moments in his career, his thoughts on the current age of television, his advice for aspiring TV comedy writers and much more.

Ali discusses The Rugrats Movie, the first theatrical film based on her all-time favorite childhood cartoon, Rugrats, created by Arlene Klasky, Gábor Csupó and Paul Germain. She reminisces about the hype leading up to the movie and her experience dancing to one of the songs from the soundtrack. She also shares her favorite quotes and talks about the emotional moments that still make her tear up all these years later.

Ali discusses the post-apocalyptic comedy, The Last Man on Earth, created by Will Forte. She recaps story arcs from each season while referencing the show's silly humor as well as its many dark moments.

Ali discusses the key foreshadowing moments in John Steinbeck's classic novella, Of Mice and Men.

Ali discusses the cult Nicktoon, Invader ZIM, created by Jhonen Vasquez. She talks about her favorite episodes, quotes and character interactions while sharing various behind-the-scenes facts she's learned about the series. She also expresses her excitement about the upcoming movie, Invader ZIM: Enter the Florpus, and she shares an Invader ZIM story she wrote called "Dodgeball of Doom."

Ali discusses the third original animated Peanuts special, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, written by Charles Schulz. She shares her favorite moments and touches on Peanuts' influence in other works of animation.

Ali shares writing tips with a focus on key elements to crafting a story, including character, conflict, dialogue and more. She also talks about the classic rule of showing vs. telling, and she shares a few tips on how to combat writer's block.