Dead Pilots Society

This month's pilot is Life After Harley written by Randi Mayem Singer (Mrs. Doubtfire, Mom, Jack and Jill). Life After Harley centers around Lucy Turpin, who has been emotionally stuck since the death of her famous baseball player husband over a year ago. The day she finally tries to move on and explore a new romance, her departed Harley comes back as a ghost—and he’s more alive dead than most living men. Will he let her go? Will she let him go? Sometimes “until death do us part” isn’t quite long enough.In the interview, Andrew and Randi discuss high concept comedies versus low concept comedies in terms of writing and selling. Randi talks about how the UCLA Extension Program gave her her big break and what it’s like to be a sought out feature film script doctor. She also shares some great backstory about her hit film Mrs. Doubtfire and the challenges that come with hitting it big early on in your career. Lots of great writing wisdom and tv/film history in this one. Enjoy it! Life After Harley stars Terrence Terrell as Harley, Sunita Mani as as Lucy, Adhir Kalyan as Mick, Ellen Wong as Zoe, Andy Ridings as Ted, Viraj Juneja as Derek Hedges, Marcus Bishop-Wright as Therapist/Joe, Shulie Cowen as Woman, and Andrew Reich with stage directions.For more Dead Pilots Society episodes and information about our live shows, please subscribe to the podcast!Make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, and Twitter, and visit our website at deadpilotssociety.com

This month's episode is a delightful dramedy called Arab Spring written by Ed Weeks (The Mindy Project) and Meena Dimian (Zahret Al Khalieg). It was set up at CBS Studios and sold to Showtime with Craig Ferguson attached to produce. The show's main character is the host of a wildly popular Arab talk show in Dubai. After being fired for offending the powers that be, he moves to , New York, where he drives an Uber while working towards his American comeback.In Andrew’s interview, Ed and Meena talk about their budding bromance. How they became friends and why they started writing together. Meena talks about his experience hosting a government funded Arab talk show and the limitations it presented in terms of comedy. Ed offers interesting insight on writing partnerships and how he juggles between them. A nice discussion about the romanticism of making it in Hollywood and the importance of true organic collaboration. Enjoy it! For more Dead Pilots Society episodes and information about our live shows, please subscribe to the podcast!Make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, and Twitter, and visit our website at deadpilotssociety.com

This month's episode is WIDOW written by Leila Cohan-Miccio (Santa Clarita Diet, Awkward). It follows Rachel, a young woman whose husband dies while they’re in the middle of a rough patch. Rachel does not handle it well. In Andrew’s interview with Leila you’ll hear her insane story about development hell and the frustrating double standard executives put on female characters. Leila’s start into comedy writing and a quick dish on pitching shows on zoom. Leila’s a real example of the determination and perseverance needed to succeed in Hollywood. This is a good one! Enjoy it!WIDOW stars D'Arcy Carden as Rachel, Cory Michael Smith as Jake, Punam Patel as Daisy, Arturo del Puerto as Emmett, Julia Duffy as Wendy, Kathreen Khavari as Hannah, Eric Edelstein as Miles/Officer #1, Sandeep Parikh as Levi/Officer #2/ Uber Driver, Noah Findling as George, and Andrew Reich with Stage Directions.For more Dead Pilots Society episodes and information about our live shows, please subscribe to the podcast!Make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, and Twitter, and visit our website at deadpilotssociety.com

We have another hilarious episode for you this month! ItsCode 5 written by Sandeep Parikh (The Legend of Neil, Community), Ed Brubaker (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Westworld), and Mel Cowan (Brockmire, Parks & Rec). Code 5 sold to FX and it follows two odd-couple cops stuck on a never ending case. It's like a funny version of True Detective where they're out canvassing and doing the tedious dirty work that you rarely see in cop shows. Based on a short-form series Sandeep, Ed, and Mel created for the EffinFunny YouTube channel. In Andrew’s interview with Sandeep and Mel you’ll hear about their non-traditional way into comedy, their backgrounds in improv, and why they attribute all of their success making things with friends. They also discuss the future of cop shows and whether or not those stories can be told anymore. It was a great philosophical discussion about storytelling and comedy. Enjoy!Code 5 Stars Asif Ali (Wrecked) as Sam, Phil Lamarr (Family Guy, Futurama) as Triggs, Milana Vayntrub (Love, This Is Us) as Rita/Jessica/Faye, John Ross Bowie (Big Bang Theory, Speechless) as Terrence, Janet Varney (The Legend of Korra, You’re The Worst) as Dr. Krakowski, Mel Cowan (Brockmire, Key & Peele) as Old Woman Customer/Coyle/Clerk/Security Guard, and Sandeep Parikh with stage directions.For more Dead Pilots Society episodes and information about our live shows, please subscribe to the podcast!Make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, and Twitter, and visit our website at deadpilotssociety.com

This month's episode is Most Likely written by Gloria Calderón-Kellett (Creator of One Day At A Time). It’s a hilarious, heartfelt and raunchy ensemble comedy about a group of 20-somethings whose quarter-life crises are triggered when letters they wrote in high school to their future selves show up in their mailbox. In Andrew’s interview you’ll get to hear the absolutely incredible story of how she teamed up with comedy legend Norman Lear to create the One Day At A Time remake. She discusses her experience at her first job in Hollywood taking packages for Cameron Crowe; things she wished she knew when she was a staff writer; and some tips she's learned from Norman Lear. Enjoy!MOST LIKELY stars Ana Villafañe as Stella Cortez, Taran Killam as Tucker Zayne, Victor Rasuk as Matteo Greyson, Emily Chang as Arlo Lam, Tyler Ritter as Atticus Anders, Caitlin McGee as Nora Asher, Todd Grinnell as Mr. Frost,Gloria Calderón Kellett as Woman (Creator/Showrunner, One Day At A Time), and Andrew Reich with stage directions.For more Dead Pilots Society episodes and information about our live shows, please subscribe to the podcast!Make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, and Twitter, and visit our website at deadpilotssociety.com

We know you're all avid TV watchers so this logline probably makes you think of The Good Place. You’re not wrong for thinking that! In Andrew’s interview you’ll hear Corinne and Noelle talk about the coincidental parallels between Elsewhere and The Good Place. How they felt after seeing The Good Place get picked up to series while they were still developing their pilot. They also discuss their origin stories into the business, the double standards executives set for female characters and how much they hated pitching Elsewhere, despite selling it. Enjoy! ELSEWHERE stars Kate Walsh as Grey Chapman, Nichole Bloom as Kimmy, Tig Notaro as Gabe, Ego Nwodim as Liu, Asif Ali as Steve/Doctor #1/Larry/Football Player/, Martin Starr as Ziggy, Humphrey Kerr as James, Carla Cackowski as Claire/Mother/Female Voice, Craig Cackowski as Hector/Gerstein/Doctor #2/Doctor,  Ayden Mayeri as Lady/Cool Girl/Ellen Nubuck/Female Voice, and Andrew Reich with stage directions.Like we said, Max Fun Drive is here! The drive will be over 4 weeks this year! The purpose of the drive is to give our audience the chance to support our show. We know this is a hard time so there is no pressure to donate at all. Your dedicated support week after week is enough for us! If you would like to support the show by becoming a Max Fun member know that you’re donation gets you a ton of cool gifts and giveaways! There are all different pay levels of support but we recommend the $5 level because its gets you our exclusive bonus content along with bonus content for all your favorite Max Fun shows.Our bonus content is pretty neat too! It includes an exclusive reading of a pilot called IN IT by Brent Morin (Undateable) and Bill Lawrence (Scrubs)  along with never before seen footage of Brig Muñoz-Liebwotiz pilot TRAINING ROOM and Joe Port & Joe WIseman’s pilot ETERNALLY YOURS. They were all recorded live at The Hollywood Improv. Our cast for these pilots were incredible! Hilarious actors like Nicole Sullivan, Arturo Del Puerto, Natalie Morales, Hemky Madera, Drew Tarver, Melissa Fumero, Tony Cavalero, Matt Walsh, Ed Weeks, Briga Heelan, Vella Lovell, Asif Ali, and more!!If you’re interested in supporting our show by becoming a Max Fun member you can do so by using this link: https://maximumfun.org/join/Also…WE’RE DOING A VIRTUAL DEAD PILOTS SHOW THIS Friday 7/17 @ 5 PM PST! If you haven’t been able to come to a show, now is your chance.We’re reading a pilot called CODE 5 written by Sandeep Parikh (In The Dark), Mel Cowan (Brockmire) and Ed Brubaker (Captain America).The cast includes: Sandeep Parikh (New Girl, The Legend of Neil), Asif Ali (Wrecked), Phil Lamarr (Family Guy), Milana Vayntrub (Love), John Ross BOwie (Speechless), Janet Varney (You’re The Worst), and Mel Cowan (Brockmire).BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE: https://houseseats.live/2020/07/17/dps717/For more Dead Pilots Society episodes and information about our live shows, please subscribe to the podcast!Make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, and Twitter, and visit our website at deadpilotssociety.com

We’re taking a break from dead pilots this month to talk about race and inclusion in the writers room! Andrew sits down with Alyson Fouse (Scary Movie 2, My Wife and Kids) and Matt Claybrooks (Everybody Hates Chris, The Oscars) for an open and honest conversation. They talk about the challenges they were up against while breaking into the business, the progress they’ve witnessed when it comes to inclusion in rooms, the ways in which it still needs to change, and some things all white writers should be thinking about. Enjoy!WE’RE DOING A VIRTUAL DEAD PILOTS SHOW THIS SATURDAY 6/20 @ 4 PM PST! If you haven’t been able to come to a show, now is your chance.We’re reading the pilot “Most Likely” written by Gloria Calderón Kellett (One Day At A Time)The cast includes: Ana Villafañe (New Amsterdam), Victor Rasuk (Fifty Shades Freed, Godzilla, Lords Of Dogtown), Emily Chang (The Vampire Diaries, The Bold Type), Tyler Ritter (Agents of Shield, The McCarthys), Caitlin McGee (Bluff City Law, Modern Love), Todd Grinnell (One Day At A Time), Taran Killam as Tucker Zayne (Single Parents, SNL), and Gloria Calderon Kellett as Woman (Creator/Showrunner, One Day At A Time).BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE: https://houseseats.live/2020/06/20/dead-pilots-society-6-20/Proceeds for this show will be donated to The LA Food BankMore information about The LA Food Bank: https://www.lafoodbank.org/The Navajo (Diné) Nation is home to 175,000 people, all of whom are grossly endangered by the staggering spread of COVID-19 across their homeland. Currently, the Navajo Nation has more cases of COVID-19 than 8 U.S. states. In an effort to raise funds for Navajo organizations working on the front lines fighting to help those impacted, we invite you to join us in taking the #Donation4NavajoNationChallenge!To support The Navajo Relief Fund to help The Navajo Nation fight COVID-19 go to: https://ndncollective.org/navajo-nation-relief-fund/For more Dead Pilots Society episodes and information about our live shows, please subscribe to the podcast!Make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, and Twitter, and visit our website at deadpilotssociety.com

In Andrew's interview, Sally talks about how going to hear Jimmy Burrows speak at her college changed the direction of her life, her rise from PA to writer on the original Will & Grace, and why REVIVAL was truly "the one that got away."  This is a great interview with lots of golden nuggets about show business! EnjoyREVIVAL stars Will Forte as Elliot, Kelly Marie Tran as Jenny, John C. McGinley as Cal Keating, Larry Wilmore as Sam Fishkin,  Mimi Kennedy as Veronica, Anna Camp as Female Host/Alice/Cop/Waitress, Ayden Mayeri as Reagan, Craig Cackowski as Male Host/Straight Guy/David Spade, Andrew Ti as Walter, and Andrew Reich with stage directions.   WE’RE DOING A VIRTUAL DEAD PILOTS SHOW THIS SATURDAY 5/16 @ 5 PM PST!** If you haven’t been able to come to a show, now is your chance.We’re reading a pilot called ELSEWHERE written by Corinne Kingsbury (In The Dark) and Noelle Valdivia (Little America).The cast includes: Kate Walsh (Grey’s Anatomy), Nichole Bloom (Superstore), Tig Notaro (One Mississippi), Ego Nwodim (Saturday Night Live), Asif Ali (Wrecked), Martin Starr (Silicon Valley), Humphrey Kerr (It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia), Ayden Mayeri (new Girl), Carla Cackowski (Badge of A Quitter), and Craig Cackowski (Drunk History).BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE: https://houseseats.live/2020/05/02/5-16-dead-pilots-society/Proceeds for this show will be donated to The Hollywood Support Staff Fund and a ticket purchase will give you 48 hours of access to the live stream link. For more information about The Hollywood Support Staff Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/44ndst-relief-fund-for-hollywood-support-staffTo support The Navajo Relief Fund to help The Navajo Nation fight COVID-19 go to: https://ndncollective.org/navajo-nation-relief-fund/MaxFun is running a survey to help figure out which advertisers are a good fit for our audience. We’re still primarily audience supported, and that will always be the case, but advertising can be a helpful source of income, especially right now. The results of the survey will help us talk to some new advertisers and convince them to give us a shot. The survey is short - shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes, and you’ll get a discount at the MaxFunStore for filling it out. Also, our gratitude. Go to maximumfun.org/adsurvey (all one word) to fill it out.For more Dead Pilots Society episodes and information about our live shows, please subscribe to the podcast!Make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, and Twitter, and visit our website at deadpilotssociety.com

We have more laughs for you this month! Our dead pilot is Eight from Alison Bennett (You're The Worst, Single Parents). After a whirlwind romance that resulted in a baby and a wedding (in that order), children of divorce Jillian and Trevor attempt to carve out their own family’s identity, with eight grandparents there to offer eight million different opinions.  In Andrew's interview, Alison talks about her humble beginnings at UCB New York and how she got her first job on one of Amazon's first shows. She talks about her experience writing on You're the Worst and what it's like to be a television writer in the middle of a pandemic. A great conversation with a great writer! Enjoy! Eight stars Anna Camp as Jillian,  Langston Kerman as Trevor, Kelly Marie Tran as Alicia,  John C. McGinley as Rick, Larry Wilmore as Donnie, Nancy Lenehan as Carolyn, Mimi Kennedy as Lori, Ayden Mayeri as Pam/Stephanie, Craig Cackowski as Ace, and Andrew Reich with stage directions. For more Dead Pilots Society episodes and information about our live shows, please subscribe to the podcast! Make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, and Twitter, and visit our website at deadpilotssociety.com

You probably need some laughs more than ever, and we can definitely provide them with this month's episode. Our dead pilot is Eternally Yours from Joe Port & Joe Wiseman (The Office, New Girl), about a family of normal looking but emotionally closed off, stuck-together-for-eternity vampires. If you think there's no fresh spins left in the vampire genre, you need to listen to this one. In Andrew's interview, you’ll hear about Joe & Joe's first show business gigs, including the insane, no-longer existent job of Night PA, delivering scripts in the wee hours. They talk about how far having a great attitude can take you in this business, the lessons they’ve learned through their long careers, and what they look for in people when they’re staffing a show. Pure fun from two great writers. Enjoy! Eternally Yours stars Ed Weeks as Charles, Briga Heelan as Liz, Asif Ali as Max, Vella Lovell as Emma, Tony Cavalero as Jesse, Yassir Lester as Benji, Matt Walsh as Mort/Sigmund Freud, Mindy Sterling as Phyllis/Woman/Kristen Stewart, Brendan Scannell as Steve The Blood Guy/Man, David Fumero as Henry, and Andrew Reich with stage directions. For more Dead Pilots Society episodes and information about our live shows, please subscribe to the podcast! Make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, and Twitter, and visit our website at deadpilotssociety.com