Famous and Gravy

This person died in 2012 at age 63. She grew up singing in church and decided in her teens to make music her career. In the late 1960s she joined the Munich company of the rock musical “Hair” and relocated to Germany. Her voice sailed over dance floors and leapt from radios from the mid-’70s well into the ’80s. Her music was a template for 1970s disco. Her hits include “Hot Stuff”, “Bad Girls”, and “She Works Hard for the Money”. Today’s dead celebrity is Donna Summer.Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comLINKS:Transcript of this episodeNew York Times obituary for Donna SummerDonna Summer on Fresh AirA&E Biography on Donna SummerDonna Summer on the Arsenio Hall ShowHomer Simpson’s ‘I Work Hard For the Money’Dead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This person died in 2016 at age 74. He had an agile mind, a buoyant personality, and a brash self-confidence. He was politically and socially idiosyncratic. He was never taught to read properly; years later he confided that he had never read a book, including the ones on which he collaborated. He had Parkinson’s disease for more than 30 years. He was the most thrilling if not the best heavyweight ever, with a boxing style that fused speed, agility and power. Today’s dead celebrity is Muhammad Ali.Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comLINKS:Transcript of this episodeNew York Times obituary for Muhammad AliiThe Simpsons supercut video of all Muhammad Ali referencesMuhammad Ali lights the Olympic torch at 1996 AtlantaI Am the Greatest 1963 album Wikipedia entryTrailer for Ali Rap documentaryKen Burns’ Muhammad Ali documentary streaming on PBS Dead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This person died in 2017 at age 97. He graduated in 1937 from Hollywood High School, where he briefly dated the future film actress Lana Turner. The full measure of his celebrity was not realized until he was 61 years old. He let millions of viewers know that no matter how seemingly insignificant their legal disputes, they, too, were entitled to their day in court. He sat on the bench of the syndicated television show “The People’s Court”. Today’s dead celebrity is Judge Joseph Wapner. Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comLINKS:Transcript of this episodeNew York Times obituary for Joseph WapnerCarson vs Letterman car case moderated by WapnerJudge Wapner discussing his career as a judgeHollywood High School notable graduatesDead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This person died 2016 at age 66. He studied electrical engineering at the University of Arizona. He began his comedy career as a writer and went on to become one of the most successful stand-up comics of the 1980s. He had frequently substituted for Johnny Carson as the “Tonight Show” host. His HBO show was often cited as a groundbreaking precursor to shows like “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “30 Rock”. He was best known for “The Larry Sanders Show,” a twisted look at life behind the scenes of a late-night talk show. Today’s dead celebrity is Garry Shandling.Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comLINKS:Transcript of this episodeNew York Times Obituary for Garry ShandlingGarry Shandling’s first appearance on The Tonight ShowTheme song from the “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show”The Tortured Soul of Garry Shandling article from the New YorkerTrailer for Jud Apatow’s documentary “Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling”Dead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Michael and Amit conceived of a game app in 2011, and 10 years later this podcast was born instead. In other words, this is our origin story.  Most excitingly, today we’re actually releasing that game app! We present to you Dead or Alive. On this episode, hear people play the game out loud with laughter, surprise, and agony. You can play Dead or Alive free on any mobile device by going to deadoraliveapp.com, no download required.Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comLinks:Transcript of this episodeDead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This person died in 2013 at age 87. She grew up in a flat above a grocery store owned by her father. She believed personal responsibility and hard work were the only ways to achieve national prosperity. Even some of her strongest critics accorded her a grudging respect. She was the first woman to become prime minister of Britain, and was nicknamed The Iron Lady. Today’s dead celebrity is Margaret Thatcher. Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comLINKS:Transcript of this episodeNew York Times Obituary for Margaret ThatcherElle Magazine article on Thatcher’s depiction in “The Crown”Ian Rubbish page on SNL WebsiteHighlights from Margaret Thatcher speeches curated by the WSJMargaret Thatcher Pop Songs list from The New YorkerFilm trailer for “The Iron Lady’ starring Meryl StreepDead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This person died in 2012 at age 83.   As he grew up – working class, Jewish, gay — he felt shunted to the margins. His books’ characters were described as headstrong and sometimes obnoxious. A lesser known aspect of his career was as a renowned designer of theatrical sets. In 1963 he published the children’s picture book sensation “Where the Wild Things Are”. Today’s dead celebrity is Maurice Sendak. Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comLINKS:Transcript of this episodeNew York Times obituary for Maurice SendakStephen Colbert interviews Maurice SendakMaurice Sendak on Fresh AirFilm trailer for Spike Jonze’s adaptation of Where the Wild Things AreDead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we celebrate our 25th episode by spotlighting a fan-favorite category: Coffee, Cocktail or Cannabis. In this category, we ask which one of these three substances would you most want to do with the featured dead celebrity? It can either be to provide access to some aspect you are curious about, or which sounds like the most fun. All clips are from actual episodes of Famous & Gravy, which means all featured celebrities have died within the last 10 years, and each has a full episode dedicated to a different perspective biography about them.There are 24 full episodes of Famous & Gravy that precede this special, so go back and listen if you like what you hear. Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. You are free to speculate which substance you would choose to do with either of the hosts. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss.LINKS:Transcript of this episodeDead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This person died in 2020 at age 77.  He began shaving his head at age 12, long before he got his nickname.  He was a standout college basketball player at Johnson C Smith University in North Carolina, and an eventual inductee into the National Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2008, his number 22 jersey was retired in a ceremony at Madison Square Garden as the Harlem Globetrotters’ ball-handling sensation. Today’s dead celebrity is Fred “Curly” Neal. Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comLINKS:Transcript of this episodeNew York Times Obituary for Curly NealHow Curly Neal Changed the Game of Basketball tribute videoCurly Neal Legends’ page on official Globetrotters SiteTrailer for Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s IslandKrusty the Clown bets against the GlobetrottersSpud Webb wins the 1986 slam dunk contestDead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This person died in 2021 at age 84. He was friends with Ken Kesey and made a memorable appearance in “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.” His son is a well-regarded singer and songwriter. He had a private library that held some 30,000 books and filled three houses. He wrote more than 30 screenplays, including for “Brokeback Mountain.” He found his greatest commercial and critical success with “Lonesome Dove.” Today’s dead celebrity is Larry McMurtry. Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Jacob Weiss. Visit our website at famousandgravy.com and also enjoy our free mobile quiz game at deadoraliveapp.comLINKS:Transcript of this episode“The Larry McMurtry I Knew” in Texas MonthlyLarry McMurtry live interview from 2014Official website of Archer City, TexasDead or Alive quiz gameFamous & Gravy on Facebook, LinkedIn, TwitterFamous & Gravy official websiteSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.