Employee Of The Month

Josh Charles’s longest day job was that of Will Gardner on The Good Wife, and he’s been nominated for an Emmy for Best Supporting Actor for his role. Even though his character was brutally murdered this past season, Josh hasn't been sitting shiva long. He's appearing in several upcoming films and will direct future episodes of The Good Wife. He had to audition twice for two different directors for his role in Dead Poets Society, revealing how grueling acting, especially as a kid, can be. Still, his talent and determination paid off, as his earliest roles were alongside legends, like the late Robin Williams (Dead Poets Society) and for John Waters (Hairspray). From the get go, Josh was incredibly passionate about acting and snatched up his first manager as a kid at the sleep away camp Stagedoor Manor. He'd already performed stand up in Baltimore, where he grew up. I'm relieved Ted Talks didn't exist back in the 80's, as I suspect Josh would have probably delivered his first one in the womb. Our...

I interviewed Matt Zoller Seitz live at Joe's Pub. You can hear our interview by clicking HERE. Seitz is a journalist and film and television critic. He writes well, sometimes better than the actual shows and films he covers. His encyclopedic knowledge of both film and television, palpable love for the medium, have endeared him to his peers, including the late great Roger Ebert. Like Ebert, Seitz is also a prolific writer and editor, and is currently both the Editor-in-Chief of RogerEbert.com and TV critic for New York Magazine, which means her churns out multiple reviews and features in a week. During his spare time, he writes books. He’s the author of The Wes Anderson Collection. The first person to ever cover Anderson, Seitz is currently working on a series of companion books for Anderson’s films. Seitz is also branching out to cover Oliver Stone and some other filmmakers. All the while, he manages to watch, obsess over, and...

Martha Plimpton is genuinely curious about others, a rare trait in actors, despite the importance of being so for their jobs. Wait an actor who isn’t narcissistic? It happens! That said, acting means many different things. Some folks are lucky enough to be paid to act and manage to fail upwards. Others shine in a particular genre, say Shakespearean regional theater or as a “nosy neighbor” roles on sitcoms or as a walking STD in PSA’s. But it is rare for even great actors to truly embody a slew of different characters across mediums. Martha Plimpton is that exceptional actor. I don’t know whether she’d describe her day job or even spirit animal as being a chameleon, but that’s what she’s been doing for the past three decades in over 35 films and television shows, on Broadway and off off off Broadway. As a kid, Plimpton made her debut in theater, but became known for her roles in critically acclaimed and box office films hits like Mosquito Coast, The Gooines, Running on Empty, and Parenthood. Even as she...

As President of HBO’s Documentary Films, Sheila Nevins has received more Emmy awards than anyone ever, across genres in entertainment. Her talent, insatiable appetite for work, and chutzpah proved instrumental in making HBO a mecca for innovative, non-fiction storytelling. Funny, smart and captivating, Nevins started out acting. After a stint at USIA, Nevins worked in production at CBS and Children’s Television Workshop. But when asked if she knew someone for a gig at a fledging cable channel, Nevins recommended herself. In 1979, she started working for HBO. Since then, it's remained renowned for producing original, provocative programming. In our interview, which was taped live at Joe's Pub, we spoke about her acting stint; what sorts of films HBO green lights, and whether it’s better as a woman to Lean In or Lean Back.

On the eve of Russ & Daughters expanding their appetizing empire to include a sit down restaurant, co-owner Josh Russ Tupper talked about his beautiful, utterly original, undeniably physically taxing, and fun career path on Employee of the Month. Despite having been born on Ananda (pro vegan & vegetarian) Ashram, Tupper quickly earned a reputation as one of the greatest lox slicers, not to be confused with shmearers. After hearing rumors of his steady left hand, I put Tupper to the test, which you can hear in the recording of our interview, which was taped live at Joe’s Pub. Even on a curved plate, with a jack knife, Tupper sliced the lox so thin that you really can read The New York Times through it. He also partook in an empirically sound blind taste that the celebrated Upper West Side's Barney's Greengrass appetizing deli doesn't hold a candle to Russ & Daughters, although Zabar’s is holding on to dear life when it comes to the taste and freshness of lox. (Please note that in this highly objective...

If Nora Ephron and Martin Short had a blond, blue eyed Southern love child, she'd be Paula Pell. A writer and performer, Paula Pell's been making you laugh for decades, and she's finally getting duly deserved public recognition. Since 1995, Paula Pell has written for SNL, where she is best known for being able to punch up any joke, sketch or script no matter how short a commercial break. Along the way, she's also written her own NBC TV show (Thick and Thin), web series (Hudson City Ballers), and written and performed on 30 Rock. In the past couple of years, she started to branch out to film, having written and producer on This is 40 and Bridesmaids. She's also working on another film with Judd Apatow and Hudson City Ballers. Today (as in right this minute), Pell is filming her first feature The Nest, which stars Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, James Brolin, John Leguizamo, and Maya Rudolph. We spoke the night before she got the green light and she describes how challenging the process is of getting the film off...

The Tony's rarely celebrate solo performance art, cabaret, or truly experimental, independent theater, but it's never stopped audiences from loving the artists who reinvent the wheel. Take Taylor Mac, who often goes by Judy, and has long been heralded for imaginative, poignantly funny and original performers. When Mac appeared in Brecht's "Good Person of Szechwan," The New Yorker called it, "One of contemporary theater’s more unforgettable performances.” Mac is equally known for solo performances and fabulous, multi-character productions like, “The Lily’s Revenge” and “A 24-Hour History of Popular Music.” Mac is currently working on a two-person show titled, “The Last Two People on Earth” with Mandy Patinkin and that is directed/choreographed by Susan Stroman. In our conversation, Judy talks about shitty day jobs (pun intended), the joys of collaborating, and the weird nature auditioning. Mac also sings, giving us all a taste of the magic that is Taylor Mac.

Today, you can't walk into a coffee shop without meeting some who is a comedian, and, yes, I am including the barista who messed up your order. But there are fewer folks who earn their living as stand up comedians for decades on end. I am not insinuating that Dave Attell is 194 years old. I am just saying that he is a beloved comedian by fans, friends, and anyone who has seen him perform in the last 194 years. In our interview, Attell explains why working at The Daily Show wasn't the best fit and what he enjoyed about his critically acclaimed series Insomniac. His latest show Comedy Underground can be seen on Comedy Central at 1 am EST. Attell also proudly supports Operation Purple. When you hear our interview, you'll know why.....

Rosie Perez has had nine lives. As a choreographer, she redefined television's variety shows by seamlessly weaving the fabulous Fly Girls into In Living Color's vibrant fabric. Perez's fun, bold numbers brought an elegance to a hilarious, subversive comedy show, that would take sketch comedy to new heights. The phenomenal show launched J Lo's career and put hip-hop on the map. Perez also choreographed pieces for Bobby Brown to L.L. Cool J, before giving acting a whirl. On screen, Perez revealed a vulnerability and candor, that enabled her to make any role she took on truly memorable. Considering Perez is barely five feet tall, she may have inspired the cliche, "there are no small parts, only small people." She also paved the way for strong, funny females who happen to be hot, Latina or otherwise. Whether as a supporting character, like in Do the Right Thing, or as the lead, in White Men Can't Jump and Fearless, everyone remembers Perez. She's currently filming JC Chandor's Five Nights in Maine. Perez can...

What do Bono and Nancy Pelosi have in common? They both gave Barney Frank memorable wedding gifts. Considering Frank was the first gay Congressman to marry his partner while in office, Bono and Pelosi were probably thrilled to make the cut for the guest list. Frank's journey is nothing short of remarkable. A nice Jewish boy from New Jersey, with a bit of a lisp and a lot of chutzpah, Frank became one of the most vocal, witty, passionate, and persuasive progressive political leaders. A recent documentary Compared to What, which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival, chronicles Frank's 40 years in public service, including his eponymous struggles and triumphs as a 16 term Massachusetts Congressman. We sat down after the film at the Soho House in New York City to speak about his experience, work habits, C-Span's gluttony, and why he thinks Dick Cheney is a liar. If you enjoyed our interview, please attend the next live taping of Employee of the Month at Joe's Pub, Thursday, June 26th at 9:30 pm....

It's conceivable that Wally Shawn's fans enjoy his serious plays, such as Grasses of a Thousand Colors and The Fever, as much as his comedic turns in films like Pixar's Toy and The Princess Bride. Of course, there may be some folks who are only be familiar with Shawn's essays, which are often featured in The Nation. Shawn compiled many of politically progressive essays in a book called, shockingly enough, Essays. While he works in a range of genres and mediums, Shawn is consistently thoughtful in his work, and (seemingly) life. As he found his footing as a playwright, Shawn aptly turned to acting in television and film to pay the bills. He could then experiment with his plays. He often does so with his partner-in-crime, Andre Gregory. Best known for their collaborations, "My Dinner With Andre" and "Vanya On 42nd Street," you can see Shawn and Gregory star in the film "A Master Builder," which Jonathan Demme directed. The film opens July 23rd at the Film Forum in New York City, and a national roll-out...

Mother's Day is coming up and I can't help thinking of how perfectly Adira Amram's MOM SONG music video captures an ideal mother-daughter relationship while simultaneously tweaking our culture's expectation that mothers and daughters also be besties. Directed by Jim Turner, Adira and her mom are genuinely having fun, without shopping, beautifying themselves, or kvetching about men. Granted the duo are high. Amram doesn't take herself too seriously, although, in our interview, the actress and performance artist reveals how growing up in a family of artists propelled her to want to stand out. She does just that when decked out in gold lame and neon leotard and legging combos, that would make Jane Fonda proud. Adira and her two phenomenal back up dancers make up Adira and the Expereince, and their musical comedy is as much a hit abroad as in the US. Amram loves to collaborate, which is why she also serves as the house band for both Arden Myrin & Lisa Delarios' monthly The Party Machine and Night of The...

If you work at The New York Times, your boss is a bad ass. Whether she's more of a bad ass than you are depends on whether you.... 1) Decorated your body with 5 or more tats. 2) Took 14 Senators to task. 3) Sustained injuries in both urban and natural environments. (*Brownie points if you were hit by a truck while falling down a mountain.) 4) Hired a cop to train your dog. 5) Oversees the most respected, beloved, lambasted, and loathed newspaper in the nation. I am not implying that Jill Abramson, the Executive Editor of The New York Times, works in isolation. It would be impossible to deliver such a critical resource on so many platforms across continents without a gifted team of journalists, editors, technologists, videographers, photographers, graphic designers, copywriters, printers, and the good Samaritans who deliver papers uphill both ways. Still, managing all of these moving parts is a feat in and of itself, especially in the digital age. As technological innovation enables consumers to...

Rebecca Soffer's passion is palpable, be it for Latin culture, community building, Olympic level table tennis, or pop culture. In a world which often rewards narrowly focused expertise, Soffer found the best way to quench her diverse interests was journalism. But just as Soffer entered the work world, journalism was going through its own identity crisis. Luckily, her intellect and openness to change enabled Soffer to enjoy a rich career from the get go. Soffer started out covering the Olympics in Atlanta, then headed to Caracas, Venezuela, where her passion for community building and international affairs grew. When she returned to the States, Soffer headed to Columbia's J School. Always a risk taker and prescient one at that, Soffer decided to then work for a new television show spoofing the news instead of slaving away at a site, like Huffpo, scraping together listicles and trolling for Likes on Facebook. Soffer's job at The Colbert Report allowed her to goon the road with Stephen Colbert to produce...

For years, animator Scott Bateman was best known for his left leaning political cartoons and animations featured on Salon and The Daily Kos. Frustrated by the state of politics, not to mention journalism, Bateman invented Disalmanac, that now spans a blog, Twitter, podcast, and book "Disalmanac: A Compendium of Fact-Like Facts." He also directed his first animated film Atom Age Vampire and a trailer for a Dinosaur Jr's album. In 2014, Bateman had the joy of winning enough money on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire to work on his next film. In our conversation, Bateman reveals his tricks of the trade and encourages others tot have fun and give game shows a whirl if you want to find money quickly. Our interview was taped live at the Writers Guild (WGA). If you enjoyed our interview, please subscribe and come to the next live taping of Employee of the Month, Thursday, April 10th featuring Wally Shawn, Rosie Perez, and Taylor Mac, at Joe's Pub. For more info, go to: www.employeeofthemonthshow.com

In 1943, psychologist Abraham Maslow revolutionized developmental psychology when he came up with the notion, Hierarchy of Needs. It was a simple theory, but not simplistic. Maslow broke down how humans must first fulfill basic physiological needs, like hunger, before progressing towards safety, and eventually self-actualization. Seth Godin shares Maslow's gift for breaking down human psychology, only his focus is on business. Godin is an entrepreneur, speaker, and author whose best selling books include Linchpins, Tribes, and Permission Marketing. I am paraphrasing, but Godin encourages people to: - Figure out if you're a freelance or an entrepreneur - Make things that matter - Make those things (and services) truly remarkable - Find your tribe - Share your product in ways that are relevant and honest. - Go make something happen His writing manages to simultaneously captivate successful entrepreneurs and aspiring ones, but doesn't offer proscriptive advice, like 10 Easy Steps to Make Gazillions. In...

When Martin Scorsese wanted to audition Danny Burstein for the roll of Lolly Steinman in Boardwalk Empire, rumor has it Scorsese sent Danny a Vine. Well, Danny was joking, and his humor, accessibility and range as an actor is palpable. He's a quintessential character actor, which means most people don't recognize him as Burstein morphs into whatever the role requires. His remarkable range is evident in the breadth of productions he takes on, be it Broadway musicals, indie films, opera at the Met, and if Burstein plays his cards right, a Steven Seagal film. Burstein is such a mensch, as you'll glean from our interview, that it's a trip to see him play darker roles, like his upcoming one in Cabaret. f you enjoyed our interview, please do check out the next two live shows at Joe's Pub, April 10th and May 6th. www.employeeofthemonthshow.com

These days UCB (Upright Citizens Brigade Theater) receives duly deserved praise for nurturing so many truly funny writers and performers, but the utterly hilarious Andrew Rannells honed his comedy chops in musical theater. His early turns in Hedwig, Avenue Q, Jersey Boys, and, of course, Pokemon Live! prepared Rannells for the rigors of performing six to eight shows a week. So when the brilliant brains behind South Park decided to stage a show on Broadway, they knew to cast Rannells for a lead role in their debut Book of Mormon. The result was a tour-de-force, career changing (and Grammy winning) performance as Elder Price. Just as Trey and Matt had seized on Rannell's star potential, Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner caught Rannell's in an initial Book of Mormon show and rewrote a part for him on their original HBO series Girls. Judd Apatow joined these comedian all stars ARFC (Andrew Rannells Fan Club), and encouraged Rannells to try his hand at writing as well. The result is that Rannells has expanded his...

If you want to know what it's really like to write for groundbreaking TV shows like Sex and the City and Modern Family, pen a memoir (or two), or just marry a hot stud, this interview is for you. Few writers are as dexterous across mediums or as prolific as Cindy Chupack. Her ability to be as heartfelt as she is hilarious is evident in her essays in The New York Times Modern Love section, storytelling at The Moth, and episodes of Sex and the City and Modern Family. Her writing is prescient without being proscriptive, earnest without being cloying, and she can make me laugh and cry sometimes in the same paragraph. In our interview, Chupack spoke about her most recent book THE LONGEST DATE: LIFE AS A WIFE, which delves into the arbitrary yet real challenges of giving birth, parenthood, and marrying a cool drink of water. (Now you'll know why I turned down Ryan Gosling). A consummate writer, Chupack adapted the book for television and director Jake Kasdan is already shooting the pilot for FOX. If...

As soon as you hear therapist Esther Perel, you'll wish she was your shrink. My diagnosis? 1) Listen to our interview, as her humor, insight, is empathy is palpable. 2) Read her book Mating in Captivity which analyzes love, monogamy, and sex. 3) Live happily ever after, well, relatively speaking. Whether you're Flemish or Peruvian, hetero or LGBTQ, single or coupled off, Perel addresses our universal challenges, joys, frustrations, and hunger for love, sexual freedom, and connection. Her meditations on monogamy provide a thought provoking framework to understand what it is you want in your relationships. Perel is currently researching infidelity. It's clear that her experience working in seven languages, over multiple contents, doing drama therapy, sex therapy, couples therapy, individual sessions, and speaking all over the globe informs her extraordinarily prescient analysis. How do you feel about that? Go on… Well, you can learn more at www.estherperel.com Our interview took place at Joe's Pub. If you...