2.1 Author Interview with Saul Austerlitz

Send us Fan MailHappy New Year! It's my first interview author of 2024, and today I speak with Saul Austerlitz, a freelance writer whose work has been published in the New York Times, Esquire, Vanity Fair, and Rolling Stone. He is an adjunct professor of writing and comedy history at New York University, and the author of Generation Friends, Just a Shot Away, Sitcom, Another Fine Mess, and Money for Nothing. He joins me today to talk about his new book, Kind of a Big Deal: How Anchorman Stayed Classy and Became the Most Iconic Comedy of the Twenty-First Century. Listen to hear the how Adam McKay and Will Farrell created some of the most memorable scenes in the film, how the film uses the character of Veronica to comment on the male dominated newsroom culture, and why the early 2000s spawned so many great comedy films. Follow Saul's Substack called Hope in the Dark. Books mentioned in this episode include:Wild and Crazy Guys: How the Comedy Mavericks of the '80s Changed Hollywood Forever by Nick de SemlyenFreaks, Gleeks, and Dawson's Creek: How Seven Teen Shows Transformed Television by Thea GlassmanThe Deluge by Stephen MarkleyThe Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBrideFilms mentioned in this episode include:Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy directed by Adam McKayMonty Python directed by Terry Jones & Terry GilliamDon't Look Up directed by Adam McKayAnchorman 2: The Legend Continues directed by Adam McKayWake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie directed by Adam McKayThe 40-Year-Old Virgin directed by Judd ApatowSuperbad directed by Greg MottolaMarvel Cinematic UniverseStar Wars FranchiseBridesmaids directed by Paul FeigBottoms directed by Emma SeligmanBarbie directed by Greta GerwigCity Lights directed by Charlie ChaplinThe Shop Around the Corner directed by Ernst LubitschWes Anderson Netflix shortsRushmore directed by Wes AndersonTalladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby directed by Adam McKaySupport the show