My Favorite Episode with Michael Schneider
35 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 5 years ago - ★★★★ - 14 ratingsVariety's "My Favorite Episode," hosted by Michael Schneider, is where stars and producers gather to discuss their favorite TV episodes ever — from classic sitcoms to modern-day dramas — as well as pick a favorite episode from their own series. Guests like "Stranger Things" star David Harbour (who chose an episode of "The X-Files") and "Broad City" creators Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer (they're partial to "The Golden Girls") aren't just on TV, they watch it too — and they're big fans like you. On "My Favorite Episode," some of the biggest names in TV share their creative inspirations — and how those episodes influenced them. Listeners will not only learn the secrets behind the most popular shows currently on television, but they'll get to celebrate the greatest TV of all time.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on "All in the Family"; Tony Hale on "Carol Burnett Show"
August 26, 2019 20:29Emmy winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus knew how important it was for "Veep" to end with a bang -- and is proud that they pulled off a memorable finale. On this edition of the podcast, we talk to Louis-Dreyfus and Tony Hale, both of whom are Emmy nominated this year for their roles as President Selina Meyer and her bag boy, Gary Walsh, on "Veep." Louis-Dreyfus chose an "All in the Family" episode, while Hale picked a famous "Carol Burnett Show" sketch. We talk about their inspirations, what makes th...
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on "All in the Family"; Tony Hale on "Carol Burnett Show"
August 26, 2019 20:29 - 37 minutesEmmy winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus knew how important it was for "Veep" to end with a bang -- and is proud that they pulled off a memorable finale. On this edition of the podcast, we talk to Louis-Dreyfus and Tony Hale, both of whom are Emmy nominated this year for their roles as President Selina Meyer and her bag boy, Gary Walsh, on "Veep." Louis-Dreyfus chose an "All in the Family" episode, while Hale picked a famous "Carol Burnett Show" sketch. We talk about their inspirations, what makes the...
Laverne Cox on "Sex and the City"
August 19, 2019 22:11 - 42 minutesEmmy-nominated "Orange is the New Black" actress Laverne Cox admits she lived the Samantha lifestyle in late '90s New York City, which is one of the reasons she was a huge fan of HBO's "Sex and the City." On this edition of the podcast, we talk to Cox as she wows us with her in-depth knowledge of all things "Sex and the City," as well as the legacy of her Netflix series, and her favorite installment of "Orange" as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
RuPaul on "The Golden Girls"
August 12, 2019 08:00 - 36 minutesRuPaul remains a huge fan of "The Golden Girls" and rewatches the classic TV sitcom often. On this edition of the podcast, we talk to "RuPaul's Drag Race" stars RuPaul and Michelle Visage about their favorite episodes of TV. RuPaul went classic, with a hysterical Season 2 episode where Dorothy discovers her date is actually a priest. And Michelle goes more recent, with a moving Season 2 episode of "Pose." We sat down with RuPaul and Visage to discuss their recent talk show, their early TV cru...
Andrea Savage on "Everybody Loves Raymond"
August 05, 2019 16:24 - 32 minutes"I'm Sorry" creator and star Andrea Savage was a huge fan of the late 1990s/early 2000s CBS sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond," which mined its writers' real home lives for stories, much as "I'm Sorry" now does. Savage's favorite episode is "Marie's Sculpture," which first aired in 2001. On this edition of the podcast, we talk to Andrea Savage about that "Raymond" episode, as well as how real her TruTV comedy can get, how relatable it is to fans, and even what we can all learn about marriage fr...
Bob Odenkirk on "Pen15"
July 29, 2019 22:41 - 1 hour"Better Call Saul" star Bob Odenkirk marvels these days at how good television has become, and he puts recent sitcoms like Hulu's "Pen15" right along some of his all-time favorites, such as the British "The Office" and another britcom, "The Royle Family." On this edition of the podcast, we talk to Bob Odenkirk about the comedies the influenced him over the years, his mixed feelings about being a producer and where he thinks "Better Call Saul" is going. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ...
Derek Waters on "The Wonder Years"
July 22, 2019 22:27 - 27 minutes"Drunk History" creator and host Derek Waters is a child of the 1980s, and was an obsessive TV fan growing up. Among his favorite TV series was the groundbreaking half-hour "The Wonder Years." Waters' pick is the pilot episode of "The Wonder Years," which first aired after the Super Bowl in 1988 and went on to win the Primetime Emmy award for outstanding comedy series that year. Plus, we talk about our mutual love of collecting TV Guide magazines, and what's next for "Drunk History." Learn mo...
Hugh Grant on "Fawlty Towers"
July 15, 2019 22:36 - 37 minutesHugh Grant has become good friends over the years with John Cleese. But long before he ever met the British comedy icon, Grant was a fan from the very beginning of Cleese's legendary 1970s comedy "Fawlty Towers." On this edition of the podcast, we talk to Hugh Grant about his love of "Fawlty Towers," how he's still learning how to stream TV, how his Amazon limited series "A Very English Scandal" still feels resonant today, and why he'd like to ban all social media. Learn more about your ad c...
Patty Jenkins on "The Young Ones"
July 08, 2019 08:00 - 32 minutesPatty Jenkins has become a celebrated director for films such as "Monster" and "Wonder Woman," as well as her recent TV limited series "I Am the Night." But she's also a huge comedy fan. Jenkins' pick for favorite episode is "Summer Holiday," the 1984 series finale of "The Young Ones," a surrealistic British sitcom that aired in the UK on BBC2, and here in the states on MTV. Jenkins discusses her love of alternative comedy, the year 1984, and even her new "Wonder Woman" sequel. Learn more ab...
Niecy Nash on "Getting On"
July 01, 2019 08:00 - 32 minutesNiecy Nash first hit it big as a comedic actress on shows like "Reno 911." But the short-lived HBO series "Getting On," which mixed comedy with plenty of drama, gave Nash a chance to show off another side of her acting skills. Based on a British series of the same name, "Getting On" earned Nash two Emmy nominations for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series. We talk with Nash about her two Emmy contenders -- the Netflix limited series "When They See Us" and her TNT series "Claws" -...
Marisa Tomei on "Russian Doll"
June 24, 2019 08:00 - 35 minutesMarisa Tomei was walking through the East Village in Manhattan late one evening when she came across Natasha Lyonne, an old friend since their days starring together in the 1998 film "The Slums of Beverly Hills." Lyonne was shooting "Russian Doll," her Netflix comedy that has become a critical hit. Tomei was an immediate fan. On this edition, we talk to Tomei about his favorite episode of TV (the pilot to "Russian Doll"), as well as her recent turn as Edith Bunker on Jimmy Kimmel and Norman L...
Jimmy Fallon on "Taxi"
June 17, 2019 21:09 - 47 minutesJimmy Fallon believes "Taxi" may be the perfect sitcom. "The Tonight Show" host watched a lot of TV as a kid and gravitated toward the golden age of late 1970s sitcoms like "Barney Miller" and "Mary Tyler Moore." But "Taxi" was one of his all-time favorites, and in particular, the episode "Jim's Inheritance," from late in the show's run. In this edition of the podcast, we recap that episode, as well as discuss sitcoms in general, new tweaks he's making to "The Tonight Show" to keep things fre...
Eva Longoria on "Desperate Housewives"
June 10, 2019 21:04 - 44 minutesFor Eva Longoria, the "Desperate Housewives" pilot was a masterclass in how to create and launch a TV show, and she says she still uses what she learned from that experience as a producer launching her own shows. That includes ABC's new sudsy drama "Grand Hotel," about the last family-owned hotel in Miami. Roselyn Sanchez stars, and also joins us to discuss her favorite episode of TV ever: The pilot to Lifetime's (and now Netflix's) "You." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/...
Sara Gilbert on "Family Ties"
June 03, 2019 08:00 - 34 minutes"The Conners" star and executive producer Sara Gilbert picks the hour-long very special "Family Ties" episode from 1987, "A, My Name is Alex." In the episode, Alex's friend Greg is killed in a car accident, leading to Alex's survivor's guilt that he was supposed to be in that car as well. Eventually he sees a therapist, and the episode morphs into a stage play as Alex recounts his life and the people in it. We sat down with Gilbert to discuss that "Family Ties" episode, as well as the tough t...
Topher Grace on "Saturday Night Live"
May 27, 2019 08:00 - 40 minutesNot only is Topher Grace a "Saturday Night Live" superfan, he even got the opportunity to guest host an episode in 2005. Now one of the stars of Nat Geo's limited thriller series "The Hot Zone," Grace stopped by the podcast to discuss his favorite episode of TV ever — a 1991 Saturday Night Live edition hosted by Steve Martin. Plus, we talk about his recent dramatic turns in "Blackkklansman" and "The Hot Zone," and, of course, whether there will ever be a "That '70s Show" reunion. Learn more a...
Betty Gilpin on "Killing Eve"
May 21, 2019 00:50 - 38 minutes"GLOW" star Betty Gilpin is sometimes mistaken for "Killing Eve's" Jodie Comer, so it makes sense that she is drawn to that BBC America show and its complex relationship between Eve (Sandra Oh) and Villanelle (Comer). Her pick for favorite episode is the Season 1 finale of "Killing Eve," titled "God, I'm Tired," which ends with the characters confronting their mutual obsession — and how it leaves them doing things you might not expect. We talk to Gilpin about "Killing Eve," and how "GLOW" is ...
Pamela Adlon on "Good Times"
May 13, 2019 18:05 - 46 minutesPamela Adlon, now the star and executive producer of FX's critically acclaimed "Better Things," literally grew up on television. As a young actress she appeared on series such as "The Facts of Life" and "The Jeffersons." She remembers fondly that era's habit of doing cheesy "very special episodes," including the "Good Times" episode "The Evans Get Involved, Parts 1 and 2." The two-part episode, which aired in Season 5 on September 21, 1977, featured the introduction of Penny, played by Janet ...
Scott Foley on "Growing Pains"
May 06, 2019 20:36 - 31 minutesScott Foley hasn't just starred on iconic TV series like "Felicity" and "Scandal," he's also a child of television. Now the star of ABC's comedy caper "Whiskey Cavalier," Foley says it's a throwback to the glory age of comedic action dramas like "Moonlighting" and "Hart to Hart." That era of course, also boasted some of his favorite family sitcoms, including "Mr. Belvedere," "Family Ties," and "Growing Pains." On this edition of the podcast, we talk to Scott Foley about "Growing Pains," and w...
Natalie Morales on "The Leftovers"
April 29, 2019 08:00 - 53 minutesNatalie Morales ("The Middleman," "Parks and Recreation") now stars in the NBC sitcom "Abby's," from Mike Schur and Josh Malmuth. "The Leftovers" is on top of her list of favorite TV series, and her favorite episode is "International Assassin," from Season 2. We talk to Morales about how Justin Theroux is almost too good-looking; directing for the Duplass brothers; how she's making history with her lead role on "Abby's," why she hates the term "stan"; and even why Cardi B should star in a reb...
Ian McShane on "Atlanta"
April 22, 2019 23:20 - 45 minutesIan McShane is known for playing larger than life characters on series such as Starz's "American Gods" and HBO's "Deadwood," which is set to return in May as a two-hour movie. When asked to pick a favorite TV episode, however, McShane chooses the Season 2 episode "Barbershop" from FX's "Atlanta," and praises series creator Donald Glover for taking him to a world he's less familiar with. McShane also loves HBO's "High Maintenance," and shares how the "Deadwood" movie is a "love letter" to the ...
Lance Reddick on "Star Trek"
April 15, 2019 08:00 - 40 minutesLance Reddick didn't have any grand designs on becoming an actor — actually, he wanted to be a musician. But the star of "Bosch," "Corporate," "Fringe," "The Wire," and countless other fan favorite series, couldn't get enough of "Star Trek" as a kid. On this edition of the podcast, we talk to Lance Reddick about his favorite episode of TV ever, the classic "Star Trek" installment "Space Seed," and the actor's unusual path to fame. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nina Dobrev on "Big Little Lies"
April 08, 2019 08:00 - 41 minutesNina Dobrev may be best known for her six-season run as Elena on The CW's "The Vampire Diaries." But the actress/writer/producer has done a lot more since then, including the current CBS sitcom "Fam." Dobrev has more ambition, including her own premium drama — like one of her favorite TV series ever, HBO's "Big Little Lies." On this edition of the podcast, we talk to Nina Dobrev about her favorite episode of TV ever, the Season 1 finale of "Big Little Lies," as well as how she is now trying s...
Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer on "The Golden Girls"
April 02, 2019 00:09 - 38 minutes"Broad City" creators and stars Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer grew up watching "The Golden Girls," and upon a re-binge of the series, have discovered that it still holds up today. For the duo, Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty were true icons, and the show was their comedy school -- a multi-camera sitcom that promised big laughs, well-defined characters and interesting relationships. For their favorite episode, they settled on the "Golden Girls" Season 1 finale "The W...
Max Greenfield and Beth Behrs on "The Leftovers" and "The Carol Burnett Show"
March 08, 2019 08:14 - 48 minutes"The Neighborhood" stars Max Greenfield and Beth Behrs talk about their new sitcom and why they enjoy the multi-camera sitcom format. Also, they dissect their favorite episodes of TV of all time. While Greenfield chose the Season 2 finale of "The Leftovers," Behrs went back to a famous 1969 "Carol Burnett Show" sketch starring Tim Conway as a rookie dentist and Harvey Korman as his unwitting patient. (Music by HookSounds.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"The Guest Book" Creator Greg Garcia on "The Andy Griffith Show"
March 08, 2019 08:13 - 48 minutesTV writer Greg Garcia earned raves for creating shows with quirky but down-to-earth relatable characters, such as 'My Name is Earl" and "Raising Hope." His latest series, the TBS anthology "The Guest Book," introduces new characters every single week. Garcia was inspired by his heavy diet of sitcoms growing up, including the classic "Andy Griffith Show." For a young Garcia, it was a rare appearance by the eccentric Ernest T. Bass that made for his favorite episodes of the series. When we aske...
John C. McGinley on "All in the Family"
March 08, 2019 08:12 - 53 minutesJohn C. McGinley, now star of IFC's "Stan Against Evil," grew up during the heyday of the classic 1970s sitcom, when producers like Norman Lear and James L. Brooks ruled primetime. For a young McGinley, there was something extra fascinating about Lear's "All in the Family." We talk to McGinley about his series, acting, Hollywood, and his wide-ranging career, which includes everything from "Platoon" and "Office Space" to "Scrubs." And we talk about his favorite episode of TV of all time — "All...
Ron Livingston on "Game of Thrones"
March 08, 2019 08:11 - 40 minutes"Loudermilk" and "A Million Little Things" star Ron Livingston has seen it all, working in comedy and drama and on TV, film and stage. But like many viewers he was floored by the Red Wedding episode of HBO's "Game of Thrones," titled "The Rains of Castamere." We talk to Livingston about his current series, his career choices including that early appearance in the classic film "Swingers," plus his favorite episode of TV of all time. (Music by HookSounds.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...
"Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" Co-Creator Aline Brosh McKenna on "The Americans"
March 08, 2019 08:10 - 33 minutes"Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" co-creator Aline Brosh McKenna talks about the final season of her CW show, and how Rachel Bloom made it OK to like Rebecca Bunch even at her worst. We also talk about her favorite episode of the series, and her favorite episode of TV of all time -- the pilot to "The Americans." (Music by Hook Sounds.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Damon Wayans, Jr. and Amber Stevens West on "South Park" and "Friends"
March 08, 2019 08:08 - 35 minutesOn their new CBS comedy "Happy Together," Damon Wayans Jr. and Amber Stevens West play a couple who have settled into an ordinary suburban life when a huge pop star moves in with them to escape the paparazzi. Asked to select their favorite episode of TV of all time, Stevens West chose the "Friends" episode "The One Where No One's Ready," which is from the third season of the show in 1996. But dig a little deeper, and we also discovered a secret about Stevens West's love of the show in high sc...
D'Arcy Carden on "Friends"
March 08, 2019 08:07 - 51 minutesD'Arcy Carden stars on two of the most critically acclaimed comedies on TV right now: "The Good Place" and "Barry." She inherited that good taste from her mother, who first introduced her to another legendary comedy: "Friends." On this edition of the podcast, we talk to Carden about playing the A.I. character Janet on "The Good Place," how she was able to juggle both that show and "Barry," and also the "Friends" episode that she chose as her favorite TV episode ever. (Music by HookSounds.) Le...
Ronny Chieng on "South Park"
March 08, 2019 08:06 - 37 minutes"The Daily Show" correspondent and "Crazy Rich Asians" co-star Ronny Chieng grew up in Singapore, where the animated series "South Park" was banned when it launched. Of course, that just made him want to watch it more. Chieng discusses his Comedy Central show "Ronny Chieng: International Student," as well as "Crazy Rich Asians," and his favorite episode of TV of all time, the 2006 "South Park" episode "Make Love, Not Warcraft." (Music by Hook Sounds.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ...
Rob Riggle on "The Office"
March 08, 2019 08:05 - 37 minutesFor comedian Rob Riggle, "The Office" not only produced his favorite episode of all time, but it also gave him one of his first-ever acting roles. Riggle discusses how he moved from a career in the military into comedy, his experiences on both "SNL" and "The Daily Show," and how a joke turned into his Sony Crackle comedy "Rob Riggle's Ski Master Academy." But first, we talk about his favorite episode of TV of all time, "The Office" Season 7 episode "Threat Level Midnight." (Music by Hook Soun...
Carrie Brownstein on "Six Feet Under"
March 08, 2019 08:04 - 30 minutes"Six Feet Under" was one of the shows that ushered in the new golden age of TV. For "Portlandia" co-creator and star Carrie Brownstein, it also produced one of her favorite episodes of TV of all time, the season 4 episode "That's My Dog." In this edition of the podcast, we talk to Brownstein about "Six Feet Under," her favorite episode of a comedy of all time ("The Office"), and her favorite episode of "Portlandia." (Music by HookSounds.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...
"The Handmaid's Tale" Producer Bruce Miller on "ER"
March 08, 2019 08:00 - 48 minutesThe medical drama "ER" premiered in 1994, and quickly became a monster hit. For "The Handmaid's Tale" showrunner Bruce Miller, it was also an inspiration as he embarked on a writing career. Miller eventually wrote on the show, and still carries the lessons he learned from showrunner John Wells as he now heads up "The Handmaid's Tale." Miller discusses his favorite episode of TV ever, the "ER" pilot, and reveals his favorite installment of "Handmaid's Tale." (Music by HookSounds.) Learn more a...
David Harbour on "The X-Files"
March 08, 2019 07:58 - 40 minutesBack in 1999, "Stranger Things" star David Harbour was still a struggling actor in New York, the biggest thing on TV was "The X-Files," and to this day, David's favorite episode of TV ever is the Season 6 installment "Field Trip." Harbour discusses that "monster of the week" episode, the dynamic between Mulder and Scully, and how the episode's themes relate quite a bit to "Stranger Things." He also reveals his favorite episode of "Stranger Things" so far, and how the show is evolving as it he...