All Episodes

July 21, 2025 48 mins

Before Bob Illes was writing for The Carol Burnett Show, Smothers Brothers, and Silver Spoons, he was just a kid trying to climb inside his black-and-white TV.

 
In this wildly funny and revealing conversation, Bob shares the misadventures, backstage feuds, celebrity run-ins (hello, Groucho Marx and Peter Sellers), and ridiculous showbiz politics that shaped his decades-long career in TV comedy. From bombing in front of Joey Bishop to being snubbed by Steve Martin (but in a friendly way), it’s a behind-the-scenes rollercoaster full of laughs and jaw-dropping moments.

Episode Highlights:

  • What it’s like to write comedy for Cosby, Carol Burnett, and Fred Willard
  • Bob's college radio show that accidentally became a star-studded madhouse
  • The truth behind Jason Bateman getting booted from Silver Spoons
  • Why Groucho Marx had to keep his cigar wrapped in plastic
  • Pitching a gay bar storyline to Sanford & Son… in 1973

 

You're going to love my conversation with Bob Illes

Follow Jeff Dwoskin (host):

Ways to support the show:

 

 

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Fudd Around And Find Out

Fudd Around And Find Out

UConn basketball star Azzi Fudd brings her championship swag to iHeart Women’s Sports with Fudd Around and Find Out, a weekly podcast that takes fans along for the ride as Azzi spends her final year of college trying to reclaim the National Championship and prepare to be a first round WNBA draft pick. Ever wonder what it’s like to be a world-class athlete in the public spotlight while still managing schoolwork, friendships and family time? It’s time to Fudd Around and Find Out!

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie

Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

24/7 News: The Latest

24/7 News: The Latest

The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.