Fun for All Ages with Frank Santopadre
A podcast celebrating the golden age of pop culture. For the kids who counted down every song on American Top 40, clipped a Monkees record from a box of Alpha-Bits or begged their parents for a Han Solo action figure or Six Million Dollar Man lunchbox. Join Emmy-winning writer Frank Santopadre and a panel of equally obsessed celebs, superfans, cultural experts and industry insiders as they gush and geek out over the TV, films, toys and trends of the 1960s, 70s, 80s...and beyond.
Episodes
June 23, 2026 • 105 mins
Frank finally fulfills a decade-long dream: recording a podcast about one of his longtime obsessions, David Lynch and Mark Frost's surrealist, genre-bending soap opera "Twin Peaks." Joining him on this fascinating journey from the Great Northern to the Black Lodge are author Scott Meslow ("A Place Both Wonderful and Strange: The Extraordinary Untold History of Twin Peaks") and Emmy-nominated "Twin Peaks" writer-producer Harley Peyt...
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In this conclusion of a two-part installment, New York Times writer-editor Jim Windolf, music critic-historian Kenneth Womack and singer-songwriter Nellie McKay join Frank for an in-depth examination of the friendly rivalry and mutually supportive relationship between Bob Dylan and the Beatles, inspired by Jim's new book "Where the Music Had to Go: How Bob Dylan and the Beatles Changed Each Other -- and the World." In this episode...
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In the first part of a two-part episode, Frank explores the mutually influential relationship between Bob Dylan and the Beatles, with the help of a panel of experts and superfans, including author and New York Times editor Jim Windolf ("Where the Music Had to Go: How Bob Dylan and the Beatles Changed Each Other and the World"), writer, critic and music historian Kenneth Womack ("Solid State: The Story of 'Abbey Road' and the E...
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Frank welcomes "Mystery Science Theater 3000" writer-performer Frank Conniff, horror host Rich "Svengoolie" Koz and filmmaker Jeffrey Schwarz ("Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story") for a loving look back at the B-movies of legendary producer, director and showman William Castle ("13 Ghosts," "Mr. Sardonicus," "House on Haunted Hill"), his innovative promotional gimmicks (Emergo, Percepto, Illusion-O) and his lasting contributi...
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May 26, 2026 • 100 mins
Frank welcomes theme park experience designer Dave Cobb ("Men in Black: Alien Attack") and attraction show writer and author Robert Coker ("Roller Coasters: A Thrill Seeker's Guide to the Ultimate Scream Machines") for an in-depth look at the fascinating histories of failed and forgotten amusement parks, including Freedomland USA, The Land of Oz, Pacific Ocean Park, Hanna-Barbera Land and The World of Sid & Marty Krofft, among ...
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In the conclusion of a two-part installment, Frank continues his conversation about Saturday morning cartoon spinoffs with "Saturday TV Funhouse" animators-directors Robert Marianetti and David Wachtenheim ("Leo," "Hotel Transylvania 2") and author-historian Jerry Beck ("The Animated Movie Guide," "The Hanna-Barbera Treasury"). In this episode, the boys look back at EVEN MORE Saturday morning 'toons inspired by other properties, in...
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In part one of a two-part episode, Frank welcomes animators-directors Robert Marianetti and David Wachtenheim ("Hugo," "Hotel Transylvania 2," SNL's "TV Funhouse") and author-historian Jerry Beck ("The 50 Greatest Cartoons," "The 100 Greatest Looney Tunes Cartoons") for a ridiculously deep dive into the best (and least memorable) Saturday morning cartoons spun off from primetime series ("The Brady Kids," "Jeannie," "The Mini-Munste...
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May 10, 2026 • 111 mins
Frank relives some of the happiest moments from his childhood by looking back at the history and the glory days of Marvel Comics with the help of writer-historian-author Danny Fingeroth ("A Marvelous Life: The Amazing Story of Stan Lee") and artist-writer (and Thor and Iron Man co-creator) Larry Lieber. In this episode: Stan Lee and Jack Kirby revolutionize the art form, Danny explains the rise and fall (and rise) of...
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In this conclusion of a two-part episode, Frank continues his conversation with authors Laura Flam and Emily Sieu Liebowitz ("But Will You Love Me Tomorrow?") and Clickettes singer-songwriter Barbara Jean English about the triumphs and tribulations of the trailblazing performers who recorded hits like "Be My Baby," "Soldier Boy," "One Fine Day," "Da Doo Ron Ron," "Please Mr. Postman" and "Walking in the Rain" and forever changed po...
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In part one of a two-part episode, Frank is joined by authors Laura Flam and Emily Sieu Liebowitz ("But Will You Love Me Tomorrow?") and Clickettes lead singer-songwriter Barbara Jean English ("A Lover's Prayer") for a loving look back at the 1950's-1960s girl group era and the music of the Shirelles, the Chiffons, the Chantels, the Cookies and other talented (and often unsung and unrecognized) young women who made pop music histor...
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April 20, 2026 • 85 mins
In the first "Fun for All Ages" listener mail episode, Frank enlists voice actor Barrett "Gilbot" Leddy to help answer burning questions from "FFAA" Patreon supporters on a variety of topics, including sea monkeys, time machines, Wacky Packages, celebrity autographs, failed TV pilots, Mad magazine novelty records and the 1904 World's Fair (to name a few). Also in this episode: Curly Joe DeRita meets his reward, Al Hirt meets the Gr...
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Frank celebrates (a bit belatedly) the 75th anniversary of Charles Schulz's "Peanuts" by welcoming three superfans and key contributors to Abrams ComicArts' deluxe hardcover collection, "The Essential Peanuts: The Greatest Comic Strip of All Time": author Mark Evanier, contributing designer Chip Kidd and publisher Charles Kochman. In this episode, the experts discuss Schulz's creative process, his "deceptively simple" design sense,...
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March 31, 2026 • 88 mins
In this conclusion of a two-part episode, Frank and guest co-host Dan Pasternack talk to Emmy-winning writer-actor-director Robert Smigel about his lifelong obsession with Charles Schulz and Peanuts, his preference for "specific" comedy, his working relationship with Lorne Michaels and his unusual friendship with Blackwolf the Dragonmaster. Also, Triumph meets Carl Bernstein, Jesus meets Kathie Lee Gifford, Mr. T auditions for "A D...
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March 24, 2026 • 91 mins
Emmy-winning writer-actor-director Robert Smigel and this week's co-host, writer-producer Dan Pasternack join Frank for a 25th anniversary salute to the cult Comedy Central series, "TV Funhouse." In this informative and hilarious interview, Robert talks about his love of animal-centric comedy, his lifelong obsession with "Mr. Ed," the humble origins of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog and how the homoeroticism of superhero movies inspi...
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March 17, 2026 • 109 mins
Take a cinematic tour of the Constitution State as Frank is joined by actress-author-film historian Illeana Douglas and Emmy-winning comedy writer Dave Boone for a lively and educational conversation inspired by Illeana's 2023 book, "Connecticut in the Movies: From Dream Houses to Dark Suburbia." In this episode: Burt Lancaster deconstructs his image, Gene Kelly directs a sex comedy (or two), Katharine Hepburn is labeled "box offic...
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In this conclusion of a two-part episode, comedian-filmmaker Kevin Maher and pop culture authors-experts Thom Shubilla and Brian Solomon join Frank for a wide-ranging and absurdly specific discussion about the unsung monsters of kaiju cinema, Godzilla and King Kong sequels and knockoffs, the prolific output of Ishiro Honda and the surprising lack of big-screen kaiju parodies. Also in this episode: Kevin praises "Q: The Winged Serpe...
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March 3, 2026 • 66 mins
Frank gets an education in "kaiju" cinema and Japanese monster flicks with assistance from comedian-filmmaker Kevin Maher and pop culture authors Brian Solomon ("Godzilla FAQ") and Thom Shubilla ("King Kong vs. Godzilla: The Most Colossal Conflict the Screen Has Ever Known"). In this episode: Godzilla tangles with the Caped Crusader, The Blob attacks a movie theater, Ray Harryhausen inspires the "King of the Monsters...
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In the conclusion of a two-part episode, filmmaker Alan Bernstein ("When We Went MAD!") and longtime Mad Senior Editor Joe Raiola join Frank in paying tribute to the glory days of the iconic humor magazine and the talented team of artists and writers who helped make it a reality. In this episode, Frank talks about the influence of Mad (and Peanuts) paperbacks, Alan describes the Mad documentary's long journey from concept to screen...
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February 17, 2026 • 72 mins
In part one of a two-part episode, Frank is joined by filmmaker Alan Bernstein ("When We Went MAD!") and longtime Senior Editor Joe Raiola for a loving look at the subversive humor magazine's 73-year history, its eccentric co-founders, its transition from comic book to "slick" magazine, and its influence on future generations of comedians and comedy writers. Also in this episode: William M. Gaines takes on Congress, Al Feldstein gi...
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February 10, 2026 • 99 mins
Frank sits down with an all-star panel of veteran comedy writers, including Rick Copp ("Golden Girls," "The Brady Bunch Movie"), Brian Levant ("Happy Days," "The Flintstones") and Bennett Yellin ("Dumb and Dumber," "Stuck on You") for an inside look at a sitcom writers' room and a frequently hilarious conversation about unproduced scripts, failed pitches, favorite jokes, the genius of Jonathan Winters and the generosity o...
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