The Marx Brothers Council Podcast

The Marx Brothers Council Podcast


Latest Episodes

37 “Raised Questions” (featuring Steve Stoliar)
July 21, 2021

We are honored to welcome Steve Stoliar, author of the iconic “Raised Eyebrows: My Years Inside Groucho’s House”. Outspoken as ever, Steve is as entertaining as he is candid. But what do you ask a gu

36 “We Spit on Lester Cowan” (our 'Love Happy' deep dive)
June 24, 2021

A look at the Marx Brothers final film, 1949's "Love Happy"... The brothers search for jewels as we search for laughs…and though it’s not top-tier Marx, there is still plenty to enjoy as well as plenty to ponder. Matthew tells how Chico agreed to ap ...

35 “This Magnificent Chest” (The Marx Brothers TV Collection)
May 30, 2021

You want to see Groucho as an over-protective father, Harpo hiding in a Coke machine, or Chico trying to pass himself off as Harpo? Well, you’ve come to the right place as we dissect Shout Factory’s DVD set featuring Marx TV appearances from the ‘50s ...

34 “OUR DINNER WITH DEEZEN”
April 28, 2021

ACTOR AND VOICE ARTIST EDDIE DEEZEN (GREASE, 1941, WAR GAMES) JOINS US FOR AN INDESCRIBABLE 90 MINUTES OF FREE WHEELING AND POTENTIALLY LITIGIOUS TALK ABOUT THE MARX BROTHERS. EDDIE RANKS THE MARX FILMS, OBSESSES ON CHICO’S SEXUAL PROWESS, AND GENER ...

BONUS MINICAST: Adamson in Casablanca
April 12, 2021

An addendum to our “A Night in Casablanca” deep dive (episode 33), Joe Adamson, author of “Groucho, Harpo, Chico and Sometimes Zeppo”, joins us for a further look. Comparing the finished film to the original script and studio call sheets, Joe theoriz ...

33 “The Boys Are Back In Town” ("A Night in Casablanca" Deep Dive featuring Scott Alexander)
March 28, 2021

Noted screenwriter and Marx devotee Scott Alexander returns, this time for a deep dive into “The Howl Raiser of 1946”, A Night in Casablanca. The Marxes' screen comeback after five years was a triumph both artistically and financially, though not re ...

32 “I Don’t Think This Damn Thing is Safe”
February 26, 2021

Our deep dive into 1972’s "An Evening With Groucho" LP, and his historic, yet bittersweet, performance at Carnegie Hall. To be frank, we’re as conflicted about this as you probably are…Groucho finally gets the late-in-life showcase he craved and obv ...

31 “Our BRAIN DONORS Special” (featuring David Zucker and Pat Proft)
January 29, 2021

Imagine a Marx Brothers-like film in 1992, now imagine a really good Marx Brothers-like film in 1992…well, imagine no longer because such a movie actually exists, "Brain Donors". Created by the team behind "Airplane!" and "The Naked Gun", "Brain Dono ...

30 "K&R vs K&R” (featuring Nick Santa Maria)
December 24, 2020

A holiday extravaganza because we say it is! Actor/writer Nick Santa Maria returns for an examination of the Marxes’ two principal writing teams, George S. Kaufman & Morrie Ryskind, and Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby. We compare their styles and strengths ...