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Episode 191: Text Thread Dead Pilot Summit   This special episode of Dead Pilots Society brings together the writers behind the last two pilots for a sort of Text Thread Dead Pilot Summit. The conversation features Aaron Brownstein and Simon Ganz, writers of Guy Text, alongside Mike Gagerman and Andrew Waller, writers of The Thread. Andrew brings all four writers together for a deeper, side-by-side look at their creative processes.What makes the conversation especially unique is the generosity on display. Rather than competing, the writers openly praise what they admired in each other’s pilots, offering thoughtful insight into how similar ideas can emerge independently, without imitation.   It’s a rare, candid conversation about writing partnerships, creative overlap, and the realities of comedy writing, presented without ads or interruptions—just four writers talking honestly about the work.

Episode 190:  Andrew Waller and Mike Gagerman Interview   This week’s After Show features Andrew’s conversation with Mike Gagerman and Andrew Waller, writers of the film Search Party (not the TV show), creators of the viral Twitter thread Shh… Don’t Tell Steve, and currently writing the pilot for Last Chance Lawyer on NBC, with Henry Winkler set to star. Mike and Andrew walk through how they became a writing team, from high school collaborators to professional comedy writers. Along the way, they dig into creative partnership, long-term friendship, and the kind of strange, specific experiences that only come from working together for decades. The episode also tees up next week’s special four-way conversation with Mike and Andrew joined by Aaron Brownstein and Simon Ganz, the writers of last month’s pilot, Guy Text.

Episode 189: The Thread Written By Andrew Waller and Mike Gagerman   This month’s episode features The Thread, written by Andrew Waller and Mike Gagerman, the second of two dead pilots built around a shared group text that’s been running for years.   Here is the log line for this show, A modern ensemble comedy about a group of longtime friends leading diverse chaotic lives who stay connected through a long running daily text thread.   Waller and Gagerman previously wrote the cult favorite film Search Party and were behind one of the first viral serialized Twitter threads, Shh… Don’t Tell Steve. They’re currently developing Last Chance Lawyer for NBC, with Henry Winkler attached to star.   The pilot feels authentic and grounded, capturing the accumulated history, shorthand, and emotional honesty of friendships that have lasted for decades.   Coming up next week is the interview with Andrew and Mike, followed by a four-way discussion the week after with Andrew, Mike, Aaron Brownstein, and Simon Ganz, the writers of last month’s pilot, Guy Text.   The cast includes Matt Porter (Family Guy, Good Cop / Great Cop), Krysta Rodriguez (Smash, Halston), Paul Telfer (Vampire Diaries; Days of Our Lives), Andrew Leeds (Ghosts, Barry), Suzy Nakamura (Exploding Kittens, Dead to Me), Beth Stelling (comedian), Malcolm Barrett (The Boys, Timeless), Daniel DiMaggio (American Housewife), Brittany Curran (The Magicians), and Neska Rose (Drama Club).   Video of the Zoom table read is available exclusively to Maximum Fun members. Become a member for as little as $5 a month at maximumfun.org/join. And don’t forget to check out Andrew’s documentary Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story at https://www.reddkrossfilm.com/

Episode 188: Aaron Brownstein & Simon Ganz Interview   In this After Show Andrew talks with writing partners Aaron Brownstein and Simon Ganz about their long road to Guy Text.   They share what they learned working under Jason Katims (Friday Night Lights, Parenthood, About a Boy) and Victor Fresco (Santa Clarita Diet), including lessons about character, tone, and why even a waiter with two lines should feel like a real person.   Aaron and Simon dig into the personal inspiration behind Guy Text, a modern sitcom about male friendship built around a constantly active group text thread. They discuss the realities of modern masculinity, parenting, ambition, and the challenge of making something deeply personal in an industry that often wants a trend instead.   Aaron also recounts his start as a child actor: He appeared in a commercial featuring Christopher Reeve—a moment that gave him an early, unforgettable brush with the industry that would later become his career. You can see it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRD3QD17HuU

Episode 187: Guy Text Written by Aaron Brownstein & Simon Ganz   This month’s dead pilot is Guy Text, written by Aaron Brownstein and Simon Ganz, whose credits include Santa Clarita Diet, Beavis and ButtHead, and About a Boy.  Four geriatric millennial friends struggle with what it means to be sensitive, thoughtful, emotionally available modern men. It’s a fast paced and funny pilot that you’ll really enjoy. This episode launches a special two-month experiment on Dead Pilots Society. Two pilots built around the same premise—male group text threads—landed on Andrew’s radar, and both received table reads. In January we will be posting the second pilot, the after show interview, and  a special roundtable episode featuring the writers of both pilots, diving into their approaches, creative choices, and the challenges of tackling the same premise. The cast includes Ben Feldman (Superstore), Ritesh Rajan (Definition Please, Ken in animated Barbie TV shows), Alex Klein (Guardians of the Galaxy 2), Josh Banday (Upload), Jonathan Slavin (Better Off Ted), Holly Chou (X-Men 97), Jessica Lowe (Minx), writer and comedian Megan Gailey, Anna Seregina (The Civil Dead), and Andrew Reich with stage directions. Video of the Zoom table read is available exclusively to Maximum Fun members. Become a member for as little as $5 a month at maximumfun.org/join. And don’t forget to check out Andrew’s documentary Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story at https://www.reddkrossfilm.com/.

Episode 186: Lisa Muse Bryant Interview This month’s After Show features Andrew’s conversation with Lisa Muse Bryant, the powerhouse behind our latest dead pilot Dream. Lisa traces her remarkable journey from Camden, New Jersey, to writing on standout series like Black-ish, The Four Seasons, Man on the Inside, and Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur. She dives into the real-life inspiration behind the pilot and the serendipity of her collaboration with Amber Riley. We also get to hear her wonderful insights about carving out a career and making the most of every opportunity that came her way. Don’t miss the Dead Pilots Society live show at the Elysian Theater this Sunday, December 7th. The evening will feature a pilot from actress Ginger Gonzaga, joined onstage by Luke Tennie, Lauren Potter, and Kyle Bornheimer, along with a script by Georgia Pritchett whose cast includes Sarah Solemani and Ed Weeks. Get your tickets at elysiantheater.com.

Episode 185: Dream Written by Lisa Muse Bryant This month’s Dead Pilots Society features Dream, a musical comedy pilot from Lisa Muse Bryant, whose work includes Black-ish, The Four Seasons, Man on the Inside, and Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur. The show centers on Dream Morgan, a former teen mom who finally goes after her long-delayed ambition of becoming a singer once her son finishes college. This is a musical, single camera comedy about one fierce and funny woman who uses her voice to find her voice.  From the very first pages, the script announces itself with a bold, memorable opening and a world full of sharp, engaging characters. The live reading only amplified that energy. Yvette Nicole Brown, Cedric Yarbrough, Stakiah Lynn Washington, and Amber Riley delivered powerhouse performances, with Riley’s vocals bringing the audience to its feet for a standing ovation. The Cast Includes: Lisa Muse Bryant, Amber Riley (Glee), Yvette Nicole Brown (Community), Sarah Francis (Hairspray), Vinny Thomas (Platonic), Cedric Yarbrough (Reno 911), Cyrina Fiallo (High Potential, Good Luck Charlie), Marcel Spears (The Neighborhood), Christina Anthony (Mixed-ish), Stakiah Lynn Washington (Primo), Brittany Curran (The Magicians), and Andrew Reich with stage direction   Dead Pilots Society is also gearing up for a live show at the Elysian Theater on Sunday, December 7th. The evening will feature a pilot from actress Ginger Gonzaga, joined onstage by Luke Tennie, Lauren Potter, and Kyle Bornheimer, along with a script by Georgia Pritchett, whose cast includes Sarah Solemani and Ed Weeks. Tickets are available at elysiantheater.com. The video of the table read is available exclusively to Maximum Fun members. Become a member for just $5 a month and get access to the video and lots more. Sign up at maximumfun.org/join. And don’t forget to check out Andrew’s documentary Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story at reddkrossfilm.com/rent.

Episode 184: Jim Brandon & Brian Singleton Interview Welcome to this month’s after-show interview with Brian Singleton and Jim Brandon. You heard their hilarious pilot Humans of the Americas last week on Dead Pilots Society. You may know Brian and Jim from their work on Mixed-ish (ABC), Black Monday (Showtime), Arrested Development (Netflix), or their current show Animal Control (FOX), now on it’s fourth season. Their viral web series Dorm Life, which they wrote, cast, and produced while in college in 2011, caught Andrew’s eye and earned them their first paid show business job. In this interview, you’ll get to hear Brian and Jim’s journey from Dorm Life, through many writers’ rooms, and into Humans of the Americas. You’ll even get a glimpse into where the show was headed, had it been made.   Also, save the date for our next live show, which will be Sunday, December 7th, at the Elysian Theater in Los Angeles. Tickets aren’t on sale yet, but follow us on social media for updates.

Episode 183: Humans of the Americas Written by Jim Brandon & Brian Singleton   This month’s dead pilot is Humans of the Americas by Jim Brandon and Brian Singleton, whose credits include Animal Control (FOX), Mixed-ish (ABC), Black Monday (Showtime), and Arrested Development (Netflix).   Here’s the logline: A single camera comedy set in a small town neighborhood, that is actually a human exhibit. At a zoo. Run by robots.   It’s high concept, but not self-limiting—funny, heartfelt, and full of inventive world-building and great character work. Humans of the Americas was read second at the last live show, following Dream by Lisa Muse Bryant, a musical pilot starring Amber Riley, who earned a standing ovation with her closing number. Despite that tough act to follow, the audience loved Humans of the Americas just as much—and listeners will too.   The live cast includes Christina Anthony (Mixed-ish), Brittany Curran (The Magicians), Cyrina Fiallo ( High Potential), Dan Gregor (The Naked Gun), Tai Leclaire (King of The Hill), Jessica McKenna (Dropout), Jordan Riggs (Dorm Life), Bryan Safi (Throwing Shade), Chris Smith (Dorm Life), Nick Smith (Dorm Life), Stakiah Lynn Washington (Primo), Cedric Yarbrough (Reno 911), and Andrew Reich with stage direction   The next Dead Pilots Society live show is set for Sunday, December 7th at 3:00 PM at the Elysian Theater, featuring a brand-new pilot from the multi-talented Ginger Gonzaga. More details coming soon!   The video of the table read is available exclusively to Maximum Fun members. Become a member for just $5 a month and get access to the video and lots more. Sign up at maximumfun.org/join. And don’t forget to check out Andrew’s documentary Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story at reddkrossfilm.com/rent.

Episode 182: David S. Rosenthal Interview In this after show for The Cheap Seats, Andrew sits down with writer David S. Rosenthal, whose career spans some of television’s most iconic series. Andrew and "Rosie" go way back to their days at summer camp, and their longtime friendship adds a personal dimension to this conversation. Rosenthal’s career took off quickly—soon after his first writing job, he became the creator and showrunner of Ellen, kicking off a career that would include Spin City, Gilmore Girls, The Middle, and Jane the Virgin. With an equally deft hand at comedy and drama, he has built a body of work that’s both varied and enduring.   This interview covers the wild ride of his career, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and reflections on navigating show business with resilience and humor. It’s a rich, insightful conversation.

Episode 181: The Cheap Seats Written by David S. Rosenthal   This month on Dead Pilots Society we have The Cheap Seats by David S. Rosenthal, a veteran television writer whose credits include Spin City, Gilmore Girls, The Middle, and Jane the Virgin. The script centers on a close-knit group of emotionally and intellectually stunted friends whose world is shaken when one of them begins dating a brainy and sophisticated medical student. Rosenthal delivers a classic multi-camera hangout comedy, showcasing his knack for crafting characters with interesting, fun dynamics, and well-paced story beats.   The cast includes Anjelica Fellini (Teenage Bounty Hunters, The French Dispatch), Sam Lerner (The Goldbergs), Charlie Gillespie (Julie and the Phantoms), Ciara Bravo (Wayne and Cherry), Kyla Kenedy (Mr. Mayor), Logan Miller (Escape Room, Chicago Med)   The video of the table read is available exclusively to Maximum Fun members. Become a member for just $5 a month and get access to the video and lots more. Sign up at maximumfun.org/join. And don’t forget to check out Andrew’s documentary Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story at reddkrossfilm.com/rent.

Episode 180: Gracie Glassmeyer Interview   This after-show episode dives deeper into Here She Lies with its creator, Gracie Glassmeyer. If you heard the table read of this dark, twisty pilot, you probably have questions—like why Seth can’t leave his house, or why Talia has been spying on Amber’s stepmom. Gracie shares the answers, along with her unique path into comedy writing. She’s part of that rare breed of “jock comedy writers”—a group that proves you don’t have to be bad at sports to be good at jokes. This conversation explores the thoughtful world-building behind the pilot and the larger series it could have become.   Dead Pilots Society has a live show coming up on Sunday, September 14th at the Elysian Theater in Los Angeles, featuring two fantastic pilots: Humans of the Americas by Jim Brandon and Brian Singleton (Arrested Development, Animal Control, and more)Dream by Lisa Muse Bryant (Black-ish, The Four Seasons)Go to elysiantheater.com and get your tickets for Sunday, September 14th. And don’t forget to check out Andrew’s documentary Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story at reddkrossfilm.com/rent.

Episode 179: Here She Lies Written by Gracie Glassmeyer Welcome to Dead Pilots Society, the podcast that takes comedy pilots from A-list writers that were sold and developed at networks and streamers but never produced, and gives them the table reads they never got to have. This episode features a pilot from Gracie Glassmeyer. Gracie has written for Ghosts and The Neighborhood, with previous credits including Jane the Virgin, Happy Together, and Impastor. Her pilot defies easy categorization—too smart and compelling to be just a comedy, too funny to be labeled strictly drama. The story centers on a fascinating main character, originally conceived by Yael Grobglas (Matlock, Jane the Virgin), who also leads the cast. She’s joined by Dustin Ybarra (One Day at a Time, We Bought a Zoo) as the agoraphobic co-lead. The rest of the ensemble is a powerhouse Dead Pilots Society lineup: Rachel Keller (Legion, Tokyo Vice), Imani Hakim (Mythic Quest), Oscar Montoya (Minx, Star Trek: Lower Decks), Joy Osmanski (1923, Ghosts), Katherine Bourne Taylor (The Ms. Pat Show), and Marcus Bishop-Wright (Bring on the Damned!). Video of this Zoom read is available to Maximum Fun members along with exclusive bonus content from past years. Become a member for as little as $5 a month at maximumfun.org/join. Dead Pilots Society has a live show coming up on Sunday, September 14th at the Elysian Theater in Los Angeles, featuring two fantastic pilots: Humans of the Americas by Jim Brandon and Brian Singleton (Arrested Development, Animal Control, and more)Dream by Lisa Muse Bryant (Black-ish, The Four Seasons) Go to elysiantheater.com and get your tickets for Sunday, September 14th.

Episode 178:  Chris Marcil & Sam Johnson Interview (Blessed and Highly Favored, NewsRadio, Beavis and Butt-Head)   In this after-show interview, Andrew sits down with longtime writing partners Chris Marcil and Sam Johnson. Friends and collaborators, Marcil and Johnson share some incredible stories from their decades in the business. They talk about how they got their start writing for Beavis and Butt-Head at MTV, the wild ride that was the NewsRadio writers’ room—complete with its nocturnal schedule—and the drastic shift to the buttoned-up, rarefied world of Frasier. Chris and Sam have been through it all. They’ve seen more writers’ rooms than most, and they’re still at it, working together and “Semi-separately”. They get into what that means and what it looks like for two longtime creative partners to evolve their collaboration. Their recent work includes What We Do in the Shadows, The English Teacher, and the Beavis and Butt-Head reboot. It’s a wide-ranging conversation with two veteran writers who’ve seen it all.

Episode 177: Blessed and Highly Favored by Chris Marcil & Sam Johnson - Live from the Elysian Theater We have such a great dead pilot for you this month. It's called Blessed and Highly Favored. It’s a hilarious comedy about a rookie pastor struggling to keep her progressive Baptist church afloat while dealing with megachurch competition, financial strain, and the looming presence of her father—the church’s legendary former pastor. The pilot comes from seasoned writers Chris Marcil and Sam Johnson, whose combined credits include Frasier, NewsRadio, What We Do in the Shadows, Beavis and Butt-Head, Daria, Hot in Cleveland, and All About the Washingtons. They bring not only their deep comedy chops but also real-life churchgoing experience to this story, which was further enriched by the stories of their friend and collaborator Peri Gilpin (Roz from Frasier). This one was recorded live at the Elysian Theater with a killer cast.  Clancy Brown (Highlander, Shawshank Redemption), Craig Cackowski (Drunk History, The Pitt), Bob Dassie (New Looney Tunes), Peri Gilpin (Frasier), Isabella Gomez (One Day at a Time), Brandon Scott Jones (Ghosts), Mike Liebenson (Hacks), Lizzie Peet (How to Get Away With Murder) Caitlin Reilly (Dead Boy Detectives, Hacks), Jordan Rodrigues (Lady Bird), Brendan Scannell (Loot). Want to see the table read? Become a Maximum Fun member for just $5 a month and get access to the video and lots more. Sign up at maximumfun.org/join. And don’t forget to check out Andrew’s documentary Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story at reddkrossfilm.com/rent.