End Credits … with Mike Sacks and Writer Patty Lin
Some news:
Doin' It With Mike Sacks!
On this month’s episode, I interview former writer for television, Patty Lin, on her wonderful new memoir about her years toiling away in Hollywood, achieving success and ultimately landing on Freaks and Geeks, Friends, Breaking Bad, and other big-name shows, but then deciding to pack it all in and move on to other writing adventures.
It's the rare book about Hollywood that names names. Very specific names. Names of powerful people in the industry who most likely won’t want to be named. It’s a very interesting take on a career that still remains the dream of many a young writer. Why did she get into the business? More importantly, why in the world would she want to get out? Patty answers all those questions, and more, in her searingly honest book just out from Zibby Media. Buy it, it’s wonderful. As is our conversation. Please check it out.
I also talk at great length about one of my comedic heroes, Chris Elliott, focussing mainly on his years on Late Night with David Letterman, and his various scary, bizarre characters, such as The Guy Under the Seats, The Fugitive Guy and others, all of whom had a huge impact on me. I found them as sad as they were funny, which remains my favorite type of humor all these years later. All hail the genius of Chris Elliott!
I'll answer your questions on the podcast if you email me at mikebsacks@gmail.com.
One more thing: Doin’ It is produced by the best podcast producer in the world world Rob Schulte.
Rob also hosts a comedy podcast that pokes fun at hollywood through the lens of the reality tv show Vanderpump Rules called… Vanderpump Robs. NBC News has called Rob a Vanderpump Rules expert and he’s a finalist in the Signal Awards. Please vote for Rob to win this award. You know I only work with the best in the biz!
If you’re in Baltimore, I’ll be opening for David Sedaris this upcoming Thursday, October 5th, at Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.
My Latest Book:
A self-published memoir of a Maryland thirty-something found by author me, Mike Sacks, at a garage sale in 2019 and re-published here for the first time. The memoir is written by the struggling poet and novelist Noah B., who is embedded in the mind and lifestyle of a perversely unexceptional American asshole named Randy. Like Pale Fire if it were about a Danny McBride-style fuckup, the story is both unmoored from time and eerily prescient of our own—one so stupid and unbelievable that it requires a writer like Sacks to bring it to light.
“If you don’t know who Mike Sacks is, well, you should. His writing is funnier than just about anyone’s and now he has a podcast that is excellent. I say Hooray for Mike Sacks and everything he stands for.” -David Sedaris
“He’s the best kind of comedy writer; a bona fide weirdo with virtually no interest in satisfying anything other than his own personal obsessions.” -Andy Richter
“Randy is a hilariously, unexpectedly poignant and eminently worthy addition to Sacks’ sociological/anthropological exploration of the American Jackass and his curious ways. Audacious and inspired.” -Nathan Rabin
“The year's best memoir is about a man who shot a porno in a Baskin-Robbins.” -Vice
“Randy does more to explain certain unexpected turns in this nation's political fate over the last couple of years than a bazillion think-pieces in the New York Times, Atlantic, New Yorker, MSNBC.” -John Colapinto (The New Yorker)
“As the book’s description alludes, Randy is an experiment in memoir, biography, and, well, sheer insanity.” -Robobutt
An article I wrote you might want to check out:
I interviewed Elton John lyricist Bernie Taupin about his new memoir, Scattershot, for Vanity Fair.
A Suggestion from Me:
I’m a huge fan of the musician Tony Molina’s. He has a new album out, under his band name Oven, that I highly recommend. It’s described on the site as “Weezer/Teenage Fanclub-style power-pop with short, smart songs, Thin Lizzy style dual harmonic guitar solos and ironclad DIY HC punk roots.” I’d say that’s pretty accurate.
Be well! And keep reachin’ for those stars!