It was just a matter of time, really, before Gilbert Gottfried got into the podcasting game. We couldn't expect him to keep that trademark cackling laugh restricted to the odd roast or obscure gig forever, could we?
This week his Amazing Colossal Podcast debuted and...it's a podcast. It's Gottfried ensconced in his New York City apartment, chatting it up with whatever friends he can get to stop by. When you're Gottfried, that can be an impressive list to draw from.
Dick Cavett is his debut guest and he does not disappoint. A master raconteur and, although there's a bit of quaver in Cavett's unmistakeable voice, he conjures up anecdotes of Hollywood and Broadway luminaries upon request until Gottfried and his co-host, Frank Santopadre, run out of names to ask about. Johnny Carson, Jack Benny, John Lennon - and those are just the guys whose names start with "J."
Host and guest laugh a lot during this first hour, although Gottfriend's impression of an aged Groucho Mark brings a wistful Cavett to the brink of tears with its uncanny tones. The chat refreshingly veers out of the comfort zone of the politically correct from time to time. And the most time seems given over to Cavett's fascination with Chinese character actor Richard Loo, including his impression of the man.
If the first show is an apt indicator, we're in for a treat.
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This review originally posted as part of This Week In Comedy Podcasts on Splitsider.com. Marc Hershon is host and executive producer of Succotash, the Comedy Podcast Podcast.