Gilbert Gottfried brings old Hollywood back to life

STANHOPE — His trademark voice — most famously heard in commercials as the Aflac duck and Iago in Disney's Aladdin movie — is now hitting the internet airwaves with his podcast, "Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast."

Gottfried will also be performing locally at the Stanhope House on Saturday, Aug. 9.

Podcast
The comedic legend launched his podcast in June.

"I like stuff having to do with really old Hollywood and forgotten show business," Gottfried said in a phone interview. "I've interviewed Boris Karloff’s daughter and Dick Cavett. Some young, some old. But usually having to do with memories of old Hollywood."

In his podcast, Gottfried found a new respect for the interview process.

"It is different, because it is walking in somebody else's shoes for awhile," Gottfried said. "Like now I am not as a quick to say this person interviewing me is an idiot. Because now I'm the idiot asking the dumb questions."

Since launching his podcast, Gottfried has been able to speak with many Hollywood greats.

"I interviewed one of the actors from the Godfather, Gianni Russo who claimed he has killed three people in real life," Gottfried said. "I guess legally you are allowed to kill three people and says he has had sex with Marilyn Monroe. And since Marilyn Monroe has not come forth to dispute it — it must be true."

One of Gottfried's favorites was speaking to "Eddie Munster."

"I had fun interviewing of all people, from the "Munsters" Butch Patrick, who played Eddie Munster," Gottfried said. "He was really open about his whole drinking and drug problem that he had and also talking about how guys made passes at him."

Stand-up
From podcasts to movies to stand-up, Gottfried has no personal preference to perform.

"Like I always say it's whoever is waving a check in my face at the time that I will perform," Gottfried said.

Hitting the stage, Gottfried won't pull from his podcasts but instead will blurt out whatever he is thinking at the time.

"It’s weird it’s stuff that flows into my head sometimes," Gottfried said. "I wish I had a real work ethic. I could actually just sit down and create comedy. But with me its always just stuff that flows in my head."

Even as a child, Gottfried was quick to make jokes.

"My earliest joke was when I was in kindergarten," Gottfried said. "There was a kid acting up in class so the teacher put a newspaper on his head. So I said 'Those are the headlines.' My comedy hasn’t gotten much more mature since then."

Growing up in Brooklyn, N.Y. Gottfried has performed in New Jersey before and hopes to provide comedy during his act.

"What they can expect is to sit there for five minutes then look at each other and go ‘Whose idea was it to come here and see Gilbert Gottfried.’"

For more information or to download "Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast" visit GilbertGottfried.com or itunes.com.