David Zucker, the legendary filmmaker behind Airplane!, The Naked Gun, and Scary Movie 3 & 4, joins the conversation to dive into his remarkable career in comedy. From his early days with Kentucky Fried Theater to reshaping the spoof genre, David shares behind-the-scenes stories, Hollywood challenges, and the making of his book Surely You Can’t Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane!. He also discusses the Naked Gun reboot, his upcoming projects, and the importance of comedic timing.
Episode Highlights:
- How Airplane! became a cultural phenomenon and why casting serious actors was key to its success.
- The untold story of Naked Gun 4 and why David is not involved in the reboot.
- Creating Scary Movie 3 & 4 and how his comedic approach differed from the Wayans Brothers.
- The challenges of working in Hollywood and why he’s now raising independent funds for new projects.
- Behind-the-scenes stories from Kentucky Fried Movie, Basketball, and working with comedic legends.
David Zucker’s insights into the film industry, his comedic influences, and Hollywood’s ever-changing landscape make this a must-listen episode for movie lovers and comedy fans alike.
You’re going to love my conversation with David Zucker
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I'm a tech entrepreneur, podcaster, and professional stand-up comedian. I started my journey in the tech industry back in 1997 when I founded my own website development company, which was one of the pioneering companies in the country at the time. While working in technology, my comedic talents couldn't be contained, and I eventually took to the stage as a stand-up comedian.
My passion for comedy led me to create Hashtag Roundup (@hashtagroundup on Twitter), a platform that has contributed to over 8000 top 10 USA trends on Twitter. With the growth of social media, particularly Instagram, I founded Stampede Social, a company aimed at helping creators drive traffic to their content without relying solely on a link in their bio.
