Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen
Podcasts Off-Ramp
Who was Oscar Levant? Even Homer Simpson knows
Off-Ramp with John Rabe Hero Image
(
Dan Carino
)
Episode 15260
Listen 49:08
Who was Oscar Levant? Even Homer Simpson knows

The voice of Homer Simpson, Dan Castellaneta (RIGHT), is also a serious writer and his new play explores the inner life of one of the last century’s most intriguing talents: Oscar Levant. ... Off-Ramp commentator Dylan Brody has finally -- FINALLY -- sold one of his comedy specials. ... And we’ll take you to a tiny thrift store that’s been supporting the work of the Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic for almost 20 years.

John Rabe records Deb Lacusta and Dan Castellaneta reading from Castellaneta's new play "For Piano and Harpo," at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank.
John Rabe records Deb Lacusta and Dan Castellaneta reading from Castellaneta's new play "For Piano and Harpo," at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank.
(
Stefan Novinski
)

You know him as the voice of Homer Simpson, but Dan Castellaneta is also a serious writer and his new passion is a play exploring the inner life of one of the last century’s most intriguing talents: Oscar Levant, one of the first performers to be open about his mental illness. ... Off-Ramp commentator Dylan Brody often tells us about his failure to convince entertainment executives to buy his comedy specials. It’s almost like they’re writing his material for them. But now, Dylan is going to have to find something new to talk about, because NextUp Comedy has just bought one of his shows. ... You know Out of the Closet and St Vincent DePaul, two huge charities that use thrift stores to support their mission. But we’ll take you to a strip mall in Silverlake, to a tiny thrift store that’s been supporting the work of the Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic for almost 20 years.

Listen 12:07
The voice of Homer Simpson, Dan Castellaneta, is bringing a a celebrity who died in 1972 back to life in the new play "For Piano and Harpo." Who? "It's Oscar Levant, you musical ignoramus!"
Listen 8:01
Step aside, Sarah Koenig. After a station-wide breakfast, Off-Ramp interns Jesus Ambrosio and Rosalie Atkinson get semi-serious about cereal.
If you don't know who is playing at the big game Sunday, this one is for you. Here is a list of 5 non-Super Bowl events happening on Super Bowl Sunday.
Listen 5:34
"We were sitting on the floors, we figured out the best electrical outlets at LAX," recalled lawyer Lindsay Toczylowsky. "We had lawyers at times with balloons that said 'lawyer' in Farsi, Arabic and English."
Nelson wrote many great songs but "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," a breakout hit for the singer, was written by Fred Rose back in 1947, and was first performed by Roy Acuff. It was allegedly the last song Elvis ever sang.
Listen 5:32
I risked a bunch of my own money to put together a show about the potential for all of us in Hollywood to reach for our highest aspirations and had to go 8,000 miles away to get anybody to even consider it. Being an artist at the heart of the entertainment industry can be funny. Just not funny ha-ha.
Listen 7:03
KPCC's Erika Aguilar talks with stand-up comedian Filipe Esparza about how his upbringing - gang life in Boyle Heights - informs his comedy.
Listen 2:19
A huge painting of Michael Jordan takes up a corner of the store. There are typewriters tucked into the tall bookcases, vintage shoes lining the windows, and every color you can imagine is on the rack and on the walls.