Brian and Bailey chat with The Naked Gun (2025) screenwriters Dan Gregor and Doug Mand.

Comedy ain’t easy. And neither is the job of continuing the beloved Naked Gun franchise with a new chapter that honors the spirit of Lt. Frank Drebin without feeling stuck in the past.

But that is exactly what Dan Gregor and Doug Mand have accomplished, and they are here to discuss why and how they do what they do, the lessons learned from years of partnership, and what it takes to keep audiences laughing in a new era.

Their journey from the improv comedy scene to How I Met Your Mother, from Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers to The Naked Gun, is a colorful one. So tune in for all that, plus their thoughts on comedy writing in the age of YouTube, and why even in Hollywood a good script is never truly dead.

(Disclaimer: no microphones were harmed during this interview. A potted plant was.)

This episode is produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson.

Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson conclude their two-part conversation with former president of Paramount Motion Picture Group, David Paul Kirkpatrick.

As the man who greenlit some of the most iconic films in cinematic history, David knows not only how the Hollywood machine works, but why it sometimes doesn’t.

Why do so few people in the studio system actually read scripts? Why does strong coverage matter more than you think? What does it take to get a studio project across the finish line? And what really happens when a movie falls apart?

Plus, why did Michael Jackson shed tears over lunch with David? And is Steven Spielberg truly the mensch the world believes he is?

With a remarkable career, a writer’s heart, and a mentor’s wisdom, David brings both insight and irresistible Hollywood tales in one of the most revealing conversations we’ve ever had.

This podcast is produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson.

On the latest episode of the Living to Write, Brian and Bailey chat with Story Summit founder and former Paramount Pictures studio executive David Paul Kirkpatrick in Part 1 of an unforgettable conversation.

Throughout his illustrious career as president of the Motion Picture Group and head of production at both Disney and Touchstone, David helped bring to life some of the most iconic and influential films and franchises of all time, including — Indiana Jones, Star Trek, Friday the 13th, Top Gun, Ghost, The Hunt for Red October, Witness, Reds — and a Living to Write favorite — Can’t Buy Me Love.

His remarkable history, combined with talents as both a writer himself and mentor to many, makes David just the man to share some of the most insightful advice and outrageous Hollywood-insider stories you’ll ever hear.

What’s it like to be a studio executive? What does it take to actually greenlight a film—and what quietly kills it?

Tune in to Part 1 to find out what really happens behind the curtain. And yes... He names names.

This podcast is produced by Brian Landwehr and Bailey Patterson.