Cautiously Optimistic #180

Our first guest of season 5, 2025 is the amazing and talented Steve Young
STEVE YOUNG is an Emmy-nominated comedy writer who’s written for David Letterman, Matt Groening, and Lorne Michaels. He’s also done feature punch-up, written and acted in short comedy films, and released an album of humorous yet heartfelt alt-country songs. His weird record collection inspired the critically-acclaimed documentary Bathtubs Over Broadway, and Amblin is developing a feature from a book he wrote. Steve loves combining his comedy chops with music, and combining gin with tonic.

Steve’s Website

Comedy writing:
Letterman (staff writer, 19 Emmy nominations)
The Simpsons (“Hurricane Neddy” episode)
Olive the Other Reindeer (won an Annie award for this Emmy-nominated animated Christmas special produced by Matt Groening)
Maya & Marty (NBC variety show)
Night of Too Many Stars (HBO comedy benefit for autism programs, hosted by Jon Stewart)
sitcom pilot scripts, screenplays, short film scripts
script punch-up work for the hit movie Ice Age
regular contributor to The American Bystander humor magazine
writer of 2 award-winning short films directed by Bathtubs Over Broadway filmmaker Dava Whisenant
jokes, comedy material, video scripts for private and corporate clients

Song writing:
Broken Heart Insurance, an album of Nashville-recorded alt-country originals produced by Grammy-winner Alison Brown
Bathtubs Over Broadway (3 original songs for the award-winning music documentary)
Olive the Other Reindeer
Late Show with David Letterman
“The Chanukah Song (We are Lights),” with composer Stephen Schwartz (“Wicked”), recorded in 2021 by Kristin Chenoweth
jingles and theme songs
guitar player
Performing/speaking/acting:

shows and lectures for general, academic, and corporate audiences about industrial musicals, with vintage film clips and humorous commentary
Starring roles in several short comedy films on the film festival circuit, plus a featured role in the indie feature Free Time
repeat guest monologist, Upright Citizens Brigade (comedy/improv theater)
Letterman show (multiple guest appearances and comedy bits)
NPR’s “Fresh Air” with Terry Gross (guest, with legendary Broadway lyricist Sheldon Harnick)
guest on Alec Baldwin’s WNYC podcast, Here’s The Thing
New York University adjunct faculty member

Bull Riding/Rodeo:
Does not apply
#mopedoutlaws #enjoy

#mopedoutlaws #enjoy

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:09:30 — 159.1MB) | Embed