COMEDIAN GILBERT GOTTFRIED INTERVIEWED!
-By: Terry L. DuFoe-
For OnSat & Satellite Entertainment Guide!
 
As the careful rub of a ancient lamp transformed two T.V. masters into 
theatrical sultans” Saturday Night Live" alumni Bill Murray and Gilbert 
Gottfried ride the magic carpet to success in the country's current top 10 video 
rentals: 
 
While Murray, no stranger to video popularity cast a giant shadow in "GROUNDHOG 
DAY", Gilbert Gottfried soars high above Murray’s burrow laying no egg as the 
wise cracking, cracker hating parrot in Disney’s fantasy "ALADDIN." The success 
of the film has been greater than the dreams of Aladdin and Jasmine their 
selves,”POOF!" Just like magic, the follow up to "Beauty and The Beast" 
transformed into the top grossing Disney film of all time earning more than 200 
million in twelve months! (Domestic theatrical release.) 
 
Now the Arabian tale is setting world wide video records that would turn any 
Genie blue with envy at 10.6 million copies sold in the first week. The tape is 
carried in 100,000 plus outlets. (Another record) Knowing those figures amount 
to birdseed in the bank, Up All Night host Gilbert Gottfried is ecstatic over 
the films success and newfound recognition. His new fame has resulted in new 
T.V./ Movie roles, Disney puppets, and toy figures of his feathered alter 
ego; the bird pessimist "IAGO." Through the magic of animation, side kicks "IAGO" 
& the evil sorcerer "JAFAR" have become "Stan and Ollie" for the 90’s in the 
mythical city of Agrabah. 
 
Prior to the films debut, Gilbert Gottfried had been a favorite of television 
late niters since 1989. Gilbert is best known as the off the wall host of "USA 
UP ALL NIGHT" showing very non-Disney fare. Their ultra low budget turkeys pales 
in comparison to Disney’s current classic but, their bite rivals "IAGOS” itself. 
According to the USA network the Up All Night debut improved network ratings 100 
par cent. Despite the bad acting, juvenile Plots, and an obvious lack of 
clothing the Saturday night triple feature has served loyal couch Potatoes a 
hefty helping of cinema schlock for 5 years. Gilbert Gottfried offered the 
following numerous comments on "UP ALL NIGHT" and "ALADDIN" proving that "IAGO" 
may be a Parrot but, Gottfried is a very wise owl.
 
SEG: Congratulations on the success of "ALADDIN" and "UP ALL KIGHT"!
 
GILBERT: On thanks, I shake your hand.
 
SEG: How did you get started in the business?
 
GILBERT: Yeah, I did clubs for no salary in Grenich Village way before the 
comedy boom. Most People did Vaudevillian songs on hootenanny nights and I was 
one of the few comedians.
 
SEG: Allen Menkin and Tim Rice won two Academy Awards for "ALADDINS" score and 
the hit song "A Whole Now World”. Maybe your character "IAGO" could have used 
one of those old Vaudevillian songs in the movie?
 
GILBERT: (Laughs) No, they said I sing about as well as Sonny Bono; So I wasn't 
asked to sing in the film.
 
SEG: Considering your not one of the great vocalist of the world what an 
encouraged you to concentrate on acting and comedy?
 
GILBERT: I wasn't smart enough to do any thing else and I couldn't get a date on 
a Saturday night.
 
SEG: Rhonda Shear disagrees with your intelligence. She says you are a genius.
 
GILBERT: Yes, but look at the source. (Laughs).
 
SEG: I can imagine becoming a Saturday Night Live regular with the likes of 
Eddie Murphy was exciting?
 
GILBERT: That was between 80 and 81 and it wasn't actually a life long dream. I 
was neither thrilled when I was on or heart broken when it ended because I knew 
it was a gig that wasn’t going to last. It was a lot of pressure.
 
SEG: Did you get any comedy tips from any SNL regulars?
 
GILBERT: I always say if you want to be a great comedian you gotta be able to 
lift, at least 4000 pounds. I just follow the Joe Piscapo school of comedy. I 
say, date your babysitter and make sure you can lift a station wagon with your 
pinky.
 
 
SEG: With ALADDIN as Your greatest success & SNL as your greatest disappointment 
what was your biggest failure?
 
GILBERT: I did a unsold series pilot called "The Further Adventures of Wally 
Brown" that aired at like three in the morning I don't imagine many people saw 
that.
 
SEG: Has the "ALADDIN" success caused people to treat you differently?
 
GILBERT: (lauqhs) Well. I attended Eddie Murphys wedding and Disneys head man 
Michael Eisner didn't even say hello. “ALADDIN" made like 200 million so at 
least he could have offered me a cocktail weenie.
 
SEG: Which do you enjoy most, on camera roles or cartoon voice overs?
 
GILBERT: OH, none of them. I don't know. I have no real favorites as each one 
has its
own thing, what ever that means. I get a lot of exposure but so did Pee Wee 
Herman. (laughs)
 
SEG: You did "ALADDIN' at the Same time you were doing "UP ALL NIGHT." Are You 
spreading yourself too thin?
 
GILBERT: I feel that way ovary minute of my life even when I brush my teeth or 
wash my face. I'm one of these people you wave the check in my face and I'm 
there. It could be like fight Mike Tyson in Prison here's Five Dollars, O.K.
 
SEG: You never turn offers down?
 
GILBERT: Most actors answer their Phone,"who is it? I answer the phone, I'll 
take it!
 
SEG: It sounds like a system that might work.
 
GILBERT: I seem to be the king of number 2 in films. I did "BEVERLY HILLS COP 
2”,
"LOOK WHOS TALKING 2," "FORD FAIRLANE" and "PROBLEM CHILD 1 and 2."
 
SEG: Maybe "ALADDIN TWO”?
 
GILBERT: When I first walked before Disney animators they pointed at me and 
yelled Parrot! Who knows what I'll do next?
 
SEG: Robin Williams seems to have made a career out of cartoon and fantasy.
Are you afraid it might hurt your stand up?
 
GILBERT: You know I doubt that when Robin Williams is being nominated for 
Academy 
Awards and has a house in Malibu that he worries, "Gee, I wonder if my stand up 
will still be good?".
 
SEG: Speaking of off beat roles. You played Hitler in a movie.
 
GILBERT: Your dish owners can see it on Cinemax. It's called "Highway To Hell" 
and has Chad Lowe. He's the one who doesn't have sex. (Refrence to brother Rob.)
 
SEG: What do you think of the movies aired on “UP ALL NIGHT”?
 
GILBERT: I think their absolutely extra ordinarly brillant. (Lauqhs) I'm ashamed 
of 
myself if I ever come across as sarcastic. I try to get USA to make the censored 
nude scenes into a big reel for me.
 
BEG: How are your "UP ALL NIGHT” locations choosen?
 
GILBERT: They usually decide what's the most impossible place to film and takes 
the longest.
 
SEG: What would be a nightmare location?
 
GILBERT: Everyone that we've done has been that way. We feel in luxury sometimes 
if there is a sink around!
 
SEG: What is the public like when you are on location?
 
GILBERT: They are usually on drugs and they pick up bottles and fling them at 
me.
 
SEG: One bit that comes to mind was the spirit of Christmas I hope that 
appearance on
"UP ALL NIGHT" didn't encourage any bottle tossing.
 
GILBERT: (Laughs) I like dressing like a Homosexual. You get a lot of girls that 
way.
 
SEG: Is it more fun than dressing like Hitler?
 
GILBERT: It's always good for a Jew to play Hitler. (Laughs)
 
SEG: I can imagine the bizarre skits encourage some pretty interesting mail? 
That’s spelled m-a-i-l!
 
GILBERT: Oh, good. Glad you cleared that up! We get mail like "I'm on medication 
now and I hope this crayon is legible. Of course Rhonda thinks letters 
containing words with three sylables are intelligent.
 
SEG: Speaking of Rhonda, what do you think of other movie hosts like "Mystery 
Science Theatre 3000", and Joe Bob Briggs from "Drive-In Theatre" on The Movie 
Channel?
 
GILBERT: I think their all cheap imitations of me, but I say the same thing 
about 
Allister Cooke.
 
SEG: They may read this magazine and will know what you say.
 
GILBERT: Oh, o.k.. I think the guys from "Mystery Science" are sexy and I'd like 
to have their children.
 
BEG: Don’t Forget Joe Bob.
 
GILBERT: On yes, I think he's even sexier and I d like him to make me squeal 
like a pig.
 
SEG: Other than Joe Bob, who might make a good "UP ALL NIGHT" replacement host?
 
GILBERT: I wanted Joseph Menglia.
 
SEG: Rhonda was a replacement for former USA Friday host Caroline Schlitt. How 
do you compare the two?
 
GILBERT: I'd have sex with either one of them but only after I had sex with Joe 
Bob. I like Rhonda Shear because I like staring at bigger & bigger breasts. 
Eventually USA is going to keep replacing Fridays host until there are just 
breasts on the screen and you can't even see the person.
 
SEG: Is that why "UP ALL NIGHT” appeals to high school and college age viewers?
 
GILBERT: No, we have a lot of viewers in there 90's because they are too senile 
to change the T.V.
 
SEG: I saw where Rhondas shall we say cleavage led to a supermarket tabloid 
about her and a fling with Burt Reynolds.
 
GILBERT: Did Rhonda ever say she wanted to come to my house to get a spanking?
 
SEG: No.
 
GILBERT: Ahhh, she'll be calling any minute now.
 
SEG: Rhonda has done a couple of Playboy layouts. Now that you’re a Disney star 
do you watch your image more closely?
 
GILBERT: I don't worry about it. It sort of turns me on that people are
           watching me. (Laughs) I get recognized a lot when I go see
           "MY DINNER WITH ANDRE" and I take my shoes off during the movie.
 
SEG: Would you appear in a magazine like lets say Playgirl?
 
GILBERT: No, I want to be in Playboy. I want to have a centerfold of me saying, 
"I dislike rude and boisterous people and I like romantic walks on the beach."
 
SEG: That might help in finding the Perfect woman or do you prefer to stay 
single?
 
GILBERT: I get turned down a lot. The women prefer I stay single.
 
SEG: Besides your wish to be in Playboy, what's your biggest goal as a USA host?
 
GILBERT: To meet as many women who have been nude in a “USA UP ALL NIGHT" movie 
as possible!
 
SEG: Do you think that " UP ALL NIGHT" was as good a career move as "ALADDIN" 
was?
 
GILBERT: Lets see, I'll have to discuss that with Zacherly. (Old 1950's T.V. 
horror host)
 
SEG: Now that you’re known for "Iago" what would you do if "UP ALL NIGHT" ended?
 
GILBERT: I'd probably be a male model for men’s briefs.
 
SEG: I've never been to New York but do they have quite a lot of those big dish 
contraptions as you have called them in your back yards?
 
GILBERT: I thought you were going to say what do I think of people that put big 
constrictions in their back yards. That would take a whole new magazine! 
(Laughs) I know People with mental problems that put up paper plates, not real 
satellite dishes and say, "Oh look, I'm getting all of the network shows.
 
 
SEG: We will be watching for you in movies and T.V. not to mention other
possible Disney projects. What might be a future 'UP ALL NIGHT"
 
 
Gilbert: Oh, Venus, but I’d have to wear a jacket.
 
 
Editors Note: With his rising popularity in T.V., movies, and Disney animation 
it may not take a blue shape-shifting Genie to turn this joking wish from Disney 
fantasy to satellite dish reality....

-END-