Don't Be Alone with Jay Kogen
Jay’s Dad, Arnie Kogen, Talks About How Having Kids Held Him Back
August 5, 2025 · 58 min
Why listen
A 91-year-old comedy legend reflects on decades of writing with three generations of family in the room.
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In this episode
- What a career spanning the Carol Burnett Show to Mad Magazine actually looks like
- An honest take on whether having kids helped or hurt a creative career
- What 91 years of life in comedy teaches you about the craft
- A rare three-generation conversation about family, work, and legacy
About this episode
Writing Legend, Arnie Kogen, talks with Jay and Jay’s son, Charlie, about his childhood, career, and what it’s like to be 91. Three generations of Kogens in one pod!Bio: ARNIE KOGENComedy Writer/ TV ProducerHas written and/or produced for the Carol Burnett Show, The Tonight Show, Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore, Empty Nest, Mad TV, The Dean Martin Show, Sinbad, Donnie & Marie, The Jackson Five, Evening At The Improv, The Bob Newhart Show, Tim Conway, The New Dick Van Dyke Show, Candid Camera, Love, American Style, The Love Boat, The Golden Globes and contributed to The Academy Awards. Has also written comedy material for Phyllis Diller, Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, Shelley Berman, Debbie Reynolds, Connie Stevens, Totie Fields, Jackie Vernon, Diana Ross, Flip Wilson, Ann Margret, Sammy Davis, Morty Gunty and Jerry Van Dyke.
For over five decades he has been one of the leading contributors to Mad Magazine. Kogen has won three Emmy Awards (seven nominations) and one Writers Guild Award (three nominations)
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About Don't Be Alone with Jay Kogen
Don’t Be Alone with Jay Kogen is a comedy/advice podcast trying to fight the isolation of modern life. Each episode, Award winning TV writer/comedian/philosopher Jay Kogen has a conversation with a friend about how to solve the problems on Jay’s mind.
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