found the space to escape and express 
his imagination, often enlisting neigh-
borhood kids to act in his childhood 
plays.
Before getting to hear his captivating 
behind-the-scenes stories of working 
in Hollywood, Zimmerman first relives 
the memories of Sunday dinner visits 
to Wing Hong Chinese restaurant at 
10 Mile Road in Southfield, his atten-
dance in Southfield Public Schools, the 
Cranbrook Theater School and Camp 
Tamarack. 
“If there is a Michigan connection, 
I’ll always bring that up right away,
” 
Dwoskin said.
Zimmerman then goes on to describe 
to Dwoskin the immense pressure that 
goes along with being a young writer in 
Hollywood. He was instrumental in the 
story and character development in the 
Golden Girls’ first season.
“There was just so much fear in going 
to work every day, of being fired or not 
being good enough, not being funny,
” 
Zimmerman said. “You couldn’t make 
any misstep. I mean these were the fun-
niest four women to ever have been on 
television.
” 
Zimmerman also shares with Dwoskin 
the incredible bond he created with 
Estelle Getty who played Sofia, the moth-
er to Bea Arthur’s character, Dorothy.
“I feel very fortunate to have carved 
a really beautiful friendship with Estelle 
Getty,
” he said. “Usally writers and 
actors on the show are kind of kept 
separately, or you’re too busy writing 
to really know the actors. I was lucky 
that she took a shining to me and got to 
hang out with her and talk to her on the 
phone. She’
d be giving motherly advice.
”
It was, in fact, motherly advice 
and unconditional support from 
Zimmerman’s real life mother that 
helped nurture and encourage his cre-
ativity. 
“I would not be here if it wasn’t for 
her tenacity and her belief in me against 
all odds,
” said Zimmerman. “That 
means a lot to a child. And she would 
always brag like, you know, ‘How many 
parents do you know who would allow 
their son to get ballet slippers and go to 
theater camp.
’”

That support also included strong 
influences from his grandmother and 
sister while growing up in Southfield, 
leaving little doubt as to why he found 
so much success working with women 
in the industry.
Zimmerman ended up also writing 
for the original Roseanne show and 
working with other iconic females that 
he details in his book; among them 
Detroit native Lily Tomlin and Sandra 
Bernhard.
Need more of a Golden Girls 
fix? Make sure you listen to 
Classic Conversations #311, 
where Dwoskin catches up 
with two-time Emmy 
Award winning pro-
ducer Marsha Posner 
Williams. She was 
responsible for co-pro-
ducing 76 episodes of The 
Golden Girls, and shares, 
according to Dwoskin, 
“unheard stories” from 
the set. 

NAME GAME
Dwoskin converses with plenty of big 
stars you instantly know by name. But 
what I really love is his equal fascination 
for interviewing actors you’ve adored but 
couldn’t tell their stage name if your life 
depended on it. To name just a few …
Jon Provost (Timmy on Lassie), Butch 
Patrick (Eddie from The Munsters), 
Susan Olson (Cindy from The Brady 
Bunch), Johnny Whitaker (Jody on 
Family Affair) and Karen Grassle (The 
mom on Little House on the Prairie).
In two of my favorite more-off-the-

radar conversations, Dwoskin talks to 
Scott Schwartz who played Flick, the 
kid who famously gets his tongue stuck 
to a flagpole in the iconic holiday film 
A Christmas Story. Plus, you’ll meet 
Steve Hytner, who played Kenny Bania, 
the annoying comedian on Seinfeld that 
drove Jerry crazy.
So, just where does Classic 
Conversations go from here? Dwoskin 
tells me that his plan is to keep going. 
“I’
d love for it to really catch fire and be 
a podcast people talk about” he said. 
“I would love to work for a radio show 
or a TV channel and do entertainment 
segments.
” 
Best of luck, Jeff! And remember 
our deal: If you make it to the big time, 
you’re taking me with you. I’ve been off 
the Dick Purtan Show for over 14 years, 
and I’m desperate for attention again. 
Let’s take a meeting. 

Classic Conversations with Jeff Dwoskin can 

be found at jeffisfunny.com or on Spotify, Apple 

Podcasts and on other podcast platforms. 

52 | OCTOBER 31 • 2024 J
N

OUR COMMUNITY

continued from page 51

Stan 
Zimmerman

IMDB