Today, anytime you see someone from the gay community on the big screen, on TV, winning all the awards, you can thank the pioneers of early screenwriting who, as out of the closet Hollywood industry members, paved the way with their early work telling our stories in mainstream film. On this episode, we chat with screenwriter Paul Rudnick, one of those pioneers…

Paul Rudnick is a novelist, playwright, essayist and screenwriter, whom the New York Times has called, “one of our pre-eminent humorists.” His plays have been produced both on and off Broadway and around the world, He has won an Obie Award, two Outer Critics Circle Awards and the John Gassner Playwrighting Award, He’s a regular contributor to The New Yorker and his articles and essays have also appeared in The New York Times, Esquire, Vogue and Vanity Fair. Paul’s screenplays include IN & OUT, SISTER ACT, the screen adaptation of JEFFREY, and ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES. His Young Adult novels, entitled GORGEOUS and IT’S ALL YOUR FAULT, have been published by Scholastic. Mr. Rudnick has appeared on the Today show, Real Time with Bill Maher, Conan O’Brien, A Prairie Home Companion, and Fresh Air, among other programs. Mr. Rudnick is currently writing the book for the Broadway musical adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada, with lyrics by Shaina Taub and music by Elton John. During COVID, HBO aired Coastal Elites, written by Mr. Rudnick, directed by Jay Roach, and starring Bette Midler, Dan Levy, Issa Rae,& Sarah Paulson. His new novel, a romantic comedy entitled Playing The Palace, is now available online and at bookstores.

We chatted with Paul about the entertainment industry during the AIDS epidemic, the magic of the Addams Family characters, how to deal with a Hollywood bomb, his work on The Devil Wears Prada musical, writing for the younger gay generation, the beauty of IHOP, love and dating, and his moment of Pride…with host Alexander Rodriguez.