Episode 110 - Talking Funny With “Empty Nest” Star David Leisure - Part 2

In the second half of Tony's lively conversation with the hilarious David Leisure, the sitcom star shares unforgettable stories and insights from his time on “Empty Nest”. He discusses the valuable lessons he learned while working with veteran actor Richard Mulligan and explains how the chemistry with his co-stars Kristy McNichol and Dinah Manoff made their on-screen dynamic unforgettable. 

David also shares his experiences working alongside Dreyfuss, aka “Bear the Dog,” and gives insight into how sassy Park Overall could be off-screen. He reflects on his memorable appearance on “The Golden Girls,” where his character Charley appeared on “Jeopardy” with the ladies, and how he enjoyed flirting with all the Golden Girls on the studio lot. He recalls funny moments, including when Estelle Getty joined the “Empty Nest” cast after “The Golden Girls” ended and the occasional line slip-ups that made everyone laugh. 

As David looks back, he discusses the legacy of 90s sitcoms like “Empty Nest”, especially as the streaming era took over. He shares the emotional experience of filming the show’s final episode & reminisces about how the show changed after Kristy McNichol left, though it was amazing to have her return for the final two episodes. 

But it wasn’t just sitcoms that kept David busy! He dives into his iconic Joe Isuzu character, which he reprised for a new series of commercials and talks about his time on “The Goldbergs”, where he did a hilarious homage to “Airplane!”. He also reveals that he stays in touch with actor Robert Hays every month and enjoyed filming “The Brady Bunch Movie.” 

From his role as the teacher in charge of detention in “10 Things I Hate About You” with Julia Stiles & Heath Ledger to his work on “Days of Our Lives,” he shares the most challenging and funniest aspects of working on a daytime soap. 

David wraps up the conversation by reflecting on what he's currently working on, and it’s clear that he remains as passionate and full of energy as ever!

DAVID LEISURE
David Leisure is a versatile actor best known for his scene-stealing comedic roles, most notably as Charley Dietz on the beloved sitcom “Empty Nest”. He also gained widespread recognition as the mischievously deceptive “Joe Isuzu,” the fictional, fast-talking pitchman in a series of memorable Isuzu commercials that aired from 1986 to 1990, with a revival from 1999 to 2001.

Born in San Diego, Leisure attended Grossmont High School, before continuing his education at San Diego State University. His knack for humor and charismatic presence quickly propelled him into a successful TV career, landing roles in an impressive array of popular shows. His extensive TV credits include “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch”, “Diagnosis: Murder”, “Touched by an Angel”, “The Wayans Bros.”, “Married... with Children”, “The Golden Girls”, “ALF”, “T.J. Hooker”, “Falcon Crest”, & many more.

On the big screen, he made his mark early with a small but memorable role as the "First Krishna" in the cult-classic comedy “Airplane!” . He later appeared in “10 Things I Hate About You”  as a no-nonsense high school soccer coach & detention monitor. 

Leisure has continued to evolve as a performer, taking on roles in daytime television, including “The Young and the Restless”  & “Days of Our Lives” . His voice acting talents have also been put to use in animation, notably as Metus in “BIONICLE: The Legend Reborn”.

Most recently, Leisure has appeared in television & film projects such as “The Goldbergs” , “Meet My Valentine” , and “Fame Game” , further solidifying his lasting presence in Hollywood.

The Official Hollywood Obsessed Website - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.hollywoodobsessedthepodcast.com/ ⁠⁠⁠

Follow the Official Hollywood Obsessed Facebook Page – ⁠⁠⁠HOLLYWOOD OBSESSED PODCAST⁠⁠⁠

Follow our Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hollywoodobsessedpodcast/⁠

Titles VO Talent – Cam Frierson - ⁠⁠http://camfrierson.com/voice

Music by⁠⁠ ⁠QubeSounds⁠⁠⁠ from ⁠⁠⁠Pixabay⁠⁠⁠