A little and probably too much background on me. My name is Eric Gilliland and I’ve been a TV writer and producer for (places hand over mouth and mumbles unintelligibly) years. The shows that greet me with the fewest blank stares when mentioned are The Wonder Years, Roseanne, That 70’s Show, My Boys, and, for some reason, Who’s The Boss? I spent four years on Roseanne and have the damaged liver to show for it. Enough people got fired that I eventually wound up running the show as its executive producer/head writer. And then did a bunch of other stuff after. Okay. That's out of the way...

I first met Alex at a friend's variety show in the East Village. I was "guest whistling" (You read that right.) and sat through all of the other acts. Eh, okay, fine. Low expectations. But then Alex got up to do his stand up and the whole tone in the room shifted. Out of some very diverse and bizarre acts (There was a whistler, of all things,) came this comic doing an act that was smart, sophisticated, interesting, and, most of all funny. There were no easy jokes here. Nothing "dirty" or "pandering." Just old fashioned intelligent jokes for adults.

So I went up to him and said, "Hi, that was terrific." And we've been friends ever since. I've had a first row seat watching him do pretty much everything he does/creates/writes/hosts. This guy is a crazy hard worker. He can't shut off his brain. He's constantly making something new and then making that something new better. Honing and honing his material for whatever medium he's working in. Even during this pandemic. I can barely get out of bed and pour Purell down my throat. But Alex never stopped, not for a minute. And his stuff is good. Not only is he funny and smart, he's one of the most pleasant people I've met in recent years. He keeps me sane and laughing during these days as we Marco Polo each other many times a day. His energy and kindness will lift you up like gangbusters. You’ll love the guy.