Apr 9, 2026
Dennis is joined via Zoom by the duo behind the new gay comedy Bookends, writer-star Noam Ash and director Mike Doyle. Bookends tells the story of an aspiring writer named Nate whose life in Manhattan falls apart and he ends up moving in with his grandparents--played by Oscar-winner F. Murray Abraham and Caroline Aaron--in their retirement community. Noam talks about how the story was inspired by his own experience living with his grandparents, what he learned from the experience and what his grandparents--who both passed away in their 90's before the film was shot--would think of the finished movie. Mike talks about how he came to be involved with the project, how he sees it as a privilege to get to tell stories and the exchange he had with F. Murray Abraham on set that he'll never forget. Other topics include: the flowery shirt Noam wears in the film that everyone loves, the terror of driving a stick shift, senior citizens who love Speedos and what it's like to have your own costume designer reject all the wardrobe options you brought from home.