About this episode

David Margolick discusses his latest book on Sid Caesar and his impact on American comedy.

When Caesar Was King: How Sid Caesar Reinvented American Comedy is the latest book by veteran journalist and author David Margolick. Published by Schocken in November 2025, this book examines the life of one of America’s most enigmatic and influential comedians. Margolick reported on legal affairs for The New York Times, and he was then a contributing editor at Vanity Fair. His many books include Beyond Glory: Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling, and A World on the Brink, Strange Fruit: The Biography of a Song, Dreadful: The Short Life and Gay Times of John Horne Burns, and Elizabeth and Hazel: Two Women of Little Rock. Fellow biographer and BIO member Lisa Napoli interviewed David Margolick.

People in this episode

Host: Lisa Napoli

Guest: David Margolick

Topics covered

• American comedy
• biography
• journalism
• influential comedians
• interview

Keywords

• Sid Caesar
• David Margolick
• comedy
• biography
• journalism
• influential comedians
• American culture

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The New York Times, Vanity Fair

Books & works: When Caesar Was King: How Sid Caesar Reinvented American Comedy, Beyond Glory: Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling, A World on the Brink, Strange Fruit: The Biography of a Song, Dreadful: The Short Life and Gay Times of John Horne Burns, Elizabeth and Hazel: Two Women of Little Rock

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