BEHIND THE LAUGHTER: LAHNA TURNER ON LOVE, LOSS & RALPHIE MAY

About this episode

Lahna Turner discusses her documentary on Ralphie May, exploring themes of love, loss, and the complexities of fame.

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira sits down with Lahna Turner—comedian, writer, and co-director (with David Gantz) of the powerful documentary “Come What May,” chronicling the life of legendary comedian Ralphie May. It will screen, in partnership with The Laugh Factory, on May 7 at 7 p.m. at The Beverly Theater. Built from decades of never-before-seen archival footage, “Come What May” offers an unfiltered look at Ralphie’s meteoric rise following “Last Comic Standing,” his ability to sell out massive venues, and his enduring presence as a late-night favorite. But beyond the spotlight lies a far more complex story. Lahna shares the emotional and creative journey of spending nearly ten years crafting a documentary that captures not only Ralphie’s brilliance, but also his battles—with fame, addiction, and identity. We explore how she navigated telling such an intimate story while maintaining objectivity, despite their 17-year relationship and deeply personal history. From his extraordinary “people skills” and comedic instincts to the struggles that ultimate-ly overtook him, this conversation reveals the man behind the laughs. Lahna also reflects on their separation…

People in this episode

Host: Ira Sternberg

Guest: Lahna Turner

Topics covered

• comedy
• documentary
• personal story
• fame
• loss
• relationships

Keywords

• Lahna Turner
• Ralphie May
• comedy documentary
• Come What May
• Las Vegas
• fame
• addiction
• personal journey

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Laugh Factory, The Beverly Theater

Books & works: Come What May

Places: Las Vegas

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