The Jolliest Bunch!

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Piece of Advice Newsletter!

Good morning! Today we are looking into the work of an incredible  author, screenwriter, actor and podcaster, Danny Pellegrino! His Christmas book, “The Jolliest Bunch: Unhinged Holiday Stories” is a popular and fun read! I was even lucky enough to ask him a few questions!

Danny Pellegrino grew up in Solon, Ohio, and turned his love of pop culture into a full career as a writer, comedian, and podcaster. He’s best known as the host of “Everything Iconic” with Danny Pellegrino, a hugely popular podcast where he breaks down reality TV and nostalgic moments from movies and television. With sharp humor and an approachable style, he’s built a loyal audience of listeners who tune in for his take on everything from “The Real Housewives” to ‘90s favorites.

In late 2023, Pellegrino added “bestselling author” to his résumé for the 2nd time with “The Jolliest Bunch: Unhinged Holiday Stories”. The book is a collection of funny, heartfelt essays about the chaos of the holiday season, from quirky family traditions to laugh-out-loud disasters. Fans loved it for the way it captured both the joy and absurdity of Christmas, cementing Pellegrino as one of today’s most relatable voices in humor writing.

He’s also brought his storytelling to television, writing and starring in the Hallmark holiday movie “Deck the Walls”. The project stood out for its charm, humor, and inclusive spirit, showing how Pellegrino is helping reshape holiday films to reflect a broader audience. Between his books, podcast, and film work, he has carved out a unique place in entertainment; one where nostalgia, comedy, and heart all meet.

Today, Pellegrino’s cultural impact keeps growing. Whether he’s making people laugh on his podcast, reminding readers to embrace the chaos of the holidays, or sharing new kinds of holiday stories on screen, his work connects by celebrating the funny, messy, and memorable parts of life.

Bonus Questions:

Giancarlo: Who was your favorite author growing up?

Danny: Katherine Paterson wrote my favorite book, Bridge to Terabithia. It was the first book that really resonated with me as a child, and looking back at it as an adult, I love the way it makes grief accessible to children. As a teen, I loved David Sedaris, Steve Martin and Joel Derfner.

Giancarlo: Did you have any push back from friends and family on wanting to be a writer? 

Danny: I didn’t have any pushback from family or friends about wanting to be a writer. When my first book, How Do I Un-Remember This, came out, I think a lot of family and friends were confused about what the book was about. My writing is memoir-esque, but I’m focusing on the humor in many little moments in life, so no one quite understood what I was doing until it was out. I was very proud to hear from so many people close to me who were surprised at how funny and heartfelt the stories were.

Giancarlo: Which of your books are you the most proud of?

Danny: I’m most proud of The Jolliest Bunch because it was an uphill battle getting it made. I wanted to write a book that could be picked up every holiday season, much like I watch certain holiday movies like Home Alone or Christmas Vacation every year. Holiday books have a much shorter shelf life, so publishers aren’t as jazzed about printing something that is mostly only sold at the end of the year, but the success of my first book encouraged them to take a chance on a holiday essay collection! In terms of the creative, both books were written so close together, many of the stories in Jolliest Bunch were written when I was doing How Do I Un-Remember This, I just saved them in hopes that the publisher would let me do a Christmas collection.

There’s a fictional chapter about Mrs. Claus in The Jolliest Bunch that is a personal favorite, and I’m particularly proud I was able to include that because it’s very different than the rest of the book. My editor trusted me and it makes me laugh so much!

Piece Of Advice:

Giancarlo: What is this best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Danny: The best advice is to be authentic. It’s cliche, but I think newer writers try to do their version of someone else’s art. Obviously all artists want their work to reach a large audience, but I think it’s best to make art for yourself and you’ll find the art ends up reaching more people because it’s authentic to who you are and the audience can feel that when they read.

Check out his work: https://everythingiconic.com/

Thank you for reading! Have an amazing day and we will catch you again on Monday!

-Giancarlo