Mr. Media Interviews by Bob Andelman: Recent Episodes
Mr. Media - Bob Andelman
What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The curiosity of Terry Gross, the skepticism of John Oliver, the unpredictability of Howard Stern, and, on occasion, the zen of Jon Stewart! Since February 2007, more than 1,300 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio podcast and print interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics! Twitter: @andelman
To get in the right frame of mind for today’s interview, I set aside my usual German bologna and Muenster cheese sandwich and went with tuna fish. Because after all the Mayonnaise my wife mixes in with a can of tuna, it isn’t much about the fish, either. My guest today is Marshall Craig, a Yale man and Wharton MBA who says he frittered away most of his life making a living and raising a family when he could have been fishing. And while I know he loves his wife and family, I think he’s genuinely pretty serious about his lost time away from casting a line. MARSHALL CRAIG podcast excerpt: "We don't just catch the whopper fish. We have friends we got out with, with whom we share the interaction, pushing the boat off, lunch or what we discuss (on the water) -- occasionally what we catch. But fishing is about more than just that finny thing you get at the end of your hook!" If you’re a man or woman who likes to get away from civilization to fish in remote and exotic places, Marshall is the kind of guy you’ll want to do it with. I reached that conclusion based on the humorous essays found in his new memoir, You’ll Need A Guide: Fishing Stories That Aren’t Much About the Fish. In the interests of full disclosure, I want to share with you that my wife, Mimi, edited Marshall’s book and we liked it so much that we published under the Mr. Media Books imprint. It is available in paperback or ebook on Amazon or wherever you buy books about fishing. Marshall Craig
2019: While I can’t tell you that I have read Lynn Johnston’s wonderful daily comic strip, “For Better or For Worse” from the very beginning in 1979, I can’t remember a time when The Patterson Family was not a part of my own family. I was a college sophomore when Lynn started. I remember becoming immediately attached to John and Elly’s daily adventures, raising their children, Michael and Elizabeth, their dog, Farley, getting to know their extended family—such as when Grandpa Jim started dating—and even the heart-breaking death of Farley. Lynn Johnston podcast excerpt: "Everybody my age was great (when I started in the business). But there were a bunch of old farts that were just awful! At one point, I was president of the National Cartoonists Society (NCS) and they would draw naked pictures of me as I was conducting a meeting! But I drew naked pictures of my own and got back at them.It was hard; they would have preferred I make them coffee and serve them tea and not really run the meetings." When Mimi and I got married, we often read the strip together or shared a favorite. When Charlie was born, I related to the Patterson kids in new ways. And when Charlie started reading at four, I introduced him to collections of “For Better or For Worse” which he devoured over and over again. On any given day, “For Better or For Worse” could be funny, sweet, bittersweet or hauntingly dramatic – just like life in my own family or yours. Perhaps nothing about the strip was more shocking than the day in 2008 that Lynn announced she would no longer be producing new strips but would be re-releasing the original strip from day one, with occasional fixes to continuity and timeliness. Would that even work? It has and it does, with the strip continuing to appear in an astonishing 2,000 newspapers in 23 countries around the world. We are conducting this interview just days after learning of the sudden death of the former editor of Universal Press Syndicate, Lee Salem. And here is something Lynn and I share in common: Salem acquired both “For Better or For Worse” and Mr. Media, which started life in 1994 as a weekly syndicated newspaper column. Lynn Johnston • • • • • • • • •
2019: If your faith in the United States Government has been shaken by political developments over the last three years, you’re apparently right where the political leaders and oligarchs of Russia want you to be. Oh, and President Donald Trump and his aides are likely complicit in this result. BARBARA SLATE podcast excerpt: "There is all this drama and madness created (around President Trump). Everybody is trying to protect him ... But he says (paraphrasing), 'That's was I did. So what?'" Those are among the clear takeaways from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s massive two-year, 400-plus-page report that few of us have read – including most Republicans serving in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Since we’re Americans living in the 21st century, we need everything boiled down and spoonfed with splendid simplicity. Sure, that’s what CNN and MSNBC have done with the Mueller Report, but graphic novelist Barbara Slate, a frequent guest to this show, has gone them one step further. She’s adopted it into a comic book. Mueller Report Graphic Novel, Vol. 1 reduces the horrifying hacking of American democracy to its essence in just 33 pages packed with political cheating and anti-American conspiracies. BARBARA SLATE podcast excerpt: "This is the most exciting project that I've ever done. I feel som passionate about the Mueller Report ... When was the last time you had a conversation when Trump was not mentioned?" Vol. 2 will soon follow. Our mutual friend, the late Will Eisner, the father of educational comics in the 1940s, would be proud. Barbara Slate • •
2019: Pity the poor indie filmmaker. I’m sitting around for three years with nothing better to do than be anxious for Quincy Rose’s follow-up to the brilliantly titled and whack-a-doodle Friends Effing Friends Effing Friends, while he’s out hustling a budget, writing, directing, editing and submitting his latest creation, The Narcissists, to film festivals and seeking a distribution deal. Where does the time go? QUINCY ROSE podcast excerpt: "I don't know if (my godfather) Woody (Allen) watched 'The Narcissists'; I did send it to him but he's been busy shooting his newest film. But he did call me when my dad (Mickey Rose) was ill and he said, 'So I watched "Miles To Go" and yeah, I gotta tell you -- it's not a bad movie!' I thought that was the greatest compliments I could ever get from Woody. He doesn't think any of HIS films were good, so it was really great (to hear). He said it reminded him of what he used top do in his younger days." The good news is that, thanks to President Trump, at least today we can all spell “n-a-r-c-i-s-s-i-s-t-s,” so that’s one mountain climbed for the young filmmaker, who is the son of the late, legendary comedy writer Mickey Rose, one-time partner of Woody Allen. And Quincy is Woody’s godson, which might explain more tthan a few influences in the film, such as the long, loving camera shots of New York City, the sharp, biting conversation between the four principals, and the naming of the character of “Letty.” Letty Aronson is Woody’s sister’s name. Joining me today are Quincy Rose, who stars in the film as “Oliver,” and one of his co-stars, Augie Duke, who plays “Letty.” Quincy Rose • • • • • • • • Augie Duke • • • • • • •
2019: One of the best novels I read in 2018 was Renèe Rosen’s Windy City Blues, in which she told the story of Chicago’s legendary Chess Records through the eyes of a fictionalized young woman who worked at the nascent blues and rock ‘n’ roll label. And even though she never existed in reality, you couldn’t help but come away from reading the book feeling like she was flesh and blood. I had the same experience with Rosen’s latest book, Park Avenue Summer. RENEE ROSEN podcast excerpt: "Helen Gurley Brown had this little doll's chair (in her 'Cosmopolitan' magazine office) on which she would sit and hold meetings because she never wanted anyone to feel intimidated. She always wanted everyone to feel bigger than her -- and everyone WAS bigger than her!" Once again, the author delivers up a slice of actual history by taking us through it in the persona of a young woman, named Alice Weiss. This time, Rosen takes her readers back in time to the moment in 1965 when Cosmopolitan magazine is on the verge of shutting down, only to be saved against all logic by an inexperienced new editor named Helen Gurley Brown, best known as the controversial and provocative author of Sex and the Single Girl. Rosen’s portrayal of Brown is incredible, as is her ability to capture an era that most of us know best through the eyes of TV’s Don Draper in “Mad Men.” If you ever watched that show, flip it on its ass and imagine it’s the magazine industry, instead of advertising, and that you’re seeing the start of the Swinging ‘60s and the sexual revolution through the eyes of women, not men. I can’t wait to find out what the author has planned for us next! Renèe Rosen • • •
2019: NOTE — Due to some recording issues, this isn’t the easiest audio to hear. We’ve fixed the problem going forward, but my apologies to Jon and to you! – Bob Andelman, Mr. Media. I was a little young for underground comix at the height of their anti-establishment run at the end of the 1960s and early ‘70s, but still managed to discover them in my teens at places like Weird Harold’s Head Shop in Milltown, New Jersey, upstairs and around back from the Krauser’s Dairy Store. Most of the social humor and politics of the era went over my head at the time, but I always loved the art and gathered a small stack of those comix over time, spread among my piles of Marvels and DCs. The art of Robert Crumb – a.k.a., R. Crumb, a.k.a., Bob Crumb, a.k.a., just plain Crumb – always stood out. His style was unique unto itself, much as another of my favorites of the 1980s, Drew Friedman’s, was. They drew comics, but their heroes didn’t look like Kirby, Ditko, Romita or even Steranko. JON B. COOKE podcast excerpt: "(Crumb) thinks I'm a nut, so I think he sees a kindred spirit. I am a nut. But this is the book I would want." And Crumb, who often drew himself into his work, was so weird! It all comes together in my friend Jon. B. Cooke’s new oral history of Crumb’s long-running magazine, Weirdo. In The Book of Weirdo: A Retrospective of R. Crumb's Legendary Humor Comics Anthology, Cooke interviews dozens upon dozens of creators who worked with Crumb, the man who created the magazine in 1981, and who was followed in time by artist Peter Bagge and Crumb’s artist wife, Aline Kominski, and recreates what it was like to work with Crumb and what the experience meant to them. It is a massive work by Cooke that even Crumb himself questions the logic of, although he admits he learned quite a bit about himself and his magazine by reading it. As for Cooke, who is a graphic designer by day and editor of Comic Book Creator magazine by night, he also worked with his brother Andrew on the documentary Will Eisner: Portrait of a Sequential Artist. This is Jon’s third appearance on Mr. Media. Jon B. Cooke • • • •
2010: Reports of the death of the TV hospital drama—foretold by the end of "ER" last season after 27 years on the air—were apparently premature. Showtime has "Nurse Jackie"; TNT has "HawthoRNe" and NBC is back with a new one that adds an "M," a "C" and a "Y" to "E" and "R" and that gives us "Mercy." (Oh, stop groaning—you saw that one coming a mile away.) JAMIE LEE KIRCHNER podcast excerpt: "It's a friendship show. It's like 'Sex and the City' with cheaper footwear. There's a lot of comedy; just when you think you know who these people are, they make a hard left turn." But alert Nurse Hathaway! In this network show, the nurses—not the doctors—are running the asylum. Starring Taylor Schilling, Michelle Tractenberg and my guest today, Jamie Lee Kirchner, "Mercy" lets viewers know who's really in charge on the floors. Jamie Lee Kirchner •
2019: To me, the arrival of a new Ravi P.I. novel by Adi Tantimedh is like being handed a fresh-baked soft pretzel and a Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper. I’m going to try and consume it slowly, savoring every biteand every sip. But in the end, I always give in to the impulse of zooming through because it’s just so damned good! Of course, when it’s gone, I’m left wanting another. And another. And with the third book in the series, Her Fugitive Heart, Tantimedh has such a commanding grip on what makes his characters swing through murder, intrigue, a secret, kinky sex club, deception, lies and – yes! – marriage that this installment is as good as the first two combined. ADI TANTIMEDH podcast excerpt: "Ravi is starting to realize that maybe the gods might be real that he might not be crazy after all" The real question: is this the end of Ravi’s adventures? Or is it just the beginning? Joining me today for the third time is the creator and author of the series. NOTE -- Due to some recording issues, this isn't the easiest audio to hear. We've fixed the problem going forward, but my apologies to Adi and to you! - Bob Andelman, Mr. Media. Adi Tantimedh • • •
2009: This should be an interesting show. We have a guest who is allergic to beer and a host who never touches the stuff. Naturally, the subject is… beer! Anat Baron is the director of a new documentary called . Now available for sale on DVD, it’s not a movie about rival frat houses—on second thought, maybe it is. Baron presents a sometimes tongue-in-cheek study have how the big three brewing companies—Anheuser-Busch, Coors and Miller—will stop at nothing to gobble up shelf space in your neighborhood convenience, grocery or liquor store and kick the little guys to the curb. Sprinkled throughout the film are familiar pop culture touchstones from old beer commercials to industrial films and even a word about competition from an imaginary beer, Duff. ANAT BARON podcast excerpt: "I was really interested by new consumers who are similar to those going to farmers markets, eating local foods, supporting small companies over large companies. People who are saying, 'Yes, I can buy chocolate from Hershey, but there is a guy down the street making it, too, and I want to support him.'" Baron, as I mentioned, is allergic to beer, but that didn’t stop her from becoming general manager of Mike’s Hard Lemonade, where she took the company from nowhere to $200 million in sales. Anat Baron • • • • • •
2010: I start each show talking about “So much media, so little time…” But David Mathison sees the media differently. Instead of observing it from afar, he wants you to be the media—you, yourself. Mathison, a former executive with the Reuters news agency, takes the whole notion of 21st century media very seriously. In his new, self-published handbook, Be The Media: How to Create and Accelerate Your Message… Your Way, Mathison lays out how anyone can have a message and spread it using online tools ranging from standbys such as print, radio and video to blogs and podcasts. DAVID MATHISON podcast excerpt: "We're trying to teach people to repurpose your work and have a back end. The incremental revenue streams may be strong, but when you add them all up..." Forget the so-called media elites, the social media guru says—and as one of them I object!—and take control of spreading the word about your own project yourself, whether you’re the producer of music, films, podcasts, radio or television programs. I couldn’t agree more. And I would add that Mathison’s book, which you can order on Amazon.com or his website, , is a perfect companion bookend for Guy Kawasaki’s most recent book, Reality Check. Together, these are 3 pounds, 13 ounces of paper you really should own and study. David Mathison • • • •
2009: Drew Waters possesses the kind of body that other men can only wish to emulate and women dream of well, you know. He grew up in Texas and gave up a track & field scholarship at Rice University to join the Navy. While still serving his country, he won a modeling contest over 3,500 other contestants and—after completing his military tenure—began a career as an international print model. You’ve probably seen him in campaigns for Ralph Lauren, Prada, Structure, Versace, Chaps, Hugo Boss, Guess, and Abercrombie & Fitch. He’s also appeared on magazine covers and ads in GQ, Vogue, Esquire, Men’s Fitness, and Men’s Journal. Legendary fashion photographer Bruce Weber thought Waters had something more than good looks and suggested he try acting. Good idea. DREW WATERS podcast excerpt: "There were rumors, but they wouldn't tell me the direction my character was going. They gave one of the characters, Max, a heart attack and pushed my character into his spot while he was recovering. Episode 10, I was sitting with Kyle and I said to the director, 'I apologize, but it's driving me crazy. What am I doing out here on this field?' Kyle goes, 'Yeah, what is he doin' out here?' And I said, 'Kyle, I can handle this.' They didn't want my character to know until the very end." Waters has appeared in Blonde Ambition, starring Jessica Simpson and Luke Wilson; Major Movie Star with Jessica Simpson; Mad Money starring Katie Holmes and Diane Keaton; It’s a Wonderful World with Matthew Broderick; and W starring Josh Brolin. He appeared in an episode of AMC’s, “Breaking Bad,” and began a recurring role during season three of the NBC/DirecTV cult favorite “Friday Night Lights,” where he plays “Wade Aikman.” Drew Waters • • • •
2009: The really funny thing about Judy Tenuta? Pretty much everything. And she’s actually quite a lovely woman, as you can see from the photos on her website—. I wanted to get that out of the way now, before she reminds me of what a pig I and all the rest of you men are. JUDY TENUTA podcast excerpt: "Here's a letter: 'Dear Goddess, I have a super-cute boyfriend who only likes to decorate and lip sync to Yentl. Could he be gay? Love, Oprah.' What is going on with her?" Now back to our scheduled bout of wits with the Love Goddess, the persona that comedian Judy Tenuta has been bringing to stage and screen for years. The Love Goddess is loud, she’s proud and, of course, she’s plays a wicked accordian. And, of course, her latest comedy CD is called Buy This Again, Pigs! The Best of Judy Tenuta. Judy Tenuta • • • • • • • •
2009: The screaming goes on a little long because Dominique’s character, kindly coffee shop waitress Christie, was just attack twice, first by a homeless man, then by a man she believes—correctly—to be the Picasso Killer. She’s trying to get into a locked but lighted building. Unfortunately, the security guard on duty is played by the late and he does everything slowly. And the agonized woman outside his door doesn’t impress him at all. podcast excerpt: "When David Carradine got to the location, he said, 'I really want to play this guy like Inspector Clouseau.' Bumbling, dropping things, tripping over himself. And David is hysterical in it. And everybody responded the same way--we didn't realize he was sooo funny." For those who remember from her first starring role—as “Lolita” opposite —this is quite a departure. For one thing, she’s all grown up. And for another she’s really freaked out. Joining us today, in addition to Dominique, is the director of Fall Down Dead, . He is a veteran of indie including American Nightmare and Suburban Nightmare. Dominique Swain • • • • s •
2010: As a middle school girls soccer coach, I enjoy working with kids and their parents, But not, I suspect, enough to want to be Jo Frost, the star of the ABC TV series “Supernanny.” And while it would be tempting to be called “Super-Manny,” the title that falls to her associate Mike Ruggles, I don’t think I’d want to be him, either. MIKE RUGGLES podcast excerpt: "When they brought me in, they thought it might be good angle to work with Dad. They were centered on Dad, but it turned out the whole family needed work." That doesn’t mean it won’t be fun to watch on Friday, January 29 when Ruggles takes over the show for an episode of parenting, “Wally World” style. In this very special episode of “Supernanny” titled “Super-Manny Special: Griswold Family,” Ruggles might meet just his match in a family of real-life Griswolds. That’s right, the Griswolds—just like in my favorite holiday movie, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Mike Ruggles •
This was so cool, I had to share it again! in 2011, I took a flyer on a paid commercial for the Mr. Media podcast on Kevin Smith's new Smodcast daily, online radio show, Plus One Per Diem. The show features Smith, the director of Clerks, Chasing Amy and Red State, and his wife, actress Jen Schwalbach, discussing life, culture and family. I wrote some suggested points for the live read of the commercial, but Smith improvised the best and rest of it. Hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did!
From the time I started reading John Barbour’s career-spanning memoir, Your Mother’s Not A Virgin: The Bumpy Life and Times of the Canadian Dropout Who Changed the Face of American TV! I kept searching for the right word to describe my over-arching impression of the man. It wasn’t easy because in the course of 700 pages, Barbour is a comedian, a talk show host, a culture critic, a writer for Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley and singer Frank Sinatra, a husband and father, and perhaps ultimately, the father of the modern reality show as creator of NBC’s “Real People.” JOHN BARBOUR podcast excerpt: "We would go to church when I was a boy and the service would stop for one minute every Sunday. The minister would say, 'You are now going to have your own private minute with God. You can pray for whatever you want to pray for.' I always prayed that when I got home, that my father would be there. And every Sunday I'd rush home, open the door and look for my father. He was never there. I did that for 12 weeks and it wasn't working. In the 13th week, I got up and walked out." You may not know Barbour by name, but he is truly a man who has done it all – sometimes twice. The word I finally landed on was “unapologetic.” It’s a word that I think connotes both the curse and success of Barbour’s career. Because he always did things his way. Sometimes that worked to his advantage, giving buoyancy to his career; sometimes, as the mark of a man who preferred steering his own ship, being undisciplined cost him greater opportunities because he always preferred his own counsel and his own path. I really enjoyed Barbour’s book and look forward to discussing it with him. John Barbour • • • • • •
2010: Fans of “Saved By the Bell,” have I got a treat for you. Joining me today is actor Dennis Haskins, who everyone knows as Mr. Belding, the principal on the show through multiple incarnations, starting with all 72 episodes of the original series from 1989-93, on through an episode of “Saved By the Bell: The College Years,” the movies “Saved By the Bell: Hawaiian Style” and “Saved By the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas,” “Good Morning, Miss Bliss” and 80 episodes of “Saved By the Bell: The New Class,” from 1993-2000. DENNIS HASKINS podcast excerpt: "TMZ is very liberal with the truth. Sometimes they're nice to you, sometime they're not. If you believe the good stuff, you've got to believe the bad stuff. I had one situation where they put stuff on that was a complete fabrication. There's nothing you can do about it." There are even rumors of a “Saved By the Bell” theatrical release in the works. Honestly, though, I’m more interested to talk with Haskins about his recent multi-episode arc on the first season of the new TNT dramedy, “Men of a Certain Age.” His certain were with Scott Bakula. Haskins is here to promote his upcoming gig as host of “ACME Saturday Night” this Saturday, March 27, 2010. You can watch the online comedy TV show streaming live online @ . Dennis Haskins • • • • •
2010: I always dreamed there would come a day when I would meet the lovely actress Ming-Na. But I thought it would be in a smoky, out of the way bar, we’d both be single… I’m sorry—where was I? MING-NA podcast excerpt: "As much as I'm proud to be part of the Disney legacy as 'Mulan,' I'm also proud to be one of the Charlie Harper women--that legacy. We're acting, we're working. And even though we're in bed together, it's just part of our crazy, crazy job." Most of us probably remember Ming-Na best from her run as a young doctor on the long-running NBC medical drama, ER. Or, if you’ve got a daughter, like I do, you’ve probably sat through the Disney animated films Mulan and Mulan 2 a couple hundred times. That’s right, Ming-Na was the voice of the heroic Mulan. More recently, she did an eye-popping arc as one of Charlie Sheen’s love interests on Two and a Half Men, which somehow led to her joining the star-filled ensemble of SyFy’s new series, Stargate Universe. Ming-Na • • • • • • •
2010: When the producers of the CBS reality TV hit “Undercover Boss” brag that their show is about corporate presidents getting their hands dirty, they couldn’t be more accurate than this week’s episode. Because on Sunday, April 4, 2010, the boss going undercover is Rick Arquilla, president of Cincinnati, Ohio-based Roto-Rooter Services Company. That’s right, the top guy at America’s largest plumbing and drain cleaning service will be shown as one of the guys, one of the grunts, repairing and snaking America’s pipes. I know I want to watch that episode—don’t you? RICK ARQUILLA podcast excerpt: "I can assure you that there were certain jobs that no one in their wildest dreams would hire me to do at Roto-Rooters. I was incompetent on numerous levels!" Arquilla, whose background is in sales, not plumbing, joined Roto-Rooter in 1989 and rose from regional vice president to president and chief operating officer just three years later. Roto-Rooter • •
2010: Real estate fortunes have been won and lost at record speed in recent years with millions of families “under water” in their current homes, losing their homes to foreclosure and just plain befuddled by what was once the safest of investments. PETER RICHMOND podcast excerpt: "A pre-approval means you actually made a formal application for the loan. It's been under-written and you do have a loan. If you're in a competitive seller's market, having a pre-approval is absolutely the gold standard. It gives you an advantage, absolutely." Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial transactions that most people will ever make. First-time homebuyers in particular have no idea where to start. What they need is a road map and an experienced guide that can advise when to shop and when to not, what’s a gem and what’s a scam. Peter Richmond is probably that guy. He’s the author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Buying a Home. If anyone can offer good, simple advice on how to do it, it’s got to be him. Peter Richmond
2019: Exploitation Nation, Mike Watt’s bi-annual journal in which he gives lowbrow entertainment a highbrow survey, is all about underground comix in its sixth issue. I’m always looking for an excuse to feature comics-related subjects on Mr. Media, so seeing previous Mr. Media guests Howard Cruse and Trina Robbins on the cover, plus art by Will Eisner – whose authorized biography I wrote 15 years ago – it was a pretty easy reach for me. In fact there is a story inside about Eisner that I edited and reviewed as a favor for Watt some time ago, not realizing it was intended for Exploitation Nation. MIKE WATT podcast excerpt: "Mike Diana's 'Boiled Angel' comics were gross. They're disturbing. There's sexual connotations with children... Mike was definitely working out some horrifying issues. They were Xeroxed, they were mailed out from Tampa throughout the country. One undercover cop tried to tie him to a serial killer in Florida. And even though he was cleared, the police still decided to haul him in for obscenity charges. Not only that, he was convicted! He served some time! And part of his probation was that he wasn't allowed to draw!" Another topic that caught my eye was a look back on the controversial underground comix of Mike Diana, who was a local First Amendment sensation here in the Tampa Bay area two decades ago with his comic, Boiled Angel. My friend Chuck Shepherd, long-time nationally syndicated “News of the Weird” columnist – and a former lawyer – covered the trial for alternative newspapers. This issue also remembers the late National Lampoon magazine artist Vaughn Bode and has a piece about comics artist Steve Bissette. So I’ve invited Watt here to talk about Exploitation Nation and hopefully introduce its content to a few new readers. You can find all six issues available for sale on Amazon.com. As for Watt, he is a writer, journalist and screenwriter whose work has appeared in Fangoria, Film Threat, The Dark Side, Cinefantastique, Femme Fatales and Sirens of Cinema. He also edited the 40th Anniversary printing of Paul Schrader's Taxi Driver screenplay, featuring a new interview with Robert De Niro. Mike Watt • • • • Happy Cloud Media
2010: It’s been like “Beauty Visits the Beast” around here lately at Mr. Media Radio, with recent drop-bys from “Supergirl” Laura Vandervoort, “10 Things I Hate About You” star Lindsay Shaw and Mulan’s Ming-Na. Today brings another lovely treat as WWE diva Brie Bella—who works with her twin sister Nikki Bella on “Raw”—joins me to discuss her appearance this Sunday, April 11, as a special guest with Nikki on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” hosted by Ty Pennington. BRIE BELLA podcast excerpt: "We're not scared of dirt. When we threw the toilet out, the window was so strong, the toilet rejected back and along with it came the toilet water. I got it all over me." If you somehow have missed catching the Bellas on the WWE—and for you non-rasslin’ fans, that’s World Wrestling Entertainment—the WWE ladies don’t just hold up “Round3” cards, they actual wrestle. You can catch the Bella twins on “Raw” every Monday at 9 p.m. on USA Network: Bella Twins
2010: Business leaders today are looking for every possible advantage to grow their business. Of course, that’s not a whole lot different from years past, except that instead of wanting to enhance their operations, many need this knowledge just to stay in business. For that reason, a solid book of business lessons, taught by someone who has been in the trenches and led—and studied, himself—is always a hotly sought-after commodity. DAVID RUSSO podcast excerpt: "Maybe you have a lot of regeneration of trust to go through if you've not been forthright with your employees. But most organizations, when they deal with their employees, have a behavior pattern that indicates that either they don't trust their employees to know the truth or they don't think their employees can handle the impact of the truth." Enter David Russo, author of 17 Rules Successful Companies Use to Attract and Keep Top Talent: Why Engaged Employees Are Your Greatest Sustainable Advantage. Russo spent 19 years as VP of human resources for SAS Institute, which won numerous quality-of-work and quality-of-life awards during his tenure. More recently, he founded Eno River Associates to consult on best practices and workforce strategies with companies of all sizes.
2010: Put yourself in the shoes of journalist Robert Lusetich for a moment. You’ve been a Los Angeles-based foreign correspondent for Rupert Murdoch’s flagship newspaper, The Australian, for more than a decade when the plummeting print business claims you as its latest victim. ROBERT LUSETICH podcast excerpt: "Tiger Woods is a guy I first met in 1996 when he was still an amateur. I always liked the guy; I thought he was a decent guy. You look at his character failings and they're significant. But if I had to cut off every married man I know who's had an affair, I'd lose some friends. There is more to this guy than tabloid headlines." You’re out of a job but want to stick with the PGA Tour. You have a brilliant idea: Write a book about a year in the sporting life of the world’s greatest golfer, Tiger Woods. A publisher snaps it up and you seemingly have it made. Except you pick the wrong year to focus on the wunderkind, who self-destructs as your year on his tail comes to an end. Even worse, you miss catching him at his real sport, mistressball. But you and your publisher move forward and the result, Unplayable: An Inside Account of Tiger's Most Tumultuous Season, still captures a fascinating year on the links with Tiger. It’s a well-written book, perfect for golf enthusiasts, as it captures a young man whose game seems in decline for reasons no one can yet identify. Robert Lusetich • • •
2008: Today's podcast is a lost-and-found item; recorded on September 27, 2008, live at Blog Orlando, an "Unconference" held at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, it has been missing in action--albeit hiding in plain sight in the archives of my old BlogTalkRadio account--for more than a decade. It was a fun day, the first time I hosted Mr. Media® as a live remote, thanks to the then-advanced technology of BTR. It was also the first time I juggled four guests, each of whom was standing close by to me but had to call in to the show from their cell phones.Ah, high tech! Appearing on this episode, in order, are: • J.C. Hutchins, science fiction novelist; • Dana Willhoit, freelance writer and internet marketer; • Michael Hinman, podcaster, "Syfy Radio"; • and Tommy Duncan, blogger, "Sticks of Fire." Of the four, I was able to find somewhat current information about all but Tommy Duncan, who seems to have dropped from sight. Hutchins, for example, is still publishing his sci-fi novels. Willhoit is a presence on the web, but her business is a bit vague. And Hinman sold his podcast's name to the Syfy Channel years ago and is now editor-in-chief at Riverdale Press in New York City. You can learn more about them by clicking on the links below. I hope you enjoy the show! J.C. Hutchins • • • • Dana Willhoit • • • • Michael Hinman • • • • • Tommy Duncan • • • •
2010: No matter what form the media takes—print, broadcast, online or even telepathy—there will always be corporations, organizations and individuals that need to get the word out about their product, service or mission. In that regard, public relations practitioners are like plumbers: they’ll always have work maintaining a flow and, in an emergency, unclogging a pipe. ROBERT L. DILENSCHNEIDER podcast excerpt: "(Joslyn James) and the other fourteen see this as a platform for themselves and to move ahead. But Gennifer Flowers saw that, Monica Lewinski saw that. Others of the same character saw that. John Edwards' wife has seen that... I wish we would all say to ourselves this guy (Tiger) should be much more repentant and we should all learn lessons." Hmmm. That analogy worked a lot better in rehearsal. Anyway, my guest today is Robert L. Dilenschneider, founder and chairman of the New York City-based Dilenschneider Group and former president and CEO of one of the world’s best known and most successful public relations agencies, Hill and Knowlton. He is also the author of a new book, The AMA Handbook of Public Relations. AMA, in this case, stands for the American Management Association, by the way. The Dilenschneider Group • • •
2009: There was a lot of chatter during the 2009 Emmy Awards broadcast about the future of the broadcast television networks. ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox are under assault by cable TV and… a guy named Joe. That’s right, Joe. Joe is the star of an Internet reality TV series called, “It’s OK! I’m an Actor.” You can watch it yourself at . CHRISTOPHER VENTURA podcast excerpt: "We have to look up all these products we do to be sure we're not encroaching on any trademarks. When we were looking up ManPooh, we found somebody had registered it. But we figured it's just promotion for them." Originally from Ellsworth, Kansas, Joe moved to Brooklyn to pursue an acting career. While he looks for his big break, Joe is the subject of an online reality series in which a camera crew documents his life, 24/7. It’s not always pretty. Like the episode in which we discovered that Joe had crabs. Or when he cheated on his ex-girlfriend with a stripper—although the jury is still out on whether it’s cheating if it’s your ex-girlfriend. Christopher Ventura, a 2009 graduate of the film program at Syracuse University, is the man behind Ventura Creative, which produces “It’s OK! I’m an Actor.” Also joining us is Ventura’s co-producer, Peter LaSala. He’s created several film and video shorts in both narrative and documentary genres. If you're a fan of such shows as It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, you may feel right at home watching “It’s OK!” And you may agree that the Television Academy should keep looking over its shoulder.
2011: Mary Ewing-Mulligan is the co-author (with her husband, Ed McCarthy) of six wine books in the Wine For Dummies series — including French Wine For Dummies and Italian Wine For Dummies — as well as her latest , Wine Style. She has taught hundreds of wine classes and visited nearly every wine region in the world. Mary is president of International Wine Center, a New York City wine school that offers credentialed wine education for wine professionals and serious wine lovers. MARY EWING-MULLIGAN podcast excerpt: "We drink Barbera more than we drink any other single type of wine. We have dear friends who live in Northern Italy and they are Barbera specialists. It's really hard not to be consumed by the same passion." As U.S. director of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET®), the world’s leading wine educational organization, she works to make the courses she offers in New York available in more and more parts of the United States. She is also the long-standing wine columnist of the New York Daily News. Mary’s most impressive credential is that she’s the first female Master of Wine — MW — in the United States, and one of only 22 MW’s in North America. She is also a columnist for the online wine magazine, WineReviewOnline.com and is an accredited Certified Wine Educator. Learn more about the "For Dummies" book series here: The show is hosted by Bob Andelman of , who was paid for his work.
2019: How much do you need to a know about a band beyond the fact that you like their sound? I heard a few tracks from the Canadian group Across the Board and that was enough for me. They just released a new album, Wild Ones, so I invited them on the show today and figured we could just dive in and learn about them together. Jackie Auguste podcast excerpt: "Our new album, 'Wild Ones," is a collection of songs about two things: the internal struggle of being independent, and the external struggle of having chaos on top of it." Plus, singer Jackie Auguste and bass player Andy Ramjattan agreed to perform two songs -- “Calling,” from their new album, Wild Ones, and “It Shouldn’t Be This Hard” from 2018’s Sonic Boom -- so why not? Across The Board • • • •
2011: Two interviews in one show: first up is comedian Debi Gutierrez, followed by Patrick Muldoon, actor in "Starship Troopers" and singer in The Sleeping Masses. Debi Gutierrez • • • • • Patrick Muldoon/The Sleeping Masses • • • •
Must be my lifelong resistance to getting stoned, but I’ve never been a huge fan of jam band music. Dave Matthews is okay in small does, as is the Grateful Dead, and to be perfectly honest, I’ve had little exposure to the music of the band Phish—and that’s spelled P-H-I-S-H for those of you who listen regularly but may be musically clueless. PARKE PUTERBAUGH podcast excerpt: "I don't know what struck them about me, but I do know what struck me about them. First, before I ever heard a note of their music, at their insistence, I flew up to Burlington, Vermont, which is their home base, and hung out for a weekend. No tape recorder turned on, no interview--it was a 'get to know' session. I had never had anything happen like that before. So I get to know Phish as people, first. I became fascinated by the music they were making and captivated by the whole scene." But what I do recognize is a good story, and that’s what Phish biographer—and former Rolling Stone magazine staff writer—Parke Puterbaugh has in his new book Phish: The Biography. Even though I’m not a Phish-head, I thought by reading the book and talking to Parke, maybe I’ll see the light. Let’s see what happens. Parke Puterbaugh • • Phish
2010: No matter on what side of the political fence you sit, today is a day you’ll no doubt long remember: it’s the day a federal health care policy—some would say “system”—emerged after long debate. One day it will likely be remembered as a key accomplishment of President Barack Obama. By sheer luck of timing, my guest today is Cynthia Tucker, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She is a woman who wears her beliefs on her sleeve, in her newspaper—via syndication, in a lot of newspapers—and in an online blog. CYNTHIA TUCKER podcast excerpt: "Unfortunately, sometimes you can lose elections if you do the right thing. Doing the right thing can be unpopular. I think back to civil rights legislation in the 1960s. There were certainly Southern politicians who voted for civil rights legislation who lost their seats. And there are going to be some who will lose their seats in November." You can read her column in your local newspaper on online @ or read her blog @ If I had any doubt Ms. Tucker would be comfortable discussing health care—among other political topics of the day—the headline on her blog this morning clinched it: “Does the GOP really want to run against health care reform?” I’ve been wondering the same thing for weeks. Cynthia Tucker • •
2010: When I was a teenager—back during the Ford Administration, if you must know—a time when Peanuts was the best thing going in daily comic strips and years before The Far Side shook up the quiet world of single-panel strips, there was Ziggy. The roly-poly, philosophical mensch was widely quoted, appeared on a zillion greeting cards, had his wisdom collected in books, and came to stand for a certain type of post-Woodstock, pop philosophy. TOM WILSON Jr. podcast excerpt: "She was a preacher's daughter. I felt, 'How could somebody who loved God so much and who fought so hard and was such an angel--how he could take away this from us?' More than a loss of faith, it was more an anger at God." To be honest, I lost track of my old friend Ziggy over the years; my local paper, the St. Petersburg Times, doesn’t carry the strip now and I can’t remember a time it did in the nearly 30 years I’ve been a reader. So I was honestly surprised to learn that for almost that long, the strip has been produced by Tom Wilson, Jr., son of Ziggy’s creator. And I was saddened to learn of the heartbreaking trip Wilson has been on for the last two decades. The story begins first with his dad’s illness in the early ‘90s, forcing Tom Jr. to step in on the strip, then picking up steam with his beautiful wife Susan’s diagnosis of breast cancer and followed by seven years of ultimately futile treatment. Wilson tells his story in a new book, Zig-Zagging: Loving Madly, Losing Badly… How Ziggy Saved My Life. Tom Wilson II • •
If you’re worried about the future of comic books, drop by . It’s the online home of one writer and four artists, a place to see examples of their work as well as full graphic novels, plus you can order hard copy of their products. BRENDAN McGINLEY podcast excerpt: "If you're working with good artists, nine times out of ten, you say, 'Wow, I can't believe somebody reached into my head and got what I wanted based on a four-word paragraph!'" As an enterprise, it’s neat, clean and highly functional. And the artwork and storytelling is damn good, too. I invited writer Brendan McGinley to be my guest today because I like his style. I also like the way he has embraced new graphics technology and applied it to one of my favorite 20th century mediums. If you’re not familiar with McGinley’s work, check it out while we talk about it here on Mr. Media. Brendan McGinley • • • •
2010: Can it be only six months ago that Richard Doetsch was a guest on Mr. Media? I remember it well because I was so breathless in my praise and admiration for his then-new novel, The 13th Hour. That story completely blew my mind. I still don’t know how Hollywood is going to squeeze so much storytelling goodness into less than three hours, but I can’t wait to see them try. RICHARD DOETSCH podcast excerpt: "Everyone wants to write a novel. I hate people who talk about they want to do. I thought, 'There are so many stories I want to read that I never saw.' So I started writing on the train every day." Now Doetsch is back with another new book, Thieves of Darkness, which is the third installment in the adventures of world-class thief and all-around gentleman, Michael St. Pierre. And I’m as ga-ga over this one as I was his last. I literally finished reading it just this afternoon and my excitement is truly palpable. A lot of people write books, but not a lot of them write in such a way that when you get to the end, you don’t want the rollercoaster ride to end. Michael Chabon’s best stories are like that; so are Richard Doetsch’s. Richard Doetsch • • •
2009: What’s so special about Wisconsin, anyway? My home state, New Jersey, has tomatoes, Sinatra, Springsteen, Atlantic City, the Turnpike and The Sopranos. What’s Wisconsin got? Cheese, the Green Bay Packers, cheese, comics, cheese—did I mention cheese? PAUL BUHLE podcast excerpt: "Al Capone vacationed and hid in Wisconsin. And was caught. That should tell you something." I’m not much of a cheese eater or a Packers fan, so—according to my notes—we’re apparently talking about comics in Wisconsin. That’s actually in capital letters—Comics in Wisconsin—as in the title of historian and activist Paul Buhle’s new book by that name. Buhle, who has written more than 40 books on pop culture so far, has documented the origins of comics in his home state. This project details the development of homegrown talents such as Denis Kitchen and connects the cheesehead dots to Robert Crumb, Lynda Barry, Bill Griffith and many more. Comics in Wisconsin was at least Buhle’s second book published in 2009: he also collaborated with his old friend Kitchen on The Art of Harvey Kurtzman. Paul Buhle •
I’m going to guess that when Ray McKinnon signed on to play Coach Burt Cotton in the 2009 movie The Blind Side he couldn’t have guessed it would be among the top grossing films of the year and that his co-star, Sandra Bullock, would be nominated for an Academy Award as best actress. Who could have predicted that? RAY McKINNON podcast excerpt: "I never really got to know Sandra Bullock. But I did get to know her security pretty well. And I really liked him. Whenever I felt I needed to talk to him, I'd get within 30 feet of Sandra and we would be talking." For a guy whose previous best-known role was probably that of Reverend H.W. Smith on the HBO series “Deadwood,” the success of The Blind Side can’t be anything but good. He’s already been nominated for a 2010 Spirit Award for his role as “Lonzo” in the indie , opposite legendary actor Hal Holbrook. McKinnon, by the way, won an Oscar of his own back in 2002 for his work behind the camera on a short, The Accountant. Ray McKinnon • •
2010: Let’s face it: we take much of the music heard in movies for granted. With rare exceptions, it’s composed and put in place to complement the story and dialogue, not to overwhelm it. MARIO GRIGOROV podcast excerpt: "I finished mixing Precious in New York City and I drove home to Connecticut. I have two kids; I'm happy to be home and I was going to make pancakes for them one morning. Natasha, my wife, dashed off to buy milk for the pancakes, five minutes away. By the time she came back with the milk, I was in the car with the electric piano, on my way back to New York, because (director) Lee Daniels called, completely crazed, frustrated. He wanted to fix a cue before the film was completely done. I called my wife on the phone and said, 'I'm really sorry, but I'm driving back to New York...'" Personally, I’m in awe of composers because to my eyes and ears, they speak a foreign language of notes, sharps and staffs that I will never be able to fathom. My son plays piano and guitar and has, on occasion, written his own short pieces for piano, and in never ceases to amazes me. It’s a talent he didn’t get from me, that’s for sure. All of this is my way of saying how much I look forward to engaging today’s guest, Bulgarian-born pianist and film composer Mario Grigorov, in conversation. He is the composer behind the music heard in the topical—and award-winning—film Precious, Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire. Mario Grigorov • • • • • •
2010: Luis Guzman is the secret weapon behind HBO’s new comedy series, “How To Make It in America.” He is its Alec Baldwin—you know, Jack Donaghy on “30 Rock”—or, in an even more apt comparison, he is its Jeremy Piven, who plays Ari Gold in “Entourage.” Cousin Rene, the somewhat reformed, Dominican gangsta Guzman plays, isn’t in every scene of this new show from “Entourage” creator Mark Wahlberg. But, like Piven, whenever he’s in a scene, he commands your attention. There is no color as bright, no other actor as bold. LUIS GUZMAN podcast excerpt: "I love the premise of this guy. He's had his heart knocked. He's a really colorful character and I think a lot of people think, 'I've dealt with a guy like that.'" Even when he’s quiet in a rare moment, all eyes and ears are on him. If you haven’t seen the show—or if you caught the first episode and didn’t quite get hooked—go back and pick up the action with episode two, either online or on HBO in Demand. I’ve seen the first four and its uplifting, compelling TV with people you will root for, from its young male leads, Bryan Greenberg and Victor Rasuk, to a supporting cast of familiar faces such as Lake Bell, who played Alec Baldwin’s young wife in It’s Complicated, Eddie Kaye Thomas, who got busy with Stifler’s mom in the American Pie movies, Martha Plimpton and rapper Kid Cudi. Not sure you recognize Guzman’s name? Trust me, you know his face. We’ll get into that in a moment. Luis Guzman • • •
2010: Ted Raimi is directing Playing Dead but writer Suzanne Keilly is actually playing dead in the new web-only series, . The Groundlings comedy alumnus is a struggling young actress—well, maybe not as young as she’d have you think—when her desperate plea for a job attracts the attention of The Grim Reaper. TED RAIMI podcast excerpt: "I have no idea what's going to happen with the Evil Dead. I wish I could tell you. I know it seems like, because it's my brother, I would know. But I really don't." Raimi should be a familiar face from television projects such as Xena: Warrior Princess, Seaquest, DSV (partially filmed over three seasons here in the new new media capital of the world, St. Petersburg, Florida), episodes of Legend of the Seeker, and movies including all three Evil Dead/Army of Darkness movies directed by his brother Sam Raimi, all three Spider-Man movies—also directed by brother Sam—Adam Sandler’s underrated Reign Over Me, and the newly released Drag Me to Hell. SUZANNE KEILLY podcast excerpt: "I just want to be clear that Ted may not know, but it's also a very good excuse for getting out of saying things he shouldn't be saying." Playing Dead is his second web series; he also directed Rebooted.This is the second time friends Raimi and Keilly have worked together. He previously directed her in the comedy short, My Treat, based on her live sketch show with Kirsten Roeters.And fear not, Dead fans, there will be plenty of time for questions about his brother Sam, buddy Bruce Campbell, and plans for a fourth Evil Dead film. Ted Raimi • Suzanne Keilly •
2010: Jim Gaines and I have lots in common. We both have popular blogs on about media topics. We both converted from typewriters to computers at one point in our careers. And, of course, we both were once editor of Time, Life and People magazines. JIM GAINES podcast excerpt: "Content is migrating to the broadband world and the iPad is the first real device that can deliver multimedia content that satisfies. The Amazon Kindle clearly can't do it; the Sony eReader can't do it." Hold the presses, wait a minute! Will somebody get a fact-checker in here? I don’t think this is right. When was I editor of People? Who writes this stuff, anyway? You just can’t get good help these days on what Google Adsense and Amazon Associates pay, you know? Since leaving the print world, Jim has been in a couple of interesting online media situations. His most recent was as editor of FLYP—yup, with a 'Y' where you’re expecting an 'I'—which he calls a “proof-of-concept experiment in digital storytelling.” You can see it for yourself a . Shortly, I’ll force him to explain what that means under threat of a lifetime editorial consulting and personal services contract with the New York Post. Jim Gaines
2010: I have to share this story; it made me laugh. I don’t know too much about the boy bands of the late 1990s and early 2000s except that they were extremely popular and that, because my son was born in 1996, I missed that entire era of pop. So I went online to school myself on 98 Degrees, in anticipation of today’s guest, singer Jeff Timmons, joining me on the show to talk about his latest work. JEFF TIMMONS podcast excerpt: "When you dream about being a pop star, it's about having all of these crazy girls after you. The first two or three months, when we were on the road, I was excited, hanging out with different girls. At a certain point, though, it wasn't that interesting to me anymore. It lacks a little bit of depth. That phase didn't last too long for me." I clicked on a Google link to the band’s official website, , but it never materialized. My second choice was to read the Wikipedia page on the band. Before I could read anything else, the following disclaimer appeared: “This article is about the band. For the body temperature, see 98.6.” Apparently there are only point-six degrees of separation between the band and normal human body temperature. Wonder if Kevin Bacon knows this? (And, incidentally, there is no redirect on the 98.6 Degrees site back to the band 98 Degrees, just in case you were wondering.) So where was I? Oh, Jeff Timmons, of course. The founder of 98 Degrees was part of a singing act that sold more than 10 million albums and scored several Top 40 singles, including “Because Of You” and “This Gift.” The group’s successes were eventually overwhelmed in the public eye when one of its members, Nick Lachey, married singer Jessica Simpson. Their short-lived marriage was memorably chronicled on MTV’s “The Newlyweds.” 98 Degrees released its last album, The Collection, and toured in 2002. Jeff Timmons released a solo album, Whisper That Way, two years later and is now readying to release a third. Jeff Timmons • • • •
2010: The last two years have been horribly stressful on the wallets and pocketbooks of Americans, rich and poor. There have been days when most of us felt we were in a financial hole from which we’d never climb out. To be sure, there are still plenty of challenges ahead and many of our friends, family and neighbors are unemployed, struggling to make ends meet. ELIZABETH LEAMY podcast excerpt: "Don't take another 30-year mortgage. Use the savings you get from the lower interest rate and roll those savings into a shorter mortgage. Your payment, often, is not any higher, but you're paying more aggressively and savings tens of thousands of dollars." There are two sure things we can do in situations like these: 1) Take any job that provides at least some income to pay the bills; and 2) Cut back on expenses. This is where “Good Morning America” consumer reporter Elisabeth Leamy can help. In addition to her regular reports on the ABC morning show, Elisabeth just published a new book called It’s packed with an array of clever ideas to save a lot of money in this time of need. Elisabeth Leamy • • •
2010: Howard J. Morris and Jenny Lee didn’t just co-author the new book Women Are Crazy, Men Are Stupid, they actually live together as a couple. My experience, many years removed, is that working on a book with my spouse, a gifted editor, wa s that to continue doing so would generate the title, “Women Are Crazy, Men Are Stupid… Couple is Divorced.” But I digress. HOWARD J. MORRIS podcast excerpt: "As we were writing, I kept thinking, 'This would be a great episode!' Once the book got a really good response, we sold a pilot to ABC. It was the best early Christmas present ever. And now we have to cast people as ourselves." Morris and Lee have an advantage over most couples who might put themselves in the position of exposing the intricacies of an interpersonal relationship. They’re professional TV comedy writers so zingers and comebacks are all part of a day’s work. Howard began his career writing for one of my favorite HBO series of all time, “Dream On” and later wrote for “Home Improvement,” “My Wife and Kids,” “According to Jim” and “The Starter Wife.” Jenny was a writer on one of my wife’s favorite shows, "Samantha Who?" And is the author of three humor collections, including Skinny Bitching.
2010: Everything I know about cheerleading, I learned in high school. Well, duhhhhhh! Put another way, I know nothing about cheerleading. I didn’t date any cheerleaders, barely even spoke to them. What would we have talked about, anyway? But, I must hasten to add, I did finish second in voting for prom king in my senior year, so it’s not like I was completely on the outskirts of high school society. CHRISTINA MILIAN podcast excerpt: "I definitely like to work. But for the movie I had to learn 20 routines in one month... There is a lot more Latin- and hip-hop-infused choreography in this Bring It On." And, actually, I do know a few things about cheerleaders: they work very hard to learn their routines and rhythms. And just by being cheerleaders, they’re probably the most envied and scorned students in school. I also know that the Bring It On film franchise has been hugely successful and that the latest installment, Bring It On: Fight to the Finish will air on ABC Family Channel this Sunday, January 17 at 8 p.m.—following a 6-hour Bring-It-On-a-thon that afternoon Joining me to talk about the film is one of its stars, Christina Milian. If you have kids, they probably will remember her as Tina from Disney Channel's "Movie Surfers." Christina Milian • • • • • • •
2009: One of the most daring challenges in writing novels for young adults is transferring the four-color escapades of superheroes to narrative form and still retaining the boldness ad glory of the comic book medium—while adding meat to the bones of the structure. I think Thomas E. Sniegoski () accomplished that—and more—with his new novel "Legacy," detailing the generational handover of the “Raptor” crown. "Legacy" is a rip-snorting good roll in the costumed character hay, adult enough to pull teens and fanboys along into slightly more mature literature while still capturing the intrigue and answering questions about powers and abilities in the “real” world. THOMAS E. SNIEGOSKI podcast excerpt: "The whole adult thing? I gave up on that nonsense a long time ago. That's boring! I'm gonna write about monsters!" Of course, Sniegoski should be able to pull this off: he’s successfully written for both genres, young adult novels and comic books, for many years. He is the author of the Fallen books, where wee adapted into a TV movie for ABC Family Channel, as well as the Sleeper and Owlboy series. He has also written comic books for everyone from Marvel, Image and Dark Horse to Crusade and London Night Studios. Thomas E. Sniegoski
2008: Of the nine books I’ve written, it just occurred to me that the first and last have Pulitzer Prize connections—not for my work, unfortunately, but still… The last was , a biography of the American master artist and writer, which featured an introduction by Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Michael Chabon. And my first book, Stadium For Rent, features dozens of editorial cartoons drawn by future Pulitzer Prize winning artist . Back then, Bennett was poking fun at local issues and political figures for the St. Petersburg Times. I’ve always regarded his style as sneaky—the clean lines and bold images let him club you over the head with his message while you’re still chuckling. CLAY BENNETT podcast excerpt: "The virtue most of my editorial cartoons have is that they are exactly six inches wide by four inches deep. They'll fit the hole perfectly... They will fit the space." Bennett left the Times for the Christian Science Monitor, where he ultimately won his Pulitzer. Today, he’s with the , of all places, and we’ll certainly talk about that, I’m sure. Clay Bennett • • • • •
2011: I have made it a policy to almost never comment on a woman’s shape, figure or apparent weight loss or – God forbid – weight gain. It’s a no-win situation. But for two reasons, I’m going to make an exception to that policy today in my interview with Amy Parham. First it’s because she’s written a new book called 10 Lessons from a Former Fat Girl: Living with Less of You and More of Life. I figure she opened the door there. AMY PARHAM podcast excerpt: "I'm never going to be a size '0'; I'm never going to be 5'9". But I do have gifts and talents that God has given me and I need to embrace those." And second, because Amy and her husband Phil were guests on Mr. Media last summer when their first book and DVD, The 90-Day Fitness Challenge, were published. I found them both to be lovely people with a good sense of humor about their experiences in the weight-loss trade. Amy Parham • • • •
2010: Can I be honest with you? The whole “Real Housewives” phenomenon slipped right past me. Oh, I don’t think they missed me; a middle-aged, bald-headed stooge is probably not their key demographic. KELLY BENSIMON podcast excerpt: "('The Real Housewives of New York City') is on Bravo, so it's not on national television. So I think a lot of people recognize me more from Playboy than the show." And I probably wouldn’t have ever gotten interested in any of it but for the March 2010 issue of Playboy magazine. Smiling sweetly at me—maybe not at you, but definitely at me—was the stunning Kelly Bensimon. That’s how I learned she was one of the stars of Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of New York City.” Suddenly, I was a lot more interested in this whole “Housewives” phenomenon. And I’m thinking they need to do the next iteration of the show right here in the new new media capitol of the world. I can think of plenty of Real Housewives of St. Petersburg! But I digress. Kelly Bensimon is a beautiful woman, one who can give the usual girls of Playboy a run for their money in my book, any day. Kelly Bensimon • • •
2010: Valentine Roncalli is 35 and feeling every bit of her years. While her friends and siblings all have families of their own, she lives in her 80-year-old grandmother’s home, amongst all of her grandmother’s trinkets and memories, running her grandmother’s shoe company. Valentine wants—needs—a man. ADRIANA TRIGIANI podcast excerpt: "Thematically, the two things my books are always about is, Who do you love?, Who do you choose to love? and What do you do with the labor of your own hands? They're the two things that keep giving." Gianluca is that man. The suave, sophisticated Italian lights her up like a Roman candle when they’re close—which isn’t often, as she’s in Manhattan and he’s in Italy.What’s a woman to do? That’s the issue novelist Adriana Trigiani confronts in her second Valentine story, Brava, Valentine, on sale today, February 9. The previous novel in the series, Very Valentine, was a New York Times bestseller and this new one is probably headed for the same territory. Adriana Trigiani • • • • • • •
Being a one-named rock star has been good business for Bono, Sting, Flea and, um, Cher. So why not a bald-headed, rap-around sunglasses wearing guy named Fly? FLY podcast excerpt: "I am a bit of a mystery. I've always been attracted to mystery. The Police and U2 created a sense o mystery which enticed people to want to know more." I don't know much about this man whose name reminds me of a 1986 David Cronenberg movie starring Jeff Goldblum. His bio is just a couple of unrevealing sentences. Fly is the lead singer of a band called Underground, which has a new CD out called Chasing the Future, which you can find on . Fly & Underground • • • • • •
2009: Something’s wrong with this picture. I’m Mr. Media. I do the interviewing, right? Somehow I’ve booked an interview with LPGA Golf Hall of Famer to talk about her new book, The Leaderboard—but it turns out the book is a collection of interviews she conducted. Has the whole world gone crazy? On the other hand, this could be my lucky break. I don’t know a damn thing about golf, so maybe it’s a good thing—we can talk about something I do know about. Thank goodness I don’t have to talk about birdies and bogeys—about which I know nothing. And in case you’re wondering, Amy has been waiting in a hermetically sealed, soundproof room where she couldn’t hear a word of this introduction. So let’s bring her on… Amy Alcott • • • •
2011: There are a few real name brands in legal mysteries that make book buyers line up and open their wallets. John Grisham, of course. Scott Turow had a piece of the action for many years. And then there is Michael Connelly. He’s got the lawyer thing sewn up with attorney Mickey Haller. He’s also done a series of police fiction featuring LAPD Detective Harry Bosch. MICHAEL CONNELLY podcast excerpt: "Matthew McConaughey wanted to get as far into the character of Mickey Haller as he could. His research took him to me, about a year before they started shooting the movie. That brought me into the project. Normally, I'm not involved... The fact is, if the film is successful, it's going to bring readers to my books." Connelly’s name on a book is money in the bank for his publisher, so the fact that he’s good and fast means producing a new book every year – two in 2011 – makes everybody happy. I was happy when I discovered that Connelly and I share a common link – we both studied fiction at the University of Florida under the tutelage of acclaimed novelist and character for life Harry Crews. The fiction bug obviously stayed with him – me, not so much, although I did have Harry on this show a while back to talk about his work. Connelly is here, in part to talk about the DVD release of his Mickey Haller novel, The Lincoln Lawyer. The movie stars Matthew McConaughey as the L.A. criminal defense attorney. Michael Connelly •
2019: Some ideas for history books are sitting right in front of our noses, waiting for a smart writer to recognize opportunity and put the puzzle pieces together. That’s kind of how I imagine Jason Prufer’s new book, Small Town, Big Music: The Outsized Influence of Kent, Ohio, on the History of Rock and Roll, came into existence. JASON PRUFER podcast excerpt: "When people think nk about the history of this town (Kent, Ohio), it all defaults to 'The Incident' -- May 4, 1970. Anything else that happened here -- The James Gang formed here, DEVO formed here -- it all gets blacked out. It took somebody who was born here to figure out that the music should be chronicled, too." The book captures a lot of great musical moments that occurred in the college town that is home to Kent State University and threads them together in a compelling narrative. It should make a generation of rock ‘n’ roll critics around the world hunker down and do the same for their communities. Prufer, an experienced music journalist and blogger, grew up in Kent hearing stories of exceptional moments from its past, including: • The formation of future Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh’s campus band, The Measles; • The creation of DEVO in the school’s art department; • That time Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band paid their own way to Ohio from the Jersey Shore to open for – and blow away – Black Oak Arkansas; • And post-concert college parties featuring legendary surprise musical guests. Small Town, Big Music combines Prufer’s original reporting with archive concert reviews, interviews and photos from the Daily Kent Stater college newspaper to make for a compelling read that will entertain music fans who couldn’t even find Kent on a map before now. Jason Prufer
2011: Photographer Ken Regan was there when Bob Dylan meet Bob Dylan 2.0 – Bruce Springsteen – for the first time. And he was there when the Beatles landed in New York City on that fateful day in February 1964. He also shot pictures at Keith Richards’ 1983 wedding to Patti Hansen and captured images of a Rolling Stone just about as happy, healthy and delighted as you’ll ever see the man. KEN REGAN podcast excerpt: "To have Mick Jagger sitting on a park bench in Central Park -- you don't have that opportunity very often" In All Access: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Photography of Ken Regan, you and I get to see everything that this American master saw when he was on the scene of pop music’s greatest moments. Those include back-to-back tours with The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan in 1975, The Band’s Last Waltz, George Harrison’s Concert for Bangladesh, and Live Aid in 1985. He has gone on assignment for the best of the best in American journalism, including Time, New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, People, Newsweek, Life and Entertainment Weekly. I can tell you from my own experience covering rock ‘n’ roll as a journalist in the 1980s and traveling to concerts and events with photographer and former roommate Dennis Osborne that the shutterbugs see, hear and experience things that no one else does. These guys and gals get special access because they’re entrusted to capture moments on film, not in written or recorded words. The irony is that, as the song goes, “Every picture tells a story, don’t it?” Sometimes the photographer’s images are more candid and revealing than anything us ink-stained wretches can take away. Let me put it another way: whatever great on-the-job stories you have, I’ll wager that the photographer’s are better. Ken Regan •
2011: There are three possibilities for an up and coming standup comic to make it big in network television. They could get a title vehicle built around and starring them, such as “Whitney” for Whitney Cummings or “Louie” for Louie C.K. They could create a show which is based on their life, uses their actual name, but stars someone else as them, saving them from taking the blame if it fails, while still earning them big bucks if it succeeds. That would be Chelsea Handler’s “Are You There Vodka? It’s Me Chelsea.” MO MANDEL podcast excerpt: "Being on 'Chelsea Lately' has definitely helped me spread myself to different audiences. Comedy Central is almost exclusively a male audience. Women don't even know that's a channel. A huge majority of women watch Chelsea and I've noticed my crowds are much better looking than they used to be." That’s the opportunity being handed comedian Mo Mandel, who appears as Dan, a bachelor on the prowl in the new NBC series, “Free Agents,” which airs Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. The top-lined stars on the show are Hank Azaria and Kathyn Hahn, so Mandel, who is a regular guest on “Chelsea Lately” and has been seen on “Modern Family” and the under-appreciated “Love Bites,” gets to do his part with a lot less pressure. More good news for comedian Mandel, whose new CD, “The M-Word” is due out soon: the New York Times thinks “Free Agents” is a winner. Mo Mandel • • • •
2011: SyFy has been on a roll these last few years when it comes to original series. Eureka, Warehouse 13 and Haven are all big hits and much enjoyed in my own household. So it was only a matter of time before the network unleashed a new concept: “Being Human.” In this case, the show about a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost sharing living quarters sounds silly on paper but it comes to us with an established history; it’s actually adapted from a British series of the same name. MEAGHAN RATH podcast excerpt: "Not being able to touch anybody or anything was difficult. I don't get any props. It makes it a big challenge because you don't have those crutches to rely on in terms of acting. You have to let the words and emotions speak for themselves." Starring in “Being Human” are Sam Witwer as the vampire. Aidan, and Sam Huntington as the werewolf, Josh. But the story doesn’t really kick into high gear – and show its real humanity, if you will, until we meet lovely Meaghan Rath as the ghost, Sally, who died in the very apartment she now shares with Aidan and Josh. Being Human stars on Twitter: • • •
2010: Keith Powell plays 30 Rock's Toofer on the NBC sitcom. He’s one of the comedy writers on “TGS,” the show-within-the-show.His nickname refers to his position on the staff: he’s both a Harvard grad and a minority, hence a two-for-one hire for human resources. That said, however, Toofer gets no respect, no respect at all. Powell himself, however, gets plenty of respect. He founded the Contemporary Stage Company in Wilmington, Delaware, and has produced, directed or performs in plays starring Lynn Redgrave, Jasmine Guy, Keith David and Sean Patrick Thomas. KEITH POWELL podcast excerpt: "Toofer watches Judge Judy faithful. I really, really mean it! I'm a big Judge Judy fan. She reminds me of my grandmother. My grandmother was one of my parents. She says things that my grandmother used to say. And she has the mannerisms of my grandmother. A lot of people think I'm being sarcastic when I say that, but I really do love Judge Judy." Actually, Powell’s official website is pretty damn funny. To wit, here’s an excerpt from the landing page at PowellToThePeople.net: “My name is Keith Powell. I am an actor, therefore I must have a website. Because that's what important actors have. And I'm important. I'm told. “This site shall be an ode to all things me. See that picture on the right, there? Me. Click on Photos. Lots of me. Bio? Me me me. Videos? All things starring me. Contact? Why, e-mail me, of course. “If you see anyone else on this site, let me know because it should only be about me.” There’s more, but you’ll have to find it yourself. (Don’t miss the raging debate on his bio page about whether his ass is tight—or not.) “30 Rock,” which airs Thursdays at 8:30 p.m., is now in its fifth season of tweaking the Peacock network and now its new owner, Cabletown. It’s full of inside TV, media and pop culture gags and who doesn’t love that? Keith Powell • •
2010: Sometimes I think I grew up in some alternate reality. There was no Internet when I was in my teens—we barely had FM radio and UHF television reception in Central Jersey and cable TV was unheard of—but somehow I managed to find plenty of inappropriate media influences. I read comic books by the pile, which soon led me to investigate other newsstand publications. I knew about Playboy from my dad’s stash in the attic, and was a very young subscriber. I also discovered an antiestablishment humor magazine called the National Lampoon, which flipped a very different switch in my post-adolescent mind. RICK MEYEROWITZ podcast excerpt: "Michael O'Donoghue was the guy who said, 'Making people laugh is the lowest form of humor.' And that became the credo of the National Lampoon." At first, I will admit, I mostly read the comics and the Foto Funnies, astounding by the women with enormous natural breasts and the long haired dudes who ultimately were verbally abused by them. But over time I came to appreciate the short stories, the political satire and the ‘Don’t trust anyone over 30’ attitude. (That’s kind of weird now that I’m 50 and one of them.) Over time, I learned about the men—there were a few women, including Shary Flenniken and Anne Beatts, but not many—who created and promulgated the Lampoon. To me, Doug Kenney, Michael O’Donoughue, Rick Meyerowitz, Tony Hendra, Sean Kelly, Brian McConnachie, Gerry Sussman, P.J. O’Rourke were amazing talents. I wanted to produce offbeat, irreverent stuff like them. Instead, I wound up interviewing them instead. I was a huge fan of Chris Miller’s work before he co-wrote Animal House. Interviewing him for the campus radio station at the University of Miami was—and still is—a big thrill. Cartoonists Arnold Roth has been a guest on this show, as was Gahan Wilson. So was writer Larry “Ratso” Sloman. And I was even quoted in a Stan Mack’s Real Life Funnies—but in the Village Voice, not the Lampoon. All of which leads me to this moment, in which one of the guys who was literally present at the birth of the magazine, is about to join me to talk about his wonderful new book, Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Writers and Artists Who Made the National Lampoon Insanely Great. Rick Meyerowitz • • Twitter • •
2010: Locating a hard rockin’ band in the middle of country music lovin’ Nashville, Tennessee, was either really dumb or really smart. I guess I’m going with pretty smart, because if you’re good at being different, you can really stand out in a scene where everyone else sounds similar. And make no doubt about it, the six-piece band November doesn’t sound anything like the music they play at the Grand Ol’ Opry. November rocks! HUNTER BRILEY podcast excerpt: "Erik said, 'November is an old defunct skateboarding company.' And we all said, 'Not anymore!'" November—and somebody remind me to ask them about that name — is made up of Hunter Briley on vocals, drummer Michael Dale, guitarists Erik Lundquist and Albert Zampino, Jeremy Brashears on bass and Jon Denney on keyboards. Representing the group today are Hunter and Erik. November • • • • •
2011: I wasn’t really sure about the right way to introduce today’s guest, Joel Fishman. Ultimately, I opted to be straight forward, so here it is: I owe a good deal of my success as a published author to Joel Fishman. JOEL FISHMAN podcast excerpt: "On some level, people with an agenda on this issue, none of them would be 100 percent happy with me. The protagonist's sympathy is not 100 percent with the animal rights people... I don't want to be pigeonholed as the animal rights activist, just because I chose this subject to start." As my literary agent back in the ‘90s, he had a faith in me that was unflagging. And he was the kind of pitbull in negotiations that you were always glad was on your side, not theirs. My three biggest book deals – and top three selling titles – were all on his watch. I always imagined we would grow old in the business together. So it was a tough day in St. Petersburg when Joel sold his agency and decided to try his hand at other things. We drifted apart and it took some time for me to develop another lasting agency relationship. During that time, Joel tried his hand at several other things, including becoming a father. Imagine my surprise a few weeks back when my former agent showed up in the email asking to come on Mr. Media to talk about his first novel, . I asked to read it first, but that was just a formality; no way I would say no to this guy. Primacy is a really fine first effort. The action is fast and furious and its stars are both female: Liane, the animal researcher, and Bea, the talking bonobo. Yes, Rise of the Planet of the Apes fans, the Primacy apes talk and it’s purely a coincidence of timing that Primacy followed on the heels of a great ape flick. I highly recommend you read . Joel Fishman • • • • Bomb Squad NYC • • • • •
2010: Lots of former baseball players write books about their glory days as a player. And many of those books are as much about their off-field careers as what happened between the foul lines. Womanizing, incessant drinking, shooting steroids, pranks, grudges—that’s Jim Bouton/Jose Canseco territory. If that’s your idea of a baseball book, steer clear of Doug Glanville’s story, The Game from Where I Stand. His tale is more personal, more heartfelt and far more clear-eyed. But what would you expect from the first African American Ivy Leaguer to make it to the majors? Or one who wrote an online column for The New York Times after retiring from the game? DOUG GLANVILLE podcast excerpt: "Photo Day is the day you take all these shots for the world, whether it's a giant scoreboard shot or ESPN. You'll go from station to station at 7 a.m. in full uniform. Rookies get there early. You have to take it seriously because this shot is going to memorialize you. And guys are paying attention. If you're supposed to be an intimidating closer and you're smiling like a Cheshire Cat, it's not going to go over well." Doug Glanville is a different cat—scratch that; “cat” doesn’t seem the right reference. Let’s call him a gentleman. I’ve got a lot of questions for this veteran of 15 seasons with the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers. But I’m going to start with this one: why does singer John Oates—that’s right, the second half of “Hall & Oates”—rate an entire paragraph in the acknowledgements of your book? Doug Glanville • • • O
2010: “Outsourced” did not get the initial reaction that NBC desired for a new Thursday night sitcom, given the plum, post-“The Office” slot it received on the fall schedule. Most years, every new NBC sitcom slipped into “Must See TV” Thursday gets a cold shoulder from the critics just because its not “30 Rock” or “The Office.” Just ask the cast of “Community,” which was widely derided and ignored when it started a year ago and now is one of TV’s most consistent silliness fests. "Outsourced" was ostracized for a whole different reason; the concept, about an American sent to India to supervise his employer’s call center there, was declared racist and dead on arrival. Funny thing, though. After an unfunny, uneven pilot, Outsourced found its voice and the audience — and I’ll include my family among the Johnny-Come-Latelies — started finding it. If anything this show is “Community” relocated to India. The community college study lounge has been replaced by a call center. Ben Rappaport is Joel McHale and the better part of the ensemble cast of characters consists of Indian kooks instead of California kooks. And Dietrich Bader, who you’ll remember from nearly a decade as a sidekick on “The Drew Carey Show,” is a wonderful bonus. In fact, “The Drew Carey Show” is probably a more reasonable comparison for “Outsourced” than “The Office.” As for being racist? The only people who think that haven’t watched the show. It’s sweet, it’s funny, but it no more makes fun of Indians than “The Office” picks on Scranton, Pennsylvania natives. It’s a sitcom. Tune in, settle into the couch, and laugh a little. Ben Rappaport • • • •
2019: Watching the Denver-based band Love Stallion takes me back to the 1980s when glam and hair metal bands were all the rage, from Motley Crue and Ratt to Def Leppard and Whitesnake. To me, it was a fun, sometimes frivolous time with bands and music to match. It was loud, raucous and the chicks dug it the most. AARON HART podcast excerpt: "I took trumpet lessons in middle school. I quit that the second I got a guitar and everything became about rock 'n' roll, y'know?" Joining me today is Aaron Hart, lead singer of Love Stallion, which is a bit of a throwback to a kinder, gentler age, and yet it seems pretty damn fresh today. Hart will be performing two songs live on the show today, the Love Stallion single, “Slow Release,” plus “Valentine.” Love Stallion • • • •
FROM 2011: The key to the music business, I think, is consistency. For example, I really liked James Maddock’s first solo album, Sunrise on Avenue C. But who knew whether he could follow it up with a similar gem? Maybe his first appearance on Mr. Media in September 2009 would be his last? No chance. JAMES MADDOCK podcast excerpt: "I don't like to write songs about specific incidents. I'm not really good at that autobiographical songwriting thing. I think it gets in the way." Wake Up and Dream takes the triumph of Sunrise and successfully builds upon it. The lyrics are sharper, the hooks catchier, and the overall sound consistent from the first song to the last. If you’ve never heard him before, I'll give you a little taste of James Maddock’s work. When we talk about classic rock, I don’t think of music I’ve been forced to endure a thousand times in life – I’m looking at you, Pink Floyd. It’s not “classic” in my mind because it’s older than dirt. To me, “classic” rock means the music captures the spirit and soul of rock – a bit bluesy, a hint of country and an all-rock attitude. In that spirit, I think James Maddock’s is classic stuff. James Maddock • • • •
2011: Who could possibly lie in the face of NBC correspondent Harry Smith? (Other than soulless CBS News executives, that is.) C’mon – that face, those eyes? He’s got Honest Abe written all over him. HARRY SMITH podcast excerpt: "The teachers and the principals were literally changing the answers on the tests so some of the schools in low-performing districts would look a lot better than they were." We’ll see tonight when Smith takes on what may be the worst test tampering scandal in American public school history. It happened in Atlanta and Smith promises to reveal what wrong on the NBC-TV newsmagazine “Rock Center with Brian Williams.” (I was surprised that this happened in Georgia, not Florida, where so much weight has been put on the FCAT standardized tests in recent years.) Smith’s story will take viewers behind the scenes of a 10-month investigation set off by Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue. Watch it tonight, Monday, November 28, at 10 p.m. Harry Smith •
2011: When Keith Morrison is telling a story – excuse me, reporting a story — his tone is so steady, his timing so perfect, you might just miss a crucial detail. That is to say, if silk had a voice, it might sound like Keith Morrison. KEITH MORRISON podcast excerpt: "I'd put my money on Lester Holt. Lester is one tough dude." Personally, I think it has everything to do with his early years on Canadian TV, long before he joined NBC News in 1986 and went on to spend most of the last quarter century working his way up the food chain from a local anchor at KNBC News in Los Angeles to correspondent for “Dateline NBC,” which airs Fridays at 10 p.m. And wait till you hear what he has to say Lester Holt and Brian Williams... arm-wrestling! Keith Morrison • •
2011: If I were you, and you were interested in getting a job in the entertainment industry, I’d listen to today’s interview with writers Mark Scherzer and Keith Fenimore. Then I’d order their new book, Hire Me, Hollywood: You Behind-the-Scenes Guide to the Most Exciting—and Unexpected—Jobs in Show Business. Trust me, it’s that good. Frankly, even if you don’t have stars in your eyes, this book is a great read. It’s packed with short question-and-answer interviews with everyone from Regis Philbin’s morning show producer, Gelman, to Mike Alexander, the lead animal trainer for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. KEITH FENIMORE podcast excerpt: "If Howard Stern sees this, I am now fired. So if you need any help with Mr. Media, let me know." Read this book and learn what it meant when TV writer Lisa Melamed’s Uncle Ira said, “I’m sorry your mother is dead and all, but this corned beef is delicious”! Discover why Conan O’Brien told his senior talent producer Paula Davis about his assistant, “I’ve had her do that ever since my cuckoo clock broke”! And don’t miss character actress Carol Ann Susi, who plays Howard’s unseen mother on “The Big Bang Theory,” explain why she doesn’t mind skipping hair and makeup preparations to do her part on the show! Did I mention that Scherzer writes and develops TV projects and that Fenimore is a senior producer, writer and director for Howard Stern? Hmmm… All this and a conversation with Marvel Comics’ legendary creative man, Stan Lee! Whew! Time to let somebody else do the talking about showbiz jobs. Excelsior! Hire Me, Hollywood! • •
2011: Do you remember those single-minded guys in high school who always knew what they wanted to do? The ones who were always doodling in the margins, causing fluids to explode in the chem lab, or scoring all the hottest cheerleaders? CHASE THOMPSON podcast excerpt: "I'll come up with a chord progression that I like and start singing to it. Then I'll take a phrase that comes out and build to it. Eventually, it makes sense and I see how I started there." Chase Thompson and Tyler McMullen were two of those guys. They were friends who always knew music would be the central focus of their lives and invested a great deal of their time and energy into creating and practicing their sound. The duo, now recording professionally as Goodnight Argent, is beginning to see the payoff for their dedication. In 2009, they won the Grand Prize in the John Lennon International Songwriting Competition. This year, Goodnight Argent produced a 7-song EP called On today's show, they perform two acoustic song exclusively for Mr. Media viewers and listeners: "Don't Get Sentimental" and a cover of One Republic's "Everybody Loves Me." Goodnight Argent • • • •
2011: It’s never a good time to be poor in America and today is no different. The rich are getting richer at a record pace and, thanks to an entrenched 9 percent unemployment rate, more of our fellow citizens are slipping off the grid into the abyss. Tonight on “Rock Center with Brian Williams, NBC News correspondent Kate Snow looks at the growing number of middle class and working class Americans being forced to accept some form of food assistance. They’re budgeting their government help to last a month and it’s never been harder. She says that Americans are starving. KATE SNOW podcast excerpt: "I hope this story prompts a conversation. I think you're going to be shocked to see what's happening with a lot of families." As for Snow, she is a veteran of “Dateline NBC” who jumped ship to guide rookie newsmagazine host Brian Williams through these early days of “Rock Center.” Okay, that may not be how anyone will officially explain the situation at NBC News, but who you gonna believe? Them or Mr. Media? “Rock Center with Brian Williams airs every Monday night at 10 p.m. on NBC. Kate Snow •
2011: The danger of writing the “Ultimate Book” of anything is if you wind up demonstrating that you ultimately don’t know much about anything. That didn’t turn out to be an issue for George Anastasia and Glen Macnow, co-authors of The Ultimate Book of Gangster Movies. Their list of the 100 greatest gangster films of all time includes just enough of the films you’d expect to see and enough surprises to convince the skeptics among us that they did their research. GEORGE ANASTASIA podcast excerpt: "Goodfellas caught a vibe. You don't necessarily have to like guys like Henry Hill, but I think they did a good job putting this movie together." The book is packed with detail and affirmation of why any one of the one-hundred deserves its place on the list, from The Godfather films at No. 1 & 2 through The Freshman at No. 100. (Yes, it’s truly Marlon Brando’s world and if we keep accepting his offer we can’t refuse, he’ll keep letting us live in it.) They know no one will agree with the entire list; they want us to debate the merits of certain choices – like Woody Allen’s Bullets Over Broadway, for example. Of course, with a thoroughly gangsta name like Anastasia, my guest today knows it has to be good, right? The Ultimate Book of Gangster Movies • •
2011: Natasha Leggero has multiple fall-back positions. She’s a stand-up comedian, so she can always work, and always bring the funny. She’s a solid talk show guest, as evidenced by numerous appearances on the “Chelsea Lately” panel. NATASHA LEGGERO podcast excerpt: "Men see that women are funny, especially after Bridesmaids. I do a lot of shows with a lot of women in the lineup. Why watch overweight, middle-age men do comedy when I can watch pretty girls do comedy? ... Sarah Silverman said, 'Women are funny. But not all women are funny.'" And she’s an actress, having appeared in the movie He’s Just Not That Into You and co-starring as Emma in the short-lived NBC series, “Free Agents.” Natasha Leggero • • • • • •
2012: One of the worst memories I have of my father always comes back to this: He came home from work one day in the early 1970s, saw me watching a "Star Trek" rerun, and shouted at me to shut it off. “You’ve watched that a hundred times!” he thundered. “Get out of here!” It’s many years later and, of late, my own kid has been watching hour after hour of those very same reruns. I couldn’t be happier. For her, it’s research: she’s in the cast of Trek The Musical, an original new stage parody of the old Gene Roddenberry TV show that will have its world debut at the Studio@620, 620 1st Avenue South in St. Petersburg, Florida on February 2 and continue through Feb. 5. GAETANO RODRIGUEZ podcast excerpt: "We're doing this out of love. We love these characters. They are sacred to us. And that is why we mock them." If you can’t wait, there will also be a cold reading of the production at American Stage on Tuesday, January 17 @ 7 p.m. American Stage is located in downtown St. Petersburg at 333 3rd Avenue North. Call 727-823-PLAY to reserve your tickets. The show, produced by Accio Actors, was co-created by Lauren Field and Gaetano Rodriguez, and written by Lauren with music and lyrics by Gaetano . I haven’t seen it yet, but my son Charlie plays Ensign Chekov, so you know Mr. Media will be there, front and center. Joining me today will be Lauren, Gaetano and several members of the Trek The Musical cast to preview the show.
Guest Interview by Eric Deggans, 2011: Sometimes, I like causing trouble. So whenever people ask me who is the most influential TV journalist of the modern age, I never say Edward R. Murrow or Walter Cronkite. I always say Barbara Walters. That's because she pioneered the mixture of emotion and news, serious and celebrity, personal and political that drives every modern TV news program, from the today show and 20/20 to Nancy Grace, Access Hollywood and beyond. On my Sunday Floridian page devoted to blog-like items about media -- It's also called The Feed -- I presented a necessarily shortened interview with the 78-year-old master. But when I called a swanky hotel in Miami to ask about her roots in journalism (the excuse was promoting her new memoir, Audition), I got a lot more than three one-paragraph answers. And I even got a compliment for my questions from a woman once called the mistress of the impertinent question. BARBARA WALTERS talks: "I did the first live interview with Richard Nixon – I started out by asking him foreign policy questions because he was very knowledgeable. Then I was trying to humanize him. So I thought I’ll give him a chance to get some empathy. I asked how he got through the whole experience (of Watergate). He said to me, 'Get serious Barbara.' I said "I am serious, Mr. President.'" Specifically, I wanted to know about the celebrity interview special that started it all; a sit down with Barbra Streisand, her then boyfriend, hairdresser Jon Peters, and President-elect jimmy Carter and his wife. "Professionally, they saved my career," she said. "When I came to ABC I was such a failure as the first female anchor of a network news anchor. I was paired with Harry Reasoner, who just didn’t want a partner. Part of of that contract was to do four specials a year. I was going to combine, the way newsmagazines did, a political person and a celebrity. The first one had Barbra Streisand and her then boyfriend Jon Peters, and President elect and Mrs. Jimmy Carter. And it was a huge success. When we did these things, we saw that the ratings went up for the celebrity and down for the political person. So more and more, these interviews became celebrity specials. They were the forerunner of the newsmagazine shows. Our specials worked over the years, and ours were the only ones that did. Other people tried them, including Oprah, but they never worked.”
2019: Imagine writing the story of your life and constantly having to footnote it – literally! – because your mother doesn’t approve of the details you reveal and the way you retell certain stories. Next, imagine having to find a way to write about your life in a way that strangers who fear people that look, sound and pray like you will find engaging and endearing. Finally, imagine that you succeed in all of these things because you have a voice and writing style that is at once funny and charming, disarming and delightful. AYSER SALMAN podcast excerpt: "I had been writing pilots for TV. Once I realized the comic potential of my own family, my life story went from being this angsty thing that was annoying in my high school years to something that was funny to me. And maybe it's funny to somebody else? I had spent my life feeling like an outsider. My mistake was thinking that I was the only one." All of that is true of Ayser Salman’s new book, The Wrong End of the Table: A Mostly Comic Memoir of a Muslim Arab American Woman Just Trying to Fit In. It delivers the goods exactly as promised in the title and I swear – sorry, Mama Salman – I couldn’t put it down. A really good book takes you to a place you’ve never been. For most Americans, that might be the everyday life and times of a Muslim Arab American woman born in Iraq and raised from the age of two in the United States. Ayser Salman was educated in Lexington, Kentucky, and Saudi Arabia – I’m not kidding – and eventually made a career in Hollywood as a film editor, writer and producer for Universal Pictures, Miramax Films, Disney, The Weinstein Company, and FX. And no, Harvey Weinstein never touched her. Ayser Salman • • • • • • • • •
Marvel vs. DC has been the gold standard in comic book company wars for decades. Right behind it in comics cultural importance is probably Jack Kirby vs. Stan Lee, a neverending fount of bitterness between two of the key pillars of the Marvel Universe. Together, they created the Fantastic Four, Silver Surfer, Thor and much more. JOHN MORROW podcast excerpt: "You're bound to have other motivations when there's that much money involved. I'm not trying to call people liars -- and I make that clear in the book -- but it's just human nature. ... Same with Stan Lee and Jack Kirby." But very early on, Kirby and Lee sparred about credit for who did what. As editor, Lee always got the final word and took whatever credit he wanted. Usually, that meant words by Lee, art by Kirby. It would be many years later that comics fans understood how misleading this was – in the Marvel style, the artist typically plotted a story, laid it out and drew it. Lee came in later to write the narration and dialogue. Often, Kirby did that, too, albeit uncredited. John Morrow, who joins me today, took a side in the titanic battle a quarter-century ago when he began publishing a magazine called the Jack Kirby Collector. Today, he is also the man behind Twomorrows Publishing, which just produced his new book, Kirby & Lee: Stuf’ Said! The Complex Genesis of the Marvel Universe, In Its Creators’ Own Words. I should also mention that John’s company published the second edition of my biography, Will Eisner: A Spirited Life. This is his second time as a guest on Mr. Media. TwoMorrows Publishing • • • Jack Kirby • • • • • • • • • • • Stan Lee • • • • • • • • • • •
2009: For a good time, try typing into your web browser’s window. You’ll find an endless stream of short videos that will do anything from brighten your day to cause you to hurt yourself from laughing too hard. I love a good laugh and websites has become really expert at providing humor in easily digestible bites that we can share with friends and family at the push of a button. Humor is what puts the viral in video. STREETER SEIDELL podcast excerpt: "We were just doing this for fun and the enjoyment of our friends. The first was when I was doing a standup show and Amir told the audience not to laugh at me. And to heckle me. It was a horrible experience." Joining me today are CollegeHumor.com writer-comedians Amir Blumenfeld and Streeter Seidell. They came to my attention in a recent Wired magazine feature by Jason Tanz on hoaxes; the pair is world renowned for pulling elaborate pranks on one another. I’m hoping to learn a little about their site and what makes a good stunt. That, and how they haven’t killed each other in the process of getting revenge. CollegeHumor.com • • • • • • Streeter Seidell • • • • • • Amir Blumenfeld • • • • • • • • •
The first time that singer Madelyn Victoria and her brother, guitarist Albert Vallejo, were on Mr. Media, I was struck by their talent and charm. That was four years ago, so I imagine they’ve only gotten better at both since then. MADELYN VICTORIA podcast excerpt: "I always thought going to college would put a stop to my music career. But attending (Full Sail University) is actually opening doors now. I trust God's plan and timing. I'm so happy where I'm at right now." When last we spoke, Madelyn was riding the success of her country music single, “He Only Loves Me on the Dance Floor.” Today she is promoting a new song that is climbing the charts, “Right Here With You.” Today, I’m really interested to hear about her other “job”—she’s pursuing a degree in Music Business from Full Sail University. As for Albert? The guy who majored in eye-rolling the last time he and Madelyn were on the show? Uh, I don’t know what he’s up to these days besides supporting his big sis. But I’ll ask, okay? Madelyn Victoria • • • •
Richard Lynch is a country singer/songwriter who ended 2018 with a surprise honor – a place in the Ohio Country Music Hall of Fame. His final concert of the year, on New Year’s Eve, was literally interrupted by a representative of the Hall making the official announcement. On less ostentatious occasions, the Richard Lynch Band can be heard on the road performing songs such as “Country Music Isn’t Country Anymore,” “A Better Place,” “Love Tattoo” and “Mending Fences. RICHARD LYNCH podcast excerpt: "I'm very fortunate that I grew up in a household where Dad was a good ol' country boy. He gave me a lot of opportunities I probably wouldn't have had if it weren't for Dad." He is the kind of guy people think of when they think of country. And his music is well-known for Lynch’s inclusion of his faith in its lyrics. If you’re unfamiliar with the Richard Lynch Band, never fear; Lynch will be performing two songs live on today’s show, “Old Feed Store” and “Pray on the Radio”! Richard Lynch Band • • • • • • • • •
I never planned on sharing my opinions on political and social issues. It is something that evolved slowly in the last 20 years. For example, as an independent voter in the 1990s, I found Bill Clinton’s behavior in The White House with Monica Lewinsky deeply troubling and did not object to his impeachment. But I didn’t go shouting my views from the rooftop, either. CLAY JONES podcast excerpt: "I considered myself much more a conservative when I started in 1990. But when George H.W. Bush was for a flag-burning amendment, I was against that. I was always for gay marriage. And I was against abortion, but I came around on that. I voted for McCain first (in 2000), then George W. I've never been a member of a party; I don't want to be in a party ... I no longer consider myself a conservative, which was a problem at my newspaper. I (finally) realized I was a secret liberal my whole life." I found George W. Bush to be a likeable enough fellow who simply wasn’t smart enough to be President of the United States. In the days following 9-11, he was too easily manipulated by Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfield, digging an international and financial hole for the United States. When Barack Obama came around in 2008, I registered as a Democrat for the first time because I wanted to support this remarkable man. I even worked for his campaign both times, something I had never done before. In 2016, I held my nose and voted for Hillary Clinton, who I did not like but felt Donald Trump would be so, so, so much worse. Trump’s consistent, anti-American behavior—then and now—has made me more vocal than ever, in social media and in person. I tell you all that in the interest of full disclosure, because I don’t want there to be any doubt about where I am coming from in talking with today’s guest, syndicated editorial cartoonist Clay Jones. Jones expresses his political thoughts and emotion in art every day. He has a somewhat silly style—reminiscent of the late Wayne Stayskal—that for the last two decades belies a most serious message. You can find Jones’ funny, biting work where I first discovered it – on Instagram – or self-syndicated daily to newspapers nationwide. His work can also be found on GoComics.com. Clay Jones • • • • • • •
In my mind, I’ve been associated with Playboy for roughly 40 years—I was roughly 10 when I discovered my dad’s box of old magazines in a cardboard box on top of the standup cedar wardrobe in the attic. “Discovered” may not be the right word—at 10, I was finally mischievous enough to devise a way of getting up high enough to see what was in the box. GAHAN WILSON podcast excerpt: "I said, I'll see Mr. Kurtzman?' 'Oh, no,' the receptionist said. 'Trump is out of New York.' The art director came up behind me and said, 'Hef would like to see you.' I didn't know who or what a Hef was. I went up this staircase to a small room, lit only by one lamp, and this man was talking on the phone. He said to the other person, 'It's a swell article you wrote. Liked it very much. The problem is, it's anti-sin. And we're pro-sin.' He hung up the phone, reached out to shake hands with me and said, 'I've been waiting for you.'" Anyway, cartoonist Gahan Wilson still has me beat. He’s been connected with Hugh Hefner’s monthly treehouse for boys for 50 years! He’s joining us today to talk about about his phenomenal longevity and production, work that resulted in the publication of the three-volume collection, Gahan Wilson: Fifty Years of Playboy Cartoons, now available from Fantagraphics. Gahan Wilson:
In the 1990s, there were a lot of comic books—and comic book publishers—that I either missed out on completely or that held so little appeal to me that I ignored them. That’s saying a lot for a guy who lived for Wednesdays—new comic book day in America—through the late 1960s, all of the ‘70s and much of the ‘80s. I do know it was a time of greatness for the medium—Alex Ross, Kurt Busiek, Neil Gaiman, Frank Miller, Jim Lee, Alan Moore, Rob Liefield and Todd McFarlane—among many others—turned the medium on its ass and spun it ‘round and ‘round. KEITH DALLAS podcast excerpt: "You name 1990s comic book property and, if it became popular, suddenly one title would mushroom into 12: three ongoings, half a dozen one-shots and specials. You see that with X-Men, Spider-Man and The Punisher. It was truly an indication of the suits taking over Marvel. They looked at sales figures and said, 'Oh, Spider-Man is hot! Let's put out 50,000 Spider-Man titles! They want Spider-Man, let's give 'em what they want.'" Me? I got married in ’88, started writing books in’92, and had a kid in ’96. So I have a good excuse for sleeping through this particular sequential art revolution – I had a life! Fortunately, the folks at Twomorrows Publishing have embarked on a massive effort to qualify and quantify comic books of every era with their American Comic Book Chronicles series. Joining me today to talk about the latest volume—The 1990s—are author Jason Sacks and editor-in-chief Keith Dallas. This is their second appearance on the show; the guys were last here to talk about the 1970s edition. American Comic Book Chronicles Jason Sacks • Keith Dallas
Over the last year, every time I saw a trailer for the film Bohemian Rhapsody, I had one thought: “Please don’t suck.” I hadn’t realized that, decades after Queen was a staple of my high school and college years, and long after charismatic lead singer Freddie Mercury had left the stage, that I still loved their music and cared that their legacy be treated with respect. MARTIN POPOFF podcast excerpt: "A good, accessible LP that many Queen fans -- including myself -- love would be 'News of the World.' Massive album; it's got the songs people know, including 'We Are The Champions/We Will Rock You,' but it also has one of their heaviest songs, 'Sheer Heart Attack.' And some great, passionate songs." When I saw the movie, I was not only relieved, I was exhilarated. Bohemian Rhapsody is everything I want to see when I put down $12 to see a film in a real movie theater. It is big, loud, bombastic and emotional. Or, as my 22-year-old son said afterward, “After seeing that movie, why would anyone listen to music that isn’t by Queen?” So today, we’re going to deep-dive into the Queen catalogue of 15 original studio releases. Our guide is rock critic and historian Martin Popoff, author of Queen: Album By Album. In the book, he engages a number of experienced fellow writers, including Stephen Dalton and former Mr. Media guest Richie Unterberger, plus musicians Darius Rocker of Hootie and the Blowfish, Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, and Sir Paul McCartney of The Beatles and Wings. It’s quite a conversation. Martin Popoff • • • • •
You know what I really want to know from cartoonist Bill Griffith? It’s this: does he collect a royalty every time the housekeeper on “Two and a Half Men,” Berta, calls Jon Cryer’s character Alan Harper “Zippy”? Because with repeats, he should be a rich man. Nothing telegraphs an opinion of someone’s intellect more rapidly than calling him or her a “pinhead.” And no one has done more to expand the use of the term “pinhead” in our society than daily cartoonist Bill Griffith, creator of the long running “Zippy the Pinhead” comic strip. BILL GRIFFITH podcast excerpt: "I'm sure somebody will be offended, which will be nice—to still offend somebody after all these years. People who only know Zippy comics through King Features will probably be surprised to see that Zippy was more adult-oriented." Zippy is an American icon, a mouthpiece alternatively for the social and political views of his creator or just a place to drop a twisted joke or punchline. But for those who know Zippy the Pinhead only as a syndicated daily comic in newspapers around the world, you might be surprised to learn the character has a rich history starting in the underground comix world of the 1970s. And he was actually a secondary banana to creator Griffith’s first character, Mr. Toad. All sorts of pinhead history can be found in Griffith’s introduction to his new collection, Lost and Found: Comics 1969-2003. It’s a 364-page treasury of some of the cartoonist’s earliest work, including Zippy and pre-Zippy, such as Young Lust, Tales of Toad, Thrilling Murder and more. This is my second conversation with Griffith; . Bill Griffith • • • • • • •
(From 2009) (UPDATE - Larry Harris died on December 18, 2017.) Everybody thinks their life story would make a good book. I’m here to tell you that’s not true. Larry Harris is not everybody. He’s 1970s records mogul Neil Bogart’s cousin—and a co-founder of legendary Casablanca Records—for heaven’s sake, and boy, does he have a great story to tell. Reading his new book, And Party Every Day: The Inside Story of Casablanca Records, is to be transported back to the wild early days of the rock band KISS and the origins of disco with Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder. LARRY HARRIS podcast excerpt: "KISS was anything but a slam-dunk. The makeup turned everybody off. It made people cringe. We had to find ways around that." There are insider stories, anecdotes and revelations about how the music business—and the radio industry—work that will curl your hair. It seems like every page has something fresh, fascinating and sensational, from the mountains of cocaine and payola to who slept with whom. There are mafia implications, too. Read this book and then decide whether your life story holds up.
Elections in Florida are screwed up, especially for Democrats and Democratic candidates. The same is true in places such as Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and Georgia, to name just a few states of electoral disrepair. MADISON PAIGE podcast excerpt: "We want to make (running for office) easier for people. We want people to be engaged. We want to help candidates to get into races. We want citizens to have an easier time making their voices heard. The government we have is the result of what we do." But today I want to focus on Florida, because that’s where the nation’s eyes turn every four years and because, well, that’s where I live. As the 2018 midterms wound down, I came upon a very personal Facebook Live video by a frustrated, angry Democratic political consultant and activist who had a message for the Florida Democratic Party: “I told you so.” MADISON PAIGE podcast excerpt: "In Florida, in 2020, I can tell you, right now, without knowing who is going to run or be on the ballot, in statewide races or in the presidential race, it's going to come down to a handful of voters. Period." Madison Paige, founder of Bold Blue Campaigns, apparently had presented a roadmap to the state’s Democratic Party for overcoming obstacles and winning more elections up and down the November ballot. Was she right? Was she wrong? I don’t know. But today, in my small way, I want to give her a direct forum for sharing her ideas moving forward. Madison Paige • • • • • Bold Blue Campaigns • • •
I was stuck in the car a few weeks ago, waiting to pick my wife up at work, tuning around the Sirius Satellite Radio dial, looking for a few laughs. I had already heard the earlier in the day and went a few clicks past him and landed on the Blue Collar comedy channel. The voice I heard—the inflection, particularly—sounded like Steve Martin. It wasn’t him, but the performer had me laughing the way I used to laugh 30 years ago upon hearing new material from Martin. This was a fellow named James P. Connolly and he had me in stitches with his routine about how men—when it came to sizing up women—were either ass, breast or leg men. I won’t try to tell his jokes here, but it was so funny I put it on pause and replayed it for my wife when she got in the car. JAMES P. CONNOLLY podcast excerpt: "When I was in Desert Storm, we were there for a little over a year, and the day we were leaving, they issued us desert boots. It was like a game show parting gift... When I go back to entertain the troops now, I strap those babies on because they probably cost the government $7,425—per boot." Mrs. Media is not usually in the mood for standup comedy—from me or anyone else—when she gets out of work, but this time I insisted she listen. Three minutes later, she was laughing as hard as I was and I was convulsing all over again. So I did something I never did before—I tracked down a comedian I heard on Sirius and invited him on the show based on maybe five minutes of material. Connolly is not an unknown, having performed at the Comedy Store and the Improv, hosted “Movie Obsessions” on VH1 and appearing frequently on the nationally syndicated “Bob and Tom Radio Show.” James P. Connolly • • • • • • • •
There is something about professional wrestling that you just can’t look away from on television. The costumes, the oversize personalities, the inflated drama and comedy—it all plays even bigger on the tube. I remember watching Haystacks Calhoun and friends on crummy UHF channels growing up in New Jersey. It was like watching live television broadcasts from another dimension, sci-fi sports, if you will. And when I got to the University of Florida, my then-girlfriend wanted nothing more for a birthday gift than to drive into Tampa and see her favorite rassler, Jerry Briscoe, taking on challengers live and in person at the Fort Homer Hesterly Arena. That was a crazy day. ROBERT ALLYN podcast excerpt:"Pam told me her dad was a 'television announcer.' Then she told me he announced professional wrestling. Oh. In Chicago, where I grew up, wrestling wasn't a big deal. When I came to Florida, I found Gordon Solie was a big deal. He was a household name." Pamela S. Allyn knows a few things about what goes on behind the scenes of pro wrestling that you don’t. She’s the daughter of the late Gordon Solie, the whiskey-voiced ring announcer who put wrestling on the map way back in 1949 and stayed with it for the next half-century. Pam, her husband Robert Allyn and Scott Teal have written a fascinating new book about her dad, The Solie Chronicles: The Life and Times of Gordon Solie. It is a refreshing, honest look at a legend who was more than a little bit human.
The word that comes to mind when I think about the comic strips of Jules Feiffer is this: My Microsoft Word dictionary - hey, it's convenient! - defines it as “the act of speaking while alone, especially when used as a theatrical device that allows a character’s thoughts and ideas to be conveyed to the audience.” That sounds about right to me, because the best of Feiffer’s strips – known, incidentally, as “Feiffer” –usually consisted of one character looking at the reader – breaking the so-called fourth wall - and going on for six or eight panels. The results weren’t always funny, but they were always sure to be thought provoking. This month, Fantagraphics published Explainers, the first of four dense collections of Feiffer’s entire run of weeklies in The Village Voice. This volume of 500 strips is from 1956 through 1966; the strip ran through 1998. Oh, and he won a Pulitzer Prize for his comic strip, too. JULES FEIFFER podcast excerpt: "The whole point of Explainers, always, was to make a point about something or other. And to find a way of doing it that would not be polemical and would be entertaining. And to get a smile at the end of it." Jules Feiffer is one of comics’ great characters himself. He famously got his start with Will Eisner, creating and drawing a children’s strip called “Clifford” and eventually writing during the last years of “The Spirit”’s original run in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Besides his long-running strip “Feiffer,” he might be best-known for his children’s work, from illustrating The Phantom Tollbooth and writing the original screenplay for the Robin Williams film, Popeye, to his book The Man in the Ceiling, which is being adapted as a musical by Disney. He also wrote the original screenplay for Carnal Knowledge, starring Jack Nicholson. Feiffer’s also just completed his memoirs, which will be published in 2009. I could keep going, but then you’d never get to hear from the man himself. Jules Feiffer • •
The big news is that ABC’s sexy, fashion-funny rom-com is moving to Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. And while I understand that surviving a Friday night timeslot on network TV is like getting a stay of execution from the governor, in the digital age, I have to wonder if timeslots matter at all. Or is my family the only one recording “Betty” on a DVR and watching it at our convenience instead of the network’s? ANA ORTIZ podcast excerpt: "Oh, my gosh! The show comes from a novella in Colombia. When it ended, the had the character of Betty get together with the Daniel Meade character. The country when bananas and was furious about it. They said Betty would never fall in love with this guy! Betty is going to evolve, but not into Cinderella." Of course not. Anyway, to celebrate the new time slot, I’m being joined by Betty’s older sister, Hilda, played by the red-hot chica, Ana Ortiz, and Betty’s distinguished and wise Papi, played by Tony Plana. Ana Ortiz • • Tony Plana • •
I can’t remember how I first came in contact with Missouri cartoonist Keith Brown, but I’m pretty sure Facebook or Twitter was involved. Keith is the creator of a short-lived, self-syndicated daily comic strip called “The Wages of Sin.” Funny thing is, the strip – which takes place in the bowels of red-hot Hell – got funnier and funnier in its final year as Keith’s frustrations with President Donald Trump boiled over and he let loose in the cartoon panels of “Sin.” KEITH BROWN podcast excerpt: "We can disagree politically. But what's going on now is not remotely normal. ... It does matter who we elect. The people who keep blinders on in the face of what is known refuse to accept reality. I don't get it." And some time since the 666th and final strip appeared, Keith’s view of Trump’s indiscretions, lunacy and general bad behavior have been revealed to be more on target than ever before. Since our paths first crossed online, I have gone from frequently sharing his more political strips in social media to publishing them via Mr. Media Books. You can now own a little bit of Keith by ordering “The Wages of Sin, Vol. IV,” available in full-color from Amazon.com. I fully expect “The Wages of Sin” will have a glorious after-life. In addition to being a cartoonist, Keith is also a children’s author and earlier this year published It’s An Extra Spooky Creepy Heebie-Jeebie Halloween. Keith Brown • • •
Dan Washburn is a country singer/songwriter with a great big ol’ voice and personality, a knack for catchphrases and an ever-present bit of whimsy in his delivery that brings a smile to my face whenever I hear his music play. As you can see, the man looks the part, too. DAN WASHBURN podcast excerpt: "I wrote the song 'Someone Like You' for my Mom when I was 10. Till the day she died, my Mom would call me and say, 'We've got company. You've gotta come over here and sing that song you wrote for me!' And I would, every chance I got." Give him a few minutes to win you over, even if you’re not normally a country music fan, and I think you’ll be sold. Washburn joins us today from his native Ontario, where he has just released a new single, “Long Story Longer.” Dan Washburn • • • •
In “Jacqueline and Jilly,” Daphne Maxwell Reid plays the mother of Jacqueline and grandmother of Jilly in this three-generation drama about a privileged African-American family whose veneer of calm and cool explodes when it discovers that Jilly has an opiod addiction. The six-part mini-series is currently playing out on the Urban Movie Channel. It was written by and stars former “The Young and the Restless” soap opera star Victoria Rowell as Jacqueline and introduces a fresh face, Nikko Austen Smith as her troubled daughter, Jilly. DAPHNE MAXWELL REID podcast excerpt: "Tim and I have a basis of great love, respect and compromise. The things he is strong in, I'm weak in; the things he is weak in, I'm strong in." In Daphne Maxwell Reid, “Jacqueline and Jilly” has a veteran actress who has been a steady fixture on network television beginning with a recurring run on “Hill Street Blues,” continuing with two seasons on “WKRP in Cincinnati” during which she met and married Venus Flytrap himself, Tim Reid, with whom she appeared over four seasons of “Simon & Simon” and one season of the critically acclaimed “Frank’s Place.” She then went on to three seasons as Will Smith’s mom on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and three more on “Eve.” As her daughter in “Jacqueline and Jilly,” Victoria Rowell bears enough of a resemblance to Ms. Reid that it’s hard not to think that it wasn’t that long ago she was playing the mother in these situations. I’m honestly curious to know how she handled maturing into the grandmother role. By the way, if you’re not familiar with the Urban Movie Channel, it is a subscription video on demand service that is the brainchild of BET founder and Charlotte Bobcats owner Robert Johnson. New episodes of “Jacqueline and Jilly” debut every Thursday through January 10, 2019. DAPHNE MAXWELL REID • • • • •
When I was a little boy, it was common to see matchbook covers with ads saying things like “Learn to Draw!” The idea was that if you could draw the pokey little donkey, you, too, could one day become a famous and wealthy artist. (More people smoked back then, so matchbooks were everywhere. Not so much anymore, of course.) CHRISTOPHER HART podcast excerpt: "If you can draw a squiggly line, you can learn to draw. People think they have to draw a straight line. I've got news for people: that's what they make rulers for. I don't know any cartoonists that can draw a straight line, anyway." Today, if you think you might have drawing talent, sooner or later you’re going to wind up studying a book by artist Christopher Hart. Hart has sold more than 2.5 million books, most of them instructional manuals in which he has taught a generation how to draw cartoons for comic strips, Japanese manga, American superheroes and much more. His latest book is Humongous Book of Cartooning and he joins us today to give away a secret or two and compel the artist in you to crack the spine of one of his books. Christopher Hart • •
I’m guessing that, like me, you probably listen to your favorite podcasts whenever and wherever you can squeeze them in. For me, that includes the last 15 minutes of the day, or while I’m walking the dog, or on the treadmill at the gym, or driving somewhere, or even cranked up loud while I’m in the shower. That last place was where I happened to be listening to a recent episode of the “Marvel News Desk” show. RHIANNON podcast excerpt: "Last year, I was planning to go to San Diego Comic-Con. My Dad said, 'Where did this come from???' Because, as a kid, I never read a comic book!" Generally, I’m not one to discuss such things, except this time, I had a head covered in shampoo when Caleb, Rhiannon and Adam announced they were about to begin reviewing season three of “Daredevil” on Netflix, spoilers and all. “MIMI!!!” “What’s wrong? What’s wrong?” my wife asked, rushing into the bathroom from the living room. ADAM BARNHARDT podcast excerpt: "I didn't say one actual curse word during the 'Iron Fist' cancellation podcast. That's what our (private) Skype chats are for. Those are a hard 'R'! But if I can make it through talking about the 'Iron Fist' cancellation for one hour without dropping an 'F' bomb, I am probably going pretty far in life." “I can’t turn off my iPhone without getting it wet and Marvel News Desk is about to reveal Daredevil spoilers,” I said. “Turn it off!” Mimi, who has watched every episode of Marvel’s Netflix shows with me – and has listened to more than a few “Marvel News Desk” podcasts – understood my anguish. We had not yet started watching DD3. “Marvel News Desk” – hosted by ringmaster Caleb Borchers, refereed by Rhiannon Kincaid and anguished by Adam Barnhardt – is easily the podcast I look forward to more than any other each week. It is frothy good fun and since splitting off from the MCU Exchange early in 2018, it has hit its stride in terms of information, laughs and insight. If you’re a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe of films and TV shows, there is nothing more entertaining out there than this. CALEB A. BORCHERS podcast excerpt: "I'm a pastor; I work in ministry. It's my full-time job. We don't talk about it too much on the podcast. I know it freaks some people out. I try to be pretty chill about it. But it comes in handy sometimes: I did an episode of our sister podcast, 'AP Marvel,' about Catholicism in 'Daredevil.'" Marvel News Desk • • • Caleb A. Borchers • • Rhiannon Adam Barnhardt • • •
Forced to think about it for today’s show, I find that I have seven favorite Christmas movies, most of which find their way to the family TV every year. Six of those films are highlighted in a new book, Christmas in the Movies: 30 Classics to Celebrate the Season, by Jeremy Arnold. They are, in order of release, It’s A Wonderful Life, the original Miracle on 34th Street, Die Hard, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Elf, and Love Actually. I’m not at all surprised that number seven doesn’t make the list – it’s nasty, rude, crude and socially insensitive. Jeremy Arnold podcast excerpt: "I would steer people toward 'Little Women' - the 1994 version. This one, with Winona Ryder as Jo, is just about perfect. Men - don't let the title scare you away. Anyone who loves movies will enjoy this. It's also one of Christian Bale's early roles. What's interesting about it is it was made specifically as a Christmas movie. The Christmas scenes in the film are amplified more than they are in the novel. The whole movie is about the March Family trying to stay together. And that is the most common kind of story for any Christmas movie." By the way, it’s Bad Santa, starring Billy Bob Thornton, Bernie Mac, Lauren Graham and John Ritter. Not actually Turner Classic Movies material, but a holiday classic in its own horrific, hysterically funny way. In addition to his new Christmas book, Arnold is also the author of Turner Classic Movies: The Essentials and Lawrence of Arabia: The Fiftieth Anniversary. Jeremy Arnold • •
Amy Rose may be the greatest country music singer on the planet. I can’t prove that beyond a reasonable doubt, but I love the way she sings and right this minute, my opinion is more important than anyone else’s. So yeah, Amy Rose is the greatest country singer in the world! AMY ROSE podcast excerpt: "'One More Sleep' was a Christmas song I heard five or six years. But it was originally done by Leona Lewis, who won 'The X factor' UK in 2006. It's relatable; how many times do you tell your kids, 'Four more sleeps 'til Christmas ... Three more sleeps"? She is also a fabulous flirt, has a great sense of humor, once improvised a theme song for Mr. Media, and in 12 years of doing this show, Amy is one of my favorite all-time guests. Which explains why this is her fourth appearance on Mr. Media. This time around, Amy is here to talk and sing about her favorite holiday – Christmas. She will debut her new holiday tune, “One More Sleep,” and perform one of her all-time favorite Christmas songs, “O’ Holy Night.” Joining Amy on guitar will be her producer, “Dusty Sprinkles” himself, Marty Beecroft. Amy Rose • • • •
I last interviewed rock guitarist Bobby Friss in 1988. Something his father told him and he shared with me that day about being a professional has always stated with me: “On time, in tune, and with clean hair.” Such a simple, elegant approach to guiding a career and yet so many people – especially in the world of music – don’t get it and don’t do it. Bobby Friss podcast excerpt: "Rock 'n' roll has been a great ride. I've had the ride of a lifetime. And I'm having more fun than I've ever had" I don’t know where all of the other musicians I interviewed in 1988 are today, but Bobby Friss – leader of the Bobby Friss Band – is still rockin’ in the free world, touring the nation and playing as many or more gigs a year as he did then. He is sustained by the quality of his songs and the reliability of his credo. Oh, and corporate support didn’t hurt, either, when, in 1987, Miller Genuine Draft began sponsoring the Bobby Friss Band alongside the Fabulous Thunderbirds and Del Fuegos. Bobby asked to come on the show to talk about a special charity show he will once again host to on Wednesday, December 5, 2018, from 6-10 p.m., at Quaker Steak & Lube in Pinellas Park, Florida, midway between St. Petersburg and Clearwater, Florida. In addition to the Bobby Friss Band, also playing will be violinist Robby Steinhardt (formerly of Kansas), Stormbringer, The Torpedos, Ronnie Dee, Janelle Sadler, Bobby’s brother, Ray Blade, and members of the Greg Billings Band And Highway To Hell. Legendary Tampa Bay radio personalities Russ Albums, Ron Diaz and Nick Van Cleve will be there, too. Bobby Friss •
Whatever you think you know about the 1930s origins of comic books, be prepared to learn a lot more. In her new book, "DC Comics Before Superman: Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson’s Pulp Comics," my guest today, Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson, takes comics fans on a deep dive into the earliest days of the company we now know as DC Comics, but that started life in February 1935 as National Allied Publications. National Allied was founded by Nicky’s grandfather, Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson, whose first comic was the accurately titled NEW FUN. NICKY WHEELER-NICHOLSON podcast excerpt: "The original Superman comic book script was NOT sitting around in anybody's slush pile. (Siegel & Shuster) were submitting Superman everywhere to everybody. Most people in that close-knit community knew about that script and a lot of them had already turned it down. My grandfather, Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson, thought it was amazing. It was one of the things that attracted him to Siegel & Shuster. My family's story is that my grandfather was preparing Action #1 when the company was taken from him." I learned all this just from the book’s foreword, written by one of the genre’s greatest modern masters as an artist and historian, Jim Steranko. This book is both a history lesson and a repository of rare covers and interior pages published by the Major from 1935-38, most of it extremely rare and almost impossible to find in its original form. The book is so cool that my wife, not a regular comic book reader, can’t wait for this interview to be done so she can get back to reading it herself. Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson • • • • Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson • • •
Derek Hallquist grew up the son of a man who believed fervently in the importance of modernizing and protecting America’s energy grid. As a child and teen, Derek followed his dad to energy-producing plants, learning about turbines, kilowatt hours and renewable sources of energy, a particular obsession of his father David’s. They even lived in a house adjacent to a hydroelectric dam. When Derek became a filmmaker, he began a passion project: documenting his father’s commitment to clean energy and educating his fellow Vermonters about America’s power grid. That was interesting, sure. Christine Hallquist podcast excerpt: "I was age 11 and my mom dressed me up as Little Bo Peep. I said to my mom, 'I want to be a girl.' And she told me, 'Never say that again!' June the tone of her voice -- I guess I would never tell anybody again. I later found out they put people in mental institutions at that time for gender dysphoria." But at some point in the process, David Hallquist decided he could no longer keep his greatest secret: in his heart of hearts, David Hallquist was a woman. Christine Hallquist. It’s not as unusual today to learn that someone we thought we knew as a straight man – such as the former Olympic decathlon champion Bruce Jenner – or a straight woman, is actually gay or lesbian or bisexual or even transgender. Today, Christine Hallquist is a trans-woman. But unlike most people who transition in private, Christine’s life-changing moments were captured by her son in a rapidly changing documentary that Derek titled Denial. Search your memory. The name “Christine Hallquist” might ring a bell, because on November 6, 2018, she was the Democratic Party nominee for Governor of Vermont. And while she didn’t win, she broke many barriers in the process and attracted nearly 40 percent of the total vote against a popular Republican incumbent. We’ve got a lot to talk about. Christine Hallquist • •
You think you know a guy! For as long as I have lived in St. Petersburg, Florida, I have been friends with Jeff Morris, the proprietor of my favorite local used bookstore and comics shop, . It’s a business that was started by his mother and which he successfully continued, after her, for decades. JEFF MORRIS/R.W. MARCUS podcast excerpt: "Anybody that does role-playgames (RPG) or has been a gamester knows you put an incredible amount of backstory and biography in. In an RPG, the players have free will. I got frustrated with that; I didn't want players to screw up these characters. If anybody was going to screw them up, it was going to be me!" Today, Wilson’s Bookworld continues under the third-generation ownership of Jeff’s daughter, Michelle Merkling Jenquin, freeing up Jeff to pursue his long-denied second career: writing pulp fantasy noir! Under the pen name of R.W. Marcus, one of St. Petersburg’s favorite sons just published The Fate of Tomorrow: Tales of the Annigan Cycle, Book One. It’s the story of an unlikely group of heroic anti-heroes that combines the far-out landscapes and civilizations you might expect from J.R.R. Tolkien with the outlandish characters of James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy. I liked it so much that I published it under the Mr. Media Books imprint. Book Two is already written and expected by Christmas 2018, with the final installment of the trilogy due in 2019. I hope you’ll consider ordering The Fate of Tomorrow wherever you buy or download books and enter the land of the Annigan Cycle with us. Jeff Morris • • R.W. Marcus • • •
There is something special about Roger Nygard. He leads two very different lives in Hollywood: by day, he’s been a video editor on top comedy series such as “Curb Your Enthusiasm” with Larry David, “Veep” with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and most recently, he was part of Sacha Baron Cohen’s team on the politically explosive Showtime series, “Who Is America?” He also worked on “Crashing” with Pete Holmes, “The League,” “The Office” and “The Bernie Mac Show.” Roger Nygard podcast excerpt: "In 'The Truth About Marriage,' I set out to find out what the secret techniques are. Why is it so hard for people to be married? Why does it have to be so difficult? How can we make it better? But by night, Nygard is a highly successful documentary filmmaker. His natural curiosity, ear for dialogue and gentle demeanor has led to several wonderful documentaries. They include: • Trekkies (and Trekkies 2), about the singular sensation of Star Trek fans; • The Nature of Existence, about, well, everything; • And his latest, The Truth About Marriage—also self-explanatory—which he just wrapped a few weeks ago. Roger Nygard podcast excerpt: "It's bizarre how Sacha Baron Cohen (on 'Who Is America?') can get people to do what they do. But if you put somebody who presents as an authoritative figure in a room and fully commits to it, people generally fall in line. And they did with him -- in every scenario. He's always got a car ready to take him away from the set just in case ..." This is Roger’s fourth visit to Mr. Media. I encourage you to watch or listen to his earlier appearances after this one. Roger Nygard • • • • • • The Truth About Marriage
I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that Mark Malkoff is probably the most and best prepared podcast host in the world. If you’ve ever listened to his show, “The Carson Podcast,” you know what I’m talking about. Rarely will you hear Malkoff say, “I didn’t know that,” in reference to something his guest says. More likely, as comedian Bob Saget did, Mark will be reminding them about something from their lives that they either forgot or didn’t think anyone knew about them. With its singular focus on the career of the late Johnny Carson, host of “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” – and Mark is always careful to say the show’s full name, so I will be, too—“The Carson Podcast” is the essence of a great podcast. In a beach of sand, Malkoff takes each Carson-related grain and puts it under a magnifying glass. MARK MALKOFF podcast excerpt: "I still have so many questions! People ask me if I'm running out of guests but I still have 200 people on my guest list. People like the big names, but the most emails I get are about the people behind the scenes at 'The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,' people that have never talked publicly about working on the show. They loved the man." He has landed some of the biggest names in show business, whether in front of or behind the camera, from Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner to Barry Diller and Rick Ludwin. But he also goes deep into the lives and experience of people who worked on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” and Carson Productions. If I could only recommend one episode of “The Carson Podcast” from its now five-year run, it would have to be his conversation with actress Kate Capshaw, star of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and wife of Steven Spielberg. She rarely consents to be interviewed about anything, but when she agreed to speak with Malkoff, she let it all hang out. If you want to know more about Malkoff – who has worked on the staffs of “The Colbert Report, “The Late Show with David Letterman” and the original “Who Wants to Be A Millionaire” with Regis Philbin, check out his Wikipedia page. You won’t be disappointed. To quote Mark, “Enjoy!” The Carson Podcast Mark Malkoff • • • • • • •
(Note to listeners: We make every effort to post celebrity interviews in a timely manner. Unfortunately, ABC canceled its freshman drama, My Generation, after just two weeks. But rather than shelve this conversation with two of its stars, we're posting it anyway because they seemed like genuinely nice kids.) If you’re a network executive or a TV producer and you’re looking for dramatic concepts that could reach the widest possible audiences, you might consider common touchstones that bring people together. So immediately rule out religion and politics. DANIELLA ALONSO podcast excerpt: "I've always wanted to pursue acting since I was a little girl. But I went to an all-girls, Catholic high school in New York City so no one was really into the arts. I wasn't too verbal about my interest then." What does that leave? High school. In ABC’s ensemble drama “My Generation,” the producers have taken the documentary format that has worked so well for sitcoms such as “The Office” and “Modern Family” and adapted it to the hour-long form. The conceit at work here is that a documentary filmmaker interviewed a group of high school graduates way back in 2000 — !! — about their hopes and dreams and is catching up with them and recording their lives as they really turned out in 2010. As with your life or mine, the results are neither black or white but messy piles of grey. Joining me today to talk about the show, which airs Thursdays at 8 p.m., are Daniella Alonso, who plays DC lawyer “Brenda Serrano,” and Michael David-Stahl, a Hawaii-based surf bum who just discovered he has a 9-year-old son. Daniella Alonso • • Michael Stahl-David • • •
Book titles are a bit deceiving. I received Cristina Alger’s third novel, The Banker’s Wife, and figured it would literally be a thriller about a banker’s wife. And it is – to a point. But I came away from it excited about the story of a female journalist, Marina Tourneau, who is far more interesting and pivotal than the title character. I want to go on ride-alongs with that reporter, who was Maggie Haberman, Andrea Mitchell and Nicolle Wallace all rolled up in one. This is a terrific work of continent-hopping fiction and I love the way the character of Marina comes to dominate the narrative and never becomes a victim, never plays the “woman card,” and never needs to turn to a man to fix things for her. CRISTINA ALGER podcast excerpt: "One of the things that struck me when I was researching The Panama Papers was it was such an heroic and noble effort on the part of all these journalists who realized the story was too big for any one person ... I was so impressed by that; so many of these people risked their lives to do this." Screw that. I understand that The Banker’s Wife is a sequel of sorts to Cristina’s first novel, The Darlings, which I probably would not have been interested in based on the title alone, but now I want to go back and read it for a deeper understanding of the characters in The Banker’s Wife. Cristina Alger • • • • •
I’m not a big advocate of cheating to get ahead in life. But let’s face it, these are not normal times. So I’m willing to consider options that were previously anathema to a good two-shoes like myself. Enter Jeff Kreisler, an old friend of the Mr. Media Radio show and the author of the new book, . In this manual to the easy life, Jeff kicks ethics to the curb and puts readers on the fast track to mastering scams, frauds, steroids and public relations. JEFF KREISLER podcast excerpt: "The easy way to know that A-Rod is cheating is that he's wearing a Yankees uniform. That, right there, is the sign of the Devil." This is Jeff’s second appearance here; the rising humorist also came on to talk about My Wall Street Journal, on which he was an editor. Jeff Kreisler • • • • • •
Here are two pop culture references I never thought I’d make in the same sentence: ABC-TV’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and Grammy Award winner Ashanti. But this Sunday, the delicate, carefully crafted singer will be a special guest star alongside the sometimes shrill Ty Pennington as “Extreme Makeover.” Sounds crazy, right? ASHANTI podcast excerpt: "Delores Powell has such a power about her, a strength. For me to be able to do something positive for her, it was a blessing... Who can sit back and watch without doing anything?" What’s a beautiful girl like her doing on a construction site with the likes of him? Good question! Let’s find out. Ashanti • • • • •
If you’re going to come on this show and talk to Mr. Media, you probably couldn’t be hurt by spending a little time reading the blog of a guy who calls himself “Mr. Media Training.” We may sound alike in name, but Brad Phillips and I really serve two completely different purposes – and we’ve got the individually trademarked names to prove it. BRAD PHILLIPS podcast excerpt: "During the run of the presidential campaign, candidates are lucky to get three or four hours of sleep. As a result, they are more prone to gaffes... I expect we will see a major gaffe every two or three weeks." While I quiz celebrities, pop culture stars and media newsmakers about their latest projects, hoping they’ll say something newsworthy, Phillips – as Mr. Media Training – has made a career out of teaching this same class of folks how to toe the line and avoid embarrassing faux pas. His business clients – and readers of his popular blog at MrMediaTraining.com – turn to him for guidance on how to stay out of public relations problems and keep the focus on their work. In recent months, the Mr. Media Training blog has attracted a growing readership thanks to Philiips observations and advice on everything from “12 Things 1980s Music Can Teach Public Speakers” to the “5 Tactics Reporters Use to Intimidate You.” He’s also been known to opine on troubled celebrities such as Charlie Sheen and politicians caught letting their really opinions loose when they didn’t know their microphones were still on. His job, basically, is to tell you had to talk to guys like me. My preference? You ignore him completely and let your real thoughts flow! Mr. Media Training • • •
Name me one female character on TV who can dish out abuse as well as "Entourage" character Dana Gordon and still look really, really hot. No, I can't think of anyone else, either. CONSTANCE ZIMMER podcast excerpt: "Dana would marry E., f--- Vince and kill Ari. But she would want to do it to get ahead." As the former randy girlfriend of super-agent Ari Gold and now his frequent nemesis on the HBO comedy, Dana Gordon's scenes on the show are always funny. Sure, the writers get credit for some brilliant dialogue, but it might not sell as well with someone other than actress Constance Zimmer delivering these one-liners often aimed directly at Ari's ego-centric crotch. ("Entourage" returns for its final season in July.) Now Zimmer is getting an opportunity at being up front and center in a new hour-long romantic comedy that NBC has rolled out for summer viewing, "Loves Bites." On the show, Constance plays Colleen, who is happily married to tattoo artist Judd, played by another familiar TV face, Greg Grunberg, formerly of "Heroes." Also starring on the show are Becki Newton of "Ugly Betty," Michele Trachtenberg of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," Frances Conroy of "Six Feet Under" and a series of "Mother Lover" videos on "Saturday Night Live," and Kurtwood Smith of "That '70s Show" and "Worst Week." Constance Zimmer
Who’s the mark? I don’t think it’s me, although I may have gotten White Collar star Matt Bomer here under a false premise – that I wanted to only talk to “Bonds. James Bonds” about his current show on USA Network. MATT BOMER podcast excerpt: "I think Bryce Larkin would have a lot to say about (Chuck and Sarah getting married). But I think, ultimately, he'd understand." The truth? If you’re listening to this show, you already know; I’m a huge fan of NBC’s “Chuck,” the show where Bomer first made his big career splash as Bryce Larkin, the superspy that turned Chuck Bartkowski into the Intersect. He was also Sarah’s boyfriend. And now, with Chuck and Sarah on the verge of becoming engagement, I suspect Bryce will find his way back into their lives, even momentarily. But I’ve got to fill in around the edges to get the prize: "White Collar," now in its second season, airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m., only on USA. And one more thing: Brett Ratner was right and Bryan Singer was wrong; Matt Bomer would have made a great Superman. So if Bomer talks about “Chuck,” he’s the mark. If he’ll only talk about “White Collar,” I guess that’ll teach me. Matt Bomer • •
Merlin exists to protect Prince Arthur, the young Pendragon, until he becomes king and magic is returned to the realm. Life in the days before Camelot were complicated that way. BRADLEY JAMES podcast excerpt: "Anthony Head and I play father and son. And it seems to be that dynamic off-set as well in that I seem to annoy him in a son-like way. He feigns annoyance but I think he appreciates it." Today I’m joined by Bradley James, the young man who plays Arthur, the future king of the realm, on the Syfy series, “Merlin.” The show—which aired last summer on NBC—is back with 13 new episodes beginning April 2 at 10 p.m. on SyFy. James is a relative newcomer to television, but his good looks and natural athleticism quickly made him a popular star of genre TV. Bradley James • •
As a Tampa Bay Rays fan, I wish we had a stadium as beautiful and legendary as Boston’s Fenway Park. But I take solace in knowing that just 13 years into its life as home of the Red Sox, even Fenway had its faults, right? Like Frommer’s previous book – Remembering Yankee Stadium – Remembering Fenway Park: An Oral and Narrative History of the Home of the Boston Red Sox captures all the pageantry, successes and humiliation that make a ballpark a home for legions and generations of fans. HARVEY FROMMER podcast excerpt: "The Red Sox people in charge knew of me as the guy wrote all this Yankees stuff. Red Sox Nation welcomed me. I never met a group of fans or players as nice as I met in Boston. My wife said, 'Why don't you convert?' ... Nobody believes me, but I love the Red Sox!" In his now familiar style of patching together a quilt of memories from ballplayers, managers, executives, fans and sportswriters alike, Frommer unwinds all the drama and even some of the silliness – I’m looking at you Manny Rodriguez, relieving yourself behind the scoreboard during a lull in the action – that gives character to concrete and steel. I’m not a Red Sox fan, but if I were, I’d want to find a copy of Remembering Fenway Park under my pillow in time for opening day.
Dennis Kucinich is a brave man. Whatever else you may think of the five-term Congressman from Ohio’s 10th district, only a fool would deny his courage in running for Cleveland City Council before he was 21, running and being elected mayor of that city when he was 31, and is perhaps best known nationally for taking a crack at running for president in the Democratic primaries this past year and running well. Kucinich didn’t win a lot of votes, but he made an impression with his passion and forthrightness and, you might say, went so far as establish himself as a brand name of sorts, one that stands for the courage to speak your mind. Not coincidentally, he’s written a book called The Courage to Survive, that fills the rest of us in on a life story that only the people of Cleveland knew of before. In this interview, Kucinich discusses his book, why he introduced an Article of Impeachment against President George W. Bush this week, why he thinks the U.S. Government will pursue criminal charges against Bush and Dick Cheney when their term expires in January 2009, and what Barack Obama is really like. Dennis Kucinich • • • • • • Elizabeth Kucinich • • •
When Billy Bob Thornton was on this show a few years ago, I figured I was one Kevin Bacon degree removed from my first X-Man—Halle Berry. When today is done, I’ll still be one degree of separation away from Storm, but I’ll have interviewed my first real X-Man, Shawn Ashmore, who played “Iceman” in all three X-Men films. SHAWN ASHMORE podcast excerpt: "My first day was that first scene with Anna Paquin on the bench. I was so nervous. Before the first take, it felt huge. My knees were knocking. The movie cane out and it was a big success, and that was cool. I got a call two months before X2 started shooting and Bryan Singer said, 'I really want you to play Bobby again.' I read through the script, going through the pages and I was like, 'Oh, man. I'm really in this one!'" (And now I’ll also be one degree of separation away from Anna Paquin, who played “Rogue” in the the X movies and whose character dated Ashmore’s character. So I got that goin’ for me.) Ashmore returned to the big screen this winter as the star of Frozen, which had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January. It’s the story of three friends who get stuck on a ski lift when it shuts down for the night. Shawn Ashmore • • • • • •
The hours on film sets can be long and, on indie films, the pay isn’t exactly going to leave even a star set for life. But the magic of movie making does create opportunities to do things that might never occur in real life, like flying really cool planes at high speeds and pulling off some crazy stunts. BRANDON QUINN podcast excerpt: "Oh, man! I remember coming home once, halfway through shooting. I looked at my wife and said, 'I don't want this one to end.' I had such a good time working on Kill Speed, being around jets and planes made it a tremendous experience.." That’s the thrill ride handed to actor Brandon Quinn and his co-stars in the new Kim Bass movie, Kill Speed. It’s a terrific flight through the clouds told with all the things a guy could ask for: fast jets, pretty girls, explosions and humor at just the right moments. Quinn, who plays “Rainman” in Kill Speed, is a husband and father whose biggest break to date was on “Entourage” where he played the boyfriend of Rex Lee’s character, “Lloyd.” He also starred alongside Treat Williams in the short-lived Lifetime series “Against the Wall.” Brandon Quinn •
If you’re a pro or college football fan and you haven’t yet read Pete Williams’ landmark investigation of the NFL draft—simply titled, The Draft—you’re not quite the fan you think you are. Williams went behind the scenes not just of draft day but of the entire process, interviewing pro scouts, coaches and GMs as well as college coaches, highly touted players and their agents to produce an incredibly revealing portrait of how things really work in the land of million-dollar bonus babies. PETE WILLIAMS podcast excerpt: "The NFL draft is a year-long process that begins now; the scouts will be digging in on the 2011 draft in a few weeks. It's nothing they just start in January with the Senior Bowl. They have at least one eye on these players as soon as they start showing potential, which for a lot of these guys could be their freshman or junior years." If that’s all Williams ever produced, it would be a pretty good career of which to boast. But he’s also written five Core Performance books with Phoenix-Arizona-based athletic trainer Mark Verstegen, the latest of which is Core Performance Women. Pete Williams • • • • • •
I live very close to Tampa Bay and every day brings at least two or three opportunities to experience it via Coffee Pot Bayou near downtown St. Petersburg. I can see a lot of wildlife if I periodically glance out to the beautiful blue waters of the bay – manatees, dolphins, sea birds of every kind, kayakers, canoe enthusiasts, pleasure boaters and lately, stand-up paddle boarders. Pete Williams podcast excerpt: "In standup paddleboarding, you're challenging your body from a core standpoint -- your hips, your midsection. You're pulling, you're generating rotational movement. You're challenging your balance by working on that unstable surface. It's as effective as anything." The first dozen times I saw them out there, feet planted on what looks like a surfboard as the gentle paddle along, it looked like one of the nuttiest things I’d ever scene. Although, I have to admit, it’s a lot more inviting than para-sailing! This is not a sport for me, but when I learned that my friend – and frequent Mr. Media guest – Pete Williams, had helped standup paddle board expert Brody Welte write a vook – an ebook with video – about the subject called , I thought it would be fun to talk about it here. And stick with us – we’re not going to just talk; Pete – the author of and co-author of the book series with Mark Verstegen – is going to go out there in Coffee Pot Bayou, and give us a demonstration of paddleboard exercise tips. Pete Williams • • • •
Once you know actor Reggie Lee’s face and name, you’re going to think he’s everywhere. Seriously, after he appeared on Mr. Media a year ago to talk about his role on the summer series “Persons Unknown,” it seemed like a week didn’t go by without seeing him pop up in a movie or TV show I was watching. REGGIE LEE podcast excerpt: "My character in Grimm, Sgt. Wu, is a very, very dry, sardonic guy, which I love to play. I'm excited for people to see that." Earlier this week, in fact, before this interview was scheduled, my wife and daughter and I ordered the Steve Carrell movie Crazy Stupid Love. And at one point I said, “Oh, look, it’s Reggie Lee! He was on Mr. Media last year!” To which they replied they were really tired of me saying that at least once a week. Reggie, who is quite a pleasant fellow, is here today to talk about his role as a Portland police officer in the new NBC series “Grimm,” which is loosely adapted from the classic fairytales. Where else do you know him from? Let’s see: Fox’s “Prison Break”? ABC’s “No Ordinary Family”? How about Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End? Tropic Thunder? Or the movie I promised to watch but still haven’t, Drag Me To Hell? And where will he be next? Ask Batman: Reggie’s been cast in The Dark Knight Rises. He'll also be in Safe with Jason Statham. Reggie Lee • • • • • •
I have to admit I was a little surprised at all the films and TV shows where actor Reggie Lee has appeared. REGGIE LEE podcast excerpt: "The trailer for Drag Me to Hell shows it as a creepy, scary film. Don't let it scare you. There's so much humor involved. If you know Sam Raimi's work, there's so much grossness with the horror and humor--it's like a whole 'nother genre." Before his current run in the limited NBC Saturday night series “Persons Unknown,” the Philippines-born Lee was a regular on Fox’s “Prison Break.” He also appeared in J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek” reboot, Sam Raimi’s horror film Drag Me to Hell, in the second and third Pirates of the Caribbean films, and with Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder. And that’s just the tip of the Reggie Lee iceberg. Reggie Lee • • • • • •
The life of young adult novelist Sara Zarr has changed dramatically in the last three years, following publication of her first book, Story of a Girl. That book led her to be a finalist for the 2007 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. She didn’t win, but as I told her in our first interview, the morning after the awards, she might have been better off without that first book pressure. And she never did hit a sophomore jinx: her second work, Sweethearts, was every bit as good and clever as book #1. SARA ZARR podcast excerpt: "Can what I believe stand up to my questions about it? It was really challenging material. It pushed me in every way as a writer." Now book #3, the just published Once Was Lost, confirms Zarr’s talents as an inventive storyteller of consistent and lasting talent. And this is a very different story than her first two; forget about this writer taking the easy, familiar path. This is Sara Zarr’s third appearance on Mr. Media Radio, making her the first guest to return so many times. Sara Zarr • • • •
I had no idea how messed up HLN “Issues” host Jane Velez-Mitchell once was. This is not news to readers of her last book, iWant, but I somehow missed that revealing tome, only to get a version of the story in the early going of her new work, Addict Nation: An Intervention for America. JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL podcast excerpt: "We are trying to consume our way to happiness. And its making us miserable. Back when I was drinking, I would have a rough day, I thought alcohol was my solution. Turned out alcohol was the problem. Once I gave up alcohol, I became happy, joyous and free." Jane jumps right into her own struggles on page one, which takes her a home in the hills of Los Angeles, where she was startled to realize, “Hey, that’s the place I hit bottom fifteen years ago.” Apparently that was the night she was carried out on somebody’s shoulder in an alcoholic blackout. Got your attention now, right? I think that was the idea. Addict Nation divides the participants in America’s addictions to everything from pills and alcohol to guns and sugar into twelve chapters that start with “The Stuffers: Addicted to Consumption” and ends with “The Sobers: Emotional Sobriety.” Velez-Mitchell and co-author Sandra Mohr tackle addiction by producing a high-tech, graduate-level research report on the subject. Jane Velez-Mitchell • • • • • •
On the NBC freshman sitcom hit “Community,” Donald Glover plays “Troy,” a self-involved, former high school football star trying to find a place for himself in a junior college setting where his athletic accomplishments don’t mean much. On the other hand, the pretty young girl in his study group, Annie—played by Alison Brie—thinks Troy can do anything. Anything with her, that is. DONALD GLOVER Interview Excerpt: "When I was writing at '30 Rock,' sometimes Tracy Morgan couldn't make it and they'd have me do my Tracy imitation at the table read. Marcy Klein, a producer on '30 Rock' and 'Saturday Night Live,' asked me to audition for 'SNL.' It moved to doing bit parts on '30 Rock' and doing my own standup before 'Community.'" What may surprise fans of the show to learn, however, is that Glover was previously best known as a comedy writer. He was a writer and executive story editor for “30 Rock,” sharing Writers Guild of America awards with the staff for best comedy series three years running—not usually the most direct line to starring in a sitcom. The Community actor also wrote, scored, produced and stars in the movie, Mystery Team. Donald Glover • • •
Okay, fanboys today’s your lucky day—if you don’t mind living vicariously through me. My guest is Laura Vandervoort, one of the most stunning young women with a virtually unpronounceable name since Paulina Porizkova. LAURA VANDERVOORT podcast excerpt: "I'm wearing pink sweatpants and a black tank top. Not that exciting. I wish I could say, like, my Supergirl outfit or something." She plays Lisa, a recruiter for the Visitors on ABC’s new edition of the sci-fi series, “V,” alongside some of TV’s equally stunning ladies, including “Firefly” star Morena Baccarin, who plays her mother, Anna, leader of the Visitors, and “Lost” veteran Elizabeth Mitchell in the role of a kick-ass FBI agent. Before this, Laura played Kal-El’s cousin, Kara—you know, Supergirl—on The WB’s long-running show “Smallville.” Laura Vandervoort • • • • • • •
I was a little nervous about the publication of Jonah Keri’s new book, The Extra 2%: How Wall Street Strategies Took a Major League Baseball Team from Worst to First. Why? Because up until today, the book most often associated with the former Tampa Bay Devil Rays was my own first book, Stadium For Rent: Tampa Bay’s Quest for Major League Baseball. It was published in 1993. Going forward, I think Keri’s book will be the one that captures the renamed Tampa Bay Rays franchise and will be remembered for the recognition it brought to the business – and baseball -- management philosophy developed by Stuart Sternberg, Matt Silverman and Andrew Friedman. JONAH KERI podcast excerpt: "Tropicana Field is, charitably, a dump. It has fewer people within a 30-minute drive of any other stadium in baseball. It's a big problem. And the economy is not great in Missouri or Pennsylvania, but I think it's better than it is in the Tampa Bay area." The Extra 2% is this year’s version of Moneyball, the book about how the Oakland A’s made more from less. It’s a book with a real story, a beginning, middle and end, heroes and goats, and a pretty happy conclusion for any baseball fan but us Rays fans in particular. I hearby cede the title of author of best book about the Tampa Bay baseball franchise to Jonah Keri. Read excerpts: GQ: DEADSPIN: ESPN.com: Jonah Keri • • •
Everybody knows at least one MC5 song – and that would be “Kick Out the Jams,” mofo. Know more? Points to you, my friend. In 1969, the year when “Kick Out the Jams” was released, there was a lot of competition for attention in rock ‘n’ roll: • David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” was released, as was the first album by The Stooges. • Creedence Clearwater Revival released “Proud Mary,” “Bad Moon Rising” and “Fortunate Son.” • Elvis Presley returned to the stage and had huge hits with “In the Ghetto” and “Suspicious Minds.” • Led Zeppelin and the Jackson 5 released their first albums and The Who released “Tommy.” • All that, plus The Beatles performed live for the last time, Charles Manson’s followers murdered Sharon Tate, Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, the Mets wons the World Series, and I was in Mrs. Arnesan’s 4th grade class at Judd Elementary. WAYNE KRAMER podcast excerpt: "I think The MC5 always resonated with other bands and other musicians first. Stephen King says, "We all write for one other person.' Well, musicians always play for other musicians. We want to impress each other first. The MC5 was a musician's band, so musicians have always given The MC5 their props and kept the band alive." All of which made me wonder if Wayne Kramer, guitarist of the MC5, ever forgave Rolling Stone critic Lester Bangs for calling Kick Out the Jams (the album) a “ridiculous, overbearing, pretentious album.” Certainly the magazine had second thoughts: years later it named it one of the 500 best albums of all times. And Rolling Stone called Kramer, my guest today, one of 100 greatest guitarists of all time. This year, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Kick Out the Jams, Kramer is back on the road. And the guitarist has written a memoir, The Hard Stuff: Dope, Crime, The MC5 & My Life of Impossibilities. Wayne Kramer and The MC5 • • • • • •
I was a little nervous when I received an email from Jane Friedman, the publisher of magazine and books. She was responding to my interview with one of her authors, Mike Sacks, the author of And Here’s the Kicker: Conversations with 21 Top Humor Writers on Their Craft. Sacks was unhappy with a number of things about the way Writer's Digest published his book and wasn’t shy abut discussing it. I thought Friedman was going to give me an earful about what a sack Sacks was and how neither of us understood anything about publishing decisions. Much to both of our surprise, she actually agreed with a number of the things we discussed and was interested in continuing the conversation. I was only too happy to do so; this show, after all, has hosted conversations with the editors and publishers of Smithsonian, Playboy, Success, Cooking Light and many others. JANE FRIEDMAN podcast excerpt: "You could see the change in our magazine as well as the books we published over the last 10 years. We actually felt this affect long before we saw it coming up in the industry as far as newspapers and magazines closing. Our books and articles on freelance work, newspaper journalism, magazine journalism, those sales were falling off dramatically. But what was selling was anything related to novel writing, finding an agent, anything more creative writing related... Most people aspire to write a novel. That's where our market has shifted." And, as a guy who makes his living writing books and magazine articles, I certainly have an interest in the topic. As for Jane Friedman, she is publisher and editorial director of the Writer's Digest community at F+W Media in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she oversees all facets of the Writer's Digest brand, including Writer's Digest magazine, Writer’s Digest Books, annual market guides, online education, events, and competitions. Her blog, discusses how writers can succeed in an era of change in the writing and publishing industry. Jane Friedman • •
I’m an aging white guy with no natural rhythm, but I love to watch people who are lucky enough to have it and know how to use it. ANDREA LIN podcast excerpt: "Dancing should be part of a lifestyle: anyone, in any shape, at any age. Have fun!" If you can dance, I will forever be envious of you. So you might imagine that I enjoy watching today’s guest, Andrea Lin, a great deal. She is the host and star of an instructional series of DVDs called “Dance A GoGo.” The latest is the “Dance A GoGo: Sexy Nightclub Workout Series” in which Andrea and some of her beautiful friends demonstrate moves that will not only get attention in the clubs but sure you a good time while working out at home.In addition to the DVD series, Andrea is organizing Dance A GoGo bootcamps at Studio City in Los Angeles and Rancho Cucamonga’s Inland Empire. And she demonstrates some of her moves in this exclusive Mr. Media TV episode. I think I need a cool drink already. Andrea Lin • •
In another generation, Faith Ford could have been the star of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” She’s got that same TV spunk. But being recognized for nearly a decade of fine work as ditzy Corky Sherwood on the TV news satire “Murphy Brown” worked out pretty well for her as she got to nurture the character all the way from airhead to featherweight. FAITH FORD podcast excerpt: "I got offered to be a grandmother in something. I said, 'C'mon, be real!' I have to at least go into my 50s to do that." From there she moved into a headlining situation, co-starring with Kelly Ripa – you know, of “Regis & Kelly” – on an ABC sitcom, “Hope & Faith.” They played sisters on that show, which ran for three years. I’d like to say something clever about it, but, um, I never saw it. Sorry, Faith. If only I’d known that one day we’d be sitting on opposite ends of a phone line, you can betcha I would have watched! Anyway, Faith Ford is back on network TV with a new NBC movie, Field of Vision. She plays a mom of two teens who get involved with an old malfunctioning video camera. But I’ll let her set it up. Faith Ford • •
I won’t lie to you – when I was approached to interview singer Charlene Kaye, the light didn’t go on until I discovered that she frequently collaborates on music with Darren Criss. Criss I recognized – my 14-year-old son and his friends knew him from a 2009 series of viral YouTube music videos known as “A Very Potter Musical.” Criss plays Harry Potter in the parody – and he’s quite good in the role. Every teen girl I know knows every word to the “Potter Musical” songs and freaked out when Criss joined the cast of "Glee." (My son, in fact, had never been interested in the Fox show before he heard Criss was on it.) CHARLENE KAYE podcast excerpt: "He's just so charismatic. He handles himself so gracefully. People were swarming him at the Grammys. Everybody wanted a piece of Darren Criss... And it was not bad to be arm candy for Darren Criss. It was amazing." Now, it can be a publicist’s boon or bust when pitching a client based on with whom she hangs out. Because if the less-well-known artist doesn’t have the goods, she will falter by comparison. Not Charlene Kaye. This young woman has one of the richest, most engaging voices I’ve heard in years. She has a striking style, confidence, and delivery. Charlene just finished playing multiple dates at the 2011 South By Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, and is working on her second album with her band, The Brilliant Eyes. Want to hear the future of music? Forget American Idol — support Charlene Kaye! Charlene Kaye • • • • • •
Everybody needs a niche and Elizabeth Fournier has one. She’s America’s friendly, neighborhood mortician. She also has a color. Green. As in, Elizabeth Fournier is America’s green mortician, writing books and spreading the word that funerals and burials need not be expensive, anti-environmental affairs. She recently published her third book, The Green Burial Guidebook: Everything You Need to Plan an Affordable, Environmentally Friendly Burial. And it is exactly that, an easy-to-follow plan for ecologically friendly burials, whether carried out by your local mortician or at home. ELIZABETH FOURNIER podcast excerpt: "For people who have always recycled and brought their cans back to the store for money and who worry about cloth bags, they have a choice which is a little bit more equal to them when they die. Think about all of the resources that we get buried with and that get put in the ground. Think about all the metal caskets we put in the ground annually. We could be rebuilding a Golden Gate Bridge every year!" This may not be everybody’s favorite topic, but it is thought-provoking; I know it’s got me thinking about what instructions I will leave behind. I am also curious to talk to Elizabeth about pushing green burials at a time when the Trump Administration is treating the environment as Public Enemy No. 2 – second only to the news media. This is Elizabeth’s second visit to Mr. Media. She was last here in 2009 to talk about her first book "All Men Are Cremated Equal: My 77 Blind Dates." One of those dates may have panned out; she has since married and has a daughter. And she also wrote a second book, "The Green Reaper: Memoirs of an Eco-Mortician." Elizabeth Fournier •
I graduated from the University of Florida in Gainesville in 1982 and, to be honest, I was glad to be done. I never took much to life in a college town and I wasn’t one of those crazy Florida Gators. Heck, the football team was pretty bad back then and it wasn’t the great source of pride it is now. Over the last X-number of years—and you can do the math if you care to—I’ve come to appreciate my collegiate heritage a great deal more and become a pretty big fan of those Florida Gator football teams. KEVIN McCARTHY podcast excerpt: "The reason that the St. John's River flows north instead of south, as you know, is that Georgia sucks. I wrote a book about the St. John's River and included that in the front but the publisher took it out." My son’s even got his heart set on attending UF. So how could I pass up the opportunity to give Kevin McCarthy this forum to promote his new book, Historic Photos of Florida Football? McCarthy has written 43 books and spent 33 years as a teacher of linguistics and writing at the school. Kevin McCarthy
It’s not pleasant when a man’s good fortune comes at the hands of another man’s loss. What would you call it when you’re the author of a new book about a Motown act, Diana Ross and The Supremes, that fizzled out more than 35 years ago—but another Motown star of that era, Michael Jackson, dies the week before your years of research are published, making your book front and center? MARK RIBOWSKY podcast excerpt: "Very loathsome—that's the thing everybody talks about—even before The Supremes were popular. Even back then, (Diana Ross) was getting on people's nerves left and right, saying what she was going to be. This was an obsessed woman, even when they were nobodies. Everybody laughed at her—but who had the last laugh, right? There would never have been a Supremes without her as the lead singer." Mark Ribowsky didn’t know Jackson was going to die, of course, and he certainly didn’t know Jackson’s will would name Diana Ross the likely guardian of his three children. The Supremes: A Saga of Motown Dreams, Success, and Betrayal is not the first biography of the ultimate girl group, but it probably won’t be hurt by it’s timing. Mark Ribowsky • • •
When did the TV show become such a piece of irrefutable Americana? Probably when the first bar of “Bad Boys” played, back in 1988. It was the original docu-reality series when it debuted on Fox more than 20 years ago and took viewers for their first ride-along with the men and women of America’s big city and small town police departments. One minute it was a thrill ride, the next a fall-off-your-seat laugh riot. The things these bad boys did! MORGAN LANGLEY podcast excerpt: "This is a hard show to do. We've got 14 crews working at any given time all across the country. We don't re-create anything; we don't simulate anything. Because of that, we really have to grind this thing out. Crews work 10-hour days in the back of a police car, eight weeks in each city. The turnover rate is pretty high." Now, as the series enters its 21st season, the next generation of producers is stepping up. Morgan Langley, son of COPS’ original producer, John Langley, joined the show as a production assistant and has risen to become a producer of this show and many other reality-based series produced by the family business. Morgan Langley • •
(NOTE FROM Mr. MEDIA: This interview was recorded before NBC canceled "Southland" last week without airing a single episode of its second season. But in the hopes it will turn up somewhere more appropriate--fX, Showtime?--I'm offering it up anyway.) Like a bad rash, Mr. Media is making his way through the entire squad room of the new NBC TV drama, Regular listeners will recall that last spring, at the end of the show’s first season, Regina King, Michael Cudlitz and Shawn Hatosy all scratch their media itch right here. And now I’m delighted to welcome Michael McGrady, who plays Detective Daniel “Sal” Salinger. Before joining “Southland,” one of the breakthrough dramatic hits of last season, McGrady appeared opposite Taye Diggs in “Day Break” and had recurring parts in “Dirty Sexy Money,” “24” and “CSI.” MICHAEL McGRADY Podcast Excerpt: "If there were any bugs or kinks that needed to be worked out, they did so over the hiatus. You've got real masterminds behind this, including John Wells and Chris Chulack. As a cast, we feel very confident that any issues we had were worked out over the summer." His film credits include "Deep End of the Ocean," "The Thin Red Line," "Hocus Pocus," and several others. He also has a life outside of acting. McGrady, along with his wife, Ilka, are co-founders of the Balanced Life Company, an international organization dedicated to helping people develop and maintain a more balanced and sustainable lifestyle. McGrady is also an accomplished fine artist who owns and operates McGrady Fine Art with his wife. Michael McGrady • • •
I have steadfastly avoided inviting soap stars to be my guests on Mr. Media Radio for a simple reason: I don’t watch soaps. Oh, I did for a year or two in the late ‘80s when my new wife was hooked on All My Children and she recorded the show daily for playback after work. But I was a newlywed then—I had an excuse. So what is Kevin G. Schmidt, who plays Noah Newman on The Young and The Restless, doing here today? KEVIN G. SCHMIDT podcast excerpt: "There’s a lot of ‘restless’ on our show, but not a lot of ‘young.’... I think what’s happening now, it’s a transition... I don’t know if Eric (Braeden)’s going anywhere, but I think this is just the show evolving and having to make some tough decisions in a tough economy.” If you have to ask, you obviously haven’t looked at the young man’s resume: two Cheaper By the Dozen movies, playing the son of Steve Martin and brother of Tom Welling and Hilary Duff; co-starring with Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato in Princess Protection Program; and episodes of everything from Numb3rs to Without a Trace. He’s also got a part in Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, due out in December 2009. I’m a lifetime Alvin fan, so that was pretty cool to me. He also stars as Justin in an online TV series, Poor Paul, which you can catch on YouTube or at . Kevin G. Schmidt • • • • •
Patrick Muldoon needs to make a decision: What does he want to be when he grows up? The man has appeared in Starship Troopers, a season of “Melrose Place” and has an upcoming role alongside Kristen Stewart of Twilight fame, so we know he can act. Isn’t that enough? PATRICK MULDOON podcast excerpt: "I didn't succeed (with Denise Richards) in the movie (Starship Troopers)—I got my brain sucked out—but off screen we were boyfriend and girlfriend." Muldoon also sings and plays guitar in a band, . They’ve even placed a song on the ABC series “Beautiful People" and have a record out on iTunes and . Isn’t being able to work in two enviable jobs enough? Again, apparently not. Patrick Muldoon/The Sleeping Masses • • • •
I could put up a bit of a fuss, but what’s the point? My guest today, Air America morning radio host Lionel, is waaaaay smarter than me. I’m not going to offer any pretense that I can battle him to even a draw in a battle of wits: I can’t. Lionel—Michael LeBron for those in the know—has been a voice heard on my radio for some 20 years. I first heard him as a frequent irritant—I mean caller—to host Bob Lassiter on WFLA 970 AM in Tampa. Sometimes, as I remember it, he agreed with Lassiter. But mostly, he drove him nuts. Lassiter was a smart guy, one who was always right—in his mind—and always smarter than his callers. But he wasn’t smarter than the law student turned lawyer who called himself “Lionel.” LIONEL podcast excerpt: "One of the greatest con jobs ever is the influence of talk radio on politics (and) society... Most people don't listen to Rush Limbaugh and couldn't care less... What societal force is this man who never wins anything he advocates?" Eventually, Lionel became a talk show host himself—anyone who heard him in those days knew it was as inevitable as Barack Obama getting the Nobel Peace Prize in his first nine months on the job—okay, more inevitable than that perhaps. He left Tampa, eventually becoming a popular host in New York City—a career opportunity that probably gave the late Bob Lassiter fits. Today, Lionel is the morning show glue that anchors the line-up at the liberal radio network known as Air America. Lionel • •
Flash Gordon. Has there ever been a cooler name or a cooler action hero anywhere? I can’t remember exactly when during the 1960s I first saw the old Universal serials repeated on television featuring Buster Crabbe as Flash, but I was hooked for life. As I grew older, I was a sucker for any medium selling “Flash Gordon” stories, whether it was comic books or that really horrible 1980 Flash Gordon movie starring Sam J. Jones, who later added another red mark on his resume by playing "The Spirit" in an ABC-TV series pilot. If you’ve never caught Flash Gordon, you owe it to yourself to track down a collection of the old movie serials or a copy of the new book, Al Williamson’s Flash Gordon: A Lifelong Vision of the Heroic. Williamson drew many of the iterations of Flash published during the last 60 years. And while Alex Raymond created the character and gave him life, it was really Williamson who brought the space-faring adventurer to life for generations of fans. MARK SCHULTZ podcast excerpt: "He's just a superior draftsman. Al has a very discerning eye for doing, especially, the human figure in proportions that are very pleasing, flowing, very heroic if you will. He does very heroic looking men and gorgeous women. And vice-versa sometimes." This beautiful new coffee table book lets Williamson’s work breathe in a large size that will dazzle and amaze you. Joining me to talk about Al Williamson’s Flash Gordon is the man who wrote the text, Mark Schultz. An artist himself, Schultz is the creator of Xenozoic Tales, a comic featuring the crazy interaction of Cadillacs and dinosaurs. In fact, it was adapted as a Saturday morning cartoon several years ago called—you guessed it—“Cadillacs and Dinosaurs.”
Think about seeing your life flashing before your eyes. Got the picture? Now think about Rick Fox’s life flashing before your eyes. First round NBA draft pick by the Boston Celtics in 1991. Seven years—and three world championships—with the Los Angeles Lakers, playing elbow-to-elbow with Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. Marriage to the most beautiful and most famous Miss America ever, Vanessa Williams. Fatherhood with the same Miss Williams, now a star on ABC’s “Ugly Betty” as Wilhelmina Slater. Did you see the part of his life flashing by in which the tall, handsome former athlete became an actor? It started with a few small parts here and there—an inmate on “Oz,” a recurring role on Courtney Cox’s “Dirt” and Angela Bassett’s love interest in Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns. RICK FOX podcast excerpt: "When you live in the bubble that is celebrity here in L.A., (everything) is reported upon. (Eliza Dushku and I) wanted to take the time to see if being in a relationship together was something we both wanted. We got past that point. We kept getting photographed together and people wanted to know. Now the curiosity, the intrigue is removed and we can go forward in life." And while Rick and Vanessa did divorce, he did appear as a guest star on her show, “Ugly Betty,” playing her bodyguard Dwayne. Next week, he debuts in the recurring role of a restaurant owner on The CW’s new version of “Melrose Place.” Speaking of actors—the latest issue of TV Guide has a picture of Fox with his long-time friend and new girlfriend, Eliza Dushku, star of Joss Whedon’s “Dollhouse” on Fox. And now he’s preparing for one more role: celebrity host of ACME Saturday Night at the ACME Comedy Theatre in Los Angeles this Saturday night, Oct. 24, @ 8 p.m. You can order tickets or watch it stream online at So Rick’s life or your life? Whose do you want to see in your final moments? I’m going with his.
If you haven’t seen actress and singer Brandy in a while, let me warn you that she is smoking hot as a young lady and a competitor on the new season of Dancing with the Stars, which begins on Monday, Sept. 20 at 9 p.m. BRANDY Podcast Excerpt: "I've always wanted to do 'Dancing With the Stars' but I'm scared to death!" As for former L.A. Laker Rick Fox, who is also on the show—he’s still very tall. And, I guess, handsome, but I’m not interested in guys. They’re both in one of the most diverse seasons ever for the show. Stepping to the cha-cha-cha this time around, you’ll find Sarah’s famous daughter, Bristol Palin, The Situation from MTV’s “Jersey Shore,” singer Michael Bolton, comedian Margaret Cho, actress Jennifer Grey, Mrs. Brady herself, Florence Henderson, NFL quarterback Kurt Warner, Audrina Partridge from “The Hills” and Kyle Massey from Disney’s “Cory in the House.” Sounds like a great bunch to have over for Thanksgiving dinner this year, doesn’t it? Rick Fox • • Brandy • •
I lived in a pretty male-centric world most of my life, idolizing certain baseball players, rock stars and even a writer or two. But when my daughter was born back in ’96, I made a marked effort to learn more about women who she might one day find influential for their achievements. High-flier Amelia Earhart always seemed like an appropriate choice. So it’s convenient that this Friday, October 23, Amelia, a new movie biography starring Hilary Swank as the aviator will open in theatres. And today I’m fortune to have the author of a new book about Earhart join me on the show. SUSAN WELS podcast excerpt: "Her husband, George Palmer Putnam, believed she had a special sensitivity. After she disappeared, he received psychic messages, mailbags full of them, from ordinary people all over the world, people who never had a psychic experience before but felt compelled. They were receiving messages from Amelia, sending them to him, saying 'I don't know what this means!' Her husband used that information to help direct the search location." Susan Wels is the author of Amelia Earhart: The Thrill Of It, an extensive coffee table photo history of a pioneer of the early days of 20th century flight. Susan Wels • • • • •
(Editor's Note: John Hawkes was nominated for the 2011 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Winter's Bone.) John Hawkes is best known for his role as Sol Star, the co-owner of the hardware store and best friend of the sheriff on the beloved, c-cksucker HBO series “Deadwood.” Hey—I don’t write these intros, folks, they just sort of write themselves. JOHN HAWKES podcast excerpt: "As a poker player I would say you've got pretty bad odds on (a 'Deadwood' movie)... I know that David Milch, the show's creator, had wanted to set the films in the future aways. So who knows? Maybe in 7, 8 years they'll round us up again and we'll do something. I always thought it would make a great feature film." But like most everybody who had a star turn on that amazing but short-lived drama, Hawkes has been busy ever since, including roles in the movies American Gangster and Miami Vice. He’s currently starring on a new HBO comedy series, “Eastbound and Down.” Hawkes also keeps busy writing and performing music with his band, King Straggler, which has played at the Sundance Film Festival and SXSW. I’ll spin one of the band’s tracks, “Good Man,” a little later in the show. (UPDATE February 2010: King Straggler's song "Good Man" was used over the end titles in an episode of TNT's "Men of a Certain Age." Also, John Hawkes joined the cast of ABC's "Lost" in the role of "Lennon" for the show's final season.) John Hawkes • •
As “Brennan,” Jay Karnes makes life miserable for Michael Weston on USA Network’s cool spy show, “Burn Notice.” He’s the first recurring bad guy to make an impact opposite the show’s regulars and it seems likely we haven’t seen the last of him. Of course, fans of “The Shield” know Karnes best as L.A.P.D. Detective Holland "Dutch" Wagenbach. JAY KARNES podcast excerpt: "Not a week goes by where I don't slip it in the ear of my wife that maybe it would be a good idea. She doesn't seem really in favorite of it. I don't know why! A little experimentation, that's all!" In , a new short film just starting to appear at film festivals, Karnes plays a vulnerable young man on a blind Internet date where the chit-chat with Ann Russo, his date, caroms from what she can tell from his shoes to whether he knows what a “Donkey Punch” is. And when he finds out that that’s what she wants from him… Jay Karnes •
CNBC anchor and reporter David Faber is my guest today. He’s the author of a new book, And Then the Roof Caved In: How Wall Street's Greed and Stupidity Brought Capitalism to Its Knees. I’m very excited for David and his new book, but first we have some old business to cover. He won’t remember this, but we met at the business channel’s Fort Lee, New Jersey, headquarters back in 2001 when I started writing a book called CNBC Profit Drivers. David was supposed to write the introduction. DAVID FABER podcast excerpt: "September 14, 2008--it was clear to me we were in the midst of something I'd never seen. You could take the three stories that occurred on that evening: AIG about to go bankrupt; Lehman Brothers going bankrupt; and Merrill Lynch being sold to Bank of America—each of those would have represented one of the bigger stories of a decade in terms of business news and they were all happening on the same night! There was nothing ever like it and there never will be anything like it." The book was finished but never published—it was cancelled the week after 9-11—but you can read it in its entirety at . But it’s still missing an official CNBC introduction. Now that I got that off my chest, let’s talk about And Then the Roof Caved In. David Faber • •
Harmony and Me, Bob Byington’s new film about a young man struggling to make sense of being dumped by his girlfriend, is being promoted as a slacker comedy. But the term that struck me—and it may be seriously dated—is “sad sacker.” The character of “Harmony”—which is a man, not a woman—is played by Justin Rice. And he is so convincingly hapless as a rejected suitor that I wanted to send him over to my mother’s house for a comforting bowl of chicken soup. A film like this succeeds, I think, when it absorbs you into the lead’s much and mire. And that, Harmony and Me does. As for filmmaker Bob Byington, his film RSO (Registered Sex Offender)—premiered at the South by Southwest festival in 2008. And he was recently awarded the Stanley Kubrick Award for “Bold and Innovative Filmmaking” at the Traverse City Film Festival. BOB BYINGTON podcast excerpt: "There's a tone to the world that landed in my lap in 2007. I wrote some of this stuff down and got it into a script. I found that the theme of the script had a universal quality. We were going to call this The Last Break-Up Movie You're Ever Going to See." Harmony and Me will have its opening night theatrical premiere at MoMA—the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan—on Friday, September 18 @ 7 p.m. Bob Byington will introduce the film and then be joined for an onstage discussion afterward by the film’s lead, Justin Rice. The film will then screen daily through Thursday, September 24. Joining Byington in this interview is Harmony and Me actress and producer Kristen Tucker. In the film, she plays Jessica, the woman who dumps Harmony and bursts his heart in a million, billion pieces, setting the action in motion. Harmony and Me • • •
Kathy Ireland is among the biggest names joining the cast of “Dancing With The Stars” this season, which kicks off on Monday, September 21st at 8 p.m. Frankly, I don’t know whether she can dance or not, but I think she’s on the wrong ABC show. KATHY IRELAND podcast excerpt: "I've had two knee surgeries, a foot surgery, I never walked in high heels, never did runway. I get dizzy when I spin. And I'm adventurous--and clumsy--and it's not always a good combination." Seeing how great Kathy looks—and I mean super-duper, CEO supermodel hot—I’m thinking the 46-year-old belongs on the new comedy “Cougar Town” with Courtney Cox rather than sharing a stage with the likes of Tom Delay. But that’s just my opinion. Frankly, we’re lucky she’s even here today, having gashed her leg and requiring seven stitches just a few days ago—and not dancing but surfing! Should make for a good story. Kathy Ireland • • • • •
Actor Jeff Witzke’s been keeping enviable company out in Hollywood these days. He’s got a cameo role in the new George Clooney film, Up in the Air. He’s also in the second season premiere of “The Mentalist” with Simon Baker. And he’s the co-writer, co-producer and co-star of a new web TV series pilot, “House Husbands.” JEFF WITZKE podcast excerpt: "I've worked with Jason Reitman all the way back to his his very first short film. He has written me a role in all his shorts. When he did his first feature, Thank You For Smoking, he said, 'Jeff I want you to be the kidnapper.' And he said, 'I want you to be in Juno.' And Up In The Air? The opportunity to spend the afternoon working with George Clooney was fantastic." If “Jeff Witzke” is not quite a household name in your home yet, that’s okay. You might remember him as the anti-smoking kidnapper in Thank You For Smoking or as the Hollywood baby talent agent on the f/x series “Nip/Tuck.” And if you’re still not sure who he is, we’ll cure that in the next 30 minutes. Jeff Witzke • •
When I hear the words “naughty” and “kitchen” used in the same sentence, I’m reminded of a scene in the Bill Murray movie Stripes where he lifts P.J. Soles up on a kitchen counter and flirts with her using an oversize but common kitchen utensil. Somehow, I’m guessing that’s not exactly what’s in store when debuts on Oxygen tonight, Tuesday, September 22 @ 10 p.m. CHEF BLYTHE BECK podcast excerpt: "Nothing's been cast; it's all real. Nothing's fake. The show is real; the people are real. Some of them might lose their jobs, but that's because they suck." Chef Beck runs a popular Dallas restaurant, , where the staff is frisky—think Hooters—but the food is much more ambitious—think Rocco DeSpirito. The Chef is at the center of the action; it’s more of a documentary series than a contest such as “Hell’s Kitchen” or “Top Chef.” Chef Blythe Beck • • • • •
If I were running a major American movie studio, I’d want to make Matthew Krentz’s apprenticeship as an indie filmmaker short. In other words, I’d want to be in business with this handsome, talented young auteur. That was my second thought after watching , the new film written, directed, produced and starring Krentz as John Hogan, a white, Irish, junior college basketball player looking for opportunity, survival and someone with whom he can take long, thoughtful walks. MATTHEW KRENTZ podcast excerpt: "I didn't go to film school... I didn't purchase (film) books because I didn't have any money. I used local bookstores as a library... I moved to Utah. Later I was invited to work at the filmmaker labs at the Robert Redford Resort. They wouldn't let me on set because I had no background. So I applied as a driver. From a driver, I became an intern. Five years later they offered me the art director of the Institute. I literally was a fly on the wall at every opportunity. I spent a lot of time listening to a lot of talented filmmakers... It's an underdog story from beginning to end." My first thought after finishing Streetballers was “Wow. I want everybody to see this movie.” Joining me today is Matthew Krentz and his co-producer Craig Thomas.
I didn’t know anything about ’s past when his publicist said, “You should check out this guy’s music.” I listened and was drawn immediately to the rhythm, structure—and humor—found in Maddock’s songs on his second album, Sunrise on Avenue C. He’s got a strong handle on sharing his inner voice on softer rock and ballads—intense, ironic and somewhat bemused—that held sway over a listener not known for his patience with this form. Turns out Maddock has quite a story to tell, too. The Brit looked to be the Next Big Thing back in 2000 when his first album, Songs from Stamford Hill was released by Columbia. It had a song that attracted radio play, inclusion on the first “Dawson’s Creek” TV soundtrack, and he toured with Paula Cole and Train. But it was all downhill from there and Maddock largely disappeared—until now. During the next 30 minutes, I’ll talk to the singer/songwriter about his life, his music and we’ll play a few cuts from his new release, Sunrise on Avenue C, now available on the iTunes Store. I think you’ll enjoy what you hear. James Maddock • • •
Bai Ling stands out among American actresses for so many reasons: she’s Chinese, for one thing, but it’s not just that. She reads lines differently than her counterparts, a little softer here, a little louder there. And you don’t get the sense that she hesitates to say or do much of anything on camera, making her an exotic form of clay for most directors. Of course, there is her beauty. The eyes are a little farther apart than Western audiences are accustomed to seeing onscreen. Her figure—which she shows without embarrassment or hesitation, is hers. Don’t go looking for scalpel marks. And then there is the hair. Thick, black and cut with a sharp edge across the front—she just doesn’t look like anyone you’ve ever seen before. And judging from her international success, it’s not just Americans who can’t get enough of Bai Ling. BAI LING podcast excerpt: “I got cast for Love Ranch, for which they originally wanted someone with big boobs, blonde hair, 20 years old—and totally a white girl. But I got it. And I’m pretty happy to play a white woman’s part. That gives me much more range as an actress.” Her latest film, , casts Bai in the role of den mother to a young Latino man who is in the U.S. illegally and a teenage girl, played by Angela Sarafyan, who has run away from a physically abusive father. But this is still Bai Ling, so the producers found a way for her character, Esther, to frequently wear little or nothing: she’s a stripper. A Beautiful Life opens around the United States on October 2. In addition to Bai Ling, it also stars Dana Delaney of “Desperate Housewives,” Debi Mazar of “Entourage,” and Guillermo Diaz of “Weeds.”
I make my living as a writer—books, magazine articles and, of course, introductions to Mr. Media Radio interviews. But I can’t say I have any experience with writer’s block. Why not? A wife, a son, two dogs—and every morning I wake up and find them hungry. Gotta work, gotta write, gotta earn money to keep everybody fed, right? So I write. Steve is not like me. He’s a would-be writer—and former law student—who has been taken on as a student by Carl, an award-winning crime novelist. Unfortunately, Steve is blocked and Carl—in cahoots with his wife, Trish—comes up with a devious scheme to shake Steve out of his funk. That’s the story behind a new short film, Captain, making its way through the world of indie film festivals this fall. NICOLE SABRINA STUART podcast excerpt: "The Starbucks I go to everyday donated pastries and coffee for us every morning!" Captain was written by my guest, Nicole Sabrina Stuart, who also stars as “Trish,” and Jack Sundmacher, who plays “Steve” in the short. You might recognize the vivacious Nicole from her most recent appearance on screen as Kate Hudson’s beleaguered secretary in the feature film, Bride Wars—which I just watched on DVD with my daughter a few weeks ago. She’s also been in the Arthur Miller film After the Fall and episodes of “Criminal Minds,” “V.I.P.” with Pamela Anderson, and “The George Lopez Show.” Nicole Sabrina Stuart • •
The retail business in America is sick. The economy has taken a toll on our traditional buying habits and the industry is looking for a cure. Meet Dr. Herb Sorensen. He is the CEO and president of TNS Sorensen, a consulting firm that specializes in observing and measuring shoppers’ behavior within the walls of a store. He is the author of an incredibly detailed new book, Inside the Mind of the Shopper: The Science of Retailing, which breaks down what shoppers are thinking in large part based on their eye movements while shopping. If you’re a professional within the retail industry, I think you’ll find Sorensen’s observations of great use. And if you’re a shopper, you may gain some great insight about the way successful retailers market their wares to you. Herb Sorensen • • •
Failure is epidemic in America these days, some of it earned, much of it dropped in the laps of hard-working entrepreneurs who did nothing wrong but have still seen their life work vanish in recent months. But when Dean Shepherd, the Randall L. Tobias Chair in Entrepreneurial Leadership at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, sees failure, he smells opportunity. He’s the author of a new book called From Lemons to Lemonade: Squeeze Every Last Drop of Success Out of Your Mistakes. For my part, I’m hoping this interview is more lemonade than lemons. We’ll see. Dean Shepherd
You kids today think you’ve got it made, what with hundreds of cable TV channels, each one focused on a narrow genre like death and destruction, Herpes, and funny things you can do with string. But back when I was in college there were only three cable channels that mattered and they were the superstations: New York’s WOR, Chicago’s WGN and Atlanta’s WTBS. Those were golden days, my friends, and not because we could watch the New York Mets, Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves to our heart’s content. And frankly, you could toss out the first two superstations. For my money, the only one that mattered back then was the one whose signature star was a scrawny guy with a mustache named Bill Tush. Tush was the reason the college kids tuned in, because late at night, he was MC Crazy and anything went. It is my pleasure to welcome to Mr. Media a guy who made college a whole lot more tolerable and entertaining for my generation, Ted Turner's favorite TV host, Mr. Bill Tush. Bill Tush • • • •
Some how, some way, Christian Finnegan has managed to scrape out a unique identity for himself as a stand-up comedian. He’s the guy who, on first glance, you think maybe he’s gay. But he’s not. Ask him about his father-in-law, if you have any doubt. CHRISTIAN FINNEGAN podcast excerpt: "I tried to hold off on Twitter as long as I could. I tried to stay strong against the tide of history... It may not be worth doing a whole stand-up bit about, but if you have a funny thought about salt shakers, you can throw it out into the ether." And maybe, you think, he’s too smart to be a comedian. But he’s not. Actually, he is pretty smart, so that one could go either way. He’s smart, he’s topical, and he’s not afraid to let a fart joke fly. If you’re wondering from where you recognized his wit and clean good looks, think back to VH1’s “Best Week Ever, Comedy Central’s “Chapelle Show” or, more recently “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” on MSNBC. Finnegan just released a pretty damn funny DVD of his latest work, entitled “Au Contraire!” You may have already seen a shorter version currently in rotation on Comedy Central. Christian Finnegan • • •
If you’re old enough to remember dumbass books such as Real Men Don’t Eat Quiche—or my own —then you know there have been a lot of cheap attempts to make money off the good nature of good men. But not by Jeff Wilser. This guy actually knows what he’s talking about. The author of The Maxims of Manhood: 100 Rules Every Real Man Must Live By gives us life instructions that are more practical than anything handed down since Hef wrote the Playboy Philosophy. (I think it’s just an odd coincidence that Wilser’s book title has he word “maxim” in it, since nothing useful ever came out of the magazine of that name.) Here's a good example, Maxim #21: Use every four-letter word but one. Classy, huh? Jeff Wilser • • • •
Anthony Head can’t escape his past. I know that, because when I posted a note on Facebook a few days ago that I’d be interviewing Anthony, it took less than a minute for Gina Vivinetto to respond with two words: “Ack! GILES!” I wasn’t entirely sure if that was good or bad, but when Gina subsequently promised to tell all her online friends about the interview, I concluded “Ack!” was good. For those of you who don’t know, before landing the role of King Uthur—father of Prince Arthur—on the new NBC summer drama series “Merlin,” Head portrayed Rupert Giles, the school librarian who doubled as mentor to "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Since "Buffy" finished, he has appeared in many United Kingdom-based television productions including "Doctor Who" and the cult comedy series "Little Britain.” Anthony Head • •
Has it really been a whole year? Wow. This time last year, “Army Wives” was on the eve of its second season and I had the great pleasure of welcoming the show’s creator, Katherine Fugate, as a guest. Today’s pretty cool, too: Brigid Brannagh, who plays Pamela Moran on the hit Lifetime show, is about to join us to talk about the series’ third season. Brigid has been acting for over 18 years. She’s had recurring roles on “CSI,” “Kindred: The Embraced,” “Legacy,” “Brooklyn South” and “Angel,” among others. Before joining “Army Wives, she was a series regular on the Steven Bochco series “Over There.” She has also guest-starred on many television shows, including “Cold Case,” “Without a Trace,” “24,” “ER,” “Star Trek Enterprise,” “Charmed,” “Dharma and Greg,” “Roar,” “Sliders” and “NYPD Blue.” Oh, man. There is nothing like a talented and beautiful redhead to start the day. Brigid Brannagh • •
Here’s what I think I’ve learned about working women in the early 1960s: • They worked really hard at putting on their faces in the morning. • They worked equally hard at taking off their faces before bed. • They strapped themselves in with elaborate brassieres and girdles. • They really dug advertising men and one—Don Draper—in particular. I know all this from being a loyal watcher and fan of AMC’s now in its third season. What I still don’t know is what cold cream is. For example, is it actually cold? Did it do for makeup what Mr. Clean Erasers do for otherwise resistant counter stains? And what was with Peggy Olson’s fat suit in season one? Joining me to reveal the secrets of “Mad Men” is three-time Emmy Award nominee for makeup, . She was the makeup department head for the show’s first two seasons and has since moved on to another promising new show, ABC’s romantic comedy, starring Nathan Fillion. Debbie also did makeup for Pirates of the Caribbean, Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill, Vol. 1 & 2, and Star Trek films and TV shows. Debbie Zoller • •
Great photographs—whether shot by Ansel Adams or your Aunt Anna—capture a moment in time that people familiar with the moment, the subject or the place can relate to for years to come. And even if you don’t have any familiarity with what’s in the picture, the good ones always relate an emotion, a texture or some other sense. I’m a big fan of great photography, so I was quite happy to invite to be my guest today. Gatewood, who began work as a professional in the counterculture days of the 1960s, is not your grandmother’s shutterbug—not unless grandma was partial to being photographed in the nude, practiced S&M, bondage, discipline, dominance and submission. Fast-forward to the ‘90s and he specialized in photographing modern primitives, erotic tattooing, extreme body piercing and blood sports. In recent years, he’s into messy girls—I don’t even know what that is, frankly—goths and vampires, radical pagans, Burning Man and much more. CHARLES GATEWOOD podcast excerpt: "A few weeks before I shot Dylan, Martin Luther King was in town. They said, 'Go to the press conference and take pictures.' I almost fainted because Martin Luther King was one of my heroes! It was my first assignment. And I blew the assignment! I wasn't able to get up close and take the pictures I wanted to take... When I heard Dylan was coming to town, I begged the boss for a crack at it... I got to go as back-up camera; the second guy." Today, however, Gatewood is being celebrated for a subject he shot one April day in 1966. That was the day he spent shooting one of the most revered photographs of singer and songwriter Bob Dylan. “Bob Dylan with Cigarette” is one of Gatewood’s most famous photos and now it is part of a limited edition, handmade photo book he calls . Prices for the book range from $1,000 to $3,000. You can order the book or view the complete Dylan photo gallery online for free while I speak with Gatewood: . Charles Gatewood •
As I’m saying this, I can’t help wondering if, by the time you hear this, I won’t be obsolete. Think I’m kidding? I’m not. In her new book, Obsolete: An Encyclopedia of Once-Common Things Passing Us By, Anna Jane Grossman reels off a stunning list of devices, equipment and habits that were once everywhere and now are nowhere. This would include body hair, the evening news, long distance charges, housewives, lickable stamps, short basketball shorts and even slide projectors. ANNA JANE GROSSMAN podcast excerpt: "I've written a lot for newspapers and magazines and I certainly worry about them becoming obsolete... In the book everything is written in the past tense. I had a hard time convincing the publisher that it was okay to write about books in the past tense." The disposable society now comes with an encyclopedia—at least it’s an alphabetical look to the past—and its chief historian is . Anna Jane Grossman •
Every major daily newspaper has a few journalists whose work consistently rises above all others. And there is an even smaller group of these top-notch reporters whose legends are beyond reproach and who are held in the highest esteem by their counterparts and readers alike. Around these parts, that guy would be Jeff Klinkenberg. Jeff Klinkenberg podcast excerpt: "I never quite understood my father. Even when I had a chance, when he was dying of Leukemia, I kind of inched my way up to it. But in the end, I couldn't say, 'Dad, what were you thinking?' I carried a bunch of things for many years: depression, sadness, sometimes anger and rage. My kids saw that; they experienced that. They didn't experience physical abuse like I did, but I could be angry, sometimes irrationally so. But my kids also saw a lot of love. As I forgave my dad I pray my kids will (forgive me). They definitely knew me better than I knew my parents." Klink – as he is best known – wrote for the St. Petersburg Times and its successor, the Tampa Bay Times, from 1977 to 2014. He has won numerous awards for his craft over the years, and collected dozens of his stories in the “Real Florida” book series, the latest of which is Son of Real Florida: Stories From My Life. His stories bring to life a sometimes dying breed of original Floridians, roadside attractions, and a kind of crazy that comes from spending too much time exposed to the sun, no doubt. Klink’s writing style makes the reader want to see the places he has seen and meet the friends he made along the way. Every story is accessible and delightful. This is Jeff’s second visit to Mr. Media; he was last here to talk about his book Alligators in B-Flat. Jeff Klinkenberg • • • •
Everybody has their own reason for watching a show like “So You Think You Can Dance," airing Wednesday and Thursday nights this summer on Fox. Some tune in for the hot dancers; some just dig the host, Cat Deeley. Others lie in wait for the snarky remarks by judge Nigel Lythgoe. But everyone wants to know what will come out of judge Mary Murphy’s colorful mouth next. Mary Murphy • • •
Oh, boy, oh, boy. As we left the cast of “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” at the end of season two, Ricky and Amy became parents. They’re what, 15? 16? I’ll be honest: as the dad of a teenage son, I’m not sure how I feel about this show, what with its frank and gentrified presentation of sexually active kids and way too understanding parents. But not every show is for everybody. And I appreciate that. And in that spirit, I’m delighted to welcome two young and talented stars from ABC Family’s “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” Daren Kagasoff and Megan Park, Ricky and Grace, respectively. Daren Kagasoff • • • • Megan Park • • •
A year ago, I invited actor Saul Rubinek to be a guest on this show, not because he was one of the leads on a new SyFy network show called “Warehouse 13”—who knew what the hell that would be about?—but because he was Saul Rubinek, actor and writer. This year, make no mistake, I want to talk to him about "Warehouse 13." Last year, "Warehouse 13" was the show SyFy pinned its hopes and aspirations upon as it changed the spelling of its network name from the familiar S-C-I-F-I to the bizarre and off-putting S-Y-F-Y. Funny how nobody’s talking about the network’s spelling anymore, just about its remarkable shows, "Warehouse 13," which returns for its second season on Tuesday, July 6 at 9 pm., and "Eureka," which rejoins the action on Friday, July 9 at 9 p.m. Even cooler, the two shows will crossover later this season. What could be cooler that that? Only if both shows crossed over with another NBC Universal genre property when it returns in the fall: "Chuck." SAUL RUBINEK podcast excerpt: "We do know that there will be consequences to any kind of Artie resurrection." Saul Rubinek • •
Artie Nielsen is waiting for you. Artie, you see, is the curator of Warehouse 13, the place where America’s greatest secrets are housed, its mysteries answered, its riddles questioned. It’s sort of the meeting of the TV show “The X-Files” and the Nicholas Cage movie, National Treasure, a place that will challenge your imagination and probably tickle your funny bone on occasion. But don’t take my word for it. Take Artie’s on Tuesday July 7 when the show debuts at 9 p.m. On the new SyFy network—which is the old SciFi channel, spelled differently so you won’t think its just for geeks and nerds—Artie is played by esteemed character actor Saul Rubinek, who joins us now. Saul Rubinek • •
On June 13, 2008, my wife twisted my arm into seeing a Broadway play while we would be in New York celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary. The big attraction of that trip was going to be seeing comedian Ricky Gervais live at Madison Square Garden the next night. Because Gervais was chosen for my wife, I got to pick the play. Scouring the listings and reviews, I landed on Boeing-Boeing, a traditional bedroom farce revival from the 1960s starring Bradley Whitford, Gina Gershon, Christine Baranski and an actress named Mary McCormack who I only knew from one high-profile role—she played Howard Stern’s wife, Allison, in the movie version of Private Parts. The New York Times described McCormack’s “glorious Olympian strut and wide-legged, take-no-prisoners stance.” And she was truly incredible, demonstrating tremendous comedic timing in a cast of top-notch players. MARY McCORMACK podcast excerpt: "He’s been a great friend to me over the years. And I hope he always will be. I mean, who knew? You don’t expect it from Howard Stern. He’s everything you don’t expect… He’s so lovely to me and always has been - and he says my boobs are great. So, you know, it could be worse." When we returned from New York, we discovered McCormack’s other role—star of the USA Network’s new drama, which is now in its second season. It airs Sunday nights at 10 p.m. Mary McCormack •
Craig Olejnik- (O-LEDGE-nik) stars in a new NBC and CTV drama series, “The Listener,” that you may have already seen on Fox if you live outside North America. “The Listener,” stars Olejnik and Ennis Esmer as paramedic partners. If that sounds a little like the NBC hit from the 1970s, “Emergency!” wait for the catch: Olejnik’s character, Toby Logan, is a telepath. Joining me today to discuss “The Listener,” which airs Thursdays on NBC at 9 pm, is Craig Olejnik. Craig Olejnik • • •
I am NOT the world’s biggest Harry Potter fan. The only book in the series that I’ve read is the first, which my wife and I took turns reading aloud to my daughter when she was just learning to read herself. Since then, they’ve consumed each and every book in the series and re-read the books and re-watch the movies over and over. So I wasn’t sure how interested I’d be when I received the graphic novel version of Jim Butcher’s The Dresden Files. More magic? Oy. But let me tell you, this is one cool series. I love the notion of a wizard operating within the almost real world of Chicago, working at arm’s length from both the police and organized crime. If Harry Potter’s continued into adulthood and into the real world of modern London, I’d probably give them another look. The Dresden Files began and continues as a series of novels. It was also, briefly, a syndicated television series. If you need a jumping on point, try the graphic novel, which is adapted by Mark Powers and drawn by Ardian Syaf. And then you can follow me backward into reading the books. Jim Butcher • • •
It’s summertime and in network TV land, that means time to take a few chances. For NBC, it means trying on a Canadian drama series called “The Listener,” starring Craig Olejnik and Ennis Esmer as paramedic partners. If that sounds a little like the NBC hit from the 1970s, “Emergency!” wait for the catch: Olejnik’s character, Toby Logan, is a telepath. Joining me today to discuss “The Listener,” which airs Thursday nights on NBC at 9 pm, is Ennis Esmer. Ennis Esmer • • • •
In my life, it seems all roads lead back to Will Eisner. In 2002, I met the American master artist and writer for the first time over lunch and embarked on a three-year project to research and write his biography, . The project outlasted Will himself, publishing nine months after he died. Along the way, I met and interviewed a bunch of wonderful people who continue to be a part of my life today. One of them is Paul Fitzgerald, the first managing editor of PS Magazine—which was founded by Eisner—and a friend of Eisner’s for the rest of his life. Fitz worked with Eisner longer than probably anyone else. They traveled overseas together and shared many social moments in each other’s company. A long time dream of Fitz’s was a book that shared with the world one of the lesser known periods of Eisner’s life, his 20 years at the art helm of PS Magazine, the Army’s preventive maintenance magazine. The book, Will Eisner and PS Magazine, hit many fits and starts over the last few years before finally publishing this month. You can only order the book directly from Paul Fitzgerald at his website, . It is an absolute must for any Will Eisner collector and fan.
I’ve been a fan of cartoons and superheroes for as long as I can remember—all the way back to the original "Space Ghost" cartoon in the ‘60s. Anybody else remember "Frankenstein, Jr." and "The Herculoids"? Anyway, Josh Keaton is the voice of Disney XD’s “Spectacular Spider-Man, now in its second season and airing every Monday at 7:30 p.m. So of course I wanted him as a guest on Mr. Media. In this latest cartoon incarnation of everyone’s favorite web-slinger, Keaton plays the teen-age Spidey. He’s still encountering and wisecracking with super-villains such as Doc Ock and Sandman, getting abused in high school by Flash Thompson and losing sleep over girls such as Betty Brant. And he still lives at home with dear old Aunt May. For Keaton, who just turned 30, this isn’t even the role for which most people will recognize him. That would probably be “Hercules,” the Disney movie in which he played the God as a teen. Josh Keaton • • • • • •
It’s a tough time to be in the business of publishing newspapers and magazines. But there are some subject areas that thrive in hard economic times. Like Success. Because while the sky is falling all around some of us, others see the silver lining in clouds and the word “opportunity” written everywhere they look. To that end, I’ve invited Darren Hardy to be my gust on today’s show. Hardy is the publisher of magazine, a publication that shares with us the case histories of entrepreneurs that rise up above the fray and succeed against all odds. Success Magazine • • • • • • • Darren Hardy • • • • •
It used to be that a handful of multinational record companies and a few indies controlled all of the music we heard. That’s all changed. With the advent of everything from iTunes and CDBaby to YouTube and Reverbnation, a band from Pittsburgh has as much opportunity to break through all the noise as one in traditional music capitals such as New York, L.A. or London. 28 NORTH podcast excerpt: "Pittsburgh has so many great bands; I think that's true about every market. We've been touring for three years and not taking 'No' for an answer." And that’s what’s happening on Mr. Media tonight: we’re going to give some air time to 28 North, a four-piece act with a big sound that’s at once original and familiar to the ears. The band, which played earlier this year at both the CMJ and South By Southwest (SXSW) music fests, is in the midst of a months-long road tour. That means you might see Michael Lindner, Alex Stanton, Jonathan Colman, and Tyler Bond at a club near you—soon.We’re going to play some new music from the band during tonight’s show, starting “Panic,” recorded live at their hometown rock radio station, 102.5 WDVE in Pittsburgh. And then in a special moment, the band will perform, live, "Napa Valley," a song from their next album. This is a first for Mr. Media--I hope you'll take time to watch the complete show video, above. 28 North has produced three CDs over the last four years; the latest, titled “28 North,” was released in April 2010. You can order all of their work online at their website, . If you've never heard these guys before, I think you're going to really enjoy tonight's show. 28 North • • • • • •
If you ever watched Charles Grodin on his old CNBC talk show—or on countless guest appearance on other shows, from Johnny Carson to David Letterman—you probably asked yourself, “Who does this guy think he is?” Apparently, Grodin wondered the same thing. The famously fussy Mr. CrankyPants has published a new book that explores just this subject. Titled, How I Got to Be Whoever It Is I Am, the star of Midnight Run with Robert De Niro and the first two Beethoven movies has taken the autobiography form a step further by addressing the many kinks that make Grodin, well, Grodin. Most people will gravitate toward the stories of his celebrity friends and encounters later in the book. Personally, I was fascinated with his recollections of early incidences that shaped his attitudes and mores. But enough of me on Grodin. Let’s hear from Grodin on Grodin. Charles Grodin • •
Craig Yoe has a dirty little secret. Actually, it is Joe Shuster’s dirty little secret; Yoe just happens to be the researcher who uncovered and exposed it to the world. Turns out that the artist and co-creator of Superman spent a few years in the 1950s, post-Man of Steel, churning out fetish girl art to earn a living. That’s the secret part—the dirty part is that Shuster was really quite good at it. Yoe just published a new book, aptly titled Secret Identity: The Fetish Art of Superman’s Co-creator Joe Shuster. This is no minor discovery, either: Yoe enlisted none other than Marvel Comics longtime publisher, editor and writer Stan Lee to pen the book’s introduction. Craig Yoe • • • •
Today’s a good day to start an argument with your best friends or a bunch of strangers at a bar. Today’s the day we’re going to debate the priorities of Robert Tuchman’s new book, The 100 Sporting Events You Must See Live. Honestly, I think he got it wrong, right off the top, listing The Masters as the No. 1 event you have to see live. The Masters? C’mon, golf isn’t even a real sport! Spectacle, yes, sport, no. See how easy it is to start an argument about this stuff? Robert Tuchman • • • •
I’m Mr. Media—not Mr. Know-It-All. So I hope I can be excused for not realizing what a clever, entertaining writer Paul Levine is, at least not before I read his latest novel, Illegal. It’s a fast-paced, often funny, often frightening story that personalizes the case of illegal immigration, reducing it from faceless masses crossing the U.S.-Mexico border to just two frightened human beings, a mother and her teenage son. And, of course, the down on his luck American attorney, Jimmy Payne, who comes to their rescue in ways the legal system cannot. I don’t hesitate to recommend that you read this book. Not surprisingly, Levine is a former trial attorney. He seems to have found his calling in writing nonfiction: he is also the author of Solomon vs. Lord, The Deep Blue Alibi and Kill All the Lawyers. He also wrote for the CBS drama “Jag.” You can learn more about Levine at his personal website, . Paul Levine • • • • • • •
If you could afford to stay at any hotel on a business or pleasure trip, I can’t imagine choosing anywhere other than a Four Seasons Hotel or Resort property. Granted, I’m a little prejudiced. In 2007, I had the good fortune to spend a month doing interviews and background research for Isadore Sharp, founder and chairman of Four Seasons, as he finished his autobiography, Four Seasons: The Story of a Business Philosophy. This assignment afforded me a behind-the-scenes look at how the Four Seasons became the ultimate brand in luxury hotels and just how seriously the Toronto-based company takes the happiness of its guests. I also spent time with many of the chain’s executives and managers from around the world and learned first-hand of the pride they take in the brand. But best of all was the time I spent with Mr. Sharp and his lovely wife, Rosalie. Everything they do, they do with class. They’re kind, warmhearted and delightful dinner companions. And now, with publication of his book about the making of the Four Seasons, they’re both acclaimed authors. Isadore Sharp •
Solomon King is on a mission… a mission from the Motor City to you. He’s out to capture your hearts and minds with his own unique spin on the blues. His new CD, Under the Sun, is now available at CDBaby.com and includes the two cuts that were featured in the first season of HBO’s hit vampire series, “True Blood.” Solomon King • • • •
Joey and Larry Gallo were some bad hombres. So bad, even most of the mafia wanted nothing to do with them in the 1960s and ‘70s. Murder, extortion, armed robbery—all in a day’s work for these guys. But if they were so bad, why do so many literary types come to admire them, especially Joey? Bob Dylan, for example, early in his career, thought of Crazy Joey Gallo as more folk hero than outlaw. I’ve now read ’s rich, colorful history of the Gallo Brothers, The Mad Ones, but I still don’t get their appeal. Hopefully, the author can clear up the mystery. Tom Folsom • • • • •
Kamran Pasha is a brave man. He knows that Sherry Jones’ book, The Jewel of Medina—about the birth of Islam—lost its initial publisher in 2008 because of the ruckus it stirred up. He knows that filmmaker Moustapha Akkad—who created the 1977 movie The Messenger, about the Prophet Muhammad—was killed by terrorists in 2005. He knows all about the decade-long fatwa by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini against Salman Rushdie for writing The Satanic Verses. And yet I hold in my hands his just published novel, Mother of the Believers. It is the story of the Prophet Muhammad told in the voice of his young wife, Aisha. Pasha is also a writer and producer on the NBC-TV drama series “Kings” starring Ian McShane. Kamran Pasha • • •
Last night, my wife and I engaged in one of those perception vs. reality recaps. In it, I recalled my perception of the Showtime sitcom “Weeds” was that there couldn’t possibly a show in which I could have even less interest. I’ve never been a drug guy. No smoky, no snortie, no pills, hell, I don’t even drink. Never been an interest of mine. So why the hell would I watch a show about a widow who becomes a pot dealer to support her two boys—and it’s played for laughs? Okay, I was wrong. Last fall, I was laid up for several weeks and going out of my mind with boredom. I became well acquainted with the “On Demand” function of our cable service and caught up with a lot of TV shows I had previously missed. And when those ran out, I watched a random episode of “Weeds.” I laughed so hard it hurt. Could I have been so wrong? Yes. JUSTIN KIRK podcast excerpt: "I came on Weeds in the fourth episode (but) no one cares about the first three. My first say was scenes with Hunter. One was I'm on his computer, impersonating him, IMing with his deaf girlfriend and jerking off while we're dirty talking. And I thought, 'This is going to be a fun job to have.'" I watched every episode I could find. Several of them, I watched over and over. This summer, I hooked my wife and we rented the series from Netflix, starting with season one. She’s almost caught up and we hope to start on season 5, which began airing new episodes this month, shortly. If you’ve never seen the show on grounds similar to my original view, I urge you to reconsider. The cast includes Mary Louise Parker, Elizabeth Perkins, the insane Kevin Nealon and the show’s gooey center, my guest today, Justin Kirk, who plays Andy Botwin. If you’re easily offended, don't click the "play" button below. This show is intended for adults. Justin Kirk • • •
Michael Jackson has died at age 50. The pop idol, whose music, choreography and fashion changed the face of popular culture, was rushed to the hospital shortly after 12:30 p.m. PT on Thursday, June 25, 2009, upon being found unconscious in his Los Angeles home. He reportedly never regained consciousness. In commemoration of the man, BlogTalkRadio presented Michael Jackson Remembered. The live, two-hour special was anchored by Mr. Media host Bob Andelman, and featured contributions from fellow BTR hosts Kevin Ross, Mutha Knows, Shaun Daily, MarQ with a Q as well as many listeners. Guests included , TV and media critic for the St. Petersburg Times, who is from Michael’s hometown of Gary, Indiana, as well as journalist . Bob will also be taking calls from fans around the globe who want to share their memories of The King of Pop – and how he impacted their lives forever.
A year ago today, on June 25, 2009, millions of people were stunned to discover that singer, songwriter and pop culture legend Michael Jackson had died suddenly and mysteriously at home in Los Angeles. His passing was met with general sadness and, yes, a little contempt from people who felt that Jackson’s questionable private life took away from the wonders of his professional accomplishments. JOE JACKSON podcast excerpt: "Anything is good if it makes money, that's what I think. It's all about the money." Tonight, we have gathered an all-star cast of BlogTalkRadio hosts from coast-to-coast to talk about Michael Jackson’s life and career, the good, the bad and a little of the ugly. Joining me over the next 120 minutes will be, in order of appearance: Janice Malone, host of Film Festival Radio in Nashville, Tennessee; Tony Peters, host of Icon Fetch in Dayton, Ohio; D.A. Williams, host of WDKK Radio, also based in Dayton, Ohio; and Muthaknows, host of “The Mutha Knows Show,” which comes to us from Philadelphia. During the course of the show, we’ll also be playing audioclips from many BlogTalkRadio shows this past year in which hosts interviewed men and women who knew Michael Jackson, including one with his father, Joe Jackson, as well as a conversation with actress and singer Stephanie Mills, best known for starring in “The Wiz” on Broadway. We also have original comments about Jackson from singer Tommy James of Tommy James and the Shondells and several ‘60s era Motown execs and talent. Along the way, you’ll also hear clips from some of Michael Jackson’s bestselling songs and a few celebrities talking about the late performer.
When last we spoke, Thomas Calabro was preparing to host ACME Comedy’s “ACME Saturday Night” live show and being described as a former star of the late lamented TV series “Melrose Place.” THOMAS CALABRO podcast excerpt: "The name, Melrose Place, remains the same but everything about it is different, so it's sort of like a whole new deal. My first scene--I was a dad, which Michael Manicini had never been before. That was new, too, so it felt like the first day on the set of a new show" Today, he’s once again a star of “Melrose Place,” which has been revived by The CW and airs every Tuesday at 9 p.m. And he also returned to host “ACME Saturday Night,” on January 23, 2010. You can view an archive of that perforance or watch new episodes when the online comedy TV show streams live every Saturday at 10 pm Eastern, 7pm Pacific, at www.acmecomedy.com.
Not to put too much pressure on her, but is a standup comedian from New York, where every city block is bursting with comic setups and teardowns. So she’s gotta be funny, right? Balan first came to national attention on the comedy reality series “Last Comic Standing.” This summer she is appearing in STAND-UP 360, a series of seven original, feature-length stand-up comedy films that began appearing in cinemas nationwide the week of May 4th, with a new film rolling out every 2 weeks. (Balan's appearance is in the installment debuting on Friday, May 15.) Hosted by Caroline Rhea, each of the films offers a different lineup of comedians performing live stand-up, complete with backstage glimpses. A sample of comics in the film series includes Judy Gold, Godfrey, Roz G, Erik Rivera, Wali Collins, Jackie Hoffman, and Michele Balan. Michele Balan • • • •
Let’s not mince words: the Fabulous Poodles were neither fabulous nor poodles. But I always chuckled at the name, dug the music, and, perhaps most important, it’s 30 years later and I still remember them. So what is it about the name of a rock band? If Air Supply managed to call themselves the Beatles, they still couldn’t suck any less. Bruce Springsteen could have called his band “Exit 9” and millions of ex-pat Jerseyites would still follow them to the ends of the earth. But that’s just my take. I’ve got a real expert on band names joining me today. Bart Bull is the author of Battle of the Band Names: The Best and Worst Band Names Ever (and All the Brilliant, Colorful, Stupid Ones in Between). Bull has worn a number of hats in his career. He was on staff at the birth of Bob Guccione Jr’s SPIN magazine. And he was an editor of Vogue. He sees the world a little differently than most people, which often makes his reporting more compelling and a little confounding on first or second read. Bart Bull • •
It is well known that I am a sucker for local kid made good stories, so how could I say no to having Brooke Newton on the show? (And no, it doesn’t hurt that she’s beautiful and a former NFL cheerleader with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.) Brooke is at an early point in her acting career but she’s certainly getting plenty of opportunities to shine. This week, for example, she’ll be in Thursday’s episode of the CBS crime procedural series, “CSI.” And she’s also shot roles in the CBS sitcom “Gary Unmarried,” which stars Jay Mohr, and the upcoming Fox sitcom, “Glee.” Brooke Newton •
It’s 8:40 a.m. on a Wednesday morning and my guests are two of the producers of NBC’s “Today Show.” Who will be whispering in Matt’s ear when it’s time to throw it to Al Roker? How will Meredith Viera know to cut short the cooking demonstration and go to commercial? Ann Curry? I suspect she can manage on her own, right? Mary Ann Zoellner and Alicia Ybarbo are Emmy Award-winning producers. But they’re also co-authors of a new book, Today’s Moms: Essentials for Surviving Baby’s First Year. So while interns run their show, I am sure they’re going to tell us that survival starts with a renewable prescription for Valium.
is one smart guy. And he is pretty lucky, too. His first book, The Lazy Environmentalist, was published in 2007. It told regular people how they could save the environment, go green and soothe their conscience with a modicum of effort. It was a success, so he embarked on a second, The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget. This is where the luck came in. I’m guessing that when he started the second book, the economy wasn’t quite in the tank the way it is now. Well, he wound up writing and organizing a volume of information that gets to the heart of the green movement and published it at a perfect time, when saving the environment and saving dough are high on an awful lot of our lists.
Imagine if, as a stranger, you could see a small town through the eyes of young boys. You might be privy to images and incidents that you wouldn’t otherwise know about. But because the boys aren’t a threat, they capture it all on a camera. And then imagine that this small town is not the peaceful, pristine image that the city fathers think it is. Now you’ve got the essence of the plot in the new film starring and directed and produced by Marc Freiburger. And now meet the director.
There are a lot of judges on TV these days, starting with and running all the way through . But only one of them has an Emmy Award. That lucky jurist-slash-TV personality is Judge Cristina Perez, host of the syndicated “.” She stands out from the pack because Judge Perez leaves the sensational behind. She’s a calm, empathetic presence on the bench, firm but considerate, experienced but not disinterested. Judge Cristina Perez • • • •
There’s the joy of seeing your children grow and mature and then there’s the simultaneous frustration of witnessing your parents get older at the same time. has dealt with this time, which she calls “The Middle Place.” I know from personal experience that it’s a handful. But it’s overwhelming if you’ve been in the even darker, more complicated place that Corrigan found herself in: malignant for herself and late-stage cancer for her dad. She writes about all this and more—with humility, humor and grace—in the book The Middle Place. Kelly Corrigan • • • • •
Shawn Hatosy stars as gang detective Sammy Bryant in NBC's new drama series "Southland." You may have already recognized Shawn from his starring role as John McCain in the adaptation of the senator’s autobiography, “Faith of My Fathers.” This summer, he will appear in Michael Mann's Public Enemies with Christian Bale and Johnny Depp. He also filmed an upcoming remake of the 1992 cult classic Bad Lieutenant, playing Nicolas Cage's partner. And Shawn appears in the Justin Timberlake music video to his single, "What Goes Around Comes Around" — alongside Scarlett Johansson. Shawn is a talent ready to break out big time. “Southland” will probably be the vehicle that does it for him. Shawn Hatosy Website • • • • •
I thought long and hard about how do introduce this special program celebrating the 20th anniversary of the . I thought about how, in modern times, a lot of great comedy has come from Los Angeles. , for instance. . . And then I thought, maybe I should leave the funny stuff up to the comics from Acme. So I’m going to shut up and explain the format of this show. Joining us first will be Dan Kane, the owner of the theatre. He’ll then be joined by the theatre’s founder and director, , who will be followed in succession by performers Julie Wittner, Kevin Small, Jen Parker, Rich Keith and Claudia Dolph. Before I bring Dan on, let me tell you that the Acme Comedy Theatre is located at 135 North La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036. For tickets: . Acme Comedy Theatre • • •
Here’s math that even won’t need a chalkboard to figure out: “The Simpsons” is “.” That’s right: thanks to a new two-year renewal, “The Simpsons” is about to blow past the ancient western as the longest-running primetime series in American television history. And my guest today, “Simpsons” executive producer , has been there for every episode—plus a feature-length movie.
Something’s wrong with this picture. I’m Mr. Media. I do the interviewing, right? Somehow I’ve booked an interview with LPGA Golf Hall of Famer to talk about her new book, The Leaderboard—but it turns out the book is a collection of interviews she conducted. Has the whole world gone crazy? On the other hand, this could be my lucky break. I don’t know a damn thing about golf, so maybe it’s a good thing—we can talk about something I do know about. Thank goodness I don’t have to talk about birdies and bogeys—about which I know nothing. And in case you’re wondering, Amy has been waiting in a hermetically sealed, soundproof room where she couldn’t hear a word of this introduction. So let’s bring her on…
Estonia is not a country that most Americans could find on a map, let alone understand the modern history of its people. But in the history of freedom from tyranny, Estonians are one of the proudest, most accomplished people in the world. This is demonstrated in a new documentary, The Singing Revolution, produced and directed by Jim and Maureen Tusty. Jim Tusty is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Estonia whose father came here in 1924. Maureen Castle Tusty was raised in upstate New York. She and Jim met in 1986 and created a business partnership that eventually led them to teach budding Estonian filmmakers in 1999 and 2001. The Singing Revolution—the Tusty’s first documentary—tells the astounding and hardly-known story of the Estonian people who stood up for themselves armed only with unity, song and determination. It is, says Jim, “the greatest story never told.” The Singing Revolution • • •
There were 16 guys named listed on the .com site before the future “Heroes” Puppetmaster came on the scene, which is why he has the Roman numerals for 17—XVII—appear after his name. It’s a little odd, but certainly memorable. He could have been the first “Bob Andelman” listed in IMDb, but I guess he didn’t think of that, then. Anyway, Lawrence the 17th is in the midst of a pretty cool run on Heroes as Eric Doyle, best known for kidnapping and holding the cheerleader, Claire, a.k.a. Hayden Panetierre.
It’s always fun to welcome familiar faces—and voices—to the show and today I get that pleasure with actress Elaine Hendrix. Probably best known for her role in The Parent Trap with Lindsay Lohan and Natasha Richardson, Elaine is one of those beautiful, distinctive actresses who is always working. In fact, she joins us to discuss the release of several new films: Good Intentions (now on DVD) and Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2. You can see the trailer for Good Intentions at . ELAINE HENDRIX podcast excerpt: "I tend to play a lot of meanies with Disney. I am the antagonist and I like it that way... Quite honestly, I think I play a really good bitch, to be frank about it. It has to do with being blonde, having arch eyebrows. My look tends to be a little icy." Elaine was also be seen in the March 4 episode of “The Mentalist” on CBS. Her film Rock Slyde will be available on DVD in June, while Dear Lemon Lima is currently in the Nashville Film Festival (April 12-15) and Spork will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival (April 21-May 2). Perhaps less well known is that Elaine is involved with several animal rights organizations. She appears in the documentary Skin Trade (now on DVD), about the fur industry, and is slated to appear on the cover of an upcoming issue of American Dog magazine. Elaine Hendrix • • • • • • • • •
Elaine Hendrix is an actress you’ve seen in the company of a lot of household names: Lindsay Lohan in The Parent Trap; Amber Tamblyn in “Joan of Arcadia”; Will Ferrell in Superstar; and Bam Bam and Celeste with Margaret Cho. This coming year, Elaine has an equally star-studded slate of films coming out: The Beacon with Teri Polo; Rock Slyde with Patrick Warburton and Andy Dick; Dear Lemon Lima with Beth Grant and Academy Award nominee Melissa Leo; Fading of the Cries with Academy Award nominee Brad Dourif; and Good Intentions (co-producer) with Luke Perry and country music superstar LeAnn Rimes. Elaine Hendrix • • • • • • • • •
Some of my favorite travel adventures have centered on New Orleans. The first time I went there was by car with my sister when I was in college. It was the early ‘80s and the city was host to some kind of World’s Fair-like event. Since then I’ve returned for work and pleasure, both before and after Katrina. The food is always incredible, the people delightful and the sights and sounds truly one of a kind. And hey, how good would the SUGARCANE GRILLED PORK CHOP from Commander’s Palace and a trio of beignets buried in powdered sugar from Café du Monde taste right now? That’s why I jumped at the chance to invite three of the principals in the upcoming New Orleans Wine & Food Experience to come on the show. What’s the media connection? you may ask. Simple: among the many featured guests are the winner and several finalists from the fifth season of Top Chef. Joining me today are Joyce Godbold, executive director of the festival, Greg Reggio, president of the board, and the event’s host, Chef John Besh. New Orleans Wine & Food Experience • • • Chef John Besh • • • • • •
If ever there was an era that put demands on marketing, this is it. Differentiating your brand from your competitor’s is so important at a time when jobs and stock prices are vanishing overnight. If you’re selling a product or service, you want the best possible minds at work on the task of survivor first, growth second. And when it comes to your category, you want to be first in the minds of many. As luck would have it, I have two of the best available marketing minds on the show today. For the next 30 or 40 minutes, Brian Till and Donna Heckler, co-authors of the new book, The Truth About Creating Brands People Love, are here to talk about what it takes to succeed in today’s whipsaw marketplace. Brian is the Steber Professor and department chair for marketing at Saint Louis University. Donna is the brand strategy lead for Monsanto. Brian Till • • Donna Heckler • •
Thomas Calabro is a good-looking man. Even a straight, 100-percent hetero dude like Mr. Media can see that. And his good looks have paid off: first in an 6-year career as a star of Fox’s primetime soap “Melrose Place” where he played Dr. Michael Mancini and more recently as a guest star on series such as “Touched By An Angel,” “Nip/Tuck,” “Cold Case,” “Greek” and “Without a Trace.” He’s currently shooting Locker 13 with Rickey Schroeder and Tatyana Ali and is in post-production on Detention, which also stars David Carradine. Thomas Calabro • • • •
John Melendez has one of the most interesting careers in show business. During his 15 years as "Stuttering John," a punchline on ’s radio show, he was the cast member you loved to hate, not for the stuttering but for the way he managed to piss off everyone around him. Still, you couldn’t help but admire the way the kid grew up and emerged as his own person in the later years, a husband and a father, smarter than you thought, savvier, contributing more than just a disability and an intuitive sense of how to make celebrities ill at ease when he attempted to interview them. Fast forward to March 2004 and almost overnight, the world of John Melendez changed. shocked everyone—Howard Stern most of all—by hiring Melendez to be his announcer on “The Tonight Show.” You had to wonder: “Stuttering John” as the voice of “”? Really? But it all worked out. Fans missed Melendez on the Stern show—and so, too, did Stern—but he earned the respect he’d never get on the air from Stern, by striking out on his own. He’s even launched his own online TV show at johnmelendez.tv. Now, as Leno prepares to transition from “The Tonight Show” to a new, five-night-a-week program on NBC at 10 p.m., everyone wants to know: is Melendez going with him? Let’s find out. John Melendez • •
Is this any way to run a business? Threadless.com, the little T-shirt company that could, gambles every day that good kharma will deliver brilliant designs into its hands and that consumers will buy them. Incredibly, it’s a winning bet. Threadless was launched when co-founder Jake Nickell won an online t-shirt design competition in 2000. He thought it was so much fun that he started his own contest and a company grew from it. JAKE NICKELL podcast excerpt: "We come up with six to nine new designs every week. We would much rather print a new design than reprint an old one. We're all about change." The Boulder, Colorado-based company now boasts a “community” of more than 1-million supporters who have purchased more than 4 million t-shirts. To celebrate its first 10 years, Nickell has even written a photo-packed book titled… wait for it… Threadless. Besides telling a business story, its packed with hundreds of photos of attractive women — okay, and there are some guys, too — modeling the company’s products. Threadless • • • •
Joan Van Ark is a beautiful woman, an iconic television actress thanks to 13 seasons playing Val Ewing on “Dallas” and “Knot’s Landing.” So what on earth is she doing as a guest star on “My Name Is Earl”? Today, we’ll investigate. Joan Van Ark • •
When last we saw Lester, one of the morally challenged Buy More employees on the NBC spy comedy “Chuck,” he was making more than eye contact with fellow employee Morgan’s girlfriend, Anna. Morgan saw them and was heartbroken. Anna, had it even worse: she was repulsed. Poor misunderstood Lester. Doing somewhat better, I suspect, is the actor who plays Lester, Vik Sahay (Sa-High), who joins us this morning to talk about one of Mr. Media’s favorite shows, “Chuck.”
Christine Lakin, who is the guest host of the Acme Comedy Theatre in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 14, gets a big break acting in the new film Race to Witch Mountain, starring Dwayne Johnson and Carla Gugino and opening today, March 13. Her first audition was for a TV-commercial "Got Milk?!", and after not getting that job she didn't have to wait long for her next opportunity, which was the part as the young Rose in the civil-war flick Rose and the Jackal, which also starred Christopher Reeve. In 1991 she took her first step towards big fame and landed the role as the tomboyish Al on the Friday night hit “Step by Step.” When "Step by Step" was cancelled in 1998, Christine landed jobs in independent films such as Big Monster on Campus, Finding Kelly and Whatever It Takes. This week, however, folks in Los Angeles will see another side of Christine Lakin as she hosts a night of satire and comedy at the Acme Comedy Theatre. For the latest news and photos of Christine Lakin, visit her website: .
There are some guests on this show that I really want to interview. And then there are those with whom I look forward to conversation but what I’d really like to do is spend 30 minutes just soaking in how good they look. Take a peek at a picture of Tatyana Ali and see if you know what I’m thinking right now! But because it’s likely my wife of 20 years is listening in the next room, let’s get this interview in gear. Tatyana Ali is best known for her role as Ashley Banks on “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” from 1990-96 in which she played Will Smith younger cousin. She has since moved on from child star to adult actress, appearing with Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd in Kiss the Girls; D.L. Hughley and Morris Chestnut in The Brothers; as well as performing in Glory Road and Nora’s Hair Salon II. She also has a career as a singer going back to her 1998 debut album, Kiss the Sky. She opened on tour for both the Backstreet Boys and N Sync. More recently, Tatyana has recorded a new album, The Light, for release this year and she will appear in a new movie, Mother and Child, starring Samuel L. Jackson and Naomi Watts. All that, and she’s also guest hosting at Acme Comedy Theatre in Los Angeles this Saturday night, March 21. Stick around and I’ll tell you how to order tickets. But enough of me talking about Tatyana—time to hear from her. Tatyana Ali Website • • • • • •
Apparently, there is something screwy with America’s many state lotteries. This Sunday at 7 p.m. on “,” correspondent and his team investigate lottery scams. Hansen, one of the best-known reporters at and “Dateline NBC” skyrocketed to prominence as the host of “To Catch a Predator.” If you’re preying on underage boys or girls, you don’t want to see Chris Hansen taking the steps to your front door two at a time. With this lottery investigation, why do I have the feeling Hansen and Co. found their way back to his old Tampa stomping grounds—that’s right, right here in the new media capital of the world—to find a story of evil-doing and weirdness? Just a hunch. ChrisHansen Website • • • •
Who’s afraid of Chris Hansen? You? Really? And you? And… you? I’m sorry I asked. Boy, you think you know people! Hansen, one of the best-known reporters at NBC News and “Dateline NBC” skyrocketed to prominence as the host of “To Catch a Predator.” If you’re preying on underage boys or girls, you don’t want to see Chris Hansen walking the steps to your front door. This week, Hansen and the “Dateline NBC” team are taking on America’s latest national trauma: the failing economy. If I were this recession and I knew Chris Hansen were gaining on me, I’d give serious thought to changing my ways. ChrisHansen Website • • • •
This radio gig I’ve got as Mr. Media is pretty cool, but I think I need to think about getting into TV—like those "Whatever Hollywood" girls, Suri, Apple and Shiloh. If you haven’t caught their short films and musicals on , here’s a sample of what you’ve been missing: You can catch more of the girls' videos at or .
We’ve reached a point in popular culture where there are so many generational touchstones that it’s no longer safe to assume that if I tell you that I loved The French Connection, that you can safely assume that I will also know about other movies in that era or genre such as Serpico, Supercops or The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3. Amazon.com and Netflix reached that conclusion; that’s why, if you buy or rent a movie, book, a DVD or MP3 from them, their computer concierge will automatically recommend something similar you might also enjoy. And now, Stuart Skorman, founder of Empire Video and Reel.com—a precursor to Netflix—thinks we need a return to the human touch for movie recommendations. That’s why he’s launched Clerkdogs.com
If you’ve been watching “” this season, you had to be scratching your head over the way Chef Lacey managed to avoid elimination week after week. No disrepect to the young lady, but she appeared out of her element from the beginning, both in terms of her cooking skills and her energy level. In a series known for a cruel streak, did the producers keep her in the game for comic relief? Last week, Chef had had enough and he tossed Lacey before the elimination round. Joining me this morning is Lacey, the latest contestant to whom Chef Gordon Ramsay has uttered the fateful words: “Take off your jacket.”
This is a “” interview that I didn’t expect to do until the end of this, the show’s fifth season on Fox. Joining me today is Giovanni, the steakhouse chef from , who looked like he could go all the way with Chef , until a flame out in last night’s episode. Giovanni struggled in the first episode—which, ironically, featured his specialty, steak. But he rebounded and demonstrated not only talent but an amiable personality. Sometimes, in Hell’s Kitchen,” culinary talent is not enough. Joining me this morning is Giovanni, the tenth contestant to whom Chef Gordon Ramsay has uttered the fateful words: “Take off your jacket.”
Lacey will join me on Mr Media in a special show on Monday, March 30, so let’s focus on last night’s officially eliminated chef, L.A. It is never fun being in Ramsay’s line of sight and if you are different in any way, like the neighborhood bully, he will always hone in on that characteristic—he referred to LA as a "silly cow." Joining me is L.A., the eighth contestant to whom Chef Gordon Ramsay has uttered the fateful words: “Take off your jacket.”
"" got down to a final two last night and viewers can actually start believing that the cream has risen to the top. Unfortunately, the show is still a competition and somebody has to go. Joining me this morning is Andrea, the 13th contestant to whom Chef has uttered the fateful words: “Take off your jacket.”
Hell’s Kitchen is one of those reality cooking shows that, while you’re watching it, you’re wondering: “What were they thinking?” I love the show and haven’t missed many episodes over its five seasons to date. It’s a total train wreck—and who can’t resist peeking at one of those? Joining me this morning is Charlie, the third contestant to whom Chef has uttered the fateful words: “Take off your jacket.”
"Hell’s Kitchen" is not going to be your cup of tea if hearing people yell and scream profanities at the top of their lungs while cooking inedible dishes makes you squirm. But the show, which airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on Fox, is addictive fun, partly for the presence of Chef Gordon Ramsey, but mostly for the clueless ineptitude of so many of the contestants. And some, of course, are trained professionals but just unprepared to perform in the heat of Ramsey’s TV kitchen. Joining me this morning is Colleen, who runs a cooking school, but nonetheless is the fifth contestant to whom Chef has uttered the fateful words: “Take off your jacket.”
“Hell’s Kitchen” is must-see TV in Mr. Media’s house and it has been since the first episode of the first season. We’re also hooked on Gordon Ramsay’s “Kitchen Nightmares” and the British versions of his shows, too.. Which is why I look forward to frequently speaking with the latest eliminated chefs on “Hell’s Kitchen,” which airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on Fox. If you haven’t sampled the show yet, do get a taste. It’s delicious nonsense! Joining me this morning is J, the seventh contestant to whom Chef Gordon Ramsay has uttered the fateful words: “Take off your jacket.”
Danny made it to the final two on Hell’s Kitchen and tonight, it’s just him, Paula, and Chef Gordon Ramsay. Oh, and a few million people watching at home. Including Mr. Media. Joining me is Danny, one of the two final contestants vying to take charge of a new restaurant at the Borgata casino in Atlantic City.
Former NFL linebacker Bill Romanowski is a four-time Super Bowl champion—and a guy my friend Sean says, “scares the crap out of me.” So you know he won’t be dull. Romanowski, whose autobiography, Romo: My Life On The Edge, Living Dreams and Slaying Dragons, was a New York Times bestseller, is back in the limelight as the president and CEO of his own nutritional product company, Nutrition 53. He also made an appearance in the recent big screen remake of Get Smart, starring Steve Carell. Bill Romanowski • • • • •
I know a thing or two about comic book artist and American master Will Eisner and his best known character, "The Spirit." I spent almost three years researching and writing the only biography of the man – Will Eisner: A Spirited Life. And in the course of that, I spent a great deal of time with Will, in person and by phone. Because of that time and intimate knowledge, I’ve been dreading the Frank Miller-directed movie, The Spirit, which opens on Christmas Day, December 25. Will’s attitude toward the many attempts at making a movie based on “The Spirit” was simple; he loved collecting the annual rights option checks but hated the idea of anyone actually making a movie on his beloved character. He described the first effort, an ABC television movie of the week, as “cardboard.” STEVEN PAUL LEIVA podcast excerpt: "Will Eisner was, as I remember it, intrigued, but reluctant. He definitely wanted to see this animation. We arranged a meeting; Brad Bird and I flew to New York and took a train to White Plains and met Will at his house -- ver Cheever. We showed him the trailer; he was very impressed. Brad talked about the kind of story he wanted to do. Will had maybe some minor criticisms of the trailer; they were all drawing issues. But he really liked it." And I don’t think he would ever have approved Frank Miller as a director for The Spirit if it were up to him. Read the book Eisner/Miller and see if you get the impression he would want Frank doing the creative for his pride and joy. Anyway, I tell you all that as way of introduction to tonight’s guest, Steven Paul Leiva. Several years ago, Leiva worked with Brad Bird in the early stages of development for a Spirit animated film. Bird, of course, is best known for creating and directing The Incredibles. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get an interview with Bird in time for my Eisner biography so I never learned much about the never finished Spirit animated film. Until early December 2008, that is, when Steven Paul Leiva wrote about the project for the . It’s a great story and fills in a major gap in the Eisner cinematic story. Steven Paul Leiva • • • • • •
Brian Krause had—from 1998 through 2006—what most guys would consider a most excellent day job: he played the character of “Leo” opposite Alyssa Milano, Holly Marie Combs, Shannen Doherty and Rose McGowan on the WB hit "Charmed.” Like I said, not bad work if you can get it. These days, Krause is out making his own mark in the world. In 2009, for example, he’ll star in three movies: Nowhere to Hide, The Gods of Circumstance and Growth. Brian Krause • • • •
If you think you’re miserable right now, wait until Lia and Nick Romeo get through with you. The Romeos—they’re brother and sister, not husband and wife—just published a new book titled 11,002 Things to Be Miserable About: The Satirical Not-So-Happy Book. And what a miserable book it is! The introduction, in fact, says the book “will make you laugh, cry and contemplate self-mutilation.” Think an airplane crash landing in the is bad? The largest bank in America needing another $20 billion bailout is miserable? How about these simple miseries: • Being spit on from a great height • The fact that can be used to clean highways • Or, cultural variations in .
Justin Bruening caught a huge break. In the world of primetime network television, if your new show doesn’t immediately catch fire in the ratings or the eye of critics, you’re toast. In the new version of “,” starring young Mr. Bruening, the network sees something it likes despite so-so ratings and disinterest from the critics. So is giving the production one more shot at getting it right. The cast has been thinned and the plot simplified. Will it work? On today's show, I have the man who certainly hopes so!
What was Barack Obama’s most pressing personal issue upon becoming President of the United States? After finding a good school for his daughters, he was apparently quite concerned with keeping his Blackberry. The new leader of the free world insisted upon staying connected with the digital masses—and a few close friends—who got him elected. It’s a good thing Obama hung on to his electronic gadget, too. The Daily Beast.com reports that the new Administration inherited a White House full of outdated computers. "It is kind of like going from an Xbox to an Atari," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said. Barry Libert knows all about Barack Obama winning. As the author of the new book, Barack, Inc.: Winning Business Lessons of the Obama Campaign, he and his co-author, Rick Faulk, studied the many ways that the Obama campaign put a beating on its competition in both the Democratic and Republican parties. And its willingness to use technology and the Internet is no small part of the story. Barry Libert • • • • • •
"Friday Night Lights” is TV’s feel-good story—every time it gets renewed for another season that is. Season three, now airing on NBC, actually bowed last fall on , which saved it at the last minute from cancellation a year ago. The show has a loyal but smallish fan base and critics love it. That’s all great, but what does any of this mean for the character of Landry Clark and the actor who plays him, ? Let’s find out. Jesse Plemons •
Chadwick Boseman was great in the live action Black Panther and Avengers films, making him one of the highest grossing action stars of all time. But he is not the longest running actor to play the role of Wakanda’s king, T’Challa. No, for the past eight years, it is James Mathis III who has been the voice of the Black Panther in animation, anime, interactive games and live shows including Marvel Universe Live and The Marvel Experience. JAMES MATHIS III podcast excerpt: "You can cast a wider net as a voice actor because you're not limited to your physical appearance." He was most recently heard this summer in the animated film LEGO Marvel Super Heroes-Black Panther: Trouble in Wakanda on Disney XD. And he returns this fall as the lead in the fifth season of Disney XD’s animated series, “Marvel’s Avengers Assemble: Black Panther’s Quest.” You can meet James Mathis III in person this summer at any one of the following comic book conventions: Florida SuperCon, Raleigh SuperCon and Golden Triangle ComicCon. As a voice artist, Mathis has also appeared on “Undercover Brother,” “The Golden Blaze,” “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” “Ben 10,” “WordGirl,” “Celebrity Deathmatch,” “Iron Man: Rise of Technovore,” and “Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.” James Mathis III • • •
When last we saw Kat and Patrick on ABC Family’s hit comedy series 10 Things I Hate About You, Kat—played by Lindsay Shaw—was protesting the imposition of mandatory uniforms at their high school. And Patrick—played by Ethan Peck—was, well, brooding. LINDSAY SHAW podcast excerpt: "It is a little overwhelming at first. He is a powerful presence. But Ethan is cuddly in the middle. Above being so cute and dreamy, he's just awesome. Making out with Ethan is super-exciting, something I'd definitely consider doing again. He's got really great, soft lips." Well, the uniforms are gone, but Patrick is still the brooding loner. Last year, on the eve of the series’ debut, Lindsay and Ethan came to Mr. Media and gave a preview of the delightful chemistry between them. Now they’re back as the stars of a show the New York Times calls one of TV’s best. And more young people no doubt now know their show than know it was once a hit movie. Take that, Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles! Ethan Peck • • • • • Lindsey Shaw • • •
The name of their new ABC Family show is “10 Things I Hate About You,” so I think it only fair that I get to quiz these two young stars, Lindsey Shaw and Ethan Peck, about the 10 things they hate about someone—anyone! They can tackle these 10 anyway they want: five each or nine for Ethan and one for Lindsey. And if this doesn’t work, I’ll ask each of them to recite a bit of their character’s dialogue, completely out of context, of course. Ethan Peck • • • • • Lindsey Shaw • • •
You know the guy who played Debra Messing’s ex-husband on the original mini-series for “The Starter Wife"? You know, the guy who became a flunky for Dr. House last year on “House”? Well, Basche is taking that guy’s place on the new season of “The Starter Wife.” He is, to put it in TV trivia terms, the new Darrin on “Bewitched.” That’s right: Kenny Kagan has a new face! Or, in “South Park” parlance, “Kenny’s dead!” And long live Kenny! But you already know David if you’re a fan of “Lipstick Jungle,” where he is maintaining a role as Kim Raver’s boss. And he made quite an impact in an episode of “30 Rock” titled “Hard Ball.”
We’ve never met, but somehow Jodi Thomas has written the story of my life in her latest novel, Tall, Dark and Texan. As long-time listeners will know, I grew up in the 1800s on Whispering Mountain in Texas. I was tall, dark and mostly silent, scaring off small children and even hardened criminals until I found the love of a good woman. Are you buying this? I’m lying, of course. But I have to admit I liked the idea of secretly being Teagan McMurray, the strong and silent type at the center of Jodi’s new novel, the latest in her Whispering Mountain series. Jodi Thomas • • • •
The car is cooler than before, the star is younger, the women are more beautiful, Val Kilmer is the new voice of KITT, the super talking car and um, well, what else do you need? Joining me today is Gary Scott Thompson, show runner and executive producer of the new "Knight Rider." He was also the creator and executive producer of a show I liked a lot, “Las Vegas.” Thompson was also the writer of such feature films as The Fast and the Furious starring Vin Diesel, the sequel 2 Fast 2 Furious, Hollow Man with Kevin Bacon and the cult classic Split Second.
My younger brother is a great kid. He’s not always the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he’s the kindest, gentlest, most supportive brother in the world. Okay, maybe second. Randy—you know, Earl’s younger brother on “My Name Is Earl”—is the most blindly supportive brother on earth. Ethan Suplee plays Randy to Jason Lee’s Earl and has for several seasons now. Randy is the kind of brother some might see as a burden, but Earl can’t seem to think of anyone he’d rather pass the time with. And for the next 30 minutes, I’m going to try it myself. Ethan Suplee • • •
I well remember my first encounter with wireless Internet service outside of my home. It was the Cellular Telecommunication & Internet Association's Wireless 2002 show in Orlando and I was sent to cover it for Technology Meetings magazine. Boingo Wireless had approached the CTIA just two weeks earlier about making Wi-Fi available at the gigantic convention at the Orange County Convention Center and I was there to test it out. WiFi changed my life—and the magazine’s too; my cover story on that event was the last issue in the magazine’s short history. Anyway, I’ve been sold on Wi-Fi ever since and I suspect you’ll find my guest today is a big fan of it, too. He’s Dave Hagan, CEO of Boingo Wireless.
(UPDATE: I was reading Entertainment Weekly in early October 2014 and saw a familiar name and face featured in a story about a new movie, The Good Lie. It was Emmanuel Jal, a charming young actor and musician who found his way to Mr. Media in our second year of podcasting, 2008. His is a compelling story and I'm so glad to see him thriving and growing.) Emanuel Jal’s life reads like something out of a movie—which is no doubt why his story is featured in a new documentary called War Child. Jal was a child soldier in Sudan who overcame unimaginable violence, death and destruction and fled after being forced to fight as young as eight years old. Today he is a rising international hip-hop star with one of the most amazing life stories you’ll ever hear. War Child received a viewer’s choice award at the Tribeca Film Festival and premiered in New York on November 14th, 2008. Emmanuel Jal • • • • • •
If you want to see daily comic strips in their classic form, the place I’d steer you is cartoonist Patrick McDonnell’s “Mutts.” Finely drawn, acerbic in voice yet sweet by nature, gentle in image yet often violent in humor, “Mutts” is a throwback to the earliest days of the art form, when a brick to the head meant “I love you” and the illustrations took more space than the words. PATRICK McDONNELL podcast excerpt: "I got to become friends with Chester Gould's daughter--Chester Gould was the guy who created 'Dick Tracy.' His story was that he tried submitting 120 strips to the syndicates before 'Dick Tracy' got picked up. One of the first ythings they asked me at this dinner I attended was, 'How many strips did you do before 'Mutts' got picked up?' I was embarrassed to tell them that 'Mutts' was the only strip I ever handed in. I'm pretty lucky." Despite appearing in more than 700 newspapers around the world, “Mutts” is not the most widely recognized strip around nor is its creator, Patrick McDonnell, the best-known artist. He hasn’t established himself as an Internet personality—I suspect you’ll learn shortly that he still doesn’t use a computer—but he has lent his name to the protection of animals, serving on the board of directors for The Humane Society of the United States and The Fund for Animals. He is also the author of two new books. The first, South, is a delightfully wordless children’s story featuring Mooch from the “Mutts” strip. The second is Mutts Shelter Stories, a pastiche of selected “Mutts” strips and full-color, adorable photos of pets found in animal shelters, ready to be adopted. Patrick McDonnell • • • • •
Rolling Stone writer David Wild has harbored a secret man crush for decades. Today, he will come out of the closet and fess up: He’s in love with Neil Diamond. Wild testifies to this forbidden love in a new sort-of biography, He Is… I Say: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Neil Diamond, which is, at times, as much about Wild as it is about Diamond. In fact, on the day of the book’s publication, Oct. 19, 2008, David blogged on The Huffington Post an essay titled, And strangely, the Dow rose that day. David Wild • • •
Craig Glazer, the author of a new book called The King of Sting: The King of Sting: The Amazing True Story of a Modern American Outlaw, might remind you of another good guy/bad guy: Frank Abagnale Jr., the author of Catch Me If You Can. The difference, I think, if that Abagnale was a scam artist; Glazer was a sting artist. Subtle difference? We’ll see.
Gail Simmons, editor-in-chief of Food & Wine magazine, has the best gig of all the judges. Padma Lakshmi and Tom Colicchio have to hang around each day for most of the challenges while Gail helicopters in for the final tastings and judgings. She always looks composed and ready, sharp and spicy assessments ever at the ready. This season she is even getting featured in an episode, as the competing chefs cook for her bridal shower. Should be fun.
If we keep our eyes open, there are a few things us grizzled old parents can still learn from our kids. About a month or two ago, my daughter came home from school all excited about some new online gadget where her teacher could post something online and then she and her classmates could add their own comments, either by typing or speaking. To be honest, it didn’t immediate click for me. Then my wife and I went to a program organized by the 7th grade teachers at school intended to expose us to the variety of new technologies and online programs the kids would be using this year. The same program was demonstrated but, again, I didn’t get it. My wife did, however. She thought it was pretty cool and even wrote about it for the St. Petersburg Times. When I read her interpretation—and then we played with it at home—the light bulb clicked on for me. VoiceThread is a fantastical online program that is great for classrooms, but as our family discovered, it is also a wonderful tool for families to preserve and share photos, historical documents and much more. Joining me today is a co-founder of VoiceThread, Steve Muth. I encourage you to visit and set up a free account while we talk because I expect we’ll go through a bit of a tutorial momentarily. Voicethread • •
There are two memories of Yankee Stadium that I hold dear. The first dates back to 1967. I was six years old and my grandfather took me to the House That Ruth Built for the first time to see my idol, Mickey Mantle. There are two things I remember about that night: The Mick hit a home run but I was mostly scared to death being way up high in the upper deck. My second memory is of the last time I was at the stadium, June 16, 1997. My wife ordered tickets for us to see the first ever interleague game between the Yankees and their crosstown rival, the Mets. It was the first game that would ever count between the two teams. We flew up from Florida just for the game. By then, I was more a Mets fan than a Yankees fan and, even more, a Tampa Bay Rays fan. It was as electric an atmosphere as I could imagine any World Series game might offer. But my recollections are a drop in the bucket compared with the ones collected by Harvey Frommer in his new coffee table book, Remembering Yankee Stadium. It is packed not just with oral histories collected from some of the greatest Yankees players, managers, sports writers and fans, but is also filled with awesome photos from decades of historic moments. Harvey Frommer • • • •
Bruce Davison already owns a chunk of pop culture—he was devious in the first two X-Men movies and has appeared in episodes of everything from “Lost” and “Battlestar Galactica” to “Terminator” and “The L Word.” So it can’t be too much of a surprise that when the producers of new “Knight Rider” series wanted a genre veteran to lend credibility to the show, they, too, turned to Davison.
Romance is the top genre in fiction with more than $1.47 billion dollars in sales for 2007. The average romance reader is voracious and goes through 6-7 books per month. Within the genre, there are many specializations, including tonight’s topic: romance novels written by and for African-American readers. My guest is Michele Cameron, author of Never Say Never and the hot-off-the-press Moments of Clarity… Also joining us is her editor at Genesis Press, Deborah Schumacher. Deborah is a published author herself; her novel, The Air Between Us was published earlier this year under her pen name, Deborah Johnson, by HarperCollins. Michele Cameron •
Welcome to another edition of Mr. Media’s Kollege of Musical Knowledge. Today, I’ll test your familiarity with the roots of punk rock music with a very special guest, photographer Bob Gruen. Bob just published a new collection of his classic photos, this time capturing the wild times of the original New York punk band, the New York Dolls, which once upon a time starred David Johansen, Johnny Thunders, Billy Murcia and Arthur Kane. The book – with its shocking pink cover – is titled, simply, New York Dolls: Photographs. If you know anything about the Dolls, you’ll want this book on your coffee table. It’ll be a good bookend for other Gruen collections, including John Lennon: The New York Years and The Clash. Bob Gruen • • • •
Sorry folks. I’m not quite ready to start. SKINNY Bitch. Skinny BITCH. Just saying the name of my guests’ book series is a little difficult for a guy who doesn’t like to cuss in mixed company. I keep telling myself that today’s show is a license to let go, but it isn’t easy. Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin (pronounced bar-new-in) are the co-authors of three books whose titles start with Skinny Bitch: the original Skinny Bitch, the first sequel, Skinny Bitch in the Kitch, and the latest release, Skinny Bitch: Bun in the Oven. The books are, at their core, diet guides with a strong vegan slant. But what gets your attention is the tone, the attitude, the cold, hard slap n the face. I’ve written or co-authored nine books – including The Corporate Athlete, with Jack Groppel – but I never imagined I could get away with titling a chapter, “Don’t Be a Pussy.” Skinny Bitch • • • Rory Freedman • • •
Rie Heffron (her first name is pronounced lee-ay) is a 34-year-old product specialist from Woodland Hills, CA. She went on the new NBC reality series “America’s Toughest Jobs” to prove she isn’t just another pretty face—even if she really does have a very pretty face. The show really put her through her paces, too, and she’s here to talk about it. Rie Heffron • • • • • •
If you consider yourself a little choosy when it comes to movies, you probably either read newspaper reviews or watch a movie review show on TV. There are some reviews who come a little more highly recommended than others. There was Siskel, there was Ebert… and since I was a kid growing up in New Jersey, there has always been Jeffrey Lyons. Lyons is back with the second season of his syndicated TV show, “Reel Talk with Lyons & Bailes,” and he’s here to tell us a little about it. Jeffrey Lyons • •
Let me say this as clearly as possible: If you don’t buy Brian Michael Jenkins’ new book, Will Terrorists Go Nuclear?? then the terrorists win. And that may be the last moment of levity in this episode of Mr. Media. Brian Michael Jenkins is one of the world's leading authorities on terrorism. He has been advising the military, government and prestigious think tanks on the dangers of escalating terrorism for more than 30 years and is currently a senior advisor to the president of the Rand Corporation. Some of the questions that he explores in the book include; Are nuclear weapons instruments of coercion or of pure destruction?; Are those we label religious fanatics constrained by political and strategic calculations?; If a nuclear attack took place on American soil, what life and death decisions would the President be forced to make? Jenkins covers Al Qaeda in his book as well as the scenarios and plots covered in movies and novels. He separates real and imagined dangers and gives a level-headed analysis of the situation. Brian Michael Jenkins •
I know a lot of people who are intrigued by the idea of producing their own web site or blog but scared to death that doing so would be technically over their heads. To which I always reply, “If I can do it, you can do it.” If you’re one of those people, maybe my guest for today’s show will have better luck convincing you to give web site construction a go. His name is Haroon Mokhtarzada (Ha roon Mook tar za da) and he is CEO of Webs.com, also known as Freewebs. The company is big in the build-your-own-website space and was recently named #5 on the Technology Fast 50. They’ve made web site building about as easy as anyone could.
Chris Young came to NBC’s “America’s Toughest Jobs” looking for a challenge, not a new job. He’s a 49-year-old investment banker from Pasadena who signed on for a shot at the big time. He reportedly also doubled his life .
What makes a documentary film appealing to you? For me, it's either a subject in which I'm already invested, of course, or one in which I'm just curious enough to give it a try. Well, I didn't know much about Anita O'Day, the jazz singer whom Robbie Cavolina and Ian McCrudden have immortalized in their new film, . It would have been just as easy to take a pass on this, but I'm glad I didn't. O'Day, whose voice could be both lilting and rusty - and I mean that in a good way - was gifted with a phenomenal instrument. And she lived a crazy life, falling into serious heroin abuse for nearly 15 years. Hers is a story natural to documentary filmmaking and I encourage you to check it out. Anita O'Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer Anita O'Day • • •
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Chip Rowe has one of the greatest jobs on earth. He’s the Playboy Advisor. You know, the guy who gets letters from C.J. in Chicago that begin, “What is the proper way to tip a blackjack dealer?” Or maybe this automotive inquiry, from A.K. in Harrisburg, Virginia: “Ever since I was a child, I have fixated on women in cars that won’t start. I suppose you could call this a fetish, because it gets me incredibly turned on. Have you ever heard of such a thing?” In his first published collection, Dear Playboy Advisor: Questions from Men and Women to the Advice Column of Playboy Magazine, Chip has whole chapters devoted to everything from “Affairs” and “Anal” to “Swingers” and “Threesomes.” So I’ll only say this once: If you’re under 18 or easily offended, please stop listening right now. For those of you remaining, please welcome Chip Rowe – the Playboy Advisor - to Mr. Media. Chip Rowe • •
I go back just as far as possible in the Star Wars viewing world. Before the original movie even opened in theaters back in 1977, my friend Bob Pinaha and I received invitations to its red carpet premiere at the Loew’s Astor Plaza Theater in New York City. It was a spectacular night – who could ever forget the opening shot of that battle cruiser coming into view and feeling it was literally over our heads? Not long after that, I got my driver’s license and went on my first “date” – Carol Burger and I jumped in my 1963 black Ford Falcon after school and drove to Paramus, NJ, and saw the movie at the only 70- mm theater around. I had never been to Paramus before—or driven on the NJ Turnpike or the Garden State Parkway, for that matter—but somehow, we got there. Getting home in the dark, on the other hand, was another story. The point is, I’ve always been captivated by the Star Wars movies and mythos. And while I’m not obsessed to the point of dressing as a storm trooper on weekends, I am looking forward to the latest chapter in the unfolding George Lucas universe. On August 15, Star Wars: The Clone Wars opens worldwide in movie theaters. It is a feature-length animated film that begins to delve into the “clone wars” that Luke Skywalker asked Obi-Wan Kenobi about in the original movie ("You fought in the clone wars?"). It is set between the events of Star Wars: Episode II—Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Episode III—Revenge of the Sith (2005). The movie will ultimately lead into an animated television series that will debut in the Cartoon Network and also appear on TNT. All of which is my way of explaining the importance of my guest, Catherine "Cat" Taber. Catherine is the actress who steps into the role of Padmé Amidala, made famous in episodes one through three by Natalie Portman. Catherine voices Padmé in the movie and she continues on the job throughout the television series. Catherine "Cat" Taber • • •
Today is a big day for my guest, : his new album, In the Ocean of the Stars was released this very day. Peter, if you don’t know him, is an accomplished musician whose career has been pumped up in recent years by his association with the hottest director of film comedies in the country, Judd Apatow. Peter co-wrote three songs for the recent movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall with its star, Jason Segel. Peter also had a brief on-camera appearance in another Apatow hit, Superbad, And Peter has a continuing relationship with another director, David Wain, for whose films The Ten, Hot Wet American Summer and the Paul Rudd movie, Role Models, he has contributed songs. Peter Salett • • • • •
It doesn’t matter whether you’ve seen or even heard of these real movie titles, because they’re providing a profitable existence for Paul Hertzberg, president and CEO of CineTel Films. Paul Herzberg, CEO/President, Cinetel Films[/caption] Movie fans focused on the weekly Top 10 movies and their box office take are missing an entire dimension of the film business. That’s where independents such as CineTel operate, cranking out movies largely on the fringes but with enough familiar elements as to tempt the casual movie renter. Today we’re going to find out from Hertzberg how his corner of the business operates and thrives. Cinetel Films • • • • •
Never let a good brand die. That seems to be the marching order given to Brent Poer, general manager of , the web video site launching on Wednesday, August 27. The WB, as you will recall, began in January 1995, and was the short-lived network home of many pop culture TV icons including Seventh Heaven, Steve Harvey, Jamie Foxx, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dawson’s Creek, Felicity, Charmed, Gilmour Girls and Smallville. It ended its short but lively tenure in a merger with the UPN network a few years ago, forming The CW. I can’t think of a single CW show I’ve watched more than once with the possible exception of Smallville. But UPN and The WB, I always thought, owned distinctive identities. And now my guest, Brent Poer, is posed to bring The WB back from the dead.
The good news: His TV dad is Benjamin Bratt. The bad news: His TV dad is an avenging angel for God. Brett DelBuono (pronounced Del-BUno) currently stars as “Ben Banks” alongside Bratt on the A&E original drama, The Cleaner. Judging from the number of teen girls who called and raved about him during this interview, I think he's going to be very, very popular. That, and he's a funny, clever kid; listen for his imitation of his Balls of Fury co-star Christopher Walken! Brett DelBuono • •
I’m a lucky guy. Last December, I received an email from a woman named Amy Domestico, inviting me to bring my podcast, Mr. Media, to a relatively new media site called . We exchanged some emails and finally talked on the phone. Up until that point, I recorded my interviews over the telephone on a digital tape recorder and uploaded them to the Internet and my web site, . The system worked, but it was clunky and excluded listener participation. I agreed to try one interview on BlogTalkRadio – on one-day notice. It was with the producer of a small indie film called Nemesis. I told him about BlogTalkRadio and said if it didn’t work, we could do a do-over. Not only did it work, but he even convinced the star of his film to call in as a surprise guest. I don’t think I’ve done an interview the old-fashioned way, ever since. That’s why joining me today is one of my heroes, Alan Levy, founder of BlogTalkRadio.com. BlogTalkRadio.com • • •
If you’re a cartoonist—writer or artist—an editor, a fan or someone in the business, there are three sites you must check daily: Alan Gardner’s ; David Astor at and Tom Spurgeon’s . So what’s going on? We have Lynn Johnston trying to explain how repeating 30 years of continuity in "For Better or For Worse" this week is not actually reprinting; several high profiles political cartoonists at daily newspapers such as Don Wright and Jim Borgman–who was a guest on Mr. Media just last week–taking buyouts; and rumors that Berkeley Breathed may be wrapping up the disappointing Sunday-only adventures of everybody’s favorite penguin, "Opus."
Everybody has an opinion on O.J. Simpson. He’s this, he’s that – one thing we can all agree upon is that his life is certainly not a dull one. For the last seven years, Norman Pardo has been OJ’s promoter, sitting side by side with him as he rode in parades, cut grand-opening ribbons, headlined at nightclubs, appeared on live radio shows and signed sports memorabilia in cities throughout America. Pardo also logged hundreds of hours in planes, limos, hotel rooms, bars and restaurants with OJ. And during each leg of their tours, he had his video camera trained on OJ, capturing more than 70 hours of documentary footage – most all of which has never been seen. On Monday, September 8, OJ Simpson will stand trial is Las Vegas on kidnapping and armed robbery charges. That evening, at 9 p.m. EST, a special series of programs heard exclusively on BlogTalkRadio.com, that will allow armchair jurors to weigh in on each day’s proceedings. At the end of the trial, online jurors will be asked to render a final verdict in the case.
Jonathan Riggs is my guest for this hour of Mr. Media. I began the show with some trepidation -- I was late getting back from the bank for one thing and almost missed the show entirely! -- and I know absolutely nothing about the narrow market for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered comics. Hell, when I was a teen reading comics, I didn't know there was any such thing as "gay." And it was only a few years ago someone told me the backstory on the name of the band "Queen." What planet am I on, anyway? But this was actually a fascinating interview and Riggs -- the editor of both the 2008 Prism Comics: Your Guide to LGBT Comics and Instinct magazine -- made for a great guest. , incidentally, is a nonprofit organization that supports lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) comics, creators, and readers. Besides publishing the annual resource guide, Prism Comics hopes to acquaint comics readers with a wide range of creators who present good stories that readers can really relate to and that reflect their own experiences. Prism Comics •
There’s a certain risk – some might call it insanity – to producing true indie films. They’re costly, especially relative to the return on investment, time, and aggravation. But still they get made. Scott Miles made his. It’s called Little Chicago, and it's about a young man who returns home after college hoping his dad will stake him the money to get into the bar and restaurant business. Of course, if his dad were to do that, this would be a short, not a full-length motion picture. Miles wrote, produced, and starred in Little Chicago. But if you haven’t seen Little Chicago, maybe you know him from some of his other film roles, including Remember the Titans, The Patriot, or October Sky. On television, he was in episodes of “NCIS” and “Star Trek Voyager.” I think you'll find what he has to say about producing indie films quite interesting. Scott Miles • •
Bill Prady is having a pretty good year, writer’s strike and all, thanks to the success of “The Big Bang Theory,” the hit CBS sitcom he co-created with Chuck Lorre. If you haven’t seen “The Big Bang Theory,” it stars Johnny Galecki and Jim Parsons as a couple of supernerds named Leonard and Sheldon – an in-joke for those of us who remember a sitcom master of old, the late Sheldon Leonard. Leonard produced everything from “Make Room for Daddy” with Danny Thomas to “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and “The Andy Griffith Show. He was also a director, a writer, and a frequent guest star. BILL PRADY podcast excerpt: "One of the great things about the Big Bang Theory characters is that they are accepting of each other's idiosyncracies." Sheldon and Leonard, the lead characters in “The Big Bang Theory” have absolutely nothing in common with their namesake except that he’d probably be proud of the tribute because they are smartly drawn, literate, and, most importantly, damn funny. This isn't Prady's first rodeo; you've also seen his work on "Gilmore Girls," "Star Trek Voyager," "Dharma & Greg," "Two and a Half Men," "The Cosby Show," and "Dream On." Bill Prady • •
My parents never sent me away to summer camp. I don’t blame them; as a kid, I was afraid of my own shadow, easily got car sick, and was not well adjusted, socially. And after reading Roger Bennett’s new love letter to summer camps, Camp Camp, I’m pretty sure I would have hated sleepaway camp. That said, I found reading about it to be great fun. And I think my own kid, now approaching the age where sleepaway camp is being discussed, would love it. Speaking of kids, this is the first Mr. Media interview where I’ve ever been on high maternity alert; my guest's wife was due to give birth last week, but hasn’t yet. So if Roger Bennett has to leave suddenly, I’ll just read from his book to fill the time, okay? Roger Bennett • •
The only thing tougher than being a black man trying to hail a cab in Manhattan might be being a black man trying to sell a comic strip into a daily newspaper that already has a strip created by an African-American cartoonist. Charlos Gary knows how tough it is – he’s the man behind two daily strips, the single panel and the multi-panel And he’s found an unusual twist: "Café Con Leche" is about the lives of young African-American man and his Latina wife. Sometimes it’s political, sometimes it's as everyday as Blondie. But it’s never dull and it’s always good for a laugh. Charlos Gary • • • •
Guys, here’s an offer you can’t refuse: a lesbian woman is going to give you tips on picking up a hottie. I know, I know – the whole idea made me laugh, too. But then I read Robbie Lee’s book, The Straight Man’s Pocket Guide to Picking Up a Hottie: Written By a Woman Who Loves Woman, and I thought, “Why not?” I’m not in the market for love, but I know an awful lot of guys who are and just don’t understand why some guys succeed and others fail. Maybe you’ve just been going to the wrong source for answers. Robbie Lee • • •
I love great photographs. Over my desk, I have a black and white Florida Everglades print by Clyde Butcher that never gets old. When my eyes start glazing over from the computer, I like to switch my gaze to Butcher’s photo and see what new things I can glean from it. I suspect I’m the audience that photographer Rick Smolan and his wife and partner Jennifer Erwitt envision when they create new coffee table photography books, such as their latest: America At Home: A Close-Up Look at How We Live. This is the latest high quality project from the team that also produced A Day in the Life of America and America 24/7. Rick Smolan • • • •
It is so easy to hate terrestrial radio these days. No matter how many stations you scan, AM or FM, it’s difficult to find one on which you can land without moments later wanting to take a sledgehammer to the radio. The politics are angry and irrational -- left and right. The music hasn’t changed in 30 years and it seems to repeat every hour. Local news and talk is virtually non-existent. Ditto for humor. The smartest radio guy of the last 20 years, Howard Stern, escaped more than two years ago and is better than ever in the unshackled environs of Sirius Satellite Radio. Who screwed up radio? Will today’s generation of young people even care in a few years, what with the glut of alternatives before them, from satellite and Internet radio to iPods and cell phone broadcasting? I suspect these are just of the few issues I’ll be discussing today with my guest, , author of Right of the Dial: The Rise of Clear Channel and The Fall of Commercial Radio. Alec Foege • • • •
Lots of people talk about the impending End of Days, but how many actually tell you how to prepare for what may come after the end? Oh, really? That many? Hmmm. Okay, how many make you laugh in the telling? Gotcha there, didn’t I? In his new book, Apocalypse How, Rob Kutner dishes out handy tips on everything from foraging for food to fooling around with mutants in a post-now world. I’m not yet sure how Kutner comes by his encyclopedic, post-apocalyptic knowledge but the humor, he comes by honestly: he’s a four-time Emmy-award winning staff writer for Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and a contributor to Stewart’s book, America (The Book). He also is a former writer for "Dennis Miller Live" on HBO. And his wife, Sheryl Zohn, writes for "Penn & Teller: Bullshit!" on Showtime. Rob Kutner • • •
Hamburgers – okay, and French fries – are so much a part of American culture that it is no surprise that somebody like George Motz would attempt something as crazy as Hamburger America: One Man’s Cross- Country Odyssey to Find the Best Burgers in the Nation. And it’s not just a book – Motz created includes a DVD that captures all the sizzle, steam and personality of some of the best burger joints in America. What makes Motz an expert? Who knows – who cares? Anybody who can point me to my next great burger is an expert to me.
When Sir George Shearing, the composer of “Lullabye of Birdland,” died on Valentine’s Day, 2011, we lost one of the great pianists — and gentlemen — of jazz. Born in London, in 1947 he came to the United States where he was known far and wide for his work with singers Frank Sinatra, Nancy Wilson, Peggy Lee and Nat King Cole, as well as his many collaborations with Mel Torme. Later in his career, he was recognized for his concert appearances with Marian McPartland and Billy Taylor, which introduced him to entirely new audiences. GEORGE SHEARING podcast excerpt: "I've been talking about trying (the electric pianos and keyboards) from the point of color. But if I did, I know one thing I would lose would be my touch, my approach to piano, which is very personal, very delicate, and may I say, somewhat artistic. I listen to some of the things being done... A great deal of it is trash and some of it is music. My greatest criticism of music today is it is all too damn loud. I wonder how many deaf people we will have in future generations because of the horrendous assaults on the ears." I had the great honor of interviewing Sir George for the St. Petersburg Times way back on October 14, 1983. I knew he was a great pianist because I listened to his albums; I learned he was a great gentleman when he treated me with kid gloves as I awkwardly and ignorantly asked him questions for more than 30 minutes. As you listen to this nearly 30-year-old recording, please focus on George’s answers and not to my questions. I was barely 18 months out of college and knew very little about jazz. But George was great. I had to keep reminding myself not just of all he accomplished in the music industry but that he did it all without his sight. He was, for all intents and purposes, the pale, British version of Ray Charles. Anyway, this interview is one of my all-time favorites and I’m so glad it survived the years with a little digital boost in spots. I hope you’ll enjoy this Mr. Media “Lost Tape”featuring Sir George Shearing. George Shearing •
Comedian Yul Spencer—Spencer, for short—has not had an easy or simple life. In his new one-man-show, “Ya Gotta Go Higher,” which ran June 11-28 at the Hollywood Complex East Theatre, he brought the funny, of course, but he also shared stories of addiction and recovery. This is not new ground for Spencer, but it is the first time he’s organized his humor and life in this type of performance. Yul Spencer • • • •
Danny Fingeroth spends a whole lot of time thinking about superheroes. For several years, he did it as the editor of the Spider-Man group of titles at Marvel Comics. Today, he’s the editor of Write Now! magazine and author of two books that go behind the four-color glory of men in tights. Already the author of Superman on the Couch, Fingeroth’s latest examination of comics, Disguised as Clark Kent, explores why so many of the enduring characters of the golden and silver ages of comics can trace their heritage back to young American Jewish artists and writers such as Will Eisner, Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, Jack Kirby, and Stan Lee. His next book, Rough Guide to Graphic Novels, will be released by Penguin in 2008. Danny Fingeroth • • • •
I think everyone remembers where they were when they first heard about the planes flying into the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon. For our generation, it’s that horrifying moment that matches up with when other generations remember the Kennedy assassination or the bombing of Pearl Harbor. But where were you when the horror of the Bush Administration’s handling of 9/11 began settling in? Its inability to scramble jets that fateful day or the President staying in an elementary school, reading to children about a goat rather than getting up and showing some leadership capabilities? Where were you when the Administration resisted a proper investigation of the attack on America? Philip Shenon, an accomplished and long-time reporter for The New York Times, has written a book that every American should read. The Commission: The Uncensored History of the 9/11 Investigation is, of all things, a beautifully-written journey into the not-so-bipartisan investigation into the government’s handling of 9/11 and its aftermath. It’s the first book of the 21st Century that could be a proper companion to Woodward and Bernstein’s classic, All the President’s Men. You should read this 9/11 history, The Commission, and then you should get very, very mad. (Please note: Due to a technical problem, only the first half of this live interview recorded on BlogTalk Radio. If anyone privately recorded it in its entirety, )
The last thing we need in our house is another serial TV commitment. But then someone turned me on to – late, I know – I am soooo screwed. If you’re already a fan of the first year drama, you already know it’s sort of like “Desperate Housewives” on an Army base. It’s also the most successful series in the Lifetime cable channel’s history. If you’re not familiar with the show, check it out. The series is based on Under the Sabers: The Unwritten Code of Army Wives, a book by Tanya Blank. It’s full of sex, lies, booze, and bitches. And I mean that in a purely professional sense. Hell, it’s even got a wife who isn’t a wife at all, but a dude married to a woman who is a lieutenant colonel. All of which is a brief introduction to my guest, Katherine Fugate, the creator of “Army Wives,” which launches its second season on Lifetime on June 8. Katherine is also the niece of TV legend Barbara Eden, star of “I Dream of Jeannie” and a few million grown-up men’s fantasies.
Run for your lives! Hide the women and children! There’s a Ten-Cent Plague loose upon this fine land! My guest today, David Hajdu, is the author of a new book that – at the very least – probably has the best title of the year, The Ten-Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How It Changed America. In this book, Hajdu looks back at a hysterical period in American history – one of many, to be sure – when comic books were considered such a threat to our way of life that the industry nearly vanished. Hajdu is also the author of Lush Life: A Biography of Billy Strayhorn, and Positively 4th Street: The Lives and Times of Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Mimi Baez Farina and Richard Farina. David Hajdu • •
Katy Chevigny makes award-winning documentary films such as Arctic Son, Innocent Until Proven Guilty, Nuyorican Dream, Brother Born Again, and Outside Looking In: Transracial Adoption in America. Her credits also include the acclaimed film Deadline, an investigation into Illinois Governor George Ryan’s commuting of death sentences. After premiering at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival, the film was broadcast on NBC. Quite honestly, I know you may not recognize the titles, but if you’re interested in independent film and documentaries, she’s the kind of woman whose work and thoughts you’ll find quite interesting. Chevigny's latest project is called Election Day. It documents the 2004 U.S. elections, from 11 locations, including a Native American reservation in South Dakota and polling stations in Florida. It will debut on the PBS series "P.O.V." on July 1. She is currently in post-production on The Dishes, the story of a punk rock band that juggles family and careers in Chicago. Through her work at , Chevigny also oversees and the Katy Chevigny • • • •
Brian Frazer’s life reads far more colorfully than mine would, I’m afraid. On the other hand, I managed to avoid that whole compulsive gambling-bodybuilding-speed-eating-colon-cleansing-Kabbalah thing that afflicted his youth. In his first book, Hyper-Chondriac, Frazer comes clean… Did I just say that? …about a life lived at super-speed. It is one he spent most of his years in search of medical solutions to a litany of physical ailments when it turned out most of the trouble was in his head.
Stephan Pastis is a big fan of Ricky Gervais, creator of "The Office" and "Extras," and Larry David, co-creator of "Seinfeld" and creator of "Curb Your Enthusiasm." He also loves him some Cheryl Hines. As a matter of fact, I think the only reason I landed him on the show today is because I interviewed the "Curb Your Enthusiasm" co-star, and that gets him one degree closer to her. Pastis’ “Pearls Before Swine” comic strip has twice been named Best Newspaper Comic Strip of the Year by the National Cartoonists Society, in 2004 and again in 2007, and it is that funny and that weird. Well, Zeeba neighbors, prepare yourself for Stephan Pastis. Stephan Pastis • • •
Pete Von Sholly’s day job would be enough excitement for most of us. He creates storyboards for big budget Hollywood movies, and if you’ve seen The Shawshank Redemption or Mars Attacks!, for example, the finished product was based on his early drawings. But being a respected, behind-the-scenes craftsman isn’t satisfying Von Sholly’s fertile mind. For several years, he’s been meshing a unique form of comics and cartoons that combine hand-drawn images with real life. Sometimes he displays an EC Comics style of horror. Sometimes his dinosaur fetish is on display for all to see. Lately though, Von Sholly has turned his attention to politics, and the result is hilarious - Capitol Hell, a collection of postcards published in book form, by Denis Kitchen Publishing.
Here’s something you probably don’t know about Mr. Media. The second of my nine books was actually about football -- Why Men Watch Football, in fact. So when the opportunity to interview Bob Horowitz came about, how could I resist? Bob is the creator and producer of the annual special, “Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials.” You may also know one of Bob’s other creations, “The Singing Bee,” hosted by Joey Fatone, which was a summer hit for NBC in 2007 and will return soon, or the CBS interactive golf special, “Rules of the Game.” Bob Horowitz • • •
If you’ve ever thought about writing novels, you might want to think about envying YA novelist Sara Zarr’s career. Her first, best-selling, young adult title, Story of a Girl, was a finalist for the 2007 National Book Awards. Book two, just released this month, is Sweethearts. It has earned glowing reviews and -- even better -- excellent sales. , the morning after the 2007 National Book Awards. She was a delightful guest, even in the face of disappointment, and I made her promise to come back when Sweethearts was released. Sara Zarr • • • • •
Writer Sara Zarr had an experience last night that any author would kill for – sitting in the audience at the Marriott Marquis Times Square in Manhattan, her first novel, Story of a Girl, a finalist for the 2007 National Book Award for young people’s literature. For a first-time fiction author, such a nomination is remarkable, and it would be fun for both of us to tell you that she won, but it wasn’t meant to be, not this time around. Don’t shed too many tears for Sara, however. She’s young, talented, and has already completed her second young adult title, Sweethearts, due on Valentine’s Day 2008 from Little, Brown. Sara Zarr • • • •
With $2.6 billion in assets, the Miami-based is the 22nd largest foundation in the United States. Its mission is the betterment of the 26 communities in which it works and the promotion of journalism as a career and industry nationwide. The latter part of Knight’s mission is particularly challenging at a time when traditional newspapers are shrinking and, in many cases, evaporating. That puts Alberto Ibargüen, CEO of the Knight Foundation and a former publisher of the Miami Herald, at the same crossroads that silent movies encountered with talkies, talkies with radio, radio with television, television with cable, and now traditional print journalism with online reporting, blogs, podcasting, v-logs, streaming media, and so on. Since 1950, the Knight Foundation has invested more than $300 million to advance quality journalism and freedom of expression worldwide. It has a vital interest in seeing journalism survive in whatever form it takes. I interviewed Ibargüen recently for an old media business magazine and liked his approach to a rapidly changing world, and I was delighted when he accepted my invitation for a second round of conversation.
I’m a sci-fi guy. I can track my love of the gere back to original 1960s airings of classic “Star Trek,” many of which scared the crap out of me – the episode titled “The Cage” in particular. After that, I discovered old sci-fi movies on the 13-inch black-and-white TV in my bedroom, where I would watch such films on Saturday and Sunday afternoons – when the Mets weren’t playing – and late at night, when I should have been asleep. Such was the wonder of UHF TV channels and rabbit-ears in the 1970s. SLOAN DE FOREST podcast excerpt: "There are a lot of sci-fi reboots that make the original look primitive." And no, I can’t trade lines from the movies, nor can I recall a lot of character names. But what I would do then – and still do today – is join any sci-fi movie in progress as I flip through the channels. I like the aliens, the exotic scenery and the spaceships, from "Metropolis" and "The Day the Earth Stood Still" on through "Planet of the Apes" and "The Martian." Which is why, when Sloan de Forest’s new book, "Must-See Sci-Fi: 50 Movies That Are Out of This World," landed on my desk, I knew I wanted to talk to her about it. Sloan de Forest • • • •
cracks me up. Always has, always will. His HBO series, “Arli$$," about an over-ambitious Hollywood sports agent, was must-see TV in my house for years, and I’ve seen his first movie, Hollywood Knights, hundreds of times. Really, hundreds. If you haven’t seen it, buy it. In terms of media experience, Wuhl played reporters in Batman and Cobb and a disc jockey in Good Morning, Vietnam. And when Billy Crystal hosted the Academy Awards in 1990, 1991, and 1992, Wuhl contributed a good many of Crystal’s best lines. This, I’m sure of. It doesn’t hurt that we share a birthday, October 9th, and we’re both New Jersey natives. This month, Wuhl returns to HBO with his second “Assume the Position” special. It’s a raucous run through history in which Professor Wuhl takes charge of a class of college students and shares “more stories that made America and the stories that America made up.” Robert Wuhl • •
Pete Williams is a journalist and author whom I have known and been friendly with for several years. But I didn’t ask him to do a Mr. Media interview simply because we are buddies so much as I think that his recent book, The Draft, a Year Inside the NFL’s Search for Talent, was an overlooked sports journalism classic from 2006 that more people should be exposed to. Pete, who is a long-time fitness enthusiast and journalist, is a regular contributor to Men’s Health magazine and has written a number of sports-related books, some as sole author, others, such as the Core Performance series, with Mark Verstegen. Their third book, Core Performance - Endurance, written for runners, cyclists, swimmers, and triathletes, was released in January 2007, and Core Performance – Golf is slated for 2008. Pete also has an interesting private life that in the last year has become an open secret. He is a practicing nudist. I say it’s an open secret because Pete is the co-host, along with , of a weekly radio show that combines two of his interests – physical fitness and nudity. I don’t think this will be a dull interview. Pete Williams • • •
Lee Salem is a guy I’ve admired for many, many years. As the president and editor of , he is the man responsible for recognizing a slew of creative talent that impacted American pop culture and the funny pages over the last 30-plus years. The origins of Garry Trudeau and “Doonesbury,” Gary Larson and “The Far Side,” Bill Watterson and “Calvin and Hobbes,” Lynn Johnston and “For Better or Worse” and Cathy Guisewite and “Cathy,” all can be traced back to the man I’m about to interview. I had my own up-close and personal moment with Lee Salem. Mr. Media was originally a weekly syndicated column, one distributed by Universal Press Syndicate from July 1996 to May 1998. I remember my first email from Lee, suggesting Universal was interested in distributing the column, which until then had been self-syndicated. He even invited me out to Kansas City, where I met a half-dozen people – including Sue Roush, Bill Mitchell and Darrell Coleman - who I stayed friendly with for many years to come. And on that trip, seeing how awed I was by whom I was with and my surroundings, Lee jokingly invited me to take a spin in his office chair. Who could resist? Would a political junkie refuse the chance to sit in the President’s chair at the Oval Office? Would a Trekkie turn down the opportunity to take the con from Captain Kirk? It was a pretty cool ride for a guy who dubbed himself “Mr. Media.” I like Lee a lot and respect him even more. And when I decided to restart Mr. Media as an online feature, Lee Salem was at the top of the list of people I wanted to interview. Universal Press Syndicate • • • • •
I have enjoyed the illustrations of for many, many years. He has going for him what many artists can only dream of – a distinctive style and, if you will, a voice that sets his work apart. Depending upon your age and interests, you’ve no doubt seen Friedman’s work somewhere, including the National Lampoon, Spy, and the New York Observer. When Drew draws a satirical picture, it always screams with attitude. There is no subtlety involved. Drew Friedman • • •
Do you remember the first music you ever bought? Whether it was a digital download, a compact disc, cassette, eight track, or a 33-1/3, 45, or even a 78 RPM wax record, I’ll bet you know that first song or album by heart. Mine was way back in 1967, The Monkees’ Headquarters album. My parents bought it at the neighborhood pharmacy, believe it or not. I played it over and over and over again. I would have kept playing it, but my little brother, Ira, the future disc jockey, took a bite out of it, literally. I still have it though. No matter what kind of music you like, whether it’s Bruce Springsteen, Lawrence Welk, or Gwen Stefani, we all form attachments to our favorite songs. For example, the first song my wife and I danced to at our wedding was Springsteen’s "I Wanna Marry You,” and it still brings a smile to my face almost 20 years later. The point of these anecdotal snapshots? Music matters in our lives. But the music industry itself is undergoing a historic shift away from the sale of physical albums to downloads of music, one 99¢ song at a time. Where is pop music going? That’s the topic of today’s interview with Tamara Conniff, Billboard editor and associate publisher , where she oversees all aspects of the Billboard brand, from editorial to face-to-face events. She is the youngest person and first woman to hold this post. Prior to joining Billboard, Conniff served as the music editor for The Hollywood Reporter for five years and was senior editor in charge of music for Amusement Business. Her work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Daily News, the Boston Globe, and the New York Post, among other places. Born and raised in Hollywood, she is also the daughter of the late American music legend, Ray Conniff. Tamara Conniff • • • • •
Today’s media newsmaker interview is a little different. I don’t expect many people will know either my guest, David Bankston, or the company he represents, . It’s very likely, though, that you may have already encountered a Neighborhood America program and not even realized it. The Naples, Florida, based company does enterprise-social networks for CBS, Fox, the Scripps Network, and HDTV, among others, and David Bankston is the co-founder and chief technology officer for Neighborhood America, a leading provider of solutions for online engagement and interaction via all forms of content. Specializing in software integration and technical innovation, David has devoted much of his career to creating next-generation technologies specifically designed to solve real-world business problems. Under his leadership, Neighborhood America’s solutions have been successfully adopted nationwide by various organizations, and media companies are turning to Neighborhood America in order to harness the power of the Web to effectively engage audiences. Prior to Neighborhood America, David’s technology career included fifteen years at Lexis/Nexis, where he was responsible for many innovations that are still in use today.
Eric Deggans is easily one of the smartest journalists I know. Okay, okay, I know some of you connect “smart” and “journalist” and chuckle the way other people combine “military” and “intelligence.” But trust me, Eric is really bright. He has his own way of looking at any topic and bringing aspects of it to light. Currently the television and media critic for the —and author of a media savvy blog called —Eric is filling a job the newspaper created specifically for him. Before serving as media critic, he sat on the newspaper’s editorial board and wrote bylined opinion columns specializing in race issues, pop culture, media, and national affairs. From 1997 to 2004, he worked as TV critic for the Times, crafting reviews, news stories, and long-range trend pieces on the state of the media industry, both locally and nationally. Eric is also the president of the Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists. And, , you’ll find he also worked in the 1980s as a professional drummer touring and performing with Motown’s The Voyage Band throughout the Midwest and in Osaka, Japan. He continues to perform in the Tampa Bay area with local bands and recording artists as a drummer, bassist, and vocalist. You may also recognize Eric as a recurring panelist on CNN’s “Reliable Sources.” Join us if you're fascinated by boob tube talk. Eric Deggans • • • • • • • •
When I was a student at the University of Florida, studying film during the day and writing freelance stories at night, I landed two choice assignments. Choice, that is, for a horny, unrequited, socially awkward twenty-year-old. First, I got to spend an afternoon hanging out with Russ Myers, a notorious film director and king of loopy seventies porn, the man who gave movie critic Roger Ebert his notorious film credit on Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens. That was a wild day. The other unforgettable assignment was interviewing Playboy magazine photographer David Chan, who came to Gainesville to uncover the most delectable Gator coeds for “Girls of the Southeastern Conference” pictorial. Chan was a delightful guy with an enviable job. Hundreds of beautiful women were lined up outside his headquarters at the University Holiday Inn to bare their, uh, natural assets. But Playboy and I go back about a decade or so earlier to the time when I discovered my dad’s prized stack of 1960s Playboy s in a cardboard box in the attic on top of an old cedar wardrobe. And by the time I was thirteen, I ordered a subscription of my own. And once a month ever since, I’ve looked forward to the arrival of the next issue. A female friend jokingly asked if I read Playboy for the articles. Articles? I answered. Are there articles in Playboy ? Apparently, there are because my guest today is Chris Napolitano, the magazine’s editorial director. If you look at the masthead, the only name listed higher is the magazine’s founder, Hugh Hefner. Napolitano began his career with Playboy in 1988 as an editorial assistant in the fiction department and now, in his 20th year with the magazine, is responsible for the day-to-day editorial policy and operations of Playboy magazine. He reports to Hef and is based in the company’s New York publishing headquarters. Chris Napolitano •
Besides a glass of Dr. Pepper, the one material thing I look forward to every day is checking in with my Macintosh computer. I’ve been one of those crazed Mac guys since 1984, I guess, when I bought my first Apple, a IIc. Since then, I’ve upgraded every couple years, through the Plus, the Centris, the iMac, a Power Computing clone, an early iBook, a special edition silver clamshell, a newer iBook, and the desktop G5 I’m looking at now. There are also two iPods in the house, one mini, one video I’m the crazed Mac evangelist you PC holdouts hate so much. Joining me today is a guy who is probably more Mac-crazed – by profession, at least -- than I am. He’s Jason Snell, editorial director of Macworld, publishers of Macworld magazine, Macworld.com, Playlist, Mac OS X Hints, and MacUser.com. He has covered Apple and the Mac market since 1994. Jason Snell • • •
There aren’t many people who want to go to prison. Not on purpose, not by accident, not even if they deserve it. Loss of liberty, loss of freedom, loss of privacy, loss of choice – and let’s not even talk about the whole idea of showers and toilets. And yet it’s hard not to be curious about the experience. I’m not talking about Lindsay Lohan or Nicole Ritchie doing a few hours of jail time or even Paris spending a few weeks in the LA County Sheriff’s Hilton. Rasha Drachkovitch takes film crews where few of us want to go: the most dreaded prisons in the world. As producer of the MSNBC documentary series Lockup – now in its seventh season – he has been everywhere from San Quentin to maximum security prisons in Moscow and China. Lockup • • •
I don’t have the best eating habits. I generally try to follow the 80/20 rule. I make an effort to eat smart and well about 80 percent of the time and give in to my inner teenager the other 20 percent, having an occasional burger and fries. Over the last 25 years, we’ve been barraged by media and marketing that urge us to eat a better diet and make better choices at every meal, and one of the magazines long at the forefront of this effort is Time Warner’s Cooking Light, and I should know, my wife has stacks of back issues all over the house. Joining me today is magazine editor Mary Kay Culpepper; she took over the publication's top chair in January 2001. Since then, the magazine’s audience has grown to more than eleven and a half million readers, and it seems safe to assume that at least a few of them have improved their health by following the ideas and recipes in Cooking Light.
The first cool thing you need to know about National Geographic’s The Green Guide newsletter is that you can download an electronic edition of the latest issue for $2.50 right now or spend $3.50, and they’ll mail you one in about two weeks. I like it already. The Green Guide is truly a magazine of the moment. Whether you believe in global warming, as Al Gore does, or believe it’s nothing more than liberal strategery, as the President does, the environment is a hot topic. I can’t believe I just said that. Joining me today is Seth Bauer, editorial director of The Green Guide and . Launched in 1994 and acquired by National Geographic in 2007, The Green Guide is a bimonthly newsletter and comprehensive Web site for consumers interested in a green lifestyle. Over the past 20 years, Bauer has served as editor-in-chief for publications such as Body & Soul and Walking magazines. He’s also the co-author of the 90 Day Fitness Walking Program and has been published in The New York Times, Outside, and American Health. He is also – and this is very interesting to me – an Olympic medal winner and a world champion in rowing. The Green Guide • • Seth Bauer • •
David Andelman and I have been connected via the internet for the last few years. I frequently receive emails from people who remember me from CBS News or The New York Times, who want to reconnect via Facebook or network through LinkedIn. Unfortunately, I never worked for CBS News or The New York Times. And on his end, I suspect David Andelman receives late-night emails intended for me from overdue bill collectors and people who want him to teach them how to become sports agents, based on a story I wrote for Gallery magazine in 1994. We have both, I believe, handled the mistaken identity issue with good humor, eventually referring to each other as “cousin.” Today, I even introduced David to my son as “Uncle” David. David is a veteran foreign affairs correspondent whose assignments took him to more than fifty countries, as Paris correspondent for CBS News and as the Southeast Asia and Eastern European bureau chief for The New York Times. He also spent time at the New York Daily News and CNBC. He is now the author of a topical new book, A Shattered Peace: Versailles 1919 and The Price We Pay Today, as well as two earlier works, The Peacemakers and The Fourth World War. When I learned that David, who is currently the executive editor of Forbes.com, the online identity of the esteemed business magazine, would be appearing in the new media capital of St. Petersburg, Florida for the St. Petersburg Times Festival of Reading today, I had to invite my cousin for an in-person edition of Mr. Media. David A. Andelman • • • World Policy Journal • • • • •
Judge David Young is unlike any other TV judge you’ve likely seen before. In a video marketplace with courts of every color and gender and with their focuses ranging from petty crimes and divorce to Texas justice, the Judge David Young show has a gimmick that’s no gimmick. Yep, he’s gay. JUDGE DAVID YOUNG podcast excerpt: "The only way being gay affects who I am is I dress better than the straight judges." Judge David Young • • •
When it comes to NBC’s Monday night spy rom-com “Chuck,” regular listeners know I’m not afraid to let my geek flag fly. Mr. Media has been delighted to host interviews with >Josh Gomez, who plays Chuck’s best friend Morgan, both halves of Jeffster, Vik Sahay and Scott Krinsky, and even Ken Davitian, best known for co-starring in Borat with Sasha Baron Cohen, but also recognized among elite fans as “Uncle Bernie” in the episode titled “Chuck Versus the First Kill.” YVONNE STRAVOSKI podcast excerpt: "Chemistry is this weird thing that happens on camera. You can never predict what kind of chemistry you'll have with someone. With Zach and me, it works on screen. We've been friends for the whole four seasons. I'm very excited that it works and that that's the reason people follow the show. They want to see what happens with these two lovers who are now a couple." So welcoming the stunning Yvonne Strahovski to the show is the easiest thing I’ve had to do since starting out four years ago. As Chuck’s long repressed girlfriend, Sarah, Yvonne has made an impression for everything she brings to the role besides being the sweetest eye candy on the planet. She plays a woman who kicks ass, male and female, takes a backseat to no man or woman, is smart, intuitive and an excellent example of the kind of character that every dad should want his teen daughter to admire and respect. I love that my wife and son and I have a show we can watch and enjoy together and I’m delighted that Chuck's Yvonne Strahovski can take a few minutes out of his schedule to talk about the show with us today.
My over-the-backyard-fence neighbor and I have been exchanging books back and forth for years. As a result of this show, I have introduced him to several mystery authors published by the Hard Case Crime imprint. I think it is safe to say that we share a favorite among them—Max Allan Collins. I wasn’t sure of this until a few months ago when the latest batch of fiction that my neighbor dropped off for me included a stack of “Quarry” detective novels by Collins. I may have introduced him to Quarry but he bought all the ones he had not yet read! That’s a fan. MAX ALLAN COLLINS podcast excerpt: "It's never been that I picked up where Mickey Spillaine left off. I always view that as rough draft material and I expand it, trying to maintain a voice that is similar to his." Today, I’m delighted to welcome Collins back to the show for the third time. We’re going to focus on his latest deep dive into the literary estate of the late detective fiction writer Mickey Spillane. It’s called “Killing Town” and it’s a gem—but not just because it represents the 10th posthumous Mike Hammer novel that Collins has written from partial manuscripts and notes Spillane left behind when he died in 2006. No, this one is special because it chronicles Hammer’s first ever adventure, written in the 1940s. It was never published until now. Since the last time he was here, Collins has seen his own character, “Quarry,” brought to life on Cinemax. He and his wife Barb celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. And he has endured and overcome some serious health challenges. I’m delighted to get a chance to catch up on all of the above and more today. Max Allan Collins • • •
Banging My Head Against the Wall: A Comedy Writer’s Guide to Seeing Stars is a great book title because it is not only clever, it tells you exactly what the book is about. Humorist Andy Cowan’s career has known great highs, as captured in his memoir’s subtitle – and great frustrations, as telegraphed in the title. It also gets across the concept of opposites, which could be said to capsulize his work life ever since he conceived of “The Opposite” episode of “Seinfeld.” ANDY COWAN podcast excerpt: "Initially, I met Jerry Seinfeld as a stand-up guy at UCLA in 1980. College audiences tended to be my crowd. I had a good set, felt good. Then this kid comes up and says, 'What IS head cheese?' I'd never seen anything quite like him. Just the confidence that the guy had, for his young age. The crowd was blown away. I walked up to him and said, 'You ever thought about doing Carson?' And he said, 'I'm not ready yet.'" Cowan’s early career in TV was spent as a talent coordinator for “The Merv Griffin Show” – and yes, I know more than a few of you don’t even know who Merv Griffin is anymore. He was a prominent force in late night television for many years, attracting the biggest names in show business during his time – many of whom were pre-interviewed by Cowan. But Cowan’s ambitions were bigger than Merv – he wanted to write television sitcoms. He had a great deal of success – eventually – but there was a whole lot of waiting and rejection in between. Although he once scammed Lorne Michaels into a “Saturday Night Live” tryout, his big break came when Larry David, co-creator of “Seinfeld,” liked one of his ideas and eventually brought him on staff beginning in the show’s sixth season. We’ll talk about that and a whole lot more today. Andy Cowan • • • • •
I’m a lifelong baseball fan whose heroes were Mickey Mantle of the Yankees and Tom Seaver of the Mets. I never met Ted Williams, but I did have a book I wrote, Stadium For Rent, enshrined in the Ted Williams Hitters Hall of Fame at Tropicana Field here in St. Petersburg. Just sayin’! If you love baseball as much as I do, there will be moments in Nick Davis’s new documentary, Ted Williams: “The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived,” that will choke you up and maybe even bring a tear to at least one eye. It is extremely well done, compacting the life of one of sports’ most accomplished, combative, and competitive characters into a mesmerizing hour. NICK DAVIS podcast excerpt: "Ted Williams was a man whose ambition was to be known as 'The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived.' Whether or not he succeeded at that is open to discussion and debate. But that was the focus of his life. He was so obsessed, so compulsive about hitting, studying batting, weighing his bat! Nobody else was heating their bats to remove any excess moisture that accumulated on the bat. But Ted was doing all of that." Boston Red Sox fans won’t be able to resist the continuity of Wade Boggs talking about Ted Williams, or that one of the film’s executive producers is “Big Papi” himself, David Ortiz. And yes, Davis even manages to squeeze in a discussion of why the Williams family cryogenically saved Ted’s head. You know, “The Frozen Splinter.” Ted Williams: “The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived” – narrated by “Mad Men” star Jon Hamm -- premieres on Monday, July 23, at 9 p.m. on your local PBS television station. After that, you can see it online at pbs.org/americanmasters and on PBS apps. (NOTE - During the interview, I mistakenly stated that I thought the great San Francisco Giants ballplayer Willie McCovey had recently passed. That is a mistake and I apologize for making it — Bob Andelman) Nick Davis • • • • • • • Ted Williams • • • • •
A different kind of episode! Congratulations to Dave Gibbons, comic book artist extraordinaire and co-creator of Watchmen with Alan Moore, for being elected to the Will Eisner Hall of Fame at San Diego Comic-Con on July 20, 2018. Dave dropped by Mr. Media back in January 2009 to talk about the graphic novel, the movie, and his behind-the-scenes book, “Watching the Watchmen.” You can hear that interview in the archives -- it's #556. But you might enjoy this audiobook excerpt from my biography, "Will Eisner: A Spirited Life," for which I interviewed Dave Gibbons and Alan Moore about their experiences with Will Eisner in creating new stories for Eisner's The Spirit character (PS -- A Spirited Life was republished in 2015 in an updated, expanded, gorgeous color hardcover edition by Twomorrows.)
Will success spoil standup comedy queen Lisa Lampanelli? That’s what Howard Stern asked her in January 2009. He thinks that now that the standup comedian has hit the big time with her first HBO special, “Long Live the Queen,” on HBO, that it might be too much exposure for her extremely vulgar, awfully funny brand of humor. Maybe he’s right. But maybe, just maybe, it will open a lot of new doors for Lampanelli, who has long been a regular on the roast circuit, ripping new you-know-whats for her fellow comedians and celebrities such as Pamela Anderson, Chevy Chase and William Shatner. A word of warning for the fainthearted Mr. Media listener: There are no censors on this show. Nobody will be bleeping Lisa, who is known to thrown around four and 12-letter words. She is free to let it rip here. So if you’re easily offended, switch shows now. Lisa Lampanelli • • • • •
From 2008: If you think Fox TV is edgy and kooky now, you should’ve seen it back in the early ‘90s when Stephen Chao was a programmer and eventually its President. He commissioned “COPS,” created “America’s Most Wanted,” and earned a reputation for creating commercial success by pushing boundaries and questioning the conventional wisdom. Chao rose to president of Fox Television and later held the same position at USA Cable where he launched “Monk.” He dropped from sight for a few years. I hear he did a lot of surfing, and he’s now back in a new medium promoting a website, . If you want to see videos such as “Make Your Desk a More Creative Space” or “Increase Boob Size on Pictures with Photoshop” -- yes, I did like that one myself -- check out wonderhowto.com.
I guess I thought I knew Kip Addotta. Now that I am reading his autobiography, Kip Addotta: Confessions of a Comedian, I realize I don’t know him at all. My guest today was a staple of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s comedy scene as he found it: comedy clubs in Los Angeles, nightclubs in Miami and Las Vegas, and an endless series of guest appearances on the talk shows that could make a comic’s career in those days – “The Mike Douglas Show,” “The Merv Griffin Show” and “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.” KIP ADDOTTA podcast excerpt: "I called Elvis Presley's suite at the International Hotel in Las Vegas. Someone from the Memphis Mafia answered. 'Who's this?' I said, 'This is Kip Addotta. I'd like to talk to Mr. Presley!' The guy said, 'Kip Addotta?' and I heard Elvis say, 'I'll take that call!' I said, 'Mr. Presley, let's go go-karting.' He said, 'Kip, I can't go out; I'll be mobbed.' I said, 'Mr. Presley, take off the chrome suit, put a ball cap on and some tennis shoes and jeans, and let's go!' There was a long pause--I felt that he was looking down at himself and he WAS wearing a chrome suit. He chuckled and said, 'Pick me up out back in 30 minutes.' That happened three different times while we were both in town. The Memphis Mafia didn't like it." But behind the curtain, as his memoir reveals, his early, personal life was anything but glamorous. • His mother deserted him and his father when he was just two years old. He never saw her again. • He slept in his baby crib until the age of 9. • His father, who never physically left, emotionally abandoned Kip shortly thereafter, although he delivered beatings to his son long into his teens. Dad threw Kip out of his house at age 15 with just two dimes to his name and the clothes on his back. • Kip was raised by his fiercely protective paternal grandmother, a sicilian woman he described as being a “Made” woman within the ranks of the Mafia. Because of her ties, Kip was escorted and protected whenever he traveled east of the Mississippi by goodfellas. • His first wife, Mary, mother of his first two children, died tragically at age 23. Need I go on? This is a book you really must read and I haven’t even told you about his encounters with Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and Kenny Kramer of “Seinfeld” fame yet! Kip Addotta • • • •
The first thing I need to tell you about Forrest Galante is that I will never go out on an adventure with a man who is comfortable carrying a live Burmese Python around his neck. But that’s just me. Watching him do stuff like that from the comfort of my living room, however, as the wildlife biologist and tracker does in his new Animal Planet TV series, “Extinct or Alive,” is totally cool. The show airs Sundays at 9 p.m. Eastern or Pacific. In an episode in which Galante and his team come to my “backyard” in search of a Florida black panther or black wolf, you may think this is merely a promotion for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the Everglades alligators, snakes, skeeters, storms and snapping turtles he encounters are all too real. If you love nature—what’s left of it, anyway—this is a real fun series in the manner of Jeff Corwin and Steve Irwin, I think you’ll dig “Extinct or Alive” because the host’s enthusiasm is infectious. Forrest Galante • • • • •
If you’re going to be successful in business, you’ve got to be able to stomache conflict. You have to be hard-headed, believing the world needs what you’re selling, and never take no for an answer. Some of us might wishes ethical decision-making, carbon footprint and a bit of kindness were high atop that list but, realistically, those are not always the first thoughts of someone in the midst of empire-building. DAVID BROWN podcast excerpt: "I mean, Apple vs. Samsung--how many times have you gotten stuck in that conversation, right?" This is something I know a little about, having co-authored books with some of the world’s most successful ball-busting entrepreneurs. Not that they don’t have hearts and souls, but business is war. David Brown knows this. As host of the new Wondry podcast series, “Business Wars,” every week, he breaks down some of the world’s greatest us vs. them company conflicts and gives them new life through narrative commentary and conversational recreations. To date, “Business Wars” has compellingly examined Nike vs. Adidas, Netflix vs. Blockbuster, Beats vs. Monster Cable, and Marvel vs. DC Comics. You might recognize David’s voice, if not his face, as the former host of “Marketplace” on NPR. He is also managing editor and anchor of the daily statewide public radio news hour “Texas Standard”, based at Austin NPR affiliate KUT-FM. You can also hear him nationally as a contributor to “All Things Considered,” and “Morning Edition.” Business Wars
1993 was a kinder, gentler time, when we could still separate an actor from his or her politics and enjoy their performance for the lightweight popcorn entertainment it was – in this case, martial arts master Chuck Norris as “Walker, Texas Ranger.” It was a fun show in which Norris played a cop who was pretty much impervious to everything from punches and bullets to Godhood jokes. SHEREE J. WILSON podcast excerpt: "I read 'L.A. Law' sides for CBS and they put my audition in the queue. Then I went to Israel to film a movie with Chuck Norris. We had a ball. One day, he looked like the cat that swallowed the canary. He said, 'It seems they want this actress named 'Sheree J. Wilson' to play in my new TV series, 'Walker Texas Ranger.' I said YOU'RE Walker Texas Ranger???" Because even if you didn’t love the show, how could you resist a Chuck Norris joke? • Chuck Norris does not wear a condom. Because there is no such thing as protection from Chuck Norris. • Chuck Norris' tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried. • If you can see Chuck Norris, he can see you. If you can't see Chuck Norris you may be only seconds away from death. Those are just a sampling of gags from the website titled – yup, you guessed it, “Chuck Norris Jokes.” (https://chuck-norris-jokes.com ) My guest today is actress Sheree J. Wilson, who played opposite Chuck Norris as assistant district attorney Alix Cahill on “Walker, Texas Ranger,” the long-running TV series that debuted 25 years ago. The show is back once more, this time on getTV. I’m hoping Sheree might have a favorite Chuck Norris joke of her own – or knows whether Chuck Norris enjoys Chuck Norris jokes. Sheree J. Wilson • • • • •
Today's Guest: Stephen Rosenfield, founder, American Comedy Institute, author, Mastering Stand-Up: The Complete Guide to Becoming a Successful Comedian If you’re not funny, if you’ve never been funny, if friends don’t flock to hear you tell stories about your crazy life, I’m afraid today’s guest, Stephen Rosenfield, can’t help you. Sorry. On the other hand, if you’re one of the rare men and women with natural gifts for hitting a punch line just right, for reading a crowd, large or small, or who can convert a life of small, precious moments into big laughs, the author of Mastering Stand-Up: The Complete Guide to Becoming a Successful Comedian might know a valuable thing or two that you will find useful. STEPHEN ROSENFIELD podcast excerpt: "Mastering Stand-Up is aimed at people who want to do this -- and for comedians who are already doing it. There are (other) manuals to help you get started. I cover that. But I've worked with people who have made it all the way to the top." Rosenfield is the founding director of the American Comedy Institute and his alumni are as diverse as Jim Gaffigan and Lena Dunham – talk about opposite ends of the spectrum! In his book, he writes about the different types of comedy and comedians, and breaks down the techniques and behind-the-scenes details that can make or break a modern comedian. I’m not interested in jumping onstage, but I’m fascinated by stand-ups and their careers. In that regard, I found Mastering Stand-Up to be compelling and rich in detail. Stephen Rosenfeld • • American Comedy Institute •
Today's Guest: Bob Balaban, actor Close Encounters of the Third Kind, "Seinfeld," Bernard and Doris No matter what role he’s in, Bob Balaban always makes an impression, from Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind to playing the President of NBC on “Seinfeld.” And the same is was true of his work as a director, which you can discover in Bernard and Doris, starring Susan Sarandon and Ralph Fiennes. (Currently, he is appearing in "Condor" on the Audience Network.) Bob Balaban• • • •
Today's Guest: Ross Pearsall, comics cover artist, "Super-Team Family" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience full of forgotten comic book characters hoping Ross Pearsall will give them new life in the next “Super-Team Family” … in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! If you’re a comic book fan and you’ve never seen Ross Pearsall’s “Super-Team Family” work, put Mr. Media on pause while you look up – we’ll wait. Cool, right? ROSS PEARSALL podcast excerpt: "My very first covers weren't crossovers between DC and Marvel characters at all. They were: What If... The Brave and the Bold kept running? Once I exhausted that concept, people said, 'Hey, have Batman team up with Howard the Duck!' That was funny! Then I moved on to Marvel Two-in-One, swapping out Batman for The Thing, who lends himself more to humor than Batman does." Every day, Pearsall takes his – and our – imagination to infinity and beyond by bringing together familiar and obscure comics characters on the cover of a comic book that has never existed but should, “Super-Team Family.” The covers are typically in the form of the once-popular DC “Giant” comics that promised so much and usually delivered so little – but always had the best covers. Want to see the Fantastic Four cross paths with Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Chewbacca? Pearsall made it happen. Marvel’s Iron Fist and TV’s “Kung Fu” Caine, as played by David Carradine? Done! How about the Black Panther meets Peter Sellers’ Pink Panther? Yup, been there, did that. And this is the only place you’ll see Black Panther and Black Lightning square off. Pearsall calls them “The greatest team-ups that never happened… but should have!” And he’s right. Today, I’ve invited Pearsall on the show to talk about how “Super-Team Family” came together, how he gets his ideas, and if the copyright holders ever come around with legal claims. With any luck, you might even see a new team-up concept come together right before your eyes. Ross Pearsall's Super-Team Family •
Today's Guest: Joe Pistone, former FBI agent, author, Donnie Brasco: Unfinished Business My favorite book in the 1970s was Serpico by Peter Maas, the story of a New York City cop who seemingly single-handedly fought the force of corruption in the city’s police department. I read all the books of that genre in that era, from Supercops to The Valachi Papers and The French Connection. One of the most fascinating parts of those works was always the tales of cops who went undercover to infiltrate the bad guys, from drug dealers to the Mafia. No one ever did undercover police work better or with more distinction than Joe Pistone, who you probably know better as “Donnie Brasco.” Brasco became a household name in the 1980s as the undercover character played by Pistone, perhaps the ballsiest FBI agent ever. His six years undercover ultimately led to testimony that sent more than 200 mobsters to jail and – indirectly, several to their deaths. Pistone was famously portrayed by Johnny Depp in the 1997 movie, Donnie Brasco, which co-starred Al Pacino and was based on Pistone's book of the same name. He’s just published a new book – with Charles Brandt -- Donnie Brasco: Unfinished Business, that fills in some gaps from the first book. Joe Pistone
Today's Guest: Jon Lovett, co-creator, "1600 Penn," podcaster, "Pod Save America" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of former presidential speechwriters who went on to successful careers in television – I’m looking at you, Pat Buchanan, Ben Stein and Peggy Noonan. Waitamminit – they’re all Republicans! Damn! I hoped Jon Lovett isn’t listening yet… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! So… I was all set to ask Jon Lovett a bunch of predictable questions about making the transition from being one of President Obama’s speechwriters to producer of a TV show about a fictional president of a fictional country in a fictional world capitol… … when the real-life actor who plays the son of said fictional president showed up on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” a week ago making his case on national television to play the overweight son of Han Solo in the new Star Wars movie. He was basically pleading with director J.J. Abrams for a job! JON LOVETT podcast excerpt: "You want your show to succeed and to have the best lead-in possible. They have put as after 'The Office' and that is as good a lead-in as you can get... on NBC. We hope people are going to start finding the show. I think it is a sharp, funny show. Whatever else is going on around us, we hope people will be drawn to '1600 Penn.'" So… now I’m left having to ask Lovett about the appropriateness of Josh Gad, one of the stars of his Thursday night at 9:30 p.m. NBC show '1600 Penn,' to be begging for work at a time when his existing gig is, unfortunately, struggling a bit in the ratings. It’s already gotta hurt to see the show that preceded you, '30 Rock,' retire mid-season, and the one that followed you for all of two weeks, the bizarre drama, 'Do No Harm,' go in the tank to historic proportions before being yanked. And what does '1600 Penn' have to look forward to? Being the lead-in for 'Law & Order: SVU' reruns and then the debut of 'Hannibal'? Yikes! 1600 Penn • • • Pod Save America • • •
Today's Guest: Joey Luthaman, actor, "Weeds, "An American Carol" I hate it when people confuse actors with the characters they play. For example, just because 11-year-old Joey Luthman appears on the Showtime sitcom “Weeds” doesn’t mean he’s a pothead. At least I hope not! And just because he has a role in the new movie An American Carol alongside Kelsey Grammer, Leslie Nielsen, Dennis Hoppe and James Woods doesn’t mean he’s a conservative right-winger. Not that there’s anything wrong with it. Joey Luthman • • • • •
Today's Guest: Cas Anvar, actor, "The Expanse," "The Strain" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience full of Martians and Earthers who never get tired of making jokes about Uranus… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! In an era of the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe and an endless stream of new Star Wars movies, it might surprise some people to learn that some of the best and most-consistent space-based science fiction is being produced for television. For example, Netflix just released one of its most surprising and compelling new series, the rebooted “Lost in Space,” of all things. CAS ANVAR podcast excerpt: "We think Season 3 is even more exciting and more explosive (than Season 2 was). If we are blessed and fortunate enough to get a Season 4, you won't believe what happens! I'd be watching this show every week!." And over on Syfy, the third season of “The Expanse” is well under way and continuing to blow minds in the epic galactic battle between Earthers and Martians. “The Expanse” is an unusual show in that it started slow, seemingly headed in one way, then another, and was given a second season to get its act together. And boy, did it. The writing in season two made sense of the various threads from season one and gave the show a grounding it lacked the first time around. It also jettisoned actor Thomas Jane, the star of the show when it launched. His departure immediately created new storylines and stars, including my guest today, Cas Anvar, who plays Alex Kamal. Anvar has dozens of acting credits, most recently appearing in the third season of FX’s “The Strain.” "The Expanse" currently airs Wednesdays on Syfy at 9 p.m. in the U.S. Cas Anvar • • • • • •
If you’re going to get called on the carpet for something you did right, might as well be by Stephen Colbert on Comedy Central’s whirlwind of truthiness, “The Colbert Report.” That’s what happened about a week ago to Bill Adair, Pulitzer Prize winning editor of , the online fact-checking operation spawned by the St. Petersburg Times. BILL ADAIR podcast excerpt: "The result is some good fact checking that wouldn't have been done before." In case you missed this story, Jake Tapper, interim host of ABC’s Sunday morning political chat fest, “This Week,” announced his guests’ most questionable claims would be subject to fact checking by Politifact. Meanwhile, over at NBC’s venerable “Meet The Press,” host David Gregory dismissed the need for fact-checking his guests. I understand his point; does anyone fact-check the wrestlers’ claims on "WWE Smackdown"? Of course not. It’s pure, scripted entertainment. Not something anyone takes seriously. Colbert even invited Tapper and Adair on his show to discuss their work. Politifact uses a series of truth-o-meters to declare politicians’ boldest statements either true, untrue, half-true or “pants-on-fire” lies. It won a Pulitzer Prize for its work in 2009, which was the first time Bill Adair was on Mr. Media. Now that he’s been discovered by Colbert, he’s a tougher guest to book, but we’re always delighted to have him.
Today's Guest: Jeff Herman, literary agent, author, "Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors & Literary Agents," "Write the Perfect Book Proposal" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience full of people just like you who know they have at least one good book in them to write but don’t know how to get it published… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Jeff Herman’s Guide to Book Publishers, Editors & Literary Agents: Who They Are, What They Want, How to Win Them Over by Jeff Herman. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above! We all have a little bit of the fanboy or fangirl in us; sometimes it surprises us in the times it chooses to surface. For me, one of those days came in April 2017, when I was a keynote speaker at a business writers conference in Birmingham, Alabama, and I met Jeff Herman, a fellow conference guest whose work as a writer and literary agent has meant so much to me over the past 25 years. JEFF HERMAN podcast excerpt: "There has been a huge consolidation of book publishers. Instead of a universe of 30 to 40 viable (major) publishers, we have about 30 independents where there used to be 100. Then you have the Big 5 conglomerate book publishers. Within them, they each have about 20 divisions, including the legacy brand names and catalogues that go back as far as 200 years." If you’ve ever written or thought about writing a book—unagented—Jeff Herman’s Guide to Book Publishers, Editors & Literary Agents: Who They Are, What They Want, How to Win Them Over is the one book you must own and study. If you only know me as the host of this podcast, you may not know that I make my living as a co-author of more than 15 books. In my early days, I always kept a copy of the Herman bible on my desk. Jeff and his wife Deborah Herman also wrote another important book for any would-be author’s library: Write the Perfect Book Proposal. This is Jeff’s second visit to Mr. Media. Jeff Herman • •
Today's Guest: Ed Droste, co-founders, Hooters Restaurants Lynne Austin, the original Hooters Girl Order Hooters Wing Sauce Medium: The Original (12 oz.), available from Amazon.com by clicking on the jar above! The first contact I ever had with Ed Droste was when I spotted the wreck of a boat on the north side of the Courtney Campbell Causeway in Clearwater, Florida. I had seen the wreck before, but this time, someone had painted “Hooters” on the hull in bright orange paint. Hooters Restaurant – the original – had opened near the apartment in which I lived and it was already the talk of the town, thanks to its scantily clad, smart-mouthed waitresses, delicious chicken wings, ice cold beer and casual atmosphere. The Original Hooters Six (minus one Ken Wimmer); Ed Droste, far left That, and it’s single billboard across the street, featuring future Playboy Playmate, Lynne Austin. I was a correspondent for the St. Petersburg Times back then, a cub reporter, and I convinced my editor that we should write about these Hooters guys, of which Droste was one of the six founders. It’s a story I have gone back to again and again over the years because it’s never gotten dull. The company which passed $1 billion in revenues last year and has hundreds of restaurants in dozens of countries, will celebrate its 25th anniversary in October. And nobody understands what gets the media’s attention better than Ed Droste. The Original Hooters Restaurant • • •
Today's Guest: Kurtis Findlay, author, Chuck Jones: The Dream that Never Was Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of second-rate cartoon characters who’ll live out their lives of quiet desperation in Toontown without ever being drawn by the hand of a master craftsman like Chuck Jones… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order from Amazon.com by clicking the book cover above! Pronoun trouble. That's the name of the very first piece of art my wife and I ever bought together. It was a framed animation cell – No. 101 of 300 – featuring Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck in an argument. It's signed by legendary animator and multiple Academy Award winner Chuck Jones and "authenticated" with a seal from his daughter Linda Jones. Mimi and I spent what, for us, was then a small fortune to buy it. We hung it prominently in our living room for many years; when Rachel was born, it moved to her room. And just recently, we reclaimed it and it hangs proudly in our bedroom. KURTIS FINDLAY podcast excerpt: "Crawford in introspective; the adult as a child, while the kids around him relate to the world in a kid way. It's like 'Peanuts' but Charles Schulz had a much better way to handle commentary than Chuck Jones did -- which is why 'Crawford' didn't last long." We didn’t buy it as an investment; I'm a writer, she's an editor – "Pronoun Trouble" just spoke to us both. So much has been written and said about Chuck Jones, including not one but two autobiographies, that it's hard to imagine there is anything new left to say or show. And yet there is. In the beautiful new book Chuck Jones: The Dream That Never Was, animation fans will be delighted to discover an entire missing chapter in the artist's catalog: "Crawford," a would be cartoon and comic strip character that never quite hit its mark despite more than two decades of trying. Dean Mullaney and Kurtis Findlay, working with the Jones family, have reconstructed the animator's life in the 1960s and '70s along with a trove of finished and raw Chuck Jones comic strip art and sketches that tells the "Crawford" story in pictures and gags. Chuck Jones • • •
Today's Guest: Sacha Dhawan, actor, "Outsourced" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of lovelorn sitcom characters waiting for their chance to impress a girl on 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'… in the new new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Sacha Dhawan, star of NBC's "Outsourced" Network television has given us some truly memorable character names. Dobie Gillis. Gilligan. Peter Tork. Fonzie. But one from this season has them all beet. Headsets down, it’s “Manmeet” on NBC’s “Outsourced.” Order 'Outsourced: The Complete Series, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD cover above! Get it? He’s Man-meat! SACHA DHAWAN podcast excerpt: "What 'Outsourced' is doing is bringing the West and East together through these characters, who are believable and lovable at the same time." My guess, however, is that what seemed like a fall-down funny idea in the writer’s room before the season started never really gained the expected traction after the first episode when Manmeet’s new American boss, Todd Dempsey, finds it hysterical but none of the Indian employees understands what’s so funny. Manmeet – as played by Sacha Dhawan – is simply too gentle and sweet a character to keep clobbering with the same one-note joke. As the series developed, the writers have found much better uses for his talents. Of all the crazy characters on “Outsourced” – which airs Thursdays at 10:30 p.m. after “30 Rock” – Manmeet is the most grounded, the most Indian “Average Joe” on the show. He is its Jim Halpert (“The Office”) or Jeff Winger (“Community”), providing laughs yet balance in the portrayal of India’s call center employees at Mid America Novelties. Sacha Dhawan • •
Today's Guest: Toby Bloomberg, author, Social Media Marketing GPS Download 'Social Media Marketing GPS' by Toby Bloomberg -- FREE -- by clicking on the book cover above! Toby Bloomberg, author, Social Media Marketing GPS I’m one of those people you hear about who has a lot riding on the developing reach and power of social media such as Facebook and Twitter. This show, Mr. Media Radio, relies heavily on the kindness of strangers to post and tweet about favorite episodes, sharing recommendations with friends, neighbors and more than a few people they’ll never, ever meet in person. That’s the new “word of mouth” in 2010: it’s word of tweet. TOBY BLOOMBERG podcast excerpt: "I started writing this book based upon Twitter interviews. People like to get their info in spoonfuls, so this seemed to work." As a result, I’m always greedily on the lookout for someone who can expand my own knowledge and understanding of social media—and, of course, who will share their experience with you. Toby Bloomberg, who will join us on the phone in a moment, is just such a person. Her new ebook, Social Media Marketing GPS: A Guide to Social Media, 1 Tweet at a Time, is just that: a book written almost entirely in 140-character tweets. That’s right—some generations wrote their thoughts for the ages in iambic pentameter; others in haiku. We’ll be remembered as a bunch of freakin’ tweeters! Toby Bloomberg, however, is no freak. She is widely recognized and respected for her expertise in combining social media with traditional marketing values such as strategy, customer insights, segmentation, etc. Toby not only talks about the social web but is actively involved in the conversation. Her blog Diva Marketing, launched in 2004, was acknowledged by Forbes as one of the “20 Best Marketing and Social Media Blogs By Women.” You can download her new book, Social Media Marketing GPS, for free by clicking the book cover on her blog @ . Toby Bloomberg • •
Today's Guest: Tony Isabella, comic book writer, creator, "Black Lightning" Watch this exclusive Mr. Media interview with Tony Isabella by clicking on the video player above! Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience full of equally deserving, veteran comic book creators who hope Marvel and DC will eventually bring creator rights mea culpas and a big ol’ bag of cash to their doors soon enough … in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! "Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands" #1 by Tony Isabella Comic book writer Tony Isabella unleashed Black Lightning on DC Comics readers in 1977. Marvel had its “Hero For Hire,” Luke Cage, and Isabella responded by giving the world the electrifying superhero whose alter ego is Jefferson Pierce. The character carried his own book for a time, eventually forming The Outsiders and becoming a member of the Justice League of America. Isabella, who also created “Black Goliath” for Marvel and wrote episodes of “Luke Cage/Power Man,” is a comics veteran who was essentially blackballed out of the industry for many years when he demanded credit and compensation from DC for creating Black Lightning. TONY ISABELLA podcast excerpt: "We're reaching people who have not been reached before. The young gay woman who sees 'Thunder' on 'Black Lightning...' We are inviting these people who traditionally been treated as outsiders, making them feel welcome in our world. That's as important as the bottom line of these movies and TV shows and comic books. We are pushing the bar for diversity and inclusion much higher. Comic books have almost always been progressive and liberal. The alt-right and Nazi movement can bitch about that all they want, but that' the case" Tony Isabella, Cress Williams and the cast of The CW's "Black Lightning" Until The CW committed to adding an African-American hero to its burgeoning roster of DC-based TV series, Isabella’s demands were ignored. On March 27, 2017—a year to the day we recorded this interview—Warner Bros., parent company of DC, finally decided to recognize Isabella’s role as creator of Black Lightning with production royalties and on-screen credit. And DC Comics invited him back to write a new “Black Lightning” 6-part limited series, “Cold Dead Hands,” as part of the TV launch. If you haven’t seen it, “Black Lightning”—the TV series—is remarkably well-done. It features a primarily African-American cast with deep backstories, sharp writing and emotional character arcs. And it looks great, too. This is Isabella’s second visit to Mr. Media. He first joined us in 2010 to talk about his book, 1,000 Comic Books You Must Read. Tony Isabella • • • • • • • • •
Today's Guest: Lisa Granatstein, editor, Mediaweek (Adweek) LIBSYN Lisa Granatstein, editor, Mediaweek/Adweek I love to read. They don’t start calling you Mr. Media because you’re illiterate, of course, and magazines have always fascinated me. When I pass a newsstand, I absolutely must stop and see what’s new and different. Drives my wife crazy. My garage is littered with the carcasses of many forgotten publications, including Might, which was the first most people ever heard of Dave Eggers, and Smart, which gave a lift to a young Terry McDonnell, now editor of Sports Illustrated. Somewhere out there is also a copy of 7 Days, the short-lived city magazine that put Adam Moss on the map. Moss recently led his new magazine, New York, to three big wins in the 2007 National Magazine Awards, contributing to the 0 for 9 shut-out of The New Yorker and its respected editor, David Remnick. Talking media, and magazines in particular, is great sport for me, so imagine my delight when Lisa Granatstein agreed to do a Mr. Media interview. Lisa is the managing editor of Mediaweek. She’s a brand name in media coverage and has been so for nearly a decade. Earlier in her career, Lisa was a reporter for Time magazine and an associate editor of its technology spin-off, Time Digital. She’s also worked at US News & World Report, Conde Nast Traveler Online, and she was a stringer for The New York Times metro desk. Lisa Granatstein • •
Today's Guest: Alaina Huffman, actress, "Smallville," "Stargate Universe" Actress Alaina Huffman joined The CW's 'Supernatural' in 2013 as Abaddon Order 'Stargate Universe: Complete First Season' [Blu-ray] starring Alaina Huffman, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the Blu-Ray disc above! Alaina Huffman is a double-dipper.When it comes to commanding the hearts and minds of fanboys—and, no doubt, fangirls—the world over, Huffman holds not one but two roles of substantial interest in the TV sci-fi/comic book universe. On The CW’s long-running “Smallville” series—you know, where Clark Kent is no longer a Superboy, but not quite a Superman—she is the Black Canary—the fishnet, leather-clad blonde Green Arrow has stashed on his balcony. ALAINA HUFFMAN podcast excerpt: "They eventually told me the character was the Black Canary. I have to wear those shorts? And those fishnets? And do stunts in those heels? But I think she's a great character. I absolutely love her." Actress Alaina Huffman appeared on The CW's 'Smallville' as Dinah Lance, the Black Canary And now on SyFy’s new series, “Stargate Universe,” she plays 1st Lt. Tamara Johansen—T.J., the ship’s medical officer. SGU, which also stars Robert Carlyle, Ming-Na, Louis Ferreira, Elyse Levesque, Alaina Huffman, Lou Diamond Phillips and David Blue, follows a band of men and women who must fend for themselves as they are attacked and forced to retreat through a Stargate. The survivors emerge aboard an ancient ship that is locked on an unknown course and unable to return to Earth. It combines many elements of the original “Stargate” series with “Star Trek Voyager.” She also returns for the Friday, May 14 finale of "Smallville" on The CW. It'll be a big night in the Huffman house, no doubt! Alaina Huffman • • • • • •
Today's Guest: Grizz Chapman, actor, "30 Rock" 30 ROCK: (l-r) Kevin Brown as Dotcom, Tracy Morgan as Tracy Jordan, Grizz Chapman as Grizz (NBC Photo: Nicole Rivelli) Order '30 Rock': Season One, available right now at a great price by clicking on the book cover above! There may be at least three weddings figuring into tonight’s season finale of “30 Rock” on NBC, which airs at 9:30 p.m.: • Tracy and Dotcom are arguing over which one of them will be best man for Grizz. • Bride-to-be Cirie wants Liz Lemon to wear a yellow bridesmaid’s dress for her wedding—a Vietnamese size 2. • And with Liz having proposed instant marriage to Wesley, even she may be going off the market—except that Matt Damon is guest starring in tonight’s episode. Will he save her? Naah, probably not. GRIZZ CHAPMAN podcast excerpt: "When they come to you and tell you they have to put a catheter in your chest, you start looking at life very different... Actually feeling your blood coming out of your body--I can't even explain it. Laying there, feeling your blood being pulled out of your body is a really scary experience." It’s a big night for the show’s supporting cast—for no one more so than Grizz, about whom we’ve made two shocking discoveries: 1) The actor who plays half of Tracy’s entourage undergoes dialysis three times a week for kidney failure, and; 2) His character and Tina Fey’s have a secret, sexual past. Grizz Chapman • • •
Today's Guest: Hayes MacArthur, actor, "Perfect Couples," "Worst Week" LIBSYN Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of diehards who believe that one day, Kyle Bornheimer will be the king of all sitcoms… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Olivia Munn and Hayes MacArthur on NBC's late, lamented "Perfect Couples" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience in search of a Mumford to call their own… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! I like to think we all have love affairs with TV shows that the networks gave up on way too soon. For me, the list began building back in the 1960s with “It’s About Time” and continues all the way to the last few seasons when I qvelled about the cancellations of “Worst Week,” “Outsourced” and “Perfect Couples.” Those were some damn funny shows! HAYES MacARTHUR podcast excerpt: "I play a douchey character on 'Whitney'. He's one of those guy who wears a knit cap even when it's not cold out. He does slam poetry. Whitney is not down with any of those things." And two of those last three starred the same pair of wonderful comedic actors, Kyle Bornheimer and Hayes MacArthur. On “Worst Week,” MacArthur played Bornheimer’s perfect brother-in-law – perfectly conniving that is. And on “Perfect Couples,” they were the husbands in two of three couples presented on the show, which was clever, innovative and given up on way too soon. Damn you, network programmers! To order the best sitcom ever, "Worst Week," click the DVD cover above! Anyway, it’s not like MacArthur ever lacks for work. This week, he guests stars on an episode of NBC’s “Whitney” tonight, Feb. 8, at 8 p.m. He’s also appeared recently in episodes of ABC’s “Happy Endings” and “Suburgatory.” First, here’s some trivia: a former standout college quarterback, MacArthur was named for actress Helen Hayes. Even more important, he married actress Ali Larter in August 2009. That’s important because in June of that year, she was a guest… on Mr. Media! Hayes MacArthur
Today's Guest: Hank Rosenfeld, author The Wicked Wit of the West Hank Rosenfeld found the kind of book writing job that guys like me salivate over. He met Irving Brecher, a brilliant and funny writer from the Golden Age of Hollywood comedy, and spent hours recording stories from Irv about everyone from Groucho Marx and the Marx Brothers to Judy Garland and Jackie Gleason. [caption id="" align="alignleft" width="288"] Order The Wicked Wit of the West by Hank Rosenfeld, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above![/caption] HANK ROSENFELD podcast excerpt: "Irv loved that movie, Meet Me in St. Louis. He had to read the entire script to Judy Garland because L.B. Mayer said, 'She doesn't want to do the picture!' She didn't want to be outshone in the movie by the little girl's part. But Judy used to come over to his house and sing. So he sold every line in the script to her like it was Shakespeare." “The Wicked Wit of the West,” as Groucho called him, lived a long and productive live, starting out writing one-liners for Milton Berle in the 1930s, two Marx Brothers films, punching up the humor in The Wizard Of Oz, writing and convincing Judy Garland to star in Meet Me in St. Louis, creating the long running radio and TV sitcom, “The Life of Riley,” and writing the original film version of Bye Bye Birdie for Dick Van Dyke and Ann-Margaret. Lucky for us, Brecher maintained a magnificent memory of the events of his life and spent his last years telling his stories to Hank Rosenfeld. Rosenfeld produced a book that is mostly Brecher’s memoir with some bits of Rosenfeld thrown in. The Wicked Wit of the West is a terrific read for any fan of comedy, particularly the Marx Brothers/Milton Berle/Jackie Gleason variety. It gets my highest possible recommendation. Hank Rosenfeld • • •
Today's Guest: Kevin Brown, comedian, actor, "30 Rock" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of Grizz and Dotcom fans who think Dotcom’s name should always come first when they’re mentioned together… in the new new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order from Amazon.com by clicking the DVD cover above! So much has happened in the two years since "30 Rock" star Kevin “Dotcom” Brown first dropped by Mr. Media and said my cool black comedian nickname going forward could be F.O.D. Friend of Dotcom. Unfortunately, no matter how many people I paid to introduce me that way wherever I went, it never caught on. In fact, when Big Kev brought his comedy club tour to Tampa last year and invited me to see the show and hang out after, even he forgot to call me “F.O.D.” Guess I’m just going to have to live with being “Mr. Media” a little while longer. KEVIN 'DOTCOM' BROWN podcast excerpt: "I won't be able to fully express myself as a standup comedian until I'm fully done with '30 Rock' because I have a lot of respect for my gig. 'Dotcom said that?' I try to stay close to the character." As for Kevin, who I really have come to think of as a friend, his career is doing nothing but rise and rise some more. In addition to continuing in his role alongside Grizz Chapman as Tracy Jordan’s posse on NBC’s “30 Rock,” his standup career has truly blossomed and it keeps him out on the road whenever Tina Fey doesn’t need him on the award-winning sitcom. He’s also developing a TV pilot called “Capes and Claims” about the intersection of superheroes… and insurance adjustors. One more thing about this very special interview: Kevin comes to us from the bowels of Kabletown, a.k.a. Silvercup Studios in Manhattan where “30 Rock” is shot. He starts out in co-star and long-time friend Tracy Morgan’s dressing room (watch for cameo appearances by Tracy as well as Grizz Chapman). We lost the wi-fi connection when… well, just watch and see! Kevin 'Dotcom' Brown • • • • • •
Today's Guest: Kevin Brown, comedian, actor, "30 Rock" When Tracy Jordan’s bodyguards made their first entrance on NBC’s soon-to-be-a-hit “30 Rock,” you would have been excused for expecting them to be a one-time sight gag. Who were these two men disguised as city skyscrapers? KEVIN "DOTCOM" BROWN podcast excerpt: "Tracy Morgan begins and ends in a bottle of liquor... Now he's a skilled professional. This persona that he has, he's honed it from many years hanging out in strip clubs, investing a lot of time supporting the alcohol industry and the herbal foundations... I love watching him bring the funny." Order '30 Rock: Season 2' on DVD by clicking the cover above! But even as Tracy Jordan became more defined as the show developed in that first season, the roles of his entourage, Grizz and Dotcom, were refined and grew distinguished. The twin towers found their niche as brilliant supporting characters, one or the other often defining a scene with a shrug, an eye roll or a gentle quip. They, unlike Tracy—played by Tracy Morgan, of course—were in on the joke with the rest of us. I had the good fortune to interview Grizz Chapman a few weeks ago and he must have said good things to his friend and partner Kevin Brown, who plays Dotcom, because he’s going to join us in a moment. But who are Grizz and Dotcom? The legend — and mystery — continues to grow, as I discovered in a video log featuring “30 Rock” creator Tina Fey. I’ll do what I can to get to the bottom of this today. Kevin "Dotcom" Brown • • •
Today's Guest: Al Jarreau, jazz singer, "We're In This Love Together" Al Jarreau, jazz singer (NOTE: On today's show, I'm reaching back in my archives to April 3, 1984 to share a telephone interview I conducted with seven-time Grammy Award winning jazz singer Al Jarreau. Al passed away in 2017 just short of his 77 birthday; I am sharing this now on what would have been his 78th, March 12, 2018. He was a sweet, gentle soul and a man whom my then roommate, Kathy Harrison, thought was one of the handsomest men in the world. -- Bob Andelman) Al Jarreau • • • • •
Today's Guest: Rick Smolan, co-author, The Good Fight: America's Ongoing Struggle for Justice Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience full of #resisters with more good intentions than hours in the day… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! The Good Fight: America's Ongoing Struggle for Justice by Rick Smolan. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above! Fighting the good fight is an American tradition. Some people believe it is the essence of being American - standing up for what you believe is right, protecting those unable to fight for themselves, and defending the essence of American idealism when doing so flies in the face of the American political establishment. And, since, January 20, 2017, it seems that many of us are fighting the good fight over issues we thought had already been legislated and settled. Democracy, it seems is a more fragile concept than many of us born since 1945 thought. RICK SMOLAN podcast excerpt: "Not everybody on the Left is good, decent, honest. But I think most people on the Left at least have their hearts in the right place--and they think if all society is better, we all benefit from that. As opposed to it all being about personal gain." Order Inside Tracks: Robyn Davidson's Solo Journey Across the Outback by photographer Rick Smolan, based on the movie Tracks starring Mia Wasikowska and Adam Driver, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! My guest today, Rick Smolan, is the co-author of a new coffee table book of searing photography and no equivocating essays called The Good Fight: America's Ongoing Struggle for Justice. It depicts the injustices and victories over injustice experienced by African Americans, Native Americans, Jews, Muslims, women, the LGBTQ community, Latino Americans, Asian Americans and the disabled. I don't know about your American community, but that seems to cover everybody I know. Of course, the people who don't think that those groups are equal to them in some way have been coming out from under rocks for the past year. They remind us that The Good Fight is never won. We must be ever vigilant. This is Rick's third visit to Mr. Media. He always brings projects that are visually arresting, provocative, and different from what came before, so there is never a dull moment. Rick Smolan • • • • • • •
Today's Guest: David Simon, TV writer, creator, "The Wire, "Homicide: Life on the Street," "Treme," "The Corner" David Simon (Photo by Bob Andelman) Today, it’s January 26, 2007, and I am sitting across from David Simon, creator of the critically-acclaimed and Peabody Award-winning HBO series, The Wire. We are speaking at The Inn at the Bay in St. Petersburg, Florida, where Simon spent the last week working with students at Eckerd College. The fiftieth episode and fourth-season finale of The Wire aired just a few weeks ago, and the fifth season goes into production in March, so Simon is hopefully enjoying a vacation of sorts. I am an admitted late-comer to The Wire, having seen my first episode just last September in a New Jersey hotel room. I was struck by the show’s tension and extraordinarily tight script and character development, which has often been overshadowed by better-known HBO shows, such as The Sopranos and Deadwood. If you like those shows and you haven’t already caught The Wire, you should consider it assigned viewing. Fortunately, the first season of The Wire is now airing on the BET channel, so us late-comers can start catching up. If you haven’t seen The Wire, you may still be familiar with David Simon’s work. A former Baltimore Sun crime reporter, he is the writer that the Baltimore Chamber of Commerce no doubt loves to hate, having co-authored (with Edward Burns) the Baltimore-based book, The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner City Neighborhood, and the subsequent HBO series, The Corner, and providing the inspiration and a number of scripts for the Baltimore-based NBC show, Homicide: Life on the Street. Another of his Baltimore-based true crime books, Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets, was the basis for Homicide. David Simon • •
Today's Guest: Dennis Farina, actor, "Luck," "Crime Story," The Last Rites of Joe May Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of bad guys who, when they see former Chicago cop Dennis Farina coming their way, start thinking about mending their ways… in the NEW new media capital of the world, St. Petersburg, Florida! Download The Last Rites of Joe May, starring Dennis Farina by clicking the movie poster above! Dennis Farina is an impact guy. When this prominent actor hits the screen, no matter what the role, he owns it. I don’t know what he’s like in real life, but in TV and films alike, he’s always bigger than life. DENNIS FARINA podcast excerpt: "(The Last Rites of Joe May) is a little more subtle than a lot of the roles I play. And it was pretty much there on the page. I read the first five pages and knew I wanted to do it. I knew it was a little gem." Order 'Luck: The Complete First Season' [Blu-ray] starring Dustin Hoffman and Dennis Farina, available right now at a great price by clicking on the DVD above! And that’s what makes this Law & Order veteran’s work in The Last Rites of Joe May so compelling: he’s small. Life has just beaten the small time hood up and down so many times late in life that while we see a Dennis Farina character who still projects confidence in himself, inwardly, he’s just about had enough. When he returns to his apartment after a lengthy hospitalization only to find a naked woman in his shower, things seem to be looking up. But when he finds out it’s no longer his apartment, it’s hers, well, welcome to The Last Rites of Joe May, indeed. Check out the trailer for The Last Rites of Joe May and you’ll see what I mean. You can see all of The Last Rites of Joe May from the comfort of your own home via Movies on. It is also available on iTunes, Amazon and Vudu and watch for its theatrical release in New York and elsewhere soon. And don’t miss Dennis Farina in the new HBO horse racing series, Luck, co-starring Dustin Hoffman, Nick Nolte and Joan Allen, beginning in January 2012.
Today's Guest: Noureen DeWulf, actress, "Chuck," "Anger Management," "Living Biblically" Noureen DeWulf had my attention when I heard she had been a guest star on the NBC spy comedy “Chuck.” And when I re-watched the incredible girl fight scene she had with the show’s blonde-haired star, Yvonne Strahovski, I immediately knew with whom I was dealing! “Chuck” fans, if you can’t quite place Noureen yet, let me take you back to season 1, episode 13 ("Chuck vs. the Marlin"), in which a pretty young woman--Lizzie, the pita girl--enters the yogurt shop where Strahovski—playing “Sarah,” works. Noureen asks to see something in the backroom. Sarah says the backroom is only for employees. Noureen pulls a gun out of a paper bag. Sarah is as surprised as we are. Then they fight. Now do you remember? NOUREEN DeWULF podcast excerpt: "I play R.J. Berger's first real girlfriend (in MTV's The Hard Times of R.J. Berger). I look really different in the show. I have glasses; I play really young." That was hardly Noureen’s only moment of fame. If you’re still not familiar with Noureen DeWulf, in a moment you can sample her film and TV appearances, including her role in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past with Matthew McConaughey and ending with her “Chuck” battle moment. She starred in the 2007 Oscar winning short film, West Bank Story. More recently, she has co-starred in The Back-Up Plan with Jennifer Lopez, the parody film The 41-Year-Old Virgin Who Knocked Up Sarah Marshall and Felt Superbad About It, and several episodes of both "HawthoRNe" on TNT and "The Hard Times of R.J. Berger" on MTV. Next up is the fall release, The Taqwacores. Noureen DeWulf •
Today's Guest: Stephen Snyder, MD, sex and couples therapist, author, Love Worth Making: How to Have Ridiculously Great Sex in a Long-Lasting Relationship Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience full of sexually frustrated women hoping either Dr. Snyder OR Mr. Media can cure what ails them … in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! ] Love Worth Making: How to Have Ridiculously Great Sex in a Long-Lasting Relationship by Stephen Snyder, MD. Order or download your copy today by clicking on the book cover today! Also available as an audiobook from Audible. Imagine Oprah as a sex therapist. “You get an orgasm! You get an orgasm! And you get an orgasm!” Unfortunately, it’s never that easy, is it? As we get older and our partnerships endure, sex isn’t as simple and automatic as it was when we were young and set on round-the-clock frisky. STEPHEN SNYDER, MD podcast excerpt: "Patients appreciate that nothing they say is going to shock me because it means they're not that unusual." My guest today, Stephen Snyder, MD, is a New York sex and couples therapist, psychiatrist, and author of a new book, Love Worth Making: How to Have Ridiculously Great Sex in a Long Lasting Relationship. In it, Dr. Snyder shares real life tales of men and women whose sex lives have hit bumps in the road and how he helped them resolve a wide variety of challenges and complications. The book is more about emotional positions than physical ones, so don’t expect a lot of talk about twisting yourself and your lover into pretzels. If that’s what you are looking for, check the Mr. Media archives for earlier interviews with the host of the “Sex with Emily” podcast. Stephen Snyder, MD • • • • •
Today's Guest: Rob Sachs, NPR podcast host, "What Would Rob Do," author, What Would Rob Do? Mr. Media is recorded live from the NEW new media capitol of the world and hometown of not one but two public radio stations, WMNF and WUSF… Tampa Bay, Florida! Order 'What Would Rob Do: An Irreverent Guide to Surviving Life's Daily Indignities' by clicking on the book cover above! Self-help books are okay if you don’t mind being seen reading them on planes, trains and automobiles. Personally, I think some of them shout “Loser!” ROB SACHS podcast excerpt: "Embarrassing things like being called up on stage for a Karaoke Night are going to happen. You can either be." And now that I’ve probably turned off half of our audience, I’ll go on. Rob Sachs takes a different approach to teaching you something you don’t already know or understand. On his National Public Radio podcast, “What Would Rob Do?” — now in its fifth year — Sachs tackles the big challenges of the day, such as “What would you do if you clogged the toilet at a friend’s house?” Oh, the horrors of that one. Or consider an example from his show, in which he researched how to successfully eat hot peppers. His podcast is a success so Rob Sachs did what anyone would do: he wrote a book. Just out in bookstores everywhere is What Would Rob Do? Rob Sachs • • • • • •
Today's Guest: Chris Claremont, comic book writer, "The X-Men" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience full of evolutionary mutants whose only powers are the ability to defy the laws of personal hygiene… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Chris Claremont's X-Men, documentary film directed by Patrick Meaney. Order -- or download -- your copy today by clicking on the movie poster above! Most people are tickled when a Wikipedia page appears and points out their career highlights. But what if Wikipedia had 200 individual pages each devoted to a fictional character created by a single person? I'm not referring to Stan Lee, the Godfather of Marvel Comics, either. Nope, the man with 200 Wikipedia pages to his credit - everyone from Gambit and Cable to Kitty Pryde, Strong Guy and the New Mutants - is Chris Claremont, father of the modern X-Men comics, films, cartoons and TV series. CHRIS CLAREMONT podcast excerpt: "I'm going to enjoy the ride as it happens and appreciate the characters I created, the stories I wrote, are being brought to life by people whose work and craft and talent I have immense respect for. And, like anyone else sitting in the audience, I look forward to what comes next." And now filmmaker Patrick Meaney is expanding the Claremont legend even further with a new documentary, Chris Claremont's X-Men. It includes extensive interviews with Claremont, as well as several of the artists and editors who worked with him during 30 years in Marvel's X-Universe. These include Jim Shooter, Ann Nocenti, Louise Simonson, Rob Liefeld, Marc Silvestri and many more. You can watch Chris Claremont's X-Men wherever video on demand is available. This is Chris's second visit to Mr. Media. Chris Claremont • • • • • • • •
Today's Guest: Daniel Pink, author, The Adventures of Johnny Bunko, Free Agent Nation Daniel Pink The Adventures of Johnny Bunko by Daniel Pink. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above! Daniel Pink has made a career of being first on business themes over the last seven years, ever since publication of Free Agent Nation in May 2001. His theory then? That more of us will be working for ourselves in the future. Well, it’s now the future, so I’ll ask him whether that came true. He also wrote A Whole New Mind, about the the move from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age. But Dan’s newest book may be his greatest leap yet: a manga-style graphic novel titled The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You’ll Ever Need. For my not-so-Japanese-media-savvy friends, what the Japanese call manga, Americans call comic books. Daniel Pink • • • •
Today's Guest: David Giuntoli, star, "Grimm" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of modified Grimms watching me very carefully… in the NEW new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Russell Hornsby as Hank Griffin, David Giuntoli as Nick Burkhardt on NBC's "Grimm" (Photo by: Scott Green/NBC) Order 'Grimm: Season One' (Blu-ray + UltraViolet) from Amazon.com by clicking the DVD cover above! David Giuntoli isn’t a household name in every American household… so far. But the star of NBC’s fairytale-derived horror story, “Grimm,” is recognized in just enough A.C. Nielsen monitored homes to make his show this season’s quiet breakthrough. As a Portland, Oregon, detective named Nick Burkhardt, Giuntoli plays the latest in a long line of supernatural detectives policing the strange creatures in his town. DAVID GIUNTOLI podcast excerpt: "For the longest time, my ancestors would slay these monsters, almost at will, and the monsters would try to kill us. But we've entered a day where there is Pilates and psychotherapists. So not all of these monsters give in to their cravings." It’s a wild show, packed with drama, genre-bending storylines, special effects, old-fashioned latex appliances, and smoldering sexuality. It combines elements of “The X-Files,” “Lost” and even “Chuck” – at least in the sense that it’s kind of an underground favorite hiding in plain sight on network TV. The good news is that even if you’re just joining it, a little Grimm isn’t difficult to catch up on. The writers have find a smart balance between stand alone stories and ongoing narrative so you could watch any episode – the show airs Fridays at 9 p.m. on NBC and previous episodes are available for free on NBC.com – and know what it’s about. This is not Giuntoli’s first genre role, either. Early in his acting career he made appearances in “The Ghost Whisperer” and “Veronica Mars.” David Giuntoli • •
Today's Guest: Danielle Nicolet, "The Starter Wife," "Family Matters," "The Jacksons: An American Dream," "3rd Rock From The Sun," "The Flash," National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1, Central Intelligence Danielle Nicolet, actress, "The Starter Wife." Danielle Nicolet is joining the cast of “The Starter Wife” on USA Network this season as Liz Marsh, a new friend of Molly Kagan, the lead character played by Debra Messing. There are big changes afoot for the show, starting with a two-hour premiere episode on October 10. DANIELLE NICOLET podcast excerpt: "My character doesn't have such an easy time fitting in." Nicolet's first major role was on the hit series "Family Matters." She was then cast as Samuel L. Jackson's daughter in "National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1" and in the ABC Movie of the Week "The Jacksons: An American Dream." She was also a regular on "3rd Rock From The Sun." Daniellle Nicolet • • • •
Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of action film directors who don’t hire no stinkin’ stuntmen!… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! If you see only one action adventure film this summer about Mexican drug cartels selling meth and the American fly guys who deliver it via high speed jet prototypes, make it Kill Speed. I was pleasantly surprised by this new indie film by writer, producer, director Kim Bass, which will be released on DVD on June 12. It’s got a solid, compact story, a smooth intermingling of live action flying sequences with computer-generated pieces as jets zip through the concrete canyons of downtown Los Angeles, and smart bits of humor and self-aware jibes that make it a great joy ride. KIM BASS podcast excerpt: "Some of the investors in Kill Speed were active duty Air Force officers who fly F-16 jets right now. You can only imagine the scrutiny we received making a movie about flying. They wanted to make sure it was real and that it looked real." Kill Speed also has several familiar stars who succeed in grabbing our attention, starting with Tom Arnold as a trailer trash meth cooker, Robert Patrick as the president of the United States, Greg Grunberg as the head of the Drug Enforcement Agency-like “DIA,” wrestler Bill Goldberg, and former boy band heartthrob Nick Carter as one of the fly guys. The lead roles are ably handled by Andrew Keegan, Brandon Quinn and Natalia Cigliuti. This is Kim Bass’s second 2012 spring release, coming on the heels of Junkyard Dog, which stars Vivica A. Fox. Kim Bass •
Today's Guest: Rene Syler, host, BET's coverage of Barack Obama's 2008 Presidential Inauguration, author, Good Enough Mother If your name is Rene Syler, this is probably a pretty good week. In the midst of preparing to co-host BET’s live coverage of the Jan. 20th inauguration of Barack Obama, it was announced that Syler—a former co-host of the CBS “Early Show”—would be returning to regularly scheduled television programming as host of a new show, “Live Large, Spend Small.” But that can’t be any more entertaining than the show she does now on her Facebook video log. She comes to us directly from Good Enough Mother World Headquarters in New York. Rene Syler • • • • • • • Order 'Good-Enough Mother: The Perfectly Imperfect Book of Parenting' by Rene Syler, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above!
Today's Guest: Bill Scheft, comedy writer, "The Late Show with David Letterman," novelist, Everything Hurts, Shrink Thyself Order 'Everything Hurts' by Bill Scheft, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! Here are my Top Ten reasons for inviting Bill Scheft to be a guest on Mr. Media Radio: 10. Used to write for ESPN The Magazine and left it off the flap of his new book. 9. Wrote a new book, Everything Hurts, which reminds me of that old joke where the guy says to his doctor, “Doctor! Doctor! It hurts when I do this!” And the doctor says… oh, wait, you’ve heard this one already? 8. Got Larry David to write a blurb for his book jacket. BILL SCHEFT podcast excerpt: "As much as Larry David tries to distance himself from the character he plays on screen, he will never succeed in convincing people that that is some different guy." 7. Makes his living writing for “The Late Show with David Letterman,” which gives me the opportunity to write my own hackneyed Top 10 list. 6. Got to keep his staff job on the show despite extorting $50,000 from Paul Shaffer for a tell-all book he proposed calling, “We'll Be Here For the Rest of Our Lives: A Swingin' Show-biz Saga”—only to find Paul already< wrote the book with David Ritz. 6. Excuse me… I’m getting a call on the other line. It’s Bill’s publicist. “What? I can’t ask Bill questions about the Letterman show? But I’m in the middle of the introduction right now… I’m doing one of those Top 10 lists… What? You don’t think that’s a very original idea? But I’m already halfway through… Oh, all right. Fine, fine.” Hmm. As I was saying, Bill Scheft is the author of a funny new novel titled Everything Hurts. The publisher calls it a novel, anyway; reads to me more like a roman a clef. This is his third “novel”—the first two were The Ringer and Time Won’t Let Me. Bill Scheft • • •
Today's Guest: Tom Farley, brother of SNL comedian Chris Foley, author, The Chris Farley Show Order 'The Chris Farley Show' by Tom Farley Jr., available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! Losing a family member at the tender age of 33 is incredibly tough. It’s even more complicated when that young person lived his existence in a bigger-than-life way, like Chris Farley – and his trials and tribulations are witnessed by millions. In his new book, The Chris Farley Show, Chris’s older brother, Tom Farley, Jr. – with help from co-author Tanner Colby - pieces together his late brother’s life in the form of an oral history with interviews from most everyone who encountered Chris. This includes family and friends from his youth, on through the “Saturday Night Live” family, and people from his hit movies, including Tommy Boy, Black Sheep, and Beverly Hills Ninja. The book is an easy, breezy read, and was excerpted last month in Playboy. Chris Farley • • I Am Chris Farley documentary • • • •
Today's Guest: Carolyn Lawrence, voice actor, Sandy Cheeks on "SpongeBob Squarepants" The cast of SpongeBob SquarePants Order 'SpongeBob Squarepants: The First 100 Episodes,' available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD cover above! She's been a dancer and an actress, and now she's the voice of several popular animated characters, including two known all over the world: "Cindy Vortex" on The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and "Sandy Cheeks" on SpongeBob Squarepants, both on Nickelodeon. She's also the voice on "Orel" on Moral Orel. Carolyn Lawrence is the voice of Sandy Cheeks on "SpongeBob Squarepants" She's also done commercials for Toyota, McDonald's, 7-Eleven and more. You've heard her voice in videogames such as Spyro, Resident Evil 4, and Everquest. And you've seen her on episodes of Caroline in the City, Seventh Heaven, and Muscle. Her movie credits include characters in Little Man Tate and Vampires Anonymous. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, please join my special co-host and 11-year-old son Charlie (who wrote this introduction) and I in welcoming Carolyn Lawrence to Mr. Media! Carolyn Lawrence • • •
Today's Guest: Dave Jackson, podcaster, SchoolOfPodcasting.com Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience that includes broadcast radio personalities looking for pointers into the brave new world of podcasting in the new new media capitol of the world, St. Petersburg, Florida! Dave Jackson hosts SchoolOfPodcasting.com If you listen to podcasts – and who doesn’t these days – you know that part of the appeal is that you can find shows about whatever subject you’re interested in.Got an itch? No, really, is something unknown making you scratch? There’s a medical podcast for that. Looking for fellow believers in the Church of George Lucas and The Force? There’s a Star Wars podcast for that. Interested in filmmaker Kevin Smith? He’s got so many podcasts he had to start his own network to keep track of them. And you can find them all on the Stitcher app for iPhones and Droids, or iTunes, or even BlogTalkRadio. But if you’re a podcaster, where do you turn for like-minded folks, good ideas and problem-solving? DAVE JACKSON podcast excerpt: "Don't underestimate the power of your niche." I recently came across a show called the “School of Podcasting.” It’s a long-running podcast hosted by Dave Jackson. And it taught me a big lesson: when it comes to podcasting, I may have five years of experience, but my knowledge is like a single flea on a mangy dog’s back. There is so much to learn! And every time I listen to Dave’s show, I come away a little bit smarter, a little more aware. In addition to his weekly shows, which are free by subscription, you can also pay for more detailed podcast tutorials and live training with Jackson at one of his websites, or . He’s also written an eBook, More Podcast Money. So I’ve invited the principal of the School of Podcasting to join me for conversation tonight. This might be a little too “Inside Baseball” for some Mr. Media listeners – or you might just find yourself inspired to try developing your own podcast. School Of Podcasting • • • • • • • •
Today's Guest: Neil Berkeley, director, Gilbert: A Gilbert Gottfried Story Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience full of stand-up comedians that love Gilbert Gottfried and don’t understand why you don’t, too … in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Gilbert: A Gilbert Gottfried Story, directed by Neil Berkeley. Watch it today by clicking on the movie poster above! Little Gilbert, Happy At Last. You know why that isn’t the title of Neil Berkeley’s revealing, behind-the-scenes documentary about the life and career of comedian Gilbert Gottfried? Because who the hell wants to see Gilbert Gottfried happy??? And yet… The stand-up comic, who may be the most acquired taste in the business, nonetheless is happy. Or, at the very least, content. NEIL BERKELEY podcast excerpt: "Gilbert is intensely private. I don't think it's about being exposed. He just doesn't like to merge those worlds. He doesn't want his private world to mix with his on-camera world. He feels like he's a different person. Even though, when he's around (his wife) Dara, he acts the same way he does when he's around everybody." Thanks to a late-in-life marriage and fatherhood, Gottfried’s human experience took a twist nobody saw coming, least of all him. But meeting his sisters, discovering his mother, and getting to know his wife, Dara, and his two adoring children, it appears he was capable of living a full life all along. He just never knew it. For me, discovering this side of Gilbert occurred when I started listening to his podcast, “Gilbert Gottfried’s Amazing, Colossal Podcast,” which the comedian hosts with his long-time pal Frank Santopadre. NEIL BERKELEY podcast excerpt: "Gilbert will admit that kids are going to outgrow him emotionally and mentally soon." Neil Berkeley (R), director of Gilbert: A Gilbert Gottfried Story, with Mr. Media, Bob Andelman (L) Joining me today is Neil Berkeley, director of the elegantly titled documentary, Gilbert: A Gilbert Gottfried Story. Will you like it? My wife did and she’s never been a Gottfried fan, so I bet you will. Neil Berkeley • • • • • • Gilbert Gottfried • • • • • • • • • • •
Today's Guest: Ethan Siegel, astrophysicist, author, Star Trek: Treknology - The Science of Star Trek from Tricorders to Warp Drive Watch this exclusive Mr. Media interview with Ethan Siegel by clicking on the video player above! Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of Star Trek Discovery fans who uniformly ignore the fact that the Starship Discovery has cooler technology than any ol’ Enterprise ever did … in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Star Trek Treknology: The Science of Star Trek from Tricorders to Warp Drive by Ethan Siegel. Order your copy today be clicking on the book cover above! I don’t know if you have seen it, but the new Star Trek TV series, “Star Trek Discovery,” is an extraordinary piece of entertainment. Let me go a step further: the sixth episode of the new series’ first season may just have been the best single episode of any Star Trek TV series that I have ever seen. And I have seen them all, first run, going back to the original in the 1960s. (Yup, I’m that old.) ETHAN SIEGEL podcast excerpt: "Star Trek represented a freedom from want, a freedom from chronic disease, a freedom from suffering. And it empowers you: once you have these freedoms, you can live your life and explore and learn for the betterment of everyone. It was an altruistic vision of what humanity could become at our best." I tell you this because the timing seems perfect to discuss Ethan Siegel’s fascinating new book, Star Trek Treknology: The Science of Star Trek from Tricorders to Warp Drive. While not the first book of its kind, Treknology is a gorgeous, well-researched and sharply written exploration of where we actually stand on technology to take us where no man has gone before: from transporters, impulse engines and warp drives to holodecks, replicators, and tricorders, the future is closer than ever. If we can dream it, there is now or will be soon a scientist who can build it. So if you love all things treknology, check out this book. And don’t miss another episode of “Star Trek Discovery” either. Ethan Siegel • • • • • • • • •
Today's Guest: Kim Zimmer, Robert Newman, soap opera co-stars, "Guiding Light" LIBSYN ] Order 'Guiding Light: A 50th Anniversary Celebration' by Christopher Schemering, svailable from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! You don’t have to be an afternoon soap opera fan to know and appreciate that a giant passed when CBS turned off the power on Guiding Light on September 18, 2009. The show was the longest running drama in broadcast history, having started on NBC Radio in 1937 as a 15-minute serial and moving to CBS Television in 1952. It went on to rack up 16,000 episodes. ROBERT NEWMAN podcast excerpt: "I came in 1981. I was cast as a bad guy. I came to Springfield to wreak havoc. The fans hated me. About a year into the show. they had some oil rig disaster down in Venezuela. They literally had me handing out checks to widows and orphans of me who died on oil rigs. My character had an epiphany... The strangest twist was cloning my dead wife and growing her from birth to 40 in six weeks." Now the stars of the show are on a grand farewell tour around the United States, thanking fans for their decades of support. Joining me today to talk about their Saturday, March 27, 2010, appearance at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa, are Guiding Light stars Kim Zimmer and Robert Newman. Before they do, however, let me tell you that from 11 a.m. until noon that day, five key cast members of Guiding Light will be on hand to answer your questions. Then, for three more hours—from 1-4 p.m.—there will be an opportunity to take photos and get hugs from your favorite stars: Kim Zimmer, Grant Aleksander, Robert Newman, Justin Deas and Michael O’Leary. Kim Zimmer • •
Today's Guest: Kim Zimmer, soap opera actress, "Guiding Light" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of elderly women who won’t give up their remote controls until somebody gives mouth-to-mouth to their afternoon shows… in the new new media capital of the world, St. Petersburg, Florida! Order "I'm Just Sayin'!" by Kim Zimmer by clicking the Amazon.com link above! Kim Zimmer was with the soap opera Guiding Light for 26 years – more than a third of the 72 years the show was on radio and television. But a look at the picture of her on the cover of her new memoir, , doesn’t suggest someone headed for a rockin’ chair. She’s too feisty – based on the content of her book – to ever just fade away. KIM ZIMMER podcast excerpt: "It wasn't like I was falling down drunk when I went back to Guiding Light after lunch. I had just numbed myself with a couple glasses of wine so I didn't freak out on people. It put me in a place where I was able to handle my disappointments a lot better... It was unprofessional... I guess... but I was never sloppy drunk when I was doing my work. By the time I got to the set, the wine had worn off, like when you cook with it." I’m not a big soap fan, as regular viewers and listeners to Mr. Media know. But the last time Kim Zimmer was on this show, in March 2010 – along with her TV husband, Robert Newman – she was a lot of fun. So I had to invite her back to talk about a book that she clearly invested a lot of personality and truth in. Kim Zimmer • •
Today's Guest: Jamie Beckman, author, The Frisky 30-Day Breakup Guide Jamie Beckman, author, 'The Frisky 30-Day Breakup Guide' It’s pretty easy for me to remember my worst breakup story… because there is only one. It was when I was in college and the girl I had been seeing went into the Army—long story. Anyway, we tried to stay close for the first year, writing letters—the kind you use a pen and paper for, kids—talking on the phone, visiting when possible. Then she was transferred from a base in the south to one in Northern California. On my end, I was trying to transfer schools and work out there to be close to her but it was one hassle after the other. One day, I called her and a young man answered. I asked for her and he said, “Who’s this?” Who am I? I thought? Who are you? Turns out I said that out loud. “I’m her husband,” he said calmly. “Now who are you?” Order 'The Frisky 30-Day Breakup Guide' by Jamie Beckman, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! JAMIE BECKMAN podcast excerpt: "That would be Day 25 of my book. Let's just say it's a bit of self-love for women who may be going through a break-up... A lot of women put their pleasure in the hands of men. Do something dirty to take your mind off the breakup. It'll at least work for five, ten minutes, depending on what kind of woman you are." “Oh, I’m her, uh, cousin,” I said. “I didn’t know she was married. When did that happen?” “Last week,” he said. “Turns out she’s pregnant.” I won’t bore you – or depress me – with the rest of the details. Just know that I was crushed and it took a long time to come out of that particular dark funk. The whole incident came back to me as I was looking through Jamie Beckman’s new book, The Frisky 30-Day Breakup Guide. In it, Beckman takes women through her own day-by-day recovery method for dealing with a torturous breakup. Has anyone ever done a book that for men? Doubtful. Instead of a spa treatment one day or Godiva chocolates the next, the guy equivalent would say the same thing everyday. Ten letters, starts with an “M, ” ends with “E”… Jamie Beckman • • • •
Today's Guest: Rabbi Bob Alper, comedian, author, Life Doesn't Get Any Better Than This Rabbi Bob Alper (and some guy named Steve Martin) Life Doesn't Get Any Better Than This by Robert A. Alper, Rabbi Bob Alper, Mr. Media Interviews My wife and I love taking vacations in Maine and Vermont. That’s not unusual for Floridians, of course. But it was reading the local paper in Manchester Center, Vermont, probably a decade ago, that I first heard of my next guest. The story was about a performance by a rabbi-turned-standup comedian named Bob Alper. I don’t know if you’ve ever been in a Jewish temple but I have. They’re not naturally funny places. But Rabbi Bob Alper is a naturally funny guy. We became friends over the years, visiting and breaking bread in Vermont and in Florida. My family and I have seen him perform numerous times and even manned his book sale table once. He’s just released the first DVD of his act, titled What Are You… A Comedian? so I’m using it as an excuse to feature my friend on today’s show. Rabbi Bob Alper • • • •
Today's Guest: Adi Tantimedh, novelist, Her Beautiful Monster: The Ravi PI Series Watch this exclusive Mr. Media interview with Ali Tantimedh by clicking on the video player above! Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of Gods and Monsters, none of whom is happy with the cash bar … in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Her Beautiful Monster: The Ravi PI Series by Adi Tantimedh. Order your copy to day by clicking on the book cover above! PREVIOUSLY ON RAVI PI: We were introduced to private detective Ravi Chandra Singh in the first book of the series, Her Nightly Embrace. Ravi, a former high school teacher, thought he was going slowly insane because every so often, in times of great stress, he saw Hindu gods. And they interact with him. And the have cell phones. Ravi’s employer, the London-based Golden Sentinels agency, knew about the gods and didn’t care, as long as he maintained his high rate of closing complicated cases. ADI TANTIMEDH podcast excerpt: "The implication of 'Her Beautiful Monster' is, if other people can see gods, and other people can see Ravi's gods, then that means Ravi might not be mentally ill. The gods are not just an extension of his own psychosis or schizophrenia or whatever he's afraid he's got. And let's face it -- Hindu gods are not the only gods out there." Meanwhile, in his personal life, Ravi rescued his mother from indebtedness to a neighborhood loan shark. And he began a relationship with a sex addict… as well as a morally bankrupt but irresistible special agent of fortune drawn to money, not ideals. In the second book of this compelling and totally unique series, Her Beautiful Monster, Ravi is still seeing gods – even though the action has relocated from London to Los Angeles. And, to his astonishment, he may not be the only one seeing them. Once again, novelist Adi Tantimedh pulls together drama, action, humor, erotica and Ravi’s morality in an irresistible tandori stew. If you can imagine the work of Max Allan Collins stirred with curry, you’ll want to read the Ravi PI series! This is Adi’s second visit to Mr. Media. Adi Tantimedh • • •
Today's Guest: A.J. Jacobs, author, It’s All Relative: Adventures Up and Down the World’s Family Tree, and his wife, Julie Jacobs Watch this exclusive Mr. Media interview with A.J. Jacobs and Julie Jacobs by clicking on the video player above! Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins – oh, so many cousins! … in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! It's All Relative: Adventures Up and Down the World’s Family Tree by A.J. Jacobs. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above! A.J. Jacobs is always a great guest because he is always getting himself into situations that most people would want to avoid. You know, like that year he spend literally following the life instructions found in the Bible. Or when he turned himself into a lab rat trying out all sorts of ways to get healthy. And that time he outsourced his family obligations and job responsibilities as a writer for Esquire magazine… to India. All this and he’s a pretty terrific writer. JULIE JACOBS podcast excerpt: "When he wrote 'Drop Dead Healthy,' I had to do a juice fast." A.J. JACOBS podcast excerpt: "Oh, she did not do well. It was a three-day fast; she made it 2-1/2 hours." JULIE JACOBS podcast excerpt: "It's not my strength. I have other strengths, like putting up with A.J." This time around, A.J. committed himself to what might be the world’s largest genealogy project, the Global Family Reunion. Like all A.J. Jacobs’ book ideas, it began small – hey look, I’m a distant cousin of President George H.W. Bush! – and it went somewhat haywire when he discovered he was also cousins with his wife of 15 years, Julie. And that was just the beginning. Julie will join us midway to offer her perspective on husband/cousin A.J.’s latest endeavor. A.J.’s latest book is It’s All Relative: Adventures Up and Down the World’s Family Tree. It truly goes all over the map! A.J. Jacobs • • • • • • •
Today's Guest: Walt Willey, actor, "All My Children" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of people who remember when soap operas were on the radio and television would never catch on... in the NEW new media capitol of the world, St. Petersburg, Florida! Walt Willey jokes about everything... but not about Susan Lucci! Susan Lucci (Image via RottenTomatoes.com) During my brief flirtation with the ABC soap opera “All My Children” as a newlywed in the late 1980s who didn’t refuse his wife much of anything, let alone his company, I always remembered the character of Jackson “Jack” Montgomery. The actor who portrayed Montgomery, Walt Willey, seemed out of place to me, a little too lighthearted even when the scene called for serious, a guy having fun at all times, winking to the audience that he knew the story lines were often sillier than silly. WALT WILLEY podcast excerpt "People ask me, 'Is Susan Lucci really nice?' Yeah, Susan is really nice! Erica, however, I wouldn't have anything to do with in real life more than one. Maybe twice." Fans of this show know I’m not a regular watcher of the soaps, but I know Willey is not your average soap star, either. When he’s not taping new episodes of AMC, he’s working as a standup comedian. And when he’s not doing either of those professional pursuits, he and his wife run the Crystal Mesa Farm Bed & Breakfast in Sante Fe, New Mexico. Don't miss his story of flying home with fellow actor Val Kilmer and how they spent the time discussing... Susan Lucci! Walt Willey • •
Today's Guest: Cynthia Kraack, speculative fiction author, Ashwood trilogy: Ashwood, Harvesting Ashwood and Leaving Ashwood. Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of ambitious, future agricultural estate mistresses… in the new new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'Ashwood' by Cynthia Kraack by clicking on the book cover above! Visions of the future tend not to be too hopeful. And I, being a generally optimistic, positive thinking fellow, don’t often go down rabbit holes that lead to nattering nabobs of negativity. I encounter enough of it in the normal course of daily business — why look for trouble? But I got sucked into Cynthia Kraack’s new small press novel, Ashwood. It tells the story of Matron Anne, the new administrator of an Ashwood, Minnesota, agricultural plantation — worked and maintained largely by children — some time in the not-too-distant future. In Matron Anne’s era, danger lurks everywhere in America, from the cities to the rural farming communities. She’s a young woman whose life has already been hard; when she begins telling us her tale, she has no idea the challenges and dangers that lie ahead of her. Order 'Minnesota Cold' by Cynthia Kraack by clicking the book cover above! CYNTHIA KRAACK podcast excerpt: "People are trying to rebuild personal safety and how you rebuild your dreams. And how do you trust a government built out of people who are not always honest and not always operating for the common good." Ashwood offers a touch of speculative fiction, economics forecasting and a bit of science fiction. It would make a brilliant, edgy movie in the right hands. If you’re looking for a story with a strong female lead, look no farther. If you’re looking for a tale in which people come together and overcome evil for a common good, this is a reading commitment you won’t regret. Cynthia Kraack • • • • •
Today's Guest: Cynthia Kraack, speculative fiction author, Ashwood trilogy: Ashwood, Harvesting Ashwood and Leaving Ashwood. Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of guys who can see the future, including three-time Mr. Media guest The Amazing Kreskin, who really should know better by now… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'Harvesting Ashwood Minnesota 2037' by Cynthia Kraack from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! The first time that author Cynthia Kraack was on Mr. Media, promoting the first book in her Ashwood trilogy, I told you guys to go out and read it. This interview is going to proceed on the notion that most of you took that advice and did. The second book in the series, Harvesting Ashwood, is out and it’s just as compelling as the first. Now, I’m not usually a guy looking for bleak, futuristic fiction, but there is something irrepressibly hopeful in Kraack’s characterizations and plotting that keeps me honed in. CYNTHIA KRAACK podcast excerpt: "If you think of stories of people who came through the Depression or the Holocaust, they are permanently changed by the experience. And that's what this woman, Anne Hartford, went through at a very young age. But she is finally letting her hair down." Order 'Ashwood' by Cynthia Kraack from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! Jumping forward (and a bit back for new readers), Harvesting Ashwood introduces us to Minnesota in the year 2037. There still isn’t much trust in the world, not between business and government and certainly not when it comes to protecting individual liberties. Federal employees are generally corrupt and corruptible; security is a daily grind; and feeding the residents and employees of the Ashwood estate is an unrelenting challenge. Fortunately, our heroine, Anne Hartford, is still the most resourceful woman in these somewhat United States. If you like the works of George Orwell or even if you were a fan of the Keifer Sutherland TV series “24,” there’s a lot to like and enjoy in Cynthia Kraack’s Ashwood series. Cynthia Kraack • • • •
Today's Guest: Marty Beckerman, author, Dumbocracy, Generation S.L.U.T. Order Generation S.L.U.T.: A Brutal Feel-up Session with Today's Sex-Crazed Adolescent Populace by Marty Beckerman, available from Amazon.com! Order Dumbocracy by Marty Beckerman by clicking the book cover above! Loony left, rabid right—author Marty Beckerman thinks there are idiots on both sides. And who’s to say he’s wrong? Beckerman wrote the new book, Dumbocracy: Adventures with the Loony Left, the Rabid Right, and Other American Idiots. It’s a wild ride through modern politics as viewed through the lens of a young man not afraid to call life the way he sees it. Marty Beckerman • • •
Today's Guest: Richard Barrios, author, Must-See Musicals: 50 Show-Stopping Movies We Can't Forget Watch this exclusive Mr. Media interview with Richard Barrios by clicking on the video player above! Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of Saturday Night Fever fans who left the theater and couldn’t stop cursing like a mofo for months – or maybe that was just me? … in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Must-See Musicals by Richard Barrios. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above! Actor Kyle Bornheimer was on Mr. Media recently and told me a story about his fifth or sixth birthday party. He thought it would be great fun to invite all of his buddies over to watch his favorite movie with him. He wanted them to share the joy it gave him. So far, so good. Except the movie was Singing in the Rain. Not exactly conducive for that age group to sit still for two hours. But four decades later, the classic musical is still Bornheimer’s favorite film of all time. RICHARD BARRIOS podcast excerpt: "A transcendent musical for me would be 'Love Me Tonight,' from 1932, with Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald, music by Rogers & Hart. It's a stunning, wonderful film. I would use this movie as a test for friends or possible people to date. I would show them this movie and if they didn't get it, I didn't want to date them." For me, I’m a fan of the more rare modern musicals – Grease, Saturday Night Fever, The Rocky Horror Picture Show and White Nights to name a few. My favorite in the genre would probably be my first: Mary Poppins. It is as charming today as it was the first time I saw it with my grandfather – and the Rockettes – at Radio City Music Hall. Joining me today is Richard Barrios, a guy who knows a thing or two about the intersection of film and music. His latest book is Must-See Musicals: 50 Show-Stopping Movies We Can’t Forget. Richard Barrios • •
Today's Guest: Maulik Pancholy, actor, "30 Rock," "Whitney," "Weeds" It’s war between TGS Show producer Liz Lemon and NBC suit Jack Donaghy’s assistant Jonathan! Alec Baldwin (l) as 30 Rock executive Jack Donaghy, gives direction to Maulik Pancholy as his loving assistant, Jonathan. As Jonathan, Maulik Pancholy’s moments on the show have shown how much an actor can do in a confined space; have we ever seen Jonathan anywhere beyond the 20 feet or so path between his desk and Jack’s? Does he sleep there? Even Kenneth the NBC Page has a demonstrated life outside of the network, right? MAULIK PANCHOLY podcast excerpt: "With every character, you're bringing a little piece of yourself to it. There is certainly a little piece of me that is obsessive/compulsive the way Jonathan is. I was a total perfectionist growing up." Tensions have been escalating between the two for some time as they compete for the attention of their boss — although it would seem as if they’re interested in him for two completely different things. If somehow you’ve never seen it, NBC’s “30 Rock” airs every Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. Do your funny bone a favor and check it out. Right after this interview. Maulik Pancholy • • •
Today's Guest: Michael Eury, editor, “Back Issue” magazine Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of comic book fanzine publishers who still have mimeograph fluid in their veins and respiratory issues from living in their parents’ basements all these years … in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Back Issue Magazine, 100th issue, edited by Michael Eury[ My name is Bob and I edited a fanzine (or two) in the 1970s. Hi, Bob! Today, I’m a modestly successful writer and I can draw a straight line back to comic book fanzines as early supporters of my career ambition. MICHAEL EURY podcast excerpt: "I routinely get comments from people saying, 'I had no interest in Subject A or Subject B until I read this article in 'Back Issue.' Then it fascinated me. I'm constantly being told that we send people to the back issue bins in comics shops, or scouring eBay trying to find books they've read about in 'Back Issue' magazine." The only thing I ever really wanted to grow up and do was write, and low-budget, work-for-free fanzines of the 1970s were my ticket to all the experience I could want. At one point, I was contributing to more than a dozen zines – reviews, interviews and opinion pieces – most of which I hope never find their way back into the public domain. Reading the grand 100th issue of Michael Eury’s Back Issue magazine was a thrill for me, recapturing the fan scene and zine scene of my teen years, and filling in many gaps in my knowledge of The Comics Buyers Guide (to which I contributed a monthly column called “Jersey Scene” on behalf of the Fans of Central Jersey comics collectors club), FOOM, SquaTront, Amazing World of DC Comics, Charlton Bullseye and much more. This special issue also gives us an insider’s view of Back Issue itself, thanks to previous Mr. Media guest Bob Greenberger’s interview with editor Michael Eury, today’s guest. This is Michael’s second visit to Mr. Media; he was here earlier this year to talk about his book, Hero-A-Go-Go: Campy Comic Books, Crimefighters, & Culture of the Swinging Sixties. Michael Eury • • • • Back Issue! Magazine •
Today's Guest: Robert K. Elder, author, It Was Love When; It Was Over When Order 'It Was Love When' by Robert K. Elder, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! Order 'It Was Over When' by Robert K. Elder, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! It’s almost Valentine’s Day and have I got the perfect interview! Rob Elder is the founder of a pair of websites that capture both the joy and angst of modern romance. First, the joy: is dedicated to cataloging the exact moment when you realize that you are in love with someone. ROB ELDER podcast excerpt: "Not all of them are 'family friendly.' Here's one that is, from a woman: 'I asked him what his favorite sexual fantasy was. He said, "Two redheads." I'm a brunette. The aftermath? He left me two months later for a blonde.'" And then, inevitably, there’s the angst: Elder’s second site, , is dedicated to cataloging the exact moment when you realize a relationship isn’t going to work. This could be years into a romance, on the first date or even before the first date. These stories can be funny, poignant, abysmally sad and universal. Bastard that I am, I’m much more entertained by the latter, of course. (UPDATE: Since this interviewed aired in 2010, Elder has collected the best stories from his website in book form, as seen above.) Robert K. Elder • • •
Today's Guest: Robert K. Elder, author, The Film That Changed My Life Order 'The Film That Changed My Life' by Robert K. Elder, availasble from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! My 14-year-old son is thinking a lot about college these days and just last night asked me, “Why did you get a degree in film studies?” Good question, but I had to weigh telling him the truth with giving an answer that wouldn’t distract him. I mean, what would be the sense in saying, “Because it was the easiest major I could think of,” or “Because that’s where all the prettiest girls were,” or “Because those were the easiest classes in which to catch up on my sleep after working till midnight at the Royal Park 4 Theaters”? I’ve always loved getting lost in a movie. I’ll start watching a film on TV – pretty much any film – from any point and get absorbed. When I was a teen, my pal Bruce Kessler and I used to ride several miles on our bikes to catch whatever was playing in East Brunswick or Princeton. I remember many life-changing moments. Believing a man – Christopher Reeves, anyway – could fly in the first Superman. Discovering that there is nothing more beautiful than a naked woman’s breasts in a bathtub, thanks to Serpico. The start of months of nightmares following a screening of Freddy Francis’ 1972 Tales From the Crypt. (Note: During the interview, I mistakenly reference this as a Gerge Romero film. My bad.) Cursing like a Brooklyn-born sailor after meeting Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever. That made picking up Robert K. Elder’s new interview collection, The Film That Changed My Life: 30 Directors on Their Epiphanies in the Dark, a sure thing in my life. Elder, who was on Mr. Media last year to talk about his book, Last Words of the Executed, has once again found an irresistible topic of discussion. And listen to just a few of the internationally celebrated top directors who shared their cinematic inspiration with him: Slumdog Millionaire’s Danny Boyle. Clerks’ Kevin Smith. Bend It Like Beckham’s Gurinda Chatha. Slacker’s Richard Linklater. Mission Impossible: II’s John Woo. Pink Flamingos’ John Waters. Robert K. Elder • • •
Today's Guest: Robert K. Elder, author, Last Words of the Executed Last Words of the Executed by Robert K. Elder, Mr. Media Interviews I don’t know that the world was bouncing on its heels, waiting impatiently for someone to finally collect the last words of men and women subject to the death penalty in the United States, but now that we have it, Robert K. Elder’s Last Words of the Executed makes for a fascinating read. But don’t take my word for it. The late, great writer Studs Terkel, author of one of my favorite journalistic books, Working—I read and carried it with me everywhere during my senior year of college—wrote the first words for Last Words of the Executed shortly before passing away. Here’s what he said about it, in part: “Elder is a journalist in the noblest tradition, getting at a certain truth. And the truth may come from the most ejected members of our society, the most reprehensible, and yet the humanity is still there… Perhaps there will come a time whena book such as this will no longer be needed but will be remembered as a history of a prehistoric time. It’s all moving stuff.” Terkel went on to say that he found the book to be poetry of a sort. As for Elder, he is a journalist and a teacher at Northwestern University. This is second trip to Mr Media Radio; he was here before talking about his websites, and . Last Words of the Executed • • • • Robert K. Elder • •
Today's Guest: Adam Falcon, guitarist, Piece of Mine Order 'Piece of Mine' by guitarist Adam Falcon, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the EP cover above! A few weeks ago, I didn’t know Adam Falcon from Adam West. But now I’m here to tell you that if you like jazz with a little bit of R&B, a touch of rap and maybe a twinge of Prince, you’re gonna love this guy. The singer/songwriter/guitarist just released a new album, Bohemian 959. I don’t know to what the title refers—actually that would make a good first question. ADAM FALCON podcast excerpt: "I wanted to work with Rick James--and I didn't want to work with Rick James. It was a crazy scene and I didn't know if I could survive one week of that scene." But even if you haven’t heard of Falcon before, I can tell you he’s been a familiar face around some pretty familiar names: George Benson recorded a couple of his songs, for example. He also worked with two more of my favorites, the late great Rick James and Robert Palmer. And Adam was discovered at age 15 when he snuck into The Fillmore East to watch Sly & The Family Stone. (I once waited outside a cheap, two-story motel in Pinellas Park, Florida, until 3 a.m. to interview Sly, but that’s another story.) Enough of me yammering. Let’s get to Adam, and even better, spin a couple of his joyous tunes. Adam Falcon • • • • •
Today's Guest: Bitsie Tulloch, star, "Grimm" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of seemingly placid veterinarians in need of their annual shots… in the NEW new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Bitsie Tulloch as Juliette Silverton (Photo: Scott Green/NBC) Last night, I happened upon an interview that Bitsie Tulloch did with Craig Ferguson, host of on CBS. Sure, he was funny, but she was absolutely delightful. She matched him line for line, wisecrack for wisecrack, nuanced subtlety for nuanced subtlety. And when all that failed, they flirted hysterically, no holds barred. I also listened to her being interviewed by a morning radio show where she gently manipulated the topic of conversation from her new NBC show, “Grimm,” – Fridays at 9 p.m. – to the subject of her charity work, supporting the Corazon de Vida Foundation, which funds orphanages in Tijuana. BITSIE TULLOCH podcast excerpt: "I was a really, really cute baby. I did have an awkward phase in middle school -- braces, hair every which way. My sister, who was drop-dead beautiful, claims I had a flat head." In yet a third chat, a video with , I don’t remember a word she said, frankly, just that her eyes were incredibly beautiful. Bottom line: If I had a son, I’d tell him to go out in the world and bring back a wife as beautiful, smart, sexy and funny as Bitsie Tulloch. But since I don’t have a son, I’m going to unabashedly flirt with one of the stars of The Artist myself for the next 10 minutes and apologize to my wife later. I’ll even mention that she has a new film, Caroline and Jackie, in which she shares billing with her “Grimm” co-star, David Giuntoli, and hope that’ll score me a point or two in conversation. (Hell, did I just say that out loud?) Bitsie Tulloch • • • •
Today's Guest: Mike Lynch, cartoonist. Cartoon by Mike Lynch Cartoon by Mike Lynch Regular Mr. Media listeners know that I have a special place in my heart for cartoonists and comics people. I admire their creativity and talent, of course, but I also envy their ability to wake up every day and invent a living from whole cloth. And probably no one in this creative class has a greater challenge before him or her than the freelance magazine cartoonist earning one paycheck at a time by producing single panel cartoons for a variety of editors. Cartoonist Mike Lynch, self-portrait Mike Lynch is one of those guys. Check out Lynch’s work on his web site, while you listen to this interview. Lynch, who lives in the foothills of the White Mountains in rural New Hampshire with his wife and three cats, freelances for advertising agencies, calendars, books and so on. He’s also on the board of the National Cartoonists Society. Mike Lynch • • •
Today's Guests: Tim Jackson, David G. Brown, Ron Rogers, Barbara Brandon-Croft, Dr. Yaounde Olu, editorial cartoonists Cartoonist Tim Jackson These are days when the rules are being rewritten by the hour, a time when the old ways seem quaint and antiquated, a period in history when perhaps we can no longer rely upon history to guide the future. And just when we’re starting to sort things out—our first African-American president, the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, and deep fears that we may eat lunch this week but maybe not next week—leave it to the New York Post and Rush Limbaugh to help us spot the fine line between criticism and hate. Limbaugh couldn’t wait until Barack Obama had warmed up his new chair in the Oval Office to say he hopes the new president fails. At least we all know where he stands, as if there were any doubt. And the New York Post publishes a cartoon in which the police shoot a monkey and one of the cops says, “They’ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill.” Shortly after that cartoon ran, I received an email from , editorial cartoonist for the newspaper. He wanted to know why, when all the pundits were weighing in on the Post’s monkey cartoon, no one solicited the opinion of America’s corps of African-American editorial cartoonists. I thought he made a good point, so, with the help of Mr. Jackson, I have invited a number of these cartoonists to join us in a roundtable discussion tonight. In addition to Tim, joining us on the phone tonight are: • , cartoonist for the ; • at the ; • , "Where I'm Coming From"; • .
Today's Guest: Paul Brannigan, author, This Is a Call: The Life and Times of Dave Grohl Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of guys in obscure Virginia bands who probably wish they were a lot nicer to Dave Grohl before he met Kurt Cobain and left most of them in the dust… in the NEW new media capital of the world, St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'This Is a Call: The Life and Times of Dave Grohl' by clicking the book cover above! I had a strange reaction to discovering a biography, This is a Call: The Life and Times of Dave Grohl, had been written about Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl: Too soon? Which doesn’t make sense, I know, coming after the 20th anniversary of the release of Nirvana’s landmark album, Nevermind. PAUL BRANNIGAN podcast excerpt: "His mom, who is a high school teacher, said, 'When Dave told me he was going to (drop out of high school), I said, "Hallelujah!" Because of all the things you're good at, Dave, schoolwork is not one of them." But Grohl is so young, so vital, so active in today’s music scene that I thought maybe it wasn’t time yet because there are so many chapters still left to live – and then write. Access, however, is everything, and British journalist Paul Brannigan, a former editor of Kerrang! magazine, has enjoyed a professional relationship with Grohl for the last 15 years. Whether you’re a Nirvana fan or a Foo Fighters fan, there is a lot of fresh detail and insight to be found here. Access really makes the difference and Brannigan clearly had that. Besides, he answers the musical question: what is a Foo Fighter, anyway?
Today's Guest: Jason Stuart, comedian, actor Comedian Jason Stuart I’m not one to put labels on a person, but I guess if the cover of ’s latest DVD can describe him as “America’s top gay stand-up comic,” then it’s okay for me to repeat it. But that leads to a question: Does “gay” mean homosexual men only? If he’s the nation’s top gay stand-up comic, where does that leave lesbian comedians such as Ellen DeGeneres, Rosie O’Donnell, Carol Leifer or Judy Gold? And Jason, if you’re the #1 gay comedian, who is #2? Jason Stuart • • • • • • • •
Today's Guest: The Amazing Kreskin, mentalist You put a lot of pressure on yourself going around the world with “Amazing” as your first name. But for The Amazing Kreskin, it’s just another day at the office—even if his office usually entails a stage, a microphone, a few hundred to a few thousand pairs of eyes and ears glued to him, and even more watching him work from the comfort of their living rooms. He’s been The Amazing One for longer than I’ve been Bob, frankly, and he’s far better at being Amazing than I am at being Bob. Order 'Conversations with Kreskin,' available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! AMAZING KRESKIN podcast excerpt: "I never let down on my schedule. I did 303 appearances around the world. Roger Ailes said, 'That's a story in itself.' My life has really been an adventure." Starting this week and running through November 2010, visitors to Las Vegas will have the opportunity to experience The Amazing Kreskin, up-close and in person, when he appears at the Sahara Casino Hotel’s Casbar Lounge. For the first time ever, Kreskin will offer a weekly 30-minute gambling seminar to audiences and will impart his expertise on how individuals playing poker, blackjack, and other card games of chance can increase their advantage and their odds. Kreskin, who has broken records at casinos nationwide and overseas, will reveal why he’s now banned from all casinos and is not permitted to play poker anywhere in the world—except here on Mr. Media. We’re also going to touch on a more serious subject: , and how he is cured of it—amazing! And folks, don’t try that at home! So join me now as... Kreskin returns! The Amazing Kreskin • • •
Today's Guest: The Amazing Kreskin, mentalist Kreskin's ESP Game Order 'Secrets of the Amazing Kreskin,' available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! I’m thinking of a number between one and three. But there’s no mystery here, no mind reading required: the number is three! That’s because today marks the third visit to this show by the Amazing Kreskin. It’s not close to the 70-plus appearances the Amazing one made to the Tonight Show, but we might be making gains on Mike Douglas. I’ll have our researchers look into that. AMAZING KRESKIN podcast excerpt: "I always say to my audiences, 'For God's sake, we're on Earth such a short time. Sample everything you can.'" The Amazing Kreskin, Johnny Carson There is never a dull moment when Kreskin is around. The first time here, on March 12, 2009, we talked about the movie based on his life, The Great Buck Howard, produced by Tom Hanks and starring John Malkovich as you know who. Last time he was here, in September 2010, we talked about his new shows in Las Vegas, where for the first time ever he offered 30-minute gambling seminars. For the price of admission, you could hear his perfectly legal tips on poker, blackjack and other card games of chances. That conversation led into something even more interesting: the recent revelation that Kreskin had survived prostate cancer, despite delaying treatment for a year and that he had kept it secret from everyone around him. Kreskin is still appearing in Vegas, but he’s taken his act over to The Riviera Hotel and Casino. For showtimes and tickets, go to RivieraHotel.co. I love talking to Kreskin – his energy, his enthusiasm, his zest for everything he does can’t help but inspire and delight. The Amazing Kreskin • • •
Today's Guest: Richard Minsky, 3D book artist, The Book Art of Richard Minsky Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of Amazon Kindle fans who can’t figure out what the big deal about book art might be… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Richard Minsky's book art will blow your mind! (Interview) Order 'The Book Art of Richard Minsky' by clicking the book cover above Quite frankly, I’m way out of my usual comfort zone with today’s guest, book artist Richard Minsky. Minsky is such a specialized artist that today may be the first and only time you’ll ever see his one-of-a-kind work up close and almost personal. Of course, he’d really like it if you checked out the just published collection of his work accompanied by his autobiography, The Book Art of Richard Minsky. RICHARD MINSKY podcast excerpt: "The glove I used on The Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson? It's an illustration in some ways of the American legal system. Whether it's use or abuse, it's up to the individual reader to decide." How to describe Minsky’s art? Maybe by example: • For a celebration of George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-four, he constructed a bookbinding with an LCD monitor built into the leather cover and a miniature video camera hidden within. Hold the book in front of you and you see yourself on the cover. Spooky. • The Geography of Hunger is encased by what looks like human teeth. Message received, right? • A collection of works by poet Patti Smith, titled Babel, is held together with safety pins, the symbol of the early punk movement. • One more: For the jacket of a copy of writer Jeffrey Toobin’s The Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson, Minsky mounted a leather glove on the cover, its fingertips dripping with blood. For more examples, check out the slideshow at Minsky.com. I don’t know where this conversation is headed. But I do know that few of us has ever met an artist and craftsman as unique as my guest today. Richard Minsky • • • •
Today's Guest: America Olivo, actor, "Chicago P.D.," "Defiance," "DeGrassi: The Next Generation" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of shirtless, Levi Johnston wannabes… in the new new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order from Amazon.com by clicking the DVD cover above If you’re enjoying Mr. Media on video, you already know that the camera loves America Olivo. For those of you listening to the radio version of the show, open a new window on your browser and search “America Olivo” on Google and “Images.” Go ahead, you know you want to. We’ll wait. Just kidding. Catch up to us when you can, pal. America is one beautiful woman. Playboy readers will recognize her as the magazine’s June 2009 cover girl in a delightfully ripped white t-shirt alongside the apt headline, “America the Beautiful.” Order from Amazon.com by clicking the DVD cover above[ AMERICA OLIVO podcast excerpt: "It's a really good story. They've been working on this a long time, keeping true to the mythology of Peter Parker and Spider-Man and adding new elements. It's got the heart of the story that is Spider-Man -- and then some. And the music -- Bono and The Edge -- is amazing." She did that photo shoot to promote her movie, Bitch Slap. And just so you understand how things work, she’s doing Mr. Media to promote her new movie, Circle. Cool, huh? As anxious as she is to have you see her current work in Circle, I expect America is pretty excited to tell us what she can about her latest gig: she was just cast in the Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, featuring songs written by Bono of U2. America is the understudy in the role of "Arachne." (P.S. -- Her husband, Christian Campbell, is an actor on HBO's "The Big Love.") America Olivo • • • • • • • Christian Campbell • • America Olivo & Christian Campbell
Today's Guest: America Olivo, actor, "Chicago P.D.," "Defiance," "DeGrassi: The Next Generation" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of other husband and wife entertainers, including Steve & Eydie, Mike Nichols & Diane Sawyer and Lady & the Tramp… in the NEW new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! O Order 'Music From Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark' by clicking the image above! America Olivo is full of surprises.The first time she was on the show, ostensibly to promote a new movie called Circle, she did the interview from the basement of the Foxwoods Theatre on Broadway. Upstairs, rehearsals were underway for a new musical directed by Julie Taymor and featuring music by Bono and The Edge. You may have heard of it: “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.” She couldn’t say anything much about it at the time; I learned much later that she is the understudy for one of the leads as the villainess “Arachne” -- and several other major and minor characters. America Olivo on the cover of Playboy magazine AMERICA OLIVO podcast excerpt"I don't know if the talk about Spider-Man upsets the cast and crew as much as the incidents. It's such a technical show and to be rushed made things a bit precarious." After the interview ended, America said I might enjoy talking to her husband, Christian Campbell. They met on the set of Neighbor and were married in July 2009. He’s got his own career going – perhaps you’ve heard of HBO’s “Big Love”? Christian has a recurring role in the series fifth and final season, which just kicked off. These two both have live theater, music soap operas and genre roles in their shared past. Oh, and did I mention they’re both extremely good looking? If you've never watched Mr. Media® TV, this would be a good day to start! America Olivo • • • Christian Campbell • • America Olivo & Christian Campbell
Today's Guest: Chelsey Reist, actress, "The 100" Watch this exclusive Mr. Media interview with Actress Chelsey Reist, star of "The 100" on The CW by clicking on the video player above! Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of men and women who are fighting over which sex is more drawn to today’s guest… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Butt casting with Chelsey Reist of "The 100" I cannot tell a lie: I like having pretty young women as guests on Mr. Media. There: my dirty little secret is out. But I still like to think I’m a discerning host; good looks alone can’t land you an invitation here. There has to be a hook, something that will make good conversation. CHELSEY REIST podcast excerpt: "I've had roles that definitely run the gamut between softer roles and strong females. This one -- as 'Harper' on 'The 100' -- is really exciting because right off the bat, I have a gun. I'm helping defend The 100 on Earth as we discover there may be more there than we thought!" I knew I wanted to talk to Chelsey Reist when I watched her 4-minute “sizzle” reel on IMDB.com. The first time, I watched with the sound off and it made me laugh. In a good way. This ambitious young actress has been in every kind of stereotypical role old Hollywood puts someone of her age and gender into, from slutty woman in danger to seductress, from lesbian to straight – and back again. Order 'The 100: The Complete First Season' available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD above! But she also has had her moments of feminist hurrahs, putting two young men at the other end of her biblical anger, and jumping on the back of someone threatening her boyfriend and letting loose with her fists for all she’s worth. CHELSEY REIST podcast excerpt: "I got a call from 'The 100' casting office and they said, 'Can you please head into the special effects studio tomorrow morning?' They need to make a mold of your butt.' I said, 'Who gets a mold of their butt? Porn stars do that! I'm not getting a mold of my butt!' But I exfoliated and I went in the next morning and they put this purple goop on my butt. It warms as it hardens, which was an interesting part of my job. They made a fake butt and they packed it full of guts and blood. They literally drilled into the butt I'm wearing on top of my butt. And that has to make my sizzle reel. More horror! More screaming!" Oh, and I immediately recognized her from her Applebee’s TV commercial. Today, after a string of horror movie appearances, TV commercials and guest spots on TV shows such as “Person of Interest,” “The Twomorrow People” and “Psych,” Chelsey Reist has probably reached the height of her young fame as a regular on The CW’s popular futuristic drama series, “The 100.” She plays Harper, whose fate was left very much up in the air after the mid-season finale. “The 100” returns to the air on Wednesday, January 21, at 9 p.m. Chelsey Reist • • • • -1 • -2 • • • • • • •
Today's Guest: Father Guido Sarducci, gossip columnist, The Vatican newspaper (a.k.a., comedian Don Novello) (NOTE: The following interview with Father Guido Sarducci, a.k.a., comedian Don Novello, originally appeared in Music Magazine on May 26, 1983. I am posting it online for the first time in celebration of Novello's January 1 birthday. -- Bob Andelman) Father Guido Sarducci, a.k.a., Don Novello (1970s) Where is Rosanne Rosannadanna when you need her? “Hey, Don Novello!” she’d scream, “for a guy from Ohio you sure are scrawny! And what’s all this stuff I read about your pretending to be a priest or rabbi or something? Can’t you get a real job, or what?” The most difficult part of talking with Don Novello was deciding if he was going to be Novello or the prodigal bad boy of the gospel, Father Guido Sarducci. I assumed he could be both, or just Novello. Please eavesdrop on some of our opening banter: “Why don’t we just do the Novello thing and then we’ll do Sarducci or one or the other,” said Novello, to which I was agreeable. Then he changed his mind. “lf you want to just do Sarducci. that’d be cool. I like to do it like Sarducci as a real person. I think somehow it makes it more real ... instead of like a lot of people who do characters. Or even that guy who does the Unknown Comedian with the bag over his head. I never wanted to be ‘Here’s Don Novello as Father Guido Saraducci.’ Even though you know it’s not a real person, it just makes it more real or something. l’ve never been afraid of having my name not mentioned. I prefer it.” FATHER GUIDO SARDUCCI interview excerpt: "When the Polish Pope was elected, I wrote this article that says now that we broke tradition by having a non-Italian Pope, let’s break more tradition and have non-Swiss Swiss Guards. These guys took it personally." \Fair enough. Yet before we forget the identity of the man beneath the robes, let’s remember that he is a former writer for “Saturday Night Live.” a man who has appeared in much of the pop media in priestly garb over the last 10 years. He has reported on the Pope for Rolling Stone, hosted the short-lived SNL clone “Fridays,” and been generally perpetrating the Father since the last incarnation of the Smothers Brothers on television in the early seventies. Now, without further ado, Father Guido Sarducci: Why did you decide to go public on American television programs like “Saturday Night Live”? “l’m a gossip columnist for the Vatican newspaper, right? So I’ve been on TV in Italy, and so, you now, they asked me to be on television.” Do you have better contacts thatn Rona Barrett? “ln Europe, for sure, Miss Rona’s not too big there. She steals stuff from me. And sometimes I do ... you know ... borrow some stuff from her, but I always change it around a little bit.” How did you get into broadcasting? “l went to Marconi School of Broadcasting. I was working as a disc jockey for Vatican Radio. Rock ‘n’ roll. We have a boat called Vatican Free Radio docked two miles off the coast of Albania. I would play Rita Pavone, Paul Anka, Gene Pitney, my favorite, that we would broadcast to Communist countries.” Were there some kinds of music you could not play on Vatican Radio? “Some Motown you could not play. Ain’t no heavy breathing. No Barry White. If he had recorded in Albanian, we would have played it, but not in English.” Are you working on television much these days? “ln ltaly I do. I’m on the Mike Bonjourno Show. I’m a regular, once a week. I do a cooking show called ‘La Conchita con Guido.’ lt means Guido’s Kitchen, like ‘Who’s in the kitchen with Dinah,’ it’s who’s in the kitchen with Guido, playing on the old mandolin. “l do, like, a 15-minute cooking show. And I don’t know how to cook very good, but, like, I make a eggs and sandwiches, that kind of stuff.” How would you make eggs? “My problem is, it’s 15 minutes, so if I’m showing how to do soft-boiled eggs, I start with very cold water for boiling and I make the toast one piece at a time, that’s to stretch it out.” Fifteen minutes is a lot of time. “Especially, like, for sandwiches. lf it was complicated, it would be easy, but I don’t know now to make stuff like that.” There have been some vague reports in the press about you being arrested near the Vatican. Care to elaborate? “It was just a misunderstanding, a problem with the Swiss Guard. When the Polish Pope was elected, I wrote this article that says now that we broke tradition by having a non-Italian Pope, let’s break more tradition and have non-Swiss Swiss Guards. These guys took it personally. “See, it made no sense to me that we have unemployment in Italy and the Vatican is bringing in Swiss people to work in Rome. I said, let’s get some Italian Swiss Guards, some Greek Swiss Guards...” Father Guido Sarducci will never be the church’s standard bearer. He’ll go on “saying what has to be said,” advocating less than conservative gothic opinions. What else would you expect from a priest whose favorite song is “When You Wish Upon A Star” as sung by Jiminy Cricket in the movie Pinocchio? Father Guido Sarducci Don Novello • • •
Today's Guest: Jerry Robinson, cartoon, early Batman artist credited with creating Robin the Boy Wonder, the Joker Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of cackling hyenas in whiteface and bright red Maybelline lipstick… right here in the NEW new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Detective Comics #38 (April 1940), the first appearance of Robin, drawn by Jerry Robinson For many years, original Batman artist Jerry Robinson was one of the forgotten men in comics. Little known within the industry for all the years he toiled in obscurity, drawing and creating Batman comic books under the byline of the character’s creator, Bob Kane, Robinson emerged from the shadows to become a celebrated and recognized talent in his own right.He is perhaps best known as the actual creator of the greatest supervillain ever, The Joker, and Batman’s cheery sidekick, Robin the Boy Wonder. JERRY ROBINSON podcast excerpt: "It always bothered us. Bob had gone down and signed the contract, unknown to Bill Finger and myself, for Batman. I was only 17. I didn't know anything about creator rights. Neither did Bill. Bill was a shoe salesman trying to break into the writing field. We didn't know enough to protect our rights." And unlike many men who spent their entire careers doing nothing but comics, Robinson’s work branched out over time to fine illustration. He did commercial work on Broadway, for example, as well as contributing to books and magazines. One of the surprising things we learn about Robinson is his compassion for his fellow artists around the world, many of whom struggle against much greater political issues than whether a superhero’s cape should be red or blue. Along the way he developed a point of view of a world larger and more real than is found in the studios and minds of many American artists. Order 'Jerry Robinson: Ambassador of Comics' by clicking the book cover above! He and Neal Adams banged the drum loudest in the mid-1970s for Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster to be fairly compensated for creating Superman in 1938, which led Robinson to support a number of artists struggling around the world, including Uruguay’s imprisoned editorial cartoonist Francisco Laurenzo Pons. Robinson is the subject of a new book by N.C. Christopher Couch – Chris, as he’s best known — that looks at the entire scope of Jerry’s career and reproduced a wide array of his life’s work. Jerry Robinson: Ambassador of Comics also features an introduction by hardboiled journalist and lifelong comics fan Pete Hamill, and a foreword by the guiding hand behind much of the modern Batman’s stories, Dennis O’Neil. This is my second formal interview with Jerry; I also spoke to him several years ago for my biography, . He and Eisner were long-time contemporaries and members of a mutual appreciation society. Eisner and Bob Kane, if you didn’t know it, grew up together, went to high school together, frequently double-dated, and were quite competitive with the young ladies back in the mid 1930s. JERRY ROBINSON • • •
Today's Guest: Rose Marie, actress, comedienne, "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "The Doris Day Show" LOS ANGELES - AUGUST 16: The Dick Van Dyke Show cast members from left: Rose Marie (as Sally Rogers) and Morey Amsterdam (as Buddy Sorrell). Hollywood, CA. Image dated August 16, 1961. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images) (NOTE: Rose Marie died today, December 28, 2017 at age 94. She was truly one-of-a-kind and I greatly enjoyed my time with her as you can hear during this 2012 podcast interview! -- Bob Andelman) She was the live wire, wise crackin’, anything but predictable female comedy writer on “The Alan Brady Show,” the show-within-a-show portion of “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” And yes, that was 50 years ago. And yes, Rose Marie is still working, still getting gigs and still making Betty White look over her shoulder and go, “Really?” Because the show has been in repeats for decades, the actress who played “Sally Rogers” for five seasons on one of TV’s finest sitcoms ever is known the world over. But that was hardly the last the world heard from Rose Marie. ROSE MARIE podcast excerpt: "The Dick Van Dyke Show was so well written. The cast was perfect for the show and we didn't do anything that would hurt anybody. And every show is a classic." In addition to two seasons as “Myrna” on “The Doris Day Show,” her guest starring appearances have included everything from “The Monkees” and “Adam-12” to “The Love Boat” and “Murphy Brown.” And let’s not forget all those spots on “Hollywood Squares”! Rose Marie • • •
Today's Guest: Patrick Fischler, actor, "Mad Men," "Lost," "Weeds," "Southland" Order 'Mad Men: The Complete Season 2' DVD starring Jon Hamm and Patrick Fischler, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD cover above! The first time Jimmy Barrett appeared in a second season episode of AMC’s Emmy Award-winning series “Mad Men,” was like a sock in the jaw. Who was this 1960s potato chip shilling, insult comedian? Why was he so rude all the time? And how dare he shake up ad man Don Draper’s world? Every time Barrett—played to crunchy perfection by actor Patrick Fischler—was in an episode, he turned the show upside-down and inside-out. So, of course, Draper slept with his wife! And, of course, he made a play for Betty Draper in return! PATRICK FISCHLER podcast excerpt: "Jimmy Barrett was the best job I ever had. 'Mad Men' was already my favorite show when I was cast on it... Jimmy was the beginning of the end of the marriage of Betty and Don Draper. I hope that we get to revisit him." Order 'Lost: The Complete Season 5' on DVD co-starring Patrick Fischler, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD cover above! But Fischler has been all over our televisions these last few years. He was a recurring character in everything from “Lost”—when some of the characters time traveled back to the 1970s—to “Southland.” Currently, you can see this "Mad Men" favorite as a hotel manager on Showtime’s pot-ty sitcom “Weeds.” He’s also currently appearing in TNT’s “Dark Blue” and Fox’s “Lie To Me.” And he was in episodes of many more great series that are big favorites in our house: “Pushing Daisies,” “Burn Notice,” “Star Trek Enterprise” and even “The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.” with Bruce Campbell. Patrick is married to a beautiful rising actress, Lauren Bowles, who joined HBO’s “True Blood” this season as a waitress and was a guest on this show just a few weeks ago. They’re also new parents. Speaking of family, he even did an early episode of his sister-in-law Julia-Louis-Dreyfus’s sitcom, “The New Adventures of Old Christine.” And Fischler is more than just an increasingly familiar face on TV. His film career extends from Mulholland Drive to this summer’s hit Steve Carrell comedy Dinner for Schmucks. In fact, he’s just back from Pittsburgh where he shot One for the Money with Katherine Heigl. Also in the can is Miss Nobody and a role in the Ayn Rand film adaptation of Atlas Shrugged. Patrick Fischler • • • • •
Today's Guest: Nick Tremulis, musician, Candy Golde Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of true rock ‘n’ roll fans who have Paul Simon in permanent rotation alongside Richard Hell and the Voidoids … in the new new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'Candy Golde' CD by clicking on the album cover above! Candy Golde had me at “Bun E. Carlos.” If this band is intriguing enough for the drummer of Cheap Trick to take a flyer on, who am I not to be curious? The band, which includes John Stirratt of Wilco, Rick Rizzo of Eleventh Dream Day and my guest, Nick Tremulis, made its debut at South By Southwest in Austin this past March. Its self-titled debut EP, Candy Golde, is now available for download on iTunes and Amazon. NICK TREMULIS podcast excerpt: "I called up Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick) and John Stirratt (Wilco) and said, 'Here's some songs; want to form a band?' And they said yes." Its not uncommon for a new band to pick an old song to cover and make its own. Candy Golde went with a curious choice, Paul Simon’s infectious “Boy in the Bubble.” I’m very curious to know the thought process behind that! Candy Golde • • • •
Today's Guest: Sam Haskell, CEO, Miss America Pageant, author, Promises I Made My Mother Promises I Made My Mother by Sam Haskell with David Rensin, Mr. Media Interviews. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above! (UPDATE: Sam Haskell was suspended and subsequently resigned as CEO of the Miss America Organization on December 23, 2017, following the release of emails in which he and other leaders of the organization allegedly criticized past winners in coarse terms. This interview was posted June 2, 2009. -- Bob Andelman) Over the course of my youth I made a lot of promises to my mother. Yes, mom, I promise I’ll bathe every day. And no, I won’t tell dad how the car door got that dent in it. Okay, I promise Ira will never know he’s adopted. Oops. But Sam Haskell took this whole thing a lot more seriously. He built a life and career on character and righteousness. That’s one thing if you’re a Scoutmaster, but he made it work in Hollywood as the long-time head of television for the William Morris Agency. And now he’s applying those same principles to the Miss America pageant. Haskell is the author of a new book, Promises I Made My Mother, co-authored by David Rensin, which takes those very same promises and wraps them around his personal life and career. If you’re not in show business, you can be forgiven for not knowing Haskell’s name. But you’ll probably recognize the client of his who wrote the introduction: Ray Romano, star of the hit sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond.”
Today's Guest: Kathryn Joosten, actress, "Desperate Housewives" Kathryn Joosten, Desperate Housewives star Order 'Desperate Housewives: The Complete Collection Deluxe Edition,' available from Amazon.com by clicking on the collection above! (UPDATE: Kathryn Joosten died of lung cancer on June 2, 2012.) I don’t know about you, but I’ve enjoyed a lifetime of lovable old lady neighbors who mixed sweetness and wisdom with a bit of a screw loose. Growing up, it was Mrs. Snyder, whose lawn I mowed and had to meticulously dethatch every week because she couldn’t stand to have a blade of old, dead grass in it. When I reached high school, imagine my surprise to discover she would be my guidance counselor and have live-or-death influence over whether I made it into a good college or a bad college. When I became a homeowner, the seller warned my wife and I about the old, old lady across the street. He said she watched everyone on the block from her living room window and wouldn’t hesitate to call the police if we stepped even slightly out of line. Fortunately, her daughter and caretaker, Mrs. Logan—then 65—was nothing like her mother and became a trusted friend. KATHRYN JOOSTEN podcast excerpt: "I had a bed scene with my supposed husband, Roy. Typical marriage: he's sleeping and I'm looking at him. They wanted me to wear a flannel nightie. I said, 'Why would we do that? If we just got it on, I wouldn't be in a nightie!" But what would you make of discovering Mrs. McClusky as your Wisteria Lane next-door neighbor? As played by two-time Emmy Award-winning actress Kathryn Joosten on the long-running ABC dramedy, “Desperate Housewives,” she might be your best friend, babysitter, confident or worst nightmare. Sometimes she's all of those at the same time. In this hysterical interview, she talks about "Desperate Housewives," switching careers late in life and also shares her thoughts on Academy Award winning actress Helen Mirren's ta-tas. Really. Kathryn Joosten •
Today's Guest: Jeff Herman, literary agent, author, Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, and Literary Agents: Who They Are! What They Want! How to Win Them Over! Order 'Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, and Literary Agents 2012, 22E: Who They Are! What They Want! How to Win Them Over! by clicking book cover above! This is a tough time to be a writer, whether you’re on the staff of a newspaper or magazine or an independent like myself. Layoffs and budgets cuts are impacting virtually everyone I know; there are no sure things in the writing game these days. But two things are unchanged: people are actually reading more than ever and everybody still thinks their life story would either make a great book or they’re capable of writing The Next Great American Novel. JEFF HERMAN podcast excerpt: "Most agents are looking for tomorrow's clients. Part of the thrill for me as an agent is looking for tomorrow's clients." \ Order 'Write the Perfect Book Proposal: 10 That Sold and Why, 2nd Edition' by clicking the book cover above! Make that three things: One of the best resources for the established or wannabe book author is still keeping a copy of Jeff Herman’s Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents on your desk. The 2012 edition is hot off the press. I have recommended Herman’s book to authors in much the same way I recommend the Writer’s Market from Writer’s Digest to freelance writers interested in exploring article writing. Both are invaluable desktop references, one best for books, one for articles. As for Herman, this isn’t even his day job—he makes the bulk of his living from representing writers as a literary agent. Jeff Herman • •
Today's Guest: Eila Mell, author, New York Fashion Week. Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of women who were pumped up by today’s topic only to be deflated when they discovered the show is still hosted by me… in the NEW new media–and FASHION–capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'New York Fashion Week' by Eila Mell, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! No one is less qualified to host a show about fashion of any kind than me. I’m still wearing T-shirts that were cool in 1984. My idea of appropriate apparel for a Saturday night on the town is a pair of Levis and a well-worn polo shirt—preferably one with a University of Florida Gator, not the Lacoste brand. EILA MELL podcast excerpt: "In the age of social media, fashion has become very fast... Fashion is much more open to everyone now. And it wasn't like that in the beginning." If I have to wear a tie, it likely features a cartoon character created in the 1930s. As for socks, I prefer white—even after Labor Day. But I understood there is a compelling mystique and magic surrounding New York’s annual Fashion Week event, which runs this year from September 8-15. Besides drawing the latest fashions and top designers from the world over, it also attracts tons of media and celebrities, making it an event that appeals to me on a certain level. And since I am LLMM—you know, Ladies Love Mr. Media—I must fulfill the needs of my audience. All that, and I’ve seen episodes of “Ugly Betty” and “Sex and the City” that were filmed on location at Fashion Week over the years. Eila Mell’s new book, New York Fashion Week: The Designers, The Models, The Fashions of the Bryant Park Era, does a brilliant job of capturing the atmosphere and changing styles and faces of the event since it was centralized in 1994 at one location. She breaks down each year in easy to digest buckets, include the overriding fashion theme, the trends, a snapshot of the scene, its fresh faces and celebrity attendee photographs. I thought it would be interesting to talk with her and see if she could put the event in perspective for me. Eila Mell • • • • Order 'Project Runway: The Show That Changed Fashion' by Eila Mell, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above!
Today's Guest: Kyle Bornheimer, actor, "Casual," "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," "Breaking Bad," "Better Call Saul," "Agent Carter," "Love," "Worst Week" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of fans of “Worst Week,” “Perfect Couples,” “Romantically Challenged,” “Lovin’ Lakin,” “Family Tools,” “Playing House,” and “Angel From Hell”… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! On this show, all roads lead back to comedic actor Kyle Bornheimer. Part of that, I admit, is that I often want to be the character he plays on TV, from the lovable bumbler way back on “Worst Week” and the sex addict on the Hulu series “Casual,” to being a rogue secret agent getting manhandled by Hayley Atwell on “Marvel’s Agent Carter.” (Less so the gay men he played a month ago on two completely different sitcoms, “Modern Family” and the revival of “Will & Grace.” Not that there is anything wrong with that.) He is also joining the cast of "Love," the Netflix sitcom produced by Judd Apatow and starring Gillian Jacobs and Paul Rust; he'll play Rust's older brother. KYLE BORNHEIMER podcast excerpt: "When I met Alyssa Milano, she was already one of the smartest people I ever met (in Hollywood) in terms of her enlightened views on social and political matters, and the industry we're in. She's a pretty stellar human being. What she's been able to communicate through social media is something a lot of people are feeling right now. And I'm glad she's saying it. There is a culture in our industry -- and a lot of industries -- that has to change, of rich, powerful men that think they're entitled to something." In real life, I became connected via social media with members of Bornheimer’s actual family, with whom I share some political views, above and beyond our love of all things Kyle. This is Kyle’s third appearance on Mr. Media, but first via video. In addition to talking about his latest projects, I hope to talk to him about some broader topics, including his women co-stars such as Alyssa Milano (#MeToo) and his family. Might even have a surprise or two. (POSTSCRIPT: I talked to Kyle about Kevin James and Erinn Hayes, but it completely got past me that Leah Remini played Kyle’s aunt in “Family Tools.” Starting to think the next Hollywood game will be #SixDegreesofKyleBornheimer.) Kyle Bornheimer • • •
Today's Guest: Dave Brubeck, jazz legend (NOTE -- I had the good fortune to interview jazz legend Dave Brubeck on August 24, 1984. Unfortunately, it was largely a wasted opportunity in that I knew little about jazz at the time and even less about Dave Brubeck, as you'll gather from my initial question. But, for the 97th anniversary of his birth, December 6, 1920, I'm holding my head up and sharing it anyway. -- Bob Andelman) I hear you’re mad about Brubeck, like your eyes, I like him, too. - from New Frontiers by Donald Fagen When the current executives at Fantasy Records decided the time was ripe to re-release their entire catalog of early Dave Brubeck recordings, they found a surprise in their vaults. “The first 10 or 12 LPs on Fantasy Records are all me because I started the company,” Brubeck recalled recently. “The young guys that I would talk to hardly knew. They were really amazed when they found the first recordings which started the company (of) my trio, the octet or the quartet.” The famed jazz pianist, now 64, said in a telephone interview that he lost the company over”contract interpretation” and moved on to Columbia. He said he was amazed to see how Fantasy had matured from a “one room hole in-the-wall” 34years ago into a multimillion-dollar business. DAVE BRUBECK interview excerpt: "I think Paul Desmond came in my direction and I went in his direction. We influenced each other." BRUBECK, WHOSE style defines modern jazz for many people, is best known for his recordings of “Take Five” and “Blue Rondo a la Turk” and his collaborations with saxophonist Paul Desmond. Brubeck will be the featured performer on the third night of Jazz Holiday, Saturday at 8 p.m. in Coachman Park. Brubeck had no reason to linger over what could have been with Fantasy. He went on to record more than 50 records for Columbia and additional albums for Decca, Atlantic and his current label, Concord. He was at Columbia for 17 years, producing three to four albums a year. “You know, when I look back on it, I can’t believe how much I’ve turned out and was able to maintain a pretty good standard. Almost everything I recorded was things I wanted to record. If you look at it, there was almost 100LPs. I think they’re all pretty even.” Brubeck’s greatest musical moments are generally considered to be during the more than three decades he worked with Desmond. “I was in the infantry in world War II trying to get into a band,” the pianist recalled, “stationed in places like Barstow, Death Valley, (both in California) out in the desert. I was in a band that was broken up because they wanted to get more men for D-Day. (One day) they sent me to a day room and sent some of the guys to jam. Paul Desmond was one of the guys. It was the first time we met.” IT TOOK Desmond a while to figure out what Brubeck was doing when they began playing together regularly, but . he learned to accept the unique harmonic and rhythmic devices with which Brubeck had been experimenting. The two developed a strong rapport melodically and playing counterpoint in what Brubeck called “Bach-like themes.” “I think he came in my direction and I went in his direction. We influenced each other,” Brubeck said. Desmond, who died in 1977, was primarily responsible for the Brubeck Quartet’s biggest success ever, “Take Five.” Released in 1954, it was the biggest jazz hit up until that time. (“Blue Rondo a Ia Turk” was the first jazz instrumental to sell a million copies, six years later.) Its success landed Brubeck on the cover of Time magazine. He explained in retrospect, “I wanted the guys in the group to contribute whatever they could. Paul came up with two themes he thought were unrelated. At rehearsal, we put. them together and got ‘Take Five’ out of it. The rhythm was Joe’s (Morello)idea. It kind of happened at rehearsal but we gave Paul the credit. “EVERYTHING ABOUT the album was a breakthrough, from the cover to having no tunes in 4/4 (time). They had a policy against all originals on one album. We used a painting for the cover, which was unheard of.” Brubeck defended his longtime preference for odd time signatures (“Take Five” was 5/4 and “Blue Rondo a la Turk” was 9/8). Time signatures are a technical way of describing the number of beats before the downbeat comes around again. Normal jazz time is four beats per measure (4/4), waltz time is three beats per measure (3/4) and march music is two beats per measure (2/4). Brubeck said that it is an incorrect approach for music to always sound “like 8 European march, when you’ve got Africa’s part of the heritage. “My natural way of playing when I. was young was to do things that weren’t exactly 4/4.... I believed in playing in other time signatures and polyrhythms – which is very African - and I was aware of it before anyone I knew in jazz. “I listened to a recording called The Dennis Roosevelt Expeditions In to the Belgian Congo, which I discovered years later (Gene) Krupa had listened to, too. When I heard that, I knew there’s a whole world here that the jazz musician isn’t using and it’s natural to jazz, if we’d use it.” AS A pianist, Brubeck is known for his playing of block chords, that is, playing as many keys at a time as possible. The style is identified with him in the same way George Shearing is known for popularizing the locked hands manner. Brubeck says that Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and Keith Jarrett are among the younger jazz keyboard players he likes. He scoffed at accusations directed against them for “selling out” pure jazz for commercial success. “If you have somebody with that much talent that’s working, you’re only doing jazz a world of good. If anybody thinks they can outplay Chick or Herbie or Keith, they’ve got another thing coming. You don’t want to meet those guys thinking you’re gonna outplay them.” From trio to octet to the famous quartet, Brubeck’s bands have changed in both size and lineup many times. For the past six years, Randy Jones has been his steady drummer; Jerry Bergonzi has been playing the clarinet for almost eight years. Chris Brubeck is the only Brubeck offspring to remain in his father’s band. After nearly a decade, he still handles bass and trombone parts. Three other sons have come and gone over the years. After more than 40 years as a jazz pianist, Brubeck is a firm believer in the music’s ability to keep him young at heart. “There’s something that happens when you’re totally beat. You hit that stage and feel you don’t have any energy - What am I going to do? You get out there and when the concert is over you could fly to the moon. “Something happens. I’ve seen it happen over and over again where I’ll play with guys.... I know their history. They might have had a couple of heart attacks and feel pretty bad before they hit that stage. They’ll get out there and you wouldn’t know they were sick a day in their life. They’ll come off feeling great. It must be something that’s very good for you.” Dave Brubeck • • • • •
Today's Guest: Emii, singer Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of unbathed Comic-Con fanboys who live in Mom’s basement and for whom redheaded Emii is both a dream come true and their worst nightmare… in the NEW new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! If you wanna be in the pop music industry, you’ve gotta have an original hook. For some, it’s musical: the late Amy Winehouse had a once-in-a-generation voice, for example. For others, it’s visual: Kiss will never get much respect for its music, but oh, those costumes and special effects! EMII audio excerpt: "This gorgeous girl named Rose in the comic book store helped me buy my first pair of stilettos. That was an important turning point in my existence. Previous to that I had never known that stilettos could be comfortable. Now I can run in 'em, jump in 'em, kick in 'em, perform in 'em -- I've learned. I mean, look at Beyonce! The amount she's dancing on stage -- she's wearing 5- or 6-inch heels; she can't afford to break an ankle." And then there are those with a great backstory that combines elements of the first two. That might be the beautiful young singer Emii, whose wild new pop fantasy video, “Mr. Romeo,” features Snoop Dogg. Her mythology includes working in a comic book store by day and fronting a metal band by night. She’s a Jim Lee-drawn heroine come to life! Don't miss Emii singing "Mr. Romeo" a capella during this interview's exclusive live performance! Emii • • • • •
Today's Guest: Ryan Barton-Grimley, co-writer, director, co-star, "Elijah's Ashes" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of men who can say whatever they like about their brothers and step-brothers – but you can’t… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! If you only see one madcap road comedy about step-brothers this year – and you’ve already seen the one Will Farrell made a decade ago with John C. Reilly – check out Elijah’s Ashes, starring Ari Schneider and my guest today, Ryan Barton-Grimley. Elijah’s Ashes has everything you could ask for in an indie comedy, including: • A possible suicidal dad • A straight brother and a gay brother who hate each other • The straight brother having gay sex • The gay brother nearly having straight sex • A possible act of necrophilia • And a prison short bus. RYAN BARTON-GRIMLEY podcast excerpt: "In order to frame all of the stuff that my character, Kevin, was doing -- so it didn't just seem this diatribe of stupidity and homophobia -- the audience needed to know this was meant to be absurd. The guy is an idiot!" What else could you want? Barton-Grimley, who wrote and directed Elijah’s Ashes in addition to co-starring as the straight, obnoxious, homophobic brother, has put together a funny, un-PC movie that won’t be everyone’s cup of green tea, but I sure liked it. This is Barton-Grimley’s second visit to Mr. Media; the first was to talk about his first film, the home invasion thriller, The Truth, which starred John Heard, Brendan Sexton III, and Daniel Baldwin. Ryan Barton-Grimley • • • • • • • •
Today's Guest: Joseph Mallozzi, co-creator, showrunner, "Dark Matter" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of science fiction TV fans who trace their dissatisfaction with the Syfy network’s lack of long-term support for its shows back at least as far as “Farscape,” “Eureka,” “Alphas,” and “Warehouse 13”… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! #RockTheRaza didn’t do it. Neither did my favorite, #BoobsAndBlasters. The truth is, after weeks of intense blink-drive driven campaigning by Raza-loving science fiction TV fans and the show’s devoted cast and showrunner, nothing – at this moment – seems likely to bring “Dark Matter,” the best sci-fi show on TV, back for a fourth season. My wife and I first discovered the show, which initially viewed like a delightful amalgam of “Star Trek,” Star Wars and everything else we’d ever seen in space, in its first season. But while the tropes were familiar, the premise of six strangers waking up from amnesia about a starship was anything but retread. JOSEPH MALLOZZI podcast excerpt: "It was not the plan that 1 would disappear from the show. But a strong 'request' was made to shake things up by killing him in a shocking manner. It was something that I did not necessarily agree with but I was not in a position to fight. The Derrick Moss story was left unresolved -- it was something I wanted to go back to. In season three, I had a story in mind to wrap that up, but Marc Bendavid was unavailable... If we had done a fourth season I would have taken another run at the Jace Corso/Derrick Moss storyline." From the characters’ names – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, so-named based on the order in which they awakened – “Dark Matter” was fresh and exciting every week for three years. The series starred Melissa O’Neil, Anthony Lemke, Alex Mallari Jr. and Jodelle Ferland with Roger Cross and Zoie Palmer as “Android.” It was executive produced by Jay Firestone, Mallozzi and Mullie. Joining me today is Joe Mallozzi, co-creator with Paul Mullie of the graphic novel on which “Dark Matter” is based. He helped fans and the cast of the Raza, the home ship of the show, to mount a major effort to convince Netflix to produce a fourth season. Dark Matter • • • • • • • • • Joseph Mallozzi • • • • • •
Today's Guest: Rick Calvert, Tim Bourquin, co-founders, BlogWorld/New Media Expo I love a good tradeshow. There’s something about all the people with common interests, gathered together in one location, eating overpriced, stale concessions while trading information and experiences, attending educational seminars, gossiping about their industry… That’s why I’m hoping that come October 2009, I’ll be one of the thousands in Las Vegas attending BlogWorld & New Media Expo. This year’s show is extra special because it represents the merging of two previous separate shows, Rick Calvert’s BlogWorld Expo and Tim Bourquin’s New Media Expo. Joining me today are Rick and Tim, who I hope will tell us about the decision to bring their competing shows under one tent, as well as discuss the state of blogging and new media. New Media Expo •
Today's Guest: Aimee Garcia, actress, "Trauma," "The George Lopez Show," "Dexter," "Lucifer" Whoever cast the new NBC show —airing Monday nights at 9 p.m.—must have done some market research when it came to Aimee Garcia, at least based on what I learned about her within my own household. Besides being a beautiful, talented young actress, she is immediately recognizable among several constituencies. My 13-year-old son knows her from watching endless repeats of “The George Lopez Show” this summer, where Aimee played “Veronica,” Lopez’s “spoiled brat niece”—my daughter’s description. So she can apparently draw young people. AIMEE GARCIA podcast excerpt: "It's more physical. I am physically sprinting down the Embarcadero. And I am inside a helicopter that is held by a crane, four stories high. There was not that kind of risk on 'The George Lopez Show'!" And the Lopez show also brought her to the attention of Latin audiences as well; she was nominated for numerous acting awards as a result of that show. Now she plays badass helicopter pilot Marissa Benez on “Trauma.” Aimee Garcia • • • •
Today's Guest: Jonathan Rosenberg, creator of the digital comic strip "Goats." Jon Rosenberg, you had me at the gray-skinned alien who said, “On our planet, people worship pancakes.” That’s the point—it was page three, I believe—that I realized that was spinning out of control and I loved it. This first print collection of online and digital cartoonist Rosenberg’s whack-a-doodle webcomic—maybe whack-a-mole would be more appropriate if he’d write a mole into the story—was my kind of strip. It’s got aliens, a chicken named Diablo, monkeys as assistant editors, bikers, alternate universes, good Hitler, a character coincidentally named Jon, and yes, even a goat. Even better, it includes a stop at my exit of the New Jersey Turnpike—#9, for those who don’t know—and who isn’t excited about that? Jonathan Rosenberg • • • •
Today's Guest: Scott Adsit, star of NBC's "30 Rock." Am I the only one who, when "TGS" producer Pete Hornbergerwalks into and out of a scene on “30 Rock,” thinks of Johnny, the airport control worker in the Airplane! movies? That character, played by Stephen Stucker, stole many a scene Lloyd Bridges was in much the same way that Scott Adsit, who plays Pete, can tear away a moment from any character on the show with a sincerely played line of utter lunacy. SCOTT ADSIT podcast excerpt: "Occasionally I'll be walking around by the food table and I'll hear this beautiful woman's voice singing some '70s power ballad. I'll look up and it will be Tracy Morgan. He has the most beautiful voice and he loves to share it. That keeps my bobber bopping." Adsit looks like he would be the normal guy on a set of full-on nutjobs, but he’s clearly one of them. “30 Rock,” which airs Thursdays at 8:30 p.m., is now in its fifth season of socking NBC and network television in general in the jaw. It maintains a consistently high standard for both gentle and fall-down-laughing humor. It is also one of the best sitcoms on the air—now or ever—and every year, it brings home the awards to prove it. Joining me today to talk about season five is Scott Adsit, making his second visit to our little show.
Today's Guest: Terry Tomalin, author, Everyday Adventures, outdoors editor, Tampa Bay Times Mr. Media is recorded live before a retail audience of people who kayak, canoe, scuba dive, paddleboard, zipline, bike and camp for fun, not profit… in the new new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Adventure? I’ve had adventures. There was that time in the hot air balloon in Brandon, Florida, for starters and, uh… Well, I guess that was about it. Oh, I’ve canoed, kayaked and fished – I do live in Florida, fer cryin’ out loud – but that’s the extent of my adventures on the edge of the great outdoors. My old friend Terry Tomalin, however, has made a virtual cottage industry of looking for family-style fun above and below the Sunshine State’s surface. As Outdoors Editor for the Tampa Bay Times, he’s enjoyed a license to thrill for many, many years. TERRY TOMALIN podcast excerpt: "Paddling in a kayak is a great way to get around, see Florida and carry a lot of gear around with you." Now Terry has taken his tales to the next step with the publication of his first book, Everyday Adventures: A Florida Outdoors Guide. To showcase Terry and his stories, I thought it would be fun to do today’s interview from Tampa Bay’s legendary epicenter of outdoors supplies, Bill Jackson’s Shop for Adventure in Pinellas Park, Florida. It’s not just a store, it’s a destination, with an indoor pool for scuba and kayak instruction, an indoor ski deck and even a shooting range. Terry Tomalin • • • Remembering Terry Tomalin • Bill Jackson's Shop for Adventure •
Today's Guest: Scott Krinsky, actor, "Chuck" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of carbon monoxide-fueled psychopaths who probably won’t go on living after the last new episode of “Chuck” airs… in the NEW new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! If you don’t think most TV shows are very good at character development and growth these days, I’d encourage you to take a look at NBC’s “Chuck” as it winds down its five year run with two final episodes, tonight, Friday, January 13 at 8 p.m. and next week, January 20. For a show that has lived under threat of cancellation almost from day one, “Chuck” has nonetheless evolved its overall storyline and the lives of each of its players. Chuck Bartowski, for example, is no longer an accidental spy with a supercomputer in his brain; he’s the real thing, doing the job without high tech enhancements. SCOTT KRINSKY podcast excerpt: "It was nice to, after all these years of playing Jeff one way, it was nice to see him have a little growth and maturity. He was at the Buy More for 20 years! It was nice to see he had some potential to turn his life around." And what about second banana Jeff Barnes? After years of being drug-addled, sex-crazed and just plain creepy, we learned that his best friend Lester Patel made him this way by pumping carbon monoxide fumes into his van! Turns out Jeff is a somewhat regular guy – with pretty good powers of deduction. Last week, after five years, he put together a series of clues and deduced that there was a spy ring operating beneath the Buy More. Imagine that! My suspicion is that restoring Jeff to normality was the show’s producers handing actor Scott Krinsky a parting gift. They had to know it might tough for him landing future roles with such a convincing portrayal of a loser and, I believe, gave his character back some semblence of normalcy to let future casting directors see Krinsky in a more employable light. But rather than guess, I’ll ask him. (By the way, this is Scott’s second appearance on Mr. Media. He was last here promoting his appearance as guest host at the Acme Comedy Theater.) Scott Krinsky • • •
Today's Guest: Ruben Santiago-Hudson, actor, "Castle" One of the delightful surprises of last spring’s crop of replacement TV shows was a quiet little romantic comedy called “Castle” on ABC. It stars Nathan Fillion as Richard Castle, a police procedural novelist who gets permission to hang around with an NYPD homicide detective, Kate Beckett, played by the beautiful Stana Katic. The show, which may remind viewers of a certain generation—mine—of “Moonlighting” and younger viewers, perhaps, of “Bones,” airs Mondays at 10 p.m. (And it was recently renewed for a full second season.) Also in the cast are a number of strong supporting character actors, including Susan Sullivan, Debi Mazar and my guest today, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, who plays Beckett’s boss, Captain Roy Montgomery. RUBEN SANTIAGO-HUDSON podcast excerpt: "Halle is gorgeous with her makeup, without her makeup. I've had breakfast with her;I've had dinner with her. She was as gorgeous in the morning as she was when she gets out of makeup...It is rare to find someone that kind and that beautiful. Vanity is something; she does not have it." Santiago-Hudson brings some heft to what could be a walk-by role in someone else’s hands. A Tony and Obie winning actor, writer and director, Ruben Santiago-Hudson made his debut as a screenwriter with Lackawanna Blues, for which he received the Humanitas Prize, a Christopher Award, National Board of Review Honors, an NAACP Award and Emmy, Golden Globe and a WGA nomination. I don’t usually like to just read credits, but this guy’s got some outstanding ones: on film, Santiago-Hudson starred opposite Halle Berry in Their Eyes Were Watching God; Denzel Washington and Russell Crow in American Gangster; Demi Moore and Kevin Costner in Mr. Brooks; Samuel L. Jackson in Shaft; Al Pacino in Devil's Advocate; and John Travolta in Domestic Disturbance. He’s also got a cameo in the new Ricky Gervais film, The Invention of Lying. Ruben Santiago-Hudson •
Today's Guest: Rib Hillis, actor, model Seriously, have you ever seen a prettier man than this guy, Rib Hillis? When I see him, I feel like I’m not holding up my end on the manliness scale. In point of fact, if he’s a man, I’m not sure what I am any more. God, this is depressing. And the guy—who’s been a top male model for 18 years!—is also an actor. But he made his big move into America’s conscious as a TV carpenter on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” before landing his own outpost as “Carpenter Rib” on A&E’s Saturday morning home improvement show, “$100.00 Makeover.” Rib Hillis. How I hate him. RIB HILLIS podcast excerpt: "I went to a modeling agency with my brother, who wanted to model; they said, 'What about you?' They faxed my picture to Milan and they said, 'Ciao, Rib! You send him over. We love him! He's fantastic!'" You might actually recognize Rib Hillis from a lot of places, from the soap opera "Port Charles" to the sitcom “Two and a Half Men,” in which he played one of Charlie Sheen’s mother’s playthings. But the one that rang true with the women in my family was when he played a masseuse in an episode of ABC’s “Ugly Betty." Rib Hillis • • •
Today's Guest: John Darnton, ex-New York Times reporter, novelist, Black and White and Dead All Over The great pleasure of being a novelist is that you can praise your friends and carve up your enemies by changing a few names and details to protect the innocent and fend off the guilty and, at the same time, take advantage of First Amendment protections. At least that was my thinking as I laughed my way through John Darnton’s fifth work of fiction, Black & White and Dead All Over. This roman à clef comes to us in the same twisted spirit as the 1996 sensation, Primary Colors by “Anonymous,” who was later revealed to be Newsweek columnist Joe Klein. Darnton is a 42-year New York Times veteran reporter, editor and foreign correspondent who was awarded two George Polk Awards for his coverage of Africa and Eastern Europe, and the Pulitzer Prize for his stories that were smuggled out of Poland during the period of martial law. Darnton retired from the Times in 2005 and began teaching journalism at SUNY/New Paltz. In 2009, he became curator of the Polk Awards. And I’m guessing fewer co-workers at the old Grey Lady are on speaking terms with him, thanks to Black & White. John Darnton • •
Today's Guest: Joshua Gomez, actor, "Chuck" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of Best Buy Geek Squaders who’d trade their employee discounts for 10 minutes of Morgan Grimes’ new life as the Intersect… in the NEW new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Find me a TV character who has a better run than Morgan Grimes on NBC’s “Chuck.” Seriously. When we met him five years ago, the role played by Joshua Gomez was that of typical sitcom sidekick. He got in a few zingers, helped along the exposition and occasionally carried a good ‘B’ story. JOSH GOMEZ podcast excerpt: "I would sit down with Chris Fedak and just talk about the character. You find these moments. A writer would say, 'I like what Josh is doing with this. Let's try that.' I'm not sure they exactly knew what to do with Morgan early on." Since then, he’s become a bit of a lady’s man, a secret agent like his pal Chuck, matched up well opposite Colonel John Casey, played by Adam Baldwin, and, at the end of season four, even found the CIA Intersect downloaded into his own brain, not Chuck’s. Not bad. Best of all, I’ll wager that the change in fortunes for fictional Morgan Grimes has had a similar, real life impact on the career of actor Joshua Gomez. Gomez took a one-note best friend who only had the annual San Diego Comic-Con to look forward to in life and turned him into a lovable, respectable man of the world. “Chuck” returns to NBC tonight, October 28, for its fifth and final season on a new night, Fridays, at 8 p.m. My family and I can’t wait. Josh Gomez •
Today's Guest: Josh Gomez, actor, "Chuck" Last night, my wife, daughter and I watched the latest episode of NBC’s “Chuck” – thank you, on-demand programming — and when it was over, we had a pretty interesting conversation about the evolution of Joshua Gomez’s character, Morgan Grimes. No, seriously—that’s what we talked about. It was the first time, for example, that we took note of Gomez being listed third in the opening credits—right after Zachary Levi, who plays Chuck, and Yvonne Strahovski, who plays his love interest, Sarah. JOSHUA GOMEZ podcast excerpt: "I went to dinner with one of the show's co-creators, Josh Fedak, at the end of season two, and I pitched this idea about Morgan being Alfred to Chuck's Batman. He loved that and it took place in season three when Morgan learned Chuck's secret. It's been a blast." During the episode itself, you couldn’t help but be impressed by the continuing evolution of Morgan, who began the series more than three years ago as Chuck Bartowski’s Comic-Con loving best friend forever. Morgan, while not a loser, seemed doomed to be a Buy More drone for life. The first sign of the character’s independence was when he fell in love with an exotic co-worker, Anna. But the real turning point was when he discovered Chuck was a super-powered spy—and it turned out that Morgan himself had some usable skills in that department, too. More recently, as Chuck and Sarah have become a real team, both professionally and personally, Morgan and Colonel John Casey — of all people! — have formed one of TV’s oddest couples. Their once singular commonality — a devotion to Chuck — blossomed as Morgan fell in love with Casey’s daughter and was promoted to manager of the Buy More store—now owned and operated, officially, by the CIA. If “Chuck” were to end tomorrow, actor Joshua Gomez would have to thank his lucky stars that the producers and writers saw him as something more than where he started on the show and turned Morgan into a fully realized character. That’s going to pay off for him in the post-"Chuck" years. Which, I might add, won’t be too soon; NBC just picked the show up for the rest of the season. Josh Gomez
Today's Guest: Esther K. Choy, author, Let the Story Do the Work: The Art of Storytelling for Business Success, founder, Leadership Story Lab Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience full of entrepreneurs who can add all kind of details to their origin story and it still won’t convince you to buy what they’re selling … in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! About a year ago, I heard a talk by Lea Thau, the Peabody Award winning producer and creator of “The Moth Radio Hour.” She offered her entrepreneurial audience tips on how to make their business pitches more into enticing tales and less about asking directly for cash. “The fundamental principles that govern a good story,” she said, “whether you’re in a boardroom, pitching something, giving a toast at a wedding, or telling a story on ‘The Moth’ stage, are the same.” ESTHER CHOY podcast excerpt: "We are afraid to share our stories, when our story is the very thing other people crave." I was reminded of her insight while reading a compelling new book by Esther K. Choy titled Let the Story Do the Work: The Art of Storytelling for Business Success. In her own way, Choy independently applied the kind of storytelling suggestions I found so useful in Thau’s presentation and put them in an easy-to-access book form for business leaders. She breaks it all down, step-by-step, and even diagrams her methods. If you make any kind of presentations at work, I think you can learn something from Choy and her book. Esther K. Choy • • • • • •
Today's Guest: Janina Gavankar, actress, "The L Word," "True Blood," "Star Wars Battlefront II" I honestly had no idea how popular actress Janina Gavankar was the first time she appeared on Mr. Media Radio, but the star of Showtime’s long-running “The L Word” caused quite a buzz. That show is still one of the most popular in our archives. So when the opportunity to have the stunningly beautiful actress return to the show and catch us up on her career, of course, I said “Yes.” Since the end of “The L Word”—and “L” referred to lesbian, of which Janina is not, but she played one on TV—she’s made a lot of high-profile TV guest appearances, including “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Dollhouse,” “The Cleaner” and “The League.” She’s also shot parts in several upcoming movies, including Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey. Never heard of it? I suspect you will; it’s an animated film featuring the voices of both Captain Kirks (Chris Pine and William Shatner), as well as Darth Vader (James Earl Jones), Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christiansen), Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), plus SpongeBob Squarepants (Tom Kenny), Seinfeld’s George (Jason Alexander), and Janina, of course. There’s no doubt that Janina’s enjoying that Mr. Media Radio bump, right? Let’s see what we can do for her today. JANINA GAVANKAR podcast excerpt: "Anyone who knows me knows that I am pretty big geek, so I was pretty excited to be a guest at Comic-Con to promote Quantum Quest. It was the coolest experience any geekgirl could have." Janina Gavankar Website • • • • • •
Today's Guest: Richie Unterberger, author, Bob Marley and the Wailers: The Ultimate Illustrated History Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of Kingston, Jamaica townies ready to pounce at the first slip of a Rastafarian accent from an overly enthusiastic white boy … in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! I must admit that my knowledge of Bob Marley and The Wailers history is pretty limited. The Jamaican-born singer and his band rose to prominence while I was in a too-damn-white-for-our-own-good high school, and he died suddenly while I was in college, before my five-year run as a rock music critic in the mid-1980s. RICHIE UNTERBERGER podcast excerpt: "A lot of people don't realize that Bob Marley and a lot of other reggae performers, (such as) Jimmy Cliff and Toots and the Maytals, started with ska music. When they started making records, reggae was not a term. The term has only been applied since the early 1970s. Ska is much faster in tempo, and in rhythm, than reggae. As the music slowed sown, maybe it was a coincidence, but the subject matter became more serious." I knew his hits – “I Shot The Sheriff, “No Woman No Cry,” “Buffalo Soldier,” “Get Up, Stand Up,” “One Love/People Get Ready” and “Jamming” – most of which have since been co-opted by Madison Avenue for commercials. That said, it made me quite eager to learn more about what I didn’t know, which, thanks to author Richie Unterberger and his new book, Bob Marley and The Wailers: The Ultimate Illustrated History, is quite a lot. The book is packed with the requisite and little-known history of Marley and The Wailers, their discography, reviews of each Marley album, and the best part – for me at least – the ancedotes. Like Eric Clapton telling the story of the first time he spoke with Bob Marley, after the Brit covered “I Shot the Sheriff.” Or what happened to early Wailers record producer Leslie Kong. Richie Unterberger • • • • • • Bob Marley and the Wailers • • • • • • • • • • •
Today's Guest: Ramona Singer, reality TV star, "The Real Housewives of New York City" Ramona Singer, The Real Housewives of New York City, Bravo Order 'Real Housewives of New York City' (Season 4), available right now at a great price by clicking on the book cover above! Here’s what I know about jewelry: my wife likes it; my daughter likes it and I frequently pay through the nose for it. That said, why am I welcoming Housewives Ramona Singer back to the show to promote her latest line of jewelry on St. Petersburg-based Home Shopping Network? It ain’t because I can talk intelligibly about baubles and beads, that’s for sure. RAMONA SINGER podcast excerpt: "Listening to that clip (of me and Jill Zarin fighting) 'Real Housewives' doesn't sound like fun. But overall, I do have fun doing it and it's allowed me to springboard to doing my jewelry, which I do love." Nope, it’s because the first time Ramona was on the show and we talked about her show, “Real Housewives of New York City,” I really enjoyed her company. So if it means talking about jewelry and promoting an international media company headquartered locally — Hello, Kathy Wolf! — why not? Ramona Singer will be on HSN on Tuesday, September 20th from 3-5am ET and again from 3-5pm ET to showcase new additions to her jewelry collection. If you watch and call in to order, don’t be afraid to tell her you heard her here, first, on Mr. Media Radio! Ramona Singer • • • Order 'Tru Renewal by Ramona Singer' Complete Collection, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the beauty products above! The Millionaire's Convenient Arrangementby Jane Peden. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!
Today's Guest: Ramona Singer, star, "The Real Housewives of New York City" The rest of the ladies may be “The Real Housewives of New York,” but Ramona Singer is the real businesswoman of the Big Apple. Kelly Bensimon may have shown her family jewels in the pages of Playboy, but fellow “Housewife” Ramona Singer has used her fame to pursue a more traditional route to success. This reality TV star, seen every Thursday at 10 p.m. on Bravo, sells her “True Faith” jewelry collection on HSN and has a store on Amazon.com called “Ramona Singer Collections.” RAMONA SINGER podcast excerpt: "I'm trying to appreciate my relationships and be a better person. Of course, I can't be perfect and I do mess up by saying certain things on the show, but never to be malicious." Of course, if she tells me in a minute that her Maxim spread is coming up next, this whole intro is out the window, right? Ramona Singer • •
Today's Guest: Alina Pușcău, singer, actress, Conan the Barbarian Alina Pușcău is hot. Hot, as in, people are talking about her. Hot, as in the YouTube video for her song, “When You Leave (Numa Numa).” ALINA PUSCAU audio excerpt: "Oh my God! Jason Momoa (Conan) is so hot! And he's not just hot. He's got such a great heart. He's an amazing person. He's going to be a big star. He has the whole package." Hot, as in, she's appearing in her first movie this week, Conan the Barbarian. And hot, as in, have you seen this girl? That, as Paris would say, is hot. You may also have seen her modeling in Pepe Jeans and Victoria Secret campaigns, or on the cover of Playboy magazine in 2009, where she was photographed by film director Brett Ratner (X-Men: The Last Stand, Rush Hour). Alina Puscau • •
Don’t you love it when a friend recommends a book and it turns out he was right? That’s how I got turned on to William Kent Krueger’s new book, Vermilion Drift. A friend knew I would love a good mystery and said, “Read this.” WILLIAM KENT KRUEGER podcast excerpt: "There are people who read a particular series because they know what to expect. They like that comfort level. That interests me not at all. What I have always tried to offer the reader is a new wine each time. It's all made from grapes, but the subtleties, the nuances, change from book to book to book. The stories and themes I deal with change." I won’t lie—it took me a little while to cotton to the gentle pacing and subtleties of Krueger’s book. There is little Wham! Bam! action, although there is some menacing behavior. So I read it a little at a time until I was halfway through. All at once I just sort of got it, if you know what I mean, and I couldn’t put it down until I got to the end. (Okay, I did pause long enough to invite the author to be a guest on Mr. Media®.) When I was done, I learned this is actually the 10th in a series of mysteries featuring Krueger’s quiet, thoughtful hero, Cork O’Connor. That surprised me only in that I didn’t feel like I was jumping on a moving train when I started the book. And now I want to go back and start the series from the beginning. William Kent Krueger • • • • • •
Love Lies Bleeding did not sound, on the face of it, like a novel I’d like to read. Believe it or not, I’m not especially drawn to stories of women in psychological torment and pain, which is how this story was presented. But I gave it a shot and after about 75 pages, I knew I was in it for the duration. It was actually more a story of a mentally strong woman overcoming outside influences than battling her own inner demons. That’s not a spoiler, either; personally, I think this tale is more appealing if you know there is real character growth ahead and not just craziness. JESS McCONKEY podcast excerpt: "I couldn't write a sex scene to save my life. I can read it, but when I write it and read it back to myself, it sounds stupid!" I’d like to tell you something about the author, Jess McConkey, but she was a bit of a mystery to me going into this interview. Her official bio is just two sentences — “Jess McConkey is an award-winning writer of short fiction. She lives in a small Iowa town and is currently working on her next novel.” That only told me that she may be in the witness protection program. Then I found out the truth: Jess McConkey is the pen name of Shirley Damsgaard, who is already an established author, the creator of the Ophelia and Abby mystery series, which includes The Seventh Witch and The Witch’s Grave. So here’s what we’ll do. I’ll talk to Shirley as Jess in the first half of the interview and then Shirley as Shirley after the break. It’s got to be less confusing than Jess McConkey • • • Shirley Damsgaard • • •
Finding the real Jonathan Winters could not be easy. But you might try looking in the toy aisle at Target with Howie Mandel. Or a video store with Sarah Silverman, perhaps flashing a little boob – just one, though. Let’s not go crazy. If all else fails, there is always a seance with the Arquette family. Filmmakers Jim Pasternak and Richard Marshall shot 250 hours with Winters and a parade of comedians marching through his life, including everyone from Robin Williams and Jim Carrey to Robert Klein and Jimmy Kimmel. RICHARD MARSHALL podcast excerpt: "Jonathan told us, 'My career wasn't as big as it could have been because producers didn't trust me. I wouldn't follow the script very well.'" It’s not quite a documentary and not quite a story, although there is a slice of fiction threaded in there. What it is – and what matters most – is that Pasternak and Marshall have captured a late-in-life slice of the great Jonathan Winters, sprinkled in with classic moments from the humorist’s past. And like every other moment in time when you’ve seen the comedian, you’re never quite sure what is real and what is performance. But who cares? It’s an irresistible piece of cinema. Joining me today is Certifiably Jonathan director Jim Pasternak and producer/photographer Richard Marshall. Certifiably Jonathan • • • • •
(Note from Mr. Media: Kim Kleman left Consumer Reports in June, 2013 after 16 years and joined The American Lawyer as Editor-in-Chief in February 2014.) In the 1970’s, my dad never made any purchase of substance without consulting Consumer Reports. Vacuum cleaners, toaster ovens, window air conditioners, used cars -- he never made a move without CR. In those pre-Internet days, he collected the magazine’s back issues the way I collected comic books. I just kept my comics a lot neater and more organized than he did his magazines. Today’s Consumer Reports is very different from the one my dad admired, thanks to the Internet. There are a whole host of web sites and services competing to provide consumer information in what used to be a niche owned solely by Consumer Reports. Consumers now have instant free access to consumer-written product performance reviews from Amazon.com to Epinions and everywhere in between. In the wired world, it seems, everybody has an opinion and wants to share it. We’ll talk about that today with my guest Kim Kleman, the new Consumer Reports editor (the flagship publication of Consumers Union). She’s also an old acquaintance whom I worked with at the Tampa Tribune twenty years ago and whom my wife worked with at the St. Petersburg Times. Kim joined Consumer Reports in 1997 and has since been managing editor, deputy editor, and special assignments editor, shepherding award-winning investigative projects. Earlier this year, Kim was promoted to editor-in-chief. Kim Kleman • •
I don’t know if Morgan Spurlock is getting rich as a documentary filmmaker, but he sure looks like a guy who is having a good time going to work each day. Spurlock first came to international attention with his face-first slide into bad cholesterol hell with Super Size Me, his month-long ode to McDonald’s. It was a great gimmick that had legs, much the same way that Roger & Me earlier launched the career of Michael Moore. MORGAN SPURLOCK podcast excerpt: "Stan Lee is a force of nature. He's one of these people who has more passion, more drive about this industry than anyone I've ever met. I was really, really lucky." Both men bring a modern, populist point-of-view to their nonfiction storytelling; Spurlock, however, is the one who seems more interested in entertaining and less about directly beating viewers over the head to make a sociological point. This week, Spurlock has two new products for the world to see. In a moment, we’re going to talk about Comic-Con: Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope, in which he follows five attendees through the annual San Diego, California convention of comic book and genre movie supergeeks. Along the way, he captures his own conversations with Stan Lee, Joss Whedon, Frank Miller, Kevin Smith, Matt Groening, Seth Rogen and Eli Roth. Spurlock is also the man behind a new TV series that debuted on Hulu this week, “A Day in the Life Of…” It’s Hulu’s first original programming and the first episode features one of my own podcast heroes, comedian Marc Maron. Morgan Spurlock • • • • •
Soft-spoken political analyst and frequent MSNBC fill-in host Lawrence O’Donnell launched his own show on the Micro-Peacock at 10 p.m. last night. It seems likely to provide a gentle landing for left-wing political junkies who get progressively more pumped up as they sit through the sometimes hysterical "Ed Show," "Hardball with Chris Matthews" and "Countdown with Keith Olbermann," then need an extra hour to settle back down for bedtime following the cerebral Rachel Maddow. LAWRENCE O'DONNELL podcast excerpt: "Frequently, because I worked in politics, because I worked in government, in the past, as a host, I've been sitting there knowing more than my guest and I am being forced to ask a question of someone who knows less than I do. And there's an awkward posture to that, that I think we got away with, thanks to my acting skills." O’Donnell is a different kind of analyst on MSNBC, which has a well-earned reputation for being a strong voice for Democratic views, despite a day that starts with Republicans "Morning" Joe Scarborough and Pat Buchanan. I worried that having Olbermann as one of his first guests last night might be a mistake. I generally enjoy Keith’s caffeinated delivery; his presence reinforced O’Donnell’s more subtle approach in style, if not words. It turned out to be effective because it reinforced that is not “Countdown,” and that’s a good thing at 10 p.m Lawrence O'Donnell •
How is it possible that 40 years have passed since the birth of The Eagles? You know – “Hotel California,” “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” “Desperado,” “Lyin’ Eyes, “New Kid in Town, “Life in the Fast Lane” – those guys. Glenn Frey, Randy Meisner, Bernie Leadon, Don Henley, Don Felder, Timothy B. Schmidt and Joe Walsh. By the way – why does everyone list Walsh last? Is he the Ringo Starr of the band? BEN FONG-TORRES podcast excerpt: "The Eagles came along at a time when country rock had been established, that more confessionalized, personal music. Music that encompassed some social commentary and the time in which they lived. Eagles music still talks to some of those concerns. And there were the straight-forward harmonies. The Eagles were expert at that." But I digress. I know The Eagles story is a remarkable one, but I’d be lying if I said I was a huge fan. I’m not. I respect their incredible output and enduring success, but the music never grabbed me. So why are we here today? Well, the new coffee table book celebrating the band’s lengthy career was written by Ben Fong-Torres, one of America’s most successful magazine writers, a man who got his start in the 1970s with Rolling Stone. I wanted to talk to him and if it meant the subject had to be The Eagles: Taking It to the Limit, then so be it. (For the record, when I hosted Rolling Stone writers David Wild and Parke Puterbaugh over the years, it wasn’t because I was a Neil Diamond or Phish fan, either.) Ben Fong-Torres • Buy
This show has always put out the welcome mat for black cartoonists, from daily strippers such as Ray Billingsley and Charlos Gary to editorial artists such as David G. Brown, Tim Jackson, Ron Rogers, Barbara Brandon Croft and Dr. Yaounde Olu. So as soon as I saw the announcement of a new collection of African-American cartoonists curated by John Jennings and Damian Duffy, I had to find space for a discussion of Black Comix –that’s comix with an X—on the show. JOHN JENNINGS podcast excerpt: "We think of the book as an entry point for people into black comix culture. We try to make it easy for people who find artists they like in Black Comix with websites to learn more." If you love comics – the kind that end in X or not – you’ll find a lot to admire in this primer to a group of outstanding craftsmen—and craftswomen. Some of the artists have reached the mainstream, but many more have not. Some of the work is gorgeous, some a little more subject to personal tastes. But it matters not, as Jennings and Duffy shine a bright light on a group of professional who deserve more time at center stage. Black Comix • • • Damian Duffy • • John Jennings • • •
Here’s a job for you: No matter what your title is, you’re going to be called upon from one day to the next to express opinions on important, global topics about which you may start the day not always knowing a lot. But by day’s end, you damn well better be an expert, or there will be hell to pay in the morning. Welcome to breaking news, son. John Harwood, chief Washington correspondent for CNBC and a political writer for the New York Times, has a high level of expertise on all sorts of major and minor political matters. But I think the real reason he is in demand is that he is cool and measured under pressure and doesn’t talk out of his ass. Pardon my French. JOHN HARWOOD podcast excerpt: "(Cable news channels) want people to fight, whatever is happening. They're looking for the most intense arguments you can have." Harwood is the kind of guy you want to turn to in a developing crisis, whether you’re an assigning media editor or a viewer/reader. He gives you straight talk and can do so on whatever subject is put in front of him. I knew John mostly in passing – you know, I’d walk by his desk and say, “Hi, John” and he’d say, “I’m sorry, who are you?” – back when he was a highly respected reporter at the St. Petersburg Times and I was the kid they’d call to fill in when the grizzled veteran covering Indian Shores was hospitalized for terminal boredom. Harwood was one of an army of guys and gals from that era who now populate the highest levels of American journalism. (I’m looking at you, Dana Priest, Tom French, Sheryl James, Jacob Schlesinger, Anne Hull, Doron Levin, David Finkel, Karl Vick, Milo Geyelin…) John Harwood • •
Frankly, it would have been easy to pass on tanning entrepreneur Tony Hartl’s new book, Selling Sunshine: 75 Tips, Tools, and Tactics for Becoming a Wildly Successful Entrepreneur. I say that with all due respect, but the truth is that the accomplishments of small business entrepreneurs often get overlooked in a marketplace where bigger is always thought to be better. TONY HARTL podcast excerpt: "From an early age on, my mother took what jobs she could. She worked hard and I always saw her deal with everything she did with grace." But I started reading Sunshine and I was impressed that Hartl really had some lessons to impart and some powerful experiences to share. I was fascinated with how far he had come, growing up poor by any measure yet never lacking ambition or drive. Hartl grew his company, Planet Tan, from three Dallas mega tanning salons to 17 locations in multiple states. He made a bunch of money and got out, and his story is an inspirational one for anyone with the entrepreneurial itch. Tony Hartl • • • •
Today's Guest: Bethenny Frankel, reality TV star, "Real Housewives of New York City," "Bethenny Ever After" Give Real Housewives star Bethenny Frankel her due: she knows how to build a brand and milk it for everything it’s worth. When life gives you or me lemons, we make lemonade. When life gave Bethenny a role on the hit Bravo series “The Real Housewives of New York City,” she made two books, a career as a natural foods chef, a bun in the oven, a fiancée and now a spin-off reality TV series, Bethenny Getting Married?” BETHENNY FRANKEL podcast excerpt: "Times have changed. I don't know if the Catholic church loves me walking down the aisle pregnant, but you can't please everybody. At least I got married!" Like her fellow Housewives, Bethenny knows opportunity when she sees it. For example, Ramona Singer extended her Bravo 15 minutes on the Home Shopping Network with a line of jewelry. Kelly Bensimon went another route by stripping down to her birthday suit as a Playboy magazine covergirl. Now it’s the popular Bethenny’s turn. Give a listen!
Steve Ditko is a mystery. And in view of the cosmic and ethereal manner of his comic book art style, from Spider-Man and Dr. Strange to the lesser-known Mr. A, that may be appropriate. Blake Bell, whose interest as a fan of Ditko earns him the right to be called a “Ditko scholar,” isn’t buying the mystery. In his new book, Strange and Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko -- just published by Fantagraphics -- Bell digs deeper and more thoroughly into the enigma that is Ditko and shares all that he has learned about the artist and the man. In this beautifully illustrated coffee table book, Bell lays out his case for Ditko as a comics legend. And he does his best to get behind the myth and the man. Blake Bell • • The Secret History of Marvel Comics by Blake Bell and Michael Vassallo • • •
Today's Guest: Bill Schelly, author, Man of Rock: A Biography of Joe Kubert Artist Joe Kubert’s lines are among the most distinctive in the comic book profession, not in the least because there are so many of them! Kubert’s work is intensely detailed and stylized, whether he’s drawing "Sgt. Rock" from World War II or "Tor" from One Million Years B.C. Fans can spot his product from ten paces the same way that Jack Kirby, Will Eisner, Jim Lee or Frank Miller stand out like quality beacons from the newsstand shelves. In his new, richly researched book, Man of Rock: A Biography of Joe Kubert, author Bill Schelly takes a long overdue look at the life and career of one of the comic book industry’s most enduring, successful and beloved icons. Bill Schelly •
Bob Delaney has lived not one but two enviable and intimidating lives—and he’s nowhere near done, yet. In his first career, Delaney was a New Jersey State Trooper who went undercover for three years to infiltrate the Mob in the Garden State. Forget Tony Soprano—this was the real thing. He traded in his given surname, Delaney, to become “Bobby Covert, a crooked trucking executive. As Covert, Delaney gathered enough evidence in the mid-1970s to convict 30 members of the Genovese and Bruno crime families. When that assignment ended, it took Delaney a while to leave his assumed identity—and personality—behind as he dealt with a form of post-traumatic disorder. One of the ways he accomplished it was refereeing basketball games, of all things. Like everything he has ever tried, Delaney stood out as a ref. He moved up from one league to the next, soon catching the eye of an NBA official. Jersey Shore League games led to the old Continental Basketball League and pretty soon, Delaney retired from the New Jersey State Troopers to be a full-time NBA referee. Last year, Delaney published a book about his exploits in both gangland and the land of the giants. That book, Covert, written with my good friend and award-winning St. Petersburg Times sportswriter Dave Scheiber, was just published in paperback. Bob Delaney • • • Dave Scheiber • • • • •
I was studying Samaire Armstrong’s IMDB page when I saw that she played “Emily” on several episodes of the HBO comedy “Entourage.” Why is that significant? Well, as fans of the long-running podcast “Sex With Emily” will recognize, a clip from “Entourage” helps open every episode of that show. In it, Adrian Grenier, as actor Vincent Chase, calls out to Samaire’s character by saying, “Hey, Emily! You got a boyfriend? Because my man E here just got his heart broken. And he thinks you’re cute.” How’s that for a way to have one of your characters live on? SAMAIRE ARMSTRONG podcast excerpt: "So many of the little stories of characters in Entourage were true. It was fun to be able to incorporate that." Of course, a beautiful young woman like Samaire should have a lot of similar opportunities as her career rolls along. Maybe one of them will come from two of her latest jobs, starting with the film Around June, in which she plays the daughter of an abusive father portrayed by Jon Gries. Gries – who you’ll remember as “Uncle Rico” from the Napoleon Dynamite movie and cartoon series – is a menace to behold. But Samaire, as June, has had enough and we see her finally fight back against her father, declaring she won’t be pushed around anymore. Samaire also just shot a new movie tentatively called Adopting Terror with actor Sean Astin, who starred in Lord of the Rings. You might also have noticed Samaire in multiple episodes of the CBS drama “The Mentalist” this season as Summer Edgecomb, sort of a hooker with a heart – and a personal interest in Detective Cho. Samaire Armstrong • • •
When I was a teenager growing up in North Brunswick, New Jersey, I was one of three guys who organized a loose-knit band of like-minded comic book lovers into a club called the Fans of Central Jersey. We had monthly meetings, published a monthly newsletter, and even sponsored a couple comic book conventions. Through that group, I met a number of people who have remained friends and acquaintances more than 30 years later. One of them is Mark Chiarello, who I remember as an ambitious young guy from nearby Jamesburg, New Jersey. Mark was one of the most reliable contributors of original artwork to the FCJ Newsletter. He had a distinctive style even then and there was no doubt he was motivated to do something special with his talent. Today, Chiarello is the art director for the entire DC Comics Universe. He has had a guiding hand over the years in titles such as Batman: Black and White, DC: The New Frontier, The Spirit, and Solo. He broke new ground in July 2009 with the launch of a 12-issue series called , a 16-page weekly that unfolds to a 28-inch by 20-inch tabloid featuring the individual adventures of Batman, Adam Strange, Metamorpho, The Demon and Catwoman, Kamandi, Superman and many more. I always take great pride in hosting old friends on Mr. Media, and today is definitely one of those days. Mark Chiarello • • • • • •
The first thing you notice about Buddy Scalera? A really cool, literary name. Honestly, I’d like to name a character in a movie “Buddy Scalera.” Maybe comedy about bowling? Or he could be a high school English teacher. Or a nebbishy stock broker who plots to rob a bank. How awesome would that be? But don’t tell the real Buddy – I don’t want to be sued. Speaking of the real Scalera, he’s the author of the just released instructional book, . And even if you’re not a comic book writer or artist wannabe, it’s a really interesting piece of work the way it takes readers behind the scenes of how sausages – I mean comic books — are made. BUDDY SCALERA audio excerpt: "Learning about how the comic book creators broke in, how hard they work, the things they do to stay in... It's a really competitive business. If you fail or take a holiday, there are hundreds of people to take your place. The people I interviewed know this. That impressed me." Scalera knows the business from having been on the inside – he co-wrote Deadpool at Marvel with his friend Jimmy Palmiotti and created and published his own title, 7 Days to Fame, for After Hours Press. More recently, Scalera started a website devoted to teaching his favorite subject, . Buddy Scalera • • •
Dying sucks—for those left behind, that is. Not sure yet what it means to the deceased. There are all the feelings of sadness and regret, things left unsaid, things left undone. We’re always looking for ways to express ourselves and our emotional when a loved one passes. The Internet, of course, has the answer. Legacy.com is the permanent resting place for expressing all the thoughts and emotions you have for the deceased. It’s also a place where we can share our grief and memories with other mourners—some we know, some we don’t. And when a celebrity dies—as occurred with actress Natasha Richardson just yesterday—it becomes an online gathering place for admirers and fans to learn more about the individual as a human being. Joining me today to talk about Legacy.com is its chief operating officer, Hayes Ferguson. Legacy.com • • • Hayes Ferguson • •
I don’t know about you, but I could spend hours on end doing stuff on the Internet, some of it productive, some of it, well, not. And some days, it’s hard separating the two because one is generally just as distracting as the other. I’m hoping that today’s guest, , can help all of us sort out the time-wasters from the time-benefitters. And no, I don’t think that’s a real word. Sree is one of journalism’s last great multi-taskers. He’s a New Media professor and dean of students in the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. But he’s also a technology reporter for WNBC television in New York City and a regular columnist for . Among other things, we'll talk about the future of journalism and journalism schools. Sree Sreenivasan • • • • •
“Can a dinner change history?” That’s the opening line of author Deborah Davis’s amazing new book, Guest of Honor: Booker T. Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, and the White House Dinner That Shocked a Nation. At its essence, Guest of Honor is about Booker T. Washington becoming, in 1901, the first African American to be a dinner guest of a sitting president in the White House. That simple meal between old friends set off a raging controversy, only 35 years past Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation declaring the end of slavery. DEBORAH DAVIS audio excerpt: "The first time I heard about the dinner was when I was listening to John McCain's concession speech on that historic night in November 2008... I was just astonished by the magnitude of the scandal, the vicious headlines and the outrage all over the country over one little dinner." I have always had a fascination with the history of the modern American presidency, so this book had an instant appeal to me. It also dovetailed nicely with a new project I myself am working on, the autobiography of a remarkably successful graduate of Booker T. Washington’s Tuskegee Institute. But you don’t have to care about either of those subjects to find Guest of Honor a compelling page-turner. It drips with insight and color from the turn of the 20th century, hitting its highest note in the writer’s discovery of so many parallel personal tracks in the lives of Washington and Roosevelt. Best of all, for our often history-resistant population, this is a wonderful work that doesn’t require a masters in history to enjoy. Particularly interesting is the way the roles of the Republican and Democratic parties have reversed over a hundred years; the Republicans, after all, were the party that freed the slaves; Southern Democrats were the ones who fought it every step of the way. Now it is the Republicans who are often seen as racists and the Democrats that elected and want to re-elect a black man to the presidency. Fascinating.
Here’s something not everyone interviewing Olympic ice skater Sasha Cohen can say: She’s quoted on the front cover of my new book. It’s true: When hits book shelves on March 6, there is a quote above the title from Sasha, who worked with my co-author Ken Baum in preparing for her legendary appearance and subsequent Silver Medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. SASHA COHEN podcast excerpt: "In ice skating you have one chance every four years at the Olympics -- and it's only a few minutes. You just have to do your best to believe in yourself." And within the pages of the book, Ken tells the story of their months of training for the big moment and how Sasha used her mental edge to get up from a fall and give the performance of a lifetime. Of course, she also wrote her own book, Fire On Ice. Ken thinks the world of Sasha so when the opportunity to help promote her appearance this Saturday, February 4, in the “Pandora Unforgettable Moments of Love on Ice” on NBC, I jumped at the chance. You can see the special – which also includes performances by Katerina Gordeeva, Ilia Kulik and Kurt Browning and is hosted by Kristi Yamaguchi & Nancy Kerrigan – at 4 p.m. on NBC. Sasha Cohen • •
Katie McGrath plays Lady Morgana in the new NBC dramatic import, The shows airs every Sunday at 8 p.m. Katie is a relative newcomer to acting, as I understand it, although American audiences may have seen her in an episode of Showtime’s popular drama, “The Tudors,” before she landed a plum role on “Merlin.” Did I say plum? That’s not quite accurate, because she’s more of a peach! KATIE McGRATH podcast excerpt: "If I could cast a spell over anyone, I would like Morgana to swordfight because I suck at that... I would like to do the character justice." Uh, did I just say that out loud? Sometimes I embarrass myself. Anyway, Merlin has a secret—he’s a wizard, a Harry Potter in training. Morgana is on to him… or is she? Katie McGrath • • •
Producer Jeremy Mitchell and actor Sheaun McKinney were my guests on the very first episode of Mr. Media Radio broadcast late in 2007 on the BlogTalkRadio Network. They were promoting a new Miami-based independent feature film called Nemesis that tells the story of an idealistic young rap star fighting for his own voice against the corrupting influence of the hip-hop industry. A record label discovers him, and he is forced to promote violence and materialism in exchange for fame. The movie dramatizes the hypocrisies of a multi-billion dollar industry that encourages its fans to stay true to the streets. It took 18 months, but Mitchell finally succeeding in landing a DVD distribution deal for his film, now known as Know Thy Enemy. I’m delighted to re-present this interview with Mitchell and McKinney, who plays the unlikely gangster rap star, Nemesis. The soundtrack features original music from fresh and new artists such as Messiah, a Mr. Cheeks protégé, and Suzie Abromeit, already known for her number one single duet with hip-hop star Fat Joe. Know Thy Enemy • Jeremy Mitchell • Sheaun McKinney • •
Actor Sasha Roiz made the rounds of several TV genre favorites on his way to the role of Captain Renard on the new NBC drama series “Grimm,” which airs Fridays at 9 p.m. He played Marcus Diamond in the latest season of Syfy’s delightful “Warehouse 13.” He was also Sam Adama in Syfy’s “Battlestar Galactica” spinoff, “Caprica.” And he did guest star roles in “Castle” and “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.” SASHA ROIZ podcast excerpt: "Playing 'Marcus Diamond' on Warehouse 13 was one of the first times I had a fan base in the Syfy world. It was one of the most fun jobs I've had in a long time. The fan base is tremendously supportive and I get a lot of fulfillment from it." “Grimm,” which is loosely adapted from the classic fairy tales, recently earned itself a little more life with NBC ordering a couple more episodes and expectations running high that a full season order could be next. Sasha Roiz • • • • • •
Bad news for former “Ugly Betty” actor Christopher Gorham -- Buddy TV just named Niall Matter “the hunkiest nerd in the history of TV.” That’s right: the man who plays Deputy Sheriff Jo’s love interest, Zane Donovan, on the Syfy hit “Eureka,” is officially hot. NIALL MATTER audio excerpt: "You'll see Zane and Jo struggle to figure out if they even want a relationship with each other... It has been a great gift for me as an actor to get that re-start in the timeline." Of course the women in my household have been saying that for some time now: the smoldering sensuality, the bad boy antics and the reckless behavior, all wrapped up in the mind of a scientific genius, apparently makes for good TV. Whatevah! If you’ve never watched “Eureka” — what’s wrong with you? It’s one of the smartest shows on TV these days, always managing to one-up itself. It’s part of a lineup of great returning summer shows alongside “Warehouse 13” and “Haven.” And thanks to an inspired new take on the old alternate timeline scheme, Matter has earned an opportunity to return to Zane’s wilder nature. Before several of the show’s leads went back in time to World War II-era Eureka, he was on the verge of marrying Deputy Jo. But when their return to modern-day Eureka screwed up the time-space continuum, Zane knew nothing of the other Zane’s proposal and instead of being ready to wed, he was ready to party all the time. Sharp-eyed viewers probably already recognize Matter from stints on several Syfy standards, including “Stargate Atlantis” and “Warehouse 13,” although he may be best known to others as “Mothman” from the film adaptation of the Watchmen graphic novel. Now it’s my pleasure to greet the only man to ever be a guest on this show and be better looking than me, Niall Matter. Niall Matter • • •
I have done my best to keep the Casey Anthony case at arm’s length from day one. Since becoming a dad almost 15 years ago, I have had no tolerance for real-life or even fictional stories that detail abuse to children. Seeing harm befall your child is every parent’s nightmare and I found the fewer stories of it I absorbed during the day, the better I slept at night. And no, I don’t watch “Law & Order” or “CSI.” KERRY SANDERS podcast excerpt: "(The Casey Anthony murder trial) is a captivating story so I'm understand why people have set aside the details of their daily lives to see what is going to happen." That said, I’m setting aside my embargo on discussing child endangerment, abuse and murder because an old friend of mine – and of this show – NBC News correspondent Kerry Sanders, is available to talk about his coverage of the Casey Anthony murder trial that is wrapping up in Orlando, Florida. Kerry has been NBC's Miami-based correspondent since 1996, covering news mainly in the South and throughout Latin America. He contributes regularly to "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams," "Today," MSNBC and occasionally to "Dateline NBC." You have seen his memorable coverage of stories such as Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Andrew, the war in Kosovo, the Haitian military coup and the ATF military siege of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas. He was also a reporter embedded with the US Marines during the Iraq War. I think it’s safe to say that that was a most terrifying time for not just Kerry, but for his lovely wife Deborah Sharp (listen to her Mr. Media interview ) and all of his friends. Every report filed during those days was a good day back home. Kerry Sanders • •
NBC’s freshman comedy sensation “Community” is ending its first season on a high note: Entertainment Weekly made the show’s season finale tonight Number 1 on its Top Ten “Must List” of things to do this week. And it singled out co-stars Joel McHale and Gillian Jacobs for the developments in their characters. So how lucky am I to welcome Community beauty Gillian to Mr. Media today? Pretty damn lucky. < Order 'Community: The Complete Third Season' starring Gillian Jacobs, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD cover above! GILLIAN JACOBS podcast excerpt: "You start with this kind sensible person in the pilot. As the season goes on, you find her shortcomings, her flaws, her quirks. She gets told she is humorless. She's no longer the moral authority on the show. Donald's character, Troy, has this line, 'I want to believe you, Britta, but you're not quite right, are you?'" Gillian’s character, “Britta,” has grown as “Community” itself blossomed this season. When the show debuted, she seemed destined to be a one-noter whose sole purpose seemed to be swatting down blatant advances by McHale’s womanizing character Jeff. But as the weeks went on, the writers found better, smarter ways of putting her to work, expanding Britta into as fully formed a person as everyone around her-including the more evolved Jeff. Regular listeners know I’m a fan of “Community,” which is why Gillian is the fifth star of the show invited to join me on Mr. Media. Gillian Jacobs • •
When I finished watching Daniel Cross’s new documentary I Am the Blues, what I really wanted – besides an immediate trip to the Mississippi Delta – was a soundtrack album. It is the sounds of this wonderful guide to the backwoods of Louisiana and Mississippi that will stay with you – haunting, electrifying and thrilling anyone with a musical soul. Daniel Cross podcast excerpt: "Bobby Rush and Jimmy 'Duck' Holmes talk about the rappers and hip-hop. They're all singing the blues in their lyrics about the struggle of surviving the difficulties of their lives. The beat might be different, but it's still the blues at a certain level." For most viewers I suspect, Cross provides a first introduction to an aging generation of blues veterans that still live in the American deep south and that made their livings and reputations for decades on the Chitlin’ Circuit. These folks include Barbara Lynn, Little Freddie King, Lazy Lester, Henry Gray, Carol Fran, Bilbo Walker, Jimmy "Duck" Holmes, RL Boyce, LC Ulmer and Lil' Buck Sinegal. I Am the Blues is available on DVD and via digital download from all leading on-demand platforms. I Am the Blues • • • •
A wedding seems the appropriate analogy to finish out the first season of the NBC sitcom "Outsourced." The show, about a white bread American exiled to run a Mombai, India call center, seemed more out of this world to TV critics and many viewers when it debuted in September 2010 than even Star Trek’s blue-skinned, antennaed Andorians. "Outsourced" took a critical drubbing before most Americans even knew it was on the air. But a funny thing happened on the way to the Mid American Novelties’ annual shareholders meeting: NBC renewed "Outsourced" for a full season. Somebody, somewhere believed in the show. And I think you can even make a case that putting it at the end of the network’s three-hour Thursday comedy block was a loving, protective move. Slotted at 10:30 p.m. took the pressure off, giving audiences a chance to discover it on their own terms at a time of night when expectations were low. I would also argue that both moves took the pressure off the writing staff, who shaped a lump of coal into a shimmering diamond. Characters developed and blossomed. Storylines – such as assistant manager Rajiv’s efforts to woo his beloved and her stony, disapproving father — were given gentle showcases and, as they say, hilarity ensued. We learned that Rajiv – played by Rizwan Manji – had a heart. And that despite all his efforts to be disdained by his employees, they loved him nonetheless. RIZWAN MANJI audio excerpt: "('Outsourced') is such a different kind of TV than we've ever seen... These characters are so endearing and lovable, you're just rooting for them to succeed." So this marriage, unspooling in a two-part episode starting May 5 and concluding on May 12, represents not just the coming together of Rajiv & Vimi. It also marks the union of an Indian cast of sitcom characters and an American TV audience. Just this morning I read in Variety that the show has won over the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications as well as South Asians in Media, Marketing and Entertainment, both of which are actively lobbying NBC to give "Outsourced" a second season. That’s important because the network might respond if it sees a chance to market to a welcoming, niche audience it hasn’t programmed to in the past. Rizwan Manji • • •
NBC has three really funny sitcoms on Thursday nights during its three-hour comedy block that I really think you should give a chance – or a second chance: "Outsourced," "Community" and "Perfect Couples." RIZWAN MANJI audio excerpt: "The reason Rajiv is so opportunistic is that he wants to get married and wants this as proof for the father of his fiancee." Mr. Media has been a big supporter of all three. They’re cleverly written and share a devotion to character development, satire and sexual zingers. "30 Rock," "The Office" and "Parks and Recreation" may get all the attention, but "Outsourced," "Community" and "Perfect Couples" offer more than their fair share of big, old-fashioned sitcom belly laughs. Today, I’m excited to welcome to the show, Rizwan Manji, one of the upcoming stars of Outsourced, which airs Thursdays at 10:30 p.m. on NBC. He plays Rajiv, the don’t-screw-with-me “manager” – in name only – of the India-based call center of an American novelties manufacturer. Rizwan Manji • • • More Mr. Media Interviews with the cast of NBC's Outsourced: • • • Mr. Media video interview with
Actress Sharon Leal is a woman loosed… and on the verge. A review of the one-time "Guiding Light" star’s recent credits support this, with ever more visible roles. That was her in two Tyler Perry movies, Why Did I Get Married and its sequel. And she’s been all over TV, including runs on “Boston Public,” “Private Practice,” “Hellcats” and two episodes of one of my recent favorites, USA’s “Suits.” SHARON LEAL podcast excerpt: "It did feel like we had this big mountain to climb with limited resources. And at the end of the day, it's a film I'm real proud of... African-American (actors) have to work harder than the Average Joe because there is a landscape (in Hollywood) where there aren't a lot of roles for us." Now she’s in the lead role in T.D. Jakes Ministries’ emotional new theatrical release, Woman Thou Art Loosed!: On the 7th Day, starring opposite Blair Underwood. Also in the cast is the legendary Pam Grier. I haven’t seen the film, which is a sequel of sorts to 2004’s Woman Thou Art Loosed, and is described as a dramatic thriller involving the kidnapping of the young daughter of Leal and Underwood’s characters. The movie is directed by Neema Barnette. Sharon Leal • • • • •
You have to be pretty damn good at what you do for someone to name you Joltin’. The name stuck to Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio, of course, and is also part of the eternal legend of . Unless you’re a comic book fan, you may not know Sinnott. But if you recognize the names of Stan “The Man” Lee and Jack “King” Kirby, Joltin’ Joe will be forever connected to their accomplishments. Lee wrote the stories, Kirby drew them, and Sinnott inked them, starting with the fifth issue of the Fantastic Four in 1961 on through the first appearance of the Silver Surfer and beyond. He’s also contributed his talents to Thor, The Hulk, and Captain America, to name just a few. You can see Sinnott's work on three new Marvel Super Hero postage stamps - two Silver Surfers and a Thing -- that were released in late July by the United State Post Office. Sinnott is the subject of a new oral history called , compiled and written by Tim Lasiuta. It’s packed with illustrations from his fifty- plus year career, starting with a Timely Comics story called “The Man Who Wouldn’t Die” on through the development of the legendary Marvel universe. Joe Sinnott • • Tim Lasiuta •
“The Switch” – a new TV sitcom from creator Amy Fox, who also co-stars in it – is about being true to who your heart tells you that you are… even if your biology and anatomy are a little at odds on the issue. In other words, to quote the great creator of Looney Tunes cartoons, Chuck Jones: “Pronoun Trouble!” AMY FOX podcast excerpt: "A lot of times when movie or TV people are casting some tragic, Oscar-bait bio pic, they go, 'We couldn't find any trans people.' And I'm thinking, 'You had millions of dollars and we had, y'know, a shoestring budget and we're borrowing office space. And somehow we found five trans and/or non-binary lead actors. Plus trans people on the production and writing teams. We loo for trans talent like we would look for talent for any other job." The show, which bills itself as the world’s first transgender sitcom, follows Sü, an American who relocates to Vancouver to start life over in a new gender identity. Nyla Rose plays Sü with great warmth, joie de vie, and no fear of pratfalls. It’s a workplace comedy that is genuinely funny and cleverly written. And, I will admit, the first episode left a tear in my eye at the end. By the way, the predominantly transgender cast features all trans roles played by trans actors. The first six episodes became available in the US – and most English-speaking countries -- via Amazon and iTunes – on August 15. If you enjoy a splash of diversity in your comedy, I recommend “The Switch.” The Switch • • • • • • • • • • Amy Fox • • •
At some point, I assume we’re going to get a documentary titled "I Am Jordan Brady, Comic." Brady, a sometime comic, has made several documentary films over the last decade following standup comedians in their lives on and off the stage. These include I Am Comic, I Am Road Comic, and his latest, I Am Battle Comic. In the new film, Brady is once more behind the camera and occasionally in front of it, this time going on tour with comedians entertaining American troops in live battle zones overseas. JORDAN BRADY podcast excerpt: "The comedians are in the barracks, in the military planes. At any moment it could be, 'Get up! We can't tell you where we're going, but...' And the next thing you know there are camels and people with guns and you just do your act." Battle Comic shares the jokes told but also the motivation that causes a comic to leave home to tell jokes in less than ideal situations bringing humor to men and women who are protecting American freedoms and beliefs. The tour company includes Jeff Capri, Bob Kubota, Don Barnhart, and Slade Ham. Also interviewed are George Lopez, Jennifer Rawlings, Tammy Pescatelli, Wayne Federman, and Dave Attell. This is Jordan’s third time as a guest on the show. I Am Battle Comic • • • Don Barnhart's Battle Comics • Jordan Brady • • • • • • • •
Did you catch any episodes of the limited series “Downward Dog” this summer? I know you hear this about a lot of great shows these days – “Better Call Saul,” “Veep,” “Silicon Valley,” “Master of None,” and so on – but this Dog really is special. It’s narrated by a voice like none other, in fact: it’s Martin – the show’s star – a devoted and neurotic rescue dog. MICHAEL KILLEN podcast excerpt: "When you have a main character who doesn't have thumbs, who really can't move the plot along in any traditional manner -- such as conversation -- he only can move it along through voiceover and visible action. What we added to that on 'Downward Dog' was recollection and dream sequences." The show is funny and kooky as Martin takes us through life with his companion, Nan – played by Allison Tolman – and her on-again, off-again boyfriend. It’s a great show for family viewing – mostly – and, if you love animals, you will find it irresistible. Michael Killen and Samm Hodges co-created and co-wrote the show and are currently racing to find a new home for “Downward Dog” so that it can continue. They are also supporting a new book of Martin’s collected thoughts – Downward Dog: Very Serious Haiku from a Very Serious Dog. Downward Dog • • • Instagram • YouTube • • • • • • Goodreads Michael Killen • • • • •
Does anybody really understand jazz? Hands down, hands down – it was a rhetorical question. For me, it’s alll about mood, rhythm, sway and surprise. Good jazz changes your emotions and takes you places full of surprise and invention. That, I imagine, is what attracted documentary filmmaker Robert Mugge to his latest project, Saxophone Colossus, which is a portrait of legendary jazz musician Sonny Rollins Mugge, after all, calls Rollins “the greatest jazz improviser.” ROBERT MUGGE podcast excerpt: "It was his wife, Lucille, who -- at the same I was thinking I'd like to make a film about Sonny -- was also thinking, 'There needs to be a film about Sonny. There needs to be a way to show people that, in 1986, he was at the absolute peak of his powers.'" Of course, that was in 1986 – more than 30 years have passed since Mugge started the film, which contains rare interviews with Rollins and his late wife, Lucille, full performances and even convenes a trio of jazz critics to discuss Rollins’ art. What took so long to get Colossus to the public? We’ll discuss that and more. By the way, you have probably seen Mugge’s work before. His documentary archive includes Hellhounds on My Trail: The Afterlife of Robert Johnson, True Believers: The Musical Family of Rounder Records, The Kingdom of Zydeco, The Return of Ruben Blades, Gospel According to Al Green and Cool Runnings: The Reggae Movie. Robert Mugge • • • • • • Sonny Rollins • • • • •
When I tell you that Steve Morse was the “long-time” rock critic for the Boston Globe, I’m not kidding—I actually looked it up. I seemed to recall him being on the job during the years that I flitted in and of similar positions at the St. Petersburg Times and Tampa Tribune during the mid-1980s and many a freelance assignment before that. Could it really be the same Steve Morse? STEVE MORSE podcast excerpt: "We have Ernie Isley, Mike Mills, George Clinton. We're looking not just at the music but the business, the technology, the production. Lou Reed gave us great stuff about how studios have changed through the years." Indeed it is. Morse was on the staff at the Globe from 1975 all the way through 2005. He still freelances for the paper on occasion, as well as for other outlets. My excuse for bringing Morse to our show today is the release of a new online course he created for the Berklee College of Music titled “Rock History.” It’s an expert’s view of the genre, packing in observations, facts and video interviews with superstars such as Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and John Lennon record producer Jack Douglas. It’s actually one of 150 online courses and certificate programs offered by the venerable institution that you can check out at .
Maybe you don’t already know the name of legendary rock ‘n’ roll photographer Robert Knight. But by the end of this half-hour, you won’t be able to forget him. Knight shot the last photographs of guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan before his fateful plane crash. He took one of the most iconic pictures of Jimi Hendrix. Elton John was once his houseguest. Slash threw a party to celebrate a show of his work. One of the first concerts he shot was a teenagers slipping to the front of the stage at an early Led Zeppelin show, his professionalism causing everyone—the band included — to believe he belonged there, when he didn’t. Knight is the subject of Rock Prophecies, a new documentary film broadcast and released by PBS. It captures not just the man at work but also his devotion to many of his subjects as well as his personal trials, such as taking over the care of his Alzheimer’s disease-afflicted mother after the death of his father. When Knight met a gifted young Texas guitarist named Tyler Dow Bryant, Knight sensed the spirit of the later Stevie Ray Vaughan in the teen’s skills and personality. Over the years—and sometimes, the objections of the boy’s father—Knight introduced Bryant to the music industry. ROBERT KNIGHT podcast excerpt: "Forty years I worked with these guys, I never asked for anything. Like going to Jeff Beck. He doesn't let people in the house and he doesn't play on demand. Yet, when I called Jeff Beck and said, 'They're doing a documentary on my life,' and he said, 'Can I be in it?'" Rock Prophecies features exclusive interviews with and performances by Jeff Beck, ZZ Top, Carlos Santana, Slash, Panic at the Disco, Sick Puppies, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, and Steve Vai. The film won Audience Awards at the AFI Dallas Film Festival, Nashville Film Festival and Maui Film Festival and went on sale in stores and online on September 14. It will also be broadcast on American public television later this fall. If you love rock photography you should check out earlier Mr. Media interviews with Bob Gruen, Charles Gatewood and Tom Weschler at MrMedia.com. Robert Knight • • •
There are plenty of creative people whose work I love but you’ll never catch me pursuing an interview with them. Bruce Springsteen, for one. I like the idea of leaving a little mystery out there, a little bubble I’ll never personally pop. Nevin Martell, on the other hand, had a different idea. NEVIN MARTELL AUDIO EXCERPT: "I went into the project wide-eyed and hopeful that maybe Watterson would break his silence." He is devout fan of the old comic strip Calvin and Hobbes, created by Bill Watterson. And who isn’t? It is one of the most brilliant dailies ever created and when Watterson decided to suddenly stop producing it in 1995 after 10 years and 3,160 strips, no one was more disappointed than I. Okay, maybe Martell was. Owning a complete edition of the published strips wasn’t enough; he wanted to know more about Watterson, to talk with him and the people who knew and admired him and write a book about what made the man fly as high as Spaceman Spiff. He went out seeking Calvin. Watterson, however, had other ideas. The last time he made a public appearance was 1990 and he had no interest in returning to the glare of the public spotlight or helping Martell analyze his work product. But Martell, unbowed, wrote his book anyway. Looking for Calvin and Hobbes: The Unconventional Story of Bill Watterson and His Revolutionary Comic Strip was published in October. Nevin Martell • •
The whole vampire chic thing passed me by. Not just the Twilight movies and the HBO series “True Blood,” either—I never got hooked on Joss Whedon’s “Buffy the Vampire Series,” either. Vampires? Yuck? I think the last vampire movie I enjoyed was the Dracula remake starring Frank Langella back in 1980. And I only liked that because I worked at a movie theater in college, the Royal Park Cinemas 4 in Gainesville, Florida, and during opening weekend, many of the guys taking tickets were dressed as vampires and could get away with breathing heavily and biting pretty girls gently on the neck. HEATHER BREWER podcast excerpt: "I changed the way that I wrote when I started Book 5. Normally, I write from beginning to end. For some reason, this time, I wrote the last half of the book first. I think I was anxious to get to it. It really screwed with the way that I write." So I was surprised how quickly I devoured the first four books in Heather Brewer’s five-book young adult series, The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod. Young adult novelist Heather Brewer, 'The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod' Heather and I share a literary agent, Michael Bourret, and he recommended the series. I trust him with my career so trusting his suggestions for my free time seemed reasonable. And, as usual, Michael was right. We meet Vladimir Tod in the 8th grade, a half-human, half-vampire trying to find his way in the world of middle schoolers. Having a daughter in 8th grade naturally heightened my interest, but these are damn good stories—vampires or not. Heather literally just finished the fifth and final book in the series and I look forward to hearing about that—and some other potentially explosive news her fans will enjoy. Heather Brewer • • • • •
Cheryl Hines has one of the most challenging acting jobs on television: she plays Larry David’s long-suffering TV wife on the HBO comedy “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” now in its sixth season. For years, many people have assumed she was David’s real wife, and further complicating the premise this year is the news that David and his wife Laurie have divorced. What does this development mean for the show? Joining us today is the lovely Cheryl Hines who, hopefully, can shed some light on where all this is going -- or maybe not. CHERYL HINES audio excerpt: "We thought that there was going to be a terrorist attack on Los Angeles, and I wanted to stay in town and Larry wanted to leave. And so in the outline, that’s all that was written, really. Then when we actually did the scene, it turned into this very soft-spoken scene where Larry and I were talking, and we’re having this serious conversation, but I felt very funny. I was like, “Well, if something happens, don’t you think we should be together?” And he’s like, “Actually, I think that’s a little selfish. Just because one of us perishes, does that mean the other one has to?” And so we sort of went back and forth and just asking him what he wanted to do. In one take, he said he thought he’d go to a dude ranch. And I think the take that ended up on the air, he said, “I thought I’d go to Pebble Beach.” So just getting through that scene, I don’t know, it unfolded into a scene that was never written but turned out to be very funny, I think." Cheryl Hines • • •
You know that crazy uncle who comes to every family event and upsets everybody with his strong views on everything politics to religion, and from gay marriage to Cuba? I’m guessing that that’s the way Rick Rosner and Lance Richlin see each other. The difference is that they’re not related; they’re best friends. Who disagree on pretty much everything. But unlike your crazy uncle, they give each other the opportunity and space to speak their mind and will argue each and every point. When they’re done, little has changed, but they stay friends. Kind of like you and Crazy Uncle Joe are still related even after he drives you fugging nuts. RICK ROSNER podcast excerpt: "We spent $1 trillion wrecking Iraq; Iraq didn't have anything to do with 9-11. If we saved the $1 trillion from going to Iraq, we could have hammered Afghanistan or got Pakistan to turn over all the bad guys." LANCE RICHLIN podcast excerpt: "I realized that we're gradually being conditioned into liberalism. It's very insidious. I've gradually thrown off every vestige of socialist leanings. I realized that what is best is old-fashioned capitalist democracy, what America used to be when we were strongest." Rosner, with an IQ of 192, is the smartest man in America. He’s also a liberal, award-winning comedy writer. Richlin, whose politics are ultra-conservative, is also in the arts; he is a painter. The two came together for a 60-hour marathon in which Rosner poses for a portrait of himself painted by his best friend, Richlin. As the painting comes together, video cameras capture them arguing about everything your mother taught you not to discuss in mixed company. The sessions are now visible to the public as “Lance vs. Rick,” a YouTube TV series. It’s maddening but also pretty funny to watch, because both sides of the political spectrum will find a champion for whom they can root. Also joining us is director of photography Joseph Orapeza. Rick Rosner • • • • • • • Lance Richlin • • • • • •
Back in the early days following Al Gore’s invention of the Internet, there were a few hardy souls delivering content via something called “Netscape.” One of those people, back in 1994, was me – Mr. Media. I started doing this as a syndicated weekly newspaper feature and web site back when newspaper editors didn’t know URLs from their – oh, never mind that. One of the first compadres I encountered was Aaron Barnhart, who was writing something called “Late Show News,” which followed David Letterman, Jay Leno and a few other guys whose names are better left unsaid. After five years, Aaron— the TV critic for the Kansas City Star —broadened his scope to all TV and changed the name of his web operation to TV Barn. He’s been at it ever since and is concerned a dean among his counterpart. Eric Deggans hasn’t been a TV critic quite as long but he joined the St. Petersburg Times in 1995 and has spent 11 years covering TV and media. He’s also covered music and served on the paper’s editorial board. Eric made his rep nationally by campaigning for greater representation of minorities in network television. You may have also seen him as a guest on Sunday morning talk shows, including CNN’s “Reliable Sources.” And he, like Aaron, runs a popular TV and media blog. His is called The Feed. I’ve asked these guys–both of whom I considered old friends—to join us tonight to talk about the upcoming TV season and the future of technology on TV. Eric Deggans • • • • • • • • Aaron Barnhart • • • •
It’s got to be the dancing eyes. There’s a lively sense of mischief and glee that I see when I gaze into actress Diane Farr’s big eyes on the TV screen, the kind that makes me think she would be a lot of fun to hang out with—and also the kind of girl who’d get you into a world of trouble without so much as blinking. Or maybe that’s just what the professionals call “acting.” DIANE FARR audio excerpt: "I think Denis Leary is exactly like the character he plays on 'Rescue Me.' He can be loud when he needs to be loud and he gets soft and mushy; he's much more in touch with his feminine side than most people would gather from the smoking rants he was known for when he began." Either way, from her days as sidekick to Dr. Drew Pinsky on MTV’s late night “Loveline” show, on through acting roles opposite Denis Leary on “The Job” and “Rescue Me,” past working with Rob Morrow for several seasons on “Numb3rs” and, most recently, getting down and dirty as David Duchovny’s teaching assistant on “Californication,” Farr has charisma to burn. Maxim magazine once called her “Rescue Me” character Laura “the world’s hottest firefighter.” No argument there! And a New York Times headline said, “Looks like Barbie, Talks Like Ken.” Diane Farr • • • •
One of the best magazine assignments I ever got was in the early 1980s and an editor challenged me to hang out in the Pinellas County, Florida, Medical Examiner’s Office for a week. I was just out of college and this was well beyond the scope of anything I ever previously attempted. The editor wanted a kind of detail from the story that I wasn’t sure I could accomplish. Perhaps seeing the fear in my eyes—of the assignment, not the dead bodies likely to be in the morgue—he gave me some simple advice. “Take one grain of sand, put it under a microscope and describe it to me,” he said. Probably the best advice I ever got. I was reminded of it when reading Ashley Kahn’s book, Kind of Blue: The Making of the Miles Davis Masterpiece. Because that’s exactly what Kahn did in doing an autopsy of two days in the career of an American master Miles Davis. Ashley Kahn
I was a crappy office manager. I had my shot back in 1988 as managing editor of Tampa Bay Weekly. The alternative newspaper had just been sold and I made a pretty good pitch to the new publisher to step in as editor. In terms of understanding the market and the nature of content the audience would enjoy, I think I had a pretty good handle. In terms of managing everyone from the production and editorial side to the advertising and circulation staff, eh, not so much. I had zero experience leading and inspiring others. I was extremely socially awkward, although I had managed to get engaged and was in the midst of planning a May wedding. Little things could easily set me off and I didn’t yet see the big picture, the long game, and all those other management clichés. JILL GEISLER podcast excerpt: "One of the key, intrinsic motivators that keeps us all going is a sense of confidence: I want to do more of what I'm good at!" My boss, the publisher, was based in Minneapolis and only parachuted in once a month, leaving the ad director and I in charge. He offered good advice and direction when he was in town, but we were otherwise on our own. And the ad director and I didn’t get along. That relationship went to hell when the publisher decided he needed one of the only two private offices for himself – even though he was rarely around -- and forced us to share a small space. The ad director wanted the door closed at all times because she was on the phone romancing advertisers; I wanted it open so I was accessible to the staff. It was all moot a few months later when Creative Loafing came to town from Atlanta and crushed us. In the years since, I have co-authored a number of business and management books. Shockingly, I have made a good living from that work, which is why I had a personal interest in author Jill Geisler’s new book, Work Happy: What Great Bosses Know. The book is drawn from her 20 years of experience running a TV newsroom – starting at the same age I was when I blew my shot in print. The difference is that Jill was really, really good at it. The Poynter Institute Since leaving the newsroom, Jill has been on the teaching staff of The Poynter Institute here in St. Petersburg, where she focuses on leadership and management. She also hosts an incredibly popular podcast, “What Great Bosses Know,” heard on Poynter Online and iTunes U And because of the Poynter connection and its promotion of stuff like ethics, I will point out that I have done work for Poynter over the years, although I don’t think Jill and I have worked together before. Oh, and we’re both represented by the same agent, the fabulous Jane Dystel. Jill Geisler • • • • •
Midnight Express was one of the scariest movies I ever saw. It was probably one of the most horrifying films you ever saw, too. The story of Billy Hayes, an American tourist caught attempting to leave Turkey by plane in 1970 with bags of hashish taped to his stomach, for which he was subsequently jailed for five years – and, with only 42 days left to serve, resentenced to life in prison – was made into a major motion picture starring Brad Davis and written by Oliver Stone. Coming Soon: Midnight Return: The Story of Billy Hayes and Turkey It won numerous Academy Awards and caused the Turkish government to go on the attack around the world against the filmmakers and Hollywood over its incredibly unflattering portrait of the Turkish nation. BILLY HAYES podcast excerpt: "You don't see any good Turks in the whole 'Midnight Express' film (written by Oliver Stone). That wasn't true to my experience or to reality... And in the film's escape scene -- which is like an afterthought! -- they kills a guard, which I did NOT do. Big fact change. That's not how I escaped prison." And it turns out that the Turks were right about one thing – many key aspects of Midnight Express may have been invented by Stone. In a new documentary film about his life, Hayes admits the movie got a several aspects of his Turkish experience wrong, starting with the fact he was not an innocent, first-time drug smuggler. When he was caught, it was at least his fourth time moving hash out of the country. Hayes apologizes in Midnight Return: The Story of Billy Hayes and Turkey to the Turkish government for the negative portrayal of all Turks created by the original film. It has more than a few surprises for anyone that remembers the original. Billy Hayes • • Midnight Return • • •
It seems like movie star Christian Slater has at last found solid footing on network television. His ABC series, “The Forgotten,” got off to an admittedly slow start in the ratings when it debuted last fall, but the network stayed with it and so has a growing audience. ELISHA CUTHBERT podcast excerpt: "When you come from a show like '24,' the bar is raised pretty high. Working with Christian before, I knew I was coming into a professional place and I knew it would be a lot of fun... My commitments to '24' are completed now. I think the door is still open, but it's trickier for them because they have to work around 'The Forgotten.'" Now the show stands to get a boost from the addition of a familiar face: Elisha Cuthbert, who we saw grow up over eight seasons—or days, if you will—of the Fox series, “24.” She’s joining "The Forgotten" as of Tuesday, February 9 in the recurring role of Maxine Denver. The sound you hear is a million Elisha fanboys around the world giving thanks to God. Elisha Cuthbert • • • • • Christian Slater • •
Somebody call Josh Radnor on CBS! The girl of his character’s dreams on “How I Met Your Mother” — actress JoAnna Garcia — has slipped away and landed her own sitcom on ABC! JOANNA GARCIA podcast excerpt: (I asked JoAnna, Are you the mother of those two kids on 'How I Met Your Mother'?) "No. Not anymore. Not if my new show works out." How are we ever gonna get these two together again so they can make babies and he can grow into Bob Saget’s voice? And while I don’t think co-star, Jennifer Finnigan, has been reported MIA on another network, once you guys see her, you won’t forget her. Must… push… away… from… photos… of… beautiful… young… actresses… Sorry, folks. Did I mention that “Better with You” debuts on Wednesday, September 22 @ 8:30 p.m. on ABC? Set your DVRs on stunning, guys. JoAnna Garcia Swisher • • • Jennifer Finnigan • • •
It’s 9 p.m. on the east coast, 6 p.m. on the west. Do you know where your favorite gay TV actor, straight actress who plays a pay-cable lesbian, or gay comedian is? Well, for the next 60 minutes, they’re going to be right here with me, parading through the show one after the other and promoting gay pride comedy shows at ACME Comedy Theater’s new “ACME Saturday Night” show in Los Angeles. Joining me, in order, will be Darryl Stephens, the star and title character of the popular Logo Channel series, “Noah’s Arc.” In the middle of what is shaping up to be a gay male sandwich will be the beautiful and straight actress Janina Gavankar, who stars as “Papi” on Showtime’s long-running “The L Word.” And then bringing up the funny at the rear will be my old Facebook friend whom I’ve never before spoken with, the star of “Last Comic Standing” and “Celebrity Fit Club,” comedian ANT. As for me, I’ll—literally and figuratively—be your straight man tonight. Janina Gavankar • • Darryl Stephens • • Ant • •
If the movie is titled Monogamy and it stars not one but two beautiful women, my money is on there being some sort of threat to the status quo in the title. I’m just guessing, because the movie opens on Friday, March 18 and I haven’t seen it yet, but I suspect that today’s guest, actress Meital Dohan, has something to do with challenging the relationship between co-stars Chris Messina and Rashida Jones. MEITAL DOHAN podcast excerpt: "I can say 'n!pple.' I can't say 'n!pples.' Because I think one n!pple is better than two n!pples. Think about it." Dohan will be a familiar face – and body – to fans of Showtime’s long-running series “Weeds.” On that show, she was Yael Hoffman, the very strong willed Israeli director of admissions for a Hebrew university where Andy hoped to find salvation. But, this being Weeds, viewers knew he’d find something else when she said, “I’m wearing a bra, so stop looking for my n!pples.” As one YouTube fan wrote, “That was the hottest way I have ever heard anyone say “n!pples.” Meital Dohan • • • More WEEDS interviews on Mr. Media®! (June 2009) • (October 2009) • (November 2010) • (October 2008)
I met Gene Simmons once. His band, KISS, was touring without the makeup for the first time and we were backstage before a show at the Lakeland Civic Center. Simmons was an imposing figure, even making casual conversation, but we didn’t talk long. Pretty soon, the late concert promoter John Stoll of Fantasma Productions walked up to party with Gene Simmons. Each of his arms was around the waist of a beautiful, glammed out young lady whom he introduced to Simmons. The chit-chat was officially over. “Sorry, Bob. Gotta go,” Simmons said, trading places with Stoll between the girls. “Maybe we can talk later.” Never happened. Anyway, this telephone interview with Simmons from January 7, 1985, is one of my all-time favorites. This captures a moment in time when Simmons was funny, direct and fascinating, talking about KISS, of course, but also making a movie with Michael Crichton, Tom Selleck and Kirstie Allie called Runaway, and why he's not likely to be marriage material. I hope you’ll enjoy this Mr. Media “Lost Tape.” Gene Simmons • • • KISS • • •
Jim Melvin has been a friend of mine for more than twenty years and, for as long as I’ve known him, his driving interest has been writing an epic fantasy series, something that might find shelf space alongside J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. But life kept getting in the way. He was married, raised two wonderful daughters, had a full-time job as an editor at the St. Petersburg Times, and did all the other good stuff that eats up time and interferes with achieving those very personal dreams we all entertain. But that’s life, right? Well, a few years ago, Jim decided it was now or never. He retired from the newspaper, took his family and savings, and moved to North Carolina. He put everything else aside to fulfill what he believed to be his destiny and nearly two- thousand pages that became The Death Wizard Chronicles. The first book in the six-book epic fantasy was released in September by Rain Publishing, and a new installment will be delivered to bookstores every thirty days until the entire series is available in February 2008. It’s a hell of a story, a hell of a series, and Jim Melvin is a hell of a guy. Jim Melvin • • • • • • Is Pali real?
What red-blooded man’s heart doesn’t start racing at the “Speed Racer” theme? My guest today is part of the revival of the immortal Speed Racer. He is IDW comic book writer , and with the release of of the Japanese anime classic, I thought it would be fun to talk a little Speed today. We’ll also touch on some of Arie’s other work. He is a regular contributor to MAD magazine, for example, and also wrote the non-fiction book, Masters of the Comic Book Universe Revealed! This fall, his second book, From Krakow to Krypton, will be published. Arie Kaplan • • • • •
In the world of comics, Denis Kitchen can do it all. Cartoonist, editor, publisher, museum consultant—heck, he even produced a daughter, Alexa, who is rapidly developing into a word-class artist in her own right. I’ve known Denis personally since 2002, when he vetted me as the guy who would eventually write the authorized biography, . It gives me great pleasure to bring him on the show today to talk about his two new books, The Art of Harvey Kurtzman: The Mad Genius of Comics, cowritten with Paul Buhle, and Underground Classics: The Transformation of Comics into Comix–with an X, co-authored with James Danky. Next year, Dark Horse will bring out a monograph devoted to Mr. Kitchen’s own work, at which time we’ll have him come back and talk about that, too. Denis Kitchen • • • • •
There’s nothing odd about legendary underground comix artist and publisher Denis Kitchen. Everything I’ve ever learned about the man—both before we met and became friends in 2002 or since—has always been compelling. This is a rare creative animal who has thrived in roles both creative and corporate, even if he met the latter challenge kicking and screaming all the way home each day. Kitchen—and his company, Kitchen Sink Press—were present at the birth of the underground comix movement in the 1960s and ‘70s. He is responsibly for boosting the careers of talents as extremely different as Robert Crumb and Will Eisner—and everyone in-between . DENIS KITCHEN podcast excerpt: "I was a card-carrying hippie back in the day. The psychedelic experience, for me, was good. I wouldn't recommend it for everyone. It's one way of generating ideas. More significantly it's a way of generating insights, either internally or about the universe. These are all aids. Where we get ideas from is very mysterious. So my feeling is, anything that helps the creative process--not a bad thing." Over the last year, Kitchen has been more productive than he has been in decades, co-authoring a retrospective of Harvey Kurtzman, the first editor of Mad magazine, called The Art of Harvey Kurtzman: The Mad Genius of Comics, with Paul Buhle; a history of underground comix called Underground Classics: The Transformation of Comics into Comix, with James Danky; and producing a look back at his own career, , with text by Charles Brownstein. And just yesterday, I saw a press release for an even newer collection of his work, Denis Kitchen’s Chipboard Sketchbook. Denis Kitchen • • • • •
There is no doubting that Jimmy Smits is a big TV star, one with high Q ratings and some of that LLJS magic—you know, Ladies Love Jimmy Smits. But while he’s also a man’s man, it doesn’t hurt to have a guy like that surrounded by some beautiful actresses, too—especially when his new NBC show, “Outlaw,” is going head-to-head with a new drama from another legendary TV icon, Tom Selleck. CARLY POPE podcast excerpt: "Jimmy Smits is a mythological character. He's an expert human being." Enter Carly Pope, a very sexy young actress with a strong male following, thanks to her appearances in Canadian films such as—hold your ears, tea party members—Young People F*cking and Itty Bitty T!tty Committee. (And for the record, she’s the second cast member I’ve interviewed from YPF, as it's known in ads.) She’s done salacious American comedy, too, such as “Calif@rnication” with David Duchovny and “Dirt” with Courtney Cox. And, of course, she was a regular on “Popular” and appeared in the “24” TV movie and five episodes of season 7. Soon she’ll be seen in the big screen sequel to S.W.A.T. with Robert Patrick. Carly Pope • •
I like to think of myself as one of those guys with ink in his veins. At 13, I concluded that the New Brunswick Home News, my hometown paper in New Jersey, was inadequate, so I used my own money to subscribe to the Newark Star-Ledger. At 14, I sold my first freelance story to a hobbyist newspaper in Indiana, the Tri-State Trader. At 22, just out of college, I began stringing newspaper stories to the St. Petersburg Times; at 26, I had a short-lived stint as pop music critic for the Tampa Tribune. And at 27, I was the editor of the alternative paper, Tampa Bay Weekly, for a year. Today, I’m married to a newspaper editor. All that said, I’ve been predicting the death of the print edition of newspapers for 10 years. But not the death of newspapers themselves; I firmly believe that the content will outlast all of us, it’s just in search of a new delivery system. Which brings me to today’s guest, Paul Gillin, the man behind the popular blog, NewspaperDeathWatch.com. He is also the author of the books, The New Influencers and Secrets of Social Media Marketing. Paul Gillin • • • • • • •
Following months of rumors, the two satellite radio companies, Sirius, and XM, last week confirmed one of the industry’s worst-kept secrets: their only hope of ever making a buck may well be combining their businesses. • Will Howard Stern and Martha Stewart soon be under the same K-Mart comforters as Opie and Anthony and Oprah Winfrey? • Will Major League Baseball and the National Football League both be available to sports fans from the same radio provider? • Will Sirius honcho Mel Karmazin be satisfied being number two to XM chairman Gary Parsons? • Will Mr. Media ever have to listen to “Radar Love” on terrestrial radio again? To address a few of these issues, I have invited B. Eric Rhoads, publisher of Radio Ink magazine, into the Mr. Media podcast and web site this week. Published every other week since 1989, Radio Inkis perhaps best-known for its annual “40 Most Powerful People in Radio” issue. It’s the radio industry version of the Forbes 400. I have known Eric for almost eighteen years, since I wrote for the predecessor to Radio Ink, the Pulse of Radio. Eric’s publications are devoted to the business of radio, so I thought he would be the perfect person to offer perspective on the proposed Sirius/XM merger. Radio Ink • • •
Here are some of the things I learned from reading Guy Kawasaki’s new business manual, Reality Check: The Irreverent Guide to Outsmarting, Outmanaging, and Outmarketing Your Competition: • He only eats at three Silicon Valley restaurants. That way he’ll be remembered by the staff and treated as a regular. • He flies United Airlines 75 to 100 times a year, but Air Canada only once annually. United gives him deference for this patronage; Air Canada doesn’t know him from, well, me. • And if you want to suck up to him, tell him he’s not a bad skater for an old guy. Oh, and there’s a lot of great business direction and tips in the book, too. In fact, if you buy only one book in the next five years to help you get ahead in business, whether analog or digital, make it this book. It’s packed with easy to digest nuggets of sizzling consultant goodness. That’s not sucking up, either—that’s just the truth. Guy Kawasaki • • • • • •
I suspect that when Larry Hankin is out in public, he gets a lot of funny looks. Double-takes. Triple-takes. Because he is THAT GUY. That actor you’ve seen a hundred times on TV shows and in films, but you honestly don’t know his name. And unlike a guy like me who has a face for radio, there is no doubt that Larry Hankin has a mug for the screen with his trademark disheveled appearance and deadpan affect. LARRY HANKIN audio excerpt: "I was supposed to actually, manually, wreck that Winnebago on Breaking Bad. I was in the machine, practicing crushing cars. I was so pumped to do it. But they lost the light." Where do you know him from? He plays homeless quite a bit, in episodes of “ER” he literally played a character known as “Bearded Homeless Guy.” He’s also been on “Breaking Bad,” “CSI, “The Sarah Silverman Program,” “My Name is Earl” and on “Friends” he had the recurring role of weird Mr. Heckles on “Friends.” The “Weird” is officially capitalized.) His TV career goes all the way back to “That Girl” with Marlo Thomas. He’s also had plenty of movie work, including Pretty Woman and Escape From Alcatraz. Genre fans will know Hankin from his appearances on “Star Trek: Voyager,” “Lois and Clark” and the Alec Baldwin film, The Shadow. Even more interesting is the work for which he is not known: he was actually Larry David’s first choice for the role of Kramer on “Seinfeld.” He didn’t get it, of course, but in the show’s fourth season, he played an actor playing Kramer in a pilot based on Jerry’s life. Hankin’s latest effort is as a landlord in the new indie film, Buzzkill, which stars Daniel Raymont, “Breaking Bad” actress Krysten Ritter and "Saturday Night Live" star Darrell Hammond. Buzzkill was just released on DVD. Larry Hankin • • • • •
I still remember the first time I heard the song. It was September 1969, I was a new fourth grader in Mrs. Arnesan’s class at Judd Elementary School in North Brunswick, New Jersey, riding the school bus home. We were on Black Horse Lane, then a shady, rural road, driving all the way to the end of it to drop off one of my classmates at her secluded home. As usual when we had our regular driver at the wheel, WABC 77 AM was blasting through the tinny speakers. The song, days away from hitting No. 1 in the nation, had an irresistible rhythm; every kid riding the bus that day stopped what they were doing or talking about to listen: Sugar Aw honey, honey You are my candy girl And you got me wanting you. It’s the kind of moment that sticks with you a lifetime – at least it did with me. It also launched a million questions: How come Archie sounded so squeaky when he spoke but sang “Sugar Sugar” so smoothly? Were girls made of candy? Who was hotter, Betty or Veronica? (Okay, 9-year-old Mr. Media probably didn’t use the word “hotter,” but the intent was the same.) Did Miss Grundy look that ugly when she was my age? RON DANTE audio excerpt: "First time they put the lyric for 'Sugar Sugar' in front of me, I really had to create a character in my mind to sing the song. I was kind of hearing Donovan in my head, but it came out in my own New York, East Coast sound." Anyway, out of thin air an opportunity arose to interview Ron Dante, the Archies singer who was the real voice of The Archies. I flashed back to that day on the school bus and knew the answer would be “Yes.” In the years since, Dante – who was essentially discovered by Don Kirshner – has been a singer and record producer, having worked most famously with a young Barry Manilow, producing all of Manilow’s platinum albums and 18 Top Ten singles from 1973 through 1981. He also did production work for Cher, Irene Cara, Pat Benatar and John Denver. Ron Dante • • • • •
He started as a mandolin player. In Philadelphia. Tell me that wasn’t devastating for a 13-year-old kid! Thanks, Dad! But there’s no sign it left a lasting scar on the musical inclinations of Josh Flagg, who just released his debut album, Devastate Me. It’s got a modern, power pop sound that should easily catch on with a big crowd. JOSH FLAGG podcast excerpt: "'Devastate Me' was one of the first songs that got written for this record. As it developed, a lot of songs ended up having themes of destruction, big and small, personal and impersonal." If you haven’t heard Flagg yet, the show starts with a song off “Devastate Me” called “Seeing Red”; later in the show, Flagg offers an exclusive, live acoustic version of the title track, "Devastate Me," performed in his home studio! Josh Flagg • • • • • • • •
NBC’s “Friday Night Lights” exists in one of network TV’s most rarified niches. It’s one of those shows that, if seen strictly by the numbers, should long be a memory. But tomorrow night, May 7, 2010, it’ll be back on the Peacock for its season four premiere at 8 p.m. DREW WATERS podcast excerpt: "When season three was ending, I had no clue until the twelfth episode that I was taking over. Season four is not holding back any punches. It goes in hard." There aren’t many times that NBC has guessed right on quality programming in recent years. This is the network that renewed the hardcore cop show “Southland” for a second season then canceled it without airing a single episode of that order. And you know which company yanked the “Tonight Show” away from Conan O’Brien and gave it back to the shark-jumping Jay Leno. But in the case of “Lights,” NBC guessed right. It took on a partner, DirecTV, went for a shorter season commitment more in tune with a cable drama such as “Mad Men” or “Rescue Me,” and gave fresh life to a fan favorite. That, and it’s a show centered around high school football. In Texas. Hard to go wrong there. All of that makes my guest today, Drew Waters, a lucky man. He was not an actor on the show’s original network run, coming on board in a limited role after the show became one of the first network/satellite hybrids. In other words, if the NBC show died in its infancy, he would never have been on it. Drew Waters • • •
This is my third year of being the ringmaster of the Mr. Media radio show and I’m starting to see previous guests return with new projects. And that is certainly the case tonight, as cartoonist and historian returns to the show to talk about her new project about Nell Brinkley's Girls, The Brinkley Girls. TRINA ROBBINS podcast excerpt: "She was an early feminist. A lot of the work is just pretty girls -- she loved drawing pretty girls and she was great at it -- but the protagonists in her stories were these gorgeous, strong, feisty women." Trina was a great guest the first time around, talking about her original comic book character, GoGirl! This time, she’s here to promote a new collection of full color art by , drawn between 1913 and 1940. It’s a beautiful coffee table book laden with history and significance for both comics and advertising. Trina Robbins • • • •
Trina Robbins, the author of the GoGirl! series of comics from Dark Horse, joins us today as our guest. Up until Manga arrived on our shores, American comic editors and publishers suffered from a kind of collective amnesia and used to say, well, girls don’t read comics. I mean, I have some unbelievable quotes from them. They actually said, “Girls’ brains are wired in a different way, so they just don’t get comics.” Somehow, it never, ever, occurred to them that girls weren’t reading comics because girls are not interested in overly muscled guys with square jaws punching each other out. Trina Robbins • • •
Next on a very special episode of “Chuck,” actor Zeljko Ivanek as you’ve never seen him before: Happy — no, giddy! — smiling at a box of newborn puppies. Yeah, like that will ever happen! ZELJKO IVANEK podcast excerpt: "We are geared towards one 'Event.' I don't even know what is. But it's one event that will be a game changer. I don't know if it will be the first season or the second season. The world as we know it will be changed." Zeljko Ivanek is one of those actors who, in character, could have made tough guy actors Lee Marvin or Robert Mitchum cry real tears. He almost always plays a hardass, SOB, an unsympathetic ballbuster. And he’s really, really good at it. He was that guy on “Homicide: Life on the Street.” And again on “Oz.” And pretty much everywhere else. And that’s the thing: Ivanek sometimes seems like he’s on every drama on TV. And maybe he is: He won an Emmy for his work on “Damages.” He’s carried recurring roles of late on “Heroes,” “24,” “Big Love” and even “True Blood.” And now he’s the soft-hearted director of the CIA on the new NBC thriller, “The Event.” (And I was just kidding about the “soft-hearted” part.)
Lamorne Morris may just be the luck, luck, luckiest actor in Hollywood. When the studios were casting for pilots last spring, he was not among the actors chosen for Fox’s “New Girl,” starring Zooey Deschanel. Then a funny thing happened to one of the guys who was, Damon Wayans, Jr. His other show, “Happy Endings,” got picked up for a full season over on ABC after an abbreviated spring run. LAMORNE MORRIS podcast excerpt: "I really wanted this show and it came back to me... This is a crazy story." "New Girl" star Lamorne Morris (Photo: Autumn Dewilde/FOX) Lucky Damon. “Happy Endings” became a certifiable success this fall. But even luck, luck, luckier Lamorne Morris, who stepped in as the third male roommate sharing quarters with adorable nerd Zooey Deschanel. Because “New Girl” is the biggest breakout comedy of the season and it only gets better week to week. (You’d know that if you had seen the difference from episode one, which introduced the situation to this comedy, and the Thanksgiving episode, which smoked it out of one apartment and into the next one. Poor dead neighbor. But I digress.) Anyway, Morris, whose previous credits include a run with the Upright Citizens Brigade, has a good story to tell. At least I hope he does. Lamorne Morris • • •
If you've ever watched ABC’s romantic dramedy “Ugly Betty,” you know that Betty’s boyfriend Henry will always be the one who got away. And came back. And got away again. The actor who plays “Henry” is Chris Gorham, a busy young man who is a husband, a father, and host of “ACME Saturday Night” this Saturday, January 30. You can watch the online comedy TV show streaming live online @ CHRIS GORHAM podcast excerpt: "I feel bad for everyone on the show. Silvio Horta wanted to tell the story in five years... at least the audience will get a proper ending. But I feel bad for my friends at 'Ugly Betty.'" (Moments before this interview began, announced that “Ugly Betty” would wrap up the series in its remaining episodes, so that’s where the conversation begins…) Chris Gorham • • • • •
The last time Christopher Gorham was on Mr. Media, he and a lot of other people were dealing with the sudden cancellation of ABC’s “Ugly Betty.” Gorham made an indelible impression on that show as Betty’s frustrating as all get out boyfriend, Henry, who was always just beyond her reach. Gorham wasn’t yet sure if Henry would make a final appearance on Betty—he did—but what he really wanted to discuss was a new USA Network show he was shooting called “Covert Affairs.” This is a high-profile gig for Gorham, playing opposite Piper Perabo and Peter Gallagher; he plays Auggie Anderson, a CIA military intelligence agent who was blinded while on assignment. The show airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. CHRISTOPHER GORHAM podcast excerpt: "I can't follow things on 'Covert Affairs' with my eyes; I have to follow sounds. I can't react to people's facial expressions There are some limitations in acting." And we’re going to talk about that today, but first I want to know the same thing that actress Alyssa Milano asked in her blog last week: what’s with getting his belt tugged by the hand of an otherwise out-of-sight female? Chris Gorham • • • • •
The first letter to the editor I ever wrote and saw published was to Crazy Magazine, a competitor to Mad, Cracked and Sick in the mid-1970s. Crazy was a Marvel Comics take on satire and, being a card-carrying Fan Of Old Marvel (F.O.O.M., for those in the know), I took my previous teen love of Mad and crossed over to Stan Lee’s new mag. GER APELDOORN podcast excerpt: "One of my particular favorites creators is Russ Heath. His work is in 'Behaving Madly' a lot. Almost anything he did in the genre is such high quality!" What I didn’t know until a few years later was that Crazy was not Lee’s first attempt at satire (outside of Not Brand Ecch! comics). Back in the 1950s, Lee created and edited Snafu for Red Circle Magazines, a.k.a., Atlas/Marvel. According to Ger Apeldoorn and Craig Yoe, co-authors of a new history of the genre, Behaving Madly: Zany, Loco, Cockeyed, Rip-off, Satire Magazines, Lee was planning the first issue of Snafu even as Bill Gaines, Harvey Kurtzman, and the Usual Gang of Idiots were in production of Mad’s second. Behaving Madly is an irresistible window into a forgotten era of occasionally first-rate (but mostly second- and third-rate) satire comics of the 1950s. Apeldoorn and Yoe – the latter of whom appeared on Mr. Media to talk about his book, Secret Identity: The Fetish Art of Superman’s Co-creator Joe Shuster – have crafted a must-read for humor fans of all generations. (You might also want to search the Mr. Media archives for my previous interviews with Mad contributors Al Jaffee, Arnold Roth and Sergio Aragones.) Ger Apeldoorn • • • • Craig Yoe • • • • • •
Remember when convenience stores had spinning racks with signs at the top that shouted, “Hey, Kid! Comics!”? Actually, I barely remember that myself, it’s been so long. Finding comic books hasn’t been easy since the late 1970s. And the comic book companies don’t even make the real dough from the so-called 32-page “pamphlets” anymore. The real money is in selling characters to the movies or as toys. So what’s a guy to do if he just wants the simple pleasure of reading a comic book? Fire up the web browser and head for . ComicMix is all things to all people, publishing online comic books as well as being a one-stop shop for comics news and views. Joining me to day is one of the three founders of ComicMix.com, a veteran of DC Comics himself, Mike Gold. Mike Gold • • ComicMix.com • • • • • •
I think the reason that many people who never read comic books find themselves drawn to graphic novels isn’t because they come in hard cover or because they cost more or because they’re hip at the moment. I think it’s because we’re more likely to find little pieces of ourselves in the stories, which are often more autobiographical than Spider-Man or Green Lantern could ever be. At least that’s the thought I kept returning to as I read through ’s latest graphic novel, Stop Forgetting to Remember. The youthful sexual frustration, the aimlessness, the side comments to no one in particular, the social doubts, the eagerness/anxiety over fatherhood, the pain of maintaining an adult friendship -- there were so many things that could have been ripped from my own life that I couldn’t put the book down. Kuper, whose previous graphic novels include Sticks and Stones, The System, and an adaptation of Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, is perhaps most widely recognized as the artist behind Mad magazine’s legendary “Spy vs. Spy” these days. And his strip The Virgin was optioned by HBO as well as actor Forrest Whitaker’s production company. Peter Kuper • •
If you love the speed, contradictions, dangers and delights of Manhattan, you’ll find a lot to love in artist Peter Kuper’s new graphic collection, Drawn to New York. I only hesitate to call it a graphic novel, because it is so much more than a single comic story – or even stories – in book form. PETER KUPER audio excerpt: "If you don't want to rub shoulders with people, New York is definitely not your town." My power with words probably won’t do justice to the remarkable variety of artistic styles and messages found in Kuper’s book, so let me just give a few examples of what’s inside and then Peter will join us to explain: • There is an illustration of the Empire State Building, tipped upside down and looking more like a hypodermic needle; • In one short story, Kuper and a friend climb the suspension bands on the Brooklyn Bridge late at night only to end the evening with a less than celebratory hooker; • We also get an idea of what would happen if a modern-day Tarzan came to New York; Order from Amazon.com by clicking the book cover above! Order 'Stop Forgetting to Remember: The Autobiography of Walter Kurtz' by Peter Kuper, available right now at a great price by clicking on the book cover above! • And Kuper shows us how a little old lady came to be crossing a busy street alone late one night. There are also myriad single page illustrations and graphics that could probably be turned into a series of stand-alone posters, such as Mickey Mouse standing amidst the chaos of the city saying, “Remain Calm.” Another helpful sketch is called “Odorama: A visual guide to city smells.” Use your imagination to figure out what that’s about. This is Peter Kuper’s second visit to Mr. Media. He was actually one of the podcast’s first-ever guests, back in 2007, promoting his graphic novel, Stop Forgetting to Remember. Peter Kuper • • •
I talk to a lot of authors, between interviews on Mr. Media and the men and women I work with each day as a ghostwriter myself. And the one topic that frustrates every last one of them, from newbie to established professional, is how to get their latest work of literary genius in front of new readers. Wasn’t the Internet supposed to solve issues such as that? FAUZIA BURKE podcast excerpt: "A lot of times authors will call me and say, 'My nephew's cousin said I have to be on Instagram!' Or, ' I should start a podcast!' Or they repeat any of the other social media buzzwords they hear. 'Should I be on Snapchat?' There is anxiety over missing out on not doing enough. 'There is some cool thing that, if I was only on it, I would be the next New York Times best-selling author!'" In reality, there are so many options – and dead ends – that book authors really need a professional guide. Someone like Fauzia Burke. This experienced publicist has worked with authors such as Sue Grafton, Alan Alda and Deepak Chopra and has mastered the digital highways. She recently put together much of what she knows in a new book, Online Marketing for Busy Authors: A Step-by-Step Guide. Fauzia Burke • • • • • • • •
If you’re a woman in search of someone else’s emotional train wreck to make you feel better about your own life, film director Henry Jaglom has got a movie or two for you. Maybe it’s his latest, Irene in Time, about a young singer with severe daddy abandonment issues. Or maybe you’d like his previous film, 2008’s Hollywood Dreams, about a would-be actress who oozes charisma but gets so nervous in every social situation she makes you nervous. TANNA FREDERICK podcast excerpt: "With Henry Jaglom, people either love his films or they hate his films. There isn't really an in between. Henry demands the actors take all of their subtext of what's going on and use it as their through-line, their dialogue. You walk away after watching Henry's films feeling better about yourself—'So I guess I'm not the only one who can be neurotic at times.' What drives him is making people not feel alone. It's human emotion." Tanna Frederick is the common thread between these films. She’s the star of both, a big presence on screen. It could be that huge mane of cascading red hair, but I think it’s actually the emotions that pour out from her. The story of how she got to this point is pure Hollywood and I hope to entice her to tell it, but suffice to say that Jaglom already has plans for her to star in a sequel to Hollywood Dreams. And she’s currently appearing live in a Jaglom play, “Just 45 Minutes from Broadway,” at the Edgemar Center for the Arts in Santa Monica, California. You can order tickets online at . Tanna Frederick • • • • •
In his new book, I Have Fun Everywhere I Go, Mike Edison does for sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll what Hulk Hogan did for wrestling! No, scratch that. Edison hates Hogan. Saying that will just piss him off. How about: Mike Edison does for sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll what Lennon & McCartney did for elevator music! Damn, that won’t work either. Edison hates the Beatles, too. Here’s a thought: Let me just read the subtitle of Edison’s book. It’s so long, people will think it’s an introduction and not notice that I left out all the stuff about him being a former editor of High Times, Cheri, and Main Event, a contributor to Screw and Hustler magazines, and drummer in bands such as Raunch Hands, Pleasure F*ckers, and Rocket Train Delta Science Arkestra. Please welcome my guest today, Mike Edison, author of I Have Fun Everywhere I Go: Savage Tales of Pot, Porn, Punk Rock, Pro Wrestling, Talking Apes, Evil Bosses, Dirty Blues, American Heroes, and the Most Notorious Magazines in the World. Mike Edison • • • • • •
Those are just a few of the topics I’ll be discussing today with my guest, Mike Edison, author of a glorious romp through the modern history of sex magazine publishing, Dirty! Dirty! Dirty! Of Playboys, Pigs, and Penthouse Paupers. MIKE EDISON podcast excerpt: "People who try to claim the moral high ground, why is it they're the first ones wearing silver cufflinks and being hauled off to the hoosegow? Why is it that the guys that scream loudest about morality... Look at Newt Gingrich! Hypocrisy is the default position of the Republican Party." I’m telling you this up front so that those of you with sensitive moral constitutions – or if you’re simply under the age of 18 – will have plenty of time to watch and/or listen to something else. You might even hear a word or two about Lenny Bruce or George Carlin, Linda Lovelace or Harry Reems. For those who remain, I think you’ll find this conversation at times provocation, maybe a little shocking and rarely dull. This is Mike Edison’s second visit to Mr. Media – the first was to discuss I Have Fun Everywhere I Go: Savage Tales of Pot, Porn, Punk Rock, Pro Wrestling, Talking Apes, Evil Bosses, Dirty Blues, America -- and he talks the way he writes: rat-a-tat-tat, take-no-prisoners, waste no words, leave the reader no choice but to keep turning the pages and the listener no choice but to stay tuned. Edison is a long-time magazine writer, formerly the grand inhaler at High Times magazine, editor at Screw and a prolific staff letter writer at Penthouse. (You know, the kind that begin: “Dear Penthouse, I never thought it would ever happen to me, but…”). Personally, I think much of his style comes from his other obsession: he’s a rock ‘n’ roll drummer and there’s always a rhythm to his presentation, whether he’s talking with his lips or his hands. Mike Edison • • • • • •
Here’s the difference between you and Lisa Ann Walter: When you’ve been sitting around having a little too much to drink, complaining about how nobody looks like those stringbeans on “So You Think You Can Dance,” or how “The Biggest Loser” would be more fun if the contestants were dancers, nobody cares what you think. And if you, dear listener, suggested a major cable channel produce a TV series called you would have been laughed out the door. That is the difference between you and Lisa Ann Walter, a successful actress for years who is not only the creator of the Oxygen Network’s new hit “Dance Your Ass Off,” she’s also one of its on-camera judges. Lisa Ann Walter • • • •
Here’s the opening of a conversation that would get me divorced: “Honey, I’m going to spend the next 17 months researching and reporting about President Obama’s first year in office. Oh, and I’m going to keep my full-time job at the magazine and keep showing up as a talking head on TV, too.” Of course, I’m not Jonathan Alter, national affairs columnist at Newsweek, frequent political analyst on MSNBC and author of a fascinating, new, behind the scenes book, The Promise, President Obama, Year One. If your only previous exposure to Alter has been in small doses via his appearances on MSNBC and “Meet the Press,” you’ll be impressed at how well his approach to politics and journalism holds up over the course of an entire book. There is straight reporting, of course, but also the occasional zinger or observation that captures the point in a sharp-edged arrow—I mean sentence. JONATHAN ALTER podcast excerpt: "My wife has a really busy job, too. She is a supervising producer for 'The Colbert Report.' Her job is to book the guests on that show. Stephen Colbert--and rightly so--has high standards for the guests they get... We do a lot of shop talk (in bed). A lot of it revolves around, who should she get for the show and who should I interview for the book?" And it isn’t a mere bow to Barack Obama as “The Promised One.” Alter identifies mistakes in strategy, errors in judgment and more than a few of the new president’s character flaws. As a teen, I found Joe McGinness’s The Selling of the Presidency 1968 oddly compelling. It, in turn, propelled me to read histories of most 20th century presidents. So, for me, The Promise is like a Charleston Chew. Its flavor lasts all day and leaves you wanting more. Alter is joining us on Mr. Media today to promote his appearance on Tuesday, May 25 at Forum Truth in Sarasota, Florida. His talk starts at 7:30 p.m. and the cost of admission includes a copy of his book, The Promise. Jonathan Alter • • • • •
There are a handful of people that social media aficionados and professionals follow religiously for their insight and direction, people such as Chris Brogan, Seth Godin and Robert Scoble, for example. If you know who those guys are, you should probably also get to know social media guru Peter Shankman. Shankman is an industry unto himself, a networker of the first degree who has taken the practice of public relations and marketing to new heights via his mastery of social media. He is best known in journalism circles as the founder of Help A Reporter Out—a.k.a., HARO—a repository of expert sources intended to help out last minute reporting assignments. Journalists send information requests in to HARO—more than 1,200 requests come in a week—and Shankman hooks them up. Shankman also is the founder and CEO of The Geek Factory, a Manhattan-based marketing and PR strategy firm. Over the years, his clients have included Snapple, NASA, Walt Disney World and many more. Peter Shankman • • • •
There are all kinds of journalistic storytelling styles, starting with your basic who/what/when/where and why. There is also “if it bleeds, it leads.” And let’s not forget the “New Journalism” class of the 1960s and ‘70s, exemplified by everyone from Tom Wolfe to Truman Capote it used dramatic literary techniques to add depth to the reader’s involvement. These days, some bloggers and tweeters have taken short-form journalism to new highs—and lows. But how many people think of comic book and graphic novel creators as part of journalism? I see a few hands raised, but not nearly enough. I would suggest to you that a wave of artist and writers who once would have been relegated to the comic book ghetto are creating compelling journalism in hand-drawn pictures these days. , publishes a series of what he calls “nonfiction picto-essays”—essentially journalism in sequential art. The latest example I can recommend to you is ’s new book, A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge. It’s the story of a handful of very different residents of the Crescent City in the days leading up to and the months following the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Reading it, you’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you’ll come away with an informed perspective about the lives of average Americans dealing with extraordinary challenges. Josh Neufeld • • • • •
Jordan Brady has been on stage, told the jokes, suffered the hecklers and luxuriated in the belly laughs. He also knows the pitfalls of standup comedy and comedians. So who better to chronicle their lives than one of their own? I just finished watching I Am Comic, Brady’s funny, fast-moving tribute to the men and women who make their living analyzing their lives, picking at their own zits on stage, humiliating you, me and that fat, obnoxious idiot who made the mistake of sitting in the front row. More than 80 people were interview for the film, including comics such as: Sarah Silverman, Carlos Mencia, Jim Gaffigan, Jeff Foxworthy, Tim Allen, Nick Kroll, Kathy Griffin, Dave Attell, Janeane Garofalo, Carrot Top, Louis C.K, Roseanne Barr, Todd Glass, Iliza Shlesinger, and Phyllis Diller. Brady began as a stand-up comedian in the early 1980’s. His first feature film, Dill Scallion, world premiered at the 1999 Slamdance Film Festival. He went on to direct three more feature comedies, including Waking Up In Reno with Billy Bob Thornton, Charlize Theron, Patrick Swayze and Natasha Richardson. He’s also directed more than 600 national TV commercials. Brady is touring the country with his movie, showing it at film and comedy fests, building buzz, preparing for an upcoming cable television showing and a fall DVD release. I Am Comic • • • JORDAN BRADY podcast excerpt: "What comes across in the movie is that standup comedians are addicted to the palpable laugh they hear from the audience, the connection they get, and some, the connection. I realized I had to do a documentary on this type of psyche."
Anna Gunn’s arrival in the city of Deadwood on the HBO series of the same name set off one of the craziest love triangles in history. The widow of Sheriff Bullock’s brother changed that crazy, foul-mouthed, Wild West town forever. Now, it’s early in the run of the new critically-acclaimed AMC series “Breaking Bad,” but I suspect that as Bryan Cranston’s wife, Skyler, the lovely Anna Gunn will be anything but shy and retiring. ANNA GUNN audio excerpt: "In 'Deadwood,' it was a huge population that they were filming, and it was a really large cast, and so when we did have moments and scenes, yes, you did really have to figure out how to mine those experiences. And on 'Breaking Bad,' the wonderful thing about both of these writers is that they understand in subtle ways and even with the most seemingly minute or everyday kind of scenarios, there is something being revealed about their relationships, about the people, and about where they are in their life just by the way they respond, by the looks they give, all of that."
Yvette Nicole Brown has been on TV shows opposite Hugh Laurie, William Shatner and Larry David, and in movies opposite Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Hudson, Eddie Murphy, Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., and Gerald Butler. Heck, she started her career by signing a contract as a Motown recording artist. YVETTE NICOLE BROWN podcast excerpt: "I knew that Joel McHale was very, very smart and very funny. And I read the script. When your body has an involuntary reaction to something on a written page--it was like a no-brainer. Then you find out Chevy Chase is involved, the Russo Brothers directed it--okay, I'm in. It was an easy decision to make." But when my daughter saw her in the cast of Community alongside Chevy Chase—who she loved in Christmas Vacation—all that mattered was—she was on Drake & Josh! So Yvette Nicole Brown—star of Drake & Josh AND the new NBC Thursday night sitcom Community, airing Thursday nights at 8 p.m.—welcome to Mr. Media. Yvette Nicole Brown • • • •
Scorsese and DeNiro have this kind of relationship. So do Spielberg and Hanks. And Scorsese has it with DiCaprio, too, now that I think of it. Every so often, a director finds his match with an actor who “gets” their material, their vibe, their je ne sais qua. That’s what’s happening between writer/director Henry Jaglom and actress Tanna Frederick. HENRY JAGLOM podcast excerpt: "The chemistry between Noah Wyle and Tanna Frederick takes this film to a whole other level. Every review is talking about it. They have this strange, funny, romantic chemistry; you can't take your eyes off of them." Queen of the Lot — a sequel to Hollywood Dreams — opens at selected theaters in Los Angeles on Friday, November 19. It is the third movie that Jaglom has written and directed in which Frederick has starred; they also worked together on Irene in Time. Queen is actually their fourth collaboration, I believe, if you count her starring in his play, “Just 45 Minutes From Broadway,” which ran for several months this summer at the Edgemar Center for the Arts in Santa Monica, California and which they’ve already filmed for a movie. In her three Jaglom starring roles, Frederick typically plays some version of an emotional train wreck. Different characters in Irene in Time and Hollywood Dreams/Queen of the Lot, but – like DeNiro working under Scorsese’s direction — a recognizable, consistent presence. Jaglom is a writer and director with whom many in Hollywood — particularly women — would love to work, not because his films are big blockbusters but because of the detail and sensitivity he gives to women’s roles. His career goes back to his days as an editor on Easy Rider with Dennis Hopper, although this Lee Strasburg-trained Method actor also appeared in TV shows such as "Gidget" and "The Flying Nun." (As a boy, I loved "The Flying Nun." Talk about a concept ripe for a remake!) An interesting note about Jaglom’s career: he wrote and co-starred in Orson Welles’ final film, 1987’s Someone to Love, which also introduced the world to David Duchovny. In recent years, Jaglom has worked with a regular ensemble of actors, led by Tanna Frederick () and including Karen Black () and David Proval (), all of whom have previously been guests on Mr. Media. Queen of the Lot Tanna Frederick • • • • •
The post-war baby boom is becoming something else, more than half a century later. But is that something else a bust? In his new book, Baby Boomer Bust?—and the title ends in a question mark—Roger Chiocchi (pronounced KEY-o-key) says it may be a problem that the average baby boomer nearing retirement only has $68,000 in a 401k. And no, if you’re looking at the totality of retirement, and not just the first year, that is not much. ROGER CHIOCCHI podcast excerpt: "What we find is that people in the lower and middle end of the spectrum are much more resilient than those at the high end. They're used to living hand-to-mouth, so it becomes not a big deal to them when things get even tougher." Tomorrow, April 15, 2010, I’ll be attending the second day of the Florida Boomer Lifestyle Conference, which will be held in Clearwater at Ruth Eckerd Hall. (By the way, the Florida Boomer Lifestyle Conference is open to the public. You can register online at ) It is designed to help us understand how the recession has impacted boomers. I expect to learn what they’re spending money on right now, which messages resonate most with them, and what they want from businesses today. Apparently “deeper senior discounts at Denny’s” is not the correct answer. Joining me today, in advance of his appearance as a guest speaker at the Florida Boomer Lifestyle Conference, is Roger Chiocchi, a principal in the Connecticut-based marketing firm Brandloft and author of Baby Boomer Bust? Roger Chiocchi • • •
All the air escaped my lungs at the end of Ray Schlogel’s independent film, . I was angry, petulant… and then the credits rolled and I was reminded that it was a drama, not a documentary. Poor, dumb ol’ Mr. Media was so sucked into this tale of heartbreak and obsession that I completely lost sight of what I was watching. And that’s when I realized what a fine job the independent Austin-based filmmaker—who wrote, starred, directed and produced Stacie—had done. RAY SCHLOGEL podcast excerpt: "(Chris Brogan) took up the cause. I can't thank him enough. He's got 90,000 followers. For him to take a risk outside the box of what he usually does and mention this little indie film was more than flattering. I have had a lot of people tweeting about it, posting about it, who have heard about it directly from Chris." Schlogel came to my attention in an unusual way: I read about him in one of uber-networker Chris Brogan’s voluminous posts. Brogan wondered why Schlogel’s indie filmmaking gem hadn’t received more attention and asked his readers to help the man out. I read Brogan daily and get a lot of value and insight from his blog so I decided to pay it forward by inviting Schlogel on Mr. Media. You can watch For Love & Stacie for free at Schlogel’s website, . He accepts donations there and you can also order a DVD copy of the film. Raymond Schlogel • • • • •
(2012 UPDATE: Congratulations to Kit Boss, who shared an Emmy nomination for "Outstanding Animated Program" as consulting producer of "Bob's Burgers" on Fox!) The confounding thing about seeing your friends become successful is that while you’re obviously happy for the good things that come their way, a tinge of jealousy and envy is not unusual, and that certainly captures my feelings about today’s guest. Most of you won’t know this man by name, but when you hear his credits, I think you’ll agree with me that he’s accomplished an awful lot, and you will probably understand why I greet him with a touch of envy, at the very least. Kit Boss was a gangly young kid when I met him more than twenty years ago in the Clearwater Bureau of the St. Petersburg Times. He arrived as this year’s intern, joining the staff for a time in search of real-life newspaper experience. Kit was an instant hit with the staff, funny, self-effacing, and extremely talented at capturing life’s special moments in a way that the best journalists do. When he later joined the Seattle Times as a TV beat writer, Kit participated in a few critics’ press tours in Los Angeles. He met several men and women who wrote for TV and started thinking, “Hey, maybe I could do that.” And eventually, he did. We want voices that are filled with the kind of character that an animator can listen to them and just kind of imagine what a creature might be doing, because we never see, none of us ever sees the people doing the interview. Everything that comes after that is sort of invented. We invent what animal they are, we invent the situation that they are in, we invent their body language. So where, you’re wondering, have you seen Kit’s work? Well, his first job was writing a season for “Bill Nye, the Science Guy,” and he won a couple of Emmys for it. His next noteworthy gig was a big one, getting a story credit on the final season of “Seinfeld.” That led to a staff writing job on “King of the Hill,” which was then in its third season. Over the next seven years, he rose to executive producer on that show. When “King” was briefly cancelled, Kit moved on, eventually landing a job on HBO’s sitcom “Lucky Louie,” starring comedian Louis C. K. When it ended after just after one season, he was asked to adapt the British series, “Creature Comforts,” for CBS. And “Creature Comforts” begins a limited run on CBS on Monday, June 4th, at 8:00 PM, which is why Kit – the show’s executive producer – is here today. Kit Boss • • • • •
Sometimes a great novel gets lost in lousy packaging. That’s the case of Renee Rosen’s fifth book, Windy City Blues. It is one of those magnificent, emotional reads that you can’t put down, capturing the early days of rock ‘n’ roll, race records, racism, and illicit relationships in one terrific bundle that you won’t put down until the final page. In fact, the only problem with the book is the way the publisher chose to market it. The cover features an attractive, white, WASP-y woman in 1960s clothes when the lead character, Leeba Groski, is portrayed as not pretty and extremely ethnic Jewish. The primary action takes place in the 1950s and early ‘60s. RENÈE ROSEN podcast excerpt: "Terry Chess, who is Phil's son, knew Chuck Berry very well. Chuck used to stay over in Terry's room when he was a kid growing up... He'd wake up in the morning and Chuck Berry was there having breakfast with Phil. Terry and his sister Pam would sing songs for Chuck Berry. Wonderful memories; I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it." Oh, and the majority of the musicians featured are guitarists, primarily Leeba’s boyfriend, Red Dupree, but also real life icons such as Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters. But there is a saxophone player on the cover. And a keyboard. But no guitar or guitar player. Well, that’s my opinion. We’ll see what the author has to say next. Renèe Rosen • • •
If you’re on an airplane in the coming weeks and see Ilene Kristen engrossed in a bright and shiny new iPad, blame me. Kristen, who has starred on ABC’s "One Life to Live" as “Roxanne Balsom” since 2001, already has an iPhone. Last night, when we did a late night Skype video chat to test the connection and increase her comfort level with the program, she told me about all the things that she would use the iPad for. But she couldn’t make up her mind whether she actually needed one. ILENE KRISTEN podcast excerpt: "I'm going to work next week and it's rather odd; I have no idea where Roxy has been, except maybe in a motel room with this young dentist. It's a little disconcerting that I'm not there and haven't been told why I'm not there. I had a major storyline and the next thing I knew, it disappeared." I told her that it sounded to me like she had already pictured herself with one, the real question was why she was delaying the trip to the Apple Store to pick hers up. Anyway, I discovered last night what a delightful woman Ilene is and I’m excited to share the experience with you. But before I bring our guest on, let me tell you that in addition to watching Ilene Kristen every afternoon on "One Life to Live," you can experience a very different side of her as a sexy, sultry singer by going to either the Triad nightclub in Manhattan @ 158 West 72nd Street on August 18 to see her as a celebrity guest for “Erotic Broadway” or, if you’re in Los Angeles, find her at the Room 5 Lounge @ 143 N. La Brea Avenue on August 28 @ 9 PM. Room 5 is located just above Adam Carolla's Amalfi Ristorante & Bar. If you go, tell Adam “Hello” from Mr. Media! A little later in the show, we’ll have a clip of Ilene singing at the Triad. If you haven’t seen her in action and only know her as Roxanne, be prepared to be blown away. Ilene Kristen • •
Summer Glau gets some of the most enviable genre roles on television. Her first was on "Angel," where "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" creator Joss Whedon liked her so much he cast in the wonderful, yet short-lived sci-fi adventure "Firefly" and the film that followed it, Serenity. SUMMER GLAU audio excerpt: "I'm havin' a blast on The Cape. I'm fighting crime. I'm throwin' down -- it's a blast." She was on the cult series “The 4400,” then made it big return to network TV as the hottest Terminator ever in the Fox series, “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.” Now she’s an investigative blogger named “Orwell” who partners with the lead character in NBC’s “The Cape” to fight crime and corruption in Palm City. It’s the perfect accompaniment for fans of “Chuck,” who get to the end of that show and want more, more and more. Did I mentioned Summer Glau is also quite beautiful? ? Summer Glau • • • •
Eugene Mirman is one of the driest comedians I’ve ever encountered. He’s so droll, so subtle, that at first it’s difficult to detect if he’s on or really believes what he’s saying. Here’s a hint: he’s on. Mirman, who you may know from his guest appearances on the HBO show “Flight of the Conchords” or his appearances on the comedy web site, 23/6, is promoting his first book, The Will to Whatevs: A Guide to Modern Life. Eugene Mirman • • • •
You may not know my guest today by name, but it’s safe to say that if you read an English-language newspaper anywhere in the world, is having at least an indirect effect on its content. Finberg is Director of Interactive Learning for , the online training and education arm of in St. Petersburg, Florida. That’s where I am today, in fact. NewsU has enjoyed explosive growth since opening its virtual doors on April 11, 2005. Starting with just a few courses and little more than word of mouth advertising, the mostly free training for journalists now has thirty-five courses and 35,000 registered users. In the interest of complete disclosure, I have often worked on assignment for The Poynter Institute and even wrote two white papers and the script for an animated video for NewsU. In fact, I wrote the following Dr. Seuss-inspired rhyme, which Howard himself recorded for NewsU: You can do it wearing a hat. You can do it with your cat. You can do it at night, And you can do it when you look afright. You can do it when things are slow, Or when you can’t get the creative juices to flow. You can do it when mother’s not there, And you can do it in your underwear. Poynter Institute • • • NewsU • • Howard Finberg • •
Nothing twinkles quite as bright as a classic Hollywood star and few were ever bigger in their day than Lana Turner. Of course, there is Lana Turner the legend… and Lana Turner the wife and mother. In her over-size collection of family photos and personal anecdotes, Lana: The Memories, the Myths, the Movies, Turner’s daughter Cheryl Crane pulls back the curtain and offers a fascinating peek at a life well lived. This is Cheryl’s second turn at telling us about life in the Turner household; in her first book, Detour: A Hollywood Story, she wrote about her own life, from the controversial death of Johnny Stompanato to coming out as gay and how it changed her relationship with her mom. Cheryl Crane •
There are a number of daily newspaper comic strips that we tend to take for granted. “Cathy,” by Cathy Guisewite, is one. Mort Walker’s “Beetle Bailey” and “Hi & Lois” are two more. And then there is my friend Ray Billingsley’s strip, “Curtis.” “Curtis” shares the adventures of a young African-American boy whose age I’d put at about 10 or 11, dealing with life in his community. He’s chasing—unsuccessfully—girls, being chased—successfully—by bullies, struggling with his dad’s cheapness and smoking… in other words, all the stuff boys his age do. RAY BILLINGSLEY Audio Excerpt: "The strip is a lighthearted tale about a boy. That's all it is. It's just that one little factor that turns publishers off. I still go through, 'Well, blacks don't really read this stuff and whites don't get it." But because the character is black, it sometimes seems like his creator, Billingsley, doesn’t always get the opportunities or recognition that other men and women in his field do. One example: publication of his collected works. The last time Billingsley was a guest on my show, back in April 2007, he revealed his frustration with the cartoonists establishment and book publishing. Today, there is a new development on that front: publication of the first “Curtis” collection: . Ray Billingsley • • •
When I was researching my biography, Will Eisner, A Spirited Life, one of the biggest surprises for me was learning that two extremely successful daily cartoonists, Ray Billingsley of “Curtis," and Patrick McDonnell of “Mutts,” were once students of Eisner’s at the New York School of Visual Arts. Eisner spoke highly of both men, and he developed an ongoing mentor-style relationship with Billingsley, who was a very young man, just about 16, when he first took Eisner’s class. Billingsley’s strip, “Curtis,” brings a black perspective to the daily comics pages of more than 250 newspapers. It’s a steady performer recognized by the American Cancer Society for Curtis’ efforts to get his father to stop smoking. And Billingsley takes the detour from the usual story lines every December for an original Kwanzaa tale. Ray Billingsley • UPDATE: May 23, 2007 The most talked about "Mr. Media Interview" to date - by far - was the one above with "Curtis" cartoonist Ray Billingsley. He hit a nerve by taking issue with book publishers who have been unwilling to produce a collection of his strip in nearly two decades. The interview led to not one but two stories on EditorandPublisher.com - including ("Soup to Nutz") - and a lengthy discussion on the popular web site, . Billingsley isn't letting the issue die down, either, with the NCS' annual Reuben Awards just around the corner. A recent Sunday strip has generated even more controversy, this time on The Comics Journal Message Board. . Or feel free to click on "Comments" below and add your thoughts here. What I find interesting is that Billingsley hasn't directly mention the name of the publisher of the vast majority of comic strip compilations - even though it's pretty obvious with whom he's so frustrated. I also wonder why no Black-oriented book publisher has stepped forward - yet. If you'd like to hear more from Billingsley on this subject - live and in person, he'll be one of the guest speakers at the , sponsored by Ohio State University's Cartoon Research Library.
St. Petersburg, Florida is pretty good at turning out dramatic talent. There is , of course, who was nominated for an for her work in What’s Love Got to Do with It” and is currently starring on the NBC series “ER.” And then there is , who has been nominated for Tony awards, Golden Globes and Emmys and stars in the upcoming film, . MONICA RAYMUND podcast excerpt: "I don't know HOW I got this job! I hadnt graduated from Julliard yet; I was just the right person at the right time. I tested for the 'Lie To Me' pilot; a month later, I got the call that I got the job. I had to move my life to LA in a week! I don't even have my diploma yet; I haven't had time to go by the school and get my degree!" Monica Raymund is the latest to emerge from this sunny city on Tampa Bay. A graduate of Shorecrest Preparatory School—like Wilson—and the daughter of two of the community’s best known and most philanthropic residents, Steve and Sonia Raymund, Monica exploded on the national scene a few weeks ago on the new Fox TV series, “Lie To Me.” For once, it might be fair to say that Monica is an overnight sensation: before “Lie To Me,” her best known credit was an episode of “.” In fact, her IMDB listing only has one other credit! MONICA RAYMUND podcast excerpt: "I went to Shorecrest Prep in St. Petersburg, Florida. I had a very strong academic background; I enjoyed being a student, I loved going to school. I wanted to go into science -- biochemistry, maybe doing forensics. I didn't expect to get into Juilliard, so when I did, I decided to go for the dream." “Lie To Me” stars Tim Roth — best known for the opening and closing scenes of — and , a star of "The Practice." In “Lie To Me,” Raymund is a gifted natural interpreter of non-verbal cues. Her character, Ria Torres, is the newest member of the agency, and one of the few "naturals" in the field of deception detection. She has a raw, untrained ability to read people that makes her a force to be reckoned with. Key interview moments: • 8:00 Making the unexpected jump from Juilliard student to co-star on "Lie To Me" opposite Tim Roth, Kelli Williams, and Mekhi Phifer; • 20:00 Play 'Lie To Me' at home with the kids; • 31:00 Former Tampa Tribune movie critic Bob Ross calls in; • 38:45 If I didn't get into The Juilliard School, I planned to go into... Monica Raymund • • • • • •
Don’t tell my wife, but I’ve watched those Blue Collar Comedy standup specials on Comedy Central starring Bill Engvall, Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy and Ron White about a hundred times. I usually catch them on the little TV in the kitchen while I eat lunch. It doesn’t matter that I already know the jokes and the punchlines – and you know that Larry is always going to be the punchline when they’re together. BILL ENGVALL podcast excerpt: "Unfortunately, no, I'm not the love interest (for Jada Pinkett's Smith's character on 'Hawthorne')... If I had my pick, it would be Michael Vartan. But I had a great time with Marc Anthony." These four guys are like a 21st century version of the Three Stooges to my way of thinking. Not in terms of looks or slapping each other around, but because there’s no way a guy can justify to his wife or girlfriend how hard they make you laugh. And like his Blue Collar comedian compadres, Bill Engvall has made a real industry of this Blue Collar business. He sells out comedy tours, has published a book, done movies, and starred in a sitcom under his own name on the Tyler Perry channel – I mean TBS. Now he’s stretching the brand even further in a most unlikely way – guest starring on three episodes of Jada Pinkett Smith’s TNT drama series, “Hawthorne.” Engvall’s second appearance as Det. Jimmy Dupree airs Tuesday, June 28 at 10 p.m. Bill Engvall • • • • • • •
As a co-star of the Disney XD channel’s “Aaron Stone” series, Tania Gunadi has a dual life—she’s the girl next door to Charlie Landers, a.k.a. Aaron Stone, played by Kelly Blatz, and she is also a player in the online game that drives the show’s plot. TANIA GUNADI podcast excerpt: "Working on Star Trek with J.J. Abrams was so amazing. My alien makeup took five hours in the morning to put on; we did 11 days of fitting to make it work. My ears would move as I walked and I had a really long tail. J.J. would ask every couple of minutes, 'Are you okay? Can you breathe?'... Chris Pine is so cute. After our scene we walked outside. He said, 'Are you okay? Do you need a jacket?' And I said, 'No, I just need a hug.'" And while this might be child’s play to some—Tania is older than she may look. Despite playing a teen on the show, this native of Bandung, Indonesia is actually 26! Tania might be a familiar face to fans of everything from Even Stevens to Boston Public; she also had a role on an episode of one of my favorite comedies, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” on FX. Tania Gunadi • •
I don’t care if you never before heard of my guest, social media guru Sarah Szalavitz. A week ago, frankly, neither had I. But I suspect that at the end of this hour, we’ll all want to hear more from Sarah. Or maybe we’ll just want to be her. Sarah is the co-founder of 7 Robot, a new company involved in digital storytelling and social design. (Some examples: ZapRoot, .) More about that, later, because that’s just her latest career. A Harvard-trained lawyer, that credential is almost incidental in a resume that includes two years as assistant to then-Speaker of the California State Assembly, Willie Brown Jr. More recently, she was director of content development for Veoh Networks. Sarah Szalavitz • • • •
We’re going to do something a little different on Mr. Media today – instead of being a half-wit know-it-all, I’m going to try to learn something practical from my guest. Joining me is Steve Rosenbaum, who developed, created and produced the groundbreaking “MTV Unfiltered” program in 1993. Shot entirely by viewers, UNfiltered marked the first fully user-created program in television history and was the model used by Al Gore for CURRENT.TV. Along the way networks such as CBS, A&E, and HBO all counted on Rosenbaum to help them explore and deploy user-generated video in programming. Today, Rosenbaum is behind a new venture, Magnify.net, which uses video in still new ways. If you’re a blogger, podcaster or web site producer, I think you’ll find this program particularly interesting – and practical, as Steve walks me through posting video content on an actual web site. Steve Rosenbaum • • • • •
Imagine stretching a rubber band between the index finger on one hand and the thumb on the other. Now visualize pulling your fingers as far apart as possible. That’s it… …keep pulling… … and pulling… OUCH! Somebody will always get hurt when you do that. MARGO MARTINDALE audio excerpt: "I like intense. In a movie, you can let go at the end of the day. On stage, you kind of have to live it until the run is over. But I love acting. It's like playing in my backyard." That’s what I pictured happening upstairs to Margo Martindale’s character, Janice Trimble, in her new movie, Scalene. And that’s just in the opening minutes. Martindale plays the mother of a brain-damaged teenage boy whose needs are making her life miserable and diminishing her in every possible way. She snaps like a rubber band as the movie begins and it’s all exposition from there. Besides Martindale, this indie film features a strong performance by Hanna Hall, who looks from certain angles like a young Drew Barrymore. Watching Scalene, I couldn’t help but wish a nice romantic comedy on this talented actress. Or maybe a buddy comedy with Kathy Bates! Joining me today is Margo Martindale, who won the 2010 Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her role on FX’s “Justified.” You may have also seen her last season as a regular on the short-lived CBS series “A Gifted Man” or more recently in the USA series “Suits.” Scalene, which co-stars Hanna Hall (she played a young "Jenny" in Forrest Gump) will be available on DVD and Blu-Ray on July 31. Margo Martindale
ABC had me at “redhead” when the opportunity to interview “Detroit 1-8-7” co-star Erin Cummings appeared. Learning she had a recurring role on AMC’s “Mad Men” earlier this season didn’t hurt either. And neither did her experience as a co-star of the film Bitch Slap, in which she played “The Sex Bomb” alongside America Olivo, a recent guest on Mr. Media. (Julia Voth, you know you’re next!) ERIN CUMMINGS audio excerpt: "(Mad Men star) Jon Hamm is even more sexy, more enjoyable, and more intelligent in person than anything he has ever portrayed on television. I hope every actress has a chance to work with him." Seeing that she looks like the Playboy magazine idea of a librarian was certainly a plus. And how about the timing? Cummings’ freshman police procedural series, “Detroit 1-8-7,” which stars Michael Imperioli of “The Sopranos” somewhat reprising his role from the short-lived “Life On Mars,” as well as James McDaniel of “NYPD Blue,” just got a vote of confidence from the alphabet network: an order for five more new episodes this season. Erin Cummings • • • • • •
What happened to Natalie Wood on the night of November 29, 1981? The next morning, as we all know, she was discovered floating in the waters off Catalina Island. But what happened during the night before she died? That night, Natalie was aboard the Splendour, the boat she and her husband, actor Robert Wagner, owned. Also on board was actor Christopher Walken and the ship's captain, Dennis Davern. Wagner and Davern were drunk. None of the three men has talked in detail about the events of that evening. Until now. DENNIS DAVERN podcast excerpt: "As soon as we departed Marina Del Rey, Robert Wagner had jealousy written all over him. Tension was building and it was just terrible... All of a sudden Robert picks up a wine bottle and smashed it in the middle of a coffee table. Glass shattered all over everyone. Christopher Walken exited to his stateroom. Natalie went up to her stateroom. I went to the bridge. You could hear the arguing, the screaming. It was torture." It's not Wagner or Walken that's talking, however. The ship's captain, Davern, has broken his silence in a new book written with his long time friend, Marti Rulli. Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour is his story, his recollection of that horrible night and the 28 years of silence and guilt that have engulfed his life ever since. In the interest of full disclosure, before we start, I need to tell you that I first heard about this book through my sister, who lives in the same small South Jersey community as Marti Rulli and has done business with her. But that doesn’t mean every friend of Lori’s gets a shot on this show. You still have to accomplish something, okay? Marti Rulli • •
Today's Guest: Jeffrey J. Fox, author, How to Be a Fierce Competitor: What Winning Companies and Great Managers Do in Tough Times I can honestly and modestly say that I know a thing or two about fierce competitors in business. If you know anything about my background as a journalist, you probably think I'm referring to the CEOs with whom I've worked on books-"Chainsaw" Al Dunlap from Scott Paper and Sunbeam, Home Depot founders Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank, or Commerce Bank founder Vernon Hill. But I'm actually thinking of one of my first bosses, George Tenenbaum. George was a huge S.O.B., a world-class sonuvabitch. And I think he'd take pride in that description. And it's not that I didn't like and respect him, either. JEFFREY J. FOX audio excerpt: "Fierce is not an animalistic beast growling in the jungle. Fierce is a relentless, tireless competitor who wants every customer he can get." I worked for him when I was 15, buying and selling comic books at a flea market in East Brunswick, N.J. and at conventions everywhere from Manhattan to Philadelphia. George treated me well- paying me fairly and feeding me decently, too. But he was a tough guy with whom to do business, especially considering the nature of his weekend business. Every transaction was a negotiation, a deal, a haggle. Buy a little, he'd try to sell you money. Come in to sell him your old comics, he'd talk you into taking a pittance for that prized Fantastic Four #1. He'd chase people down the aisles to get them to reconsider. No one walked away from George! But my favorite story about George Tenenbaum was when he explained how life worked in his world. It came about when he made a mistake that cost him more than a few bucks. It was just he and I that day and in talking to a customer, he He blamed the mistake on his wife, Rona. When the customer left, I said, "George, why did you blame Rona? It was your mistake." He said, "Bob, let me explain life to you. When I screw up, if you're here, I blame my wife. But if she's here and you're not, I blame you. And I guarantee you that if she's here and I'm not, she'll blame everything on me. "And when neither of us is here and you screw up, I fully expect you to blame me." The Harvard Business School, this was not. And this isn't one of the 60 lessons in Jeffrey J. Fox's latest book, How to Be A Fierce Competitor: What Winning Companies and Great Managers Do in Tough Times, but it certainly could be. Fox is the author of a growing series of business management books, including How to Become a CEO and How to Become a Rainmaker. He has a smart approach, producing compact how-tos that the average businessperson can read, absorb and apply in the course of a plane or train ride. Jeffrey J. Fox • •
What do the founders of The Home Depot, 1-800-Flowers.com and Paul Mitchell Systems and the CEOs of Black Entertainment Television, Marvel Entertainment and Campbell Soup have in common? According to consultant Jeff Fox, author of The Transformative CEO, they all have the key traits and characteristics of great and successful business leaders. JEFFREY J. FOX audio excerpt: "When Douglas Conant went to Campbell Soup, they had lost 50 percent of their market share value, morale was plummeting, sales were down, profits were going away. The current management was taking chicken out of chicken soup to save money!" Fox, who previously appeared here to discuss his last book, How to Be a Fierce Competitor, has created a cottage industry in identifying great management tips and dispensing them in short books that even a CEO can stay focused on from cover to cover. The Transformative CEO is no different. I have to admit Fox had me at “Bernie Marcus”–as the guy who wrote with the founders of The Home Depot—I had to know what Fox made of their remarkable success. He promises to help you transform yourself. Jeffrey J. Fox • •
Comics are Brian Walker’s life. It’s the family business, after all: his dad, Mort, created or co-created "Beetle Bailey," "Hi & Lois," and the legendary but short-lived strip and strips, "Sam’s Strip." Brian and his brother Greg have written and inked "Beetle Bailey" and "Hi & Lois" alongside their dad now for years. (Another second generation comics creator, Chance Browne – son of "Hi & Lois" co-creator and "Hagar the Horrible" creator Dik Browne – draws "Hi & Lois.") But starting back in college in the early 1970s, Brian carved out a corner of the industry for himself. It started when he profiled fledgling “Doonesbury” cartoonist Garry Trudeau in 1973 for Greg’s alt-weekly newspaper, The Silver Lining. BRIAN WALKER audio excerpt: "The New Traditionalists: 'Zits,' 'Baby Blues' and 'Mutts' were not revolutionary in any particular way, but they took all the best qualities of all the great strips." In the years that followed, Greg followed a dual path, writing gags for his father’s strips but also helping Mort Walker and his fellow comic strip masters see their dream come true: He is a founder and former director of the International Museum of Cartoon Art, where he worked from 1974 to 1992. More recently, Brian has turned his attention to preserving and sharing comic strip history. His latest book, The Comics, puts together in one massive, exquisite volume what had previously been two pieces. It is an awesome collection of wonderful strips to the beginning of the medium and all the way to the present day, a must-have collectible for any comics fan. And a few months ago he published another marvelous book, Doonesbury and The Art of G.B. Trudeau. Reading through it, I fell in love with the work of Jane Pauley’s husband all over again. Brian Walker
All through this interview, I will quietly repeat the following mantra: She’s not talking about me… She’s not talking about me… And in my imagination, I will have a finger in each ear, singing La-la-la-la-la-la… DR. LILLIAN GLASS audio excerpt: "Charlie Sheen is the biggest success in the world in show business but in his personal life, he's not... A woman who falls for him doesn't have a lot of self-esteem." I don’t what I was thinking when I booked Dr. Lillian Glass, author of Toxic Men, as a guest. Isn’t she likely to come on the show and reveal what a jerk and a fraud I am as a husband and lead my wife to leave me? Hmm, maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea, after all. Welcome to 30 minutes of female empowerment, ladies! Lillian Glass • • •
This is a very special Mr. Media podcast. As a member of the U.S. women’s national soccer team, Brandi Chastain participated in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and helped the Americans win the gold medal by playing every minute of every U.S. game. She is best known for her game-winning penalty kick against China in the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup final – perhaps the greatest goal in U.S women’s soccer history. Kerri Strug was a member of the “Magnificent Seven,” the gymnastics team that also represented the U.S. at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. Despite a serious ankle injury, she overcame adversity and performed a stunning vault to help clinch a gold medal for the women’s team competition – one of the most memorable moments in Olympic history. Between these two athletes, they have won five Olympic medals -- three gold, one silver and one bronze-- and two World Cup championships. Brandi Chastain • • • • Kerri Strug • •
As Sheriff Carter on the Syfy series “Eureka,” now in its fourth season, Colin Ferguson is the kind of guy I’d like to be: a manly man but a technological doofus who the ladies nonetheless find endearing and sexy. Seriously, Carter is the kind of doofus you wouldn’t mind owning up to if real life came with the charm and earnestness with which Ferguson embues the role. COLIN FERGUSON podcast excerpt: "Carter and Allison still have problems. It's not a done deal: 'They're dating, so the show is over.' Everybody was saying if you hook them up, it's the death of the show. But critically, and by the numbers, it was our best season ever." “Eureka” is one of the great hidden gems of all cable television. I caught a few minutes of it early in season three for the first time while switching channels in the kitchen one night and was hooked by a contentious discussion between Sheriff Carter and his kickass deputy, Jo. Shortly thereafter, my wife ordered the show on Netflix and we watched every episode with my son until we caught up. It is one of our favorite all-time shows and one of the few TV programs around which we will all rearrange our schedules. Until you see an episode, this may sound crazy, but “Eureka” is kind of an earthbound “Star Trek: The Next Generation” with streaks of “Moonlighting” and “The Big Bang Theory” thrown in. When it crossed over with another SyFy network favorite, “Warehouse 13” a few months ago, we were in heaven; I keep hoping NBC can figure out a way to let it eventually cross paths with the tech nerds of “Chuck.” “Eureka” is back for an all-new Christmas episode on Tuesday, December 7th at 9 p.m. We can’t wait! Colin Ferguson •
A few things I learned about “Gupta,” perhaps the nuttiest sitcom character on network TV in years: • He can’t drive. Not a bike, not a car. • He likes to watch. His boss. In bed. Sleeping. Not sleeping. • He loves the break room cookies. Sorry, Madhuri. • He looks a lot like his glasses-wearing cousin. • He knows how to wear a giant ear and spy on his bosses. • And he can break into Bollywood-style song and dance at a moment’s notice. When “Outsourced” debuted on NBC last September, I have no doubt that Gupta – played to perfection by actor Parvesh Cheena – was one of the characters that set the tongues of TV critics wagging. He was a stereotype and not a good one at that they thought! But given some space to become a three-dimensional figure, Gupta was discovered to be the essence of sweetness, with a few necessary quirks. He could just as easily have been Kenneth the Page on “30 Rock” or even Creed on “The Office.” PARVESH CHEENA podcast excerpt: "I secretly always thought Gupta would one day be with Madhuri in a spinoff: 'Madhuri Tolerates Gupta.' As opposed to 'Joanie Loves Chachi.'" And as the actor playing Gupta, Cheena – like his goofy, guileless counterparts on other NBC Thursday night shows – had to let go of all inhibitions. He succeeded magnificently. Parvesh Cheena • •
Larry Manetti brought a tremendous amount of natural charisma and boundless cockiness to his role as a restaurateur named Rick—Tom Selleck’s Vietnam War buddy and sidekick—on the long-running CBS adventure series, “Magnum, P.I.” He brought that same strong sense of self-awareness to his role as author in his 1999 autobiography, Aloha Magnum. It’s action packed with… well, action, as Manetti recalls a life that never knew the meaning of the word dull. LARRY MANETTI podcast excerpt: "Tom Selleck was born gorgeous.When you're born ike that, you kinda know inside of you that you're special. He does have little idiosyncrasies. He's a dear friend; he's there if you need him. He's a great guy. And I don't lie. If he were a big jerk, I'd say he was a jerk." Besides out of school tales of his friends Selleck and co-stars Roger Moseley and John Hillerman, Manetti regales readers with his encounters with: the Chairman of the Board—Frank Sinatra; the King—Elvis Presley; Tony Curtis; and his pal and mentor Robert Conrad. Best of all, this isn’t one of those self-told stories of how wonderful Larry is. It’s a warts-and-all portrayal of a regular guy who has led a pretty friggin’ great life. Larry Manetti • • • • • •
Today's Guest: Red Peters, comedian, singer, "It's A Red Peters Christmas! Volume 1," Howard Stern Show regular Order It's A Red Peters Christmas! Volume 1 [Explicit], available from Amazon.com by clicking on the CD cover above! Red Peters is back on Mr. Media today to celebrate Christmas his way -- which means putting in your earbuds and getting ready to laugh your ass off. We had such a good time playing Red’s salacious sounds over the summer that when he offered to spend an X-rated Christmas with Mr. Media, how could I refuse? RED PETERS audio excerpt: "I was home from college one year, up in my room wrapping Christmas presents. My mother came walking into my old room. I was smoking a joint and she said, 'Red, aren't you crazy enough without smokin' that sh!t?" In today’s show, we’ll play Red’s latest contributions to the grand canon of holiday tunes. So step aside, Little Drummer Boy. Cover your ears, Silent Night. And don’t come to town yet, Santa Claus. Here come his new instant classics “Have a Wonderful Hawaiian Christmas” and Red’s duet with comedian Margaret Cho, “The Christmas Gift.” We’ll also dip into the vault for a Red favorite from Christmases past, “Holy Sh!t! It’s Christmas.” If you don’t know who Red Peters is, here’s a quick recap: First of all, Red Peters is not his real name. He does, however, live and work in the Boston area. His great joy in writing snappy X-rated songs was recommended to the masses when radio legend Howard Stern first heard and featured him on his terrestrial show. At Sirius XM satellite radio, Howard gave Red his own show. Red Peters Website • Twitter • Facebook • MySpace • Song Snatch • Order It's A Red Peters Christmas from Amazon.com Order Ol' Blue Balls Is Back by Red Peters, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the CD cover above! More Howard Stern related interviews on Mr. Media Radio: Red Peters (June 2010) Stuttering John Melendez (April 2009) Stuttering John Melendez (March 2014; video) Mr. Skin (March 2011) Mr. Skin (March 2010) Mr. Skin (December 2009) Mr. Skin (October 2007) Robert Schimmel (June 2008) Robert Schimmel (April 2008) Lisa Lampanelli (June 2009) Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above! The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!
It’s hard for novelists to come up with a twist we haven’t read in some way, previously. J.R.R. Tolkien managed it with Lord of the Rings; so did J.R. Rowling, creator of the Harry Potter series. Otherwise, we’ll read something “new” and say, “Oh, it’s just like XYZ.” CHANDLER BAKER podcast excerpt: "I originally thought I was going to be a bioethicist. My debut novel was about heart transplants and dealt with some of the ethics around that. These bioethical issues keep coming up in my (legal) work so I didn't have to do a ton of research, except to come up with a way the resurrection technology could really work." Or, “Did you ever read Sinclair Lewis? This new title is like Babbitt, only it takes place in Des Moines with rodeo clowns.” I just read This Is Not The End by Chandler Baker and, honestly, it’s not like anything else I can ever remember reading before. Who knew resurrection politics and ethics could be so complicated – and entertaining? Chandler Baker • • •
Louise Mandrell bubbles as she talks. It comes across in her stage and television appearances, and it was even apparent in a long distance interview with her from the phone in her bus, parked somewhere in San Antonio, Texas. The middle Mandrell sister is not as well-known as Barbara, but it's not for lack of trying. Louise averages over 200 dates on the concert road each year. "I don't know how many, and I don't wanna know," she said, laughing. "Last year I got off the road for three months, but it was not by choice. The doctors took me off. This time I planned a vacation." Why does she tour so much? "I like it. It's my favorite part of the music business. I just feel like I work like everybody else. Everyone else works every day ... " NOT EVERYONE else watched by thousands of people when they work or has to look fabulous every day; even a star can get tired of that. Almost. "There are mornings that I'm absolutely exhausted and can't get out of bed because I dread getting in front of the mirror and putting on makeup. But as soon as I walk out of my hotel room or my bus and one person says, 'gee, you look nice,' or 'I "- liked your show,' it's worth it. I don't know any woman - or any man who doesn't appreciate a good pat on the back. Luckily, in my business, I get that," she said. Mandrell first blossomed on NBC-TV's 1980-82 show Barbara Mandrell and-die Mandrell Sisters, which also featured younger sister Irlene, now a regular on Hee Haw. Television was an even tougher grind than touring, she said. "What I'm doing now is time demanding, but it's not as much pressure. When we did a TV show for each week, we had to learn the dialogue, dances we had never danced before, all the instrumentals to that week's song. Then on Friday you finished taping, and they handed you a script and said, 'Okay, here's next week's.' It was a wonderful time, and it was an exhausting time. "I really believe what made our show a hit wasn't necessarily the music," she added. "I'm not saying it didn't help, but I feel that what made that show work was that we were honest. If we made a mistake, we laughed, we went on. People could tell we all loved each other. We could say anything to each other because we were sisters. We could pour water on the head or throw a pie ... For the first year, I got so tired of hearing, 'Do y'all really do that stuff all the time?' Well, of course I don't go around throwing pies at my sister. I mean, that would not be a popular thing to do." Not every day, perhaps, but for Barbara's 30th birthday, Mandrell decided to throw a surprise party attended by 100 friends. "The surprise was I had an exploding cake. The whole evening was just a riot. I thought, we have fun on TV, let's just go for it. What's she going to do (to me) with all these people around?" HER WINTER vacation plans include Christmas in Aspen with Barbara, who is still recovering from a painful auto accident. "She's doing better each day," Mandrell said. "Right now, it's just a matter of time. I feel lost because people say, 'How much time?' We don't know. She's got a serious broken leg, and her ankle's broke, and her knee is banged up - all of it on her right leg. So it's hard for us to say Barbara will be well next month, January or next March." Before she became a solo singer, Mandrell went through many musical stages, beginning as an electric bassist. "My mother used to play it in the Mandrell Family Band. She wanted to retire, and they wouldn't let her so she taught me." She eventually became an original member of Barbara's "Do-Rites" band, later backing up Grand Ole Opry star Stu Philips and spending a year with Merle Haggard. LOUISE MANDRELL interview excerpt: "I really believe what made our show a hit wasn't necessarily the music," she added. "I'm not saying it didn't help, but I feel that what made that show work was that we were honest. If we made a mistake, we laughed, we went on. People could tell we all loved each other. We could say anything to each other because we were sisters. We could pour water on the head or throw a pie ... For the first year, I got so tired of hearing, 'Do y'all really do that stuff all the time?' Well, of course I don't go around throwing pies at my sister. I mean, that would not be a popular thing to do." In 1977, Mandrell signed a recording _contract and a year later met her husband, songwriter R.C. Bannon. For the three years preceding the TV show, she performed with Bannon, releasing songs like "Reunited," "Me and My R.C." and "You're My Super Woman, You're My Incredible Man." On her own, she has released three albums since 1982: Close-Up, Too Hot to Sleep and the latest, I'm Not Through Loving You Yet. The title reached number seven on Billboard's country charts, and "This Bed Is Not Big Enough" has just been released. MANDRELL HAS a reputation for mounting lively, energetic and colorful stage productions. This year, the word patriotic can be added to that description. "I feel people aren't just coming to my concert to say, 'Okay, sing your records,” she said. "Hopefully, they like Louise Mandrell and want to know more about her." In preparing for the current tour, "I said I want to do an American tribute and I don't want to sing the same stuff everybody else sings. R.C. said 'Okay, I can take care of that, I'll write you some special material.' I said, 'That isn't enough. Think for a minute. Pretend we're at a parade. Just think America, apple pie, banners. What makes a statement that says: Hey, I believe in. our country?' " The answer was a combination of military songs, the Pledge of Allegiance, special songs and a precision rifle drill. "I'd never even twirled a baton," she remarked, but the number has become the hit of her shows. "I feel awkward after I do my number," she said. "When they start clapping and yelling and going wild, I know It's not for me. Or it shouldn't be for me. It's for what I believe in and what they believe in. That’s why, at the end of my number, I always have the veterans stand up. I don't walk off to that applause. I sing a closer afterwards. That applause was not for me, and I can't walk off and ignore what they just did. So I don't leave the stage. I'm real funny about it. I don't want people to start thinking that I took for granted what they did. They're standing for America ... I am probably one of the hammiest people you'll meet in your life. I will take applause when I feel I deserve it." Louise Mandrell • • • •
Some of my favorite comic book memories of growing up in the 1960s are of characters I long thought I imagined because most traces of them have been erased from existence: • Diaper Man • Secret Squirrel • Forbush Man • Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse • And that guy who shouted “SPLIT” just before various body parts of his broke apart to punch out the bad guys! MICHAEL EURY podcast excerpt: "I'm just fascinated with the past. As our culture keeps moving forward, it's easy to forget, and I didn't want this goofy period of the 1960s to be forgotten. A few people who have read the book said, 'Oh, so there WAS a Diaper Man!'" Michael Eury, a former editor at DC Comics and long-time editor of Back Issue! magazine, apparently saw what I saw. What a relief! In his new book, Hero-A-Go-Go: Campy Comic Books, Crimefighters, & Culture of the Swinging Sixties, Eury brings all these wacky characters and many, many more in a celebration of a simpler time, when Ralph Bakshi was better known for Cuckoo Man than Fritz the Cat. Michael Eury • • • • Back Issue! Magazine •
You Midwesterners may disagree, but I don’t think there is any single place in this country more representative of the soul of America than Brooklyn and New Jersey. And the fact that I was born in the former and raised in the latter doesn’t color my thinking at all. Both are cultural, ethnic and racial melting pots dating back to the earliest days of the original 13 colonies. But only one is featured as a world onto itself in a new book by my guest, Peter Golenbock. In The Country of Brooklyn is a remarkable trip through the history of one of the United States’ most vital geographic regions, one that has contribute to our nation in the fields of politics, culture, society and pretty much everything else that counts. But that’s not the only new book he has hitting bookstores today. Peter also helped actor Tony Curtis produce his autobiography, titled American Prince: A Memoir, and that is also available today. Two books published on the same day. Not bad, not bad at all! This is Peter’s second visit to Mr. Media; he was my guest in early 2007 when he published the controversial book, 7: The Mickey Mantle Novel. He is also someone I consider a friend. Peter Golenbock • • • • •
Sportswriter Peter Golenbock is one of my heroes, a guy I want to be like in many ways when I grow up. For now, however, I’ll settle for just being to call him a friend. The major characteristic I admire about Peter is his ability to be working constantly. He’s always writing a new book, always engaged in an envious research project. Actually, more than one. As a guy who also makes his living writing books, it drives me nuts. Let me give you an example. PETER GOLENBOCK podcast excerpt: "It looks to me like the Rays are going to win 90 games this year. The question is whether the Yankees and Red Sox are going to win more than 90 games. And, come August and September, are some of those older players going to break down? Is John Lackey going to have more arm trouble?" The first time Peter was on my show, he was promoting his hotly controversial first stab at Yankees history (officially, fiction), 7: The Mickey Mantle Novel. But while he was setting the New York media community on fire with wild tales of the Mick getting up to bat with Joe D’s gal, Marilyn Monroe, he was already hot at work with actor Tony Curtis on his autobiography and on a history of Brooklyn. When I had him back to talk about those books, he was chomping at the bit to talk about his George Steinbrenner biography. Today, I thought I’d have him on to talk about prospects for the 2010 baseball season, but it happens he has another new book out, Growing Up NASCAR, which he wrote with Humpy Wheeler, the long-time president of the Charlotte Motor Speedway, the inventor of both the All Star race, and night racing. Oh, and I should probably mention the just-released paperback editions of George, Dynasty and Balls. Peter Golenbock: • • •
Peter Golenbock is one of the most prolific writers I know or have ever heard of. His books could fill an entire shelf in your library – and maybe they already do. That’s the Golenbock name alongside Johnny Damon on , next to Sparky Lyle on and with Graig Nettles on . He went solo for , and . More recently, he published – about the late George Steinbrenner. You might also have heard about his only shot at “fiction” to date, , in which we read tantalizing stories of The Mick’s trysts with women – including Marilyn Monroe. PETER GOLENBOCK audio excerpt: "7 was Mickey Mantle's life. If people didn't want to agree that was Mickey Mantle's life, they should have kept their mouths shut... Mickey would have loved this book. Mickey was who he was and he didn't make apologies for it." Just when people had him pegged as a guy who only wrote baseball books, Peter turned out an equally dazzling series of books about other sports, including and , about the Dallas Cowboys; , and ; about Coach Jim Valvano’s days at North Carolina State; and there was an oral history of Mr. Media’s alma mater. There have even been two books with ties to St. Petersburg, his current city of residence: , about baseball’s short-lived senior league, and , a memoir he wrote with Tampa Bay Lightning founder Phil Esposito. Did I mention he also found time to write and helped the late actor Tony Curtis write his memoir, ? Gosh, next time, I gotta get a guest who’s less accomplished. We’re almost out of time! Peter Golenbock • • •
As the cast of NBC’s “Chuck” prepares for its fifth and final season victory lap, it is more than fair that two of its stars are getting outside shots at the big time. Yvonne Strahovski, who plays “Sarah” on “Chuck,” has her biggest film role to date when Killer Elite opens on September 23. She’s plays opposite Jason Statham, Clive Owen and, oh yeah, Robert DeNiro, in that one. And this Saturday, September 3 at 8 p.m. on NBC, it’s Ryan McPartlin’s turn. He’s playing the lead character, pro football star Jake Walker, in the TV movie, “Game Time: Tackling the Past.” This is Ryan’s second visit to Mr. Media and it’s a pleasure to welcome him back.
Early in my career, I was the pop music critic for, respectfully, the St. Petersburg Times and the Tampa Tribune. In that role, I had frequent contact with up-and-coming local bands that always believed in their heart of hearts that they would be The Next Big Thing. A few of them, such as Savatage, the Johnny G. Lyon Band, The Headlights and the Bobby Friss Band even achieved a modicum of commercial and regional success. LOREN WEISMAN AUDIO EXCERPT: "Prince allowed all of his contracts to expire and created his own digital kingdom." But the thing that drove me crazy about almost all of them was one in the same: they knew and understood bupkis about the business they were in. They made horrendous deals with managers, nightclubs, promoters and record labels. They put no effort into self-promotion, assuming that if they played great in their garages and warehouses, the world would know about them and beat a path to their door. Music producer Loren Weisman, author of 'The Artist's Guide to Success in the Music Business' I’d hear about this because many would complain when their appearances at local clubs or in concert weren’t publicized in the paper. I’d ask, “Did you send in a press release or announcement?” “No,” came the standard reply. “Everybody knows all about us!” If “everybody” included Mom, Dad and the stoner chicks down the block, maybe so. But the rest of us didn’t know squat about them. So when Loren Weisman’s new book, The Artist’s Guide to Success in The Music Business, recently crossed my desk, it was an easy “Yes” to having Loren on the show. Loren Weisman • • • • • • • • • •
What a crazy, crazy world. When I invited today’s guest, Karen Dunlap, president of the Poynter Institute, to be a guest on the show today, it was ostensibly to discuss Poynter’s upcoming collection of newspaper front pages titled President Obama: Election 2009. And we’re still going to do that. But then everything got turned upside-down. Sunday night rumors of Tribune Company—owner of everything from the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Orlando Sentinel and even the Chaicago Cubs—declaring bankruptcy became reality on Monday morning. Then the august New York Times revealed it was exploring mortgaging its new headquarters tower in Manhattan to sustain itself through one of the worst newspaper advertising slumps in history. Oh, and then this morning, Alaska residents discovered they no long had the most ridiculed governor in the nation as Americans learned how allegedly and nakedly corrupt was the governor of Illinois. Why is Gov. Rod Blagojevich relevant to a discussion of journalism topics? In all the other headlines, you might have missed reading the Blagojevich allegation of pressuring the owner of the Chicago Tribune “to fire a critical editorial writer.” And it’s only Wednesday, folks! Anyway, Karen Dunlap is a delightful woman who I’ve known for many years, back to the days when she was a college journalism professor. She is a trailblazer in journalism education circles and just a smart, savvy person to know. Finally, in the interest of full disclosure, I have done freelance writing and editing assignment over the last several years, most of which you can find online at .
Alex Ferrari hasn’t received the break he deserves yet from Hollywood so he continues to make his own luck. The independent filmmaker, who was one of my very first guests on Mr. Media Radio back in 2007 to promote his short horror story, Brokenis back today for the second time to talk about Red Princess Blues. ALEX FERRARI audio excerpt: "Apple's App Store is mysterious. They will reject something for no reason and they will accept something for new reason. Hopefully it's a new distribution method for filmmakers." Last time he was here, Alex had produced a short animated subject with the help of actress Paula Garces—currently appearing on SyFy’s “Warehouse 13” and all three Harold & Kumar movies—who voiced the lead character. The cartoon was intended as a proof of concept for a full feature Red Princess Blues. Today, he’s here to talk about a left-turn he has taken with Blues—which you can download right this minute as an iPhone app. Alex Ferrari • • • • •
Juliette Powell wants to hook you up. Not for sex—she wants you to get busy with something much more long-lasting and rewarding: running a successful business with social networking. Her new book, 33 Million People in the Room: How to Create, Influence, and Run a Successful Business with Social Networking, is a quick useful read for anyone afraid of a world gone social networking crazy. It is a bit of a religion, but Powell does wonders for demystifying the cult of online connections. Juliette Powell • • • • • • •
I’m not superstitious—to the best of my knowledge—but here’s an assignment I would never accept: to report a story from the Bermuda Triangle. But Good Morning America anchor and weather dude Sam Champion did exactly that this morning and lived to tell about it. Still, it won’t surprise me if we have trouble with his phone line. Champion’s report was part of GMA’s three-day series “In Search of the Truth” about myths and legends such as the Bermuda Triangle, Loch Ness Monster and vampires. No thanks, brother! Sam Champion • •
Alexander McCall Smith is having a pretty good career. And it’s about to get even better. McCall Smith is the author of the popular series of novels relating the Botswana-based adventures of Precious Ramotswe and The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. There are 10 books in the series and on March 29, his characters become flesh and blood with the premiere of an HBO show based on Smith’s books. The latest book in The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, The Miracle at Speedy Motors, was published on March 10, and the next one, Tea Time for the Traditionally Built, will follow on April 21. And this isn’t even McCall Smith’s only series! He also writes: 44 Scotland Street; the "Isabel Dalhousie" novels and the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series. So it’s a good time to be Alexander McCall Smith. And you can bet there are more than a few novelists out there who would give their right, um, index finger to be him right about now. Alexander McCall Smith • • • • •
My guest this morning is Brande Roderick—whom I’ve seen naked! Not just in my dreams, mind you, but in the pages of Playboy magazine, where she first came to national prominence. A lot of women have taken their clothes off for Hugh Hefner, but Brande is one of just a handful that linger in your mind and establish an identity. There’s something in her face—maybe it’s ambition, maybe determination—but her eyes leave no doubt that you’ll remember her. And I’m not the only one. Brande is one of the players in this season of “The Celebrity Apprentice,” Donald Trump’s annual festival of fawning and fables. She’s part of one of the most diverse casts yet, including Andrew Dice Clay, Joan Rivers, Dennis Rodman, Clint Black and Claudia Jordan. Brande Roderick • • • • •
Tonight, America’s 15-year love affair with the NBC medical drama “E.R.” comes to a close. The show introduced a lot of actors who became very big stars and today I’m delighted to welcome a young man who is probably hoping he is on the launching pad to become one of them. Audiences first noticed Sam Jones III as Clark Kent’s best friend, Pete Ross, during the first three seasons of “Smallville.” He has since appeared in a number of movies, including Snipes, Zig Zag and Glory Road. More recently, Jones became part of the final group of medical students to go through Chicago’s County General Hospital on “ER.” His character was noteworthy because for 17 episodes he played Chaz, the younger brother of long time “ER” doc Greg Pratt, played by Mekhi Phifer. Sam Jones III • • • • •
You couldn’t fill a half-hour sitcom with every moment of screen time Scott Krinsky’s character “Jeff Barnes” has earned in nearly two seasons of NBC’s “Chuck.” But you know what? That’s okay. Because every time Jeff is in the camera frame—almost always with his partner Lester, played by Vik Sahay—you have to watch him. And listen. And frankly, you probably have to listen again. Because what comes out of his mouth is always a head scratcher. Scott Krinsky is not Jeff, not by a long shot. This week, in fact, he’ll be the guest host at the Acme Comedy Theatre in Los Angeles. You’ll be able to see him perform live on Saturday, April 4 at 8 p.m. Regular listeners to Mr. Media know how much I love watching “Chuck.” It’s one of the smartest, funniest and sexiest shows on TV and I hope it’s around for a long time to come. Josh Gomez and Vik Sahay have already been my guests; now I’m delighted to have Scott Krinsky join us. Scott Krinsky Website • • • •
Nobody asked, but here are a couple of the movies that changed my life: The Out-of-Towners with Jack Lemmon. The first movie I ever saw at a drive-in with my parents. Scared me out of New York City for years. Superman with Christopher Reeves. I believed a man could fly. Serpico with Al Pacino. I saw a topless woman on screen for the first time. Star Wars. I was lucky enough to be at the red carpet, New York City premiere. When that first battle cruiser went across the 70 mm screen, I never looked at mbies the same way again. And then there was the first time I saw porno in a movie theater. I was working at the old Royal Park Theater 4 in , and we showed Debbie Does Dallas at a 5 p.m. show. Good thing I saw that show; the police thereafter confiscated our print. So that brings us to my guest today, Variety magazine senior editor Robert Hofler, who is author of a fun new book called Variety’s The Movie That Changed My Life. Robert Hofler • • • • •
Music is a lot like food—we like what we like and can’t fathom people who prefer either sounds or tastes that don’t agree with us. And when I was offered an interview with a musical act from Europe called “The Green Children,” I nearly rejected it on the name alone. “Green” sounded a little too environmentally correct. And “Children”? I rarely interview children. But as you’ll learn for yourself, whether this duo is good for the environment or not doesn’t matter when you hear their songs. And they’re definitely not children. The Green Children are in the midst of finishing their first album. The Green Children • • • • • • •
One day you’re just one among 10,000 anonymous rock bands on earth, slogging it out for recognition. The next day you wake up and you’re on tour with Motley Crue and they’re talking about passing the heavy metal crown of thorns on to you, same as Ozzy Osbourne once passed it to them. Must have been one helluva night, right? Joining me today is Chad Cherry, lead singer for a rising metal band called The Last Vegas. They won a national competition called the Guitar Center On Stage contest that attracted 8,000 entries and concluded with them being picked by the guys in the Crue for a contract with their record label and a spot opening for them on tour. And, as you’ll hear in a few minutes when I play their first single, “I’m Bad,” they’re pretty damn good. It's one of those crazy stories that could only happen in America. The Last Vegas • • • • • • •
Folks, let me honest with you: I’m not sure what I’m getting into today. My guest is Moses Brown, founder and CEO of the dating website . I’m not single and I’m not interested in hooking up with anyone but I laughed pretty hard when I heard the site’s name. So I figured it could make for a fun interview. The OnlineBootyCall.com site puts out—no pun intended—an amusing vibe, starting with its 10 Commandments, so let’s bring Moses on and see what happens. OnlineBootyCall.com • • •
Defining the prototypical acting role for Harold Perrineau is difficult if not damn near impossible. Was it Augustus Hill, the philosophical, always cool, wheelchair-bound inmate in HBO’s violent, often gross-out prison drama “Oz”? Maybe it was the hapless Michael Dawson on “Lost,” who came and went from the show and storyline with such dizzying plot twists that it seemed like the writers didn’t know what to do with him. Or perhaps it will be his latest character, Detective Leo Banks, on ABC’s new drama, “The Unusuals.” Harold Perrineau • • • • •
It’s time for the 2009 BCS national championship game and so we’re talkin’ football today on Mr. Media with Kent Walls, co-host of Fox Sports and Fox College Sports channel’s “Tailgate Tour.” For the last five months, Kent and his delightful–yes, that’s man code for “hot”—co-host Sarah Karges have criss-crossed college campuses all across the United States in search of pigskin, tail and tall tales. Today, he’s going to tell us what he’s seen. We’ll also get his take on this week’s big game and why the Florida Gators—Mr. Media’s alma mater—will walk away with the big title for the second time in three years. Kent Walls • • • •
Playing the intern on a Thursday night NBC sitcom is not a bad gig for a young actor. Look at B.J. Novak, the young man who plays “Ryan” on “The Office.” He was literally unknown when he joined the show and quickly became a strong character onscreen and off, writing at least 10 episodes and producing 33. So what can we expect from Aubrey Plaza, who plays April the (full of sarcasm) Intern on “Parks and Recreation”? Amy Poehler’s character, Leslie Knope, strives to be a positive influence on young April, not quite realizing that April is already smarter and savvier than Leslie may ever be. Okay, maybe she’s not that smart. AUBREY PLAZA audio excerpt: "Amy Poehler is the most fun ever. She was my comedy hero in high school. She started the Upright Citizens Brigade, which is where I trained. My feeling is, if I can make her laugh, then I'm doing my job." Plaza brings some pretty strong credentials to the role of an intern, including graduating from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and several years of improv and sketch comedy experience at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater—you might know them for producing Stephen Colbert and Amy Sedaris. She also appeared in the Adam Sandler film Funny People, alongside her “Parks and Recreation” co-star Aziz Ansari. Aubrey Plaza •
Dogs that can express themselves in a language we can all understand are nothing new. Remember the movie Cats & Dogs? One dog had the voice of Tobey McGuire, another the sonorous tones of Alec Baldwin. But how many dogs have written books about their adventures? Point for Chet the Dog, sidekick of Bernie Little and sole employee of the Little Detective Agency and—do you smell that? Hint of bacon, ground black pepper, sizzling burgers on the grill… Where was I? CHET the DOG AUDIO EXCERPT audio excerpt: "Everything is dictated in a mental telepathy way, through Spencer Quinn, whose name also appears on the books. I would call him my muse; he's the interface with the publishing business. But the stories are mine." Oh, right, the Chet and Bernie mystery series. Book one, Dog Gone It, was a big hit, quickly followed by the just published Thereby Hangs A Tail. Both books are narrated by Chet the Dog, who is a pretty adept storyteller, except for when he gets distracted by the smell of food, another dog’s butt, fresh pastries, Frisbees, baseballs… Chet also has some problems remembering details a short time after an event occurs, but once he catches a scent the second time, the large incisors are known around the desert to take a big bite out of crime. And criminals. Chet the Dog • •
Hearing that a comic novel takes place in a mine is not the best way to get my attention for a spot on this show. C’mon! A mine? And yet I’ve now fallen for that pitch twice with no regrets. The first was William Kent Kruger’s thrilling Vermillion Drift. And now I’m recommending writer Daniel Pyne’s second novel, A Hole in the Ground Owned by a Liar. It’s a very different story, an adventure with darkly comic overtones. Both books are page-turners; so much for anti-mines prejudice! DANIEL PYNE audio excerpt: "I was interested in doing things that I don't get to do when I'm writing films or television." Pyne has an advantage as a storyteller in print. Besides having previously written a popular cult novel in Twentynine Palms, he’s best known as a successful, experienced Hollywood screenwriter. For example, Pyne was a writer on films such as Any Given Sunday, Pacific Heights, two really good Michael J. Fox movies, Doc Hollywood and The Hard Way, Fracture, the film version of Miami Vice, and the remake of The Manchurian Candidate. Last year, Pyne gave his all to the Fox television drama “Alcatraz,” produced by JJ Abrams and starring Sam Neill, Jorge Garcia, Parminder Nagra, Sarah Jones and Robert Forster. He was a writer, executive producer and co-showrunner on the series, which was cancelled after just one season. If you’re one of those people who still likes to discover a really good story, I heartily recommend Daniel Pyne’s A Hole in the Ground Owned by a Liar. Daniel Pyne • • • • •
Thinking about actor Alan Ruck last night, I was reminded of a Dr. Seuss book called, Oh, The Places You’ll Go! Why? Just think about the places Alan Ruck has gone. He went universe hopping with both Captain Kirk and Captain Picard, to "Spin City" with Michael J. Fox and Charlie Sheen, and to Chicago with Ferris Bueller. ALAN RUCK podcast excerpt: "The best part I have had in a feature film (was as Cameron in Ferris Bueller's Day Off). Other people were offered the film and turned it down. Every time I see Emilio Estevez I want to give him a hug because I knew he was offered the role and decided not to do it. He didn't need the role but I did." Beat that, Cat in the Hat! And now Ruck is back, starring in a new NBC summer mini-series called “Persons Unknown,” which airs Mondays at 10 p.m. Alan Ruck •
One of the cool aspects of NBC’s spy rom-com “Chuck” is that it has survived on the Peacock long enough for every recurring character to get a moment to shine. Jeff and Lester have their band. Ellie has a heart. Casey has a daughter. The General has, well, okay, I’m still trying to figure that one out. Big Mike loves Subway sandwiches. Morgan is a different kind of genius. And Captain Awesome — okay, just plain ol’ “Awesome” these days — is both a big softie and a go-to spy. That’s a giant leap for Ryan McPartlin’s character on the show. RYAN McPARTLIN podcast excerpt: "We're hoping to hear this week or next if we're going to get more episodes this season. Ratings don't seem to matter; we keep coming back no matter what. That's largely due to the fans. There are so many outlets you can watch 'Chuck' on. We're such a big hit on iTunes, on Hulu, and on NBC.com." For a long time, he was the guy who walked in and out of scenes, often shirtless, looking, well Awesome. He got credit for doing things no mere mortal—certain not Chuck — could do and always wound up smooching or in the clinch with his fiancée, now wife on the show, Ellie, played by the luscious Sarah Lancaster.Not a bad deal, but not exactly a meaty role. Last season, however, McPartlin’s patience on the sidelines paid off. He, like Chuck, became a bit of an accidental spy himself and was entrusted with the secret of Chuck’s giant brain and new physical prowess. It was one of many fun twists on a show that excels in taking viewers places we never expected and always enjoy exploring. This season, he and Ellie have a bun in the oven. You just know it’s gonna be awesome.
No movie I can recommend captures the pure summertime wonderment of films better than The Rocketeer. It’s got action, adventure, a man with a jetpack strapped to his back and the spectacular Jennifer Connelly as Betty Page. I can watch The Rocketeer a hundred times and never get tired of it. Which brings us to today’s guest, Billy Campbell. There are two actors that Mr. Media believes cannot work enough and Billy Campbell is one of them. (Bruce Campbell—no relation—is the other.) He recently appeared opposite Ricky Gervais in Ghost Town—my 12-year-old son's favorite DVD of the moment. And, of course, he co-starred for too few seasons in the ABC drama, "Once and Again." Now Campbell is starring in NBC's new miniseries "Meteor" as Jack Crowe, a Los Angeles police officer who tries to protect his family fromhis crazy and corrupt ex-partner—as well as from those darn meteors falling from the sky. Jason Alexander—playing a far more serious person than he ever did as George Costanza on “Seinfeld”—introduces the advancing catastrophe that begins the NBC mini-series. “Meteor” begins on Sunday, July 12 from 9-11 p.m. and concludes next Sunday, July 19. Billy Campbell • •
When word reached us last night (May 16, 2010) that singer Ronnie James Dio lost his battle against cancer yesterday at the age of 67, my wife said, “Didn’t you interview him?” Yes, yes, I did. It was May 22, 1986, one of my first interviews at my new job as pop music critic for the Tampa Tribune. It was a telephone interview, as so many were in those days. RONNIE JAMES DIO podcast excerpt: "I just bought a building, in Los Angeles – on Sunset Boulevard. It’s a building that was owned by Charlie Chaplin. It’s going to be a soundstage for a video. It will also be a studio for smaller bands. Again, something to ensure that, later in life, I’ll be able to produce. Because some day I’ll be too old to run around the stage. Though that won’t hopefully happen for a long while yet. I’m building something that will allow me to carry on as a musician, because that’s what I do best." Sadly, the audio quality has been greatly diminished by the years. In fact, it may not have been very good to begin with, but I’m a pack rat, so I kept it. I can’t even prove that a story based on the interview ever ran—except that the part at the end where he talked about Christmas did appear in a story I wrote for the Orlando Sentinel: "I remember hardly any Christmases, whether as a child or an adult. Christmas is not my big one. I think it's a complete and utter waste of time for me. For some people, it's wonderful. It's wonderful for children. Christmas should be for children. It's just a shame that all the adults have to go through all the bother to make it so wonderful for them. I find it to be just a merchandising nuisance. I think that's it's just been completely and totally blown out of proportion.” I’m going to play my interview with Dio in just a moment, but I must warn you: the sound is really muffled. To increase his voice, I had no choice but to raise mine. This interview has never been heard before. If you’re a fan of Ronnie James Dio, you’ll probably be entertained; if not… I understand. And now, ladies and gentlemen, the late, great Ronnie James Dio, recorded on May 22, 1986—almost 24 years ago this week. Ronnie James Dio • • •
Jesse Ventura for President? Underestimate Jesse Ventura at your own risk. He may be an ex-wrestler and a guy who sounds on the radio a bit like Howard Stern wack packer Bigfoot, but a lot of people have gone wrong thinking the man lacked intellectual heft. Ventura, a former Navy SEAL in Vietnam, was elected governor of Minnesota in 1998 while running as an independent, a rare feat indeed. He has written 10 books, the last three with conspiracy specialist Dick Russell. JESSE VENTURA podcast excerpt: "Can you imagine the reaction from the Christian Right? That alone would be worth the price of admission. Howard Stern and Jesse Ventura! I think they'd be demanding a Rapture immediately!" The thing I find compelling about Ventura’s politics is similar to why I will tune in to Rachel Maddow on MSNBC periodically: while I might not agree with their opinions, I respect that the arrived at their conclusions thoughtfully and logically. In other words, the man once known as “The Body” puts that brain to work, too. Ventura made headlines last week when he kicked off the publicity tour for his latest book, Democrips and ReBloodlicans: No More Gangs in Government, on Howard Stern’s Sirius radio show and not only announced his interest in running for president in 2016 as an independent, but making a convincing argument that Stern—who once ran for governor of New York—should be his vice president. We’ll talk about that. By the way, this is the governor’s second appearance on Mr. Media. Jesse Ventura • • • • • •
Jesse Ventura sees conspiracies everywhere. He came to national prominence as a wrestler nicknamed “The Body,” took a turn on the silver screen in Predator with Ah-nuld, and even went by “Governor” for a term. Now he’s bidding for you and me to start thinking of him as “The Brain.” Don’t get me wrong; Ventura hasn’t asked anyone to call him that—yet. But reading his new book, American Conspiracies, it’s clear he’s given considerable thought to the real story behind some of this country’s most nagging unsolved mysteries. GOV. JESSE VENTURA podcast excerpt: "I took the side of the conspiracy. We brought out the facts; ultimately, it's up to the reader to decide. It's called 'learning the truth.' And if the truth causes panic, we're in big trouble." Whether you believe what he believes or think he’s nuts, a reader of American Conspiracies can’t deny Ventura has thought out his positions on everything from the Kennedy assassinations and 9/11 to the world financial collapse we’re just starting to come out from under. I should mention this is ground also covered in his new TV show, TruTV’s “Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura,” every Wednesday at 10 p.m. Not that Ventura is all drama and no fun these days. Anyone who’s caught him on the radio with Howard Stern knows he’s just as comfortable talking smack about Hulk Hogan and telling wild stories about his days as a Navy SEAL as he is discussing conspiracies. Jesse Ventura
Granted, the role for which everyone best—or maybe worst--remembers actor Ken Davitian is “Azamat Bagatov,” Borat’s manager in the 2006 movie Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan starring Sacha Baron Cohen. Anyone who saw it will forever have the image of Davitian and Cohen wrestling naked in a motel room scalded into their brains. But Ken Davitian has appeared in plenty of other films, fully clothed. He’s a terrific character actor and from what I’ve seen of him being interviewed elsewhere, quite a gentle soul. In other words, nothing at all like Azamat. KEN DAVITIAN podcast excerpt: "It was in Dallas I was told we were going to do this. I kept saying to Sacha Baron Cohen, 'A fat guy in boxers, that's funny. Funny, funny! No?' He said, 'I want naked.' We ran into an engineers convention, twelve o'clock in the afternoon, somewhere in the Dallas area. We started doing our schtick with each other. I looked into his eyes. I could see him looking at the audience. He stopped. He went out of character, said 'We're not getting any response. Let's go.' We walked out of there totally in character, naked." He recently played the role of “Uncle Bernie” to perfection in an episode of NBC’s “Chuck” titled “Chuck Versus the First Kill.” He was also “Shtarker” in the otherwise forgettable Steve Carrell remake of Get Smart. He’s also been seen in movies such as Soul Men, Meet the Spartans, Holes and S.W.A.T. as well as TV shows such as “The Closer,” “ER” and “Ghost Whisperer.” Coming up, his new film Prankster just got picked up for distribution and will come out in October. He also finished a feature film with former “American Idol” finalist Katharine McPhee and Dave Annable of “Brothers & Sisters” called You May Not Kiss the Bride. It also stars Rob Schneider, Mena Suvari, Tia Carrere, Kathy Bates and Vinnie Jones. Also in the pipeline is another film, Melvin Smarty. Davitian also co-owns a hot dog restaurant in Sherman Oaks called The Infield. Ken Davitian • • •
Guys, Stacy Collins has your dream job. As a managing editor of Playboy special editions, she spends day after day looking at the world’s most beautiful, mostly naked women. Some are in photographs, but many meet her discriminating eye in the flesh. And now that I say that out loud, it’s not hard to understand why she’s in the job and you’re not. Breann McGregor is one of the beauties Stacy works with. They actually spent a lot of time together this past year and will probably be just as inseparable in the coming year considering that Breann was named “Playboy Special Editions Model of the Year” and “Playboy’s Cyber Girl of the Year.” Breann McGregor • • • • • • •
I’m not one of those crybabies who thinks newspapers are dying. I do, however, think that the news itself is migrating to new distribution systems and that, in the future, the word “paper” will be less and less connecting with the word “news.”Okay, maybe I do think newspapers are dying. But I believe well-managed, thoughtful and provocative news organizations will always thrive in the new media order. The Huffington Post recently announced a million-dollar commitment to investigative journalism. TrueSlant.com, a news startup, has become a home to experienced journalists—including Mr. Media—who are pursuing their beats in new ways by blogging as often as they have something fresh to say on a subject. The latest entrant to the news-for-all is DailyMe.com, a start-up news gathering operation that boasts of adding 5,000 new stories daily from the most reputable of sources, including the Associated Press, Reuters, the Dallas Morning News, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune and Newsday. It’s also licensing and repackaging news product for third parties. DailyMe.com comes to us from the minds of Eduardo Hauser and Neil Budde, who will join us in a moment. Hauser has 18 years of online and offline media experience at AOL Latin America, Venevision and the Cisneros Group of Companies. He is also a member of the board of directors of NPR (National Public Radio). As for my guest today, Neil Budde was the founding editor and publisher of The Wall Street Journal Online, having formulated the original idea for the site and developed it into one of the most successful subscription news sites around. He later built Yahoo! News. Neil Budde • • •
If you thought Erica Durance was too hot to handle during seven years of playing reporter Lois Lane on TV’s long-running “Smallville,” wait till you get a load of her tonight kicking bad guy butt dressed as “Wonder Woman” on the latest episode of “Harry’s Law” on NBC at 9 p.m. This particular Wonder Woman costume is suspiciously similar to the one designed for David E. Kelley’s failed NBC TV pilot from last year. And, no disrespect to Adrianne Palicki, the actress who wore the suit then, but Durance will make hearts flutter wildly when you see her in it. Order 'Smallville: The Complete Tenth Season' by clicking on the DVD above! ERICA DURANCE audio excerpt: "The character does not perceive herself as making light (of domestic abuse). It's her way of getting her life back. I don't think there is a person out there who hasn't dreamed of that eye-for-eye justice." Kelley – who produces "Harry’s Law" and is best known as the creator of “Boston Legal,” The Practice” and “Ally McBeal” – obviously knows opportunity when he sees it. I have no idea how the plot of Durance’s guest starring role opposite Kathy Bates turns out. But it’s delightful to know she’s doing the opposite of putting distance between herself and the DC Universe of superheroes. Erica Durance • • •
Doug Savant’s real wife, Laura Leighton, is floating lifeless in the pool over at Fox’s new “Melrose Place.” Meanwhile, his TV wife, Felicity Huffman on ABC's “Desperate Housewives,” is expecting twins—again—and his character, Doug Scavo, a man whose sperm definitely swim, is in the doghouse—again—for that and so many other reasons. DOUG SAVANT podcast excerpt: "There's a picture in Entertainment Weekly, the fall television preview, where (my wife, Laura Leighton, star of 'Melrose Place") is kissing Thomas Calabro playfully on the cheek. And I gotta tell you, I don't like it! Nope! I want her kissing me, not somebody else. I love her enough to be a little possessive!" Is it any wonder the man is choosing to hide out here, on Mr. Media Radio, for the next 15 minutes, to talk about the importance of , good dental hygiene, fresh breath, and a book of laughs? Doug Savant •
This is not a show people tune into for a lot of heartbreaking conversation. I’m not Oprah and I don’t enjoy fiddling with your heartstrings. So on its own merits, I honestly would have never chosen Kambri Crews’ new book, Burn Down the Ground: A Memoir as a topic of conversation. But there’s a quirky bit of Mr. Media history tangled up here. KAMBRI CREWS audio excerpt: "It is a sad story. But it's not full of sadness. It's full of hope." Several years ago, Kambri’s husband, comedian Christian Finnegan, was a guest on the show. We got to talking about in-law jokes and he made a remark about how he doesn’t joke about his because his mother-in-law is a lovely woman and his deaf father-in-law is serving 20 years in a Texas prison for attempted murder. Ba-da-bing? No. That momentarily brought the conversation to a halt. Frankly, I didn’t know what to say. A few weeks ago, a publicist pitched me on a new book by Kambri Crews about her insanely crazy, sometimes violent upbringing as a hearing child of deaf parents. I didn’t really think it was right for this show until I read the last line of the pitch: “She is married to standup comedian Christian Finnegan.” Quick, what’s American Sign Language for “Holy Shit!”? Suddenly I had the opportunity to get what the late broadcaster Paul Harvey would call “the REST of the story.” Kambri Crews • • • •
Here’s a Tears For Fears story I guarantee you haven’t heard before: I was the pop music critic for the St. Petersburg Times in 1985, assigned to review a Tears For Fears concert. I rushed back to the paper’s Clearwater bureau that night to file my story. Waiting for it in downtown St. Petersburg was the late night editor, Christine Holsten. I filed my story and waited for her to read it and answer any questions she might have. CURT SMITH audio excerpt: "Tears for Fears is where myself and Roland meet. It's about compromise. I know when I write a certain song that it's not going to be Roland's cup of tea. Our solo work is incredibly personal." But her major question wasn’t about my story; it was about the photo credit. The photographer identified his picture as Roland Orzabal on the left, Curt Smith on the right. But Christine wasn’t convinced. I said the photographer had it correct, but she had the final call and switched the ID in the caption. It was probably the last time I was right about anything in our relationship, but I was right; she was wrong. A horde of TFF fans called in the next day to say how stupid I was for getting it wrong, of course. (They weren’t happy about being referred to as “teeny-boppers,” either!) That was one of the first real moments that truly bound us and to this day, whenever we hear a Tears song playing, we can’t help but stop and fondly reminisce about that night. We’ve now been married 22 years and counting. Which is my long way of telling you that my guest today is Tears For Fears’ Curt Smith, who has released a new holiday single, “This is Christmas,” and will be playing several solo gigs in Los Angeles in 2011 and will rejoin Roland Orzabal for a Tears For Fears tour of South America and the U.S. West Coast. Tears For Fears' Curt Smith • • • • •
I think the first thing you need to know about comedian John Caparulo is where he was on November 8, 2016. Home. With his beautiful wife Jamie. And infant daughter, Madden. Oh, and I think his dog, Barney, was probably there, too. Why is this important? Because while it was Election Day in the United States, neither John nor Jamie was motivated to go out and vote. Not for The Donald; Not for Hillary. As Jamie put it on their podcast, “Domestic Disputes,” “We didn’t feel either one of them was worth putting on pants to vote for.” I’m not telling you that to form a judgment, just as a point of information for what happened four months later, in late February 2017. JOHN CAPARULO podcast excerpt: "When you watch the video, I didn't move. I just trusted my belly to absorb the blow. And it did. I was just glad I got the whole thing on tape. I'm not a politically-charged comedian -- those are big world problems and I have a small world point of view." John was recording an installment of his short-form video stand-up series, “Caplets,” when he cracked wise about the new president. A lady in the audience didn’t like his jokes and eventually launched a beer his way, hitting her mark. The clip quickly went viral, thanks to TMZ. What’s odd is that Caparulo isn’t exactly known for his political commentary. Domestic commentary, yes. Sports, yes. Politics? Eh, not so much. But in an era when comics need a little something extra to stand out – a podcast, a sitcom, regular appearances on Colbert, Maher or Kimmel – a drunk at the Hermosa Beach Magic & Comedy Club gave this new daddy his chance for a little stardust. By the way, Caparulo isn’t new to this show. He made his first appearance on Mr. Media back in October 2010. John Caparulo • • • •
Alana De La Garza is part of one TV’s proudest and longest-running dramatic institutions: the “Law & Order” franchise. She plays assistant district attorney “Connie Rubirosa” alongside Linus Roache and Sam Waterson, taking to court the cases developed on the street by Jeremy Sisto and Anthony Anderson.
Howard Sounes won’t deny that there have been an awful lot of books about the Beatles and Paul McCartney. But that didn’t give him pause; he just researched and wrote one of the best: Fab, An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney. This massive, 634-page biography covers so much time and detail that I wasn’t sure I could read all of it in a timely manner and still conduct an interview in this calendar year. So I proposed a compromise: let’s just talk about the second half of the book: Linda Eastman McCartney, the Wings years, the in-fighting among the ex-Beatles, John Lennon’s death, Linda’s death, George Harrison’s death, his marriage and death to Heather Mills, and so on. HOWARD SOUNES podcast excerpt: "Heather Mills is revealed by the facts to what she is... a very strong character." This part of the book is plenty rich and, I think, a little less known and understood than the Beatles years, which have been examined and analyzed. (We did cheat a little and talk about the breaking news that hit just minutes before the interview was recorded: Beatles for Sale, on iTunes.) Joining me now – live on tape – from London, England is Paul McCartney biographer and the author of Fab, Howard Sounes. Howard Sounes •
I studied French New Wave cinema in college. Took it twice, in fact, in Professor Robert Ray’s class at the University of Florida. Little-known fact – my degree is actually in Film Studies. Anyway, I loved the French New Wave films from the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. What I didn’t care for was the over-inflated discussion that followed each screening. I’d watch the movies, in awe of the storytelling, the jump cuts, the women, the casual sex – you get the idea. But when the lights came up, Professor Ray always insisted on going deep into the meaning and motivation of the filmmaker. So here I am, Mr. A Mile Wide and an Inch Deep, about to welcome the esteemed film critic of The New Yorker magazine and author of the new book, Everything Is Cinema: The Working Life of Jean Luc-Godard. It’s a fascinating look at the best of the best of French New Wave, the auteur behind Breathless, A Woman is A Woman, La Chinoise, King Lear, and many more. And it made me wish I was more patient back in Professor Ray’s class more than 25 years ago. Richard Brody • • • • • •
There are people who read supermarket tabloids and – aw, wait a minute. We all know everybody reads the tabs, why lie? And if there are that many readers, there have to be some pretty good writers and editors. Writers such as of Globe magazine. Marlise spent three years at Globe, covering the likes of Morgan Freeman and Mary Bono, Bobby Brown and Madonna, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire. She lived through it and wrote a book, Tabloid Prodigy: Dishing the Dirt, Getting the Gossip, and Selling My Soul in the Cutthroat World of Hollywood Reporting. Marlise Kast • •
I’m getting hungry already. What do you expect—today’s guest is Joe Ariel, founder and CEO of Eats Media Group, which publishes a regional network of Eats magazines and College Eats magazine, as well as producing . And unless I’m mistaken, we’re going to talk a lot about food.
How do you measure the summer? Baseball games, picnics, trips to the beach? Around my house, it’s the Monday box office scores – rounded to the nearest million dollars, of course. The first three big movies of Summer 2007 – Spider-Man 3, Pirates of the Caribbean 3, and Shrek the Third – all opened with predictably big weekend hauls. But these three sure things didn’t overwhelm the general movie-going public quite the way most observers thought they would. All three have been panned by critics and aren’t generating the buzz many expected. Their performance opened the door for something a little less spectacular – the new Judd Apatow movie, Knocked Up, which has won rave reviews and could gain even bigger audience as the long hot summer continues – at least until the new Harry Potter movie opens. To talk about this summer’s movies – as well as the just-completed Cannes Film Festival, which she attended – I invited The Hollywood Reporter's Tatiana Siegel to join us today. For the past four years, Siegel has worked at The Hollywood Reporter covering the economics of the entertainment industry. She tracks three major studios: Sony, Paramount, DreamWorks, and MGM. Siegel also covers the agency beat, following the behind-the-scenes developments at such talent powerhouses as CAA, William Morris, and Endeavor. She has interviewed hundreds of studio executives, producers and directors and enjoys unique access to agents, managers and publicists. In this entertaining, informative, audio interview, Siegel reviews the financial performance of the summer's first blockbusters; offers her opinion on Pirates' second week box office plummet; points out the shrinking number of women directors in Hollywood; describes the scene at this year's Cannes Film Festival; explains why Frank Miller's adaption of Will Eisner's The Spirit moved up on the schedule and Sin City 2 stepped back; and finally, why Ari Gold and Vincent Chase still matter. Tatiana Siegel • •
It’s Pirates of the Caribbean meets “Lost.” It’s a man with the skills of MacGyver shipwrecked on a lush, tropical island. It’s the new NBC adventure series “Crusoe,” and it may be the best new TV show you haven’t discovered yet. Joining me today is Philip Winchester, the star of “Crusoe.” Philip Winchester • • • •
Two years ago, Alex Ferrari wrote and directed a short action thriller called . It cost a mere $8,000, looks like a million bucks, and includes more than 100 visual effects shots. The low budget film was a "proof of concept" -- Ferrari and his associates and investors wanted to demonstrate what they are capable of producing if given a larger budget and greater resources. I was skeptical of the short - until I watched it. It's pretty cool, especially considering its limitations. It's stylish and energetic and will leave you wanting more. Alex Ferrari • • • • • •
Star Price -- a.k.a., Starling Price -- is the executive producer of the Showtime series, “Penn & Teller: Bullsh-t!” The TV BS show, now in its fifth season, chronicles the efforts of confirmed skeptics and pro-science atheists Penn Jillette and Teller to debunk, well, bullsh-t. Their mission is to expose the truth to an otherwise desperate and gullible public. Most people have seen Penn & Teller somewhere, usually on a talk show performing incredible feats of magic. On this show, they use all the tricks of their trade, including good old-fashioned hidden cameras, to reveal rip-off artists, scammers, and hoaxsters. Price is a writer, producer, director who has worked in television since 1978. In recent years, he’s made a career in reality television, including credits on programs such as “Real Stories of the Highway Patrol,” MTV’s “Celebrity Undercover,” TLC’s “How’d They Do That,” and “Confirmation: The Hard Evidence of Aliens Among Us” for NBC. He’s also recently co-executive-produced the reality series, “Exploring the Unknown” and “Scariest Places on Earth” for the Fox Family Channel, “Amazing Race II” for CBS, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” the pilot for ABC, and “Hotel Hell” for Fox. Penn & Teller • • • •
I love “Chuck.” It’s not a gay thing—I’m referring to the NBC TV show that just returned for its second season on Monday nights. And it’s not just me; my wife and son are also huge fans of the goofy, sexy, spy action-comedy starring Zachary Levi, Yvonne Strahovski—the hottest woman working in TV or film today— Adam Baldwin and my guest this morning, Joshua Gomez. Gomez is “Morgan,” Chuck’s best friend and co-worker at the Buy More Electronics superstore. Morgan has a 19-year-long crush on Chuck’s sister, dates a beautiful Asian co-worker who looks like she just stepped out of a Japanese manga story and, according to Chuck, “the man has a black belt in dumplings.” Josh Gomez •
In my head, the introduction to today’s show with blues/rock/jazz guitarist Adam Falcon goes something like this: Blah, blah, blah – including live performances by Adam – blah, blah, blah! ADAM FALCON audio excerpt: "Just continue to practice and enjoy what you're doing." And then out loud I would say: The first time Adam Falcon was on the show was a lot of fun. I love his music, his guitar style and his general approach to life. He recently got in touch to say he’d be coming to Florida – Miami, to be exact, and he offered to play a few songs live for us to help promote his shows on January 13 and 14 as part of Art Deco Weekend 2012. How could I say no to that? Adam Falcon • • • • • LISTEN! (2010) WATCH! (2013)
Jonathan Katz is neither a doctor nor a cartoon. But he has been known to be one entertaining funnyman. His old show on Comedy Central, “Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist,” was perhaps best known for two elements during its six-year run: its squiggly animation and the remarkable list of guests who sat on Dr. Katz’s couch, including Ray Romano, Conan O’Brien, Jon Stewart and Louis C.K. Now Katz is back with a new animated show, “Explosion Bus.” Like “Dr. Katz,” “Explosion Bus” was created by Tom Snyder. The new show co-stars comedian Tom Leopold, whose writing credits including “Seinfeld” and “Cheers.” JONATHAN KATZ audio excerpt: "Louis C.K.'s act has changed so much. He got older; he got bolder. Some of my favorite stuff he does is about the Catholic church, which a young kid wouldn't do." So what is “Explosion Bus”? I have to admit I’m having a hard time figuring that out myself. I’ve watched several first season episodes and had a sneak peak at excerpts from season two. Like “Dr. Katz,” it is a model of subtlety and irony. “Explosion Bus” seems to satirizes the reality TV conceit of the moment found in “America’s Got Talent,” “The Voice” and “American Idol” that everyone has talent and could potentially be famous. But it goes in a lot of different directions from there, including being a reality show within a reality show—and one with real viewer submissions. And fans from season one will notice a change in animation style in season two. Check him out in animated form at ExplosionBus.com or on YouTube. Meanwhile, the doctor is in and I’m hoping he can make sense of it all for me. Jonathan Katz • • • • • • •
A casual viewer of Chelsea Handler’s monologue’s on her nightly E! talk show, “Chelsea Lately” might come away with the suspicion that she has no respect at all for her staff. On the other hand, where would the careers of Heather McDonald, Chuy and my guests today, Sarah Colonna and Brad Wollack, be without those zingers? BRAD WOLLACK audio excerpt: "Making fun of Chuy was easy from Day One... Chelsea really helps define our personalities.She gave me my voice in many respects." They certainly wouldn’t be starring in the second season of “After Lately,” a behind-the-scenes mockumentary that airs after Chelsea’s gabfest. It returns this Sunday, November 27 @ 11 p.m. just after “Chelsea Lately” on E! (Sarah Colonna, incidentally, is the great-niece of long-time Bob Hope sidekick and comedian Jerry Colonna, who sported one of show business’s all-time great mustaches.) Both Wollack and Colonna are established comedians in their own right, but you have to bet they relish almost every moment of national attention thrown their way by the boss. That, and the fact that Chelsea Handler just extended her E! deal another two years – or four Kardashian marriage-and-divorce cycles. Sarah Colonna • • • Brad Wollack • • •
When I heard that Jamie Malanowski had penned a book about the days leading up to the American Civil War, I assumed it would be something along the lines of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. You know – something absurdist that could read, if well-crafted, as if it were true. Instead, the former SPY magazine writer and editor has produced something that is true and we can only wish it chronicled something absurdist instead of reminding us that Obama vs. the Tea Party is not unlike Lincoln vs. the Confederacy. JAMIE MALANOWSKI audio excerpt: "I was confronted more clearly than I ever expected with just how fiercely (Southerners) believed in slavery. And how strongly determined they were to keep their property." And the War Came: The Six Months That Tore America Apart originally appeared online in serialized form in The New York Times “Opinionator” web pages. It is a mesmerizing, week-by-week account from the day of Abraham Lincoln’s election, through the secession of the Southern states, on up to the start of the Civil War. The book is currently available as an e-book, but a print-on-demand edition is in the works. As for Jamie Malanowski, he’s enjoyed one of those careers guys like me can only envy from afar. Writer and editor for SPY magazine, managing editor of Playboy – we could stop there – and he is also the author of a political novel, The Coup. More recently he’s been doing ghostwriting and private editorial consultation. It’s a real pleasure to welcome him to the show. Jamie Malanowski • • • •
Frank Miller must have a guardian angel. How else to explain that, in the days before his latest movie, The Spirit, would premiere to horrendous reviews, it was announced that his next project would be a remake of Buck Rogers? Or, even wilder, that Dave Gibbons, co-creator of the greatest graphic novel ever, Watchmen, wanted to re-team with Miller to bring their comics creation, Martha Washington, to the silver screen. It was just the kind of distracting good news Miller’s career may need with The Spirit likely headed for an armload of Razzies come award time. Dave Gibbons is my guest today, and Frank Miller and Martha Washington are just the latest developments in a career that is set to go into warp drive this spring with the release of the film version of Watchmen likely to hit your local cinema. The coming attractions for Watchmen are causing the kind of buzz that the original Superman movie did. It looks that good. And then there’s Dave’s new coffee table size book, Watching the Watchmen, a collection of notes, sketches and scribblings he accumulated during the creation of Watchmen. They include contributions from Watchmen co-creator and writer Alan Moore, editors and others. If you loved Watchmen, you have to own this book. Dave Gibbons • • • • •
There are all kinds of magic. There is the classic Harry Houdini practice of pre-technology stunts that utterly baffled crowds. And there is the David Copperfield school of big stage, TV magic that leave crowds equally mystified but suspicious that they’ve been somehow conned. There are other branches of the modern art, of course, including Penn & Teller’s hip, Vegas style, or Criss Angel’s form of street theater magic. And then there is The Masked Magician, who tears it all down and reveals how the trick are done. The Masked Magician—who stars in the second season of MyNetworkTV’s “Magic’s Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed”—is actually Val Valentino, who joins me today. Val Valentino • • • • •
Kyle Schickner’s new indie drama Steam had me at “it co-stars Ally Sheedy and Ruby Dee,” but made me a fan when Kate Siegel’s character says, “Mom, I’m a lesbian.” I know it doesn’t sound funny, being out of context and all, but it cracked me up. If you get the chance to see Steam at a film festival, please do. If you can’t find it there, take Mr. Media’s advice and request it in advance at Netflix or Blockbuster. It’s a sweet, satisfying little film with a great cast. Speaking of its great cast, I’m delighted to welcome two of lead actresses from Steam—Ally Sheedy and Kate Siegel—to today’s show, as well as writer/director Kyle Schickner. Ally Sheedy • • Kyle Schickner • • • Kate Siegel • •
Picture this: I’m looking up to my left in a thoughtful pose, my right index finger gently tapping against my lower lip. Outwardly, I’m introducing my guests, a.k.a., "Christopher Turk"—and Dave Franco. Inwardly, I’m daydreaming, trying to imagine what their co-star, Zach Braff would be thinking about if he were me. How would Braff—who plays “J.D.” on the show—introduce his extremely close friend Faison in a way that would both warm your heart and reveal something unintentionally embarrassing about their relationship? DONALD FAISON podcast excerpt: "(J.D. and Turk) are still crazy! They're just considered adults now. You remember how it was when you were all of a sudden considered an adult and you had all the responsibility in the world. But you felt you were as young as the people who look up to you or you were mentoring? That's how Turk and J.D. feel." And what would he say about Franco, about whom I know little going into this interview except that a similarly named actor James Franco is currently appearing on an ABC soap opera? That, too, must be my imagination. The daydream just went poof—I slipped in a puddle deliberately left on the floor next to my desk by The Janitor. Damn you, Janitor!!! Donald Faison • • Dave Franco • • • • (Fan)
It sucks to be unemployed right now and, strangely, it’s not much more comforting to be employed, is it? This seems like an opportune time to talk to a career consultant and executive coach and, frankly, I’m surprised has time to talk with us. Who ISN’T looking for job advice today? Andrea writes a syndicated weekly newspaper column called “At Work” and is the author of two books, Life’s a Bitch and then You Change Careers and her latest, Work’s a Bitch and then You Make It Work. The good news: I get to say the word “bitch” a lot and no one will be insulted! Andrea Kay • • •
If you are geography-challenged, buckle in. My guest today, novelist Steven Savile, is a British writer, living in Sweden, whose latest novel is about a bank robbery gone ridiculously wrong… in Chicago. Got it? STEVEN SAVILE podcast excerpt: "Stephen Hawking has lived more than 30 years with his (ALS/Lou Gehrig's Disease) diagnosis. But with others, it can be horribly quick. My uncle has got two kids and both of them suffer from ALS. It's actually a disease that's really close to home. I've seen the effect it has on people. I found it really hard when my father-in-law died of ALS. With a work of fiction such as 'Parallel Lines,' I wanted to experience my own catharsis. This was a way of writing out a bit of the grief" Parallel Lines is a fast-moving crime story about how our individual destinies move similarly alongside one another without ever touching – and what happens when some of them finally do intersect. It is written with seamless craft and attention to detail without ever letting any of that slow down the plot. As for the writer, Steven Savile – who is talking to us today from Sweden – he is a genre-jumping author who is as at home with bad dudes in the Windy City as he is taking flight with Doctor Who or jumping through time and space in Stargate mythology. Steven Savile • • •
The Law & Order television franchise has passed through numerous stages over its two decades on the air at NBC. There was innovation, as in the split show format of the original; shock, as in the horrible nature of some of the crimes depicted; expansion, as in the addition of series such as “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”; ubiquity, as in, “isn’t there anything on besides these doggone crime shows”; and, finally, respect, as in Mariska Hargitay winning the 2006 Emmy Award for Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series. NEAL BAER podcast excerpt: "The secret of the show's success? I think it's the teaming of Mariska Hargitay and Chris Meloni. I think they're the longest running team in drama; Ozzie & Harriet beat them in comedy—they ran for 14 years. They've got great chemistry. Chris represents the rage we feel about the crimes and Mariska represents the empathy we feel toward the victims." That’s all the stuff that you and my wife see when you watch hour after hour of “Law & Order.” But what goes on behind the scenes? That’s what I hope to discover from today’s guest, Dr. Neal Baer, the executive producer of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” Dr. Baer is a real medical doctor with a degree from Harvard; he interned at Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles and, more germane to a discussion of TV, he was on the original writing staff of “ER,” eventually rising to the position of executive producer. Neal Baer • • • •
You know when you meet someone early in your life how that’s the person they will always be in your mind’s eye? That’s how I’ll always see Wendy Pini. I was a teenager with a comic book fixation, and she was a stunning redhead who dressed up at comic book conventions as Red Sonja, the chain-mail, bikini-wearing, female barbarian that emerged from Marvel’s Conan the Barbarian comics. She also participated in a nightclub show put together by comics artist Frank Thorne, with Thorne as “The Wizard.” My friend Bob Pinaha was a little older than me at the time. Well, I guess he’s still older than me, now that I think about it, and he had a real thing for Wendy, so I always saw his latest Polaroid snapshots of her. Wow! We were all doubly impressed over the years as Wendy re-emerged in comics as a successful artist, writer, and publisher and the creator of the Japanese manga-influenced Elfquest books that have endured for the past 30 years. Elfquest, most recently published by DC Comics, was actually a production of Wendy and her husband, Richard Pini. Wendy and Richard join me today to talk about Elfquest’s long run as well as their latest work, an online comics adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe’s novel, Masque of the Red Death. Wendy Pini • • •
Today is a great day to be Jeff Garlin. And for him, tomorrow will probably be an even better day. The sixth season of the hugely popular and hysterically funny HBO series “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” starring Larry David and co-starring Garlin, is now underway. But even better, I suspect, for Garlin is that his first movie as writer, director, and star, I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With, opened on September 5. The New York Times greeted Garlin’s Cheese this way: laid back and affectionate, Cheese is the movie version of a dear friend you could spend all day with. Not bad for a guy from Chicago. Jeff Garlin • • • • • • • More Mr. Media Interviews from Curb Your Enthusiasm: (Oct. 21, 2007) • (2011)
I’m probably not the target market for chick lit books, so I approached ’s second novel, Bought, a little skeptically. On the other hand, who doesn’t enjoy a little fiction about high-end prostitution and the sex trade in Hollywood? What I didn’t expect was getting drawn into a subplot about celebrity journalism ethics. That, and a really well told story that puts the reader right in the mind of the story’s lead character, Emma, who kind of drifts through life. Anna David • • • • • • • •
Has your television viewing been subsumed by reality television in recent years? I know mine has. Top Chef, Top Chef Masters, Hell’s Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmare, Big Brother, Survivor, The Dog Whisperer, The Apprentice—original, not the extra-crispy celebrity edition--and even I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here have all enjoyed addictive viewing in the Mr. Media household. I’ve also enjoyed Shark Tank and Stan Lee’s Who Wants to be a Superhero? I’ve cooled on Survivor, now in its 20th season, and Big Brother, which is coming up on its 12th, but I’m surprisingly content to watch the cooking shows for hours on end—even though you’ll rarely catch me doing anything but raiding the refrigerator for leftovers. ANNA DAVID audio excerpt: "When I first came up with the idea, my agent at the time said, 'No, don't do that book. it'll go out of date quickly.' I left that agent, walked into a room with a publisher, told them the idea and they bought it immediately. A lot of people deride these shows as a sign of our cultural apocalypse. But even if the shows aren't interesting, what people have to say about them are." In an age when sitcoms don’t deliver the belly laughs they once did, Lost and 24 are ending and the best dramas have migrated to cable, there are nights when a made-on-the-cheap reality TV show is the best thing the broadcast networks have left to offer us. Joining me tonight is Anna David, editor of a new compilation of essays on the state of reality TV called Reality Matters: 18 Writers Come Clean About the Shows We Can’t Stop Watching. The book is packed with insights into why we can’t avert our eyes from a landscape of lying liars and cheating cheaters. Speaking of which, the book’s foreword is by Oprah’s favorite lying dog, James Frey. As for Anna, this is her third book. The first two, Bought and Party Girl, were chick lit novels. She is also the sex-and-relationship expert on G4’s Attack of the Show and is a regular contributor on the news network version of reality TV, Fox. This is Anna’s second visit to Mr. Media. Anna David • • • • • • • •
Back in the mid-1980s, when serious comic book fans heard that artist and writer Mark Schultz had created a world that crossed dinosaurs and Cadillacs, their first reaction was: “Cool!” Some no doubt thought that it was too much of a gimmick to succeed. Again: dinosaurs? And Cadillacs? No doubt a big seller at the recently opened Creation Museum in Kentucky, but some couldn’t help but be a little dubious. Until you opened the pages of Xenozoic Tales, that is, and experienced first-hand the ingenious storytelling and rich tapestry of comic art. I remember seeing a couple random issues of the book, which was published for more than a decade, and finding it captivating. But I was outside the comics scene and it wasn’t easy to find. The stories later were published as “Cadillacs and Dinosaurs,” and even adapted into 13 episodes of a popular Saturday morning cartoon series in 1993. MARK SCHULTZ podcast excerpt: "I'm working on completing my Storms At Sea project for Flesk. My next project is a new Xenozoic story, which will probably be prose, heavily illustrated. Lots of pictures of Hannah and ugly old Jack." After a long absence, the collected adventures of Jack Tenrec and Hannah Dundee are back in print in a hardcover edition simply title Xenozoic. Reading it from start to finish, I was struck by several things: the oozing sexuality and pinup beauty of almost every woman Schultz draws; the ugliness of most all the men; and, most interesting of all, the sturdiness of the environmental subplot moving of the overall narrative forward. Even better: Schultz promises more Xenozoic tales in the near future! Mark Schulz •
Kelli Williams is the star of the new Fox drama, “Dollhouse.” Okay, that’s a lie. Kelli Williams is the star of the new Fox drama, “Lie To Me,” which co-stars Chef Gordon Ramsay. Okay, okay, that’s another lie. My upper lip quivered when I said it, my eyes are blinking more rapidly and my blood pressure is racing. But that’s not because I lied; it’s because Kelli Williams—a husband and three kids after rising to prominence as a star of “The Practice”—is just as lust-inducing as ever and she’s about to join us. Kelli Williams • • • BONUS!
Miles O’Brien was a great guy with whom to start your day. Flip on CNN at breakfast and for years, there he was, a calm and reassuring presence on the news channel’s “American Mornings” program, alongside Soledad O’Brien, giving the headlines, keeping us centered and calm no matter how bad the overnight reports might be. Then, one day, he was gone. Oh, the new duo in the morning are fine and professional, but more than a few of us miss Miles. But after 17 years with CNN, he’s moved on. In fact, he’s constantly moving. Today, he’s in Lakeland Florida—that’s right, nearby the new media capital of the world, St. Petersburg, Florida, the headquarters of the Mr. Media empire—where he premiered a new movie, . Tomorrow, who knows where he’ll be. O’Brien is pursuing all of his interests at once in a whirl of activity. Miles O'Brien • • •
When I was a freshman at the University of Miami back in 1978, Animal House was all the rage and the coolest guys on campus wanted to be like “Otter,” played by Peter Riegert. He knew all the girls, glided through school and was envied by all the guys. Well, it’s 30 years later—damn, where did the time go—and now all the young college dudes want to be like another National Lampoon character: Van Wilder. There have been two Van Wilder movies and two talented actors who played the smooth, suave young dude: Ryan Reynolds—whatever happened to him?—and my guest tonight, Jonathan Bennett, who starred in National Lampoon’s Van Wilder: Freshman Year. JONATHAN BENNETT podcast excerpt: "There are more Vans down in the pipeline... I will play Van Wilder until I'm 90, I love that character so much. We can do Van Wilder: The Senior Years and do it in the retirement home!" A heavy responsibility befalls the man who wears the crown of a guy like Van Wilder, the model of horny, party-going young men everywhere, but I suspect Young Master Bennett can handle the pressure—he’s made a cottage industry of being second to step in time-honored roles, including starring as Bo Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning. You may have also seen him in Mean Girls as Lindsay Lohan’s boyfriend, Bachelor Party Vegas, opposite Kal Pen of Harold & Kumar fame, or in the Steve Martin movie Cheaper By the Dozen 2 as Bud McNulty. But this Saturday night, September 19 at 8 p.m., he faces a real challenge as celebrity host of Acme Comedy Theatre’s “Acme Saturday Night.” Jonathan Bennett • • • • • Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!
In the pantheon of movie stars who will live forever in the memories of cinema fans, few burn brighter than Judy Garland. She lived a well documented life of extraordinariness, from her big screen breakthrough in The Wizard of Oz on through A Star is Born and Meet Me in St. Louis. There was no medium she couldn’t conquer, whether it was movies, radio or, later, television. Wherever she went, whatever she did, she was universally respected for her God-given talent and adored for her smile and spunk. JOHN FRICKE audio excerpt: "Judy Garland married the wrong men again and again or trusted the wrong men again and again. It must have been very difficult for someone who was as intelligence as Judy was, to keep picking herself up and starting over, realizing she had yet again made the same mistakes." There have been, of course, entire bookshelves of research and publications devoted to the magic of Garland and it could be argued that what the world didn’t need was another coffee table book of pictures and facts about the actress who brought Dorothy Gale to life in 1939. But biographer John Fricke – who also wrote The Wizard of Oz: An Illustrated Companion to the Timeless Movie Classic — knows his subject better than most and found a fresh way to present his case for another print celebration of her life and art. breaks down the movies of the actress and singer into four parts of her life. It then entertains the reader with synopses, cast lists, behind-the-scenes credits, musical numbers when appropriate and photos. Lots and lots of great photos. If you love Judy Garland, you’ll love this book. Judy Garland • • • • •
I have a lot of respect for the practitioners of public relations services. Publicists are responsible for many of the interviews you hear on Mr. Media; they’re either pitching their clients to me or I go to them seeking their clients. And in this show’s third year, I feel like every day I’m either getting schooled in PR 2.0—the web iteration of public relations—or getting spanked by it. So I’m feeding a personal curiosity by inviting today’s guests, and Deirdre Breakenridge. BRIAN SOLIS audio excerpt: "When PR people write press releases today, they're writing it for the CEO and the product team, not the people who need to read it. It's a totally backwards phenomenon." Together, they are the co-authors of a new book, Putting the Public Back in Public Relations: How Social Media Is Reinventing the Aging Business of PR. Separately, , a PR and New Media agency in Silicon Valley. And , a New Jersey-based marketing communications agency. Brian Solis • • • • • Deirdre Breakenridge • • • •
I’ve never produced a Batman movie, but other than that slight difference between us, I completely related to producer Michael Uslan’s autobiography, . It probably starts with us both being Jersey boys smitten by four-color dreams as young boys, buying the latest comics at a neighborhood drugstore or Mom & Pop convenience store. Then it was our similar devotion to organizing our friends according to their interest in arguing about who would win a fight, DC’s Batman or Marvel’s Daredevil, Superman or Batman, Deadman or, uh, never mind. MICHAEL USLAN audio excerpt: "I think Michael Keaton was essential to that first movie taking hold and setting the standard for what would come in the entire genre over the next 20-plus years. Christian Bale totally nails Bruce Wayne for every single generation of Batman fans... Christian Bale makes you believe in Bruce Wayne and therefore, Batman, completely." And there were the creative professionals who made appearances in our teens; for him it was comic book writer Otto Binder; for me, hard-boiled detective novelist Michael Avallone. Also: Uslan made a pilgrimage to DC Comics and spent a day with vice president Sol Harrison; my friends and I went to Marvel, met a very young artist named George Perez and followed him home, where we watched him draw. (Harrison later hired Uslan; Perez and I are friends on Facebook but I can’t swear he remembers our momentous meetup in 1976.) There were other, smaller things that tickled me in The Boy Who Loved Batman: • Uslan wrote many of the DC adaptations of The Shadow, which I loved as a teen and, many years later, it was one of the few comics I kept and that I introduced to my wife and she enjoyed at least as much I did. • And just days after my teenage daughter finished reading Beowulf for her English Honors class and I remembered a comic book version in the 1970s, I discovered in his memoir that Uslan conceived and wrote that, too! • It also turns out we have a mutual acquaintance, Steve Huntington. Huntington and Uslan went to grade school and high school together back in Jersey; I covered smooth jazz radio program director Huntington as a media writer in the Tampa Bay area in the 1980s. I could go on and on without even getting close to the meat of the book: how Uslan obsessed over the need for a full-length movie of The Dark Knight to redeem Batman after the campy ‘60s TV series nearly ruined the character forever. Not only did Uslan acquire the rights and bring every modern version of the Caped Crusader to the big screen, from Michael Keaton to Christian Bale, he also was responsible for TV and film versions of Swamp Thing among other characters. His book does leave out a couple of his movies he’d probably rather forget, though, including Catwoman and Frank Miller’s The Spirit. (Sorry, Michael.) And one more thing: at the top of his IMDB page is this curiosity: Untitled Batman Reboot, 2015. Hmm… Michael Uslan • •
I remember the first time I encountered Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica, Reggie, Moose, Mr. Weatherbee, Miss Grundy, Hot Dog and the rest of the Riverdale gang. It was in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, 1971, and we were visiting our cousins, the Sirotkins. Fred Sirotkin, the youngest of the three children, had a basement filled with shelf after shelf of neatly ordered comic books. It was nirvana for me—and probably still would be, if not for the great flood that hit Wilkes-Barre a year later, obliterating Fred’s collection and everything else in the wall of water’s path. MICHAEL USLAN podcast excerpt: "Yes, we take the Archie story one step beyond anything it's ever been taken before... This has become a firestorm on the Internet on a worldwide basis. The Today Show took a poll on who Archie should marry. It was 80% Betty, 20% Veronica--and Jughead came in a strong third." Fast-forward to January 2010 and America’s oldest teenager, Archie Andrews—sorry, Dick Clark—has graduated college and announced his engagement to Betty Cooper. The writer of this six-part Archie Comics series, which takes us through the characters’ future, is as much a surprise, perhaps, as Archie choosing girl-next-door Betty over girl-with-a billion-bucks Veronica. His name is Michael Uslan, and while he’s written a few comic books before, he’s best known as an executive producer behind some of the biggest comic book movies of all time, including Batman and The Dark Knight. This is Michael’s second visit to Mr. Media Radio; he was previously a guest to discuss The Spirit movie, of which he was a producer. Michael Uslan • • • • •
Kids, if you want to grow up to be a successful executive producer of movies like Michael Uslan ("YOU-slin") did, the key is education – and patience. Lots and lots of patience. Uslan secured the rights to make Batman movies years before Tim Burton, Michael Keaton, and Jack Nicholson dreamed of working together. And he couldn’t give away the rights to Will Eisner’s The Spirit. But his patience and determination paid off. This year, the sixth Batman movie – The Dark Knight – and first Spirit movie will come to a multiplex near you, joining previous Uslan productions such as Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, Batman and Robin, Batman Begins, Catwoman, Constantine, National Treasure, Swamp Thing – well, you get the idea. And he’s not one to rest on his laurels, either. Uslan’s current projects in development include Shazam!, The Shadow, and Constantine 2. If you love comic books, and especially movies made from comic books, please welcome Michael Uslan to Mr. Media. Michael Uslan • •
I completely get Kevin Avery – I think. Growing up, he admired the writing and reviews of a long-time Rolling Stone journalist named Paul Nelson. He even wrote a fan letter to the magazine about Nelson; it was published in the April 30, 1981 issue. Personally, while I was a regular reader of Rolling Stone in those days, Nelson’s name and work didn’t have quite the same impression upon me. In fact, I didn’t remember it at all. KEVIN AVERY audio excerpt: "Paul Nelson had a fascinating life. If we worked together, it would not have been the same book; being a very private man, Paul would not have revealed everything that I found out." And, sadly for Avery and other Nelson fans, the legendary writer eventually faded away, a victim of his own inner demons and compulsions. But Avery never forgot him. And when he relocated from Salt Lake City to Brooklyn in February 2006, Avery sent his idol a note suggesting they work together to compile a “best of” collection of Nelson’s work. Nelson never responded – directly. I’ll let Avery tell you what happened in a moment. But it won’t spoil the suspense to say that Avery is the author-slash-editor of two new Nelson books, Everything is an Afterthought: The Life and Writings of Paul Nelson, and Conversations with Clint: Paul Nelson’s Lost Interviews with Clint Eastwood 1979-1983. There is a truly compelling story here -- Paul Nelson rediscovered -- whether you’re interest in pop music, film or the mysteries of the writing life. And Everything has a genuine bonus: the foreword is by my own literary idol, Nick Tosches. Kevin Avery • • • •
I am old enough to remember what a sensation Stan Lee and John Buscema caused back in 1978 when the book, How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way, was published. That book promised to pull back the curtain and teach would-be comic book artists how the House of Ideas did things and how you could, too. But that was then—this is now. In the digital age, knowing how to hold a pencil is so 1999. If you want to make it in comics today, you need a lot more technical skills and information. And that, no doubt, is why Freddie E. Williams II is going to do very well with his timely new instructional book, The DC Comics Guide to Digitally Drawing Comics. Freddie E. Williams II, artist, The DC Comics Guide to Digitally Drawing Comics FREDDIE WILLIAMS podcast excerpt: "If you have a fledgling design sense, you could take elements already drawn by someone else and lay them out; if you know how to use Photoshop, it opens up opportunities. But you still need to know the entire skill set of drawing comics before working digitally." Williams is already on a bit of a roll, having worked on the DC miniseries Countdown, as well as Robin, The Flash and others. Freddie E. Williams II • • • •
If MTV edited a presidential campaign video, it would probably look and feel a bit like In Search of Kennedy, a new documentary film by Chuck Workman and Stephen J. Kern. The movie applies a 21st century sheen to the most iconic of 20th century political figures, John F. Kennedy. It is incredibly au currant, with the 2008 Democratic references narrowed down to Obama and Clinton. The movie - which reminds us that, in 2000, even George W. Bush was sold to the American public as being Kennedy-like! - is crammed with familiar faces interviewed expressly for this project, including Norman Mailer, Tom Hayden, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Michael Moore, Garrison Keillor, Chris Matthews, Arianna Huffington and Senators Edward Kennedy, Joseph Biden and Chris Dodd. Alec Baldwin and Elisabeth Peña speak the words of prominent writers. Workman, who wrote and directed In Search of Kennedy over a three-year period, received his Oscar® for his live action short “Precious Images.” Previously, Workman produced and directed two critically acclaimed theatrical documentaries, on two other ‘60s icons, Superstar: The Life and Times of Andy Warhol (1990) and The Source, (1999) about the Beat Generation and Jack Kerouac. One of the things that may surprise people is that this isn’t just a recitation of JFK’s greatest hits. It is a warts-and-all presentation of Jack and all the Kennedys, from the Bay of Pigs and Marilyn Monroe to Chappaquidick and William Kennedy Smith. Whether you’re a Kennedy fan or just a political junkie, you’ll no doubt find In Search of Kennedy provocative and entertaining. John F. Kennedy • • • • • • Chuck Workman • • Stephen J. Kern
Over the past week, I’ve been delighted to play host to the two leading ladies of NBC’s new legal series, “Outlaw” – Carly Pope and Ellen Woglom. They both told me how wonderful the star’s show, Jimmy Smits, is. Who cares about him? JESSE BRADFORD podcast excerpt: "I've never really had a steady gig. That was always a tremendously appealing life to me throughout my 20s; I didn't want my life to be about my work. But now, at 31, I would love to have a steady gig." What I really want to know, only a man can tell me: what’s it like to work with Carly and Ellen, who have starred, respectively, in the film Young People F@cking and the TV show “Californication”? I know, I know: I’m hopeless. You’ll probably recognize Jesse Bradford, by the way: he’s been in a pile of successful films by renown directors prior to playing Eddie Franks on “Outlaw,” which airs Fridays @ 10 p.m. on NBC. There was Clint Eastwood,’s Flags of Our Fathers and Oliver Stone’s W. He also appeared in Steven Soderbergh’s King of the Hill and Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo & Juliet, opposite Leonardo DiCaprio. Good work, if you can get it. Jesse Bradford • • •
Could one man possibly be responsible for all of our nation’s salacious schtick? Yes, say sitcom staples Peri Gilpin and Candace Cameron Bure – and that man is Bob Saget. Interviewed on Mr. Media, Peri, who played Roz Doyle on Frasier, and Candace, who played D.J. Tanner on Full House, roast their pal Bob – who led the Full House cast as widowed dad Danny Tanner – big-time. Discussing her TV alma mater with host Bob Andelman, Candace says: “There’s definitely a place for shows like Full House, where, as parents, we can safely allow our children to watch, and not worry about whether they’ll be exposed to something that isn’t age- appropriate.” That’s when Peri, who co-stars with Candace in the ABC Family series Make It or Break It, jumps in with this zinger: “Wait a minute. What about Bob Saget?” “Exactly. I grew up with that,” replies Candace. “I grew up wayyyy too fast.” “Are you going to blame everything bad that’s happened to you on Saget?” asks our host. “We’re blaming him for all the dirty jokes in our lives,” says Peri. “All the dirty jokes in America,” adds Candace. “I know Bob because I work out at the gym with him – and Candace was there, too, for a while,” says Peri, before whacking the final nail into the Sagat legacy: “So I know Bob’s little ‘spicy act.’” Peri Gilpin • C andace Cameron Bure • • • • WATCH!
Only one of the three of us living in the Mr. Media® residence is organized. The other two? Not so much. It’s a constant pressure point, too, where the one is constantly picking up after the rest. They complain they don’t have any room, don’t know where anything is, can’t find something important at a crucial moment… If this sounds like your home and your life, let’s work together today to do something about this. GEORGENE LOCKWOOD podcast excerpt: "Where do you begin? Do you begin in a corner? You might begin on the couch so someone can sit on it. For most people, it's the area that causes the most stress and aggravation every day." Joining me today is Georgene Lockwood, author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Organizing Your Life, now in its fifth edition. I will say this: there is a ray of hope in the Mr. Media home. One of the two non-organized entities here pounced on Lockwood’s book when it arrived and immediately started babbling about all the great ideas found within it. Time will tell whether they take or get left in a pile somewhere. Georgene Lockwood • • • •
Not everyone took saxophone player Mindi Abair’s path to being a guest on Mr. Media. Most get booked through a publicist, quite honestly. I get a note or a phone call saying, “Have you ever heard of…” Something like that. I consider each one carefully and invite only the men and women who strike a chord with me. But in Mindi’s case, I received an email from someone whom I trust without question – her aunt, Becky James. Becky has been transcribing audio interviews for me for the last two decades. She probably knows things about me from those recordings that even my wife doesn’t, and bless her, she’ll take those stories to the grave. MINDY ABAIR audio excerpt: "Every one of the American Idol contestants looked at me backstage and said, 'NO!' They are not making you wear that underwear onstage, are they? But I did the dress rehearsal in men's underwear, trying to look like Tom Cruise... They gave me tighty-whiteys! I've known Randy Jackson for years; I thought his eyes were going to pop out of his head! ... It was not until I came out in my regular clothes that Steven Tyler asked who I was." American Idol Anyway, one day she sent a note saying, “You should have my niece, Mindi, on your show. She’s a saxophone player.” Umm… But then I did a little homework. Mindi Abair is an outstanding saxophone player, one of the most talented individuals of her generation on her instrument. And, if you don’t want to believe me – or Aunt Becky – you should have seen her recent appearances on “American Idol,” first blowing away the audience and judges alongside contestant Paul McDonald on Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll.” She returned a few weeks later to accompany another singer on the show, Casey Abrams. Oh, and she was just named Best International Instrumentalist at the Wave Awards in Toronto. And another thing: Mindi -- a graduate of St. Petersburg's Northside Christian High School and Berklee College of Music in Boston -- was featured on the front page of Yahoo Music as their lead story the day after her first "American Idol" feature. By the end of the day, “the mystery saxophist” story had received 3 million clickthroughs. What can I say? Aunt Becky knows her saxophone stuff! Mindi Abair • • • • • •
What I don’t know about the Canadian music video scene could fill a half an hour or more… as rock ‘n’ roll historian Christopher Ward is about to discover. Ward has published a charming new oral history of MuchMusic—a Canadian take on MTV for my clueless fellow Americans. The book—Is This Live? Inside the Wild Early Years of MuchMusic, The Nation’s Music Station—takes us behind-the-scenes at the creation of the video music network where the only rule was, “You can do anything you want on air, just don’t spend any money.” CHRISTOPHER WARD podcast excerpt: "Being live at MuchMusic was like improv comedy. People love to see you fail and figure out how you're going to get out of it." Canadian music stars of the 1980s who blew up around the world—thanks in no small part to MuchMusic—included Bryan Adams, Corey Hart and Loverboy. And it also made mostly local guitar heroes out of Platinum Blonde, Gowan, the Spoons and Glass Tiger. Unless you’re a native of the Great White North, you’re probably wondering what Ward’s connection to all this might be, right? Well, he was Canada’s first VJ, or video disc jockey. But unlike their American counterparts who precorded all of their patter between music videos, Ward and his cohorts worked live. Ward got his start as an entertainer as a member of Second City Touring Company, where he became friends with future SNL comedian Mike Myers and was Myers’ sidekick on the original “Wayne’s World” before Dana Carvey brought life to Garth. He has also written songs for Diana Ross, Wynona Judd, The Backstreet Boys and Alannah Myles, for whom he wrote the #1 hit, “Black Velvet.” CHRISTOPHER WARD podcast excerpt: "Mike Myers calls me the 'entertainment survivalist' because we would go on the road together and I was prepared. I would bring a sandwich and I would have cold beer stashed in the van. I was ready to cope. I took pity on him and brought extra sandwich, extra beer, and a splitter for the headphones. And we both loved The Clash." Christopher Ward • • • • • • • • •
My mother’s maiden name was Kaplan. My favorite person in the whole world—after mom, of course—was my grandfather, Sam Kaplan. I even convinced my wife to give my son “Kaplan” as his middle name. So I must admit a touch of prejudice in reading cartoonist Terri Libenson’s daily strip, How could I resist the story of a family of Kaplans as told by someone who grew up in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania? That’s where my Kaplans are from, too. All that, and the fact that “The Pajama Diaries” makes me laugh. TERRI LIBENSON podcast excerpt: "I've always drawn and I gravitated toward cartooning at a very young age. What inspired me was 'Peanuts'; I used to draw Snoopy and Woodstock all the time. My brother also had a lot of MAD magazines and I used to read those over and over again." Before launching “The Pajama Diaries” in 2002, Terri was a writer and illustrator for American Greetings. She also did another strip for two years, “Got a Life.” This summer, Terri is taking the Kaplan family back to a time before Jill and Rob had kids. It’s a chance to fill in parts of the strip’s back story and probably give the artist a change of pace. Terri Libenson • • •
Hagar the Horrible is getting his due. Finally. The adventures of one of the most unique, consistently funny comic strip characters – a dirty, drunken viking, of all things – is finally being collected in book form with publication of Hagar the Horrible: The Epic Chronicles. The strip, created in 1973 by Dik Browne – co-creator of with Mort Walker of “Hi and Lois” – holds a special place in my heart. When it debuted, I was a 13-year-old with his own subscription to the Newark Star-Ledger. My parents paid for home delivery of the New Brunswick Home News, but it was an afternoon paper with horrible comics and even worse sports coverage. So I took my own money each week – earned cutting lawns in the summer, shoveling snow in the winter – and paid for a morning Star-Ledger subscription. CHRIS BROWNE audio excerpt: "Hamlet, the thin little wisp of a boy in the comic strip, was based on me when I was younger and much wispier." I’m proud to say I have read Hagar from the very beginning. It was a big kick then, a few years ago when an odd business magazine assignment landed me in the Sarasota, Florida home and studio of cartoonist Chris Browne, son of Dik and his successor on Hagar. Chris was a wonderful host and I think it safe to say we hit it off famously. Friendship aside, it’s taken me years to convince Chris to step up to the microphones for a Mr. Media® interview, but the timing couldn’t be better as we celebrate his father Dik’s original work and Chris’ continuing efforts on Hagar the Horrible. Chris Browne • • • • (Comics Kingdom) • • • •
Of course there are stereotypes in Hollywood! Look up “Scary Mofos” in any dictionary and you’ll find a picture of actor Danny Trejo. Even when he’s smiling, he’s frightening. (No disrespect, sir.) Mention his name in casual conversation and watch the visceral fear come rising up in someone’s eyes. As the master thespian Jon Lovitz once said, “Acting!” Yeah, maybe. DANNY TREJO audio excerpt: "Machete doesn't wear a cape and he has no superpowers. He's just a badass. Clint Eastwood was just a badass. Iron Man needed a therapist and he had a daddy complex! Machete is just a guy, a day laborer. There is some sense of realism!" The truth is that Trejo can terrorize moviegoers with just a look because he’s been in bad places none of us would really want to go, including San Quentin during 11 years in and out of jail. But he’s made those hard years pay off for him in the decades since. Remember the impression he made the first time you saw him in Robert Rodriguez’s Desperado? Or how about as “Razor Charlie” in From Dusk Till Dawn with George Clooney? Or Con Air and Anaconda? He can also play a character that I can only describe as “less than threatening” in films such as the Rodriguez’s Spy Kids series, which introduced us to the legend of Machete Cortez. Machete was spun off from those movies into a full length feature; a sequel, cleverly titled Machete Kills is now in pre-production according to IMDB. I am thrilled – and maybe a little terrified – to have Danny Trejo on the show today to talk about his role as “Capone” in a new movie, Ranchero, in which he plays a wheelchair-bound motel pimp opposite Roger Gutierrez and Christina Woods. Danny Trejo • • 1 • 2 • •
Apparently there is a big national election campaign underway in the United States featuring an old man, a black man, a bald man and a woman who shoots moose. Who knew? Anyway, amidst all the noise for John McCain and Sarah Palin, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, Jeremy Redleaf has created a short, musical film parody called Juneau. It sounds just like that other movie of the same name with a different spelling. And instead of a pregnant teen named "Juno," it revolves around a pregnant teen named "Bristol." Jeremy Redleaf • • • •
Does anyone else think that daily comic strips are a lot like local radio shows? And that cartoonists have a lot in common with disc jockeys and talk show hosts? Confused? Let me try to explain. There are hundreds of daily comic strips in the world and your local newspaper might carry 30 at most. Where I live, for example, there are strips that I see in the Tampa Bay Times that readers of the Tampa Tribune don’t get and vice versa. Similarly, a morning radio show host that everybody in the Tampa Bay area knows as hysterically funny is virtually unknown 90 miles away in Orlando. Like I said, I see similarities between the two professions. Which is my odd way of saying that there are a lot of great comic strips and radio shows that you’ll never see and hear. NORM FEUTI audio excerpt: "The typical comic strip is Calvin. Calvin is very precocious; wise beyond his years. It seemed more fun to write Gil somewhat on the dim side. In reality, most kids are. I consider myself of average intelligence; I never thought of myself as the smartest guy in the room." I can’t help you much with the radio end of things, but let me try to turn you on to a new daily comic strip that I think a lot of people will enjoy: “Gil.” Created and drawn by Norm Feuti, this strip centers around a chunky (big-boned!) 8-year-old boy whose parents are divorced. It’s a thoroughly modern take on family life that is drawn in classic comics style with a totally 2012 voice. Gil struggles with school and his appetite. His 1960s-style mom –complete with red kerchief always holding back her hair -- balances the demands of being a single parent with sustaining a career. Dumping Gil’s slovenly dad – who the boy only sees on alternate weekends – was the smartest thing she ever did. Oh, and did I mention that Gil’s best friend, Sandra, is also the product of a broken home? Maybe it doesn’t sound like comedy gold the way I described it, but there is definitely a market for its style, tone and jokes. If Charles Schulz was starting out today, I suspect there would be threads of “Gil” in “Peanuts.” One other interesting note about “Gil.” The strip actually started in 2008 as a web-only comic. Feuti abandoned it after about a year and a half before taking a second, successful run at print syndication in 2011. Norm Feuti • • • • •
When the first notes from Lullwater’s new CD, , begins to play, you’ll know—without question—that these boys have their hearts firmly planted in Dixie. It’s not strictly Southern fried rock, but there are unmistakable bits of Lynyrd Skynyrd tucked away in “Worse By Better.” I hear the Georgia Satellites in places, too. Maybe a BoDeans twang in the guitar structure. And even a little R.E.M., in terms of the catchier tunes – not surprising since they’re both born of Athens, Georgia. JOHN STRICKLAND audio excerpt: "When we were on the road, we got to know each other and we all had the same goals in mind." This is one of those rock bands that, the moment you hear them, you’re hooked. They rock hard, but in that melodic, rhythmic way that eventually makes for gold records—or whatever passes for gold records in the age of digital music . I think you’ll hear that for yourself shortly, as the band – John Strickland, Roy Beatty and Nick Thomas (Brett Strickland couldn’t make it today) – will be playing live shortly, right here on Mr. Media. Lullwater is currently on the road, having just finished live dates in Indianapolis, Chicago, Nashville and Atlanta. Check your local listings for dates in your town; they’re coming soon to New York, Brookfield, CT, Greenville, NC, back home to Athens, GA, and so on. Right now, get to know Lullwater live and in person. Lullwater • • • • •
I suspect Neil Hopkins might see himself as a man THISCLOSE to a career breakthrough. You probably know him best as Liam Pace, Charlie’s heroin-addicted brother and bandmate in a couple of backwards-looking episodes of ABC’s “Lost.” He's also had recurring roles on HBO’s “Big Love” and the Starz series, “Crash,” and played the long-lost brother of Dr. McNamara on FX’s “Nip/Tuck.” NEIL HOPKINS podcast excerpt: "They had written all these different lyrics for the song; 'You All Everybody' was just the refrain... I thought part of the reason they cast me was because clearly I could sing like a rock star. Then I got to Hawaii and they already had it recorded so we could just lip sync to the playback. When I finally saw it, I thought I guess I'm really not singing on it." Today, he’s eagerly awaiting the Nov. 12 opening of his new movie, Skyline, which stars Eric Balfour, co-star of Syfy’s hit paranormal series “Haven,” and Donald Faison, long time star of the ABC sitcom, “Scrubs. (Both of whom, I might add, have been Mr. Media guests in the past year.) Skyline is one of those monster—and I do mean monster—sci-fi films that you look at and go, “Oh, please be as good as you look!” The trailer has flying saucers, enormous, nasty creatures, lots of shit blowing up—add a few beautiful women losing their clothes and what more do we need for two hours’ entertainment, anyway? Neil Hopkins • • • Skyline
In the words of the forgotten musical group Max Demian: Rah-rah-ree, kick ‘em in the knee! Rah-rah-ras, kick ‘em in the… other knee! That’s the only cheer I ever learned, so excuse me if the world of cheerleading is a little outside of my comfort zone. To help me out, I’m going to be joined momentarily by Kate Torgovnick, author of Cheer! Inside the Secret World of College Cheerleaders. Kate Torgovnick • • • • •
I have a particular weakness for men and women with stories of dates gone horribly wrong. And I think I’m already on record as having a general weakness for all kinds of women. Add that to the fact I frequently like to help new authors, and how could I say no to Elizabeth Fournier, who has written the ticklish new book, All Men Are Cremated Equal: My 77 Blind Dates. Besides amusing us with psycho-social encounters, Elizabeth brings an extra dimension to her story thanks to her vocation: she’s mortician. She is also the voice of the autopsy exhibit in the forensic wing at the United States National Museum of Medicine. Oh, did I mention she lives in a boring little town—Boring, Oregon. And because of that, . More about that, later. And here’s a spoiler alert: there’s a happy ending to her book. Elizabeth Fournier • •
My brother Ira was a Popeye fan. Me? Looney Tunes all the way. I lost hours of my youth watching Bugs, Daffy, Elmer, Porky, Tweety, the Road Runner, Sylvester and Marvin over and over again the way my son once watched The Bear in the Big House. But, please! Don’t tell him I told you that. Anyway, I’m telling you this as a way of introducing my guest, Andrew Farago. He’s the author of a clever new coffee table book, The Looney Tunes Treasury. In it, each illustration-packed chapter is written by Andrew in the voice of a different Looney character, from Bugs and Daffy to Marvin and Tweety. ANDREW FARAGO audio excerpt: "The publisher wanted to reach younger audiences as well as long-time fans so they suggested a creative writing project in which I would be relating the autobiographies of the Looney Tunes characters in their own voices." As if that wasn’t enough, the Treasury is packed with unique collectibles, such as The ACME Catalog – that’s where super-genius Wile E. Coyote gets great deals on anvils – and Daffy Duck stickers. I met Andrew five years ago at his day job; he’s the curator of the fabulous Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco. I was there as a guest speaker that day and had the opportunity to tour the museum’s amazing exhibits and awesome gift shop. Next time you’re in that bay area, don’t miss it! Andrew Farago • • • • • • •
No greater authority than Marvel Comics’ own Stan Lee asks that you not read Barbara Slate’s new book, You Can Do a Graphic Novel. It’s right there on the cover: Stan the Man says, “I shudder at the thought of having to compete with a whole new gaggle of graphic novel creators! I tremble because if anyone can bring out the writer and artist hidden within society’s somnambulant psyche, it’s the titanically talented Barbara Slate. So please don’t read this book. I have a family to support!” I hate to counter the expresses wishes of the man who put the “excel” in “Excelsior!” but if you’ve ever thought about dabbling in the world of graphic novels and need a little help getting started, Barbara Slate may be the right hot poker for you. BARBARA SLATE podcast excerpt: "A good story needs a beginning, middle and a twist. The twist is the surprise and what makes it interesting. You don't want a linear story." Slate is a veteran of comic books and illustration, having started her career with a line of “Ms. Liz” greeting cards and Cosmopolitan cartoons before graduating to comic books. She has worked for DC and Marvel, having illustrated everything from Barbie for Marvel, Beauty & the Beast for Disney and Betty & Veronica for Archie Comics. She’s also the author of the Yuppies from Hell series of graphic novels. Speaking of “from hell,” she’s a fellow parent of a teen-age daughter. Poor woman! BARBARA SLATE • •
This year, my friend Cliff is celebrating his 10th anniversary as a flight attendant with Southwest Airlines. By coincidence, we had dinner with our wives this past Saturday night and I got to pepper him with questions about his employer. For the same reason that Southwest is always one of the two airlines I prefer to fly when I have a choice, Cliff raved about Southwest and how well it treats both passengers and employees. And, coincidentally, the company had already provided him with a copy of the new book, Lead with LUV: A Different Way to Create Real Success by legendary management consultant Ken Blanchard and retired Southwest Airlines president Colleen Barrett. KEN BLANCHARD audio excerpt: "Southwest Airlines is over 80 percent union. Herb said, 'I love unions -- as long as the union allows (employees) to sit on the same side of the table as me...' It is so key to treating your employees as business partners." Co-written by the author of The One Minute Manager and a woman who rose from Herb Kelleher’s executive legal secretary to his number two at Southwest, Lead with Luv captures the customer centric commitment at Southwest. It’s organized as a chatty interaction between the authors and is another must-read for Blanchard and Southwest fans. This is Ken Blanchard’s second visit to Mr. Media and I hope there will be many more yet to come. LISTEN! (September 8, 2009) Ken Blanchard • • • •
I figure I’ve got 60 seconds to interest you in today’s interview with Ken Blanchard. If you have to ask why 60 seconds, you obviously don’t know my guest’s work. He’s best known as the management expert and author of The One-Minute Manager, but his latest book, Helping People Win at Work, actually screams that Blanchard is “The New York Times Best-Selling Author of Over 18 Million Books!” I hope that’s just hyperbole. I’ve written or co-authored 10 books, many about business, and I know it’s hard work. How he found time to author 18 million books, I’ll never know. But I digress, and valuable seconds are ticking away. KEN BLANCHARD podcast excerpt:"When I was a college professor, I would always give out the final exam on the first day of class... When they get to the final exam, they should get an A. Garry Ridge said, 'Wow, that ought to be an organization!' We hope to change the way people are evaluated in organizations." Helping People Win at Work is a unique concept: it’s a case study written with Garry Ridge, who—as CEO of the WD-40 Company—happens to be the subject of the case study. And this book is a follow-up to another Blanchard book, Leading at a Higher Level. Hey—good news: I introduced my guest in under a minute. Ken Blanchard • • • • •
Somehow, in all the years I was a rock ‘n’ roll critic for either the St. Petersburg Times, Tampa Tribune or Music magazine in the 1980s, I never saw Bob Seger live. For the life of me, I can’t explain it. I certainly wanted to see him; he’s one of those guys—like Springsteen, Joel and Mellencamp—who always spoke to me. When I was a freshman at the University of Miami, back in ’78, I worked at the college radio station, WVUM, doing air shifts as a DJ and producing dozens of public service announcements. I almost always chose Seger songs as background music. TOM WESCHLER audio excerpt: "In 1978, Bob Seger was playing four sold-out nights in Pine Knob, Michigan, and Bruce Springsteen came to town and wanted to meet Bob. I set it up and I said to Bob's bodyguard—who I hired back in 1971— 'Do me a favor and keep all the other photographers out of here for 10 minutes, will ya?' And ." And the day I drove away from school at the end of freshman year, back to Jersey, my friend Bob and I only had one 8-track tape to entertain us as we took turns driving non-stop—Live Bullet. That’s why I tracked down as a guest for the show. He was Seger’s road manager—and unofficial tour photographer—for the first decade or so of Seger’s four-decade career and has frequently dropped back in on his old friend’s career at key moments. Now—with the help of writer Gary Graff—Weschler has produced Travelin’ Man, a coffee table book of photos and memories that no Seger fan will want to live without. Tom Weschler • •
Certain days in all of our lives we can’t help but remember. I was sitting at my desk here in St. Petersburg with “The Today Show” on in the background when the first plane flew into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. I was in my kitchen in Gainesville, Florida, on March 5, 1982, when my friend Jim Doten called from a pay phone to say he just heard that John Belushi died. Jim was on his way up from Miami for a visit with a cooler full of fresh shrimp and beer to boil them in. And I was in another Gainesville apartment, 15 months earlier, on December 8, 1980,studying in my bedroom, on December 8, 1980, when one of my roommates, Andy Anderson, opened the door and said, “Hey, your guy died!” I didn’t know what the hell he was talking about. “My guy?” Tom Seaver died? For some reason, Andy connected me with John Lennon when the Monday Night Football game that he and our third roommate, Cesar Quintana, was interrupted by Howard Cosell’s announcement that former Beatle John Lennon had been shot outside his home in New York City. My only connection to John Lennon was that we shared a birthday, October 9. Of course, Lennon was born in 1940; I came along 20 years later. And my first Beatles album, Meet the Beatles, was actually the second LP my parents bought for me at our neighborhood drug store in Somerset, NJ. The first was The Monkees' Headquarters. I still have both original discs. KEITH ELLIOT GREENBERG podcast excerpt: "John Lennon could have lived anywhere in the world. He chose to live in New York... The police officer who was the first on the scene (of the murder) covered the Beatles when they came to Shea Stadium in 1965, not knowing that night, December 8, 1980, that John Lennon would be another part of his story." Like most people, I was shocked and horrified that some jackass named Mark David Chapman had taken Lennon away from us. It was incredibly wrong. Thirty years later, I can’t say I was eager to read a book that might, potentially, glorify Chapman. But that’s not the book that Keith Elliot Greenberg wrote. December 8, 1980: The Day John Lennon Died is an amazing dissection of people and events on that infamous day. It doesn’t justify Chapman’s action but it does explain what was in his head in the days and weeks leading up to the shooting. The detail and depth is remarkable, the kind of history you just can’t put down. Greenberg brings an interesting background to this project. In addition to writing books and magazine articles for Maxim, The Village Voice and The New York Observer, among others, he’s a producer for “America’s Most Wanted” on Fox. Keith Elliot Greenberg • • •
This must be an exciting and, at the same time, nail-biting time to be screenwriters Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio. They are the creative minds behind what is widely anticipated as one of this summer’s great animated thrill rides, Despicable Me. It’s a 3D film that turns the supervillain concept on its ear, first by making the bad guy the star of the movie, and then by making him sympathetic—sort of. Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio, Despicable Me screenwriters CINCO PAUL audio excerpt: "What Ken and I do is talk about the next 30-page chunk. We divide up the scenes, write on our own, bring them together and read them. The goal is: can you make the other guy laugh? It is crucial to try to outdo the other guy." Despicable Me has a great many connections to greatness, starting with Steve Carrell as the despicable one himself, Gru. He’s just the icing on a aural cake, however, leading a cast that includes Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Will Arnett, Ken Jeong, Miranda Cosgrove, Kristen Wiig, Julie Andrews, Mindy Kaling and Jack McBrayer. That’s the exciting part. Scene from Despicable Me, written by Ken Dario and Cinco Paul The nail-biting part? That would be following on the heels of Toy Story 3, which was released a month ahead of Despicable Me and won both critical raves and box office gold. Will audiences excited by the story and technical achievements of Woody and Buzz be tempted to come back for something in the same vein but different? If you were going to take a chance in this genre, putting your money on Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio is probably a good bet. Their last film was Horton Hears a Who! Based on the beloved children’s story. It grossed a reported $300 million, worldwide. And they’re already at work on adapting another Dr. Seuss tale, The Lorax. Despicable Me • • • Cinco Paul • • • Ken Daurio • • • •
Kristin Harmel’s new novel, her fourth, in fact, is titled The Art of French Kissing. It’s a sweet, surprisingly gentle story of a young boy-band publicist, who’s a woman from Orlando, whose life there collapses, and she goes to Paris to escape and maybe find herself again. It’s chick-lit for sure, but I enjoyed it. It also made me think more fondly of Paris than I had since the one time that my wife and I visited there back in ’88. Maybe we’ll get into that later. KRISTIN HARMEL audio excerpt: "the novels I write are very connected to sort of my own life, and I would say sort of the experiences that myself and my friends are going through right now. I’m 28, almost 29. I’m still sort of going through the struggles that you do sort of in your twenties and thirties of finding yourself and of sort of finding where you fit in the world and among others, the funny, little adventures that I get to go on and like I said, the bad dates." Kristin Harmel • • • •
There are at least three elements to an award winning acting performance: 1) It starts with the source material. Is the writing sharp, evocative, and provocative? 2) Does the actor understand the words on the page and can he extend their value from words to performance? 3) And finally, is the audience emotionally moved by the actor? MARK MARGOLIS audio excerpt: "In Scarface, Al Pacino said if we put all our faces together we might be able to make one handsome guy!" If you’ve been watching the AMC drama “Breaking Bad” over the years, you’ve had the privilege of seeing some extraordinary performances by the lead actors, Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul and Anna Gunn. But some of the greatest moments have been of the smaller, more isolated type. Like the ones featuring my guest today, Mark Margolis, who plays – or should I say played -- Hector "Tio" Salamanca. You remember Hector, the notorious, bloodthirsty bastard we met as an old man and later in flashbacks as a young badass. As Hector, Margolis never says a word, communicating extraordinary viciousness and anger with nothing more than a glare and the pounding of a little bell. Margolis was so terrifying as a bellringer that he’s been nominated for 2012 Emmy Award as “Best Guest Actor.” Hopefully, he doesn’t have that damn bell with him now. Breaking Bad •
Three weeks from today, life as we have known it for 18 years in the Mr. Media household will forever change: Rachel is going to college to start her freshman year. I joke about being ready to see my daughter head off and mostly that’s true. And I know she is more than ready to begin a big new challenge and get out from under Mom and Dad’s thumbs. But there is, admittedly, a bit of sadness. HARLAN COHEN podcast excerpt: "Rule number one: Your roommate does not have to be your friend. When your roommate has to be your friend, you're placing unrealistic expectations. A roommate is not a friend. A roommate is someone you share space with to help pay for college. My next roommate rule is: Roommates who want to get along will find a way to get along. The moment your son or daughter calls you and says, 'I hate my roommate!' is the moment your son or daughter becomes the Roommate From Hell. My third rule is the 'Uncomfortable Rule.' It says if your son or daughter is ever uncomfortable, he or she has to tell the roommate within 24 to 48 hours. And the roommate has to tell them. If you don't tell each other, then you're not allowed to talk about it. The problem with millions of college-bound high school students is they suck at uncomfortable. They don't know how to be uncomfortable. Roommates will tweet and instant message each other across the room because they can't have a face-to-face conversation." When Mimi and I return home without the kid, who will provide me with on-site tech support? Who will correct my mistakes from sun up ‘til sun down? Who will need me to remove the occasional spider from terrorizing her? And who will come up behind me at my desk and demand an occasional hug for no particular reason? To help my wife and I – and you and yours – survive the upcoming earthquake in our lives, I’ve invited Harlan Cohen to be my guest today. Cohen, the nationally syndicated “Help Me Harlan” advice columnist, is the author of The Naked Roommate: For Parents Only, a book recommended by many colleges and universities during parent orientation to help us get through the potentially trying months ahead. Some of the questions Cohen tackles include: • My daughter has been on campus for a few months and never seems to have a care in the world. Is this normal? • When is it appropriate to say something and intervene based on something a parent has seen or read on Facebook? • What are some of the things I should advise my child to bring to college? HARLAN COHEN podcast excerpt: "The following story happened at a Catholic university, of all places. A girl was in her room, in the lower bunk, and her roommate brought a boy home. She had never been in a room where someone had brought a boy home. She was already in her bed and didn't know what to do. The girl waited a while, hoping her silence would cause them to stop. But her being quiet only caused the situation to increase in intensity. So the girl reached out and picked up her cell phone and called her mom. 'Mom, what should I do?' The mom said, 'I'll be right there.' Three and a half hours later, the mom knocks on the RA's door, says, 'My daughter is in this room, we need to get her out of there!' They rescued the daughter and put her in a single occupancy room. That was their solution. I thought that was horrible! For the rest of her life, whenever she gets uncomfortable, they're going to isolate her? That's an example of a parent who can't handle uncomfortable." By the way, I’ll pit my freshman roommate stories against anyone’s: the fall of the Shah of Iran, death threats under the door in the middle of the night, and someone who hated noise, light and fun of any kind. And when he relocated after one semester, my replacement roommate – also Iranian – was the antithesis of the first, outgoing, boisterous, funny, charming, and a big fan of hardcore porn. The lesson for me: never judge an entire race or nationality based on a single representative, kids! Harlan Cohen • • • • • •
I heard the first song on singer-songwriter Jeff Black’s new album, B-Sides and Confessions, Volume Two, and that was all it took. One stanza of the lyrics, in fact, cemented his appearance here: I dropped down to see the doctor He gave me some strange strange news He said I think you’re going to live forever boy But you’re to die a little bit before you do JEFF BLACK podcast excerpt: "There are as many different concert nights as there are people on the planet. Luckily for me, the kind of music I write and perform is sought out. There is a huge contingency of people who seek out singer-songwriters" That just really spoke to me and opened a gateway into the folk/Americana style of Black’s music. The good news is that Black is joining me today to talk music and, even better, to play a couple of songs for us. And if you like what you see and hear, you can catch “An Evening with Jeff Black” on tour this fall in Louisville, Kentucky, Valdosta, Georgia, Gainesville, Florida, and right here in St. Petersburg on Sunday, September 15 at The Palladium. Jeff Black • • • • •
I heard the first song on singer-songwriter Jeff Black’s new album, B-Sides and Confessions, Volume Two, and that was all it took. One stanza of the lyrics, in fact, cemented his appearance here: I dropped down to see the doctor He gave me some strange strange news He said I think you’re going to live forever boy But you’re to die a little bit before you do JEFF BLACK podcast excerpt: "There are as many different concert nights as there are people on the planet. Luckily for me, the kind of music I write and perform is sought out. There is a huge contingency of people who seek out singer-songwriters" That just really spoke to me and opened a gateway into the folk/Americana style of Black’s music. The good news is that Black is joining me today to talk music and, even better, to play a couple of songs for us. And if you like what you see and hear, you can catch “An Evening with Jeff Black” on tour this fall in Louisville, Kentucky, Valdosta, Georgia, Gainesville, Florida, and right here in St. Petersburg on Sunday, September 15 at The Palladium. Jeff Black • • • • •
Today's Guest: Mark Cousins documentary director, The Story of Film: An Odyssey Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of American film students who think they know it all after watching all of the Harry Potter and Twilight films… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'The Story of Film: An Odyssey' by Mark Cousins, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD box set above! There is a lot an American can learn about film from an Irishman. Mark Cousins’ new 15-hour documentary, The Story of Film: An Odyssey, offers a perspective that is dramatically different from a Hollywood-centric view of the celluloid universe. He packs this surprisingly fast-moving epic with film clips and filmmaker interviews from around the world, from Bernardo Bertolucci, director of The Last Emperor, to American Buck Henry, writer of The Graduate. In between, he visits sites of film history on every continent and takes a global view of an industry that Americans incorrectly think of as all theirs. MARK COUSINS audio excerpt: "Live cheaply. Don't got to restaurants. Don't take taxis. If you live cheaply, you don't have to earn much. When you work for low budget, you have creative freedom, which is the best best thing for a filmmaker. I could focus on who did great things at different points in film history." As a student of cinema myself – my fraying degree is in film studies from the University of Florida, where I studied everything from New Wave French and German cinema to the entire Charlie Chaplin catalog – I’ve become accustomed to movie travelogues that will be 80 percent Hollywood with a little French, German and Japanese dropped in for flavor. But in The Story of Film: An Odyssey, which was just released as a DVD set, Cousins give the rest of the world its due. You’ll watch this documentary and be introduced to the brilliance of many filmmakers whose names and titles you probably never heard of before. Mark Cousins • • • •
Joe Murray has a natural flair for animation and characters that are bursting with... character. But between you and me—and I gotta be honest here—he is also responsible for creating some of the ugliest cartoon characters in history. Have you ever really looked at Rocko, the star of his original Nickelodeon hit, Rocko’s Modern Life? What is that? And Lazlo—OMG! But his cartoons look great, despite the somewhat hideous characters, and kids love them. I know this first hand; my almost 14-year-old daughter to this day insists she is Camp Lazlo’s #1 fan. Order 'Rocko's Modern Life: The Complete Series' by Joe Murray, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD boxed set above! JOE MURRAY audio excerpt: "I have never been introduced before by talking about the hideousness of my characters! Rocko and Lazlo are my children! But the characters are all about imperfections." Murray, the creator of all this madness, just published a fascinating book called Creating Animated Cartoons with Character: A Guide to Developing and Producing Your Own Series for TV, the Web, and Short Film. Even if you’re not a wannabe animated but just a fan of the art, you’ll find plenty to read about here. The book is packed with practical information, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, rare production sketches and Q&As with an array of familiar animators, from Craig McCracken, creator of The Powerpuff Girls and Dexter’s Laboratory to the creator and voice of SpongeBob Squarepants, respectively, Steve Hillenberg and Tom Kenny. Speaking of Kenny, we'll give a listen to Murray and Kenny at work on a new series they’re developing for KaBoingTV.com, Frog in a Suit. We’ll also have an actual sneak preview from Frog in a Suit in the second half of today’s show. Joe Murray • • •
Dule Hill has led a pretty charmed career as an actor. Today he co-stars in the wonderfully wacky dramedy, “Psych,” now in its third year on USA Network. But before that, he spent seven seasons as Charlie Young, assistant to the President of the United States, on The West Wing. Reaching further back, he debuted on Broadway opposite Savion Glover and Jeffrey Wright in “Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk. " He also worked with Gregory Hines. And your kid probably knows him from his role in the movie adaptation of “Holes.” Dule Hill • • • • • •
Not too surprisingly, when my son Charlie was born, it didn’t take long for me to see the humor in the “Baby Blues” comic strip by Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott. It was so relatable! And when Charlie hit 6 or 7, he started reading it himself and thought it was hysterical. He was sooo cute then! CHARLIE: DAAAAAAAD! What? You’re interrupting my introduction! CHARLIE: Yeah, well, you’re embarrassing me! AGAIN! Here’s a plotline I’ve never seen in a comic strip: Dad invites son to co-host his international, hit podcast and all he does is whine! CHARLIE: DAAAAAAAD! What now? CHARLIE: You’re hardly an international hit! I don’t even think Mrs. Logan knows about this show and she knows everything about us! Thanks kid. Do you mind if I continue? CHARLIE: If you must… Actually, let me finish, okay? WHAT-evah. CHARLIE: My Dad’s right about one thing – I really do like “Baby Blues.” And one of my other favorite strips is “Zits,” which I found out is written by the same man who writes “Baby Blues,” Jerry Scott. He and artist Jim Borgman produce the daily adventures of Jeremy, his parents, and Jeremy’s best friends Hector and Pierce. We’re really excited to welcome to Mr. Media all three creators of these two strips – artists Rick Kirkman and Jim Borgman and writer Jerry Scott. Rick Kirkman • • • (2013) Jerry Scott • • Jim Borgman • • •
When it came to Howard Cruse’s comic strip character Wendel, the word “gay” really did mean “happy.” That’s one of the first impressions you get from reading through the newly collected strips in The Complete Wendel. It starts on the cover, Wendell beaming at his friends, eyes wide, mouth slightly open, bushy red hair drawing all attention to him. Wendel was a gay character in an era when Gay Americans were increasingly stepping out of the shadows, making their voices and politics known, and demanding a share of the equality other minorities sought before them. HOWARD CRUSE audio excerpt: "I was trying to reflect the way gay life was lived by the people I knew in the 1980s. Cast members were added to reflect different types; I added some lesbians characters. Some characters were more outrageous than others. AIDS became part of the strip. The homophobia that was rife in the government and in religious organizations became part of the strip." As time goes on, we see the almost Archie-like Wendel still have his goofy moments, but there is a genteel radicalization that gradually engulfs the strip, no doubt reflecting the times in which the strip was published. It will still appeal to modern gay readers, no doubt. As for the artist, Howard Cruse – the founding editor of Gay Comix – he’s an old friend, someone I met through Will Eisner about eight years ago when the two of them were visiting artists at the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. Howard Cruse •
I met cartoonist in March 2004 at the Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. He was one of the featured guests at the college’s “Comics Summit on Diversity,” an event that included Mary GrandPre, illustrator of the Harry Potter novels and American master Will Eisner, whose biography I was just finishing at the time. Howard and I had corresponded a few times via email at that point as part of my research. To be honest, I only knew him as a cartoonist; I don’t recall connecting that he was attending this event as a gay cartoonist. I just knew that Eisner held him in high esteem—as did the teaching staff at the school—and that was good enough for me. Since then, I’ve learned more about what an important role Howard played over the years as both a cartoonist with a strong social voice and as a gay advocate. He illustrated his own coming out over the years in his comics and no doubt gave other young men strength in their own decisions to take pride in their identities as well. HOWARD CRUSE podcast excerpt: "Everyone in my personal life knew (I was gay), but I was worried about sacrificing my cartooning career. And yet I recognized the need for getting rid of the secrecy of this." Howard’s work has been everywhere from Playboy and Starlog magazine to The Advocate. He was the founding editor of Gay Comix, started by our mutual friend, Denis Kitchen. His groundbreaking graphic novel, Stuck Rubber Baby, won numerous awards including an Eisner and a Harvey. The occasion of our conversation today is the publication of his latest book, by Howard Cruse. Howard Cruse • • •
In the pantheon of comic book masters, Will Eisner’s name is at or near the top of pretty much everyone’s list. He was there at the birth of the genre in the late 1930s – he famously turned down a submission from Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster of a comic book about a character named Superman. Will suggested they go back to art school in Cleveland and get a little better at his craft. Eisner himself is best known as the creator of an enduring but little known character called "The Spirit." This is a big year for The Spirit, with a major motion picture written and directed by Frank Miller currently in post-production and scheduled for release in January 2009. Eisner is also known as the grandfather of the graphic novel for producing one of the genre's earliest and most enduring works, 1978's A Contract With God. I spent three years with Eisner, interviewing him and researching his life for the biography, Will Eisner: A Spirited Life, which was published by M Press/Dark Horse in 2005. There is a period of time in Eisner’s life, however, that is less known than all the others. From 1951 through 1972, he produced PS Magazine for the United States Army. It was a digest-sized comic book, essentially, that taught preventive maintenance to American soldiers from Korea through Vietnam. A week ago, the Virginia Commonwealth University library announced and made the magazine available to the general public, online, for the first time. Because so much interest is being concentrated on Eisner’s work this year – and because it is a personal interest of my own, I’ve invited a trio of experts on PS Magazine to join me for a conversation about “The Unknown Eisner”: • Cindy Jackson is Archival Assistant for Comic Arts & Digital Collections in the Special Collections & Archives Department of the James Branch Cabell (rhymes with rabble) Library at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. • Paul Fitzgerald is a retired journalist who spent 10 years at PS Magazine where he worked alongside Will Eisner and formed a life-long friendship. Paul’s first book, Will Eisner and PS Magazine, will be published in May 2008. • Stuart Henderson joined the in August of 1993, and he has been production manager of the magazine since March of 2002. He is also the Army magazine’s unofficial historian. PS Magazine • • • • •
When you’re done reading your favorite comic strip today, wouldn’t it be cool to have some lasting ephemera to put on your desk, in your school locker, in the kitchen or on your nightstand? Something that will remind you of the laughs you shared with a beloved cartoon character? Me? Today I’d like a plush Satchel stuffed dog from Get Fuzzy, or a replacement of my long-lost Opus doll from Bloom County. Or anything from Calvin and Hobbs or Pearls Before Swine. But when I was kid, long into my teen years and even at college, it was anything Snoopy. I had a poster in my room of Snoopy lying prone on his doghouse, staring at his empty food dish, waiting for the round-headed kid to fill ‘er up. I also had stacks of the paperback collections of daily Peanuts strips and a treasured hardbound volume as well, that I couldn’t wait to later pass on to my daughter when she was barely old enough to study the pictures and begin reading. NAT GERTLER podcast excerpt: "My wife, when I married her, still had her Snoopy lunchbox, which my daughter now has." There’s a reason, years after cartoonist Charles Schulz’s death, that Peanuts remains a popular feature in hundreds, maybe thousands of newspapers around the world. It’s funny, it’s sweet and, at times, it’s brilliant. This is the third show I’ve done dedicated largely to Schulz. The first was an interview with his controversial biographer, David Michaelis; the second was with Schulz’ son, Monte, a novelist and author of This Side of Jordan. Today, I’m pleased to welcome Nat Gertler, a collector of Peanuts memorabilia who worked with the Schulz family and the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center to write and compile a fabulous Charlie Brown coffee table keepsake, The Peanuts Collection: Treasures from the World’s Most Beloved Comic Strip. It’s a fabulous assemblage of images and actual reprints of all kinds of cool stuff from 60 years of the world’s favorite newspaper strip. (Sorry, Tintin.) Besides being the man behind a website featuring a collectors’ guide to Peanuts books titled, AAUGH.com, Gertler is also the co-author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Creating a Graphic Novel. Nat Gertler • • •
Bret Carr made a movie. Lots of people make movies these days. Every idiot with a digital camcorder thinks he is Scorsese, Tarantino, or Apatow, but Carr approached his first feature film, RevoLOUtion, a little differently. He landed Quinn Redeker, the man behind The Deer Hunter, to write his screenplay. Rocky composer Bill Conti created the title song. Paul Michael Glaser, best known as Detective Starsky from the classic TV series “Starsky & Hutch,” is a producer. Carr even convinced Burt Young, who played Sylvester Stallone’s brother-in-law in the Rocky films, to be himself in RevoLOUtion. But who to play Lou Benedetti, the stuttering, somewhat brain-damaged, yet ultimately inspirational star of the film? That would be Carr himself, who also produced and directed RevoLOUtion. And wait until you hear about his unusual ideas about marketing. Bret Carr
Zines dedicated to comic books, science fiction, and genre TV shows and films come and go pretty quickly around the world. They all start with a singular dedication – perhaps obsession – but most vanish in the face of long hours, hard work, little or no compensation and an equal amount of recognition. JOEL MEADOWS podcast excerpt: "Before 'Tripwire,' I would read a magazine called 'Speakeasy.' I'm not sure if it made it to the States, but it was a very snarky British comics magazine. They used to have a column from Grant Morrison. It was sort of a template for us." And then there is Tripwire: The Genre Magazine, the UK’s enduring cornocopia of interviews, reviews, analysis and previews of everything from Marvel and DC comics to James Bond, Doctor Who, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Dredd and much, much more. Tripwire is celebrating its 25th anniversary in print and online in 2017, a phenomenal accomplishment by any media survival standard. And remaining at its helm for the entire quarter-century is its editor and founder Joel Meadows, whom I’m honored to call a personal friend for almost four years. This is his second appearance on the show. JOEL MEADOWS podcast excerpt: "For decades, 'Doctor Who' wasn't popular in the States. Then you had this reboot with Christpher Eccleston and suddenly everything clicked. Why hasn't 'Dredd'? That's a fair question; I don't know! '200 A.D. just had its 40th anniversary, but 'Dredd' still feels like a cult thing where 'Doctor Who' is insanely huge in the U.S." Joel Meadows • • •
Have you watched “Haven,” the first season sensation on SyFy? If you had asked me after the first two weeks if I thought the show had legs, my answer would probably have been “No.” Too much didn’t make sense, too many story elements seemed wobbly and aimless, and the relationship between the two stars at the top — Emily Rose as FBI agent Audrey Parker and Lucas Bryant as police officer Nathan Wuornos —seemed flat. Why couldn’t they figure out a better and more consistent use for Eric Balfour’s Duke Crocker? ERIC BALFOUR audio excerpt: "The last four episodes of the season feel really indicative of where 'Haven' could go and what it could be. Except for maybe episode 12. I'm still arguing with them about my storyline in episode 12. It didn't make any sense to me. But 10, 11 and 13 are awesome. Emily's storyline in episode 12 is awesome; I was just grumpy about my storyline because I didn't understand it." And was everyone in town crazy or supernatural? Why wasn’t the National Enquirer crawling all over Haven, Maine? Well, like last year’s outrageously wonderful SyFy series, “Warehouse 13,” it took Haven a few weeks of on-the-road tinkering to smooth out its ride and find its voice. Now you can watch an episode and the writers seem to know that Audrey and Nathan make good co-workers but they need other characters to breath life into them. Balfour is finally getting some meaty opportunities. And the stories about the residents of Haven are insane-insanely great. Halfway in, we have no idea where we’ll wind up when our 60 minutes in town is over. I’m eager to see what the writers have lined up for Balfour, once a star of HBO’s “Six Feet Under,” who I suspect will eventually cozy up to Rose, herself once an HBO star, on the to—short-lived “John From Cincinnati.” Eric Balfour •
It takes a certain kind of woman to play Angela, Sam's mother-in-law on the hysterical new CBS sitcom, "." is that woman. One week, she and her husband—the judge—are getting busy under his desk. Another week, she rides a cello down a flight of stairs. Oh, and did you happen to see the one where Sam walks in on her in the gynecologist's office and sees her you-know-what? And then writes a magazine column about it? Lenehan has been a guest star on dozens of hit sitcoms over the years, ranging from "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Malcolm in the Middle" to "The New Adventures of Old Christine" and she’s Earl Hickey’s mother on "My Name is Earl." To me, “Worst Week” is one of those show—like “The Office” and even “Seinfeld”—that marches to its own rhythm and needs time to find its audience. It is slapstick funny and yet has moments of warmth and tenderness like no other sitcom on the air today. If you haven’t watched it yet. You should. Now. Nancy Lenehan • •
How many guys can write an autobiography that is part Andy Warhol Diaries, part Zelig and part Forrest Gump? Even if you’ve never read a lick of Bruce Jay Friedman’s voluminous career output, or seen one of his movies or Broadway productions, I guarantee you’ll find his new memoir, Lucky Bruce, delightful. BRUCE JAY FRIEDMAN audio excerpt: "In the beginning I didn't think I knew enough to fill up a whole book. Now, with the clock ticking, I don't have enough time to fill out all the ideas I have." Why delightful? Because it’s not the story of a guy standing on his mother’s step begging you to notice him and pay attention. His substantial collection of life stories and career anecdotes weave a history of a guy who, by his own telling, wandered in and out of history. The Accidental Success, you might call it. Or American Splendor, Manhattan Edition. There is Friedman, who fell into a top editing job at Magazine Management Company, run by Martin Goodman (who also created Marvel Comics, which employed his nephew, Stan Lee). While there, Friedman hired and befriended a guy named Mario Puzo. Along the way to Lucky, Friedman declines the top editing job at Playboy, gets into a street fight with Norman Mailer, parties with Crazy Joe Gallo, takes a leak next to Muhammad Ali, writes the screenplays for Splash and Stir Crazy, and… well, frankly, I dog-eared so many pages of note that my dog ears have dog ears. (I should note that this wonderful opportunity to interview Bruce came about as a result of my friendship with his son, famed caricaturist and illustrator Old Jewish Comedians, Drew Friedman. Drew has been a guest here and it was he who suggested a conversation with his dad and open that door. Thanks, Drew!)
Artist Mark Wheatley and writer Robert Tinnell are two good reasons that comic book readers are following the crowds to online media iterations of the 20th century comic panels. Together they produced last year’s Harvey-nominated webcomic EZ Street. Separately, you’ll recognized Wheatley’s work from Hammer of the Gods, Black Hood, Frankenstein Mobster and Mars. And Tinnell is known for comics such as The Black Forest and Feast of the Seven Fishes and film scripts that include Frankenstein and Me, Kids of the Round Table and Believe. He also produced and acted in the film Surf Nazis Must Die. The duo’s latest joint production is the just released, sort-of sequel Lone Justice: Crash! You can read both EZ Street and Lone Justice: Crash! online for free at . They even have a theme song for their web comics! Mark Wheatley • • • • Robert Tinnell • • Order 'Will Eisner: A Spirited Life' (2nd Edition) by Bob Andelman, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! <
What’s a stunningly beautiful actress like Samantha Lockwood doing in a hail of bullets called Shoot the Hero? Breaking up, making up and robbing a jewelry store with Jason Mewes, for one thing. Getting manhandled by Nicholas Turturo and Danny Trejo for another. She stars with those guys in this new comedy action heist flick written and directed by Christian Sesma. It’s out on DVD and while it may not win an Oscar, it’s a fun ride for a Saturday night date. SAMANTHA LOCKWOOD audio excerpt: "My role is to play Jason Mewes fiance. She's not a b-word; she's a girl who's just frustrated in her relationship. She's dealing with how her fiance spends his time playing videogames. She wants him to grow up and be more mature." Samantha is doing a grassroots campaign to promote Shoot the Hero and her jewelry line, Fleurings — a style of jewelry that holds water and living flowers. And this week she landed the plum role of silent movie star Mary Pickford in a biopic of the actress’ life. Samantha Lockwood • • • • Shoot the Hero •
The DVD of The Nature of Existence hit stores just before the late November 2010 death of The Empire Strikes Back director Irvin Kershner. IRVIN KERSHNER podcast excerpt: "The Force is within every one of us. It's using the most powerful parts of our system. We have a big brain that isn't used. We don't know it's potential." Roger Nygard, director of The Nature of Existence, interviewed Kershner for his documentary and we asked him to return to the show and share some outtakes of his Kershner interview with us. The Nature of Existence is a far more serious study, perhaps, than the works for which Nygard was previously best known, Trekkies, and its sequel, Trekkies 2. But, honestly, it’s just as fun. LISTEN! The Nature of Existence • • • • Irvin Kershner •
The last time Roger Nygard was a guest on this show, he was in a video editing suite in Hollywood and I was where I always am, in the living room studio with the whorehouse red walls. Our subject that day was the release of the expanded edition of Nygard’s terrific, globe-trotting documentary, The Nature of Existence, as well as the passing of one of its subjects, Irvin Kershner, director of the Star Wars sequel, The Empire Strikes Back. In the course of setting the shot, Roger mentioned that we needed be done on time because Larry David was likely to be walking through the door behind him at any time. Uh, back up, I said. Larry David? Order 'The Nature of Existence' [7-Disc Expanded Companion Series] from Amazon.com by clicking the DVD cover above Turns out Roger, on top of his many other credits, has been one of two video editors on seasons 6, 7 and 8 of David’s long-running HBO comedy, “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” My mind was blown. I made him promise to come back on our show to talk about Season 8, which begins on Sunday, July 10. As for Roger, I was mostly aware of his documentary work until that time; in addition Existence, he also directed Trekkies and Trekkies 2. But it turns out he’s quite accomplished in TV sitcoms, having worked on “The Office,” “The Bernie Mac Show” and the very funny, but very short-lived HBO comedy, “The Mind of the Married Man.” Roger Nygard • • • • • •
I owe my first kiss to Sholem Aleichem. And my second, too. The first was Loye Neville; the second, not long after, was Diane Dunn. Both occurred backstage during dress rehearsals for the production of Fiddler On The Roof. Surely, you’ve heard of it? JOSEPH DORMAN audio excerpt: "Sholem Aleichem was a terrible, terrible businessman. He was very different from the men and women he was documenting or writing about. He was an assimilated Russian Jew. He lived in a large city, Kiev, for much of his life. And he had the luck of inheriting money from his father-in-law, who was a wealthy man. A lot of the reason he was playing the stock exchange was to support his Yiddish writing habit." , 15, played Tevye, a revelatory performance that no one who saw it ever forgot. played one of Tevye’s daughters – maybe you’ve seen her since then in The Bridges of Madison County or, more recently, in episodes of “House” or “Rizzoli & Isles”? (She married actor Adam Arkin, incidentally.) But I digress. I didn’t know Loye or Diane before that. I was in 8th grade; they were in 9th. But I was never the same after that. These two pretty girls talked to me, laughed at my jokes and their friendship gave me a self-confidence I never knew before. We never dated, but I walked one or the other of them home from school dozens or times. And it’s all because I worked on the backstage crew of a high school production of Fiddler. So for that reason alone, I feel an honest debt to the storytelling talents of legendary Jewish writer Sholem Aleichem. And that’s the main reason I am pleased to help spread the word of a new documentary film, Sholem Aleicheim: Laughing in the Darkness, by writer, director and producer Joseph Dorman. The movie – which will be shown at the Toronto, San Francisco and Jerusalem Jewish Film Festivals this summer and opens July 8 at Lincoln Plaza Cinemas in Manhattan -- is narrated by actor Alan Rosenberg and features the voices of Peter Reigert and Rachel Dratch, among others. Well, as King David said, "I am slow of speech, and slow of tongue." Sholem Aleichem: Laughter in the Darkness • Joseph Dorman •
One of the most anticipated movies of this summer -- no, not Harry Potter: Order of the Phoenix -- and no, Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer -- is The Simpsons Movie. And while Matt Groening couldn’t make it to join us today, we are lucky enough to welcome a member of the extended "Simpsons" creative family, frequent Simpsons comic book writer . Dixon is a prolific comics writer, easily shifting between the in-jokes and low humor of Bart and Homer for Bongo Comics to the high drama of DC’s caped crusader, Batman. Chuck Dixon • • • • Thanks to !
Think about this for a minute. You’re a beautiful young actress, born in Chicago, raised in London and when you open your mouth, the most delightful, sophisticated accent comes pouring out. You’re waiting for your big break in show business when the phone rings. One of the buzziest hit sitcoms on TV, FX’s “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” is calling. They want you for what could become a recurring role on the raunchy, outrageous gross-out fest. Sounds like a dream come true. THESY SURFACE AUDIO EXCERPT: "I think it was Charlie Chaplin who said, 'It doesn't matter how big the role is. Just be memorable.' And Margaret McPoyle is memorable." But… the producers want to paste a dark, heavy unibrow across that lovely forehead of yours. And your hair? Tied into pigtails. At least you’ll get to utter some real clever, coarse dialogue, right? Sorry, kid. Your character is mute. No words will be spoken. But you do get to make a rather salacious move with your tongue. What do you say? Thesy Surface said yes. Yes to Margaret McPoyle, the silly stuff of which TV legends are made on “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” For most people, this will be the first time you’ll have heard Thesy’s voice. Want to hear more? Check out her video blog at . And, oh yeah: the show returns to FX for its sixth season on Thursday, September 16 @ 10 p.m. (You can also catch up on episodes you missed on Comedy Central.) Mono-browed Margaret McPoyle — played by Thesy Surface —returns around Halloween. Thesy Surface • •
I can’t imagine the challenge of trying to capture the career of Bob Dylan in a documentary film.For starters, which Dylan? Folk Dylan? Dylan gone electric? Or Dylan the social activist, the poet, the singer and even the mumbler. In his documentary film, , director Joel Gilbert spends more than a hour collecting stories and concert film about those Dylans. It’s a slice that adds texture to our knowledge of the legendary performer. Then about an hour and ten minutes in, Gilbert turns his film upside-down to reveal a new focus: Dylan’s short-lived, controversial born-again Christian phase. It’s thick with Christianity: spreading the word of the Lord, Jews for Jesus and the Vineyard Christian Fellowship Church. What I don’t get from the film – with which Dylan clearly didn’t cooperate—is why Dylan set aside a lifetime of Judaism for born-again Christianity. To his credit, Gilbert’s film doesn’t avoid the fact that the public – and even many Christians – didn’t “get” this Bob Dylan. The same thing happened when Dylan subsequently jumped teams again, giving up Christianity for extreme orthodox Judaism and Chabad. Why? We may never know. And that’s not necessarily a fault of Gilbert’s work – it’s just the mystery of Bob Dylan. Bob Dylan Revealed • JOEL GILBERT audio excerpt: "(Rock critic) Joel Selvin published a piece in the San Francisco Chronicle a very critical piece entitled 'Bob Dylan's God-awful gospel.' He wasn't home, but Bob Dylan called his house and his wife answered. Dylan told her, 'Tell Mr. Selvin he's lost his license to review me.'"
In the five years that Mr. Media has been presented as an online podcast – first in audio, now with video in many cases – I would say that my biggest ongoing headache has been understanding what a feed is, how it works and how to keep it healthy. It hasn’t always been easy. A blog or website’s feed takes the usual content and repackages it in a way that it can be used for many other purposes. For example, you can subscribe to Mr. Media via its feed, which allows you to receive email or RSS updates. The feed lets us automatically send each episode to iTunes, Stitcher and the new, free Mr. Media mobile app for Android smartphones. It also shares the latest interviews like magic with dozen of social media services. PHIL HOLLOWS audio excerpt: "As soon as your blog ceases to be a hobby and starts to make money, people start to pay attention to Google Analytics and then they start to track their feed. And they want to have a professional service like Feedblitz where they can call and ask for advice." All well and good. But every couple of months I add a new feature or a new ad or a line of HTML code that makes the feed get angry. And you don’t want to see my feed when it's angry. Fortunately, there are guys like Phil Hollows around to soothe its frustration. Phil is the founder of Feedblitz, a premium alternative to the free Feedburner service. A year or two ago, he read about my frustration on a Feedburner forum with that company’s ongoing lack of customer service and invited me to try Feedblitz. I did and I’m a very satisfied customer. And when we threw in the towel last month on Blogger and switched to WordPress, it was Phil Hollows who again was there to calm my nerves and guide me through correcting my latest feed mishaps. Phil, in addition to being a feed expert, is also an email marketing genius. He just published a new e-book, . You can get it at or on the . I thought the least I could do after all he’s done for me is help him pimp his book. Phil Hollows • • • • • •
I know of at least two things that Dylan Ratigan and I have in common. We both follow Piers Morgan and Howard Stern on Twitter, demonstrating that we share a taste for both the refined and unrefined. And we’re both usually working at 4 p.m. daily, which shows neither of us is quite smart enough to game the system — yet. Oh, wait! Three things! We both probably never want to ride another bus again the rest of our lives. DYLAN RATIGAN audio excerpt: "I ultimately believe that the degree of stress we're experiencing, and all of this nastiness, is an indication of how close we are to solutions. I believe the uncomfortableness that we're all experiencing as a result of the horrors on earth now... are an incredible pressure to compel us to solve a lot of these problems over the next 10 years." Ratigan, host of the daily MSNBC newshour at 4 p.m. known colloquially as “The Dylan Ratigan Show,” hit the road for three days a month, December through March, in a customized Trailways bus. The "Steel on Wheels" tour – which wraps this week with a three-day energy summit from Wednesday, March 30-Friday, April 1, 2011 in Stillwater, Oklahoma -- focused on four major themes: The Spirit Of America, Innovation, The Building Of Our Nation, and The Future Of America's New Generations. The goal of the tour was to give voice to the average American’s possible solutions to some of this country’s most pressing challenges and issues. Of course, in the midst of the tour, the entire world’s focus skidded out of its lane as a result of civil war in the Middle East and the combination tsunami/earthquake/nuclear plant calamity in Japan. But one thing is for sure, as you’ll hear in this interview: Dylan Ratigan is nowhere near running out of hot topics to discuss. Dylan Ratigan • • • • •
You’ve gotta give credit. He survived being a child and teen TV star, hanging out with for 77 episodes of “Gimme a Break” and “”—Mayim Bialik— for 114 weekly shows. After that he spent some time establishing himself as a serious actor, even asking to be known as Joseph Lawrence for a time. But when he took the unlikely plunge as a contestant on the third season of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” Lawrence made his presence felt in the land of grown-ups—he did a three-episode stint on “CSI:NY”—and I suspect its been smooth sailing ever since. Lawrence and Melissa Joan Hart are currently starring in a new movie on ABC Family, “My Fake Fiance.” Joey Lawrence • • •
(March 3, 2009) I could spend the next hour talking about Patti Lupone’s incredible history on the Broadway musical stage. We’d start with her recent run starring in Gypsy, for which she won a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award, and which drew no less than Stephen Sondheim himself on closing night. I’d have to mention Sweeney Todd, of course, and Evita. And that she is currently touring the country with Mandy Patinkin in a two-act concert. But then I couldn’t fit in the real reason for her joining me this morning: Patti Lupone was a special guest on “30 Rock.” PATTI LUPONE AUDIO EXCERPT: "Good writing allows an actor to act well. Bad writing, an actor has to figure out how to look good. You're lucky when you have good writing." Patti Lupone • • • •
“Thirtysomething.” “My So-called Life.” “Tales of the City.” “Once and Again.” I feel confident saying that I have seen the complete runs of two television series with which writer, director and producer Richard Kramer has been associated — “Thirtysomething” and “Once and Again.” RICHARD KRAMER podcast excerpt: "It's a coming-of-age story but it's not about teenagers. And it's a coming out story that is not about gayness." And that I may have never seen a single episode of the other two, “My So-called Life” and “Tales of the City.” Not that there’s anything wrong with that. RICHARD KRAMER: "We can't believe how Claire Danes grew up. We think of her at 14, when she was this little girl who just came in to audition for 'My So-called Life,' having done one TV show, and we went, 'Oh, my God, who is this?' She was completely focused and adult at 14." “Thirtysomething” and “Once and Again” were two shows that spoke to me at times when I matched up with their demographic: young, married, and, um, still married, I guess. (Have I ever been not married? It’s so hard to remember.) As for “My So-called Life,” I was long past high school when it enjoyed its short but spirited run. And I’ve never been gay – happy, sure – so Armistead Maupin’s “Tales of the City” was not a show I was drawn to for any reason. But now that Richard Kramer has added the word “novelist” to his resume, his first book, These Things Happen, has almost incidentally rolled together elements of all four of the aforementioned TV series — straight marriage, remarriage, gay marriage, straight teens, gay teens, and lots of delicious sounding food — into one uniquely organized tale. RICHARD KRAMER: "At the beginning, 'Thirtysomething' was about a moment in your life when you could still drop in on your friends, unannounced. And when you could walk through the door and it was not about anything other than fun. But then as you get on a bit, you have to call ahead. You have to book the time." These Things Happen came out in paperback this week and HBO recently committed to a half-hour comedy pilot based on the book and produced by Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions. Not bad, Richard. Not bad. Richard Kramer • • • • •
There are essentially nine speaking parts in Ryan Barton-Grimley’s new indie film, The Truth. And two of those parts are in one scene--a couple of actors playing cops who are virtually superfluous to the story--so let’s say seven. RYAN BARTON-GRIMLEY podcast excerpt: "John Heard -- talk about a saint! We had somebody else, a very notorious actor, notoriously troublesome, cast in that role. He dropped out two days before filming. John Heard came onto our three-week shoot a week in. He saved the day. He's amazing." This is the kind of movie I think Hollywood could learn from in this age of tight budgets and stories that wind out of control. Barton-Grimley tells a taut, suspenseful tale that really leaves the viewer in fear of what revelation—or truth—is coming next. And even when we know, we still don’t know. I heard about The Truth, which stars John Heard, Daniel Baldwin, Erin Cardillo and Brendan Sexton III, because illegal copies of it are flooding the Internet. It’s obviously been the subject of a lot of buzz and curiosity. Cool, huh? Ryan Barton-Grimley • •
I can’t exactly put my finger on why, but I’ve always had this fascination with naked women. Oh, that’s right – it’s because I’m a guy. Most men like women all different ways: colors, races, heights, weights, you name it. And most of all, we like them in various stages of undress. Look, I’m just being honest, okay? BRITANY NOLA audio excerpt: "You can be a smart woman and a together woman but still be comfortable with your body. Women are made to think that there's something wrong with us. We're so afraid of our bodies. You can show a man getting his sliced off at 8 p.m. 'The Walking Dead' is outrageously violent! But God forbid a nipple is shown; it's the end of the world." And when it comes to Playboy, I’ve had a relationship with the magazine and its editorial features since I was 13. This show has also hosted its share of Playboy editors and Playmates over the years, so it should be no surprise that I invited Miss November 2012, Britany Nola, to drop by and chat today. As you’ll learn, Britany – whose high school graduating class voted her “Most Likely to Be Famous” – is a Canadian by birth, a huge music fan and even has something in common with Barack Obama. Hmmm…. Britany Nola • • • • •
Unfunny times demand the most from those among us with a sense of humor. High unemployment, falling wages, rampant homelessness, political divisions, religious intolerance, wars, natural disasters… horrible, unfunny stuff.But every year I look around and am reminded this is the same stuff we endured last year. The names change, the issues vary, but the only really difference is that I’m a year older and I need a good laugh more than ever.And now I’ve put a ton of pressure on my guest, John Caparulo. But he can handle it. Every night, in venues large and small, he mounts a stage somewhere in America and assumes an offensive stance in the face of sometimes hostile enemy fire—you know, hecklers. JOHN CAPARULO podcast excerpt: "Chelsea Handler is funny whether she is doing her act or not. And she knows who she is. A lot of people try to invent a persona or a character on stage and those are the ones you usually see through. She is who she is on her show or when we go to her Fourth of July BBQ. She's the real deal." Caparulo is a comedian with a rising profile, thanks to regular appearances on E!’s “Chelsea Lately,” “The Tonight Show” and a spot on the Blue Collar Comedy: The Next Generation tour. He’s a funny guy, probably closer to Larry the Cable Guy than Jeff Foxworthy in style — which is not a bad position in this country. John Caparulo • • • •
It’s not fair. If you’ve been watching Syfy’s new series, “Being Human” – Monday nights at 9 p.m. – you know what I’m talking about. The ghost, Sally, is always a ghost. The vampire, Aidan, is always a vampire. But Josh — the third leg of TV’s oddest roommate arrangement since the original season of MTV’s “Real World” —only turns into a werewolf every 30 days or so, on the eve of a full moon. SAM HUNTINGTON audio excerpt: "There's that line in the first episode where Sally says, 'At least I don't masturbate to "Nova."' And that implies that she's watched me masturbate to 'Nova.' That's a little uncomfortable. And who knows what else she's seen." Meanwhile, he has to listen to “I need to suck some blood, blah, blah, blah” and “I can’t touch anyone, blah, blah, blah” the rest of the month. But Sam Huntington, who plays Josh, makes the role come to life anyway in this extremely well-cast, if sometimes overly gory blood fest that mixes elements of “True Blood,” “Nurse Jackie” and a Saturday morning Scooby-Doo cartoon adventure. Sam Huntington • • • •
That’s one of the conceits of an online social networking service: I’m someone you should get to know and, by so doing, you will improve your standing in life, members of the opposite sex will find you more attractive and your food will taste better. I can’t swear that any of that is true, but it is the general idea. Whether you’ve dabbled in Facebook, the gold standard in social media, or MySpace, it’s trailer trash cousin, you’ve probably already discovered some of the advantages to be gained by reconnecting with friends and family or being introduced to new acquaintances. But what about your career? MIKE O'NEIL podcast excerpt: "They don't do a great profile before they get going. They jump in, putting in the minimal amount of information without realizing people are looking at their profile to see how worthy you are of their attention. Frankly, there's a lot of competition for their attention. Your profile says, 'I'm worthy of your time and attention'--or it doesn't." While there are limited opportunities to expand your job horizons and opportunities on Facebook, I can tell you first-hand that the place you really need to be is LinkedIn. I have used LinkedIn for several years and have 1,401 business connections on the network. But my experience pales next to that of Mike O’Neil. He is a LinkedIn rockstar, a LinkedIn superstar, a man with 28,000 connections. That’s enough to rank him 24th worldwide. He is also the author of Rock the World with your Online Presence, a rock ‘n’ roll themed primer to getting the most from your LinkedIn experience. Mike O'Neil • • • • Lori Ruff • • • •
Gary Chaloner is an award-winning artist and writer who is currently creating and publishing the new adventures of Will Eisner’s John Law. I interviewed Chaloner via email the first time around, for my biography of Will Eisner, A Spirited Life. But that was when John Law had yet to be published. Now that it’s out and building an audience for one of Eisner’s lesser known characters, I thought it would be fun to talk to him again. He suggested we do it via Skype, the free Internet phone service; being a new technology junkie, I had to say yes. So Gary has the dubious honor of being the first person interviewed in this series via podcast. The audio quality isn't perfect; the hum/buzz you'll hear in the background is from my computer. Sorry about that, audiophiles. This interview combines the stories behind Chaloner's Eisner-related work as well as a sneak peek (below) at his upcoming work. Eisner fans will also be excited to learn how many more characters from Eisner's early work are returning to action in Chaloner's John Law series. First, let me tell you a little more about Chaloner: He’s an Australian-born creator who began his career as a publisher of his own work and the work of other Australian creators through his own imprint Cyclone Comics. Cyclone published a range of popular comic books in the 1980s and 1990s with titles as diverse as The Jackaroo, The Southern Squadron, Dark Nebula, GI Joe Australia, Flash Damingo and CCQ (Cyclone Comics Quarterly). Gary's overseas work includes US editions of The Jackaroo and The Southern Squadron; a very odd issue of The Badger with Mike Baron; the award-winning Planet of the Apes: Urchak's Folly; The Olympians, a two-issue prestige series for Marvel/Epic Comics; editorial and creative duties on Dark Horse Down Under for Dark Horse Comics — this series featured the first US appearance of Gary's creation "Morton Stone, Undertaker." His current creator-owned projects include the black comedy of Morton Stone: Undertaker; Red Kelso, a pulp-inspired adventure series; and new adventures of The Jackaroo. Chaloner worked closely with Will Eisner in the development and relaunch of Will Eisner's John Law both online and in print through IDW Publishing. The online series recently left ModernTales.com and set up home at http://johnlaw.us.com. You can browse through the archives for free there and read more about Law and his new adventures. As a bonus, Chaloner is uploading original golden age stories featuring Lady Luck and Mr. Mystic. These stories first ran as backups in The Spirit Section and will be remastered and colored for online viewing. Hopefully, these classic stories will be collected for print at a later stage. In the 2005 Ledger Awards (Australian Comic Industry Awards), Will Eisner's John Law received several awards including "International Title of the Year" and "Single Issue or Story of the Year." Chaloner was also awarded the "Ledger of Honour" (a Hall of Fame award) and received industry awards for "Achievement of the Year," "Cover Artist of the Year" and "Inker of the Year." Chaloner also redesign and modernized the official Will Eisner web site. Gary Chaloner • • • •
Oh, so many of you! Well, you’ve come to the right place. Joining me today from London is the author of The Life of Brian, er, I mean, The Life of Jesus, Julian Doyle. Doyle is not your usual commentator on matters of the Christian church and the man for whom it is named. Instead he is the long-time editor of Monty Python films such as Monty Python & The Holy Grail, Monty Python’s Meaning of Life, Jabberwocky, Time Bandits, Brazil, Wind in the Willows, and the film that brought us all here today, Monty Python’s Life of Brian. JULIAN DOYLE audio excerpt: "It's going to feel like blasphemy to some people because I draw parallels between our Monty Python film, Life of Brian, and other films and which is most accurate." Doyle’s book, The Life of Brian Jesus, walks two paths; primarily it examines similarities between the Python film, the Holy Bible and what is actually known about the life of Jesus Christ. But it also offers several intimate glimpses behind the scenes of the 1979 film, Life of Brian. Is The Life of Brian Jesus for every Python fan? Probably not, as it raises all kinds of questions some loyal Christians might not care to consider. And it’s only a Python book in part, so if you’re looking for a funny memoir of "Flying Circus" days, don’t expect as much of that. But if you’re that rare individual who can handle having your religious beliefs questioned and still practice daily for a position in the Ministry of Silly Walks, step right up! Julian Doyle • • • • • •
Something was seriously missing from the second episode of the second season of Fox’s drama Lie To Me: punishment for Hayley McFarland’s character, Emily Lightman. Hayley, who plays a young high school student named Emily on the show, lied to her father—Dr. Cal Lightman, played by Tim Roth—about some pretty serious stuff after a classmate of hers was apparently raped at a college frat house party by a star athlete. If that happened in my house, my teen would be grounded—probably for life. HAYLEY McFARLAND: "I saw Pulp Fiction before I started on Lie To Me. I was kind of nervous going to meet (Tim Roth). I thought he'd be mean. But he's great." But Hayley has probably behaved worse on TV; after all, Lie To Me is just one of this young actress’s recurring gigs; she’s also on Showtime’s United States of Tara, starring Toni Collette. On Tara, Hayley plays the best friend of Tara’s son. Hayley McFarland • • • •
Sure, sure, poor, poor Chris D’Elia is being set up as eye candy for the ladies on the new NBC sitcom, “Whitney.” Boo-frickin’-hoo! Have you seen the pictures of the show’s lead – and his character’s girlfriend – comedian Whitney Cummings, working through scenes in a lacy purple bra? CHRIS D'ELIA audio excerpt: "Whitney wrote the part for me. She's one of these people who finds people she likes and tries to create opportunities. She told me two years ago that she wanted me to play her boyfriend and I said, 'Cool.'" I think Mr. D’Elia, who we’re about to meet, can handle the trade-off of being a boy toy for female viewers if it means representing all the men watching the show--including Howard Stern, who lusted after Whitney on the radio just this week. Think of all of us envying you in your next bedroom scene with Whitney, dude. “Whitney,” which was created by Whitney Cummings, could be a major break out hit this season if it is anything like her standup act. She’s got a strong supporting cast, starting with D’Elia, himself a working comedian, who was previously a regular in the TBS series “Glory Daze.” You might also recognize Tampa’s own Maulik Pancholy – who previously played Alec Baldwin’s assistant on “30 Rock.” Chris D'Elia • • • • •
How well do you know your own father? If your stepmother died under suspicious circumstances and everyone around you harbored the belief that your father murdered her, could you stand by him no matter what? I hope, for your sake, that it’s a situation in which you never find yourself. But it happened to Angela Dove on March 25, 1988, when she was a high school student in California. Her life was never the same. ANGELA DOVE audio excerpt:“This was just a man who had a lot of difficulty in interpersonal relationships. He got in his own way. I think a lot of people do that, but it’s not until you’re under the lens of a homicide investigation that it starts to look suspicious.” Dove hopes to have brought herself and her family some closure with the publication of her first book, . It is the story of Debi Whitlock’s brutal and mysterious death in her own home—while her three-year-old daughter slept nearby—and the impact the long unsolved crime had on Dove’s father. It is also the tale of Debi’s mother’s long struggle for justice. Even if you read a good deal of true crime stories, you probably haven’t read one like this. Its point of view is unique and I heartily recommend it to you. Angela Dove • •
If you create or own a sci-fi or other genre character or franchise, one of the top, go-to guys for a writer who will admirably adapt your property for novelization is Kevin J. Anderson. Anderson writes the Dune prequels with Frank Herbert’s son, Brian Herbert. He writes books in the Star Wars series, including the Jedi Academy Trilogy and Young Jedi Knights series featuring the twin children of Han Solo and Princess Leia. He also wrote three books based on “The X-Files” TV show, including Ground Zero, which I read when it came out back in 1995. He even wrote a book on which he shares credit with L. Ron Hubbard that I’m curious about but not enough so that I want the Scientologists to come around pestering me. And in his free time, he created his own genre series, The Saga of the Seven Suns. Right now, his latest book is Enemies & Allies, a clever re-telling of the first time Batman and Superman met in the 1950s. A follow-up to his novel, The Last Days of Krypton, this one is a barnburner that brings in everybody you want from the Man of Steel and The Dark Knight families of characters. Like most of Anderson’s books, once you start reading it, you won’t stop till you’re done. Kevin J. Anderson • • • •
Kinsey Schofield charmed an awful lot of Mr. Media viewers the first time she appeared on the show in 2010 on one of our first video interviews. That interview was quite popular, so when the opportunity to have the Fox News Redeye social media expert back to talk about her new position with msnNOW, I, of course, said yes. Guys love Kinsey. And what’s not to love? She’s cute, she flirts without meaning to and she’s smart as a whip. KINSEY SCHOFIELD audio excerpt: "On Tumblr, I'm inspired by design, pictures and fashion... What I love about Pinterest is it sources whatever I'm interested in with a link. It's not two hours on a search engine that I'm not going to get back." Oh, and if all that fails her, she knows all the best Will Smith lines and rhymes from “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” Kinsey is here today in her new role as spokesperson for msnNOW, which seems to be a news and entertainment portal in which stories are ranked based upon Bing searches and social media updates. I had never heard of msnNOW before this, so like everything connected with Microsoft’s efforts to gain a digital toehold in an Apple and Google-dominated digital world, she’s got her work cut out for her. Kinsey Schofield • • • • • • • • • •
Do you ever wonder if those celebrities you follow on Twitter are actually writing all that blather? Or is it ghosts??? Do you ever wonder how a woman with a size 9 foot can wear a size 6 heel? Do you ever wonder if Glenn Beck is really two people, one who says horrible, insulting, idiotic things and another who dances all the way to the bank in size 6 heels? Okay, maybe that’s just me. KINSEY SCHOFIELD podcast excerpt: "I love Jo Bros. (The Jonas Brothers.) They are the cutest boys ever. Although in L.A. you hear some very interesting rumors about those young men that I don't want to get into because I don't want to break any hearts or start any riots in the streets." Do you ever wonder why some women are gifted with cascades of beautiful hair and some men have none at all? On second thought, don’t answer that one. Do you ever wonder whether I actually write fresh introductions for every guest or simply recycle the same ones from six months ago? I don’t, by the way, but it’s a thought. What does any of this have to do with my guest, social media expert and Fox News Red Eye commentator Kinsey Schofield? No, really, that wasn’t rhetorical; it was a real question. While we both think that over, check out this exclusive Mr. Media video interview that captures the many moods and lots of mirth that is the lovely Kinsey Schofield. Kinsey Schofield • • • • •
Let me see. The last time I stopped what I was doing to listen a world class violinist was… Okay, it hasn’t happened yet. But after watching Philippe Quint move gracefully between classic violin and pop-jazz in David Grubin’s new indie film Downtown Express, it is definitely more likely to happen in the future. PHILIPPE QUINT audio excerpt: "I have great respect for the craft of acting. So when I was cast in Downtown Express, I took acting lessons with a wonderful teacher, Sondra Lee. She really trained me while the film was in pre-production. It was extremely beneficial." Order from Amazon.com by clicking the CD cover above Downtown Express stars Quint – who is a four-time Grammy Award nominee for his violin virtuosity – as a Russian immigrant struggling to balance his love and respect for his domineering father with his desire to be part of Manhattan’s much broader musical melting pot. That, and, of course, there’s a love story, as his character, Sasha, meets and plays alongside funky Ramona, played by another accomplished real-life musician, Nellie McKay. This is an irresistible movie that magically melds the Julliard School of Music, Russian immigrant society, American jazz and classical music and not one but two romantic stories. I especially recommend it for inspiration if you have kids studying music in high school or college. Philippe Quint • • •
Paul Michael Glaser’s life as a public figure is entering its third act by my count. First, of course, there was his big break as Perchik in the 1971 film adaptation of Fiddler on the Roof, followed by his years as the star of ABC’s long-running action series, “Starsky & Hutch,” in which he played Detective Dave Starsky opposite David Soul’s Detectie Ken “Hutch” Hutchinson. The show was hugely popular in the 1970s when it aired new episodes and reruns propelled it for many years to come. Glaser’s second act was unplanned: His wife Elisabeth Glaser was tragically struck down by AIDS in 1994. Before dying, she bravely made her illness a campaign for greater public understandng and empathy for AIDS victims, putting a broader face on something many people preferred to see only as something that afflicted the gay community. PAUL MICHAEL GLASER audio excerpt: "The mind does not want to acknowledge helplessness. Because if you acknowledge helplessness, you're going to fall down this black hole and it's all going to be over for the rest of your life... The mind has no way to cope with helplessness." Less well remembered in the years since is that his daughter with Elizabeth died very young of complications from AIDS. Their son contracted HIV in the womb but survived. Glaser has kept his wife and daughter’s spirit alive through his work with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Now he’s ready for a completely different turn on the celebrity stage, this time as the author of a children’s novel called Chrystallia and The Source of Light. Some elements of the fantasy story in Chrystallia may ring true for people who have followed the Glaser story over the years, particularly its story of a mother of two adolescents wasting away before their very eyes. Paul Michael Glaser • • • • •
Writing the biography of a well-known person in pop culture is an assignment fraught with trap doors, two-way mirrors, and shackles. Some writers even disdain their subjects. Others hopelessly suck up to the person, if living, in hopes of winning their favor. Journalists working the genre, however, are usually after something more. They took on the life of an individual because they believe -- through professional research and interviews -- that they can add more color or depth to what’s known about the figure’s public and private lives. Today’s Mr. Media guest, Larry “Ratso” Sloman, has trod the path of biography and ghostwritten autobiographies a number of times in his career. He wrote Steal This Dream about the life of 1960s dissident Abbie Hoffman. He helped Howard Stern pen his life story in two memorable books, Private Parts and Miss America. When Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers needed someone to help tell his story, Kiedis turned to Sloman. The book many people remember Sloman best for, however, may well be his chronicle of Bob Dylan’s remarkable 1975 Rolling Thunder Review concert tour, On the Road with Bob Dylan. That is also where he earned his unusual nickname, which I’m told he wears with pride like a badge of courage. Sloman’s latest book, written with William Kalush is The Secret Life of Houdini, the Making of America’s First Superhero. Larry "Ratso" Sloman • • • •
Douglas Fargo is a classic television character. At once deceptively innocent and brilliant, he’s also capable of causing the kind of naïve mischief that may one day cause the secret government town of Eureka to be wiped off the map in a giant matter/anti-matter implosion. Just to ply it safe, I’ll be interviewing the actor who plays Fargo today – Neil Grayston – and not the character himself. Too many things go wrong when that guy is around! NEIL GRAYSTON audio excerpt: "I think it started as an idea to clean up all the loose ends of the show but not in a dream scenario... This is the timeline we live in now. As far as I know, we're stickin' with it." Grayston, I believe, is a guy who recognized a wonderful opportunity in the role of Fargo and capitalized upon it. He has grown a character whose initial purpose seemed little more than second banana antics and shenanigans and given him heart and self-respect in a relatively short period of time. And thanks to the Syfy network’s show recent disruption of the time-space continuum, Grayston is now playing Fargo 2.0. Instead of being a flaky young scientist at Global Dynamics, he is now the head of GD. He’s even had a love life, including a crossover fling with Tech wiz Claudia Donovan of “Warehouse 13.” Of course, Grayston is still giving voice to a second “character” on “Eureka,” which returns for its season 4.5 premiere on Monday, July 11 @ 8 p.m.: He is the computer altered, female personality of Sheriff Carter’s underground bunker, S.A.R.A.H. (Incidentally, you can follow both S.A.R.A.H. and Grayston on Twitter.) You may have previously seen Grayston on “Wonderfalls,” “Smallville,” “The Dead Zone” and “Supernatural.” Neil Grayston
Could there be a better time to interview actress Lauren Bowles? In a career that’s been steadily on the upswing, she joined HBO’s bloody hot drama “True Blood” this season as the newest waitress at Merlotte’s. And the show’s three topline stars, Anna Paquin, Alexander Skarsgard and Stephen Moyer, appear naked on the cover of Rolling Stone this week, dripping in blood—fake blood, I assume, but it got the idea across. LAUREN BOWLES audio excerpt: "True Blood is a very lighthearted set compared to the world being depicted." Lauren Bowles, star of HBO's 'True Blood' Besides True Blood, Lauren will appear in February in the next Farrelly Brothers movie, Hall Pass, with Owen Wilson and Christina Applegate. Today, the New York Times did . What does that have to do with Lauren Bowles? Elaine was played by her sister, Julia Louis-Dreyfus. But she’s also married to the business: “Mad Men” fans will recognize her husband Patrick Fischler as foul-mouthed comedian Jimmy Barrett, whose wife Don Draper memorably shtupped. Patrick also did extended stints on “Lost” and “Southland” before landing a role in the Steve Carrell comedy, Dinner for Schmucks. How about that? I worked in “shtupped” and “schmucks” into a single paragraph! And on top of everything else, she’s a new mom, so let’s try to keep it down on the set and not wake the baby. Lauren Bowles •
One of the favorite songs around the Mr. Media homestead for the past few years is “Johnny Appleseed,” a rather pleasing pop ditty by Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros with a very serious message: “Don’t go killin’ all the bees.” I kept hearing that song in my head the entire time I watched a new documentary about the plight of the world’s honeybees directed by Taggart Siegel. Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us? has a tone that, like Strummer’s song, is also gentle, but it hits home: If industrial farming practices that may be killing bees are not reined in soon, the world will have little besides corn for crops. TAGGART SIEGEL audio excerpt: "Honey is miraculous, the first sweetness of man. You'd think we be getting down on our hands and knees and worshiping bees. We have to get more into the wonder of bees... If we save them, we're saving ourselves" Speaking as a guy who has troubled digesting corn, that’s a frightening prospect. Queen of the Sun has attracted a big corporate sponsor: Whole Foods Market. If you’ve ever been in one of their stores, you know Whole Foods has a vested interest in supporting as wide a diversity of farming as possible. That said, I wish some more mainstream grocers such as Kroger and Publix had shown a similar interest in supporting the message of Queen of the Sun. Joining me today to talk about their film and the bees are the director, Taggart Siegel, and producer, Jon Betz. Queen of the Sun • • • •
I’m gonna be honest with you—I’m far more interested in talking with Guillermo Diaz about his last role—as, curiously, “Guillermo”—in “Weeds,” in which he played Mary Louise Parker’s drug dealer, teacher, friend, antagonist, protector—hey, it was complicated. That Guillermo was one scary mofo. This Guillermo is starring as Nurse Angel Lopez on the new NBC drama “Mercy,” which airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. It’s funny and awkward at times—just like “Weeds,” in some ways—but I think this show demonstrates how much range Diaz actually has. GUILLERMO DIAZ podcast excerpt: "I would hope that Guillermo would really like Angel and have a little bit of a snicker with him... I'm coming back to 'Weeds.' It's gonna work out; it's going to be interesting to see what they do with me." He came to national attention after starring as Scarface in the cult film Half Baked, opposite Dave Chappelle and Jim Breuer. He joined Academy Award winners Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones in The Terminal for renowned director/producer Steven Spielberg. His varied resume also includes feature roles in indie hits such as Party Girl opposite Parker Posey, Stonewall, I'm Not Rappaport with Walter Matthau, 200 Cigarettes with Christina Ricci, High School High and Chelsea Walls, directed by Ethan Hawke. In addition to his feature film credits, Diaz is known for his three seasons on the award-winning Showtime series “Weeds” where he plays Guillermo, Mary Louise Parker's drug dealer. He has also been seen in “ER,” “Law & Order” “Chappelle’s Show,” “The Shield,” “Without a Trace” and “The Closer.” Diaz most recently wrapped the indie feature Peep World with Rainn Wilson and Sarah Silverman and the USA series “Royal Pains.” He will next be seen opposite Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan in Kevin Smith’s feature A Couple of Dicks. Guillermo Diaz • • • •
When the news reached me today than legendary jazz pianist and longtime National Public Radio host Marian McPartland has passed away, I was reminded of my time with one of many great artists who tolerated a young music writer early in my career. On October 8, 1983, I interviewed Mrs. McPartland as a preview for an upcoming appearance she would be making in Clearwater, Florida, with her husband, Jimmy McPartland, and her old friend and frequent onstage partner, George Shearing. MARIAN McPARTLAND podcast excerpt: "If everybody is playing well together — bass, drums, piano —I swear there is some kind of sexual thing that is set up. In the music! Of course, it could go to the other thing, too! I won't say it couldn't." It was one of many interviews I conducted that are like fingernails on a blackboard to me today, but that helped shape my approach to the job. Mostly, however, it was an unrehearsed moment with a jazz great, as she responds to a problem with the phone connection – “Oh, sh*t!” – and compares a great combo on a great night as akin to sex. Fortunately, the audio cassette containing this interview survived the years. I’ve sweetened the audio to the best of my ability; if you’re a fan of Marian McPartland, I hope you can get past my simplistic questions and enjoy the lady herself. MARIAN McPARTLAND • • Twitter • • FRANK ZAPPA
Gregg Binkley has waited and waited for his breakthrough opportunity and this may well be the year. Binkley was a recurring character in the first season of the Fox sitcom, “Raising Hope.” He played Barney, the supermarket boss of Jimmy, the baby daddy of Hope, the show’s title character. He apparently struck a nerve in season one, because Binkley has been elevated to series regular going into season two. GREGG BINKLEY audio excerpt: "When they were casting the store manager for 'Malcolm in the Middle,' Bryan Cranston said, 'Why don't you bring in Dan, the Del Taco guy?' He gave me a chance to show another side of myself." Gregg Binkley, actor, Raising Hope In Gregg Binkley we find a character actor who has paid his dues for many years. He was “Randy” in an episode of “Wizards of Waverly Place.” And “Street Person #3” in an episode of CSI. He was even “Dale” in an episode of “The Michael Richards Show.” (And yes, there really was a “Michael Richards Show.”) But his best run to date was as “Kenny James” in 18 or so episodes of “My Name Is Earl” on NBC. In fact, it was thanks to “Earl” showrunner Greg Garcia – now occupying the same role on “Raising Hope” — that Binkley attracted the new gig in the first place. Guys like Binkley show up for one unglamorous, somewhat anonymous acting job after another hoping for the moment he finally earned on “Raising Hope.” On the eve of his first season as a series regular, it’s no doubt a good time to be him. Gregg Binkley •
Paula Garces’ lovely features may be familiar to you if you saw such movies as Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, Clockstoppers, or Man of the House with Tommy Lee Jones. She also flirted with Meadow’s boyfriend on “The Sopranos” and has guest-starred on “CSI:Miami.” She was also promoted to series regular for the upcoming fifth and final season of “The Shield.” In April, she’ll be in a Harold and Kumar sequel, Escape from Guantanamo Bay. I’m laughing just thinking about that. Today I’ve invited Paula on the show to talk about her current project in which she voices the lead character in Red Princess Blues: Animated. We’ll also be joined momentarily by the film’s producer, Alex Ferrari of Numb Robot Studios. Paula Garces • • • • • •
Paula Garces is beautiful, smart and ambitious, which makes for a combustible mix is Hollywood. She’s held her own on the critically acclaimed FX series “The Shield” and maintained both her mystery and dignity in both Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle and Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay. She just finished shooting the third movie in the series, A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (in 3D!) and is currently driving Pete crazy as a snappy, sexy veterinarian on the SyFy hit “Warehouse 13.” So the natural next move is hosting a fashion show on the Spanish network The mun2, right? PAULA GARCES podcast excerpt: "Eddie McClintock is fabulous. He is a really funny guy. A lot of what you see in his character are his ideas... When I was first approached about the role on Warehouse 13, there was a possibility it might extend beyond two episodes. After they saw our energy together, the producers extended us to six episodes. And they left it open for me to come back next season. It's lots of fun." “The mun2 Look” kicks off its second cycle on Saturday, August 21 at 4 p.m. But Paula is not just the host; she’s also the show’s executive producer and co-host. This is Paula’s second visit to Mr. Media Radio; she previously joined me to talk about the second Harold & Kumar movie and her involvement in Alex Ferrari’s short film, Red Princess Blues Animated. Paula Garces • • • • • • LISTEN TO THIS, TOO! (January 30, 2008)
It’s been a while since business writer to talk about his first graphic novel, Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You’ll Ever Need. That book was intended for an audience of job seekers who lacked some basic skills needed to succeed in the modern workplace. They were also people who weren’t likely to buy and read Pink’s nonfiction, picture-less narratives such A Whole New Mind or Free Agent Nation. COREY MICHAEL BLAKE audio excerpt: "I found Chris Anderson's email address. I said, 'We're interested in taking your book, The Long Tail, and introducing it to comic book fans.' In 24 hours I had an answer: 'Let's talk to my agent.' It hit his sweet spot. He loves to be an innovator ans he is a comic book fan." Apparently Pink was on to something – Johnny Bunko has since been translated into 14 different languages. Now a company called Round Table is working with SmarterComics to turn Pink’s one-off project into an industry. It has produced graphic novels from six respected, bestselling business experts and is marketing them to an audience unlikely to read 300 pages of text but probably willing to invest the time and effort into a 50-page comic book full of immediately useful knowledge, told in an entertaining fashion. At the top of the list of SmarterComics’ initial release this April 2011 is The Long Tail by Wired magazine editor Chris Anderson. Also noteworthy is an adaptation of the 2,500-year-old The Art of War by Sun Tzu, a classic battleplan for success found on the shelf of every modern CEO. I know a little about educational comics myself, having written , who started the whole genre back in World War II with Army Motors. So I thought it would be interesting to have Round Table CEO Corey Michael Blake on the show to talk about his new enterprise. SmarterComics • • • •
I’m a little worried about A.J. Jacobs. His latest book, The Guinea Pig Diaries: My Life as an Experiment, takes the social tests he put himself through in previous books such as The Know-It-All—in which he read the entire encyclopedia—and The Year of Living Biblically—in which he followed every single rule of the Bible—and reveals a funny, introspective man who may be in danger of becoming a caricature of himself. The Guinea Pig Diaries compiles some of his most brilliant experiments for Esquire magazine, where he is an editor at large, and adds in several new trials. It’s all good, meaty reading, but I’m starting to wince more than laugh at A.J.’s escapades. Where is the line for a man who once outsourced his life to India but more recently spent a month being whipped—figuratively, I think—by his wife? And how much is too much information for readers about a writer’s personal life? A.J. JACOBS podcast excerpt: "I found this device on the Internet that I never knew existed: a chastity belt for men. If she's going to be in control of my life, it would be interesting if she could also control my private parts. So I did order one of those for her and I did strap it on for a couple days..." Don’t get me wrong. I’m a big fan of A.J.’s work—and have been for a long time. If I could have another writer’s career, I’d admit to wanting his. But I do wonder, honestly, if it might not be time for him to point that giant, sensitive brain of his in a different creative direction for a while. I’m curious to see if he agrees. A.J. Jacobs • • • •
If I were the president of one of the broadcast networks, I’d take another look at signing up A.J. Jacobs to make a sitcom based on his life. (And yes, I know it’s been tried before – as described by A.J. himself in Esquire magazine last fall, but this idea is worth a second look.) All the basic elements are there: A.J. is a neurotic, Jewish writer living in Manhattan with his grounded wife and naturally funny three boys, two of whom are twins. His extended family is full of characters, including his late Aunt Marti, a delightful eccentric, and his late grandfather, legendary Manhattan labor attorney . A.J. JACOBS audio excerpt: "I was surprised: I had low testosterone. I said to the doctor, 'What's wrong with low testosterone?' He said, 'Well, if you have more testosterone, you'll have a bigger sex drive. ' I said, 'Doctor, I have three young kids. What possible outlet would I possibly have for that?' But there are other advantages: testosterone increases your energy level. So I was able to remedy it and raise it to normal levels. But I'm not at Silvio Berlusconi levels." His day job is as a senior writer for Esquire magazine, one that sends him all over the country to interview and banter with actresses who are literally the most beautiful women in the world. Think of the guest star opportunities! But that’s not all: at night and on weekends, A.J. writes bestselling nonfiction books. He read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica, an experience that he chronicled in The Know-It-All. In The Year of Living Biblically, he committed twelve months to literally following what’s written in the Bible. And in his new book, Drop Dead Healthy: One Man’s Quest for Bodily Perfection, which I think may be his best yet, A.J. commits two years to not just losing weight but transitioning from happy-go-lucky schlump to vibrant, manly stud. Each week, viewers could drop in on “A.J.” for a family-oriented half hour of laughs that would be reminiscent of John Ritter’s “Eight Simple Rules… for Dating My Teenage Daughter.” A.J. Jacobs • • • • • The Year of Living Biblically: (2007) • The Guinea Pig Diaries: (2009)
(UPDATED JULY 5, 2015: When I discovered the original audio player for this interview with actor Larry Thomas no longer played correctly, I went digging in my audio archives, found the original from June 8, 2007 and upgraded the entire track. But it sounded a little funky. I looked again and there was a SECOND interview with Thomas from two weeks later, June 22, 2007. Then I hit me -- the audio recording the first time was terrible and Larry kindly agreed to a do-over. But with improvements in technology, I unintentionally rescued the first interview. You can now hear both; the first is Mr. Media Episode #32, from June 8, 2007, and the second, Mr. Media Episode #33, from June 22, 2007. And thanks again to Larry Thomas for being such a good sport -- and one of Mr. Media's first podcast interview guests!)
Who IS John O’Hurley? On Thanksgiving Day at noon, he’s the silver-haired host of The National Dog Show on NBC, a job he’s held for nine years. He’s also written a couple of dog tale-oriented books. JOHN O'HURLEY podcast excerpt: "The head of NBC Sports gave me a call. I picked up the phone and he said, 'Woof! Woof!' And that's how it started nine years ago." And he’s been the host of the daily “Family Feud” game show. Still can’t place him? How about his amazing performance on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” in 2005? No? Okay, okay, try this one on: John O’Hurley played Elaine’s boss, clothing catalog entrepreneur J Peterman, as a recurring character for several seasons on “Seinfeld.” The joke was that Peterman was based on a real person and a real company. But what happened later was no joke: when the J Peterman Company bounced in and out of bankruptcy, it was the pretend Peterman – John O’Hurley – who stepped in as an angel investor to save the real Peterman. True story, folks! John O'Hurley • • • •
The name of the show threw me, no denying it. “Hand of God”? I’m not a particularly religious guy and the new Amazon Studios series – starring Ron Perlman, Dana Delaney, Andre Royo, Emayatzy Corinealdi, and Garrett Dillahunt – now in its second season, didn’t sound like my kind of show. But then I was asked if I would you like to speak with the showrunner, Ben Watkins—who previously wrote and produced USA’s “Burn Notice? So I said, “Let me check it out.” BEN WATKINS podcast excerpt: "Ron Perlman plays this judge who goes off the rails when his son attempts suicide. He's in a coma. I wanted to explore somebody who becomes a zealot, who becomes focused on one thing." I started watching the first episode. Then the second. Before I knew it, I was halfway through the first season of 10. “Goddammit!” I said to no one in particular. “How many times will I make the mistake of judging a book by its cover, or a movie or TV series by its title?” “Hand of God” is really, really good. In this age of peak TV and 400 new series vying for our time and attention, it’s hard to know what to watch. My wife and I gave up on Amazon’s “Man in the High Tower” but gave USA’s “Mr. Robot” a second chance and were pleased with the decision. You won’t be disappointed if you sample “Hand of God.” BEN WATKINS podcast excerpt: "Emayatzy Corinealdi is a breakout actress. My wife saw her in an independent film called 'Middle of Nowhere.' We told her, 'The character is going to be the moral center for this show; don't judge it just by the (first episode) when you see her having sex with a client.' Emayatzy brings a certain humanity and subtlety to everything she does." Key interview moments: • 3:30 "Hand of God" creator and showrunner Ben Watkins explains how star Ron Perlman fits the title of the series; • 15:50 Watkins advises actress Emayatzy Corinealdi not to prejudge her prostitute character by the pilot episode; • 27:36 Who would Watkins choose in the DeathMatch of TV trios? "Burn Notice" co-stars Jeffrey Donovan, Bruce Campbell and Gabrielle Anwar or "Hand of God" co-stars Ron Perlman, Dana Delany and Andre Royo? Hand of God • • • Ben Watkins
Peter Carlson could have taken all the research he did on Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev’s two-week barnstorming tour of the United States in 1959 and converted it into a Cold War-era fable such as Dr. Strangelove or The Mouse That Roared. He could have done that, but truth is stranger than fiction and the truths found within K Blows Top: A Cold War Comic Interlude, Starring Nikita Khrushchev, America’s Most Unlikely Tourist are way funnier than even a guy like Dave Barry could have invented. PETER CARLSON podcast excerpt: "Khruschchev kept saying, 'Your capitalists are keeping the Cold War going because they're making money on it.' And the American officials, quite sincerely, said they would never do that. You're crazy Marxists. That's not how it works. Then he made this ridiculous propaganda speech saying that, 'All countries should get rid of all weapons...' Even though there was absolutely no chance of that happening, the stock market plummeted because everyone was afraid their defense stocks would go down." I first discovered this book when the story of Chairman K’s visit to Hollywood was excerpted in Smithsonian magazine. I read that, laughed, and thought: I must read more! And now that I’ve read more, I want to talk about it, so welcome to Mr. Media’s Book Club, where I’m hoping former Washington Post reporter Peter Carlson will fill us in on the story behind the story of this ticklish new political history. Peter Carlson • • •
My mother bought me my first MAD magazine off the newsstand at a Stop & Shop supermarket in 1969. The cover featured a Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid parody that I believe was drawn by . I read that issue over and over again—at least until I convinced mom to buy the next month’s issue. I was nine and it was the funniest thing I ever saw. Over the years, I subscribed to MAD and bought the paperbacks collecting the material I missed in earlier years. MAD was my gateway drug—I dabbled in Sick and Cracked, although they left me unsatisfied. started publishing CRAZY at and I even managed to get a few letters published there. As I grew older, I started focusing on the names of the artists and writers I liked best—Al Jaffee, Arnold Roth, , Jack Davis and Sergio Aragones—the usual gang of idiots. I also heard about MAD’s precedents such as and Humbug! but they were never available until now. Today, not only do I have a hardbound collection of the entire 11-issue run of Humbug!, but I’m also honored to welcome two of its top contributors and co-owners, and Arnold Roth, to the show. Al Jaffee • Arnold Roth •
When Laurel Touby started MediaBistro.com in 1996, being a freelancer in the media business was a fairly solitary position. She became the socializer-in-chief, organizing events to draw writers and editors together, posting media jobs, which led to educational programs and daily news updates. In other words, she gave folks like me a community. LAUREL TOUBY podcast excerpt: "I went from the girl who knew nobody to the girl who knew everybody!" I never got too involved in MediaBistro but I appreciated its existence. And I was quite happy for Laurel when, a few years ago, she sold her company for $23 million. Even better, Laurel has stayed with her company. I invited her on the show to talk about what Mediabistro.com has to offer and to talk about how the disassembly of print media might affect her operation in the future. Laurel Touby • • •
Some singers have a way with a phrase or a moment that attracts listeners with instant magnetism. Stephanie Rooker Stephanie Rooker is in that category. Everyone’s ear will interpret her differently, but I like the fluid rap style she brings to her style of jazz in one song and the classic bop present in another. Rooker sings jazz along a metaphorical urban street that borders rap and R&B, while still reflecting the traditional conventions of the genre, including innovation. STEPHANIE ROOKER podcast excerpt: "My voice students want to know, 'When will I find my voice?' But what's exciting is that it's an infinite road that keeps unfolding. I've had several milestones in my life where I hit a new level with my voice, performance, writing or self-expression that I didn't know existed." She’s a young woman whose bio still talks about what she studied in college, but her new album, The Only Way Out Is In, with her band, Stephanie Rooker and the Search Engine, is a master’s in musical selection and maturity. You can see Stephanie Rooker and The Search Engine at the famous Blue Note nightclub in Manhattan on Friday, Dec. 17, 2010. Stephanie Rooker • • • •
I’ve never liked dog-earing pages – you know, when you’re reading a book and you fold back the corner of a page to mark your place, or because there was something interesting on the page to which you’d like to return? Well, I’ve never dog-eared a book as much as I did with Timmy’s in the Well, the new autobiography by Jon Provost, former child star of the “Lassie” television show. This book is not the usual child star recitation of the ills of fame. Okay, it’s a little of that. But Jon Provost’s life is riveting – and so is the telling of his story, assisted as he was by his wife, Laurie Jacobson. I couldn’t wait to have Jon and Laurie on to talk about this fascinating read. Jon Provost • • • Laurie Jacobson Provost • •
Maybe the name Brittany Perry-Russell is not instantly recognizable to you. It probably wouldn’t be, not unless you’re in the music business and you go by the name of Rhianna. Or Lil Wayne. Or Usher. Or Ciara. Or Michael Jackson. She was a dancer for what became the singer’s final production, captured forever in the DVD This Is It. And “Glee” TV fans might recognize her as a “Cheerio” from one of her four recent appearances as a cheerleader on the Fox show. BRITTANY PERRY-RUSSELL audio excerpt: "I love working on 'Glee.' By far it's been one of my favorite TV shows to work on. And I love Jane Lynch. I'm a big fan." Brittany is one of the industry’s most talented and sought-after dancers, someone who makes a dramatic impression in every music video in which she appears. The problem with those is that they’re highly visible but largely uncredited roles. Likewise, the national Listerine commercial Brittany made. You’ve probably seen that spot on TV, felt yourself smiling back at the face—grinning at you and returned to your regularly scheduled program. Well, that face is about to get an indelible name: Brittany Perry-Russell. She just finished shooting her biggest movie role to date as one of the leads in the movie Honey 2, a Universal Studios release scheduled for February 2011. You might have head of the original 2003 film called Honey: it starred another young actress on her way up: Jessica Alba. Brittany Perry-Russell • • • • •
George Gray is having way too much fun on his HGTV show, “What’s With That House?” The show, now in its second season, is kind of a goof on the proliferation of shelter TV shows, where viewers are taken into fabulous homes and mansions and led around by announcers in hushed, respectful tones. There’s no respect in Gray’s tone -- and rightfully so. If you haven’t seen the show, I absolutely insist you pause this interview and set your DVR, Tivo, or VCR to record the show. It’s on HGTV every Wednesday at 11:30 PM Eastern or Pacific. You won’t be sorry. (You could also sample it by watching a clip...) Back now? Okay. If Gray seems familiar, it means you probably saw him in ESPN’s sports fantasy reality series “I’d Do Anything” or the syndicated version of “The Weakest Link.” George Gray • • • •
It’s not just this generation. Politics has always been dirty, nasty, bare-knuckle affairs. In the American two-party system, one side always blames the other for whatever ails the country. The new twist in the 21st Century is the emergence of political Web sites and political blogs in particular. Anyone with a point of view can get a free blog from blogger.com or wordpress.com and be online telling the world what they think about anything, anywhere in about ten minutes or less. Some of these new voices are surprisingly thoughtful, literate, and inspiring. Some are just idiots with cyber-megaphones. Some are on the right, some are on the left, but there is no doubt that the best of them and some who are just louder than the others will wield unprecedented influence going into the 2008 Presidential primaries and election cycle. One of the rising stars of the genre is John Amato, agent provocateur of the best-named blog of the bunch, . CrooksandLiars.com • • •
I want a damn jetpack. Is that so hard to understand? There was actually a guy on the “ Show” recently who had one and used it to fly around Hollywood High’s football field in Los Angeles. But he was on the show because it was unusual. I think everyone who wants a jetpack and has the balls to use one, should have one. Maybe it’s a guy thing – I also want to see a man walk on Mars in my lifetime. (Not me, mind you, but some guy.) It’s not like I’m asking for some silly flying car, like in the movies. No, that would be silly. And while we’re at it, I want to drive a really cool car that doesn’t look like every fourth car on the road. Is that too much to ask? Mac Montandon knows exactly what I’m after. He wrote the book, Jetpack Dreams: One Man Up and Down (but Mostly Down) Search for the Greatest Invention That Never Was. Let’s see how crazy I really am. Mac Montandon • • • •
It’s a shame Lorne Michaels didn’t sign up Danny Pudi for “Saturday Night Live” before the producers of the NBC sitcom “Community” cast him as “Abed.” He is so flexible in body, mind and voice as to suggest a combination of Jim Carrey, the late Phil Hartman and a thoroughly modern Rich Little. Pudi looks so unassuming that no matter how often you see him do his stuff on “Community,” you can’t help but do a double-take, rewind and watch him do it again. And again. DANNY PUDI podcast excerpt: "It's really amazing to watch Chevy Chase. To learn from him and watch him... His hands are fun. And the fact I have a Christmas card with Chevy Chase on my refrigerator is wild enough, but the other day he told me my Christmas card is on his fridge? I don't think it gets any stranger that knowing my face is on Chevy Chase's fridge right now. It's pretty insane." In moments you'll hear a clip from a recent episode, in which co-star Chevy Chase goads him into practicing his manly technique with fellow community college student Annie, played by Alison Brie. Here’s a tip: Brie also plays “Trudy,” a character on AMC’s “Mad Men.” Maybe Woody Allen could remake the film Zelig with Pudi as the lead. Besides “Community,” Pudi also had a lead role in the 2009 film Road Trip: Beer Pong and you might also recognize him for a certain T-mobile commercial. Pudi is here to promote his upcoming gig as host of “ACME Saturday Night” this Saturday, April 10. You can watch the online comedy TV show streaming live online @ . (Note from Mr. Media: I discovered after the interview that I pronounced Danny's last name wrong throughout the interview. He was too kind to correct me, but I do apologize. It was an honest mistake!) Danny Pudi • •
Barbara Corcoran has spunk. I, unlike Lou Grant, like spunk. Okay, is that TV reference too old for you? Let’s try one that’s more recent: Barbara Corcoran, a former Manhattan real estate magnate who once beat Donald Trump at his own game, is one of the stars of ABC’s business reality show, “Shark Tank,” airing Fridays this spring at 8 p.m. She’s the girl in the band, but this chick shakes a lot more than a tambourine. In any given episode, sweet, flirty Barbara is as prepared to elbow out a competitor on Shark Tank as any of the boys. BARBARA CORCORAN podcast excerpt: "There is nothing reckless about Mark Cuban. He's very calculating. He's a phenomenal negotiator. And more than anything else, he's a great strategist. I learned that within 20 minutes of being on the panel with him. I frankly hated him within a half hour of meeting him. But he's probably the best advocate of any entrepreneur there." Everyone on the show has a unique entrepreneurial story to tell and Barbara Corcoran is no different. Down on her luck, she got a boyfriend to give her $1,000 to launch a real estate business. And when she broke up with him later, well, I’ll let her tell the rest of the story. Or you could read it in Shark Tales, an update of her bestselling memoir, If You Don’t Have Big Breasts, Put Ribbons on Your Pigtails. This is the Shark Tank star’s second appearance on Mr. Media, putting her even with my other favorite shark, FUBU apparel founder Daymond John. Barbara Corcoran • • • • • • LISTEN! (2010) LISTEN! (2009) LISTEN! (2010)
Shark Tank's Barbara Corcoran has a sense of humor. She must: an incredibly successful real estate mogul, she’s the author of three books, including my favorite title, If You Don’t Have Big Breasts, Put Ribbons on Your Pigtails. Yikes! On her ABC show, which airs its second season finale this Friday, February 5 at 9 p.m., Barbara is on a panel of experts assessing potential business investments. There are some great ideas; and there are some horrible ideas. BARBARA CORCORAN podcast excerpt: "Think of the opportunity and the sheer entertainment value of 'Shark Tank'! We're working 11-hour days, listening to pitch after pitch and we're never bored. It is so fascinating! And then you go home with new business partners. Who would say no to something like that?" Barbara is the only woman on the panel and presents some of the best “Are you out of your mind?” facial expressions to the deer-in-the-headlights, wannabee capitalists. But she’s also invested in a few good ideas along the way. Barbara Corcoran • • • • • • LISTEN! (2009) LISTEN! (2010)
Oscar Isaac, my guest today, co-stars with Paddy Considine in a riveting new HBO film, . Based upon a short story by Ken Kalfus, PU-239 tells the story of a devoted father and husband -- Paddy Considine -- in post-Soviet Russia who labors in a deteriorating nuclear plant. After being exposed to a deadly dose of radiation while trying to avert a plant disaster, he is made a scapegoat and suspended without pay. With just days to live and desperate to provide for his wife and young son, he impulsively steals a small amount of Pu-239 -- weapons grade plutonium -- and heads to Moscow to attempt a quick sale. In Moscow, Considine’s character gets caught up with an inept, wannabe gangster -- played by Isaac -- to help him sell the dangerous goods on the black market. Oscar Isaac • •
Actress Brittany Snow is part of a small but growing contingent of Tampa Bay area natives making their mark on network TV. With the debut of “Harry’s Law” on NBC – in which she co-stars with Kathy Bates and Nate Corddry — Snow will rejoin the primetime spotlight alongside St. Petersburg’s Monica Raymund – star of “Lie To Me” – and Tampa’s, Maulik Pancholy of “30 Rock.” (Angela Bassett is from St. Petersburg and Channing Tatum is a fellow alumnus of Brittany’s from Tampa’s Gaither High School, by the way.) BRITTANY SNOW podcast excerpt: "Zac Efron dropped me a couple times when we were doing our dances for Hairspray. He didn't have that good strength back then." I think my favorite Brittany Snow moment to date was in the movie Hairspray, in which she played Michelle Pfeiffer’s spoiled daughter Amber. The movie was my son’s Grease and we’ve seen it dozens of times. Brittany, who has been acting since she was a child, was a star of “American Dreams” and had a recurring role on “Nip/Tuck.” On the big screen, you’ve also seen her in John Tucker Must Die, The Pacifier, Prom Night and last year’s Janie Jones. In “Harry’s Law,” which airs Mondays at 10 p.m. on NBC, Brittany is once again playing alongside a major talent: Academy Award winner Kathy Bates, who plays the title character, Harry. Brittany is her assistant and shoe salesman – I’ll let her explain that part. Brittany Snow • • • •
We all know where we were when the attacks of 9-11 took place. I was here at my desk, working on a new book, The Today Show playing in the background. I stopped what I was doing for days. The President of the United States, of course, was listening to elementary school students about an hour south of me read a book about a goat, in Sarasota, Florida. An aide whispered the news in his ear, a quizzical expression came over his face, and he returned to finish learning about the goat. It seemed like we would never laugh again. Except about that goat story. WTF? JEFF KEANE audio excerpt: "I didn't want Family Circus to be heavy-handed. I wanted to be appropriate for the characters. The characters in Family Circus are young; it's the ten-year anniversary of 9/11--none of them would have even been born yet (when the tragedy occurred)." It fell to the professional funny men and women among us to reestablish the nation’s funnybone. Late night talk show host David Letterman is often credited with deciding it was time to go back to work and tell jokes. But truly, morning radio’s Howard Stern worked through the event calming nerves in New York City and returning to work on September 12th and every day after that. Order 'The Family Circus' by Bil Keane, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! And thanks to their habit of working weeks ahead, America’s daily cartoonists never missed a beat. Their gags still appeared in most newspapers and eventually they began peppering their work with respectful references to the tragedy at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Now, on the 10th anniversary of the event universally recalled as 9-11, nearly 100 comic strip creators are joining forces this Sunday to pay tribute to a day that has become as painful in modern American history as Pearl Harbor Day was for the World War II generation. “Cartoonists Remember 9/11” will bring together cartoonists and the many syndicates that distribute their work this Sunday, September 11, 2011, for a common purpose. Joining me today to preview the cartoonists’ salute is Jeff Keane. Jeff is now in charge of creating “Family Circus,” the cartoon his father Bil started in 1960. He still seeks out his fathers’ invaluable guidance and advice that is a key to keeping the feature a favorite for readers of all ages. And he has been deeply involved in the Cartoonist Remember 9/11 event – and keeping "Pearls Before Swine” cartoonist Stephan Pastis in line. Cartoonists Remember 9/11 Family Circus •
The story you’re about to hear is true, even if it sounds implausible even for fiction. It’s about a little girl named Danielle, described in Lane DeGregory’s story in the St. Petersburg Times that won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing. I remember the day that Lane’s story first appeared in the paper. My wife, who is an editor in the Times newsfeatures department, came home that night talking about the crazy traffic at the newspaper’s website, all drawn to the incredible tale of the feral child. Within days, there were 1,284 comments posted to the paper’s website about just this story. I can tell you that Lane DeGregory is one of the most admired reporters at the St. Petersburg Times, a newspaper that has won its shared of Pulitzers over the last quarter century. But she is also one of the best-liked journalists at the paper. Lane DeGregory • • •
Today's Guest: Jim McBride, founder, Mr. Skin adult website, MrSkin.com Watch this exclusive Mr. Media interview with Jim McBride, a.k.a., Mr. Skin, by clicking on the video player above! Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience full of lying dogs who say they only subscribe to MrSkin.com for the articles… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Adele beat out Beyonce at the Grammys. Dinesh D’Souza’s Hillary’s America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party overtook Zack Snyder’s Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice for Worst Film at the Razzies. And, in a photo finish, Moonlight outshone La-La Land at the Oscars. Mr. SKIN podcast excerpt: "I have awards for 'Best Breasts,' 'Best Butt, 'Best Lesbian Scene--same awards every year, different winners. But what's most fun for me is curating through tons of television and movies for these crazy, wild nude scenes that most people don't even know happened; 'Most Mufftastic Merkin' is a great example." But what America really wants to know: Who won “Best Full Frontal” in Mr. Skin’s 18th Annual Anatomy Awards? What was the year’s “Most Shocking Nudity” – and does anyone really need to see it again? What were this year’s special merit categories? And what does the All-American breakfast cereal Fruit Loops have to do with any of this? "Best Nude with Fruit Loops" award goes to Kether Donohue of "You're The Worst" Joining me today for his sixth appearance on Mr. Media – the most times any single guest has appeared in our 11 years of podcasting – is my second favorite Mr. – Mr. Skin. Mr. SKIN podcast excerpt: "A lot of what you see in our Anatomy Awards are a direct result of the incredible quality of what's being produced--the TVs, the monitors, the equipment. Everything we have in the office today we didn't have access to five years ago." Key interview moments: • 2:30 Jim McBride, a.k.a., Mr. Skin, explains the best part of curating his annual Anatomy Awards; • 30:20 A discussion of the impact of HD TV on expanding Mr. Skin's nude offerings; • 35:40 Mr. Skin talks about the impact of what he does on his kids -- and what happens when their friends hear him on The Howard Stern Show. Mr. SKIN Website • Facebook • Twitter • YouTube • PornHub • Wikipedia Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above! The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!
Pop quiz: name the man who’s been a writer and/or producer for the following TV shows: “The Jackie Thomas Show,” “House of Buggin’,” “Dream On,” “Pinky and the Brain,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Angel,” “Lost,” “24.” Give up? It’s David Fury, and he joins us today via phone from Hollywood. David Fury • • • • •
Today--March 2--is singer Jon Bon Jovi's birthday. I've been intent on publishing my January 19, 1984, phone interview with him for a long, long time, but I just cannot locate the original print version of the story to accompany it, so today I am throwing up my hands and we'll just go with the audio. At the time of this interview, Bon Jovi was a hard-working, fast-rising Jersey Shore band that made itself media accessible and media friendly. The guys frequently played baseball against local radio station DJs as they toured the country, generating good feelings and lots of extra spins of their debut record. JON BON JOVI podcast excerpt: "My mom is a florist; my dad is a hairdresser. They always said, 'Do whatever makes you happy.' They knew I wanted this; there was a lot of of support." I remember being struck by how nice Jon was in this interview and how surprised I was to discover his hometown was Sayreville, NJ. I grew up a short drive away in North Brunswick. He asked if I know any Bongiovis in North Brunswick--particularly Joe and Nanette. He also mentioned time spent at the then Boy Scouts of America Museum in my hometown. One other note about this interview: for years I carried around boxes and boxes of rock star interviews I conducted in the mid-1980s. Many, recorded on high-end brand name cassette tape, failed to hold up to the ravages of time and Florida weather. The ones recorded on cheap tape--Hello, Realistic!--seemed to do better. No one knew then there would one day be an Internet were all such things would have a second life. JON BON JOVI podcast excerpt: "Ron Diaz at (Tampa Bay radio station) YNF was the biggest supporter before I ever had a record deal." Anyway, two friends inspired me to recover this and dozens of other lost interviews. First was my friend , himself a musician. Second--particularly for this Jon Bon Jovi interview--was my neighbor, Lori Crotts. One day, I was visiting with Lori about some school matter and I saw some Bon Jovi memorabilia on her desk, including a photo of her and Jon, I believe. Turns out, she became a late fan of the band and had been catching up, attending as many of their concerts as possible, meeting the boys in the band backstage several times. This happily married, mother of three, and beloved pillar of the community, worked hard and, as her reward, treated herself to Bon Jovi concerts whenever possible. I told Lori about this interview and offered to find it for her. I took too long, as it turned out. Unfortunately, soon thereafter, Lori was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and never got to hear this restored conversation. She died on January 31, 2013. That's why, I'm dedicating this to a fine woman and the biggest Bon Jovi fan I've ever known. Jon Bon Jovi • • Bon Jovi • • • •
He’s the original TV tough guy. He’s a formidable ladies man and unstoppable flirt. And now in his late 70s – 70s! – Robert Conrad still doesn’t know the meaning of slow down and smell the flowers. ROBERT CONRAD audio excerpt: "I enjoy everybody's company. I haven't had anybody on the radio show who's surprised me. I've been in the business 55 years!" He’s in his third year as a weekend host on the CRN Digital Talk network – a podcaster, for cryin’ out loud! And you know what? He’s damned entertaining. There may be snow on the roof, but there is still fire in the heart. Conrad, who became a household name when he starred in Hawaiian Eye and Wild Wild West, is at home in front of a microphone, sounding like a guy who has been doing radio all of his life. I first heard about Conrad’s now vocation when he was interviewed on Stitcher’s “Meet The Talkers” with Matty Staudt. He was hysterically funny and blunt, gamely answering any and all questions. Now it’s my turn. Robert Conrad • •
My best friend Bruce Kessler and I would be glued to ABC’s “Wide World of Sports” during the 1970s when it aired its ‘Superstars” competitions, pitting athletes and celebrities against one another in sports which no one had a natural advantage or, usually, much experience. Now ABC has once more brought back that old chestnut in a new primetime seasons of “The Superstars,” airs on Tuesday through July at 8 p.m. on ABC. This time around, we get male/female, celebrity/athlete teams including Terrell Owens and Joanna Krupa, Robert Horry and Estella Warren, Lisa Leslie and Dan Cortese, Brandi Chastain and Julio Iglesias Jr. and others. Joining me today are two superstars who are not teamed together, Baywatch and Melrose Place star David Charvet and actress and former Miss USA Ali Landry. Ali Landry • • • • David Charvet • • • •
This is the telephone recording of my May 1983 interview with Johnny Van Zant, who was then leader of his own Johnny Van Zant Band and today has stepped in to be the frontman of Lynyrd Skynyrd, the classic rock band created by his late brother Ronnie Van Zant. (Brother Donnie Van Zant is best known for his band, .348 Special.) Johnny Van Zant • Lynyrd Skynyrd • • • • • • • •
My guest today is Bob Eckstein, author of The History of the Snowman and a humor columnist and cartoonist. But first, I’d like to set the tone for this interview by reading from a poem that Bob found on a needlepoint throw pillow sold at a garage sale: I made a snowman as perfect as can be, I thought I’d keep it as a friend, and let it sleep with me. I made it some pajamas, And a pillow for its head. Then last night he ran away, But first he wet the bed. Bob Eckstein • • •
I knew there was something missing in my life since it became Facebook-, Twitter-, Orkut- Bebo- and instant messaging-centric, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on what. Turns out, it’s people! You know, real life, high-fiving, handshaking, backslapping, refrigerator-raiding friends, neighbors and family. Jeanne Martinet, the author of The Art of Mingling, just published a new book, Life Is Friends. I suspect it will become one of those gems that is found on everyone’s bookshelf—or e-book reader—in the future. It’s a lively read and full of great anecdote advice. Jeanne Martinet • • •
This is gonna take a minute. It was the last day of our first family vacation in two years and the three of us were unwinding in the enormous Barnes & Noble bookstore in Burlington, Vermont. My 13-year-old son Charlie found two young adult novels he wanted to buy, both of which his friends had already read and enjoyed. The first was The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, which looked like it was cast in the mode of the Harry Potter books, a series that Charlie has read over and over and over. The second was a dark and somewhat frightening looking book titled Wake by Lisa McMann. It’s subtitle: “Your dreams are not your own.” I was dubious; my kid finds the sight of blood unsettling and isn’t a fan of violence or gore. But it was technically age-appropriate and it meant reading something other than texts on his phone, so okay. LISA McMANN audio excerpt: "When I finished writing Wake, I almost immediately started writing Fade. I know that wasn't necessarily smart. But I felt like the story wasn't finished, so I wanted to write it for me. Then I thought, 'There could be more.'" He loved both books and consumed them in the next two days. Back home, a few days later, he came over to my desk, holding Wake and asked, “What’s your agent’s name?” “Michael Bourret,” I said. With a triumphant look in his eye, he pushed Wake in front of me, open to the Acknowledgements page. I read it and smiled: “Warmest gratitude to my fantastic agent, Michael Bourret, who believed in Janie and me…” Small world. This week, Gone, the third and final book in the Wake trilogy, completing the adventures of teenage dream catcher Janie Hannagan, hits the shelves of bookstores everywhere. It’s quite a wild ride. Lisa McMann • • • • •
Amin Matalqa made a movie after being challenged by David Pritchard, an executive producer for “The Simpsons” and “King of the Hill.” There’s much more to the story than that, of course, but let me just add a few choice hints. Pritchard told the Jordanian writer and director to make it a comedy, something in which Charlie Chaplin would have wanted to star. And you know what? That’s exactly the film that Captain Abu Raed is. And watch for it in your city; Captain Abu Raed will be in limited, but expanding release across the United States this summer. Amin Matalqa • • • •
Donal Logue joins the cast of the NBC drama series “Life” this fall. He plays the character of Capt. Kevin Tidwell. My guess is that many of you know Donal than may know “Life.” He starred in a traditional sitcom on Fox, “Grounded For Life” and a non-traditional sitcom, “The Knights of Prosperity,” on ABC. My guess is that NBC is counting on Donal to add a new dimension of familiarity to “Life,” which built a rabid, if small, fan base in its first season and hopes to improve upon it this year. It airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. Donal Logue • •
Guys, see if you know where I’m going with this. There’s a point in the male maturation process where you think “Moms are old. Who would be attracted to somebody’s Mom?” One day, you become a dad and suddenly there is nothing hotter than somebody else’s Mom. PATRICIA RICHARDSON podcast excerpt: "And I look exactly the same! I'm not aging at all!" Which brings us to Jill Taylor, the long suffering, beleaguered TV wife of Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor on ABC’s long-running sitcom, “Home Improvement.” How could you not find her sexy? She was funny, flirtatious, handled any crap thrown at her and was forever playing hard to get. Anyway, Patricia Richardson, who played Jill—and earned four Emmy nominations for her work—joins us today to talk about her the latest assignment, “The Jensen Project,” airing tonight on NBC at 8 p.m. Patricia Richardson • • • •
2010: You know you’re in for a fun read when the author opens his book by quoting both Nolan Bushnell—the creator of the “Pong” videogame and “Chuck E. Cheese” Pizza restaurants—and Jay-Z. And Daymond John does not disappoint after that. DAYMOND JOHN podcast excerpt: "I think that the Tiger Woods brand was built on one thing—the best golf game in the world. If we look at two other brands that faced a lot of criticism—Muhammad Ali, at a turbulent time in our country, and Kobe Bryant, not only accused of infidelity but accused of a crime at the same time—when they came back and became the brands that they always were, the best boxer in the world and the best basketball player in the world, their endorsements and legacies topped where they were at the time of crisis. If Tiger stays true to what he does, playing the great game of golf, he's going to be back." The founder of FUBU The Collection and host of ABC’s “Shark Tank” writes like he talks—straight-forward, down-to-earth, no bull. But don’t take my word for it—pick up his new book, The Brand Within: The Power of Branding from Birth to the Boardroom, and see for yourself. This is John’s second book—and his second time on Mr. Media Radio. Daymond John • •
2009: If you don't like the genre of reality business competition on TV, blame Mark Burnett, the creator of Survivor and The Apprentice. If you like these shows, give some credit to Donald Trump, who brought the force—and cult—of his personality to The Apprentice and made America care about the craft and underhanded nature of some business leaders. And don't forget the late Billy Mays, and his partner Sully Sullivan, who starred in Pitchmen. But now it is Daymond John's turn. He's one of the hugely successful business leaders putting chum in ABC's Shark Tank, which airs its season finale on Tuesday, October 20 at 8 p.m. DAYMOND JOHN podcast excerpt: "It's win Daymond John's money and time. I'm not going to just throw money at the deal. I'm going to help the entrepreneur... I've made about five deals (on Shark Tank). So far, on the line, (I've invested) up to $700,000." Daymond John made his fortune as the entrepreneur who founded the FUBU apparel label. If you haven't worn his stylin' clothes, you either know someone who does or you've them on someone, somewhere. I know what FUBAR stands for, but what does FUBU mean? I'm going to have to ask. John is also the author of a book, . Daymond John • •
Aziz Ansari, who starred in both NBC’s “Parks & Recreation” and ABC’s “Scrubs” was just in Montreal for the annual Just For Laughs Comedy and Film Festival. He went there to promote his new movie, Funny People, starring Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen and he also performed there as a stand-up. But was he Aziz—or Randy, his character from “Funny People”? Here’s a clip of Randy—and this where, if you have delicate ears, I recommend you switch over to Dr. Blogstein or Olivia Wilder. Because from this point on, this is adults-only radio. Are they gone? Great. If you’d like to hear more of Randy, go to his website, LaughYourDickOff.com. And this fall he’ll be back opposite Amy Poehler in the second season of the NBC sitcom “Parks and Recreation.” Aziz Ansari • • • • • • •
Dear listener, this interview is so not about you. I’ve got the next ten minutes to talk – flirt – with Jeri Ryan. Put yourself in my shoes – don’t – who would you be thinking about? Me or you? – Me. – Jeri Ryan was sent to us from the stars – okay the Borg – 15 years ago. But that first sight of the former Miss Illinois in a skintight suit is as fresh today as it was the moment she first entered the bridge of "Star Trek Voyager." As George “Sulu” Takei might say, “Oh, my.” JERI RYAN audio excerpt: "It's kind of cool (being Star Trek's Seven of Nine). But being in Mortal Kombat is infinitely more cool. It ups my cred with my teenage son's friends about ten-fold." This Northwestern grad’s presence gave a franchise that was teetering many more years on the outer edges of the universe – well, somewhere. I never quite grasped that part. And ever since then, TV producers everywhere have turned to her for a little Jeri Ryan magic. Voyager’s engines were barely cold before she joined “Boston Public” for three seasons. She co-starred opposite James Woods on “Shark” and even did a couple episodes of “Two and a Half Men” with Charlie Sheen Winning! – indeed. Now this stunning woman and skilled actress is co-starring as Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kate Murphy opposite Dana Delany on the new ABC series “Body of Proof,” which airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. She’s also signed on to reprise her role as Lieutenant Sonya Blade short film Mortal Kombat: Rebirth to appear in the just released digital new media series Mortal Kombat-- an anthology of multiple live action shorts available online. Jeri Ryan • • • • • • Star Trek Voyager • •
First clear giveaway that I’m a white guy: I didn’t even know there was a National Museum of African American History and Culture in the works until the year it opened—2016. I thought it was and is a great idea, long overdue, but I honestly had never heard a word about it. Once I did, however, I was like a lot of people who thought, “What took us so damn long to get around to it?” And now that I’ve read Judge Robert L. Wilkins’ new book, Long Road to Hard Truth: The 100-Year Mission to Create the National Museum of African American History and Culture, I have a pretty good idea why it took so long and why a lot of well-intended folks like me knew nothing about it before it was literally right in front of our noses. JUDGE ROBERT L. WILKINS podcast excerpt: "I grew up feeling that I was a little bit less- than my white counterparts. Learning about African American history over the years was, for me, a way to affirm my sense of self and to help improve my self-esteem. But also to appreciate the opportunities that I had, that people had literally fought, bled and died for to get me a good education and have equal opportunities to compete for the best jobs." Judge Wilkins compresses a century of Black frustration into about 150 politically charged pages of history. I’m curious to find out how he can even discuss it without screaming, but that’s why he’s a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. A Harvard Law grad doesn’t rise to this level without learning how to stay composed and restrained, even in the face of ridiculous obstruction and political nonsense. Judge Wilkins, by the way, served as chairman of the site and building committee of the Presidential Commission that Congress finally established to plan the museum. Incidentally, we will not be discussing current political issues, in case you were wondering. JUDGE ROBERT L. WILKINS podcast excerpt: "The sense that I have is that President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney felt it was the right thing to do. This had been in the works for decades. They believed this was something that could help the country learn from its mistakes in history. And that it could help unify the country." Key interview moments: • 7:35 Federal judge Robert L. Wilkins talks about the personal reasons that he devote nearly two decades of his life to carry the creation of the National Museum of African American History and Culture to the finish line after starts and stops for the previous 80 years; • 23:45 Wilkins talks about the Four Musketeers of Congress that formed an unlikely coalition to push museum funding through the House and Senate; • 29:56 Two of the most surprising champions of the National Museum of African American History and Culture were President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. No kidding. Judge Robert L. Wilkins • • • • • • • National Museum of African American History and Culture • • • • • • • Smithsonian Magazine • • • •
(2007) Blender. Newsweek. TV Guide. Forbes. Playboy. Mac World. Entertainment Weekly. Wizard. Business 2.0. Esquire. These are the magazines I read as soon as they arrive in the mail each week or each month. They are frothy, entertaining reads, and I look forward to each new issue. And then there’s magazine. I can’t remember when or why we started subscribing to Smithsonian. It costs more than most of the others, and it demands more of my time and attention than they do. But for several years now, whenever I give it my time, it pays me back several times over in richly detailed stories about worlds and topics I never dreamed I’d be interested in, let alone become fascinated with. My wife and son have followed me into the pages of Smithsonian, and we probably talk about stories we’ve read there more often than anything else in the house. That’s why I jumped at the chance to interview Carey Winfrey, editor of Smithsonian magazine. A lieutenant in the U. S. Marine Corps in the 1960s, Winfrey has since collected a series of damned impressive journalism credentials, including writing for Time magazine, winning an Emmy Award at PBS in 1974, reporting for The New York Times, and landing a job as editor-in-chief of Cuisine. He founded Memories magazine and spent six years as editor-in-chief of American Health. Before landing at Smithsonian in 2001, he spent several years as an assistant managing editor at People magazine. Order your own subscription today by clicking the magazine cover above Smithsonian Magazine • • • • Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!
It’s easy to point out that George Kennedy, in a career spanning five decades, worked with some of the greatest names in Hollywood history. Paul Newman. Cary Grant. Kirk Douglas. Frank Sinatra. Leslie Nielsen. Bettie Davis. Clint Eastwood. John Wayne. Maggie Smith. Peter Ustinov. Carol Burnett. David Niven. That’s pretty cool, of course, but having just finished his new book, Trust Me: A Memoir, I realize how lucky they were to have worked with him. GEORGE KENNEDY audio excerpt: "Ellen Barkin (who plays Kennedy's daughter in the film, 'Another Happy Day') is one of the wonders in life. She's like Rocky Graziano in skirts." Now in his mid-80s, Kennedy has illustrated so many iconic roles – Joe Patroni in the Airport movies, Captain Ed Hocken in The Naked Gun movies, Bumper Morgan in “The Blue Knight” TV series– and, of course, he won Best Actor in a Supporting Role for playing “Dragline” in Cool Hand Luke in 1967 – so it’s going to be as hard for me to know where to start asking questions as it was for him to organize all of his stories in the book. If you love a good Hollywood story, you’ll love reading Kennedy’s stories of shooting The Eiger Sanction with Eastwood or suffering the cheapness and meanness of John Derek on Bolero. He even explains how he came to appear as Ellen Barkin's father in Another Happy Day, one this year's hottest film festival indie releases. Trust me: this is going to be a real treat. George Kennedy •
Playmate Lana Tailor is a beautiful young woman who, if the HDNet commercials are to be believed, rarely sits still. Lucky us. As one of the co-hosts of the cable TV series Get Out! Canada, the former Playboy playmate seemingly goes anywhere and does anything. LANA TAILOR podcast excerpt: "You can stick me anywhere with those girls and we'd have a blast!" Her show is a little like “Wild On,” which launched Brooke Burke into public eye – as in ay-yi-yi – several years ago. Get Out! Canada airs every Thursday @ 8 p.m. on HDNet. Lana Tailor • • •
Milo Ventimiglia is not your average save-the-world superhero, although he does play one, Peter Petrelli, on NBC’s hit series “Heroes.” In real life, he’s an ambitious actor and producer whose company, Divide Pictures, just completed a series of five animated holiday shorts available exclusively on the American Eagle Outfitters website. Milo narrated the first episode, “Home for the Holidays”; others feature the voices of Kristen Bell, Lil Jon, Adrianne Palicki, and Pete Wentz, the Fall Out Boy. Milo Ventimiglia •
I would have written this introduction hours ago and had plenty of time to polish it, except – as usual – my wife and daughter insisted I drop everything and watch the latest episode of the Syfy original series “Eureka.” Not that it’s ever a tough sell with me – “Eureka” is, after all one of the smartest and most entertaining shows on TV. I know this cable sweet spot doesn’t attract the word of mouth of shows on the networks or on HBO, but trust me, it’s worth your time. On previous shows, I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with several stars of “Eureka,” including Colin Ferguson, Niall Matter and Neil Grayston. But today us fans of the show get an extra dimension: a behind-the-scenes peek with writer and executive story editor Eric Wallace. ERIC WALLACE podcast excerpt: "We made a bold choice to revamp things. We like what we're doing, we feel strongly about it -- let's stick with it. This is the real universe. We're staying here and not going back. We thought the best way to do it was just not to comment. Syfy said, 'Go for it and don't ever go back.'" Wallace joined the show in season one as an assistant before joining the writing stuff full time. Now he’s one of the most visible faces of the show’s writing room and his work is featured on the August 8 episode. And when he’s not writing for “Eureka,” Wallace has a second gig as a comic book writer. He’s behind “Mister Terrific,” one of the titles DC Comics is launching as a first issue this fall (Sept. 14). Eric Wallace • • •
(2007) A.J. Jacobs must have the best magazine job in America. As editor-at-large for here are a few examples of recent stories appearing under his byline: • “My Outsourced Life,” detailing his effort to send his writing assignments to India, • “Googling A.J. Jacobs’s Brain,” about his proposed effort to catalogue his thoughts, dreams, and desires • “The Sexiest Woman Alive 2005” and “2006,” in which he spent five months teasing readers as to the identities of Jessica Biel and Scarlett Johansson. And, yes, he was required by law to spend time with each of them, passing off flirtation as research. And then there was his equally painful interview with Eva Longoria of “Desperate Housewives” in which he described each of her body parts in languorous detail. Oh, I could go on and on about the women in his professional life. They also include Mary Louise Parker and Rosario Dawson. But then we’d never get to the reason for this interview, which is to celebrate his hysterical, yet thought-provoking new book, The Year of Living Biblically. A.J. JACOBS podcast excerpt: "I was walking around Manhattan in a white robe and sandals carrying a staff. I didn’t have sheep with me most of the time."
Eddie McClintock was one of those guys who showed up on a lot of TV shows over the years without finding a permanent place to nest and spread his wings—that is, until SyFy chose him to star opposite Joanne Kelly in its signature series, Warehouse 13. The show debuted last summer to high expectations and it quickly delivered, giving the channel’s new spelling of its name a boost and launching a growing fan base for Warehouse 13’s leads, McClintock and Kelly. Tonight, Warehouse 13 returns at 9 p.m. for the opening salvo of its second season on SyFy. But enough about the show. Let’s talk about Eddie McClintock, professional tweeter or twittererererr… This is a man who appreciates the turn his life has taken and isn’t afraid to blurt it out. EDDIE McCLINTOCK podcast excerpt: "Boundaries have never been my strong suit." To wit: “Just want to say THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who has helped make #WAREHOUSE13 a dream come true for me. now...LET'S KICK SOME ASS!! –Eddie” (8 AM Jul 6th) This is also where we can learn what song Eddie is whistling—yesterday, it was “Killer Queen”—or that the cast and crew saw the season two premiere in a real theater, which made us all envious! Eddie McClintock • • • • EDDIE McCLINTOCK: "I want the show to succeed so badly that I act as my own PR person in that regard. I know I come off as, 'Look at me, look at me.' But I've got two sons at home who I need to take care of. I've kicked around Hollywood long enough; I don't want to go out and look for another job. I love my job. I'm desirous of hanging on to it and hanging on to Warehouse 13. That's why I do what I do. And... I have OCD and it's fun."
I’m a believer in the wonders of SyFy’s new series, “Warehouse 13.” Oh, I won’t lie to you: there were a few moments in the early episodes where my wife, my daughter and I weren’t sure how much longer we’d stick with it. The show took a little time to get its bearings, convincing itself and the rest of us what kind of treasures awaited the patient. But over the course of its last four or five weeks, “Warehouse 13"—the place where America’s greatest secrets are housed, its mysteries answered, its riddles questioned—has captured our loyalty and respect. EDDIE McCLINTOCK podcast excerpt: "Any show needs to find out what it is. Until the actors can get to know who their characters are and who they are to one another, it takes a little while. Take any good show—go back and watch Frasier, Friends, Cheers, Seinfeld—it takes a little while." One of the big reasons for this—according to the women in my house—is the appeal of Eddie McClintock as Pete Latimer, one half of the Warehouse 13 investigative team. McClintock’s character is part Mulder from “The X-Files,” a dash of Captain Jonathan Archer from “Star Trek Enterprise,” and a measure of the lighter, boyish side of George Clooney in the Oceans movie series. If you haven’t stepped into the Warehouse yet, take advantage of Hulu.com and catch up. The first season finale airs tonight, Thursday, September 22 at 9 p.m., and I know it will be a blast. Eddie McClintock • • • •
(2009) They’re “The Whitest Kids U’Know”—and if you don’t know them yet, chances are, you will soon. The Whitest Kids are Trevor Moore, Sam Brown, Zach Cregger, Timmy Williams, and Darren Trumeter. Their third season of “The Whitest Kids U’Know” TV show is now airing on IFC, the Independent Film Channel, Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. And on March 13, the Whitest Kids star in a new movie, Miss March. Joining me today are two of The Whitest Kids U’Know—and the stars of Miss March—Zach Cregger and Trevor Moore. The Whitest Kids U Know • • • • • • • Trevor Moore • • • • Zach Cregger • • •
(2009) Larry “Bones” Dennison has been on the music scene for many years, playing with the likes of Ronnie James Dio and Lita Ford. But tomorrow is a pretty big day for the experienced singer: His band, Country Bones, will be the featured musical guest on Tuesday, April 28 on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” The band’s single "Let It Ride" will also be released on iTunes on Tuesday. A 4-song EP will immediately follow the single. You can also make him your friend on MySpace. Larry Dennison • • •
(2009) Food for thought: Is Pete Hornberger, producer of “The Girlie Show Starring Tracy Jordan” actually the most normal person on the show’s staff? Or do we only get to see actor Scott Adsit in such short bursts as Tina Fey’s straight man on “30 Rock” that we don’t know the real Pete yet? That’s one of the questions I’ll ask my guest this morning. I’m also curious about his guest role on the most recent episode of “Life On Mars,” in which he plays an actor-slash-bartender. Scott Adsit • • •
1983 I remember the day I interviewed the Allen Collins Band. It was May 5, 1983, and it was memorable for many reasons. First, of course, was that I got to speak with Billy Powell, Randall Hall and Leon Wilkeson, former members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, who had reformed, first as the Rossington-Collins Band, then as the Allen Collins Band. Second, the guys in the band were so disarmingly nice. And third, in interviewing the Allen Collins Band, I literally interviewed everyone in the band except their leader, Allen Collins. To this day, I’m not sure where Allen was, but the band’s manager fed me everyone else in the band in the hopes Allen would eventually show up. This was fun, but a little challenging; I was only prepared for Allen. It took a little imagination to think of questions for everyone; amazingly, the conversation went on for 70 minutes before we all acknowledged Allen wasn’t coming and we called it a day. And ultimately my editor decided not to publish a story about the Allen Collins Band without Allen Collins. I was reminded of all this when I heard about the passing of original Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboard player Billy Powell on January 28, 2009. As I understand it, Powell joined Skynyrd first as a roadie. One day, according to legend, singer Ronnie Van Zant heard Powell play “Freebird” on the piano and invited him to join the band as a player. In 1977, Powell was on the chartered plane that crashed and killed Van Zant, as well as Steve Gaines and injured the rest of the band, Powell included. Over the next decade, Powell played in two Skynyrd spinoffs, the Rossington-Collins Band and the Allen Collins Band. And when Lynyrd Skynyrd reunited in 1987, Powell was there. He continued playing with Skynyrd,behind Ronnie Von Zant’s younger brother, Johnny, until Powell’s death. I hope you’ll enjoy this never-before-heard Mr. Media “Lost Tapes” interview with the Allen Collins Band—including the late Billy Powell, recorded on May 5, 1983. Billy Powell Lynyrd Skynyrd • • • • • •
(2009) From what I’ve read, the opening 10 minutes of the NBC drama “Trauma”—and say that five times fast—is the greatest introduction to a TV show ever. It cures cancer, tames global warming and reveals the secrets behind “Lost.” Okay, maybe it doesn’t do the last thing, but still! Seriously, NBC has had great success with emergency medicine shows going back to “Emergency!”—the one with the exclamation point—and, of course, the long-running “ER.” DARIO SCARDAPANE podcast excerpt: "I keep hearing, 'Okay, that's a pretty amazing way to start things. How are you going to keep up with it week after week?' Television isn't the realm of the timid. Setting the bar really, really high for yourself... I embrace it." Dario Scardapane is the creator and executive producer of “Trauma,” which, all; kidding aside, is one of the most talked about dramas of the new TV season. And Scardapane brings an unusual background to this show. Instead of being a Hollywood set rat, he’s a former journalist who has worked at Vogue, Los Angeles Times, Details and US Magazine. Dario Scardapane • • •
(2009) Beyonce Knowles and Ali Larter star in producer Will Packer’s new movie, Obsessed. I don’t know about you, but after learning those two are in it, I don’t really need to hear much more to know I’m going to see it. But if I’m in the minority, let me say that from the trailer, it looks like a Fatal Attraction-type thriller, with Larter—one of the stars of NBC’s “Heroes”—as a Glenn Close-style intruder upon Beyonce’s once quiet marriage. Joining me to talk about the movie is Will Packer, who brings more credibility to this show’s claim that St. Petersburg is the new media capital of the world: this is his hometown. I’m told he even received a key to the city that proves it. Will Packer • • • • • •
If you’re a “Heroes” fan, I’ve got a treat for you today. My guest is Cristine Rose, who stars in the NBC drama as the mysterious, calculating matriarch Angela Petrelli, who, we believe, is willing to sacrifice anything, including her gifted sons, Nathan and Peter, to change the world. Apparently, having sons played by Adrian Pasdar and Milo Ventimiglia, doesn’t have much impact on Angela! Christine, who is a commanding presence on the screen, is a veteran TV actress whose roles have included appearances on “Picket Fences,” “Providence” and “Friends.” She even has an episode of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” to her credit, playing, I believe, a Klingon. More recently, she’s been seen on episodes of “How I Met Your Mother” and “Big Love.” Cristine Rose •
They are two of America’s favorite and most charismatic actors. They are also a man and a woman who have retained their dignity and privacy as we’ve watched them mature and grow on television for the past—dare I say it? – two decades. Maura Tierney appeared in almost 300 episodes of NBC shows, including 100 “NewsRadio”s with the late Phil Hartman and almost 200 “ER”s. And Rob Morrow had similar runs over on CBS: 102 episodes of “Northern Exposure” and 118 episodes of “Numb3rs”. MAURA TIERNEY podcast excerpt: "I did a TV movie with Diana Ross where I played a schizophrenic. Did you ever do that?" ROB MORROW podcast excerpt: "No. I did a thing with Annabella Sciorra... My wife saw Diana Ross shopping at Gelson's the other day. She can't stop talking about it. Diana Ross pushing a cart!" Now they’re together for what I believe is the first time, co-starring on the alphabet network, ABC, in “The Whole Truth.” He’s an over-confident, wisecracking defense attorney named Jimmy Brogan; she’s Kathryn Pearle, an equally confident assistant district attorney. It’s a two-sided legal drama where viewers get both sides—and maybe a little more, hence the title. Rob Morrow • • • •
I have to admit I was a bit skeptical of the detective novel Her Nightly Embrace when I read that the lead character, Ravi Singh, sees visions of Hindu gods wherever he goes. What? Oh, and I subtracted points for the back cover quote and endorsement from Deepak Chopra, of all people. ADI TANTIMEDH podcast excerpt: "Ravi used to be a religious scholar, which means he would be extremely well-read. And he's Hindu. If he's worried about karma, his life, the more deeply he gets into this world, how corrupt and evil it can get, I thought, 'What if he sees gods?' He would start to assume that he's going insane!" Fine man, that Deepak Chopra, but not exactly the guy I look for to offer recommendations of books about the adventures of a private detective. Michael Connolly, yes. Vikram Seth, yes. Deepak Chopra? Eh, not so much. But dammit, Deepak was right when he wrote that “Ravi is a character unlike any that readers have quite encountered before.” Her Nightly Embrace is a series of wack-a-doodle adventures introducing Ravi and the crew of screwups at the Golden Sentinels agency in London. Ravi, like the best PIs in 20th century detective literature, gets plenty of tail, by the way, but always at a steep price. And his family is a hoot and a half. Still not sure about the Hindu Gods, however, unless they are supposed to be the book’s version of a Greek chorus, offering commentary from the margins. I think the stories would soar just as high without them. ADI TANTIMEDH podcast excerpt: "I wondered if we could get a quote from Alan Moore since he was my writing teacher and I still talk with him weekly. But Deepak Chopra? I did some work on a video game that had Deepak Chopra's name on it, but I never met him. I'm surprised and perplexed (by his endorsement of 'Her Nightly Embrace')." Key interview moments: • 3:15 Novelist Adi Tantimedh can't explain why Deepak Chopra endorsed his first 'Ravi PI' novel, 'Her Nightly Embrace,' but he didn't turn him away, either; • 17:30 Tantimedh's anti-hero, Ravi, has issues every where in his life, including dealing with the local Asian housewife gangster who is shaking down his mother; • 31:15 An explanation--that makes sense--for why Ravi PH sees Hindu gods wherever he goes. Adi Tantimedh • • •
Day of Days is a painful movie to watch. Don’t get me a wrong – it’s a pretty fascinating two-person indie drama about an old man’s last day on earth and the substitute nursing aide who picked the wrong day to be on call. What makes the movie painful is seeing actor Tom Skerritt playing such an elderly, infirm old codger. He’s too damn good at convincing the viewer that he could go at any minute. CLAUDIA ZEVALLOS podcast excerpt: "I lot of people have a different takeaway from the movie. They have regret, they have pain, they have tears of joy. That's the beautiful thing about 'Day of Days.'" You know Skerritt – he’s a beloved American character actor who has starred in MAS*H, Alien, Top Gun, A River Runs Through It, Up in Smoke, and the television series “Picket Fences.” And then there is his co-star, Claudia Zevallos, a Lee Strasberg trained Peruvian actress who struggles to dissuade her one-day charge of his notion that the only thing that lies ahead of him is a walk to a bright light at day’s end. As Marisol, Zevallos has her own world of hurt and loss of faith to battle this day. Zevallos seems both familiar and exotic in the role, but she is a fresh face and a distinct talent, whose previous English language film roles include A Better Place. CLAUDIA ZEVALLOS podcast excerpt: "What I picked up from Tom Skerritt was that he was always on time. And he always had a smile. It didn't matter what we were working on that day. He was very much a professional. A gentleman, for sure. And he was always trying to read the director, Kim Bass." Key interview moments: • 2:30 Actress Claudia Zevallos talks about the intense emotion reaction different people to her two-person drama, Day of Days; • 13:10 Zevallos reveals what she learned about professionalism from veteran actor Tom Skerritt on the set; • 24:05 She kept reminding herself to live in the moment while shooting Day of Days. Claudia Zevallos • •
(I was first introduced to the music of Billy Idol by my then-roommate, photographer Dennis Osborne, in the early 1980s. Dennis would bounce around the house to "Dancing with Myself" and it was hard to resist the song's infectious beat and lyrics. I recently located the audio to my 1984 Music magazine interview with Billy and present it here in all its amateur glory. -- Bob Andelman) With his startling blonde spiked hair and bona-fide punk stance, Billy Idol would be about as acceptable in the Deep South today as the long-haired hero of Charlie Daniels "Uneasy Rider" was a decade ago. But when Idol titled his latest album Rebel Yell, he caused a lot of second looks. What does a British renegade noisemaker know about confederate flags, 'shine or the Mason/Dixon Line? Not much. The 28-year-old native of Bromley, England was considering a holler of a different kind. Coming off his first big hit, “White Wedding,” Idol was harassed by complaints that he was an anti-woman sexist pig. Rebel Yell started as a response to that stinging allegation and wound up with a lyric touching many themes, including the Statue of Liberty. "I wrote the song to address the people who thought I was anti-women. (But) instead, I wrote it about how strong one-to-one relationships should be angled more towards women. After a while I started to think 'she doesn't like slavery, she won't sit and beg' is sort of about America, because when I was tired and lonely, she pulled me in,” Idol explained in a recent telephone interview. BILLY IDOL interview excerpt: "The first punk bands, Generation X, The Damned, The Sex Pistols, had really positive attitudes... We went out of our way to play. People never talk about that. They always talk about the violence of the gigs." "I was really down after Generation X ended," he continued, referring to the early punk band he sang for. "I came over here and people were jumping around the bars like myself. I didn't know (about that), because we'd never been over here. It was fantastic. When people were into my music, it was what I needed to hear. I needed a bit of back-up.” For Idol, finding a successful career in a strange country has been an unexpected pleasure. Generation X, whiIe widely acknowledged as one of the more significant of the second generation English punk bands to spring to renown in the late ‘70s, never cracked the American marketplace. Generation X produced three albums during its four-year existence. Idol was lead singer in a group that also included Gene October and Tony James. "We really wanted it to work, be a group forever, but it didn't end up like that. It was a bit of a blow," Idol admitted. "I wrote all the music in Generation X and Tony James wrote all the words. I write a lot more of the words now. I'm singing my own words a lot more comfortably... I think I put a lot more rhythm into my music which we didn't always have in Generation X. It was a wham! bam! but it wasn't always rhythmy." Three years ago, Idol hooked up with collaborator and friend Steve Stevens, a 25·year·old New York native. "I didn't meet him with the intention of wow, maybe I'll get in his band," Stevens recalled. "I just thought he'd be an interesting character...and he turned out to be one. We hung out for a long time, played guitars together. When he went to record the Don't Stop EP, I stayed around and bummed cigarettes." Don't Stop, which included Idol's new version of Generation X's only hit "Dancin' - With Myself," was followed by a self-titled solo album, the first musical work Idol and Stevens did together. This was the record to feature “White Wedding,” the song and video which established Idol’s reputation as more than a curious punk. He demonstrated a strong voice and flair for melodic hooks. On the strength of that album, Don’t Stop was reissued. Then came Rebel Yell and Idol has regularly found himself with a rare three-disc hat trick on the charts. Rebel Yell is also the debut of the Idol/Stevens creative team on all but one song (Idol wrote “Catch My Fall”). "When it came time to do the first album, Billy had a stockpile of songs that he wanted to do, so I wasn't involved," Stevens said. Now, Idol writes the lyrics and Stevens the music, like the intro to "Rebel Yell". I'll write a title now and again, come up with a catch phrase. But Billy’s definitely in control of his own lyrics; he’s waited a long time. I think he’s a brilliant lyricist. Stevens contributed a number of different musical parts to the Rebel Yell LP. Although he sticks to playing guitar on tour, he also did tracks for bass, keyboard and Casio. "A Casio is a real, real low budget keyboard but they sound great, really trashy. The Casio has little drum sounds in them. There's a real tacky organ sound on 'Blue Highway' - really tacky - that's a Casio," Stevens said. Once a member of the Fine Malibus, Stevens went with with that band to record an unreleased album. Where there, he spent a lot of time hanging out with Robert Palmer, from whom contributing Idol keyboardist Jack Walman came. During the pre-Idol days, Stevens also wrote a song for Peter Criss, late of Kiss, which appeared on Criss’s second European album. BILLY IDOL interview excerpt: "I wrote ('White Wedding') to address the people who thought I was anti-women. (But) instead, I wrote it about how strong one-to-one relationships should be angled more towards women. After a while I started to think 'she doesn't like slavery, she won't sit and beg' is sort of about America, because when I was tired and lonely, she pulled me in." Although the (Fine Malibus) weren’t an important part of my musical upbringing,” Stevens said, “that time of my life was great. It was great. It was the first time I ever lived out on my own, exposed to New York music's dirtier side, really slumming it. We had to save up to buy chicken pot pies. It was rough, but I think those kinds of things are important to go through.” Idol went through his own rites of passage in the punk upheaval of 1977-80. As the rare musician who still openly and defiantly declares himself to be a punker, he said there are misguided ideas in this country about what that means. There’s all these ideas that punks are anti-music—always got a negative attitude . I don't think that's correct. The first punk bands—Generation X, The Damned, Sex Pistols—had really positive attitudes and were very forthcoming with people. We went out of our way to play. People never talk about that. They always talk about the violence at the gigs. We played for no money and dragged our own gear. That isn’t because you want loads of people to love you—it’s because you’re seriously interested in playing. "To a certain extent, a lot of the press in England magnified a lot of things which came over to America. A lot of people who came after us took it seriously and went into this anti-music thing, whereas we were really into songs and soul music. We were just heavy about it (but) as interested in The Who and Tamla-Motown as Iggy Pop,” Idol concluded. "A lot of punk rockers think Elvis wasn’t punk rock and I think that’s anti- the whole idea,” he added. “Of course it was ‘Hate Elvis’ in ’77. Why not? But big deal now. He was kind of a laugh—that graveyard, I couldn’t believe it.” Idol is a big Presley fan. He uses one of the King's former bodyguards, Ed Parker, and refers to Elvis as "great, he had all that energy, so exciting, great songs. He really had a kind of soul.” The only time during this conversation that Idol paused before answering was when asked if he would ever consider covering a Presley hit. "It's a nice idea. But ...he sang too great. I never thought of it. He made the definitive versions ... Maybe, if I found one song I really felt I could do something with. That’s the problem: you’ve got to transcend what they did.” With financial success and broader public acceptance approaching, Idol doubted his outlook on punkhood will be altered. "I've got certain beliefs," he said. "I've been up and down, and I still believe this way. It's what you do with your attitude. Otherwise, you'll be an ass with your money. You have to find a way of using that stuff and making it better for other people.” Idol designs most of his own costumes and wears leather clothes because they are warm, comfortable and don't show as much dirt. "England and New York are very cold in the winter and when we started Genera tion X, without any money, the best thing to do was save up some money and get a great pair of leather trousers. You can almost live in them—lasts for years," he claimed. And while Idol also said, with reference to his stage outfits, "I don't think these things out much,” it has been a valuable experience to be rejected by some people at first on the basis of his appearance and later gain acceptance for his music. "Both me and these other people have come to terms with each other as to what we are. I think that's good. It means a lot of prejudice has been put aside. I want to show people that I wasn't a coldhearted person. I'm into sex, movement, into feeling things out. I want to groove, y'know?" And, as Idol also pointed out, "I've got to be me. I think this way of looking is as funny as it is heavy." Billy Idol • • • • • • • • • Steve Stevens • • • • •
I hates cats. Maybe “hate” is a strong word. The problem is I’m allergic to them. I can think of many aspects of my life that would have turned out differently if it were not for the adult onset of cat allergies. Dinner parties I would not have had to leave early due to puffy, red eyes. Intimate social encounters uninterrupted by wheezing and breathlessness. You get the idea. So I can’t be around cats. And, I suppose, because of that, I do hate cats. JACKSON GALAXY audio excerpt: "When I first started, I wasn't the most comfortable walking into people's homes. We want the focus to be you and your cat, not the guy who might duct tape you to your chair. If you want somebody wearing a sweater vest, we probably weren't meant to work together." To me, then, all cats are sent from to us from Beelzebub. Which is why I instantly accepted the opportunity to interview rock guitarist and cat wrangler Jackson Galaxy on the occasion of his new Animal Planet mini-series, “My Cat From Hell.” The show debuts Saturday, May 7 at 9 p.m. I’d probably want to watch the show just for the spectacle of Galaxy himself – the shaved head, goatee and cat tattoos are quite a sight to behold, even before we meet the various felines on steroids. This should be fun. Jackson Galaxy • • • • •
Comedian Ritch Shydner made a career onstage painting pictures with words, so it should be no surprise that he transitioned easily to doing the same in book form. What might be surprising is that more comics haven’t told their stories in this way. RITCH SHYDNER podcast excerpt: "Rodney Dangerfield once said, 'Listen to what the audience is laughing at.' I tape myself not just to help structure the material and the jokes , but to find out what they find funny." Shydner’s tale, Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life as a Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom – includes years of drug and alcohol abuse, women, and repeated attempts to earn his father’s respect – gives comedy fans an unprecedented look at his id and ego. We also get a front row seat at life on the road and the friends he made, including Jay Leno, David Letterman, Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, Sam Kinson, Gilbert Gottfried, Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Hicks and many more. Speaking of behind the scenes, I must disclose I have an extra interest in Shydner’s book: it was published by Mr. Media Books, which is an extension of this podcast. Ritch and I have gotten to know each other this past year and I asked to read his manuscript. Being a comedy fan, I loved Kicking Through the Ashes and offered to publish it myself. If you love comedy, you gotta have this book in your life. RITCH SHYDNER podcast excerpt: "(My first wife, comedian Carol Leifer) and I were both very competitive. We met when I moved to New York in 1979, started dating in '80, and get married in '81. We were both insecure about our status and our careers, both trying to make a mark. The relationship was always, I think, secondary to our careers." Key interview moments: • 3:30 Comedian Ritch Shydner explains how the 1980s were a transformational moment for stand-up comedy; • 16:30 Rodney Dangerfield's advice to young comics; • 33:00 Among the more personal anecdotes in the book, Shydner talks about his competitive relationship with his first wife, comedian and ("Seinfeld" writer) Carol Leifer. Ritch Shydner • • • • •
My wife is a huge fan of the NBC series “Parenthood,” but I don’t usually do interviews based on her interests; she’s a tough one to impress. My teen son, on the other hand, still might raise a smile if the old man has a guest that he’s interested in. So talking to beautiful Alexandra Daddario was a must. ALEXANDRA DADDARIO audio excerpt: "I get very scared very easily, but there is something to be said for the fun level of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D type of film." Alex played Annabeth Chase in the movie Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief. Her job was shepherding Jackson from adolescence to young Godhood. And while the movie fell short of some expectations, Daddario was actually quite good and it obviously opened more than a few doors. Don’t take my word for it: her recent movies credits include everything from The Squid and the Whale through the Farrelly Brothers comedy Hall Pass. Next up is a starring role in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D. But of immediate interest is her role as Rachel on “Parenthood,” where she has been cast as the new assistant at The Luncheonette, the recording studio operated by Peter Krause and Dax Shepherd’s characters. My wife thinks she might be about to break up Adam’s marriage – I’ll ask about that. And yes, Percy fans – including my son -- I’ll definitely inquire about the Percy Jackson & The Olympians sequel, The Sea of Monsters, which IMDB says is in pre-production for a 2013 release. Or is it? Alexandra Daddario • • • •
(2009) When a movie director surrounds himself with talent, it makes the first day of shooting a lot more pleasant. So imagine being director Scott Cooper when principal photography began on his new film, Crazy Heart. His top line featured not one but three stars: Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Robert Duvall. And it left the writer of the film feeling pretty confident, too—and that was also Cooper. It probably didn’t hurt that two of his stars, Mr. Duvall and Mr. Bridges, are also producers of Crazy Heart. SCOTT COOPER audio excerpt: "Jeff Bridges is a better person than he is an actor, and that's saying a lot... In between 'Action!' and 'Cut!', it's revelatory what he can do. He's so facile...so sublime in the picture. He spoiled me. It's an embarrassment of riches." So how did this serio-comic story about a broken-down country music singer—that would be Bridges—turn out? If you can’t wait for the movie to open on Wednesday, December 16, let’s see what the director can tell us. Scott Cooper • •
Today's Guest: Tim Pilcher, editor, Erotic Comics: A Graphic History from Tijuana Bibles to Underground Comix Order 'Erotic Comics: A Graphic History from Tijuana Bibles to Underground Comix' edited by Tim Pilcher, available from Amazon.com by clicking the book cover above! Tim Pilcher has a dirty mind! That’s what some people think, no doubt. He did just publish the second edition Erotic Comics: A Graphic History and it is filled with cartoon images of men, women, aliens and even a cat dancer engaged in all manner of physical intimacies. (If you have sensitive ears or are under the age of 18, please stop here. You might be offended by some of the content of this interview.) Volume 2 picks up where Volume 1 left off and examines how the form has become an international publishing phenomenon by showcasing artwork that has inflamed desires, incensed censors, and caused controversy. Order 'Erotic Comics 2: A Graphic History from the Liberated '70s to the Internet' edited by Tim Pilcher, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! TIM PILCHER podcast excerpt: "It's a natural progression of growing up for comics readers. Erotica is a fact of life. But anytime you put 'comics' and 'sex' together, people go, 'Oh!' Erotic comic is a genre, just as westerns, sci-fi or superheroes are. It hadn't really been written up; it's sort of a secret history." Fully illustrated with rare art by Howard Cruse, Gengoroh Tagame, Melinda Gebbie, Hunt Emerson, Howard Chaykin, Giovanna Casotto (whose work graces the cover), Tom of Finland, Milo Manara, Junko Mizuno, this book covers everything: the erotic comics explosion in America in the mid-’80s; the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender comics scene; UK and European erotic comic creators since the ’70s; and the Japanese hentai phenomenon. Tim Pilcher Blog • Twitter • Facebook • Order Erotic Comics Order 'Will Eisner: A Spirited Life' (2nd Edition) by Bob Andelman, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!
Actress Lea Thompson, perhaps best-known for starring in the NBC sitcom “Caroline in the City” and the Back to the Future movies with Michael J. Fox, is swallowing her pride and appearing on Mr. Media Interviews! Here is the Evelyn Wood version of Thompson’s career, courtesy of IMDB.com: Her first role was in the movie Jaws 3-D (1983) as a water ski bunny, although she couldn’t swim or ski—and still can’t. Her next role was in All the Right Moves (1983) in which she worked opposite Tom Cruise. Thompson’s big break came from the first Back to the Future (1985). It was the biggest hit of 1985, and Thompson was suddenly a wanted actress. Director Howard Deutch offered her a part in his next movie, Some Kind of Wonderful, but she initially refused it. Instead she made Back to the Future II (1989), but made Deutch a happy man by marrying him—and starring in Back to the Future III (1990). From 1995-99, Thompson starred in the NBC-TV sitcom, “Caroline in the City,” the saga of a popular cartoonist with wacky friends. She most recently starred in the “Jane Doe” mystery series on the Hallmark Channel and is in pre-production on three new movies for 2009: Prettyface, Rock Slyde and Splinterheads. And, of course, she starred in Marvel's first movie based on a comic book, Howard the Duck. Lea Thompson • • • •
I get pitched on an awful lot of potential interviews. This one caught my attention: "My name is David Spaltro and I'm an independent filmmaker and producer from NYC. Last year I completed my first feature film . It was a labor of love about a young man with a dual life 'living' out of Penn and while going to film school, based on my own personal experiences a few years ago in this city. 21 shooting days, 190 locations all over the city, self-financed and done for $175,000 on 40 credit cards... no, seriously. I may have caused the fiscal crisis. Sorry. "I'm writing you because I'd love to send you a screener DVD. I think, as someone who is an avid lover of film, the story will really hit home... I think because of the struggle to make the film, the whole DIY approach with no previous experiences or resources, to fund, make, and distribute a feature film in 2 years and now to see it out there and in these rough economic times what the story stands for would make for an interesting and inspirational piece, especially concerning the two lead actors, current LA transplant Robert Evans and NYC actress Molly Ryman, two amazing talents who are on their way to breaking through..." Then I watched the movie. It’s a little rough around the edges, but undeniably endearing and as personal a film as one can imagine. Which brings us to this moment. David Spaltro • • • • • • (2012, Video)
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Unfortunately, this was not one of the show's better moments, technically speaking. I'm a big fan of Fillion's work and everything that could go wrong here, did. It was Firefly fail times a thousand.) Nathan Fillion has paid his dues and, I suspect had a good time doing it. He’s the guy you know and recognize when you see him—oh, yeah, you think—that guy! He was last seen on “Desperate Housewives” as Dana Delany’s beaten-down, much younger husband, Dr. Adam Mayfair. But before that, you’ve seen him in everything from Joss Whedon’s late, lamented sci-fi series “Firefly” to the online sensation, “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.” He also co-starred in the movie Waitress with Keri Russell. Now it appears Fillion has met the role that could be a perfect match for him. He is novelist Richard Castle, the lead character in the new Monday night ABC series “Castle.” The show, which may remind viewers of a certain generation—mine—of “Moonlighting” and younger viewers, perhaps, of “Bones,” airs at 9 p.m. Nathan Fillion • • Listen: (2009) Listen: (2011)
Filmmaker David Spaltro was one of my smartest finds of 2009. His first independent production, …Around, was stitched together on dozens of credit cards and a peanut-butter-and-jelly budget. It made for a great backstory and an even better film. I was delighted to interview David on this show back then and couldn’t be happier to welcome him back with a new film. DAVID SPALTRO podcast excerpt: "I had a kamikaze mission for my first film, ... Around. I had a six-month plan that if we finished the film, I'd juggle all the credit card debt... If it didn't work out, I'm young, I'm stupid, I'd figure it out. The only way to protect the film was to sign it away to my producers for $1. But what I did was transference fraud so I couldn't file for bankruptcy. The only way to deal with it was to not exist for two years. It was a long, long journey." Even better was the opportunity to see more of actress Molly Ryman, who co-starred in …Around and is central to Things I Don’t Understand. In the new drama, she plays a detached grad student who forms a cathartic bond with a terminally ill girl she's interviewing for her thesis. That would be plenty of grist but she’s also falling for the damaged bartender downstairs with a mysterious past, even as she faces eviction from the home she's built for herself with her artist roommates. For me, one of the marked differences between Spaltro’s first and second films is the lighting; I remember …Around as being dark and dingy – no doubt in deference to limited resources – while Things I Don’t Understand, despite its dark topics, is actually brighter and more appealing to the eye. You can get a taste for Things I Don’t Understand at and watch for it to possibly debut later this year at SXSW or the Tribeca Film Festival. David Spaltro • • • • • •
As trade-ups go, it’s hard to beat Maulik Pancholy’s change of scenery. He’s just graduated from recurring character Jonathan on “30 Rock” to Neal, a sensitive renaissance man on the new NBC sitcom “Whitney, starring comedian Whitney Cummings. It airs on Thursdays at 9:30 p.m., sandwiched tightly between “The Office” and “30 Rock.” MAULIK PANCHOLY podcast excerpt: "Both shows are NBC shows so there's a really good chance you're going to see Jonathan back on '30 Rock.'" It’s worth noting that he’s also moved from one of the few network sitcoms created and produced by – and starring – a strong woman. At “30 Rock,” it was Tina Fey, now it’s Whitney Cummings. He also appeared on “Weeds” a few years ago selling pot for Mary Louise Parker’s character. It’s nice to see the kid from Tampa’s Berkley Preparatory School continue his upward march to world domination. This is Maulik’s second visit to Mr. Media. () Maulik Pancholy • • • More 'Whitney' cast interviews: •
For nearly two decades, I have worried about my friend Carlen Maddux. Carlen published some of my best work as a journalist for more than 20 years as the man behind the Maddux Business Report, a long-running Tampa Bay area magazine. Through every editor he hired (and fired) and at least two recessions, my byline was a constant on his masthead and I have an armload of awards to prove it. In 1997, his wife Martha, a beloved political figure here in St. Petersburg, was diagnosed with early on-set Alzheimer’s Disease. She was just 50 years old and they had been married for 25 years. Their lives and those of their three children – as well as those of his employees – were never the same. CARLEN MADDUX podcast excerpt: "I was like a sponge. Anything that could help us... I wanted to get Martha out of this. Even though the medical community said they they had not been able to find anything (to cure or treat Alzheimer's Disease), I still was hopeful we would stumble across something." Let me put this in a little context: Martha—and her family—inexplicably lived with Alzheimer’s for the next 17 years. It was a hard, unrelenting, soul-sapping existence that no one should have to endure, whether as a victim or helpless family member or friend. In the pages of his first book, A Path Revealed: How Hope, Love, and Joy Found Us Deep in a Maze Called Alzheimer’s, Carlen takes readers with him on globe-spanning religious journey to make peace with having his beloved partner ripped from his embrace way, way too soon. CARLEN MADDUX podcast excerpt: "The majority of people diagnosed with Alzheimer's are over 65; my wife was 5o. When you talk about 'early onset,' that means somebody has been diagnosed with it under the age of 65... Our neurologist said (in 1997) that within 15 years there will be cocktail of medications that someone will take to stabilize and delay the onset of this. But as far as I can tell, research is no closer than it was in '97." Key interview moments: • 6:00 Carlen Maddux, author of A Path Revealed: How Hope, Love, and Joy Found Us Deep in a Maze Called Alzheimer’s, explains the definition of "early onset" Alzheimer's Disease, which struck his wife at age 50; • 22:25 Maddux describes his desperate quest to find something--anything--that would help his wife beat Alzheimer's; • 34:40 Although he spent his long career as a newspaper journalist (St. Petersburg Times) and business magazine publisher (Maddux Business Report), Maddux had never written a book before; here he explains how he learned to write his memoirs. Carlen Maddux • • •
If I talk to someone from Australia or England, it’s pretty easy for each of us to think, “That guy’s from London” or “That guy’s from Down Under.” But when that same person sings, the accent largely disappears What’s up with that? BEN LINDEN podcast excerpt: "It's interesting turning up at show and people say, 'Where's the fourth member of the band? Can you get the girlfriend off the stage!' Actually, she's not one of the girlfriends; she's the guitar player. And she's a bit of a shredder. She shows a bunch of the boys up." Anyway, I always enjoy introducing Mr. Media listeners to new music and tonight is one of those shows. Joining me in a moment is Ben Linden of the Australian band, Fools Rush In. Why is Fools Rush In being featured over a thousand other bands? It’s not complicated: I heard some cuts from their album, Chase The Sun, liked them and decided to share. Fools Rush In • • •
Regina King plays Lydia Adams, a dedicated daughter and detective in NBC's new drama series "Southland." But like her partner on the show, Tom Everett Scott, she comes to “Southland” best known from an armload of successful film roles including the Oscar-nominated film Ray and the antithesis of that film but a favorite of mine nonetheless, Daddy Day Care. Her most memorable role may have been as Cuba Gooding Jr.'s wife, Marci, in Jerry Maguire. Regina King • • •
Joining me today is one of the executive editors of My Wall Street Journal - which he will insist is a parody, but seems true enough to me. Jeff Kreisler’s name may not be familiar to you, but if you’re a fan of comedy, you’ve certainly seen or heard his work. He writes for Comedy Central’s Indecision 2008, has a syndicated business humor column and video, "Funny Money," via Jim Cramer’s TheStreet.com, is author of the forthcoming book, Get Rich Cheating, and has joined the staff and cast of a new show from the creator of "The Daily Show." You can get a taste of what we’re talking about at . Jeff Kreisler • • • • • • LISTEN! (2009)
(2007) There are a lot of famous uses of the word dude in pop culture. Sean Penn, as Spicoli, in Fast Times at Ridgemont High comes to mind. Or Keanu Reeves in Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure. Party on, dude, indeed. Or there’s the landscape guy I saw this morning parked at the Quickmart who had Palm Dude sloppily stenciled on the side of his pick-up truck. But none of those three rises to the level of the Dude, Jeff Bridges, star of one of the craziest, most-layered Coen Brothers films ever, The Big Lebowski. If you’re not already a fan of the 1998 movie, you want to go out and rent it when we’re done with this edition of Mr. Media. And if you’re already a Lebowski dude yourself, you’re gonna enjoy today’s guests, Will Russell and Scott Shuffitt, founders of Lebowski Fest and authors of the new book, I’m a Lebowski, You’re a Lebowski. Lebowski Fest • • • • • •
There are some truly horrific movies in the history of cinema. I didn’t realize until yesterday that one of them starred The Monkees – Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork and Mike Nesmith. Head, a 1968 theatrical release starring the pre-fab foursome, represents 85 minutes of my life I will never get back again. PETER MILLS podcast excerpt: "Even bvefore I started writing the book, I must have seen the film 25 times. Don't (form an opinion) on watching it one time!" What astonishes me is that anyone – not even Jack Nicholson, one of the writers responsible for this legendary atrocity — could make the super-charismatic band so uninteresting. I avoided watching Head for almost 50 years, but finally broke down and watched it — for free, fortunately, on YouTube — because I wanted to understand what drove British music journalist Peter Mills to write an entire book about the band and the movie. In The Monkees, Head, and the 60s, Mills dissects the band, the film and its soundtrack, adding deep cuts of history to the misbegotten cinematic dud. I am old enough to have watched and adored “The Monkees” in its original 1966-68 run on NBC. I still have my original Monkees albums – even the one my baby brother took a bite out of. I even interviewed Micky Dolenz for a newspaper back in 1984, a career highlight for me. But after this interview, I’m going to try to focus my memories on the TV series and forget I ever saw Head. PETER MILLS podcast excerpt: "Usually, my students at Leeds Beckett University don't know who The Monkees are, but every year, there are maybe one or two kids who are already experts on them. A few weeks ago I said Television was the best band to come out of the New York punk scene. A kid came up after class and said, 'No, I think that Modern Lovers are better.'" Key interview moments: • 3:15 Peter Mills, author of The Monkees, Head, and the 60s, talks about how he first discovered the lost film Head by TV's The Monkees; • 16:45 If you've only seen Head once and didn't like it, Mills urges you to take another look. And another. And another; • 28:00 As a teacher of millennials at London's Leeds Beckett University, Mills doesn't expects his students to know The Monkees, but a few each term always surprise him. Peter Mills •
(2009) Even Marc Spitz admits, in the opening pages of his new book, Bowie: A Biography, that he wasn’t sure the world needed another treatise on the life, loves and music of David Bowie. After all, as a writer for Spin, the New York Times, Maxim, Nylon, and Blender, as well as a long time fan of the singer, he had certainly read many of the already published works. But, convinced there might be a market for a different approach, he attacked his subject with a dual purpose: first, he attempted to out-research and out-interview his predecessors, and second, he provided a personal string of thoughts and experiences to liven up the traditional chronology of who bonked who, when where and for how long. MARC SPITZ podcast excerpt: "I think my book has a real hero's journey in its narrative. You can really see David Bowie becoming the Bowie we know, from the nowhere kid in South London. By the end you feel you've lived through a dozen different zeitgeists. And it's funny. And I'm in it." At this, Spitz certainly succeeded; his Bowie is a smooth, crackling read. And there is one other factor to consider: There are still plenty of people in the world who have not read any of the previous David Bowie histories—like me, and I’m a big fan. Marc Spitz • • • •
My son had a guitar — acoustic — for several years but the instrument never really captured his imagination. Not, that is, until a neighbor sold us her old electric. That guitar looked cool even when I held it; but in Charlie’s hands, its capacity to astonish is infinite. There is just something awe-inspiring about an electric guitar under the command of someone who loves music and knows how to make a wood body and metal strings sing for its life. MICHAEL MOLENDA audio excerpt: "Sometimes I think guitar heroes have just been touched by angels... That all-encompassing desire to communicate through music is certainly a factor." I think most rock fans will agree that the 1970s generation of guitarists were a special bunch. They studied those that came before them, adapted. imitated and invented their own generational sound. Oh, sure, some played solos that went on too long and were nothing more than egocentric stroking at times. But not the men – and Bonnie Raitt and June Millington – who are featured in a swell read called Guitar Player Presents Guitar Heroes of the ‘70s. The book compiles legendary interviews with legendary players including Jeff Beck, Jerry Garcia Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Roy Buchanan, Brian May, Carlos Santana, Frank Zappa and many, many more. I invited Michael Molenda, editor of Guitar Player and this sweet volume, to talk about the unique talents assembled in this book and how they stack up to the players of today. Michael Molenda • • •
In Himmarshee, Florida. And Mama’s middle daughter, Mace, an animal trapper, is pissed. That’s all you need to know to get interested in the first novel by my old friend Deborah Sharp. It’s titled Mama Does Time, and boy, does she ever. Deborah was a long-time reporter for USA Today who recently gave it all up to pursue the dream of becoming a novelist. And damned if she didn’t beat the odds and not only sell her first novel, but a second, too: Mama Rides Shotgun, which will be the second Mace Bauer Mystery. There is even a surprise caller during this show: Deborah's husband, NBC News correspondent Kerry Sanders. Deborah Sharp • • •
(2011) The great thing about Syfy network TV movies is that the titles tell you everything you need to know to know that you want to watch ‘em. MegaPython vs. Gatoroid! Alien Apocalypse! Tiffany vs. Debbie Gibson! Dinocroc vs. Supergator! Who could say no to a Saturday night with those characters? JOE FLANIGAN audio excerpt: "Unfortunately the new show, 'Stargate Universe,' was not embraced by the audience. Consequently, the 'Stargate' franchise is dormant right now -- at least for the next year or two... I would like to come back to it." As for Ferocious Planet, which debuts this Saturday, April 9 at 9 p.m. on Syfy and stars Joe Flanigan and John Rhys-Davis, how can you not love a movie with lines such as, “Don’t poke the alien”? Joining me today to talk about his role in Ferocious Planet is actor Joe Flanigan. He’s made a career in recent years of appearing in science fiction and genre fantasy productions, including five seasons starring on “Stargate Atlantis” and an episode of one of my favorite Syfy series, “Warehouse 13.” Joe Flanigan •
Today's Guest: Mark Tatulli, daily cartoonist and creator of "LIO" and "Heart of the City." Order 'Lio: Happiness Is a Squishy Cephalopod' by Mark Tatulli from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! (EDITOR'S NOTE: This was the very first Mr. Media® Interviews podcast, recorded January 19, 2007. We've improved the sound a bit and hope you'll enjoy discovering it!) is the creation of Mark Tatulli, and he’s a fresh brand of weird and wonderful now appearing in more than 250 newspapers, with more adding the strip daily. If Far Side creator Gary Larson and "Calvin" creator Bill Watterson had mated, LIO is the character they would have produced. Tatulli’s brainchild, LIO, and that’s spelled L-I-O, is a young boy who combines elements of mad scientist, comic strips, science fiction, and the Adams family, and get this, LIO never speaks. MARK TATULLI audio excerpt: "It’s really a basic concept. It’s just LIO who lives with his father, and that’s basically it, and whatever I come up with. I set no parameters because I didn’t want to lock myself in. I mean, having no dialogue means that there is going to be no dialogue-driven gags, so I have to leave myself as open as possible to any kind of thing, so anything basically can happen." Mark Tatulli • • • • •
Charlyne Yi is a young woman whose name you may have heard in the past year or two, maybe as an actress in Knocked Up or Paper Heart, which she wrote, executive produced, composed music for and starred in with her then boyfriend, Michael Cera. If you watch a lot of YouTube videos, you may know her for her viral Saturday Night Live audition tape or her ongoing video exchanges with SNL star Fred Armisen—and I’ll play a sample of both later. CHARLENE YI podcast excerpt: “Everyone’s aware that there are things that need to be fixed but we’re immune to it. When I went to the Hunger Banquet, it’s hard to ignore how you’re affected when someone tells you 1 billion people are chronically hungry.” But the real reason Charlyne is joining me today is talk about her commitment to Oxfam America Hunger Banquet. She did a video for the nonprofit organization that is also viral. It’s a largely wordless demonstration of how she went from not knowing about hunger in America to taking an active stand against it. And, of course, we’ll also talk about movies. And maybe we can get her to sing a little bit, because among her many videos are those in which she sings and plays guitar, including a cover of Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” which, of course, was written by Prince. Charlene Yi • • • • • •
(2010) When we announced on Facebook that “Warehouse 13” star CCH Pounder would be my guest this morning, listener Craig Pittman made this observation: "If she married Louis C.K. she'd be CCH C.K." Hmm, a little off topic, but it does present a certain symmetry, doesn’t it? CCH POUNDER podcast excerpt: "Mr. Media, you know more about Warehouse 13 than I know the back of my hand. I am so impressed!" Anyway, regular listeners know that SyFy’s “Warehouse 13” is required viewing in our household and, while this is Ms. Pounder’s first visit with us, her co-stars Saul Rubinek (; ), Eddie McClintock (; ; ), Sasha Roiz () and Paula Garces () have each been on the show and Eddie will be back for a third time next Monday. (You can catch up on any interviews you missed by going to and searching “Warehouse 13.”) Season two of the series has been a wild ride as we met former Warehouse agents—including a female H.G. Wells—gained details of Pete’s alcohol addiction, Myka’s high school insecurities with men, Artie’s checkered past, Claudia’s raging hormones, discovered that Warehouse 13 and Eureka exist in the same timeline, learned more about the creepy and elusive “Regents” who rule America’s Warehouse system, and even met the always on-call Warehouse doc, former Bionic Woman Lindsay Wagner. Which leads to this week’s episode, the first of a two-part season finale. Someone is going to die —does that have anything to do with Lindsay Wagner returning to aid Mrs. Frederic when she becomes ill with a strange, life threatening illness? (I wonder if that Louis C.K. rumor started earlier in this intro might have something to do with it?) Warehouse 13 airs exclusively on SyFy every Tuesday night at 9 p.m. If you’re not watching—well, what could possibly be more important? CCH Pounder • • •
In the years that I was a pop music critic for the St. Petersburg Times and Tampa Tribune back in the mid-1980s, one of the best parts of the job was interviewing musicians by phone before they came to town. I always liked the conversation, the give-and-take, the challenge of engaging talented men and women who talked all day long with reporters—and no doubt hated most of it. At the end of almost every interview, the musician would invite the critic to come backstage after their upcoming show and say “Hello.” I almost never did that because I knew it was more a pleasantry than a sincere invitation. But when John Denver said to come around, I actually followed through. It was January 21, 1984, the weekend of Super Bowl XVIII in Tampa, and John was performing at the Bayfront Center Arena in St. Petersburg as part of the festivities. My mother was in town visiting that week and I bought tickets to take her to see Denver, as well as Frank Sinatra and Luciano Pavarotti. I thought it would be a treat for her to go backstage and meet Denver, so that’s what we did. Denver greeted her by her first name: “Phyllis! It’s so nice to meet you!” And told her what a nice story her son wrote about him. He even posed for a photo. Of course, that was actually the second backstage visit I arranged for my Mom over the years. The first was in 1975, when I bought tickets for her and my dad to see “God’s Favorite” on Broadway, starring Charles Nelson Reilly, who went to high school with my father back in Hartford. But that’s a story for another day. I hope you’ll enjoy this never-before-heard Mr. Media “Lost Tapes” rare John Denver interview, recorded on January 13, 1984. John Denver • • • • • • •
(AUTHOR'S NOTE: I found this 54-minute interview with Bo Diddley from May 10, 1985 by accident after digging up the print version of the interview. The audio isn't great, but if you spent an hour with the man, you'd want to share it, too!) "I'm the dude that Elvis Presley copied. He copied me and combined Jackie Wilson," Diddley told me. That was a memorable day for two reasons: spending an hour with Bo in Ybor City, Florida (east of downtown Tampa), the afternoon of his show, of course, but also my memories of the photographer I worked with that day, Tom Howland, who was a long-time friend and who passed away suddenly a few years ago. Anyway, this interview is one of my all-time favorites. I hope you’ll enjoy this Mr. Media “Lost Tape.”) Bo Diddley • • • • • •
(2009) Alison Brie is a supporting actress on two hit series— on NBC and on AMC. Not bad for a young woman whose previous acting resume is still thin enough as to include performances in community theatre shows at a Jewish Community Center in Southern California. And don’t get me wrong—I’m not knocking those credits—it’s a testament to how, when it’s your time in Hollywood, the knocks on the door can come fast and furious. ALISON BRIE Audio Excerpt: "Our producers on 'Community' are big fans of 'Mad Men' and were very gracious to let me continue to recur on that show and I hope it works out for season four." Her big break came in the first season of “Mad Men,” on which she plays “Trudy Campbell,” wife of ambitious silver spooner Pete Campbell. Pete hasn’t quite figured out married life yet—from making babies to staying away from women who are not his wife—but that hasn’t stopped Trudy from stealing most every scene she is in, including her final moment of season three. As for “Community,” Alison plays “Annie,” the baby-faced, sometimes raw community college student who is desperately trying to fit in with the show’s band of oddball, somewhat older and more experienced characters. The new NBC show took a few weeks to get its voice, but “Community” absolutely deserves the “Must See TV” tag and is funny from the first to the last minute of each new episode. It deserved a recent full-season pickup from the network and move to anchoring Thursdays night at 8 p.m. Alison Brie •
(2009) I’ve always watched a good deal of TV cop shows. "Hill Street Blues" was must-see TV in our house; I even watched the "Dragnet" remake with Ed O’Neil, who played Al Bundy on "Married… With Children." But the whole "Law & Order" and "CSI" thing never much appealed to me. Seems like every time I tried to watch, the plots revolved around brutal things happening to kids. Once you become a parent, you have enough nightmares about your children. I didn’t need TV adding to it. This season, however, I’ve been drawn to three cop shows that are more in the pre-Law & Order mode: "Castle" and "The Unusuals" on ABC and "Southland" on NBC. Joining me is one of the stars of "Southland," Michael Cudlitz. Before The Walking Dead (which he joined in 2014), he played patrol officer John Cooper, a 20-year veteran and training officer. Michael Cudlitz • • • • •
(2009) Tonight, the final episode of “” season 3 airs and I’ve got a special treat for you. Joining me today are not one but two stars of the show: the Petrelli brothers, Peter and Nathan, played by actors and . Wondering what’s going to happen? Listen to this preview of the action. SPOILER ALERT! If you don't want to know what happens ahead of time, better listen AFTER you watch the season finale because, for some reason, Adrian and Milo give it all away here! This is Milo’s second visit to Mr. Media.
Every Marvel Comics fan knows the names Roy Thomas and Danny Fingeroth, curators of a new book, The Stan Lee Universe. Both have been editors at Marvel Comics during its long and storied history and both have gone on to establish their credentials as comics industry historian. And both will be joining us in a moment. ROY THOMAS audio excerpt: "Stan really worked almost every way you could image during the Marvel Era -- except maybe a full script! He did everything from a detailed plot for the early Fantastic Four to a little conversation over the phone for five to 10 minutes to telling somebody, 'Why don't we make Doctor Doom the villain?'" Fingeroth, now a senior VP of education of the Museum of Comic and Comic Art in New York, was a guest on Mr. Media back in 2008 promoting his book, Disguised as Clark Kent: Jews, Comics, and the Creation of the Superhero. As for Thomas, the editor of Alter Ego magazine, I interviewed him for my biography, Will Eisner: A Spirited Life, at the behest of Stan Lee himself. Lee had told me about his exchanges with Eisner, two of which were quite eye-opening. In one, he literally solicited the creator of The Spirit and a well-respected publishing success himself, to take The Man’s seat as publisher of Marvel Comics. (Eisner declined.) In the other, he vaguely recalled proposing a humor magazine and asked Eisner to flesh it out. Lee said to talk to Thomas for all the details, which I did. For most comics fans, those too little-told stories of the history of the Marvel Comics Universe were delightful “What If…?” moments. Now Thomas and Fingeroth have come together on a project, , which collects rare memorabilia, letters and interviews with one of the greatest creators – and characters – in the known universe. It’s a really fun read and I heartily recommend it to you. Roy Thomas Danny Fingeroth • • •
I haven’t spoken with her yet, but my sense is that Deborah Calla, who produced and co-wrote the new indie film A Beautiful Life, feels a strong connection to the lead character of Maggie. It’s just a sense, but the character of Maggie, a teenage girl running away from the sexual abuse of her father, doesn’t seem like an emotional story you would want to participate in telling unless it really spoke to your soul. Of course, I could be completely mistaken. Calla, a Brazilian native, first discovered Wendy Hammond’s play, Jersey City, back in 1996. It took a long time to translate Jersey City into A Beautiful Life, but I’m sure there is an audience out there for this alternately harsh and yet tender slice of modern life. DEBORAH CALLA podcast excerpt: "I think this is the best work Bai has ever done. This is a woman who looks amazing with makeup on, amazing without any makeup on. She just has so many different colors and goes through such a journey. I hope this movie will show other producers and directors what she can really do." Deborah Calla found some strong women to fill the lead and featured roles, starting with Angela Sarafyan as Maggie, the lead character, and continuing with Bai Ling as Maggie’s protector, Dana Delaney as her mother and Debi Mazar as a librarian who takes an interest in Maggie. Deborah Calla • • • • • • •
I imagine that after playing Oswald for nine seasons of "The Drew Carey Show," Diedrich Bader probably never dreamed he’d get another shot at anyone quite as wacky, socially limited and yet lovable. After all, who could have foreseen the ultimate ugly American he plays as Indian call center manager Charlie Davis on NBC’s “Outsourced”? But what a hysterical year it’s been to be Bader: chasing and failing with beautiful young women before finally scoring with one of their mothers? Inadvertently – yet repeatedly -- insulting his Indian employees and their religious and cultural beliefs only to develop an unlikely friendship with the buffoonish Gupta. DIEDRICH BADER audio excerpt: "I had to turn down playing my own great grandfather (former Atlantic City Mayor Edward Bader) on 'Boardwalk Empire' to do the pilot of 'Outsourced.' ... Nucky Johnson hurt a lot of people, one of which was my grandfather." There is just one episode left of “Outsourced” for Charlie as this is written, the finale of Rajiv’s wedding odyssey, Thursday, May 12 at 10:30 p.m. If you haven’t followed this show, it’s not too late to jump in and have a few brightly colored belly laughs at the expense of Charlie and Co.
I remember the day I met back in the mid-1970s. I was in the back of my friend Bob Pinaha’s brown —the car in which I later learned to drive—and we drove to Newark International Airport to pick up Tony for an appearance at a we organized. TONY ISABELLA audio excerpt: "Superheroes have always been a big part of it but I wanted to show how many different kind of comics there have been. I wanted to show every genre; there is a comic in there on colitis!" I was a star-struck teen fanboy—Isabella was a writer and editor for Comics! How cool was that? Wish I could remember something that Tony and Bob discussed in the car that day, but after “Hello,” the rest is just a blur. We’ve crossed paths a few times since then, most recently when Isabella wrote a more than kind review of for the Comics Buyers Guide. And now it’s my opportunity to return the favor. Tony just published a new book, 1000 Comic Books You Must Read, and it’s a four-color, four-star, polished gem. I’ve had such a good time reliving so many fun comics of my acne-blemished past while paging through this coffee table book. If you love comics, you’ve gotta get this guide. Tony Isabella • • • •
Someone is killing beautiful blondes all over Laguna Canyon and once again, plus-size paralegal —I mean Odelia Grey—is called upon to figure out who is behind the serial killings. I guess I became confused because there are so many uncanny similarities between Sue Ann Jaffarian, the plus-size paralegal, comedian and author, and her fictional character, Odelia Grey. Booby Trap is the recently published fifth book in the Odelia Grey mystery series and it would seem like Jaffarian is just hitting her stride. In addition to continuing Odelia’s adventures, she’s launching a new paranormal mystery series this fall. Sue Ann Jaffarian • • • •
What little boy in the last hundred years didn’t grow up wanting to own or even build his own robot? And a robot dog? Zoinks! What a great idea! Jonathan Mahood knows what I’m talking about. He may not have built his own 3-D robot, but he used his particular talents to accomplish the next best thing: he created “Bleeker: The Rechargeable Dog,” a comic strip you can now find online and in daily newspapers worldwide. JONATHAN MAHOOD audio excerpt: "With newspaper comics, it's got to be easy for the reader to get on board. I got my first iPod and I was sitting outside with my dog. I was thinking about how these two things follow me around. I started working with Skip and a brother, but it didn't work out. Then it was a dog that looked like a battery." Bleeker – along with his boy owner, Skip – is billed as the next step in the evolution of daily comics going back to Charlie Brown and Snoopy, and on through Calvin and Hobbes. In “Peanuts,” of course, the dog was the dreamer, fighting the Red Baron in aerial dogfights. In “Calvin,” the boy took us all with him on his outer space adventures as he restlessly daydreams in elementary school. But “Bleeker” is what technology has wrought: a fully realized, loyal and allergy-free pet with built-in iPod, cell phone, camera, printer and GPS. Oh, and he has a built-in jetpack, too. And an airbag. (Parents, don’t even ask.) Bleeker: The Rechargeable Dog started life as an online strip and today is distributed to newspapers, websites and mobile applications by King Features Syndicate. It can be read daily on more than 100 newspaper sites, DailyINK.com and Bleekercomics.com. Jonathan Mahood • • •
Larry Keltto has worked from home for a long time. Being a writer and editor, that’s a pretty sweet arrangement. He gets to eat his own food from the refrigerator, take a break when it suits him, work late when projects demand something extra, and be a more involved dad to his daughters. That’s all on the plus side of the ledger. LARRY KELTTO audio excerpt: "It's a tremendous shock that 75 to 80 percent of our time in the early days at least has to be spent on marketing. It's a huge shock." On the down side, working for yourself can be a lonely pursuit. You spend a lot of time alone in your own head, probably thinking through the challenges of the day and the economy a bit too much. And when the economy is particularly sucky, some self-employed entrepreneurs will be hit the hardest by it. But my friend Larry – and he has been my friend for about a decade now, is always the positive one. It’s part of his Minn-e-sot-a charm and a leading reason for his success. It also led him to believe there might be a business plan in connecting the very people whose choice of vocation tends to isolate and separate them from the herd. Larry started his website, The SolopreneurLife.com, believing that if the world’s self-employed entrepreneur came together to share their victories and woes, their challenges and innovations, the result would eventually uplift them all. He’s also collected many of their stories in an inspiring new ebook, The Solopreneur Life: 42 Sole-Business Owners Speak the Truth on Dreaming Big, Failing Forward and Calling Your Own Shots. Regular Mr. Media viewers and listeners will recognize at least one of the 42 – it’s me, your pal, Mr. Media. The Solopreneur Life • •
I would love to poke around inside the mind of Tamara Lush and listen directly to whatever her inner narrator whispers to her during the course of a day. In the last two years, the veteran Associated Press news reporter has carved out a new media landscape for her off-duty hours as a hot contemporary romance writer with an erotic voice that will leave many readers gasping for air. TAMARA LUSH podcast excerpt: "The billionaire trope has always been huge in the romance novel. I don't see that going away (under a President Trump). There have been recent trends with more blue-collar heroes--farmers, mechanics. And I have written about rich journalists, which is about the biggest fantasy you can get." In her third full-length novel, Tell Me A Story – it’s actually five stories, depending upon how you consume it, which I’ll let her explain – Lush expands upon the promise found in her first novel, Hot Shade. The story, plot and characters have greater depth and the sex is even more intimate and moving. Women, I think, will find in Lush a young woman’s voice that speaks to them. And guys, if you’re willing to take a flyer on erotica other than Penthouse “Letters” or 60-second YouPorn clips, you will be surprised how quickly and all-consuming Tell Me A Story is. This is the author’s second appearance on Mr. Media. TAMARA LUSH podcast excerpt: "'Tell Me A Story' is book candy for the phone. It's for people who just want to read a short, sexy story with a little bit of suspense, a little bit of humor. I call it 'erotic chick-lit.'" Key interview moments: • 3:05 Contemporary romance novelist Tamara Lush explains how Tell Me A Story grew from novella to 500-page book; • 19:50 Will a President Trump affect the future of the romance novel?; Tamara Lush • • • • • • • • • • •
If you read the comics in your daily newspaper, my guest today has probably touched your life. Spider-Man, Hagar the Horrible and Curtis all report to him at his day job as . But by night—and weekends, no doubt—Brendan Burford is himself a cartoonist dedicated to the notion that comics are more than a 10-second entertainment. He believes in them as journalism, a different way of communicating the events of the day. Burford recently published his fourth edition of Syncopated: An Anthology of Non-Fiction Picto-Essays. It is collection of illustrated stories that, at a few pages each, are longer than daily comics and shorter than a graphic novel. This latest edition of Syncopated includes work by Burford himself, as well as graphic artists including Nick Bertozzi, Josh Neufeld and many others. If you’re interested in expanding your comics horizon, you’ll enjoy reading Syncopated. B rendan Burford • • •
(2010) To be honest, I didn’t want to play the opening theme from the long-running NBC family series, “Blossom.” But it certainly reminds you of how well known its star, Mayim Bialik, was before she largely dropped out of show business to be a wife and mother, right? MAYIM BIALIK podcast excerpt: "There are people who are very protective over Sheldon. But what would it look like if there was a possibility of compatibility for Sheldon? To say it's not high on his list of priorities is absolutely true... Anyone, theoretically, can be enticed. Even Sheldon." The actress who once played the young Bette Midler character in the weepy chick flick Beaches is all grown up now and has returned to the small screen in a powerful way in recent months, including episodes of the Brad Garrett Fox comedy ‘Til Death and, probably more importantly, as Sheldon’s blind date on “The Big Bang Theory.” Whoa. Will she be Sheldon's girlfriend in the fall? Is this the biggest development since Schrodinger’s Cat? While we’re all waiting to find out, you’ve got another opportunity to see the many sides of Mayim Bialik. On Saturday, June 19, Mayim will be the celebrity guest host of ACME Saturday Night at the ACME Comedy Theatre in Los Angeles. Show time is 7 p.m. Pacific. Studio tickets are $10 online, $15 at the door. You can order tickets or watch the show live online free: Mayim Bialik • • •
I have to admit I was a little surprised when I read up on actor Jimmy Hawkins’ life since he played Donna Reed and Jimmy Stewart’s son, Tommy Bailey, in the holiday film classic, It’s A Wonderful Life. For example, did you know he later worked with Reed again as Shelley Fabares' boyfriend on eight seasons of TV’s “The Donna Reed Show”? JIMMY HAWKINS podcast excerpt: "It's a Wonderful Life was a nice set. You felt comfortable there. Frank Capra improvised quite a bit of that movie." Or that he played sidekick to the King, Elvis Presley, in both Girl Happy and Spinout? He’s also written five books about It’s A Wonderful Life. One of my first guests on Mr. Media when it was a syndicated weekly newspaper column in 1996 was actress Karolyn Grimes, who played Hawkins’ sister, Zuzu, in It’s A Wonderful Life. And I’m delighted to bookend the movie siblings here on our show. Jimmy Hawkins Karolyn Grimes (1996)
(We're re-posting this 2008 interview to celebrate Kirk Douglas' 100th birthday on December 8, 2016.) Legendary Hollywood movie star Kirk Douglas will be 92 in December (2008). 92! I’m roughly half his age and from everything I’ve heard about him of late, he’s got twice the energy and drive that I do. Every generation of the last 60 years can easily point to a favorite Kirk Douglas movie, whether it’s Champion, Paths of Glory, Lust for Life, Spartacus, or Tough Guys. As for me, I’ve always had a fondness for the cartoon silliness of The Villain. His latest autobiographical book, Let's Face It: 90 Years of Living, Loving and Learning was just released in paperback. It joins an already crowded bookshelf of memories, including The Ragman’s Son, Climbing the Mountain: My Search for Meaning, and My Stroke of Luck. In this interview, you'll hear classic Douglas attitude slowed only slightly by stroke. But there's no doubt why this man deserves the title "Legend." Kirk Douglas • •
(2008) There are only two places that I will sing out loud: number one, if I’m alone; and number two, if I’m driving somewhere with my son. I’ve been singing out loud to him since the first day I drove him alone in the car and AC/DC’s “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)” came on the radio. Last year, we even started singing a song together, Bruce Springsteen’s “Radio Nowhere.” God bless him, he doesn’t judge me; or if he does, I’m blissfully unaware of it. So I’m not the likeliest guy to host a show featuring a guy whose life was changed by karaoke. I can guarantee you that will not ever happen to me. But I have a good sense of fun and the ridiculous, so I invited Brian Raftery, author of Don’t Stop Believin’: How Karaoke Conquered the World and Changed My Life, to join me on Mr. Media tonight. And I’m counting on my audience to step up. Because in addition to talking to Brian about his book, I’m inviting listeners to call in and sing to us. You can sing along to your iPod, Zune, the radio, whatever. I just don’t want to hear your accompaniment. Just you, okay? Brian Raftery • • • • •
What is there in my DNA that makes me, in middle-age, suddenly enjoy reading a good contemporary romance novel? There’s that word “good,” for starters. For the second time in a year—and despite being the antithesis of her target audience—I succumbed to reading a Jane Peden novel cover-to-cover with few, if any interruptions. JANE PEDEN podcast excerpt: "I think the Trump era will be a boon for romance novels because everyone wants to escape from everything that's going on in real life... All romance novels have one similarity: you know you're going to have a happy ending. If it doesn't have a happy-ever-after ending, it's not a romance novel." Her latest, The Millionaire’s Convenient Arrangement, is the second in her “Miami Lawyers” series, taking us inside the life of one of the high-flying attorneys in the fictional South Florida law firm of Flanagan, Berrington & Perez. It follows closely on the heels of The Millionaire’s Unexpected Proposal. Peden, herself a Florida trial lawyer, tells a fast-moving tale of people who feel real. Their public and private lives are challenged by issues with which most of us can identify, although their sex lives are probably a little hotter and more creative than most. Honestly, I liked Peden’s first novel so much, I published her second under the Mr. Media Books imprint. How’s that for commitment? This is her second appearance on Mr. Media. JANE PEDEN podcast excerpt: "People really like to watch TV shows about lawyers and read books about lawyers. That's because you're only seeing the exciting parts of all lives! So I try to keep the dull, boring stuff out of my books, too." Key interview moments: • 2:50 Lawyer by day, romance novelist by night Jane Peden explains the public's attraction to lawyers in fiction, TV and film; • 14:00 Peden compares writing her novels to giving birth; • 25:40 Thoughts on what the President Donald Trump era will mean to romance novels. Jane Peden • • •
Johnny G. Lyon has a voice that was built to sing rock ‘n’ roll. And the rumors are true: I once spent a night with Johnny G. Oh, it was innocent enough – I was there early one evening in April 2008 when the band loaded in its equipment at the old Big Apple Bistro on Central Avenue in St. Petersburg. And I stayed all night with Johnny and his drummer and buddy Ray Blade. My fiancee – and days away from being my bride – was there, too, and we listened to every song and talked in a booth between every set until the wee hours. JOHNNY G. LYON podcast excerpt: "I get a little tired sometimes, but if you strap this guitar to me, I feel the same old sparks shooting up my back." It was a great night, a memory I’ll always treasure from my days as a reporter and editor of the short-lived Tampa Bay weekly. My time with Johnny and the boys turned into a cover story for the alt-weekly. It was accompanied by a close-up photo of the singer with his mouth open so wide we could see his tonsils! Through the wonder that is Facebook, Johnny G. and I reconnected literally two weeks ago. And when the opportunity to book guests for a live remote interview happened, I knew I had to get Johnny in hear to catch up – and hopeful entertain with a song. Johnny G. Lyon Band • •
(MARCH 2010) Things I learned about “Rhymes With Orange” syndicated cartoonist Hilary Price by reading her blog: • She wears a size 40 shoe—by Euro measures. • She went to Cuba with several cartoonists recently. The trip was organized by Jeannie Schulz, widow of “Peanuts” cartoonist Charles Schulz. • While she was gone that week, rather than work ahead on her daily strip, she asked Mo Willems to fill in. • She has a fluffy white cat named Seltzer. • Every November, she opens her Florence, Massachusetts studio to the public. HILARY PRICE podcast excerpt: "Plush toys! You can have a plush toy of Snoopy. There's going to be no 'Rhymes With Orange' plush toy unless I come up with a character. So darn it!" What I didn’t need her blog to tell me about Price: she is a huge favorite of professional cartoonists and is probably better known among them than the general public. She is esteemed for her humor and style. Hilary Price • • • •
The first time Swedish country music singer and guitarist Hicks was my guest on Mr. Media, I remember being surprised how “country” he really sounded. I thought, going into the interview, that I would have to make allowances for a Scandinavian trying to sound like a genuine Tennessee backwoodsman – you know, pickup trucks and gun racks, hounddogs and hooch, Confederate flags and the Dukes of Hazzard. But that was stupid. HICKS podcast excerpt: "It's cool that I can not only express my love to my bride in our daily life, but I can also write a song about it. Thenb, all of a sudden, it's on radio, it's on television, it's global. Now everybody knows how I feel!" There is nothing inauthentic about Hicks and his devotion to country music. You can hear it for yourself by downloading his latest single, “Stomp A Little Louder,” featuring American country music legend Steve Wariner. And you’ll hear it live right here as he performs two original songs, “99 Guns” and “Kiss You Like I Mean It.” If you missed Hicks’ first appearance on Mr. Media—in which he performed “Mama’s Kitchen” and “You Belong to Me” — you can still watch it in the archives to learn how a kid from Sweden!—SWEDEN!— wound up in the midst of all that fiddle and banjo stuff. And if you like lively country flared with a bit of rock ‘n’ roll, you’re gonna enjoy today’s show. HICKS podcast excerpt: "Steve Wariner and I had the title, 'Stomp A Little Louder.' To us, it means whatever you need out of life, go out and get it! Work a little harder, think a little smarter, and you're gonna get it. It's about following your dream." Key interview moments: • 6:25 Newlywed Hicks can do something for his bride that you can't; • 9:20 The genesis of the song "Stomp A Little Louder," which he wrote and recorded with Steve Wariner; • 21:50 Hicks reveals the source of his muscle-bound frame. Hicks • • • •
(2007) Peanuts Treasury was the first hardcover book I remember getting as a kid, somewhere around 1968, 1969. I spent hours reading and re-reading it, losing myself in the comic misadventures of Charlie Brown and Snoopy, wishing I could be like Charles Schulz, the strip’s writer and artist. My first dog, acquired around that same time, was not coincidentally a beagle, like Snoopy, whom we named Peppy, and I loved that crazy dog. I was so fond of Peanuts Treasury that it’s one of the few prized possessions from my misspent youth that followed me through college, half a dozen adult relocations, and is now on my son’s bookshelf. It’s hard to find anyone who has anything bad to say about “Peanuts” or Schulz. The strip’s creator lived and thrived in the pre-Internet age where the world didn’t demand every detail of a celebrity’s life be preserved and shared. For the most part, we knew only his good works and the enduring cartoon series based on them. In his new book, Schulz and Peanuts, biographer David Michaelis introduces readers to the real cartoonist behind the daily strip. Michaelis’ previous biographical work includes a history of painter N. C. Wyeth. (Incidentally, the Schulz family – led by Sparky’s widow, Jean – has aggressively come out against the book they once authorized and with which they cooperated fully.) David Michaelis • • •
(JULY 2007) You just can’t pigeonhole Billy Bob Thornton. Think about the movie roles he’s most famous for and see what, if any, connection there is: Carl in Sling Blade; Hank Grotowski in Monster’s Ball; Morris Buttermaker in Bad News Bears; Coach Gaines in Friday Night Lights, and my favorite, Willy in Bad Santa. Who would figure that the guy who portrayed so many varied and somewhat disturbed characters had a musical soul too? But, this month, Billy Bob Thornton’s fourth CD, Beautiful Door, will be released. It’s a collection of original, contemporary songs with a touch of country, all written and sung by Thornton. He also is the drummer on the album’s tracks. And just like his choices as an actor, no two songs on the album are easily matched and categorized. You’ll recognize his deep voice instantly on the somber opening ballad, “It’s Just Me,” but be surprised that it’s also him on the rockin’ “Hope for Glory.” BILLY BOB THORNTON podcast excerpt: "Probably the funniest story that ever happened on any movie was on a movie called Pushing Tin that I did with John Cusack up in Canada. The story is way too long to tell here, but let’s just put it this way: we played a pretty decent practical joke on John, who has a weak stomach, and we got him good. It was a very elaborate plan, and about two weeks later, he got me back. We’ll just say it involved a sheep, a real live sheep, and some lingerie." Billy Bob Thornton • • •
Zoe Whittaker is not who anyone thinks she is. She may not even be who she thinks she is. KATE MORETTI podcast excerpt: "I don't think the average person has faced the amount of tragedy and bad decision-making that Zoe has faced. If anybody tried to write about the bad decision-making of the average person, you'd wind up with a really boring book!" And identity issues aside, there seems to be something sinister in not just her past, but in her present. The danger in her past seems to be creeping into her present, but is it related or something new? Kate Moretti’s latest novel, The Vanishing Year, is a page-turner in which the reader quickly gets caught up in both the luxury of the heroine’s life and something frightening that appears to be lurking around every corner. If you’re looking for a suspenseful, woman-in-danger story, you’ll want to take a ride with Moretti’s latest. And then, like me, you’ll find yourself reaching for her previous bestsellers, including Binds That Tie, Thought I Knew You, and While You Were Gone. KATE MORETTI podcast excerpt: "The pharmaceuticals company I work for is Johnson & Johnson and the area I work in is biologics. We make drugs derived from biologic material. It's nothing you can take over the counter; it's all injected or infusions. They're for people with pretty debilitating illnesses. I work in a large molecule lab. I had to do a lot of research (for 'The Vanishing Year') because I don't actually take anything. Except for the occasional Advil." Key interview moments: • 5:00 Novelist Kate Moretti says real life isn't as interesting as that of her heroine's; • 15:50 In her day job, Moretti is a scientist for Johnson & Johnson; • 27:45 Moretti avoids reading other authors while she is writing her own books. Kate Moretti • • • •
Today's Guest: Legs McNeil, co-author, I Slept with Joey Ramone: A Punk Rock Family Memoir Order I Slept with Joey Ramone: A Punk Rock Family Memoir by clicking the book cover above! Order Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk by clicking the book cover above! (MAY 2010) Joey Ramone wasn’t really Joey Ramone. Most people know that the “Ramones” name was for the stage, although few sought out and became their stage persona more completely than the former Jeffry Hyman, a spindly, troubled boy from Queens. If you’re a Ramones fan—or just fascinated with stories of familial disfunction—you’re going to find the new book, I Slept With Joey Ramone: A Family Memoir, an irresistible attraction. LEGS McNEIL AUDIO EXCERPT: "All along, Mickey was writing songs with Joey and never credited. Years and years of frustration came to light when Bud Light used 'Blitzkrieg Bop' in a commercial. I don't think he wanted a lot of money; he wanted recognition. He was there in the studio (when the song was originally recorded), harmonizing with Joey because their voices were almost identical. It was kinda like The Beach Boys, with Carl and Brian Wilson harmonizing with each other." The story was written by Joey’s younger brother, Mitchell Hyman, a.k.a. Mickey Leigh, with help from Legs McNeil, a long-time friend of both brothers and the author of the classic music history, Please Kill Me: The Uncensored History of Punk. Legs, today making his second appearance on Mr. Media, got to know Joey and Mickey in the late ‘70s when he and John Holmstrom co-founded the legendary Punk magazine. I got to know Legs through his later contributions to Spin magazine. His writing always comes with a twist; he’s never dull. Legs McNeil Facebook • Twitter • MySpace • PunkMagazine.com • Please Kill Me website • Legs McNeil's 2008 interview with Mr. Media Order Will Eisner: A Spirited Life (2nd Edition) by Bob Andelman, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!
I Slept with Joey Ramone: A Punk Rock Family Memoir by Mickey Leigh with Legs McNeil. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above! Please Kill Me; The Uncensored Oral History of Punk by Legs McNeil. Order your copy today by clicking the book cover above! Today's Guest:Legs McNeil, author, Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk, I Slept with Joey Ramone (MAY 2008) When Spin magazine started, its staff included two fascinating characters. First was Bob Guccione, Jr., the magazine’s founder and namesake son of the publisher of Penthouse. And then there was Spin’s senior editor, Legs McNeil. Legs McNeil!?! What the hell kind of stupid name was that for a journalist? I mean, I grew up with kids named "Plinky," "Jiggs," and "Doine," but "Legs"? Well, let me tell you, that guy Legs McNeil could write. Some months, the only copy worth reading in Spin was under his byline. It wasn’t until years later that I learned that in the early 1970s, McNeil was a co-founder, with John Holmstrom and Ged Dunn, of Punk Magazine, which gave name to an entire musical generation. McNeil has since written two remarkable non-fiction books, Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk, and The Other Hollywood: The Uncensored Oral History of the Porn Film Industry He’s also involved in a new documentary series unspooling across VH1, Spike, and the Sundance Channel in May called "SEX: The Revolution." Because of the nature of these topics, if you’re easily offended – or under 18 - stop listening now. Thank you. Legs McNeil Website • Facebook • Twitter • MySpace • PunkMagazine.com • Please Kill Me website Order The Other Hollywood: The Uncensored Oral History of the Porn Film Industry by Legs McNeil, available right now at a great price by clicking on the book cover above! Order Will Eisner: A Spirited Life (2nd Edition) by Bob Andelman, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!
If you’re in the public eye, folks love to read deeper meaning or intent into everything you do or say. That’s why I’m betting that Rolonda Watts never seriously considering writing a romance novel during the years she was best known as the host of the Emmy Award-nominated, syndicated daytime TV talk show cleverly dubbed “Rolonda.” ROLONDA WATTS podcast excerpt: "Once you give your characters flesh and bone and little tics and blonde hair, they become real! I had a lady one time at a a book signing say, 'I got everything you were telling us about writing, but when you got to the part about the characters talking to you, you lost me!'" Her millions of viewers might have looked at her a little differently if she wrote the following paragraph back then: Garrett gently kisses me on my forehead, my eyelids, my temples, and my cheeks. He caressses my hair and begins to press his strong hard body against mine. He becomes aroused, his muscular thigh rubbing in between mine. First of all, they’d wonder: “Why does Garrett only have one muscular thigh? What’s wrong with the other one? Or—is he an amputee? Not that there is anything wrong with that – it’s probably a genre of its own!” But, I digress: He dives his hot tongue into my mouth, and I am so hungry for his kiss that I nearly swallow it… So you get the idea. That would likely become a little distracting from the day’s talk show topic, whether, “Where Are All the Good Black Men?” or “I’ve Been Stood Up 26 Times” or “Beauty and the Breasts.” ROLONDA WATTS podcast excerpt: "Writing has been a hobby for me since I was a little girl. During my talk show, in 1996, Hurricane Bertha slammed Topsail Island, where 'Destiny Lingers' takes place, and I had a home there. Dumb me wanted to stay there and cover the story for 'Inside Edition.' By the time the TV production truck got to the island, it was too dangerous to let the truck on and too dangerous for me to get off. I was one of 11 stubborn stragglers left on the island. This is what started the story." Actually, maybe a romance novel would have been a perfect companion. Rolanda on TV was fearless and funny, sassy and a bit silly at times. With Destiny Lingers, Rolonda Watts takes all that personality once squeezed into the tube and lets her love flow across 255 pages of fiction. How much of it is romantic fiction and how much is real life? We’ll find out next, on Rolonda! Key interview moments: • 4:55 TV talk show host turned romance novelist Rolonda Watts explains how Hurricane Bertha inspired her to write Destiny Lingers; • 23:50 Fictional characters talk to Watts, believe it or not; • 37:25 The day Bill Cosby was a guest on 'Rolonda'--and what he apologized for. Rolonda Watts • • • • • • • • •
TODAY’S GUEST: Ina-Alice Kopp, actress, “Flytrap"
INA-ALICE KOPP podcast excerpt: “Even though my character appears to be very simple-minded — and very mechanical at times — I do feel that, in the end, we’re telling a very touching, human love story.”
Key interview moments:
• 5:10 Actress Ina-Alice Kopp explains that even though her character, Mary Ann, seems focused only on sexual reproduction at the start of Flytrap, she does evolve by the end;
• 15:00 Kopp says she and her love interest in the film, played by actor Jeremy Crutchley didn't feel like they were pretending on screen;
• 23:45 How does an Austrian-born actress becoming big in China? Hint: it doesn't hurt to speak seven languages well.
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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The first time I tried my hand at fiction in high school, it was a way of dealing with people and issues that I couldn’t handle in real life. My friends thought it was hysterical and that I was a little twisted. In college, I again used fiction writing for my personal aims, this time to deal with my frustrating inability to get laid as a freshman at the University of Miami. I thought it might be a way of leveling the playing field. It didn’t change my virginal status, but as the manuscript was handed around the dormitory, I earned a different kind of reputation. I was the guy who remembered and chronicled all the stuff that happened when everyone else was falling-down drunk, and I was the guy who, if you messed with me, would get even with you at the typewriter. My father once said to me, “Nothing bad will ever happen to you because you’ll just write about it and get even.” And isn’t that what the power of the press is all about? Twenty-five years later, I read the latest novel by Florida writer . Hurricane Punch reminded me of, well, me. As I turned the pages and read about people being barbecued by military meals-ready-to-eat lasagna or being fried by the world’s most powerful guitar amp, I remembered the thrill of brutalizing the people I thought were idiots or who had done me wrong. Dorsey, who’s joining us today (April 12, 2007), is a former journalist who made it out alive, having worked at the Tampa Tribune from 1987 until 1999. Hurricane Punch, which was published in February 2007, is Dorsey’s ninth novel. It’s an all-too-funny story about life in the world’s emerging media capital, Tampa Bay, during hurricane season. It skewers the media left and right, which made it perfect for discussion here. Tim Dorsey • • •
Today's Guest: Josh Alan Friedman, singer, “Sixty, Goddammit”
On today’s show he performs two songs LIVE, “This Radio Don’t Play Nothin’ But The Blues” and “Deep River Blues II.”
JOSH ALAN FRIEDMAN podcast excerpt: “I played thousands of nights in honky-tonks across Texas, so I played ‘I Got A Woman’ every night, a rockabilly version of it. I would do ‘Georgia’ in Ray Charles’ style. But ‘What ‘d I Say’ — I almost feel like it’s mine.”
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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If you’ve ever been to one of the Disney theme parks, you know that a “Hidden Mickey” refers to sightings of Mickey Mouse in unexpected places. For example, you can find “classic” Mickey locks hanging on the cabinets behind Captain Jack Sparrow in the treasure room to the left of your boat on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney World, according to the website HiddenMickeyGuy.com. That said, if you come to my guest Robert K. Elder’s new book, Hidden Hemingway: Inside the Ernest Hemingway Archives of Oak Park, thinking it’s that kind of story, you’ll be disappointed. (Note to the author: Got a great idea for a sequel…) Hidden Hemingway is, instead, a deep dive into what is apparently an endless collection of Hemingway family documents, souvenirs, letters and ephemera dating back decades. Elder – along with co-authors Aaron Vetch and Mark Cirino – have sorted through stacks of Hemingwayana to share everything from baby pictures and high school memorabilia to Papa’s handwritten letters to his own papa and his membership card from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Even if you’ve read his novels and/or Carlos Baker’s exhaustive biography, there is plenty to fascinate any Hemingway fan here.
Bob Boland, at middle age, is a mess. Fortunately for him, the life-long bachelor and radio station engineer has hit a sweet spot where every woman he’s been meeting lately wants to fix him and make him all better. His co-worker, Irene, for example. And his neighbor, Leonie. LOUIE CRONIN podcast excerpt: "Tom Magliozzi was very outgoing and used to come and talk to me and joke and laugh. We were friends before I started working for them on 'Car Talk.' I got to know Ray more slowly because he was quiet and more the straight man. But he was every bit as smart and funny as Tom." But Bob is just shuffling through life at this point, indecisive, indifferent, f-able but ultimately ineffable. Bob is at the core of Louie Cronin’s first novel, the Cambridge, Massachsetts-set story, Everyone Loves You Back. It’s a charming, easy read and I daresay we all probably have a Bob Boland in our lives. Making Everyone ever more interesting is its workplace setting: an FM radio station in the throes of conversion from jazz to an all-news format. That’s particularly compelling because the author spent 10 years as the producer of “Car Talk” the long-running NPR show host by Tom and Ray Magliozzi. More recently, she is a technical director for PRI’s “The World.” She must have been taking a lot of notes over the years! LOUIE CRONIN podcast excerpt: "I'm in a writing group and I read the book to them, chapter by chapter, as I wrote it. I often had times when the men in the group said, 'No, no! He wouldn't care about what the guys had on! He would be thinking more like, 'Who could take who in a fight?' They corrected me as I went along." Key interview moments: • 5:05 First-time novelist Louie Cronin talks about how her writing group helped her get the inner voice of the book's male lead character correctly; • 16:10 As a long-time producer for public radio's "Car Talk with Tom and Ray Magliozzi," Cronin was asked to make a Sophie's Choice between the brothers; • 25:10 That time her writing coach told her that if she was going to write literary fiction, she better not quit her day job. Louie Cronin • •
Today's Guest: Del Harrison, comedian Watch this exclusive Mr. Media interview with comedian Del Harrison by clicking on the video player above! Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience full of men and women suffering from a bad outbreak of racism… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Del Harrison has some strongly held beliefs — about racism, tipping, men’s private parts and more. And it’s a good thing, too, because Del Harrison is a comedian. DEL HARRISON podcast excerpt: "Donald Trump, you can't go from running 'Celebrity Apprentice' to running the free world—we need experience! I can't wait till November 9 so the whole world can say, in unison, 'You're fired!'" Her job is to tell you what she thinks about the world around her, absorbing her personal reality and repackaging it to make you and me laugh at the absurdity of it all. She recently landed a residency at the The Lab, inside The Hollywood Improv. Her show, titled “Standup, Storytelling and Sangin'!” is a mix of standup comedians and storytellers, as well as a live band. To find out when she’ll need be onstage there – or in your town, check out the listings at her website at DelHarrison.com I watched a few minutes of Del Harrison video on her YouTube channel and burst out laughing. That’s all I needed to book her here. DEL HARRISON podcast excerpt: "When I first met Steve Harvey, I had just moved to New York. I came out of my tech support job, getting some lunch, and I saw him walking on the street. I went, 'Oh, my God -- Steve Harvey!' I said to him, 'I just started doing comedy!' He had a security guard with him, blocking me, like I was some old groupie! I'm like, 'Mofo, ain't nobody wants to f--k Steve Harvey! Come on, now!'" Key interview moments: • 11:40 Comedian Del Harrison can't wait to fire Donald Trump on Election Day; • 12:40 And with so many women coming out of the woodwork accusing Trump of sexual assault, Harrison can't tell the difference between him and Bill Cosby; • 26:50 Harrison was excited to meet comedian and TV star Steve Harvey on the streets of New York, except for his bodyguard. Del Harrison Website • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • YouTube • LinkedIn • Wikipedia • IMDB Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above! The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!
Today's Guest: Sheaun McKinney, actor, “Vice Principals"
SHEAUN McKINNEY podcast excerpt: “My character on ‘Vice Principals,’ Dayshawn, is the voice of reason for Danny McBride’s character. Dayshawn’s allegiance is always to Danny. I agree with his core principals, but I don’t agree with his tactics. Dayshawn keeps it 100% with him.”
Order a “Vice Principals” poster: http://amzn.to/2amnrl3
Key interview moments:
• 4:00 Sheaun McKinney, co-star of the new HBO sitcom “Vice Principals” with Danny McBride and Walton Goggins, tells how a chance visit to an LA church — and the literal earthquake that followed — changed his career;
• 8:40 This is the story how not getting a part in WGN’s “Manhattan” led to bigger and better things;
• 14:56 McKinney breaks down his character’s importance to Danny McBride’s character.
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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Flytrap is the kind of fantasy that would scare the crap out of Donald Trump – what if there are aliens living among us and they’re from much farther away than Mexico or even Syria? And what if they don’t want our jobs or money? What if they’re really after our sperm? INA-ALICE KOPP podcast excerpt: "Even though my character appears to be very simple-minded -- and very mechanical at times -- I do feel that, in the end, we're telling a very touching, human love story." I don’t want to give away too much but this indie, erotic sci-fi thriller does more with a non-existent special effects budget than many Hollywood films can do with a sky-high pile of cash. Flytrap stars British actor Jeremy Crutchley as “Pond, James Pond,” Austrian actress Ina-Alice Kopp as “Mary Ann,” and American actor Jonah Blechman as “Gilligan.” (You read those character names right; there are sexy bits of fun all over this one.) Joining me today from her native Austria is Ina-Alice Kopp, whose character is Stepford Wife-like in her total devotion to getting laid. Which sounds like fun at first for James, but you know what they say about too much of a good thing… INA-ALICE KOPP podcast excerpt: "As actors, we like to feel things are natural, that we don't have to pretend. That's what for both of us." Key interview moments: • 5:10 Actress Ina-Alice Kopp explains that even though her character, Mary Ann, seems focused only on sexual reproduction at the start of Flytrap, she does evolve by the end; • 15:00 Kopp says she and her love interest in the film, played by actor Jeremy Crutchley didn't feel like they were pretending on screen; • 23:45 How does an Austrian-born actress becoming big in China? Hint: it doesn't hurt to speak seven languages well. Ina-Alice Kopp • • • • • • • • • Flytrap •
Today's Guest: Tommy Ford, star of the faith-based web TV series "The Club" and co-star of the long-running Martin Lawrence sitcom "Martin." Just received news that comedic actor Tommy Ford, friend and co-star of the long-running Martin Lawrence sitcom “Martin,” died suddenly today (October 12, 2016)at the age of 52. Ford was a guest on my Mr. Media in October 2015. He was a charming, delightful man and I’m saddened by his passing. For a reminder of his talent and bigger than life personality, enjoy the reposting of this interview. #RIPTommyFord TOMMY FORD podcast excerpt: “Martin Lawrence and I are still friends; I just saw him perform in Atlanta. Those friendships don’t stop… Even when he co-starred with Kelsey Grammar!”
The first time Jackie Collins was a guest on Mr. Media, I have to admit I was a little nervous. This is a novelist who has sold about 4 billion copies of her books and has been producing quality, popular work since I was in short pants. Would she hang up the minute the first dumbass remark came out of my mouth? JACKIE COLLINS podcast excerpt: "I'm not that explicit but I'm explicit enough." And when I inevitably stumbled over the title of her then current book, Poor Little Bitch Girl, would she put me in my place with a withering glance so toxic I could feel it through the phone line? Nope. She was a doll. I remember finishing that interview and feeling like that was a keeper. Miss Collins was charming, effervescent and, for struggling and successful writers alike to hear, quite the inspiration. I’m quite eager to spend the next 30 minutes with her to hear about her new book, Goddess of Vengeance, which continues the adventures of Lucky Santangelo and her supporting cast. I’m also hopeful we’ll hear more about her craft and how the autobiography is coming. I might even ask what her actor sister Joan is up to this time. Or I might not. Jackie Collins • • •
Sex? Check. Scandal? Check. Thinly veiled portraits of Hollywood celebrities? Check. Breathless, page-turning details? Check. JACKIE COLLINS podcast excerpt: "When I was just starting off, I was in New York being interviewed by this journalist. We were in a private room. I had a very provocative book then, The World is Full of Married Men. It was my first book. I got up to leave the room after the interview was over and he got up behind me and he pinched me on the ass! I turned right around and I thought, 'I want this to be a good article! I don't want to get mad at him!' So I did the only thing I could think of, and I pinched him right back on his ass!" That confirms it: Poor Little B*tch Girl is definitely a Jackie Collins novel. Not that I ever doubted it; when I was a teen in the ‘70s, Mom read plenty of Collins and Harold Robbins novels, so I’d know their work anywhere. And I kept picking up her work from time to time while in college in the early ‘80s. So this is a real treat for me—and for Mom, who’s out there listening right now. Jackie Collins • • • • • • • •
If it’s a choice between watching drama or comedy, I always pick comedy.Why choose to get all weepy and sad when the other option is to fall off your chair laughing? I think the die was cast for me back in 1978, when Steve Goldin and I saw Animal House the night it opened at a theater in Princeton, NJ. I had seen comedies before, of course, but none that had ever worn me out. We laughed so hard at the antics of the Delta House gang that we went back again the next night. And quite a few more times after that. SAUL AUSTERLITZ podcast excerpt: "I wanted to broaden the definition of comedy to some extent. In terms of Renee Zellweger, I thought it was valuable to include some of the performers who had been quite funny in films more oriented to women. Because I think some of today's movies are aggressively marketed for men. People like Renee Zellweger and Julia Roberts are comedic performers, though obviously in a different way than Will Ferrell, but they do have something to contribute." Saul Austerlitz would probably make the same choice, I’m guessing. He’s the author of a new movie history, Another Fine Mess: A History of American Film Comedy. It takes the genre from Charlie Chaplin—whose work I myself studied at the University of Florida many years ago — to Judd Apatow, whose work I now study from the comfortable of my family room, without the annoyance and interruption of pop quizzes and term papers. Austerlitz established his pop culture research credentials with a previous book, Money for Nothing: A History of the Music Video from the Beatles to the White Stripes. Saul Austerlitz • • •
A week ago, I was concerned that this interview might be tinged in sadness. Was it possible that NBC’s rollickin’ good fun spy rom-com “Chuck” might not be back for a fourth season next fall? But then the clouds parted and the sun shone… and NBC renewed “Chuck,” too. There are a couple must-see TV shows for which our entire family enjoys gathering around in front of the television these days. There’s “Lost” and “Modern Family” on ABC and “Big Bang Theory” on CBS, and “30 Rock” and “The Office” on NBC. But the one my son and I especially enjoy above all others is “Chuck.” One of the perks of hosting this show is getting the opportunity to interview men and women whose work I enjoy. And I’m delighted to welcome back for a second show the man who puts the “ster” in the “Chuck” house band “Jeffster,” the actor who brings “Buy More” sales associate “Lester Patel” to life, Vik Sahay. VIK SAHAY podcast excerpt: "NBC has a history of sticking with (quality) shows. That's the lore of 'Seinfeld,' isn't it? They believed in it and believed in it and by season four, they struck fire."
Today's Guest: Marc Maron, comedian, podcaster, "WTF with Marc Maron, actor, "Maron," "G.L.O.W." Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of guys who knew Tommy Blaze and Ron Bennington back in the days when they played the Coconuts comedy clubs here… in the NEW new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order This Has To Be Funny by comedian Marc Maron, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the album cover above ]If you love stand-up comedy and enjoy listening to intelligent conversation with America’s funniest men and women on TV and in film, meet Marc Maron. Maron is one of those guys — like Richard Belzer, Louis CK and the late Robert Schimmel — that comedians themselves turn to to get a serious dose of the funny. He’s outrageous, unrestrained and full of self-loathing — everything you want when dropping serious coin on a night out. MARC MARON podcast excerpt: "The darkest realization I've had... I want to go from the second lowest rung on the show business ladder to the lowest one and put a band together, at 47 years old, is ridiculous. I'm relatively infantile in my delusions of what's next for me." He’s also developed a new world to conquer: podcasting. Maron is the host and producer of "WTF with Marc Maron." Actually, it’s “What the F**k with Marc Maron,” but you can’t write or say that in some places. Here, no problem. Order Attempting Normal by Marc Maron, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! The show is a place for Maron to sit down with some of his closest friends and occasional antagonists or one-time enemies and talk funny. Many of the conversations take place, literally, in his garage, although he’s been taking the show on the road much more often lately, talking to Will Ferrell’s producing partner, Adam McKay, in his office, or visiting with Ray Romano on the set of his new show, “Men of a Certain Age.” And he’s taken the show on the road in even more literal terms, sharing the stage with an array of regional comics and combining stand-up with conversation, as he did this past week in Austin. You can subscribe to “WTF with Marc Maron” on your iPhone or other smartphone via the Stitcher app, or visit his website, WTFPod.com. Marc Maron Website • Twitter • WTF with Mark Maron Podcast • WTFPod on Twitter • Facebook • Wikipedia • IMDB • MySpace • Maron sitcom on IFC • Maron sitcom on Facebook • Maron sitcom on Twitter Order Thinky Pain by Marc Maron, available on DVD from Amazon.com by clicking on the image above! Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above! The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!
(JULY 2011) I always knew of Tony Hendra’s magazine work, being of the generation who were teens and then college students during the best years of both the National Lampoon and Spy. But I never real knew Hendra until I read Rick Meyerowitz’s book, Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Writers and Artists Who Made the National Lampoon Insanely Great. TONY HENDRA audio excerpt: "With the (New York Times) struggling — with a moron as its publisher, numerous scandals over the past ten years — it remains the Old Grey Lady and the Old Grey Lady is as constipated as ever... and we've been having great fun with the corpse of the Times." Meyerowitz wrote that Hendra was one of the “brilliant” guys in the book’s title. He was also very good at holding his alcohol, apparently.“Often, reading the magazine, you can’t tell who wrote what, but Tony’s prose has a specific gravity. You can feel its weight on the page. His sentences, like shiny steel, fit together with a metallic sound, like the business parts of a Gatling gun locking in place. And his words ring like bullet casings hitting a steel deck after being fired.” Am I intimidated talking to someone that clever? Of course; why else do you think I’m relying on Rick Meyerowitz’s words to carry me here? Hendra is back in the spotlight with the launch of TheFinalEdition.com, a broad parody of The New York Times, Fox News and media in general. You might argue that on any given day, The New York Times itself is but a parody of The New York Times, but that won’t deter the likes of Tony Hendra. He has the Old Grey Lady in his sights and his trigger finger is ready to squeeze. TheFinal Edition.com * • •
Cartoonist Basil Wolverton was known for his grotesque drawings, fantastically odd creatures, spaghetti-like hair, smoothly sculpted caricatures and insanely detailed crosshatching. His career in the golden age of comic books lasted from 1938 until 1952, after which his illustrations and caricatures extended into such publications as Life, Pageant and MAD magazines. Stylistically, he has been regarded as one of the spiritual grandfathers of underground and alternative comix. Less well known and understood is his work for the Worldwide Church of God, headed until 1986 by radio evangelist Herbert Armstrong. From 1953 through 1974, Wolverton, a deeply religious man, was commissioned and later employed by the church to write and illustrate a narrative of the Old Testament (including over 550 illustrations), some 20 apocalyptic illustrations inspired by the Book of Revelations, and dozens of cartoons and humorous illustrations for various Worldwide Church publications. Compiled and edited by Wolverton’s son, Monte, the 304-page Wolverton Bible includes all of Wolverton’s artwork for the Worldwide Church of God corporation. Monte Wolverton delivers commentary and background in the introduction and in each section. Many of the illustrations in this book are regarded as Basil Wolverton’s finest work. Still others have never been published, and some of the humorous drawings printed here rival Wolverton’s work in MAD magazine. Monte Wolverton • ¨• •
Drew Friedman is BETTER than Picasso! So says Howard Stern, and who is Mr. Media to argue with the King of All Media? Drew is the king of modern caricaturists. His work has been featured on almost every major American magazine, from The New York Times and MAD to Entertainment Weekly and Field & Stream. DREW FRIEDMAN podcast excerpt: "Howard Stern -- the uglier, more disgusting I draw him, the more he likes me." In recent years, he has turned much of his attention capturing a generation of sometimes unheralded entertainers: Old Jewish Comedians. In fact, it’s become virtually a brand for Drew, starting with his first collection, Old Jewish Comedians, then his second, More Old Jewish Comedians, and now his third, Even More Old Jewish Comedians. Who knew there were so many Old Jewish Comedians? Is there any chance he’s making some of these people up as he goes? Who knows? Who cares – it’s funny and the artwork is impeccable. Drew has been on Mr. Media before and he recently connected me with his father, legendary humorist and novelist Bruce Jay Friedman. And the family act continues next April with a reprint of Drew’s first book of comics from the pages of Raw magazine – co-authored with his brother, Josh Alan Friedman. Today we’re meeting in person at the TradeWinds Resort in beautiful St. Pete Beach, Florida, where Drew is the keynote speaker at the International Society of Caricature Artists annual convention. We’ll use that as an excuse to talk about craft. A very special feature of the video of this interview is a 17-minute, over-the-shoulder demonstration of Drew Friedman's caricature technique, as he draws me and then a real celebrity, Robert Crumb. Don't miss it! Drew Friedman • •
(JULY 21, 2009) They are probably the best-known good cop/bad cop team in comics today. “They” are Gary Groth, the founder of The Comics Journal, and his partner in —and fellow editor—Kim Thompson. Fantagraphics is a preeminent publisher of comics –related books and magazines, including the more than 30-year-old Comics Journal, as well as an extensive line of graphic novels, comics histories, underground comix—with an ‘X’ or two—and comic strip collections such as “Peanuts” and “Popeye.” So who is the good cop and who is the bad cop? It’s no secret actually. Groth, the founder of the company, is generally regarded as the bad cop, the guy who shoots acid from the lip and lets the cow chips fall where they may. Thompson, therefore, is generally regarded as the good cop, the guy who evens out Groth’s rough edges. That, as in any case, is the reputation of the two guys atop Fantagraphics. The truth, I suspect, is somewhere in-between. Fantagraphics • • •
Today's Guest: Lisa Roth, co-creator, creative director, Rockabye Baby Music
Order Rockabye Baby Music: http://amzn.to/2ap6g3I
LISA ROTH podcast excerpt: "We do it with great care, great pride, from the sound of the recording to the artwork. It's something the original artists can be proud of. We're not making fun; we're huge fans."
Key interview moments:
• 6:30 Lisa Roth, co-creator and creative director of Rockabye Baby Music, talks about the care that is put into converting pop, rock, metal and hip-hop tunes into soothing lullabies for babies;
• 13:50 Roth reveals that Aerosmith's "Dude Looks Like a Lady" is one of her favorite conversions and discusses the evolution of baby music;
• 19:08 Ever wondered what it might be like to grow up with Van Halen lead singer David Lee Roth as your older brother?
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I met James Sheehan at a St. Petersburg Times Festival of Reading event back in 2005. I was there promoting my and he was riding a wave of excellent reviews for his first novel, The Mayor of Lexington Avenue. As we got talking, however, we realized we had met before – through our dogs. Turns out, Jim and his wife literally live around the corner from me. I walk my dogs several times a day, and his dogs had figured out a way of tunneling under the fence. They didn’t know how to get back once they were loose, however, so my wife and I returned them to the Sheehan’s yard more than once over the years. They’ve got a new fence now, so that doesn’t happen as often. A few weeks back, Jim and I met up again. He was on his way to South Carolina for a big booksellers event to launch his second novel, The Law of Second Chances. Jim gave me a copy to read and I knew it was time to get my neighbor on the show. James Sheehan • • •
Craig Pittman’s beat at the Tampa Bay Times is covering Florida’s environment in all its politically skewed glory. Want to know how an oil spill could impact the Gulf of Mexico and the Sunshine State’s beaches? Pittman’s the guy to read. So it might seem like the intrigue over a single orchid’s origins and rightful ownership would be a little under his radar. But, investigative journalist that he is, Pittman smelled a good mystery lurking behind the lush tropical setting of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Florida. CRAIG PITTMAN podcast excerpt: "By making this big, splashy discovery that would get some headlines, the (orchid experts at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens) thought, 'This will remind them of our value, this will make them want to continue supporting our work.' And it kind of backfired." The Scent of Scandal: Greed, Betrayal and the World’s Most Beautiful Orchid is a story that took the reporter years to fully develop and was one he began writing about way back in 2002. It’s extremely well-written—which is not really a surprise coming from an award-winning journalist whose previous books include Paving Paradise and Manatee Insanity. If you ever read Susan Orlean’s book The Orchid Thief or saw the crazy-ass film made from it, Adaptation, you’ve already had a peek into this highly competitive world of illegal imports, competitive bookworms, snooty dilettantes, and rascally worms. Craig Pittman • • • •
Just a few weeks ago I was telling my wife about the scariest movie I ever saw: Tales From the Crypt. This 1972 gore fest came replete with a psycho Santa and a beating heart – left in a crumpled up letter, as I recall. I was 12 when I saw it at the State Theater in New Brunswick , NJ, with my friend, Robert Douglas. That movie scared the living shit out of me. First and only time I ever moved to the back of the theater and felt like I might vomit. Gave me nightmares not for days, but years. I mention it now because it is one of the “gems” featured in a new book, The B List, edited by David Sterritt and John Anderson. What is the mark of a great ‘B’ move? Is it scaring the crap out of 12-year-old boys? That’s one of the questions I’ll ask my guest, David Sterritt, chairman of the National Society of Film Critics and a film professor at Columbia University. David Sterritt • •
I wouldn’t mind spending a day or two in the shoes of Mike Sacks. During the day—and probably quite a few nights—he is a mild-mannered writer for Vanity Fair magazine. When he’s not doing that, he’s been interviewing some of the smartest, funniest writers around for his new book, And Here’s the Kicker: Conversations with 21 Top Humor Writers On Their Craft. MIKE SACKS podcast excerpt: "A lot of them are shy and socially awkward. They get used to you and know you do your research. But if I met them at a party, it would have been a car wreck." As a writer myself, this book was irresistible to me; the chance to eavesdrop on Sacks’ Q and A with the guys—and one woman—behind everything from “The Office,” Borat and “Saturday Night Live” to MAD magazine, The Onion and MAS*H. Even if you’re not a writer, this is a rich vein to mine for laughs and insight into your favorite pop culture icons. Mike Sacks • • • • • •
Apparently, Geefwee Boedoe watched a lot of filmstrips back in elementary school. You know the kind I’m talking about. The ones that broke down every complicated issue from understanding the Constitution to what a molecule is and could explain away any topic in about six minutes with simplistic animation and catchy but somewhat silly musical jingles. This young director learned his lessons well, turning the medium upside-down and inside-out for his 2010 Academy Award-nominated Best Animated Short, Let’s Pollute. GEEFWEE BOEDOE podcast excerpt: "For me, Let's Pollute was a personal thing. I had a whole list of other ideas, but this one rose to the top. It seemed more timely." Boedoe attacks rampant consumerism, waste and the related politics with a seemingly gentle nature that disguises a vicious attack on modern attitudes in our throw-away society. Waste not, want not? Oh, no! “Waste it! Want it!” is the tongue in toxic chic message of Let’s Pollute. Let's Pollute • • •
(EDITOR'S NOTE: September 10th is Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry's birthday and I'm using it as an excuse to dig way back in my archives to share my December 13, 1984 telephone interview -- and subsequent December 24, 1984 print review/interview for the St. Petersburg Times. As is often the case with these old interviews, the audio is not great. And Joe spoke at a whisper no matter how often I asked him to speak up. But I spent 40 minutes talking to the man, y'know? And while I wasn't as well versed in the band as I am now, fans may enjoy it. Or hate it. -- Bob Andelman) JOE PERRY excerpt: "Right now, a lot of people like Motley Crue are walking around, saying to the press, 'We're the baddest, grossest guys .. .' Let them talk about it, let them make fools of themselves.I just keep my door closed." JOE PERRY excerpt: "'Walk This Way' was written in a soundcheck. The riff came out - we had the song but we didn't have the title. We were joking about 'Young Frankenstein' and someone yelled out 'Walk this way!' and we said, 'That's it!' Steven came up with the words off the top of his head. It started off at a coliseum in Hawaii and ended up in Manhattan as 'Walk This Way.'" AEROSMITH • • • • • •
Guys, get lost. This one is for the ladies. And ladies, I know what you’re thinking – who does Mr. Media think he is? Oprah? Hell, he’s not even Tyra! Why should I give up some of my valuable time to hear him talk about surviving motherhood? But ladies, I respect the work it takes to give birth and raise a child. And I think you deserve all the help you can get in putting your life back on track after the baby is born and is on its way to childhood. That’s why I’ve invited life coach Julia Roberts to the show today. No, not that Julia Roberts! She will talk about “unpregnancy” and her recent book, "Motherhood to Otherhood: Step Up to a New You." So put the kids down for a nap, pull out a bottle of red wine, and let’s get down to girl talk. Or, um, whatever you call it. Julia Roberts • • •
(December 15, 2008) The only person who doesn’t find the new CBS TV sitcom “Worst Week” hysterical is the person who isn’t watching it. Last night, less than 45 minutes before his marriage to Melanie, Sam managed to set his in-laws swimming pool on fire. Don’t ask me how—just believe it was the latest fall out of your seat laughing moment on a show that thrives on calamitous humor. Joining me today is the star of “Worst Week,” Kyle Bornheimer. The show airs on CBS on Mondays at 9:30 p.m. If you haven’t seen his show—and what are you waiting for? Kyle may still be a familiar face; he’s been in training for this role as a perpetual one-shot guest star in everything from episodes of "Will & Grace” and “Weeds” to “Breaking Bad” and "Jericho." And who could forget him in the episode of “Girlfriends" titled, “What’s Black-a-Lackin’?” He's also starring in a movie due out this spring called She's Out of My League. Kyle Bornheimer • •
(2010) My first issue of MAD magazine was purchased near the checkout counter at a Stop & Shop supermarket in my hometown of North Brunswick, New Jersey, in July 1970. I’ll never forget the cover: a parody of the summer’s big hit, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, featuring a couple of actors named Redford & Newman. I no longer have it, but I suspect that that was my first exposure to legendary artist Sergio Aragones. SERGIO ARAGONES podcast excerpt: "I did about 20 Pocket Books for MAD with new material. The characters are what sell the book. I thought, 'Why not draw myself on every cover? That way they know it's my book.' So I became a comic book character." Sergio has been producing illustrated gags for MAD since 1963 and for many fans, his work and the humor mag’s name are forever entwined. He has been one of the Usual Gang of Idiots for longer than I’ve been able to spell “ee-diots.” This month, Sergio — who has already won the National Cartoonist Society’s top honor, the Reuben Award, as well as the Will Eisner Hall of Fame Award and the Comic Art Professional Society’s Sergio Award, named after, um… him — is being recognized in a different way with a book retrospective. MAD’s Greatest Artists: Sergio Aragones: Five Decades of His Finest Works, is an oversized coffee table collectible that reproduces some of his finest, crazy material in a hardcover format that will no doubt outlast us all. It is a great honor to have him as a guest today. Sergio Aragones • • •
(2010) Raquel Welch is… well, c’mon, she’s Raquel Welch! Beautiful, funny, enigmatic and smart, she will always be the epitome of the American sex symbol for several generations of men. The lasting image of Raquel for me will always be of her bodice-bursting work in Three Musketeers. I was too young then to know her as Loana in One Million B.C., although the poster of her in a prehistoric, pre-PETA, doeskin bikini did make a certain impression later. RAQUEL WELCH audio excerpt: "I was never interested in that (nude pictures of myself). It's not the kind of thing I was seeking out. Lots of fans send pictures of bikinis that are wet (to be autographed) and I replace them with something else." Today she’s promoting her new book, Raquel: Beyond the Cleavage, which is short on Hollywood at times but long on beauty and health tips and along the way presents a virtual manifesto for the modern, mature woman. I think this story will appeal to two types of women: those of any age who want to be like Raquel, and those who think a woman as sexy and famous as Raquel Welch couldn’t possibly relate to their lives. Because, from what I read in Beyond the Cleavage, I think she does. The 14-year-old boy in me is extremely excited to welcome Raquel Welch to today’s show; the 50-year-old man in me is trying to weigh her willingness at 70 to date younger men and whether it’s worth leaving my wife of 22 years for a shot. I’ll let you know how that stands in 30 minutes. Raquel Welch • • m
Mort Walker is the dean and -- in some ways -- the curator of American cartoonists. Best known for his long-running strips “Beetle Bailey” and “Hi & Lois,” Walker, 84, is also a bedrock member of the National Cartoonists Society, and he’s the founder and energy behind the National Cartoon Museum. This is the third time I’ve had the pleasure of Mort’s company over the last 20 years. I enjoy interviewing him because he says what’s on his mind, and what’s on his mind is never dull. But just in case my questions aren’t sharp enough for this American comic strip master, I’ve called in reinforcements. Ray Billingsley, creator of the “Curtis” strip and an old friend of Walker’s, kindly contributed questions today. So did a newer member of the fraternity, Mark Tatulli, creator of “Heart of the City” and America’s fastest-growing new strip, “LIO.”
(2008) Anybody who tells you that one comic book looks just like the next doesn’t know what they’re talking about. It doesn’t take much effort to tell Jack Kirby’s blocky drawings from Steve Ditko’s otherworldly stylings, for example, or, in more modern terms, the dark, detailed pencils of Frank Miller from the brighter, livelier sketches of Jim Lee. And few of those guys produce anything like the work of “Gentleman” Gene Colan. Colan’s contribution to the industry date back to the 1940s, but he was one of the artists who, in the 1960s and ‘70s, defined Marvel Comics and characters such as Daredevil, Dracula, Iron Man, and even Howard the Duck. His richly drawn images looked like they took a lot longer to do and required much more care and patience than those of many of his contemporaries. Put another way, you could escape into a Gene Colan 32-page comic for a lot longer than you could someone else’s books. It is an honor and a pleasure to welcome Gene Colan to Mr. Media today.
Scott Gerber puts into words what a lot of people need to hear: Not everybody is going to succeed in Corporate America – and more than a few of you are foolish to even try. He’s not calling you a loser – that would be your father’s job. He’s saying there is another way to go about pursuing a job, a career, a life – something that fits you best, but doesn’t necessarily fit into your parents’ definition of a job. SCOTT GERBER podcast excerpt: "Nobody even talks about why young people now more than ever need to be entrepreneurial. It blows my mind! What rock are these people living under?" In his new book, Never Get a Real Job, Gerber presents an unorthodox approach to the working life. As a guy who has always gone his own way – but for two very short-lived jobs working for someone else – I enjoyed his candor and his advice. Gerber will probably be the first to tell you that no book of this kind can be a perfect one-size-fits-all. But for a lot of people foundering in dead-end jobs for faceless corporations, reading Never Get a Real Job just might light a fire. You might figure out the right career move for yourself and get some solid tips on how to achieve it.
Michael Chiklis, the star of ABC’s new superhero dramedy “No Ordinary Family” knows a thing or three about playing a hero. His first ABC series, "The Commish," featured Chiklis as a police commissioner, the kind that kids looked up to and donut shop owners enjoyed supporting in their neighborhoods. MICHAEL CHIKLIS podcast excerpt: "We don't know what we're going to be able to achieve from a technical standpoint at the end of this season. The special effects are constantly leaping forward exponentially. The sky's the limit. Literally. I could definitely see 'No Ordinary Family' going out in 3-D. After that? I guess it's hologram. I'll be projected in the middle of your living room instead of on the wall." And what greater superhero is there than Ben Grimm, the rocky “Thing” that Chiklis portrayed in two live-action movies about the original Marvel Comics superheroes, the Fantastic Four. He’s also played two classic anti-heroes, Detective Vic Mackey in the critically acclaimed FX series “The Shield” and John Belushi in the controversial biopic, Wired. In some ways, "No Ordinary Family" is a mashup of all those roles, mixing humor, a family sensibility and superpowers into 60 minutes of entertainment every Tuesday night at 8 p.m. If you haven’t seen it yet, watch the pilot on ABC.com. It’s way cooler than you might have expected, with sharp writing, clever twists and an occasional nod and a wink to comics fans.
I defy you to pick any page in a Guy Kawasaki book – any page at all – and not come away a little smarter, a little inspired, or at least a little entertained. And that’s setting the bar pretty low; I found there was often too much of a takeaway when I read his last two books, Reality Check last year and his latest, Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions. GUY KAWASAKI podcast excerpt: "I'm just a social media whore-- what can I tell you? The important thing is that you give the illusion you're working hard!" His wife might think he needs to take out the garbage or otherwise help out more around the house, but as a reader and a fan, I think Kawasaki does too much already. He’s making the rest of us look lazy based on his productivity. There are the books – ten and counting – the businesses, including – the keynote speaking engagements, the blog for American Express, and his founding partnership in Garage Technology Ventures. He still speaks so highly of Apple – where he rose to fame as its chief evangelist more than 24 years ago – that many people think he’s still on the payroll. (And he’s not doing much to dissuade them by having Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak quoted on the front cover saying, “Read this book to create a company as enchanting as Apple.”) In Enchantment, Kawasaki dissects enchantment like a high school student would a frog, making it clear that a concept that may seem ephemeral to some is actually quite easily studied, learned and duplicated. You just need the desire to start.
Today's Guest: Kevin Willmott, writer, director, star, 'Destination: Planet Negro'; co-writer (with Spike Lee), 'Chi-Raq'
Download 'Destination: Planet Negro': http://amzn.to/29MFy0c
KEVIN WILLMOTT podcast excerpt: "The budget for 'Planet Negro' was $5,000. Five-thousand dollars! Everybody worked for free. What I spent the $5,000 on was meals. The cinematographer is a professor I work with; he built the spaceship. The robot was built by another buddy. He built it from stuff he had lying around. It took two years to make the movie. And I play one of the leads because I knew I would always show up!"
Key interview moments:
• 6:10 Destination Planet Negro writer/director/star Kevin Willmott explains how he made his movie for just $5,000;
• 19:00 A lifelong fan of 1950s sci-fi films, Willmott always loved seeing astronauts in leather jackets;
• 27:00 Willmott talks about crossing paths with Spike Lee and how they came to co-write Chi-Raq.
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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Amy Rose may not be the only country music singer to sing songs about drinking and partying, but she’s certainly staking her rising career on them! The first time she was on Mr. Media, in 2012, it was to promote and sing “Party Like A Redneck (Redneck Reunion).” AMY ROSE podcast excerpt: "People just like to relate to songs about beer, let’s face it! Everybody likes beer. Everybody likes beer! The songs are working!" In 2015, she was here commanding us all to “Show Up Naked and Bring Beer”! This time, our favorite performer in all of North America has a new drinking anthem, “Put A Lime In It”! It is her fastest rising single to date and when you hear her sing it here live, you’ll know why. In fact, she will be performing two songs today with guitarist Chris Taggart, so stick around for a little lime and “One Of These Days.” AMY ROSE podcast excerpt: "We do 'Pieces of My Heart' by Janis Joplin in our live show and we do 'Me and Bobby McGee. Everybody loves Janis Joplin." Oh, PS – Amy promised to sponsor my Canadian citizenship if Donald Trump is elected president of the United States. I don’t think I asked, but she was sweet enough to offer! Key interview moments: • 3:53 Country singer Amy Rose talks about her wildly growing success with songs about beer, partying and rednecks; • 17:50 She reveals that her live shows include two Janis Joplin covers, “Me and Bobby McGee” and “Piece of My Heart." Amy Rose • • • •
In a moment, I’m going to be talking to Jeannie. The character who bedeviled Dr. Alfred Bellows. The innocently seductive soul who tamed bachelor-for-life Major Anthony Nelson. And the absolutely stunning, real-life woman who helped a lot of young men meet puberty head on. Raquel Welch last fall, Barbara Eden today – my inner teen wants to know what took so long! BARBARA EDEN podcast excerpt: "The minute I Dream of Jeannie was, 'Honey, I'm home,' and the little housewife thing, it was over. I think it was a mistake." This really is a treat; I watched “I Dream of Jeannie” with my parents when it was still on network TV, then re-watched the episodes a few hundred more times over the ensuing decades. And there came the day when I rediscovered it with my daughter, Rachel, introducing a new generation to the wonders of bottled blondes with magical powers and evil twin sisters. Barbara is here today because she recently published her autobiography, Jeannie Out of The Bottle. She probably doesn’t know this, but two previous Mr. Media interviews presaged her appearance. The first was with Larry Thomas, best known for playing the Soup Nazi on “Seinfeld.” A few years back he talked about what a wonderful actress and human being Barbara was when they appeared together doing live theater. Second was when I interviewed her proud niece, Katharine Fugate, the creator of the Lifetime network show, “Army Wives.” Katharine said during that show, “You should have my Aunt Barbara as a guest.” As you wish, Mistress. Barbara Eden • • •
In the first couple episodes of the new HBO sitcom, “Vice Principals,” actor Sheaun Mckinney’s moments on screen are short, but sweet. Oh, and funny. Very, very funny. SHEAUN McKINNEY podcast excerpt: "My character on ‘Vice Principals,’ Dayshawn, is the voice of reason for Danny McBride’s character. Dayshawn’s allegiance is always to Danny. I agree with his core principals, but I don’t agree with his tactics. Dayshawn kreeps it 100% with him." Mckinney plays the cleverly named “Deshaun,” a cafeteria worker at North Jackson High School who is upbeat, professional, and may be the only one on the school’s staff who sees its two vice principals, played by Danny McBride and Walton Goggins, for the assholes they are. It’s the kind of role where Mckinney’s character may represent the audience watching the show, raising an eyebrow or cocking his head askew at the mayhem the veeps get into. The show airs Sundays on HBO at 10:30 p.m. SHEAUN McKINNEY podcast excerpt: "I came back to L.A. for what I thought would be four or five days. My friend said, 'Let's go to church.' I'm always game; my faith is very important to my life. A guest speaker gave a sermon. He kept saying, 'It's time for you to make a move. It's time for you to ACT on your faith.' I get that you can listen to any sermon and think, 'Oh, my God, Jesus is really talking to me!' But certain things stuck out." For me, it’s really cool to see Mckinney back in action. He made his first appearance on Mr. Media back in late 2007 as the star of an indie hip-hop film, Nemesis – later re-released as Know Thy Enemy. I’m guessing “Vice Principals” is the big break he’s been waiting a decade for. Key interview moments: • 4:00 Sheaun Mckinney, co-star of the new HBO sitcom “Vice Principals” with Danny McBride and Walton Goggins, tells how a chance visit to an LA church — and the literal earthquake that followed — changed his career; • 8:40 This is the story of how not getting a part in WGN’s “Manhattan” led to bigger and better things; • 14:56 Mckinney breaks down his character’s importance to Danny McBride’s character. Sheaun McKinney • • •
Today's Guest: Brian Alexander, author, America Unzipped : In Search of Sex and Satisfaction Sex, sex, sex. Seems like that’s all there is on the Internet some days. Well, this is one of those days, my friends. My guest today is Brian Alexander, author of America Unzipped: In Search of Sex and Satisfaction. Brian also writes the “Sexploration” column on msnbc.com. America Unzipped: In Search of Sex and Satisfaction by Brian Alexander. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above! The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!
Recommendations are worth what you pay for them, so I don’t always accept them at face value. But the same literary agent who turned me on to young adult novelist Sara Zarr two years ago thought I’d also enjoy James Dashner’s new YA book, The Maze Runner, enough that he sent me a copy without first asking. And Michael—who, in the interests of full disclosure, represents all three of us—even though there is hardly a bit of similarity between the work of these two authors, you read me pretty well so feel free to recommend something else. JAMES DASHNER podcast excerpt: "The words in The Maze Runner are never used exactly as replacements for swear words. Their main intent was to give their dialogue a futuristic flavor and that they've been isolated and developed some words on their own." The Maze Runner is the kind of book that teens and youthful readers of all ages in search of an appropriate follow-up to the adventures of Harry Potter will no doubt enjoy. It takes place in a fantastical, impossible place, develops a language of its own, and features characters you will instantly love—and hate. (Sorry, Gally.) This is the first book in a trilogy from Dashner, who you may already know as author of the 13th Reality series. James Dashner • • •
Today's Guests: Joshua Malina, actor, “Scandal,” “The West Wing,” “Sports Night,” podcast host, “The West Wing Weekly”; Rob Kutner, creator, “Runaway Brains,” monologue writer, “Conan”
JOSHUA MALINA podcast excerpt: “I want to push Shonda (creator and showrunner of ’Scandal’) toward shorter hair for my character. The less hair I have, the less obvious it will be that I’m losing my hair… I think the shorter haircut will work for the attorney general, but I might be out of a job.”
Listen to the “Runaway Brains” comedy podcast: http://Howl.FM
Listen to “The West Wing Weekly podcast: http://www.TheWestWingWeekly.com
Key interview moments:
• 4:25 “Runaway Brains" creator Rob Kutner explains that he sought to introduce more “narrative scripted fiction into the podcast world" by writing a buddy comedy radio sitcom that features “Jeopardy” champion Ken Jennings (played by Ken Jennings) and the IBM supercomputer Watson (played by Weird Al Yankovic);
• 16:25 Kutner explains his choice of Yankovic for the role;
• 27:27 “Scandal” star Joshua Malina — who guests in the third episode of “Runaway Brains” — talks about what might be ahead for his attorney general character in the show’s sixth season — or does he?;
• 31:10 Malina talks about what drew him to co-host a podcast about one of his earlier series, “The West Wing,” and whether that show’s creator, Aaron Sorkin, might soon be a guest.
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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Today's Guest: Charlotte Stewart, actress, “Twin Peaks,” “Little House on the Prairie,” Eraserhead
CHARLOTTE STEWART podcast excerpt: “David Lynch is a very sincere person. He is a meditator — he is a joyful person. I’ve never seen David in a bad mood. When I was shooting ’Twin Peaks’ last year, his set was so comfortable… David Lynch paints film; he does a visual thing that is unlike any other director I’ve known. And it works.”
Order Little House in the Hollywood Hills: A Bad Girl's Guide to Becoming Miss Beadle, Mary, and Me: http://amzn.to/1YiPdja
Order 'Twin Peaks: The Entire Mystery': http://amzn.to/21duDj4
Key interview moments:
• 17:25 Actress Charlotte Stewart spent a lost weekend with Jim Morrison, lead singer of The Doors, shortly before his fateful trip to Paris from which he would never return;
• 45:02 Perhaps best known as the schoolmarm “Miss Beadle” on the long-running Michael Landon TV series, “Little House on the Prairie,” Stewart has nothing but love and respect for its growing legion of fans;
• 51:45 Stewart, who starried in director David Lynch’s very first film, Eraserhead, and his best-known work, the TV series “Twin Peaks,” talks about what he is like as a man and a friend.
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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The first rock ‘n’ roll my infant son heard almost 20 years ago was AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell.” It was the first time we were alone in the minivan – Charlie was maybe a week old – and I was dying to hear some familiar tunes. I also wanted my kid to get acclimated to my taste in music. I remember wishing there were songs that I could listen to over and over again with him that wouldn’t make me unconscious. Today’s parents have that opportunity. LISA ROTH podcast excerpt: "We do it with great care, great pride, from the sound of the recording to the artwork. It's something the original artists can be proud of. We're not making fun; we're huge fans." Lisa Roth’s company, Rockabye Baby, takes hits we all know and loves and painstakingly adapts them for the tender ears of newborns and infants. It’s elevator music for the next generation whatever they might be collectively called. There are 76 different Rockabye Baby albums; more than 1.8 million have been sold to date, including the songs of The Beatles, Pearl Jam, David Bowie, and Guns n Roses. The latest is a collection of Adele’s greatest hits, including “Rolling in the Deep.” Can’t stand another round of “John Jacob Jingleheimer Smith”? Try putting your newborn to sleep with “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival. And you haven’t lived until you’ve heard Aerosmith’s “Dude (Looks Like a Lady)” played, not with guitars or drums but mellotrons, vibraphones and bells. Not a fan of bayou or Boston rock stars? How about a little Taylor Swift melody, in which the usual pop instruments on “Shake It Off” are replaced by xylophones and bells? LISA ROTH podcast excerpt: "He's David to me. Never 'Dave'; never 'David Lee.' 'David Lee' -- that would be our mother calling him. He was a huge personality and a handful in the household growing up. When he became famous, it was exciting. They broke the mold after my brother. I have never encountered anyone like him in my life" I haven’t lost my mind, folks. I’m talking about the growing catalogue of “Rockabye Baby” albums in which classic rock and modern pop anthems that mom and dad have loved for a lifetime have been adapted for their infants. Even Tipper Gore might approve. Who is Lisa Roth? Here’s a hint; her brother once replaced Howard Stern. No? Okay, here’s another: he’s the voice – and personality – of a little California band you may have heard of called Van Halen. Key interview moments: • 6:30 Lisa Roth, co-creator and creative director of Rockabye Baby Music, talks about the care that is put into converting pop, rock, metal and hip-hop tunes into soothing lullabies for babies; • 13:50 Roth reveals that Aerosmith's "Dude Looks Like a Lady" is one of her favorite conversions and discusses the evolution of baby music; • 19:08 Ever wondered what it might be like to grow up with Van Halen lead singer David Lee Roth as your older brother? Rockabye Baby Music • • • • • • •
Today's Guest: Michael Pare, actor, "Traded," "Eddie and the Cruisers," "Streets of Fire"
Order "Traded" starring Michael Pare, Trace Adkins, Kris Kristofferson: http://amzn.to/1XvNCrx
MICHAEL PARE podcast excerpt: "The director of 'Eddie and the Cruisers' auditioned me and asked if I could sing. I said, 'Sure! I sing like Sinatra. And I play guitar like Jimi Hendrix. Anything you want, I can do it.'"
Key interview moments:
• 4:05 Michael Pare rode horses in movies before, but for the Western 'Traded,' he had special training and a truly great time;
• 13:36 Pare calls country singer and 'Traded' co-star Trace Adkins "a tremendous presence" on screen -- "a big effing guy I would love to do another movie with";
• 21:36 Pare takes us behind the scenes of 'Eddie and the Cruisers,' a movie for which he clearly still has great fondness.
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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Whatever happens in a blackout stays in a blackout. But eventually, secrets about things that happened before the blackout are likely to escape the cone of silence. 3rd Street Blackout is a romantic comedy written by Negin Farsad and Jeremy Redleaf. JEREMY REDLEAF podcast excerpt: "The budget for '3rd Street Blackout' was less than a house in the middle of nowhere." It is directed and produced by Farsad and Redleaf. It also stars… you guessed it, Farsad and Redleaf. She is a foul-mouthed, often hysterically funny Iranian-American comedian, filmmaker of the documentary The Muslims Are Coming! and the author of How to Make White People Laugh. He is the man behind a transmedia production company called Brackets Creative, is a creative consultant on Fuse/Funny Or Die’s “Billy on the Street,” and, as an actor, plays Gonnigan on “Sesame Street” and narrates “Guy Code,” “Guy Court” and “Jobs That Don’t Suck” for MTV.” JEREMY REDLEAF podcast excerpt: "(Comedian) Negin Farsad and I met a couple of years ago where all comedy duos start, in Minneapolis. We were at a conference together and bonded because there was nothing else to do. Back in New York, we started writing this movie together and never stopped." By the way, 3rd Street Blackout includes cameos from comedians Janeane Garofolo, John Hodgeman and Rachel Feinstein, and features a very funny supporting turn by Phyllis Somerville, who you may recognize most recently from “Daredevil” on Netflix or as neighbor Marlene from Showtime’s “The Big C.” Key interview moments: • 4:22 3rd Street Blackout co-auteur Jeremy Redleaf explains how he met his writing and acting partner Negin Farsad; • 11:20 Redleaf reveals the budget for the indie comedy. 3rd Street Blackout • • • • • Jeremy Redleaf • • • • • • • • Negin Farsad • • • • • • • •
There is a rogue, American-trained sniper tearing up the Mexican countryside – and, more importantly, the country’s political landscape – in Scott McEwen and Thomas Koloniar’s latest Sniper Elite novel, Ghost Sniper. On the surface – hell, the cover illustration is a close-up of an enhanced sniper rifle – you might expect this will be a story that glorifies horrific gun violence. And while the violence is brutal, it isn’t celebrated at all. The fast-moving story is one of good vs. evil and many shades of dirty grey, all of them leading back to the CIA. SCOTT McEWEN podcast excerpt: "One of my most vivid memories of Chris Kyle is just how humble a guy he really was. And how much he loved to joke around and shoot the breeze with people. He was just a normal guy; a very intense warrior, but one of the funnest guys I ever drank with in my life." If you like tales of international espionage and psychological warfare, it’s hard to beat the power of Ghost Sniper. As for Scott McEwen, who is joining me today, he is a San Diego trial attorney who made his name in books as the late Chris Kyle’s co-author on the #1 New York Times bestseller American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History. (You may have seen the film version of American Sniper, starring Bradley Cooper as Kyle, and directed by Clint Eastwood.) Incidentally, a feature film based on Sniper Elite is currently in the works. SCOTT McEWEN podcast excerpt: "Gil Shannon is going through a crossroads in his life. At the beginning of the 'Sniper Elite' series, he's with his wife. And now, he's lost his way... Men go through these things. His wife said to him, 'Look, when you're ready to stop chasing bad guys all over the world, then I'm ready to be with you. But until you're ready, I can't live this life anymore, waiting for the telephone call, not knowing if you're going to live or die.'" Key interview moments: • 14:17 Ghost Sniper novelist Scott McEwen talks about the future of his anti-hero, Gil Shannon; • 26:00 A progress report on the first 'Sniper Elite' film, coming from Sony; • 33:00 McEwen remembers his friend, Chris Kyle, with whom he co-authored the bestselling memoir, American Sniper. Scott McEwen • • •
Today's Guest: Bill Plympton, filmmaker, Hitler's Folly, Cheatin
Stream 'Hitler's Folly for free: http://www.plymptoons.com
BILL PLYMPTON podcast excerpt: "I was reading a newspaper and saw that Hitler was a big fan of 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.' I thought that was the most surreal thing I ever heard. Here is the most evil man in history, laughing over the antics of these dwarfs!"
Key interview moments:
• 3:20 Filmmaker Bill Plympton explains what inspired him to create a fake history of Adolf Hitler in Hitler's Folly;
• 10:10 Anyone can stream Hitler's Folly for free from Plympton's website, http://www.plymptoons.com; Plympton explains why he is giving his latest film away at no cost;
• 13:00 The star of Hitler's Folly is actor Dana Ashbrook, best known as "Bobby Briggs" from the original run of "Twin Peaks."
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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The movie is called Destination: Planet Negro and it is as twisted, smart and funny as the title implies. KEVIN WILLMOTT podcast excerpt: "I know 'Destination: Planet Negro' was so crazy that I wasn't even going to talk to people about funding it. I'm a professor at the University of Kansas; this is my seventh feature film. I used the equipment at KU, then I pulled in favors from all my buddies that were in my other movies. The budget for 'Planet Negro' was $5,000. Five-thousand dollars! Everybody worked for free. What I spent the $5,000 on was meals. The cinematographer is a professor I work with; he built the spaceship. The robot was built by another buddy.He built it from stuff he had lying around. It took two years to make the movie. And I play one of the leads because I knew I would always show up!" KEVIN WILLMOTT podcast excerpt: "I have a film called 'CSA: Confederate States of America.' It imagines what happens if the South won the Civil War. That's how I met Spike Lee. He read a script called 'Gotta Give It Up.' That was 15 years ago. We tried to get is made a long time ago. He called me back" In his new film, he combines moments of great social satire – hello, Strom Thurmond! – with serious political points about race and sexuality. And it’s really, weirdly, funny, too. Key interview moments: • 6:10 Destination Planet Negro writer/director/star Kevin Willmott explains how he made his movie for just $5,000; • 19:00 A lifelong fan of 1950s sci-fi films, Willmott always loved seeing astronauts in leather jackets; • 27:00 Willmott talks about crossing paths with Spike Lee and how they came to co-write Chi-Raq. Destination: Planet Negro • • • Kevin Willmott • •
(EDITOR'S NOTE -- Today, June 27, 2016, would have been the 89th birthday of the great CBS-TV children's TV host, Bob Keeshan, better known to the Baby Boomer generation as "Captain Kangaroo." Keeshan passed away in 2004, and I've spent years trying to recover the telephone interview I did with him as a St. Petersburg Times correspondent, published September 19, 1984. I'm pleased to say I finally found it and upgraded the audio quality. You can now read the interview as published or, for the first time ever, listen to our actual conversation. I hope you'll enjoy this classic edition of Mr. Media and share it with your friends and family. -- Bob Andelman) When it comes to children's television, Captain Kangaroo is a man who knows what he's talking about. And what the soft-spoken Captain is discussing these days is the scarcity of quality network programing provided for kids. Captain Kangaroo, a.k.a. Bob Keeshan, will address the subject at a free lecture at the University of South Florida's Cooper Hall auditorium, CPR 103 (College of Arts and Letters, Tampa campus), on Thursday at 8 p.m. He was last here in 1976, taping segments of the program at Busch Gardens. His appearance corresponds to the end of the Captain's nearly 30 years on CBS. The end has been in sight for some time. In January 1982, some CBS affiliates such as Tampa's WTVT-Ch. 13 dropped the weekday morning Captain Kangaroo Show (it was picked up briefly by WFTS Ch. 28). Later that year, CBS Morning News was lengthened and for the first time the Captain could only be seen on Saturday and Sunday mornings. For a short time even the name and format of his show was changed, to the fast-paced Wake Up. UNTIL December, the Captain Kangaroo Show continues on weekend mornings, al though it has been unavailable in Tampa Bay for some time. After the first of the year, the future of the Captain, Mr. Greenjeans, Mr. Moose and Grandfather Clock is uncertain. BOB KEESHAN podcast excerpt: "I feel very strongly that I'm able to take that role as advocate and let people know how strongly I feel that society needs to do a better job nurturing people.." "We are searching for a time period on public television, where we hope we will be on Monday to Friday and reach the audience that the program has been designed and produced for over the many years. I think there's a very strong chance," Keeshan said in a recent telephone interview from his New York office. The people involved in making decisions at CBS have displeased Keeshan but he says they are doing "what they have to do. If the FCC didn't tell them they were free to do what they wanted to do, they would make other decisions. But with that unshackling of responsibility, the stockholders have got to get their due, as much money as they possibly can. That's the bottom line. "I might have some strong feelings about the FCC and their doctrinaire feelings about letting the marketplace function and take care of children. God knows the marketplace certainly will take care of children but not the way we expect it to," he adds. "WE'VE BEEN talking to PBS, and they have nothing but enthusiasm for the project. The key factor really is the finding of underwriting for it. Public television is not a very wealthy system. They have a great deal of difficulty financing their operations, especially since (President Reagan) has seen fit to veto the latest appropriation for public television. They're in difficult straits, so we have to find corporate underwriting. We're seeking a far-sighted company that feels strongly about the future of the nation to the extent that (the way) we nurture children through television is important to the future of the nation," Keeshan says. If steps are not taken to improve the way children are raised, Keeshan says, "we're going to be in trouble in this country." Keeshan, now 57, was a 20-year old college undergraduate when he started playing Clarabelle the Clown on Howdy Doody in 1948. Five years later he left that show and played Corny the Clown on Time for Fun and Tinker the Toymaker on Tinker's Workshop. On Oct. 3, 1955, Captain Kangaroo premiered five mornings a week. (In 1967. the show added Saturday mornings as well for a few seasons.) THE NOW-FAMOUS character's name was an afterthought to the creation of the Captain's personality. At the last minute somebody said what are we going to call this thing? He had to come up with a name. “Alliteration in those days – Rootie Kazootie, Howdy Doody - seemed important. We thought of him as the captain of a treasure house, a museum sort of place. We gave him a rank that a guide might have, and because he had large pockets like the pouch of a kangaroo, we called him Kangaroo, Captain Kangaroo. It was alliterative," Keeshan recalls, "a little catchy." BOB KEESHAN podcast excerpt: "We thought of him as the captain of a treasure house, a museum sort of place. We gave him a rank that a guide might have, and because he had large pockets like the pouch of a kangaroo, we called him Kangaroo, Captain Kangaroo." Captain Kangaroo's growth represents development over periods of time, including on-the-job training and research outside of television. "I did not, on Howdy Doody," Keeshan admits, "have any knowledge of the needs of children or how we could meet them. But in 1951, my son was born, so I began looking at television from a different perspective, viewing it as a parent, showing some concern in those very early days, fairly excited for the potential of using television to instruct the child emotionally and culturally. I began seriously thinking and studying ways in which that could be done. My whole approach to children changed radically." Keeshan and his wife Jeanne eventually had three children of their own, Michael, 33, Laurie, 31, and Maeve, 29. They have two grandsons, both almost three years old. LIKE MOST children growing up between 1955 and 1982, the young Keeshans watched the Captain as any child might do. They were never tested, never asked what they liked or disliked. "They were never even told I was the Captain until they got to an age when they realized that. We lived in a suburban community that very much respected our wishes in that respect so they were very ordinary kids, the same as if I had been an airline pilot, executive of a company, something of that sort. “If they felt very strongly about something, they might tell their mother about it,” Keeshan continues, “the same way any child might say, ‘Gee, I liked the dancing bear and what he did today.’ I never depended on them as a laboratory.” How good or bad is today's television for kids? Keeshan responds by asking how good today's television is for adults. The juvenile audience is not monolithic, he insists. It's not one individual and therefore one program is good for all and another is bad for all. "Children bring, as adults do, different backgrounds, experiences and stages of emotional development to a program. So for some children a particular program is fine viewing. For other children it's not appropriate viewing at all. The same is true with adults. We have to recognize there are millions of different human beings in the children's audience, each of them unique. No two have ever been born alike. "SOME CHILDREN," Keeshan suggests, "at their stage of emotional and cultural development, are able to watch a particular program and benefit from it. Other children might well be harmed by that same program. That implies that parents have a very great need of responsibility to intervene in the program selection of their children. "A lot of parents would never think of just sending their children out to play and not be concerned about who they were playing with, where they were playing or what activity they were engaged in. American children spend much more time with television than they do with their real life sandbox playmates and are being much more influenced by their television viewing than by real life playmates. Parents ought to be at least as much concerned about their television playmates as their real life playmates," he says. BOB KEESHAN podcast excerpt: "I might have some strong feelings about the FCC and their doctrinaire feelings about letting the marketplace function and take care of children. God knows the marketplace certainly will take care of children but not the way we expect it to." Keeshan says there was a good deal more programing for young people 15 and 20 years ago than there is today. Public television has always had an "excellent" commitment to children, he says, but the commercial networks have fallen a long way from the days of Howdy Doody, Rooti Kazootie, Ding-Dong School, The Mickey Mouse Club. Mr. Wizard and Lucky Pup. "There were a substantial number of programs, most of fairly high quality. Maybe they weren't as educational as Sesame Street or Mister Rogers are today, but they certainly were not programs that harmed the child in any way." KEESHAN HAS mostly compliments for Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel, the only cable channels directed at children, but is bothered that parents have to pay for the services. "The people who need and use television the most are children in homes below the poverty level who certainly can't afford services like that, Twenty percent of the children of this nation are living below the poverty level - one in five. There's no money in their family budget for recreation," he says. A lot of the Captain's off-air time these days is spent in education, health care, and with organizations like the National Council for Prevention of Child Abuse. He says that while sexual abuse of children has become a "popular" topic, attention should not be drawn away from ordinary physical and psychological abuses, which can break the will of a child and leave him or her with no self-esteem, "unable to accomplish anything after 15 years of being told they're no good at this and that. I think I owe that to children. I feel very strongly that I'm able to take that role as advocate and let people know how strongly I feel that society needs to do a better job nurturing people.” Captain Kangaroo • • •
Can I be honest? I don’t think anyone has really asked a lot of questions about the TV series “Twin Peaks” since the theatrical sequel, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me flopped at the movies in 1992. There. I’m glad I got that off my chest. DAVID BUSHMAN podcast excerpt: "Netflix has exposed a whole new generation of viewers to 'Twin Peaks.' I have a daughter who us 23; she knows 'Twin Peaks”'; her friends know Twin Peaks. One of the great things about Twin Peaks, what is so rare in television, is it raised a lot of questions without spelling out the answers for you." But that said, my wife and I were big fans of the original run of the TV show on ABC in 1990 and forced ourselves to watch the entire second season, even though it wasn’t very good, to be honest. And we skipped Fire Walk with Me altogether. Twin Peaks: The Entire Mystery, directed by David Lynch. Order your copy today by clicking on the Blu-Ray cover above! And yet – having actually trekked to the rural area of Washington State where the show was filmed, stayed a couple of nights at “The Great Northern” (a.k.a., the iconic Salish Lodge & Spa) and visited the astonishing Snoqualmie Falls behind it, we are more than a little curious about the show’s impending return with new episodes on Showtime in early 2017. ARTHUR SMITH podcast excerpt: "You can read 'Twin Peaks FAQ' and the information about how the show was created and produced. I grew up being an obsessive fan of a lot of things. I would always love any supplementary material that would deepen my engagement with the thing itself. 'The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z' came out in the 1980s. They took all the characters that you know and, in an encyclopedia format, broke down their biographies, what their abilities were, what their personality was like. As a fan, it's kind of thrilling to see them distilled." Assuming we aren’t the only ones holding out hope of a return to form by the David Lynch and Mark Frost series, I invited David Bushman and Arthur Smith to the show today to talk about their comprehensive new book, Twin Peaks FAQ: All That’s Left to Know About a Place Both Wonderful and Strange. Key interview moments: • 4:20 David Bushman explains the enduring appeal of "Twin Peaks," a show that has been off the air for decades and is making a comeback; • 16:30 Why write an FAQ about "Twin Peaks"? For Bushman, part of the allure is his respect for director David Lynch; • 27:40 Arthur Smith compares the appeal of an FAQ book to an encyclopedia such as "The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe.". Twin Peaks FAQ •
Today's Guest: John Doe, singer, X, author, Under the Big Black Sun: A Personal History of L.A. Punk
Order John Doe’s book: http://amzn.to/1OFTJk7
JOHN DOE podcast excerpt: “X — our music — was always accessible. We weren’t trying to piss people off; we just did it naturally. There was no ‘marketing’; the term barely existed. The way you were DIY in those days was you went out, met people, lived your life, did your thing. I have no regrets; that’s the way you get cancer."
Key interview moments:
• 4:14 After appearing on NPR’s “Fresh Air” with Terry Gross, who described X’s melodies as “being a little off” and that its notes “become flat in unusual places,” X co-founder John Doe shakes off the “backhanded compliment” and explains Exene Cervenka’s approach;
• 20:00 Doe compares the nascent 1970s punk scenes in New York, London, and Los Angeles;
• 37:30 It wasn’t that X didn’t want to be successful and commercial, Doe explains, it’s just the band didn’t fit well in its era the way Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Green Day would later fit in theirs.
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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Radio sitcoms were read their last rites back in the 1950s when Jack Benny, Burns & Allen, Bob Hope and all the rest gave up the original broadcast medium for TV. And yet it seems like every modern comedian now has his or her own radio-like podcast where they typically talk to other comics about, uh, being standups. ROB KUTNER podcast excerpt: "I think, in almost any case, you can say, 'Why NOT Weird Al?' I've been trying to work with him for quite a few years. I think his nerd credit -- he's into people and robot stuff. He has a fun, cartoonish style to himself so I thought he'd be a great candidate to ('Jeopardy' champion) Ken Jennings' straight-forward style." Comedy writer Rob Kutner, for whom writing jokes for Conan O’Brien has never been enough to satisfy his fertile mind, must have received a different memo, however: he’s bringing sexy back to the radio sitcom. “Runaway Brains,” a new original audio series now available on Howl.Fm, is essentially a buddy comedy that follows the misadventures of “Jeopardy” game show champion Ken Jennings – played by Ken Jennings – and his rival, IBM supercomputer Watson – played by Weird Al Yankovic. JOSHUA MALINA podcast excerpt: "As I age, I'm constantly trying to counter it it with changes to my appearance. Between seasons, I'm always emailing ('Scandal' showrunner) Shonda Rhimes. Between seasons one and two, I send her pictures of me with glasses and said, 'C'mon, how about glasses?' Now, as I lose my hair, I want to push her toward shorter hair for my character. The less hair I have, the less obvious it will be that I'm losing my hair. There may be a logic flaw there. I think the short haircut works for the attorney general; but I might be out of a job." While on the run, the pair encounters Freemasons, the International Gay Lizard Conspiracy, and visits Area 51 and a TED Talk. Guest stars lending their voices in the series include Mayim Bialik, Michael Ian Black, Adam Pally, David Koechner, Lauren Lapkus, and the man joining Kutner here today, Joshua Malina, star of “Scandal,” “Sports Night,” “The West Wing” and his own podcast, “The West Wing Weekly.” You can catch up on the first three episodes of “Runaway Brains” at Howl.FM. JOSHUA MALINA podcast excerpt: "We are in talks with the Big Dog. Hoping to have Aaron Sorkin on The West Wing Weekly podcast to discuss the finale of season one." By the way, this is Kutner’s fourth appearance on Mr. Media. Key interview moments: • 4:25 “Runaway Brains" creator Rob Kutner explains that he sought to introduce more “narrative scripted fiction into the podcast world" by writing a buddy comedy radio sitcom that features “Jeopardy” champion Ken Jennings (played by Ken Jennings) and the IBM supercomputer Watson (played by Weird Al Yankovic); • 16:25 Kutner explains his choice of Yankovic for the role; • 27:27 “Scandal” star Joshua Malina — who guests in the third episode of “Runaway Brains” — talks about what might be ahead for his attorney general character in the show’s sixth season — or does he?; • 31:10 Malina talks about what drew him to co-host a podcast about one of his earlier series, “The West Wing,” and whether that show’s creator, Aaron Sorkin, might soon be a guest. Joshua Malina • • • • • • • • • Rob Kutner • • • • • • • • •
When you pick up a memoir – particularly a celebrity memoir – part of the inherent appeal is that you can safely be a voyeur at arm’s reach. But when that celebrity memoir falls short on sharing names and intimate details, well, that’s not a great read. Because if you just wanted to hear how swell everybody is and how perfect a celebrity’s life is, you could just tune in to “Ellen.” CHARLOTTE STEWART podcast excerpt: "Life became just unbearable for Jim (Morrison, lead singer of The Doors). He was facing three years in jail and all kinds of paparazzi were around. He called me up one day and said, 'I have to get out of town. I want to go away. You want to come?' I said sure. He asked me because he trusted me. We didn't have an affair; we had a friendship. We headed up to Cambria and I introduced Jim to some artist friends of mine who didn't know who Jim was. Jim didn't look like Jim Morrison. We went up to Hearst Castle -- Jim Morrison was riding the Hearst tour bus. Nobody knew him. We were just shooting pool and drinking..." So when I tell you that actress Charlotte Stewart’s autobiography delivers on both boldface names and remarkably personal details, trust me, I’m underselling the book. In Little House in the Hollywood Hills: A Bad Girl’s Guide to Becoming Miss Beadle, Mary X, and Me, the author tells stories about the friends she made, the roles she played and the men she loved across Hollywood going back more than 50 years. CHARLOTTE STEWART podcast excerpt: "David Lynch is a very sincere person. He is a meditator — he is a joyful person. I’ve never seen David in a bad mood. When I was shooting ’Twin Peaks’ last year, his set was so comfortable… David Lynch paints film; he does a visual thing that is unlike any other director I’ve known. And it works." Like who? Well, she had a long getaway weekend with singer Jim Morrison of The Doors shortly before his fateful final trip to Paris. She was married to actor Tim Considine, one of the sons in the CBS hit comedy “My Three Sons” – although that didn’t keep her from leading a wild life of sex and drugs of which her husband knew nothing. One of the few men she turned down was her boss for four years as she played the reserved schoolmarm Miss Beadle on “Little House on the Prairie.” The boss’s name? Pa Ingalls himself, Michael Landon. A few more names in her life’s story: Elvis Presley. Kevin Bacon. Kyle McLachlan. Neil Young. Joni Mitchell. Jimmy Stewart. CHARLOTTE STEWART podcast excerpt: "I was so lucky in so many ways , but I took it for granted. I'm just glad I got through it." Oh, and she inspired a scene in Tom Wolfe’s novel, The Bonfire of the Vanities. She also co-starred in David Lynch’s breakthrough cult film, Eraserhead, as Mary X. And while she and the director never got together off the set, she did live on and off through the years with Eraserhead himself, Jack Nance. (And Lynch gave her the recurring role of “Betsy Briggs” on his legendary TV show “Twin Peaks,” a role she’ll return to in the show’s third season in early 2017 on Showtime.) During today’s conversation, Charlotte will also read a short passage from Little House in the Hollywood Hills, which she co-wrote with Andy Demsky. This book will blow your mind. Promise. Key interview moments: • 17:25 Actress Charlotte Stewart spent a lost weekend with Jim Morrison, lead singer of The Doors, shortly before his fateful trip to Paris from which he would never return; • 45:02 Perhaps best known as the schoolmarm “Miss Beadle” on the long-running Michael Landon TV series, “Little House on the Prairie,” Stewart has nothing but love and respect for its growing legion of fans; • 51:45 Stewart, who starried in director David Lynch’s very first film, Eraserhead, and his best-known work, the TV series “Twin Peaks,” talks about what he is like as a man and a friend. Charlotte Stewart • • • • • • • Andy Demsky • • • •
Today's Guest: Mike Edison, author, You Are A Complete Disappointment, I Have Fun Everywhere I Go, Dirty! Dirty! Dirty!
Order Mike Edison's book: http://amzn.to/1SMIJXt
MIKE EDISON podcast excerpt: "When my dad died, he was pretty abusive and a bully, to me. But when he died, I cried a lot. Of course I did, like any son would when their dad died. I had an odd sort of closure because his last words to me were, 'You are a complete disappointment.' And he was just getting started."
Key interview moments:
• 2:45 Mike Edison explains the title to his book, his finally "inspiration" from an abusive dad;
• 18:15 Memories of eating meatball pizza at the White Birch Inn in Metuchen, New Jersey;
• 35:30 Parents, you know those dirty books you think the kids don't know about on your nightstand? You're wrong. "I went on to become a pornographer!" Edison says. "I went to write Penthouse letters!"
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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“Take your glasses off.” That’s the moment when a cowboy played by Michael Pare, a previously loving, respectful father and rancher in the Old West, signals that the previously restrained film, Traded, is about to get physical. He becomes a “crazy sumbitch” on his way to discovering that his 17-year-old daughter Lily has been taken against her will into an underground sex ring. MICHAEL PARE podcast excerpt: "The director of 'Eddie and the Cruisers' auditioned me and asked if I could sing. I said, 'Sure! I sing like Sinatra. And I play guitar like Jimi Hendrix. Anything you want, I can do it.'" In Traded, a smartly directed indie film that’s part High Noon and part “Deadwood” and which focuses on sex trafficking in Kansas, Pare dominates every scene he’s in – although Kris Kristofferson is pretty compelling himself as a philosophical bartender that Pare encounters in Wichita on the hunt for his kidnapped teen daughter. “I’m presently searching for my daughters,” he tells a man. “I believe she’s been imprisoned in town as a whore.” And now you know the plot of the movie, which co-stars Trace Adkins and Tom Sizemore. MICHAEL PARE podcast excerpt: "Trace Adkins has such tremendous presence and he's very professional. He's not one of these guys who doesn't know his dialogue on the set. And he's a big sonuvagun -- 6'6", 240 pounds. He's a big effin' guy! I would love to do another movie and spend more time with him in the story" Pare, an actor who made a huge splash on the silver screen in the mid-1980s as the star of Eddie and the Cruisers and Streets of Fire, has been busy ever since. For me, talking to Pare is the completion of a full circle cruise. In 1983, after Eddie and the Cruisers caused a sensation in theaters, I spent a full day chauffeuring the singing voice of Eddie Wilson around to Tampa Bay area radio stations in exchange for an extended interview. (Trivia: Michael Pare and Mr. Media share the same birthday: October 9.) Key interview moments: • 4:05 Michael Pare rode horses in movies before, but for the Western 'Traded,' he had special training and a truly great time; • 13:36 Pare calls country singer and 'Traded' co-star Trace Adkins "a tremendous presence" on screen -- "a big effing guy I would love to do another movie with"; • 21:36 Pare takes us behind the scenes of 'Eddie and the Cruisers,' a movie for which he clearly still has great fondness. Michael Pare • • • •
When you start watching Hitler’s Folly, the new film by Academy Award nominee Bill Plympton, the action starts immediately and you can’t help but get pulled in. And when you get to the end, you’ll probably do what I did – start over from the beginning and watch it again. BILL PLYMPTON podcast excerpt: "I was reading a newspaper and saw that Hitler was a big fan of 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.' I thought that was the most surreal thing I ever heard. Here is the most evil man in history, laughing over the antics of these dwarfs!" Hitler’s Folly is a mockumentary, a fake documentary, if you will, in the spirit of Spinal Tap or, if you want to be era-specific, I suggest H.G. Wells’ infamous radio play, “War of the Worlds.” In Plympton’s conceit, Adolf Hitler never lost his desire to become an artist – an animator, in fact, in the mode of Walt Disney. For Hitler, the German aggression of the second world war is nothing but an opportunity for him to create his cartoon magnum opus, an animated version of The Ring, featuring his Disney like creation, "Downey Duck." And those concentration camps? Wait until you learn what their real purpose was! BILL PLYMPTON podcast excerpt: "I didn't want to pay a lawyer $10,000 to go through the film and pay another $10,000 for rights, so we decided to release 'Hitler's Folly' for free. And if people like it, they can donate to my studio so we can make more films." By the way, Plympton calls Adolf Hitler a media star – “the Donald Trump of the past.” I don’t want to give away too much, but you will likely come to the end of Hitler’s Folly convinced that the Axis lost the Big One for a completely different reason than the one found in most history books. Hitler’s Folly will be streamed for free at www.plymptoons.com beginning on Friday, June 3. This is Bill Plympton’s second visit to Mr. Media; the first was in April 2015 to promote his animated feature, Cheatin. Key interview moments: • 3:20 Filmmaker Bill Plympton explains what inspired him to create a fake history of Adolf Hitler in Hitler's Folly; • 10:10 Anyone can stream Hitler's Folly for free from Plympton's website, ; Plympton explains why he is giving his latest film away at no cost; • 13:00 The star of Hitler's Folly is actor Dana Ashbrook, best known as "Bobby Briggs" from the original run of "Twin Peaks." Bill Plympton • • • • • •
The reputation of “The Carol Burnett Show” has always been that of extraordinary sketch humor, enduring laughs, and a brilliant ensemble cast. Yet somehow, for all my love of classic TV comedy, I missed out on the Burnett era altogether. VICKI LAWRENCE podcast excerpt: "'The Carol Burnett Show' was well-written. It wasn't in your face. You could watch it with the kids; what they got, they got. And what they didn't, they could come back and watch next year." The show began when I was just seven years old and ended its run a decade later, as I graduated high school, but it was never on my radar. I religiously watched all the CBS sitcoms that preceded it on Saturday nights, usually camped out with my parents and/or grandparents. But when 10 p.m. came around, my mother watched it but I made myself scarce – at least until “Saturday Night Live” came on, 90 minutes later. In watching “Carol Burnett’s Favorite Sketches,” a PBS special airing this Friday, June 3 at 9 p.m., it struck me how much funny I overlooked in my youth. VICKI LAWRENCE podcast excerpt: "I played a lot of old ladies on the show. I was the second female lead. So while Carol Burnett was playing Shirley Temple, I was playing the mean old schoolmarm. And while she was playing the princess, I was the wicked old witch. When 'Mama' came along, it was another old lady to play. Carol was supposed to be Mama. The writers both hated their mothers. They wrote this beautiful part for Carol and she said, 'I think that Eunice is the part that speaks to me.' The writers were very upset. And then Carol said, 'We have to do this Southern because this is nothing if not Tennessee Williams on acid.'" When the show opens with Betty White as a sex-crazed interior decorator and is followed in the same whack-a-doodle sketch by Steve Martin parodying Richard Dreyfuss in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, I realized what good stuff I missed. So excuuuuuuuuuse me! Joining me today to reminisce about those days and her major role in the success of “The Carol Burnett Show” and her own sitcom spinoff from it, “Mama’s Family,” is actress and comedienne Vicki Lawrence. Key interview moments: • 3:30 Actress Vicki Lawrence explains the enduring success of "The Carol Burnett Show" for multiple generations; • 8:50 An explanation for why Lawrence, who was younger, always played Carol Burnett's mother in sketches such as "The Family"; • 16:20 Mama has a few words to offer about Donald Trump... and his hair. Vicki Lawrence • • • •
Lois Lane has enjoyed a remarkable run, considering she has been around for more than 75 years in the pages of Superman comic books. But life has never been easy for the journalist best known as “Superman’s Girl Friend, Lois Lane.” TIM HANLEY podcast excerpt: "You get a lot of stereotypes about women when it comes to Lois Lane, a lot of hysterics and very emotional. Superman is the calm, level one throughout whatever emotional relationship ups and downs they have. Whereas Lois has to fly off the handle and instigate the drama for the relationship." Seriously, what modern professional woman would want to be introduced that way? After a few days, it would grow old. But as months turned into years and then decades – pushing into a century now – even the most liberated woman with a sense of humor is bound to find it less than funny or ironic. What’s worse, however, is that in her 21st century DC Comics incarnation – thanks to the publisher’s relentless rewriting of history – poor old Lois Lane barely exists in print, having been replaced in Superman’s affections by Wonder Woman. He doesn’t even know that he and Lois were once married! How’s a gal with ink in her veins supposed to compete with an Amazon with a magic lasso, anyway? TIM HANLEY podcast excerpt: "I liked (the 1993-97 ABC-TV series) 'Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman' because Lois never comes off as dumb. It's really easy with the Clark Kent/Superman dynamic for Lois to look like a moron for not figuring it out. In 'Lois & Clark,' she figures it out and then they're partners, which, I think, it the ideal situation for Lois and Clark together." In Tim Hanley’s fascinating history, Investigating Lois Lane: The Turbulent History of the Daily Planet’s Ace Reporter, the author brings together decades of multimedia treatments of the durable reporter – mostly at the hands of male writers, artists and editors – and tries to make sense of the way she has been battered and beaten, loved and lost, since her June 1938 debut in the pages of Action Comics #1. Key interview moments: • 2:50 Lois Lane '"biographer" Tim Hanley describes the ups and downs of his subject across more than 75 years of adventures in comic books, radio, TV and movies; • 13:20 Hanley acknowledges the many negative female stereotypes about women applied to Lois Lane over the decades by male writers, but notes how much better her character fares in the hands of female scribes; • 24:10 Hands down, Hanley thinks many of Lois Lane's best moments can be found in the mid-1990s ABC-TV series "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman." Tim Hanley • •
Today's Guest: Susan Silverman, rabbi, international adoption activist, author, Casting Lots: Creating a Family in a Beautiful Broken World
SUSAN SILVERMAN podcast excerpt: "People are more likely to adopt if they feel their community has their back. I would say to people, create a situation in which you can adopt. If you have that in your heart and that capacity in your life, take the risk!"
Order Susan Silverman's book, "Casting Lots": http://amzn.to/1T5M2EP
Key interview moments:
• 3:40 Rabbi Susan Silverman talks about the personal breakthrough in therapy that helped her cope with her intense, lifelong separation anxiety;
• 13:10 She offers constructive advice to families considering adoption;
• 26:19 Silverman addresses her frustration with what she sees as a shift among aid organizations such as Save the Children and UNICEF away from private adoption and more focused on warehousing orphaned children around the world.
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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John Doe and Exene Cervenka probably never dreamed, when they met at a Venice, California, poetry workshop in 1976, that one day they would be regarded as the core of a musical movement that shook, stirred and ripped corporate rock. I didn’t say they ultimately prevented its rise – I wish they had – but as co-founders of the LA punk band X, they built one of the first bulwarks against the tide of homogenized rock ‘n’ roll. JOHN DOE podcast excerpt: "X — our music — was always accessible. We weren’t trying to piss people off; we just did it naturally. There was no ‘marketing’; the term barely existed. The way you were DIY in those days was you went out, met people, lived your life, did your thing. I have no regrets; that’s the way you get cancer." And even if youth culture didn’t ultimately heed their warnings of what lay ahead, Doe and Cervenka left us a legacy of Americana, rockabilly and rawness that stands up to whatever today’s generation of next big things might offer. The LA punk scene – fortified with nutrients that included X, Black Flag, The Germs, The Blasters, Los Lobos, and yes, even The Go-Go’s – was a regional reflection of what was happening all over the world in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Manhattan had its Ramones, Television and the New York Dolls; London produced the Sex Pistols, The Clash and Madness. It was an era that captured what rock ‘n’ roll should be: revolutionary, off-putting, controversial, against-the-grain. JOHN DOE podcast excerpt: "(X's 2016 appearance on NPR's 'Fresh Air' with Terry Gross) was not the first time people have tried to explain X's harmony in somewhat strange or even a backhanded compliment. Exene didn't know traditional harmony. She would get to that at times, then she would stray. She just sang what she heard." Doe captures the LA punk sound in his new book, Under the Big Black Sun: A Personal History of L.A. Punk, which he wrote and edited with Tom DeSavia, and essays contributed by Henry Rollins of Black Flag, Jane Weidlin and Charlotte Caffrey of The Go-Gos, Dave Alvin of The Blasters, Robert Lopez – El Vez – of The Zeros, and his long-time musical partner and former domestic partner, Exene Cervenka. (And yes, I won’t miss an opportunity to point out that Exene grew up here in St. Petersburg.) The book is a great companion piece to Legs McNeil’s Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk. In addition to his new book, Doe is promoting a new album, The Westerner, which vocals from Blondie’s Debbie Harry on the song “Go Baby Go.” Key interview moments: • 4:14 After appearing on NPR’s “Fresh Air” with Terry Gross, who described X’s melodies as “being a little off” and that its notes “become flat in unusual places,” X co-founder John Doe shakes off the “backhanded compliment” and explains Exene Cervenka’s approach; • 20:00 Doe compares the nascent 1970s punk scenes in New York, London, and Los Angeles; • 37:30 It wasn’t that X didn’t want to be successful and commercial, Doe explains, it’s just the band didn’t fit well in its era the way Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Green Day would later fit in theirs. John Doe • • • • • • Exene Cervenka • • • • X (the Band) • • •
Today's Guest: Bobby Rydell, singer, author, Teen Idol on the Rocks: A Tale of Second Chances
Order Bobby Rydell’s book: http://amzn.to/1rIN2sx
BOBBY RYDELL podcast excerpt: "When I was with Mr. Sinatra at the Copacabana for the first time and he said, 'What do you drink, Robert?' I said, 'C-C-Coke.' I figured if I said, 'Scotch and water,' I'd get smacked in the face, y'know?"
Key interview moments:
• 3:30 Singer Bobby Rydell might have been the last man in America to find out that the school Danny and Sandy attend in the Broadway show and movie Grease is named after him -- Rydell High School;
• 20:20 As a member of the movie cast of Bye, Bye Birdie, Rydell got to work with Dick Van Dyke, Ann-Margaret, Maureen Stapleton, Janet Leigh and -- "God rest his soul" -- Paul Lynde;
• 39:13 Rydell explains why underage drinkers didn't order anything but Coca-Colas while sitting at the Copacabana with Frank Sinatra.
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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I couldn’t begin to count the number of times I’ve seen The Rocky Horror Picture Show on the big screen. It’s a lot. DAVE THOMPSON podcast excerpt: "I first saw 'Rocky Horror' at a theatre in Chelsea when I was 13. It stuck with me ever since and its always been on my mind that I would love to tell the whole story and see where it goes. Finally, I did" That’s because, in college, I worked at the Royal Park Cinemas 4 in Gainesville, Florida, and every Friday and Saturday night, it was all hands on deck come 11 p.m. as hundreds of cosplayers – not that we called them that in 1979 – lined up for admission to the greatest midnight show in town, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I was the guy at the door tearing tickets – and, occasionally, the projectionist, concessionist or ticket seller – seeing it all. Honestly, my young mind wasn’t ready for it then and I’m not sure I can wrap my adult brain around it any better now, in 2016. The Rocky Horror Picture Show was an abject failure in its original theatrical release, but one that found a second life by literally creating a midnight circuit around the globe. It spawned multi-generational fans who dress up as their favorite characters, shout obscenities at the screen, act out the musical numbers, know every word by heart, and, occasionally, get drunk and screw right there in the theater. (We minimum-wage employees found the empty liquor bottles and used condoms—always in close proximity—on the floor afterward to prove it.) DAVE THOMPSON podcast excerpt: "What this book brings to the table is an appreciation of the cultural impact of 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show,' not only in the US but elsewhere." Key interview moments: • 3:45 Author Dave Thompson explains what motivated him to tell the entire story of The Rocky Horror Picture Show; • 16:30 Rocky Horror's lasting impact goes far beyond British or US borders; • 32:40 Thompson reveals that, as teens, he and his girlfriend "went through a Magenta and Riff-Raff stage." Dave Thompson • • •
It never registered with me. Rydell High, that is – the name of the school where Danny Zuko and Sandy reunite, where the T-Birds and the Pink Ladies rule the roost. As many times I have watched that movie over the years, it never clicked that calling the fictional institution “Rydell High School” was a tribute to America’s most famous Rydell – Bobby. BOBBY RYDELL podcast excerpt: "When I was with Mr. Sinatra at the Copacabana for the first time and he said, 'What do you drink, Robert?' I said, 'C-C-Coke.' I figured if I said, 'Scotch and water,' I'd get smacked in the face, y'know?" Pretty cool – even if it was his pal Frankie Avalon who played the film’s Teen Angel, not him. After all, South Philly’s gift to teen pop and adult cool, Bobby Rydell, has enjoyed more than his share of fame and fortune. There were the hits, none bigger than “Volare.” And, of course, co-starring in the film version of Bye Bye Birdie with Dick Van Dyke and Ann-Margaret. And it has all come together in his new autobiography, Teen Idol on the Rocks: A Tale of Second Chances, a mostly happy life’s story – until it’s not. BOBBY RYDELL podcast excerpt: "When the movie, 'Grease,' came out, I didn't know it was going to be Rydell High! When I saw the movie, there it was. I said, 'Wow, that's pretty cool. Pretty cool!" Bobby Rydell is kind of a stealth American cultural icon. Thirty years ago, I reviewed his “Golden Boys of Bandstand” tour appearance with Fabian and Frankie Avalon at the old Bayfront Center Theater here in St. Petersburg, Florida. I remember going in and thinking Fabian and Frankie were likely the real stars. But then along came too-cool-for-school Bobby Rydell, who blew the audience away with his pipes. This is the rare case of the dropout who deserves his own high school. Key interview moments: • 3:30 Singer Bobby Rydell might have been the last man in America to find out that the school Danny and Sandy attend in the Broadway show and movie Grease is named after him -- Rydell High School; • 20:20 As a member of the movie cast of Bye, Bye Birdie, Rydell got to work with Dick Van Dyke, Ann-Margaret, Maureen Stapleton, Janet Leigh and -- "God rest his soul" -- Paul Lynde; • 39:13 Rydell explains why underage drinkers didn't order anything but Coca-Colas while sitting at the Copacabana with Frank Sinatra. Bobby Rydell • • • • • •
Today’s Guest: Steven Gore, novelist, “White Ghost: A Graham Gage Thriller,” “Final Target,” “Power Blind”
Order Steven Gore’s book: http://amzn.to/1YdhhlL
STEVEN GORE podcast excerpt: “Graham Gage is more cerebral, more analytical (than Harlan Donnally). I think that made him a better character for this subject (coping with a late stage cancer diagnosis).”
Key interview moments:
• 5:25 Steven Gore discusses how some novelists rely too much on “superpowers” to get their heroes out of a jam";
• 16:10 Gore reveals his own angoing, personal struggles with a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma back in 2001;
• 39:20 An explanation of why Gore afflicted his private investigator character, Graham Gage, with cancer rather than his lawyer character, Harlan Donnally.
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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Today's Guest: Rachel Butera, comedian, voice actor, impressionist, guest, "First Impressions with Dana Carvey," "The Howard Stern Show," "America's Got Talent" Watch this exclusive Mr. Media interview with Rachel Butera by clicking on the video player above! Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience full of 13-year-old boys practicing their Rich Little impersonations for an hour daily for no reason at all… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! "First Impressions with Dana Carvey" When Rachel Butera appeared on the TV show “America’s Got Talent” in 2014, the man who declared himself “America’s Judge” had to disqualify himself from voting on the impressionist’s talent because he was the one who already put her on the map. So, after she squeezed Wanda Sykes, Rosie O’Donnell, Whoopie Goldberg and Joan Rivers into 90 seconds of vocal magic, there was only one thing that Howard Stern, the King of All Media, could say to her: “You’re somebody I believe in… I’m proud of you.” RACHEL BUTERA podcast excerpt: "For people who know the Howard Stern Show, I competed in the 2010 Staff Impressions Contest. I did Tracey Millman, who used to work on the show and she used to call everybody a 'douche.' And Little Lupe, the porn star. And Underdog Woman, the woman who wears the cape and dances around in parades like Underdog." Rachel’s comedy and impressions do her Jersey heritage proud – the Bloomfield native lets her characters rip, both in language and tone. Comedian Rachel Butera In addition to working as a standup and frequent TV and radio guest, she also has a growing body of work in commercials and cartoons, which makes sense when you experience the full range of her voices. This summer, Rachel will appear on the new USA Network comedy competition series “First Impressions,” starring Dana Carvey and hosted by Freddie Prinze, Jr. It’s a funny show, populated by impressionists, and airs Tuesdays at 10:30 p.m. RACHEL BUTERA podcast excerpt: "Being on 'First Impressions' was fun but it was nerve-wracking because it was all improv! I'm not that comfortable at improv. I like to write things out, so I was really nervous. But it was super-fun. And Dana Carvey was so sweet!" But you don’t have to wait for Rachel’s episode of “First Impressions” to air before getting a taste of her work – just follow her hourly insights on Twitter @RachelAButera and you’ll read updates such as: “I just pulled a long gray hair off my vibrator. Life just keeps lookin up.” Key interview moments: • 4:40 Rachel Butera describes the characters she imitated to win the "Howard Stern Show" staff impressions contest in 2010, include Tracy the office manager, porn star Little Lupe, and Underdog Woman; • 17:08 Back home in Bloomfield, New Jersey, Rachel's family supports her late-in-life decision to move to Hollywood and pursue fame and fortune as a comedian and impressionist. Well, everyone but her sister, to whom she rarely speaks, and her dad--he's dead; • 32:50 Dana Carvey, the star of USA's "First Impressions," made Rachel feel at home on the improv show, as did celebrity judge Tom Arnold, who told her how much he loved her work on the Stern show. Rachel Butera Website • Facebook • Twitter • YouTube • Instagram • LinkedIn • IMDB • Funny or Die Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above! < The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!
Whether San Francisco private eye Graham Gage solves his latest case or not, his odds of lining up his next one are looking pretty thin. Graham Gage has non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Cancer. And it’s killing him. STEVEN GORE podcast excerpt: “Graham Gage is more cerebral, more analytical (than Harlan Donnally). I think that made him a better character for this subject (coping with a late stage cancer diagnosis).” Gage, the hard-working, world-traveling, great-friend-to-have-in-a-crisis hero of three previous novels by Steven Gore, stands tall in his fourth thrilling adventure story, White Ghost. But is it his last hurrah? I’m not tellin’. But what I will share – and what Gore himself will likely describe in moments – is that Gage’s illness came to him organically. That’s right – author Gore had it first. But Gore, a real American character, has kept his cancer at arm’s reach for 15 years. I’m not sure the same can be said about Gage. Mostly because I haven’t read to the end yet. I didn’t want to spoil the conclusion by accident for anyone. STEVEN GORE podcast excerpt: "Some novelists rely too much on superpowers. The perfect memory or perfect recall. Nobody has that." White Ghost is full of globe-trotting, heroin-smuggling, chemotherapy-laced Gage intrigue. Steven Gore has become one of my favorite American novelists, a point I can prove by saying this is his fifth appearance on Mr. Media, tying him overall with only sportswriter Peter Golenbock. That’s how much I like his work. Key interview moments: • 5:25 Gore discusses how some novelists rely too much on “superpowers” to get their heroes out of a jam"; • 16:10 Gore reveals his own angoing, personal struggles with a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma back in 2001; • 39:20 An explanation of why Gore afflicted his private investigator character, Graham Gage, with cancer rather than his lawyer character, Harlan Donnally. Steven Gore • •
FROM 2011: Here’s a Tears for Fears story I guarantee you haven’t heard before:
I was the pop music critic for the St. Petersburg Times Alumni (now the Tampa Bay Times) in 1985, assigned to review a Tears For Fears concert.
I rushed back to the paper’s Clearwater bureau that night to file my story. Waiting for it in downtown St. Petersburg was the late night editor, Christine Holsten. I filed my story and waited for her to read it and answer any questions she might have.
But her major question wasn’t about my story; it was about the photo credit. The photographer identified his picture as Roland Orzabal on the left, Curt Smith on the right. But Christine wasn’t convinced. I said the photographer had it correct, but she had the final call and switched the ID in the caption.
It was probably the last time I was right about anything in our relationship, but I was right; she was wrong. A horde of TFF fans called in the next day to say how stupid I was for getting it wrong, of course. (They weren’t happy about being referred to as “teeny-boppers,” either!)
That was one of the first real moments that truly bound us and to this day, whenever we hear a Tears song playing, we can’t help but stop and fondly reminisce about that night. We’ve now been married 22 years and counting. (Most of you know Christine better these days as Mimi Andelman, btw.)
Which is my long way of telling you that my guest today is Tears For Fears’ Curt Smith, who has released a new holiday single, “This is Christmas,” and will be playing several solo gigs in Los Angeles in 2011 and will rejoin Roland Orzabal for a Tears For Fears tour of South America and the U.S. West Coast.
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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In his past appearances on Mr. Media, I pretty much swooned over the arc of Mike Edison’s career as a writer and editor: Editor, High Times magazine. Foreign correspondent, Hustler magazine. Paid letters writer, Penthouse magazine. MIKE EDISON podcast excerpt: "When my dad died, he was pretty abusive and a bully, to me. But when he died, I cried a lot. Of course I did, like any son would when their dad died. I had an odd sort of closure because his last words to me were, 'You are a complete disappointment.' And he was just getting started." Contributor, the Huffington Post, Daily Beast, New York Observer, Spin, Interview, and the New York Press. Author, I Have Fun Everywhere I Go and Dirty! Dirty! Dirty! Screw the guy in the Dos Equis commercials; for my money, Mike Edison is the most interesting man in world. In his third and – I suspect – not last memoir, You Are A Complete Disappointment: A Triumphant Memoir of Failed Expectations, we learn how much childhood and adult grief Edison has overcome in his life at the hands of a disinterested mother and a criminally, emotionally abusive father. MIKE EDISON podcast excerpt: "No matter how successful you are, no matter how much money you make, you cannot improve on meatball pizza and root beer and Elton John on the jukebox! My father never got that. He didn't know how to live in the moment." The title comes from the last statement the senior Edison said on his deathbed, in Arizona, to his son. The good news is that the man is no longer walking the earth. The bad news, as Edison writes on page 117, is that he is still only a phone call away: … the fact that, years later, his voice is still on the outgoing voice-mail message on my step-mother’s house phone does strike me as somewhat ghoulish. I can imagine it must be traumatic to erase it, but imagine how people feel hearing it? When I want to call his wife to check in – and I do – I always call her cell phone. I can’t handle the old man telling me to leave a message – or do anything, for that matter – from beyond the grave. Key interview moments: • 2:45 Mike Edison explains the title to his book, his finally "inspiration" from an abusive dad; • 18:15 Memories of eating meatball pizza at the White Birch Inn in Metuchen, New Jersey; • 35:30 Parents, you know those dirty books you think the kids don't know about on your nightstand? You're wrong. "I went on to become a pornographer!" Edison says. "I went to write Penthouse letters!" Mike Edison • • • •
Today's Guest: Toni Tennille, singer, songwriter, The Captain and Tennille, author, "Toni Tennille: A Memoir"
Order Toni Tennille's book: http://amzn.to/1X92GJJ
TONI TENNILLE podcast excerpt: "I have to point out that it's 'Do THAT to Me One More Time.' It's not 'Do IT to Me One More Time'! That's why lyrics are important. It's 'Kiss me.' And 'Say that to me again' -- instead of what other people may think!"
KEY INTERVIEW MOMENTS:
4:40: Toni Tennille describes her rough road with former husband Daryl Dragon -- The Captain in The Captain and Tennille -- but refuses to blame him or play the victim. Instead she blames his father, Academy Award-winning composer Carmen Dragon;
23:45: Why has Toni Tennille dedicated "Muskrat Love" to former U.S. Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger at every performance still 1974?
37:25: Toni clears the air about the title of the song "Do That to Me One More Time." Got it?
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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Rabbi Susan Silverman is a bit of an alarmist. Don’t believe me? Just read her book. From the Prologue: Page xi: “At recess, I’d puposely get an out in kickball in exchange for my parents still being alive when the 3 p.m. bell rang and the school day was over.” SUSAN SILVERMAN podcast excerpt: "People are more likely to adopt if they feel their community has their back. I would say to people, create a situation in which you can adopt. If you have that in your heart and that capacity in your life, take the risk!" And on Page 90, as a grown-ass married woman and mother: “Once, upon hearing of a crash in Russia, I actually figured out how (my husband) could have ended up on that flight, a scenario that included a wrong gate and an absentminded ticketing agent. I had recently spent half the night dialing and re-dialing the front desk of his hotel, asking the same clerk to put me through to his room. I had left messages, but what if he didn’t check them? What if the red light on the hotel-room phone was out? What if he were lying dead in the gutter RIGHT NOW? “…God created the world through poetic speech. I patrolled mine through vigilant bitchiness.” Don’t misunderstand – I’m not making fun of Susan. (Okay, maybe a little. I am married; I know the drill.) As the first-born child of Beth Ann and Donald Silverman, Susan experienced a horrific trauma: her three-month-old baby brother died in his crib while her parents were on a short vacation and the baby was being cared for by Donald’s parents. That 1964 incident—at least from my reading of Susan’s new book, Casting Lots: Creating a Family in a Beautiful, Broken World – colored everything that has followed in her life, from being ordained to raising a family of five, becoming an adoption activist, and relocating from Boston to Jerusalem. SUSAN SILVERMAN podcast excerpt: "My brother, Jeffrey Michael, was a baby when he died-- I don't even remember him. It wasn't until I was an adult and in therapy, talking this intense separation anxiety i have. I mentioned that I had a brother who died when I was two. My therapist said, 'WHAT?' I had been in therapy for three years already. She said, 'Susan, wake up and smell the coffee.' It helped shift things a lot. As did Zoloft." In Casting Lots, Susan tells her story, warts, four-letter words and all, and makes her case for easing restrictions on international adoptions. By the way, I first became interested in Susan last summer when I heard the audiobook edition of her sister Sarah’s book, The Bedwetter, in which the comedian—perhaps best known for her music video, and support of candidates Barack Obama and Bernie Sanders—talks in awe about her big sister, the rabbi and mother. Key interview moments: • 3:40 Rabbi Susan Silverman talks about the personal breakthrough in therapy that helped her cope with her intense, lifelong separation anxiety; • 13:10 She offers constructive advice to families considering adoption; • 26:19 Silverman addresses her frustration with what she sees as a shift among aid organizations such as Save the Children and UNICEF away from private adoption and more focused on warehousing orphaned children around the world. Rabbi Susan Silverman • • •
Frank Morsani is one of the finest men, bar none, with whom I’ve ever had the pleasure to spend time. That’s noteworthy because I got to know the Tampa Bay auto dealer at one of the lowest points in his business career, yet he always held his head high. Somewhere around 1989, I started working on my first nonfiction book, Stadium For Rent, the story of Tampa Bay’s decades-long – and enormously frustrating – quest for a Major League Baseball team. FRANK MORSANI podcast excerpt: “I think it’s pathetic (that Donald Trump is the GOP standard bearer). It’s a tragedy on our system." Many local business leaders had risen up and been cut to pieces by the ongoing, Quixotic mission, none more memorably than Frank Morsani. He committed and lost millions of dollars trying to convince a string of existing baseball teams to relocate to Tampa – and later, St. Petersburg – to no avail. When MLB announced, in 1993, that it would add two expansion franchises, he seemed a shoe-in. He wasn’t. But you know what made it all the worse? Frank Morsani wasn’t then – and certainly isn’t now – a baseball fan. He was just a kid from Oklahoma who had found a home in Tampa, Florida, a community that welcomed him – loved him, frankly – and if baseball was what his adopted neighbors wanted, he wanted to help them get it. For a lot of people the Morsani story began and ended with car dealerships and baseball. FRANK MORSANI podcast excerpt: "Unfortunately, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has taken a lot of positions that I would have problems with. They've been aggressive; I believe in being aggressive. But I think they have gotten away from some of the basics that were important to me (when I was Chairman of the Board). In our whole nation, these extremists on both sides are not in our best interests." But this kind and gentle soul – and his wife of more than half a century, Carol – have meant so much more to their community, thanks to philanthropic efforts that have included giving millions to the University of South Florida, University of Tampa, Tampa’s Straz Center for the Performing Arts, and the Dali Museum. Most recently, the Morsanis gave $20 million to USF for construction of the Morsani College of Medicine soon to rise in downtown Tampa. Morsani – with the help of my friend Dave Scheiber – just published his memoir, To Be Frank: Building the American Dream in Business and Life. It is my great pleasure to help introduce the man and his message to a new audience. Key interview moments: • 8:25 Frank Morsani talks about how he picked himself up following his failure to land a Major League Baseball relocation or expansion franchise for the Tampa Bay area in the 1990s; • 13:55 s a former Chairman of the Board of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Morsani admits he has problems with many of the organization’s current political stances; • 15:45 And as a lifelong Republican, Morsani calls the party’s turn to Donald Trump as its presidential nominee as “pathetic” and “a tragedy." Dave Scheiber • • • •
Toni Tennille: A Memoir is an okay title for the Alabama native’s life story, but once you read it to the end, you might agree with me that “Toni Tennille: Happy At Last” is more fitting. I cannot deny that I had low expectations as I began reading the autobiography of this singer who I always adored as a teen and held on to over the decades as a guilty pop pleasure. The glamour, the celebrity friends, parties, etc. – ho-hum, we’ve certainly heard it all before. But trust me, you haven’t heard this story. TONI TENNILLE podcast excerpt: "I cannot blame Daryl for the kind of man he is. He was raised quite differently from the way I was; he was raised in a family that was very dysfunctional. My dad was a binge drinker. But there was no doubt that he adored me and my sisters and that he loved my mom and my mother loved us as well.Daryl was raised in a family that had lots and lots of difficult issues. His father, Carmen Dragon, was an Academy Award-winning film scorer and symphony composer. He was 'The Maestro' -- a handsome, charismatic man. But when Daryl and I started to have some hits and Daryl's name got out there, I think (Carmen) might have been jealous of his own son. He would say say to people, 'Yeah, that's The Captain and Tennille. I'm The Admiral!' just so people knew he was bigger and better than Daryl was.” If, like me, you are old enough to remember The Captain and Tennille as a top of the charts recording and touring sensation, you’ll remember Toni Tennile’s soaring vocals, her Southern charm and her big as all-outdoors smile. As for The Captain – Daryl Dragon, the former keyboardist for The Beach Boys – what you’ll recall of him was that he rarely spoke while glowering at his wife and everyone else most of the rest of the time. He always wore a hat, eventually hiding behind sunglasses, too. I spent a lifetime thinking it was an act. Toni Tennille spent a lifetime wishing it was an act. TONI TENNILLE podcast excerpt: "I have to point out that it's 'Do THAT to Me One More Time.' It's not 'Do IT to Me One More Time'! That's why lyrics are important. It's 'Kiss me.' And 'Say that to me again' -- instead of what other people may think!" Turns out, The Captain was a miserable wretch of a human being and spent decades treating his wife like crap. Reading Toni Tennille: A Memoir is a soul-crushing experience; turning each page you’ll find yourself screaming, “Toni! Get away from that bastard!” But as anyone who has ever suffered emotional abuse at the hands of a spouse knows, it’s not always easy to make a clean break. I’m glad I read Toni Tennile: A Memoir; I’m even happier to know that the subject of the book is finally free. Key interview moments: • 4:40 Toni Tennille describes her rough road with former husband Daryl Dragon -- The Captain in The Captain and Tennille -- but refuses to blame him or play the victim. Instead she blames his father, Academy Award-winning composer Carmen Dragon; • 23:45 Why has Toni Tennille dedicated "Muskrat Love" to former U.S. Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger at every performance still 1974?; • 37:25 Toni clears the air about the title and content of the song "Do That to Me One More Time." Got it? Toni Tennille • • • YouTube • • • The Captain and Tennille •
Today's Guest: Chip Jacobs, author, "Strange As It Seems: The Impossible Life of Gordon Zahler," "Smogtown"
CHIP JACOBS podcast excerpt: "Some people scoff or give me a funny eyebrow scrunched look when them my uncle did these things that he did. He looked at his injury like some people look at a skin rash and said to himself, 'Deal with it. I want to go on my boat, take flying lessons, or... What about a safari?'"
Key interview moments:
• 3:00 Chip Jacobs gave him biography the subtitle "The Impossible Life of Gordon Zahler" because he knew his uncle's life sounded unbelievable;
• 19:20 Muriel Zahler, Chip's mother and Gordon's sister, recognized that her life was forever changed by Gordon's accident and the financial too it took on their family; she never forgave him but never abandoned him, either;
• 19:20 Gordon's outsized life intersected with many celebrities thanks to his music business, creating relationships with everyone from sitcom queen Lucille Ball ("I Love Lucy") and animator Walter Lantz (creator of "Woody Woodpecker") to "B" movie director Ed Wood Jr. (Plan 9 From Outer Space).
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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If you thought that Straight Outta Compton was an at times brutal account of the entertainment business, ready yourself for the all-out brawl that is Owen Gleiberman vs. Pauline Kael and Her Acolytes. Okay, I’m kidding. Mostly. OWEN GLEIBERMAN podcast excerpt: "As a college kid, I was intimidated to be around Pauline Kael, this writer that I admired. She had a personality that was domineering. From the moment I was first talking to her, I felt pressure to agree with her. She was incredibly insinuating. She gave you a sense that she believed completely and had a kind of contempt for what anyone else would think." Movie Freak: My Life Watching Movies is a compelling memoir of an accidental movie critic, a young man who discovered comfort in dark theaters as a boy and never left it even as an adult. What struck me about Movie Freak was the parallel between Gleiberman’s film experiences from adolescence on to high school and into college—and my own. Part of that is our similarity in age; part is having had the good luck to be mentored and steered at critical times in our early careers. As I was reading the book, I kept telling my wife, “Replace Michigan (where Gleiberman grew up) with New Jersey and University of Michigan with University of Miami and this might as well be my life through being a freshman in college.” To which my wife would shrug, roll her eyes, and return to “Top Chef.” OWEN GLEIBERMAN podcast excerpt: "When you're at a certain age, horror can certainly scare the the sh!t out of you. There are probably 12-year-olds that sneak in to see 'Saw 4' and I can't imagine what that does to them--probably something far worse than 'Rosemary's Baby' or 'The Boston Strangler' did to me. In hindsight, the films I saw at the drive-in with my parents might have been pretty extreme but there was a certain humanity to them. It was less about the gore." Gleiberman is best known to film fans as the first film critic at a little magazine named Entertainment Weekly, a position he held for more than two decades – even though he trashed Pretty Woman. Not that I loved it either, but I wasn’t in a position to influence millions, just tens. I especially loved the backstage editorial anecdotes and sniping he shares from his time at the predominant entertainment zine in the country. The book also doesn’t shy from revealing the author’s porn addiction in college, love of cocaine as a young adult, and – for many years – his inability to commit to any woman for longer than six months. By the way, you gotta respect a man who admits his job ain’t exactly tough. Key interview moments: • 8:30 Owen Gleiberman talks about the impact of scary, horrific movies on the souls of 12-year-old children (himself included); • 29:30 Legendary film critic Pauline Kael was an early supporter of Gleiberman's -- she recommended him for the job at 'Entertainment Weekly' -- but she was not an enduring friend to those who disagreed with her film criticism; • 54:00 Spotlight was a good movie, he says, but it didn't hold up upon repeat viewing. Owen Gleiberman • • • • • • •
Jen Senko was worried about her dad. A self-described Kennedy Democrat, Frank Senko was a peaceful, loving husband and dad whose political views were never much of an issue between him and the world. Until one day, on his long commute to work, he discovered talk radio… and Rush Limbaugh in particular. After that, Frank was never the same. JEN SENKO podcast excerpt: "Fox shouldn't have the right to call itself 'News'; it's mostly commentary." He soon framed and announced a long list of people that he hated. And when he found the Fox News Channel, he went completely bonkers. He was angry all the time. If Rush or Fox told him something, he was unquestioning in his acceptance of it as absolutely true. His wife, his three children – Jen and her brothers – as well as extended family, friends and co-workers, one day found a stranger living in their midst, a hate-spewing, nasty, bigoted monster paranoid of everyone’s beliefs around him. He trusted no one outside of his growing, far right-wing conservative circle of TV and radio hosts, newsletter writers, website propagandists and pamphleteers. Aghast at what had become of Frank, Jen—a filmmaker who had received good notices for her first release, The Vanishing City—decided to seriously investigate what had happened to him. JEN SENKO podcast excerpt: "(Long-time Republican operative) David Brock knew. He was in the trenches. He was an 'elf.' He was on the team to take down (President Bill) Clinton. He spilled the beans (on the 'vast right-wing conspiracy'). His conscience got to him; he felt guilty." The resulting film, The Brainwashing of My Dad, is a serious examination of the rise of right-wing media—“The Noise Machine,” as it is called—and its fact-free assault on the Constitution, civil rights, liberal advocacy and much more. Senko, who shares narration duties with actor Matthew Modine, assembled a film that reveals the motivations of Roger Ailes, Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia, Richard Nixon, the Heritage Foundation, and the John Birch Society. The film, which recently left the festival circuit and began theatrical, iTunes, Google Play and Vudu distribution, was completed before the rise of Donald Trump, presidential candidate, but it makes for excellent background material to explain the Republican businessman’s angry rise to political power. Key interview moments: • 3:05 Filmmaker Jen Senko dealt with multiple delays in getting The Brainwashing of My Dad to the silver screen, but the rise of Donald Trump, GOP political candidate, made her eventually timing perfect; • 12:10 Even Democrats scoffed at Hillary Clinton's mid-1990s claim of "a vast right-wing conspiracy" -- until long-time Republican operative David Brock confirmed her accusation was true; • 20:20 Senko questions whether Fox News Channel should be allowed to use the word "News" in its name. The Brainwashing of My Dad • • • • •
If you are determined to title your book Strange As It Seems, you damn well better deliver. Chip Jacobs does that and more in a loving, funny and well-written biography of his late uncle, Hollywood musical legend Gordon Zahler. What makes it so strange? Well, in 1940, when Gordon Zahler was a 14-year-old daredevil who believed more than most teen-aged boys that he could do anything, a misadventure with a high school gymnastics springboard landed him on his neck and severed his spine. CHIP JACOBS podcast excerpt: "Some people scoff or give me a funny eyebrow scrunched look when them my uncle did these things that he did. He looked at his injury like some people look at a skin rash and said to himself, 'Deal with it. I want to go on my boat, take flying lessons, or... What about a safari?'" Most everyone – classmates, doctors and family – presumed he would be dead in a matter of days. For inexplicable reasons, Zahler survived. Scratch that: the quadriplegic thrived. He refused to roll over and die; instead, taking charge of his Hollywood composer father’s music catalogue to create the go-to music library for early low-budget TV and film producers. All of the time and money his family devoted to him early on paid off; Zahler created a successful business with nothing more than a charismatic sales pitch. Eventually, he became friends and a business associate of “I Love Lucy” star and producer Lucille Ball, Woody Woodpecker creator Walter Lanz, and animal-oriented TV show producer Ivan Tors. CHIP JACOBS podcast excerpt: "Some of the TV shows to which Gordon provided music were filmed at Desilu Studios. For some reason, Lucille Ball thought my uncle was that cat's pajamas. It must have been Gordon's non-pitying attitude. Lucille Ball would see him and yell, 'Gordon!' and come running up to him. She would hug him, chat him up, and bring over other stars." Right about now you’re probably thinking this sounds like the plot to a Hollywood movie – Zelig starring Woody Allen, perhaps, or Forrest Gump with Tom Hanks. But it’s a true story, one that Zahler’s nephew, Chip Jacobs, lived first hand at the end of his uncle’s life and later researched and reported in Strange As It Seems: The Impossible Life of Gordon Zahler. Key interview moments: • 3:00 Chip Jacobs gave him biography the subtitle "The Impossible Life of Gordon Zahler" because he knew his uncle's life sounded unbelievable; • 19:20 Muriel Zahler, Chip's mother and Gordon's sister, recognized that her life was forever changed by Gordon's accident and the financial too it took on their family; she never forgave him but never abandoned him, either; • 19:20 Gordon's outsized life intersected with many celebrities thanks to his music business, creating relationships with everyone from sitcom queen Lucille Ball ("I Love Lucy") and animator Walter Lantz (creator of "Woody Woodpecker") to "B" movie director Ed Wood Jr. (Plan 9 From Outer Space). Chip Jacobs • • • •
If you will only sit still for one lesson in how Western economies work – or, don’t – I recommend you watch Boom Bust Boom by filmmakers Bill Jones and Ben Timlett. The documentary is a masterful explanation of the cycles caused by greed and mass psychosis, accomplished through a combination of historical recaps and expert witnesses, original animation, art and even “South Park” clips, plus much humor and song. BILL JONES podcast excerpt: "Ben and I just watched 'The Big Short' where they go, 'You're betting against the housing market? The housing market NEVER goes down! And I kept shouting at the screen, 'YEAH? 1929!!!" Oh, and actor John Cusack. The film’s third director and narrator’s not bad either: it’s Bill Jones’s dad, Terry Jones, whom you might recognize as a co-founder of “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” and an accomplished filmmaker in his own right. He did, after all, write and direct Monty Python and The Holy Grail, Life of Brian, and The Meaning of Life. Perhaps you’ve heard of him? BEN TIMLETT podcast excerpt: "Do you want to know how Bill and I met? Bill's got an older sister; I've got an older brother. And we lived in the same area of South London. One day, Bill's Dad, Terry Jones, was dropping off Bill's sister near my house..." BILL JONES podcast excerpt: "... And my dad sees this little boy wandering around. He goes, 'Hello, little boy! I've got a little boy at home about your age. Do you want to come home and play with him?' And the last thing Ben's Mum sees is this strange man waving goodbye..." BEN TIMLETT podcast excerpt: "...I got in, and Terry said to my Mum, 'I'll bring him home at the end of school.' My Mum was like, 'I believe I recognize him (from 'Monty Python'), but I can't believe that just happened!" BILL JONES podcast excerpt: "We've been friends ever since." As for Bill Jones and Ben Timlett, this is their third feature together. Their last project was A Liar’s Autobiography, starring the five surviving Pythons. Before that, they collaborated on Absolutely Anything starring Simon Pegg and Robin Williams. Key interview moments: • 5:45 Bill Jones talks about comparisons between his film, Boom Bust Boom, and The Big Short; • 13:45 Ben Timlett discusses the challenges in editing such a complicated subject, let alone breaking down the immense crapload of jargon inherent in any financial discussion ; • 20:00 The filmmakers tell the true story of how the met as little boys (hint: it involves "Monty Python's Flying Circus" original member Terry Jones and a virtual kidnapping). Boom Bust Boom • • • • • • Terry Jones • • • Bill Jones • • Ben Timlett • • • Monty Python's Flying Circus • • • • • • •
There are two cinematic sequels in production to the No. 1 box-office film of all time, Avatar. An Avatar-based theme park is also coming to Disney World’s Animal Kingdom in 2017. But what if you can’t wait that long to return to the land of the blue-skinned Na’vi? Even better, what if I told you that you could see the Na’vi live and in the flesh – in your own city? HELEN DAY podcast excerpt: "Puppets are very important to the Avatar show, from early on right to the end. The planet of Pandora is full of creatures, flora and fauna that interact with the Na'vi. And the puppets are very big!" Cirque du Soleil, the insanely acrobatic circus that travels from city to city with its own big top, is touring this year an all-new production spun off from Avatar called “Toruk: The First Flight.” Joining me to talk about the new show are two of its star performers, acrobat Dustin Walston and puppeteer Helen Day. DUSTIN WALSTON podcast excerpt: "There is a progression to learning the acrobatic movements in a Cirque du Soleil show; it's not like we try the most daring things on the first try. In that sense, it's safe and you have confidence in executing it. Cirque makes sure it's very safe and the risks are minimized as much as possible." If you’ve never been to a Cirque du Soleil production, it is a mind-bending event that melds extraordinary human gymnastics, beautiful music and stunning light shows. In addition to the touring shows, there are also permanent Cirque Du Soleil installations from Orlando to Las Vegas and beyond. (Helen Day, incidentally, plays the role of Miss Edwards in the Tim Burton film adaptation of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.) Key interview moments: • 3:10 Puppeteer Helen Day describes the scope of the enormous puppets deployed in Cirque's new "Toruk: The First Flight" program; • 7:50 Acrobat Dustin Walston explains how Cirque du Soleil minimizes risks to performers. Cirque du Soleil • • • Helen Day • • Dustin Walston • •
Today's Guest: Jim McBride, adult website entrepreneur, MrSkin.com
MR. SKIN podcast excerpt: "The Showtime show 'Shameless' is great. This year it won our 'Best TV Show for Nudity' award. And when you think of 'Masters of Sex," Game of Thrones,' 'Powers' and 'Orange is the New Black' -- there are so many television shows that have great nudity! To actually win, you really have to have a great year in nudity. What I love about Emmy Rossum is that she's the star of the show and she carries the load of the nudity. It's not like like it's a bunch of extras that do nude scenes on that show. Every year, she comes through with solid nudity... We're big Emmy Rossum fans at MrSkin.com. And... she's beautiful!”
Key interview moments:
• 3:00 Mr. Skin explains why the Showtime series "Shameless" -- starring Emmy Rossum -- won "Best TV Show for Nudity" in this year's 17th Annual Anatomy Awards;
• 20:00 An explanation of why you'll only find a celebration of nudity at MrSkin.com -- no body-shaming allowed;
• 38:45 Skin explains how Fifty Shades of Grey, starring actress Dakota Johnson, ran away with this year's award for "Breast Picture."
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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Today's Guest: Shawn Mullins, singer, songwriter, "My Stupid Heart," "Lullabye"
In addition to an interview, Mullins performs two new songs, live and exclusively on Mr. Media: "The Great Unknown" and "Pre-Apocalyptic Blues."
SHAWN MULLINS podcast excerpt: "'My Stupid Heart' is about the way I felt after a third marriage didn't work out... I felt unsuccessful as a human being in that I couldn't find a partner, although I've had wonderful relationships with all three of my wives. And I'm still close friends with two of three of them and I miss the other one."
Key interview moments:
• 5:50 Shawn Mullins talks about how police brutality and racial profiling moved him to write his new song, "Ferguson";
• 23:45 After his third marriage fell apart, Mullins explains how he took a six-year hiatus from the road -- and relationships;
• 43:45 Mullins tells how he met his writing partner Chuck Cannon, who then introduced him to his wife, actress and country music singer Lari White, who produced "My Stupid Heart."
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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One of my first real magazine assignments after graduating college was writing a story for Tampa Bay Monthly about the unique chemistry between Q105 morning radio personalities Cleveland Wheeler and Scott Shannon. CLEVELAND WHEELER podcast excerpt: "Scott Shannon just had a way of connecting with people... He went out of his way to be natural and street level with people and to speak on their terms. He had a knack for communicating with people." Something magical happened in 1981 when these veterans of the American airwaves came together to do a morning show at WRBQ – Q105 – in Tampa. The Q Morning Zoo was unlike anything to ever hit once sleepy Tampa Bay – or anywhere else at the time. The hosts were quick-witted, opinionated and cash machines for the owners of the radio station. CLEVELAND WHEELER podcast excerpt: "Scott and I didn't get together and say, 'We're going to pick on politicians. We don't have the resources to dig on people through PI work... Scott was smart. He said, 'All the great stuff, all the best stories are hidden in the Saturday newspaper. Get the Saturday morning newspaper and a story can look so insignificant, so innocent, but that's where the big stories are hidden. They don't have all the dirt yet... People would say, 'How did you know about all this stuff?' And instead of attributing it to the Tampa Tribune, they were attributing it to us!" The Q Zoo – Wheeler and Shannon, plus the news department of Pat Brooks and Roger Shulman – were an absolute phenomenon in the early 1980s. Mondays through Fridays, they were the watercooler talk of every office and construction site in the marketplace, outdistancing all the competition. Key interview moments: • 9:30 Cleveland Wheeler discusses why his Q Morning Zoo radio partner, Scott Shannon, has been so successful in his radio career; • 11:30 Wheeler and Shannon locked themselves in a hotel room for two days as the morning show took flight and decided to do the unthinkable: pursue radio listeners from ages 8 to 80, which would be unheard of in today's fragmented radio market; • 46:50 Wheeler reveals the secret of where he and Shannon found their best political insights. Cleveland Wheeler • • • • •
What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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Today's Guests: Quincy Rose, director, Jillian Leigh, actress, Friends Effing Friends Effing Friends Watch this exclusive Mr. Media interview with Friends Effing Friends Effing Friends director Quincy Rose and actress Jillian Leigh by clicking on the video player above! Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience full of twentysomething millenials who want to look but don’t know if they should… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Guity secret: some of my favorite movies are sex comedies. Porky’s, American Pie, Hollywood Knights – I’m a big, unapologetic fan of one of the most sexploitive indie film genres there is. When they are funny, that is, and go in directions no one saw, getting us from beginning to end with dollops of sex and amusing situations. QUINCY ROSE podcast excerpt: "'Friends Effing Friends Effing Friends' was called something else originally and it was a little different of a film. In coming up with a new title, someone said, 'Friends Fxxking Friends,' and I said, 'That's pretty funny.' We kicked that around. But it was apparent nobody was going to let us put that on a poster. Or in any kind of advertising. I thought, 'What if it was 'Friends Effing Friends?' Then we added another '...Effing Friends' and I thought that sounded funny." JILLIAN LEIGH podcast excerpt: "So many meanings to the woods 'eff someone'! The ways you can 'eff someone'!" You can LISTEN to this interview with QUINCY ROSE and JILLIAN LEIGH, director and actress, respectively, of FRIENDS EFFING FRIENDS EFFING FRIENDS, by clicking the audio player above! Fortunately, Friends Effing Friends Effing Friends meets my high standards for the category. It’s funny, sexy and brings a twist in Act III that maybe the title gives away, but the execution is perfect. Friends Effing Friends Effing Friends is writer/director/producer/editor (c’mon, it’s an indie, after all) Quincy Rose’s second feature film, following on the heels of Miles To Go. JILLIAN LEIGH podcast excerpt: "In my life, sometimes, exchanging sex for love felt like the only thing I could offer... It's sad... I hope my dad isn't watching this... I had a guy once (perform a sex act) until I was his girlfriend. And it worked! People will try anything... and he was very good." His family background bears further investigation: his father, Mickey Rose, co-wrote the early Woody Allen films – no kidding -- Bananas, Take the Money and Run, and What’s Up Tiger Lily – you know, the early, “funny” Allen flicks. Mickey Rose’s other writing credits include “The Sid Caesar Show,” “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,” “The Dean Martin Show,” “The Smothers Brothers Show” from the mid-1970s, plus episodes of everything from the original “Odd Couple” and “Happy Days” to “Charlie’s Angels,” “Mr. and Mrs. Dracula,” and “The Chimp and Me.” QUINCY ROSE podcast excerpt: "My dad, Mickey Rose, and Woody Allen came up together and wrote a lot of comedy together ("Bananas," "Take the Money and Run," "What’s Up Tiger Lily," "The Sid Caesar Show," the "I Shot a Moose" standup routine). And my dad and Garry Marshall ("The Odd Couple," "Happy Days") were in the Army Reserves together. My dad also wrote for Carl Reiner. They were the generation that came from nothing and made it; I am from the generation that came from something all blew it all." As for actress Jillian Leigh, who plays “Laura” in Friends Effing Friends Effing Friends, she has become a familiar face on the indie scene, appearing in City Baby, A Big Love Story, Echo Lake, and The Badger Game. She is also a successful playwright, the author of “Hooked.” Also starring in the film are Tyler Dawson, Christina Gooding, Graham Skipper, and Vanessa Dubasso. Key interview moments: • 4:00 Director Quincy Rose talks about how a comedy gets a title such as Friends Effing Friends Effing Friends an...
If you’re looking for a troubadour whose songs of love and the road might speak to your heart, you’ve come to the right place today. My guest, Shawn Mullins, has just released a new album full of longing and places, some with a little of both. And if you don’t know his work, I wonder if you’ll hear the influences that I do, ranging from the mirth and joy of George Harrison and Warren Zevon to the intensity and message of Bob Dylan and a little of Michael Franks’ romantic spice? Or I could be way, way off. That’s why I’m going to talk to the man in just a moment. SHAWN MULLINS podcast excerpt: "'My Stupid Heart' is about the way I felt after a third marriage didn't work out... I felt unsuccessful as a human being in that I couldn't find a partner, although I've had wonderful relationships with all three of my wives. And I'm still close friends with two of three of them and I miss the other one." My Stupid Heart is Mullins’ 16th release and it’s packed full of songs such as the title tune and “It All Comes Down to Love” and “Pre-Apocalyptic Blues” – songs that you’ll be singing or humming along with by the second play. And, of course, there is the more serious plaint of “Ferguson,” which reflects the agony of the Missouri city. SHAWN MULLINS podcast excerpt: "When it comes to police brutality, obviously nobody wants that. I've known a lot of police officers over the years... I think it's a very small percentage (doing bad things), but it's getting a lot of attention. The fact that it's happening and that people can be profiled and it leads to violent situations just because of the color of someone's skin is pretty screwed up. That song, 'Ferguson,' is about the whole picture. A lot of people said, 'Don't name it that,' but that made us want to do it even more." Mullins is on tour through at least the end of spring, including a four-day birthday bash appearance in Duluth, Georgia, in early March and participation in the Safety Harbor SongFest on April 3rd right here in the Tampa Bay, Florida, area. Today, he performs two songs live for us: “The Great Unknown” and “Pre-Apocalyptic Blues.” Key interview moments: • 5:50 Shawn Mullins talks about how police brutality and racial profiling moved him to write his new song, "Ferguson"; • 23:45 After his third marriage fell apart, Mullins explains how he took a six-year hiatus from the road -- and relationships; • 43:45 Mullins tells how he met his writing partner Chuck Cannon, who then introduced him to his wife, actress and country music singer Lari White, who produced "My Stupid Heart." Shawn Mullins • • • • • • • • READ!
Today's Guest: Drew Chapman, novelist, The King of Fear, The Ascendant, TV writer, "Legends," "The Assets"
DREW CHAPMAN podcast excerpt: "I totally cut my teeth in television. In a way, when I'm writing a book, I have to slow myself down. I have to take a breath, describe more. Let the story blossom. Because I always have the words of a showrunner in my head; I hear him editing my script, and saying, 'Jesus Christ, Chapman, do they pay you by the word?'"
Key interview moments:
• 11:15 Drew Chapman, who interviewed for a staff writer position on Showtime's "Homeland" series recently, talks about the show's influence on his Garrett Reilly spy thrillers;
• 22:45 There is a significant difference in the pacing of TV and novels and Chapman addresses how he writes for one vs. the other;
• 41:15 Chapman loves getting insight for his work from real spies.
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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I just know there will be people watching or hearing this podcast who will hear that my guest’s new book is called Superbosses and they’ll have a common response: Supershmucks! Okay, get it out of your system now, because Sydney Finkelstein’s new book, Superbosses: How Exceptional Leaders Master the Flow of Talent, will make you re-think your entire approach to work, whether you’re a worker or a boss – or somewhere in between. SYDNEY FINKELSTEIN podcast excerpt: "What does a superboss's typical day look like? Superbosses don't lock themselves up in meetings all day long. They leave time for more unstructured interactions, for dropping by unannounced, and working closely together." The whole idea of Superbosses is that there is a generation of remarkable business leaders – across industry, sports, and the arts – who appreciate and nurture talent. They will kick your ass from here to next week, likely pay you less, and expect you to work longer hours than seems natural. But they could potentially change the rest of your life for the better. I believe this book and its author will appeal to the rather broad Mr. Media audience because of whom Finkelstein anoints as “superbosses,” including: • Miles Davis • Alice Waters • Lorne Michaels • Ralph Lauren • Norman Brinker • Bill Walsh • Julian Robertson • Larry Ellison • Roger Corman • and George Lucas. When we’re done talking, you’ll want to ask yourself some serious questions, starting with: Where can I find a superboss of my own? SYDNEY FINKELSTEIN podcast excerpt: "Miles Davis is one of the most fascinating of all the examples that we discovered. The thing that's special about Miles Davis? What is a superboss? A superboss is a person that helps other people do more than tey ever thought possible. Look at the jazz bands that he created over time, the talent he discovered and helped get better: Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans, Wayne Shorter, John Coltrane. That's the definition of what a superboss does... It goes to show you that anyone could be a superboss." As for Sydney Finkelstein, he spent more than a decade working on the concepts, theories and observations that form the spine of Superbosses. He did so from a great vantage point, too: he is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, as well as Tuck’s director of the Center for Leadership. Superbosses is his ninth book, a catalog that includes the best-seller, Why Smart Executives Fail. Key interview moments: • 5:10 Superbosses author Sydney Finkelstein explains how misanthropic jazz legend Miles Davis made his list; • 17:45 What does a day in the life of a superboss look like?; • 28:35 Finkelstein explains that in the movie business, B movie king Roger Corman was beyond compare in recognizing and nurturing talent. Sydney Finkelstein • • • • • • • •
Don’t you just hate when you become totally engrossed in a thriller or mystery novel and then it just ends? I always wanna scream, “NOOOOOO!” and beg the author to make it go on a little longer. That’s probably the lure of stories with continuing characters, whether it’s Harry Potter or Harry Bosch. We get to know them, their characteristics good and bad, their inflection points, their weaknesses, and more. Once we inhabit their world—from a safe distance, of course—we never want to leave. DREW CHAPMAN podcast excerpt: "'Homeland,' to me, is the gold standard of television spy stories. Last season was the best yet -- so complicated and detailed and emotional. It felt grounded in reality. I looked to 'Homeland' for character and plot inspiration and how they go about telling their stories." I felt that way about Drew Chapman’s first novel, The Ascendant, which introduced us to a certified genius, Garrett Reilly, a man who sees patterns in places the rest of us simply don’t see anything at all. He puts his talents to work in the financial markets but soon finds himself wrapped up in international intrigue and government conspiracy theories. When that book was done, I wanted more Reilly. And I told Chapman as much. DREW CHAPMAN podcast excerpt: "I totally cut my teeth in television. In a way, when I'm writing a book, I have to slow myself down. I have to take a breath, describe more. Let the story blossom. Because I always have the words of a showrunner in my head; I hear him editing my script, and saying, 'Jesus Christ, Chapman, do they pay you by the word?'" I’m thrilled to report that Chapman is back with more mind-numbing and terrifying Reilly adventures in The King of Fear, which I made the mistake of taking on a business trip to London and then couldn’t put it down until the end. Thank you—and damn you, Drew! Key interview moments: • 11:15 Drew Chapman, who interviewed for a staff writer position on Showtime's "Homeland" series recently, talks about the show's influence on his Garrett Reilly spy thrillers; • 22:45 There is a significant difference in the pacing of TV and novels and Chapman addresses how he writes for one vs. the other; • 41:15 Chapman loves getting insight for his work from real spies. Drew Chapman • • • • •
TODAY’S GUEST: STEVE MUTH, CO-FOUNDER, VOICETHREAD
(December 2008) If we keep our eyes open, there are a few things us grizzled old parents can still learn from our kids.
About a month or two ago, my daughter came home from school all excited about some new online gadget where her teacher could post something online and then she and her classmates could add their own comments, either by typing or speaking.
To be honest, it didn’t immediate click for me.
Then my wife and I went to a program organized by the 7th grade teachers at school intended to expose us to the variety of new technologies and online programs the kids would be using this year. The same program was demonstrated but, again, I didn’t get it.
My wife did, however. She thought it was pretty cool and even wrote about it for the St. Petersburg Times. When I read her interpretation—and then we played with it at home—the light bulb clicked on for me.
VoiceThread is a fantastical online program that is great for classrooms, but as our family discovered, it is also a wonderful tool for families to preserve and share photos, historical documents and much more.
Joining me today is a co-founder of VoiceThread, Steve Muth and Ben Pappel. I encourage you to visit voicethread.com and set up a free account while we talk because I expect we’ll go through a bit of a tutorial momentarily.
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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With $2.6 billion in assets, the Miami-based John S. and James L. Knight Foundation is the 22nd largest foundation in the United States. Its mission is the betterment of the 26 communities in which it works and the promotion of journalism as a career and industry nationwide.
The latter part of Knight’s mission is particularly challenging at a time when traditional newspapers are shrinking and, in many cases, evaporating.
That puts Alberto Ibargüen, CEO of the Knight Foundation and a former publisher of the Miami Herald, at the same crossroads that silent movies encountered with talkies, talkies with radio, radio with television, television with cable, and now traditional print journalism with online reporting, blogs, podcasting, v-logs, streaming media, and so on.
Since 1950, the Knight Foundation has invested more than $300 million to advance quality journalism and freedom of expression worldwide. It has a vital interest in seeing journalism survive in whatever form it takes.
I interviewed Ibargüen for an old media business magazine and liked his approach to a rapidly changing world, and I was delighted when he accepted my invitation for this second round of conversation in March 2008 .
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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Today's Guest: Ritch Shydner, comedian
RITCH SHYDNER podcast excerpt: "A podcast is, when you're not really in show business, it's good make-believe that you're in show business. I've seen guys post, 'I'm gonna go tape a show today.' I go, 'What show?' 'It's a podcast.' 'That's not a show!' Podcasting is like a comedic circle jerk. 'You come on my show; I'll go on your show, we'll make believe we're in show business.'"
Key interview moments:
• 4:35 Ritch Shydner shares his views on (most, not all) comedians who do podcasts;
• 23:30 That time a young Shydner opened for The Ramones;
• 37:40 That other time when an inebriated Shydner walked up to Morey Amsterdam and got schooled by the legendary comic and "Dick Van Dyke Show" co-star on how much the up-and-coming standup didn't know about the history of comedy in America.
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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HEY, KIDS! COMICS! My guest today on Mr. Media Interviews is cartoonist Jeffrey Brown, creator of "Darth Vader & Son," "Vader's Little Princess," "Star Wars Jedi Academy," "Lucy and Andy Neanderthal” and "Clumsy."
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS:
4:15 "Google thought of me for this idea they had: they would do an everyday father and son moment between Darth Vader and Luke. My autobiographical work dealt with awkward, everyday moments. And they knew I was a dad. My immediate reaction was to think of Luke as four years old, because that's how old my son was. I did a bunch of sketches, but in the end, they decided not to use the idea. But my publisher, Chronicle Books, had done a lot of work with LucasFilm and I thought maybe they could take the idea to them. That became the first book, 'Darth Vader & Son.'"
17:30 Brown talks about naming the characters in his newest children's series, Lucy & Andy Neanderthal;
36:45 Meeting graphic novelist Chris Ware was a big moment in Brown's development as a cartoonist; he talks about other influences as well.
http://mrmedia.com/2016/01/cartoonist-jeffery-brown-clumsy-darth-vader-neanderthals-video-interview/#.VqhCjjaMCV7
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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Today’s interview with comedian Ritch Shydner is unusual for at least three reasons. First of all, Shydner is the first guest of my 10th year of producing the Mr. Media podcast. Second, he may be the first guest I’ve ever connected with as a Facebook friend first and then invited to be a guest on the show. RITCH SHYDNER podcast excerpt: "It's 1977. Friends of mine have bar bands . When they took breaks, I jumped on stage and did comedy. It was all kamikaze stuff. One night, a bar owner came over and said, 'You want to open for a band next week? I'll give $50.' I was excited; I gotta do this. Next week came, I realized I didn't even know who the band was. Outside, on the marquee, it said, 'From New York City, THE RAMONES.' I walked in, the place was packed with punks. I didn't know what punk was yet. But there were mohawks, shaved heads, flannel and leather. I went back to the bar and the owner was laughing, 'They're gonna kill you, man! You're not gonna make 15 minutes!' But to me, it was like a rodeo event: I'm gonna stay on no matter what the bull did! The owner said, 'I'll go double or nothin'--you won't make five minutes!' I said, 'I'll take it,' and he introduced me. I don't know what he said, but all the audience heard was, 'Ladies and Gentlemen, NOT The Ramones!' I had to walk through the crowd to get to the stage and it was biblical. They were spitting', throwing' stuff, booing me. The whole crowd hated me before I got on stage! I'd only been doing comedy a couple of months--I didn't know what to do. It's not like I could do my special punk material that I wrote the night before. I said 'I'm from New Jersey,' and they were booing! One of the guys sitting ringside had had it and he shot this mug of beer at me. I shook it off, but they they all started throwing beers! My friend said later that every time they hit me with a beer, they'd cheer. And every time I started talking again, they'd boo! Offstage, the bar owner is waving the $100, saying, 'Come get your money!' I went back to the kitchen, which was behind the bar. The Ramones were standing there--long hair, leather, guitars--waiting to go on. I am soaked, head-to-tie, with beer. And one of The Ramones goes, 'Cool act, man.'" And third, he may be the least self-promotional comic I’ve ever encountered. How’s that, you wonder? Well, when I asked him if he had anything special coming up that he wanted to promote, he mentioned performing at the Borgata in Atlantic City from January 24 to 30. Anything else, I asked? “I’ll be at Cleveland Hilarities Feb. 3-6,” he replied. RITCH SHYDNER podcast excerpt: "A podcast is, when you're not really in show business, it's good make-believe that you're in show business. I've seen guys post, 'I'm gonna go tape a show today.' I go, 'What show?' 'It's a podcast.' 'That's not a show!' Podcasting is like a comedic circle jerk. 'You come on my show; I'll go on your show, we'll make believe we're in show business.'" Which left me thinking, Is this the only comedian in America not hosting his own podcast? As it turns out, the modest Mr. Shydner has two big projects on the verge of release. First is a memoir, Kicking Through The Ashes: My Life as a Stand-up in the 1980's Comedy Explosion, due out soon. And he also wrote a short film, The Last Lift of the Leg, which he screened with a live audience for the first time at the Tribeca Theater in New York City on January 31. Key interview moments: • 4:35 Ritch Shydner shares his views on (most, not all) comedians who do podcasts; • 23:30 That time a young Shydner opened for The Ramones; • 37:40 That other time when an inebriated Shydner walked up to Morey Amsterdam and got schooled by the legendary comic and "Dick Van Dyke Show" co-star on how much the up-and-coming standup didn't know about the history of comedy in America. Ritch Shydner • • • • •
It was probably about two years ago when my family gave me a copy of Vader’s Little Princess by Jeffrey Brown for my birthday. I will admit that I thought it was a gag gift, a trifle, something that was an after thought. The cover features Darth Vader participating in a tea party with Princess Leia and an Ewok, for cryin’ out loud! Then I start reading it. JEFFREY BROWN podcast excerpt: "Google thought of me for this idea they had: they would do an everyday father and son moment between Darth Vader and Luke. My autobiographical work dealt with awkward, everyday moments. And they knew I was a dad. My immediate reaction was to think of Luke as four years old, because that's how old my son was. I did a bunch of sketches, but in the end, they decided not to use the idea. But my publisher, Chronicle Books, had done a lot of work with LucasFilm and I thought maybe they could take the idea to them. That became the first book, 'Darth Vader & Son.'" Oh, my goodness, folks, I don’t care how old you are, if you’ve ever seen a film in the original Star Wars trilogy, you will adore this book. Every page is a unique nugget of whimsy and delight that will have you laughing and crying as Brown looks at life with Leia from adolescence to teenage rebellion. (Literally.) The book has been proudly displayed on our living room coffeetable ever since, always on the top of the pile. And I’ve since read the other titles in the series, including Darth Vader and Son, Darth Vader and Friends, and Goodnight Darth Vader. I have wanted to have Brown as a guest here ever since, and publication of the second edition of the Random House graphic novel short story series Comics Squad opened the door. JEFFREY BROWN podcast excerpt: "I have a book called 'Funny Misshapen Body' that tells about art school and how I met Chris Ware and having these key moments. His work and seeing what he was doing with comics was a big inspiration." Brown’s latest series couldn’t be more different from his venture with the children of Anakin Skywalker, and yet it isn’t a stretch to recognize the parallels. In the story of "Lucy and Andy Neanderthal," we enter the world of two cave children from a long-ago era, far, far away from the galaxy scorching stories of Star Wars. But we again find ourselves immersed in the adventures of a clever, somewhat mischievious brother and sister, this time set against a backdrop where the most advanced technology is cooking soup inside animal skin. Brown is one of several top contributors to Comics Squad #2, the theme of which is Lunch! Sharing the pages are Cece Bell, Cecil Castellucci & Sara Varon, Nathan Hale, Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Vicki Scott, and Jason Shiga. Key interview moments: • 4:15 Jeffrey Brown explains how the Vader and children idea actually came from Google but, after Brown offered several concepts for gags, the search giant passed; • 17:30 Brown talks about naming the characters in his newest children's series, Lucy & Andy Neanderthal; • 36:45 Meeting graphic novelist Chris Ware was a big moment in Brown's development as a cartoonist; he talks about other influences as well. Jeffrey Brown • • •
Today's Guest: Novelist Lida Sideris, author of Murder and Other Unnatural Disasters, former Hollywood studio attorney.
LIDA SIDERIS podcast excerpt: "My day job as a lawyer can be a bit intense. So this book was an escape hatch for me, carved with words, zany characters, odd situations, action and adventure the whole way."
Key interview moments:
• 3:55 If your day job is a roller-coaster, attorney-turned-novelist Lida Sideris suggests writing to take the edge off;
• 11:40 Murder and Other Unnatural Disasters is the kind of novel that has the authors friends wondering if they are in it;
• 19:00 Sideris answers questions about a possible sequel for the book's star, Corrie Locke.
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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Here’s a great title for a mystery novel: Murder and Other Unnatural Disasters. It’s writer Lida Sideris’s first crack at fiction writing and the former Hollywood studio attorney certainly promises a lot right up front! LIDA SIDERIS podcast excerpt: "My day job as a lawyer can be a bit intense. So this book was an escape hatch for me, carved with words, zany characters, odd situations, action and adventure the whole way." The good news is that she delivers a fun, frothy read with lots of kooky showbiz types circling our heroine, amateur sleuth Corrie Locke. You might say I came for the title and stayed for the characterization, as Sideris moves the story along with a cast of characters straight out of Central Casting and plot twists that would be unlikely in Des Moines. LIDA SIDERIS podcast excerpt: "I've been asked by people, 'Is there a "Me" character in the book?' And I've said, 'Not unless you've done this and that.' I asked someone who worked closely with me (when I was a Hollywood studio attorney), 'Did anyone seem familiar to you?' She said, 'No. I wish things like that happened!" Sideris started her career as a law clerk for the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, and later worked as a business affairs director at Lorimar-Telepictures (which is curiously hyphenated like Keith-Ameripictures in her novel). She currently works as executive director for a legal non-profit organization and writes on the side. Key interview moments: • 3:55 If your day job is a roller-coaster, attorney-turned-novelist Lida Sideris suggests writing to take the edge off; • 11:40 Murder and Other Unnatural Disasters is the kind of novel that has the authors friends wondering if they are in it; • 19:00 Sideris answers questions about a possible sequel for the book's star, Corrie Locke. Lida Sideris • • •
Today's Guest: Kent Crowley, author of The Beach Boys Carl Wilson biography, Long Promised Road.
KENT CROWLEY podcast excerpt: "Murray Wilson, father of Brian, Dennis and Carl, was a very damaged individual. He, too, grew up in an abusive household with an abusive father. So what didn't happen in the Wilson household -- until Carl showed up -- was you never had anyone to break that cycle. That's why there was such an emphasis on Carl Wilson being the caregiver and the caretaker... The one thing that brought that family together was music.”
Key interview moments:
• 3:30 Murray Wilson, father of three of The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, and Carl Wilson, was himself the product of an abusive household;
• 19:10 Carl Wilson doesn't get enough credit as a guitar hero, according to biographer Kent Crowley;
• 32:10 Crowley cites examples of Carl Wilson's "wonderful sense of humor."
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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When my future wife and I started living together, the first appointment TV series in our lives was ABC’s daytime soap, “All My Children.” Her addiction, not mine, but it was silly fun. We always watched TV together after work – as we do even now -- and the next series I remember us committing to in the 1990s was Fox’s long-running bit of alien abduction weirdness, “The X-Files.” We watched every episode with bated breath, sometimes amused and awed, sometimes left scratching our heads in total confusion. JOHN KENNETH MUIR podcast excerpt: "Every week, 'The X-Files' brought up these mysteries. There was an episode about the Loch Ness Monster, many episodes about UFOs. They also talked about religion, about faith and, in general, what is belief. I think that really connected with people. The writing was extremely intelligent." But – and this is important – we were always eager for the next installment. We watched all nine seasons together, worrying about Mulder’s porn addiction, his sister Samantha’s abduction, Sculley’s pregnancy, and Smoking Man’s ever impending doom. We even watched the spinoff series “Millenium” and “The Lone Gunmen” and the first feature film, Fight the Future. (We never did get around to the second, I Want to Believe.) Oh, and we followed Fox Mulder – I mean actor David Duchovny – through his uncomfortably pornographic Showtime series “Californication,” wondering when Dana Sculley – I mean actress Gillian Anderson – would star in the ultimate seductive story arc. JOHN KENNETH MUIR podcast excerpt: "Chris Carter's work ('The X-Files,' 'Millennium,' 'The Lone Gunmen,' 'Harsh Realm,' 'The After') leads itself to participation by creative people. They take his work and they create art from his art." And now “The X-Files” is returning to the small screen for a 2016 limited series that creator Chris Carter promises will give fans everything we loved about the original and more. Who better than to prepare us for the show’s return than John Kenneth Muir, author of The X-Files FAQ: All That’s Left to Know About Global Conspiracy, Aliens, Lazurus Species, and Monsters of the Week. Key interview moments: • 4:10 The appeal of "The X-Files" is no mystery at all, according to FAQ author John Kenneth Muir; • 18:30 If you really think about it, Muir says, "X-Files" creator Chris Carter's work is art; • 39:05 On a completely different subject, Muir explains why his massive collection of sci-fi, fantasy and genre toys are available for his little boy to play with to his heart's content, rather than keeping them boxed up. John Kenneth Muir • • • • • • • • Horror Films FAQ by John Kenneth Muir. Click on the book cover above to order your copy now! Science Fiction and Fantasy Films of the 1970s by John Kenneth Muir. Click on the book cover above to order your copy today! Order Will Eisner: A Spirited Life (2nd Edition) by Bob Andelman, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above!
Is it fair to call Carl Wilson the “accidental” Beach Boy? He was the youngest brother – and cousin – in the world’s most enduring and prominent California surf band, the one that probably had other youthful pursuits in mind when older brother Brian recruited him to the band in the early 1960s at age 15. KENT CROWLEY podcast excerpt: "Murray Wilson, father of Brian, Dennis and Carl, was a very damaged individual. He, too, grew up in an abusive household with an abusive father. So what didn't happen in the Wilson household -- until Carl showed up -- was you never had anyone to break that cycle. That's why there was such an emphasis on Carl Wilson being the caregiver and the caretaker... The one thing that brought that family together was music." But the rest of The Beach Boys were lucky he got around – I mean, came around – as Carl eventually became the band’s musical director, lead vocalist and its conscience in the absence of brother Brian. In his new biography, Long Promised Road: Carl Wilson, Soul of the Beach Boys, writer Kent Crowley tells the story of the Brother who spent much of his life in Brian’s shadow, even when Brian was nowhere in sight for years and years. KENT CROWLEY podcast excerpt: "Carl started out as a teenager, still in high school, playing surf music. Surf music began as an entry-level style of guitar. But as amplifier technology evolved, as the introduced the reverb, there were all these great surf guitar players such as Dick Dale. And over time, the complexities of Brian Wilson's writing demanded that Carl command a much higher level of knowledge about chords, rhythm, and the role that each note played in the chord -- what a lot of guitar players don't need to know." Know the Boys’ music but not their history? Maybe you didn’t realize those are Carl Wilson’s vocals in your head from the immortal beach tunes “Good Vibrations” and “God Only Knows,” among many others. Key interview moments: • 3:30 Murray Wilson, father of three of The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, and Carl Wilson, was himself the product of an abusive household; • 19:10 Carl Wilson doesn't get enough credit as a guitar hero, according to biographer Kent Crowley; • 32:10 Crowley cites examples of Carl Wilson's "wonderful sense of humor."
Rachel Reenstra’s got a great job: she hosts ABC’s “The Wildlife Docs,” a Saturday morning not-just-for-kids TV series. RACHEL REENSTRA podcast excerpt: "I got my first gig working with animals in 2006 on the Animal Planet series 'Ms. Adventure.' I thought it was a dream come true. I got to entertain and be in a personality-driven show where I traveled the world and compare animal-to-human behaviors. There was so much comedy material there! You never knew what was going to happen." Filmed at the Busch Gardens amusement park in Tampa, Florida, she gets to interact with all kinds of endearing and unusual critters as the show presents stories of animal interaction, medical intervention and recovery. The show is sweetly presented and Reenstra gives it an element of amusement and wonder, appearing between segments to make introductions and act as behind-the-scenes ringmaster for Busch Gardens creatures and veterinary staff alike. And that voice of hers – think Téa Leoni or Ellen Barkin -- will keep adults hooked as it announces her arrival even before we see her, slightly scratchy and a little gutural in a sexy but unthreatening manner. RACHEL REENSTRA podcast excerpt: "The more you discover who you are and what you really love, the more opportunities will find their way to you. This is a hard business, full of rejection. I was always an entertainer, but I always loved animals. I never thought these two could come together." Reenstra has been in show business for many years as an actress but seems to have found her niche with animals; in addition to “The Wildlife Docs,” she also starred in “Ms. Adventure” on Animal Planet. Key interview moments: • 5:35 Rachel Reenstra recalls her first TV series, "Ms. Adventure" on Animal Planet; • 15:30 Show business is hard, Reenstra says, but if you stick with it, you'll eventually get your chance to shine; • 25:20 "There were these mealworms -- like worms on crack -- crawling up my arms..." Rachel Reenstra • • • • • • • • • • The Wildlife Docs • • • •
Today's Guest: "Zippy the Pinhead" cartoonist Bill Griffith, who reveals his late mother's sordid history in Invisible Ink: My Mother's Secret Love Affair with a Famous Cartoonist!!, a graphic novel.
(Tech Note from Mr. Media: For some stupid reason, my audio during this interview is engulfed in static; I don't know why. The good news is that my guest, Bill Griffith, sounds and looks great. I apologize for the sound difficulties in advance.)
BILL GRIFFITH podcast excerpt: "My mother read my work from the very beginning. It caused her quite a bit of discomfort. There's a point in the book where I quote from a letter she wrote to me in the early '70s where she says, 'Tell me, Dear Son, how do I tell my friends about your work, since it's often X-rated and pornographic? What do I say to them when they say, "Your son draws dirty pictures!"' She literally wanted me to advise her."
Key interview moments:
• 8:15 Ever wonder how an adult-oriented artist such as Bill Griffith explained their work to Mom? Or how Mom, full of pride, explains it to the neighbors?;
• 25:00 Griffith explains a bit about what his mother's lover, artist Lawrence Lariar contributed to the early days of comic books, comic strips, commercial art and mystery novels, and how he inadvertently had an impact on Griffith himself;
• 38:50 Griffith reveals the future of his 50-yearold daily comic strip, "Zippy the Pinhead."
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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For me, the best country music songs are the ones that bring a smile to my lips when I hear the title. Sometimes it’s because they’re clever, sometimes a bit smartass, and sometimes, in the case of Madelyn Victoria’s new single, “He Only Loves Me on the Dance Floor,” it’s because they make me laugh out loud. Let’s face it – men are beasts. MADELYN VICTORIA podcast excerpt: "'He Only Loves Me On The Dance Floor' started off as just a good idea for a song. But then I actually had a boyfriend and we would go out dancing. We were pretty good dancing together, but we broke up. He really did only love me on the dance floor." Conversation? Sure, sure, we’ll talk later. But most first impressions for us are caused by shapes we’re drawn to and shapeliness. Can you shake it and not break it? Sold! I know how shallow that sounds but for me, that’s the whole point illustrated in “He Only Loves Me on the Dance Floor.” MADELYN VICTORIA podcast excerpt: "I remember getting in trouble in elementary school for singing out loud during even tests. My mind would wander and I would start humming and singing. One day, a teacher took me to my Mom after school and said, 'Oh my goodness, your daughter can sing!'" Oh, and the song has a beat and you can dance to it. Joining me today is the pride of San Benito, Texas, a young woman who was delivered by Dr. Hughston to the sound of country music in the delivery room. Madelyn will be performing two songs live on the show, “He Only Loves Me On The Dance Floor” and “Good At Goodbye.” She is accompanied on guitar by her brother, Albert Vallejo. Don’t miss it! Key interview moments: • 5:10 Even in grade school, Madelyn Victoria's teachers knew her life's path would lead to singing; • 23:25 How some songs imitate life -- and vice versa; • 26:15 Madelyn feels drawn to Johnny Cash; here's why. Madelyn Victoria • • • •
Today’s Guests: Dewey Cassell and Aaron Sultan co-authors of "The Incredible Herb Trimpe.
DEWEY CASSELL podcast excerpt: "The theme of the people we are attracted to have humility. That would describe Herb. He would not feel the need to go around at a comic book convention and say, "I created The Wolverine.' That was not his style."
Key interview moments:
• 6:55 Aaron Sultan on comic book artist Herb Trimpe's major contribution to the creation of the Marvel Universe;
• 14:40 Dewey Cassell describes the early design work that Trimpe and Larry Hama did on early G.I. Joes;
• 26:20 Cassell compares Trimpe's humility on his accomplishments with a lot of his professional counterparts in comics.
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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(Tech Note from Mr. Media: For some stupid reason, my audio during this interview is engulfed in static; I don't know why. The good news is that my guest, Bill Griffith, sounds and looks great. I apologize for the sound difficulties in advance.) Cartoonist Bill Griffith has always shared bits and pieces of his life, his world view – and maybe even a neurosis or two – through his personal window on the soul, Zippy the Pinhead. In fact, as regular readers know, Griffith – as “Griffy” – often plays sidekick to Zippy in the long-running daily comic strip. But in his latest work, Griffith takes readers deeper into his real life than ever before. His subject matter? Mom. BILL GRIFFITH podcast excerpt: "My mother read my work from the very beginning. It caused her quite a bit of discomfort. There's a point in the book where I quote from a letter she wrote to me in the early '70s where she says, 'Tell me, Dear Son, how do I tell my friends about your work, since it's often X-rated and pornographic? What do I say to them when they say, "Your son draws dirty pictures!"' She literally wanted me to advise her." It seems that Barbara Jackson Griffith led a most interesting life outside of her marriage, carrying on a years-long affair with her employer, a married man who was well known in the industry that Barbara’s son would eventually become an American master of: cartooning. In Invisible Ink: My Mother’s Secret Love Affair with a Famous Cartoonist!!, Griffith takes us from his moment of discovery through the amateur sleuthing that revealed ever greater details of his late mother’s most profound secret. Reading Invisible Ink, you’ll be hard pressed not to laugh, drop your jaw, and occasionally squirm uncomfortably as a legendary cartoonist draws scenes of his own mother in bed with a not-so-legendary cartoonist of an earlier era. BILL GRIFFITH podcast excerpt: "The first Zippy strip was in 1970... He will eventually be in the grave with me. I made a deal in my contract with King Features that when I go, Zippy goes. There is no next-in-line cartoonist waiting to do Zippy." The book has already achieved a mainstream acceptance that has often eluded Griffith; ’s website, for example, proudly offers a sneak peak at several pages. NPR and the Toronto Globe and Mail reviewed the book. And Françoise Mouly – wife of Maus cartoonist Art Spiegelman – together with Mina Kaneko interviewed Griffith for . Bill Griffith has a history with Mr. Media that goes back to the mid-1990s when this was a syndicated newspaper column. He most recently joined us in 2012 to talk in depth about Zippy. Key interview moments: • 8:15 Ever wonder how an adult-oriented artist such as Bill Griffith explained their work to Mom? Or how Mom, full of pride, explains it to the neighbors?; • 25:00 Griffith explains a bit about what his mother's lover, artist Lawrence Lariar contributed to the early days of comic books, comic strips, commercial art and mystery novels, and how he inadvertently had an impact on Griffith himself; • 38:50 Griffith reveals the future of his 50-year-old daily comic strip, "Zippy the Pinhead." Bill Griffith • •
Today’s Guest: Marc Guggenheim, showrunner of “Arrow” and “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow” on The CW, writer of comic books including “Arrow 2.5,” “The Infinite Adventures of Jonas Quantum,” “Stringers,” “The Rocketeer at War!” and “Squadron Sinister,” author of Overwatch.
MARC GUGGENHEIM podcast excerpt: "The simultaneous shooting schedule of the Arrow/The Flash/DC's Legends of Tomorrow crossover and two-hour pilot has been a much bigger headache than dealing with the actors' agents and managers. The scheduling is really, really hard. It was all filmed at the same time. It requires a tremendous amount of creativity on the part of the producers and the assistant directors on the various shows who handle scheduling. Not easy! And not easy on the actors who sometimes have to run from one set to the other. We're all now recovering from the scheduling mishegas. That said, we do it because the end result is so worthwhile. And the end result is awesome. As I said to the 'Arrow' crew yesterday, a quadruple axle is far more impressive than a double axel. People are going to watch these four hours of television and I think it's going to blow their minds!"
Key interview moments:
• 6:45 "Arrow" and "DC Legends of Tomorrow" showrunner Marc Guggenheim explains why he makes time to create and write comic books, fiction, and even two upcoming film scripts;
• 33:20 Spoiler Alert: Sara Lance lives, has a final night of passion with girlfriend Nyssa al Ghul in Guggenheim's Arrow 2.5 comic book, dies in Season 3 and is reborn in Season 4;
• 41:10 Guggenheim says the four-hour "Arrow"/"The Flash"/"DC Legends of Tomorrow" crossover was a nightmare to schedule and shoot but the result is "awesome."
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In the introduction to the biography The Incredible Herb Trimpe, former Marvel Comics editor Tom DeFalco sums up artist Trimpe’s unusually long run as the artist on The Incredible Hulk perfectly: “He somehow conveyed the power of Kirby with the stylization of Ditko, but added a humanity, a pathos that was all his own. Where Kirby’s Hulk was an enraged monster with a hair-trigger temper and Ditko’s was a sinister and angry master-planner, Herb’s version was a desperate and haunted individual. Someone who had been misused and abused, yet struggled to control his explosive tantrums.” To that, I might add that Trimpe’s Hulk – aided and abetted by writers Roy Thomas and Len Wein – was a bridge to the modern Hulk found in the popular Avengers movies in which he is portrayed by Mark Ruffalo – or even the 1970s TV version brought to life by Lou Ferrigno – and less so the Eric Bana and Edward Norton editions. DEWEY CASSELL podcast excerpt: "The theme of the people we are attracted to have humility. That would describe Herb. He would not feel the need to go around at a comic book convention and say, "I created The Wolverine.' That was not his style." In the new Twomorrows biography of Trimpe co-authored by Dewey Cassell and Aaron Sultan, Q&As with Trimpe – who died suddenly shortly before the well-illustrated book was published – as well as his many admirers and collaborators bring the man and his work to life. A quiet man, Trimpe nonethless was a Vietnam War veteran who always brought believability to his battle scenes, whether starring the Emerald Giant, Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D., Kid Colt and The Two-Gun Kid, or licensed characters such as G.I. Joe, Godzilla, and Transformers. He was also the very first artist to draw Wolverine, although the character’s significance may not have been immediately apparent to anyone at Marvel. If you love The Hulk, you’ll enjoy learning more in The Incredible Herb Trimpe about one of his modern fathers. AARON SULTAN podcast excerpt: "Herb had a wealth of great characters (The Hulk, Wolverine, G.I. Joe, Shogun Warriors, Godzilla, Transformers, Defenders, Spider-Man) and made a titanic contribution to the Marvel Universe." Key interview moments: • 6:55 Aaron Sultan on comic book artist Herb Trimpe's major contribution to the creation of the Marvel Universe; • 14:40 Dewey Cassell describes the early design work that Trimpe and Larry Hama did on early G.I. Joes; • 26:20 Cassell compares Trimpe's humility on his accomplishments with a lot of his professional counterparts in comics. Twomorrows Publishing •
Marc Guggenheim is one of those onion guys, where every time you peel back a layer, two more costumed characters appear in its place. A year ago, when he first appeared on Mr. Media, we spent most our time talking about his first novel, the out-of-control shadow government story of Overwatch. That, and a bit about his day job as writer and producer of The CW’s hit show “Arrow,” which had just spun off “The Flash.” Today, this guy has got superheroes coming out of his eyes, ears and, well, everywhere else. MARC GUGGENHEIM podcast excerpt: "The simultaneous shooting schedule of the Arrow/The Flash/DC's Legends of Tomorrow crossover and two-hour pilot has been a much bigger headache than dealing with the actors' agents and managers. The scheduling is really, really hard. It was all filmed at the same time. It requires a tremendous amount of creativity on the part of the producers and the assistant directors on the various shows who handle scheduling. Not easy! And not easy on the actors who sometimes have to run from one set to the other. We're all now recovering from the scheduling mishegas. That said, we do it because the end result is so worthwhile. And the end result is awesome. As I said to the 'Arrow' crew yesterday, a quadruple axle is far more impressive than a double axel. People are going to watch these four hours of television and I think it's going to blow their minds!" Guggenheim is now the showrunner for “Arrow” –in its fourth season – and its upcoming spinoff, “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow,” which will bring together The Atom, Firestorm, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Captain Cold, Heatwave, Rip Hunter, White Canary, and more. MARC GUGGENHEIM podcast excerpt: "Spoiler Alert for people who haven't seen Season 3 of 'Arrow': Sara Lance (the original Canary) dies! And by the way, Spoiler Alert: In Season 4 she comes back to life! We love Caity Lotz and we love the character of Sara Lance. It was something were always planning on doing." He’s also the guy that raised “Constantine” from last season’s ashes and made millions wonder what the NBC show could have been if it had come from his keyboard. But TV represents just a fraction of the characters in his sandbox. MARC GUGGENHEIM podcast excerpt: "I value my collaboration with Greg Berlanti. But it's also important for me to establish an identity as a writer separate and apart from him. I love comic books and I probably would have become a comic book writer first if that path had been offered to me." He has also found time to write a rack’s worth of new comics this year, include Arrow 2.5 for DC, The Infinite Adventures of Jonas Quantum for Legendary, Stringers for Oni Press, and The Rocketeer at War! for IDW. Earlier this year, he wrote a Squadron Sinister series for Marvel. And when he goes home, he can’t escape the superhero business: wife Tara Butters is co-showrunner of Marvel’s “Agent Carter” on ABC. Oh, and he is an indefatiguable sharer on Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr. Key interview moments: • 6:45 "Arrow" and "DC Legends of Tomorrow" showrunner Marc Guggenheim explains why he makes time to create and write comic books, fiction, and even two upcoming film scripts; • 33:20 Spoiler Alert: Sara Lance lives, has a final night of passion with girlfriend Nyssa al Ghul in Guggenheim's Arrow 2.5 comic book, dies in Season 3 and is reborn in Season 4; • 41:10 Guggenheim says the four-hour "Arrow"/"The Flash"/"DC Legends of Tomorrow" crossover was a nightmare to schedule and shoot but the result is "awesome." Marc Guggenheim • • Arrow • • • • • DC's Legends of Tomorrow • • •
If there is nothing else in life I have to brag about, it’s that I was in attendance at the Loews Astor Plaza Cinema in Manhattan for the red carpet, world premiere of Star Wars in 1977. My buddy Bob Pinaha and I took a Suburban Bus in from New Brunswick, New Jersey, that evening – classy, huh? – and it was one of the single most amazing filmgoing experiences of my lifetime. Unlike today, when the Internet over-prepares us for every twist and turn that lies ahead in new movies, we had no idea what this “Star Wars” was about or even why we were invited. MARK CLARK podcast excerpt: "There were blockbuster hits before 'Star Wars' and that were films that had lots of merchandising around them, like the Disney movies, for example. But 'Star Wars' was just next level. It was box office like the industry had never seen. The scale of the merchandising revenues was unprecedented. The way impacted the fate of different toy companies! The other studios wanted to get into this business of coming up with a franchise with built-in marketing bonanza potential; that still drives the superhero movies made today." And if we realized it would be as grand a night as it was, I suspect we would have been better dressed! I, for one, had never been in a movie theater with escalators. Or 70 mm prints. And they gave out free popcorn and programs to all. (And yes, I still have the program!) When the film started and it felt like the place was going to explode from the noise of the ships seemingly passing overhead, we knew our lives would never be the same. I must have seen Star Wars a few dozen times as summer turned to fall and spring. I remember driving my date, Carol Burger, to Paramus, N.J., the day I got my driver’s license that October so she could experience the movie in 70 mm just as I had in New York City. A slight problem – I didn’t know how to get to Paramus. Well, we figured that out, but with no maps, cell phone, or GPS, getting home took hours! So, yes, Star Wars is very, very important in my life. MARK CLARK podcast excerpt: "(The press conducted) interviews with guys that worked in the 'Star Wars' model shop that were just gluing together the X-wing and TIE fighters. Once people found out they worked on 'Star Wars,' people asked for their autograph. It didn't matter what they did; if they worked on 'Star Wars' in any capacity, people wanted to work with them." And while I don’t cosplay as an Imperial Storm Trooper or wear Star Wars Underoos or plan my life around #ForceFriday – okay, scratch that last one – I know plenty of people do. Which is why my guest today is Mark Clark, author of Star Wars FAQ: Everything Left to Know About the Trilogy That Changed the Movies. The book has all the things we’ve come to enjoy in the “FAQ” series: clear-eyed perspective, deep history, and, of course, memorable quotes, parodies, and ridiculous movie flubs. Interestingly, Clark is also the author of two books from another “Star” universe: Star Trek FAQ: Everything Left to Know About the First Voyages of the Starship Enterprise and Star Trek FAQ 2.0: Everything Left to Know About the Next Generation, the Movies, and Beyond. Key interview moments: • 4:00 The recommended way to go about reading Star Wars FAQ; • 14:35 Mark Clark discusses how the value of Star Wars-related merchandise changed the movie business forever; • 26:50 Star Wars made stars out of not just George Lucas, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher, but also John Dykstra, Rick Baker, and everyone who ever touched the film's production. Mark Clark
Today's Guest: Tamara Lush, AP reporter based in St. Petersburg, Florida, whose first novel is Hot Shade.
TAMARA LUSH podcast excerpt: "While it is about sex, writing romance and reading romance is a really feminist act. It's about women taking control of their own lives and their own pleasure."
Key interview moments:
• 2:10 Karen Allen's portrayal of the love interest in the first 'Indiana Jones' film commits Tamara Lush to the writing life -- in second grade;
• 14:40 Romance writing is, according to Lush, all about women taking control of their own lives and pleasure;
• 23:00 As a reporter, Lush broke the story of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford's infidelities with his Argentinian mistress, making international headlines.
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To paraphrase the 39th President of the United States, I have lust in my heart… for Tamara Lush. We’ve never met in person, never even laid eyes on each other before this video interview commenced, but having read her searingly inflamed first attempt at romance fiction, I can’t help but want to get to know her better. TAMARA LUSH podcast excerpt: "While it is about sex, writing romance and reading romance is a really feminist act. It's about women taking control of their own lives and their own pleasure." Fortunately, she’s in a soundproof booth and can’t hear me right now. I think. Uh, Tamara, can you hear me? Oh, sh!t. Look, what can I say? Hot Shade is a passionate, erotic story about Skylar, a young female reporter in a small Florida beach town who meets a mysterious Italian tourist in the course of doing her job. He soon turns her on in ways she never knew existed. It’s an excellent first effort and I know I want to read more from the ironically named Lush. TAMARA LUSH podcast excerpt: "When I was in second grade, I was heavily influenced by the movie 'Raiders of the Lost Ark. And in the early 1980s, I wrote 'Raiders fanfic. It always had to do with vaguely handsome foreign men doing swashbuckling things around the globe. There was heroine who need to be rescued. I was heavily influenced by Marion Ravenwood (played by actress Karen Allen). She was awesome!" Tamara Lush is currently an AP reporter based in St. Petersburg, Florida. Before that, she spent many years writing for the Tampa Bay Times. And she’s damn good at that, too. I’ve spent my entire career around female journalists and if they all have imaginations as vivid as Tamara’s, I envy the loves of their lives. Key interview moments: • 2:10 Karen Allen's portrayal of the love interest in the first 'Indiana Jones' film commits Tamara Lush to the writing life -- in second grade; • 14:40 Romance writing is, according to Lush, all about women taking control of their own lives and pleasure; • 23:00 As a reporter, Lush broke the story of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford's infidelities with his Argentinian mistress, making international headlines. Tamara Lush • • • • • • • • • • • MORE MR. MEDIA INTERVIEWS WITH ROMANCE NOVELISTS! • • • • •
First novels are hard. Writing them is a challenge, finding a publisher is a major mountain to climb, and promoting them may be the hardest task of all. But when my friend Howard Finberg told me that a friend of his was writing a mystery series set in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, I committed without even reading the first book. After all, Mr. Media has been describing St. Pete as “the NEW new media capitol of the world” since 2007 – whether the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce likes it or not – so how I could I not help out an up-and-coming writer? CHERYL HOLLON podcast excerpt: "The glass shop in Pane and Suffering is a premise and it comes along with the genre. It's like the Cabot Cove Syndrome: Why would anyone live in Cabot Cove? Because she would write about you and your murder! But the Webb's Glass Shop gives me license to play. I can concentrate on a different type of glass in each book. The first book is about stained glass. The second is about fusing glass and about judging an art festival. And the third book is about recycling glass." Cheryl Hollon’s first mystery is Pane and Suffering. The pane she is referring to is spelled P-A-N-E as in a pane of glass. That established, it is nonetheless a story of the pain – P-A-I-N – endured by our heroine, Savannah Webb, following the sudden death of her father, the owner of Webb’s Glass Shop in the booming-yet-still-quaint Grand Central District of downtown St. Petersburg. Hollon uses the invented location to share some love with an endless array of real-life St. Pete landmarks and restaurants, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Casita Taqueria, Queen’s Head, 3 Daughters Brewing and so much more. CHERYL HOLLON podcast excerpt: "I think my writing finally matured to the point it was enjoyable to read. That sounds so simple but it is devilishly hard. I enjoyed having a person-to-person critique group. That was incredibly useful." It is, of course, a first novel and so it’s not perfect. But it is a mix of intrigue, detective work and recognizable places that anyone who lives in the Burg or who has visited in the last five years will find entertaining. Key interview moments: • 5:45 Cheryl Hollon cites influences such as Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers and Louise Penny; • 13:30 Webb's Glass Shop is a vehicle for Hollon's storytelling the same way that Cabot Cove is for Jessica Fletcher in "Murder, She Wrote"; • 20:15 After years of writing, what pushed Hollon from unpublished amateur to published author? Cheryl Hollon • • • •
Today's Guest: Jeanne Martinet, author of The Art of Mingling and Life is Friends.
JEANNE MARTINET podcast excerpt: "The old rule in Victorian days used to be that safe subjects were the weather and your health. That was the line. But both of these subjects now lead directly to politics. The weather leads directly to globe warming and your health to (Obamacare). I do have some techniques in 'The Art of Mingling' for defusing political situations. Don't talk politics unless you know you're not with a fanatic. You don't want to argue at a party."
Key interview moments:
• 6:50 Cellphone etiquette -- learn it, live it, says Jeanne Martinet;
• 15:35 How to deal with a situation in which your spouse or partner is minglephobic in social situations;
• 27:35 Martinet offers advice on steering clear of escalating political talk with fanatics at non-political parties.
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When Jeanne Martinet told me she had rewritten and revised more than 50 percent of her 1992 guide, The Art of Mingling: Fun and Proven Techniques for Mastering Any Room, I had to admit I was curious. As an author myself, I think if I had that much new content to offer, I would have leaned toward an entirely new title. After all, the original Art of Mingling had already sold more than 150,000 copies. Wouldn’t her many fans support a new title over the revision of an older one? JEANNE MARTINET podcast excerpt: "The old rule in Victorian days used to be that safe subjects were the weather and your health. That was the line. But both of these subjects now lead directly to politics. The weather leads directly to globe warming and your health to (Obamacare). I do have some techniques in 'The Art of Mingling' for defusing political situations. Don't talk politics unless you know you're not with a fanatic. You don't want to argue at a party." On the other hand, she does seem to have focused in on how mingling has changed over the years – damn you, Facebook! – and there is probably an entirely new generation out there to be reached with content such as: • Step-by-step instructions for performing entrance maneuvers such as the Fade-In and the Flattery Entrée; • Escape techniques such as the Human Sacrifice, the Changing of the Guard, and the Cell-Out; • How to execute the Hors D’oeuvres Maneuver and perfect the Touchy Feely Mingle; • The secret to listening, avoiding the Dumb Use of Smartphones, and directions for keeping up with people after the party; • All that and hundreds of lines tailored to every mingling situation. I’m interested in the subject of mingling because of a curious social reversal in my own household. In the early years of our marriage, my wife was always the one wanting to go to parties and socialize with folks. I, on the other hand, was shy and introverted, lacking confidence in my ability to make small talk, mingle, and fit in. JEANNE MARTINET podcast excerpt: "At a cocktail party, if it's not an emergency, do not take out your cellphone unless you leave the group of people you're talking to. Then go somewhere else. Once one person whips out their cellphone in a group, that's the end of any organic conversation." Over the years, our roles reversed and now I’m the outgoing one and my wife is more hesitant tomix. I’m hopefully of learning from Jeanne Martinet and sharing the tips I gain with my spouse. This is Jeanne’s second visit to Mr. Media, the first in living color. Back in 2009, she entertained us with tips from her book Life is Friends: A Complete Guide to the Lost Art of Connecting in Person. Key interview moments: • 6:50 Cellphone etiquette -- learn it, live it, says Jeanne Martinet; • 15:35 How to deal with a situation in which your spouse or partner is minglephobic in social situations; • 27:35 Martinet offers advice on steering clear of escalating political talk with fanatics at non-political parties. Jeanne Martinet • • • •
Today's Guest: Filmmaker Lloyd Handwerker, director of the documentary Famous Nathan, about his grandfather Nathan Handwerker, founder of the Coney Island landmark, Nathan's.
LLOYD HANDWERKER podcast excerpt: "There was no semblance of a line at Nathan's. There were one area where you could only buy the hot dogs, one area where you could only get the drinks, and one area where you could only get the hamburgers -- unlike most fast food places, and what Nathan's does today. It might seem chaotic, but workers had a method of looking at the crowd and figuring out who they were going to serve next."
Key interview moments:
• 6:10 Making sense of the chaos that also made Nathan's of Coney Island famous (besides the hot dogs);
• 14:40 Why there is no biography of Nathan Handwerker;
• 27:25 How the founder of Nathan's integrated his food counter.
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Growing up in New Jersey, my grandparents frequently took me by bus and train out to Brooklyn to visit my Great-Aunt Bess and Great-Uncle Max. Sometimes, we stayed in their tiny apartment and Aunt Bess cooked. But sometimes, my grandfather and I went off and spent the day at Coney Island, riding the rides and eating a hot dog and fries at the block-long Nathan’s Famous hot dog stand right on the boardwalk. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it. LLOYD HANDWERKER podcast excerpt: "There was no semblance of a line at Nathan's. There were one area where you could only buy the hot dogs, one area where you could only get the drinks, and one area where you could only get the hamburgers -- unlike most fast food places, and what Nathan's does today. It might seem chaotic, but workers had a method of looking at the crowd and figuring out who they were going to serve next." Last night, I watched Lloyd Handwerker’s documentary film, Famous Nathan, and it brought all the memories – the tastes, the smells and the sights – rushing back to me. Handwerker is the grandson of the founder of Nathan’s, Nathan Handwerker. And while he himself never worked in the family business, he has put together a movie packed with old film, pictures and interviews that immediately took me back in time to a place I treasured visiting with my own grandfather. Or, as I told my wife, it took me to a place I had recalled hundreds of times in dreams and never thought I’d see that way again. LLOYD HANDWERKER podcast excerpt: "My grandfather was the first to integrate the counter, around 1949. Coney Island was pretty segregated at that time." To quote the film’s description of Nathan Handwerker: “There was one Babe Ruth in baseball, one Einstein in science, and one Nathan in the food business.” Famous Nathan captures a moment – and a salty, kosher taste – in time, replete with enough dirty family laundry – this brother hated that one! Mama never loved Papa! So-and-so was cheap! -- to give anyone a delicious nosh, whether you’ve ever been to Coney Island or not. Key interview moments: • 6:10 Making sense of the chaos that also made Nathan's of Coney Island famous (besides the hot dogs); • 14:40 Why there is no biography of Nathan Handwerker; • 27:25 How the founder of Nathan's integrated his food counter. Famous Nathan • • •
Today's Guest: Dewayne Staats, Tampa Bay Rays play-by-play announcer and author of “Position To Win” with Dave Scheiber.
DEWAYNE STAATS podcast excerpt: "Harry Caray was perfect on the personality side. I learned from him that it's important to be a human being and to have fun with this and be personable. Harry once told me that, when he was a kid in St. Louis, he would listen to the games in the early years of radio and then he would sneak his way into the ballpark. He said it was always so much more fun at the ballpark than when he listened at home. He tried to convey the actual experience of being at the ballpark in his personality and, at the same time, it didn't hurt because it served his own purposes. Harry knew what he was doing; he was promoting Harry Caray."
Key interview moments:
• 8:15 Despite his overwhelming interest in sports while in high school, Dewayne Staats' teacher encouraged him to explore philosophy and literature because "the unexamined life is not worth living;
• 20:55 Harry Caray knew what he was doing -- he was promoting Harry Caray;
• 41:45 Joe Madden was probably an even better manager of the Tampa Bay Rays than even is fans knew at the time.
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Today's Guest: Tommy Ford, star of the faith-based web TV series "The Club" and co-star of the long-running Martin Lawrence sitcom "Martin." INTERVIEW Tommy Ford, actor, Martin, The Club by andelman Watch this exclusive Mr. Media interview with Tommy Ford by clicking on the video player above! Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience full of cheating cheaters who want to cheat until they get caught cheating – or longer… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Is it wrong that, in watching Tommy Ford’s new web TV series, “The Club,” I found myself rooting for his character, Rev. Lamont Holmes Jr., to fail? This is a married man of the cloth – emphasis on man – who loves women and has been with Siamese twins and prefers Oprah over Halle. We learn this when he applies for membership to a men’s club for philanderers whose inspiration come from Bill Clinton, among others. TOMMY FORD podcast excerpt: "Reverend Holmes was preaching a sermon and a guy jumped up in the middle and said, 'The Lord directs your steps? Did the Lord direct you to have sex with my wife? And so many other wives in this congregation? Was that the Lord, buddy?' And he pulls out a guy and approaches the Reverend. There is a struggle in the pulpit. The gun goes off and the husband is killed. Instantly, Reverend Holmes realizes, 'I disrespected my calling, I disrespected God, I disrespected my wife, I disrespected the ministry, I disrespected all of my members.' And he is sorry." “We are hounds!” exalts their leader, Mark Christopher Lawrence, whom audiences know from his five-year run on NBC’s “Chuck.” “We don’t want a way out. We want a way in.” Sharp-eyed TV fans will recognize Ford from his long tenure opposite comedian Martin Lawrence on the Fox sitcom “Martin.” But instead of the goofy sidekick, Ford has grown into leading man maturity and gravitas, which makes him even more convincing as the religious leader led astray by his man parts. TOMMY FORD podcast excerpt: "Martin Lawrence and I are still friends; I just saw him perform in Atlanta. Those friendships don't stop... Even when he co-starred with Kelsey Grammar!" “The Club” is described as a faith-based comedy but it is not intended for the whole family. Its humor is bawdy, adult and coarse, as when Lawrence’s character says of Ford’s reverend, “You are getting more tail than a toilet seat!” As for Ford, he has always stayed busy, whether starring in films in front of the camera or expanding his career behind it, building a reputation as a director and producer. Key interview moments: • 3:45 Tommy Ford on whether there are similarities between the ministry and being an actor; • 12:30 An explanation of how "The Club" can be described as a faith-based comedy despite featured a scandalous storyline and often using coarse language about women and sexuality; • 31:35 Yes, Tommy Ford and Martin Lawrence are still very good friends. Tommy Ford Website • Facebook • Twitter • YouTube • Wikipedia • IMDB • Instagram The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland! The post The Club lets men be men; will Rev. Tommy Ford survive? VIDEO INTERVIEW appeared first on Mr. Media.
(NOTE FROM MR. MEDIA: I recorded this interview with AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson on November 26, 1983 for a St. Petersburg Times print interview [published December 4, 1983] when I was the pop music writer for the newspaper. You can read the story below; the conversation itself is not my best work, although maybe it was for 1983 when I was a year out of college. (I could also blame a painful sore throat.) But the future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee was a prince through it all, and even through the less-than-optimal recording quality, I think that still comes across. Stick around – the first music my son, Charlie, ever heard was “Highway to Hell” by AC/DC as we drove home from the hospital! No kidding. -- Bob Andelman) Brian Johnson faced more than the usual challenges when he joined the rock band AC/DC: He was the replacement for singer Bon Scott who had died in an accident. Since so much of a group's image and sound comes from its singer, Johnson was on the spot. The surviving members of the band called Johnson one night in 1980. He was an obvious choice for at least an audition because Scott had himself admired the singer's voice. "It was one of them things," Johnson recalled last week in an interview before AC/DC's concert in Lakeland Nov. 26. "A million to one chance." BRIAN JOHNSON podcast excerpt: "I came from a big family and couldn't afford to buy a kit of drums or a guitar. It was cheaper to buy a microphone." His longtime band Geordie, which had attained a measure of fame in Britain, had broken up and he was playing around his hometown of Newcastle in semi-professional bands. "That was one of the lucky circumstances which led to me getting the gig. Bon's band had supported Geordie about seven years before. He'd told the guys something about me and it was one of the things they remembered. That's why they tried to track me down," Johnson said. Performing on stage for the first time with AC/ DC was a nerve-jangling experience. It was in a small Belgium nightclub, Johnson recalled: "Me heart was racin', me pulse and adrenaline was goin'; it was probably the same feeling you get for a moon shot. I was terrified." Much faster than anyone might have hoped, the audiences took a liking to Johnson. "I was really lucky. They held up banners that said 'Good luck, Brian.'" Back In Black, the first album featuring Johnson, was a smashing success. For Those About To Rock We Salute You went even further, re-establishing AC/DC as a leader in heavy-metal rock. Johnson's vocal talents have been described by critics as howls, screams - everything but singing. He agrees. "I always think of myself as another instrument in the band." BRIAN JOHNSON podcast excerpt: "Joining AC/DC was one of them things. A million to one chance." The first time Johnson sang was as a member of his church choir at the age of 11. He was on his way to making a career of it by 15. "All the guys wanted to start bands. I came from a big family and couldn't afford to buy a kit of drums or a guitar. It was cheaper to buy a microphone." Economics forced the choice of career, Johnson laughed. Parents of today's teens worry needlessly about the effect of raucous groups like AC/DC on their offspring, according to Johnson. "Some of the parents are worse than the kids, kicking up a stink in the first place, concerned about something that's not really important. The same thing used to happen when Elvis Presley toured. It's just the kids' way of letting loose. The first thing they should do in America is worry about stopping the kids taking drugs. Rock 'n' roll has got nothing to do with it. You've got a real bad drug scene here." Flick of the Switch, AC/DC's new record, takes its name from "how a really gorgeous woman can turn somebody on. Where the switch is, you've got to find out," Johnson said. The band is performing three songs from Flick on its current tour and rather than cutting back older material to accommodate the new, Johnson said AC/DC is extending its set to nearly two hours a night. "We've got to. You don't know what to pick. There's always somebody who's got a favorite song and it's getting harder and harder to leave them out," he said. Key interview moments: • 3:00 Brian Johnson, who considers his voice one of the instruments in the band rather than declaring himself a singer, explains why he took up singing in the first place; • 10:15 What did it feel like the first time he took the stage (in Belgium) to front the already legendary AC/DC?; • 19:50 Johnson explains the reasoning behind the rock anthem "{For Those About to Rock We Salute You." AC/DC • • • •
There are some genuinely, truly nice people in the world. You might not know this if your only friends are Facebook friends, but it’s true. I suspect Dewayne Staats is one of the good guys. For one thing, I’ve read his just published memoir of life in a baseball broadcast booth and Staats hasn’t an unkind word to share about anyone. DEWAYNE STAATS podcast excerpt: "Harry Caray was perfect on the personality side. I learned from him that it's important to be a human being and to have fun with this and be personable. Harry once told me that, when he was a kid in St. Louis, he would listen to the games in the early years of radio and then he would sneak his way into the ballpark. He said it was always so much more fun at the ballpark than when he listened at home. He tried to convey the actual experience of being at the ballpark in his personality and, at the same time, it didn't hurt because it served his own purposes. Harry knew what he was doing; he was promoting Harry Caray." That may just be good manners, of course, but his co-author on Position to Win: A Look at Baseball and Life from the Best Seat in the House, is Dave Scheiber, another one of the nicest guys in America. Staats has been the play-by-play man for the Tampa Bay Rays since their inception 18 years ago, which has included everything from Wade Boggs pitching to the Hit Show to a trip to the World Series and several playoffs in between. DEWAYNE STAATS podcast excerpt: "The Tampa Bay Rays were not a good team when Joe Maddon came here to manage, but he finally got a chance to manage and, I think, in hindsight, Joe was a better manager than some people thought he was -- and they thought he was pretty good. He did a great job of integrating all the information and the analytics that are so popular today with some of the traditional approaches to the game. And I think we'll see Kevin Cash do the same ." Before coming to St. Petersburg though, Staats worked side-by-side with some of baseball’s greatest voices, including Harry Caray with the Chicago Cubs, Tony Kubek with the New York Yankees, and his boyhood hero and eventual partner, Gene Elston with the Houston Astros. As a Rays fan since forever – and someone who wrote a book about the long-gestating creation of the Tampa Bay baseball franchise – I couldn’t resist an urge to talk to the voice of the team. Key interview moments: • 8:15 Despite his overwhelming interest in sports while in high school, Dewayne Staats' teacher encouraged him to explore philosophy and literature because "the unexamined life is not worth living; • 20:55 Harry Caray knew what he was doing -- he was promoting Harry Caray; • 41:45 Joe Madden was probably an even better manager of the Tampa Bay Rays than even is fans knew at the time. Dewayne Staats • • Dave Scheiber • • • • Tampa Bay Rays • • • • • •
Today's Guest: Sandra E, Lamb, author of Writing Well for Business Success: A Complete Guide to Style, Grammar, and Usage at Work.
Order “Writing Well for Business Success” by Sandra E. Lamb: http://amzn.to/1VjKLkv
Key interview moments:
• 2:05 There are right ways and wrong ways to write for work and too many people are doing it wrong;
• 9:58 Hillary Clinton's ongoing issues with classified e-mails and a private server should remind everyone in an office that there is knowing the rules, following te rules -- and disregarding the rules;
• 22:34 Caution: Yield to grammar usage--or not!
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If you liked the amateur hockey, lockerroom and post-game bar moments found on the Denis Leary FX dramedy “Rescue Me,” you’re gonna love the new IFC comedy “Benders.” You might say it’s the former show without the drama. Oh, wait. I just did. TOM SELLITTI podcast excerpt: "All of the characters on 'Benders' are narcissists in their own way. We wanted Karen Rosenberg to be one of the guys when she's with the guys. We didn't want her to be the voice of nagging." Whereas “Rescue Me” pinballed from broad comedy to exceedingly intimate human drama, “Benders” keeps the sarcasm, crudeness and lesson-free tone without any of the heaviness. It has elements of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “Married,” “You’re the Worst,” “The League” and even “Archer.” If you like those shows – and, in my household, we do – give “Benders” a try. While the cast is barely familiar from other shows, the creative team calling the shots and diagramming the plays is among TV’s best. JIM SERPICO podcast excerpt: "'Rescue Me' was a post-9/11 story that was grounded and, at the end of the day, Denis Leary created a likable asshole, a guy people rooted for and related to the problems he was going through." Jim Serpico and Tom Sellitti co-created and write “Benders.” Their fingerprints are similarly all over “Rescue Me,” “Maron,” “Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll,” “Sirens,” and “Canterbury’s Law.” They also co-executive produced all of those shows with comedian Denis Leary, the star of “Rescue Me” and “Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll.” (Serpico also worked on Leary’s short-lived ABC sitcom, “The Job,” which later informed “Rescue Me” and “Benders.”) These guys are really, really good at capturing really, really bad people and situations. JIM SERPICO podcast excerpt: "Marc Maron works so hard; he puts his life into his TV show. You get better by doing things; he now has a lot of hours and episodes in front of the cameras. He put a lot of time and heart into 'Maron' on IFC and studied his craft." They are to coarse, adult comedy what Shonda Rhimes is to sophisticated drama on Thursday nights. And what the Duplass Brothers, Mark and Jay, are to everything else that is currently sharply written and of interest on TV and in film. Key interview moments: • 16:30 The characters on "Benders" are, at their core, narcissists; • 40:05 Marc Maron's sitcom on IFC has improved each season as Maron himself has grown more comfortable in the role and expanding the character beyond reality; • 44:45 An inside few of why "Rescue Me" -- and star Denis Leary's character of "Tommy" captured the heart of Americans. Benders • • Jim Serpico • • Tom Sellitti • • Andrew Schulz • • • • Lindsey Broad • • Chris Distefano • • • • Mark Gessner • Godfrey • • Mark Margolis (2012) •
I may be the worst writer in the world to be interviewing someone who has written a book with the subtitle “A Complete Guide to Style, Grammar, and Usage at Work.” Honestly, I haven’t paid strict attention to the rules of grammar since high school. SANDRA E. LAMB podcast excerpt: "I think even Hillary Clinton has conceded that it's very important that you know the office e-mail rules and follow the rules. Meticulously. That is going to put you in better stead with your employer." Some time in college, I figured out that if I focused on style and telling a coherent story, no one paid as much attention to my grammatical sins. Oh, and it helps to be a pretty good speller, too. SANDRA E. LAMB podcast excerpt: "There are special requirements for the business writers, those people who have to write at work. Since the advent of the Internet -- and since business is done almost entirely by e-mail -- there is good news and bad news. The good news is that we have the immediacy of being able to communicate with people in an instant. Sometimes, in fact, I feel like I get an answer before I've asked the question! That also has a dark side. Senior executives who supervise a lot of people say that, within the workplace, e-mail is being rampantly fractured by people who are not using it properly." But that’s just me. Most people in business need to pay more attention to the technical details of what they write – alongside producing good content. In an instantaneous, electronic era where your audience of executives, managers or co-workers can receive documents from you in the blink of an eye – and no takebacks! – getting it right the first time is the only shot you get. Key interview moments: • 2:05 There are right ways and wrong ways to write for work and too many people are doing it wrong; • 9:58 Hillary Clinton's ongoing issues with classified e-mails and a private server should remind everyone in an office that there is knowing the rules, following te rules -- and disregarding the rules; • 22:34 Caution: Yield to grammar usage--or not! Sandra E. Lamb • • •
Today's Guest: Jason B. Kohl, film director and author of Film School: A Practical Guide to an Impractical Decision.
Order Film School: A Practical Guide to an Impractical Decision by Jason B. Kohl: http://amzn.to/1Jum4Wl
JASON B. KOHL podcast excerpt: "Film school is a not a two- to four-year slog to become famous! It's about learning to be a complete human being and how to communicate with the world."
Key interview moments:
• 6:10 Film School author Jason B. Kohl advises prospective film students to "find your voice" before starting the the application process;
• 18:05 Students need to understand that applying to film schools -- and film festivals -- require patience and strategy;
• 26:50 Don't apply to film school with the single goal of becoming rich and famous; that's a sure way to fall flat on your face (or elsewhere).
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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Little known fact: my bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida is in film studies. Not that anyone studying film there or anywhere else today would recognize my independent study degree in today’s high pressure world of film schools. JASON B. KOHL podcast excerpt: "Film school is a not a two- to four-year slog to become famous! It's about learning to be a complete human being and how to communicate with the world." Jason B. Kohl, on the other hand, is a model of what every young kid attending film school at USC, UCLA, NYU, FSU, Ringling, SCAD and other top schools want to accomplish. He’s a former Fulbright Scholar with an MFA in Directing from UCLA Film School. His short films have played SXSW and been finalists for the Student Academy Awards. JASON B, KOHL podcast excerpt: "There is a lot of strategy involved in applying to film schools: when you finish your student films, to send them to all the festivals, and when you'll hear back from those festivals. Things take a really long time. Film festivals are the same process as film schools; I had completely written off my UCLA thesis film the day before it got into SXSW because to got rejected by so many festivals. It had been five months since I mailed the application!" Hell, I want his career! In service to the next generation of would-be filmmakers, Kohl applied his experiences as a film student and up-and-coming filmmaker in a new book, Film School: A Practical Guide to an Impractical Decision. Key interview moments: • 6:10 Film School author Jason B. Kohl advises prospective film students to "find your voice" before starting the the application process; • 18:05 Students need to understand that applying to film schools -- and film festivals -- require patience and strategy; • 26:50 Don't apply to film school with the single goal of becoming rich and famous; that's a sure way to fall flat on your face (or elsewhere). Jason B. Kohl • • • • •
Today's Guest: Voice actor Rob Paulsen, whose talents can be heard on "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," "Animaniacs," "Pinky & the Brain" and many more. He is also host of the "Talkin' Toons" podcast.
ROB PAULSEN podcast excerpt: "In Season 4 of 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,' we have a lot of celebrity talent. We've got a 13-story arc with David Tennant -- the 10th Doctor Who. I'm not a big Whovian but I love him in 'Broadchurch.' He is a Turtle fanatic!”
Key interview moments:
• 12:00 Rob Paulsen reveals a sort of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Doctor Who crossover in the animated series' fourth season;
• 25:40 Learn what characterizes the best voice actors;
• 44:20 Hear Paulsen, fast as Yakko, then as The Mask.
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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Who didn’t love “Pinky & the Brain” and “The Animaniacs”? Delicious animated antics for the kids, word play, pop references and in-jokes for the adults! All that and big servings of today’s guest, voice actor Rob Paulsen. Paulsen, like Billy West, is a modern day Mel Blanc, the man of 1,000 voices who gave us Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Jack Benny’s sputtering Maxwell and so many more. ROB PAULSEN podcast excerpt: "In Season 4 of 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,' we have a lot of celebrity talent. We've got a 13-story arc with David Tennant -- the 10th Doctor Who. I'm not a big Whovian but I love him in 'Broadchurch.' He is a Turtle fanatic!" A partial list of Paulsen’s characters includes: Hadji from “Johnny Quest”; Raphael on the first “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” series, Donatello on the latest version; Yakko Warner, Pinky and Dr. Scratch ‘n’ Sniff in “Animaniacs”; and, of course, Officer Douche on “The Boondocks.” He was also the voice of “The Mask” in the animated series based on the character created for the movie starring Jim Carrey. Smokin’! For a complete list of his thousands of credits – including roles on “Dexter’s Laboratory,” “Powerpuff Girls” and a multitude of DC and Marvel superhero cartoons, consult IMDB – with a lot of time on your hands! ROB PAULSEN podcast excerpt: "Most of us, our stock-in-trade is being versatile. Doing dialects, being able to sing, thinking on our feet, a lot of improv. Which is why Red Skelton, Carol Burnett, the Pythons, the Goons, and Jonathan Winters were all my heroes." In addition to drawing new roles, Paulsen can also be seen performing music from “The Animaniacs” live in concert with full orchestras around the country and he hosts a podcast called “Talkin’ Toons.” “Talkin’ Toons” – to which I have personally subscribed for months – is a show that attracts well-known voice actors such as Brad Garrett from “Everybody Loves Raymond” and Seth Green from “Robot Chicken” to performers such as Paulsen whose name you may not instantly know but whose familiar work will bring an instant smile to your face. ROB PAULSEN podcast excerpt: "Yakko's voice is no big deal. I have this ability to squeeze my voice. And I can do that allllllllllllll day long!" Incidentally, if you love the cartoons as I do, check the Mr. Media archives for my interviews with , the voice of "Spectacular Spider-Man" and Disney’s "Hercules," , who is Sandy Cheeks on “Spongebob Squarepants,” and , the voice of Padme Amidala of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.” Key interview moments: • 12:00 Rob Paulsen reveals a sort of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Doctor Who crossover in the animated series' fourth season; • 25:40 Learn what characterizes the best voice actors; • 44:20 Hear Paulsen, fast as Yakko, then as The Mask. Rob Paulsen • • •
Today's Guest: Romance novelist Jane Peden, author of “The Millionaire’s Unexpected Proposal."
Order “The Millionaire’s Unexpected Proposal” by Jane Peden: http://amzn.to/1Y48RyF
JANE PEDEN podcast excerpt: “Suppose you have a successful lawyer in Miami and five years ago, he had a two-week fling in Las Vegas? He met a very attractive, cool blonde — someone Alfred Hitchcock would have loved — in the hotel bar. He started to feel too close to her and was scared by that so he dumps her and heads back to Miami. He becomes extremely successful. Five years later, she shows up at his office with an unusual proposal...”
Key Interview Moments:
• 5:05 Turning writing from a hobby into a professional pursuit;
• 12:40 Writing from the seat of her pants;
• 17:00 An intro to the plot of “The Millionaire’s Unexpected Proposal."
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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Long-time Mr. Media fans – and you’re not the only one, Mom – are probably aware that it has been a while since I’ve had a romance novelist as a guest. I can’t explain why that is except there are hundreds, perhaps thousands of them and only one of me. But I get a kick out of the genre on occasion and have enjoyed the appearances of Kristin Harmel, Adriana Trigiani, Tracy Anne Warren, Jodi Thomas, JC Isabella, and Brenda Novak. That’s why I was game to read attorney Jane Peden’s first novel, The Millionaire’s Unexpected Proposal. JANE PEDEN podcast excerpt: "Suppose you have a successful lawyer in Miami and five years ago, he had a two-week fling in Las Vegas? He met a very attractive, cool blonde — someone Alfred Hitchcock would have loved — in the hotel bar. He started to feel too close to her and was scared by that so he dumps her and heads back to Miami. He becomes extremely successful. Five years later, she shows up at his office with an unusual proposal...." And I cannot tell a lie: I enjoyed the heck out of it. The story has twists and turns from start to finish. The romance comes and goes, just like in real life, and the sex is hot and steamy, just the way you want it when you want it. JANE PEDEN podcast excerpt: "I'm what they call a 'pantser' -- I write by the seat of my pants. There is no right way to write a book. But there are a lot of fiction writers who put up big boards and stickies and outlines and they write detailed character interviews before they ever sit down and start writing the book. That doesn't work for me." Making this book all the more fascinating is that writing love stories is what Jane Peden does at night and on weekends; by day, she is an employment law specialist, a happily married wife whose husband is her paralegal, and she is a mother of two. I think you’ll love reading The Millionaire’s Unexpected Proposal and you’ll enjoy getting to know my guest, too. Key interview moments: • 5:05 Turning writing from a hobby into a professional pursuit; • 12:40 Writing from the seat of her pants; • 17:00 An intro to the plot of “The Millionaire’s Unexpected Proposal." Jane Peden • • • More Mr. Media Interviews with Romance Novelists! • • • • • •
Today's Guests: Director Kate Geis and executive producer Robert Aberlin, who capture the creation of Paul Taylor dances in the behind the scenes documentary film Paul Taylor: Creative Domain.
ROBERT ABERLIN podcast excerpt: “Getting Paul Taylor to agree to this documentary took me about four years. He would often say to me, ‘Who would ever be interested? Nobody will be interested in this! Why do you want to do this?'”
KATE GEIS podcast excerpt: “Dance is often nonverbal. There is a moment when the choir is seated on each other in a row. Paul, in his mind, had a sense of what it would look like. Once he actually had the dancers in front of him, doing it, he realized how funny it looked, so he started laughing. And then the dancers all started laughing. Paul said, ‘It’s unnatural.’ Even he can find the humor in those moments.”
Key Interview Moments:
• 5:00 Fighting to get Paul Taylor’s buy-in to record the creation of a new dance from start to finish;
• 7:57 Taylor plots his dances in detailed notebooks, plotting out moves the way an NFL football coach does, right down to Xs and Os;
• 19:50 Sometimes even Taylor sees the absurdity in what he asks his dancers to do.
http://mrmedia.com/2015/09/behind-the-scenes-paul-taylor-dances-come-alive-in-doc-video-interview/#.VfJHGLQ8ph7
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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Today's Guest: Jim Barrens, author “In Our Time (Nostra Aetate): How Catholics and Jews Built a New Relationship."
Order “In Our Time (Nostra Aetate): How Catholics and Jews Built a New Relationship” by Jim Barrens: http://amzn.to/1NZPzXE
JIM BARRENS podcast excerpt: “It’s new in our lifetimes to see a Pope like Francis; maybe it’s new in forever.”
Key Interview Moments:
• 4:05 How Jim Barrens became interested in Declaration Nostra Aetate;
• 11:05 Pope John XXIII sets forth to repair 2,000 years of a sour relationship between Catholics and Jews in Vatican II;
• 17:00 The unique views and actions of Pope Francis.
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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For all of my pop culture tastes – superhero movies, detective novels, losing sports teams, loud sitcoms – there has always been a place in my heart for opera and dance. I know, I know; my wife doesn’t believe it either. Still, it’s true. ROBERT ABERLIN podcast excerpt: "Getting Paul Taylor to agree to this documentary took me about four years. He would often say to me, ‘Who would ever be interested? Nobody will be interested in this! Why do you want to do this?'" Being able to sing opera is an incredible gift, as is the opportunity to see it performed. Seeing Luciano Pavarotti live in 1984 sealed that. And when it comes to dance, while I’ve always admired the physical skills of the dancers – particularly modern dance – the process of creating the dance has always fascinated me. I first realized my interest in this amazing art while watching the 1985 film White Nights starring the unlikely team of Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines. Which brings me to a fascinating new dance documentary, Paul Taylor: Creative Domain. KATE GEIS podcast excerpt: "Dance is often nonverbal. There is a moment when the choir is seated on each other in a row. Paul, in his mind, had a sense of what it would look like. Once he actually had the dancers in front of him, doing it, he realized how funny it looked, so he started laughing. And then the dancers all started laughing. Paul said, 'It's unnatural.' Even he can find the humor in those moments." How does a new dance ever develop? Ever wondered? I have. This film takes viewers somewhere they never expected to be: inside the Paul Taylor Dance Company rehearsal studio as the legendary Taylor’s 133rd dance, "Three Dubious Memories," takes shape. Taylor – who is in his 80s – has never allowed cameras to capture his creation before and it is astounding to see. Not only do we see him teaching precise movements to his company and fixing his 2-D concepts to the actual capabilities of his 3-D dancers, but he allows us into his dance notebooks – with the men and women as Xs and Os – which even the most experienced NFL football coaches could only marvel at. Joining me to discuss this rare peek behind the curtain are the director, Kate Geis, and executive producer, Robert Aberlin. Key interview moments: • 5:00 Fighting to get Paul Taylor’s buy-in to record the creation of a new dance from start to finish; • 7:57 Taylor plots his dances in detailed notebooks, plotting out moves the way an NFL football coach does, right down to Xs and Os; • 19:50 Sometimes even Taylor sees the absurdity in what he asks his dancers to do. Paul Taylor: Creative Domain • •
Like a smart lawyer, I rarely enter the professional arena without knowing everything I can about the subject at hand. Except today. I’m just being honest: When it comes to understanding the conciliar Declaration Nostra Aetate – translated from Latin, it means “in our time” – it’s a little beyond me. JIM BARRENS podcast excerpt: "The Roman Catholic Church is involved in about 2,000 years of a very negative relationship with the Jewish people. After World War II and in the aftermath of the Holocaust and the founding of the state of Israel, there was a great yearning by the world community to do something about the terrible things that had happened. In the late 1950s and early '60s, Pope John XXIII called the Church to a council -- the Second Vatican Council. His whole idea was to update the Church... Pope John together prominent Catholics and quite a few Jews as well to say, 'We want to deal with the problem of our relationship with the Jewish people." I know that October 28, 2015 is the 50th anniversary of the official move by Pope John XXIII at Vatican II to improve relations between Jewish and Catholic communities around the world. I know that its good intentions have largely succeeded. JIM BARRENS podcast excerpt: "I was born and raised Roman Catholic. I was an altar boy. My parents were very devout. I learned the Latin when we had to. When I listened to the Gospel stories, I was forever interested in the historical aspects. I was very curious, which led me to have an interest in Judaism at a very early age. I was always looking at where Judaism and Christianity met." And I know that Pope Francis feels strongly about celebrating the importance of the Declaration Nostra Aetate. To fill in the large gaps in my knowledge, I have called on my friend Jim Barrens to step up and explain it all. Barrens is the author of In Our Time (Nostra Aetate), which details the history and development of Declaration Nostra Aetate. (In the interests of full disclosure, I will tell you that In Our Time [Nostra Aetate] by Jim Barrens was published by Mr. Media® Books, a subsidiary of Mr. Media® Interviews.) Key interview moments: • 4:05 How Jim Barrens became interested in Declaration Nostra Aetate; • 11:05 Pope John XXIII sets forth to repair 2,000 years of a sour relationship between Catholics and Jews in Vatican II; • 17:00 The unique views and actions of Pope Francis. Jim Barrens • •
Today's Guest: Lou Aguilera, VP/GM of legendary scale model maker Revell, Inc., which has a license to manufacturer exclusive 'Star Wars' toys from 'Episode VII The Force Awakens.’
Order “Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens” scale model toys by Revell: http://amzn.to/1JSVMlE
LOU AGUILERA podcast excerpt: "The scale model design process for Star Wars toys start with Disney and the company that designs the props for the movie. We work directly with them to get access to CAD (computer aided design) data they use to design the actual props for the movie. We give those files and photos to our engineers. Then we decided how to break each model up and into how many pieces: 'Are we designing a product for a 6-year-old? Or for an adult? There are lots of decisions we make along the way. As we do that, we think, 'What's the assembly process going to be for the user?' For a 6-year-old, bigger pieces for smaller hands. For an adult, we can get into more intricate detail and smaller pieces.”
Key Interview Moments:
• 10:01 An explanation of the initial design process for Star Wars scale models;
• 40:14 Revell's plans for toys through the next trilogy of Star Wars films as well as three spinoffs, including Rogue One;
• 43:45 Learn what surprising toy is Revell's most enduring model.
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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When it comes to Star Wars, only America’s nuclear codes are held to a higher standard of secrecy. But today we’re tearing the seal off one top secret corner in the universe: the one where scale models of the new Revell toys from the upcoming film, Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens have been hidden away. The plot of the eagerly anticipated movie, which opens in theaters on December 18, 2015, is still under wraps. But today – “Force Friday” – is the start of the long, slow reveal of images, likenesses, toys and other Force Awakens-related merchandise. LOU AGUILERA podcast excerpt: "The scale model design process for Star Wars toys start with Disney and the company that designs the props for the movie. We work directly with them to get access to CAD (computer aided design) data they use to design the actual props for the movie. We give those files and photos to our engineers. Then we decided how to break each model up and into how many pieces: 'Are we designing a product for a 6-year-old? Or for an adult? There are lots of decisions we make along the way. As we do that, we think, 'What's the assembly process going to be for the user?' For a 6-year-old, bigger pieces for smaller hands. For an adult, we can get into more intricate detail and smaller pieces." I am excited to have Lou Aguilera, vice president and general manager of Revell, Inc., joining me today to give us our first look at the exciting new scale models the company has designed based on The Force Awakens. If this were a movie, TV show or book, I would know what is ahead of us. But because of the great secrecy surrounding every new Star Wars project, you and I will see whatever he has to show for the first time together. What I do know is that these are hyper-realistic, scale plastic models kits of multiple vehicles from the new movie that include lights and sounds that simulating battle action. – I’m told this is a first for this kind of product – along with retractable landing gear, open/close cockpit hatches, wings that open into attack mode, and more. The kits are on store shelves as of today, offering an easy, snap-together design for ages 6-8 that is also a great introduction to modeling. LOU AGUILERA podcast excerpt: "Disney will have a Star Wars spinoff movie next year called Rogue One. We have already started to go through the design and selection process of the types of models and/or droids we may be doing. We have plans in place for the entire trilogy as well as the three spinoff movies." As for Revell, it is probably best known among young men of a certain age for its line of race cars, aircraft and military vehicles. It is an enduring company that can trace its inspiration back to Charles Lindberg’s 1927 solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. In other words, from “The Spirit of St. Louis” to the Millenium Falcon in less than a century! Key interview moments: • 10:01 An explanation of the initial design process for Star Wars scale models; • 40:14 Revell's plans for toys through the next trilogy of Star Wars films as well as three spinoffs, including Rogue One; • 43:45 Learn what surprising toy is Revell's most enduring model. Revell Inc. • • • •
Today's Guest: Mark Proct, former Stevie Ray Vaughan and Fabulous Thunderbirds tour manager.'
Order "Home Today, Gone Tomorrow: Snapshots from 40 Years on the Road -- Austin and Back" by Mark Proct: http://amzn.to/1Jphkok
MARK PROCT podcast excerpt: "It was hard to believe what happened to Stevie the night before and we were not sure what we we were going to see (at the crash site). The FAA was already onsite and they were very nice to Jimmie and let us go up the hill to the site. The amazing part of this was that Jimmie was looking for Stevie's cross. We were there for a while and couldn't find it. We went to leave and a guy ran up to the car we were in. In this field he had found the cross and handed it to Jimmie. It was amazing."
Key Interview Moments:
• 6:25 Mark Proct discusses being a native New Yorker working for Willie Nelson and touring East Texas in the mid-1970s;
• 14:00 The state of the Fabulous Thunderbirds when Proct agreed to become the band's tour manager in Europe -- even though he had never been there before;
• 42:30 What it was like visiting the site of the helicopter crash the morning after the accident that took Stevie Ray Vaughan, two members of Eric Clapton's crew, a CAA agent, and the pilot.
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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The first time I saw Stevie Ray Vaughan live in concert, he was close enough to reach out and touch. Literally. Vaughan and Double Trouble were playing at a long-gone Clearwater, Florida nightspot, Mr. T’s Club 19 in the mid-1980s. (It was next to the also long-gone Peaches Records & Tapes. I think the site is a Sam’s Club, now. Naturally.) MARK PROCT podcast excerpt: "It was hard to believe what happened to Stevie the night before and we were not sure what we we were going to see (at the crash site). The FAA was already onsite and they were very nice to Jimmie and let us go up the hill to the site. The amazing part of this was that Jimmie was looking for Stevie's cross. We were there for a while and couldn't find it. We went to leave and a guy ran up to the car we were in. In this field he had found the cross and handed it to Jimmie. It was amazing." I was sitting at the cool kids’ table – Tampa Tribune rock critic David Okamoto was there, as were Bill Templeton and Eric Snider, editors of the local music mag called, cleverly, Music. I was covering the show for the St. Petersburg Times. All of us had heard of the blistering blues guitarist from Texas and we all wanted to see what the fuss was about in person. It took about 10 seconds to know Stevie Ray was the genuine article. MARK PROCT podcast excerpt: "The Fabulous Thunderbirds were a ragtag group in Austin. I'd seen them at Antone's and their gear would be in almost garbage bags. They hardly had cases! I didn't want to go to work for that bunch! It scared me. But when Delbert McClinton stopped working, I needed a job, and a friend of mine had gone to work for the Thunderbirds as their sound engineer. He called me up and said, 'We're looking for a tour manager. (I had never done that before.) We're going to Europe in six months for about six weeks. Are you interested?' I had never been to Europe at the time and I really wanted to see it. I'm a fairly organized person; I had been watching tour managers for Willie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Delbert for five years. I thought I could probably do the job." Today, I’m excited to welcome a guest who may well have been at that gig, too, long time Stevie Ray Vaughan and Fabulous Thunderbirds tour manager Mark Proct. Proct has just published Home Today, Gone Tomorrow: Snapshots from 40 Years on the Road – Austin and Back, a collection of snapshots from his four decades on the road with musicians, including Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Delbert McClinton, Carlos Santana, Jimmie Vaughan and the Fabulous Thunderbirds, and, of course, Stevie Ray and Double Trouble. MARK PROCT podcast excerpt: "I was a serious New Yorker with a heavy accent and fairly long hair when I got to Austin in 1975. The first job I got was as a sound technician on the road with the tech crew for Willie Nelson... I had never been to West Texas before. Those were some serious rednecks. Fortunately, I had a couple of people on Willie's crew that were 6'2", 6'3", and they watched my back all the time so I didn't get in too much trouble." We recorded this interview on August 27, 2015, which was the 25th anniversary of the helicopter crash that took the life of Stevie Ray Vaughan. The book is heavy on photos and light on stories, but I’m told Proct has the gift of gab, so let’s put him to the test. Key interview moments: • 6:25 Mark Proct discusses being a native New Yorker working for Willie Nelson and touring East Texas in the mid-1970s; • 14:00 The state of the Fabulous Thunderbirds when Proct agreed to become the band's tour manager in Europe -- even though he had never been there before; • 42:30 What it was like visiting the site of the helicopter crash the morning after the accident that took Stevie Ray Vaughan, two members of Eric Clapton's crew, a CAA agent, and the pilot. Mark Proct • • Stevie Ray Vaughan • • Jimmie Vaughan •
Today’s Guest: Bob Eckstein, author of The History of the Snowman and a humor columnist and cartoonist.
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What is Mr. Media® Interviews? The calm of Charlie Rose, the curiosity of Terry Gross and the unpredictability of Howard Stern! Since February 2007, more than 1,000 exclusive Hollywood, celebrity, pop culture video and audio comedy podcast interviews by Mr. Media®, a.k.a., Bob Andelman, with newsmakers in TV, radio, movies, music, magazines, newspapers, books, websites, social media, politics, sports, graphic novels, and comics!
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- That must have been a helluva year to be alive. I wouldn’t know – my birth was still a few years off. But coming on the heels of the comic book industry nearly being wiped out by Frederic Wertham’s book Seduction of the Innocent and the subsequent Kefauver hearings in the U.S. Senate, a few in the media still dared to challenge the country to consume something more than pablum: Monsters! MARK VOGER podcast excerpt: "I was a Catholic schoolboy and monsters confused me. The nuns and the priests were always beating it into us -- literally, with rulers -- saying, 'We're the one true church! Everybody else is wrong; we're right!' Then I would see a Dracula movie and Peter Cushing would whip out a crucifix. They'd play church music; Dracula would recoil in horror and I thought, as a 6-year-old, 'I guess the nuns are right! We are the one true church because you can't stop Dracula with a gun, but if you whip out a crucifix, he's toast!'" After lying low for several Communist witch hunt years, movie monsters made a big comeback in 1957: I Was a Teenage Werewolf with Michael Landon was first, followed by Curse of Frankenstein the very next week. Not even TV was safe, as Screen Gems rolled out its “Shock!” package of 52 Universal horror films to independent and hard to find UHF stations. MARK VOGER podcast excerpt: "Bill Cosby is in the book because I have a section on Boris Karloff, probably the greatest monster star of all time. He was on 'I Spy,' so I have a quote from Bill Cosby remembering working with Karloff." As Mark Voger writes in his new book, Monster Mash: The Creepy, Kooky Monster Craze in America 1957-1972, “1957 was the nail in the coffin for genre naysayers... Taboos were being broken. The stake had been removed.” This is a sensational book for its illustrated trip down memory lane aimed at the generations of us who grew up watching late night movie hosts such as Zacherle, listening to Bobby Pickett sing “Monster Mash,” building – and painting! -- Frankenstein Monster scale models, convincing Mom to let us watch “The Munsters,” collecting and trading Topps’ “Ugly Stickers,” and reading Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine or my personal favorite, The Monster Times. This summer has even echoed those long gone days: Have you heard Fall Out Boy’s hit single “Uma Thurman”? Over and over, it repeats the instantly recognizable riff from “The Munsters” theme song! MARK VOGER podcast excerpt: "A lot of us, as adults, look back on monster memorabilia and we refer to it as the porn of our childhood. When we got a new issue of 'Famous Monsters of Filmland, the first thing we did was go through it page-by-page and we were like, 'Ooh, look at that! Look at that!'" Key interview moments: • 8:45 Squaring a fascination with monsters such as Dracula against the teachings of the Catholic church; • 16:44 Monster memorabilia was the porn of many a childhood; • 25:50 Bill Cosby was genuinely scared to death of Boris Karloff when the star of many Universal monster flicks guest starred on an episode of "I Spy" in the 1960s. Mark Voger
(This interview was originally recorded September 10, 2009 for a Ford-sponsored report on BlogTalkRadio.com. Your host was compensated for his work.) My first car—and I suspect yours, too—was a Ford. I loved that car like no other since. It was 1977 and my father saw it sitting, day after day, in front of a neighbor’s house. One day, he knocked on the day and asked if the owner was interesting in selling it. The answer was yes and the price was right: $50. No kidding. And that’s how I became the proud owner of a black, 1963 Ford Falcon sedan. It was one of only two cars I’ve ever owned that I could actually change the oil and accomplish a few other minor maintenance tasks by myself. (The second was a ’62 Falcon!) I gave that car all the best accoutrement: green shag carpets on the floor, an 8-track player… You get the idea. I was poor, but I had wheels! That first car has been on mind lately as many of my friends’ kids are suddenly old enough to start driving and my 13-year-old daughter is starting to think about what her first car. Maybe a Ford: the Fit is cute, she says, as is the Focus. But enough about me. Joining me in a moment is Mark Fields, executive vice president of the Ford Motor Company and president of Ford operations in the Americas. We’re going to talk about the “Summer of Taurus” promotion, the impact of the federal “Cash for Clunkers” program and what Ford plans next to sustain its sales momentum. And yes, I’m going to ask what Ford products he recommends for the next generation’s first car.
You may think you know everything about “Seinfeld,” the long-running 1990s NBC sitcom, but do you know enough to fill a 385-page book? Nicholas Nigro, author of Seinfeld FAQ, does. And that’s why he’s my guest today and you are not. Turns out there is still so much to learn, dots to connect, and trivia to be plumbed. NICHOLAS NIGRO podcast excerpt: "Larry Thomas, as the 'Soup Nazi, was just on that one episode (until the series finale). But he left a remarkable impression. When that show aired, everyone was talking about it the next day: 'No soup for you!' I don't think there could be anything like that now. Go back to the 1990s and it seemed like everybody was talking about Seinfeld the next day. We don't have that common bond anymore with all the cable channels and Netflix. It's a different world." And even when you think you know it all, Nigro offers up top-10 lists about the key characters, their doomed relationships, food obsessions, and lack of fashion sense – as well as steering the reader to the best and most underappreciated episodes. NICHOLAS NIGRO podcast excerpt: "Michael Richards is a physical comedian and how can you top Kramer? The way he entered Jerry's apartment, the stumble..." It’s a show about something, even if that’s nothing. And a place where nothing is learned, no one improves their station in life, and nary a hug is ever consummated. But I know what you’re thinking: “Yada-yada, get on with it already!” Key interview moments: • 9:20 The impact of the Soup Nazi; • 21:00 Why Michael Richards never did better than playing 'Kramer' on 'Seinfeld'; • 24:00 Even 'Seinfeld' had boundaries, unlike many cable shows today. More 'Seinfeld' Interviews! • • •
The Tampa Bay area of Florida – where Mr. Media has been recorded twice a week since 2007 – has produced its share of national brands and personalities. • Remember the “Morning Zoo” radio phenomenon of the 1980s? Cleveland Wheeler and Scott Shannon started that here at Q105. • Hooters Restaurants began in a Clearwater shack; the chain also launched original Hooters Girl Lynne Austin to fame, fortune and Playmate of the Year. TONY LITTLE podcast excerpt: "I must have called Roy Speer and Bud Paxson, who started Home Shopping Network, every day for a year at their offices and said, 'I've got this video...' I could never get through to them directly! Someone always said, 'We have no interest in fitness videos here. Fitness doesn't fit in with our categories of stuff for women.' But I don't take 'No' too easily. I think every 'No' is an opportunity to negotiate." • Another restaurant chain, Outback Steakhouse, also emerged from here. • The late as seen on TV commercial spokesman Billy Mays – best known for Oxy-Clean products – got his explosive start out of Palm Harbor. • This is also the community where Roy Speer and Bud Paxson launched the Home Shopping Club – which morphed into the international powerhouse Home Shopping Network – HSN. And that’s where today’s guest, first captured your attention and imagination 29 years ago. TONY LITTLE podcast excerpt: "I read the authors we all read -- Norman Vincent Peale, Dennis Waitley, Tony Robbins -- all the motivational books and it really helped me set goals. If you don't have a goal, you're like a boat without a rudder." Just look at him – tanned, taut and mischievous, Tony Little is the kind of health and fitness guru only a beach community in Florida or California could have produced. He exudes that wide-eyed confidence and eternal optimism that has merrily convinced a generation of followers in search of a better lifestyle to follow him. Like so many other unlikely retail stars created by the Home Shopping Network – they currently offer 73 different Tony Little products, plus recipes – Little has a compelling backstory of highs and lows that made him the man he is today. (And, of course,you can read all about it in his memoir, There’s Always A Way.) Key interview moments: • 10:30 Who inspired Tony Little?; • 18:25 Adversity in Tony's life; • 24:00 The real story of how Tony broke in at Home Shopping Network Tony Little • • • •
I’m going to school today and you’re all invited to sit in on a master class with me. Teaching a course on getting the “get” and not screwing it up once you have it will be my guest, master celebrity interviewer and media consultant Elliot Mintz. It’s okay if you’re asking yourself, “Who is Elliot Mintz?” It just means you’re likely from a younger generation, one that didn’t come up in the post-Beatles pop culture of the 1970s. ELLIOT MINTZ podcast excerpt: "I lived in Laurel Canyon and I received a phone call from my mother. She heard a news bulletin that there was a shooting outside of The Dakota. There were no other details. I dialed the phone number of the (lobby) where the doorman is. I said, 'Hi, this is Elliot. Just calling to make certain everything is okay.' And he hung up on me. I knew then that nothing was okay. I packed a quick bag, booked American Airlines flight 10 from LAX... About 15 minutes after takeoff, I saw a flight attendant emerge from the cockpit and she was in tears. I said, 'Are you okay?' She said, 'They just killed John Lennon.'" Mintz, to the best of my recollection, first came to my attention for his close ties to John Lennon and Yoko Ono throughout the 1970s and for his continued presence as a media consultant for Yoko following John’s murder. He first entered their sphere as a TV reporter for KABC Channel 7 in Los Angeles where a 1971 interview he conducted with Ono went so well – and was perceived as unusually fair – that Lennon agreed to be interviewed. But while most people who lived through this era will remember Mintz for his Lennon-Ono connection, he was also quite an accomplished journalist, recording conversations with a who’s who of the era, including Jack Nicholson, Allen Ginsberg, Mick Jagger, Salvador Dali, Dennis Hopper, Jayne Mansfield and many, many more. ELLIOT MINTZ podcast excerpt: "What was Salvador Dali like? He was highly theatrical. He was a salesman He was self-absorbed. He knew that he may have been, at the time, if not the greatest living artist, certainly the ultimate artist in the field of surrealism. He was without comparison; he was without competition. He rejoiced in who he was. Dali was effusive; he spoke rhapsodically about Alice Cooper, talked about wanting to get into holograms. John and Yoko had met him a couple of years beforehand; I had spent a lot of time with John and Yoko in the '70s, so being with them was like being with old friends. But having them there for the radio interview I was doing with Dali altered the vibe. From time to time, Dali would say something and you would hear John and Yoko make a comment back. They didn't take the whole thing terribly seriously. I was honored to be in Dali's presence, but it was a terrible interview. I wanted to know whether he took psychedelic drugs. And I wanted to know the thinking behind the masterpieces. I'm sitting next to the creator! But I was just terrible! On the other hand, by Dali's standards, all of his interviews were good because he was in them!" Oh, and then there is this: he was a student at Los Angeles City College on November 22, 1963, when a guy behind him, future Los Angeles radio personality Roland Bynum, recognized a name and face on the television as someone he knew from the military. “Hot damn! That’s Lee!” Lee? “Yeah, I served in the Marine Corps with him!” ELLIOT MINTZ podcast excerpt: "Roland Bynum spent time with Lee Harvey Oswald when they were in the Marines together. They had discussions. I interviewed Roland and took that tape and made it available to the all-news radio station in Los Angeles. Within minutes of it airing, I began receiving hundreds of phone calls; by evening, it was on the network news. I was 21. It was my first 'scoop.' How unlikely that positioning was under the umbrella of destiny. And how sad that my journey began at the death of America's innocence." No sh!t. His classmate had been up-close-and-personal with Lee Harvey Oswald. That interview – he quickly took his classmate into a recording studio – was Elliot Mintz’s first scoop as a cub reporter. The wild ride was on. But it’s Mintz’s story; I’ll let him tell it. Key moments: • 7:13 November 22, 1963, watching news reports of the Kennedy assassination when a Los Angeles County College classmate recognizes Lee Harvey Oswald, with whom he served in the Marines; • 16:33 Interviewing Salvador Dali (accompanied by John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and Gala Dali); • 42:43 Hearing of the assassination of his close friend, John Lennon, en route to The Dakota Building. Elliot Mintz • • LISTEN!
I don’t think I’ve ever seen my mother without a cup of coffee in her right hand to start the day. As far back as I can recall, it seemed like the first thing she did every day was start a pot of coffee – I remember the tins of Chockful ‘o Nuts when I was a kid — but never Sanka, even when it was trendy – “never anything that wasn’t the real McCoy,” she told me when I called her last night. VISHAL SOLANKI podcast excerpt: "What makes us consume something again and again and again? We are never tired of it! That's a quality coffee has -- every morning there is something inspiring in terms of taste or how it wakes you up. The movie gives us a chance to reflect on it." The Starbucks explosion came too late for Mom; she had already retired by the time there was a barista on every corner. “Now I love my Keurig,” Mom said. “It’s tasty, it’s quick; there’s no cleanup but your cup. My very favorite is Folgers Columbian, medium to dark brews. I don’t like Starbucks. Even their mildest one, I don’t like. Dunkin’ Donuts – I like their coffee in the store but I don’t like their pods. Not sure why.” HANH NGUYEN podcast excerpt: "While making 'Caffeinated,' we would work at our day jobs and meet at midnight at a cafe and work things out -- over coffee." I had Mom in mind when I agreed to preview a new documentary film by Vishal Solanki and Hanh Nguyen called Caffeinated that follows coffee beans from the ground to your individual cup and takes java drinkers behind the scenes with the growers, buyers, processors and coffee shop proprietors of the world. Caffeinated • •
I’ve been to some great big museums around the world – MOMA in New York, the Centre George Pompidou in Paris, The Tate Modern in London – to name just a few. But, to be honest, I’ve always gotten as big a thrill out of smaller, more specialized collections such as the Sherlock Holmes Museum in London, the Norman Rockwell Museum of Vermont, or The Salvador Dali Museum right here in St. Petersburg. I’m a pop culture guy and these are the kind of places I can get a satisfying fix. So when I heard about The Hollywood Museum, it sounded like the kind of place for me – and if you watch this show, I’m thinking it’s right for you, too. DONELLE DADIGAN podcast excerpt: "We have Jeffrey Tambor's iconic costume from when he plays 'Maura Pfefferman' on the Amazon Prime TV show 'Transparent.' He plays a groundbreaking role as a transgender. The costume is the color of the LGBTQ rainbow. It is a woman's dress, complete with the necklace. You can't watch 'Transparent' -- or even a trailer for it -- without seeing this costume in it." Located in the former building of Hollywood fashion icon Max Factor, just steps from the Hollywood Walk of Fame, The Hollywood Museum is packed with artifacts and classic images of the best-known Tinseltown legends, from Judy Garland and Lana Turner to Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe. Today, we’re going to do the next best thing to visiting The Hollywood Museum – we’re going to bring it to us. DONELLE DADIGAN podcast excerpt: "We also have Marilyn Monroe's junior high school class photo! Isn't that something? And the girl that's circled does not have blonde hair. She has brown hair because Marilyn's natural blonde hair, like most natural blondes, turned by the time she became a teenager. One of my mom's dearest friends went to Ralph Waldo Emerson Junior High. She always saved the picture because of Norma Jean Mortensen (who later changed her name to Marilyn). She said, 'Donelle, when you open this museum, I have something that you will just love!'" Joining me is Donelle Dadigan, founder of the museum. She’s going to talk about the scope of the facility, highlight some of the exhibits – including the current “Reel to Real: Portrayals and Perceptions of Gays in Hollywood,” which runs through September 2015 – and even show us a few special museum pieces to whet our appetites for a real visit. The Hollywood Museum • • • •
Wanna give your eyeballs a real treat? Pick up a copy of Arlen Schumer’s The Silver Age of Comic Book Art – which was recently released in a revised edition – and turn to any page. And I mean any page. Wherever your eyes go, they will discover a stunningly well curated tour through the DC and Marvel pop art of the 1960s -- the word balloons now filled not with superhero dialogue but with fine art narrative and discussion from Schumer and the artists themselves. ARLEN SCHUMER podcast excerpt: "Why did Gene Colan make the cut over some other artists? Gene Colan, in his short Marvel career in 1966, does pretty definitive versions of three major characters: Sub-Mariner. Iron Man and Daredevil -- and you can even add his Doctor Strange -- the only Doctor Strange that can be spoken about on the same level as Steve Ditko's. And that's high praise." Here’s Steve Ditko on his ethereal Doctor Strange images: “Style is not what you do, but how you handle it... Whatever I draw doesn’t have to look like anything that ever existed.” Think The Flash looks pretty cool as depicted on The CW TV series? Check out Carmine Infantino’s take on the Scarlet Speedster in the 1960s and hear about him in the artist’s own words: “Movement – that’s what The Flash was all about, that’s what made the character! He was tough to do because of the constant speed! Every page, I’d have constant motion! Even when it was quiet, you’d need motion!” ARLEN SCHUMER podcast excerpt: "What the book is about is me paying homage to these great artists, the period, and trying to do the only book of its type. My feeling is that this is the only way to do it because comics are words AND pictures. The fact that all history books before mine were word-heavy with little reproductions -- that's not true to what comics are themselves!" Speaking of TV, would ABC have ever invested in “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” if Jim Steranko hadn’t made Nick Fury so damn cool? “When I took S.H.I.E.L.D. on,” Steranko says, “Fury was simply an older version of his wartime persona: rumpled, cigar-chomping, unshaven... I cleaned him up, gave him the kinky, black leather zipsuit rippling with clips, buttons, cartridge belts, and the shoulder holster – so he could compete visually with Marvel’s superheroes. I gave him a personality and a sex life.” I’m telling you, True Believers, you gotta get this book. So who is Arlen Schumer? He’s a graphic designer, a comic book historian, and a member of the Society of Illustrators, one who makes his living creating comic book-style illustrations for advertising and editorial usage. Arlen Schumer • • • • • •
I’m going to risk offending my guest right at the top because I can’t help but think of his latest work, Cascade Falls, as a “small” novel. In my mind, describing his book thusly is a compliment; I just don’t know if he’ll see it this way. The thing is, Cascade Falls tells a story about a very narrow strip of life and it works in ways that more ambitious and – ultimately – rambling, generations-spanning novels never do. BRUCE FERBER podcast excerpt: "Writing a novel (versus writing a TV sitcom) and not having to go into casting and argue over who is the best actor for the part -- you just write the part! It's a great thing to be able to do." Every character in this book, no matter how big a part he or she plays in moving the story forward, is clearly defined, whether it is kingpin Ted Johnson, his lost little boy son, Danny, or Ted’s secretary, Barbara. Everyone is here for a reason and the reason is never to make the reader ache for a shorter book. This is a small book because its tale is told in an economical, but elucidating way. Best example of that for me? The few sex scenes are compact but the action is eye-popping in the telling. Chris Lemmon and Alison LaPlaca graduated from supporting players (alongside Ellen Degeneres) on the original Fox TV show "Duet" to headline "Open House." BRUCE FERBER podcast excerpt: "'Home Improvement' (Tim Allen) was the most important credit of mine because I was the showrunner for the last three years of the series. Before that, I worked on 'Coach' (Craig T. Nelson) for one year, which was interesting. Before that, I worked on a Fox show that was ahead of its time called 'Duet' (Matthew Laurance and Mary Page Keller). It was odd; it would not be considered odd today because 'Mad About You' came after that and was sort of the same concept... It was one of those shows where you grow up the baby by three years (in one season). And then the network wanted to change it completely. They wanted to make the two supporting roles (Alison La Placa and Chris Lemmon) into the main couple. This had never been done before. And they changed the name of the show to 'Open House.' It was crazy." None of this surprised me because writer Bruce Ferber comes to fiction from the world of TV sitcom writing, where dialogue is everything and narrative is frowned upon. Ferber’s credits include “Bosom Buddies” (starring Tom Hanks), “Growing Pains,” “Sabrina, The Teenage Witch,” “Coach” (Craig T. Nelson), and three years as showrunner for Tim Allen ("Tim the Toolman") on “Home Improvement.” His first book, which I’m now going to have to get, is called Elevating Overman. Bruce Ferber • • • • •
If you were building a fantasy league team of modern comic book writers, Chuck Dixon would have to be on it. Sure, he’s best-known as the co-creator of Batman’s most fearsome enemy, Bane – sorry, Joker fans! – whose first appearance came during the stunning “Knightfall” series in 1993, but that just scratches the surface of the man’s decades-long career, which started way back in February 1984. You can find Dixon’s byline everywhere from The Punisher to The Simpsons, and from Superman to The Savage Sword of Conan. He has produced long runs on the Batman Family of titles, including Detective Comics, Robin, The Huntress, and Birds of Prey, as well as Green Arrow, G.I. Joe, The ‘Nam, and Airboy. CHUCK DIXON podcast excerpt: "My secret to success? Staying way ahead of schedule. My reliability has been my strongest point. I got a call from an editor once who said, 'I need a script in three days.' I said, 'Okay, fine, let me come up with an idea. I like this character; I can do it.' I had never written him before. I said, 'What happened to the regular writer? Did they get sick, have an accident?' 'No, no,' the editor said. 'We hired a new writer for this character but he doesn't have any ideas!'" But, wait there’s more: Scooby-Doo, Transformers, C.S.I., SpongeBob SquarePants and yes, A Nightmare on Elm Street. He also adapted J.R.R.’s Tolkien's The Hobbitt for a best-selling graphic novel. Dixon also holds a special place in the history of the Mr. Media podcast – he was my very first video guest, back in 2007. That interview – in which we talked about his work for Bongo Comics on The Simpsons – has been viewed more than 100,000 times. Currently, Dixon is writing two new series for IDW, Joe Frankenstein and Winterworld. He’s also the author of three ongoing fiction series including Bad Times, Levon Cade, and Seal Team 6. CHUCK DIXON podcast excerpt: "It was sad that half of actor Tom Hardy's face was covered as Bane in 'The Dark Knight Rises,' so he couldn't fully emote. It was a worthy effort. They certainly presented him as a badass, which I'm grateful for, because, in the end, he became a household name. That's wonderful for me. He keeps appearing as action figures and in videogames. And was a pasta shape in SpaghettiOs." Chuck Dixon • • • • • • • • • Joe Frankenstein We recorded this show at the new Emerald City Comics at 4902 113th Avenue North in Clearwater, Florida. If you love comic books and collectibles, this may be the biggest and best store of its kind in the entire Southeastern United States. It is a warehouse store in the way that The Home Deport or The Sports Authority is – it is enormous, stocked with everything you could ever want or need, and staffed by men and women who know what they’re talking about! Drop in and shop it today and mention you saw it on Mr. Media! For more information, visit the Enerald City Comics website, EmeraldCityComics.com – or call 727-398-2665!
What I knew about comic book writer Steven Grant before inviting him to be a guest could be summed up pretty simply: He wrote a run of X for Dark Horse Comics when the publisher briefly flirted with creating a superhero universe of its own that included Ghost and Barb Wire under the “Comics’ Greatest World” imprint. It was always the first comic I read the week it was published. In a sea of spandex and X-dubbed characters, his stood above the rest. That, and he wrote always provocative online columns about comic books called “Permanent Damage” and “Master of the Obvious.” STEVEN GRANT podcast excerpt: "I co-created Mockingbird. She's always been a favorite of mine; I've never thought they handled her properly, although I did 'Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' and what I've seen they've done with her on TV, I've liked. Adrianne Palicki is wonderful in the part. I saw her 'Wonder Woman' pilot and she's much, much better as Mockingbird." Digging a little deeper, I discovered he was a member of the Madison, Wisconsin, comics mafia, which is sort of like the Indiana University journalism mafia at many American newspapers. Anyway, Grant’s byline has appeared in a stunning number of venues, from Trouser Press and Jim Steranko’s Mediascene to a comics biography of Pope John Paul II. He has written for most every comic book publisher you can name, including Marvel and DC, of course, but also First, Eclipse, Wildstorm, Chaos and even Tekno, whose books I always enjoyed. These days, following the success of the 2013 feature film adaptation of his 2 Guns series – the movie starred Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg – he’s been following his heart on new projects. This includes: a Rook mini-series for Dark Horse, drawn by Paul Gulacy; a crime mini-series called Cops for Criminals for Legendary; a revival of Enemy at Dark Horse; and he’s looking for a publisher to sign up a completed horror graphic novel that he and Phil Winslade created. STEVEN GRANT podcast excerpt: "The characters I liked as a kid were Spider-Man and Green Lantern. I wrote quite a bit of Spider-Man stuff over the years; Green Lantern, I've written less, but part of me would still like to write Green Lantern if I could do whatever I wanted with it and not have to follow whatever rules they've set up. I still have mild emotional bonds from my childhood to those characters." (And no, he is not secretly Moon Knight.) The timing of this interview couldn’t be better; the day before we recorded this show, actor Jon Bernthal was announced to be the actor stepping into the shoes of The Punisher in the upcoming second season of “Daredevil” on Netflix, followed by a 13-episode “Punisher” series. How does that connect to Grant? As the writer of an early 1990s Punisher mini-series for Marvel, he is widely credited with giving the character new and enduring life. Steven Grant •
(ORIGINALLY RECORDED MARCH 12, 2009) If you’re old enough to remember “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” and “The Mike Douglas Show,” then you’re old enough to have seen a lot of The Amazing Kreskin. When Kreskin is a TV talk show guest, you see well, AMAZING things happen. Wherever his skills and talent come from doesn’t really matter to me; he’s always entertaining. But don’t just take my word for it—take the word of Tom Hanks. He’s the producer of a new feature film adapted from Kreskin’s life. Titled The Great Buck Howard, it opens on March 20 and stars John Malkovich as Kreskin—I mean Howard—and Colin Hanks as his assistant. Tom Hanks is also in the film. THE AMAZING KRESKIN • • •
I read Pete Townshend’s memoir, Who I Am, about a year ago, my interest in 1960s British rock icons fired up by Life, the compelling autobiography of Keith Richards. But whereas Richards’ book astounded me with its stories, recall, and the author’s drug- and alcohol-fueled insights into his own only-in-rock-n-roll craziness, I felt rather let down by Townshend’s tale as early as the midpoint. MARK BLAKE podcast excerpt: "I'd interviewed Roger Daltry several times and I did the book about Queen and the book about Pink Floyd. The Who's story is messy; they're a messy band. They don't do anything easily. They don't do anything the way people think they should do it and that's part of the charm. And they didn't split up. The drummer dies in Led Zeppelin -- they stop. The drummer dies in The Who -- they get another drummer and carry on." I kept thinking Townshend needed a co-author to help him sort out his story, give it more humanity and emotion. And make it seem like he knew anything at all – or cared – about his long-time bandmates. Someone like Mark Blake. MARK BLAKE podcast excerpt: "I find The Who in the '80s interesting. I find watching it fall apart kind of interesting. It's got a car crash quality to it." Blake, the author of Pink Floyd: Pigs Might Fly and Is This the Real Life? The Untold Story of Queen, has just published Pretend You’re in a War: The Who & The Sixties. It’s the kind of deep leap in the pool that I think The Who’s lead guitarist wanted to produce but fell woefully short on. Pretend You’re in a War takes the first decade of The Who’s 50-year career and gives context and breadth to behind the scenes detail that should electrify fans of one of the original world class rock bands the genre has ever produced. Mark Blake • • •
Many American country music fans won’t want to hear this, but your favorite genre of music has long since blown past national borders. Shania Twain? Canadian. Keith Urban? New Zealander. Jo Dee Messina? Boston – American, yes, but not a bastion of country music. And frequent guest of this show Amy Rose? Redneck Canadian! HICKS podcast excerpt: "I'm Mama's favorite... sometimes. When she hears 'Mamas Kitchen' on the radio, she calls me and says, 'They played my song today!' She's proud." Still, we’re going out on a bit of a limb today introducing you to an up-and-coming county singer/songwriter named Hicks. He hails from Sweden. And as is often the case with British rockers, you’d never know he wasn’t from these parts when he is singing. I’m sure we’ll talk about that. HICKS podcast excerpt: "This journey has been crazy. The first song I put on YouTube was 'Mama's Kitchen.' It took off, way beyond my wildest dreams. DJs from all over the world said, 'How can we get that song? We want to play it on our show!' At the time, I didn't have a website; you couldn't find it on iTunes or Spotify, either. I did everything backwards. But the song found its way onto the charts and I got nominated for awards. I still can't believe it. I'm living my dream." Hicks has written songs for the late Jimi Jamison (of Survivor), Giant, Little River Band, Bobby Kimball (of Toto) and others. He's the first Swedish artist to have his first two singles reach the New Music Weekly Top 10. And he's got a new single out, “I Belong to You,” written with Erik Martensson and Jorgen Elofsson, the writers of two hits – “Stronger” and “A Moment Like This” -- for Kelly Clarkson. Hicks performs two songs exclusively today on Mr. Media, “Mama’s Kitchen,” and the world premiere of “I Belong to You.” Hicks • • • •
Here’s how I know novelist Cynthia Kraack is a top-flight author: Coming off publication of the final book in her generations-spanning, speculative fiction trilogy Ashwood, she has written a new book that is completely different than what preceded it but maintains echoes of what made the Ashwood series so compelling: family, family and more family. In The High Cost of Flowers, Kraack presents us with the Kemper family. They’re just like your family and mine, except the author gives the reader access to all of their secrets, warts and all. CYNTHIA KRAACK interview excerpt: "The character of Art Kemper in some ways was inspired by my Dad. My mother did, in fact, have a series of strokes. And watching him care for her and (exhibit) all the patience and long devotion to a spouse. We've also had some unhealthy relationships with alcohol in our family, as well. And the Catholicism. My folks were very strong Catholics. That's about where the similarities between my family and the Kempers in 'The High Cost of Flowers' stop." Art Kemper, who realizes he can no longer provide home care for his alcoholic, Alzheimer’s stricken wife, Katherine. We also meet their three children, the estranged eldest daughter, the emotionally detached middle son who is ever present but not to anyone’s advantage, and the youngest daughter, who can only survive the day – any day – with the help of mother’s little helpers and a few ounces to wash it down. Oh, and each of the Kemper children has children of their own. This is a story that can be a tough read in that it is so close to the boiling depths of family hell, yet it is a page-turner thanks to the deft plotting, intricate details, and sharply written dialogue by the remarkable Cynthia Kraack. CYNTHIA KRAACK interview excerpt: "It is so absorbing to watch family and neighbors go through that end of the adult parent's ability to be independent. Man, it just seems to pull them out of normal living for however long it takes." And by fortunate coincidence, Cynthia is joining us the morning after receiving not one but two awards for her latest novel – “Best Literary Fiction” and “Best Contemporary Fiction” – from the Midwest Book Awards, sponsored by the Midwest Independent Book Publishers Association. There are very good reasons that this is Cynthia Kraack’s fourth appearance on Mr. Media. And I guarantee you there will be more. Cynthia Kraack • • • •
It’s a given that if you’re a fan of something, anything, you’re going to absorb quite a bit of trivial knowledge about it. Best Avenger? The Vision. Worst Avenger? Moondragon. The same is true of whatever fandom you follow, from “Game of Thrones” to “Breaking Bad” and from “Lord of the Rings” to “Star Trek.” And, of course, “Doctor Who.” CAMERON K. McEWAN podcast excerpt: "One of the fun lists was the Doctor Who computer games, spanning from the 1980s until now. I knew all the Doctor Who games. That was enlightening and fun because some of the games I hadn't played before." My family sucked me into the Who vortex two years ago. I thought their crowning achievement was getting me to The Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff, Wales, where we wandered around the actual set of Matt Smith’s T.A.R.D.I.S. And we watched the coronation of the next Doctor, Peter Capaldi, on the telly in our London hotel room. But then Capaldi himself was a guest on this show back in December 2014 and I was completely charmed and converted. (And I’d sell my soul for a night with his co-star Jenna Coleman, but that’s a conversation for another day.) Another development on my journey was hosting Cameron K. McEwan on Mr. Media last year to talk about his first book, The Who’s Who of Doctor Who. Since then, we’ve become Facebook friends and it was a foregone conclusion that he’d be back today to promote his new project, Unofficial Doctor Who: The Big Book of Lists. CAMERON K. McEWAN podcast excerpt: "I have all the Doctor Who stories on either DVD or audio (for the ones that are missing). I have an episode guide from the 1990s which is very handy. And a collection of the scripts, because what was actually said in an episode is vital. Research involves me remembering things and then going to sources." Some examples from the inside Doctor Who book: • “Excuse Me, Did You Drop Something?” – Doctor Who name drops from the beginning of time; • “7 Classic Series In-Jokes” – including self-references; • “6 Times the Doctor Predicted the Future” – including the emergence of Margaret Thatcher as UK Prime Minister; • And “TV Shows That Doctor Who References” – from “Scooby-Doo” to “The Addams Family,” of course! The Big Book of Lists is the Who’s Who of Doctor Who on steroids for Who fans. Blogtor Who • • • • •
As a writer and podcast host, I’m a strong believer in protecting my intellectual property rights and exploiting them for every penny that they are worth. That’s how I make my living, quite frankly. And in my line of work, I am always in situations where I am collaborating with artists and photographers. Unfortunately, many of them over the years have treated the rights to their work as a burden rather a potential source of endless income. ED GREENBERG podcast excerpt: "It's tribal knowledge. Photographers have a tendency to ask other photographers for legal advice. Which is illogical. They don't ask photographers for dental advice. If they need a podiatrist, they don't ask for a photographer to do podiatry work. But when it comes to the law, unlike plumbers, carpenters and any other artisans, they call other photographers for legal advice. Most of the legal advice on the web, their sole qualification is that they own a keyboard. The photographers take that advice and gamble their business and family fortune." The way I see it, once I create a work – whether it is a book, a magazine article, or even a podcast – I expect it to be an earner for the rest of my life. A little here, a little there, and pretty soon it all adds up. And that’s the reason why I thought it would be interesting and educational to invite attorney Ed Greenberg and commercial photographer Jack Reznicki to come on the show and talk about the finer points found in their new book, The Copyright Zone: A Legal Guide for Photographers and Artists in the Digital Age. If you are an artist or a photographer, or know someone who is, this is going to be a very interesting show. The Copyright Zone • • • Jack Reznicki • • • • Ed Greenberg
Do atheists get a bad rap? Or do they just need a better public relations rep? Either might explain the “No God But Funny Contest,” a new TV scriptwriting competition that offers $40,000 in prizes to writers who portray atheists as more fully rounded people – even role models for some of the population. It is sponsored jointly by The Center for Inquiry and the Freedom From Religion Foundation. There is a $40 entry fee and the deadline for submissions is May 15, 2015. PAUL PROVENZA podcast excerpt: "I am sophisticated enough to know that just because a character unlikeable qualities -- a murderer, in the case of Dexter -- doesn't mean that they're not the hero in that anti-hero way... To me, a positive character has to be flawed. So that's going to make for some interesting 'No God But Funny' judging conversations." The contest promises $15,000 to those crafting the winning sitcom script and $25,000 to producers of the winning webisode that takes the “ass” out of atheists. By the way, the sponsors promise you will not go to hell if you enter. But read the fine print and you’ll discover they are only 99.9 percent certain, so maybe you should hedge your bet. PAUL PROVENZA podcast excerpt: "When you let go of the sense of preordained positive negative way of living, live is just random. Random, random, random. Even when 25 flips of the coin come up heads, the 26th could kill you." What, you may ask, is wrong with the way TV’s best known atheist characters are presented today? You be the judge: • Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan, the lead on Fox’s long-running police procedural “Bones” is labeled by the contest as a “Robot”; • Dr. Sheldon Cooper, a physicist on CBS’s top-rated series “The Big Bang Theory,” is “Emotionless”; • Dexter Morgan, the forensic scientist by day and serial killer by night and star of the Showtime series “Dexter” –not the Cartoon Network show “Dexter’s Laboratory” – I think – is a “Murderer”; • Dr. Gregory House, the genius medical mind featured on “House, M.D.,” is a “Misanthrope”; • Dr. Perry Cox, the heartless, narcissistic physician supervisor on “Scrubs,” is, quite simply, an “Asshole”; • And Britta Perry, one of the eternal students on Yahoo!’s sitcom “Community” is a “Pessimist” – not as damning as the descriptions of the others, but still not an endorsement for the Godless crowd. Joining me today to talk about the “No God But Funny” TV writing contest is one of the judges, comedian Paul Provenza. PAUL PROVENZA podcast excerpt: "Art can be really transcendent. And I know it's funny to use 'transcendent' in any conversation about 'The Aristocrats,' but I think human creativity and invention can be transcendent. That's what drove that film. Certainly not everybody in the movie is an atheist! I have no idea who in the movie is a believer or non-believer. I have no clue! But I do think being atheist comes from being the kind of person who looks at things without falling prey to, 'Ooh, that's a dirty word.' Or 'That's a bad concept.' Or 'That's an awful thing to talk about.'" Provenza’s credentials are incredibly broad, from directing 2005’s genre-breaking comedy documentary The Aristocrats to replacing Rob Morrow on the final season of CBS’s “Northern Exposure” to hosting the ripsnorting Showtime comedy roundtable “The Green Room with Paul Provenza.” Probably best-known for his work as a stand-up comedian, he also is the author (with Don Dion) of a book, ¡Satiristas!, featuring his full-length interviews with Stephen Colbert, Bill Maher, Marc Maron, and George Carlin. No God But Funny TV Writing Competition • • Paul Provenza • • • • • • • •
This year’s 40th anniversary of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” became a time to reflect back on so many great characters that came out of that show over four decades: • Roseanne Roseannadanna • Stefon • The Blues Brothers • Father Guido Sarducci • And... The Ambiguously Gay Duo! J.J. SEDELMAIER podcast excerpt: "Robert Smigel called and said he had this script for a superhero-type cartoon, 'The Ambiguously Gay Duo.' Could he send it over? It was the first time I ever laughed out loud at a script. I've read scripts where I could see the humor in it and what I could do with it, but this was plain hilarious. I love comic books. To make fun of them in this way was extraordinary. I had to understand immediately that they aren't gay. It's the homophobia thing that's driving it. If they're gay that's not half as fun as if they're not and everyone else is freaking out... Once you know it's Stephen Colbert (as Ace), you can't not hear him. And Steve Carrell is doing a voice, so it's very funny when you think, 'THAT'S Steve Carrell?' They were great." My guest today, J.J. Sedelmaier, teamed up with comedy writer Robert Smigel to create Gary and Ace, the ever-curious, ever-in-denial Ambiguously Gay Duo. What most of us didn’t know was that the animated segment was voiced by Steve Carrell and Stephen Colbert. That cartoon was part of an irreverent series called “Saturday TV Funhouse.” Who could ever forget hearing an animated Lorne Michaels, in his uniquely Canadian way, snap “Come back with my show!” as “The X-Presidents,” “Fun with Real Audio,” “Animated Outtakes,” and the “Duo” unspooled over several seasons. J.J. SEDELMAIER podcast excerpt: "The thing I loved about animating 'Beavis' was that it looked like Beavis and Butthead did the cartoon production! It looked the drawings you'd see on the inside of a math textbook. I think Mike Judge, at a certain point, was trying to get the drawings to be a little bit better. I didn't want the drawings to be better! We spent a lot of time trying to get it to stay crude... 'Beavis' needed to look like it was done on the fly." Sedelmaier – who once dreamed not of being an animator but of a career in comic books, was also present at the birth of Mike Judge’s “Beavis & Butthead” for MTV, “Tek Jansen” for “The Colbert Report,” “Harvey Birdman Attorney At Law” for Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim, and “The Big Adventures of Little Shawn and Gus” for USA Network’s long-running series, “Psych.” His studio – co-founded and operated with his wife, Patrice – also has a strong commercial portfolio, including design and animation work for national clients as diverse as NBC Sports, Adidas, Scrubbing Bubbles, and Alka-Seltzer. J.J. SEDELMAIER podcast excerpt: "Before I got turned on by Will Eisner's stuff, I didn't really read comics. I used to look at them; I loved the covers. The first book I ever asked for was 'The Great Comic Book Heroes' by Jules Feiffer. I was 8. My father was a strong inspiration in terms of comic books. He read comic books as a kid; his mother KEPT all of his comic books so I grew up reading his, which he still has! So I'm going through 'The Great Comic Book Heroes' and seeing The Flash, Superman, and Batman, and I got to the end and there is this 'Spirit' guy. I said to my father, 'Who's The Spirit?' He said, 'Just wait. You're too young right now.' Sure enough, when the Warren 'Spirit' magazines came out in 1974, I was totally hooked. The layouts, the staging, the storytelling... the drawing! I had never seen anything like it. I gobbled up everything Will Eisner that I possibly could." Curiously, J.J. Sedelmaier and I have been Facebook friends for years although we never met in person until he was pointed out in the audience of a presentation I gave on the career of Will Eisner in March at Wizard World in Raleigh, North Carolina. I was excited to meet this legendary animator in the flesh and begged him to be a guest here. J.J. Sedelmaier • • • • • • LISTEN! (2008)
Don’t tell Daryl Cagle, but the real reason I wanted to see the internationally syndicated editorial cartoonist as a guest on Mr. Media was to match up his actual face with his caricature. He couldn’t possibly look that harried, frustrated and aggravated all at the same time, could he? Well... DARYL CAGLE podcast excerpt: "There is a barometer of freedom for cartoonists. Can the cartoonist draw the president of his own country? You've never seen cartoonist in Cuba draw Fidel Castro. You can't draw the president of China from China. We have a cartoonist in Singapore who says, 'Daryl, I can draw whatever I want as long as it's not about Singapore.' In the Arab countries, the cartoonists want to speak truth to power and they push up against these barriers. They were never, for example, allowed to draw Mubarak in Egypt. Cartoonists get beaten up, they get their hands broken, they get thrown in jail. They're always pushing up against these limits." It can’t be easy doing what guys like Cagle do for a living. Every day they sit down at their drawing table with the expectation of reacting to whatever is most provocative in the day’s breaking news. These men and women don’t know what they’ll be commenting on, referencing, or satirizing from one day to the next. They only know the material comes from a never-ending fount of man’s inhumanity to his fellow man. To put the job in perspective, a daily cartoonist working on comic strips such as “Blondie,” “Mutts” or “Pearls Before Swine” typically works four to six weeks ahead of deadline. An editorial cartoonist must come up with fresh, zingy content today for tomorrow. DARYL CAGLE podcast excerpt: "I think I've got the best job in the world. I get to draw what I want, when I want. And say whatever I want. I don't have an editor I have to kowtow to. Editors sometimes ask you to do things you don't want to do; now I'm editor-free." Cagle’s company, Cagle Cartoons Newspaper Syndicate, distributes the cartoons of 60 editorial cartoonists and 14 columnists to more than 850 subscribing newspapers in the United States and around the world. That includes more than half of America's daily, paid-circulation newspapers. He is now our most widely syndicated editorial cartoonist. He is also a past president of the National Cartoonists Society and the National Cartoonists Society Foundation. If you love editorial cartoons, Daryl Cagle would love to see you put your money where your eyeballs are. He is raising cash to help sustain his site Cagle.com. You can become a supporter for as little as $1 a month by making a pledge at . By the way, something you may not know about Cagle: he spent 15 years working with Jim Henson’s Muppets, where he helped create the Muppet Babies characters. Daryl Cagle • • • •
How much does anyone really need to know about Quentin Tarantino that can’t be derived from watching movies such as Pulp Fiction, Natural Born Killers or Django Unchained? That was my attitude until a few months ago when I read Jason Bailey’s beautifully illustrated coffee table book, Pulp Fiction: The Complete Story of Quentin Tarantino’s Masterpiece. It was quite fascinating, backed up with voluminous details and insights. DALE SHERMAN podcast excerpt: "I think fans like to go, 'What if... What if Quentin Tarantino had done this? What if he had done that 'Green Lantern' movie. Or that 'Luke Cage/Powerfist' movie? What if he had done 'Casino Royale'? That's one he really wanted to do. That's a story in itself. This guy had everything laid out to go back to the beinning of the James Bond character and they told him 'No.' And then their next movie was 'Casino Royale' and they pushed the character back to the beginning! You can't look at that and say, 'They didn't listen to what he had to say.' They listened to him, turned him down, and got somebody else to do it!" Still, after absorbing all of that, why would I need Dale Sherman’s nearly 400-page epic, Quentin Tarantino FAQ: Everything Left to Know About the Original Reservoir Dog? Turns out there is still so much to learn, dots to connect, and trivia to be plumbed. This guy Tarantino is one inglourious basterd. The books prove it. DALE SHERMAN podcast excerpt: "As some fans know, Tarantino has... an interest... in feet. In 'From Dusk Till Dawn,' he's sucking on toes. In his very first script,'My Best Friend's Birthday,' his character talks about having a foot fetish. There is always this thing with the feet! Once you know that -- except for 'Reservoir Dogs,' where you didn't want to see anybody's feet -- you're gonna see feet in loving close-ups in most of his movies. I never thought about it until somebody pointed it out and suddenly it's all there." What I particularly like about Sherman’s book is the way it groups information. There are chapters on everything from individual Tarantino movies to his legendary public confrontations, lost projects, and even product placements. There is even a chapter about books on Quentin Tarantino. Talk about inside jokes. It is, quite simply, a fun read. And it’s not Sherman’s first; he also did FAQ books on the rock band KISS and films about Armageddon movies. Dale Sherman • • • Quentin Tarantino • • •
As much as I love all kinds of motion pictures, the genre I’ve always been most in awe of is animation. Not so much the modern, computer generated stuff in the Pixar/Dreamworks manner, but old-style, hand drawn projects, slavishly created one frame at a time. BILL PLYMPTON podcast excerpt: "Hollywood doesn't believe there is an audience for adult-oriented animation, which I think is all wrong. You go to Europe or Japan and there are huge audiences for films that speak about adult ideas and adult situations. But for too long, we've been dominated by Disney -- and especially Pixar now -- with their computer animation and their fairytales. The distributors are afraid to handle anything else. Ralph Bakshi opened the door a little bit back in the early 1970s and it was immediately shut after he stopped doing it. I'm trying to open the door again with 'Cheatin.'" It is an amazing craft and requires a focus and devotion I cannot imagine possessing. But Bill Plympton does. Plympton, who has twice been nominated for Academy Awards his highly personalized animated shorts Your Face and Guard Dog – and who won the prestigious Palm d’Or in Cannes in 1991 for Push Comes to Shove – is back with a new, full-length animated feature he calls Cheatin. BILL PLYMPTON podcast excerpt: "Dancing is always difficult to draw. There is a sequence in 'Cheatin' sort of like 'Yellow Submarine.' The music is called 'The Drinking Song.' That was hard to draw because the dimensions are always changing, the people are always changing, the clothing is always changing. But in the end, it did give me pleasure." It is exactly what it sounds like – about the causes and impact of a cheating spouse on a once loving relationship. It’s beautifully drawn and easily propels its adult content – without adult images – from beginning to end. There are moments of sadness and quite a few at the end that made me burst out laughing. Plymptoons • • • •
For a guy with a bum hip, Harlan Donnally continues getting around with more ease and is far better at intimidating the criminal element than I am. That probably owes a lot to his creator, Steven Gore, knowing his way around the San Francisco bay area justice system better than most. In his third Donnally novel, "Night is the Hunter" – and Donnally is now tied with attorney Graham Gage at three books apiece – Gore is in fine literary form, zinging curveballs at loyal readers just when they think they know his irrepresible former cop turned private eye. STEVEN GORE podcast excerpt: "'Night is the Hunter' is kind of challenging. There are some hard legal concepts in this book. I want to use Harlan Donnally and the judge to teach the reader the concepts because these are the concepts that the characters are going to be thinking about as the book goes on. And that's the way the real world works in crime investigations." This time around, Gore has written a tale that bops and weaves so much that you can’t possibly know where it is leading. It also continues to build Donnally’s backstory – new details may emerge about the crossfire in which he was himself injured years earlier. And we learn more about his personal life. Or do we? Steven Gore • •
Is Joel Fishbane’s first novel, The Thunder of Giants, more fact or fiction? To be honest, I hadn’t even considered the possibility that any part of this fascinating novel about two nearly 8-foot-tall women, a generation or so apart, could be based in fact until I finished reading it and perused the back cover description that says the book “blends fact and fiction.” Sure, I could just Google Anna Swan and Andorra Kelsey, but somehow I thought it would just be easier to quiz the author. So you know what my first question will be. JOEL FISHBANE podcast excerpt: “Much like the characters themselves, the individual stories of these two almost eight-foot-tall women were too big for short stories, so it became a novel.” If you’re looking for something that will challenge you as a reader of fiction, a story that bounces back and forth between time periods, includes trips to the P.T. Barnum American Museum in Manhattan and early Hollywood while featuring two most unusual women, The Thunder of Giants might be right up your alley. Joel Fishbane • • • • •
J Anthony Brown has a lot of profound life advice to share. Sure, some of you know him as a comedian, a guy producing laughs as a part of “The Tom Joyner Morning Show.” But the more I get to know him, I think we should bite our tongue and take notes from the big man in the purple suit. J. ANTHONY BROWN podcast excerpt: "I talk all the time about how parallel the lives and careers of Howard Stern and Tom Joyner are. They both started a medium--one black, one white--both are college graduates, both want to be comedians, both been married twice, both love comedians, both have anchor people that sound like they're white, both are excellent interviewers, both changed the game of radio." Some gems from The Book of J: • Sometimes you just have to cuss a muthaf+cka out. • I could lose weight, too, if I saw Barry White naked. J. ANTHONY BROWN podcast excerpt: "Hannibal Buress was the first comedian to do a stretch about Bill Cosby and the news people picked it up. That had to have changed his life. Bill Cosby was a big hypocrite... He thought he was above everything and (he told comedians) it wasn't cool to curse. But not only was he cursing offstage, he was trying to f+ck everything that didn't move!" • Don’t beg for oral s@x. • Sh!t happens to white people, too. Every week, some white person falls in a goddam hole. • And one more, “Try my hot sauce.” (Okay that last one was a free plug for J Anthony Brown’s Hotter Than A MoFo Hot Sauce and snacks – because he’s not doing my show just ‘cause I’m a good conversationalist, folks.) J. ANTHONY BROWN podcast excerpt: "Comedy is so diverse now because of the Internet and television. We have this tendency to find comedians that we can connect with. Blacks tend to go to shows where there are black comics. Whites tend to go to shows where there are white comics. Hispanics tend to go to shows where there are Hispanic comics. Lesbians tend to go to shows where they are doing a lot of lesbian jokes. It's like music; you listen to what you like. It doesn't mean I couldn't go in front of white people and make them laugh; I can. But my fan base is predominantly black. Once a black comedian becomes big like Kevin Hart, white people have a tendency to go, 'Oh, who's that guy?' And then they'll go see him. We don't have to perform in front of other races. We can make a nice living just performing at black clubs. There are white comics that have never been in front of a black audience. They don't have to. But I tell black comics to find some place, once a month, where you can go in front of a white audience. It makes your mindset different. It gives you the ability to make everybody laugh." J also sings – have you ever heard “I’m a Black Man and I Like Country Music, Too”? What about “Ceelo’s Hands”? Or “Started Liking Women, Now I’m Gay”? One more line of wisdom from the J Man: If cussin’ offends you, you better get the fuck out... And if you’re under 18, you must leave now. We’ll wait. J. Anthony Brown • • • • Hotter Than A MoFo Sauce J. Anthony Brown's J Spot Comedy Club in Los Angeles • • • Tom Joyner Morning Show • • • • •
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is easily one of my favorite movies of all time. I was already a college graduate by the time it appeared in the mid-1980s, but so what? It was the movie that spoke to my inner narrator like no other. I didn’t necessarily want to be Ferris, I just wanted a day off like his. Who wouldn’t? KIRK HONEYCUTT podcast excerpt: "I wanted to find out why John Hughes was so damn successful. Because he was. I wanted to understand what he did and what it was about his comedy that connected with people then -- and still does today." Every time I see Ferris as I’m channel surfing, I’ll stop and watch it. Ferris talking to the audience, Ferris singing 'Twist and Shout' in a parade, Ferris fighting with his sister, and, of course, Ferris telling us all to go home, “The movie’s over!” KIRK HONEYCUTT podcast excerpt: "Hughes was talking to teen-agers like he understood them and that's what draws them in." There are other John Hughes films of which I’m a fan, of course, including National Lampoon’s Vacation, Christmas Vacation, and Weird Science. Home Alone deserves an honorable mention, too. Less so for me the more standard fare such as The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink – I think I was too old for teen angst when they came around. KIRK HONEYCUTT podcast excerpt: "National Lampoon's Vacation was the first John Hughes film that said, 'Hey, this guy can write!'" Former Hollywood Reporter chief film critic Kirk Honeycutt has just published a book, John Hughes: A Life in Film, that is a rich, illustrated guide to these films and many more, including Uncle Buck, Sixteen Candles, and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Honeycutt is also the man behind HoneycuttsHollywood.com, his own film review site. Kirk Honeycutt • • • • •
There’s nothing worse than a cold, cold room in late night television. I said “cold” the first time because the air conditioning in TV show studios is set notoriously low to keep everyone alert. I said “cold” the second time because the audience usually comes in mentally cold. They’ve been standing outside, on the street, usually for hours, waiting to get in to see a favorite show. But by the time they finally get admitted and take a seat, they’re hungry, tired and in need of a restroom. Their abundant good will for the star of the show is exhausted. KEVIN BARTINI podcast excerpt: "I was auditioning for Jon Stewart. Being a fan of 'The Daily Show,' one thing I knew about Jon that I thought would maybe help me was that Jon is a huge Bruce Springsteen fan, as am I. Some part of me thought, 'If only Jon Stewart knew we had a lot of similarities, we would get along!' So when it came time to do the warm-up and then bring Jon out at the end and introduce him to the audience, I did it with a Bruce Springsteen introducing Clarence Clemons style intro. Bruce would do this whole ramp-it-up of 'Do I HAVE to say his NAME?' And the audience would cheer. 'Coming from the STREETS of NEW JERSEY...' Well, it worked. The audience went freakin' crazy. Little did I know it then but 'The Daily Show' house DJ always kicks in with the opening of 'Born to Run.' Jon Stewart came out and I knew that second that I had the job because he enters where the guests come out and has to walk all the way upstage, shake my hand, and take the microphone. He never broke eye contact and just kept mouthing, 'Wow.'" What they need is a warmup. What they need, more specifically, is comedian Kevin Bartini. Bartini has warmed up audiences for everything from “The Colbert Report with Stephen Colbert” and “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” to “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” He’s currently getting crowds ready for Comedy Central’s latest smash, “The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore.” KEVIN BARTINI podcast excerpt: "I don't do stand-up when I warm them up; I do crowd work. It's off the top of my head, reacting to them, who they're with. I never talk about current events or politics because that's (Larry Wilmore's) gig." Of course, no one outside of the studio gets to see Bartini do his thing. So you might want to check out his latest comedy album, The Unintentionally White Album, or his podcast, “The Movie Preview Review,” which co-stars Adam Lash, Jessica Bailey (Bartini's wife), and "Jellybean" Jay Schmidt. You can also check his website, KevinBartini.com, to see where he will be appearing for the rest of us. Or you can watch and listen to today’s Mr. Media show. Kevin Bartini • • • • • The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore • • • •
Nazis ain’t funny. Most of the time. Two exceptions come immediately to mind, though. One is the Internet subtitling meme based on the 2004 Hitler film Downfall, which has parodied Der Fuhrer endlessly and to great effect. (Watch it below.) ROBERT CRANE podcast excerpt: "My stepmother, Patti, and her son had gone on an X-rated website rant, exposing all of my dad's private photos. I subsequently jumped into the production of the movie Autofocus because I felt someone from Bob Crane's first family had to be involved in the making of this movie; Paul Schrader was going to make it no matter what. It was a good script." The other was the long-running 1960s sitcom “Hogan’s Heroes,” which was based in a Nazi prisoner of war camp and starred a United Nations’ assortment of sharp-tongued captured soldiers, including a Frenchman, a Brit, an American black man, a backwoods southerner, and an All-American WASP named Colonel Hogan. Colonel Hogan, a.k.a., former Los Angeles radio disc jockey Bob Crane, was a man who charmed German frauleins and officers alike. In fact, if the show were ever rebooted today, Hogan would probably be shown seducing men, too. His charisma knew no bounds. ROBERT CRANE podcast excerpt: "John Candy was always on time and always knew his lines. But sometimes he would party through the night and when he showed up on set the next morning--ready to work--(director) John Hughes knew he was up all night and was not pleased." The actor Crane was apparently irresistible off-screen, too. Mysteriously murdered in his Scottsdale, Arizona, apartment in 1978, Crane’s secret life as an uber-sex junkie was revealed over subsequent years, culminating in the 2002 feature film Auto Focus, starring Greg Kinnear as Crane. Crane’s murderer was never found, although his eldest son, author Robert Crane, has long suspected he knew the culprit. In his book, Crane: Sex, Celebrity, and My Father’s Unsolved Murder, Robert and his long-time friend and collaborator Christopher Fryer give the son’s view to the kill. But there is much, much more to this book. Robert, it turns out, has led a damned interesting life himself, including being the right-hand man and confidante of the late John Candy, star of Uncle Buck, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, “SCTV” and more. Readers who expect Crane to be solely about the death of Colonel Hogan will discover new insights into a second actor whose life was also cut tragically short at far too early an age. Robert Crane
Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of socially irrelevant filmmakers trying to put on a brave face in hopes of being reevaluated for next year’s Socially Relevant Film Festival … in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! There is a film festival these days for every topic under the sun, so why not one specializing in films perceived as having great social relevance? The 2nd Annual SR Socially Relevant Film Festival New York runs from March 16-22 in Manhattan at Tribeca Cinemas, Maysles Cinema and SVA, the School of Visual Arts. It will feature films from more than 30 countries, all connected by a common theme: something is wrong in their society and needs fixing. NORA ARMANI podcast excerpt: "There are a lot of film festivals that program relevant and socially relevant films. But they are not necessarily specialized in that. We specialize. The idea of doing this festival came to me because of the proliferation of violence on-screen and the excessive use of violent forms of moviemaking. It was not necessarily about how many guns we see on the screen or how many explosions. It also has to do with the abrupt cuts, the loud music, and the way of telling a story which is talking down to the audience. Or trying to grab their attention by being even louder and yelling even more. That's what triggered the idea in me." All of these films can be expected to project a strong point-of-view, although it might be too much to expect their perspective on and view of a course correction will be the same. Among the issues tackled by this year’s films: • Gun control & police brutality • Race relations & discrimination • Violence against women & empowering women • LGBT rights • Conflict in the Mideast • The environment & climate change • The US economy & oil rush • Immigration & exile Joining me to talk about this year’s Socially Relevant Film Festival is the event’s founding artistic director, Nora Armani. SR Socially Relevant Film Festival New York • • •
Amy Rose is a flirt. She’s also blind as a bat. I know this because every text message from her addresses me as “Handsome.” I’d complain but, well, she may be blind, but I’m not stupid. A little flattery goes a long way in life. AMY ROSE podcast excerpt: "'Show Up Naked and Bring Beer' is a song that fell in my lap; it was written by three Nashville songwriters. I don't know if one of them showed up naked at someone's house, I just know it was brought to me because they thought I'd be a good fit for it. With the words 'naked' and 'beer,' they said, 'Amy Rose!' It's definitely me. I could totally picture myself doing that!" The first time lovely Amy was a guest on Mr. Media, in December 2012, she charmed the pants off me – no doubt inspiring her latest single, “Show Up Naked and Bring Beer.” (And if I’m wrong about that, I’d rather not know, dear Amy.) We had a blast that day and Amy even recorded an impromptu song about Mr. Media, which cheerfully welcomed guests to Mr. Media’s YouTube page for more than a year. Since then, this Crazy Canuck’s career has been on fire. Amy just returned from the Nashville Universe Awards, where she was up for Female Artist of the Year. Last year, at the same ceremony, she won the Video of the Year award for “Party Like a Redneck.” AMY ROSE podcast excerpt: "If one of my three daughters ever said that to me -- 'I was just 'partying like a redneck, Mom' -- I would probably be speechless. It could totally come back and bite me in the butt. Let's hope that it doesn't." If you haven’t heard Amy sing before, I think you’ll find she’s a down home cross between the chops of Carrie Underwood and the attitude of Gretchen Wilson. She’s country, through and through. On today’s show, Amy will perform two songs live: “Party Like A Redneck” and “Show Up Naked and Bring Beer.” Anybody picking up on a theme here? Amy Rose • • • • •
Thanks to my college buddy Jim Doten, I have been to a Grateful Dead concert. It was sometime in the early 1980s when the San Francisco circus came to the University of South Florida Sun Dome in Tampa. As a long-time Deadhead, Big Jim was eager to share one of his favorite things with his straight-arrow little buddy. And if you knew Jim – the mellowest of the mellow – you’d know it’s hard to say no to him on just about anything. I never pass up a chance to spend a day with one of the greatest friends I have. RICHARD LOREN podcast excerpt: "Jerry Garcia was a real human being. He was a mentor to me in how to behave as a real human being. He's the kind of guy that treated everybody with deep respect. He wasn't on any ego trip. He was kind. He was humble. In the course of the years I was with him, we traveled a lot and we met a lot of people. And everybody he met and encountered he made them feel as if they were his friends. They walked away and went, 'Wow! Jerry Garcia, man!' He cared about everybody. He was extremely intelligent; he was extremely well-read. He was a rock 'n' roll Buddha." I’d like to tell you it changed my life, but it didn’t. Still, the music was pleasant, the mood relaxed, and you didn’t have to smoke anything that day to leave the arena with a buzz. When I received Richard Loren’s new book, "High Notes: A Rock Memoir," I took it seriously because I knew that a generation of guys just like Jim – and including our mutual friends from the University of Miami, including Dave the Rave and the two Petes – would be interested. After all, Loren worked as Jerry Garcia’s personal manager for many years and managed The Grateful Dead itself from 1974-81. RICHARD LOREN podcast excerpt: "Jim Morrison of The Doors was a beautiful soul. He was a shaman, really. He was the first and foremost man to be totally possessed by his muse. He danced on fire like nobody." But while that was certainly the apex of Loren’s public career, his experiences on the way to Haight-Ashbury – documented with the help of co-author Stephen Abney – were equally the stuff of legend. RICHARD LOREN podcast excerpt: "Rock concert promoter Bill Graham had two sides to him. First of all, he grew up coming out of the pogroms of Russia. He had a lot of ambition and he embraced unfettered capitalism. He was a hard worker, he was determined, he got the job done. But you don't get that wealthy without being maybe a little too good a businessman and taking advantage of a lot of the artists he worked with. He was a man of many parts. When I became manager of the Grateful Dead, he resented me because HE wanted to be the manager of the Grateful Dead. But the Dead never trusted him to be manager. They trusted him to be their friend and wonderful promoter. But they realized they needed somebody to look after the till when it came to Bill." The man started his career cooling Liberace in the summer heat, bailing out Jim Morrison of The Doors, and sneaking pot across the Canadian border for Spencer Dryden of the Jefferson Airplane. This guy has lived multiple lives, I think. Richard Loren • •
Whether you’re an art student or a comics fan, you’ve probably heard the name “Will Eisner” at some point. Eisner, whose best-known comics creation, “The Spirit” celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, died a decade ago but his influence is felt as much or moreso today than ever before. BATTON LASH podcast excerpt: "Will Eisner loved comics; he had a vision of comics." In celebration of Will Eisner Week (#WillEisnerWeek), a worldwide celebration of the artist and writer’s work held annually from March 1-7, I wanted to do a special show recognizing Eisner’s life and work. Helping me do this today is cartoonist Batton Lash, who was among Eisner’s very first students at Manhattan’s School of Visual Arts in the mid-1970s. Lash, best known for his comic book Supernatural Law, which began life as a comic strip called “Wolff & Byrd, Counselors of the Macabre” in the pages of The National Law Journal, was a favorite of Eisner’s... but not because he thought the young man would ever amount to anything as an artist! We’ll talk about that. BATTON LASH podcast excerpt: "Ann Eisner is so adorable. A couple of years before Will passed away, she said to my wife Jackie Estrada and me, 'You know, I loved Will. I didn't care if he was a plumber or a cartoonist. That's what he did; I just loved him. I never really read anything he did. But just recently, I started reading The Spirit comics. And you know what? They're really good!" What was it like to be in Eisner’s class, learning directly from a master of the comic arts? We’ll talk about that, too, as well as Lash’s time studying under the great Harvey Kurtzman and being Howard Chaykin’s assistant. Incidentally, Lash has another long-running tie to the Eisner name: his wife, Jackie Estrada, is the administrator of the prestigious Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards – the Emmys, Oscars and Tonys of comics – given out annually at Comic-Con International in San Diego. BATTON LASH podcast excerpt: "Art is very subjective. This guy may think you suck, but that one says, 'Hey, not bad!' You can't take it to heart; you just have to keep moving ahead." I first interviewed Batton about a dozen years ago for my biography of Eisner, Will Eisner: A Spirited Life, which will be published in a new deluxe, illustrated second edition in April. You can pre-order it now at Amazon.com or any Barnes & Noble store. If you love art and comics in particular, you won’t want to miss this interview, which will include a drawing demonstration by Batton. And did I mention Batton Lash is also the man behind the classic comic book The Punisher Meets Archie? Batton Lash • • • • •
You know how there are some people who just make better house guests than others? They’re the ones who light up your home when they arrive at the door and when it’s time to go, you’re already counting down the time until they come back. ADAM FALCON podcast excerpt: "'The Light Shines' was inspired by the late comedian Bill Hicks. He was a social critic and satirist. I saw this documentary on his life. He came from a religious household but, at the same time, he shunned (organized) religion. But not spirituality. There was an instance when he and a couple of his buddies went somewhere and had a life-altering experience; they saw this light shine. It was an awakening for him; that summed up a lot of things for me. I think most people have an experience that changes a part of their life in one sense or another." Guests on a podcast are like that, too. Guitarist Adam Falcon is especially like that. ADAM FALCON podcast excerpt: "I grew up in The Bronx listening to a lot of Aretha Franklin records and Sam Cooke." Today is the fourth time that Adam has taken time from his schedule to join us and it’s always special when he does. In fact, the last time he was here, to promote an appearance in Miami at Art Deco Weekend with drummer Keith LeBlanc and Living Color bass player Doug Wimbish was one of the most extraordinary Mr. Media episodes ever. If you missed it the first time, check out the link below. ADAM FALCON podcast excerpt: "You learn what you CAN'T do working with George Benson. He's a rare breed, one of the greats in my book. He showed me things on the guitar and explained different concepts. Not so much how to play but how to approach the guitar. He told me stories about Wes Montgomery and how he would do certain things, as well as Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock. It was like taking a master class when I studied with him." Since his last appearance, Adam has toured with a show called “Stories Behind the Songs: The Music of Adam Falcon,” tracing and explaining his career in music. Adam is about to release a new EP, The Light Shines, and it is a perfect follow-up to his last album, Bohemian 959, a smooth blend of blues, jazz and rock. But don’t take my word for it; Adam will preview two songs during today’s show. Adam Falcon • • • • •
So much has happened in the world since the first time comedian Jason Stuart was a guest on Mr. Media, back in June 2009. For one thing, he and I can now wed in at least 37 of these 50 states. For another, the big gay bear – his description, not mine – developed his own video podcast, “Absolutely Jason Stuart,” on the T-Radio-V network. And he’s got a web TV series, “Mentor,” co-starring Alexandra Paul ("Baywatch"). So he didn’t even need to come back here, but he did anyway. JASON STUART podcast excerpt: "Sometimes, now, when I go on stage in Los Angeles, I don't have to announce (I'm gay). In other areas, I still have to do it, letting them know I'm not kidding, this is who I am. It's to make the audience at ease and not question, 'Is he kidding?' And then I talk about whatever I think is funny." And finally, he has become a much more familiar sight on TV and in movies, making appearances on “Sleepy Hollow,” “Maron,” “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” “Entourage,” “Everybody Hates Chris” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” to name just a few. So why not get caught up? Jason Stuart • • • • • • • •
Have you seen 'House of Cards'? Kevin Spacey is so deliciously creepy in the Netflix series that I simply can’t imagine being around him for more than a few minutes. (Of course, I felt that way after The Usual Suspects and then American Beauty, too.) JEREMY WHELEHAN podcast excerpt: "It was quite interesting to set about working with Kevin Spacey and making a documentary which would follow him for the best part of a year while he's at work, in the theatre, in the dressing room, and touring to all these countries. But, you know, he's a brilliantly talented actor, Kevin, very successful, a very powerful figure, in the entertainment industry, and seems to find himself more often than not on the front of the wave of innovation." But that’s just me; Jeremy Whelehan obviously doesn’t share my unease, having worked with Spacey for 20 years. So the idea of shooting a documentary film about a live, modern, year-long touring production of Shakespeare’s Richard III—that was the first reunion of Spacey and Mendes since American Beauty—was clearly irresistible to him. JEREMY WHELEHAN podcast excerpt: "In some ways, 'Now' is an adventure story. Marrying that aspect of it with the theatre and the story of the play coming together, were the two poles of the film that I tried to embroider together." Now: In the Wings on a World Stage is an extraordinary documenting of Spacey as Richard and much more. Whelehan gives the viewer unprecedented backstage access to the entire cast as the play is in development and as it winds its way around the world, through big, outdoor venues and relatively intimate indoor ones. Whelehan, who spent three seasons as associate director of London’s Old Vic Theatre Company – where Spacey himself has been artistic director for many years – has an excellent sense of what even the casual theatre-goer’s mind would find awe in. And you need not know a thing about Richard III or Shakespeare to enjoy this documentary, now available on Netflix and Amazon.com following its theatrical run. Now: In the Wings on the World Stage • • • • Jeremy Whelehan • • • Kevin Stacey • • • • • • • •
I often wondered why the world didn’t see more women who wrote music and sang like Chrissie Hynde, leader of The Pretenders. You know her music – “Middle of the Road,” “I’ll Stand By You,” “Brass in Pocket,” “My City Was Gone,” “Stop Your Sobbing.” Hers was a distinctive sound; both lyrically and musically, you can always tell a Chrissie Hynde song apart from all others. LUCY CIOFFI podcast excerpt: "I did an open mic night in Raglan, New Zealand--a surf town--and found a lovely pocket of people that were supportive of my music. I got a band together whilst I was there and our gigs were really busy. It was a really good training ground. I was very lucky to be based there for a while. Well a lot of people find that the UK’s Lucy Cioffi – performing as Little Lapin – reminds them a lot of Hynde. And after hearing a few of her originals, it was pretty easy to understand why. Lucy’s 2014 EP, Little Lapin, is available domestically in the U.S. and the rest of the world, and following completion of a tour that took her from New Zealand to New York, she is in the process of writing and recording new music for her next LP. For the next half hour, we’re going to talk about music, long shadows, and Lucy will play two of her songs, “Go! Stop! Go!” and “Sound of Summer.” Lucy Cioffi • • •
I always imagined that a woman named Spike Gillespie had to have a great backstory. I just never dreamed I’d actually get to read it. Spike first came into my life when I was editing and publishing an alternative newspaper, . I’m a little fuzzy on the details, 30 years later, but I remember being enamored of her name and the details and narrative style found in her writing. SPIKE GILLESPIE podcast excerpt: "Many years ago, around the time of SXSW, my first book, 'All the Wrong Men' came out. In two completely different incidents, I was walking down 6th Street and two strangers stopped me, hugged me, and thanked me for writing my book. They said that it really told their story, too." JUMP was short-lived and Spike and I went our respective ways. She wrote stories that appeared in the New York Times, National Geographic, Elle, and Smithsonian Magazine as well as books such as All the Wrong Men and One Perfect Boy: A Memoir and Pissed Off: On Women and Anger. She currently writes two blogs, “Keeping Austin Austin” and “Meditation Kicks Ass.” She also officiates weddings in and around her adopted hometown of Austin, Texas. We lost touch for years until Facebook put her name and face in front of me in 2014 as someone I might know – which was true. SPIKE GILLESPIE podcast excerpt: "Meditation is the new hot topic. I'm listening to Russell Brand's new book, 'Revolution,' and it's like, everybody's going to be doing it in the next 5 minutes!" Sit. Stay. Heal.: How Meditation Changed My Mind, Grew My Heart, and Saved My Ass is a compelling memoir that Spike wrote to accomplish two big tasks. First, it details her life’s story – childhood abuse at the hands of her father, a lifetime of man troubles, alcohol abuse, her love of dogs, and the healing power of knitting. It is a story of a woman who has endured great pain –some of it, undoubtedly, brought on by her own actions – but it also presents equal measures of triumph. SPIKE GILLESPIE podcast excerpt: "I changed some characteristics of people in 'Sit. Stay. Heal.' that don't affect the integrity of the story--or the lack of integrity, if you will. I did that because the older I get, the more I really clearly see it's about the themes, more than the specific people." The second task is when Spike shares the ways in which meditation has helped her cope with the life she leads. This part isn’t all sunshine and roses, either, but it does demonstrate the value of introspection and the examined life. My great fondness for Spike over the years never diminished and I’m pleased to give her a new forum for her work. Spike Gillespie • • • • • • • • •
Right about now, I’m figuring that Sergio Bruna, star of Ora TV’s popular late night TV variety series, “El Pelado de la Noche,” is wondering what wrong turn landed him on Mr. Media. I must tell you that when a publicist approached me about featuring the star of a Spanish-language program, I was prepared to dismiss the pitch out of hand. I’m one of those guys who still watches the TV shows and movies featured here. And if it’s an author, I read their book. SERGIO BRUNA podcast excerpt: "We say what we want when we want. 'El Pelado de la Noche' means 'The Bold at Night'! Bold is sexy! Bald is sexy! The world hasn't caught up yet, but they're going to. I don't hold back. If the network wants to bleep a few words, they can. We're very real. I think that's part of why audiences like us. And we have the hottest girls, ever!" So how was I – a guy who flailed about miserably in high school Spanish more than a few years ago – going to make intelligent conversation about a comedy show about which I could only follow the general flow, but not the actual words? Oh, and – I had to ask the question – “Does Mr. Bruna speak English?” SERGIO BRUNA podcast excerpt: "Because we say, 'Don't watch it,' that's how we get the young people to watch." He does. Then I thought: Just watch the show. Oh my, God – the cast and the audience have the greatest time every week! They giggle and guffaw, clap and stomp their feet. Bruna and his cast – including some extraordinarily beautiful young women – knock ‘em dead every time out. Obviously, the show is looking to get the word out, so why not do it here – with the proviso that I may not know what the heck I’m talking about. “El Pelado de la Noche” is a web TV series with new shows posting every Thursday on Ora TV – that’s www.Ora.TV. SERGIO BRUNA podcast excerpt: "When I was 14, I stopped going to school. I was hanging out at parks, at libraries. I loved reading. I'm a great student, even though I didn't go to high school. I like to choose a subject that I'm attracted to and I'll dive into it. When I was 15, I told my mother, 'I don't want to be here. This is a small town; I want to see the world. I want to make money.'" It is one of only two Spanish-language programs on the channel, which is best known as the home of Larry King’s post-CNN talk show. That one, needless to say, is in the King’s own English. Other notable programs include “William Shatner’s Brown Bag Wine Tasting” – I swear I’m not making this up – and two-time Mr. Media guest Jesse Ventura, host of “Off the Grid.” Sergio Bruna, la bienvenida al Sr. Medios! El Pelado de la Noche • • • Sergio Bruna • Ora.TV • • • •
Honestly, I was never a big Alice in Wonderland fan. I remember reading Lewis Carroll’s classic in its entirety for a freshman lit class at the University of Miami and being as unmoved by it then as I was when I saw a TV adaptation in the 1970s. CATHERINE NICHOLS podcast excerpt: "My husband and I went on on the 'Alice in Wonderland Tour that goes up the Thames River. Lewis Carroll told his story to Alice and her sisters during a boat ride up that very river. To see it and to be able to think that, 150-odd years ago, he was on that same river, telling the same story to those kids was very thrilling. And walking around Oxford, seeing the old buildings where he lived, worked and socialized was so exciting!" What has always caused admiration in me, however, is its enduring popularity and mystique. Catherine Nichols is completely enraptured by Carroll’s work, which was first published in 1865 and has never out of print since. In researching her new coffee table book, Alice’s Wonderland: A Visual Journey through Lewis Carroll’s Mad, Mad World, she uncovered a plethora of stunning images and Alice lore that even I couldn’t help but be impressed by. It’s a beautiful book and she tells of Alice’s literary journey through 150 years in a mesmerizing visual fashion. If you are an Alice fan, you’ll want this book, physically, in your home library. Catherine Nichols • • • • •
Here’s what we knew about Peggy Carter before the launch of “Marvel’s Agent Carter” TV series on ABC in January 2015: • She first arrived on the scene in the movie Captain America: The First Avenger fully formed. She was more than the equally of any man, including Steve Rogers, with whom she eventually fell in love. • She was devastated at the end of said movie when the only man who ever tamed her was lost in an icy airplane crash. (Emphasis on icy.) • She died of old age – and a broken heart – at the beginning of the sequel, Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Yup. That’s about it. TARA BUTTERS podcast excerpt: "Hayley Atwell is a dream to work with... She is funny! She is constantly keeping the set light and fun; you couldn't ask for a better No. 1 on the call sheet... And there is an amazing scene between her and Dominic Cooper (as Howard Stark) in episode 4 that will blow you away." So when ABC and Marvel Studios announced plans for a limited run “Marvel’s Agent Carter” series to give “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” a winter break in the midst of its brilliant second season, it led to a lot of head-scratching. With all the great, untapped heroes in the Marvel Comics Universe, they’re giving a network series to, um, a nobody? And it takes place in the 1940s, apart from modern Avengers continuity? TARA BUTTERS podcast excerpt: "There is a build in the first four episodes that goes like gangbusters through the last four. It's nonstop from episode 4 on; everything is so different in every episode. Every character has an arc and there is a completion at the end of the eight, but you can absolutely see this has legs to go into other seasons. If you watch all eight episodes, you will have a better understanding of the broader picture of the Marvel Universe." Even when the kickass teases started appearing, my wife repeatedly asked me: “Who is she again?” So expectations were pretty low. A world of doubters all mentally went to Missouri and said, “Show me.” That’s exactly what Tara Butters and Michele Fazekas, co-creators and showrunners of “Marvel’s Agent Carter,” did. TARA BUTTERS podcast excerpt: "We have a producer on our show, Eric Carroll. He works for Marvel Studios. He sits in the writers room and in editing with us and he is very good at suggesting characters to us. We also have Megan Bragner, who comes from Marvel TV. She keeps us in the loop on what other Marvel shows are doing. If there is a way to connect to 'S.H.I.E.L.D.,' or set something up for one of the other shows, she is a huge asset for that." Hayley Atwell burst onto the scene in the premier and, for my time and money, makes for positively awesome comic book-style TV. There are too few women on the tube who do what she does. Butters and Fazekas have continued her movie persona as smart, wise-cracking and physically gifted in the ass kicking department. And Atwell is the best kind of eye candy—beautiful, but the camera doesn’t have to slobber over her in long leggy or scoop neck shots. She is stunning from every angle, all the time. As I welcome Tara Butters to the show, I have to offer a “Thank you!” to Tara’s husband, Marc Guggenheim. The executive producer of “Arrow” was my guest last spring and was kind enough to extend my invitation to Tara to be here today. Marvel’s Agent Carter • • • • • • Tara Butters • • Michele Fazekas • •
I cannot tell a lie: I like having pretty young women as guests on Mr. Media. There: my dirty little secret is out. But I still like to think I’m a discerning host; good looks alone can’t land you an invitation here. There has to be a hook, something that will make good conversation. CHELSEY REIST podcast excerpt: "I've had roles that definitely run the gamut between softer roles and strong females. This one -- as 'Harper' on 'The 100' -- is really exciting because right off the bat, I have a gun. I'm helping defend The 100 on Earth as we discover there may be more there than we thought!" I knew I wanted to talk to Chelsey Reist when I watched her 4-minute “sizzle” reel on IMDB.com. The first time, I watched with the sound off and it made me laugh. In a good way. This ambitious young actress has been in every kind of stereotypical role old Hollywood puts someone of her age and gender into, from slutty woman in danger to seductress, from lesbian to straight – and back again. But she also has had her moments of feminist hurrahs, putting two young men at the other end of her biblical anger, and jumping on the back of someone threatening her boyfriend and letting loose with her fists for all she’s worth. CHELSEY REIST podcast excerpt: "I got a call from 'The 100' casting office and they said, 'Can you please head into the special effects studio tomorrow morning?' They need to make a mold of your butt.' I said, 'Who gets a mold of their butt? Porn stars do that! I'm not getting a mold of my butt!' But I exfoliated and I went in the next morning and they put this purple goop on my butt. It warms as it hardens, which was an interesting part of my job. They made a fake butt and they packed it full of guts and blood. They literally drilled into the butt I'm wearing on top of my butt. And that has to make my sizzle reel. More horror! More screaming!" Oh, and I immediately recognized her from her Applebee’s TV commercial. Today, after a string of horror movie appearances, TV commercials and guest spots on TV shows such as “Person of Interest,” “The Twomorrow People” and “Psych,” Chelsey Reist has probably reached the height of her young fame as a regular on The CW’s popular futuristic drama series, “The 100.” She plays Harper, whose fate was left very much up in the air after the mid-season finale. Chelsey Reist • • • • -1 • -2 • • • • • • •
Timing is everything – but not, until recently, if you were a Cuban fine artist. As displayed in Bruce Donnelly’s new documentary, Alumbrones, the Cuban art scene is a vibrant, enthusiastic national affair, tempered only by its lack of supplies. Like pencils and pens. Or paper. Or canvas. Or paint. BRUCE DONNELLY podcast excerpt: "Over the course of making the documentary Alumbrones we noticed how much people are fascinated by Cuba and want to know more... In the wake of what Obama said (about lifting trade restrictions) in the last few weeks, that's drawn a lot more attention to our subject." The artists presented herein speak the same language as their counterparts in the free world, but they find that the tools of the trade that craftsmen around the world take for granted can be extremely hard to come by. But put proper paint and canvas in the hands of these spirited men and women and you’ll see eye-popping results, as fine as can be found in any American or European modern gallery. BRUCE DONNELLY podcast excerpt: "Havana was so captivating, so diverse from one Cuban artist to the next. There was so much humor and life and spirit in their work. I recognized so many stories and lives and characters." Alumbrones comes on the scene in January 2015 on the unexpected wings of Barack Obama’s historic decision to begin reopening trade and and diplomatic relations with the island nation for the first time in more than 50 years. It is an opportunity that director Donnelly could not have seen coming while in production but I have to imagine the prospects for it have only redoubled his enthusiasm for the project. Alumbrones • • • •
I was up-close and personal with a pregnancy a little more than 18 years ago when my wife gave birth to our daughter. It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. Thrilling and exhilarating; enervating and exhausting; it packed every emotion I had previously ever experienced into nine months. Sometimes, into a single day. CHRISTOPHER HENZE podcast excerpt: "A pregnancy is completely individual, as unique as a fingerprint. But at the same time, it's 100 percent universal. Every mom, at 12 weeks, is wondering how she's going to go public with the news. They're worrying about miscarriage. Every mom is considering the sex of their baby at 20 weeks. Every mom is wondering when their baby is going to come to viability between 24 and 32 weeks." A generation later, I’ve much enjoyed watching my friends and neighbors across the street, Patrick and Jennifer, going through many of the same twists and turns that we did. That may be why watching a new unscripted documentary film, 40 Weeks, so captured my attention. Married filmmakers Dominque Debroux and Christopher Henze take us on parallel journeys with an array of women all experiencing pregnancy. Some are first-timers, some have already been around the block. At least one finds herself going through it alone, while another gets the devastating news that the cancer she successfully fought back years earlier has returned and will challenge her ability to bring a pregnancy to fruition. DOMINIQUE DEBROUX podcast excerpt: "We gave the moms these great Sony video cameras to do self-filming. The couples would film each other as well as themselves. And every couple of weeks we would send in a verite shooter, someone who--even less obtrusively--would stand there and film. After the first couple of times, the moms forgot she was there. They would be eating dinner and suddenly say, 'Oh, do you want to eat?' 'No, no, I'm not here!'" I know how dealing with one expectant mom could be challenging to say the least; I can’t imagine shepherding an entire platoon through 40 weeks – and the presence of a camera crew. This should be quite interesting. 40 Weeks • • • • • Dominique Debroux • • • Christopher Henze •
I can’t possibly explain why I loved Marvel’s “Man-Thing” comics of the 1970s so much. The closest I can get would be to say that writer Steve Gerber – creator of the immortal Howard the Duck – had a flair for crazy and leave it at that. JON B. COOKE podcast excerpt: "Swamp Thing or Man-Thing? Definitely Swamp Thing. He's resonate. It's a romance about a monster and a woman. It's just been transcendent. After all, that's what Alan Moore's version of the character is. And the origin of the character was based on one of the creators who was rather forlorn at the time and it was a perfect project to work out his sadness. The argument is, was it (writer) Len Wein or (artist) Bernie Wrightson? Len says it was Bernie; Bernie says it was Len!" And while Marvel had its Man-Thing, DC Comics had its “Swamp Thing” – similar to the naked eye, but completely different in style, execution and tone. Both characters were once humans whose lives went horribly wrong, but only Swamp Thing retained enough of his humanity to think like a man. As for Man-Thing, he operated entirely on emotions. Whatever knows fear burns at the Man-Thing’s touch! When I heard that my old friend Jon B. Cooke had put together an entire book, Swampmen: Muck-Monsters and Their Makers, I knew it would be of interest to only a narrow audience. But so what? If Cooke shares my appreciation of the genre enough to gather supporting creator interviews and representative artwork, who am I to deny him the opportunity to spread the word to the faithful? JON B. COOKE podcast excerpt: "There is a humanity that seems to be intact in the Swampmen characters. There is a distant memory within Man-Thing that he wants to help the young people in the swamp." Cooke, incidentally, is the editor of two prominent magazines, Comic Book Artist and Comic Book Creator. He and I first were introduced almost a dozen years ago when we were working on complementary Will Eisner historical projects. He and his brother, Andrew, produced the documentary film, Will Eisner: Portrait of a Sequential Artist, and I wrote the only authorized Eisner biography, Will Eisner: A Spirited Life, which is being re-released March 25 in a deluxe format for the first time. (Hint, hint.) Jon B. Cooke • • • •
Rick Smolan started his career as a photographer, but one unlike most others in his field. He thinks big. Really big. One day, Smolan unleashed an entire army of photographers – amateurs and pros alike – on a country to capture a day in its life. He eventually published an entire series of coffee table books with “Day in A Life” images from around the globe. RICK SMOLAN podcast excerpt: "I had never seen 'Girls' on HBO when they said they had cast Adam Driver in 'Tracks.' I watched one of the shows and it was pretty bizarre to see someone you knew is going to be playing you on the screen. If this happens at all, it usually happens when you're not alive anymore or you've done something so notorious that it's holding you up for ridicule. Adam was wonderful to work with. I met with him in New York City before he went to Australia to play me in the movie. He admitted he had never actually held a 35mm camera before. He said, 'I've taken pictures with my iPhone.' So he wanted someone to spend a day with him, showing him how to hold the camera, how to change a roll of film, how to look like he actually was a photojournalist. He came across very well in the film, I thought." Then, another idea: Let’s attack a the me. His most recent: The Human Face of Big Data. But before he became known for his massive reach—and recognizable by his mustache and goofy grin—Smolan was a Time, Life, and National Geographic magazine photographer, one who found himself in a grand bargain. An ambitious young Australian woman named Robyn Davidson had asked the Geographic Society to fund her planned journey across 900 kilometers of the Australian outback in exchange for writing a first-person story about her trip. Nat Geo turned her down. RICK SMOLAN podcast excerpt: "I was pretty smitten with Robyn Davidson. In fact, they played down the romance in the movie. Which I think was actually good because the movie is about this young woman listening to her own inner voice, learning to survive by only her wits, risking her life. I tell people it is a love story, a dog story, a mystery of why she is out there, and an epic adventure. Most of us spend our lives avoiding the things that frighten us. But Robyn is the only person I've met in my life that feels like she needs to run toward the things that frighten her to see if they're worth it." Undaunted, she appeared in the editor’s mailbox a second time, a year later, to ask for their help – and $4,000 – again. This time, the answer was yes. But it came with a tall string: the magazine wanted to send photographer Smolan to capture her travels on film at different points along the way. Amid grave hesitation, she agreed, although she never let Smolan forget he was helicoptering in and not fully engaged. The spectacular new book, Inside Tracks, is the photographer’s view. Open it and you won’t be able to take your eyes off it. And if this sounds familiar, it should: Robyn Davidson's told her story, Tracks, in a book, and it was made into a well-received movie of the same name in 2014 starring Mia Wasikowska as Davidson and Adam Driver as Smolan. This, by the way, is Smolan’s second appearance on Mr. Media. Rick Smolan • • • • LISTEN! (2008)
Strangely, you haven’t completely experienced the 2014 edition of actor Peter Capaldi without seeing him inhabit the words, opinions and insights of one of the greatest artists and thinkers of all time, Leonardo da Vinci. In a new documentary, Inside the Mind of Leonardo da Vinci 3D, Capaldi breathes life into one of the greatest dreamers and creators the world has ever known. And, along the way, he lends da Vinci a touch of his “Doctor Who” inspired madness. PETER CAPALDI podcast excerpt: "It's hard to get a flavor of what the real Leonardo da Vinci might have been like. Everybody thinks he's God; it's hard to get a sense of what the real man was like. What made him a genius is not just all the fabulous things he came up with and the fabulous works of art but the fact he was a regular human being." Since none of us has will hear da Vinci speak, we can certainly grant Capaldi license to present da Vinci’s actual words as he sees fit. He does so with such great energy and invention – plus a touch of Shakespeare – that his performance will no doubt draw in a generation of young people who might not otherwise have given the great works of Leonardo da Vinci a second thought. PETER CAPALDI podcast excerpt: "I find (being The Doctor) very exciting. Kindly props men and technicians keep telling me which switches to pull and how to operate the TARDIS. I don't like to say to them they don't have to tell me how to operate the TARDIS; I know how to operate the TARDIS already! I've been watching the show for years; I know exactly where to put my hands! It's hugely exciting; there are some moments you really feel that you're Doctor Who. There are few people in the world who got to do it." This interview is audio-only, a break from our normal video format, but once you hear the star of BBC and BBC America’s “Doctor Who” speak extemporaneously about da Vinci and the Doctor, you’ll have no doubt with whom I’m speaking. And if this is your first experience with Mr. Media Interviews, I hope you’ll consider subscribing here on MrMedia.com so you’ll never miss another one. Inside the Mind of Leonardo da Vinci 3D • • • Doctor Who • • • • • • • • Radio Times Game:
What kind of introduction most becomes a legend? That’s what I’ve been thinking about for the past week, knowing today I would be speaking with a most remarkable a man, living legend of stage, screen, civil and union activism, Theodore Bikel. And let me tell you, the task doesn’t get any less daunting when you read his memoir, Theo: An Autobiography. Just his family’s escape from Nazi-occupied Vienna would be enough for one book. Or his full career as a rising actor and musician in London with an interest in social activism. THEODORE BIKEL podcast excerpt: "It was an extraordinary experience, working with Humphrey Bogart on 'The African Queen,' because he seemed so laid-back, so laconic--monosyllabic, almost. Until he got on the set. And then there was a full-blown performance. And I can't tell you, to this day, where and when it came together. It was a lesson that I've never forgotten. He was also very pleasant to be with, pleasant to talk with. We played a lot of chess together. We had some laughs together. This was no standoffish personality. He was a wonderful guy." When he gets his first opportunity to appear onstage in America, Bikel’s life has so much going on you’d swear he must have cloned himself. Read his book and you’ll get intimate stories of: • Co-starring with Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn in The African Queen; • Of sneaking into Greenwood, Mississippi, at the height of the civil rights movement under cover of darkness with an emerging young folk singer named Bob Dylan; THEODORE BIKEL podcast excerpt: "I was only a boy of 13 when the Nazis rolled into Vienna, but one day I was a person of equal rights and immediately I turned, overnight, into an object of derision, of hatred, of persecution. I saw incredible cruelties being perpetrated upon people I knew, down in the street. Men forced to clean the sidewalk with their toothbrushes, women, with their fur coats. Men being shipped off in trucks to God-Knows-Where." • Of appearing opposite Mary Martin onstage in “The Sound of Music”; • Of touring the United States as a singer accompanied by Bill Lee (later the father of Spike Lee); • And of standing in a men’s restroom line behind Gregory Peck, who told him, “I have seen 'Fiddler on the Roof' about five times with different Tevyes. Yours was far and away the best.” Nope, not intimidating at all. Oh, and he celebrated his recent 90th birthday with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Besides the third edition of his autobiography, Bikel is also the attraction in a new documentary film narrated by Alan Alda, Theodore Bikel: In the Shoes of Sholom Aleichem. Theodore Bikel • • •
Laurie and Alan are a professional couple having frequent sex because they’re happily married and want to have a baby. You know – procreation. Jack is having a lot of sex because... he can. Oh, and because he’s found a way to get paid for it. You know – recreation. ANN LEWIS HAMILTON podcast excerpt: "I had dye injected in my tubes and they followed where the dye goes. My husband was like, 'My poor wife, my poor wife!' And then they said to him, 'We're going to need to check out your specimen. And we're going to need A LOT.' And my husband was like, 'Oh, no!' That journey for him wasn't terrific. But he did make the joke, when we were doing the IUI, 'I hope that's me!' I filed that away and thought, 'That would be kind of interesting.'" There is no reason on earth for their lives to cross. Until they do. And then all bets are off in terms of guessing where Ann Lewis Hamilton’s first novel, Expecting: A Novel, will take the reader. ANN LEWIS HAMILTON podcast excerpt: "For a while (after working for Roger Corman), I was the chick in Hollywood who could write action -- car chases and stuff like that. Somehow, some producers got scripts of mine to Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz when they were looking for writers. I remember thinking, 'Is this really going to be a good fit?' I didn't do very well on 'thirtysomething' when I started. In a weird way, I think the miscarriage helped because it was the first thing I actually wrote about myself and how I was feeling." Expecting grew out of the author’s personal experiences with infertility – to a point. Then, I suspect, her experience as a writer and/or producer of popular TV dramas such as “Haven,” “The Dead Zone,” “Grey’s Anatomy, “Saved,” “Providence,” “Party of Five” and “thirtysomething” probably took over to drive the narrative. I think you’ll enjoy Expecting – whether you are or not – and I can’t wait for this interview to be over so I can see how it ends. As is my usual practice, I set the book down with 30 pages left so as not to inadvertently give away the ending! Ann Lewis Hamilton • • • • • Watch! (2012) Watch! (2014) The Millionaire's Convenient Arrangement by Jane Peden. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!
There is no amount of conversation in the interview that follows that will possibly satisfy a 1970s comic books fan such as myself. Look, I have read and studied comics all the way back to the dawn of time and there is no era I enjoy more than the four-color symphonies produced from about 1969 to 1978. Why? JASON SACKS podcast excerpt: "The 1970s was an interesting decade from a creator's perspective because it was the first major wave of fans to become comic book professionals. People like the Friedrich brothers, Jim Starlin, Len Wein, Marv Wolfman. These were the first true comics fans to come out of the fan movement of the 1960s and their biggest ambition in life was to write for comics." In no particular order: Giant-Size X-Men. Howard the Duck. Man-Thing. Nova. Thing vs. Hulk. Human Torch vs. Ice-Man. The Invaders. The Defenders. E-Man. Conan the Barbarian and Roy Thomas. Red Sonja and Frank Thorne. Atlas Comics. George Perez, Steve Gerber, Neal Adams and Denis O’Neil. R. Crumb, Denis Kitchen and the undergrounds. Frank Frazetta paintings. Wait – there’s more. Warren reprints of The Spirit. Green Lantern/Green Arrow drug stories. The Death of Gwen Stacy. Superman vs. Spider-Man. Superman vs. Muhammad Ali. Star Wars. Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth. Great Fantastic Four adventures. Two Captain Marvels. Prez. Plop! Crazy. KEITH DALLAS podcast excerpt: "In the 1980s I lived in a part of Brooklyn where Elliot S! Maggin ran for office -- assemblyman, I think. He didn't win. But I would see his campaign signs and say, 'That's the guy who writes Superman!'" Black comics that weren’t actually black but seemed it at the time, including Black Lois Lane and Black Green Lantern. How about subsequent Black comics that were more Black than that, including Black Panther Luke Cage: Hero for Hire, Blade the Vampire Killer, Brother Voodoo, and even Tony Isabella’s Black Lightning. Steranko’s History of Comics. The explosion of comics fandom as an industry, including the first Comic-Con, the first Overstreet Guide, and the development of a resale marketplace for original comic book pages. The Comic Buyers Guide and Murray Bischoff. JASON SACKS podcast excerpt: "The Defenders were this loose amalgamation of second-rate superheroes. Nighthawk was a rip-off of Batman. There was The Hulk, Dr. Strange, and Valkyrie. And there was a wonderful 10-part storyline in which all the heroes go through great scenes of existential doubt. It became a satire of the 1970s self-help movement. There was a prison drama in the middle of it. It went to all kinds of wild and crazy places!" I was a teen-ager and I couldn’t wait for the new comics to be delivered on Wednesdays to the Krauszer’s Dairy Store a short bike ride from my house, or for the Braunsteins to bring the latest issues to monthly Fans of Central Jersey meetings at the North Brunswick, New Jersey, Recreation Center. For these reasons and many more, I’m like a pig in mud reading the latest installment of Twomorrows Publishing’s American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1970s, written by Jason Sacks and edited by Keith Dallas. I could get lost in the stories, pictures and memories of this fantastic volume for days, maybe weeks. I hope you’ll consider buying a copy and doing the same. (And in the interests of full disclosure, I must mention that I have a title of my own coming out from Twomorrows in 2015. But that had no influence on my decision to feature this book; all my best comics memories originate in the ‘70s. And that’s the truth!) American Comic Book Chronicles • Jason Sacks • Comics Bulletin • • • Keith Dallas • • (2013) Twomorrows Publishing • • (2013)
Charlie Traub wants to be sportswriter John Feinstein. Bill Scheft want to be Philip Roth — or maybe Bruce Jay Friedman. The difference? Traub is a fictional character. He has no chance. BILL SCHEFT podcast excerpt: "The book, Shrink Thyself, is about a guy trying to live a non-psychological life. He leaves therapy and tries to lead an unexamined life. I thought it would be a great inside joke with myself if I wrote the book in the first person because this guy, trying to live in the moment, is so self-involved, so self-absorbed. It's a joke I hoped the reader would pick up on." Scheft, on the other hand, I’ll give a .463 shot at it. Why .463? That was famed Boston Red Sox rightfielder Tony Conigliaro’s career slugging percentage. What does Conigliaro have to do with it? If you don’t know, you obviously haven’t read Scheft’s fourth novel, Shrink Thyself, have you? BILL SCHEFT podcast excerpt: "Every comic (looks at David Letterman) and thinks, 'I could do that. I do a monologue; I've got plenty of time. Ask a few questions.' And you know what? Every comic is right. They could do it -- for a night. For two nights. But 33 years??? I have seen Dave talk to actors, actresses, rave about their movies very specifically. And I will go up to him after the segment and say, 'So you liked that movie?' And he will go (shakes head). It's a performance." Sheft’s new comic fiction about an aimless TV news talk show producer, Charlie Traub, who wants to be a sportswriter, is all about the unexamined journey, less so the destination. It follows the disintegration of our man Traub as everything that could go wrong in his life, does. What does Traub learn about himself? Does one disaster after another change his life? Not necessarily. He’s still the same unlovable loser, slipping away a little more every day of his miserable existence. That’s not the case for Scheft, however, who has been a staff writer for David Letterman since 1991, is the author of three previous novels, and is married to comedian Adrianne Tolsch. BILL SCHEFT podcast excerpt: "I was a sportswriter before I became a comic. When I met my agent, she asked me a question. I started to answer and said, 'Wait, let me go back five years.' She said, 'You talk just like you write!'" This is Scheft’s second time around on Mr. Media -- he is mentally preparing for Letterman's final Late Show sometime in 2015. The first time, we talked about Everything Hurts. You can still hear it anytime in the archives. Bill Scheft • • • • • • • • • • •
I don’t know if I’d rather be one of Lissa Warren’s cats or one of the authors she shepherds around when their books are published. Either way, you can count on receiving some extraordinary care and handling. And probably feeding, too. I’ve known Lissa for several years in her role as book publicist for Boston-based DeCapo Press. She has connected me with some of Mr. Media’s most popular interviews, including former TV “Hercules” Kevin Sorbo, singer and former Righteous Brother Bill Medley, and, most recently, Anthrax co-founder Scott Ian. LISSA WARREN podcast excerpt: "(The Good Luck Cat) is the story of a family that will do whatever it takes for each other." She is always a pro and always a pleasure. Like a lot of people we deal with daily in singular roles, it’s often a surprise to learn they have lives outside of the way we know them. For example, I had no idea that Lissa was such a complete homebody. Or that she has an MFA in creative writing, with a lean toward poetry. Or that she was a cat person. LISSA WARREN podcast excerpt: "Korats are a silver-grey in color; if you were to see a photo of one, you would see why we instantly fell in love with the breed. They are just gorgeous. In addition to beautiful appearance, they have beautiful temperaments. They are a very loyal cat; they are sensitive and smart; they are a fun cat. My Korat, Ting-Pei, was a handful when she was young, but they do mellow a lot in old age. The Korats are sweet, gentle, refined animals. It's a great breed." I learned that she had written The Good Luck Cat: How a Cat Saved a Family, and a Family Saved a Cat by sheer accident. We became Facebook friends recently, after years of strictly professional interaction, and I suddenly saw all these references to an upcoming book. Why didn’t you tell me? I asked. This must be the first time a book publicist didn’t want to impose on someone in the media for publicity. And for herself! But Lissa Warren has written a warm, touching, family-friendly memoir of the life she and her parents built around a most unusual cat, a Korat named Ting-Pei Warren. There are moments of great humor and great sadness captured forever in these pages. My number one takeaway? I wish I had known her dad, Jerry Warren. Seems like I missed meeting a fascinating man. And that Lissa is a peach. Lissa Warren • • •
Honestly, when I heard today’s guest leads a band named “Zeta Wave,” I was really hoping I’d like her music because I already liked her name, ALIYA HASHEMI podcast excerpt: "There's something amazing about taking something that comes from your head and turning it into this big final song." Was she a fan of ‘60s legend Wavy Gravy or the 1970s Miami radio station Zeta-4? Well, the good news is that Zeta Wave’s music – singer-songwriter Aliya Hashemi calls it “bedroom dance pop” – is just as cool and curious as the band’s name. So I extended an invitation for her to join us and talk a little about herself and introduce us to her music. In a few minutes she will be performing two songs from her brand new EP, Over. In an Iggy Azalea world, "Aliya Hashemi" actually sounds beautiful and mysterious all on its own. “Zeta Wave” is just a bonus. ALIYA HASHEMI podcast excerpt: "Things fell into place in 24 hours for me to come to LA (from Seattle). I called my parents and said, 'I'm moving to LA at the end of the month!' There was, like, silence. I got rid of all my things except for what would fit in my car and I drove down by myself." On the other hand, she grew up in Seattle before relocating to Los Angeles to pursue a music career. So who knows what sounds best in that town? Zeta Wave • • • • • • •
Okay, so maybe Scott Ian, co-founder of the heavy metal band, Anthrax, would not be the first guy whose memoir you’d want to read. Or even expect to be written. But Ian, who grew up a fan of Kiss and whose band’s success began and often paralleled that of its friends in Metallica, lived through a unique period of rock music, one in which the music grew louder and angrier than anyone ever before imagined it could. SCOTT IAN podcast excerpt: "I normally don't look back; I don't dwell on my past--ever. I had no connection to it until I started working on the book. But I dove in and tried to figure out who I was when I was 25 or 35. I thought about what my motivations were. A lot of it was difficult; a lot of the book is talking about traumatic things in my life, whether professional or personal, such as failed marriages or firing Joey in 1992." The band even reimagined Public Enemy’s rap hit “Bring The Noise” and co-headlined a tour with Chuck D and Flavor Flav. In I’m The Man: The Story of That Guy From Anthrax – co-authored by Jon Weiderhorn – Ian tells his story in plain English. There is no attempt to paint him as something or someone he’s not. He details the highs and lows of a band that has survived a rotating lineup, lousy record contracts, and career-threatening missteps. SCOTT IAN podcast excerpt: "It's not just the relationship between Anthrax and Metallica lasting this long--30 years--it's that we're both still doing what we do in 2014. We get along great; those guys are still the same dudes they've always been." Even if you’re a rock fan who was not necessarily an Anthrax fan, Ian’s story as told here is a universal one for anyone that ever considered starting a band or worshipped the devil out of one. And not by accident, release of I’m The Man was accompanied by another Anthrax alert: a new concert DVD, Chile On Hell. The book and the DVD are sold separately. Scott Ian • • • • • Anthrax • • • • LISTEN! (1986) WATCH! (2013)
The minute I saw actor Rob Corddry was cast as a marriage counselor in the new Vimeo On Demand series “Wedlock,” I figured there must be one miserable couple somewhere in the world. My mistake: Corddry, for once may be playing the rational one! JENNIFER LAFLEUR podcast excerpt: "When we brought 'Wedlock' to Rob Corddry, he loved it, but he had the instinct that maybe it should be switched on its head. All of a sudden, we reimagined the series so that it was the couple terrorizing the therapist, rather than the other way around." Actors Mark Duplass and my guest today, Jennifer Lafleur, portray a couple of long-time friends who have never been romantic – let alone intimate – with one another. Maybe with anyone. But everyone thinks they’re perfect for each other! So what the heck, they’re gonna give it a try! That brings them to the world-renown Dr. Meeks, played by Corddry. Dave and Fiona want him to help them become emotionally and physically involved and, ultimately, married. JENNIFER LAFLEUR podcast excerpt: "I got cut from 'The Skeleton Twins! I was 'Drunk Natalie' -- I was too funny! I couldn't help it! My character was at the most extreme end of the movie's comedy. But Craig Johnson made a great film and he said he'd get me in on the DVD extras." Heck, they’ve got a three-ring binder with charts, graphics and even a per-therapy-session budget all figured out. What could be easier? Over the course of 10, five-minute webisodes, the action and hilarity unfolds. It’s pretty funny stuff and you can order each episode for 99 cents by searching “Wedlock” on Vimeo.com. Jennifer Lafleur first came to attention on TV as “Nurse Judy” on the long-running soap opera, “Guiding Light.” More recently, she has had roles in the Bill Hader-Kristen Wiig film The Skeleton Twins and the FX series, “Married.” Wedlock • Jennifer Lafleur • • •
I have always made my living as a freelance writer. First came fanzines, then newspaper articles, then magazine articles, and now mostly books. Along the way, I have relied on a short handful of “How-to” books that have been extremely helpful in educating me in freelancer etiquette as well as where to find editors, publishers, and agents. CHRISTOPHER HART podcast excerpt: "You go into a relationship with an editor. It's not a contact. That person is on your book. It's part of their life. And if you continue to create, they'll continue to be your editor. The person who doesn't have much experience goes into it thinking, 'You're not going to change my work! I'm in charge of my creative rights!' But what you have to understand is, yes, they are going to change your work! They're going to make you do it better. They're not going to do it; they're going to challenge you." I’ve also dug in deep for tips on getting paid properly and on time and how to deal with the occasional weasel who tried to screw me out of a paycheck. When Christopher Hart, who may be the world’s best-selling author of how-to cartoon and draw manga books, told me he had published a book called How to Get Published As A Manga Artist: Everything You Need to Turn Your Passion Into A Career, I figured it was a good idea for a highly specialized freelance artist but was skeptical that someone as experienced as I could learn something new. I was right... and wrong. CHRISTOPHER HART podcast excerpt: "There is certain lingo in the business and you have to know what it means and how to answer it." While How to Get Published As A Manga Artist is aimed at a particular type of independent creative person, its lessons can work for artists and writers producing original material for any field. Of particular interest to me is its advice about the rapidly evolving world of self-publishing. Whether you are just starting out or, like me, have years of experience as a freelancer, I heartily recommend you get this book. It will pay for itself overnight by the knowledge you will gain. Christopher Hart • • • • • • Listen!
John Hutton and I have spent hundreds of hours together watching pre-teen girls. Don’t get the wrong idea – we’re soccer coaches. At least we were for many years. JOHN HUTTON podcast excerpt: "I had retired from banking in Newburgh, New York, and moved to Tampa, Florida, and had some free time on my hands, My brother, who passed away a couple of years ago, wrote some memoirs and genealogical tracts about our family and that inspired me. 'A Daily Dose of Innocence' has been a labor of love for the past five years." One day, standing on the sidelines – or maybe it was on a long bus ride for an away game – John started telling me about this book he was writing. It sounded very personal, with short essays about everything from being a fraternity brother at Wake Forest to following his father into banking and from the joys of volunteering to the mysteries of fatherhood. For years, I teased my friend about finishing his book so I could read it. It literally took years, but he surprised me one day and said it was done. Now I had to read it. A new problem: what if it was terrible? What if I hated it? How would I tell this man that I had come to think of as a brother that he couldn’t write? Sometimes, my friends, I worry too much. JOHN HUTTON podcast excerpt: "My son, Spencer, was in half-day kindergarten. It was the depths of winter in Newburgh. My wife and I both worked. He would get the bus home daily about 12 o'clock and our sitter was always at the bus stop to pick up Spencer. This one particular day, for whatever reason, the sitter forgot. It was snowing and Spencer got off the bus and no one was there. He walked right home but then he went back to the bus stop and did what he was told: Stay put. Thank goodness, my good friend Bob Patterson, who lived in the neighborhood but who NEVER came home for lunch, happened to drive home that particular day! He saw Spencer standing there, shivering in the cold, took him into his house, warmed him up, and called us. That was a moment -- and an act of friendship -- I'll never forget." A Daily Dose of Innocence, as John calls it, is a delightful read, full of down-to-earth homilies, advice, good cheer, insight, and a spot of sadness here and there. It is remarkably reflective of my friend’s joie de vie and his ability to lift the spirits of anyone he meets. The book is faith-based without being preachy, which is a great part of its charm. Not only did I love the book but I decided to publish it myself under my new imprint, Mr. Media Books. I don’t know how I could recommend it any more strongly to you than that. John Hutton •
Here’s a story I don’t think I’ve told before: Many years ago, I had an idea to approach Paul Shaffer about helping him write his memoirs. My agent tracked down the band leader of “The Late Show with David Letterman,” ran the idea by Paul and pretty quick, we were on a four-way conference call. Paul was very excited about the idea and when we got off the phone, he said he wanted to meet the following week. DEBORAH FEINGOLD podcast excerpt: "Musician Magazine was exciting. At that time in the 1970s, we had Creem, Circus, Rolling Stone, downBeat. But I didn't know anybody else who was shooting for all of them, plus New Age and World Beat. So I had the best job on the planet. I wasn't following one group of people, hanging out and going to the clubs. I was all over the place! Plus, the weirder my stuff was, the more support I got in shooting my vision." “Great!” I said. “Terrific!” my agent said. The next day, my agent called Paul’s manager to make the arrangements for me to fly to New York City. “Fly?” the man said. Turned out they assumed I lived in the city. Dealbreaker! DEBORAH FEINGOLD podcast excerpt: "It was 1979 or '80 and I got an assignment from The Soho Weekly News, which was the rival of the Village Voice. The editor said, 'There's a new guy coming to town from Minneapolis. There's a lot of buzz about him. He's playing at The Bottom Line' -- which was a great place to hear music and to shoot -- 'and we want you to get some concert shots and see if you can go backstage and get some shots there, too.' I was very shy, though. I easily could have lied and said they wouldn't let me do it. But I went backstage and knocked on the door. This guy answered and said, 'No, Prince doesn't do photos.' I was very relieved. 'Thank you very much,' I said, as opposed to, 'Just one?' I was happy to leave. I didn't feel I had the equipment. I was only shooting black & white, it wouldn't be lit well. This was 30 years ago, so it wasn't like I could look at the back of the camera and go, 'Cool, I did it.' So I went back out front. The opening act came out and I got a tap on my shoulder. The same guy says, 'Follow me.' He takes me behind the stage and says, 'You were so nice. C'mon and take a few photos.' I got through half a roll. Prince was more shy than me, which you can see in the photos. I shot horizontal, vertical; foot up, foot down. There was no room to move; I didn't know what else to do. Then I hear, coming out of my mouth, 'Would you like to take a picture of me?' And so I have a portrait of me, by Prince" I was reminded of that story the first time I thumbed through photographer Deborah Feingold’s new collection, Music, when I saw a 1987 shot of Paul lounging in front of—seriously!—a place called Paul’s Lounge. And later, exploring Deborah’s website, I saw that she also shot the cover for We’ll Be Here for the Rest of Our Lives: A Swingin’ Show Biz Saga that Paul eventually wrote with David Ritz. Both are wonderful shots—like most everything else Deborah does. Pick up her book and you’ll instantly recognize countless images ranging from Madonna (and lollipop) to barefoot Keith Richards, as well as from big jacketed David Byrne to Kid Creole and the Coconuts. If you’re not a music fan, you probably know a certain book cover Deborah shot featuring a future leader of the free world: The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama. Deborah Feingold • • • •
If the idea of a life spent moving from point-to-point, never settling in one place, sleeping in a series of non-descript hotels with a series of equally indistinct partners, and performing before unappreciative strangers appeals to you, I have two words of advice: Get help! That’s the takeaway lesson from Jordan Brady’s new documentary ode to the life of the standup comedian, I Am Road Comic. JORDAN BRADY podcast excerpt: "I was in Toronto when I was wrapping up 'I Am Comic' and Marc Maron was there. I've known him for 30 years. We hung out for a little bit. His career was on life support. I said, 'I'm done with the movie, but let me come to your studio--your garage--where you're doing this podcast thing, and maybe we can put you in over the credits. The distributor was like, 'Who the hell is this guy?' It was the same distributor that said, 'That Chris Hardwick has a lot of Twitter followers.' But Chris was only in the movie for 16 seconds! I said to Chris, 'We're going to put you on the cover of the DVD.' He said, 'Oh, so now I'm Megan Fox?' She had a cameo in a movie before she was famous and now they make her the poster. I said, 'Yeah, it's kinda like that.' The distributor didn't put Maron on the DVD extras. So this time around, it was important to have him in the movie." Because while Brady’s earlier effort, I Am Comic, focused largely on the struggle from nobody to opener to middle act to headliner with a number of pretty successful acts, including Sarah Silverman, Ahmed Ahmed, Tim Allen from “Home Improvement,” Tom Arnold, Franklin Ajaye, Dave Attell, Louis C.K., Margaret Cho, Jeff Foxworthy, Jim Gaffigan, and a pre- “The Nerdist” and pre- “@ Midnight” Chris Hardwick, I Am Road Comic is more of a bottom-line study of how hard and unforgiving the life of that touring comic really is. This time around, the big name attraction is easily Marc Maron, host of the immensely popular podcast, “WTF with Marc Maron,” as well as the IFC sitcom, “Maron.” It’s interesting that Maron is here, because as big a star as he is now, he was barely on the radar when Brady shot the first film. His career was on life support then, unable to sustain himself through a career in radio or comedy. JORDAN BRADY podcast excerpt: "Look at comedians and look at their hot wives. The comedians aren't that good looking, but they must be funny. These attractive women find something attractive about a funny guy and that's their damage. They like to be made to laugh. Laughter sends endorphins throughout the body. It's a drug. That's what these ladies are hooking up for: they want that rush." Featured in I Am Road Comic are funny people such as Nikki Glaser, Alonzo Bodden, Doug Benson from “Doug Loves Movies,” Maria Bamford, W. Kamau Bell, Jim Norton from “Opie and Anthony,” Judah Friedlander from “30 Rock,” TJ Miller from “Silicon Valley,” and Jen Kirkman from “Chelsea Lately.” Brady, himself a former comic, appears on screen this time around, going on the road and performing with comedian Wayne Federman. Is it tough? You’ll have to watch till the end to get Brady’s final word on that. I Am Road Comic • • • • Jordan Brady • • • • • • • •
In the history of comic book art, Don Heck was one of the... most ordinary artists there ever was. That’s not me being disrespectful, just honest. He was a craftsman, but in an era when his counterparts were Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, John Romita, and Steranko—to name a few—Don Heck was pretty average. JOHN COATES podcast excerpt: "Don Heck seemed to not know how much he was liked or maybe he just didn't care. That surprised me." And for a guy present at the super-heated epicenter that was the founding of the Marvel Comics universe in the 1960s, one gets the distinct sense from John Coates’ new biography, Don Heck: A Work of Art, that the late Mr. Heck would have been just as happy—maybe even happier—drawing commercial illustrations rather than superheroes. I think it’s a credit to Coates, in fact, that we get so much evidence through actual Heck interviews during his career that could sum up the artist’s opinion of being present at Creation the way my grandmother often reacted to a variety of issues: Feh! Not Brand Feh! You say? JOHN COATES podcast excerpt: "Don was someone who loved to draw. But I don't think he was into the Stan Lee hyperbole that made Marvel Comics in the 1960s. Flo Steinberg said he would come in, say, 'Here's my work,' ask for another script and leave. But I do think that he was passionate." There is a certain measure of enthusiasm and color missing from Heck’s multiple career-spanning interviews that Coates reproduces here. It becomes all the more apparent when compared against commentary from his industry counterparts—who held Heck in far higher regard than he held the industry itself. Drawing the earliest comic books featuring such Marvel icons as Iron Man, the X-Men, the Avengers, and my personal favorite, the original green and white Captain Marvel, was a job for him, nothing more. That said, Coates has done an admirable job of matching together Heck’s life in words and pictures and adding another crucial puzzle piece to the all-important history of Marvel Comics. TwoMorrows • • • •
I love rock 'n' roll. And I still love Joan Jett. Earlier today I saw that it was Joan Jett's 56th birthday. I believe it is her day, but I don't believe the black-haired sprite will ever be a day over 26, which is roughly the age she was when I conducted this telephone interview with her on December 23, 1983. JOAN JETT podcast excerpt: "The success of 'I Love Rock 'n' Roll was amazing. I don't know how to understand it." On that day, the former Runaway was still high atop her profession following the back-to-back mega-success of her solo album, Bad Reputation, and her first project with The Blackhearts, I Love Rock n' Roll. She was one of the first women to strap on a guitar and rock as hard and loud as any of the fellas. JOAN JETT podcast excerpt: "The thing that bothered people about The Runaways is that we weren't bad girls. We all came from middle class, suburban homes. We were five regular girls. The thing that got people up in arms was that girls at 15 smoke, drink, and talk about sex. That's just the way it is. The boys can do that but the girls can't? The girls are much dirtier than the boys!" In this conversation, a very energized Joan Jett speaks to me about the depression she felt after leaving The Runaways, which she helped start at the tender age of 15. She told me about producing an album by LA's punk band The Germs. And she talked about the lucky day she met Kenny Laguna and how they formed The Blackhearts. (Laguna can even be heard late in the chat, bragging about what a genius he is!) JOAN JETT podcast excerpt: "We went to all the big labels and the small ones and offered them 'Bad Reputation.' We even offered it free. No one wanted it! It's because I won't confirm to their idea of what a girl should be. My parents didn't teach me to be that way... They never said, 'You can't do that because you're a girl.' I was shocked when people said, 'Girls can't play rock 'n' roll!'" And Joan -- if you ever want to catch me up on the last 30 years, you're more than welcome here. Joan Jett • • • • • •
If you watch only one Tony Award-winning video that encompasses the history of ventriloquism this year... make it Jay Johnson: “The Two and Only. Now, I know what some of you are thinking—ventriloquism? Blecch! But hear me out. JAY JOHNSON podcast excerpt: "On 'Soap,' the show's creator, Susan Harris, would give us these moments of great pathos and sadness, followed by something completely hysterical. Each scene was its own little moment. They would shoot two or three different Chuck and Bob scenes and put them in two or three different shows. I felt that I was an actor playing the part of a ventriloquist. The fact that I was a ventriloquist was the reason I got the job." First of all, if you’re a TV fan of a certain age—say, mine or older—you will recognize Jay Johnson from his role as “Chuck Campbell” on the long-running, late 1970s ABC sitcom “Soap.” It also starred Billy Crystal as primetime’s first major gay character and Jay Johnson as its first ventriloquist. JAY JOHNSON podcast excerpt: "That's the farthest I've ever thrown my voice." We’ve had a lot of gay characters since then, but not another recurring ventriloquist character to the best of my knowledge. In “The Two and Only,” which was originally conceived for and performed on the Broadway stage, Johnson goes to laugh-out-loud extremes to detail the early days of ventriloquism—imagine someone throwing his or her voice during the Dark Ages—and eventually he interwines the industry’s history with his own. JAY JOHNSON podcast excerpt: "I don't understand why ventriloquism has this negative stereotype. I know in sitcoms and mystery shows it's always very convenient to have the villain be a split personality. And a split personality could be a ventriloquist... I suppose. There's a reluctance to even assign ventriloquism to entertainment. It's not something you wake up Saturday morning and say, 'Tonight, we're going to see that!" I’ve had my own fascination with ventriloquists since I was very young—watching Paul Winchell and Jerry Mahoney on a black & white TV as a boy, and later discovering old-time radio episodes of Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy. I don’t know about you, but I’m really going to enjoy this. JAY JOHNSON • • • • •
I miss Anne Hartford already. This is not a spoiler for Leaving Ashwood, Cynthia Kraack’s third and final book in the “Ashwood” futuristic fiction trilogy. I’m just sad to see it come to an end. CYNTHIA KRAACK podcast excerpt: "Anne Hartford came to me when I was doing my MFA program. I started writing a story about a young woman standing with all of her earthly possessions in front of this big, forbidding residence. It took six months after that to understand who she was and what was going on." I still remember reading the first book, Ashwood, and finding it a little bit of a slow starter. But about 50 pages in – the point at which I’ll often put a book down and move on – the narrative caught fire, the characters grabbed me by the collar, and I couldn’t put it down. Harvesting Ashwood was more of the same. Kraack created a world sometime in the future of the United States of America when a Second Great Depression has beaten down its citizens, reduced freedom of movement, discussion, and even thought to an illusion, and corporations have a death grip on the Constitution itself. CYNTHIA KRAACK podcast excerpt: "A part of 'Leaving Ashwood' is about large multinational corporations becoming more powerful than the national governments. The 10 largest corporations in the world are now like half the largest economies in the world if you were to compare GDP with revenues. It's like, whoa! We're already part-way there." Pardon my French but it’s some scary shit. In the third and final novel, Leaving Ashwood, Kraack doesn’t disappoint. She takes her main and supporting characters in some surprising yet natural directions. More details about their era and the world around them is revealed. The politics are ugly. But Anne Hartford never loses the essence of what makes her so compelling. Cynthia Kraack • • • • •
A good day in my business is one in which I learn that a favorite author has released a new book. That means good reading ahead and, more than likely, a good interview in my immediate future. Today is one of those days, as one of the Great Lakes’ favorite sons of modern literature, William Kent Krueger, is joining me to talk about his latest Cork O’Connor mystery, Windigo Island. WILLIAM KENT KRUEGER podcast excerpt: "I didn't become aware of sex trafficking as a significant problem until I began working with Native organizations here in the Twin Cities. These organizations help both Native youths on the street and Native women who are in extreme situations; they save their lives. The trafficking of Native women is an enormous problem." As always, the gentle writing style of Krueger belies a dirty underbelly of statutory misdeeds—and this is one of his darkest tales yet: teen sex trafficking of Native American girls. It’s a story that is often hard to read for the unfolding brutality of its crimes by sex traffickers, but while the narrative is never as sexually graphic as it might have been in a lesser author’s hands, Krueger is never less than commanding in his point of view and its effectiveness. This will be viewed as a hard right turn in content for readers of his last book, the non-Cork O’Connor story Ordinary Grace, which was actually an extraordinary piece of grace. WILLIAM KENT KRUEGER podcast excerpt: "The heart of any good story is conflict. One of the things I thought I may be able to accomplish with this story was to have some of the conflict be between Cork and his daughter, Jenny, who see the world in different ways." And no, William Kent Krueger will not be receiving a “Man of the Year” commendation from the Duluth Chamber of Commerce for Windigo Island. In fact, I suspect he may want to go in disguise next time he pays a visit to that lakefront city. This, by the way, is Krueger’s third visit to Mr. Media and I hope there are many more ahead of us. William Kent Krueger • • • • • • WATCH! (2013) LISTEN! (2011)
Let’s start this conversation with an apology. The first time Spencer Quinn was a guest on Mr. Media, to talk about the first two “Chet and Bernie Mystery” novels, I thought it would be clever to proceed as if I were interviewing Chet, who is the voice of the books. Chet, incidentally, is a dog. SPENCER QUINN podcast excerpt: "The whole (dog as narrator) is over-the-top, but I want this to still seem like a real story." I realized after a few minutes of conversation that that didn’t go over well with Quinn. And it has taken me a couple of years to get up the nerve to invite him back. He had every right to tell me to, well, you know... But he didn’t. Of course that was an audio-only podcast and this is video, where I can clearly see that my guest is a human being. The Chet and Bernie Mysteries are an engaging series of crime novels, typically set out west, featuring former cop and now private detective Bernie Little and his dog, Chet. Every story is told in Chet’s voice, which means the narrative is sometimes interrupted by a cat, a smell, the need to relieve the author’s kidneys... I’m sure you get the idea. SPENCER QUINN podcast excerpt: "Chet the Dog can only tell us the things the dog would perceive from a situation. In terms of the past--and memories--it's all very disrupted and fragmented. But certain things are incredibly strong. Things having to do with sense of smell, sense of hearing. That's where he's way ahead of Bernie. So sometimes the reader is also way ahead of Bernie" Put another way, where Sherlock Holmes has his Watson – often to put the reader off track – Bernie has his Chet. Their latest adventure takes the pair across the country to Washington, D.C., ostensibly to reunite with Bernie’s girlfriend, Suzie, now a reporter at the Washington Post. But it doesn’t take long for a dead body to appear and the Little Detective Agency is on the scent. And so, with profound apologies for my previous approach, CHET THE DOG • • • •
Cowabunga, dudes! The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles never really go away, they just slip into the nearest pizza joint for a couple of pies, wait for another shining moment, then reappear for a fresh demonstration of Kung Fu fighting and superheroics aimed at a new generation. That’s one of the messages I took away from reading Andrew Farago’s enormous and loving coffee table book dedicated to the “heroes in a half-shell.” No matter what, Raphael, Michelangelo, Leonardo and Donatello are forever unbowed and unbroken. ANDREW FARAGO podcast excerpt: "The editor asked what my approach would be and I said, 'You start from Eastman & Laird and you go from there!'" The series has been an unparalleled success almost from the day the first comic book issue of Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles debuted at a small comic book convention in 1984. A seemingly silly concept at birth, the Turtles have tickled the funny bone of generations of children for more than 30 years, thanks to cartoons, movies, toys, costumes, action figures, pajamas and much more. ANDREW FARAGO podcast excerpt: "Someone working on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animation series hit upon the idea that Huey, Dewey & Louie (in 'Duck Tales') were red, blue, and green, so they said, 'Let's do four different colored turtles and put their initials on their belt buckles.' A lot of what came along in the cartoon is what the public thinks of as the Turtles: pizza, Cowabunga!, Shredder, Bebop, and Rocksteady. Kind of like Bluto became Popeye's villain in animation, but he was just a one-off guy in the comic strip." And as I write this, turtles rule the summertime again as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have staged a triumphant return to the silver screen in a Michael Bay-produced blockbuster that earned $65 million in its opening weekend. In his latest book, Cartoon Art Museum curator Andrew Farago goes behind the many marketing successes of the Turtles brand and adds a human flavor that reveals the personal struggles of the comic’s creators while packing the project with hundreds of reproductions of original art and collectibles. It’s a very cool project. And Farago is experiencing a mini-renaissance of his own: publication of his book, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Visual History, somewhat coincidentally occurred even as his wife, Shannon, gave birth to their first child a few weeks ago, Robin. In fact, this interview--Farago’s second on Mr. Media--was originally scheduled for the day Robin was born. Andrew Farago • • • • LISTEN! (2010) Cartoon Art Museum • • •
There are a lot of legendary comedy clubs in America and they come with equally colorful founders: Budd Friedman and the Improv; Mitzi Shore and the Comedy Store; Rick Newman and Catch A Rising Star; Caroline Hirsch and Caroline’s on Broadway; and Richie Tienken and the Comic Strip. They all have their own crop of talented standup comedians devoted to one over the other and one of them, The Comic Strip, now has a book devoted to lionizing its greatness. JEFFREY GURIAN podcast excerpt: "(The Comic Strip co-founder) Richie Tienken started going to Catch A Rising Star every night and he saw the place was always packed. So he thought to himself, 'Hey, there's probably room for another club.'" In Make ‘Em Laugh: 35 Years of the Comic Strip, the Greatest Comedy Club of All Time!, comedian, comedy journalist and Sirius/XM host of “Comedy Matters” Jeffrey Gurian and Comic Strip co-founder Richie Tienken interview dozens of comedians about their experiences and memories of the long-running club. Some, such as Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock, are reverent about the joint; others – okay, just Gilbert Gottfried is kind of a jerk about the place. But he’s Gilbert Gottfried, so I’m not sure what else to expect. The only voice noticeably missing from this oral history is Eddie Murphy, who got his start at The Comic Strip and was managed for many years by Tienken. The issue isn’t addressed, but it seems likely there are still some rough feelings simmering beneath the surface. JEFFEY GURIAN podcast excerpt: "Things went down that weren't comfortable for Eddie Murphy. People who were close to him told me that he doesn't like to discuss his past. We would have loved to have him in the book; he was like a son to Richie Tienken. They were together many years, but it's public knowledge that he fired Richie. But Richie took him from his days on 'Saturday Night Live' through 'Beverly Hills Cop.' That's how Chris Rock -- who wrote the introduction to 'Make 'Em Laugh' -- got started. It was Eddie that discovered Chris at the Comic Strip in 1986." But even without Murphy, Make ‘Em Laugh is packed from start to finish with history, laughs, and more than a few nervous moments – usually recalled by the comedians in regard to their efforts to be “passed” by the club’s late manager Lucien Hold. If you love comedy and enjoy the rare moments when comics such as Lisa Lampanelli, Ray Romano, George Wallace, Billy Crystal, Jackie “The Jokeman” Martling from the “Howard Stern Show,” Susie Essman from “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “The Daily Show”’s Lewis Black, and Jim Breuer, take off the mask and talk about things that really matter, you’ll enjoy reading Make ‘Em Laugh. JEFFREY GURIAN podcast excerpt: "Comedy is a very solo business. You're on stage alone. You write alone. People do improv in groups, but comedy, per se, is alone. You're going on stage alone, in front of strangers, trying to convince them that what you think is funny is actually funny. But there was a camaraderie at the Comic Strip, especially in the early days, because there were very few comedy clubs then. Now there are probably 18 club in Manhattan alone. In those days, the comics banded together and Richie Tienken was a nurturing force." Joining me today to talk about his book is co-author Jeffrey Gurian. Gurian is a man of many hats, including comedian and host of “Comedy Matters” on Sirius/XM. He also is a regular every Monday with Sirius/XM’s “Ron & Fez,” talking about the world of comedy. Jeffrey Gurian • • • • • •
America is a thousand years old and an evil alien, played by Martha Plimpton, threatens to destroy the country, unless the President – Will Forte – and his Secret Service agent – Aubrey Plaza – can deter her. (Play along, okay?) The future, it seems “looks like a permanent Comic-Con.” ROB KUTNER podcast excerpt: "The great thing about the future is there is no accountability. People can never go back and prove that you were wrong. This also delvres into history a bit--we have a remix of the Battle of the Alamo, we have the Civil War envisioned as a therapy session where Maria Bamford plays the North and the South and Dr. Katz--Jonathan Katz--is the mediator." Oh, and 2776 is a musical that plays out over 28 songs and a series of music videos. Sort of like the Bicentennial Broadway musical “1776,” but in an earthy, street language and rap style that the Founding Fathers couldn’t begin to decipher. Created by The Levinson Brothers, Joel and Stephen, with Rob Kutner, this craziness about the year 2776 features performances by more than 80 singers, comedians and actors, including Patton Oswalt, Ellie Kemper, Aimee Mann, Paul F. Thompkins, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog and many more. It comes on a CD being sold to benefit OneKid OneWorld, a foundation for education in impoverished communities throughout Kenya and El Salvador that gives children from primary through secondary school the opportunity for a better and brighter future. Joining me to explain all of this is Rob Kutner, long-time comedy writer for Conan O’Brien on both his TBS show, “Conan,” and “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” before that. Kutner has also been a staff writer for “The Dennis Miller Show” and “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” This is his third Mr. Media appearance. We’ll also be joined by brothers Joel and Stephen Levinson performing two songs from 2776, “Escape from New York” and “I Want to Take a Nap.” 2776 • • • • OneKid OneWorld • Rob Kutner • • • Levinson Brothers • •
LEIGH STEINBERG podcast excerpt: "Domestic violence is a terrible thing. In Ray Rice's first press conference, he was not taking a whole ton of responsibility, first. Second, he used some words of violence. I don't think NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell came off well in that." It’s official: Every 20 years, I plan to interview sports agent Leigh Steinberg. So go ahead, mark your calendars now for 2034. Our crack research team here at Mr. Media dug into the print morgue and found that it was 20 years ago that I last spoke with the man who inspired Tom Cruise’s character in the movie Jerry Maguire. That was for LEIGH STEINBERG podcast excerpt: "I've always thought that traditional agentry was not done correctly because all it emphasizes is a player's economic figure. Really, the job is to look at a player holistically, to get into their heart and mind, to force them to prioritize their values. And then to build a life-long plan." Rather than quote myself on Steinberg – I think that is called journalistic incest – : “At his peak in the 1990s, Leigh Steinberg was the greatest sports agent in history. Not because he had the most prestigious roster of clients in terms of star power, charisma and philanthropy, but because he was light years ahead of his peers with respect to the melding of sports into the fabric of the entertainment industry. “Not only did Steinberg consult for the movies Jerry Maguire and Any Given Sunday, but he also had his client, quarterback Drew Bledsoe, star in the former hugely successful film. Steinberg also encouraged boxing great Oscar de la Hoya to promote his own fights, which the champion eventually did and along with Richard Schaefer, turn Golden Boy Promotions into a powerhouse.” Unfortunately, success and the pressure cooker of Hollywood can sometimes be too much for mortal men and Steinberg fell into alcohol abuse and saw the reputation he built collapse under the weight of DUI arrests and a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. LEIGH STEINBERG podcast excerpt: "You'd have to explain why the best record in baseball is held by the Oakland A's. They have the same constraints as the Tampa Bay Rays; they operate with the fourth lowest payroll. Organization--and team chemistry--counts a lot. The Yankees aren't winning the World Series every year. The Dodgers aren't winning the World Series every year. The truth is, Tampa Bay has a manager that's worth a number of players because he's so good. In general, it's ownership, it's structure, it's a concept of how to win, it's an astute look at sabermetrics, it's team chemistry that will win. A lot of the money spent by teams is on the past of star free agents, not their future. Many high payroll teams are loaded up with players past their prime. I scratched my head at the David Price trade because who's to say, with half the season to go, that Tampa Bay wouldn't come back? They've been a great second-half team. And who's to say they couldn't afford him?." But he finally had a moment of clarity while sleeping on a bed in his mother’s house and chugging vodka nonstop that that was not what his mission in life was supposed to be. That was the day Steinberg started turning his life around. In recent years, Steinberg has reformed his original agency, Steinberg Sports and Entertainment, to represent athletes. He’s once more raising his profile and has sought to regain his once extraordinary reputation as a dealmaker and business player. LEIGH STEINBERG podcast excerpt: "The American people, some of them luxuriate in the fall of the high and mighty, But they also love to see someone come back." His latest deal puts the spotlight on a familiar subject: Leigh Steinberg. The legendary superagent just signed a deal to host a weekly talk show for Yahoo! Sports Radio. Starting August 18, “The Leigh Steinberg Show” will air every Monday at 8 p.m. EST, 5 p.m. PST. (If you’re in the Central time zone, you’re on your own; the math is too complicated for me.) Leigh Steinberg • • • • •
Some time back in 1995, my agent got a call from John Mahaney, a business book editor at Random House. “You think Andelman would be interested in writing a book with Al Dunlap?” “Sure,” Joel Fishman said. (To himself, he no doubt muttered, “He’ll work with anybody at this point!”) ALBERT J. DUNLAP podcast excerpt: "The corporations that I went into as CEO were always in dire trouble. To succeed in that situation, you must assemble around you the right team of people. People who are smart. People who will tell you when you're wrong: 'That's a bad idea.' People who agree with you all the time are dangerous to the future of the business." I had written three small books at that point, including Why Men Watch Football, which Not exactly the makings of a long career in letters. But when I went to meet Dunlap a few days later at Scott Paper headquarters in Boca Raton, Florida, a funny thing happened: the man the business world knew as “Chainsaw” – because of the way he blew through bloated companies on their last legs and cut them to their core – liked me. We bonded over shared roots – both poor boys hailing from New Jersey – and a shared love of dogs. And his corporate lieutenants also endorsed me. I was hired and my career hasn’t been the same since. Mean Business: How I Save Bad Companies and Make Good Companies Great by Albert J. Dunlap and me, Bob Andelman, was published to massive acclaim in late 1996. It was the first book ever excerpted on the front page of USA Today. It was a finalist for the Financial Times of London’s best business book of the year. And it was named one of the Top 10 business books ever. It also sold more than 100,000 copies and became a New York Times and Businessweek bestseller. ALBERT J. DUNLAP podcast excerpt: "I was on an Ivy League speaking tour many years ago--Harvard, Yale, Princeton. Someone said to me, 'Will you speak at Florida State University?' I said, 'Where's that?' But I went and my opening joke was, 'Gee, you have classrooms? I thought FSU just had athletic facilities!' I figured they'd never invite me back! But I saw the quality of the students, faculty and administration. I met Bobby Bowden, who was then the head football coach, and my wife and I were so impressed that we decided we wanted to be affiliated with this great university." Al retired a few years after Mean Business was published and spent several years living quietly between Florida and Wisconsin with his wife Judy and their German shepherds, Brit and Cadet. But over the last 10 years, the Dunlaps raised their profile, become community builders, making substantial contributions to everything from the Mayo Clinic’s cancer programs to the Florida State Seminoles Boosters, and from animal rescue to children’s programs in their adopted hometown of Ocala, Florida. You can read about the remarkable Dunlap renaissance in the newly updated edition of Mean Business, available wherever books and e-books are sold. And the original audiobook is now available as a digital audio download for the first time, too. Albert J. Dunlap • • •
If you or a friend has always dreamed of writing the Great American Novel... well, this interview is probably not for you. But if you or a friend has always wanted to write a fantasy/horror series requiring the creation of an entire world, multiple cultures, at least one language, violent death, aggressive sex practices, and a sense of fear for and about every new character introduced, I think you’ll feel right at home with my friend Jim Melvin. JIM MELVIN podcast excerpt: "My imagination started as a boy and was sparked by J.R.R. Tolkien. I picked up 'Lord of the Rings' as a teenager and it just blew me away. It changed me as a reader and eventually as a writer for the rest of my life. We all have genres we prefer--certainly epic fantasy is my favorite. I also like horror and science fiction and thrillers. And I'm a big fan of John Updike. In high school I decided I was going to become a bestselling novelist, that I was going to write this series--'The Death Wizard Chronicles'--and make millions of dollars. I even told people I was going to make $75 million! Not quite there, yet." Jim is the author of the six-book series The Death Wizard Chronicles. Five of the six books have been published to date and book six, Healed by Hope, is just a few months away. The Death Wizard Chronicles has been a story alive in the Melvin brain for many years before it ever hit bookshelves for the first time in 2007. I can still remember Jim describing what he hoped to write one day and being awed by how detailed his imagination truly was. When the first book – a massive tome, even for the horror and fantasy genre – was published, his friends and family were impressed by the sheer accomplishment and what it said of Jim’s determination. I suspect most of us thought that might be as far as he got. JIM MELVIN podcast excerpt: "When you translate English words into the ancient language of Pali, it has a very erotic sound. I hired a professional translator to translate certain key passages, so the few people in the world who can speak Pali and read Pali will see my language in the series is real." Jim never let go of his dream, however, even as one publisher evaporated and he moved to another. Would anyone really published thousands upon thousands of pages of The Death Wizard Chronicles to see Jim’s vision fully realize? Hell, yes! I first had Jim on this show when Book One: Forged in Death was published and, while many years have passed and at least one of us has picked up some grey, I’m thrilled to have him back to discuss the approaching completion of the series. Jim Melvin • • • • • • Is Pali real?
So... I was a guest at Megacon in Orlando back in February 2006, I think, and I was given table space to promote my book and panel discussion. I was situated between an independent comic book artist, Keith Knight, creator of Knight Seeker, and an animator-slash-entrepreneur, Mark Simon. Both guys were energetic, friendly, and made the hours pass quickly. Through the magic of Facebook, I’ve been able to follow both their careers, although I don’t recall that we ever had another conversation since. MARK SIMON podcast excerpt: "Like blueprints are to a house, storyboards are the blueprint for how to build these huge productions we put on." That all changed a few weeks back when I heard from Mark Simon and realized he would be a natural guest on Mr. Media. Here’s why: Simon owns three entertainment-related companies and has written 10 books on related subjects. He has worked on more than 3,500 productions, and while I haven’t verified the count, he does own one of the most prolific storyboard houses in the southern United States. MARK SIMON podcast excerpt: "The director and I go back and forth until everything is done. I'll rough out thumbnails first... We'll send out a PDF of each sequence to the entire crew. And I'll send a 'movie' (animatics) to the key people -- the designer, the producer, the DP, the director, and the production manager." He also produces animation – including work on “The Little Rascals” cartoon and live action remake – and one of his companies helps people to sell their TV ideas. We’re going to start the conversation with his latest book, Storyboards: Motion in Art, which is a massive how-to for anyone with ambitions in the field. And I’m hoping Mark will also provide a demonstration of what a storyboard artist actually does. (Oh, and ? Call me. You’re next!) Mark Simon • • • • •
I cannot tell a lie – or at least not too many – I let my Rolling Stone magazine subscription end around the same time my Playboy magazine subscription expired about a decade ago. My hearing took a beating over the years – probably not helped by my own stint as a rock music critic in the 1980s and standing too close to one too many heavy metal hair bands in concert – and live shows lost their appeal. That’s what happened to my interest in Rolling Stone. ANTHONY DeCURTIS podcast excerpt: "Being a staff writer at Rolling Stone magazine was a job and it was a hard one. But when Kurt Cobain died, for example, we all gathered in the managing editor's office. There were staff rivalries there, a number of egos knocking around, but when you looked around the room, you knew nobody had to carry anybody else's water. Everybody could hit the story hard." As for Playboy – well, just how many articles can you really read before succumbing to the photos? And once you’ve seen two in every size, shape, race and ethnicity, well... Or maybe it’s low T? I dunno. (Let’s save that for the next special episode of Mr. Media Interviews.) But the one characteristic of both magazines that I enjoyed for decades was the writing. And if you read Rolling Stone over the last 30 years, you can’t help but know the work of my guest today, writer and contributing editor Anthony DeCurtis. His writing was always crisp, his questions the ones you wanted answered, and his ubiquity across a range of topics from issue to issue only reinforced his smarts. DeCurtis is still connected to the magazine, but he has broadened his scope in recent years. Last year he co-authored The Soundtrack of My Life, the memoir of record label legend Clive Davis; this year he is working on a biography of the late Lou Reed. And he won a Grammy Award for his liner notes on Eric Clapton’s Crossroads box set and wrote an introduction for an upcoming book of Clapton photos called Journeyman. ANTHONY DeCURTIS podcast excerpt: "Even to this day, as a journalist, when I'm in the room with my interview subject, there's a little bit of tension--even if it's somebody I've written about a lot--there's a slight adversarial thing. Whereas that doesn't seem to exist with photographers for the most part. They're always palling around and artists like them. It's very lovey-dovey by comparison." He also wrote introductions to two more photo collections: one by rock star Lenny Kravitz and one by photographer Deborah Feingold titled Music. (Feingold will be on this show in September, by the way.) And he’s been on the nominating committee for the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame for 20 years. Oh, and since 2002, DeCurtis has been a writing instructor at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Arts and Sciences. I hope I can think of a few good questions! Anthony DeCurtis • • • • • • •
If you’re going to write a book about the Rolling Stones at this point in their history, you damn well better have something unique to say. Because if you search “The Rolling Stones” on Amazon.com under “Books,” it brings back – I’m not kidding – 17,812 results. There are many duplicates, of course, and a lot of books that only mention the Stones, but still! ROBERT GREENFIELD podcast excerpt: "The Rolling Stones get to this awful discotheque in Brighton (UK) called The Big Apple for a concert. We go downstairs to go into the dressing room. It's very much 'we' -- I'm traveling with the band, I'm very much one of them, in my mind at least -- and the dressing room is locked. You would think that this is not a major issue. But when Keith Richards is involved -- and he's got his young child, his son, with him, and Marlon is coughing -- it immediately became a Dickensian drama of major proportions! Keith is spouting off about 'The nerve of these people! How dare they! The Stones don't stand around!' They send somebody to find the promoter, get the keys. Nothing is happening. The next thing I know, Keith and I are working on the door. He's got a knife -- Keith almost always has a knife -- and we take the hinges off the door, throw on the ground, and the band walks in. Two minutes later, the promoter walks in. This is rock 'n' roll vandalism -- nobody knows what happened! 'The door was lying there when we arrived!'" Oh, and in my humble opinion, after Keith Richards wrote his own memoir, Life, I believed you could pretty much set aside almost everything that came before it. Not only was Keith’s voice compelling and authoritative, it was an absolutely fascinating read from a voice you never thought you’d hear. All of which brings us to former Rolling Stone magazine associate editor in London, Robert Greenfield. He wrote two previous books about the world’s most dangerous band, 1974’s well-received S.T.P.: A Journey through America with The Rolling Stones and 2006’s not-as-well reviewed Exile on Main St.: A Season in Hell with the Rolling Stones. So Greenfield – and rock fans – could have gone either way with his latest up-close-and-personal report, Ain’t It Time We Said Goodbye: The Rolling Stones on the Road to Exile. I am happy to report that the author has added several new colors to what we know of the band coming in the aftermath of Life. Goodbye is a cheeky behind-the-scenes report on what the band imagined to be its last tour of England before relocating to tax exile in France. Greenfield tells the story in two voices – the 25-year-old, sole journalist on the road with the band, as well as the 67-year-old eligible for Social Security that he is now. If you love the Stones, you’ll find this tale irresistible. Robert Greenfield • • • More Mr. Media interviews with Rolling Stone writers and photographers:
(AUGUST 2015 UPDATE: Filmmaker Ron Howard has purchased the film rights to Black Chalk.) "Black Chalk" is an odd novel. For example, it took more than sixty pages just to figure out who the narrator is. And more than halfway through the story, you still won’t know why it’s called “Black Chalk.” CHRISTOPHER J. YATES podcast excerpt: "At Oxford, the famous secret society is called the Bullingdon Club. The current Prime Minister, David Cameron, was in the Bullingdon Club. The current Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, was in the Bullingdon Club. It's a club for rich boys. They're famous for going to restaurants, ordering a ton of wine, and then, at the end of the meal, they trash the restaurant. But then, they're so rich, they just pay the restaurant owner for the damages. This fed a lot into my book, Black Chalk. Tallest, Middle and Shortest could be members of this club." And yet – and isn’t this the sign of something good? – you’re going to be hard-pressed to put down the adventures of Jolyon, Chad, Emilia, Dee, Mark and Jack. Oh, and I shouldn’t leave out Tallest, Middle and Shortest. If you’re fascinated with games and gamesmanship, Black Chalk is probably the book for you. Author Christopher J. Yates – once interested in law in his native England, but more recently the UK’s representative at the World Puzzle Championships and now a freelance journalist and puzzles editor - has written a unique and twisted thriller that you’ll find difficult to put down. Christopher J. Yates • •
Some of my favorite Mr. Media guests over the past eight years have been the standup comedians. Robert Schimmel. Lisa Lampanelli. Ralphie May. Eddie Griffin. Judy Tenuta. Marc Maron. MIKE SACKS podcast excerpt: "Mel Brooks was incredibly nice. On, but not obnoxiously. Just a sweet guy. And obviously brilliant. It was a real treat getting to talk to him." I love having them as guests because they are smart, funny and always faster on the word play than I could ever be. But I’m wondering if I missed the boat by not focusing on comedy writers. That’s what Mike Sacks has done and done well. He just published his second collection of interviews with comedy writers, Poking A Dead Frog: Conversations with Today’s Top Comedy Writers. It’s a sequel of sorts to his last book, And Here’s the Kicker: Conversations with 21 Humor Writers About Their Craft. MIKE SACKS podcast excerpt: "Comedy has just exploded since the first book (And Here's the Kicker) in 2009. There are now a ton of websites that devote themselves to comedy -- not just producing funny material, but studying comedy -- comedy journalism. There is tremendous interest in this sort of thing." In the first book, Sacks had a lineup I thought would be hard to top, including Buck Henry, Stephen Merchant, Harold Ramis, Merrill Markoe, Bob Odenkirk, Marshall Brickman, David Sedaris, Robert Smigel and Larry Wilmore. Who’s Wilmore? He’s just the guy who will replace Stephen Colbert as the person following “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” in 2015, that’s who. But this time around, Sacks at least matched the first group, landing interviews with Mel Brooks, Marc Maron, Terry Jones of “Monty Python’s Flying Circus,” Bob Elliott (of Bob & Ray), filmmaker Adam McKay, SNL’s Bill Hader, Patton Oswalt and bunch of people you never heard of who made The Onion what it is today. Oh, and the second book has the better title. This is Sacks’ second appearance on Mr. Media. If he doesn’t make it back a third time, you’ll know it’s because I’ve stolen his idea and neatly disposed of any evidence of his demise. And on that creepy note… Mike Sacks • • • •
Today's Guest: Tony Doris, Palm Beach Post reporter and author of the novel Dirt. Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of Miami realtors, politicians and journalists worried that any similarities between themselves and characters in Dirt by Tony Doris may not be blurred enough to hide their actual misdeeds and knucklehead-on-a-stick-iness… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'Dirt' by Tony Doris, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! Hundreds of novelists have paraded through this show during the last eight years to promote their works of fiction. And many of them were first-timers. But Tony Doris is the only one I personally nudged to pull his first novel out of a dusty desk drawer and publish it. Not only that: Dirt is the first fictional property I published under the banner. TONY DORIS podcast excerpt: "It's the heat; it's the humidity. There's a bit of the Wild West in Miami, an attitude of 'What's the worst that can happen? Let's go for it!' It's all these cultures coming together and everybody trying to get away with something. I'm not so sure it doesn't happen elsewhere, maybe with a different flavor to it." Tony and I have been friends for almost 30 years and I have always thought he was a terrific writer. He sees the world through a lens with its filter askew, even when his work as a journalist took him through the most serious topics. His friends know he will always find the subtle humor in whatever he touched. So when he wrote his first novel during late nights and weekends while working his day job as a reporter and editor at the Palm Beach Post, I was frustrated that no traditional publisher bit at it. TONY DORIS podcast excerpt: "I went to Palm Beach County after working in Miami and everybody in Palm Beach County made fun of Miami as being so corrupt. And then, one by one, a whole bunch of officials in Palm Beach County were ending up in jail!" But in this day of ebooks, I didn’t believe a work as witty, insightful and clever as Dirt should stay in a drawer. So I cajoled my buddy to dust it off and let me publish it. If you like the work of Miami’s better known journalists-turned-novelists such as Carl Hiaasen and Dave Barry and even the late Elmore Leonard, I think you’ll dig Dirt. And if you’re a Miami politician or in the real estate or journalism business, you’ll probably encounter a lot of familiar people – I mean industry types – you will recognize. Tony Doris • • • • • • •
How many times have you and your spouse, you and your friends, or just you, alone – so sorry – watched a TV show and thought, ‘Even I could do better than that!” What if you’re right? MARTIE COOK podcast excerpt: "Dialogue on TV today is much faster. Take a script for a show such as 'Bob's Burgers' -- these run about 64 pages, which is a lot longer than used to be acceptable in comedy or animation. Those would probably be 40 to 50 pages. But the scripts today are longer because they are dialogue-driven because dialogue comes from character and character is what everybody tunes in to watch." Seriously, what if someone came along and said, “Here are easy-to-follow steps that could give anyone with a sense of scene the ability to write for TV?” It’s not, as they say, rocket science, folks. Now, that’s not to say it’s easy or that anyone can do it. MARTIE COOK podcast excerpt: "Max Mutchnick was the creator and executive producer of Will & Grace. He came to Emerson College -- he's an Emerson alum -- and he said you could write a spec script for an old show if you had such an original, original take on it. He said, 'I would love to see someone write an episode of 'I Love Lucy' only set in modern times. Think of all the trouble Lucy and Ethel could get into if they had cell phones and YouTube!' That would stand out for an agent or producer." But in the second edition of her book, Write to TV: Out of your Head and onto the Screen, Martie Cook certainly makes it seem doable. Of course, there are caveats, starting with this one: You can’t succeed in her business, writing TV scripts, from where I am, in St. Petersburg, Florida, of wherever the eff you are – if it’s not Hollywood. Can’t deny you’re not intrigued though, right? Martie Coo • • • • • • •
When people wrote in their private journals as recently as a generation ago, we were all spared a lot of thoughts, opinions and arguments by people we didn’t know, didn’t want to know, and preferred not to know even existed. But with the advent of the World Wide Web, in its quest to open our minds to every scrap of knowledge and thought that exists now or has ever existed in the past, blogging opened the doors to a ton o’ crap. CHARLIE WHITE podcast excerpt: "In our blogs, Johnny and I are more than willing to tell people in 25 words or less if something sucks or is wonderful. And people are really drawn to graphics. That's one of the secrets of great blogging. You have to have great graphics; people want to see what you're talking about." So before we get to today’s interview with a pair of guys who can teach you all about blogging, a word of caution: please don’t waste the precious gift of words by gifting the world with another blog of nothing or, even worse, hyperbole. Choose the words in your blog carefully and sparingly and we’ll all be better for it. That off my chest, my magic of blogging guests today, Charlie White and John Biggs, are successful, accomplished online journalists whose respective credentials include Mashable, TechCrunch, and Gizmodo. They just published the second edition of their web manual, Blogging Boot Camp: Learning How to Build, Write, and Run a Successful Blog. It is packed with step-by-step instructions for creating a smart blog with the potential to make you better known in your chosen field, whether it’s silk flower arrangements, political discourse, or wristwatch news. And you might even squeeze out a few extra bucks on the side. Bloggers Boot Camp • Charlie White • • • John Biggs • • • • • • • JOHN BIGGS podcast excerpt: "Newspapers now give reporters their own blogs off the major sites. They're throwing as much against the wall as they can to see what sticks."
If memory serves correctly, I was lucky enough to see Michael Jordan play basketball for the Chicago Bulls, live, in person, at least once, possibly twice. Once at the O-rena in Orlando, in a game against the Orlando Magic, probably back when Shaquille O’Neill was that team’s main attraction. And, again, in an exhibition of some sort at either the University of South Florida Sun Dome or what was once the Florida Suncoast Dome or the ThunderDome (and is now Tropicana Field). ROLAND LAZENBY podcast excerpt: "The whole Jordan family was short and Michael had really grown despondent. Because if basketball success was going to be about who was tall, he wasn't going to be able to do anything in the sport. And basketball was really his last resort. Then a cousin showed up who was 6'5" and created all sorts of hope in Michael. And -- BOOM! -- he started growing! ... The rest is history." I also drove to Sarasota during spring training the year he walked away from the Bulls to pursue a lifelong dream of playing professional baseball. Still have a Nike souvenir baseball from seeing him play that day, too. There have been few human beings that have ever attracted – and earned – the fascination and devotion of so many people all around the globe. Michael Jordan is surely one of them. Certainly, he had ups and downs in life – turns out he can fly, but he still makes mistakes like the rest of us. That doesn’t make him any less one of the most compelling characters of our age. ROLAND LAZENBY podcast excerpt: "I always felt that Michael Jordan was playing basketball to heal the great wounds in his family. When he got to the Chicago Bulls there was a lot of conflict there, too -- with Phil Jackson, Jerry Krause, Jerry Reinsdorf, and Scottie Pippin. But Jordan kept playing to keep the family healed." Roland Lazenby has covered the NBA for several decades and in recent years has authored biographies of two of the league’s legends. First it was Jerry West: The Life and Legend of a Basketball Icon. And now he has produced a massive, 708-page biography of Michael Jordan, simply titled Michael Jordan: The Life. I’m still working my way through it, to be honest, but based on the several hundred pages I’ve completed so far, I heartily recommend it to you, whether you’re a big college or pro basketball fan or simply enjoy a deeply researched and revealing biography. Roland Lazenby • • • •
My friend Peter Golenbock has written sports histories and biographies and co-authored memoirs with a lot of guys who see the world as black and white. I suspect that in helping long-time Major League Baseball umpire Doug Harvey tell his story, it might have been the first time he did a book with someone who dressed that way as well. In They Called Me God: The Best Umpire Who Ever Lived, Golenbock goes over to baseball’s great unknown, a land where every decision is absolute – and for good reason. PETER GOLENBOCK podcast excerpt: "Doug Harvey was a stickler for the rules. When Harvey was in the minor leagues, all the other umpires would go out to a bar. But he'd be back in hotel room to spend at least one hour a day reading the rules. He knew the rule book better than anybody else." Can you imagine a world where an MLB umpire showed hesitation or a lack of uncertainy? No, neither can I. Doug Harvey’s personal story here is less compelling than his insight to baseball’s little revealed world of officiating. His stories of on-the-field behavior and his explanation of how he moved through the grand old pastime for decades was utterly fascinating, helped along by Golenbock’s expert storytelling. PETER GOLENBOCK podcast excerpt: "People want to know what happened. They want the truth. They don't want some sort of scrubbed version. They want to know what you said and what the other people said. You just have a better book if you tell the truth." This is Golenbock’s record fifth interview on Mr. Media – and that’s not just a function of proximity, although we do both live in St. Petersburg, Florida. The first time was at his dining room table, to talk about his controversial semi-fiction about Marilyn Monroe and The Mick, 7: The Mickey Mantle Novel. Since then we’ve done one by phone, one at a live on location show at JoEllen Schilke’s now-defunct Globe Coffee Lounge, and now we’re finally doing this one via video. Peter Golenbock • • • • • Doug Harvey • • PETER GOLENBOCK podcast excerpt: "I had a contract to do a book with Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon and I was called into the principal's office. And the principal -- the GM of the team, Andrew Friedman -- told me that I could write the history of Joe Maddon in 50 years. I said, 'Why?' He said, 'We don't want you revealing any of our secrets.'"
I did sort of wonder if there is enough of an audience to justify a conversation about what it takes to be a great TV showrunner. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that pop culture has turned modern showrunners into rock stars. NEIL LANDAU podcast excerpt: "It's not just that the TV show is the brand -- the creator is the brand." Because even if you’re not sure what a “showrunner” actually is, you’ll know a large number of them by name: • Vince Gilligan, creator of “Breaking Bad”: • Matthew Weiner, creator of “Mad Men”; • Stephan Moffatt, creator of “Sherlock” and modern-day savior of “Doctor Who”; • Shonda Rhimes, creator of “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal”; • and Dan Harmon, creator of “Community.” Those are probably the best known showrunners in television, but if you have other favorite shows you probably know who the heart and soul of those productions is, thanks to everything from Entertainment Weekly and the showrunners’ likely participation in Twitter and Facebook. To quote Neil Landau’s introduction to The TV Showrunner’s Roadmap: “In movies, the director is king. In the television series business, the showrunner calls the shots. A showrunner is almost always the head writer and executive producer of a TV series. Very often, but not always, the showrunner is also the creator of the series.” And once you know what a showrunner does – you probably think, “I could do that.” You’re wrong, but what the hell, who am I to puncture your dreams? (Because I certainly daydream about doing it, too.) NEIL LANDAU podcast excerpt: "On TV, most executive producers are high-level writers. One person, in general, often the creator, needs to lead. If the showrunner is also the head writer of the show, which is very common, the showrunner has to be extremely involved in helming production. He can't always be in the writer's room. He has to step out , frequently to go to casting, top set, to editing. They have a million other responsibilities. That person takes lead and is the captain of the whole ship." In his book, the man who teaches screenwriting and producing at the UCLA School of Film shares his in-depth conversations with the showrunners for “Breaking Bad,” “Homeland,” “Scandal,” “Modern Family,” “Once Upon a Time,” “Lost,” “House, M.D.,” “Friday Night Lights and the showrunner meat grinder, “The Walking Dead.” Even if you don’t imagine yourself creating a TV show and guiding it through seven seasons on a broadcast or cable network, you’ll find his behind-the-scenes talk to be irresistible. NEIL LANDAU podcast excerpt: "Norman Lear, I think of as the granddaddy of showrunners. He was a pioneer. He was one of the first to take a network to task. 'All in the Family' frightened everybody. If was so cutting edge and so controversial. They shot two pilots and it was a real uphill battle for him. But he fought for what he believed." And Landau doesn’t talk out his ass about showrunning; his TV credits include “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” “Melrose Place,” “The Magnificent Seven, “The Secret World of Alex Mack” and MTV’s “Undressed.” He also wrote the film comedy, Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead. Neil Landau • • • * • •
You either know what a Wawa is or you don’t. So if you’re watching today’s show, I’m guessing you’re a member of the cult of convenience store personality. Founded in the small town of Wawa, Pennsylvania, 50 years ago this month, a Wawa store is so much more than an oddly named neighborhood market. HOWARD STOECKEL podcast excerpt: "If you don't make mistakes, you're not trying hard enough. Once we make a mistake at Wawa, we're not intimated. We'll go back, say, 'What went wrong, what can we learn, is it something we want to revisit?' Some of our greatest successes have been out of failures we revisited. That keeps the organization young." It’s a place where friends and neighbors meet, greet and serve friends and neighbors. It’s a place where you can always count on a friendly face and a delicious meal, a great price on fuel and a chuckle every time you see that silly name. Wawa. More than a year ago, I was hired by Wawa to help its then CEO (now vice chairman) Howard Stoeckel write a cultural history of the company he spent the last quarter-century of his career with, at a place where he was known as the Brand Ranger, among other well-earned nicknames. HOWARD STOECKEL podcast excerpt: "We had a group of people who thought we should re-brand the Wawa coffee cup. They came up with this whole new design, very different than what we had. The cup at the time was beige, warm and fuzzy, soft. People thought we should go in a different direction... a black coffee cup. No one else had a black cup in the marketplace. We rolled it out and after five weeks, we got some complaints. People said, 'There is an odor.' It was not an appetizing odor. And there is a morning sports show on 94 WIP-FM in Philadelphia, hosted by Angelo Cataldi, very high-rated. Angelo is a Wawa fan, shops our stores every morning. And he would go to the radio station with this big cup of coffee. The people who appear with him on the show said one day, 'Angelo, something smells! Like body odor!' Angelo thought they were pointing the finger at him. He swore it wasn't him. He concluded that it was the coffee cup. The fact was, the ink on the exterior of the cup, when it got extremely hot, created this odor! We got rid of the cups, went on his show to apologize and thank him for what he did to help us correct the problem." In co-authoring The Wawa Way: How a Funny Name and 6 Core Values Revolutionized Convenience, I had the great pleasure of working with Howard and learning why he is such a beloved and revered character in the stores and halls of Wawa. And he is easily the humblest executive with whom I have ever worked. (By the way, Wawa’s profits from The Wawa Way will go to the new Wawa Foundation.) Wawa • • • • •
The only thing more compelling than a Hollywood mystery might be Hollywood history. I think my guest today, Ken LaZebnik, will agree. He is the author of a swell new book, Hollywood Digs: An Archaeology of Shadows, that tells the tales of people we think we know about in the glamour capital of the world, but LaZebnik has found new details and anecdotes that peel back the onion a little bit more on Hollywood skeletons than we could previously. KEN LaZEBNIK podcast excerpt: "Former Tarzan actor and stuntman Jock Mahoney was Sally Field's stepfather. She became this huge star and I asked Jock's daughter, Princess O'Mahoney, how Jock felt about that. She said, 'He always took credit for it. He took her to those acting classes! ... And when she had a relationship with Burt Reynolds, the movie 'Hooper' was really inspired by Jock." Among my favorite stories in Hollywood Digs is that of stuntman and two-time Tarzan actor Jock Mahoney – but not so much because of him -- as to learn something about his daughter, Princess. As a fan of the Showtime dramedy, “Shameless,” I was always intrigued by the end credit on the show: “First Assistant Director, Princess O’Mahoney.” What an interesting name! And now, thanks to LaZebnik, I know the backstory – which somehow includes Academy Award winning actress Sally Field. Go figure! KEN LaZEBNIK excerpt: "I got on a big F. Scott Fitzgerald kick and noticed this letter of his with a return address 5521 Amestoy Avenue in Encino, California. I thought, I know Amestoy Avenue in Encino! I should see where this was! The address had been consumed by the 101 Highway. But there, on the corner, was Edward Everett Horton Way. Digging further, I discovered that the penultimate residence of F. Scott Fitzgerald in Los Angeles was a rented college on the estate of character actor Edward Everett Horton, who played butlers in those Astaire & Rogers movies. It was so heartbreaking that this great American novelist was reduced to renting a cottage from the estate of the butler. It's pretty appalling." There is also a story connecting The Great Gatsby author F. Scott Fitzgerald with film butler Edward Everett Horton, and much more, as well as more than 60 stunning duotone photographs capturing a number of bygone eras. Ken LaZebnik • • • • • •
I don’t know what it is with guys who write for modern TV dramas but they can imagine government conspiracies and intrigue where I just see incompetence, waste and featherbedding. Take Marc Guggenheim, for example. By day, he is on the writing staff of the most excellent superhero drama, “Arrow,” on The CW. It takes place in a world of corporate intrigue, government corruption and, oh, yeah, this guy with superhuman physical attributes and an astounding talent with a bow and arrow. MARC GUGGENHEIM podcast excerpt: "There hasn't been any pressure on 'Arrow' (to follow the comic book). From jump, we've always said, 'This is our version of Green Arrow. It's going to take inspiration from the comics but it's not going to follow the comics religiously.' Part of the advantage of doing Green Arrow instead of Batman or Superman is that Oliver Queen's origin is not as set in stone as Spider-Man's, Batman's or Superman's. We have license to deviate from the comics. What we often do is use the comics and the expectations they create against the viewer. We use the comic books to set up the expectation and then we subvert the expectation." By night – and weekends, I suspect – Guggenheim is now a writer of fiction, having just published his first novel, "Overwatch," about a super-secret, out-of-control spy agency operating within the CIA without the CIA even knowing of its existence. MARC GUGGENHEIM excerpt: "I learned, over the course of my writing career, that I write without an outline at my peril. At the same time, I always give myself permission to deviate from the outline." Its unlikely star? A young attorney, Alex Garnett, desperately trying to get out from under his father’s shadow. Which is a little tough when your old man is also a lawyer, but one who has served two presidents as chief of staff and solicitor general. Why a lawyer? Possibly because that’s what the Arrow writer was before giving up Boston legal for Hollywood & Vine. I’ve interviewed a series of novelists with deep roots in TV and film of late. And all I can say is – keep ‘em coming. These guys know how to write! MARC GUGGENHEIM excerpt: "I learned so many lessons working on 'Overwatch.' And one of the lessons was that I've had it easy in all the other media I've worked in. If I'm writing a screenplay or a teleplay and I want a character to walk into an office, I just write, 'INT. OFFICE" and the time of day. That's it. Maybe one sentence just to set the scene. But in a novel, you have to describe the paintings on the wall. And you have to describe the crown molding and the carpeting -- all of those things you take for granted and outsource to the production department or the location department in TV or film. In a novel, you're responsible for it all. It's an interesting challenge." Marc Guggenheim • • • • • • •
Reading Bill Medley’s autobiography, "The Time of My Life: A Righteous Brother's Memoir," I was struck by something he may find odd: His career could have come crashing down probably a dozen times since it began 50 years, starting with his first breakup with the late Bobby Hatfield, his singing partner in the Righteous Brothers, continuing through the murder of his first wife, his career as a restaurateur, and so many songs he turned down that became monster hits for others. BILL MEDLEY podcast excerpt: "Phil Everly, Brian Wilson and myself did 'In My Room' together for an album a few years ago. Brian and I have been friends since we all started out together in the early '60s. I love to listen to that record. You hear Brian's voice, then Phil Everly's voice. It really warms my heart. Anybody that did harmony listened to the Everly Brothers." But he always managed to pick up the pieces, reorganize, find a new partner or path. Whatever it took, Bill Medley was not going to be stopped... all the way to the 2003 induction of the Righteous Brothers in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. And, oh, the colorful characters he met – and a few he romanced – along the way: The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, Phil Spector, Darlene Love, Connie Stevens, and Frank Sinatra, to name a few. BILL MEDLEY excerpt: "If I was going to do the book, I wanted to do it as honestly as I could -- right, wrong or indifferent. I certainly didn't want to turn our audience off -- people who love the Righteous Brothers. Bobby Hatfield and I loved each other a lot. We were just absolutely two different guys and we had two different comfort levels. We didn't know that at the beginning. The first three years, we just accidentally had a hit with 'Little Latin Lupe Lu.' We were like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid; we didn't think it was gonna last." "The Time of My Life: A Righteous Brother's Memoir" is the rare rock autobiography that reads like a genuine memoir. It won’t change your life the way Keith Richards did in his, but the authenticity of Bill Medley’s storytelling and the input and contributions of his lifelong friends will move you. As for his new CD, Your Heart To Mine – it’s a slow, bluesy take on songs you know but likely have never heard Bill Medley sing. My favorites? “Rock Me Baby” and “Hold On I’m Comin’.” Bill Medley • • • • •
Can I be honest with you folks? I don’t entirely “get” Audrey Rose Goldfarb’s online video diary, “Audreality.” The point-of-view is a little awkward, the narrative often incomplete, and her friends are unlike any of my friends. And yet... I can’t stop watching! AUDREY ROSE GOLDFARB podcast excerpt: "I felt like the show, 'Audreality,' would make itself. I'm born and raised in Portland and I'm in love with my town. There is always something happening here; it's very creative." The first episode I watched, “No Pants Portland,” made me wish we had thought of that when I edited the alt-newspaper . It was daring, fun, and a lot of good-looking people gave up wearing pants! “The Babes of Beastfit” sounded better than its actual execution, but I still watched. And her last episode, season four’s “Swiss MissTravel Mini-Series” – a peek at international online dating, left my head spinning. But I watched it all. If you’d like to leave your own comfortable universe for a while and get a taste of how a real free spirit lives in Oregon's oddest city, leave your jitters behind and visit one of the 50 episodes of "Audreality" on YouTube. Audreality • • •
Graham Parker? Graham friggin’ Parker? Where the hell has that guy been? If you made a list of artists whose rock ‘n’ roll personified the sound of the mid-to-late 1970s, I think Graham Parker and The Rumour would have to be near the top. GRAHAM PARKER podcast excerpt: "I emailed the people in The Rumour and most said, 'Hell, yes! Let's go! There wasn't too much of 'I don't know if that's the right thing to do...' It was the perfect time to reunite. After I did it, I looked on the Internet and saw that almost every band in the world had already done the same thing and I was like, 'D'OHHH! Not very original is it?'" The top, that is, of the lists of people who actually heard the man and his band. He was the guy that the major rock critics insisted you had to know, whether you liked it or not. Frankly, I think one of the things that hurt Graham Parker and The Rumour was that the people who loved them demanded we love them, too, which was kind of a turn-off for some folks. It also didn’t help that Parker’s reputation with much of the press was as a distant, difficult chap to get to know and get close to. The high water mark for Graham Parker and The Rumour was the release of the album, Squeezing Out Sparks. More than one reviewers described is as the perfect rock ‘n’ roll album. GRAHAM PARKER podcast excerpt: "For me, acting in Judd Apatow's 'This Is 40' was very challenging. I'd ever done it before and someone said, 'Judd wants you to improv.' I'd done my lines in the script so I brought my own sketches. Where the script said I had to turn to Paul Rudd's character and say, 'I've got to go to the podiatrist, I've got a bad foot,' I brought gout in it. 'What's wrong?' 'Touch of gout.'I used Chris O'Dowd and Lena Dunham, who were in the back of the scene. I brought them in by looking at them. I enlarged the scene and I sorta got the hang of things." A whole lot has happened since Parker broke off from The Rumour in 1980 after a five-year run. In the decades since, he has been mostly a solo act – sometimes touring backed by a band called The Figgs – reinventing himself more than once for practical reasons. The latest reinvention is as the willing subject of a Kickstarter-supported documentary film called Don’t Ask Me Questions: The Unsung Life of Graham Parker and The Rumour. Produced and directed by Michael Gramaglia, it not only brings Parker back together with The Rumour to record a new album, it also – at long last – offers the public a glimpse of a man in full: musician, dad, nature lover. Parker and his friends and admirers – including Bruce Springsteen, Joe Jackson, Nick Lowe, DJ Meg Griffin, filmmaker Judd Apatow (who put Parker and The Rumour in his film, This Is 40, starring Paul Rudd) and others – help us understand a man who had no preparation for a life in the spotlight and probably wishes, in retrospect, he had handled his early opportunities differently. Graham Parker • • • • • • •
The last time Rene Syler was on Mr. Media was a little over five years ago. I remember it clearly because she was a day or two away from anchoring BET’s live coverage of Barack Obama’s first inauguration. First inauguration. I wonder if either of us would have predicted back then that the 44th President of the United States – the nation’s first black president – would have rolled to a second term four years later? RENE SYLER podcast excerpt: "In everywhere you go and every experience you have, you have to soak it all in. Everywhere you go, there you are. And I feel very lucky that I get to travel so much with this job. I'll be in Florida and I'll look up at the night sky and see the stars. Or we're in Sedona and I see the stars. I think, 'Isn't it amazing, I've been to all these places and I see the same stars?' I try to immerse myself in every one of those places and experiences." It was certainly a time of high expectations, that’s for sure. In the years since, Rene has been a busy woman, expanding the Good Enough Mother brand she created with publication of a book of the same name. Her web presence has grown and grown and the TV hosting gigs – less than a sure thing after her departure from the CBS morning show in 2006 and a double mastectomy that followed shortly thereafter. RENE SYLER excerpt: "I'm always at the airport, taking stuff out of my suitcase and putting it in my purse like a pack mule on a plane because I'm over weight in my suitcase. I'm shooting a travel show and I always over-pack! In terms of general planning -- I'm horrible! But I'm going to get better." Her latest gig is as host of “Sweet Retreats,” a new show on the Live Well network. On it, she tackles vacation and vacation budget challenges for couples eager to find the perfect getaway for their time and budget. The show airs Sundays at 7:30 p.m. EST, 6:30 p.m. CST. Rene Syler • • • • • • • •
“Thirtysomething.” “My So-called Life.” “Tales of the City.” “Once and Again.” I feel confident saying that I have seen the complete runs of two television series with which writer, director and producer Richard Kramer has been associated — “Thirtysomething” and “Once and Again.” RICHARD KRAMER podcast excerpt: "It's a coming-of-age story but it's not about teenagers. And it's a coming out story that is not about gayness." And that I may have never seen a single episode of the other two, “My So-called Life” and “Tales of the City.” Not that there’s anything wrong with that. RICHARD KRAMER: "We can't believe how Claire Danes grew up. We think of her at 14, when she was this little girl who just came in to audition for 'My So-called Life,' having done one TV show, and we went, 'Oh, my God, who is this?' She was completely focused and adult at 14." “Thirtysomething” and “Once and Again” were two shows that spoke to me at times when I matched up with their demographic: young, married, and, um, still married, I guess. (Have I ever been not married? It’s so hard to remember.) As for “My So-called Life,” I was long past high school when it enjoyed its short but spirited run. And I’ve never been gay – happy, sure – so Armistead Maupin’s “Tales of the City” was not a show I was drawn to for any reason. But now that Richard Kramer has added the word “novelist” to his resume, his first book, These Things Happen, has almost incidentally rolled together elements of all four of the aforementioned TV series — straight marriage, remarriage, gay marriage, straight teens, gay teens, and lots of delicious sounding food — into one uniquely organized tale. RICHARD KRAMER: "At the beginning, 'Thirtysomething' was about a moment in your life when you could still drop in on your friends, unannounced. And when you could walk through the door and it was not about anything other than fun. But then as you get on a bit, you have to call ahead. You have to book the time." These Things Happen came out in paperback this week and HBO recently committed to a half-hour comedy pilot based on the book and produced by Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions. Not bad, Richard. Not bad.
Charles W. Cherry II didn’t have to write a book. He could have swallowed hard on his experiences as an African-American student, good and bad, kept his thoughts to himself and moved on with his life as a rising young attorney and heir to a black media empire of newspapers and radio stations. But he didn’t. CHARLES W. CHERRY II podcast excerpt: "I came to the University of Florida's law school during Affirmative Action. But all we black students knew was it gave us a chance. We got in the place, but we had to stay.You'd get a chance to come in and produce but they didn't give away any grades when I was there. Every A, B or C that I earned, I earned. Affirmative Action was a chip on my shoulder because of the hostility that some of the instructors and my fellow classmates had that black students shouldn't even be in the school at that point (in 1978)." Instead, Cherry wrote a book geared to underachieving black students that attempts to teach them the essentials of learning and studying in an education system that often shows blacks little of the mercy and wiggle room white students encounter. He offers straight talk about gaining confidence and why grades matter even when it seems like they don’t. Most important, for a generation of young men and women who may have grown up in one-parent or no-parent homes, in neighborhoods struggling to overcome crime or drugs, Cherry provides a voice that many black students have never heard. CHARLES W. CHERRY podcast excerpt: "Blacks were always, historically, a people to be managed or reckoned with -- but not citizens who are part and parcel of what I believe is a great democracy in this country." It says, quite simply, “Yes you can. Yes you will. And I can show you how.” Cherry’s message is one that President Obama echoed just yesterday in announcing a new outreach initiative aimed at helping young men of color. “None of this is going to be easy. It’s not a one-year proposition. It’s not a two year-proposition. It’s going to take time,” Obama said. “We’re dealing with complicated issue that run deep in our history, run deep in our society and are entrenched in our mines.” CHARLES W. CHERRY podcast excerpt: "There is no budget function Obama's initiative for young men of color; there is no law. And once that personal interest of Obama's is gone, or once he's out of office, what happens?" Cherry's opinions in today's interview are blunt and not always what you expect. He has strong views on a number of subjects, including President Obama’s recent initiative, Affirmative Action, the University of Florida law school and more. If you’ve got teens in high school or college -- of any race, creed or color -- this is worth your time! Charles W. Cherry II • • Florida Courier • • Daytona Times • •
Along with Tony Bennett, Perry Como and Frank Sinatra, Jerry Vale is one of the most enduring crooners of his generation. “I have to admit I’m pretty lucky,” Vale said in a telephone interview from Atlantic City last week. “Here it is 1984, and I’m still working, earning good money, so I would say I had a pretty good career.” Thirty years have passed since Vale had his first hit record, “Purple Shadows (On The Snow).” He followed that success over and over again — “And This Is My Beloved,” “Al Di La,” “Have You Looked Into Your Heart,” “Camelot,” “Pretend You Don’t See Her,” “And You Don’t Know Me,” “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me” and “The Impossible Dream.” JERRY VALE excerpt: "I used to work with my father. He was an engineer, and I was an oiler on a steam shovel. We used to dig excavations for the sewage plant in Oyster Bay, Long Island. I thought I might like to do that, but then I got a break singing. I always wanted to sing... Thank God I made the right decision." As a kid growing up in an Italian neighborhood in the Bronx, Vale wanted to be either a singer, a ballplayer or an oiler. “I used to work with my father,” he recalled. “(He) was an engineer, and I was an oiler on a steam shovel. We used to dig excavations for the sewage plant in Oyster Bay, Long Island. I thought I might like to do that, but then I got a break singing. I always wanted to sing... Thank God I made the right decision.” There were two important breaks in Vale’s career. The first came when a friend pushed the singer into the spotlight at the Club del Rio at the end of an amateur night, and Vale won the contest with a rendition of “Faraway Places.” The club’s manager hired him for three weekends at $10 a night, and a career was born. The biggest break he had was working in Yonkers at the Enchanted Room in 1950. “I met Guy Mitchell, the guy who recorded ‘My Heart Cries For You.’ He was doing a one-nighter. We became friendly, and he arranged for me to audition for Mitch Miller at Columbia Records,” Vale said. Vale’s first hit, “Purple Shadows” in 1954, was somewhat of a surprise. “It was a smash in Pittsburgh first,” he said. Vale was a little confused when his record company called with the news. “Columbia Records said you better go to Pittsburgh right away. I said what’s going on? They said you’ve got a hit record! I thought it was the other side, a song from Kismet called ‘And This Is My Beloved.’ They said, oh, no, it’s the other side. I did ‘And This Is My Beloved’ with Percy Faith and a 40-piece orchestra, and I did ‘Purple Shadows’ with four musicians... It’s a very good song, and I think I sang it well. Even today, the quality is fantastic. It’s in stereo, and you’ll never know it wasn’t made yesterday.” JERRY VALE excerpt: "Today, if you walk up to a 15-year-old and ask him about Bing Crosby, I guarantee you that half or more wouldn’t know who he was. That’s a crime. Bing Crosby was an American institution, a legend... There are those who don’t know Tony Bennett or Jerry Vale, and it’s no fault of theirs. Time goes on, and things change. Fortunately, we built a pretty good foundation, guys like myself, Tony, Jack Jones. We still have a certain amount of fans listening to what we do." Vale expressed concern that his style of singing is on the verge of extinction. “I can’t think of one singer that’s doing the type of songs I’ve done. It’s a shame that some of those songs are not going to be done like they should. “Today,” he added, “if you walk up to a 15-year-old and ask him about Bing Crosby, I guarantee you that half or more wouldn’t know who he was. That’s a crime. Bing Crosby was an American institution, a legend... There are those who don’t know Tony Bennett or Jerry Vale, and it’s no fault of theirs. Time goes on, and things change. Fortunately, we built a pretty good foundation, guys like myself, Tony, Jack Jones. We still have a certain amount of fans listening to what we do.” Vale has made almost a second career of singing Italian standards like “Al Di La” and “Mama Femina,” becoming to Italian-Americans what Bobby Vinton is to Polish-Americans. The ethnic songs, along with past hits and numbers from Broadway shows such as La Cage Aux Folles and A Chorus Line, fill out the show Vale brings to Ruth Eckerd Hall tonight. Vale will be accompanied by an 18-piece orchestra including violins, trumpets, trombones, saxophones, a rhythm section and guitars. Of all the songs he has recorded, the silver-haired vocalist has many favorites. But the one he would like most to be remembered for is “You Don’t Know Me,” recorded in 1957. (Written by Eddy Arnold and Cindy Walker, it was later a hit for Ray Charles.) Jerry Vale • • • • •
Laura Kennedy? Now there’s a name from the past! Almost – gulp! – 30 years ago, I had the crazy idea to start a lifestyle magazine for young people in the Tampa Bay area -- JUMP Monthly. It was a few years before Creative Loafing entered the market and I thought it was an unfulfilled niche in my adopted community. LAURA KENNEDY podcast excerpt: "I started in my early 20s writing love stories. I wrote about 30 and sold 24 of them. But then I had kids -- four children in a row -- and life got in the way." What I needed were advertising salespeople. What I got were writers! The magazine lasted maybe four issues, but it was a blast. We sold very few ads, but everyone who worked on Jump Monthly is still friendly and in contact... although it took Laura Kennedy, then a salesperson, now a writer, about 28 years to get back in touch. Laura, who I always thought of as charming, resurfaced recently with her first book, a young adult novel titled Double Take. As first efforts go, it’s remarkably compelling and smartly executed, telling the story of 16-year-old Brooke’s life-changing meeting with 80-year-old former actress Laura de France. LAURA KENNEDY: "I have a young life voice and attitude. A 17-year-old protagonist is perfect for me -- I think that's where I'm stuck in life." If you are a 16-year-old girl – or know one – you will probably enjoy reading this story. And because Laura Kennedy places her tale in Florida’s world famous Greek sponge fishing village, Tarpon Springs, it is also quite picturesque. I’m delighted to welcome to the show today a dear old friend. Laura Kennedy • •
It really is no wonder that Shannon Wheeler’s Too Much Coffee Man – “TM,” of course – caught on and has endured for decades. After all, he’s a caffeine-based superhero, the only kind of power a human being was likely to acquire before gene-splicing and robotics. That – and his head is a coffee cup. With a handle. SHANNON WHEELER podcast excerpt: "When I create a Too Much Coffee Man strip, I'll start a little more narrative than I will a New Yorker cartoon. It's more about free-form ideas. With TMCM, I'll start with just a panel and start writing. It's 'Where does this idea take me?' With The New Yorker, it's in quick and out quick. To me, in a New Yorker strip, you're trying to create a narrative by a single panel. You're implying a story that happened before that panel. And a story that will happen after that panel. To me, those are the funniest New Yorkers, where your mind has to build all this stuff. With Too Much Coffee Man, it's the reverse, where I'll start with this idea and let it take me some place. It's random tangents." I’ve been trying to remember when and where I picked up my first issue of a Too Much Coffee Man comic book, but I know it was a long time ago. Cartoonist Wheeler has come a long, long way since then, in terms of distribution, confidence and the sheer quantity and quality of his work. Oh, and through TMCM comics, we can also piece together a Wheeler philosophy of sorts – Live free and die and be reborn. A lot. You can read “Too Much Coffee Man” in a number of newspapers around the country – Wheeler draws new strips every two weeks – or you can order the Too Much Coffee Man Omnibus, all 566 pages of caffeinated glory, from Dark Horse Books. SHANNON WHEELER: "I've tried to read the Bible a dozen times. I thought (God is Disappointed in You) will finally force me to learn about the Bible; I'll know Leviticus vs. John; I'll learn these stories. The intent of it was not tomock the Bible. It's a little flippant, sure... I like Christians a lot more now than I did before. I was concerned there would be a lot of knee-jerk reactions to the book. But nuns have bought the book. A pastor said, 'This is a really great way to teach the Bible. Which is great." What fans of Wheeler’s Too Much Coffee Man work might have missed is how mainstream the artist’s work has become in recent years: • His cartoons can be found on a recurring basis in both The Onion and The New Yorker magazine, for example; • Dark Horse Comics collected his “Villain House” stories from Dark Horse Presents into a one-shot comic book, Astounding Villain House; • He brought semi-adult illustrations to Mark Russell’s attempt to retell the Bible in God is Disappointed in You; • And he illustrated Steve Duin’s book about the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Oil and Water, which was a finalist for the 2014 Oregon Book Awards. From now until November 15, 2015, Wheeler is guest curating “The Flip Side: Comic Art by New Yorker Cartoonists at the Maryhill Museum of Art, 90 miles north of Portland in Washington State. And you can enjoy all of Wheeler’s work while sipping on a glass of Too Much Coffee Man beer, a Belgian-style black ale with coffee. No kidding. Too Much Coffee Man • • • • • • Shannon Wheeler • • • Maryhill Museum
Put the name of a city in the title of your movie and that place is likely to have either a lot to live up to – or down to. In indie filmmaker Mark Raso’s Copenhagen, there are three stories fighting for prominence, none of which is actually a tale of the city in which the movie takes place. William (played by Gethin Anthony) is in Copenhagen with his best friend and best friend’s girlfriend to deliver a message to his grandfather – if he even exists. That’s thread one. MARK RASO podcast excerpt: "Through the long editing process, a lot of the humor in 'Copenhagen' lost itself on me. What was surprising to me, when the film premiered at Slamdance, was how often people were laughing. I had forgotten that there was a humoristic element to this film. That was nice." Thread two is that William has a lot of unresolved issues in his life that he hopes will be satisfied by successfully completing his mission in thread one. And that is thread two. Thread three is what happens when William relies upon and becomes smitten with a beautiful young waitress, Effy (played by Frederikke Dahl Hansen), who becomes his guide to navigating her hometown – emotionally and by bike. This final thread is complicated by her own challenges – and age – and threatens to overtake all else. MARK RASO podcast excerpt: "Columbia University's School of the Arts has its usual screenings and awards at the end of the year. My film, 'Under,' didn't do well there, oddly enough. But one of my film professors said, 'Make sure you submit this to the Student Academy Awards,' and I did... Winning was a tremendous career-enhancing moment." Copenhagen — which won the 2014 Audience Award at Slamdance — is featured this weekend, March 19-23, 2014, at the Gasparilla International Film Festival in Tampa. After screening the film, I read Variety’s review, which describes it as “more intriguing than compelling.” I disagree. The film is thoroughly compelling, particularly when William and Effy share the screen, although William’s character is perhaps a bit uneven in his emotional responses at times. But at his age – or hers – what can one truly expect? Their chemistry is undeniable, and therein lies the real problem. Unlike in Variety, the filmmaker -- who won the 2012 Student Academy Award (yep, that's an Oscar) for Under -- will have every opportunity to respond and discuss Copenhagen. Here. Now. Mark Raso • • •
You may have to suspend a bit of disbelef to swallow one of the earliest conceits of The Ascendant – that mega-super-genius Garrett Reilly could ever get past his distaste and hatred for America’s armed forces after what they did to his brother. But once you get past that little quagmire, it’s smooth sailing in Drew Chapman’s wild ride through Chinese-American relations, international intrigue, an undeclared Internet war and so, so much more. DREW CHAPMAN podcast excerpt: "I always tried to stay within the realm of what was possible. In Seattle, I have lots of tech connections. I know all these Microsoft people who kept getting sent to China and coming back with tales of, "Oh, my God, you would not believe how they hack into anything we bring over there!' It's like a war! (Microsoft) won't let you take your own computer from Seattle to Beijing. They hand you a sterile computer and say, 'Take this!' Because if you take your own, everything on it will be corrupted and stolen. It is literally war. The minute you walk into a hotel and log in, they're in, too. Boom!" Over the last few years, this show has hosted a growing number of writers who, like Drew Chapman, first cut their teeth in film and TV work. These guys – including (I Am Pilgrim), (The Girlfriend Game) and (A Hole in the Ground Owned By A Liar) have all hit the ground with terrific first novels that leave the reader begging for more. The cinematic qualities of these books comes across loud and clear and it’s obvious that the authors’ backgrounds in writing first for the eye and the ear brings great benefit to those of us who still like to be entertained by line after line of written words. If you like great espionage thrillers packed with almost incomprehensible danger on a global scale and no shortage of action, stay tuned for my interview with novelist Drew Chapman. And then go order his first book, The Ascendant! Drew Chapman • • • •
Who could not look at E.J. Assi and Nada Shouhayib without thinking: “Movie stars”? I thought it when I saw the poster for their indie film debut, Detroit Unleaded, and was thoroughly convinced the first time they interact onscreen in director Rola Nashef’s debut film. And when the movie ended, I immediately wanted to follow their lives into another film! E.J. ASSI podcast excerpt: "One of the things (director) Rola Nashef wanted to get across was this barrier between my character, Sami, and Nada's character, Najlah. Sami and Naj were falling for each other, intimately, but there is something keeping them from each other. Rola didn't want cheesy groping -- she wanted intimate, sensual... classy." Detroit Unleaded is a romantic comedy told in a place we haven’t associated with romance lately, Detroit. And rather than tell a story of that city’s African-American community, this sweet, well-paced film takes us into the city’s working-class Arab-American roots. We see a male-dominant society – Nada, as Najlah, works for her brother and shows respect for him – but the cracks in that culture are obvious. And E.J., as Sami, wants to support his mother after his father is gunned down in the family gas station, but what his heart really desires is in a world he imagines beyond his little glass cage. A world built around Najlah. NADA SHOUHAYIB: "E.J. provided a really good friendship for me on a professional level because I had never acted before." There are so many great, small moments in the film, but my favorite is when Sami wants to kiss Naj, but she continually rebuffs him. “Can you blame me?” he asks with puppydog eyes. “No,” she says, which cracked me up. This film is sort of an Arab-American version of Kevin Smith’s Clerks – without all the scatalogical and off-color humor. E.J. ASSI: "There's a misconception of how dangerous Detroit is... The film shows the good side. And that's what people need to see." Following its theatrical run, Detroit Unleaded is now available for digital download via Amazon Instant, YouTube, Google Play, Vudu, Microsoft Xbox, and Sony Playstation. Detroit Unleaded • • • E.J. Assi • • Nada Shouhayib •
Nobody in show business has a resume quite like John Melendez. JOHN MELENDEZ podcast excerpt: "I don't have a bad word to say about Jay... except that he wears the same freakin' denim every day!" He started as a college intern on radio's "The Howard Stern Show," where his balls-out willingness to do pretty much anything made him an instant listener favorite – whether to love or hate. For 15 years, he was one of Howard’s guys, ferociously loyal, willing to take the boss’s crap and dish it right back. If you listened regularly, you knew that despite the abuse Stern gave him over his persistent stutter, he was one of Stern’s on-air treasures. JOHN MELENDEZ: "Some fans say I sold out. The truth is, I was on the Stern Show for 15 years. I went to NYU; I majored in film and television. I always wanted to be in television. It's a passion of mine. There were no hard feelings. I loved being on the Stern Show. But it was time. I was ready to move on." That changed, however, when Melendez’s career took a turn nobody saw coming: Jay Leno hired him to be his announcer on "The Tonight Show." What the f*ck? the world seemed to say as one. But Leno found the same loyalty in Melendez that Stern had, expanding his role to staff writer and keeping him on his team for six years until his last day on "The Tonight Show" just a few weeks ago. JOHN MELENDEZ: "I have gotten a lot calmer. A lot of it is self-confidence; the stutter, for the most part, has dissipated. It was bad when I was a kid; it was bad when I was on the Stern Show. Now, when I'm on stage, people get pissed that I don't stutter." Did "The Tonight Show" experience change or mature John Melendez? What will he do next? Here’s a hint: WeddingRoasters.com. By the way, he's down to a slight stutter, only when he gets really excited. And this is John’s second visit to Mr. Media. John Melendez • • • • WeddingRoasters.com •
What makes a TV comedy funny? I’m not talking about dissecting punchlines or setups, but more the idea of the makeup of the medium’s meat & potatoes, the sitcom. Why did “The Dick Van Dyke Show” soar but “The New Dick Van Dyke Show” didn’t while “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” did? SAUL AUSTERLITZ podcast excerpt: "'Curb Your Enthusiasm' is about this outrageous character wandering through what we recognize as ordinary upper-middle class life in Los Angeles and wreaking havoc. 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' is somewhat similar in its approach... They're uncomfortable truth-tellers. What's so remarkable about these shows is their ability to find new sacred cows to undermine." Why was “All in the Family” socially acceptable on CBS in 1971 but “Dads” on Fox is offensive today? Saul Austerlitz, I promise, will explain it all. He is the author of a new comedy history called Sitcom: A History in 24 Episodes from I Love Lucy to Community. This is Saul’s second visit to our show and first via video; he was previously my guest to discuss his last book, Another Fine Mess: A History of the American Film Comedy. SAUL AUSTERLITZ: "I find CBS sitcoms to be unwatchable for me. Mostly because of the laugh track issue. It's hard for me to watch shows with laugh tracks in 2014. It feels like I'm in some sort of time warp. I think 'The Big Bang Theory' and 'How I Met Your Mother' are... not bad. I don't have anything majorly negative to say about them. They just seem so culturally out of place. They're trying to recreate the 1980s model of sitcom--30 years later. It seems that CBS is not engaging in the same conversation as everybody else. I find their shows range from not watchable to not particularly interesting." Saul Austerlitz • • •
Everybody has a personal list of guilty pleasures, right? Maybe you like to watch “The Good Wife” when no one else is home. Or you’re a closeted Belieber. Stuff like that. MARSHALL DANE podcast excerpt: "I was doing a charity show to support Lou Gehrig's Disease research and I announced that I had these new songs about my family. I said the first one is called 'God-Fearin' Woman.' It starts off, 'Momma was a God-fearin' woman...' Then I played another one that goes like this, 'My daddy gave his life to the preachin', but he couldn't hide the devil in his eye, and he thought he found his savior when he drank that bottle dry.' At the end of the show -- the first time my father heard it -- he said to me, 'Son, what was that tune you did?' "Oh,' I said, 'that's a possible one for the new record.' He said, 'Do me a favor son? Don't put that song on the record. Put the one about your mother on the album.' So that other one sits in a drawer somewhere." As for me, I’m an easy touch for songs about... drinking. You know: • “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer” – not the John Lee Hooker version, but the one by George Thorogood and the Destroyers, only because that’s the one I was introduced to by Jim Doten; • “Drinkenstein,” music and lyrics by Dolly Parton, performed by Sylvester Stallone for the movie in which they co-starred, Rhinestone. The song won the 1984 Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Original Song in a movie; • And, of course, “Rehab,” by Amy Winehouse. What makes these songs a guilty pleasure is that I don’t drink, other than a glass of Sangria every couple of months. No beer, no wine, no scotch or whiskey. MARSHALL DANE: "As much as I've usually got 'alcohol' in the title -- or it's somewhere weaved into the songs -- I don't write songs that are all about getting drunk or about abusing alcohol in the sense of drinking too much. Technically, my songs talk about not drinking; they just use the reference to it. Like, 'Love and alcohol -- can't touch that stuff at all.' Or 'Alcohol abuse -- it's a shameful waste of precious booze!' Or 'I'll be your whiskey, just lay that bottle down and kiss me.'" So it’s a little weird, I guess, that my guest today is staking his own reputation as the singer-songwriter behind new tunes such as “Alcohol Abuse” and “I’ll Be Your Whiskey,” both of which Marshall Dane will perform a little later in today’s show. The young Canadian country artist is someone you may not have heard of before, but I think you’re going to be humming “Alcohol Abuse” when we’re all done here! And I expect you’ll want to download his new album, One of These Days, as well. Marshall Dane • • • • • •
You can be forgiven if your first thought upon seeing – or picking up – Terry Hayes’ first novel, "I Am Pilgrim," is that it’s going to be less a soaring adventure than a hefty paperweight. But I’m here to tell you that, at 612 pages, it is worth every minute of lifting and reading that you’ll invest in getting from the first page to the last. It’s that good. TERRY HAYES podcast excerpt: "Pilgrim is a guy who longs for love. But like so many people, he's not quite sure how to find it. He says at one point in the book that he wants to walk along a beach with somebody that he can love and not think about how far a sniper rifle can fire. Not the fact you're dead before you even hear the sound." This is the stuff of traditional page-turners: rugged action, globe-trotting adventure, and can’t-wait-to-see-how-it-ends suspense. Not that the cinematic nature of this intense spy thriller is by accident; author Hayes has some pretty impressive film credits to his name, including three with actor Mel Gibson: Payback, Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, and Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome, as well as From Hell starring Johnny Depp, and Dead Calm, with Nicole Kidman. TERRY HAYES: "Not only have I worked on three movies that were made with Mel Gibson, I worked on three others that weren't. I've been through very intense experiences with him. It's a very complex relationship. I would feel less of myself were I to join the pile-in on him. I've never, ever experienced -- in the countless hours we spent together -- any of the things which have occasioned him to be criticized publicly... There are things that supersede career moves: friendship, loyalty... Do I think I could work with him again? If he was in the right mental space and it was a great project? That's a possibility. Do I want to sustain lots of prejudiced thoughts? No -- life's too short." What’s noteworthy about Hayes’ career—besides the fact he worked with Gibson during the rise of the actor’s career—is that as far as IMDB goes, Hayes fell off the face of the earth after writing From Hell in 2001. That, of course, was 13 years ago. Did he spend an entire decade writing I Am Pilgrim? If so, it was worth it. But don’t worry – I’ll ask. Terry Hayes • • • •
If you’re a man who cheats on his wife or girlfriend, you – like fictional TV character Hank Moody – probably deserves the hell that sleeping with underage Mia Lewis will bring. In his defense, novelist Hank, the protagonist in Showtime’s long-running sitcom “Californication,” didn’t know Mia was just 16 when she picked him up in a bookstore. But ignorance is not really a defense in cases like this, so never mind. MADELINE ZIMA podcast excerpt: "My being on 'Californication' and doing a sex scene where there was nudity involved was not something that was premeditated at all. It was just that I couldn't get a job before that show. Nobody would see me -- I was just the kid from 'The Nanny.' Getting any kind of work was a miracle. And the only reason they saw me for 'Californication' was that they had seen every other actress and the couldn't find 'The Girl.' Every other actress was my age at that time, 21 -- above me and below me -- they couldn't find anyone. They only agreed to see me because they were desperate. I thought it was an interesting role; I never got to play anything like that before... The first season was about redemption and it was very relatable. It was well-written and perfect." Oh, and after she has sex with Hank? Mia puts the cherry on top by sucker punching him in the jaw. Hard. And technically, I don’t think they were quite done having sex. That was hardly the last we’d see of Mia – played by my guest today, actress Madeline Zima. In a great plot twist, she actually recurred in more than two dozen episodes over the next few seasons of the show, having stolen the manuscript of Moody’s second book and retitling it “F@#!ing and Punching.” Under Mia’s byline, she and it became bestsellers. Did I mention Hank Moody is played by David Duchovny, formerly Agent Mulder on “The X-Files”? MADELINE ZIMA: "I always play these wild characters and I have no idea why. I have the most boring life!" More recently, she was Gretchen Berg on a season of “Heroes,” and can currently be seen as Jordan Alexis in the Amazon.com original series “Betas.” MADELINE ZIMA: "'#Stuck' is really fun! It won a bunch of festivals, but we couldn't get the distribution deal we felt it deserved. We think it deserves more than a straight-to-VOD (video on demand) release. We are doing a crowdfunding campaign to get it a proper distribution deal in theaters." But the project that is nearest and dearest to her heart is an indie film called #Stuck, in which she not only stars – opposite Joel David Moore – but is also an investor. Most movies seeking crowdfunding these days haven’t begun filming, but #Stuck is in the can; it’s looking for members of the public to financially support its efforts to self-distribute. We will talk about that, too. Madeline Zima • • • • • • • • #Stuck • • • •
When Trista Rehn appeared on the very first run of ABC’s reality series, “The Bachelor” back in 2002, America fell in love with her. But The Bachelor himself, Alex Michel? Not so much. TRISTA REHN SUTTER podcast excerpt: "My family and friends were supportive of me doing 'The Bachelorette' (after losing on 'The Bachelor'). And even if they had been skeptics, I still would have gone through with it because I felt so strongly about the fact that I could really find somebody." That really hurt Trista, who genuinely thought Alex was the one for her. At the last moment, he chose a different girl. Who? I dunno; she’s not my guest today. America – and the producers of “The Bachelorette” – saw Trista cry genuine tears that night. Everyone (but Alex Michel) believed that the pediatric physical therapist from Miami Children’s Hospital by day and Miami Heat dancer by night was robbed. TRISTA REHN SUTTER: "The biggest thing I took away from my bad experience with Alex Michel was something that hurt me in the long run. Two days before the final 'Bachelor' rose ceremony with Alex, he told me that he was going to choose me. I took that to heart, and went into the final ceremony thinking I was going to get engaged -- and, of course, I got my heart broken. So when I did 'The Bachelorette,' I didn't give in to my feelings until the very final day. I didn't let Ryan know how I was feeling. He literally had no idea what was going to happen. I didn't give him any reciprocation of the feelings he was showing to me." That’s when the spinoff series, “The Bachelorette,” was born. And this time, Trista was the one doing the picking. When all was said and done, she went with a handsome firefighter whom she swears she fell in love with at first sight. A dozen years later, Trista and Ryan Sutter are still married, parents of two children, and hap-hap-happy! And the original Bachelorette just published a book, Happily Ever After: The Life-Changing Power of a Grateful Heart. Trista Rehn Sutter • • • • • • • •
When I was a kid, “Doctor Who” repeats on WNET Channel 13, the New York Public Broadcasting Station, were a joke. The sets and costumes were cheap, the drama ludicrous and nobody I knew watched it more than once. Surely the kids in England weren’t fans of such low-rent superheroes? Fast-forward a generation and my daughter Rachel became friends with Kara, a girl who, like her dad, John, was a huge Doctor Who fan. Kara turned Rachel on to the show, she shared it with everyone she met – her mother included – and pretty soon all I heard about was The Doctor this, The Doctor that. Surely, the kid was not hooked on the dreck I saw as a child? CAMERON K. McEWAN podcast excerpt: "I thought the powers at the BBC might want to keep the Doctor younger, but Peter Capaldi was a good call. Peter is the right man for 2014. He's an absolutely fantastic actor and has great range from comedy to drama. He's also a very familiar actor in the UK and he's a great actor as well. He has everything the fans will love in the Twelfth Doctor." Not even close. If you have somehow missed out on the cult of one of the most popular television series on the planet, the modern “Doctor Who” is a witty, sexy spectacular of time, space and weirdness. It’s available on BBC America here in the United States and the BBC – and Netflix – the world over. And this is not even your father’s BBC – for adults, “Doctor Who” is like an entry drug to all kinds of brilliant television drama coming from the UK, including “Sherlock” starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, and “Luther” starring Idris Elba. CAMERON K. McEWAN: "Time Lords actually can change sex so the idea of a woman Doctor, to me, was potentially quite exciting... I'm all for change. I think that's what makes Doctor Who brilliant... Helena Bonham Carter? (Might one day be) the right person for the right job." But back to Doctor Who. Cameron K. McEwan is one of the show’s most devoted fans and one who has found a way to make a living from his addiction. He created the fan website “Blogtor Who” in 2007 and it is now one of the most popular Doctor Who blogs in the world. And McEwan himself has become a popular figure at Doctor Who conventions and events. He also was involved in the Doctor Who documentary, Who’s Changing. He’s joining me today to talk about his new book about the show, "The Who’s Who of Doctor Who: A Whovian Guide to Friends, Foes, Villains, Monsters, and Companions to the Good Doctor." It’s a spectacularly fun read and reference intended for both the casual viewer and the most ardent Whovian, collecting knowledge, characters and storylines from 50 years of continuity. It’s insanely great. Cameron K. McEwan • • • •
Today's Guest: Tommy Roe, singer and songwriter, "Dizzy," "Sheila," "Sweet Pea, "Everybody" The Beatles (standing), Chris Montez (seated, l), Tommy Roe (seated, r), Mr. Media Interviews Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of people who knew Lennon & McCartney and can say, with authority, that you’re no Lennon & McCartney … in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Chris Montez, Tommy Roe, The Beatles, 1963 UK concert poster, Mr. Media Interviews There are two pictures on Tommy Roe’s website of him with The Beatles. I glanced at them last night and then moved on, looking for ideas about what to ask the man behind such immortal 1960s bubblegum hits as “Sheila,” “Dizzy” and “Jam Up and Jelly Tight.” This morning, I got to thinking about it some more. Those were some very young Beatles in those photo, gathered around behind Roe. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr are dressed alike in suits and ties, not unlike what they wore on the cover of their first album, Meet The Beatles. TOMMY ROE podcast excerpt: "At first, I thought The Beatles were our backup band in London in 1963! I'd never heard of them, didn't know who they were. They came in with all that hair and I thought that was kind of strange lookin'. After the first night, I knew Chris Montez and I were going to have a tough go of it because they created such chaos during their part of the show." Hair is about the same length, too. So I did a little more research and this is the moment when my eyebrows shot up. Two days after The Beatles made their American debut, February 9, 1964, on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” they made their first-ever U.S. concert appearance at the Washington Coliseum in Washington, D.C. According to a website called , the opening acts on the bill were Jay & The Americans, The Righteous Brothers... and Tommy Roe. Order 'Tommy Roe - Greatest Hits' [MCA], available from Amazon.com by clicking on the album cover above! But wait, it gets better: The Beatles already knew Roe; they were one of the featured acts on his top-billed tour of the UK a year earlier! And they recorded a cover of his #1 hit from 1962, “Sheila” TOMMY ROE: "The Beatles were full of questions. John and George got me aside and John said, 'Y'know, we do 'Sheila' during our shows. But I'm not sure if we're playing it correctly.' So John played it and was playing chords backward! He was playing A-D-E-D instead of A-E-D-E. He said, 'I knew something was wrong.'" Let me give you a quick overview of Tommy Roe’s success: he had his first #1 with “Sheila,” of course, and subsequently charted a number of songs on the Top 10, including “Everybody,” “Sweet Pea” and his biggest single, “Dizzy,” which was #1 in the US, UK and Canada in 1969. And as much as I love that song, I’ve always had a special fondness for his other ’69 hit, “Jam Up and Jelly Tight.” On February 11, 2014 – 50 years to the day – you can join Tommy Roe to relive a moment of rock ‘n’ roll history as he returns to the historic Washington Coliseum in Washington, D.C., to open a show by the tribute band, Beatlemania Now, replicating the original. You can get tickets online at . Order 'Meet The Beatles' (The U.S. Album), available from Amazon.com by clicking the album cover above! TOMMY ROE: "I sat with Ringo a lot on the bus, or George. John and Paul stayed together because they were writing on the bus all the time, just as I was. I wrote 'Everybody' on that tour. John let me borrow his Gibson guitar on the bus and I wrote 'Everybody' on it." INTERVIEW BONUS: Watch for the moment when Tommy picks up up the guitar behind him and demonstrates how a few songs came together and plays the one hit he thinks got away from him! Tommy Roe • • • TOMMY ROE: "I really admired the Grateful Dead because of their songwriting skills. When I started writing songs at 14 years old, I idolized Buddy Holly, Carl Perkins, Sam Cooke, and Chuck Berry -- all songwriters. And they sang their own songs. Songwriting has always been the key to pop music or rock music. Being able to write my own songs is what helped me survive the onslaught of the British Invasion in the 1960s."
Today's Guest: Kenny Weissberg, Boulder, Colorado DJ, bandleader, Kenny & The Kritix, San Diego concert promoter, author, Off My Rocker: One Man's Tasty, Twisted, Star-Studded Quest for Everlasting Music Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience that demands stretch limos from here to there, classic Ms. Pac-Man videogames, payment in cash, white Marley-covered flooring, use of my private office, a seamstress, hairdresser, two dozen dethorned roses a day, and a douchebag – oh, wait, I’m sorry, that’s just Gallagher… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'Off My Rocker: One Man's Tasty, Twisted, Star-Studded Quest for Everlasting Music' by Kenny Weissberg, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! As a writer, I know the importance of a good opening. I think the best one I ever wrote was at the start of The Profit Zone. I didn’t understand a lot of the economic theory my co-author was describing, but I did encapsulize one of his primary views pretty simply: Market share is dead. KENNY WEISSBERG podcast excerpt: "At my 8th birthday, I said to my friends and my parents, 'I'm going to be a disc jockey!' They laughed. Years later, in Boulder, Colorado, I kind of fudged how much radio experience I had... Okay, I lied! I talked a good game and less than a month later, my friends -- who was the morning DJ at KRNW -- left his job and recommended I take over for him. I didn't know what I was doing; I had never been IN a radio station before! I faked my way through the first 6-hour shift and became a natural at it." Promotional poster for Kenny & The Kritix, 1982 So when I started reading Kenny Weissberg’s new autobiography, Off My Rocker, I was looking for a compelling reason to go on. (After all, I had never heard of Kenny.) Other than us both growing up in New Jersey, I couldn’t make a connection. He was a long-time FM radio disc jockey in Boulder, Colorado. (Never been there.) He fronted his own band there for a while, Kenny & the Kritix. (Never done that.) And while I’ve been to San Diego, the waterfront venue there in which he later made his reputation as a concert promoter, Humphrey’s, was not on my radar. So when his book opens on the day of December 10, 1967, he needed to win me over quickly. He did. The first story in Off My Rocker is about Kenny and two pals cutting class at the University of Wisconsin to buy tickets to see Otis Redding and the Bar-Kays. A few weeks later, Kenny and his friends are outside the Factory on the day of the show waiting for the doors to open, only to discover that Redding and his mates died in a plane crash on the way to the gig. It was jarring and sad, but all-consuming to a reader. If you love rock ‘n’ roll, have an interest in learning about life behind-the-scenes in the music business, you’ll find this entire book irresistible. Kenny Weissberg • • • • • •
Today's Guest: Reginald Roundtree, WTSP 10 News anchor, Tampa Bay's CBS affiliate Watch this exclusive Mr. Media interview with Reginald Roundtree, WTSP 10 News anchor, Tampa Bay's CBS affiliate, by clicking on the video player above! Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience – HEY! WAIT A MINUTE! THIS IS NOT MY BEAUTIFUL LIVING ROOM! WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE BEHIND ME, ANYWAY??? Holy cow, we’re LIVE at Jennifer Pierson’s Elevate Fitness, 6001 Central Avenue in the new new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Reginald Roundtree, WTSP 10 News, Bob Andelman, Mr. Media Interviews, Elevate Fitness (Photo {c} 2014 by John Schultz. All Rights Reserved.) Before I introduce my guest, Reginald Roundtree, co-anchor of “10 News” on Tampa Bay’s CBS affiliate, WTSP, I want to tell you about the people who made it possible for Mr. Media to leave the living room and venture out in public today! We’re recording the show today at Elevate Fitness, 6001 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg. Drop the gym and elevate your fitness with vertical training! Fitwall training means more muscles used, more calories burned and a more effective workout in less time! Drop in and try it – your first class is only $5 when you mention you saw it on Mr. Media! For more information, visit the Elevate Fitness website, ElevateStPete.com – or call 727-345-7200! Now let me tell you about my guest. REGINALD ROUNDTREE podcast excerpt: "As a Miami cop, the most dangerous calls were always the domestics, where the cops go to a home where there is violence going on. Especially the shift I worked on -- midnights. Or stopping cars at 5 in the morning, on dark, unlit city streets, walking up to strangers, it was very, very dangerous. You can do 5,000 quiet traffic stops, the 5,001st will be the bad guy with the gun waiting for you to walk up to the car to blow your brains out." At a time when some people believe local news shows may be a bit ubiquitous and the cast of characters interchangeable, Reginald Roundtree is a dean of Tampa Bay’s broadcast news scene, coming up on a remarkable 25 years on staff at WTSP. But who is this man of great calm and legendary cool? Would you believe... he’s an ex-cop? It’s true! Reggie, who is a native Floridian -- born in Daytona Beach – grew up in Miami, where he eventually spent six years as a city police officer. He was even recognized there with an Officer of the Year Medal of Valor. He eventually joined the news operation at WPEC-TV in West Palm Beach before landing in Tampa Bay almost a quarter century ago. A few more quick bits of information about our Mr. Roundtree: he is frequently out and about in the bay area, posting Facebook selfies of himself playing a round of golf, at community fundraisers, or just patronizing local restaurants. And check his Twitter account and you’ll find him messaging other bay area media celebs such as... Bubba the Love Sponge? Reginald Roundtree • • • • The Johnny Zoom Hi-Fi Show •
Today's Guest: Glen Burtnik, New Jersey musician, songwriter, "Beatlemania" Paul McCartney, Cats on a Smooth Surface, Hammer, John Waite, Patty Smythe, Styx, ELO/The Orchestra Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience that includes Southside Johnny, John Eddie, Phil Garland and a bunch of other guys briefly pronounced to be the next big thing from the Jersey Shore… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'Heroes and Zeros' by Glen Burtnik, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the album cover above! There aren’t many people, besides my mom, whom I could introduce by saying I’ve known them all my life. But that’s true of Glen Burtnik. But don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting we know each other well or have ever hung out. It’s just that in the early 1960s, our families were neighbors in a low-rent apartment complex in Somerset, New Jersey. Our moms were friends and remained so for many years to come, even as both families separately relocated to more suburban digs in North Brunswick. Glen was the first person to ever attempt to teach me how to play the guitar – the first of many to fail at that task, but the only one who went on to play Paul McCartney onstage in “Beatlemania.” GLEN BURTNIK podcast excerpt: "Sometimes we would know ahead if Bruce Springsteen was going to show up and play with us (Cats on a Smooth Surface) on stage at The Stone Pony. But usually he would just hang. Often I would know he was in the bar because the audience would suddenly change. They would come to the edge of the stage and just stand there staring at us. And we'd realize, 'They're not really watching us -- they're waiting for something...' One time, Bruce was at the bar, but he didn't do anything. We finished our set and it was encore time. I walked out the stage, the audience was clapping to bring us back on, and there was Bruce walking away on the sidewalk. I said, 'Hey, Bruce -- you wanna play?' He said, 'I don't know...' I said, 'C'mon!' and he said, 'Aw, alright!'" Order 'Palookaville' by Glen Burtnik, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the album cover above! He also married Rosemary, a beautiful girl down the street from me, so I saw him in passing from time to time. The only time I believe we were in the same room together in the last 40 years was probably around 1987 when my wife and I went to The Stone Pony in Asbury Park on a Sunday night to wait with the faithful to see if Bruce Springsteen would show up and play a set with the club’s house band, Cats on a Smooth Surface. Their guitarist? Glen Burtnik. Music has been very good to Glen over the years. During his “Beatlemania” run, he built a lasting friendship with the performer cast as John Lennon – Marshall Crenshaw. During that same period of time, he was hired by Jan Hammer to be the singer in his band, Hammer. That’s how he met his friend and future Santana and Journey player Neal Schon. (An aside: During his time with Cats on a Smooth Surface, he became friendly with a guy named Jon Bongiovi, who invited him to join his new band. Glen declined and Bon Jovi went on without him.) GLEN BURTNIK podcast excerpt: "I did not initially approve of 'Beatlemania,.' I thought it was a cheap imitation kind of thing. But as a young musician, looking for breaks, I auditioned. When I passed the audition, I still wasn't sure I wanted to do this. The musical director said, 'Have you ever seen the show? Come with me.' It completely got me. I always wanted to be a Beatle and there it was: four guys on stage in this beautiful theater, playing songs I grew up with -- how could I say no?" T he Palace, Asbury Park, New Jersey (Photo (c) 1987 by Bob Andelman. All Rights Reserved.) Order 'Slaves of New Brunswick' by Glen Burtnik, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the album cover above! Glen recorded two solo albums for A&M Records, Heroes and Zeroes and Talking in Code. When going out on his own didn’t work out as hoped, he received a phone message one day from Dennis DeYoung asking if he would consider auditioning for his band – Styx. Tommy Shaw had moved on to tour with Damn Yankees and the band needed a second guitarist and another songwriter. If you didn’t know Glen before, you’ve certain got good reason to get to know my old neighbor now. By the way, you can see Glen Burtnik live in concert with The Orchestra –featuring former members of the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO and ELO II) – at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida on Friday, January 31. Get tickets online at . Glen Burtnik • • • • •
My wife is the games player in our house. And my life – and ego – were a lot less stressful when I accepted that she could beat me at pretty much anything that challenged the brain, from crosswords to Sudoku, checkers to chess, and even from backgammon to Monopoly. That’s why I rarely attempt to solve puzzles any longer in her presence. She always finds the right words and gets very competitive and impatient if I can’t do one as quickly as she can. BEN TAUSIG podcast excerpt: "Newspapers try to draw a line at what might repulse the reader... Early New York Times editors would reject answers that had to do with disease because they felt it would upset people who were trying to solve the crossword puzzle while they were eating breakfast. That was the 'Breakfast Test.'." Doesn’t bother me anymore; I’m actually proud of her. And my daughter’s mind seems to work much the same way; when she applies herself, I see glimpses of a mind that will one day be faster and sharper than either of ours. The world, it seems, is one of constructors and solvers. And I am on the outside, looking in. But whether you like crossword puzzles or not, it’s hard not to be fascinated by their construction and grace and, for the writer in me, the crisp, efficient language engaged to prompt and tickle the reader. That’s what drew me to Ben Tausig and his new book, The Curious History of the Crossword. The bedrock of almost every major and minor English language newspaper around the world, the crossword celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2013 and Tausig’s Curious History is packed with short, precise clues and even a number of full sentences. It also reproduces more than 100 classic crossword puzzles. Ben Tausig • • • • •
Today's Guest: New York Times technology columnist J.D. BIERSDORFER, author of iPAD: THE MISSING MANUAL. Watch this exclusive Mr. Media interview with New York Times technology columnist J.D. BIERSDORFER by clicking on the video player above! Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience that includes my own mother, who—even though she lost no time opening the iPad she received on her 75th birthday and figuring out how to use it unassisted—is always looking for a quicker route to ordering stuff from the Home Shopping Network… in the NEW new media capital of the world… and worldwide headquarters of the Home Shopping Network... St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'iPad: The Missing Manual' by J.D. Biersdorder, available from Amazon.com in print or ebook edition by clicking on the book cover above! I’m an Apple guy. All the way back to the Apple IIc computer in 1984, I’ve been as brand loyal as it gets. I’m writing this on a desktop iMac. Behind me is an a MacBook Pro. And charging next to it is an iPhone. But I’ve never made the move to the iPad. My wife has one; she never goes anywhere without it. J.D. BIERSDORFER podcast excerpt: "I think there are a lot of things that Apple knows the iPad can do that maybe they don't publicize." My son has one; his high school mandated their use this year and I approved of the way it took 30 pounds of books and supplies off his back. And we bought my mother one for her 75th birthday and she can’t imagine how she ever got along without it. Me? I never got the fever. Still, I know how popular the iPad is and I admire its utility. That’s why I asked New York Times technologist columnist J.D. Biersdorfer to come on the show today and talk about her book, iPad: The Missing Manual, now in its 6th edition from O’Reilly. Because no matter how smart you are and how many great tricks and shortcuts you know or great apps you’ve discovered, there is always someone like J.D. who can show you one more. Can you find anything missing? J.D. Biersdorfer • • • • • • •
Today's Guest: Joel Meadows, editor, Tripwire Digital Magazine Watch this exclusive Mr. Media interview with Joel Meadows by clicking on the video player above! Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience that may be Facebook friends with Joel Meadows but only because he confused you with somebody else … in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'Tripwire 21st Anniversary' collection of the best of TRipwire, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! My remaining days in London during August 2013 were down to just two and I was spending one of them working in my hotel room. I even posted a picture on Facebook of my faux misery: two open laptops and a fresh room service meal of fish & chips. Moments later, I heard from Joel Meadows, who saw the photo. He asked if I was actually in London. I was. We were already connected via Facebook – although how seemed pretty sketchy – and Joel suggested we meet in person. I was already looking for an escape for the next night from my wife and daughter who planned on camping in front of the TV for the big reveal of the new “Doctor Who.” I said, “Why not?” JOEL MEADOWS podcast excerpt: "What's sort of marked us out from the U.S. comics fan and professional's perspective is we have an outsider's perspective in the UK. And I think that's what we strive to offer." Bender from "Futurama" on the cover of Tripwire 54 Nick Fury , a.k.a. Samuel L. Jackson, illustrated on the cover of Tripwire. We met at a Thai restaurant in an area of London my girls and I had not explored and hit it off famously. Turned out we had plenty of mutual friends in the comic book world, including DC Comics art editor Mark Chiarello, an acquaintance of mine going back to when we were teenagers in Central Jersey. But our actual connection was rather tenuous – Joel thought I was somebody else and I thought I knew him, but didn’t. No matter. He told me about his long-running UK comics magazine, Tripwire, and about its upcoming digital debut on the iPad. I promised that once it officially published, I’d be delighted to feature him and it on Mr. Media. Tripwire Digital Magazine is now a downloadable reality and so... Joel Meadows • • •
Today's Guests: America Olivo, actor, "Chicago P.D.," "Defiance," "DeGrassi: The Next Generation," Christian Campbell, "Big Love," "Supernatural," "Haven" Watch this exclusive Mr. Media interview with married actors America Olivo and Christian Campbell by clicking on the video player above! Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of happily married acting couples that include Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor, Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, Warren Beatty and Annette Bening, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest, Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan – sorry Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, married couples only … in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'Bitch Slap' [Blu-ray] starring America Olivo by clicking on the DVD cover above! If you’re a good looking actor or actress in Hollywood and you’re not getting what you might think is your fair share of work, blame busy America Olivo and Christian Campbell.From an outsider’s perspective, they appear to be working all the time – maybe even time and a half or double time. CHRISTIAN CAMPBELL podcast excerpt: "I was in the 'Supernatural' Season 8 episode called 'Man's Best Friend with Benefits.' I played a warlock who sleeps with a beautiful dog who turns into a girl." AMERICA OLIVO: "I was runner-up for that role. And I was on-set while Christian shot his scenes. I was like, 'Thanks for not having me be in this position.' Because this husband-and-wife dynamic of me being his obedient..." CHRISTIAN CAMPBELL: "I would have heard about it for years!" AMERICA OLIVO: "... calling him 'Master' and wearing a dog collar?" Order 'Reefer Madness - The Movie Musical' starring Christian Campbell, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD cover above! CHRISTIAN CAMPBELL: "Guess who wears the pants in our family? Hint: It's not me!" My favorite acting couple has been busier than ever of late. Let me run down their individual credits: • America: Currently appearing in recurring roles in two NBC dramas, “Chicago PD” and “Defiance, plus recurring on “Degrassi: Next Generation.” She previously starred in a series of indie films such as Bitch Slap, Neighbor, and Circle. She also was in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and appeared in the original production of the Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. And I hate to say this in front of her husband, but you may have seen her naked once or twice on film and in an epic Playboy magazine appearance. • Christian: Recently appeared on USA’s “White Collar” as well as a second season episode of CBS’s “Elementary.” He was also in the two final, fifth season episodes of “Haven” on Syfy. He is best known for his multiple-season run on HBO’s “Big Love.” He also plays an artistically frustrated ghostwriter in the upcoming film An Unkindness Of Ravens. Oh, and you may know his sister, also an actor. Together, America and Christian recorded voices for an animated feature roughly based on the Brothers Grimm folktale Bremen Town Musicians. Like I said, they’ve been busy. America Olivo • • • Christian Campbell • • America Olivo & Christian Campbell
Today's Guest: Josh Alan Friedman, singer, author, Black Cracker, Tales of Times Square, I, Goldstein Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience that finds foul language, racial name-calling, graphic violence and inconsequential sexual proclivities attractive in a guy like you… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'I, Goldstein: My Screwed Life' by Al Golstein and Josh Alan Friedman, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! Al Goldstein broke the mold of the men’s magazine publisher. In an industry in which Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner was that nice pornographer next door, Penthouse’s Bob Guccione Sr. was its Caligula, and Hustler’s Larry Flynt was the equivalent of comedy’s Gallagher 2, Screw magazine publisher Al Goldstein was off-the-charts ridiculous and scandalous – frequently at the same time. But in many ways, Goldstein – described in the headline of his New York Times obituary as “A Publisher Who Took the Romance Out of Sex” – was also the most human of the bunch, never seeking to elevate himself through his sex rag so much as to use it to expose a world of hypocrisy and bullsh*t. JOSH ALAN FRIEDMAN podcast excerpt: "Al Goldstein was arrested once for showing pubic hair. He enjoyed being arrested; it was a great pleasure for him! The first arrest was eight hours after putting New York City Mayor John Lindsay's erection -- a composite photo -- in the paper. That was the first time the NYPD raided Screw magazine's offices and took Al out in handcuffs... He was a Hebrew pitbull. I wouldn't say he was a defender of the First Amendment. The First Amendment may have been his defender. But he was the one who tested it and flexed the First Amendment's muscles more than any other publisher in America, to see how far it would go for freedom of the press. And he made it go far. And he proved how strong it is." Order 'Black Cracker: An Autobiographical Novel' by Josh Alan Friedman, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! He also endeared himself to a legion of loyal followers, employees and creative types – typically New Yorkers, because he was one of them. Goldstein died on Thursday, December 18, at a nursing home in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. He was 77. My guest today, Josh Alan Friedman, was already scheduled to be on the show before Goldstein’s passing. He is my fourth Friedman male, following his brothers Drew and Kipp and father Bruce Jay. My original plan was to talk about Josh’s unique body of work, from his autobiographical novel Black Cracker and sordid but true collection, Tales of Times Square, to his sonic compositions, including a musical based on the life of the world’s worst film director Ed Wood (Plan B from Outer Space), appropriately titled The Worst. We’ll still talk about all that, but we’ll shift our focus to Al Goldstein, with whom Josh wrote the Screw magazine publisher’s autobiography, I, Goldstein: My Screwed Life. And stay tuned for two exclusive performances of original compositions performed by Josh. Trust me, you won’t want to miss them. JOSH ALAN FRIEDMAN • • • •
Today's Interview: A telephone conversation from June 18, 1984 with Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers. Order '5 Classic Albums - Everly Bros.' featuring Phil Everly and Don Everly, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the CD cover above! Today on Mr. Media, a very special interview from my archives: Phil Everly, who with his brother Don formed the legendary 1960s singing duo, the Everly Brothers. This telephone conversation was recorded on June 18, 1984 for a St. Petersburg Times story I wrote in advance of the brothers' first appearance at the then-new Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida. They returned again a year later and I'm proud to say I saw both extraordinary performances. PHIL EVERLY excerpt: "The great wheels of fate had turned and reached the right time for an Everly Brothers reunion. It was the right time for both of us. Not a year went by that there wasn't a large offer. But if the money had been that big a part of it , we never would have stopped in the first place. We just had to get our own selves to the point where we wanted to do it again." As is often the case with these old telephone recordings, the quality is not the best and I was a long way from being a confident interviewer. But this surviving Phil Everly interview is one of which I'm still proud. I'm just sorry it took his passing earlier today , January 3, 2014 -- at the age of 74 -- to remind me that I even had this. I hope you'll enjoy hearing this very special episode of Mr. Media Interviews. Phil Everly • •
Today's Guest: Chris Claremont, long-time X-MEN comic book writer and co-creator of Marada The She-Wolf. Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience that includes Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence, Anna Paquin, Michael Fassbender and Ian McKellen, and James McAvoy and Patrick Stewart … in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'Marada the She-Wolf' by Chris Claremont and John Bolton, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the graphic novel cover above! Marvel Comics’ Epic era slipped by me while I was in college and starting my career. That’s my only explanation for how a guy who read all of the Conan the Barbarian, Kull the Conquerer, and even Groo the Warrior and Ironjaw comics missed seeing Chris Claremont and John Bolton’s work the first time on Marada The She-Wolf. Fortunately, those pages have finally been collected in a single, stunning hardcover graphic novel by Titan Books and reading it is sheer pleasure. CHRIS CLAREMONT podcast excerpt: "Marada The She-Wolf, originally, was Red Sonja. As I was getting deeper into the plot and John Bolton was starting to pencil, Marvel lost all the licenses (to Robert E. Howard characters. Suddenly we had 20 dead pages and a really good story and both of us were really pissed... The idea popped into our heads: 'Who don't we pitch it as our own concept? Nothing's been established; there's nothing we can't change. The story doesn't exist yet.' The operational structure of the story was that we were going to take the central character out of her comfort zone—ditch the steel bikini. Have her dress sensibly. Do an historical fantasy. Archie Goodwin and Jim Shooter were totally on board with it." A panel from 'Marada The She-Wolf' by Chris Claremont and John Bolton.[ Marada is a sword ‘n’ sorcery warrior woman of the first order. No doubt the silver-haired beauty would give Red Sonja a battle that fanboys would pay to see. And a movie? You bet? As for Claremont, you’re bound to be familiar with his work—or at least his influence—if you’ve ever picked up a comic book or watched a superhero movie. Shortly after artist Dave Cockrum and writer Len Wein rejuvenated a dying Marvel Comics series in Giant-Sized X-Men, Claremont joined Cockrum for an extraordinary run on the monthly Uncanny X-Men comic beginning with issue #94. When Cockrum moved on a year later and John Byrne stepped in, Claremont provided continuity that lasted almost two decades. Order 'X-Men: Days of Future Past' by Chris Claremont and John Byrne, the comic book story that inspired the X-Men movie of the same name, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the graphic novel cover above! =In 1991, when Marvel launched a second X title, simply known as X-Men, the first issue sold more than 8 million copies, a record that stands to this day and that can be found in the Guinness Book of World Records. CHRIS CLAREMONT podcast excerpt: "I wanted to get to a point where the X-Men's Scott Summers (Cyclops) and Madelyne Pryor would leave the team, raise their children, and live happily ever after in Alaska—having a normal life, with Scott coming back from time to time for exciting adventures. But have him do it from the perspective of, 'I have a wife and son now. I have a life.' My paradigm was, you pick up the Uncanny X-Men at issue 100, you see one iteration. You come back for issue 300, you'll see a different one. You redefine the mix of characters for each reading generation." And while he isn’t officially credited – or credited enough – it is Claremont’s X-Men who have filled the silver screen from 2000’s X-Men through a series of Wolverine films and, finally, X-Men Days of Future Past. It is truly a thrill and an honor for someone whose very first comic book purchase, X-Men #20, was made by his grandfather at a New York Port Authority newsstand in 1966 to welcome today’s guest. Chris Claremont • • Order 'X-Men' by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee Omnibus - Volume 1 (Marvel Omnibus), available from Amazon.com by clicking on the graphic novel cover above! Order Will Eisner: A Spirited Life (2nd Edition) by Bob Andelman, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above!
Today's Guest: Angela Crocker, author, The Complete Idiots Guide to Creating a Social Network Watch part one of this two-part interview with Angela Crocker by clicking on the video player above! (Part two is below!) Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of people who think social media is code for sharing their nakedness with the world from the comfort of their living room studio … in the new new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Creating a Social Network' by Angela Crocker, available from Amazon.com in print or e-book by clicking on the book cover above! If you’re savvy enough to figure out how to watch or listen to Mr. Media online, I think you’re ready for the next big step: creating a social network for your business, organization or hobby. Sure, you can accumulate friends on Facebook or MySpace but for business or other organized activities, you might want to think about a social network service you can tailor to your own specific needs. ANGELA CROCKER podcast excerpt: "It's possible to create revenue from a social network, but it shouldn't be your primary goal." Angela Crocker is the author of The Complete Idiots Guide to Creating a Social Network. She’s full of tips for where to set up a network, how to organize it, how to draw a crowd andeven how to make it profitable. She can also overhaul the transmission on a ’68 Mustang in 20 minutes flat! A unique talented gal, this one! Angela Crocker • • • •
There are a number of ways to approach Howard Sounes’ new book, 27: A History of the 27 Club, which investigates the deaths of rock ‘n’ roll music legends Brian Jones, founder of the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison of The Doors, Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain, and Amy Winehouse. What they all shared in common is the age at which they died, more or less at their own hands: 27. You could say they were all artistic geniuses who were either misunderstood by their contemporaries or ill-equipped to handle the sudden fame and fortune thrust upon them at a young age. HOWARD SOUNES podcast excerpt: "The primary reason I wrote the book '27' is Amy Winehouse, who died two years ago here in London. I admired her. The fact she died at 27 gave a tragic end to her story. But it was in the coverage of her death that the idea of the book came about. Everybody referred to 'The 27 Club,' all around the world. The implication was that there was a curse or something supernatural that explained why Amy died at the same age as this list of other famous people. I thought, 'That's gonna be nonsense; we don't believe in witchcraft.' But maybe there is some sort of link between these people." Or you could say, less sympathetically, that they were all weak-minded, pathetic human beings who should have sucked up their misery, shown some backbone and enjoyed their gifts. Either way, British journalist Sounes says, there is something about these six, collectively, that bears examination and consideration. We can argue about the relative talents of the group; personally, I’m not sure Brian Jones and Amy Winehouse are equivalent in influence or creativity to Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison or Kurt Cobain. And once the pattern was established by the first four – Jones, Hendrix, Joplin and Morrison – did Cobain and Winehouse simply aspire to be considered as great as them by dying at the same age? I assume the author of 27 — returning to the show for the first time since he was here to talk about his Paul McCartney bio, Fab — has some strong opinions on this. Howard Sounes • •
For the past five years I have been angling for a way back to Brazil and particularly to the astonishing city of Rio de Janeiro. And now that I have watched a new film called Reaching for the Moon, I want to return in a time machine so that I can take in the remarkable city as it was in the 1950s when revolution was in the air and social mores came tumbling down. In director Bruno Barreto’s new film, Miranda Otto portrays the real-life American poet Elizabeth Bishop, a woman who can make any social setting uncomfortable – in any city, in any country. She is a woman who is ill at ease in her own skin and leaving America to visit her friend Mary in Brazil doesn’t change any of that. In fact, it just makes it worse. BRUNO BARRETO podcast excerpt: "Elizabeth Bishop didn't get out of her own way to be nice or be liked. She was an uncompromising bitch in the best sense of the word! She wanted to be liked for what she wrote, not who she was." MIRANDA OTTO podcast excerpt: "I never saw Elizabeth as a bitch or any of that. I loved her! It's hysterical when people say that to me. I completely understood what she was going through, understood why she would say certain things or behave in certain ways. To me, it made sense. I guess I'm a little reserved and WASPy myself. And I kind of identified with that, being in Rio among all the emotional and exuberant people. I became whiter every day!" BRUNO BARRETO podcast excerpt: "Miranda did this in such a way that you can't take your eyes off Elizabeth Bishop on the big screen." Oh, and there is the business of Elizabeth’s repressed sexuality – she is, we soon learn, a lesbian – adding an entirely different twist to the story. Pulling all this together is Miranda Otto as Elizabeth, and Glória Pires as Lota, who, when we meet her, is in the midst of a lesbian affair with Elizabeth’s college friend, Mary, played by Tracy Mittendorf. It is a romantic triangle rife with sexual tension, societal pressure, alcoholism and, less I forget, Elizabeth Bishop’s real life Pulitzer Prize for poetry. Joining me today is the director of Reaching for the Moon, Bruno Barretto – best known in the United States for Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands—and actress Miranda Otto, who my daughter – watching over my shoulder—recognized from the Lord of the Rings film trilogy, in which she played Eowyn. Reaching for the Moon • • •
Welcome to another installment of "Mr. Media: Beauty and the Beast Edition." This show has always been a safe place for the women of Playboy magazine to visit over the years and after hosting a steady stream of print Playmates, a Cyber Playmate and even a Playmate editor, today I’m pleased to welcome our first-ever Playmate of the Year, Raquel Pomplun. RAQUEL POMPLUN podcast excerpt: "Mexican culture is so traditional. It doesn't see appearing in Playboy Magazine as a goal. It's more of a no-no... In Mexican culture, it's more, 'Would you let me do this?' than 'I'm going to do this, I don't care what you say.' We always need the approval of our family, friends and everybody. It's not Playboy's fault that I'm only the first Mexican-American Playmate; it's our culture. But the culture has evolved; my mentality wasn't, 'I'm going to ask my parents. My mentality was 'I'm going to SURPRISE my parents!'" The 2013 PMOY Raquel Pomplun is, incredibly, the magazine’s first Mexican-American winner, which is pretty astonishing when you think about it. Playboy publisher and founder Hugh Hefner has been choosing PMOYs for 53 years—God bless him—and somehow he never saw the right woman until 2013. Well, lucky us at last! Raquel is not just a pretty face. She is also an actress who has a small part in the new film Snake vs. Mongoose about legendary funny car race drivers Don “Snake” Prudhomme and Tom “Mongoose” McEwen, with Ian Ziering and Fred Dryer. And she has just joined the Playboy Playmate Dancers for their 2014 tour. Raquel Pomplun • • • • • • •
The first time I read fiction by Monte Schulz, I think I could be forgiven for wondering if this was going to be the case of the son of a legendary American artist and writer trying to make a career on the old man’s reputation. You know... Schulz. But reading This Side of Jordan made it clear Monte had a voice and style that was uniquely his own. It wasn’t perfect, but it would have found it’s way to print and to an audience whether dad’s name was Charles or not. MONTE SCHULZ podcast excerpt: "Once I knew more about Iva Kroeger, I was able to make my Ida Krueger the same person. All her verbal ticks, her background, her divorce depositions, letters and poems she wrote... A love poem that Ida gives Joe, that's something Iva wrote. Joe is an invented character I made up. His World War II experiences I got from my writing friend, Sid Stebel. All the WWII stories in 'Naughty' came from Sid; the Army Air Corps in New Guinea stories are all true." In Naughty, his fifth book since 1990, I think Monte Schulz has truly hit his stride. This crime noir novel, set in the 1950s, was inspired by the real life story of Iva Kroeger and her husband, indicted for the murders of Mildred and Jay Arneson in 1962. It grabs you by the jaw from the beginning and doesn’t ease up until the very last page. If you’ve read anything from the Hard Case Crime imprint – which publishes everything from James M. Cain and Stephen King to Max Allan Collins – I think you’ll agree that Naughty would be a perfect fit. Instead it comes from Fantagraphics, best known for its graphic novels and cartoonist biographies. The Seattle publisher continues its foray into selective fiction with its fourth Schulz work and it’s a doozy. Oh, and here’s a bonus you don’t get with most author interviews: Monte Schulz is going to sing an original song a little later in today’s show! Monte Schulz • • • •
One of the happier accidents in my career came when I was adopted by the Friedmans. Oh, I wasn’t an orphan – not that there is anything wrong with that – but the Friedman family, originally of New York, has been very kind to me. First was caricaturist Drew Friedman, currently best known for his series of art books featuring Old Jewish Comedians. Becoming friends with him was an outgrowth of a slight in my biography of comic book master Will Eisner. Drew has been on the show twice, the second time spending time with my daughter and me at the International Society of Caricature Artists convention two years ago in St. Pete Beach. KIPP FRIEDMAN podcast excerpt: "I spent a lot of time marveling at this marvelous creature with the fangs and colored gills. I would touch its button-like, dark eyes. The fangs reminded me of Lon Chaney, Sr. in the silent horror movie, 'London After Midnight,' which I saw pictures of in 'Famous Monsters of Filmland' magazine. That barracuda brought me back to my dad's office study and I was then able to piece back together again what his office conditions were like." When Drew’s father, popular novelist, playwright and screenwriter Bruce Jay Friedman, published his memoir Lucky Bruce, Drew convinced his dad to come on the show and do a video interview. He was delightful and it’s a conversation anyone interested in Bruce’s body of work or writing in general should watch. Today I’m joined by the youngest of the three Friedman boys, Kipp, who has just released his own memoir of life in the Friedman family, Barracuda in the Attic. Barracuda is actually the Friedman book that is closest to my own experience. We’re roughly the same age and were influenced – and scared – by many of the same pop culture moments of the last half century, from comic books and horror films to both of us in the mid-1960s standing at Yankee Stadium and seeing Mickey Mantle hit one of the final home run blasts of his career. Kipp Friedman •
A lot of good things came out of the protracted Writers Guild of America strike of 2008. At the top of the list, the writers got a better cut of the profits that their talents generate. But I’m talking about content that was created that would not have otherwise existed. MIKE SAGER podcast excerpt: "Journalism depends on your subject. That's another person who has will. It's often very difficult to get the story you need to come back with. That's a game in itself. Writing a novel is sort of this blessed thing that goes on inside your head." Have you ever seen Dr. Horrible’s Sing-a-Long Blog with Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion, Felicia Day and Simon Helberg? Joss Whedon, his brothers Jed and Zack and Maurissa Tancharden wrote that on spec. It was terrific. And now journalist Mike Sager, whose work has appeared in Rolling Stone and Esquire, has published an urban thriller that imagines a scenario that took place in Los Angeles for three days alongside the ’08 strike. High Tolerance pokes a finger in the eye of celebrity, movie stars, rappers, Hollywood egos, reporters and more. It’s action- and drama-packed and you won’t have any trouble imagining it leaping to the big screen one day. Mike Sager • • • • • •
There are certain cultures in the Western world that we really know very little about. The Church of Scientology, for example. Justin Beiber. And the tabloid journalism world of Rupert Murdoch, from Fox News to the New York Post. KIERAN CROWLEY podcast excerpt: "All of these subjects, I encountered in reality. I covered several different cannibals for the New York Post. Obviously, murder, serial kills--the Zodiac Killer wrote to us and I deciphered his code. I had all these elements that I had experience with. And I've seen a lot of movies, read a lot of books, about serial killers. Some are terrific; some are goofy. I take something and 'What if...' This is fiction. The idea is to take certain elements I had experience with and explore going off the deep end." I was fascinated by Joe Muto’s ugly yet funny behind-the-scenes Fox News tell-all: An Atheist in the Foxhole. And I couldn’t put down former New York Post reporter Kieran Crowley’s new work of fiction, "Hack," which probably is painfully honest in its portrayal of how the news comes together at tabloid papers such as the Post and the New York Daily News. Hack is hysterically disturbing in its brutal reveal of the kind of backstabbing fights over exclusives and ethics-free reporting practices at the tabloids. Parts of it might seem like science fiction if we didn’t already know that the Murdoch empire is rife with phone hacking tactics. Crowley already made a name for himself with a series of bestselling true crime books, including Sleep My Little Dead, Burned Alive, and The Surgeon’s Wife. But I have no doubt he could make a living from writing fiction going forward and, personally, I hope to read many more tales of Hack’s war hero/reporter, Francis X. Shepherd, soon. Kieran Crowley • •
Are you one of those people who admits, “I don’t know art, but I know what I like”? Have I got an art gallery for you! Katie Cromwell and Jensen Karp opened Gallery 1988 as a place the common filmgoer could enter and not feel intimidated. The work they exhibit and sell puts a spotlight on emerging artists who have a pop culture bent. JENSEN KARP podcast excerpt: "We look for artists who take these these pop culture icons and storylines. Our goal is to find someone who puts their own spin on it. We don't want to see someone take Bill Murray's face and screen print it on to a white piece of paper. Anyone can do that! We want to see someone take their personal style and put it into this pop culture." Located at the world famous Hollywood, California, corner of Melrose and La Brea, Cromwell and Karp have developed a reputation over the past decade for showcasing art that appeals to a wide palette of tastes, from filmgoers to filmmakers. Along the way, the proprietors of Gallery 1988 mined a particular vein of interest in cult movie art. And because not everyone can visit their location in person, they have produced two coffee table collections featuring the best of this work. Joining me today to discuss the latest volume of Crazy 4 Cult: Movie Art 2, is Jensen Karp. And while you may not yet know the names of the artists themselves, I feel safe in saying that everyone will find something to like in works inspired by The Shining, Alien, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, Little Shop of Horrors, Edward Scissorhands, Donnie Darko, The Big Lebowski, Shaun of the Dead and many more. Gallery 1988 • • • • • • •
Mystery writers are not in the habit of literally presenting their readers with options. Smoke and mirrors, misdirection, sleight-of-hand, tricks, and dead ends? Yes. Choices? No. TIM WAGGONER podcast excerpt: "Normally, in the TV series, it can turn out pretty bad for Sam and Dean, but they still move; the series keeps going. But I could have the luxury of the series just ending if the readers chooses the wrong path!" But that’s exactly the job before Tim Waggoner, an experienced author of fantasy and horror, who just published his second novel extending the franchise of The CW’s popular series, “Supernatural.” In the Supernatural The TV Series book, The Roads Not Taken, Waggoner makes the printed page interactive, giving readers the chance to choose their own path at key turning points in the story. For example: If you think Sam and Dean should aim for the saber-tooth’s eye, turn to page 34. If you think Sam and Dean should aim for the saber-tooth’s heart, keep reading. Faced with choices, I just read it all. What would you do? If you’re a fan of “Supernatural,” I have no doubt you’ll enjoy Waggoner’s continuing tales of the Winchester boys even if you can only imagine how good looking they are while you’re reading. And perhaps they will serve as an opening to this Ohio creative writing college instructor’s dozens of other fantasy and horror novels and short story collections, including Bone Whispers and The Nekropolis Archives. Tim Waggoner • • • • •
Sometimes I introduce my guests based on a personal experience I’ve had with them or their work. In the case of Tampa Bay Times newspaper reporter Stephanie Hayes, I can’t think of any better way to tell you about her. When my mother-in-law, Helga Holsten, died five years ago after a long illness, Stephanie contacted my wife about writing a featured obituary. It was already a nerve-wracking time and after being interview, Mimi lost a bit of sleep wondering what Helga’s lasting legacy in print might be. STEPHANIE HAYES podcast excerpt: "Writing obituaries is nothing I ever wanted to do. It's not like I lay awake at night dreaming of writing stories of dead people... Then I thought I'd be a fool not to. It was a great opportunity; the dark, death part of it was just one small aspect of it." See what you think. Here’s the lede Stephanie wrote: ST. PETERSBURG — People who came into the bank where Helga Holsten was a teller were sure to remember her this way: Impeccably dressed in co-ordinated pants outfits. Laced in fine gold and gemstone jewelry, a ring on each finger. Eloquent German accent. "She was always was just so, everything in place," said Audrey Harris, her former co-worker at SunTrust Bank in St. Petersburg. "She was so good to the customers, so compassionate." But they didn't know everything. "Oh, gosh, she was a remarkable lady," said Harris. "She lived such a life." And that was just the beginning. (You can read the entire obituary here: ) Stephanie had such a natural sense of empathy as the St. Petersburg Times obituary writer that it made her a natural for taking what could have been one of the worst beats on a newspaper and making it an envied throne of great writing and community service. So what else could she do when the time came to write her first novel than to turn it all on its ass and portray a fictionalized version of herself, her co-workers, newspaper readers and the recently deceased as something else altogether? In Obitchuary, Stephanie Hayes shows off a great and imaginative vocabulary, poking fun at everything she saw and did on her job, creating the character of Penelope “Penny” Perkins, an unmarried newspaper reporter getting her first shot at the big time and—most likely—causing it all to crash down around her. This is a situation that has ongoing series written all over it, following in the footsteps of USA Today reporter turned novelist Deborah Sharp, author of the “Mama” series, including Mama Does Time and Mama Gets Hitched. Obitchuary would probably make a good sitcom, frankly. (In the interests of full disclosure, let me acknowledge that my wife, like Stephanie, works at the Tampa Bay Times, and Stephanie and I have the same agent.) Stephanie Hayes • • • • • • •
The thing I know for sure about artists – whether established veterans or determined beginners – is that they are always eager to learn something new about technique or the tools of the trade. As a long-time wannabe artist myself, I can still remember my kindly old high school art teacher telling me how I had more ideas than talent. But I remain fascinated by people who can do it, so I’ve been thrilled to host a series of talented artists on this show, including Mark Schultz, Christopher Hart, Chris Browne, Mark Anderson, Barbara Slate, and Richard Minsky, many of whom have given demonstrations and explanations of how they do what they do. CAMILLA d'ERRICO podcast excerpt: "The very first Helmetgirl I ever did was because I failed at drawing goggles. They were massive and I was, like, 'Oh, God, I'm messing this up!' I thought, 'Just keep adding, keep adding, and it will get better. You'll get through it!' That's how I created my first Helmetgirl and I thought, 'That's kinda cool!' I had tapped into this other part of my creativity where I really liked industrial machinery. My father had three daughters—no sons. I was the tomboy, always doing stuff with my dad, tinkering in his shop. I would go to Home Hardware with him and go, 'Oh, my God, look at all these things!'" Joining this esteemed group today is cartoonist Camilla dD’Errico, creator of her own properties, Tanpopo and Helmetgirls, as well as being a leader in the international pop surrealism movement for her uniquely styled oil paintings. Of course, you may also know her for her work with Dark Horse and Image Comics, Tokyopop, Hasbro, Disney, Sanrio, and even best-selling author Neil Gaiman. Camilla just published her first art instructional guide, the beautifully illustrated Pop Manga: How to Draw the Coolest, Cutest Characters, Animals, Mascots and More. It was written with Stephen W. Martin, whose own credits include The CW’s long-running series “Supernatural” and USA’s “Psyche.” If you’re already a fan of Camilla d’Errico, you’ll want to know that she will be launching a redesigned website and new e-store soon @ . And look for 48-hour only sales of super-limited fine art prints on the new site. In addition, Camilla will do a book signing for Pop Manga at Golden Age Collectibles in Vancouver on Saturday, October 26 and she will also be in Los Angeles from November 1-3 for Comikaze Convention. Camilla d'Errico • • • • • • •
Joining me today on Mr. Media to talk music and play a few songs is A.L.X., leader of an old-fashioned New York City-based rock band called Love Crushed Velvet. When I heard Love Crushed Velvet for the first time, I heard Billy Idol and Steve Stevens. That’s a rare, driving rock sound that there hasn’t been enough of in recent years and I’m eager to see if you hear what I hear. Love Crushed Velvet has just released a new EP, Delusions, and we’ll talk about that in moments, and A.L.X. will play acoustic versions of two songs, “Bye Bye Baby” and “Lover, Leave the Lights On.” A.L.X. podcast excerpt: "I was a big fan of Billy Idol's when I was younger. A lot of that sound, on the first Love Crushed Velvet record, was from Billy's drummer from the 'Reel Yell' era, Tommy Price. Tommy was Love Crushed Velvet's initial drummer... There was this crisp, straight-up style that he brought to it. As a songwriter, you're influenced by your rhythm section, so I started writing songs (to) that, although at first we tried to fight it. But after a while we thought, 'Nobody's tried to make those records in 30 years so let's run with it! If you're 17 years old, you've never heard anything like that." Love Crushed Velvet • • • • • •
Everybody’s got their secrets. Why, in 1976, this one time, in band camp, I... You get the point. So why would it be that hard to imagine that a gigantic publishing house might have a few skeletons in its closet? That’s the allure of The Secret History of Marvel Comics, a big new book by Blake Bell, author of Fire & Water: Bill Everett, The Sub-Mariner & The Birth of Marvel Comics and Strange and Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko and Michael Vasallo, an expert on Marvel Comics from the 1930s to the 1950s. MICHAEL VASSALLO podcast excerpt: "I think we ended up pioneering the (Marvel Comics founder) Martin Goodman history. Very little has been published, researched, and written about him. We had access to every comics history book ever written. What we found on Martin Goodman ended up being incorrect... Every single statement we make is sourced." Secret History delves into the business practices and trickery that established and grew the Hydra-headed publishing empire of the late Martin Goodman, the tight fisted, often unpleasant gentleman responsible, nonetheless, for giving the world his talented and far more charming nephew, Stanley Lieber. You probably know him better by his pen name—Stan Lee. The book is packed with details of Goodman’s often unseemly practices, lack of appreciation for the many artists and writers he employed at slave wages, and the fact that he never did understand what made his one true and enduring success, Marvel Comics, succeed. Secret History, incidentally, covers quite a different chunk of time than Sean Howe’s 1960s centered book, Marvel Comics: The Untold Story. But collectors will probably be interested to read both. You can meet the authors—alongside comics artists Al Jaffee and Stan Goldberg—at the official book release event on Saturday, October 12, 2013, at 7 p.m., hosted by the Society of Illustrators, 128 E. 63rd Street, in Manhattan. The Secret History of Marvel Comics • • • Blake Bell • • • (2008) Michael Vassallo • •
After seven full years in a committed relationship with listeners and viewers of Mr. Media Interviews, I feel I can let you all in on a little secret: I once took my wife to a swinger’s club in Tampa, Florida. Oh, sure, it was strictly for research—Linda Gibson and I were writing a cover story for Tampa Bay Monthly—but there was a certain naughty rush to the whole thing. My wife Mimi and I were newly married and incredibly awkward as we entered this foreign territory and felt like we were being assessed from afar like two fresh slabs of USDA Prime veal. DANIEL STERN podcast excerpt: "Single men are basically the lepers of The Lifestyle. The reputation of single men when it comes to behavior is atrocious. Also, most of the people who want to have all of this sex are guys and so we're a dime a dozen. That stigma is a behemoth you have to battle." There was no way we were going to play, as folks in the “lifestyle” call hooking up, sharing and trading partners, but I needed to see what went on behind the Swinging Door’s swinging doors. For the record, several guys took an interest in Mimi and talked her up; no one was interested in me, apparently! In the cause of our research, my co-author, Linda, and I were invited to attend a swingers’ house party in Zephyrhills, Florida, but I couldn’t go through with it. Linda, who clearly had more balls than I did, was the only one to experience it firsthand. For me, daydreaming about multiple partners and random sex acts was just that—fantasy. I could talk a good talk but I didn’t have the nerve to go through with it. And that’s the big difference between me and my guest today, Daniel Stern. DANIEL STERN podcast excerpt: "You're married. That's a very different relationship than what I'm looking for in a swinging relationship." Stern is the author of Swingland: Between the Sheets of the Secretive, Sometimes Messy, but Always Adventurous Swinging Lifestyle. It is his first-person account of how he was lousy in one-on-one sexual relationships but a conquering hero in casual encounters with couples, wives on loan, and settings with lots and lots of strangers having simultaneous physical relations. In addition to sharing his stories from between the sheets, Stern’s book is a how-to for men and women interested in following him into the lifestyle. It’s a colorful, rollicking piece of work. But if you’re easily offended, or under the age of 18, this is not for you. Please stop watching or listening now. Thank you! DANIEL STERN • • • •
When I booked Rachel Ann Weiss on the show a few weeks ago, I did it based entirely on listening to music from her debut album, Dear Love. Give it a listen – her voice is absolutely beautiful and compelling. Thing is, I didn’t read her bio at all. I committed to having her on and inviting her to perform because I really liked her voice. RACHEL ANN WEISS podcast excerpt: "My dad had a country band--he made me play 'Achy Breaky Heart.' I'm gonna hold that against him till the day I die!" So when I finally did read up on Rachel Ann, I stopped dead when I got to the line, “As the daughter of strong supporters of the arts, Rachel's parents, actress Kathleen Turner and Jay Weiss...” That stopped me dead. WTF? The Kathleen Turner? Body Heat Kathleen Turner? Prizzi’s Honor Kathleen Turner? Peggy Sue Got Married Kathleen Turner? Sometimes I really crack myself up. And while the bluesy, smoky voice makes sense if you grew up on sexy, smoldering, attitudinal Kathleen Turner movies, I would have never made the connection without being told. Rachel Ann Weiss will have to make good on her career promise based on her own talents as a singer and songwriter, on the choices she makes as her own person. And you know what? She’s off to a helluva good start. Rachel Ann Weiss • • • • • •
Fair warning: there is a lot of talk about butts in Lynn Waddell’s new book, Fringe Florida: Travels among Mud Boggers, Furries, Ufoologists, Nudists, and Other Lovers of Unconventional Lifestyles. That means a lot of exposed flesh around back: thongs, no-thongs, dancing cheeks, cigarette butts, Ghettobutt, Butt Naked Biker Bash, and even a guy named Butts—adult filmmaker Seymour Butts. Maybe you’ve seen his SRO classic, Tampa Tushy Fest Part 1? LYNN WADDELL podcast excerpt: "My husband had reservations about being portrayed in the book. I had worked on the movie 'Showgirls'; as a journalist, you put yourself in a lot of different environments. But when it came time to go to Swingfest in Miami, my husband said, 'I'm not going to let you go there by yourself--you're going to be like meat among the lions.' I was really glad he was there when they told me there were only five single women there. They call them 'unicorns' because they're highly desirable." In Fringe Florida, Waddell goes beyond the weird, bizarre daily headlines that mark life in Florida and finds a way to make people here seem even stranger—both in practice and by simple association. After all, if you accept your neighbor and revel your friends in stories of the stripper, furry, carnie, swinger, biker, etc., next door, you’re essentially an enabler, right? Reading Waddell’s book – her first, incidentally, and hopefully not her last – one can’t avoid being struck by just how good the writing is. While it’s easy to enjoy the people and the lifestyles chronicled, it’s the prose style that makes Fringe Florida a winner. By the way, if you’re in St. Petersburg, Florida, this Saturday, October 5, you’re invited to attend the Fringe Florida launch party at Beak’s St. Pete, 2451 Central Avenue at 6 p.m. Waddell will also be a guest at the Tampa Bay Times Festival of Reading at the University of South Florida-St. Pete campus on Saturday, October 26. Both events are free to the public. (She’ll also be at the Miami Book Fair in late November.) Fringe Florida • • • Lynn Waddell • •
Jeremy Seifert’s oldest son likes seeds. He’s fascinated by their variety of colors, shapes, sizes and function. Jeremy Seifert and his wife, Jen, want to raise healthy children and be healthy themselves. But the more the Seiferts learned about GMOs – genetically modified organisms – the less confident they became that they could control the kinds of foods—and ingredients—they served their kids. In his new documentary film, GMO OMG, Seifert takes his family—and us—on a long and winding and torturous trip to discover whether genetically modified foods are safe or even unavoidable. His results are chilling. JEREMY SEIFERT podcast excerpt: "Like an idiot, I assumed the FDA and the EPA were looking out for us. But that's a very naive view of the world... We've had this experience with the lead industry, with the tobacco industry, with the banking system and that failure. We should question this. We've had the experience of being lied to over and over and over again because they're trying to protect themselves and they're trying to make money and they'll do anything to keep that going for as long as possible." If you are currently or have ever raised children, you know how challenging it is to get young people to eat good food and make smart dietary choices. But whether you shop at Whole Foods or Publix, Fresh Market or Kroger, it’s not as easy as paying a little more for organics. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. GMO OMG debuted at the Berlin Film Festival and is beginning its theatrical release in New York City, Los Angeles and Seattle in September 2013. The film has attracted the support of several celebrities, including An Inconvenient Truth producer Laurie David--ex-wife of “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” creator Larry David, actors Glenn Howerton and Kaitlin Olsen of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” Kristin Bauer Van Straten of “True Blood, ” and executive producer Elizabeth Kucinich, wife of former Democratic U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich. The film was also supported by a Kickstarter campaign. GMO OMG documentary film • • •
When we hear a new band, I think most of us instinctively go to the “sounds like…” tab in our brains. So when I first heard New Jersey’s Quincy Mumford & The Reason Why, here are the acts I immediately thought of: Jimmy Buffett. Michael Franks. The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Yours results may vary, of course. QUINCY MUMFORD podcast excerpt: "I wrote 'When You Get Back' for my wife, but also for myself. She cried (the first time she heard it). There was definitely a lot of emotion involved. Every lyric is factual and real to both of us. It was a very emotional moment." It’s an eclectic collection of references, but there is an awful lot going on in the songs on the band’s fifth album, It’s Only Change. The good news? It’s all good. Joining me today to fill in the gaps of his musical influences – what does the New Jersey Turnpike sound like to a musician? – his New Jersey upbringing – exit what? – and to play a couple of songs, is the leader-in-chief of Quincy Mumford & The Reason Why. To see the band in person this fall, visit their website for a complete list of tour dates. Quincy Mumford & The Reason Why • • • • •
Today on Mr. Media, I’ll talk to one of America’s most successful, most popular soccer players ever, Olympics and World Cup champion Brandi Chastain. What's up with Brandi Chastain now? She’s here to talk about the Active Family Project, sponsored by Merck Pharmaceuticals. Merck is donating soccer kits to US Youth Soccer programs in under-served communities to encourage more kids to play soccer and Brandi is the face of the program. Kids playing soccer is something I personally have a vested interest in; this fall will be my 12th year coaching girls soccer, and my seventh at Shorecrest Preparatory School here in St. Petersburg, Florida. Getting out on the field with my kids from November through January is my favorite time of year; getting insight from a world champion such as Brandi is a great opportunity. This is Brandi's second time as a guest on the show. And can I just say that she is one of the nice, sweetest guests ever. She can come back any time! BRANDI CHASTAIN podcast excerpt: "I'm a mom, I'm a soccer player. I always have been, and I always will be." Brandi Chastain • • • •
I heard the first song on singer-songwriter Jeff Black’s new album, B-Sides and Confessions, Volume Two, and that was all it took. One stanza of the lyrics, in fact, cemented his appearance here: I dropped down to see the doctor He gave me some strange strange news He said I think you’re going to live forever boy But you’re to die a little bit before you do JEFF BLACK podcast excerpt: "There are as many different concert nights as there are people on the planet. Luckily for me, the kind of music I write and perform is sought out. There is a huge contingency of people who seek out singer-songwriters" That just really spoke to me and opened a gateway into the folk/Americana style of Black’s music. The good news is that Black is joining me today to talk music and, even better, to play a couple of songs for us. And if you like what you see and hear, you can catch “An Evening with Jeff Black” on tour this fall in Louisville, Kentucky, Valdosta, Georgia, Gainesville, Florida, and right here in St. Petersburg on Sunday, September 15 at The Palladium. Jeff Black • • • • •
Twenty years in any business is an accomplishment worth celebrating. But 20 years of surviving the fickle and ever-shifting tastes of comic book fans—when you don’t even publish comic books!—is a special event unto itself. And that’s exactly what John Morrow has accomplished with TwoMorrows Publishing, the Raleigh, North Carolina-based book company that has carved out a niche for itself as a resource for fans who want to know more about the comic books—and the comic book creators—they love. JOHN MORROW podcast excerpt: "I've been doing this magazine about Jack Kirby for 20 years now and I'm still finding new pieces of art that people didn't know existed and stories by him, letters he wrote to people. We're still finding interviews he did that had not been published in the U.S. or were published in a 10-copy fanzine that nobody has ever seen." Maybe you don’t know the publisher, but if you know and care about comics fandom, you surely know TwoMorrows’ line of comics magazines and books, including: • Alter Ego, the ultimate fanzine, produced by the ultimate fan turned comics pro turned fan again, Marvel Comics legend Roy “The Boy” Thomas; • Back Issue magazine, edited by Michael Eury; • Comic Book Creator, edited by my old friend Jon B. Cooke; • Draw!, an instructional manual; • And American Comic Book Chronicles, a deluxe hardcover book series edited by Keith Dallas—a recent Mr. Media guest—that looks and feels a bit like an Encyclopedia Britannica of comics, with volumes written by historical authorities including Dallas, John Wells, Roy Thomas, and Bill Schelly; TwoMorrows also publishes a line of standalone books devoted to individual comics creators, including Joe Kubert, Marie Severin, Filmation founder Lou Scheimer, and an upcoming Don Heck book. That’s in addition to the “Modern Masters” series, which has included everyone from George Perez and Bruce Timm to Walt Simonson and Mark Schultz (yet another past Mr. Media guest). John’s very first publication was The Jack Kirby Collector #1 in 1994. That magazine recently published its 62nd issue and shows no signs of slowing down. I’ll be honest: I don’t know a lot about the history of TwoMorrows or what has sustained John for two decades. But I’m hoping we’ll all know a whole lot more when we’re done! TwoMorrows Publishing • • •
When I just can’t make sense of the world around me, I often turn to detective fiction for escape. The stories are complicated, the plots intricate, the characters quirky and often more than a little mean, but sometimes it’s good just to be able to have a beginning, middle and, most importantly, an end to life’s little mysteries. STEVEN GORE podcast excerpt: "I wanted to get an explanation in A Criminal Defense: How does a criminal defense lawyer become corrupt? What's the route? How does it affect other people?" If only real-life could wrap up its loose ends as logically as a Harlan Donnally tale! Novelist Steven Gore has become a good friend of this show over the last couple years even as his Graham Gage and Harlan Donnally series have gained traction in the hearts and wallets of readers. In addition to talking about his new book, "A Criminal Defense," I’ll be reading a passage from it, too. Steven Gore • • •
I was in London over the summer, mixing business with pleasure, when my family and I dropped into the Tate Modern Museum. It’s a spectacular venue, full of masterpieces anyone would agree deserves a place on display and more than a few we could certainly disagree upon. At the end of our self-guided tour, we spent a good hour in the museum gift shop, where I stumbled upon an impressive display of cartooning books by a previous Mr. Media guest, Christopher Hart. He probably already knew his books were being sold there, but I know from personal experience that every author enjoys photographic evidence that his work is well displayed. So I snapped a shot of the Hart books and posted it on Facebook. CHRISTOPHER HART podcast excerpt: "What you want to do in manga is keep those delicate almond eyes and delicate eyebrows, but make the eyes more intense. The eyelid is like a cape. A little shadow comes under the eye. We use that shadow to bleed the pupil into a shadow as well. Make that fairly intense..." By the time we returned to our hotel, Hart had responded with thanks and told me he had a new book due out in a few weeks. Which brings us to today’s show. The first time Christopher Hart was here, it was to promote "Humongous Book of Cartooning," which was exactly that. Today, he’s going to talk about his latest, "Manga for the Beginner: Midnight Monsters." Even better, he’s going to do a demonstration of exactly how to do it.
Only the legendary and historic charm of Italy could compare with the scene-stealing beauty of actress Kate Bosworth in Kat Coiro’s new indie film, And While We Were Here. The story, about a young American magazine writer struggling to keep her head above water in a vacant marriage, co-stars Iddo Goldberg as her missing in emotion British husband and Jamie Blackley as the lucky S.O.B. in the right place at the right time to re-ignite her passion. And While We Were Here reminds me of so many European movies I watched as a film student many years ago, full of unspoken gloom, despair and furtive physical pairings. And like so many of those stories, Here takes the American viewer away to places we might never otherwise get to see. KAT COIRO podcast excerpt: "Kate Bosworth and I had worked together on 'Life Happens.' Directly on the heels of that, she said to me, 'Let's do another movie together.' She really wanted to explore the subject of infidelity. Usually, it's a morality tale, where somebody has done somebody wrong. But we said, 'Let's not make it where somebody is right and somebody is wrong. And I wrote the script based on Kate's strengths." IDDO GOLDBERG podcast excerpt: "Kate Bosworth and Billie Piper? You should see my wife! I don't know how I do it. I'm constantly around beautiful women. It's kind of a blissful ignorance, I think." Speaking of which: Attention, Italian Convention & Visitors Bureau officials! I’ll be booking my travel to your part of the world soon, I promise. (Oh, and if you could have a Kate Bosworth lookalike waiting for me in the arrivals lounge, all the better.) Joining me today to talk about And While We Were Here are the film’s writer and director, Kat Coiro, who worked with Bosworth on her comedy, Life Happens, and her co-star in Here, Iddo Goldberg, who you might recognize as “Ben” from the Showtime series “The Secret Diary of a Call Girl.” By the way, you’ll have to watch this movie if for no other reason than the surprise ending. I never saw it coming. And While We Were Here • • • • Iddo Goldberg • • • • Kat Coiro •
The only author less likely to get interviewed on Mr. Media than a short story writer is a poet. It has taken seven years for the first creator of short fiction to make it past the gatekeeper—so you poets listening shouldn’t hold your breath waiting for your breakthrough moment. Nick Antosca brings a cinematic storytelling style to his new short story collection, The Girlfriend Game, which is undoubtedly why I invested the time and energy to read it. The tales he tells grab you from the first page, spin you ‘round and ‘round, and sometimes don’t let go even when you come out the other side. NICK ANTOSCA podcast excerpt: "'Believe' is about a 10-year-old girl with supernatural powers that are mysterious and growing... There are a lot of surprises coming. The pilot was written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity). With him and JJ Abrams behind the show, it's been a great experience. And it's a great writers' room." That’s not surprising when you discover that the talented Yale graduate has written for MTV’s “Teen Wolf” adaptation, the short-lived ABC military drama “Last Resort,” and that he is currently writing for JJ Abrams’ new NBC show, “Believe.” Antosca toys with boyfriend/girlfriend relationships in the title story, “The Girlfriend Game,” man/dog relationships in “Mammals,” and human/alien relationships in “Soon You Will Be Gone and Possibly Eaten.” Folks, you’ll get to the end of The Girlfriend Game as I did and wonder where the time went. Nick Antosca • • •
When the news reached me today than legendary jazz pianist and longtime National Public Radio host Marian McPartland has passed away, I was reminded of my time with one of many great artists who tolerated a young music writer early in my career. On October 8, 1983, I interviewed Mrs. McPartland as a preview for an upcoming appearance she would be making in Clearwater, Florida, with her husband, Jimmy McPartland, and her old friend and frequent onstage partner, George Shearing. MARIAN McPARTLAND podcast excerpt: "If everybody is playing well together — bass, drums, piano —I swear there is some kind of sexual thing that is set up. In the music! Of course, it could go to the other thing, too! I won't say it couldn't." It was one of many interviews I conducted that are like fingernails on a blackboard to me today, but that helped shape my approach to the job. Mostly, however, it was an unrehearsed moment with a jazz great, as she responds to problem with the phone connection – “Oh, sh*t!” – and compares a great combo on a great night as akin to sex. Fortunately, the audio cassette containing this interview survived the years. I’ve sweetened the audio to the best of my ability; if you’re a fan of Marian McPartland, I hope you can get past my simplistic questions and enjoy the lady herself. MARIAN McPARTLAND • • • FRANK ZAPPA
“In San Francisco, Bay Area Rapid Transit officials are looking for to a couple who had intercourse on a seat in a BART train. The cops are forced to keep watching the video over and over in an effort to identify the suspects. If caught, the couple could be banned from riding the train ever, ever again...” In other news... Buzz Burbank is back, everybody! BUZZ BURBANK podcast interview excerpt: "'Buzz Burbank' was a name that originally came to Don Geronimo and he used it to tiptoe around on the Internet chat rooms to see what people were saying about his radio show. He also said to himself if he ever needed an air name besides 'Don Geronimo,' that he would use 'Buzz Burbank.' When I showed up at 'The Don & Mike Show' in 1991, we needed a name for me because there was already a Mike on the show--Mike O'Meara. So Don named me Buzz Burbank. I didn't like it at first, because 'Buzz,' to me, sounded like an astronaut with a crewcut. But quickly grew on me. I'm very happy now to be Buzz Burbank." The longtime newsman and fixture of the syndicated “Don & Mike Show” has resurfaced as his own man and host of the podcast “Buzz Burbank News & Comment.” It’s everything fans always enjoyed—relevance and irrelevance, stately and silly—but now roughly five times as long. Buzz—and no, that isn’t his real name, but who cares—was always the voice of reason on The Don & Mike Show, especially when Don’s relative straight man, Mike, went too far out to fit the role. He always presented real news, but there was always a twist. Not a Les Nessman twist offered naively as on “WKRP in Cincinnati”; more like a combination of Robin Quivers providing comment on stories to Howard Stern with George Carlin serving up the day’s factoids and a wink of irony. Not to mention Stephen Colbert’s trademarked truthiness. When The Don & Mike Show ended in 2008, Buzz followed Mike O’Meara to podcasting and was a staple of his show for four years, walking away from it on May 20, 2013. Just a few weeks later, Buzz launched “Buzz Burbank News & Comment”—heard at BuzzBurbank.com and on iTunes—which brought him, uh, here. I know a lot of Mr. Media viewers and listeners might not know Buzz Burbank or even the Don & Mike Show, but it was must-hear afternoon listening for me over the years—that is, whenever the local Tampa Bay radio station put it on. The leads on the show had a sometimes ugly, on-and-off relationship with the CBS station that carried them here, so there are big gaps in my listenership, sadly. A lot of broadcast newscasters have been guests on this show, including Bob Schieffer, Lester Holt, and the O’Briens, Miles and Soledad. But none of them brought the equivalent heft of today’s man of the quarter-hour.
Today's Guest: Amin Matalqa, director, The United, Captain Abu Raed Watch the exclusive Mr. Media interview with former Amin Matalqa, director of the new Disney youth soccer film "The United," by watching the video player above! Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of Hollywood studios that recently discovered there are people on our great ball of mud who speak languages other than English but share a common love of sports… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! The United, a Walt Disney produced soccer film in Arabic, directed by Amin Matalqa I never played soccer but once I was drafted almost a dozen years ago to coach my 5-year-old's team—no other parent would step up—I was hooked. And even though she lost interest in the sport, I've been steadfast in it ever since; I'll be in my seventh year of overseeing a middle school girl's team this fall, having executed a perfect 15-0 season last year. I'm not telling you that to brag—okay, maybe a little—but to express how much I am drawn to the potential this particular sport has for changing young lives. And that's why I'm eager to talk to director Amin Matalqa today about his new soccer film, The United—even though it is an Arab language movie with no guarantee it will ever be shown in North America. AMIN MATALQA podcast excerpt: "It was hard to believe we actually made an Arabic language Disney movie! It was... surreal is the world. We started shooting the film in Jordan and the revolution in Egypt broke out." The trailer is all about a motley crew of young men who seem lost and adrift, some slovenly, others highly unlikely to have ever found their way to any athletic endeavor. But it promises viewers that this group might just find salvation on the soccer field. Captain Abu Raed, a film by Amin Matalqa, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD cover above. Works for me—did you see Bend It Like Beckham? I have—about a hundred times. Just as Bruce Springsteen promises rock 'n' roll can save your soul, I think soccer can inspire the same for a lot of young men and women. Bringing The United to life is a young director named Amin Matalqa. I first talked with Amin in 2009 when he was promoting a wonderful indie film called Captain Abu Raed. It was a slice-'o-life film made in his native Jordan and it, too, showed how an opportunity to be a better person could revolutionize someone's path. Incidentally, Captain Abu Raed also won 27 major international festival prizes and became the first Jordanian entry to the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film. Normally, I won't have a guest on to talk about a film or TV show if I can't see it first. But I'm a fan of Amin's and I'm curious about his unique situation as director of the first Disney International production ever intended for the Arab world. I expect we'll hear an amazing story. AMIN MATALQA • • • • •
Today's Guest: Robert Evans, film producer, The Godfather, Love Story, The Cotton Club, Chinatown Watch the exclusive Mr. Media interview with legendary film producer Robert Evans, author, "The Kid Stays in the Picture," by watching the video player above! Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of well-dressed bean counters who wouldn’t know a deal they couldn’t refuse even if Marlon Brando delivered it to them in person… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order The Kid Stays in the Picture: A Notorious Life by Robert Evans, available by clicking on the book cover above! Legendary (and notorious) Hollywood film producer Robert Evans spent his entire career searching for movie franchises that would change his life, first as an admittedly underwhelming leading man and later as the head of Paramount Studios. Little did he know that Evans’ own life story would be one of the greatest tales he’d ever tell. As they say in Hollywood, this one’s got everything: sex, drugs, celebrities, vast fortunes won and wasted, and yes, even murrrrder! ROBERT EVANS podcast interview excerpt: "The American film has become the biggest export we make in this country. (Recognizing that) is the biggest thing that's happened in the last 30 years." Order The Fat Lady Sang by Robert Evans by clicking on the book cover above! In his autobiography, The Kid Stays in the Picture, Evans paints a picture of himself as a guy frequently touched by luck over the course of his career. Unfortunately, good fortune was often fleeting in his experience, usually for reasons of his own making. The man who rescued Paramount Studios from the junk heap of cinematic history in the 1970s and 1980s by greenlighting Love Story, The Godfather, Chinatown, Rosemary’s Baby, Marathon Man, and Urban Cowboy lived the life of ten mortal men. The Kid Stays in the Picture -- recently re-released on the 20th anniversary of its first publication -- told juicy tales of dozens of Evans’ friends and conquests, including Mario Puzo, Erich Segal, Ali MacGraw, Henry Kissinger, Charles Bluhdorn, Marty Davis, Jack Nicholson and more. And if you read the book at some point in the last two decades thinking there must be more stories to tell, you’d be correct. In September, Evans’ long anticipated second memoir, The Fat Lady Sang, will be published. I’ve only read a short excerpt so far, but if the rest is as compelling as this tale of Congressman Jack Kennedy from 1949, it’s sure to be extremely popular. Robert Evans • • • Order 'The Kid Stays in the Picture,' available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD above! Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!
Today's Guest: Joe Muto, former "The O'Reilly Factor" producer, author, The Atheist in the Foxhole Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of dittoheads, dunderheads and confederacies of dunces… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'An Atheist in the FOXhole: A Liberal's Eight-Year Odyssey Inside the Heart of the Right-Wing Media' by Joe Muto, available right now at a great price by clicking on the book cover above! The funniest thing about Joe Muto’s new book is that it took him less than 48 hours to undo an eight-year career as a TV producer at Fox News... and 323 pages to prove he was in the wrong business all along anyway. Looking for a great summertime read at the beach? Whether you’re lefty or a righty, whether you think Bill O’Reilly walks on water or wish he was swimming with the fishes, you’re going to be entertained, informed, and entirely astounded by Gawker Fox Mole Joe Muto’s first book, An Atheist in the FOXhole: A Liberal’s Eight-Year Odyssey Inside the Heart of the Right-Wing Media. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry... and then you’ll turn the page and do it again. JOE MUTO podcast excerpt: "Good days are few and far between for producers on 'The O'Reilly Factor.' We are set up for failure. Bill is seated in a chair and we are lined up, standing, in a semi-circle around him. We've got computer printouts in our trembling hands. He points--'Muto, you're up. Whaddaya got?' I might say, 'Bill, there's a liberal mayor in Vermont and he wants to ban Christmas this year!' Bill loves the 'War on Christmas' pitches. Normally, however, you pitch something and he tears it to bits." Muto, who spent eight years mostly sublimating his liberal beliefs as he rose from production assistant in the dumpy Fox newsroom to producer for Bill O’Reilly on “The O’Reilly Factor,” tells a great story. He would make a smart advisor to Aaron Sorkin on HBO’s “The Newsroom”; in fact, he probably would have done well to tell his true story behind the scenes at Fox News as a Roman à clef —you know, disguising the facts in the same “Fair and Balanced” ways that Fox News itself does. The essence of Muto’s story is that after eight years of holding his tongue—and his nose—as a Fox News employee, something happened that he could simply not abide. He contacted the Gawker gossip website and became known as the “Fox Mole”—a career that lasted significantly less time than Anderson Cooper’s time hosting “The Mole” for ABC. Cooper’s mole work led to CNN; Muto’s brought him to Mr. Media. You do the math. You don’t have to love or hate Fox News to enjoy Foxhole—it’s just a good story, well told, with insight into the most confounding major network in American television history. JOE MUTO • • •
Today's Guest: Channing Chase, actress, "Mad Men" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of Madison Avenue advertising executives enjoying their free fall from black and white to technicolor… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'Mad Men: Season Six' [Blu-ray], available right now at a great price by clicking on the DVD cover above! When last we heard of Pete Campbell’s mother, Dorothy, the increasingly senile senior had run away with her Latin “lover,” Manolo, and had likely been a victim of foul play at sea. It was seemingly an unfortunate end for the character–and the woman who played her, Mad Men actress Channing Chase—but probably not an unexpected result for anyone connected with Pete, whose personal demons may actually exceed those of the show’s lead character, Don Draper. It’s been a tough life for spoiled rich boy Pete, whose dad also perished on the series. And who, after his wife discovered his infidelities, was thrown out on his ass. CHANNING CHASE podcast excerpt: "Dot Campbell is really on the road to dementia. In my imagination, I'm having an affair with my male nurse, Manolo! He is the superb Latin lover. Kisses my hand, treats me like I'm gold. I don't know how much physical contact they've had." And, of course, nobody at the office much likes Pete, either, so he isn’t likely to get much sympathy there. As for Channing Chase, my guest today, you might have recognized her for film roles in Evan Almighty with Steve Carrell or Charlie Wilson's War with Tom Hanks. She is perhaps best known to TV audiences for her roles in “ER,” “Life With Bonnie,” “Home Improvement,” “Family Matters,” and “Cold Case.” She is also a founder of the Pacific Resident Theatre in Venice, California. While it doesn’t look good for Dorothy Campbell’s return to “Mad Men” in the 7th and final season, the show’s extensive use of flashbacks means anything could happen between now and the start of next year’s final season, right? Channing Chase • • • Elisabeth Moss and Channing Chase in AMC's 'Mad Men' (2007)
Today's Guest: Escort Kristen DiAngelo, star and executive producer of the documentary American Courtesans Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of escorts, hookers, prostitutes, courtesans and the johns who love them, one hour at a time… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order American Courtesans, documentary film starring and produced by elite escort Kristen DiAngelo, available right now at a great price by clicking on the DVD/Blu-Ray/download cover above! Kristen DiAngelo has had one of those lives that people talk about in whispers: she was a woman who took money for sex with strangers. And like most of the ladies who find themselves in this industry – and make no mistake, it is an industry – she has quite a story to tell. Not necessarily a happy story, but it’s hers and she has chosen to own it. KRISTEN DiANGELO podcast excerpt: "Some of us want 'American Courtesans' to result in deregulation; some of us want legalization (of prostitution), some of us want equal rights under the law to be able to call 9-1-1 (if we are attacked or raped). I would just like the film to start conversations, to put it on the table that maybe our preconceived notions about this industry aren't exactly accurate. Until people start talking about us in their homes, and understanding that we're just like everybody else, things will never change." Production still from the documentary film on the secret life of escorts, American Courtesans Not only that, but now she is selling more than her body. Kristen has put her entire life’s experience—as well as those of many other women in the oldest profession—on full display as the star and executive producer of a new documentary film, American Courtesans. This is, not surprisingly, a largely positive portrayal of the women who have either chosen the sex worker life or have been forced into the business by men. What is surprising is the mixed portrayal of men. Speaking generally, the men who often caused these women to enter this life are horrid con artists, rapists and worse. But then there is a section of the film in praise of men and supporting them and their needs. One of the women actually says of selling her body to men for money, “I think it’s a healthy thing; I think it prevents cancer.” So much to talk about, so little time. American Courtesans, which reveals the secret life of an escort, debuts nationwide on Blu-Ray, DVD, iTunes, Amazon.com, and On Demand on July 12. Kristen DiAngelo • • • • • •
Today's Guests: Brad Sherwood, comedian, Jon Hotchkiss, showrunner, "This Vs. That" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of indecisive SOBs who can’t choose between folding chairs or couches with exposed springs because they don’t know which is more likely to hurt their butts in the long run… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Why is anything done in the manner to which we’ve become accustomed? For example, why do most airlines board passengers from the front of the plane to the back—or even the back to the front—whereas the most consistently profitable airline doesn’t assign seats and loads faster? Why is coffee most often served in Styrofoam cups when there are so many other options? JON HOTCHKISS podcast excerpt: "This Vs. That is not about people's opinions. It's about, what are the facts? If you were thinking about getting a new barbecue grill for the backyard, do you want one with propane or natural gas? People reflexively think they're the same, but natural gas comes out of your house and Brad says propane comes from the place next to the methadone clinic. And, it turns out, one is two and a half times hotter than the other." [ Order 'Colin & Brad: Two Man Group,' available right now at a great price by clicking on the DVD cover above! Why do a growing number of TV viewers retain news and information delivered with humor better than just a dry recitation of the facts? On This Vs. That, a new web-only TV series aimed at men via scientific method, the three co-hosts—friends Brad Sherwood, Mark DeCarlo and Chris Tallman—investigate science, urban legends and a bit of nonsense, always with a sense of humor and eye toward the absurd. Some of the issues recently on their minds: • Which flotation is more likely to save your life if you survive a plane crash in water? Life vest vs. seat cushion?? • Which pet is smarter? It's Dogs vs. Cats • What’s the best way to get through traffic – stay in your lane or weave in and out? The show was created by Jon Hotchkiss, one of the original writers on Bill Maher’s “Politically Incorrect” and a former showrunner for Showtime’s long running “Penn & Teller: Bullshit.” You can sample the show for free— or watch all six hour-long, HD episodes of This Vs That for $5.49— at the website ThisVsThatShow.com. This Vs. That • • Brad Sherwood • • • • Jon Hotchkiss • • • • • •
Today's Guests: Ken Dancyger & Jeff Rush, film professors, co-authors, Alternative Scriptwriting Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of Hollywood screenwriters who couldn't write their way out of a frozen banana stand -- until they could… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'Alternative Scriptwriting: Beyond the Hollywood Formula' by Ken Dancyger & Jeff Rush, available right now at a great price by clicking on the book cover above! Every couple of years, Ken Dancyger and Jeff Rush are faced with a dilemma -- how do we keep fresh a book called Alternative Scriptwriting: Beyond the Hollywood Formula when what was once "alternative" is more mainstream than anyone could have ever dreamed? Every generation of filmmakers since Thomas Edison has railed against the basic structure of the medium, whether it was talkies overtaking silents, narrative vs. anti-narrative or a general rejection of three-act format that so closely resembles live theater and its heart and soul. KEN DANCYGER podcast excerpt: "Television is looking to present a Western as Shakespeare (Deadwood) and a crime story such as Breaking Bad as tragedy as well as entertainment. Television is a new major center of creativity that appeals to the younger audience searching for new things." Don't know what I'm talking about? Early in the new fifth edition of their book, Dancyger and Rush compare the work of two prominent directors whose films most everyone knows: Steven Spielberg and Steven Soderbergh. It's as simple as e.t. vs. sex, lies and videotape, two hit movies that both happen to use lower case letters in their titles. In a moment, I'm going to ask the co-authors to compare and contrast these two well-known filmmakers, but I think anyone who considers themselves a film fan knows how differently structured are the films of Spielberg and Soderbergh. You don't have to be a literal film student to gain a number of insights from Alternative Scriptwriting, but the biggest one is right there on the cover. Instead of showing one or two film images, this edition gives us a photo of Christoph Waltz in Inglourious Basterds— atop a second image from not a movie at all, but a landmark television series, AMC's brilliant "Breaking Bad." The message is clear: some of the most alternative scriptwriting of our generation is being created not for film but for cable television. Put that blue crystal meth in your bong and smoke it! Ken Dancyger & Jeff Rush
If I was ever going to have a rabbi as someone I could call friend, it was going to be someone like Bob Alper. Fortunately for my wife and I, we never had to settle for someone "like" him -- we got the original. And trust me, no one is more original than this Rhode Island native, one-time dirty magazine thief, husband, father and rabbi... turned standup comedian--seriously! I've told this story before, but Mimi and I first made contact with Bob almost 20 years ago, before we became parents. We've been to his Vermont home, visited with him in Florida and seen his show several times. He is a warm, wonderful man with the gift of observation, storytelling and a clean sense of humor that fits him—and audiences—beautifully. RABBI BOB ALPER podcast excerpt: "I think people can ingest lessons and inspiration through stories much more easily than through simple recitation of facts and figures or theology. That's my style. And I love to touch people in positive ways. It's an honor." That, and he bears an uncanny resemblance to Steve Martin. If you listen to the family comedy channel on SiriusXM, you will probably recognize him as audioclips of his work—including two popular CDs and a DVD—has made him a daily staple of clean yuks. Several years ago, Bob adapted some of the funniest moments from his standup act into a book of cartoons, A Rabbi Confesses. That led to a more serious book of essays, Life Doesn't Get Any Better Than This. Now he published what is easily his best book yet, Thanks. I Needed That. And Other Stories of the Spirit. It is a delightful collection of essays of irony, humor and human moments that no one could capture as well as my friend Bob. I recommend his new book as something you will enjoy and profit from reading no matter what your religion. And I'm so proud to still call him my friend after all these years. Rabbi Bob Alper • • • •
Today's Guest: Geoffrey Macnab, film critic, co-author, FilmCraft: Producing Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of Hollywood producers who could learn a thing or two about their own jobs by reading Geoffrey Macnab and Sharon Swart's new book… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order FilmCraft: Producing by Geoffrey Macnab & Sharon Swart, available right now at a great price by clicking on the book cover above! Make no mistake: film is a director's medium. Film producers? Eh, not so much. But a director won't go very far without a good producer. One who knows where to find financing, sure, but has a variety of other out-of-the-box skills ranging from organization, an understanding of legal issues, patience and the ability to see the screenwriter's vision--usually at substantially less cost. GEOFFREY MACNAB podcast excerpt: "I've just been in Cannes and I've seen Harvey Weinstein, who is one of the old breed. He's still this big presence. Trying to walk through a hotel lobby, he's surrounded by sycophants and acolytes. He's got a loud voice. He's one of the few who possibly conform to what we think of from the David Selznick era, the larger-than-life producer." Few filmgoers will be able to mention many producers by name. There are the Weinsteins and Jerry Bruckheimer and, oh, well, that's all I've got off the top of my head. Reading FilmCraft: Producing by Geoffrey Macnab and Sharon Swart, however, made me aware of some producers I feel like I should know, including Ted Hope, who has produced hits by Ang Lee and Ed Burns, as well as 21 Grams and American Splendor; there's Jon Kilik, producer of many Spike Lee films, as well as Robert De Niro's A Bronx Tale and Julian Schnabel's Basquiat and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly; and Bill Kong, who produced Crouching Tiger, Hidden Tiger. This is a fascinating book, presented as a well-illustrated series of mini-biographies followed by expansive dialogue directly from the producer's mouth about how they do what they do. Geoffrey Macnab
A few weeks ago, my son Charlie and I went with another family on a college visit to the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. On the drive down, Wendy's mom asked me about my new book, written with internationally recognized motivational speaker Joachim de Posada—Keep Your Eye on the Marshmallow. She wondered if it was based on the landmark Stanford University study in which young children were put at a table with nothing but a single marshmallow. They were told that if they did not eat the delicious treat in front of them, in 15 minutes they would get a second marshmallow. JOACHIM de POSADA podcast excerpt: "When I was a young man, I became a spender. I would eat all my marshmallows. Later on in life, I said, 'Look at me! I'm a marshmallow eater!' I had $70,000 in credit card debt. I had always made a lot of money, but I spent it all. I said, 'I have to change my ways.'" The world, it seems, is split up among those of us who can delay gratification and are willing to wait for it, and those whose impulse control is such that their desires must be satisfied right now! It turns out that Wendy's mom had tried out the marshmallow experiment on her daughter at a very young age. Her result? Wendy had the patience to wait 15 minutes to be rewarded. This behavior, science tells us, bodes very well for Wendy's future as a productive member of society. As for those children in the experiment who could not wait to consume the single marshmallow? Well, their future is not so bright. Keep Your Eye on the Marshmallow is the third book in a series of international bestsellers with more than 3 million copies in print. It is a unique hybrid of fiction and nonfiction, opening and closing with a true parable and an update of the latest scientific marshmallow research. The gooey center of the book, meanwhile, follows the fictional tale of the ever-ambitious Arthur and his challenges to balance saving his marshmallows in business against being a loving husband and father. Joining me today is the world's real marshmallow theory expert and proponent. JOACHIM de POSADA • • • • • or
Here's a story you don't know about a man whose music you do know: Norfolk, Virginia's favorite and the Jersey shore's adopted son, Gary "U.S." Bonds! I just finished reading By U.S. Bonds: That's My Story. It's the kind of book we need more of, one that tells what happens to a performer that rockets to fame and what happens to them when the kleig lights are turned to the next "superstar." GARY U.S. BONDS podcast excerpt: "I had no idea who Bruce Springsteen was. I was doing the 'Holiday Inn Tour.' Whoever had a lounge, that's where I'd be playing. I wasn't listening to a lot of radio. I was too busy learning what I had to do to make the crowd happy in whatever city I was in. What old songs do they like? I didn't hear the new guys. I knew Bob Dylan, but I didn't like him. One of Bruce's friends came up to me at this hotel lounge sage and said, 'I've got a friend who really likes your music--he'd like to come up and do a song.' It was cool to have anybody come up and give me a chance to go to the bar and have a beer! I said, 'Here's a friend of mine, he'd like to sing a song: Mr. Bruce Springsteen!' And the crowd went wild. I'm going, "Who the hell IS this guy?"'" In the case of Bonds -- who was born Gary Anderson -- he was the recipient of a second shot at the brass ring 20 years after he first hit it big with his such as "New Orleans" and "Quarter to Three," thanks to the admiration and attention of New Jersey's favorite son, Bruce Springsteen. If you follow pop music -- or Springsteen in particular -- you already know how Springsteen and "Little Steven," Steven Van Zandt, helped Bonds return to the recording studio and the Hot 100 after a two-decade absence. But what interested me in By U.S. Bonds is the way these men stayed in the life of Bonds and his family. Family, by the way, is a recurrent theme in this memoir, starting with Bonds' devotion to his mother and then to his wife and daughter. We'll definitely talk about that, too. Gary U.S. Bonds • • • •
(2013) very time I hear people babble on about child TV and film stars who struggled to become fully formed adults, I think about Candace Cameron Bure. Playing DJ Tanner on ABC's long-running sitcom, "Full House," didn't seem to ruin her life. She married a National Hockey League All-Star, Valeri Bure, gave birth to three children, continues to act and is writing her second book. CANDACE CAMERON BURE podcast excerpt: "I'm very selective in what I'll do. I love acting but I'm very passionate about family programming.. What I want to do is good, wholesome programming for families to watch together. If I can't sit down and enjoy it with my kids, I'm probably not going to be in it" Oh, and she's about to make her second appearance on Mr. Media. Not bad, right? Candace, who was last here with "Frasier" star Peri Gilpin to talk about their work on the ABC Family series about high school gymnastics competition, "Make It or Break It," is back to talk about starring in a new GMC TV movie, "Finding Normal." It airs Saturday, May 18 @ 7 p.m., 9 p.m. & 11 p.m. & again on Sunday May 19 @ 7 p.m., 9 p.m. & 11 p.m. In "Finding Normal," Candace plays a great surgeon who is a little lacking in interpersonal skills when it comes to dealing with everyone in her life. Candace Cameron Bure • • • • Listen: (2009)
They don't create journalists like Jeff Klinkenberg much any more. And they aren't opening any new newspapers with the budget or patience to send a reporter and photographer into the backwoods any more in hopes they might find a captivating story or two. Klinkenberg -- just "Klink" to anyone who has spent more than five minutes in his gentle presence -- has enjoyed a remarkable freedom to roam the back roads and small towns of Florida during more than 35 years with the Tampa Bay Times. JEFF KLINKENBERG podcast excerpt: "Sometimes I resent a little bit that 'Weird' Florida has become the national narrative: hanging chads, flesh-eating zombies, bizarre trailer park crimes. It's certainly part of Florida culture, but it's not the whole thing." Order 'Seasons of Real Florida' by Jeff Klinkenberg, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the swamp above! In the latest bound collection of his newspaper stories, Alligators in B-Flat: Improbable Tales from the Files of Real Florida, Klink once again takes readers from the flatlands of the Florida Everglades to the legendary mountains of Chesty Morgan and down deep into the water hazards of the state's numerous golf courses. And, of course, he is always up to his ass in alligators, mosquitoes and roadkill. Every week in the Times, Klink introduces loyal readers to beloved Floridians such as Oil Boy and Conrad Yankee, or he'll take us to one of his favorite places, from Mack's Fish Camp to Gatorama -- from which the book's catchy title comes. What ties each of these stories together is the respect Klink gives each and every one of his subjects, no matter how bizarre or how far off the beaten path their lives have taken them. No matter where you live, you'll marvel at the stories he has to tell. Jeff Klinkenberg • • • • •
Many years ago, one of my favorite assignments for what was then the St. Petersburg Times was putting together a special section for the annual Clearwater Jazz Holiday. All the featured performers had to go through me for an interview and I had a blast talking to Herbie Mann, Dave Brubeck, Richie Cole and flirting with the charming Judy Roberts. I also got to know many of our great Tampa Bay-based jazz talents, including Fred Johnson and Gumbi Ortiz. It was, always fun because, of course, while I loved their music, I had no idea what I was talking about. NAT OSBORN podcast excerpt: "I like seeing what a jazz musician sounds like playing rock 'n' roll, and what does a rock musician sound like playing jazz mixed with reggae. It's a fun experiment." Well, it's many years later and I still get a thrill from being introduced to new jazz talent -- such as today's guest, keyboard player and singer Nat Osborn. Osborn brings a modern swing to his performances fronting the Nat Osborn Band, a joyous exuberance reminiscent in many ways of early Harry Connick Jr. The band just released a new album, The King & The Clown, and Nat joins us today to talk about his work and perform a couple tunes from it, "Yours Always" and "Little to the Left." Nat Osborn Band • • •
Today's Guest: Sexytime porno movie poster editor Jacques Boyreau. I had a lot of really great jobs as both a high school and college student in my youth, from hauling carpets in a Sandler & Worth retail store to working in E=MC2, a science fiction bookstore across the street from Princeton University and being a substitute rural mailman. But my favorite was working as a ticket taker, usher and concessionaire at the Royal Park Cinemas 4 in Gainesville, Florida. Frankly, a lot of my memories of that place revolve around sex. There was the time our manager, Mr. Symons, defied local police warnings and ran the classic full-length porno, Debbie Does Dallas. You know, the one where the panicked guy says, "Don't choke, baby! Don't die!" Yup, that one. And the police shut us down on Friday night after oh, I don't know, the second or third showing they monitored. (The staff watched it, as was tradition, on Thursday night after the projectionist assembled it.) JACQUES BOYREAU podcast excerpt: "Pornography is a type of storage device for our species and contains an unbelievable amount of information -- not just the obvious!" ' It was the Royal Park where I met the first girls I ever had sex with myself. And it was where it seemed like all we ever did was talk about sex -- getting it and not getting it. I also got one of my first major magazine assignments thanks to the theater when adult film director Russ Meyers came to the Royal Park to promote his new film, Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens. My future best man, Allen Solomon, and I had a two-hour lunch with the legendary director and had to return later to collect our jaws. And the Royal Park was also where, late one night after the weekly midnight screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, my co-workers and I discovered a treasure trove of neatly folded '70s porno movie posters behind a silver screen. I cannot tell a lie: by now, someone has probably discovered that the one-sheets for Flesh Gordon, Sex World and many others are no longer in their hiding spot. Sorry. Fast-forward many year and I saw a tease for "Sexytime: The Post-Porn Rise of the Pornoisseur." It was a book after my own nostalgic heart -- even if I don't know exactly what a "Pornoisseur" is. Joining me to explain it all is Jacques Boyreau, co-editor with Peter Van Horne of Sexytime.
I've gotta go with Marvel Comics' 1960s silliness, Not Brand Ecch! Stan Lee and his bullpen knew all the stereotypes, archetypes and tropes better than anyone -- having created most of them -- and they showed no fear in ridiculing themselves, their competition and the hippie-dippie era. But each new generation needs its own jokes, and today's bunch of superheroes is no different. YURI LOWENTHAL podcast excerpt: "It should have come from my twisted brain, but it actually came from (Tara). I'm the one who collected action figures and knew all about that world. But Tara is the idea woman. We were looking for the type of show we could produce on a small budget and maintain. Tara came to me one day with this idea about action figures on a shelf!" So whether you love comic books or comic book movies, or even if you think the genre is totally ridiculous, you're bound to fall in love with the crude, wicked humor of Shelf Life, the YouTube series about plastic action figures come to life on a little boy's shelf. It's Toy Story for young people who have graduated from PG-13-rated movies to a hard R. The series, now in its fourth season of short, brutally funny-yet-crude episodes, was created by the husband-and-wife team of Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt, who play Bug Boy and Hero Lass, respectively. In addition to their characters, other off-the-shelf players include Hero Man, Samurai Snake and Black Velvet. If you've been skeptical of the world of TV series created specifically for the web, Shelf Life is a good excuse to indulge your curiosity. It's quite clever and reminds me a lot of NBC's Community, with Tara a lot like Allison Brie's character in terms of her sexuality and knowing a lot more about life than you might think... and Yuri capturing the innocence and humor of Danny Pudi's Abed. Shelf Life • • • • Yuri Lowenthal • • • • • • Tara Platt • • • • • • • • • •
It's no secret that I'm a lifetime comic book fan. I can trace my love of the form -- comics that is; women were a few years later -- back to the mid-1960s when my grandfather and I were on our way to catch a Suburban Bus back to New Brunswick, New Jersey, from the Port Authority in Manhattan and we stopped at a newsstand. He wanted a New York Daily News and he pointed me toward the comic book section so I could read something on the ride home, too. My eyes went right to the latest issue of The X-Men. I knew nothing about them -- yet -- but they looked so cool. And I remember that moment of discovery like no other. There were other opportunities to read piles of comics in the years that followed; my cousin Fred Sirotkin lived in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and his entire basement was given over to his alphabetized collection of what I recall to be mostly Archies. KEITH DALLAS podcast excerpt: "Think about the more recent uproar when DC and Marvel raised comic book prices from $2.99 to $3.99. It was essentially the same thing in the 1960s to go from a dime to 12 cents." And my older male cousins on my father's side, Mark and Scott Shoham, always had a stack of Marvel and DC superheroes in the basement of their Bloomfield, Connecticut, house to divert me from their more mature teen pursuits whenever we visited. In the 1970s, I built my own substantial collection of thousands of comics, less for their collectible value and more for the sheer joy of reading and re-reading. My first paid writing assignment, at age 13, was about the growing popularity of comics, produced for a Midwest hobbyist newspaper. And I wrote dozens more stories, paid and unpaid, about comics throughout high school, developing a style and speed at a very young age. All of which is my way of saying that when I heard about the first volume of TwoMorrows Publishing's new series, American Comic Book Chronicles, I had to see it. Curiously, the book starts off with the years 1960-64, skipping almost 30 years of history that came before. To be honest, that's fine with me; I was born in 1960. Did anything really exist before me? I find that hard to believe. Volume One, written by John Wells and edited by my guest today, Keith Dallas, is packed with industry anecdotes and behind-the-scenes tales of not just the birth of the Marvel Age and the rebirth of DC Comics, but it also tells many stories I hadn't read before involving lesser publishers such as Charlton, Dell, Gold Key, Harvey and ACG. Those are important because they employed so many creators -- such as Steve Ditko and Neal Adams -- who went on to be huge influences on the decades to come. Enough of me; let's talk comics! American Comic Book Chronicles • •
Today's Guest: Jamie Malanowski, author of The Book of Levon: The Trials and Triumphs of Levon Helm Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of woodland nymphs with a great sense of rhythm… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order The Book of Levon: The Trials and Triumphs of Levon Helm by Jamie Malanowski, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! I can't imagine what it must have been like to be musician Levon Helm. So much raw talent, so much enthusiasm for what he did in life, so many loyal friends and anonymous admirers... and yet so much personal and professional frustration. Most of us know Helm best from the 1978 Martin Scorsese documentary, The Last Waltz, which captured the break up of The Band, in which Helm was a vital part alongside Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko and the rest. JAMIE MALANOWSKI audio excerpt: "While so many others were pushing the limits of content and recording styles in the 1970s, these five guys in The Band -- four Canadians and Levon Helm, from Arkansas -- went back to roots, Americana music and played the fiddle, the old organ, and went back to country, rhythm and blues, gospel at a time when America was being ripped apart." Order And the War Came: The Six Months That Tore America Apart by Jamie Malanowski, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! The Band, for those who don't know the ubiquitously named rock outfit, was long known for backing first Ronnie Hawkins and then Bob Dylan for many, many years before establishing its own brand. The breakup of The Band -- and, in particular, Robertson's role in tearing it asunder -- left Helm bitter and frustrated for most of the next 35 years before his death on April 19, 2012. Jamie Malanowski, former editor at Spy, Esquire and Time, has written an ebook, The Book of Levon: The Trials and Triumphs of Levon Helm. It catches us up on the post-Last Waltz life of Helm. It's a profile of a man who, though often down on his luck, never let go of his musical gifts and always found a way to keep the world entertained. Along the way, he engendered a tremendous amount of loyalty, too. You can download The Book of Levon right now for as little as $2.99 from Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble. This is Malanowski's second visit to Mr. Media; he was last here to discuss his fascinating Abraham Lincoln history, And The War Came: The Six Months That Tore America Apart. Jamie Malanowski • • •
Today's Guest: Sam Dawson, author, Broad Appeal Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of broads who are no longer burning their bras but, instead, gently stretching them toward the floor… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'Broad Appeal: Wit and Wisdom From Women Ages Sixty to Ninety' by Sam Dawson, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! Sam Dawson began with an interesting concept: I'm not as old as the world thinks I am. Then she went out and found 70 more women who felt exactly as she does. They don't think, feel or act old. Sometimes they're conservative; sometimes they're liberal. Sometimes they ache all over; sometimes they get that old familiar spring in their step. And sometimes -- sometimes -- they'd like a little good ol' fashioned, um, intimacy. Yup, that's the word: Intimacy. SAM DAWSON audio excerpt: "Women are freer than they've ever been in their lives! The oughts, coulds, woulds and shoulds don't matter any more. We've done it! We may not look as cool as we used to, but we're really living high. We're having a good time!" Dawson, a long-time professional woman who has been married twice, raised three daughters and has been a grandmother to seven, has published a book called Broad Appeal: Wit and Wisdom from Women Ages Sixty to Ninety. Broad Appeal captures the unvarnished thoughts of women whose generation came of age in the 1960s and '70s and in many ways were nothing like their mothers before them. And yet... My own mother celebrated her 75th birthday this year and that inspired my interest in the wisdom of Dawson and her friends. What are they really thinking, I wondered? Let's find out. Sam Dawson • • •
Today's Guest: Actor Matthew Ziff, Treachery, Six-Gun Savior Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of handsome young men with drive and ambition but who can't make two and two add up to four… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'Treachery' starring Matthew Ziff, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the movie poster above! Usually, I like to see a film in its entirety before inviting an actor to be a guest on Mr. Media. But I'm told that Treachery, an explosive new family drama starring Matthew Ziff and Michael Biehn, is still being put together in post-production in anticipation of its test screening at this year's Sunscreen Film Festival, April 18th to 21st in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. So, because I want to help raise awareness of our local festival, I'm going to talk to Ziff a little blind here. The trailer looks pretty dynamic, though, so we're going on faith that the film will match up.(Don't they always?) MATTHEW ZIFF audio excerpt: "If they seem pretty cool, like they'd be into Quidditch, I'll tell them I play it pretty quick. Because it's a pretty big part of my life. If people don't like that, it's their loss." A few interesting facts about Matthew Ziff: • He has been modeling professionally since he was two months old; • He attended the University of Miami (as did I, at least for my freshman year); • He has 1.6 million followers on his verified Twitter account; • And, get this: in July, 2012, he represented the USA in the International Quidditch Association's Summer Games during the Olympic Torch Relay in England, where Team USA won the Gold medal. So he's got that going for him. There will be an exclusive test screening of Treachery at this year's Sunscreen Film Festival, followed by a Q&A session with the cast and crew. Before the movie, there will also be a screening of a Ziff short, Speed Demon. Matthew Ziff • • • • •
In the first half of My Brother the Devil, you will think you know where director Sally El Hosaini is going with the story. It seems somewhat predictable and it's easy to see that some viewers will shrug and ask themselves, "What's the big deal?" But that's why movies, like life itself, rarely unfold in a single act. Set in London, this story of youth gangs, frustration, sexuality and brotherhood may remind some of a 1992 British film that I can't mention by name because it will give too much away. SALLY EL HOSAINI audio excerpt: "When I started writing the script for 'My Brother the Devil,' I was attracted to the youth in my area, specifically the Arab youth. This mix of cultures and their struggle for identity was something I could relate to." Let's just say, watch My Brother the Devil in its entirety and you'll know what I mean. The film stars James Floyd and Fady Elsayed as brothers sharing a room -- and a bunk bed -- in their parents home, a place that has clearly become crowded by expectations of life and the stranglehold of neighborhood gangs. What may surprise many viewers is that this testosterone-driven indie drama was written and directed by a woman, Sally El-Hosaini, making her feature film debut. It may take a few more successful efforts, but don't be surprised to one day hear her name mentioned in the same breath as Zero Dark Thirty and The Hurt Locker director Kathryn Bigelow. My Brother the Devil • • • • • • • • •
Know what I miss most about being a new dad? Okay, okay -- very little. But I do sorta miss those days when everything that happened in the newspaper comic strip "Baby Blues" was life as I knew it -- sticky, steamy and stinky! More than any other strip I've read in my lifetime, reading "Baby Blues" while you're a new parent always made it seem like cartoonist Rick Kirkman and writer Jerry Scott had a collection of video cameras wired throughout our home. The things that happened to Darryl and Wanda always happened to Mimi and me, too! RICK KIRKMAN podcast excerpt: "I've never heard of a (Cartoonist of the Year) Reuben Award bump; I imagine it's probably something that just gives you job satisfaction that you're part of whatever this group is that's considered pretty good cartoonists. It really is an honor to be nominated." That, of course, is the brilliance of any great literature, whether it is Dickens or Schulz, Eisner or Spielberg. If it is applicable to our own lives, we love and appreciate it all the more. I recently had the thrill of reading BBXX, a.k.a., Baby Blues Decades 1 & 2, a beautifully packaged collection of the best Baby Blues strips from the feature's first 20 years, chosen by the creators themselves. In addition, the individual comics are liberally sprinkled with memories and anecdotes from Kirkman and Scott, explaining the inspiration behind some of their best gags. There are also character sketches from the pre-history of the strip and a collection of some of the best Sunday title panels you've probably never seen. Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott were on Mr. Media a couple years ago but I invited Rick back today to talk about the new collection and also to discuss his nomination this year by the National Cartoonists Society as Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year. It is a very tough candidate class, too: besides Kirkman, Stephan Pastis of "Pearls Before Swine" and Brian Crane of "Pickles" are also nominated. The Reuben Award winner will be announced on May 25th, 2013 at the annual NCS Reuben Awards dinner in Pittsburgh, PA. Baby Blues • • • •
Today's Guest: Geri Jewell, comedian, actress, "Deadwood," "Facts of Life" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of people who can't believe the same person could have starred on both Charlotte Rae's 'The Facts of Life' and David Milch's "Deadwood"… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order I'm Walking as Straight as I Can: Transcending Disability in Hollywood and Beyond by Geri Jewell, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above![ Quick Quiz: How many people do you know personally or have you ever known with Cerebral Palsy? Question No. 2: How many people with CP have you ever heard of becoming a standup comedian? And finally, Question No. 3: How many people with CP have ever become an actor with a recurring part on two hit TV series? I'll take a wild guess that few people can think of anyone as an answer to any of those questions. And let me say that my guest today, Geri Jewell, is not your typical anything. GERI JEWELL podcast excerpt: "I rented the closet under the stairs from (comedian) Robert Schimmel. He didn't want me to rent the closet, but I wanted the closet. I always liked the security found in small places. I was in an incubator for the first three months of my life. I could go in there and be safe. And it was easy to clean!" Order 'Deadwood: The Complete Series' [Blu-ray] starring Geri Jewell, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! Born with CP to a loving family that rejected a doctor's advice in the 1950s to institutionalize Geri for life, she worked hard not to be defined solely by her disability. Geri's path forward began on the stage of The Comedy Store on Hollywood's Sunset Boulevard, and eventually led to several seasons as "Cousin Geri" on NBC's top-rated "The Facts of Life" and HBO's cult favorite "Deadwood," on which she played "Jewell" in Al Swearingen's popular whorehouse bar. Geri recently published her autobiography, I'm Walking as Straight as I Can: Transcending Disability in Hollywood and Beyond, a title that references her battles with both CP and gender identity. Geri Jewell • • • Mr. Media interviews with comedian Robert Schimmel! •
Today's Guest: Herb Snitzer, photographer Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of cool chicks and hep cats searching for the right jazzy groove… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'Glorious Days and Nights: A Jazz Memoir' by Herb Snitzer, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! Why deny it? St. Petersburg, Florida still makes a great place to retire. This grand city by the bay of ours presents a more modern image of itself as the home to the Grand Prix, the Salvador Dali Museum, and the Tampa Bay Rays baseball franchise, but make no doubt, we still attract an awful lot of folks on the run from a lifetime of cold weather. One of the reasons that men and women of a certain class of creative folks find their way here is the opportunity to work with the students and faculty of Eckerd College, a small liberal arts institution ensconced on a beautiful spit of prime waterfront land. HERB SNITZER podcast excerpt: "I consider myself a documentary photographer. I also consider myself a visual historian." St. Petersburg, Florida-based boxer Jeff Lacy (2000), photographed by Herb Snitzer. (c) 2009 Herb Snitzer. All rights reserved. More than two decades ago, novelist James Michener (Centennial, Hawaii, The Source) made the campus his second home and enhanced the community by teaching and presenting seminars on his craft through the Academy of Senior Professionals. One of the more recent professional creators to follow in Michener's path is legendary magazine photographer Herb Snitzer. Snitzer began his career in Manhattan in 1957 and his work appeared prominently over the years in all the magazines and newspapers that mattered during his era: Life, Look, The Saturday Evening Post, Fortune, Time, The New York Times and the Herald-Tribune. He also made his mark in the world of music, capturing enduring images of Miles Davis, Nina Simone, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane and Count Basie. More recently, and as a resident of the Tampa Bay area, his work as a civil rights activist has brought him new renown. Eckerd College's Cobb Gallery is featuring a retrospective of his work, "Herb Snitzer — A Life in Photography," through April 5. Herb Snitzer • Nude on Sofa, series (1987), photographed by Herb Snitzer. (c) 2009 Herb Snitzer. All rights reserved.
Today's Guest: Nate Fakes, cartoonist, "Break of Day" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of wannabe cartoonists who all got rejected by newspaper syndicates for being unable to draw or write funny gags day after day after day after day… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Break of Day by Nate Fakes Nate Fakes. With a name like that, he's pretty much got to be funny, right? Fakes is the creator of "Break of Day," a syndicated, single-panel daily comic strip in the mode of "The Far Side" or "Bizarro." As are most successful newspaper comics, it is drawn in a style that is instantly recognizable and has a voice that is all Fake -- I mean Fakes. NATE FAKES podcast excerpt: "Ever since I've had a box of Crayons, I've been drawing." Three-hundred and sixty-five days a year, Fakes has to come up with a fresh gag that will evoke a smile, a chuckle, a belly laugh or even a declaration of "That's what I'm talkin' about!" 'Don Giovanni' is a graphic novel in the works from cartoonist Nate Fakes I imagine there are days when it's easy, when inspiration comes from all around. And then there are probably days when his job seems like the worst possible way to earn a living in the world. An impossible task with no daylight ahead. Complicating the work of the single-panel cartoonist is the lack of ongoing characters or storyline; unlike Rat and Pig in "Pearls Before Swine," for example, Fakes can't unfold a story over the course of a week, can't demonstrate character development, or even stick with a single character. Maybe that's why he's also broadening his palate with an in-development graphic novel for young people called "Don Giovanni." Oh, and one more thing you should know about Nate Fakes: he's based right here in the NEW new media capitol of the world, St. Petersburg, Florida. Nate Fakes • • • • •
Today's Guest: William Kent Krueger, novelist, Ordinary Grace Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of male narrators who tell their stories much better 40 years later than they ever would have as teens… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'Ordinary Grace: A Novel' by William Kent Krueger, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! The first book I read by William Kent Krueger, Vermilion Drift, sat awhile on my shelf before I started it. And once I began, I must admit that I put the Cork O'Connor mystery down several times. The story -- or maybe it was just that title -- just didn't immediately compel me. But it came strongly recommended and I stubbornly kept coming back to it. About 75, maybe a hundred pages in, Vermilion Drift grabbed me by both shoulders and wouldn't let go until I reached the last page. WILLIAM KENT KRUEGER podcast excerpt: "My writing desk is in a coffee shop two blocks away from my home; either The Java Train or Common Grounds. I alternate between the two. I try to support my local independents." I admit to this because when Krueger's latest novel, Ordinary Grace, appeared in the mail, I didn't hesitate. Smart move that was: this new story is completely different than the last but its writing is even better. This time, I got about two-thirds through the book in a day or two and stopped myself as I often do so as not to inadvertently give away the ending when I talk to the author, who is about to join us. Ordinary Grace is set more than 50 years ago in New Bremen, Minnesota, a small rural community whose live and breadth will be instantly familiar to anyone who grew up in such a place. The narrator is Frank Drum, one of three children of the town's Methodist minister. Frank is telling his story of the summer of 1961 as an adult, but his recall and understanding of the way life looked back then to a teen-age boy will strike a chord with anyone -- like myself -- who ever was one. Sometime during the course of the conversation to follow, the author will read a passage from his new book, which will be quite a treat. William Kent Krueger • • •
My exposure to Indian culture is, sadly, a bit limited. First came reading a wonderful novel, A Suitable Boy, by Vikram Seth, which was eye opening to me as visiting Vulcan for the first time was for Starfleet's original "Enterprise" crew. Since then, there have been equally spectacular glimpses of India, its people and its customs, via the Academy Award-winning film Slumdog Millionaire and one of my favorite TV series in many years, "Outsourced." I also loved the Bollywood musical number in the first season of "Smash." The point is, I'm more than a little fascinated by India, yet still underexposed to it. SUJU VIJAYAN audio excerpt: "Because I'm a female director, the critics don't expect The Playback Singer to be as funny as it is." Watching the new indie film, The Playback Singer, was one more glimpse into a culture that never ceases to compel my interest. Of course, this story takes place in Los Angeles, but no matter. It is the tale of a culture clash that occurs when the lives of a good-for-nothing playground architect and his immigration attorney wife are upended by her fussy, endlessly hypocritical Indian, B-movie playback singer father who comes to visit and overstays his welcome. And P.S. -- she hasn't seen her father since he walked out on her mother and siblings 20 years earlier. My guests today are actress Navi Rawat, who plays the daughter, and who my wife instantly recognized as "Charlie's girlfriend from Numb3rs," and who I knew from "Burn Notice." Also with us is the director of The Playback Singer, Suju Vijayan. The film also stars Ross Partridge as the American husband and Piyush Mishra as the playback singer. The Playback Singer • • • • Suju Vijayan • Navi Rawat • • •
Today's Guest: Jackie Collins, novelist, The Power Trip Order The Power Trip by Jackie Collins, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! Go ahead, ask me what most surprised me in reading Jackie Collins' latest story, The Power Trip. Nope, not the sex! It was the sweeping action sequence that brings this wild tale to its conclusion. I know Ms. Collins has written action before, but this was entirely kick-ass, far more than I would have expected. It changed the complexion of a story baked in privilege, extreme sexuality of many stripes and a load of catty gossip. JACKIE COLLINS audio excerpt: "I'm not a 'literary' writer and I've never pretended to be one." As always, Ms. Collins has packed her story with colorful, powerful, manipulative figures--male and female alike. It seems like everybody has angle, everybody is striving, and everybody is game to climb over anyone they have to in order to be king of some imagined hill. Order 'Poor Little B*tch Girl' by Jackie Collins, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! Quite honestly, there are very few truly likeable characters, although I was charmed by the UK football star Taye Sherwin and the Latin singer Luca Perez. Lori, the movie star's seemingly interchangeable girlfriend, comes closest among the women to being agreeable, but... If you want to read a page-turner that will make you lose track of time and space, I can heartily recommend The Power Trip by Jackie Collins. I also recommend you stick around for this interview because Ms. Collins' first two visits to Mr. Media were nothing but delightful fun. And this time, we're also going to impose upon her to read a selection from her new book. Jackie Collins • • • • • • • • • • More Mr. Media® Interviews with Jackie Collins! (2011 podcast) • (2010 Podcast)
Today's Guest: Paul Cowsill, singer, The Cowsills Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of adult men who have all sorts of despicable ways to take advantage of talented teenagers… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'Family Band: The Cowsills Story' a documentary film by Louise Palanker, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD above! It was a week or so before Christmas, 1968, and I owned fewer than five long-playing record albums, including The Monkees' Headquarters and the first two Beatles albums. I played them endlessly on what was essentially a toy record player. That its sound was tinny and that it didn't get very loud didn't matter; I had my very own music. I well remember that holiday season, visiting my parents' friends, Mickey and Ginny and their infant son, Mickey Jr. Mickey Sr. was a New Brunswick, New Jersey cop and the family lived in a modest apartment in a small complex above the Raritan River. The visit was largely uninteresting for me except when Ginny handed me a wrapped present from under the family Christmas tree: a new record! What else could it be that shape? Eight-year-old me quickly tore off the wrapping and discovered The Rain, The Park and Other Things: The Best of The Cowsills inside. PAUL COWSILL audio excerpt: "This is a documentary; there were so many rabbit holes to fall into... Bob and John put Mom in the category of being one of the kids, but Susan and I don't let Mom off the hook. I've been a parent. If you're a parent, get your children out of harm's way! And she never did that. I'm going to see her some day and I'm going to smack her right up the back of her head. I'm going to say, 'What the hell were you thinking keeping us all there (with Dad)?'" Order 'The Best of the Cowsills: 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection,' available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD above! I didn't know anything about The Cowsills yet but it had a funny caricature of the family on the cover and I couldn't wait to get home and put it on my cheap turntable to hear it. Instead of being appreciative of the gift, however, I became a bit of a brat because I couldn't wait to get out of there and hear it! Songs such "Hair," "We Can Fly" and "Indian Lake" became lifetime favorites that I have yet to tire of hearing. Like a lot of bands from that era, The Cowsills soon disappeared from view -- 1910 Fruitgum Company, anyone? -- and I didn't give them much thought until last week when I was invited to watch a new documentary film by Louise Palanker, Family Band: The Cowsills Story, about the real family behind the singing family. It's airing this month on Showtime and whether you are old enough to remember The Cowsills -- or even the TV sitcom they inspired, "The Partridge Family" -- this heart-wrenching tale is a must-see, from family squabbles and singing with mom to a mentally and physically abusive dad and massive lost revenues to latter-day triumphs and tribulations. Joining me today to talk about his family, the band and the documentary is Paul Cowsill. Paul still leads The Cowsills, but his day job is equally interesting: he is an "extreme" landscaper on the NBC fantasy series "Grimm," having previously worked on TNT's "Leverage" and the first Twilight movie. The Cowsills • • • Family Band: The Cowsills Story • • • Susan Cowsill • • • • John Cowsill
I can describe the appeal of director John Burgess's new romantic indie comedy in two words: Human moments. Moments of doubt... ... of lust... ... of heartache... ... of weakness... ... and, ultimately, of satisfaction. AUBREY DOLLAR podcast excerpt: "There's a shot in the film that's just my thigh. It's a strange experience to be in a movie theater and your thigh is 20 feet tall and all these people around you are looking at your thigh. That's a weird thing." ! Indie comedies are a lot like a box of months-old chocolates: you truly never know whether what you find will be fresh or stale. Small, low-budget films can either be crushed by the single-mindedness of a director who can't see the thorns while stepping on the heart, or they can be infused with blood, sweat and tears by a director who understands the delicacy of tone over body parts and crudeness. In One Small Hitch, John Burgess captures the latter. This is one sweet, charming, funny movie. If I wasn't 25 years out of the dating pool, I'd want to take a first date to see this movie. JOHN BURGESS podcast excerpt: "One of the things an audience can't fake is laughter." Much of the credit, I think, goes to the performance of beautiful Aubrey Dollar, who will remind you of Isla Fisher in Wedding Crashers. She plays up the funny and ironic with perfect exuberance and arrives at moments of angst with just enough sadness to make us root for her without finding her character, Molly Mahoney, pathetic and whiny. One Small Hitch just debuted at the 2013 Cinequest Film Festival and will be appearing in film festivals across the country in the coming months as the producers seek a U.S. theatrical distribution deal. The movie is already available on BSkyB in the UK and in theaters across Europe. One Small Hitch • • • • •
I was eight years old when the Eagle landed on the Moon in July 1969. I haven’t been the same since. I anticipated a lifetime ahead of flying around the neighborhood with jet packs, manned missions to Mars, and all kinds of things that, before that July day, were science fiction and after, well, they seemed just around the corner. Now I’m approaching my 47th birthday, and none of my expectations of a space age came to pass. None. Zero. Zip. Watching In the Shadow of the Moon, I remembered that lost feeling. It’s a wonderful experience, which is why I looked forward to talking with director David Sington.
The way I’ve always seen the job of film director is someone whose talents must encompass all of the primary men and women around him or her: the screenwriter, the cinematographer, the producer, and so on. We all know the stereotype of the director who holds his fingers up in opposing L-shapes to signify the film frame and demonstrate to an audience what should be in a shot. But before becoming the project’s adjunct cameraman, the director must be part screenwriter, able to read and envision ways to best translate the words and stage directions in a raw script, either by rewriting it or telling the original writer what is missing. MICK HURBIS-CHERRIER audio excerpt: "I spoke to Courtney Hunt, who directed Frozen River with Melissa Leo. It was a very difficult film to shoot. She said, 'A smart director will relieve themselves of the burden of having to make the whole, entire film on their own. And tap into the resources they have.'" And in today’s world, more and more directors must wear part of the producer’s hat as well, understanding budget constraints in ways that previous generations may not have. Perhaps all of that contributes to why most cultures revere and respect "director" above most any other credit in a movie. Who can’t name a handful of directors on request? Spielberg, Tarantino, Lee – Spike or Ang – Bigelow and Cameron are modern masters. And what about classics such as Hitchcock, Kirosawa or Ford? Now try naming a producer not named Weinstein. See? Directors rule. All of which is why I thought it would be fun to invite Hunter College (CUNY) film professor Mick Hurbis-Cherrier to the show today. The masterful textbook that he and Michael Rabiger authored, Directing: Film Techniques and Aesthetics, has been freshly updated for its fifth edition. And as the father of a filmmaker-in-the makings, I need to keep up on this stuff. Mick Hurbis-Cherrier •
If author Pete Williams is on the show, you can be pretty sure that I’m going to be out of my element. The first time wasn’t bad; his book The Draft was out and we talked about what goes on behind the scenes at the NFL’s college football draft. I kept my head above water – barely – for that one. PETE WILLIAMS podcast excerpt: "What's driving a lot of these themed runs right now is simply Facebook. People want those photos to say, 'Look at me. Look what I've done!" But ever since he met professional fitness trainer Mark Verstegen and co-authored a series of Core Performance titles, it’s been man overboard for Mr. Media. My training regimen consists of getting up every morning, walking to the kitchen, taking a bunch of vitamins, walking the dog for 20 minutes and then walking to my desk. Pete, on the other hand, has moved on to marathons, triathlons and Iron Man competitions. He wrote a vook called Paddle Fit and I actually went out into the waters of Tampa Bay to videotape our last interview. And I’m not much of a water bird. This time around, Pete’s latest ebook is called Obstacle Fit: Your Complete Training Program to Run Fast, Conquer Challenges, and Discover Your Inner Spartan, Mudder, or Warrior. In it, he explores a world completely foreign to me, where people get fit by creating ridiculous challenges to their well being and sanity. At least that’s the way I see it. Pete Williams • • • • • •
Today's Guest: Scott Tracy Griffin, author, Tarzan: The Centennial Celebration Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of athletic young women dressed in skimpy faux animal skins in an effort to play Jane to my Tarzan… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'Tarzan The Centennial Celebration' by Scott Tracy Griffin, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! First things first. I may be the only grown man in America who will admit to loving the movie John Carter. Sure, the story was imperfect, the whole thing a wee bit too long and no doubt puzzling to anyone not familiar with the origins of the original Edgar Rice Burroughs superhero. Oh, and Disney erred mightily in dropping “… of Mars” from the title. That might have distinguished the title character from John Carter of… accounting, let’s say. But I thought the movie kicked ass in much the way Star Wars did the first time I saw it more than 35 years ago. SCOTT TRACY GRIFFIN audio excerpt: "Edgar Rice Burroughs was extremely intelligent... He wasn't particularly outgoing or extroverted, however. He was self-effacing and humble." So I was a good candidate to be interested in Scott Tracy Griffin’s new illustrated book, Tarzan: The Centennial Celebration. It’s a stunningly attractive piece of work, bringing together a century’s worth of the art, films and stories that make Burroughs one of the Western world’s most remarkable creative minds. In one place you can now find the book covers and interiors by Frank Frazetta and Roy Krenkel, the comic book work of Joe Kubert, the comic strips of Hal Foster, and movie stills from all the great – and not so great – Tarzan jungle action films. TV’s Tarzan, Ron Ely – who will always be Doc Savage to me – even wrote the introduction. I can’t wait to learn more. Scott Tracy Griffin • • • • •
Today's Guest: Max Allan Collins, novelist, Seduction of the Innocent, Complex 90, Road to Perdition Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of Dr. Frederic Wertham fans – okay, just two prickly old broads who still think comic books are the root of all evil in America… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'Seduction of the Innocent' (Hard Case Crime) by Max Allan Collins, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! Do you ever hear a voice in your head when you read a book? For example, if you read the – God forbid – autobiography of Justin Beiber, would you imagine the Biebs reading it to you? Well, ever since my first interview with novelist Max Allan Collins, I can’t help but read his detective stories and hear his voice unraveling the narrative and dialogue. Order 'Mike Hammer - Complex 90' by Mickey Spillane and Max Allan Collins, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! MAX ALLAN COLLINS podcast excerpt: "Complex 90 has a hugely violent scene where Mike Hammer essentially slaughters 45 people. I'm glad it won't be coming out till May because maybe things will settle down and I won't have to answer the questions about, 'How can you put a hero in that position?' I'm just naive enough to think there is a difference between a lunatic in real life going into a school and killing innocent children, and a fictional character who is a hero killing a bunch of villains in a novel. It's a specious argument. And it's an easy one." That was particularly true in Seduction of the Innocent, a wacky twisting of realish people and false situations that anyone with a sense of comic book history will enjoy if for no other reason than to see creepy Dr. Werner Frederick get knocked off. It’s a roller-coaster ride of four-color goodness. And in reading his other new book, the Mike Hammer story Complex 90, I swear I hear Max in the narrative and his posthumous co-author Mickey Spillane in the conversations between Hammer and everybody. Is it just me? Max Allan Collins • • • • •
There is a lot an American can learn about film from an Irishman. Mark Cousins’ new 15-hour documentary, The Story of Film: An Odyssey, offers a perspective that is dramatically different from a Hollywood-centric view of the celluloid universe. He packs this surprisingly fast-moving epic with film clips and filmmaker interviews from around the world, from Bernardo Bertolucci, director of The Last Emperor, to American Buck Henry, writer of The Graduate. In between, he visits sites of film history on every continent and takes a global view of an industry that Americans incorrectly think of as all theirs. MARK COUSINS audio excerpt: "Live cheaply. Don't got to restaurants. Don't take taxis. If you live cheaply, you don't have to earn much. When you work for low budget, you have creative freedom, which is the best best thing for a filmmaker. I could focus on who did great things at different points in film history." As a student of cinema myself – my fraying degree is in film studies from the University of Florida, where I studied everything from New Wave French and German cinema to the entire Charlie Chaplin catalog – I’ve become accustomed to movie travelogues that will be 80 percent Hollywood with a little French, German and Japanese dropped in for flavor. But in The Story of Film: An Odyssey, which was just released as a DVD set, Cousins give the rest of the world its due. You’ll watch this documentary and be introduced to the brilliance of many filmmakers whose names and titles you probably never heard of before. Mark Cousins • • • •
Today's Guest: Xander Demos, guitarist, Guitarcadia Watch the Mr. Media interview with guitarist Xander Demos -- including several improv performances -- by clicking on the video player above! Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of Savatage fans who will wait for hours in the rain after today’s show just so that I’ll sign their LPs for no reason other than my name is in the acknowledgements section … in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'Guitarcadia' by Xander Demos by clicking on the CD cover above! I hope he takes this as a compliment, but Xander Demos’ guitar stylings remind me of the 1980s. In that era, I was a newspaper rock critic, listening to hour upon hour of heavy metal guitar solos and hair nation bands. And I liked it! XANDER DEMOS audio excerpt: "I grew up listening to Savatage and a lot of the '80s bands, Stryper, Racer X, all these guys with cool guitar harmonies. Even though so much of that stuff was so articulate, technical, I noticed that live, sometimes, they would never do the same exact thing. It was never more apparent than when I started listening to more instrumental stuff. Even the jazz guys didn't play the same thing live because maybe the vibe's not there. As you become a mature guitar player, you find a comfort level with what you can improv." So hearing his work took me back to what was, for me, a simpler time of cueing up a record album or cassette and sitting back with nothing better to do than listen to some wango tango grooves and blazing hot licks. And yes, we actually talked like that. Those were fun days when I didn’t need to multitask or always use my time wisely. So I appreciate a good turn down memory lane. But this young man, Xander Demos, is not a nostalgia act; he’s a working musician, straight out of Pittsburgh, playing in not one but three different bands: the Xander Demos Band, Into The Arena, and Sabbath Judas Sabbath. Okay, the last is a Black Sabbath/Judas Priest cover band, so maybe there is a little nostalgia at work here, but you get the idea. I invited Xander to join us tonight to play a few tunes and talk about life as a working musician at the start of the twenty-first century. Xander Demos • • • • • • •
Every time a new Richard Doetsch novel appears on my desk, I put aside everything else I’m reading and start on my favorite contemporary author’s latest work. And it never takes long because I consume his pages like they’re an endless bag of my favorite Halloween sweets. I’ve now read five of his six books (he’s also written one vook novella) and they always leave me wanting more. Which reminds me – where is that sequel to my favorite novel in years, The 13th Hour? Don’t worry—I’ll ask. RICHARD DOETSCH podcast excerpt: "I've created this world called Byram Hills. It's based on Armonk, where I live. And all my characters live in Byram Hills. Paul Busch is in Half Past Dawn. In 13th Hour, there is mention of Michael St. Pierre. There are all these incestuous connections; you never know where a character will show up." Doetsch’s sixth adventure-packed tale was just released. The Thieves of Legend reunites Michael St. Pierre and his supporting cast for their wildest globe-spanning challenge yet. It is the fourth in the Thieves series; I recommend if you’re new to Doetsch’s Thieves that you just order all four now because if you start with the latest, you’re just going to feel compelled to read the rest anyway. This is Doetsch’s fourth appearance on Mr. Media and his second on video. (Catch up on any you missed at MrMedia.com). Richard Doetsch • • •
Sometimes, as a father, the best weapon in your arsenal is the hug. That’s the advice a four-star general offers to the President of the United States… on a new NBC sitcom called “1600 Penn.” It’s a very funny moment in the show. And it really puts you on notice: What did executive producer and co-creator Jon Lovett hear and when did he hear it? Lovett, before going to Hollywood, was a real-life speechwriter for President Obama in America’s other dream factory, Washington, D.C. JASON WINER podcast excerpt: "We went to the White House last week and screened '1600 Penn' for the President and his staff. It was a wild experience! Jon Lovett was there for three years working in the Administration and his former boss, the President, is quite proud of the young man." So some of the real fun of “1600 Penn” is likely to be deciding what is based on truth, what is make-believe, and what is the stuff Lovett wished were going on at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue -- The White House. It also gives Jason Winer, Lovett’s co-creator and executive producer of the show, an unusually deep resource and partner in crime for a comedy that is as politically erudite as it is emotionally awkward. Winer knows awkward and funny: he directed the pilot of “Modern Family” and many episodes since, as well as several “New Girl” installments. “1600 Penn,” which airs Thursdays at 9:30 p.m., stars Josh Gad from the Broadway hit “Book of Mormon,” frequent presidential impersonator Bill Pullman, and former “Dharma & Gregg” star Jenna Elfman. It’s a quirky mix of “30 Rock” and “Arrested Development,” with a little of “The West Wing” thrown in. Jason Winer •
Today's Guest: Jillette Johnson, singer/songwriter, performs "Cameron" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of young men who can’t stop watching Jillette Johnson’s music videos over and over … in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'Whiskey & Frosting,' the debut EP by Jillette Johnson, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the CD cover above! While you’re listening to that big beautiful voice of singer Jillette Johnson’s, don’t forget to listen to the actual words coming out of her mouth. You might be a little surprised. In “Pauvre Coeur,” she’ll slip a “filthy whore” reference amongst the ethereal, breathless singing. Sounds a bit like Adele with lyrics that are a little more suggestive. JILLETTE JOHNSON podcast excerpt: "The message is that relationships are messy. And they are just as wonderful as they are painful. I wanted to capture a breathing organism in the 'Pauvre Coeur' video." And in “Cameron,” which Jillette will perform for us, she tells the tale of a bullied young man who makes his father mad because he “likes wearing lipstick.” Jillette has a unique perspective and, I suspect, point of reference, making her songs sound like operatic ballads when they’re very simple stories about real-life people. You can catch Jillette on the road in the month of January, promoting her debut EP, Whiskey & Frosting, and opening for American Idol star Kris Allen, in places such as Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, Georgia, and right here in the new new media capitol of the world, St. Petersburg, Florida, at the State Theatre on Jan. 22. Jillette Johnson • • • • • • •
Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of music fans who just hit the motherlode … in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order Living Colour's 'Vivid' CD, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the CD cover above! We’ve taken this show to a lot of interesting places thanks to the Internet, including the homes of the rich and famous, a restaurant balcony where a belly dancer wandered into an interview and shook her assets for us, the home kitchen of a TV chef, a Playboy Playmate’s bed, and at least one magic castle. Today’s show extends the franchise a little further, as Mr. Media has been invited into the Hartford, Connecticut, loft of bass guitarist Doug Wimbish, where a remarkable rehearsal will take place right before our eyes. Joining us are Wimbish and his friends, drummer Keith LeBlanc and guitarist Adam Falcon. DOUG WIMBISH audio excerpt: "Living Colour broke a barrier. Lenny Kravitz broke through. Fishbone broke through. Bad Brains broke through. Living Color was able to get the nod from somebody that was very famous -- Mick Jagger. He was able to get them signed to a major label. There is no denying the music and the art of what was going on. Living Colour got a hall pass: 'Don't change your channel: it's four Negroes!' It was shock and awe. It created a vibe and buzz." Order 'Bohemian 959' by Adam Falcon, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the CD cover above! Separately (and sometimes together) these three men have worked with the Rolling Stones, Living Colour, Whitney Houston, Roberta Flack, the Bee Gees, Peter Gabriel, Eric Clapton, the Original Sugar Hill Rhythm Section, Melle Mel, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Tack>>Head, Jeff Beck, Joe Satriani, Herb Alpert, Annie Lennox, Madonna, Carly Simon, Al Green, Billy Idol, George Clinton, and James Brown! They’re together today for their second and final tune-up before playing at Miami Beach’s annual Art Deco Weekend and Music Festival, January 18-20. It will be the first time Falcon has ever played publicly with Wimbish and LeBlanc, and it is sure to be an amazing time. (You can get all the who, what, where and when details at www.ArtDecoWeekend.com ) Adam Falcon, Keith LeBlanc and Doug Wimbish will be playing together at Art Deco Weekend, Miami Beach, Jan. 18-20, 2013. For an exact schedule and locations, visit ArtDecoWeekend.com And you can see even more of Doug Wimbish in March and April when Living Colour reunites once more to tour the United States and Europe in celebration of the 25th anniversary of its landmark LP, Vivid, being released. Order 'Stop the Confusion: Global Interference' by Keith LeBlanc, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the CD cover above! Regular Mr. Media viewers and listeners will certainly remember our friend Adam Falcon, who is making his third appearance on the show today and was kind enough to suggest this rare session with his friends. The guys will even perform a pair of songs – “Stealing (In The Name of the Lord)” and “Too Late” — so stick around for that! (Special thanks to Diane Nilsson and videographer Jaeme Brennan for making this happen on the technical side!) Adam Falcon • • • • • Keith LeBlanc • • • • • Doug Wimbish • • • • Living Colour • • • • • Miami Beach
There is a lot of money in the Florida East Coast town of Palm Beach. It’s controlled by people who have so much cash and so much free time that they inevitably say and do things to which the average person—just across the bridge in West Palm Beach, for example—can’t begin to relate. Many of these folks live their lives like cartoon characters, so it’s fortunate that the local newspaper, the Palm Beach Daily News, has a political cartoonist capable of capturing them in the four-color glory of their natural environment. DAVID WILLSON audio excerpt: "It doesn't matter how much money you have; we all say stupid things and do stupid things. If you're somebody who has an element of celebrity in your life, you're fair game for this sort of thing. I try to do a cartoon that everybody can relate to." The only real wonder is why David Willson hasn’t been run out of town by pitchfork and torch-bearing villagers -- or Donald Trump, at least. Surely the good folks of Palm Beach know he’s laughing at them, not with them? Whatever the answer, the rest of us are lucky that Willson has continued to expose the peculiarities that are unique to this pampered, cloistered community. And that his beautiful cartoons have finally been collected in a best-of volume, "Billionaires and Butterfly Ballots." David Willson
You can hire New York-based Phillips Media Relations and pay good money for help from Brad Phillips as you and your company negotiate the media through crises and triumphs. But Phillips is so devoted to curing the world of foot-in-mouth disease that he gives away an awful lot of great ideas, information and instruction for free on his blog, Mr. Media Training. And yes, that does sound a little like “Mr. Media,” but we couldn’t be more different. Mr. Media exists to exploit people; Phillips exists to protect them from journalists, podcasters and bloggers like me. BRAD PHILLIPS podcast excerpt: "Almost every answer you give in a media interview should be a call to action: buy your book, sign your petition, whatever you are out there doing, trying to build awareness and recognition for, you should be doing something that leads the listener or viewer or reader to the results you want. On average, people are exposed to 3,000 marketing messages per day. If you don't cut through that chatter with a direct call to action, you're probably going to fail." The Mr. Media Training blog is new-car fresh every couple of days with topics such as: • 10 Questions Every Author Should Be Ready To Answer • 7 Things Billy Joel Teaches You About Public Speaking • And The Ten Worst Video Media Disasters Of 2012 Phillips is always ready with an opinion and a quip on whatever goes wrong in a given day of celebrity and media newsmaker interviews. Now he’s stepped up his game with a new book, The Media Training Bible: 101 Things You Absolutely Positively Need to Know Before Your Next Interview. It’s his website on steroids! Brad Phillips • • •
Today's Guest: James Sheehan, novelist, The Lawyer's Lawyer Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of Stetson University law school students who hope to one day be featured in a James Sheehan legal thriller… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order The Lawyer's Lawyer by James Sheehan, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! When I walk my dog in the morning and again in the evening, there is a 99 percent chance I’ll have a brush with the law in my neighborhood. First I go by Michael’s house. He’s the senior member of the neighborhood firm, a sole practitioner who, it turns out, knows his way around Hollywood in ways no one would ever guess. Next door to him is attorney Dave, my liberal minded, wild-eyed sports buddy. Around the corner is Jim, who spent years as an attorney before becoming a law professor and administrator. JAMES SHEEHAN audio excerpt: "The Lawyer's Lawyer opens with serial killings. But the major thrust of the book is when Jack Tobin becomes involved in the case. Is he going to represent a serial killer on death row? Jack has always believed that the people that he represented were innocent, even if he wasn't sure. Here, he's saddled with a moral question. What if he's wrong? What are the ramifications of it?" Order The Mayor of Lexington Avenue by James Sheehan, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! Order The Law of Second Chances by James Sheehan, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! And one house over from Jim is Lance, a sheriff’s deputy and fellow dog owner. Good friends and good neighbors all. Jim, by the way, might be better know to fans of legal fiction as James Sheehan, author of bestselling novels such as The Mayor of Second Avenue and The Law of Second Chances. We talk often about our respective projects and the ups and downs of writing books. About two years ago, I was honored to get an early look at an upcoming Sheehan story in development and earlier this year got to see his latest, The Lawyer’s Lawyer, in galley form. If you were a fan of Jim’s first two books and the entanglements of fictional Florida attorney Jack Tobin, you’ll be pleased to know he returns to action in The Lawyer’s Lawyer. And if you’ve never read Sheehan before but like the high-octane thrillers of John Grisham, Michael Connelly, James Grippando and Scott Turow, it will be well worth your time and money to order a few of Mr. Sheehan’s fine works. (By the way, you can find Mr. Media interviews with Connelly, Grippando and Turow at MrMedia.com.) James Sheehan • • •
I don’t know cartoonist Mark Anderson—not yet, anyway—but I complete “get” him. His burning desire since graduating college in 1997 has been to be a cartoonist. Unfortunately, he hit the market just before the traditional print publishing world fell? jumped? leaped? was pushed? off a cliff. Within a few short years of Anderson’s arrival on the professional scene, the newspaper and magazine opportunities for selling his wares went the way of Thelma & Louise. MARK ANDERSON audio excerpt: "I don't know if you could tell by my matinee idol good looks, but I had to be funny. I'm not that attractive. If I wanted any time with any young ladies growing up, I had to be funny." But Anderson was driven to find a way. He worked a day job to pay the bills and spent his pre-dawn and late-night hours drawing comics for whatever customers he could find – magazines and newspapers, sure, but also greeting card companies, trade publications, corporations and websites. I “get” Mr. Anderson because I’ve taken a similar route as a freelance writer. I always wanted to write but never limited myself to just pursuing newspaper and magazine assignments. I kept an open mind to corporate reports, scriptwriting, copywriting and advertising, all of which eventually led me to books and Mr. Media. Today, Anderson has broadened his horizons – and his Andertoons.com website – to include a subscription model for businesses that see humor as another way to their customers’ hearts. Mark Anderson • •
Today's Guest: Josey Milner, country singer, "Am I Not Pretty Enough" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of Kansas City bar-b-q queens who know exactly what ‘good’ tastes like… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'Dead Flowers' by Josey Milner, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the photo above! No matter what you look like, it’s not out of the realm of possible that at some point in life you were made to feel you were not attractive enough – for a guy, a girl, a job or even a Skype video interview. Still, it’s hard to believe anybody ever looked at Josey Milner and said out loud that she wasn’t pretty enough for anything. And yet that’s the title of her new country single, “Am I Not Pretty Enough?” JOSEY MILNER audio excerpt: "I connected to the song 'Am I Not Pretty Enough' because of things I had to face growing up. I'm 16, a junior in high school; I see bullying every day. I'm a voice for people who don't necessarily stand up for themselves. I want kids to know things will get better; they will get through it." That’s the thing about great songs and other forms of literature, of course: they make us face something personal, something that can sting, but something that hopefully, eventually, we rise above. Tonight, I’m pleased to welcome this young, up-and-coming singer to our show. Two things you should know about Josey: one, she’s from the tribal lands called Kansas City, and 2) she’s a former rodeo queen. Must admit, I’ve never interviewed a rodeo queen. All that and she’s going to honor us with a couple songs, too. Josey Milner • • • • • •
Today's Guest: Andy Mangels, author of the biography Lou Scheimer: Creating the Filmation Generation. Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of superheroes, space travelers, Cosby kids and teen-age rock stars… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'Lou Scheimer: Creating the Filmation Generation' by Andy Mangels, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! I’m nine years old and the most exciting day of the week is Saturday, because that’s when cartoons are on! Who could forget the excitement of getting out of bed early and planting him or herself in front of the TV to watch "The Archies," "Fat Albert and The Cosby Kids," "Star Trek," "Groovie Ghoulies" and all the rest? It was only today as – a-hem – an adult that I discovered so many of my favorite Saturday morning epics from the late 1960s and early ‘70s were a product of Filmation Studios and its head, Lou Scheimer. ANDY MANGELS podcast excerpt: "Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids won tons of awards and changed thousands of kids' lives. That was a favorite show of Lou's." Heck, Filmation even put "Shazam!" the live-action adventures of Billy Batson and Captain Marvel on the air! What I wouldn’t give to have that on DVD today – although I’m sure it couldn’t possibly hold a candle to my memory of it. Andy Mangels, my guest today, helped write the autobiography, Lou Scheimer: Creating the Filmation Generation. Getting my hands on a copy of the book, which is jam-packed with photos – many black and white, the way I originally watched Filmation shows as a kid – was a thrill and a half. If you remember these shows as fondly as I do and what to hear some great stories behind them, I encourage you to order a copy of this book. Andy Mangels • • • • • • • •
Today's Guest: Bob Greenberger, author, Star Trek: The Complete Unauthorized History, After Earth: United Ranger Corps Survival Manual Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of pointy-eared Trekkies – er, Trekkers – er, insufferable geeks who care more about what they’re called than bathing regularly… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'Star Trek: The Complete Unauthorized History' by Bob Greenberger, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! Does anybody really believe that the world needs another book about the phenomenon that is Star Trek? Not me. And probably not my guest today, genre historian Bob Greenberger. But because ST:TCUH – I’m sorry, Star Trek: The Complete Unauthorized History – was written by the esteemed Mr. G, I was curious to have a look. Based on his history both inside and outside of comics and sci-fi fandom, it seemed likely he of all people could find some genuine nuggets of unique Trekness. BOB GREENBERGER podcast excerpt: "Ratings weren't great. The science of demographics was in its infancy, so they didn't quite understand what was going on with the audience. That's when Roddenberry, to his credit, secretly funded the 'Save Star Trek' campaign. And only admitted to it when it was successful and NBC renewed it. And then billed Paramount for reimbursement of what it cost him!" And let me tell you—this book sparkles with Star Trek goodness and flashes of wit on every page. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, but tells a good story within a story of a story. Order 'After Earth: United Ranger Corps Survival Manual' by Robert Greenberger, available right now at a great price by clicking on the book cover above! I’ve read a lot about Star Trek and its creator, Gene Roddenberry over the years. I saw classical Trek when it was originally broadcast on NBC in the late 1960s, found with my old man when he thought I watched too many reruns in the ‘70s, and dutifully watched every episode of every series since then from The Next Generation to my personal favorite, Enterprise. And, of course I’ve seen all the films, including JJ Abrams’ brilliant re-imagining of the entire premise. So believe me when I tell you that the pages of Bob Greenberger’s new book radiate freshness like a just born Tribble, whether he’s found an obscure factoid or entertaining photo of a rare Star Trek toy or set piece. Whether you, yourself, love Star Trek – or know someone who does – Star Trek: The Complete Unauthorized History should be on your holiday shopping list. And don't miss Greenberger's work on books supporting Will Smith and son Jaden Smith's film . Bob Greenberger • • • • • • • O
Today's Guest: Amy Rose, country singer, "Redneck Reunion" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of rednecks, white- and blue-collars who have all finished their chores for the day and ready to kick back, swig a few Crazy Canuck brews and party hearty… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! You can watch the exclusive Mr. Media® interview with singer Amy Rose and guitarist Dan Kokl by clicking on the video player above! Order '(Redneck Reunion) Party Like a Redneck' by Amy Rose, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the photo above! One song is all it took me to invite singer Amy Rose to be a guest on the show today. If you can find a woman whose voice, demeanor and spirit is any more country than this young woman’s, sign her and get her to Nashville. But in the meantime, give a listen to the pipes on Amy Rose in her rising country single, “I Just Want You to Know.” Or her earlier one, “Redneck Reunion.” That’s a fun song and she sings the hell out of it. AMY ROSE podcast excerpt: "We said, 'We don't want to insult anybody.' Rednecks are rednecks; they just want to have fun. We tried to walk a fine line in '(Redneck Reunion) Party Like A Redneck.'" Look, I’m not your typical country fan. But every so often, I hear a song that grabs me. In the last few years, it’s been Big & Rich and Gretchen Wilson who I’ve invested money in via iTunes and I’ll do it again for Amy Rose. What do they all have in common? Attitude, a sense of fun and a little mischief, and, of course, great tunes. Tonight, we’re not only going to talk with Amy Rose, she’s going to sing a bit for us, too. Amy Rose • • • • •
Today's Guest: Darryl Lenox, comedian Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of deaf, dumb and blind Canadian comedy fans who hear no punch lines, speak no punch lines and see no… wait a minute that doesn’t make any sense, does it?… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Comedian Darryl Lenox appears in the Starz special "Blind Ambition"; Order the CD from Amazon.com by clicking on the image above! Darryl Lenox jokes about himself throughout his new Starz comedy special, “Blind Ambition.” But it takes a while for it to sink in on the viewer that the title of the show really does refer to him. He is blind in his left eye and has a limited field of vision in the right. DARRYL LENOX audio excerpt: "Comedy Central didn't think I fit their demographic. And in Canada--where I lived for 12 years--a Canadian network said, 'We'd like you to do our version of 'Comedy Central Presents.' Then they realized I wasn't a Canadian citizen and they said, 'No thanks.' I had heard great stories of people producing themselves so I decided to try that for 'Blind Ambition.'" So what though? The man is funny. He will make you laugh at things you didn’t know were funny. And they probably wouldn’t be funny coming from someone else. Lenox has such a calm demeanor that you may not feel the first punch lines as they land but pretty soon you’ll be laughing too hard to care. And when you see his act – live or on TV – the part I suspect you’ll remember most is when he offers up things that “might work—but probably won’t.” Darryl Lenox • • • • • •
Today's Guest: Howard Cruse, cartoonist, Stuck Rubber Baby, The Other Sides of Howard Cruse, The Essential Howard Cruse: A Reader, From Headrack to Claude Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of cartoon characters largely abandoned in the 1970s but praying for a revival any day now… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'The Other Sides of Howard Cruse,' available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! My dad once said that nothing bad would ever happen to me because I could always turn around and write about it, thus finding some good in any situation. He might as well have been talking about my friend, gay cartoonist Howard Cruse. Every time I turn around, it seems that Howard has unleashed another collection of his wonderful underground cartoons and comic strips. HOWARD CRUSE audio excerpt: "When I was in high school, I had a (sexual identity) crisis. Unfortunately, I had a therapist who was homophobic. He said, 'You're not gay; you just spent too much time going to an all-boys boarding school.' He said, 'Be sure to go to a co-ed college and it will all sort itself out.'" That speaks to a deep archive of quality content he’s created, of course, but also to never letting any slight or perception of wrong going unrewarded by revealing it in his art. Howard Cruse, Ed Sedarbaum and new pup, Molly Or I could be making this all up as I go along… which I suppose could also be a trait of Howard’s! Howard’s newest raid on the archives is The Other Sides of Howard Cruse. It includes a big helping of his beloved Barefootz strip—which means cockroaches, frogs, sexually frustrated Dolly and is-he-or-isn’t-he Headrack. Then we get introduced to Shearwell the sheep, the squirrels of Tops & Button, Big Marvy, and yes, even “The Nightmares of Little Lulu.” There is plenty of the underground, stoner, sex-starved humor for which he is famous, as well as some straight, above-ground comics that you could probably show your grandmother. (But not a whole lot.) This Cruse fellow has a lot of sides and I’m hoping we’ll see a few more of them today. Howard Cruse • • • LISTEN! (2009) You might also enjoy this earlier video interview with cartoonist Howard Cruse! Order 'Will Eisner: A Spirited Life' (2nd Edition) by Bob Andelman, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above!
My buddy Jeff Chabon used to do marketing and promotion for Fantasma Productions in West Palm Beach, Florida. Whenever he could, Jeff arranged for me to have amazing tickets to concerts that Fantasma brought to the Tampa Bay area. (And I always paid full price; newspaper rules, folks.) The show that made the greatest impact on me? It had to be standing in the second row for a Tina Turner concert. I’m thinking it was around 1986, when I was the music critic for the Tampa Tribune. Tina was at the height of the What’s Love Got to Do With It era, a time when we learned all kinds of unpleasant things about her relationship with ex-husband Ike Turner. BOB GRUEN podcast excerpt: "Ike Turner was a very generous person and a very creative person... If someone needed something and he had it, he gave it. A car, a house, help getting rid of a boyfriend, whatever it was... He got a really bad rap in the movie 'What's Love Got To Do With It.' The movie didn't make that up; it could have been subtitled, 'What Happens to A Good Guy Who Takes Too Much Cocaine'." Standing there, looking up those long, long legs, watching her shake, shimmy and belt out all the classics, was mesmerizing. Amazing. Astonishing. Intoxicating. Damn, she was hot. So I couldn’t help but be interested in watching rock photog Bob Gruen and Nadya Gruen’s new film, Ike & Tina: On the Road 1971-72. It’s a hybrid of a classic concert footage interposed with the Ike & Tina Turner Revue on the road, plus extremely rare footage of the Turners at home with their children. I wouldn’t call it a documentary, per se; it lacks a narrative or even a narrator. But the presence of a young, raw Tina Turner – Annie Mae Bullock – makes it thoroughly compelling. I love this woman; I guess I always have. She’s so dynamic, so explosive on the stage and yet so sweet and unassuming in the rest of her life. If you’re as fascinated by Ike & Tina as an act – and Tina as a person – as I am, you must get this film. And wait till you hear the story behind it. Bob Gruen • •
I don’t know about you, but I’m extremely attentive to my body language and yours. Part of it, I’m sure comes from years of being a reporter. The job often demands that we make observations about people we’ve just met and attempt to divine what their actions and movements mean. And sometimes I just like to sit in public places and guess at what’s going on with people by watching the way they move and interact with those around them. DR. LILLIAN GLASS audio excerpt: "There was one situation in the first presidential debate where we saw President Obama at the podium. His toes were on the ground, but his heels were up. That was indicative of a person who wanted to leave. The body doesn't lie. When you put it all together, you see the truth!" Little did I know you could make a career of this! Dr. Lillian Glass, who previously visited Mr. Media to talk about her book Toxic People, is really on to something with her latest book, The Body Language Advantage. Whether you’re in business, in a relationship, a sports coach or just like people watching, you’re sure to learn something interesting from Dr. Glass’s interpretations of body language – and the accompanying photos. And I’d like to immediately suggest a sequel: "The Naked Body Language Advantage." Think about it. Lillian Glass • • • • •
Did I see the steamy remake of The Postman Always Rings Twice, with Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange, before I found the ancient paperback versions of Double Indemnity and Mildred Pierce at the old Book Swap in Milltown, New Jersey? Or was it the other way around? CHARLES ARDAI podcast excerpt: "I started with rare book collectors, book dealers, editor. I wet to the Cain estate and asked if they knew about this book, The Cocktail Waitress... We knew the book existed but nobody had a copy. We spent years trying to track it down." Either way, the teenage me was astonished by the twisted humanity found in the work of James M. Cain. (And the Postman scene on the kitchen table with Nicholson and Lange still blows my mind today.) And whether it was experienced in yellowed print or up on the silver screen, Cain’s work was always recognizable. Well, 35 years after Cain’s death, his final manuscript – his lost novel, as it is being touted – turned up. The Cocktail Waitress was a story Cain kicked around for several years, changing, tinkering… never quite satisfied with it. Enter Charles Ardai, editor of the Hard Case Crime publishing imprint. Ardai took Cain’s multiple drafts and notes and made the best book he could of it. It’s not perfect, but it’s an unexpected taste of Cain that any fan of the writer will find hard to resist. Ardai is here to talk about Cain, his Cocktail Waitress and the rising Hard Case Crime line itself. Charles Ardai • •
I never thought the day would come that I’d admit that I can’t bear to see one more naked woman, but today’s the day; I’ve reached my limit. Not that I’m anti-nudity, but there is good naked and bad naked in my eyes. I’m not saying that to be cruel. It’s just like when I go to a gallery opening and there is art that I like and art that I don’t. Watching David Palmer’s new documentary, America Stripped: Naked Las Vegas, you can’t help but respond emotionally to the intense variety of ways in which the world of naked people is served. The film records the process that photographer Greg Friedler went through to identify and capture the souls of everyday Las Vegas citizens for the fourth book in his Naked series. DAVID PALMER audio excerpt: "It was exhausting. Emotionally, physically, almost spiritually. I had never filmed anyone naked before. But it was enlightening, too. When the first person was in front of me without any clothes on, I realized I could ask them anything." There are plenty of attractive young and old people here, but there are greater numbers of men and women who, while we may admire their pride in showing off their natural gifts, our own lives are not necessarily enhanced by seeing their wares. As for Palmer, this is his second high-profile film this year. He also co-directed the critically acclaimed indie comedy, Hit & Run, starring Kristin Bell, Bradley Cooper and Dax Shepherd. David Palmer • • • • •
Who doesn’t love magic? Whether it is simple sleight-of-hand that your uncle used to demonstrate with cards or coins when you were a kid, or big dramatic stuff like making the Statute of Liberty disappear, what adult isn’t stopped in their tracks by magic? We can all name the best-known magicians, of course, starting with Harry Houdini and on through David Copperfield. There have also been some great TV shows such as “The Magician” with Bill Bixby and even “Bullshit” with Penn & Teller. And who could forget the star turns by Tony Curtis and, 30 years later, Paul Michael Glaser, both as the Great Houdini? MILT LARSEN audio excerpt: "All the magicians knew my dad in the 1930s. I got to meet all the greatest magicians in the world. But as a kid, I didn't appreciate it then!" But the most enduring name in magic is probably the one that few of us has ever actually accessed in person: The Magic Castle in Hollywood. Milt Larsen founded the private club for magicians some 50 years ago and it is still thriving today as a place you might run into magicians or magic fans, such as Steve Martin and Neil Patrick Harris. Just this week, word leaked out that a major motion picture about the Magic Castle will be directed by McG. And now, coming to us lie from The Magic Castle in Hollywood, California, welcome Milt Larsen to Mr. Media. Milt Larsen • • • • Interested in magic? You might also enjoy these exclusive Mr. Media interviews: (2009) (2012)
I cannot tell a lie: Today’s show is mainly intended for an audience of one: me. Ever since I turned my back on Blogger in 2011 and finally embraced WordPress as the platform for the Mr. Media website, I’ve been eager to pick up tips and advice wherever and whenever I could. That’s why I invited Matthew MacDonald as today’s guest. His new book, WordPress: The Missing Manual, is supercharged with easy-to-digest information that everyone from beginners to advanced users could benefit from reading. MATTHEW MacDONALD audio excerpt: "If you're looking at a blog, there is nothing else like WordPress... WordPress is just so easy and comfortable; one out of every five new sites is a WordPress site. It's just staggering." MacDonald is a science and technology writer and the author of more than a dozen books including Creating a Website: The Missing Manual and HTML5: The Missing Manual. I hope you’ll find this conversation of interest, but either way, I’m barreling ahead and focusing on learning all about WordPress! Matthew MacDonald •
I was barely a month into my freshman year at the University of Miami, working at the student radio station, WVUM 90.5 FM, when I found myself in the right place at the right time. Although you may soon think I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The station manager, Bob “Bear” Mordente, was looking for someone willing to go out to the Royal Biscayne Hotel in Key Biscayne to interview musician and pop culture legend Frank Zappa. I said I’d do it if no one else volunteered. FRANK ZAPPA audio excerpt: "Americans are so stupid. They think it's impossible to do anything creative without (being on drugs)... You don't need to be ripped to do something creative. Don't be wasted. Just do it." Then, as now, I wasn’t afraid of interviewing anyone. Then it was foolish; I had no on-air experience and even less experience interviewing anyone for broadcast. Oh, and I knew absolutely zero – ZERO! – about Mr. Zappa. A time was set for the next day and I went back to my dorm to see if anybody had any idea what I should ask the man. Lucky for me (not really) the drug dealers – I mean students – in the room next to me had piles of Zappa and the Mothers of Invention albums and purported to be experts on the man. Experts on the myth, as it turned out, but “urban legends” as a buzzphrase was still a good 20 years off. Anyway, these two knuckleheads filled me up with wide-eyed stories of ridiculous things that Zappa allegedly had done on stage over the years and I took copious notes. The next day, Mordente and I drove out to the Royal Biscayne Hotel and our moment with destiny. Mordente handled recording the sound on a reel-to-reel machine so I could focus on Zappa and my litany of ludicrous questions. I asked the most idiotic, moronic things of this brilliant American master and I must say that he treated me with great kindness in return, encouraging me to see him as a person, not some bizarre cartoon, and to just engage him in conversation. It was advice I remember and follow to this day, whether I’m talking to musicians, authors, politicians, athletes or entrepreneurs. My unvarnished, unedited interview with Frank Zappa aired immediately on WVUM, was repeated often, and became a legend in awfulness. Despite this, I had a blast working on the college radio station, mostly handling Friday and Saturday overnights, spinning deep album cuts, taking requests from my pals in the dorms and meeting some really bizarre stoner listeners in the greater Coral Gables community. What survives from my day with Frank Zappa – we were together a couple of hours – is the edited, 30-minute recording you’re about to hear. Ladies and gentlemen, my day with Frank Zappa, September 14, 1978. Frank Zappa • • •
I write business books for a living. And certainly I hope that if you’re an entrepreneur, manager or rising executive, you’ve found some value in Fans Not Customers, Built From Scratch, The Profit Zone or Mean Business. But if you want to skip to the raw meat, I always recommend Guy Kawasaki’s Reality Check as a must-read. And today I’m adding a second title to that list: JJ Ramberg’s It’s Your Business: 183 Essential Tips that Will Transform Your Small Business. JJ RAMBERG podcast excerpt: "Read it, close the book, do it. 'It's Your Business' is not inspirational; it's actionable." As the host of MSNBC’s useful, fast-moving Sunday morning business show (since 2006), “Your Business,” JJ and the show’s staff have interviewed hundreds of entrepreneurs. They’ve collected the essence of their best tips and ideas in this new book, which is as fast and breezy a read as anyone can ask. The book, co-authored with the show’s Lisa Everson and Frank Silverstein, is a rapid-fire series of one- and two-page directives that will make any business better. Read the book cover to cover or isolate a few tips at a time; like Kawasaki’s book, you’d be an idiot to pass up such low-hanging fruit. As for JJ, in addition to hosting her MSNBC show, she and her brother, Ken Ramberg, are the co-founders of GoodSearch.com, a search engine that generates support for non-profits. JJ Ramberg • • • • • • • •
Some people collect bobbleheads; writers such as Peter Mehlman collect words and put them in the appropriate characters’ mouths. I can tell you a few words that you’ll recognize instantly as being branded by the TV show where Mehlman made them famous: Seinfeld. • Who could forget the episode when Elaine began deciding which particular suitors of her affections might be “spongeworthy”? • Or when George said “yada-yada” for the first time? • Or—George again—being accused of “double-dipping” his chips at a party? That’s right—those and many more came from the collectible mind of Peter Mehlman. Mehlman the Giraffe in the 'Madagascar' animated films was named after 'Seinfeld' writer Peter Melman PETER MEHLMAN audio excerpt: "I was in New York after the 'Spongeworthy' episode. I was at dinner with my parents. The next table was talking about The Sponge. They had some of their facts wrong... and I corrected them as if I some fanatical fan of the show." Mehlman started his career writing for the late ABC sportscaster Howard Cosell. When he moved from New York to Los Angeles in 1989, he ran into Larry David, who he knew from New York, and a big, fat opportunity landed at his feet, yada-yada. His new book, Mandela Was Late: Odd things & essays from the Seinfeld writer who coined yada, yada and made spongeworthy a compliment, is now available as an ebook from Amazon.com. Peter Mehlman • • • •
I can’t exactly put my finger on why, but I’ve always had this fascination with naked women. Oh, that’s right – it’s because I’m a guy. Most men like women all different ways: colors, races, heights, weights, you name it. And most of all, we like them in various stages of undress. Look, I’m just being honest, okay? BRITANY NOLA podcast excerpt: "You can be a smart woman and a together woman but still be comfortable with your body. Women are made to think that there's something wrong with us. We're so afraid of our bodies. You can show a man getting his sliced off at 8 p.m. 'The Walking Dead' is outrageously violent! But God forbid a nipple is shown; it's the end of the world." And when it comes to Playboy, I’ve had a relationship with the magazine and its editorial features since I was 13. This show has also hosted its share of Playboy editors and Playmates over the years, so it should be no surprise that I invited Miss November 2012, Britany Nola, to drop by and chat today. As you’ll learn, Britany – whose high school graduating class voted her “Most Likely to Be Famous” – is a Canadian by birth, a huge music fan and even has something in common with Barack Obama. Hmmm…. Britany Nola • • •
Barbara Slate has told a tale of marital woe in her new book, Getting Married and Other Mistakes. But the good news is that the story is illustrated, so it both takes a little sting out while, at the same time, letting the zing hit the fan in pictures when it most suits her. I suspect this is a story to which many modern women can relate: heavy pressure on little girls to marry rich (but not smart); overbearing mothers who see college as a route to an M-R-S, not an M-B-A; recognizing the difference between sex and love; and just how creepy a Barbie Bride lamp can be on an adolescent girl’s bedside table. BARBARA SLATE audio excerpt: "I see people who are happily married. And my daughter wants to get married. But there is a lot of work and really understanding each other involved. Therapy before you get married is a really good idea." Barbara, who joins me today, is a legend in the comic book and graphic novel industry, a place where only a handful of women have made a name for themselves. She has worked for Marvel, DC, Archie and Disney Comics over the years and is the author of You Can Do a Graphic Novel. She is also profiled in the book, A Century of Women Cartoonists. This is her second appearance on Mr. Media. Barbara Slate • •
Charles Ardai was a guest on Mr. Media just a few weeks back, here to talk about his yeoman’s work tracking down, restoring and in some ways completing novelist James M. Cain’s lost, final manuscript, The Cocktail Waitress. He was telling me that his book imprint, Hard Case Crime – which published Stephen King’s short story, “The Colorado Kid,” on which the Syfy series “Haven” is based – will be bringing out a new King book in 2013. As often happens during these conversations, in that moment I learned something completed unrelated but of great interest to me, personally: CHARLES ARDAI podcast excerpt: "For a TV show, a story that poses a lot of unanswered questions and doesn't tie them up in a bow is really quite appealing; you have reasons to come back next week and there is more to discover." In addition to being the co-founder and editor of the Hard Case Crime imprint, Ardai is also a consulting producer to “Haven,” the wicked cool supernatural drama on the Syfy network. It stars the beautiful and haunting Emily Rose – who you might recognize from HBO’s “John from Cincinnati” or ABC’s “Brothers and Sisters,” as “Audrey Parker,” Lucas Bryant as “Sheriff Nathan Wuornos,” and, as bad boy Duke Crocker, “Six Feet Under” veteran Eric Balfour. (Balfour incidentally, was a guest on Mr. Media late in the first season of “Haven,” and it’s a great interview if you haven’t heard it yet.) So with the third – and best-yet -- season of “Haven” reaching a crescendo, I invited Ardai to come right back to talk about his moonlighting in TV as well as to tell us a little more about Hard Case Crime. Charles Ardai • • • • • Haven •
Tom Inge has made a cottage industry of collecting the best interviews done with a variety of pop culture figures of the 20th century and bringing them out in book form. All told, he’s responsible for a remarkable 40 books, putting together volumes featuring as diverse a crowd as “Peanuts” comic strip creator Charles Schulz and American literary lion William Faulkner. His latest collection is familiar ground for me: Will Eisner: Conversations. It’s a book that covers that depth and breadth of the late American master of comics’ entire eight-decade career and is a great companion piece to my own 2005 authorized biography, Will Eisner: A Spirited Life. M. THOMAS INGE audio excerpt: "There are some people who get very enthusiastic. They'll publish two issues of a fanzine, lose interest and go on to do something else. If it were not for Will Eisner's own files, there were several interviews I would not have known about. The only existing copies were in his files." In fact, I first read many of the interviews in Inge’s book either at Eisner’s suggestion or discovered them in the file cabinet of his Florida studios. If you considered yourself any kind of student of comics history, this new book is one you’ll definitely want on your bookshelf—in a sealed Milar bag, of course. Inge, by the way, is the Robert Emory Blackwell Professor of the Humanities at Randolph-Macon College in Virginia. Let that be a lesson to you fanboys still living in your mother’s basements: you can get a real job in the world and still love comics. M. Thomas Inge • •
If you’re my age, you know what it was like to watch TV shows such as “My Three Sons” when they were originally broadcast in the 1960s and ‘70s. (And if you know my age, keep it to yourself. The truth hurts!) Although I was the oldest of three siblings, I have to admit I always identified best with the youngest of actor Fred MacMurray’s three sons on the show, Ernie, played by my guest today, Barry Livingston. Ernie wore the glasses, as did I, had issues with his teeth, as did I, and always seemed a bit awkward, as did I. And where he had Uncle Charley to keep him and his two older brothers out of trouble, I had my not-quite-as-grumpy grandfather. It was, in TV terms, a kinder, gentler time, even as the Vietnam war, civil rights and the counterculture revolution raged in the real America. Barry co-starred on the show with his older brother, Stanley, who played middle-son “Chip.” BARRY LIVINGSTON podcast excerpt: "I'll tell you that in the 1960s I put something a little different in my pipe than what Fred MacMurray was smoking." Since those days, Barry Livingston has remained front and center in pop culture. He has a role in ABC’s hit drama, “Castle,” and plays a part in Ben Affleck’s new film, Argo. He’s also appeared in episodes of “Mad Men,” “Two and a Half Men,” and movies such as Horrible Bosses and David Fincher’s film, The Social Network, about the origins of Facebook. He’s also written a book, "The Importance of Being Ernie: From My Three Sons to Mad Men, A Hollywood Survivor Tells All." Barry Livingston •
Today's Guest: Eric Deggans, journalist, author, Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of Fox News Channel hosts who think they know everything about everything but – with the exception of Bill O’Reilly – don’t have the intellectual confidence to argue facts instead of ignorance… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation' by Eric Deggans from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! This may surprise my friend Eric Deggans, but I think he actually owes Fox News Channel’s Bill O’Reilly a debt of gratitude. Seriously, Eric, think about how many years you kicked around the idea of doing a book without really honing in on the topic – or the provocation. Then along comes the no-spin zone guy, host of “The O’Reilly Factor,” to pluck you from the nattering nabobs of negativity in the media for special attention. ERIC DEGGANS podcast excerpt: "Bill O'Reilly is special to me because he is so big, he so dominates his field, that it is odd to see that he would take so much time to pay attention to what I say or think or who I am... The discussion has moved to the point where the things he said on race, while they trouble me sometimes, are not nearly as extremely as other people have done. " You were already a great and talented writer, my friend, but one with a limited platform. O’Reilly made you a star and, even better, inspired you to write a kickass book about a subject near and dear to your heart. In Race Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation, Eric takes the way Fox News Channel and other 21st century media sources such as The Drudge Report and the late Andrew Breitbart have given up the conceit of respectful political discourse among rival ideologies and gone to nasty, no-holds-barred racial attacks. His book delves into the stories behind all the buzziest names in modern racial politics: Barack Obama, Shirley Sherrod, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Trayvon Martin and Al Sharpton on one side, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, The Drudge Report, Megyn Kelly, Newt Gingrich, Breitbart and O’Reilly on the other. No matter what side of the political or racial fence you’re on, you could learn a lot from this book. Eric Deggans • • • • •
Jesse Ventura for President? Underestimate Jesse Ventura at your own risk. He may be an ex-wrestler and a guy who sounds on the radio a bit like Howard Stern wack packer Bigfoot, but a lot of people have gone wrong thinking the man lacked intellectual heft. Ventura, a former Navy SEAL in Vietnam, was elected governor of Minnesota in 1998 while running as an independent, a rare feat indeed. He has written 10 books, the last three with conspiracy specialist Dick Russell. JESSE VENTURA podcast excerpt: "Can you imagine the reaction from the Christian Right? That alone would be worth the price of admission. Howard Stern and Jesse Ventura! I think they'd be demanding a Rapture immediately!" The thing I find compelling about Ventura’s politics is similar to why I will tune in to Rachel Maddow on MSNBC periodically: while I might not agree with their opinions, I respect that the arrived at their conclusions thoughtfully and logically. In other words, the man once known as “The Body” puts that brain to work, too. Ventura made headlines last week when he kicked off the publicity tour for his latest book, "Democrips and ReBloodlicans: No More Gangs in Government," on Howard Stern’s Sirius radio show and not only announced his interest in running for president in 2016 as an independent, but making a convincing argument that Stern—who once ran for governor of New York—should be his vice president. We’ll talk about that. Jesse Ventura • • • • • •
Finally, back in the business of reading the latest Graham Gage thriller by Steven Gore! I was excited to discover the release of "Power Blind," the latest novel serving up the adventures of private detective Gage. These books are the equivalent of popcorn movies for me: tasty and explosive and I never want to stop until I get to the end. STEVEN GORE audio excerpt: "There are investigators hired to see justice is done and find the truth and there are those hired to see that justice isn't done. Everyone in the legal community knows who's who... We were straight-shooters; that's what Graham Gage is based on." When author Gore – himself a former globe-trotting P.I. – last dropped by the Mr. Media stage, I hadn’t fully appreciated how hard he must work not just plotting these stories of international political intrigue, but on getting the character names just right. Brothers Brandon and Landon. Aggrieved father Porzolkiewski. Attorney Skeeter. Research ace and local rock star Alex Z. Office assistant Tansy. Investigator Viz. Talk about local color! Or maybe everybody in imaginary San Francisco comes with crazy names? Anyway, I’m delighted to welcome the author of Power Blind, Absolute Risk and Final Target back to the show today.
The first time that author Cynthia Kraack was on Mr. Media, promoting the first book in her Ashwood trilogy, I told you guys to go out and read it. This interview is going to proceed on the notion that most of you took that advice and did. The second book in the series, "Harvesting Ashwood," is out and it’s just as compelling as the first. Now, I’m not usually a guy looking for bleak, futuristic fiction, but there is something irrepressibly hopeful in Kraack’s characterizations and plotting that keeps me honed in. CYNTHIA KRAACK podcast excerpt: "If you think of stories of people who came through the Depression or the Holocaust, they are permanently changed by the experience. And that's what this woman, Anne Hartford, went through at a very young age. But she is finally letting her hair down." Jumping forward (and a bit back for new readers), Harvesting Ashwood introduces us to Minnesota in the year 2037. There still isn’t much trust in the world, not between business and government and certainly not when it comes to protecting individual liberties. Federal employees are generally corrupt and corruptible; security is a daily grind; and feeding the residents and employees of the Ashwood estate is an unrelenting challenge. Fortunately, our heroine, Anne Hartford, is still the most resourceful woman in these somewhat United States. If you like the works of George Orwell or even if you were a fan of the Keifer Sutherland TV series “24,” there’s a lot to like and enjoy in Cynthia Kraack’s Ashwood series. Cynthia Kraack • • • •
They always say that a joke isn't funny if you try to dissect and explain it. But that's not the case if your task is exploring the entire history of what's funny. History, as we all know from high school, is not usually funny, but author David Misch has found a way in "Funny: The Book: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Comedy." Funny: The Book is a masterful primer on the origins of human comedy from the earliest days of recorded time through the development of silent movies, radio, television, cable and the Internet. There are plenty of asides with smirk and snark so that the facts never get in the way of the Funny. As for the author, you've probably seen David Misch's TV work over the years; he won an Emmy Award for Best New Comedy Series as a writer on "Mork and Mindy" starring Robin Williams and was executive producer of the animated series "Duckman," which featured Jason Alexander voicing the lead role. More recently, Misch teaches musical satire at UCLA and a course called "Practical Foundations of Comedy" at USC. David Misch • •
J.C. Isabella wanted to write books. But doing it the old fashioned way – you know, with paper and ink – can be a torturous, time-consuming process with no promise of success. And so, modern, resourceful young twenty-something that she is, J.C. chose the do-it-yourself route. She wrote her first book, "The Unofficial Zack Warren Fan Club" in 2011 and published it in November as an ebook available via Amazon.com’s Kindle and Barnes & Noble’s Nook. She knows what high school kids think. That apparently was a pretty good experience, and within three months, she wrote and published a second book, The Council, A Witch’s Memory. Book number three – Chasing McCree – arrived just 60 days later. And her fourth, the short story The McCree’s Star Spangled 4th – was in e-readers on July 5. I expect she’ll tell us that her fifth book, The Unofficial Story of Kyle B. Johnston, will be out any day now. J.C. ISABELLA podcast excerpt: "I was teased a lot in high school but I haven't used anything that specifically happened to me yet in a book... Writing about high school--there's so much you can do with that. I like to write about first things that happen to you." The great thing about J.C.’s books is that the barrier to entry – the cost – is very low, just 99 cents per title. How does an author make money at that price? Well, J.C., who lives in Clearwater, Florida, has found a way – as a matter of fact she quit her job earlier this year to be a full-time author. I think you’ll enjoy her story. By the way, if you read a lot of young adult fiction, there are many more interviews like this one at MrMedia.com, including my conversations with Sara Zarr, James Dashner, Lisa McMann and Heather Brewer. Footnote: No trees were harmed in the making of J.C. Isabella’s books – or this interview. J.C. Isabella • • • •
I know that NBC wants me to talk about its new sitcom, “Guys With Kids.” But I can’t get there without telling you first how much I enjoyed one of its stars, Erinn Hayes, in her breakthrough work on the brilliant but cancelled comedy “Worst Week.” You probably never saw that show, but it was incredibly funny and remarkably innovative in its storytelling. Each episode packed what would have been several weeks worth of gags on another show into a single wacky episode. There were so many fine moments on that show that I actually bought the entire season on DVD, something I’d never done with a comedy before. You can get a set for yourself for something like $6.99 from Amazon; do it, you won’t be sorry. ERINN HAYES podcast excerpt: "My character says things on Guys that are a little mean, but we're finding the fun in it." Which brings us to Erinn Hayes, who played Melanie, the long-suffering fiancee of Kyle Bornheimer’s klutzy, bad luck suffering Sam. Everything these two touched went hysterical wrong. They were the perfect TV couple; while I suspect the show was built as a vehicle for Kyle—a two-time guest here—by the end of its run, Erinn Hayes was every bit a star and a treat for the eyes and ears. Ironically, these two actors have been cast in a number of wonderful but doomed comedies over the years including “Perfect Couples” for him and “Kitchen Confidential” for her. “Kitchen Confidential” launched the career of a guy you might have heard of, Bradley Cooper, star of The Hangover movies. Hmm. Bradley Cooper may have gotten his stardust from Erinn Hayes. What makes me think that? Well, another Hangover star, Ken Jeong, was still better known as a real-life M.D. before his appearances on “Worst Week,” which starred… Erinn Hayes. It’s wonderful to see the beautiful and talented Erinn Hayes back in action on "Guys With Kids," Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. on NBC.
She was the live wire, wise crackin’, anything but predictable female comedy writer on “The Alan Brady Show,” the show-within-a-show portion of “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” And yes, that was 50 years ago. And yes, Rose Marie is still working, still getting gigs and still making Betty White look over her shoulder and go, “Really?” Because the show has been in repeats for decades, the actress who played “Sally Rogers” for five seasons on one of TV’s finest sitcoms ever is known the world over. But that was hardly the last the world heard from Rose Marie. ROSE MARIE podcast excerpt: "The Dick Van Dyke Show was so well written. The cast was perfect for the show and we didn't do anything that would hurt anybody. And every show is a classic." In addition to two seasons as “Myrna” on “The Doris Day Show,” her guest starring appearances have included everything from “The Monkees” and “Adam-12” to “The Love Boat” and “Murphy Brown.” And let’s not forget all those spots on “Hollywood Squares”! Rose Marie is here today to talk about her career, of course, but also to bring attention to The California Women's Conference, at which she will be among the celebrity guests at the Long Beach Convention Center on September 23-24, 2012. The event – which also features actress Tippi Hedren, the female cast of “The Waltons,” attorney Gloria Allred, and singers Melissa Manchester and Helen Reddy – is described as a forum for the world’s most influential voices, hearts and minds. You can learn more about it at . Rose Marie •
I didn’t know I would one day be talking to actress Julie Newmar when I left the showing of The Dark Knight Rises a month ago. Then I was thinking that Anne Hathaway was the best thing about that film and that she might just be the best Catwoman since… Julie Newmar. I wonder what Julie Newmar will say about that! In fact, this was the second time Miss Newmar has been on the pop culture screen in our household this year. A few months ago, my wife and daughter and I caught Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, a classic western in which she stars – although I didn’t realize that was her until today. JULIE NEWMAR audio excerpt: "There wasn't enough of Anne Hathaway in The Dark Knight Rises. The camera didn't do her justice!" One of the fun elements of being Mr. Media is going back in time before encountering a guest to learn more about them – and often, seeing how many times your life has already intersected with their work. In addition to Seven Brides, another place I recognized Miss Newmar from was an episode of “The Monkees,” of all things, in which she flirts with all four of the boys and demonstrates some sexy, Ann-Margaret like dance moves alongside Micky Dolenz. And Miss Newmar also did memorable guest star turns in classic TV shows such as "Columbo," "Love American Style," "Get Smart," "Star Trek," "F Troop," "The Beverly Hillbillies," "Twilight Zone" and "Route 66." Of course, there was also the unlikely movie that reminded us all of her beauty and star power, 1995’s To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar, a road movie in which Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes and John Leguizamo played drag queens. Of course they did. Julie Newmar is here today to talk about her career, of course, but also to bring attention to The California Women's Conference, at which she will be among the celebrity guests at the Long Beach Convention Center on September 23-24, 2012. The event – which also features actresses Tippi Hedren and Rose Marie, the female cast of “The Waltons,” attorney Gloria Allred, and singers Melissa Manchester and Helen Reddy – is described as a forum for the world’s most influential voices, hearts and minds. You can learn more about it at www. Julie Newmar • • • • •
We all know Melissa Manchester’s hits – “Don’t Cry Out Loud” is probably the most famous – but the casual listener probably doesn’t know much about how she became the singer we all recognize today. I include myself in that group, although I feel like her work has been one of those soundtracks in my life for the last – oh, who cares how many years it has been, right, Melissa? To get a real flavor for this woman’s remarkable career, you really have to go back to high school. She is a graduate of Manhattan’s – best known as the school upon which the movie and TV series “Fame” were based. Curiously, she studied acting, not singing there. Now the name-dropping begins. MELISSA MANCHESTER podcast excerpt: "Women's rights are always politicized. On certain levels they're just hot button issues to galvanize an audience really quickly because candidates don't want to talk about deeper issues. I think it's important for women to keep an eye on the ball to empower themselves to help their families. Healthy women, healthy families is good for our families and that's all I'm interested in." She went on to New York University – my mother went there, too, just fyi – where she took a songwriting class taught by Paul Simon. (Okay, my mom didn’t do that. She did meet my father at NYU, which kept her from earning a degree for almost 15 years and about which the less said, probably the better.) As a singer of commercial jingles, she met two other up-and-coming singer/songwriters in New York City, Bette Midler and Barry Manilow. (Is this a good time to mention that Manilow’s long-time producer, Ron Dante, was on Mr. Media last year? No? Okay, moving on…) She became a backup singer for Midler, which helped launch her as a singer and recording artist in her own right. The rest you probably do know, including chart-topping songs such as “Midnight Blue,” “Don’t Cry Out Loud” and the big hit she co-wrote with Kenny Loggins, “Whenever I Call You Friend” – probably my personal favorite in her catalog. Melissa is here today to cry out loud about her career, of course, but also to bring attention to The California Women's Conference, at which she and Helen Reddy will be among the scheduled performers at the Long Beach Convention Center on September 23 and 24, 2012. The event is described as a forum for the world’s most influential voices, hearts and minds. (Hmm. My invitation must be in the mail.) You can learn more about it at Melissa Manchester • • Listen to Mr. Media interviews mentioned in this show! • (2010) • (2009) • (2011)
I wanted to get to know Eden Grinshpan a little bit better before today’s interview, so I did want any modern journalist would do: I searched YouTube. If you haven’t met the host of the Cooking Channel’s series, “Eden Eats,” which airs Fridays at 10 p.m., do what I did and search “Eden Grinshpan” on YouTube. Look for a video simply titled with her name; it’s 7 minutes and 52 seconds of personal charm and food delights from around the world. Go ahead – do it now. We’ll wait in the kitchen. Back? Great. Wasn’t that cool? EDEN GRINSHPAN audio excerpt: "We are eating dishes on Eden Eats that are passed down from generation to generation. There is so much personal significance. We hear all about their lives." I was interested in talking with Eden because, on a recent episode of “Eden Eats,” she invaded my adopted hometown, Tampa, to sample our culinary delights. My only issue is this: on the website for this episode of her show, the Cooking Channel says Tampa was “once a small fishing village.” I’ve heard it called many things over 35 years of being a resident in the area – Cigar City, for example, or The Big Guava – but never “a small fishing village.” I think they meant Tarpon Springs, which is a small Greek fishing village also known for its sponge divers. A lovely place, it is actually about a 30- to 40-minute ride from Tampa. I’m just sayin’… Eden Grinshpan • • •
We know Tippi Hedren for many reasons. As a young model, she was plucked from a successful career in one field by British film director Alfred Hitchcock to star in two of his most fondly remembered works, The Birds and Marnie. A falling out with Hitchcock over sexual harassment accusations slowed her career opportunities when she refused his advances, but the beautiful young woman found ways of staying in the public consciousness. And she never stopped working in a variety of roles, large and small, over the years. TIPPI HEDREN podcast excerpt: "Stop the breeding. Just plain stop it! There is a special interest group trying very hard to stop the Big Cat bill in Congress. It's the circus -- Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey -- and Kenneth Feld. I think when God needs money, he calls Kenneth Feld. This man controls Washington, whatever he wants. He has made noises that he doesn't like this bill. I have written an open letter to Congress: 'Will anyone stand beside me against Kenneth Feld?' He's got to be stopped." She is also the mother of another prominent American actress, Melanie Griffith, Academy Award nominated star of Working Girl. And her philanthropic commitment to abandoned exotic felines – lions, tigers, cougars, black and spotted leopards, servals, bobcats, and Asian leopard cats – showed the public another side of her when she founded The Roar Foundation and Shambala Preserve on the outskirts of Los Angeles in 1983. The Preserve is home to 50 retired big cats and she will appear before Congress on September 20th to speak on behalf of the “Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act.” Miss Hedren is back in the headlines – and on the small screen – with the upcoming release on HBO of The Girl, a made-for-TV movie about her strained relationship with Hitchcock. Sienna Miller plays Hedren and Toby Jones plays the director in the film, which debuts in October. The story is about a young actress fighting off the hands and sexual demands of a controlling cinematic legend unaccustomed to taking no for an answer. It has taken Miss Hedren 50 years to get even with Hitchcock but her moment is approaching. In addition to being portrayed in The Girl, Miss Hedren is also shooting an upcoming episode of the Fox sitcom “Raising Hope,” in which she is typecast as Melanie Griffith’s mother. Where does Hollywood get these crazy ideas? Tippi Hedren • • •
If I was really good at this whole interviewing gig, I would have invited one of my previous guests, actor Paul Michael Glaser, to return to be part of the conversation today. Glaser was the person who first brought the great Harry Houdini to my attention when he played the master magician and escape artist in “The Great Houdini,” a thrilling 1976 ABC Movie of the Week. It was one of those seminal moments that forever fired my imagination. I thought a lot about that movie as I was reading The Houdini Specter, the third in novelist Daniel Stashower’s series, “The Harry Houdini Mysteries.” DANIEL STASHOWER audio excerpt: "If you and I were talking a couple years ago and you said they're going to do this show called Sherlock and it's set in the present day and it's going to be 'Jim' from the British version of The Office, I'd have said, 'Oh, that's going to be terrible!' Of course, I sat down and watched it and liked it. So I am open to being pleasantly surprised by Elementary. There are a lot of good people connected with it, so I will watch it with an open mind." The novels capture an imagined moment in time when Houdini already possessed an enormous ego for his prestidigitation and deductive skills—but had yet to earn it with anyone outside of his immediate family. The Houdini Specter is a wild romp: good story, terrific characters in Harry and brother Dash, and a taste of the future genius as young man. It also gave me a desire to investigate Stashower’s other period piece, The Ectoplasmic Man, one of “The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.” And you'll no doubt be interested in his opinion on the BBC series "Sherlock" and its star, Benedict Cumberbatch. Daniel Stashower • • • •
Attention, men: Do not, I repeat, do not marry Marcy Miller. It’s not that she isn’t likely a lovely woman, a great mother, sparkling conversationalist, talented legal mind or even great in the sack. It’s just that when she recalls the events in your life together that went sour, she remembers everything. And as a talented storyteller, that is not going to be in your favor, my friends. MARCY MILLER podcast excerpt: "As my friend said, 'You're the only naked woman in the room.'" As the author of Rebooting in Beverly Hills, Miller tells stories of marital bliss and extra-marital cheating that will curl even your short and curlies. Her delivery is so smart and colorful that you’ll feel like a fly on the wall in the most intimate of circumstances. And her sense of a man’s dishonor will have you squirming even if you’ve never thought of cheating on your spouse. The knives are that sharp in her drawers. Women, on the other hand, will probably eat this stuff up and worship at Marcy Miller’s keyboard. Be prepared for talk of sex quotas, J-Date, middle age one-nighters and mysterious receipts from Bergdorf-Goodman. Marcy Miller • •
A year ago at this time, the prospects of success for NBC’s gritty drama “Grimm,” based on a modern interpretation of Grimm’s Fairy Tales, seemed shaky at best. There was that other fairy tale based series on ABC that, on paper at least, seemed too similar in high concept. And yet. And yet! Both shows not only survived freshman rush, they ultimately thrived and were granted sophomore years with all kinds of whoop-de-do. BREE TURNER audio excerpt: "Grimm season two feels like a feature film. That's how seriously everyone is taking it." “Grimm” is first to return to action, with its second season premiere tonight at 10 p.m. And NBC is showing its newfound confidence in the show by buying the back cover of Entertainment Tonight to proudly promote it. (You can also buy the just released first season on DVD.) If you didn’t catch the show last year, there is a brilliant, seven-minute clip on that will bring you up to speed in an instant. Joining me today to talk about season two is one of the show’s lovely co-stars, Bree Turner. She plays apothecary Fuchsbau Rosalee Calvert and, in a world of them and us, she – like the show’s lead character, Detective Nick Burkhardt – is one of both. Can you feel the inner conflict and turmoil already? Grimm •
You may not know Suzy Nakamura by name but if you watch quality TV series, you’ve certain seen a lot of her in recent years. Listen to this partial list of shows on which she’s been a guest star: “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Modern Family,” “Men of a Certain Age,” “The Mentalist,” “In Plain Sight,” How I Met Your Mother” and “Castle.” (She’s also been on “Bones,” but I’ve never seen that show, to be honest.) SUZY NAKAMURA audio excerpt: "We're so familiar with watching Matthew Perry surrounded by people -- on 'Friends' -- there's a comforting feeling in that." A veteran of the Second City comedy troupe, her most impressive credit up to this point – for me – was an appearance in the Bob Byington indie film Harmony and Me. That one impressed me because I thought I’d probably die before meeting anyone else who ever even heard of that quirky little bit of cinema. Suzy is here today because she has a new, ongoing job as a series regular on the NBC sitcom “Go On,” starring Matthew Perry of “Friends” and John Cho of the Harold & Kumar films and the new Star Trek franchise. It will air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. beginning September 11th. Suzy Nakamura • • • •
Brett Gelman is a man whose star is clearly on the rise. Why, this week alone, he’s appearing on both the Mr. Media and "What the Fuck with Marc Maron" podcasts. Top that, Joel McHale! Sorry. Anyway, the Upright Citizens Brigade regular has been appearing in all the right places of late, cool, vibe-y TV shows such as Adult Swim’s “Eagleheart,” three HBO series – “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Funny or Die Presents” and “Bored to Death” – and “The League” on FX. He was also in the movie The Other Guys. BRETT GELMAN podcast excerpt: "More will be revealed, but part of Mr. K's charm is his mystery. One thing we do know is he does want some friends. He means well. Even though it might not seem like it at times. There is a special dynamic that Matthew Perry's character and my character have." Now he’s getting a really big break as an oddball character named Mr. K on the new NBC sitcom “Go On” starring Matthew Perry of “Friends” and John Cho of the Harold & Kumar films and the new Star Trek franchise. The show airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. beginning September 11.
There are at least three elements to an award-winning acting performance: 1) It starts with the source material. Is the writing sharp, evocative, and provocative? 2) Does the actor understand the words on the page and can he extend their value from words to performance? 3) And finally, is the audience emotionally moved by the actor? MARK MARGOLIS podcast excerpt: "In Scarface, Al Pacino said if we put all our faces together we might be able to make one handsome guy!" If you’ve been watching the AMC drama “Breaking Bad” over the years, you’ve had the privilege of seeing some extraordinary performances by the lead actors, Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul and Anna Gunn. But some of the greatest moments have been of the smaller, more isolated type. Like the ones featuring my guest today, Mark Margolis, who plays – or should I say played -- Hector "Tio" Salamanca. You remember Hector, the notorious, bloodthirsty bastard we met as an old man and later in flashbacks as a young badass. As Hector, Margolis never says a word, communicating extraordinary viciousness and anger with nothing more than a glare and the pounding of a little bell. Margolis was so terrifying as a bellringer that he’s been nominated for 2012 Emmy Award as “Best Guest Actor.” Hopefully, he doesn’t have that damn bell with him now.
Imagine stretching a rubber band between the index finger on one hand and the thumb on the other. Now visualize pulling your fingers as far apart as possible. That’s it… …keep pulling… … and pulling… OUCH! Somebody will always get hurt when you do that. MARGO MARTINDALE podcast excerpt: "I like intense. In a movie, you can let go at the end of the day. On stage, you kind of have to live it until the run is over. But I love acting. It's like playing in my backyard." That’s what I pictured happening upstairs to Margo Martindale’s character, Janice Trimble, in her new movie, Scalene. And that’s just in the opening minutes. Martindale plays the mother of a brain-damaged teenage boy whose needs are making her life miserable and diminishing her in every possible way. She snaps like a rubber band as the movie begins and it’s all exposition from there. Besides Martindale, this indie film features a strong performance by Hanna Hall, who looks from certain angles like a young Drew Barrymore. Watching Scalene, I couldn’t help but wish a nice romantic comedy on this talented actress. Or maybe a buddy comedy with Kathy Bates! Joining me today is Margo Martindale, who won the 2010 Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her role on FX’s “Justified.” You may have also seen her last season as a regular on the short-lived CBS series “A Gifted Man” or more recently in the USA series “Suits.” Scalene, which co-stars Hanna Hall (she played a young "Jenny" in Forrest Gump) will be available on DVD and Blu-Ray on July 31
Bob Schieffer was so happy about his Sunday morning news panel show, “Face The Nation,” being expanded from 30 to 60 minutes in the spring that he’d probably like to spike his keyboard and do an end zone dance in the show’s production studio. BOB SCHIEFFER audio excerpt: "I have literally been trying for 20 years. When Tim Russert first went to NBC and took over ‘Meet The Press,’ and asked them to give him an hour — the proposal he made was ‘Give me an hour for three months. If it works, fine; if not, I’ll give you the half-hour back.’ He got his bosses to OK that and within weeks of going to an hour, they went to number one. Along about that same time, I went to my bosses. I said, ‘They’re going to an hour; I think it’s really going to hurt.’ The bosses at the same time said, ‘No, it won’t make any difference. No, we’re not interested in doing that.’ So off and on for the last 20 years, every two or three years I’ll go in and say ‘How about going to an hour? I think we can really make it work.’" Was this a long time in the works? “That would literally be the understatement of the year!” Schieffer told me on December 11, 2011, in an audio interview originally published on Poynter.org. He was laughing. CBS announced over this past weekend that the switch to a full hour would become permanent. I'm guessing the dean of active journalists is still beaming. Bob Schieffer • • • •
Creative people are growing more willing to laugh in the face of cancer. Ever seen the Showtime comedy “The Big C”? The main character, Cathy, makes jokes about being diagnosed with cancer, surviving treatment for it, and defying it to take her on again. Of course, the show has also included a storyline about her talking to ghosts and having an affair with Idris Elba, so maybe that’s not the best example. And then there is Katy Franco’s new children’s book, Chemorella, a modern take on fairy tales such as Cinderella, right down to a missing shoe. KATY FRANCO audio excerpt: "I went public and talked about my breast cancer back home in Puerto Rico and it just became something much bigger." Franco, a breast cancer survivor, and her husband, Ken Phillips, have produced a charming children’s story about a single young woman who must choose between hair and life when she is diagnosed with the Big C. As a dad, and someone who went through a bout of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma just a few years ago, I can see this being a great tool for teaching young girls to cope with the disease. And it might even be a salve for grown women, too. The book, with illustrations by Scott Sackett, is presented in side-by-side English and Spanish. It’s a sweet book and its author is here to talk with us about it today.
Kurt Andersen has one of those careers that makes him the envy of a lot of folks in media. The guy has had a fairly golden touch, starting with the birth of the late great humor magazine, Spy, which he co-founded with Graydon Carter and Tom Phillips. He’s also been a columnist for The New Yorker and editor in chief of New York. And he currently hosts public radio’s popular “Studio 360,” which has won a Peabody Award. KURT ANDERSEN audio excerpt: "Graydon Carter and I are exactly the kind of people Spy reveled in taking down a peg." All that and he tells a pretty fair story on the fictional side, too, first as the author of Heyday and Turn of the Century and most recently with the just released True Believers. I wanted to hate True Believers just because Andersen does too many things too well. But it just wasn’t possible. It’s a really cool read on multiple levels; for starters, the narrator is a sixty-ish woman once under serious consideration for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. That, by itself, is a neat trick for Andersen; he’s telling his story – her story – in Karen Hollander’s voice. KURT ANDERSEN audio excerpt: "Dave Eggers and I are friendly. We got to talking about putting out a one-shot, printed magazine that would pretend as if Spy had never gone out of business, that Might had never gone out of business. Then at some point they had merged into a magazine called 'Spite.' I love the idea." And then there is all the bouncing back and forth between the current day – actually, a time sightly into the future – and back to 1968, a time in which Karen was quite a different person. One with a pretty big secret. It’s an easy book to recommend, and it’s a pleasure to welcome its author to our world for the next half hour. Kurt Andersen • • • • • • •
A word of warning: The following conversation is not likely to impact prospects for world peace, the fall presidential election or even global warming. We’re talking summer movies and the potential box office, folks. It’s all in fun so please, no wagering. If you follow movies, talking about which blockbusters will rise and fall during the summer is great sport. You want to hitch your wagon to successes, such as The Avengers, not flame out with financial black holes, like John Carter—which I loved no matter what anyone else says. DOUG STONE podcast excerpt: "Batman wins. Spider-Man's good; Spider-Man's great. I'm projecting $280 million $300 million. But The Dark Knight Rises is going to be huge. The screenings went extraordinarily well; the advance ticket sales are enormous. The polling for it is almost on par with The Avengers. We expect a huge opening. Can it beat The Avengers opening? I don't think so. But it's probably going to be the second biggest opening of all time." Movie studios are approaching the summer of 2012 as they do every year, with a mixture of great anticipation and fear of grave failure. Jobs, careers and bragging rights are all on the line. To wit: Will the final film in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises, do boffo box office for Warner Bros. and DC Comics? Or will it fall short of expectations in the shadow of the humongously popular Marvel superhero adventure, The Avengers, which seemingly rewrote all the rules for its genre? And how will the Spidey reboot, The Amazing Spider-Man, fare as the first Marvel film after The Avengers? Is it too much to hope that Woody Allen’s To Rome With Love could live up to his career gem from 2011, Midnight in Paris? What’s a director or producer of non-superhero product to do in July and August? Or will a few really good theatrical release find an audience no matter what? With me to discuss – and possibly debate – all this is Doug Stone, president of Box Office Analyst. He previously was a senior executive at AMC Theatres. Box Office Analyst •
I met my wife on the job. I was the music critic at the St. Petersburg Times and she was usually the late editor fixing my grammatical errors, spelling mistakes and non sequitors. It was a great professional relationship that mushroomed into a personal one and we’ve been together now almost 25 years, including one teenager, five dogs and a house. But when we tried to work together on projects outside of the institutional setting of newspaper articles, it nearly rendered the union asunder. CHARLOTTE BARRETT podcast excerpt: "At NYU, we started writing on our own. We kept looking over our shoulders and decided, 'Let's try doing this together.'" We were – are – two very strongly opinionated people who might show some give to other people, but not to each other, at least not in professional matters. She edited my first two books and that was it. I don’t think she’s even read any of the 10 books since then, which is just as well. So I’m always fascinated with how other married couples do it. That brings me to today’s guests, Charlotte Barrett and Sean Fallon, a young couple who met while studying film production at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. They eventually worked together as writers for David Letterman and are now on the verge of seeing their first film, Virgin Alexander, released on DVD. (It will be in stores and for sale online on July 17.) I admire that these married screenwriters have been able to work together and live together and am curious to know how they do it.
I’m going to welcome mystery author and novelist Max Allan Collins to the show in a minute, but first I want to tell you about a guy who had a big influence on me when I was a wannabee writer. His name was Michael Avallone. He was best-known for writing TV and film adaptations of movies such as Beneath the Planet of the Apes and TV shows such as The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and The Partridge Family. But he would have preferred to be remembered for his Ed Noon detective tales. Thankfully, the New York Times, in its 1999 obituary, described him as “a prolific writer of detective stories and other novels that were sometimes reminiscent of old-fashioned pulp fiction.” MAX ALLAN COLLINS podcast excerpt: "Mickey Spillane is the Mike Hammer guy. My job is to finish these books in a way that Mickey would be satisfied and maybe even pleased with. I can't imagine doing any Mike Hammers that are 100 percent out of whole cloth. There are a lot of first chapters. I have a file cabinet drawer of unfinished Mickey Spillane. I anticipate 10 new books including a short story anthology." I got to know Mike after reading in the newspaper that he lived in the next town over from where I grew up in Central New Jersey. So I did what any kid with no sense of propriety would do: I looked him up in the phone book. When Mike got on the phone, 16-year-old me told him I wanted to be a writer, too. He was very kind and said he’d be happy to meet me. I don’t remember exactly, but it seems like I rode my 10-speed English Racer to his house the next day. We talked for a good hour or two and I marveled at his typewriter and all of the books he wrote. I think it safe to say he was most proud of his Ed Noon detective mysteries, which he wrote for more than 30 years. Avallone and Noon were from the Mickey Spillane/Mike Hammer school of creators and their characters. Not as hardboiled, maybe not as talented, but more than entertaining enough for me. He autographed a few of his Noon paperbacks as souvenirs and sent me on my way. We spoke a few more times over the years and he was a guest of honor at a comic book convention I put on in the 1970s. I tell you all this because preparing to interview Max Allan Collins, I got to thinking of Mike Avallone. Collins became a next generation Mickey Spillane, creating memorable titles and characters of his own such as Road to Perdition and Quarry. He’s worked in all kind of media, from scripting Dick Tracy daily comic strips from 1977-93 to writing the novelizations of movies such as Saving Private Ryan, Air Force One and American Gangster and creating his own one-man show, “Eliot Ness: An Untouchable Life.” The crowning achievement of his career, however, may have been when Mickey Spillane—the best selling mystery writer of the 20th century--chose Collins to be his literary executor. Spillane passed away in 2006 and Collins has since lit a fire in new stories of private dick Mike Hammer. His latest is Lady, Go Die!, the riveting sequel to Spillane’s classic, I, The Jury. What’s the connection in my mind between Max Allan Collins and my late friend Michael Avallone? Not much, really. Same business, different levels of success—and execution. And I do wonder if Max even knew Mike’s work. Think I’ll ask. Max Allan Collins • • • • •
When Alex Ferrari has appeared on this program in years past, it has been to promote short, sometimes experimental films that never made it to wide release. But I like Alex and always found the young filmmaker’s work to be explosive and worth talking about so I kept inviting him back. Good news: Broken, his $8,000 debut, as well as his second film, Cyn, plus Red Princess Blues, starring Robert Forster, Richard Tyson and Rachel Grant, and Red Princess Blues: Genesis starring Lance Henriksen, are all collected for the first time in one volume of revenge films titled Lipstick & Bullets. ALEX FERRARI audio excerpt: "Red Princess Blues -- I had just moved to Hollywood. We shot it on the Red camera. We were lucky enough to get actors Richard Tyson and Robert Forster. My production designer was fresh off of 24. My stunt coordinator was from 24 and is now on Hawaii Five-0." This is a must-own for any true film fan. We’re going to talk about Lipstick & Bullets today, but also on the menu is Ferrari Olive Oil. That’s right: film director Alex Ferrari has branched out into the production of – of all things – olive oil. We’ll find out why today! Alex Ferrari • • • • • •
What do the founders of The Home Depot, 1-800-Flowers.com and Paul Mitchell Systems and the CEOs of Black Entertainment Television, Marvel Entertainment and Campbell Soup have in common? According to consultant Jeff Fox, author of The Transformative CEO, they all have the key traits and characteristics of great and successful business leaders. JEFFREY J. FOX podcast excerpt: "When Douglas Conant went to Campbell Soup, they had lost 50 percent of their market share value, morale was plummeting, sales were down, profits were going away. The current management was taking chicken out of chicken soup to save money!" Fox, who previously appeared here to discuss his last book, How to Be a Fierce Competitor, has created a cottage industry in identifying great management tips and dispensing them in short books that even a CEO can stay focused on from cover to cover. The Transformative CEO is no different. I have to admit Fox had me at “Bernie Marcus”–as the guy who wrote Built From Scratch with the founders of The Home Depot—I had to know what Fox made of their remarkable success. He promises to help you transform yourself.
Jonathan Katz is neither a doctor nor a cartoon. But he has been known to be one entertaining funnyman. His old show on Comedy Central, “Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist,” was perhaps best known for two elements during its six-year run: its squiggly animation and the remarkable list of guests who sat on Dr. Katz’s couch, including Ray Romano, Conan O’Brien, Jon Stewart and Louis C.K. Now Katz is back with a new animated show, “Explosion Bus.” Like “Dr. Katz,” “Explosion Bus” was created by Tom Snyder. The new show co-stars comedian Tom Leopold, whose writing credits including “Seinfeld” and “Cheers.” JONATHAN KATZ podcast excerpt: "Louis C.K.'s act has changed so much. He got older; he got bolder. Some of my favorite stuff he does is about the Catholic church, which a young kid wouldn't do." So what is “Explosion Bus”? I have to admit I’m having a hard time figuring that out myself. I’ve watched several first season episodes and had a sneak peak at excerpts from season two. Like “Dr. Katz,” it is a model of subtlety and irony. “Explosion Bus” seems to satirizes the reality TV conceit of the moment found in “America’s Got Talent,” “The Voice” and “American Idol” that everyone has talent and could potentially be famous. But it goes in a lot of different directions from there, including being a reality show within a reality show—and one with real viewer submissions. And fans from season one will notice a change in animation style in season two. Check him out in animated form at ExplosionBus.com or on YouTube. Meanwhile, the doctor is in and I’m hoping he can make sense of it all for me. Jonathan Katz • • • • • • •
Yes, yes, Paige Howard is one of those Howards. Sister of Bryce--who played Gwen Stacy in Spider-Man 3, niece of Clint, granddaughter of Rance and, yup, daughter of Ron and Cheryl. That had to be said, I’m told, because Paige hasn’t accrued enough screen credits yet where you wlll drop what you’re doing when you hear the name “Paige Howard.” But if you have time, take a look at her performance in a new film called Cheesecake Casserole. PAIGE HOWARD podcast excerpt: "My parents would constantly remind us, 'This is no piece of cake. You need to really love acting to do it.' They didn't champion it at five years old: 'Take up the family business!' Bryce and I really got the bug and they're supportive. My little brother has bright red hair. People are like, 'Opie!' He was the cutest... This would have been tough for him; I'm glad he's into golf." She plays Jess, one of four friends about to graduate college who get together for one last girlie blowout weekend of food, booze, boys and boy talk. Each has a tangled narrative and, for Paige Howard’s Jess, there is something emotionally fraught bubbling beneath the surface of the beautiful redhead. Cheesecake Casserole might as well be called “Four Chicks and a DB” – that’s “Douchebag” –because one of the girls has been followed to the getaway by her boyfriend Rudy, played by Rocco Nugent. Does that last name sound familiar? It should – Rocco has a pretty famous parent himself, rock star and professional Tea Party loudmouth Ted Nugent. Cheesecake Casserole premieres July 3 nationwide on Video on Demand. You can also download it on MrMedia.com from Amazon.com or via iTunes. (You can also see Paige in Virgin Alexander, available on DVD July 17, 2012. Paige Howard • • Cheesecake Casserole • Virgin Alexander •
One song. That’s all it took to convince me that I wanted Archie Powell of Archie Powell & The Exports as a guest on this show. It was the video for a song called “Crazy Pills.” I found the visuals instantly cool and the music matched up perfectly. The band rocks hard and fast, pouring out a mainstream pop sound with clever lyrics—you try writing a song that makes the word “Metronome” sound melodic – and a style that is all their own while reminding us of everyone from The Romantics in the ‘80s to The Doors in the ‘60s. ARCHIE POWELL audio excerpt: "What we have going on as a rock band is no different than if we were trying to open our own print shop or bakery. It's the same basic principle. We have an LLC, we pay taxes and we have a company van. Division of labor is very helpful. It allows us to go further, longer." The band is just back from a month-long tour of the U.S. and Canada, supporting their new album, Great Ideas in Action, interrupted only by getting robbed, towed, having breakdowns… and bats. Don’t worry—I’ll ask. Joining me today is Archie Powell, who will be performing two songs live during the show. Archie Powell and The Exports • • • • •
Every 10 or 20 years, Ward Smith and I cross paths. The first time was back in 1987 when I start a Tampa Bay area feature magazine called Jump Monthly. It neither jumped nor came out monthly, but that’s a conversation for another time. Back then, we profiled Ward – an up-and-coming local standup comedian whose father, Hugh, the long-time anchor of our then CBS affiliate’s evening news, was a local icon. WARD SMITH audio excerpt: "In both shows, the casts and crews couldn't have been sweeter. On Burn Notice, Gabrielle Anwar said, 'I feel like hammered scrod.' She had been on the set since 6 in the morning and they didn't get to our scene until 10 p.m. She said, 'Your accent is very good!'" In the intervening years, Ward became a husband and father and teamed up with a local radio legend, Cleveland Wheeler, and was a writer and air personality for the final days of the Morning Zoo. Some time after that gig ended, I met Wheeler for lunch at the St. Petersburg burger landmark, El Cap, and was delighted when Ward turned up as a surprise guest. Earlier this year, Ward resurfaced on Facebook, announcing his new career as an actor. Lucky guy -- he landed guest roles on USA’s “Burn Notice” and Lifetime’s “Army Wives.” The first of his “Army Wives” appearances -- he plays Detective Barker -- will be telecast Sunday, June 24 @ 10 p.m. He’ll be back the following Sunday, July 1. Then look for him on “Burn Notice” on July 19 @ 9 p.m. He plays an MI6 Agent named Arthur Meyers who conducts a bit of horse trading with star Gabrielle Anwar's character, Fiona. Ward is also the voice of the “Offensive Coordinator” for the Madden NFL 2012 football videogame. And while he’s not yet a household name outside of the Smith household, he is an old friend and I’m eager to hear the details of his new life. Ward Smith •
Somewhat quietly, Lester Holt has become an NBC News star. It started innocently enough as he began appearing in all sorts of situations for the network, reporting here, filling in there and hosting “Lester Holt Live” on MSNBC. He became the ubiquitous anchor of cable and broadcast news for the peacock, able to step into any situation and deliver calm, level-headed journalism no matter what was happening around him. LESTER HOLT audio excerpt: "One of the phenomenons we've seen late in what we like to think of as a recovery, is middle class families who have lost a lot of their net worth and slipped below the poverty line." Holt, who joined NBC in 2000, was rewarded for his utility with two genuine, high-profile gigs: anchor of the Dateline NBC franchise on Friday nights and anchoring NBC Nightly News Weekend Edition on Saturdays and Sundays. Essentially, when Brian Williams signs off at 7 p.m. on Friday nights, NBC News is Holt’s playground until the Today show returns on Monday morning. On Sunday, June 24 at 8 p.m., Holt anchors a special edition of Dateline called America Now: Lost In Suburbia. It promises to make hay of a recent report that Americans lost 40% of their net worth between 2007 and 2010. Lester Holt, welcome to 40 percent less of Mr. Media! LESTER HOLT audio excerpt: "Bet on me (in a best-of-3 arm wrestling contest vs. Brian Williams). I'm in the gym every other day. Just an hour ago, I was bench-pressing 110 pounds. Go with me. But don't tell him I said so." Lester Holt • • •
I plan to talk with actress Ellen Woglom about her role on the new NBC legal drama, “Outlaw,” which airs Fridays at 10 p.m. and stars LLJS—you know, Ladies Love Jimmy Smits. But first, I have to know this: Will there ever be a sequel to Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior? ELLEN WOGLOM podcast excerpt: "'Californication' to 'Outlaw' was quite a jump. Sixteen to an adult was quite a jump. I'm 23; now I'm playing Mereta, who is 27." Now that I got that out of my system, if you’re wondering which one of David Duchovny’s women Ellen played on Showtime’s “Californication,” get your mind out of the gutter right now. He actually slept with the woman who played her mother on that series, Embeth Davidtz ; Ellen was best friends with Hank’s daughter. On “Outlaw,” Ellen is “Mereta Stockman,” Smits’ law clerk and a hopeless romantic. Ellen Woglom • • •
(UPDATED JULY 5, 2015: When I discovered the original audio player for this interview with actor Larry Thomas no longer played correctly, I went digging in my audio archives, found the original from June 8, 2007 and upgraded the entire track. But it sounded a little funky. I looked again and there was a SECOND interview with Thomas from two weeks later, June 22, 2007. Then I hit me -- the audio recording the first time was terrible and Larry kindly agreed to a do-over. But with improvements in technology, I unintentionally rescued the first interview. You can now hear both; the first, from June 8, 2007, and the second, from June 22, 2007. And thanks again to Larry Thomas for being such a good sport -- and one of Mr. Media's first podcast interview guests!) Not many people have managed to land the words Nazi and funny in the same sentence. Charlie Chaplin did it in The Great Dictator. Mel Brooks did it in The Producers with the song and dance number "Springtime for Hitler." And my guest today, the Emmy-nominated Larry Thomas, did it, too. He’s been an actor for 25 years and is a veteran of dozens of films, TV shows, and hundreds of theater performances. Larry recently finished shooting the film Postal and was seen on “Arrested Development,” “Hot Properties," “Threshold,” “Scrubs,” and a Lexus commercial as a crazed pre-Bugsy visionary selling the idea of Vegas. Last year, Larry completed a 3- city, 140-show production of Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple,” the female version, starring Barbara Eden. Who the hell is Larry Thomas? No answers for you, not yet anyway. Be patient, my friends. You’re not going to want to miss this interview.