I’ve had the great good fortune to sit down with innumerable heroes. Not sure anyone is more beloved by… everyone… than Ed Begley Jr. Notes and messages flooded in before, during, and after the Live. Besides being a gifted actor in all genres, 7x Emmy Award Nominee, Ed’s a spectacular human who walks the talk like no one I’ve ever known. We addressed the Covid, how it impacted his life, and career––not much it turns out, the man who never stops working, didn’t! Even getting the virus recently barely slowed him down. Ed’s miraculous one-hour post-Paxlovid cocktail “cure” is hopeful and inspiring. Currently, on the air in Better Call Saul, and Young Sheldon, Ed’s got an exciting film in the can he couldn’t yet talk about, a memoir in the works with a hinted-at story alone worth the price of admission, a film he’s about to say, “yes” to, and, a promised Part 2 here with us. We went back to Ed’s youth, his Academy Award Winning brilliant father, Ed Begley, a conservationist of a somewhat different variety who instilled in Ed the activism he’s carried forth with gusto from the first Earth Day to today… with everything from the car he drives, the food he grows and eats, the home he built, the products he uses, we’d be hard pressed to find Ed cheating on his beliefs, anywhere. His unwavering commitment to being of service was modeled by his beloved sister. A hysterical walk down memory lane, from his first gig (My Three Sons at 10!) to the rocky next 6 years––HA! Partnering and killing with Michael Richards, yeah, that one, to opening rock shows for 18 thousand people, to the drinking and pot, which had gotten quite excessive, to how he gave it up and got sober 42 or is it 43, years ago. Scratching the surface of his brilliant career with The In-Laws, his relationship with Alan Arkin and Peter Falk, when the clock struck 6. A promised Part 2 awaits, and I promise, I shan’t let it slip. Ed is a human to admire, adore, emulate, and if lucky, hang with. I cherish this time with him, and all time with him, and can’t wait for more. Ed Begley Jr. Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Wednesday, 7/20/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET Streamed Live on my Facebook Replay here: https://bit.ly/3yOz6S0 All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3 Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products, for the best tressed. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/
Steve Postell Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Singer/Songwriter/Producer, Steve Postell and I go way back to Bleecker Street in the heady daze of the New York club scene. He's played every club I've booked and guested on every show I've hosted and produced. Whenever we see each other we pick up right where we left off, as comfortable as a pair of favorite faded jeans, and yet, still exciting and new. Incredible songwriter, amazing guitarist, with the voice of an angel, Steve treated us to a mini-concert sprinkled throughout, from his latest pearls to his golden gems. A first long-awaited music lesson at 8 with his first guitar, which he outgrew the first week, to his first gig for $25 when he was 13, how an art class with Bob Dylan may have changed his life, to solo gigs, Broadway touring companies, to Broadway itself, with Patti Lapone’s Evita, jingles, record deals, Pure Prairie League, his own bands, recording, engineering, producing, New York to LA, The Night Train Music Club, first meets with Leland Sklar, Waddy Wachtel, Russ Kunkle, and Danny Kortchmar, and how the Immediate Family was born. Danny Tedesco’s upcoming doc on them, featuring players Steve idolized, who are now cohorts and friends… James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Carole King… playing with Michael McDonald, David Crosby, and most recently, Kenny Loggins, around a campfire and on stage, plus his sold-out show at McCabe’s. Steve’s living his dream, always putting in the time with disciplined daily practice, an indefatigable work ethic, and extraordinary talent. Old friends are treasures. This gifted one, a gift to us all. Steve Postell Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Wednesday, 6/29/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET Streamed Live on my Facebook Replay here: https://bit.ly/3I39ncU All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3 Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products, for the best tressed. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/ Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt
Martha Bolton was Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Now that’s edutainment! Emmy-nominated comedy writer Martha Bolton was only Bob Hope’s first female staff writer, has only written 13 musicals, 88 books, including her latest, Dear Bob… Bob Hope’s Wartime Correspondence with The GIs of WWII, co-written with Linda Hope, only has 13 musicals out there, a few running right now, wrote for Joan Rivers and Phyllis Diller, has won a Golden Scroll Merit Award for Fiction, and has been nominated for a Dove Award, and a WGA Award… what a slacker! How this woman does it… ‘splained here. Self-taught, disciplined beyond fault, up at 3 am, writes most hours of every day, and loves what she does. We got the skinny on Bob, as a boss, a comedian, an American, and a human… George Burns, Johnny Carson, Milton Berle, Danny Thomas, Sonny & Cher, Joan, and Phyllis. Simply fabulous! Talking to a comedy writer is fun. Can’t wait to read the book. https://amzn.to/3HMoHuv Talking to a comedy writer is fun. Martha Bolton on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Wednesday, 6/22/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET Streamed Live on my Facebook Replay here: https://bit.ly/3zRWf8u All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3 Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products, for the best tressed. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/ Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt
Tom Bergeron Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson There’s nothing like sitting down with an adored friend who’s made his mark being in the moment, Live, without a net. Emmy-winner, Tom Bergeron, is my kinda guest. Whip-smart, emotionally intelligent and evolved, hysterically funny, a generous to a fault humanitarian, and oh, so laid back, and easy (don’t tell Lois). This isn’t our first rodeo - it just keeps getting funner. We got the Tom’s eye view of Dancing With The Stars, from his hiring to his firing (of his own creation- scooped to us on a past Game Changers), the judges, his co-hosts, the pros, the celebs––the joys and the not-so-much ones, dramatic moments, inside dish, to the current state of streaming affairs… could a return be in his future? I hope sure hope they’re smart enough to do so, if he wants it. We talked The Masked Singer, behind the scenes with his crooning Taco, America’s Funniest Home Videos, Bob Saget, Hollywood Squares, Whoopi, Henry Winkler, meditation, and his tome, I’m Hosting As Fast As I Can, which debuted in my living room as Tom himself debuted as Women Who Write’s first man, oh those were the days. We talked improv and radio and how Tom honed his skills to get so damn great at this impromptu thing. The book he’s dropped, not in the stores, from his life, the first reading of that debuted last time here, too, what he’s binging, his dark turn in The Messenger, available at TomBergeron.com, and his film in development conceived over lunch with his now co-producer, William Shatner. This time with Tom was soul-filling and laughter-fueled. If only it could power my Honda. Forget cowbell. More Bergeron! Tom Bergeron on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Wednesday, 6/15/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET Streamed Live on my Facebook Replay here:https://bit.ly/3mX5GLW All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3 Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products for the best tressed. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/ Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt
Stuart Pankin on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson There are no accidents and no mistakes. A cancellation led to a speedy opportunity, that I’m so grateful to have had. Five-time nominated and CableAce Award winner for HBO’s, Not Necessarily The News, Stuart Pankin, originally scheduled for August, jumped in tonight, and what an absolute joy! We talked about the early days, how this constantly working actor never had to have a day job, with one short exception, funny story here. From Columbia University to theatre from off off off, to repertory, Shakespeare in the Park, how fellow sword carrier, Kevin Kline changed his stars, to Lincoln Center… landing in the land of LA with a bit of TV work, some unemployment, and then a handful of years later, the game-changer, anchor and player on the award-winning, Not Necessarily The News. Over 300 television appearances and loads of movies followed. We talked his co-starring role in Fatal Attraction opposite Michael Douglas, Hollywood Knights with Robert Wuh, Striptease with Demi Moore, Arachnophobia, and Honey We Shrunk Ourselves with Rick Moranis, Curb with Larry David, Trapper John with Gregory Harrison, and his current VOD, Deep In The Forest, and the soon to drop, Our Almost Completely True Story, great stories, all! I love when artists I adore are just as wonderful humans, Stuart Pankin is all that, and a truckload of Cheetos. What fun! Stuart Pankin on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Wednesday, 6/8/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET Streamed Live on my Facebook Replay: https://bit.ly/39lNkkF All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3 Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products for the best tressed. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/ Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt
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What to do when in the midst of unfathomable national tragedy, and your guest is 5 x Emmy Winner, Alan Zweibel, one of the funniest humans on the planet? Face the elephant in the room head-on. We discussed how comics and monologists deliver on a day like this, and what is verboten? From there we moved into personal, current COVID crisis, where listener Julie Warner, Billy Crystal’s co-star in the film, Mr. Saturday Night, informed us we were depressing (she was playing… Alan is never is anything less than hysterical), and then we segued into his latest co-creation with Billy, Here Today, about an aging comedy writer whose memory is fading due to dementia. Har har har dee har har. Well, the story that inspired the film is crazy funny, as is Alan’s telling of it. It was all comedy gold from there, covering Alan’s many of Alan’s most memorable collaborations, more on Billy from the early 70s standup days to their Tony-winning Broadway smash, 700 Sundays. The first sold joke to Morty Gunty (still a winner today), and other Borscht Belt favorites, to Larry David bombing at The Improv, Lorne Michaels recognizing his gift and hiring him in the very first wave of Saturday Night Live, where Alan’s collaboration and friendship with Gilda Radner yielded iconic characters and moments, week after week, year after year, the trajectory of their relationship thru till her untimely end, where he wrote for her, yet again… his collab with Garry Shandling and their multiple Ace Award-Winning co-creation, It’s The Garry Shandling Show, and the evolution of them… to writing Lunatics with Dave Barry and then For This We Left Egypt with Dave and Ada Mansbach, the definitive Haggadah in my house, to Alan’s Bunny Bunny, his love letter to Gilda from page to stage, and his latest, Laugh Lines, My life Helping Funny People Be Funnier, which spans 50 years of fab stories, one after another… my favorite tonight, and it’s such a Sophie’s Choice with the wealth presented, is Alan’s college poetry “recital.” I was crying. In the good way. This time with Alan was chicken soup with noodles, matzah balls, and latkes, for the pandemic, crazy-world weary soul. Warm, flavorful, sizzling, and delicious… with a side of hysterically funny. Perfection! Alan Zweibel on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Wednesday, 5/124/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET Streamed Live on my Facebook Replay here: https://bit.ly/3GhWz1v All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3 Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products for the best tressed. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/ Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt
The Waltons Michael Learned on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson - Part 2 What’re another 14 minutes and a little hysteria between friends? The anticipation of the marvelous Michael Learned makes the slightly bumpy start a small price to pay for her delightful self. We picked up where we left off Monday and double-backed a little. Growing up on a farm, preparedness for Olivia Walton, paying back her childhood candy debt, her spy father, exhausted mother, being the oldest of 6 sisters, all but one with unusual names, boarding school, moving from dance to drama, meeting Peter Donat, initially riding his coattails, becoming the first lady of ACT Theatre, then divorce, The Waltons, and award-winning success. Missing her own kids, getting bored, leaving, then Nurse, another Emmy, complaining, regretting, back to the theatre, and eventually, TV. Second Acts, and her upcoming leading role on Ryan Murphy’s Jeffrey Dahmer series, tentatively titled, Monster. We circled back to Michael’s memoir, which I shall continue to encourage her to pen… type, just write! There’s a lifetime of experiences, challenges, successes, bottoming out and then soaring, making errors and learning, a beautiful love story that’s surrounded her for 33 years following years of abuse, sobriety, and recovery, of which she is most humble. Warm, open, accessible, amiable, and oh so loveable, I enjoyed every moment in this iconic mom’s most excellent company and will carry forth wanting more Michael! Michael Learned on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson - Part 2 Wednesday, 5/18/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET Replay here: https://bit.ly/3sKq72c Streamed Live on my Facebook Replay here: https://bit.ly/3sKq72c All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3 Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products for the best tressed. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/ Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt
Michael Learned on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Hello full moon lunar eclipse mercury retrograde whatever the hell made this a day from tech hell. Didn't matter! Michael Learned was gracious, lovely, fun, accessible, and wonderful. In spite of only being able to hear parts of her conversation, I loved every word I got, and even the ones I didn't. Fabulous woman that she is, she agreed to come back this Wednesday (May 18th) same bat time, same bat place. We did get to talk about her childhood, how the girl named Michael probably came to have that name, her mysterious father, living in Austria, $ for candy, finding theatre, Bill Ball, and ACT, her screen test for The Waltons, her Eskimo on set, getting sober, why she wanted to leave... we scratched the surface of the 4 x Emmy winners stint on that iconic show, and her recent award-winning turn in Second Acts, and her soon to drop starring role in Ryan Murphy's Monster, about her character's live-in grandson, Jeffrey Dahmer. We touched on COVID, Michael is casual more than crazy, and there is so much more to discuss, and... I just need more Michael. She's terrific! See you Wednesday, Live @5. Michael will be back home, on her computer, and all will be right with ur internet convo. Mercury, turn around already. Michael Learned on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Monday, 5/16/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET Streamed Live on my Facebook Replay here: https://bit.ly/3MkVHLJ All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3 Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products for the best tressed. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/ Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt
Jay Kogen on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson So fun to spend time with the funny. Four-time Emmy award-winning writer/producer, Jay Kogen ~ The Simpsons, Frasier, Everybody Loves Raymond, Malcolm in The Middle, Tracy Ullman, to name but some. 2nd generation in the Kogen entertainment empire, son of Arnie, The Bob Newhart Show, The Carol Burnett Show, The Dean Martin Show, and father to Charlie, who while still in High School performed an original song at The Kennedy Center, we talked the father/son dynamic from both sides now. Not sure Jay could be a prouder papa or a more beloved son. Arnie, one of the most successful comedy writers of his generation, paved the way for the legacy Jay carries forward. Beginning as a tyke, Jay was on set, garnering small roles in his father’s shows, with stars in his eyes and ambition to act. He did for a while, adding stand-up and then Improv which he continues to this day. You can catch him this weekend if you’re in LA. Jay’s passion for performing has not diminished an iota, even if it’s not his bread and butter. We talked the pandemic slowdown and its effect on the business and the work––hard to fathom with all the projects Jay’s currently cooking and shopping. From his first earned $5, to selling jokes to Harvey Korman at age 10, his father kind of eviscerating his first attempt at script writing (deserved, says Jay), to PA’ing on The Garry Shandling Show, getting encouragement from Garry and Alan Ziewbel, enough to try his scriptwriting hand again with his partner Wally, which landed them a gig at The Tracy Ullman Show, which begat The Simpsons, simultaneous offers from Seinfeld and Frasier, choosing neither at first and why, loving Malcolm in The Middle, not so much the iCarly reboot, great stories of family and the business of show. Aside from enormous talent, there’s great love, humanity, and service. The Kogen upbringing and home life sound pretty idyllic. Jay exudes joy and gratitude, giving back by teaching and personally mentoring young writers. Entertained and inspired, I’m left wanting to create more, laugh more, give more. I sure miss life as it was… this time with Jay reminded me how fun it can still be. Even if it is on Zoom. Jay Kogen on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Wednesday, 5/11/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET Streamed Live on my Facebook Replay here: https://bit.ly/3PidULC All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3 Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products for the best tressed. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/ Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt