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TitlePub. DateDuration
Writing TV's Iconic Women & A Front Seat In The Inner Circle with Stan Zimmerman12 Feb 202601:09:34

Co-Host Lisa Arch joins us with our guest, Stan Zimmerman.

From a supportive teacher who first recognized his talent to writing some of television’s most beloved episodes, Stan Zimmerman’s journey is a testament to passion, persistence, and perfect timing.


He sets it all out in his new book 'The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore,’ which draws from journals he has kept religiously since college, offering a deeply personal look at a life lived inside television history. 


In a conversation both heartfelt and hilarious, Stan reflects on how he took school theater as seriously as if it were big time show biz, because to him, it was. Theater kids were his tribe, and storytelling was already his calling.


That destiny led him to Hollywood, where in his early 20s, at meeting that had not gone well, on his way out the door, he pitched a Hail Mary Golden Girls story idea that launched his career. The episode he co-wrote with his writing partner, Jim Berg is titled “Blanche and the Younger Man.” It earned the team a Writers Guild nomination and carved the trailhead for a groundbreaking career path.  


Working in the 1980s during the height of the AIDS crisis, Stan recalls how even in Hollywood many people were still in the closet, and that while building career relationships, on a show that would become a gay obsession, he felt pressure to hide his personal life. 


We also hear stories that could only happen in show business: hanging out with Sandra Bernhard when an answering machine message from Madonna sparked the beginning of their friendship; witnessing Estelle Getty struggle with early-onset dementia on set, and later realizing that Betty White’s jokes to the studio audience, which he thought were at Estelle’s expense, may have been acts of quiet kindness, allowing Estelle space to recover her lines.


Stan reflects on the enduring legacy of The Golden Girls, a show whose cultural impact he couldn’t have imagined while he was in the writers’ room. He talks about passing on season one of Roseanne because of a five-year contract commitment, only to later campaign to join the writing staff. (The story behind the “13” on his shirt traces back to that turbulent chapter of his career.) 


He explains how Roseanne was never about chasing laughs, a lesson that became clear when he later helped develop a Russian adaptation where producers kept asking why it wasn’t funnier.


Stan also discusses his longtime friendship with Dan and Amy Sherman-Palladino and how creative circles overlap in surprising ways that found him on the team creating episodes of The Gilmore Girls. And he shares a moving story about working on a Dreamgirls benefit show which almost derailed over stewing conflicts until Stan suggested that Sheryl Lee Ralph, Loretta Devine and Jennifer Holiday just talk, on stage, about their shared history… Suddenly, they were singing. Stan’s stories will inspire you to problem solve, dream and achieve. 


In recommendations --


Lisa: The Later Daters on Netlflix


Weezy: Take That miniseries on Netflix

Path Points of Interest

Stan Zimmerman

The Girls: From Golden To Gilmore by Stan Zimmerman

Stan Zimmerman on IMDB


Stan Zimmerman on Wikipedia

Stan Zimmerman on Facebook


Stan Zimmerman on Instagram


Golden Girls: The Ultimate Fan Experience


Media Path Interview with Michael Fishman


Later Daters


Take That  Documentary Series


Cultural Touchstones & Cult Classics with Adrienne Barbeau05 Feb 202601:15:46

From her first job right out of high school on a USO tour through Asia during the Vietnam War to Maude to screen queen classics, Adrienne Barbeau has costarred with snakes, rats, bugs, Swamp Things, a man-eating ape and Batman!


Adrienne joins us to talk about iconic roles, larger than life co-stars (like Rodney and Reynolds) and how at 80, she's doing everything BUT riding into the sunset.


At 19, she moved to New York City with a clear promise to herself: She would give theater her absolute all and settle for her backup plan, if need be, only at age 25. By then she was starring on Broadway as Hodel in Fiddler On The Roof with costar Bette Midler as Tzeitel.



Adrienne shares firsthand stories from the birth of Grease (MUCH edgier at its inception), where she originated the role of Rizzo. She recalls the electric audience response during previews, and how, fueled by that enthusiasm, producers pushed forward despite harsh critical reviews. 


From there, Adrienne was discovered by Norman Lear and offered the part of Maude’s daughter Carol in the first All In The Family Spinoff.  She found Bea Arthur to be an artist who exemplified collaborative grace,  always putting the show ahead of any individual performance.


Adrienne opens up about her curious relationship with Burt Reynolds… in fact, a psychic saw her dating a man who was laying on a bearskin, even before she had met him or he had done that! She then shares stories from the chaotic set of  Cannonball Run, where she was trying to take the work seriously while many cast-mates were mostly taking alcohol. 


We talk about her collaborations with John Carpenter and George A. Romero. We delve into Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (which turns out to have surprising literary roots in Heart of Darkness). We play a sizzling round of IMDB Roulette and hear about Adrienne's latest project, the short film Oddities.


The episode closes on a meaningful note as we say goodbye to Fritz in his final episode as co-host, and welcome Lisa Arch, who will be joining Weezy for our next episode.


In current media--


Weezy: Song Sung Blue, in theaters and streaming

Fritz: Marty Supreme, in theaters and streaming


Path Points of Interest:

Adrienne Barbeau


There Are Worse Things I Could Do by Adrienne Barbeau

Adrienne Barbeau on Wikipedia

Adrienne Barbeau on IMDB

Adrienne Barbeau on Instagram


Adrienne Barbeau on Facebook


Oddities

Adrienne Barbeau Amazon Author Page

Song Sung Blue

Marty Supreme

Stories With Universal Themes & The Relatability Of A Gay Marine with Greg Cope White06 Nov 202501:02:46

We’re joined by two authors whose stories illustrate courage, creativity, and the unpredictable tides of adversity and accomplishment, while also uniting us through humanity’s common threads.


Greg Cope White is the Marine whose true story inspired Boots on Netflix. His book is called The Pink Marine and Greg takes us behind the scenes on its screen adaptation with the cast going through actual bootcamp to emerge as actors who could realistically portray Marine recruits.


In serving as a writer and Executive Producer on the show, Greg had the opportunity to flesh out stories beyond those of himself and his best friend, Dale. Greg’s character is called Cam and he joins The Marines before “Don’t Ask. Don’t Tell,” when it was completely illegal to be gay in The Marine Corps. We quickly learn that every recruit is hiding or trying to prove something. Dale became Ray in the series and he is running from an abusive father, attempting to build pride in himself. 


We also meet characters who struggle with their weight or have had brushes with the law or have never fit in. Pressure makes diamonds and Marines. Bonds form and Greg reports that the actors in the show are as tight as any fighting unit.


Michael Gregg Michaud introduces us to Christopher Jones: Wild in the Streets, his new book chronicling the meteoric rise, and mysterious disappearance, of one of Hollywood’s most compelling shooting stars. From 1960s heartthrob to sudden recluse, Chris’s story is one of talent, turmoil, mental illness and cultural transformation.


We hear about Greg's solidarity buzzcut and we learn about the Christopher Jones - Sharon Tate connection, it's an episode brimming with mystery, tragedy and triumph!


And in current media-- 

Weezy: Season 3 of The Diplomat on Netflix 

Fritz: Mr. Scorcese - A documentary series on Apple TV+

Path Points of Interest:

Boots on Netflix


Greg Cope White


The Pink Marine by Greg Cope White on Amazon


The Pink Marine on TikTok


Greg Cope White on X


Greg Cope White on Instagram


Greg Cope White on Facebook


Christopher Jones: Wild in the Streets by Michael Gregg Michaud


Michael Gregg Michaud on Amazon


Christopher Jones on Wikipedia


Michael Gregg Michaud on Facebook


Michael Gregg Michaud on Instagram


The Diplomat on Netflix


Mr. Scorcese on Apple TV+


Tender Memories From The Stage & A Midwest Mindset In Show Biz12 Oct 202301:20:43

Concetta Tomei's richly recognizable presence has warmed screens for 40 years. Her Italian roots, the American dreams of her parents and grandparents and her midwestern upbringing, plus four years as a seventh and eighth grade teacher prepared and sustained her as she faced show biz rigors and rejections. 


Her acting chops were masterfully honed on the New York stage where she performed off-Broadway and on, in the New York Shakespeare Festival, in Cyrano with Kevin Kline and in The Elephant Man with David Bowie.


Concetta shares her fierce heart and dynamic spirit as she regales us with story after story of her uniquely thrilling life as a character actor. She talks about her love for her co-stars: David Bowie’s kindness and intensity, Brian Dennehy’s thoughtful mentorship, Dick Van Dyke’s fun and curiosity, and Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau’s propensity to crack each other up on the set of Out To Sea while Concetta got to dance with Donald O’Connor!


Concetta goes into tender detail about her wonderful, supportive parents, who immigrated to Kenosha from Italy and who she credits with much of her success. She also pays grateful homage to her education, studying drama at what became DePaul University, and the deep lessons provided by the works of Shakespeare and her treasured opportunities to perform key roles.


Her paths of learning, and preparing led her to starring roles in China Beach and Providence and opened the gates of Star Trek fandom with an appearance as Minister Odala on Star Trek: Voyager.


We play a few rounds of IMDB Roulette with a spicy story from the set of Dynasty. (Lesson Learned: Do not incur the wrath of Joan Collins). 


Concetta is also an animal rights activist and she would love for you to look into the work of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.


In recommendations, Fritz got into the Netflix docu-series Beckham, and Weezy is living for ABC's The Golden Bachelor.


Path Points of Interest:

Concetta Tomei on Wikipedia


Concetta Tomei on IMDB


Concetta Tomei on TCM


Best Friends Animal Society


Concetta Tomei on Facebook


The Golden Bachelor


Beckham - Netflix

Upper Crust Comedy & The Secrets To Sublime Living05 Oct 202301:00:48

Craig Kilborn has indelibly and stylishly stamped his unique, hosty  brand across the worlds of Sports and Late Night Comedy.


Mixing a patrician personality, with a razor sharp wit and folding in a pinch of irreverent snark, Lord Kilby has now taken up residency at manner houses in the lands of Instagram and podcasting. 


A star high school athlete, Craig excelled at basketball, knowing that his future lay in comedy. He blended his strengths as a smart aleck  sportscaster in Monterey, California where he acquired his taste for the fancy which he now celebrates on Instagram and on his podcast, The Life Gorgeous.


Craig joins us with action items for those who aspire to live their lives more gorgeously. (You may need a boat.) And despite the adversity of no adversity, he tells us how a tall, handsome, high school jock was able to acquire so sharp a wit. His SportsCenter stint forever changed the tone of sportscasting and, on a personal note, led to a surprise phone call from new fan, Bill Murray!


We discuss Craig’s background as The Daily Show's inaugural host, taking over for Tom Snyder on The Late, Late Show, and why he eventually lost his passion for the politics of it all and stepped away. 


Plus, Weezy shares highlights from the performance of Unforgettable Sunrise, a symphony written by non-verbal autistic teen, Jacob Rock.

Fritz is recommending A Haunting in Venice, now in theaters and Weezy strongly advises you to watch the documentary, Torn on Hulu.

Path Points of Interest:

The Craig Kilborn Podcast: The Life Gorgeous


Craig Kilborn on Instagram


Craig Kilborn on Facebook


Craig Kilborn on Wikipedia


Unforgettable Sunrise Highlights


A Haunting in Venice - In Theaters 


Torn on Hulu

The Healing Power of Humor & Laughing Towards Enlightenment28 Sep 202301:21:33

Craig Shoemaker believes in the power of laughter and he's experienced its transformational force firsthand. The showbiz vet with decades of experience in writing, producing, acting and stand up comedy is fully invested in helping others, through humor with his organization, Laughter Heals. To this end, he speaks frankly, lives courageously and is persistently seeking the higher self that will ensure a reach towards his potential. 


Craig speaks with raw courage about his painful past, the obstacles he has faced and conquered and those that are currently vexing and challenging him. Undaunted, he understands that laughter is a force more powerful than anger and that positive energy creates a pathway towards healing the wounds of trauma, neglect and abuse.


Craig joins us to share his unique and effective blend of levity and love and how his coaching program, Winning With Humor is helping folks from all of life’s walks achieve goals and more fully align with their true selves.


We get Craig’s unfiltered take on parenting, marriage, divorce, dating and his unconventional childhood with a “fun mom” and an absent dad. An industrious young Craig found himself looking for dads in all the wrong places, writing earnest “Please Marry My Mom” sales pitches to Paul Lynne and Tim McCarver. It was a hard pass from both.


Craig shares how his comedy has saved lives and how his patented “love master” techniques have created them. We learn how cults, coincidences and the call and response of the universe have followed him throughout his life. Laughter being the enduring soundtrack.


Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Never Let Him Go on Hulu, The Morning Show on Apple TV+ and John Mills with Orchids in Zoom, live at The Write-Off Room in Studio City on October 9th!

Path Points of Interest:

Craig Shoemaker


Craig Shoemaker on Wikipedia


Craig Shoemaker on Instagram


Craig Shoemaker on Facebook


Craig Shoemaker on Twitter


Craig Shoemaker on Youtube


Winning With Humor 


Laughter Heals


The Morning Show - Apple TV


Never Let Him Go on Hulu


John Mills at The Write-Off Room


The Mills Brothers' American Express Ad

The Seminal Sit-Com Neighbor & NBC TV's Golden Age21 Sep 202300:59:52

In the late 1980's and early '90s, the TV sitcom landscape was dominated by an unstoppable force known as Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions. It’s the creative juggernaut that brought us Soap and Benson in the late 70s, evolving into the force field behind The Golden Girls. A series so iconic, it launched the spin-offs, Nurses, The Golden Palace and Empty Nest, co-starring our guest, David Leisure.


This Saturday night lineup featured casts of characters who occupied the same imagined universe and often popped into each other’s shows. David was Empty Nest’s wacky neighbor and he also appeared as Charley Dietz on The Golden Girls, Nurses and another Witt/Thomas/Harris creation, Blossom.


Empty Nest, starred Richard Mulligan as Dr. Harry Weston, a widowed pediatrician, much sought after by all the Miami single ladies while riding the emotional waves of his grownup daughters who have refilled his Empty Nest.


David gives us an exclusive peek behind the scenes of this memorable time in broadcast television history. Was Bea Arthur really the only Earth human who hated Betty White? What did Bea Arthur hate even more than Betty White? How did David’s show attempt to fill the space left behind in their nest by Kristy McNichol? How did the cast and crew react to her emotional return?


David shares his origin story and how he landed two key roles. 1) “First Krishna” in Airplane. (He was willing to shave his head.) And 2) The Joe Isuzu commercials. (He’s an obsequious liar.)


We also learn why St. Jude’s hospital is so important to David, how he overcame childhood obesity and the truth about his secret, backstage divorce group therapy sessions with Loni Anderson and Richard Mulligan.


All that plus IMDB Roulette and Empty Nest Trivia! 


And Fritz shares his own personal run-in with Golden Girls Producer Susan Harris. (She’s probably still pissed.) 


Plus, in recommendations, we’ve got two great books: Blowback - A Warning To Save Democracy From The Next Trump by Miles Taylor and Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver.

Path Points of Interest:

David Leisure on Wikipedia


David Leisure on IMDB


Joe Isuzu Commercials:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJMq_7alQpU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_1ASmweXYs

David Leisure on Facebook


Empty Nest on IMDB



St. Jude's Hospital


Blowback - A Warning To Save Democracy From The Next Trump by Miles Taylor


Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver


The Making of a Super Group & The Music Scene of the 60s and 70s14 Sep 202301:00:27

Listening to Radio Luxembourg on his family's transistor as a teen in the British countryside, Simon Kirke  heard the siren song of The Beatles and was instantly hooked. Determined to make music his career, he spent two years in London before a fateful meeting with guitarist Paul Kossoff put him on a course to make his rock 'n' roll fantasy a reality. Along with Andy Fraser and Paul Rodgers, they formed the band Free which led to the mega hit/classic song All Right Now and Free becoming one of England's hottest bands. 


Then, in 1973, Simon, along with Free-mate Paul Rodgers, co-founded legendary hard rock supergroup Bad Company, a monster band that sold out record bins and stadiums worldwide. Their anthemic hits, Shooting Star, Feel Like Making Love, Can’t Get Enough and Rock and Roll Fantasy remain among the most played songs in radio history.


Simon joins us to share (mostly PG!) rock n’ roll stories featuring his iconic bandmates and management and the music venues, record companies and recording studios where so much of his classic rock history played out. Simon tells us the story of Free and how All Right Now was written in desperation, to get the crowd dancing. Simon also details their legendary performance at the Isle of Wight Festival, and how Free stood up to the label that wanted to rebrand them the Heavy Metal Kids.


He shares the backstage/pre-show moment when Bad Company's manager gifted them with platinum albums and we discuss the personality types drawn to each instrument. And, a quarter century sober, Simon considers whether productivity and creation may be the greatest high off all.


Simon has written a possibly too spicy memoir. He is now scoring films and his pathway to sobriety has inspired an upcoming musical called Rock Bottom.


Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending the Max doc series, Smartless: On The Road and The Untold Story of the Investigation Into January 6th by Denver Riggleman and Hunter Walker.

Path Points of Interest:

Simon Kirke


Simon Kirke on Wikipedia

Bad Company on Wikipedia

Simon Kirke Facebook

Bad Company Instagram

Road Recovery

The Breach - The Untold Story of the Investigation Into January 6th by Denver Riggleman and Hunter Walker

Smartless On The Road


Smartless Podcast

The Rules of Showrunning & an Insider's Guide To How TV Is Made07 Sep 202301:15:21

eff Melvoin has written an inspiring and comprehensive guide to the art & science of what may be the most momentous, yet mysterious title in Hollywood: Showrunner. At its core, the job is described as a writer/producer hybrid. But it encompasses so much more than just that.


Jeff joins us to talk about Running The Show: Television From the Inside, and he shares his unique perspective on what it takes to make it in the TV industry (spoiler: talent will take you only so far!) 


Coming to his author role with decades of television experience from broadcast to basic cable to the realm of Bezos (whom he refers to as “the Stalin of Streaming”), Jeff’s enthusiasm for mentoring and educating compliment his acumen as an accomplished show runner on Killing Eve, Army Wives, Designated Survivor, Picket Fences, and Northern Exposure. They also serve him well as the writer of a wise, funny, instructive and inside view of his field of expertise.


Jeff brings us incredible insight and wisdom on the specific set of skills and personality traits required to succeed at showrunning and leadership in general. We hear his Six Rules, The Twelve P's, His One career-making line (which he wrote for an episode of Remington Steele) and much more. 


Plus, he’s got stories from the many shows he's worked on, including Remington Steele, NYPD Blue and Alias and he’s bringing the intel on the differences between American and British Productions as learned via Killing Eve. He’s also sharing his views on streaming’s landscape overhaul, the existential nature of the current writers' strike and the need-to-know phrase for responding to a studio exec's notes.


Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending The Beanie Bubble on Apple TV+ and San Francisco Sounds: A Place In Time.

Path Points of Interest:

Running the Show


Jeff Melvoin on Instagram


Jeff Melvoin on Wikipedia


Jeff Melvoin on imdb


The Beanie Bubble


You're Wrong About... with Sarah Marshall and Jamie Loftus Beanie Babies Episode 


San Francisco Sounds: A Place In Time

The Gift of Self Expression & Parenting A Non-Verbal Human31 Aug 202300:51:59

On the Autism Spectrum, there are some people who are never able to speak more than a few words. The inability to verbally communicate indicates no lack of intelligence and it can be incredibly frustrating for those who have much to offer but whose thoughts and ideas are locked inside their own minds.


Among these shrouded geniuses is 19-year-old Jacob Rock, son of Wild Honey Foundation Founder and Director, Paul Rock. Jacob’s two lone spoken words are “yes,” and “eat,” but during the pandemic he was able to focus on his one finger iPad typing and his inner dialogue began to blossom into multi-syllable, complex thoughts, views and poetry. Jacob also typed that he was composing a symphony.


To manifest this vision, Paul solicited the help of Wild Honey Musical Director Rob Laufer. Rob and Jacob began collaborating, composing and mind-melding and the result is a 71 minute symphonic piece called Unforgettable Sunrise which will be performed on September 30th, 2023 with a full orchestra from the USC Thornton School of Music at The Alex Theater in Los Angeles.


Jacob’s piece is autobiographical and it chronicles his struggles with distress, discomfort, stomach pain, self harm, frustration and ultimately, peace, finding his voice and the joy of creation.


Paul and Rob join us to share their process in facilitating Jacob’s self-expression. Paul brings his fullest heart to a reading of Jacob’s poetry and together, our guests illuminate how we may all be able to learn the most from those who say the least. 


Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Golda (2023), in theaters and Silo on Apple TV+. And Weezy recaps the Adam Schiff fundraiser she hosted mid hurriquake!

Path Points of Interest:

Wild Honey Foundation on Facebook


Unforgettable Sunrise at the Alex Theater

Unforgettable Sunrise on Soundcloud


Music Connection Article

L.A. Beat Article

Paul Rock on Youtube

Paul Rock on Instagram

Rob Laufer


Rob Laufer on Instagram


Adam Schiff Event Photos


Adam Schiff's Conversation with Holocaust Survivors


Silo - Apple TV

Golda - In Theaters

The Sunshine Boy/A Mother's Courage Documentary

Courage, Compassion, Kindness & The Many Talents of Your Teen Crush featuring Robby Benson17 Aug 202301:10:36

Robby Benson is living proof that character is destiny, guided by his values, integrity, talent and curiosity, Robby has overcome much to achieve more. He is an actor, writer, producer, director, author, musician, photographer, professor, songwriter, novelist, activist and former teen idol! 


Robby’s early screen stardom was just scratching his creative surface and Robby’s immense devotion to his wife and family only deepen his appreciation of life and its gifts. 


Robby joins us to talk about his strong family bonds, his collaborations with his fiercely talented wife Karla DeVito, his extraordinary parents, including his Mom who is Fritz’s upstairs neighbor. We eagerly await that sit-com. 


For hardcore Robby Benson heartthrob film fans, we do get into Ode to Billy Joe, Ice Castles, Lucky Lady and One on One. 


Robby also offers a master class in heart health care, sharing his personal journey through four open heart surgeries to correct a congenital defect. In true Robby fashion, he carved his struggle into art, writing the book, “I’m Not Dead…Yet,” which he then adapted into the musical Open Heart.


Robby has directed over 100 episodes of network sitcoms and his first novel, “Who Stole the Funny,” is a fictionalized account of one disturbingly harrowing week he spent on the set of a “make-believe” show.


Robby also joins us for a spirited round of Media Path's favorite pretend game show, “IMDB Roulette” 


Robby is currently working on paying tribute to his late father and co-writer, Jerry Segal with a play which will feature their music. Additionally, it’s still top secret but Robby is starring in the second season of Sevarance.


Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending The Hollies: Look Through Any Window on FreeVee, Painkiller on Netflix and the Barbie movie.

Path Points of Interest:

Robby Benson

Robby Benson in Wikipedia

Robby Benson on IMDB

Modern Love (1990)


Robby Benson on YouTube


The More I Think About It All

BROKEN by Robby Benson with Karla DeVito

Books by Robby Benson


I'm Not Dead...Yet!


Who Stole The Funny


The Hollies: Look Through Any Window

Painkiller - Netflix

The Barbie Movie


Half a Century on the TV Set & Multi-Cultural Arts for L.A.’s Youth featuring Vernée Watson03 Aug 202301:07:40

A new documentary about actress Vernée Watson is very aptly titled: You Look Familiar, and she does. But only to anyone who’s watched TV in the past five decades! Vernée has been in so many important and iconic series over the years that a journey through her IMDB page requires a packed lunch. And remember to hydrate.


Vernee’s resume includes the boomer classics, Welcome Back Kotter, The Jeffersons and Good Times. In the 90’s she earned millennial cred in Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (She played Will's mom) and Sister, Sister.


Vernée joins us with showbiz stories that star Will Smith, John Travolta, Denzel Washington and beyond! Her Harlem childhood trained her to be prepared and professional and to do the work! Plus, Vernée stood her ground way pre-#MeToo and she has advice for women in any industry. 


Check out Vernée’s non-profit, Heartfelt Education through the Arts, where she and co-founder Eartha Robinson nurture young talent in a multicultural space. That talent includes Vernée’s son, Josh Johnson who became an Alvin Ailey dancer at the age of 15! 


Plus, we play IMDB Roulette to hear tasty morsels of showbiz magic from behind the scenes of shows like The West Wing, Big Bang Theory, and The Jeffersons!


Also, Weezy is recommending the book, Solito by Javier Zamora and her new reality TV passion, Claim to Fame while Fritz is obsessed with Oppenheimer.

Path Points of Interest:

You Look Familiar Documentary about Vernée Watson


Heartfelt Education through the Arts

The H.E.Art on Facebook


The H.E.Art on Instagram

Vernée  Watson on IMDB

Vernée Watson on Instagram

Solito by Javier Zamora


Claim to Fame on Hulu


Claim to Fame on ABC

Oppenheimer - In Theaters

The Beaver & His Fabulous Real-Life Mom13 Jul 202301:02:15

Jerry Mathers may be the most iconic performer in TV child-star history, shouldering the title role in Leave it to Beaver for six groundbreaking seasons. Jerry brought so much heart and relatable innocence to his performance that he has well earned his place in our hearts and in television history.


You can partially credit Ward and June for raising such a fine boy but his real-life Mom, Marilyn gets most of the credit and she joins us with Jerry to share the memories of how they managed to blend Jerry’s remarkable show-biz life with his close and grounded family of seven at home.


Together, we get into Leave it to Beaver Trivia, a Beaver vocabulary pop quiz, closing credit true facts, backstage secrets and favorite episodes. Also, what color were Beaver’s hat, June’s dresses and Walley’s letter sweater? We have answers!


Jerry also tells you how to become a proud owner of your own Beaver hats with his authentic embroidered signature, personalized autographed photos, baseballs, tee shirts and the new Beaver for President hats which will be available soon!


Plus, Fritz is recommending Only in Theaters about the Laemmle Theater family. And Weezy found path parallels about the pressures of high performing young people in The Break Point tennis series and Lewis Capaldi: How I'm Feeling Now, both on Netflix.

Path Points of Interest:

Beaver Merch Website

Jerry Mathers


Jerry Mathers on Youtube


Jerry Mathers on Facebook

Jerry Mathers on Twitter


Jerry Mathers on Instagram


Jerry Mathers on IMDB


Leave it to Beaver on IMDB


Where to Watch Leave it to Beaver

Roku

Peacock


MeTV


Amazon

Rose Hills Industrial Film with Hugh Beaumont and Jerry Mathers


Leave it To Beaver Group on Facebook

Only In Theatres


Lewis Capaldi: How I'm Feeling Now


Break Point

Johnny Carson's Legacy & The Power Of His Tonight Show30 Oct 202501:15:49

We’re pulling back The Tonight Show curtain, not only to reveal Johnny Carson, but to explore the lore and the legend that were Johnny’s Tonight Show reign.


Joining us are Love Johnny Carson author and The Carson Podcast host, Mark Malkoff, along with Carson Tonight Show guest and Leno Tonight Show writer, Jimmy Brogan.


Mark’s new Carson book offers a decade-by-decade deep look at the King of Late Night. Through his multitude of podcast interviews with Carson insiders, Mark peels away the stony myth to reveal that the real Johnny was more like the brilliantly charming, funny man you saw on TV and less like the icy, ramrod figure,  of legend, stealing himself from social intimacy. In actual fact, in order to get from points A to B, Johnny had to hold his gaze on the horizon and keep moving or he would attract a crowd. 


Mark and Jimmy share what made Johnny so important to them and to comedy itself. Jimmy recalls turning down his initial invitation to guest on the show because although his crowd work was extraordinary, you can’t do that with a studio audience and he knew he wasn’t ready.


Fritz, a standup comedian who became an NBC weatherman worked upstairs from The Tonight Show. He was groomed by talent coordinator Jim McCawley to appear on Carson and then easily fill in when a guest fell out.


Mark’s deep research reveals a Johnny few have seen: the private man behind the poise. We learn about his secret yearning to be a singer. (he took three weeks of lessons to duet with Julio Iglesias as Willie Nelson ), his need for strong boundaries with fans, and his quiet interest in humanism and social justice. 


Mark also debunks myths about famous feuds with Wayne Newton and Joan Rivers, while Jimmy shares his own Joan Rivers talk show audition story and memories of the bumpy Carson into Leno transition.


From Kermit the Frog guest-hosting The Tonight Show to Johnny’s competitive streak, sensitivity and complex charm, this episode dives into the brilliance, insecurity, and humanity of a television legend. 


Plus, Mark tells us about his own outrageous social experiments, including overcoming his fear of flying by living on an airplane for 30 days, visiting every Starbucks in Manhattan in one day and collecting keys to cities from Mayors across America!


In current media --


Weezy:  Netflix Documentary, The Perfect Neighbor


Fritz: Apple TV+ documentary, Stiller and Meara: Nothing Is Lost

Path Points of Interest

Love Johnny Carson: One Obsessive Fan's Journey To Find The Genius Behind The Legend by Mark Malkoff


Mark Malkoff


Mark Malkoff on Wikipedia


The Carson Podcast


Mark Malkoff on Instagram


Jimmy Brogan


Jimmy Brogan on Wikipedia


Jimmy Brogan on Instagram


Jimmy Brogan on Mark's Podcast


The Perfect Neighbor


Stiller and Meara: Nothing Is Lost

How Chicago Blues Legends Influenced the Next Generation29 Jun 202301:12:53

The nightclub scene was magical in Chicago’s South and West sides in the late 1950s and during that time, white kids from the suburbs were finding The Blues at the end of their radio dials, buying the records, studying the music and traveling down to the clubs to meet and play with their idols!


That story is told in the new Bob Sarles film, Born in Chicago. We are joined by musician/bandleader Jimmy Vivino and Blues legend Barry Goldberg who, along with Mike Bloomfield and Paul Butterfield, learned his craft at the feet of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, B.B. King and Buddy Guy. 


Barry and Jimmy created the film’s soundtrack and they are steeped in the history of Chicago Blues and loaded with stories and wisdom about class, race, inter-generational guidance and the joy of sharing and celebrating an art form that contains the power to transform us for the better.


Barry and Jimmy give us a full account of the evolution of blues and blues rock from the '50s through today. Barry tells us about sitting in with Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf as a teenager and his frenemy relationship with the British invasion acts like The Stones and Eric Clapton who also idolized the Blues greats. He talks about playing in one of our nation’s first racially integrated bands, Electric Flag and his experience on stage with Dylan when he “went electric” at the Newport Folk Festival.


Jimmy and Barry describe composing the documentary's soundtrack & more and the blues standards that informed their musical choices.


Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Shiny Happy People: Dugger Family Secrets on Prime and Fair Play on Hulu and Prime.

Path Points of Interest:

Born in Chicago

Born in Chicago - IMDB


Q&A with Directors in Chicago Reader


Born in Chicago on Facebook

Jimmy Vivino


Jimmy Vivino on Wikipedia

Jimmy Vivino on Instagram

Jimmy Vivino on Facebook

Barry Goldberg

Barry Goldberg on Wikipedia


Barry Goldberg on imdb


Shiny Happy People: Dugger Family Secrets

Fair Play - Prime/Hulu

Writing TV Classics, MLB Play by Play & Growing Up in the 60s22 Jun 202301:15:56

Ken Levine’s captivating career is a buffet of boyhood wish fulfillment. Ken became a disc jockey, a sitcom writer, a Major League Baseball announcer, a cartoonist, an author and a playwright. He’s not done. New adventures include podcasting and standup comedy.


Ken’s book, The Me Generation by Me: Growing Up in the Sixties chronicles his journey through a Southern California childhood with adventures that include friendships with child stars, radio nerd penpals, appearances on The Dating Game, and a crush on Laura Petrie that inspired him to believe that comedy writing was the route to landing a hot wife. (Mission accomplished.) 


By age 19, Ken was a UCLA sophomore, interning at KMPC when Gary Owens sent his writing samples to George Schlatter who offered him a job on Laugh In! But Ken had to turn it down. Leaving college would have invited an immediate draft notice. 


Ultimately, ROTC and the National Guard prepared Ken and his partner David Isaacs to write a MASH spec script which led to jobs at The Jeffersons, The Tony Randall Show, MASH, Cheers, Frasier, The Simpsons and beyond.


Ken shares with us his stories about all of these legendary shows, plus his foray into the world of MLB announcing, his cartooning, and his current podcast, Hollywood and Levine. 


And Ken comes to us straight from the WGA picket line so he is here to explain the standoff and help us all stand up for writers’ rights and the future of writing.


And Fritz and Weezy are recommending the filmReality, about Reality Winner on HBO Max and Jury Duty on Freevee.

Path Points of Interest:

The Me Generation by Me: Growing Up in the 60s Ken Levine


Hollywood and Levine Podcast

Ken Levine Blog

Ken Levin Author Page on Amazon


Ken Levine on Facebook


Ken Levine on Instagram


Reality on Max


Jury Duty on Freevee

Iconoclastic Comedy & The Epic Story of the First American Road Trip15 Jun 202301:16:07

We are witnessing exponentially rapid changes in technological advancement which  recall the dawn of the industrial age when newly harnessed electricity first lit up our houses and the assembly line sent Model Ts motoring down your street and out into the countryside to points heretofore unseen.


During this period, the two men most responsible for these wonders drove off together with our nation’s foremost naturalist to seek adventure and wrestle with the practical and theoretical challenges faced when agrarian societies broke way to usher in the marvels of innovation.


The road trips were winding and intricate and they wove through New York State, New England, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee and points beyond. And when Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and John Burroughs rolled into your town in 1918 it must have felt like you were suddenly in the presence of The Beatles and Thor God of Thunder.


These extensive camping treks were among the first American road trips, during a time when diners, motels and roadside assistance were not yet in existance. Good thing 

Tom and Henry were so handy with a wrench and a cylinder head.


These epic trips are chronicled in Wes Davis’s new book, American Journey: On The Road With Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and John Burroughs.


Wes tells us how Ford began his career working for Edison’s company, why Ford sent John Burroughs a free car and how the threesome first decided to take their conversations on the road. He also describes how their travel, conversations and friendship informed and influenced each of their world views and trajectories.


We talk about their obsession with studying plant life, appreciating the power of moving water and stopping at abandoned mills to better understand how to find the tools and ingredients of invention within our natural world. 


We also address the gordian knot of Ford’s altruism and antisemitism. Did his hateful published words encourage the fascism which led to the Holocaust? Wes says that the dark side of Ford’s personality almost pulled him away from the project but that he approached the problem from Burroughs’ point of view which was to push back and study the complexities of human nature.


Plus, comedian Dylan Brody joins us to talk about his unique brand of smart, delibertate  comedy, how story-telling can lead to social change and his new solo show opening at The Hollywood Improv Lab, 'Thinking Allowed', over a decade in the making.

Path Points of Interest:

Wes Davis


American Journey: On The Road With Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and John Burroughs by Wes Davis

Wes Davis on Amazon

Dylan Brody


Thinking Allowed at The Lab on 6/20


Dylan Brody on IMDB


Dylan Brody on YouTube


Dylan Brody on Twitter


Dylan Brody Linktree

Little House Confessions & Turning Adversity Into Advocacy08 Jun 202301:06:30

An iconic TV character is immortal. That truth has become increasingly official in today’s digital age where every episode is but a click away. And as Alison Arngrim has well learned, if you played the villain, folks are still pissed. Alison’s portrayal of frontier hellion Nellie Oleson struck such a resonate chord with fans that Alison has learned to embrace the Nellie energy and use it for good. Her book is called, Confessions of a Prairie Bitch: How I survived Nellie Oleson and Learned to Love Being Hated.


Raised in a bohemian show-biz family, Alison has been acting since early childhood. Her role as Nellie allowed her to vent the anger she carried due to suffering repeated sexual abuse at the hands of her brother. The power of Nellie gave her a voice to testify before the California State Senate and help create new law that criminalizes incest.


Nellie also provided Alison with a platform to advocate for AIDS research, education and outreach when her TV husband and beloved friend Steve Tracy died of the disease. Her traumatic childhood caught up with her after the wonderful distraction of Little House was over and with a compass that points to “Happy,” she walked into a therapist’s office at the age of 21 and said, “Here’s what happened to me. Let’s get to work.”


Alison shares loads of backstage Little House stories and talks about her relationships, then and now, with her cast mates and she is definitely up for a round of LHOP Trivia!


Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending the Barack Obama series, Working: What We Do All Day, on Netflix and Shrinking on Apple +, and we shout out the new album on Band Camp from Media Path friend, Melanie, The Magic Bus.

Path Points of Interest:

Alison Arngrim


Confessions of a Prairie Bitch by Alison Arngrim


Alison Arngrim on Wikipedia


Alison Arngrim on Twitter


Alison Arngrim on Instagram


Alison Arngrim on Facebook


Livin' on a Prairie


Shrinking - Apple +

Working: What We Do All Day on Netflix


The Magic Bus by Melanie

Music That Transcends Time & The Legacy of Connie Converse 01 Jun 202301:01:27

In the 1950's, an extraordinary young woman lived, worked and performed her original music in New York City. Frustrated by a lack of commercial success, she left Manhattan and in 1974, disappeared entirely, never to be heard from again. In the 2000's, her astounding music was re-discovered and her legacy re-written. 


The story of Elizabeth Eaton Converse, known professionally as Connie Converse, is so bewitchingly intriguing that musician and writer Howard Fishman devoted 13 years of his life researching and chronicling it. The product of this nearly decade-and-a-half labor of love is his new book: To Anyone Who Ever Asks: The Life, Music, and Mystery of Connie Converse.


Howard joins us to highlight the deep genius of Connie Converse… possibly our first recorded singer/songwriter and additionally, an artist, poet, writer, classical composer, scholar and activist.


What were the factors that inspired her brilliance and muffled her notoriety within her own time?  Howard poured through Connie’s creations, files, journals, and letters. He spoke to those who knew her best and he carefully studied, analyzed and theorized about Connie’s work, her vision and her trajectory.


Upon first hearing Connie’s voice, Howard found her to be both unique and familiar. He needed to learn more.


Howard’s research brought him to small New England towns, suburban Michigan, Greenwich Village, Prague and beyond to better understand Connie’s path and to piece together the enigmatic life and ultimate mysterious fate of a woman who was so far ahead of her time, we are only now coming to hear and understand her.


Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Air on Prime and Comedy Central’s Drunk History on Hulu, Prime and many streaming platforms. 

Path Points of Interest:

To Anyone Who Ever Asks by Howard Fishman


Howard Fishman


Howard Fishman on Facebook


Howard Fishman on Twitter


Connie Converse on Wikipedia


Connie Converse Spotify Playlist


Connie Converse Article in Rolling Stone by Howard Fishman


Connie Converse article in New York Times by Howard Fishman


Drunk History

Air - Prime

Lasting Legacy TV & Tips for an Authentic, Creative Life18 May 202300:57:31

Daphne Maxwell Reid is a trailblazing pioneer with many media firsts to her credit. She was the first black woman on the cover of Glamor Magazine. She and her husband Tim Reid owned the first full service movie studio in Virginia and she is probably best known for her role as Aunt Viv 2.0, alongside Will Smith, the first hip hop artist to star in a sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. 


Ms. Maxwell Reid joins us to talk about her magical childhood in New York City, her full page photo modeling debut in Seventeen Magazine that landed her a Ford modeling contract and her move to Hollywood where Robert Conrad cast her in The Duke and A Man Called Sloan. She turned down the role of Aunt Viv when it was first offered to her and finally took it three years later when the part was being recast.


Daphne Maxwell Reid is a photographer, a fashion designer, an HBCU education advocate and she has recently appeared in Harriet, A Jazzman’s Blues and the modern, dramedy reboot of The Fresh Prince on Peacock called Bel Air.


We’ve also got The Fresh Prince of Bel Air Trivia and priceless life advice about the importance of finding your tribe and being ready when opportunity shines.


Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending The Diplomat on Netflix, Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed on Peacock and Menudo: Forever Young on HBO.

Path Points of Interest:

Daphne Maxwell Reid


Daphne Maxwell Reid on Wikipedia

Daphne Maxwell Reid on Instagram

Daphne Maxwell Reid in Soul Vision


Harriet


A Jazzman's Blues


Bel Air


The Diplomat on Netflix

Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed on Peacock

Menudo: Forever Young on HBO

How TV Shapes Culture & Why We Needed The Waltons11 May 202301:16:45

We are exploring the infinite feedback loop between television and society with pop culture historian/author Herbie J Pilato and Eric Scott, who played Ben on The Waltons. Herbie’s newest book is called Retro Active Television: An In-Depth Perspective on Classic TV’s Social Circuitry which includes a forward written by Eric!


We hear about Eric's childhood adventures with his fellow Walton kids on the studio lot, how his relationship with his own parents ensured that his experience as a child actor was a positive one and why our social atmosphere in the 70s was open to positively receiving a warm and cozy show about a family weathering the Great Depression of 1930s. 


Herbie then gives us his extensively researched and passion-fueled perspective on the life-affirming TV shows of the past as he encourages us to avoid today’s darker content while embracing and revisitng the charm and magic of Golden Era TV which is so readily available to us now, across many platforms.


We talk about Kung Fu, TV Westerns, sit-coms then and now, the dawn of the miniseries event, After School Specials (some of which featured Eric!) and TV as an educational and inspiring resource. We address the urban/rural divide, the changing late night landscape, and Eric takes on a round of Waltons trivia!


Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Little Richard: I am Everything on Apple and Amazon Prime and Judy Blume’s Are You There, God? It's Me Margaret, now in theaters.

Path Points of Interest:

Herbie J Pilato


Retro Active Television


Herbie's Amazon Author Page


Eric Scott on IMDB


Eric Scott on Wikipedia


Eric Scott on Facebook


Herbie + Eric Book Signings

At Barnes & Noble in Burbank on May 11:

And Book Soup in Los Angeles on June 12:

Little Richard: I am Everything on Apple and Amazon Prime

Are You There, God? It's Me Margaret - Film

Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret - Book by Judy Blume

Judy Blume Forever Documentary on Prime

Roy Rogers & Dale Evans: A Granddaughter's Love04 May 202301:03:04

They were the King and Queen of TV westerns but this week’s guest called them, Grandma and Grandpa.

Julie Rogers Pomilia’s father Tom was Dale Evans’ son. Roy and Dale were warm and attentive grandparents and Julie had the run of the Double R Bar Ranch as her backyard.


In her book, Your Heroes, My Grandparents: A Granddaughter's Love, Julie details cherished memories spent with Roy, Dale, a gaggle of sisters and cousins and Trigger. Her idilic, special scrapbook moments are filled with birthdays, Christmases and recitals and they are seasoned with Hollywood events, backstage explorations, movie sets and TV appearances. Then there’s the time her second grade teacher asked her if she could identify the cowboy on the cover of her Weekly Reader. Julie said, “That’s my grandpa,” and went home to ask her mom why Grandpa is famous.


Julie grew up singing with her sisters and parents, sometimes backing up her grandparents at shows, parades and rodeos. Iconic show biz figures were in and out of the ranch but mostly, Grandpa hung with Clark Gable because they shared hobbies and Nudie Cohn because he designed Grandma and Grandpa’s cosutmes.


Julie shares her most precious memories of riding on the back of Grandpa’s motorcycle and gunning it back and forth across an empty air strip, pheasant hunting… not because she likes it but because she loved making memories with Grandpa, traveling to Scotland with Grandma who made every adventure an event and the true story of Dale Evans’ heartbreaking journey towards stardom which required her to keep her son Tom a secret.


Also, whatever did happen to Trigger? Is he stuffed or mounted and/or living forever in our hearts? How did Roy and Dale jump start the merchandising industry? And so much more.


 Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Under the Banner of Heaven on Hulu and Great Expectations… pick an adaptation and read the Dickens classic.


And, Fritz’s newest special, Unassisted Living is streaming now on Tubi!

Path Points of Interest:

Your Heroes, My Grandparents: A Granddaughter's Love

The Roy Rogers Show on Tubi


Unassisted Living Starring Fritz Coleman


Under The Banner of Heaven

Great Expectations - 2023

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (It's Free!)

Documentary Film & Personal Storytelling27 Apr 202301:08:35

We are serving up a film fan's dream discussion, as we plunge deep into the techniques, processes, challenges and craft of documentary filmmaking with two talented creators, Brandon Ogborn and Reed Harkness. Both are captivating storytellers whose productions are based on personal experiences and relationships, exploring the themes of family, community, ethics and society’s expectations.


Brandon's film, 'Damn, Dana' is a character study as well as a snapshot of an unprecedented time in our recent past, focusing on restaurateur Dana Tanner, whose refusal to close the doors of her Long Beach eatery during COVID-19 lockdowns sparked national interest and turned her into the poster child for one the pandemic's most controversial issues, the effect of government mandates on the service industry. 


Reed's feature 'Sam Now' is an examination of how individual family members processed the disappearance of his step-mother. Reed facilitated and filmed his brother Sam’s journey to find his mom which led to Sam ultimately finding himself. 25 years in the making, Reed’s brother bonding project inspired his entire family to better understand their own emotions and unique connections.


Brandon and Reed discuss the catalysts for each of their documentaries, the roles played by  family and friends, their storytelling approaches and directing styles, their subjects’ receptions of their films and what they learned from their respective themes… boys and men grappling with difficult emotions and how we all responded to the frightening early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.


Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Waco: The Aftermath on Showtime, the podcast series, Long Shadow and American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing on Netflix.

Path Points of Interest:

Sam Now


Sam Now On Instagram


Sam Now on Twitter


Sam Now on Facebook


Sam Now on PBS


Damn, Dana on Youtube


Damn, Dana on Film Freeway


Brandon Ogborn on Instagram


Waco: The Aftermath on Showtime


The Long Shadow Podcast


American Manhunt - The Boston Marathon Bombing - Netflix

Telephone Stories: The Trials of Michael Jackson

Stand-Up Comedy Lore & The Golden Age of Entertainment20 Apr 202301:19:14

Strap in for the show biz chat sesh of a lifetime: Legendary comedian Tom Dreesen and 80s TV icon Larry Manetti join us for story after story about Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. Smokey Robinson, Tom Selleck, Robert Wagner, Mike Connors, Robert Conrad, David Letterman, Johnny Carson and more!


As epic as the stories are the story-tellers. Tom Dreesen’s mind-blowing C.V. traces his career path from shoe shine boy in Harvey, Illinois to sharing a jet and a stage with Frank Sinatra. Along the way he pioneered the first integrated comedy team, Tim and Tom with Tim Reid, graced the tonight show stage 60 times, frequently guested and guest hosted for and with David Letterman and toured with Smokey Robinson and Sammy Davis Jr. 


Tom spent 15 years on the road with Sinatra, forming a friendship that informed and nourished both of them. 


Tom offers insights into forging a career in comedy, he shares revelations about his Chicago childhood and Tom and Fritz swap Tonight show baptismal stories. 


Larry Manetti tells us that he was discoverd in the Universal commissary and cast soon thereafter in Baa Baa Black Sheep thanks to the fervent support of Robert Conrad. Larry fills us in on his What’s Cooking With Larry Manetti pilot which featured the handsomest guest cast in cooking show history: Tom Selleck, Robert Wagner and Mike Connors! And Larry ’s lifelong friendship with Tom Selleck welcomes a new chapter this week as they star together in an upcoming episode of Blue Bloods.


Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Any Given Tuesday by Lis Smith and The Pale Blue Eye novel by Louis Bayard which has become a Netflix film starring Christian Bale and Harry Melling. 

Path Points of Interest:

Tom Dreesen

Still Standing by Tom Dreesen


Tom Dreesen on Wikipedia


Tom Dreesen on Twitter


Tom Dreesen on Instagram


Larry Minetti on IMDB


Larry Minetti on Wikipedia


Article about Larry's upcoming Blue Bloods episode/Magnum reunion

What's Cookin' With Larry Manetti & Tom Selleck


Aloha Magnum by Larry Manetti


Any Given Tuesday by Lis Smith

The Pale Blue Eye by Louis Bayard


Article on The Pale Blue Eye on Tudum


The Pale Blue Eye on Netflix

Redefining Women In Comedy & Staying Up All Night Again with Rhonda Shear23 Oct 202501:00:56

We welcome Rhonda Shear, an intrepid entrepreneurial trailblazing woman in the fields of comedy, 90s late night TV, and online intimate apparel sales.  Rhonda has so much to tell us!


Her iconic USA weekend movie show, Up All Night is coming to Youtube! Her cheeky, late-night, movie marathon antics pulled in big ad dollars and turned B-movies into must-see-TV. 


But, before finding her voice, Rhonda’s early days in Hollywood were fun but bumpy as she fought to prove that a gorgeous and sexy woman could also be smart and funny. Rhonda’s bold approach was to tear down doors, almost literally. She and her improv partner crashed soundstages to break into their act on the sets of Steve Allen, Merv Griffin and The Smothers Brothers!


Rhonda’s adventurous path ultimately brought her back to her junior high school sweetheart, Van Fagan who is now her husband and business partner. Together, they have forged an empire that includes lingerie, loungewear and the celebrated “Ahh Bra. “


And like any lingerie mogul who began her career in comedy, Rhonda is thrilled to be returning to her roots with an Up All Night reboot. It’s a collaboration with the Kings of Horror Youtube Channel, combining her production know-how and facilities with their massive 14,000-title B-movie library. The first installment drops on October 25th.


Rhonda reflects on a life lived boldly, the lessons she’s learned, and why she proudly calls herself an “accidental feminist.” 


Plus, IMDB Roulette takes us through Rhonda's bombshell guest spots and a we play a round of Do You Know More Than Google? People Also Ask What? About Rhonda Shear and does she have the answers?


In current media recommendations --


Weezy: The series Boots on Netflix, based on The Pink Marine by Greg Cope White

Fritz: The John Candy Documentary on Prime, I Like Me


Path Points of Interest:

Rhonda Shear


Rhonda Shear - Wikipedia

Rhonda Shear - Instagram

Rhonda Shear - Facebook


Rhonda Shear - Youtube

Kings of Horror - YouTube


Up All Night: From Hollywood Bombshell To Lingerie Mogul, Life Lessons From An Accidental Feminist by Rhonda Shear

John Candy: I Like Me - Documentary on Prime

Boots - Netflix


The Pink Marine by Greg Cope White


Jazz Rock Fusion & The American Band That Toured The Soviet Bloc13 Apr 202301:23:06

Jazz/Rock Fusion greats Blood, Sweat & Tears were on top of their game in 1970, winning grammies, headlining Woodstock and racking up hit after hit with Spinning Wheel, And When I Die, and You’ve Made Me So Very Happy. And then they ventured behind the Iron Curtain.


It was not their idea. Nixon was President. The Viet Nam War raged on and BS & T were blackmailed into acting as emissaries on behalf of the U.S. State Department, touring the Soviet Bloc countries of Yugoslavia, Romania and Poland.


This precarious adventure and the ensuing stateside fallout are chronicled in the new doc, What The Hell Happened To Blood, Sweat and Tears? 


Director John Scheinfeld and BS&T Drummer Bobby Colomby join us to discuss this remarkable film, the newly unearthed tour footage, The State Departments’ and the Soviet Bloc countries’ respective agendas, and how America’s response in 1970 reflects a nation as fractured and polarized as the one we see today. 


Plus, we learn about the jazz and soul origins of BS&T, Bobby’s foggy Woodstock memories, John’s story-telling principles and how the making of this documentary allowed Bobby, at long last, to recognize his own skill as a drummer!


All that and Fritz and Weezy are recommending Sin Eater: The Crimes of Anthony Pellicano on Hulu & HBO’s doc series, The Anarchists.

Path Points of Interest:

What The Hell Happened To Blood Sweat and Tears


Director John Scheinfeld 


John Scheinfeld on Instagram


Bobby Colomby 


Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon

L.A. Times Article on the Film


Rolling Stone Article on the Film


New York Times Article on the Film


Sin Eater: The Crimes of Anthony Pellicano


The Anarchists 

Woodstock Memories & Iconic Songwriting featuring Melanie Safka30 Mar 202301:16:07

At the dawn of the singer/songwriter era, there was a time when the genre was dominated by men. Then, along came Melanie. With but one minor hit charting at one radio station, she took the stage at Woodstock. Just Melanie. Her guitar and 500,000 peace loving new friends, holding candles in the rain. The experience inspired Melanie’s anthem, Lay Down, landing her new album in the collection of every aspiring hippy girl the world over.


The hits kept coming. Ruby Tuesday, What Have They Done To My Song, Ma? And Brand New Key. Melanie was everywhere. Writing, touring and creating a soundtrack that inspired young girls to grow into women who went after their dreams.


Melanie Safka has raised a family but she’s never stopped making music. Her story-telling is as epic as her songs. She shares how she defied her parents’ debutant dreams for her and followed her passions, how she quite accidentally met her producer/manager/husband, Peter Schekeryk, her out of body Woodstock experience, featuring a pot of tea sent over by Joan Baez, her spiritual collaboration with The Edwin Hawkins Singers,  how fasting, hallucinating and McDonald’s inspired the roller skate song, Brand New Key and her recent backyard duet with super fan, Miley Cyrus.


Plus Fritz and Weezy recommend I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy and A Spy Among Friends.

Path Points of Interest:

A Spy Among Friends - Amazon


I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy


iCarly on Netflix


iCarly on Nickelodeon


Melanie Safka


Melanie on Youtube


Melanie on Wikipedia


Lay Down (Candles in the Rain) with the Edwin Hawkins singers


Melanie on Patreon


Melanie on Facebook


Melanie on Twitter


Melanie with Miley Cyrus


Surprise Duet with Todd Rundgren at Darryl's House


Melanie's son Beau Jarred Schekeryk 


Melanie's daughter Leilah Hayman

 

Melanie's daughter Jeordie Schekeryk


Upcoming Signing at Chiller Theatre in Parsippany, NJ


A Journey of Gay Love Through Hidden Vintage Photos16 Mar 202300:53:01

Filmmaker David Millbern’s award winning and Emmy-nominated documentary TV Special called 100 Years of Men in Love: The Accidental Collection tells 100 love stories that were almost lost forever to history. 


Based on a collection of vintage photos found at antique stores and flea markets, dating from 1850 into the 1950s and curated by Hugh Nini and Neal Treadwell in their book, Loving: A Photographic History of Men in Love, this moving and masterful documentary shines a light on the joy, romance and tenderness shared between male couples, in a time when their love was forbidden. 


David joins us to talk about how the collection, and the film, came together, the possible origins of the photos and stories of their subjects, what they tell us about the century and the particular generations they represent, how audiences have been receiving the film and what he most hopes the viewer will take away from watching it. Plus David shares insight into his additional LGBTQ-themed work at Here TV.


We open as always with recommendations, Weezy's is Shrinking on Apple TV+ and Fritz's is the PBS Frontline documentary Country Boys now streaming on Prime.

Path Points of Interest:

David Millbern

100 Years of Men in Love on Roku


100 Years of Men in Love on Here TV through Prime

100 Years of Men in Love Trailer


Loving: A Photographic History of Men in Love 1850s-1950s by Hugh Nini & Neal Treadwell

Here TV

Shrinking - Apple TV

Country Boys - Amazon Prime

Adam Schiff and Dee Wallace - Defending Democracy & Promoting Healing09 Mar 202301:04:17

Adam Schiff is a public servant who is devoted to his country, his duty and his local, podcasting constituents such as Fritz Coleman. Congressman Schiff carved out some time in his democracy saving day to speak with us about his bipartisan childhood, grabbing Fox “News” by the green, his Senate run and the threat he appears to be posing to Tucker Carlson.


Then, Dee Wallace has much to share. She’s got many projects about to land, including the new version of Fatal Attraction from Lizzy Caplan. Dee enlightens us on the healing energy of horror movies, her travels with “her boys,” Henry Thomas, Robert McNaughton and Danny Pintauro, celebrating important E.T. and Cujo anniversaries and her canine connection with Adam Schiff. They both co-star with their dogs in the photo book, In Good Company.  Dee also continues to shine her bright light, as she writes, teaches, lectures and coaches her life affirming and goal attaining principals.


Plus Fritz and Weezy are recommending Aftersun and Daisy Jones & The Six.

Path Points of Interest:

Adam Schiff


Midnight in Washington by Adam Schiff


Dee Wallace


Dee Wallace on Twitter


Fatal Attraction


Dee Wallace Books

In Good Company: Notable People With Their Pets by Johanna Siegmann


Aftersun


Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid


Daisy Jones and The Six - Prime Series

Finding Your Way Through a Funk & Show Biz Parenthood featuring Mindy Sterling & Janeane Bernstein03 Mar 202301:18:00

If you’ve wandered around Los Angeles and you swear you’ve spotted Frau Farbissina from Austin Powers or Miss Francine Briggs from iCarly or Linda Schwartz from The Goldbergs then you may have experienced a genuine Mindy Sterling encounter!


Mindy’s IMDB is vast and deep and it includes The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, A.N.T. Farm, Desperate Housewives, Captain Underpants, 2 Broke Girls and That’s So Raven. Many millennials have accidentally called her Mom.


Mindy shares her experiences growing up as a showbiz baby with a comedian dad and a showgirl mom, how she made her mark on the industry and how she then poured herself into raising a son on the Autism spectrum.


Mindy is Groundlings royalty and she elaborates on the history, discipline and legacy of improv comedy. Plus, she has worked extensively in children’s TV, including alongside Jennette McCurdy from iCarly whose best selling book, I’m Glad My Mom Died is a cautionary tale on the dangers of mixing kids with show business. Mindy shares her experiences working with Jennette and her fellow child actors.


All this plus anticipation on the Austin Powers front. Will there be another sequel…? Mindy has clues.


We're also joined by Journalist/Mental Health Advocate/Author Janeane Bernstein, EDd. Her books 'GET THE FUNK OUT! $%^& Happens, What to Do Next!' and the upcoming 'Better Humans: What The Mental Health Pandemic Teaches Us About Humanity' are changing the ways in which we look at mental and emotional health.


Janeane joins us to talk about the inspiration behind her talk show and books which explore how setbacks can become successes and how we can all better handle the inevitable challenges we face in life. All this plus we are recommending Hollywood on Netflix and Fire of Love on Hulu and Disney.

Path Points of Interest:

Mindy Sterling - Groundlings Alumni Page

Groundlings COOKIN' WITH GAS 30th ANNIVERSARY


Mindy Sterling on IMDB


Mindy Sterling on Wikipedia


Janeane Bernstein 


Get The Funk Out! $%^& Happens, What to Do Next!


Better Humans: What The Mental Health Pandemic Teaches Us About Humanity


Get The Funk Out on KUCI


Outside The Box: Mental Health Initiative 


Hollywood series on Netflix


Full Service: My Adventures In Hollywood And The Secret Sex Lives Of The Stars by Scotty Bowers


Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood on Hulu 


Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood on Prime

Fire of Love on Hulu 


Fire of Love on Disney

Fire of Love on Prime

The Legacy of 'The Waltons' & A Lifetime of Fascinating Families featuring Michael Learned23 Feb 202300:59:51

Michael Learned is remarkable in her entirety. Growing up in Vienna, Austria, she despised her masculine name, developed nervous shakes and discovered that her “diplomat” father was a CIA spy. Her mother swore her to secrecy and sent her to a British boarding school where she developed a love and talent for acting.


Theater work led to an invitation to audition for a part as the mom to a brood of depression era children in a show that was not given much hope of lasting beyond half a season. She drove down from San Francisco and landed the iconic role of Olivia Walton which earned her three Emmys. The Waltons premiered in 1972 and quickly became a piece of our American cultural fabric.


And in an impressive demonstration of range, Michael recently won much acclaim for her portrayal of Jeffrey Dahmer’s grandmother in the Netflix original series, Monster. 


With much to discuss, Michael joins us to talk about juggling her real-life kids with her TV family, she takes on a round of Waltons Trivia, shares her favorite Waltons episode, and divulges her authentic love for TV husband, Ralph Waite.


We also welcome Charity Buzz winner Susie Mains who talks about her experiences as a child actor talent rep. 


In recommendations: Weezy's pick is Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano, now an Apple+ series and Fritz suggests the Hulu doc series, Stolen Youth.

Path Points of Interest:

Michael Learned on Wikipedia


Michael Learned on IMDB


Michael Learned on Facebook


The Waltons


The Waltons on Prime


Monster Netflix Series


Dear Edward novel by Ann Napolitano


Dear Edward Series on Apple +


Dear Edward Trailer


Stolen Youth - Hulu

The Sitcom Set, The Broadway Stage & Taking it On The Road featuring Richard Kline16 Feb 202301:03:34

DO pay some attention to the man behind the curtain - in Wicked, he’s played by Richard Kline and he’s brimming with  hilarious anecdotes and intriguing stories, spanning six show biz decades, and going strong!


Richard Kline played Jack Tripper’s pal, Larry Dallas in Three’s Company. And he’s the only cast member besides John Ritter to appear on the show and both of its spin-offs. Richie fills us in on the backstage skinny, the controversies, the antics, the friendships, the female co-stars’ struggles, the roughhousing with Ritter, the trip to Vegas with Don Knots and he tops it off with a spot on Norman Fell impression.


Richie goes on to talk about his first love, theater, including his Broadway moments with Wicked and Waitress, his life on the road in touring companies and his acting workshops.


Richard Kline is Media Path family, having directed the Fritz Coleman one-man shows that Weezy produced, It’s Me, Dad and The Reception so fair warning: reminiscing does ensue.


We round things out with some Three’s Company Trivia and a discussion on the disturbing nature of this year’s Oscar frontrunners!


Plus, Fritz recommends Women Talking (2022) in theaters and Weezy's pick is Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over, the documentary currently streaming on HBO Max and Amazon Prime.

Path Points of Interest:

Richard Kline on Wikipedia


Richard Kline on IMDB


Richard Kline - Acting Workshops


Women Talking

Don't Make Me Over on Prime

Don't Make Me Over on HBO


Shelter Partnership


Broadway Rising


Broadway HD


Classic Comedy Chronicles & Portraying America's Dads featuring Paul Dooley09 Feb 202301:09:08

Iconic comedic character actor Paul Dooley carved out a role as Hollywood’s go-to movie Dad while his own children were missing. Paul played dad to Julia Roberts, Mia Farrow, Toni Collette, Dennis Christopher in Breaking Away and Molly Ringwald in Sixteen Candles, all as his ex-wife was on the run with his kids.


The pandemic pause compelled Paul to chronicle his story in the new book, Movie Dad: Finding Myself and My Family, On Screen and Off. Paul joins us to share his casting secrets, his encyclopedic joke memory, his improv inspirations, his clowning history and his journey from small town West Virginia, to Greenwich Village to Broadway, to Hollywood and a proud place in movie dad history.


Paul has stories about Mike Nichols, Neil Simon, Carol Burnett, Don Knotts, Alan Alda, Lin Manuel Miranda and so many more. Was Walter Matthau a scene hog? Turns out, yes!


Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Poker Face on Peacock and The Bear on Hulu.

A "Hollywood" Self Discovery Story & How The 60s Shaped Wall Street02 Feb 202301:16:12

Warning: Listening may result in an overwhelming compulsion to read! First, Diane Bay finally received her birth mom’s name from the state of Illinois. She nervously typed it into Google… Her birth mom is New Hollywood darling and cult movie queen, Karen Black, who starred in Easy Rider, The Graduate, Five Easy Pieces and so much more!


Diane’s journey to self discovery pulls her from elation to despair when she learns that her mom is dying. Their heart wrenching year together is chronicled beautifully in Diane’s book, Finding Karen Black. Joining us for the episode is Karen’s best friend, actor Lee Purcell who is uniquely positioned to provide us with Karen’s emotionally wrenching perspective.


Then we welcome finance insider Richard E. Farley who is winning our favorite book title of the year award with: Gonzo Wall Street: Riots, Radicals, Racism and Revolution - How the Go-Go Bankers of the 1960s Crashed the Financial System and Bamboozled Washington. Richard takes a long look at Wall Street in the 1960s, and finding that the precident for the 2008 bailouts was set when the corrupt Wall Street investment banks of the 1960s held Congress over a barrel and got an outrageous taxpayer-funded bailout of what THEY owed their customers.


Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Jon Meacham's And Then There Was Light - Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle  and  Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus.


Path Points of Interest:


Finding Karen Black by Diane Bay


Diane Bay


Finding Karen Black Website


Diane Bay on Social Media


instagram.com/dianebaydesign/

facebook.com/dianebayartist

www.FindingKarenBlack.com

facebook.com/findingkarenblack


Karen Black Wikipedia


Karen Black on IMDB


Lee Purcell


Lee Purcell on IMDB


Lee Purcell on Social Media

https://www.facebook.com/leepurcellfanpage/

https://www.instagram.com/theleepurcell/


Carol of the Bell's Trailer


Lee Purcell & Andrea F. Friedman in Office Scene From "Carol of the Bells”  


Donna Mills & Lee Purcell in scene from Joey Travolta's "Carol of the Bells” 


The Making Of "Carol of the Bells" Promo


Hollywood Radio Players


Hollywood Radio Players on Youtube


Make a tax deductible donation to Hollywood Radio Players


Richard E. Farley


Richard E. Farley on Amazon


Gonzo Wall Street: Riots, Radicals, Racism and Revolution 

How the Go-Go Bankers of the 1960s Crashed the Financial System and Bamboozled Washington by Richard E. Farley


Gonzo Wall Street Article


Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garums


Bonnie Garmus's Amazon Author Page


And Then There Was Light - Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle by Jon Meacham



TV News Trailblazing & A Legendary L.A. Broadcast Team featuring Kelly Lange26 Jan 202301:11:35

Kelly Lange began her trailblazing TV career when women in broadcasting were treated as a “novelty.” But armed with brains and ingenuity, Kelly carved out a career path which led to her becoming the first female news anchor in Los Angeles and a nightly fixture at KNBC.


Kelly and our cohost, former KNBC weatherman Fritz Coleman are back together at long last, recounting story after memorable story which weave into a brilliant retrospective of broadcasting in the Los Angeles market and primetime news through the decades. 


Take, for example, Kelly’s plucky resolve to become the KABC traffic copter girl, “Dawn O’Day” and the only-in-Hollywood tale of how she landed her anchor spot at KNBC.


Kelly and Fritz were broadcasting nightly into the homes of L.A.’s most notable citizens, prompting calls from Bette Davis and Marlon Brando and fanboys like Jimmy Stewart and Orson Wells!


Did you know that Jane Fonda shadowed Kelly for a week in training for her role as a newscaster in The China syndrome?


We learn how Kelly began her latest chapter as a mystery writer and we even get to hear about her boyfriend Jim's TV writing career as Kelly switches smoothly from interviewee to interviewer! 


Plus, our recommendations this week are the autobiography Spare by Prince Harry and the movie All Quiet On The Western Front on Netflix.

Path Points of Interest:

Kelly Lange on Wikipedia


Kelly Lange on IMDB


Kelly Lange Books


Kelly Lange Books on Amazon


Kelly Lange on What's My Line


Spare by Prince Harry


All Quiet On The Western Front

Yes, And... 50 Years Of Improv Comedy with The Off The Wall Improv Group!02 Oct 202501:13:39

The Off The Wall Improv Comedy Group has been entertaining audiences for 50 years! Blossoming, in 1975 out of a dance studio next to a West Hollywood hamburger stand, the group has worked with Robin Williams, John Ritter, George Wendt, Chevy Chase, Garry Shandling, and Jim Belushi, with Michael Feinstein at the piano! 


Original members, Andy Goldberg, Wendy Cutler, and Paul Willson join us to share their unique history and regale us with backstage lore and intrigue. These three became go-to Hollywood players, appearing on Laverne and Shirley, Mork and Mindy, The Golden Girls, Cheers, Hill Street Blues, The Larry Sanders Show, Columbo and so many more! 


Their improv gifts also suit them perfectly for looping sessions where they fill in the background voices in TV and movie scenes. Listen carefully and you will hear them in Meet The Parents, Monster’s Ball, The X Files, Justice League, and How To Train Your Dragon. 


Paul, Wendy and Andy take us through the proud history of improv comedy which was born out of theater games taught to children, and has gone on to train and launch  countless stellar careers.  


Plus, Andrew Jameson joins us to talk about his doc series, Faces Of The City which is now streaming on Roku.


And in current media -- 


Weezy: The Runarounds on Prime

Fritz: Task on HBO

Path Points of Interest:

The Runarounds Trailer


Task - HBO


Faces of the City


Off The Wall


Off The Wall on Youtube


Improv Comedy by Andy Goldberg  


Off The Wall on Facebook


Fanatic Salon Theater

Family Filmmaking & The Black Music Industry05 Jan 202301:08:27

We welcome the new year with a rich buffet of guests, starting with husband and wife filmmaking team, Anayancy and Jess Thomas whose project, God & Salsa tells the story of a grieving therapist and a troubled teen who save each other. The film explores suicide, depression, divorce, parental alienation, narcissism, hope and healing.


Next, we are joined by Dr. Logan Westbrooks a groundbreaking black music executive and industry veteran with over 50 years of experience launching careers, making history and positively changing our music and civil rights landscapes.


Dr. Westbrooks joins us to talk about his newest book, 'Power 101: The Harvard Report, Soul Music, and The American Dream', which examines the controversial 1972 Harvard Report which studied and forcast how black folks would be consuming music. 


Dr. Westbrook’s journey took him from a childhood in Memphis to the boardrooms of major record labels. He was assigned to oversee The Harvard Report by Clive Davis and CBS Records and he helps us understand how black music and our nation’s trajectory were impacted by one another, pulling us towards a greater understanding of race and destiny in America.


Plus, Fritz and Weezy recommend Babylon, now in theaters and If These Walls Could Sing on Disney+ and Hulu.

Path Points of Interest:

Logan Westbrooks


Power 101: The Harvard Report, Soul Music, and The American Dream
by Dr. Logan H. Westbrooks and Schuyler C. Traughber

God And Salsa

Jess and Anayancy Thomas

Babylon - In Theaters

If These Walls Could Sing

Children's Burn Foundation

Vocal Harmonies & Legends of Classic Pop with Bruce Belland and John H. Mills II29 Dec 202201:23:54

In 1951, 15-year-old Bruce Belland sneaked into a backstage door at Ciro’s Nightclub to get a glimpse of his idols, The Mills Brothers. That fateful night inspired Bruce to form The Four Preps and forge a vocal harmony career that brought us the hits, “26 Miles” and “Big Man.” 


Bruce has spent 70 years loaded with questions for his musical heroes and, at long last, he gets to pose them to John H. Mills II, the son of original Mills Brother Donald Mills. John toured with his father for 17 years and he’s got answers!


We hand our fanboy the reins and these two harmony kings go deep into shop talk, discussing style, phrasing, timing, technique and arrangements. They share road stories, talk about John’s childhood with his trailblazing father and uncles and explore how each of them related to their larger-than-life fathers.


Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman and Avatar: The Way of Water.

Path Points of Interest:

The Mills Brothers


The Mills Brothers on Wikipedia


Mills Brothers Documentary Part 1


Part 2


Part 3

John Mills in a Tribute to Glenn Miller and the Vocal Groups - Feb. 19th


Bruce Belland


The Four Preps


Avatar: The Way of the Water - In Theaters


My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman

Women at the Mic & Best Friends in Comedy featuring Shawn Pelofsky and Vicki Barbolak22 Dec 202201:00:58

Shawn Pelofsky and Vicki Barbolak are fellow standup comedy besties who are taking their friendship to the next level. Yes, they would like to announce their podcast.


Shawn and Vicki host Trailer Park Diaries. Partly truth, mostly make believe, as if Prairie Home Companion moved into a double wide.


We go behind the trailer with Shawn and Vicki to learn just how much of their diary stories are true and how much is merely aspirational. We’re also talking about the spine strength either required or acquired by women in comedy. We discuss crowd work, improv rules and knowing your audience.


And Shawn confesses that she is as hooked on The Real Housewives as they appear to be on wine. Weezy’s reality drug of choice is The Bachelor. We’ve all watched Harry and Meghan and we have opinions!


Plus, Fritz and Weezy recommend The Order of Myths and Descendant on Netflix, HBO's Pelosi in the House and 'Mercury Pictures Presents' by Anthony Marra.

Path Points of Interest:

Trailer Park Diaries


Trailer Park Diaries on Youtube


Shawn Pelofsky


Social Media Meltdowns


Vicki Barbolak


Vicki Barbolak on Youtube


The Order of Myths - Netflix 


Descendant - Netflix

Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra


Pelosi in the House

Folk Rock Heroes & Multi-Instrumental Mastery featuring John Sebastian15 Dec 202201:04:18

John Sebastian’s rich musical catalogue reflects a life deeply steeped in craft, cultural resonance and history. John’s career has taken him from The Lovin’ Spoonful to Bob Dylan to Mama Cass to Woodstock to movie soundtracks and beyond. 


John joins us to share stories of his creatively colorful Greenwich Village childhood, surrounded by folk and classical luminaries, his harmonica virtuoso father, his screenwriting mother and his Godmother, Vivian Vance!


His talent and experiences inspired him to write and record an ecclectic array of hits including: Summer In The City, Darlin’ Be Home Soon, Welcome Back, Nashville Cats, You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice, Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind, Do You Believe In Magic and a bunch more.


And John comes to us brining word of his newest album with Arlen Roth called John and Arlen Explore The Lovin’ Spoonful Songbook.


Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Harry and Meghan on Netflix and Harry Chapin: When In Doubt, Do Something, on Prime Video. Also, we introduce our first Helping Folks Help charity partner, Children's Burn Foundation.

Path Points of Interest:

John Sebastian


John and Arlen Revisit The Lovin' Spoonful Songbook


John Sebastion in The Songwriters' Hall of Fame


J.B.s Harmonica by John Sebastian

Darlin' Be Home Soon Live On The Ed Sullivan Show


Harry and Meghan - Netflix 

Harry Chapin: When In Doubt, Do Something


Children's Burn Foundation

Making Air Waves & The Golden Age of Radio featuring Guy Zapoleon and Jhani Kaye08 Dec 202201:21:22

We welcome radio royalty. Two kings, baring gifts of knowledge, experience, stories and maybe some myrrh. Guy Zapoleon, President of Zapoleon Consulting, is a veteran of almost 50 years in the business. He’s programmed and consulted major radio stations including KIIS-FM in Los Angeles, Z100 in New York and KZZP in Phoenix.


Jhani Kaye is the longest running Program Director of a music station in the country’s largest market, Los Angeles, working with KOST-FM for 23 years.


Guy and Jhani tell us what drew them to radio, how they started, what they’ve learned, the hit records they launched and, within an era of streaming media, what is to become of radio!?


We get way into the fun and fantastic heyday of radio replete with big personalities, big hits and bigger hair. The promotions and publicity stunts, the 10-year music cycle, what the future looks like and so much more.... plus, our co-hosts weigh in with their own radio background stories, Fritz having started his media career on the air, on a ship in the Navy and Weezy as co-founder of Premiere Radio Networks, now part of iHeartMedia!


All of that plus Fritz and Weezy are recommending 'Sr.' on Netflix + 'Spector' on Showtime.

Path Points of Interest:

Guy Zapoleon

Guy Zapoleon’s 2021 10-Year Music Cycle Update


Music Cycle Updated, Part 1


Music Cycles, Part 2


Sr.- Netflix


Spector on Showtime 

The Real Brian Wilson & Accessing an Artist’s Path Far Beyond the Beach featuring David Leaf01 Dec 202201:16:34

At the age of 19, David Leaf created a To-Do list: 


1) Write about Brian Wilson 

2) Become his friend 

3) Help him finish SMILE. 


Mission accomplished.


You may know Brian as an extraordinary artist who spread surf, song and Southern California style around the world, but there is SO much more to uncover.


David has released an expanded version of his seminal tome entitled ‘God Only Knows” The Story of Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys and the California Myth,’. First published in 1978, and updated in 1985, the story continues to unfold and this definitive opus has been extensively bookended with what amounts to an entirely bonus book of Brian Lore.


David joins us for an in-depth conversation, digging into Brian Wilson's artistry and influences as we explore his relationships with family, fellow Beach Boys + the triumphant hero’s journey of 'SMiLE’. 


Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending 1899 on Netflix and the movie 'She Said', now in theaters.

Path Points of Interest:

David Leaf


God Only Knows by David Leaf


Long Promised Road Trailer


Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road

Beautiful Dreamer: The Story of Smile Documentary

I Just Wasn't Made For These Times (Don Was's Brian Wilson Documentary)


BBC production of God Only Knows  


God Only Knows Reader’s Guide 


VIP Experience for purchasing the book 


David Leaf at UCLA 


1899 - Netflix


She Said - In Theaters 

Creating Comedy & Working Motherhood24 Nov 202201:01:31

Liz Astrof is a writer, producer and show runner who has helped create some of your favorite sitcoms, including King of Queens, 2 Broke Girls, Whitney, Becker and Last Man Standing, while precariously balancing marriage, career and children beyond the storm of her own darkly dangerous childhood.


Liz has written a wickedly funny, raw and revealing book, called 'STAY-AT-WORK MOM' which hilariously pours a conflicted cocktail of emotions, highly relatable to anyone who has ever attempted to build a career, raise a family, or, boldly do both!


Liz provides us with an inside look at her difficult childhood, her parenting style, her creative process, working with tightly wound  comedian/actor types and sharing a career path with her writer/brother Jeff.


Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending the The Automat documentary  and Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song.

Path Points of Interest:

Liz Astrof Amazon Author Page


Liz Astrof on IMDB


Stay at Work Mom: Marriage, Kids and Other Disasters by Liz Astrof


Liz Astrof on Instagram


Liz Astrof on Twitter


The Automat - Amazon Prime


Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A journey, A Song 


Justin Timberlake and Matt Morris Perform Hallelujah at Hope for Haiti TV event


Mariane and Leonard: Words of Love 


Leonard Cohen Website

A Cowsills Christmas, L.A.'s Favorite Public Radio & The Mind of the Modern Man17 Nov 202201:23:08

We are three guests deep, welcoming Guy’s Guy, Robert Manni whose brand and purpose are all about guiding men and boys through an ever-changing cultural landscape towards a better understanding of themselves, women and our collective human experience.


From there, we’re backstage with The Cowsills who are bedecked with jolly and about to take the stage for the Andy Williams Moon River Theater Christmas Extravaganza in Branson. 


The Cowsills just dropped brand new music with their album, Rhythm of the World, they share a special history with our co-host Louise Palanker who directed the doc, Family Band: The Cowsills Story, they are armed with teen idol memories and ready to play Teen Mag Trivia AND, they will close out their appearance here with a helping of Christmas Carol!


We culminate with KCRW’s Steve Chiotakis, host of Greater L.A. and a man who truly understands Los Angeles on a granular, neighborhood level. What do Angelenos need and expect from their local NPR station? How is public media structured? What is the news/music/information mix that suits listeners? And how can public radio best entertain and inform the people it serves? 


Plus Fritz and Weezy are celebrating British women of particular note and character, recommending The Crown and Enola Holmes on Netflix and PBS’s Miss Scarlet and The Duke.

Path Points of Interest:

The Cowsills


Rhythm of the World


Rhythm of the World on Youtube


The Cowsills Podcast


The Happy Together Tour


Family Band: The Cowsills Story on Prime


The Andy Williams Moon River Theater


The Cowsills on Facebook


Susie squeals on The Cowsills 


Bob Answers 80 Intimate Questions


Our Hates and Loves by The Cowsills 


Fritz and Weezy on The Cowsills' Podcast


Robert Manni


The Guy's Guy Guide To Love by Robert Manni


Guy's Guy TV 


Guy's Guy Podcast


Fritz and Weezy on Guy's Guy TV  


Fritz and Weezy on Guy's Guy Podcast 


Robert Manni on Instagram


Robert Manni on Twitter


Robert Manni on Facebook


Steve Chiotakis


KCRW


Steve Chiotakis Socials 

@RadioChio. 


Steve Chiotakis on Facebook


Born and Razed


Greater L.A.


Fritz and Weezy on Greater L.A.


Miss Scarlet and The Duke on PBS


Enola Holmes on Netflix


The Crown

Shifting from Morning Radio to Podcasting with Tom & Dan10 Nov 202201:15:18

In 2009, Tom Vann and Daniel Dennis left their corporate radio gigs and ventured boldly into the great unknown of podcasting with their under promisingly titled show, A Mediocre Time with Tom and Dan. 


Armed with only their well-honed rapport, technical know-how, business acumen and a hearty helping of tenacity, Tom and Dan have successfully transitioned, along with their Orlando, FL fan base, from terrestrial radio to streaming audio, bringing their charismatic, easy chemistry and fearless candor to a devoted following who have endearingly labeled themselves, “Scumbags.”


It hasn't been easy. T & D have sacrificed and faced difficult decisions. They’ve contended with  legal entanglements and crash coursed the basics of running the sales & marketing end of their business. Tom and Dan join us to talk about everything from publicity stunts to, baring their souls to podcast monetization!


Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Tár, now in theaters and God Forbid: The Sex Scandal That Brought Down a Dynasty on Hulu.

Path Points of Interest:

A Mediocre Time with Tom and Dan


A Mediocre Documentary with Tom and Dan


About Tom and Dan


Tom and Dan on Twitch


Tom and Dan on Youtube


Tom and Dan on Facebook


Tom and Dan on Twitter


A Corporate Time With Tom and Dan


Tar - In Theaters


God Forbid: The Sex Scandal that Brought Down a Dynasty


Off The Deep End: 

Jerry and Becki Falwell and the Collapse of an Evangelical Dynasty 

Hillsong Exposed


Smart Comedy & Finding Your Niche featuring Don McMillan03 Nov 202200:54:40

Don McMillan took the path less traveled, in fact he may be that path’s lone pedestrian. Don came to stand-up comedy from Silicon Valley. A former engineer with a Masters from Stanford, the comedy and problem solving portions of Don’s brain have collaborated to craft a unique act that features a hilarious roast of power point presentations, illustrated, of course, by a power point presentation.


Don’s uniquely relatable brand of stand-up took him to the semi-finals on this year’s America’s Got Talent. With jokes that are perfectly pithy, while maintaining all the elegance of the Pythagorean Theorem, Don has established a Corporate comedy niche that finds him performing consistently for an audience of global brand giants.


Don joins us with AGT behind-the-scenes secrets, success tips and power point dos and don’ts!


Plus, Weezy recommends ORDINARY GRACE by William Kent Krueger and Fritz's pick is B.J. Novak’s VENGEANCE.

Path Points of Interest:

Don McMillan


Don McMillan on Youtube


Don McMillan AGT Semifinals


Don McMillan on Twitter


Don McMillan on Instagram


Vengeance - Prime


Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger

The Gen-X Child Actor Club & Stories of a Kid In New Hollywood with Moosie Drier!04 Sep 202501:12:54

We welcome Moosie Drier, one of the most familiar young faces of 70s and 80s TV and film! Moosie takes us back to a time when child actors were a tight crew who worked and auditioned for roles together, forging friendships, supportive rivalries and shared memories.


Alongside fellow child actors like Lance Kerwin, Brad Savage, Ike Eisenmann, and Matthew Layborteaux, Moosie carved out a place in show biz history, beginning with his very first job at age five: dubbing the voice of a tiny actor who was not quite nailing the line in an ice cream commercial. 


Armed with that professional gravitas, Moosie went on to play Jack Lemmon’s step-son in The War Between Men and Women and John Denver’s kid in Oh, God! starring George Burns. He then delivered the Kid News For Kids on Laugh-In (as young staff writer Lorne Michaels tucked away the whole fake news idea for what would become Weekend Update!)


Moosie spills tea on working with Henry Fonda (Hank liked the View-Master. Hated the kids.) Moosie shares how Barbra Streisand hand picked him for a bit part in Up The Sandbox, and evidently, Moosie is gifted with a face you’d want to serenade. Both John Denver and Reba McEntire picked up guitars and sang to him between scenes.


Plus we get some Drier family lore. How his family struck out from Chicago for California in search  of industry opportunities. About the tax hole that welcomed Moosie into adulting. And the strange baby name saga that resulted in a boy named “Moosie.” 


Today, Moosie continues to connect with his peers through his podcast Pop Culture Retro, where conversations are a blend of interviews, fellow child-actor therapy and catching up over lunch.


All that, plus a round of IMDB Roulette which takes us from Kids Incorporated to Family Ties to Judy Garland to The Bob Newhart Show to American Hot Wax! It’s a life and career chock full of charm, challenges, and timeless Hollywood moments.


And in current media -- 


Weezy: Sullivan's Crossing on Netflix

Fritz: The Mark Twain book by Ron Chernow

Path Points of Interest:

Moosie Drier on Wikipedia

Moosie Drier on IMDB

Moosie Drier on Instagram


Pop Culture Retro on Apple Podcasts


Pop Culture Retro on Instagram


Pop Culture Retro on X


Pop Culture Retro on YouTube


Sullivan's Crossing

Mark Twain by Ron Chernow

Media Path

Media Path on Facebook

Media Path on Instagram

Media Path on X

Media Path on Bluesky

The First Real Working Mom On Film & L.A.'s Unhoused In Crisis27 Oct 202201:19:11

Our guest is Joyce Chopra who broke bold ground as a female filmmaker in the 1970s with her award winning documentary short, Joyce at 34, profiling her own struggle as a working woman, to have and raise a child. The film’s existence thus proving that she could do both.


Her Sundance winning feature, (One of the first directed by a woman) Smooth Talk (1985) starring Treat Williams and Laura Dern opened doors to male dominated spaces that she treacherously navigated, paving paths for others to follow.


Joyce’s new book, Lady Director: Adventures in Hollywood, Television and Beyond, tells her captivating stories.


Also joining us is Jan Perry a Los Angeles civic leader now serving as Executive Director of Shelter Partnership which helps provide essential needs to the unhoused. Jan shares that we can all work together to help address the homeless crisis in our cities.


Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Amsterdam in theaters and a Jazzman’s Blues on Netflix.

Path Points of Interest:

Lady Director: Adventures in Hollywood, Television and Beyond by Joyce Chopra


Lady Director at City Lights Books


Joyce Chopra on IMDB


Joyce at 34


Smooth Talk


Smooth Talk on IMDB


ByKids - Real World Films For Kids, By Kids


An American Girl on the Home Front


Joyce Chopra Films on Criterion


Shelter Partnership


Shelter Partnership on Facebook


Shelter Partnership on Twitter


Jan Perry


Amsterdam


A Jazzman's Blues


Gift of Democracy


Christian Nationalism & Extreme Religion featuring Brad Onishi and Dan Miller13 Oct 202201:10:14

Brad Onishi and Dan Miller are authors, scholars, educators and thought leaders who share similar histories as Christian ministers who have migrated beyond their flock. From this unique and compelling perspective, they are perfectly positioned to observe and discuss the rise and current political influence of Christian Nationalism. Their hit podcast, Straight White American Jesus explores the Christian Right’s emerging influence in shaping our political landscape. 


We chat with Brad and Dan about their experiences within the church and its teachings and why their perspectives began to shift. We delve into the role played by Orange County, California in the birth of the religious right, (Brad preached at a Yorba Linda megachurch). We consider how Evangelicals square their values with their votes for Donald Trump and so much more.


Plus, Fritz and Weezy recommend Rachel Maddox’s new podcast ULTRA and Geoffrey Berman's book, Holding The Line.

Path Points of Interest:

Straight White American Jesus


Brad Onishi's Website


The Orange Wave - A History of the Religious Right Since 1960


SWAJ Live Event


SWAJ on Patreon


Preparing for War: The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism--and What Comes Next by Bradley Onishi 


Daniel Miller on Amazon


Rachel Maddox’s new podcast ULTRA 


Holding The Line by Geoffrey Berman



Climate Storytelling & The Day The Music Died featuring Spencer Proffer, Georgia Wright and Kenia Hale06 Oct 202201:12:45

Media and Music Producer Spencer Proffer joins us to talk about his Paramount + doc, The Day The Music Died which beautifully tells the story of the song that lives on, Don McLean’s American Pie. 


Plus, Audio Content Creators Georgia Wright and Kenia Hale are using storytelling to share the important narrative of how climate change is impacting the lives of young people throughout the world. Their New York Times recommended podcast, Inherited creatively embraces the youth climate movement.


And Fritz and Weezy are recommending Chasing Trane on Hulu and Severance on Apple +.

Path Points of Interest:

Spencer Proffer and Meteor 17


The Day The Music Died on Paramount + 


Spencer Proffer Bio


Spencer Proffer on Wikipedia


More on The Way The Music Died


American Pie interpretations


Inherited Podcast


Georgia Wright


Kenia Hale


Chasing Trane - Hulu 


Severance 


Gift of Democracy

© My Podcast Data