Vicki Abelson's Broadcast: The Road Taken

I love surprises. I’m not sure I’ve ever been more thrillingly unprepared for the fabulousness that was about to unfold. Fleaxatarian (he ‘splains), actorvist, Esai Morales, is a revelation. I knew I adored his work from Bad Boys, La Bamba, NYPD Blue, to Ozark, with so much fineness in between… but it’s the man––the human––the passionate, quite brilliant, committed, inspiring, humble, real, self-aware, loving, sensitive soul, who blew me away. For 2 hrs and 16 min, Esai was spellbindingly entertaining, informative, enlightening, and gottdamned exciting, I don’t need to mention easy on the eyes… isn’t it just a ridiculous given? For the first 30 minutes we’re mostly in a Facebook Live blur, and for another 3 minutes or so, the audio is compromised as we were firsting with our brand spanking new Blue Raspberry mic, and didn’t quite know how to set it. Sorry about that, chief. The remaining hour and 50 min are as smooth as Easi. He's so worth struggling through the first 30 for. We talked growing up in Brooklyn

The Wizard of Oz. Noy. There’s no man behind the curtain. He’s the real deal. A working musician since the age of 13, a session musician no less, he took his native Israel by a rock/pop/jazz storm, a recognized part of their hit talk show house band by his early 20s. He’s been killing it worldwide since. No drinks, no drugs, fastidious practice, make the man, and the musician. With 10 albums of his own, Oz has played with just about everybody. Including his heroes. Getting to play rhythm guitar on Walk This Way with Steve Tyler and Joe Perry, one highlight. I saw him kill Get Out Of My Life Woman with Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top two weeks ago, https://bit.ly/2CHkDu3 We talked his yellow brick road, and how he’s found his way home, doing what he loves, and loving it. Jazz may be one of his things, but he loves pop, rock and the blues and has mastered and is in demand cross-genre. Playing an Elton John tune with Sting another highlight, and with Cyndi Lauper for the Dalai Lama- does that story have a punchline

Before we went Live Fritz Coleman spent an hour hanging with me and my kids, watching their videos, offering accolades and suggestions, when requested, praising and encouraging, Twice nominated for Humanitarian of the year, the man’s a mensch, a giver. LA’s definitive weathercaster, with a 37 year tenure at it, Fritz spoke of “lucking” into the day job which has afforded him pursuit of his creative passions: stand up and his one-man shows, one of which garnered a half hour phone call from Marlon Brando hisself, another, an audience with Kirk Douglas, who was in the audience. He’s appeared 8 times on The Tonight Show, with Johnny, Joan, and Jay, won 4 Emmy Awards, served in the Navy, is 35 years sober, a dad, a grandfather, a wise and beloved soul, adored by all who know him, he’s funny, funny, funny and applies lessons learned and a daily discipline to continue thriving, and help others. His current show, Defying Gravity, a dissection of his life over 50 is playing to sold-out crowds. If an opportunity pres

I got an education from a Nuyorican––right there, I’d never heard the term before. Felix Angel Solis is a revelation––on the Fountain Theatre stage as Eddie, in the Pulitzer Prize-winning, The Cost of Living, where he blew my mind and moved me beyond compare (I immediately set out to track him down), to his thoughts on acting––actors as musicians, the script the sheet music, “actioning,” “referencing,” not giving what they’re looking for, offering something different. Seeking characters who care about something. All explained with fascinating analogies to life. His twice a day meditation practice, where thoughts are encouraged to run and play… adaptive energy, how we let go. New York theatre, the Labyrinth, The Cherry Lane, being directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman, twice. Getting tracked down not just by me, but Pacino, too. Crossing over to film and TV… series regular work on Law & Order, The Good Wife, The Following, NYC22 for Jane Rosenthal and Robert DeNiro; Subway Token Films, his joint production comp

What better way to ring in the New Year than with the Begley’s. We went Live from their magnificent, green home, where the banter was playfully brisk, hysterically funny, and full of love. Married 18 yrs, together 25, they met 28 yrs ago. The stories around all of that are priceless. As are the stories about them working together (NYBD Blue, Living With Ed, Begleyesque), and, how they tell them. Their take on he said/she said is hysterical. We talked about their environmental activism and how each of them came to it. Rachelle named after Rachel Carson, the mother of the movement, and for Ed, the smog. They’re still fighting it today. As improved as it is, this past summer was at it’s worst in 20 years. Ed gives practical tips on what we can do: use public transportation and bike whenever possible, if possible, weatherstrip our homes. LED lights. Recycle, eat vegan, grow your own, compost, and clear our kitchens and bathrooms of toxins - they even have their own line of all natural products which can be foun

The year in review––mine. Gratitide–– more me––I'm naming names. Tonight's scheduled guests, Jeffrey Sherman and Wendy Liebman regretfully postponed for medical reasons. Wishing Wendy Godspeed, whatever the hell that means... what I mean is a miraculous swift healing. Dj, my banner maker is out of town, so getting a fill-in guest without the proper signage seemed unfair. Take the week off? Why not. We're smack in the middle of holiday season. But... we've yet to miss a week in the now 125 weeks we've been doing this and I'm all about streaks and day counts... so... This was a reflection––noting progress, manifestations, and a bit of an infestation of poor choices leading to better ones. We talked about setting intentions... the three step manifestation process, and the one-step do better, be better thing. On 2 1/2 hrs of sleep, I had fried brain, no eggs, no bacon. The Facebook was having "issues." On again, off again, soft focus, is unintended and annoying as fuck. But, the beat went on, with some l

It took 2 1/2 yrs to nail down Norman Lear, a force of nature beyond compare at any age... at 96, in his Sony offices, where he still reads, develops, writes, produces daily, it's unfathomable. Norman’s worth waiting for. A four-time Emmy Winner, Academy Award Nominee, Peabody Award Recipient, American Humanist Award Winner, National Medalist of the Arts, Kennedy Center Honoree––Norman’s a goddamn national treasure.

The maverick who changed television, our thinking, and in so doing, our behavior, reflected back on his neglected childhood, his service bombing Berlin, facing his humanity, where his dream started and how it morphed into who he soon became. Why Norman’s championed women, always; missing Penny Marshall and what’s her name Fisher. Our friends Paul Hipp, and Phil Rosenthal, and why real Jews order Langers #19 without the cheese. He took us through the creation of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Fernwood 2 Night, Sanford and Son, sorry Redd Foxx, we all had a brain freeze; All in The Family, his fathe

Arriving at actor, author, collector, world-traveler, chef, and scholar, Thaao Penghlis’s home was a feast for the senses. Magnificent art and artifacts from the entrance to the john, where an enormous, gorgeous, Peter O’Toole as Lawrence oversees the proceedings. Next visit, I hope, a feast the belly––hIs lentil white bean soup recipe had Christinna and I salivating. Thaao lives his life to the full, doing and being his best at whatever he’s approaching at that moment. From his childhood in Australia, enmeshed in everything Greek, to struggling to eat in New York where he assisted his mentor in the art world, selling to an adoring Jackie Kennedy, Claudette Colbert, Sir John Gielgud, to finding his way to the stage and then film, despite being told he should never act; first forJohn Avildsen, fresh off his Rocky triumph, in Slow Dancing In The Big City, for Ken Russell in Altered States… some stories there! A volatile Russell, difficult William Hurt, and a banished Paddy Chayefsky. A rapist in The Bell Jar

A rare guest I didn’t know prior to sitting down here, what a revelation and a treat to meet Fred Melamed. Lovely from the start, I was unprepared for his brutal humility, fierce self-reflection, and unflinching honesty. A fascinatingly unique conversation focused on how life affected his work, and his work affected his life. The Coen Brothers award-winning A Serious Man star talked being adopted, his producer father and visits to the Car 54 set; his unmothering mother, Chanukah as resistance and how it applies today; falling into acting and earning his way into Yale Drama with David Alan Grier, “Fran” McDormand & John Turturro; Broadway at 25 in Amadeus and the severe stage fright he battled nightly; not enjoying theatre, backing into voice acting, where great success followed until that market dried up, leaving the husband and father of two autistic boys panicked, until a call from Joel Coen, perhaps thanks to “Fran,” changed his life. As little as he liked working on the stage, he loved (s) film acting

“Isn’t life fun?” Asks George Shapiro, mega manager of talent in the business of show. It sure is when he’s around. This BROADcast comes with a funny back guarantee. Stories, stories, stories, songs, cheers, accents, impressions––but it’s the stories––his partner, Howard West, friends since they were children; his uncle Carl (Reiner) coming home from the war, George’s hero for his service, before fame and the funny; his own military service as a trained killer (say what?!?) to saving a WAC; Carl with Mel Brooks, being Carl and Mel: his biggest regret; his worst negotiation; the mailroom at William Morris, agenting to breaking away, following Bernie Brillstein in personal management; Andy Kaufman, the unabridged story; Taxi, Tony Clifton, the contract (s), Elvis, Robin Williams, his extreme act of friendship and fun; Milos Forman, this show a love letter to Jim Carrey for bringing Andy back to life; Jerry Seinfeld, “When you see a comedian you like, it’s the closest thing to falling in love.” The career they

Giving thanks for an awe-inspiring chat with Emmy Winning composer, Snuffy Walden. With 13 nominations, 50 + BMI Awards, a lifetime achievement award, being the subject of Mark Maxey’s documentary, Up to Snuff, starring Martin Sheen, Aaron Sorkin, and Eric Burdon, currently kicking ass on the awards circuit, and garnering 21 of them to date––the secret to this man’s success seems to be in the “Yes.” He says it, does the work, and gains richly deserved acclaim. Over and over again. Playing with BJ Thomas at 14; fronting Stray Dog, rocking like hell, and opening for Emerson, Lake & Palmer around the world; drinking and debauchery, recording Songs in The Key of Life with Stevie Wonder, earning a platinum record, and being in the passenger seat when Stevie drove––oh yes, he did; playing with Dave Mason at the peak, Chaka Kahn when she was breaking I Feel For You, touring with Eric Burdon and having an epiphany which would change his life. Sobriety. “I really feel like God took a damaged soul out of me and put i

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It’s Always Sunny with Pee Wee’s Miss Yvonne, Lynne Stewart. When have I laughed this hard for this long… is there anyone cuter… more good-natured… with more fun stories? From Ricky (Richard) Dreyfuss who proposed in the 4th grade, to junior college BFF Cindy Williams, all three going on to do American Graffiti with another pal, Harrison Ford, hello… auditioning for an uninterested George Lucas, meeting Candy Clark and MacKenzie Phillips, cheerleading for Jack Nicholson, very early days at The Groundlings with Tracy & Laraine Newman, Sandy Helberg, Paul Reubens aka Pee Wee Herman, who would change her life; Phil Hartman, and their years-long working and playing relationship; Robin Williams, Laverne & Shirley, Garry Marshall, Penny Marshall, Jumping Jack Flash, Harry Anderson, his daughter, Comedy Bang-Bang, Bridesmaids, Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy. Maya Rudolph, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia; how to cry. how to keep working, and, with Lynne around, how to stay laughing. What a time ’tis was! Lynne S

No matter how many times I sit down with Filmmaker Henry Jaglom, he’s always got a slew of new and stupendous stories to tell. This time he shared more than a few which he said he’s never told before, and they’re doozies. Raised by sophisticated, successful parents, Henry’s mother encouraged his love of theatre, nurturing his creative, empathetic nature, in contrast to his father’s keen business acumen. Showbiz called. First as a comedian with his pal, Ritchie Pryor, then as an actor (Gidget, The Flying Nun). He gave up comedy when Richard was funnier and acting when his friend________ scored the part he was up for. I can’t ruin it… it’s too good. He was asked by Bert Schneider to do an edit on Easy Rider. How that came to be, and who his editing partner was, is, well, great stuff. There are girlfriends Georgia Brown, Karen Black, Brenda Vaccaro, Tuesday Weld, Natalie Wood… a first told story about his meeting Dudley Moore and then introducing him to Tuesday. Meeting Orson Wells. How their friendship b

I came into tonight a huge Amy Aquino fan. I left loving her a gazillion times more. How is that even possible. We started with Bosch. If you’ve yet to watch this stupendous Amazon series, pick up your remote right now. Well, after you check out Amy here… lots of behind the scenes there… here, and everywhere. From Working Girl, Moonstruck, Freaks & Geeks, Brooklyn Bridge with Marion Ross, who’s celebrating her 90th and will be doing so with us at Tuesday’s Women Who Write, and, hopefully. If Amy can slip away from filming, she’ll be with us, too… From PA to Harvard, pre-med, I know, to Yale grad school with Courtney B. Vance and Patricia Clarkson to MN, to non-stop working actor… stage and screens large and small. The girl who was too busy killing school and life to watch TV, Amy’s not just guested on dozens and dozens of shows, she’s had recurring roles on just about all of them, four at once, at times. From ER, Picket Fences, Everybody Loves Raymond, Felicity… on and on and on. From SAG vice-president to as

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Bob Cowsill Live On Game Changers With VIcki Abelson by Vicki Abelson

We could’ve talked all night and I’d still have wanted more. Thoughtful, generous, revealing, insightful, and oh so fun, legendary, Grammy Winning bassist, Will Lee, took us on a thrill ride through his stellar, illustrious and industrious, career… growing up in Texas, seeing The Beatles on Ed Sullivan and that very night blowing the dust off his untouched drums and deciding he was going to be a musician. For Life. He made good on that choice. From playing his first gig in a parking lot and getting paid $6 to do it; playing in six bands a night, six days a week, to landing his first major gig with his dream come true, Dreams––alongside Billy Cobham… to playing Bette Midler’s first tour with theretofore unknown Barry Manilow; playing with Ace Frehley, Chaka Khan, the late, great, Hiram Bullock; alongside Paul Schaffer, from the from the very first Late Night with David Letterman to the very last Last Show… some of his favorite Letterman memories: singing a featured MacArthur Park, backed by a full orchestra a

We were Live with The Goddess of Love. The Petite Flower, The Aphrodite of the Accordion, The Fashion-Plate Saint, The Princess of Panty Shields, The Empress of Elvis Impersonators, The Judy of Judyism, Judy Tenuta... and she was HYSTERICAL! Judy talked about Ladies of the Night which she did with Paula Poundstone, Rita Rudner and Ellen Degeneres, who back then said, "I want to do TV." Now that's manifesting! She talked Emo Philips, Jay Leno, Steven Wright, Sam Kinison, and Arsenio, who were there in the early days. And Tom Dreesen who walked her through it. George Carlin who took her out on the road to open for him, Diet Dr. Pepper, oh the money! Winning the first American Comedy Award, thank you George Schlatter; Joan Rivers whom she adored, Dr. Ruth, Cher, Donnie and Marie, Olivia Newton John, Susan Lucci, Katherine Hepburn, James Stewart, Walter Cronkite, and Mohammed Ali... he's who made her starstruck. Coming up a star on the Las Vegas Walk of Fame, November 7th, on her scorpio birthday; and indepe

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