Celebrity Interviews with Joey Mitchell

From nationally known Teen Model, while still in high school, to major motion picture star and then co-starring in one of TV's most talked about series with Bruce Willis, Cybill Shepherd was destined for superstardom, and she didn't disappoint.   When we caught up to her on my show, she had just published her autobiography, "Cybill Disobedience" which was a tell all book filled with juicy gossip about everyone who was anyone that she got to meet in her amazing career.  In spite of her amazing success, we found her to be delightfully funny, honest and endearing.   See if you agree.  Here's my interview with Cybill Shepherd on KRAK Radio.

Evans' first guest-starring role was on a 1960 episode of Bachelor Father. The series starred John Forsythe, with whom she would costar 20 years later on Dynasty.[5] After several guest roles in The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet between 1960 and 1962, and guest appearances on television series such as The Lieutenant and Wagon Train, Evans gained her first regular role in 1965 in The Big Valley. Playing Audra Barkley, daughter of Victoria Barkley (played by Barbara Stanwyck.On December 31, 1967, John Derek, Linda's husband at the time, recruited her to operate one of his cameras after he had been commissioned by daredevil Evel Knievel to film his motorcycle jump of the fountains at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Evans captured the iconic images of Knievel's devastating crash as the jump failed.Evans was next cast as Krystle Carrington in Aaron Spelling's opulent new primetime soap opera, Dynasty, which premiered in January 1981.Intended as ABC's answer to the hit CBS series Dallas.  Dynasty featured Evans as the former secretary and new wife of millionaire oil tycoon Blake Carrington, portrayed by her former costar John Forsythe.  Although initially sluggish in the ratings, audience figures improved after the show was revamped and British actress Joan Collins was brought in to play opposite Evans and Forsythe as Blake's scheming ex-wife, Alexis Carrington.  By the 1984–85 season, Dynasty was the number one show on American television, outranking Dallas.Evans won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Drama Series for her Dynasty role in 1981, and was subsequently nominated every year from 1982 to 1985.  She was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1983.[16] Evans won a People's Choice Award for Favorite Female Performer in a New TV Program in 1982,[17] and for Favorite Female TV Performer in 1983, 1984,  1985, and 1986. She won a Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in 1984 and 1985.Here's my interview on KRAK with the lovely Linda Evans.

Back in the day while I was doing mornings at KRAK in Sacramento in 1978, I spoofed a song that Joe Stampley recorded entitled "If You've Got 10 Minutes, Let's Fall in Love". In  the song, Joe asked many opened ended questions which I decided to fill on air with stupid responses from my alter ego - Luscious Lucy.   Well my dumb version was an instant hit locally with our listeners (you have to understand that they felt sorry for me) and I asked Joe's management if I could record my version with local singer Beau Melgreen.  They agreed if I would surprise Joe Stampley on stage during his concert, wearing an awful costume as Luscious Lucy.  I finally tracked Joe down after all these years to talk about that day and his career.  He is an amazing guy with a big heart and a ton of talent.  Check him out and see if you agree.

Have you ever won the lottery?  I have...five bucks here, 3 bucks there.  However, the big prize - never.  Most of us haven't.  That's why Richard Lustig's claim to winning seven state lotteries is unbelievable...but true.  In fact, Richard's book - "Learn How to Increase Your Chances of Winning the Lottery" was ranked #3 on Amazon's self-help book list in 2013.  Richards sytem includes reinvesting all your previous winnings into buying more tickets and playing consecutive numbers...all of which are highly criticized by some personal finance experts.  You decide for yourself...as you listen to my interview with the man who's been struck by Lottery Lightning seven times in a row, and he's still counting.

Rivers was born as John Henry Ramistella in New York City, of Italian ancestry. His family moved from New York to Baton Rouge  Louisiana. Influenced by the distinctive Louisiana musical styler, Rivers began playing guitar at age eight, taught by his father and uncle. While still in junior high school, he started sitting in with a band called the Rockers,.  Johnny formed his own band, the Spades, and made his first record at 14, while he was a student  in High School.  Some of their music was recorded on the Suede label as early as 1956.  What's amazing to me is that Johnny Rivers had hits in the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's and remains an important part of the music business not only touring, but as a songwriter and producer too.You'll hear in this interview with Johnny just what an amazing knowledge of the music industry Johnny has and his ability to remember key names and events in his career is impressive.  Add to that the facts he's a great guy and I think you'll agree why I always look forward to interviewing Johnny Rivers.

Gary Gerould, nicknamed “The G-Man”, is an American sportscaster, best known as the radio voice of the NBA's Sacramento Kings since 1985. The Kings renewed his radio broadcaster contract for 4 years on September 15, 2017.He is also a motorsports reporter for ABC and ESPN and served as a pit lane reporter for the 1981 and 1982 Caesars Palace Grand Prix for NBC.Gerould was born in Midland Michigan and got his start in broadcasting at the age of 15 on a local telegraph station.  He later attended Anderson University in Indiana  and upon graduation went to Chico, California to work for KHSL Radio, later moving to KCRA AM and KCRA TV, as a sports reporter before finally coming to NBC and ESPN, specializing in coverage of the motorsports. He also called play-by-play for NBC's  NFL coverage in the early 1980s, and had the opportunity to cover the 1988 Summer Olympics  for the network.In 1985 as the Kansas City Kings moved to Sacramento, Gerould was tabbed as their radio play-by-play announcer. During the 2010–11 season, Gerould completed his 2,000 Kings broadcast, ranking fifth among active NBA announcers.In October 2015, Gerould announced his retirement from television sportscasting;[3] However, it was announced on June 25, 2020 that Gerould would briefly return as the TV play-by-play announcer for the Kings during the resumption of the suspended NBA season following the resignation of Grant Napear.Gary and I have been friends for years, and it was a great pleasure to spend time talking to him about his amazing career on my show.

From her childhood growing up in Monticello, Georgia, Trisha was passionate about music and participated in various music events held by her school and her community.  Everything from talent shows, church events, and musicals.  After high school, Trisha received her Associate Degree in Business from Young Harris College and in 1985 after moving to Nashville, she enrolled in Belmont College and pursued a music business degree.  Her education would prove invaluable in both her business and music careers.  After gaining an intership with MTM Records and eventually hired full time, she recorded a series of demo tapes and sang background vocals for new artists.  One of the artists she recorded with was a young Garth Brooks, who promised her that if his career succeeded, he would bring her to his producer. He kept that promise and they remained friends....and more than that, through the years.   Hers my second meeting with the delightful young lady, as we discussed her career and what I thought at the time was her attraction to Nicholas Cage, since she was on the soundtrack of several of his movies.  Boy, was I wrong about that!!

From child star to teen music sensation - Mickey Dolenz has almost always been meant to be in the spotlight.  At the age of ten in 1956  he starred in a children's TV show called Circus Boy under the name Mickey Braddock.  He played Corky, an orphaned water boy for the elephants in a one-ring circus at the start of the 20th century. The program ran for two seasons, after which Dolenz made sporadic appearances on network television shows and pursued his education.  In 1964, he was cast as Ed in the episode "Born of Kings and Angels" of the NBC education drama series Mr Novak, starring James Franciscus as an idealistic Los Angeles teacher.  Dolenz was attending college in Los Angeles when he was hired for the "drummer" role in NBC's  The Monkees.   After The Monkees television show ended, Dolenz continued performing providing voice-overs for a number of Saturday morning cartoon  series.   I had the pleasure of meeting Mickey twice. Once when he headlined for one of our K-HITS concert series of Oldies artists we called "Hullabaloo" and again for this interview when he was in town for a free live concert.  Here's that interview on K-HITS 92.1

Frankly, I had never heard of Vic Dibetteto until my K-Hits program director, Rico Garcia had me watch several of Vic's hilarious You Tube videos.  After just seeing a couple, I was a big fan and had to book Vic for my show.  Born and raised in NYC,  he had become an internet sensation thanks to his videos and was featured on shows like "The View",  "CNN" , "The Today Show" and more.  With over 17 million views of just one of his videos, actor Kevin James was so impressed, he gave Vic a part in his Mall Cop 2 movie as a tribute to the comic.  After this phone interview, we had Vic visit us in studio to promote his first ever stand up in California. After 2 standing room only shows at a local club, Vic cemented his brand of humor on the West Coast too.  Check out this hilarious guy for yourself.

This interview is a perfect example of why I loved my job on the radio.  Talking to celebrities on the show was always one of my favorite things, but when I actually got to meet and visit with a star whom I truly admired and was a fan of, well that was just icing on the cake.  That was the case when I got to talk to Olivia Newton John.  Of course, there's always the fear that the star won't live up to our expectations.  We've got our favorites on a pedestal and there's always a chance that the real person won't live up to the image we've created for them.  It's happened before to me, and I was afraid it might happen again with Olivia.  I didn't need to worry. As you'll hear, she couldn't be sweeter or more like her public image, but of course, you be the judge for yourself.

Anyone old enough to remember Stanley Kubrick's movie "Dr. Strangelove" can picture the scene when Slim Pickens straddles the H-Bomb that's about to drop on an unsuspecting city, like a wild bronc and rides it on down to nuclear oblivion.  That was my friend Slim Pickens, actor and rodeo star who appeared in so many movie and TV westerns he lost count.  Slim and I met at a radio remote, and against all odds (me a city boy from NYC and he a western cowboy) would become real life great friends.  In this episode, I heard he was in the hospital and we arranged an interview from there on the day before  his release.  He had major surgery on a tumor from the, in his words, the best doctor in the country,  and he felt great.  So why would he die in less than six months?   Ironically, it had nothing to do with his surgery.  Slim had contracted pneumonia and the complications led to his demise.  I will forever remember Slim as one of the most genuine, funny, likeable people I have ever met.  I am so grateful for the time we had together.

So how does a guy from Providence Rhode Island that studied Law and graduated in 89 from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington D.C.  end up doing comedy???   Well, during his third year working at a mergers and acquisitons lawyer and later as an investment banker, he gets invited to a private party being thrown by Jay Leno to celebrate the comedian's taking over the Tonight Show from Johnny Carson.    Mecurio, a comedy fan who had written some jokes for himself, handed 15 pages of his own material to Leno in hope of selling some for him to use on television. Leno contacted him and asked for more; Mecurio was paid $50 for his first joke which Leno used on the show.Mecurio became a self-described "addict" to performing stand-up comedy. After Mecurio's father died in 1993, he had a seven-month absence from work to support his mother in Providence; after returning to New York, he resigned to focus on comedy. In 1995 Mecurio joined a friend's firm, telling himself and his girlfriend that he would leave comedy, but after seven months relapsed and again began performing.  Then it was writing on the comedy staff for Jon Stewart's show, winning himself and Emmy and a Peabody and doing more stand up across the country...and Paul was hooked for good.  So, much for the lawyer thing.  Give a listen to our interview and I think you'll agree that Paul's career move....was the right one. 

In the 1990s, he appeared on MADtv as a featured player. His stand-up act was introduced to America at large when he landed his own half-hour comedy special on Comedy Central Presents in 2000. In 2001 and 2002, Francisco toured as part of "The Three Amigos" with Carlos Mencia and Freddy Soto. Since then, he has performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,VH1's ILL-ustrated, Mind of Mencia as "The Voiceover Dude" (same as "Movie Voiceover Guy"), and Frank TV.Francisco is recognized for vocal impressions of famous people including Jackie Chan, Aaron Neviile, Arnold, Howard Stern, Casey Kasem, Keanu Reeves, Michael J. Fox, Jerry Springer, Celine Dion, William Hung and most notablythe Movie Voiceover King). He also does sound effects and character voices like  He also has a talent for beatboxing.   While preparing this interview for my Podcast, as I listened to it again, I found I still couldn't stop laughing.  See if it affects you the same way.

Kim Fisher's dad, Mel Fisher who discovered one of the richest treasure troves ever found was an Indiana-born former chicken farmer who eventually moved to California.  He opened the first diving shop in the state, it was called "See Da Sea".  In 1953, he married Dolores (Deo) Horton who became his business partner. She was one of the first women to learn how to dive and set a women's record by staying underwater for 50 hours. Mel and Deo had five children: sons Terry, Dirk, Kim and Kane, and daughter Taffi. On July 20, 1975 Mel's oldest son Dirk, his wife Angel, and diver Rick Gage died after their boat sank due to bilge pump failure during their quest for treasure.[1] Mel ventured through decades treasure hunting in the Florida Keys with the motto Today's the Day.Fisher found the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Atocha.  He discovered silver bars from the wreck in 1973, and in 1975, Dirk found five bronze cannons whose markings would prove to be that of the Atocha. Only days later, Dirk, Angel, and Rick Gage, were killed. The estimated $450 million cache recovered, known as "The Atocha Motherlode," included 40 tons of gold and silver; there were some 114,000 of the Spanish silver coins known as "pieces of eight",gold coins, Columbian Emeralds,  gold and silver artifacts, and 1000 silver ingots.Large as it was, this was only roughly half of the treasure that went down with the Atocha. The stern castleof the ship holding more gold and Muzo emeralds has not been found as of August 2017. Also still missing are 300 silver bars and 8 bronze cannons, among other things.  It was one of the biggest thrills of my radio career to meet Mel's son, Kim Fisher, who has been on the treasure hunt since the very beginning.  He brought actual Gold bars and jewelry from the Atocha into the studio and let us hold it in our unworthy hands.   Take a trip thru history with us as we explore the sunken ship, the Atocha.

From his excercise studio in Beverly Hills - Slimmons,  managed to make himself the weight loss guru of America.  His Sweatin' to the Oldies" sold millions of copies and made him a media celebrity along with the fact that his flamboyant and outrageous style was often paradied and got him invited on all kinds of TV and radio talk shows, mine included.   This particular interview really stressed my producer and myself.  We had promoted his appearance since the day before at a certain time and he missed that deadline.  Then we announced a new time that morning, and he missed that one too.  So, by the time he finally did get into the show, I was not amused.  That said, Richard, with his amazing personality, made me forgot all those problems and I ended up enjoyed out talk a great deal.  Here is the interview that almost didn't take place....with Richard Simmons on KRAK Radio

When it comes to an entertainer with star power in their DNA - Matthew and his brother Gunner Nelson are the ones that come to mind.  They're the sons of actor and singer Ricky Nelson and his wife, actress Kristin Harmon. who just happens to be the sister of TV superstar, Mark Harmon.    Did I mention they are also the grandsons of TV's Ozzie and Harriet?    Wow...that's alot to live up to, and yet Matthew and Gunner manage to do that very well with their Platinum selling band - The Nelsons.   In this interview we discuss their upcoming concert in Placerville, and of course their careers and dreams.   

There are certain people who are so naturally funny given any situation, that they make me laugh from the moment they show up.   Comedian Richard Lewis, best known for his Emmy nominated role on Curb Your Enthusiasm is certainly one of them.   When he appeard on my show on 92.1 KHITS, we were not only rolling audio from the moment he walked in, but we were shooting video too, for our website.  From the moment he walked through the studio door, and saw the camera and me, Lewis was on.  You'll hear it all, the stuff we did on the air, and the crazy stuff off the air too.   Here is the incredibly funny - Richard Lewis.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Tony "The Tiger" Lopez ,  the IBF Super Featherweight Champion on my morning show on COOL 101.1 when I was surprised by one of the characters on my show "The Dogman" who set the interview up to surprise me.  At the time, we were very involved supporting the troops in the gulf war after 911.  We had created BAT Ribbons - "Bring Americans Together" in an interview to show their support. We create a red, white and blue ribbon folded like the previous yellow ribbon decals and attached them to American Flag pins for a shirt or blouse.  The ribbons were free and we were amazed at the reaction.  When then California Gov. Pete Wilson was seen wearing one, the promotion took off and we were even featured nationally on ABC News.  So, that's why Tony was calling in.  He wanted his BAT ribbon.   Great guy and a worthy Champion.

From stand-up comedy in his native Canada, to standing out on America's Comedy circuit, Howie Mandel made a name for himself in showbusiness faster than anyone imagined.  Cast as a doctor in TV's St. Elsewhere, Howie never looked back.   From there, scores of movie appearances, a voice over job as a Gremlin and then the host of TV's amazingly successful "Deal or No Deal".   However, his current 11 year reign as a judge on TV's America's Got Talent has put him in TV's rare superstardom.I had the pleasure of visiting with Howie on my show to discuss his career and his latest TV venture, as if he has any time left in the day.

The Bellamy Brothers are an American pop and country music duo consisting of brothers David Milton Bellamy (born September 16, 1950) and Homer Howard Bellamy (born February 2, 1946), from Darby, Florida. The duo had considerable musical success in the 1970s and 1980s, starting with the release of their crossover hit "Let Your Love Flow" in 1976, a number one single on the Billobard Hot 100.   I had the priveledge of MC'ing several of the Bellamy Brothers concerts here in Northern California, so it was only natural that one or both of the successful duo would grant me an interview on my show.  With David away on business, we got to visit with his brother Howard with what would end up to be a fun and frank visit.,

Toby Keith has one of those amazing voices that sounds great even when  he's just speaking, not singing.   We used to say,  we could listen to him just read the phone book out loud.  Well, there's basically no use for phone books anymore, so thank goodness Toby's become a superstar country singer, actor and record producer.    We talked to him via phone while he was traveling in his amazing tour bus on the way to a gig.    Here's the former oil rig worker and genuine tough guy, showing his kind friendly side, Toby Keith.

Visiting our studio to promote his upcoming stand up comedy show at Laughs Unlimted, Jimmy J.J. Walker made famous on the TV comedy - "Good Times" amazed us with his intellect and insights about comedy today and show biz as a whole.  He raves about the clean act and genius of one of his favorite comdeians who at the time we spoke was America's favorite, but now as you listen to Jimmy mention him, 'cause Bill Cosby's name now paints a completely different emotion in our minds.

In sacramento to promote the new Gatlin Brothers Music Gity Grille in the downtown area, Rudy was able to spend almost a half hour with us in person in our studio at KRAK 1140 AM. Since we were still playing Country Gold, and all the legendary artists, Rudy was thrilled to visit a station that featured he and his brothers songs.  Mike Remy, my newsman was a big Gatlin Brothers fan and shared in the interview with Rudy.   We talked about the industry changing focus with many stations only playing new artists.  Rudy was honest about how he felt about it and where he saw the music industry going.   Check out the interview with a fun guy who in my opinion, is a country music legend.

For such a successful performer with so many skeletons in his closet, you would think Tom Arnold would be very selective about what he wants to talk about with a DJ on the radio, but that's the farthest thing from the truth.  As a writer, actor and comedian who's appeared in countless TV and movies including 1994's "True Lies" with Arnold Swartzenegger, and most currently as a running character in Sons of Anarchy, Tom hides nothing and openly jokes about what most of us would cringe to mention.  Check him out...I think you'll be as impressed as I was with celebrity Tom Arnold.

He was coming to perform in Nevada City for an annual Christmas program that made him available for my show and I was more than delighted.   It was American singer-songwriter Michael Martin Murphy who recorded great hit singles like "Wildfire", "Carolina in the Pines" "What's Forever For"  "A Long LIne of Love" and so many others.  But it's Michaels love for the old west that truly sets him apart from other country artists.   Just ask him to remember the history of our country's beginnings and he'll dazzle you with stories.  So that's just what we did.,

Who can forget the fun dance movie starring Kevin Bacon - called "Foot Loose".  It was made in 1984 and the title song written and produced for it by Kenny Loggins is still being performed by the singer/songwriter to this day.  In 2016, I got to talk to Kenny while I was doing mornings on K-Hits radio in Sacramento.  Kenny had just had his children's book - called amazingly enough - "Foot Loose" published and he wanted folks to know about it.  In this episode, we visit with Kenny and talk about his career, the movie and now the book and the little person who inspired it.,

Here's an episode that validates why I love interviewing celebrities so much on the radio.  Where else would I get the opportunity and honor of talking to a real life American hero.  Only 12 humans through the history of mankind, have actually walked on the moon.  Only 12!!, and I got to talk to one of them.  Apollo 16's Charlie Duke.   It was the next to last lunar mission in 1972, and I'm sure you've seen pictures of Charlie riding along the lunar surface on the amazing Lunar rover car.Sit back, relax and enjoy listening to a man who accomplished what seems like the impossible...to walk on the moon!

If you saw the movie "Rudy" than you know all about our guest "Rudy Ruettiger" who did what some feel was the impossible.   Standing only 5'6" and weighing a mere 165 lbs. Rudy talked himself onto the Notre Dame football team.  Although he was placed on the scout team, a squad that helps the varsity team practice for games, Rudy was never meant to actual play in a Notre Dame football game.   However on Nov. 8, 1975, on the last game of Rudy's senior season, with only one play left in the game....Rudy was put in to play....the rest is history. We visited with Rudy in studio and found him to be a wonderful person whose determination and courage are awe inspiring.  Photo courtesy of: Student Union Sports

Space shuttle Endeavour ended its flight career Sept. 21 as it toured California on the back of NASA's modified 747 carrier aircraft, landing at Los Angeles International Airport after its final ferry flight into history.The four-hour, 34-minute flight began at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base Friday morning, and over the ensuing hours the piggyback pair made low-level flybys over scores of California cities and landmarks, many of which had direct ties to NASA's Space Shuttle Program over the past 40 years.Ironically, the flyover was scheduled to fly right over our studios at KHITS 92.1, so my news and traffic reporter, Christine Reckford and I decided to broadcast from the stations rooftop and watch the flight while on the air.   After waiting all morning with a no show shuttle, we decided to call Nasa and find out what was causing the delay.    To our delight, we got to speak to Michael Curie,  Nasa's premiere spokesperson who was actually on board the 747.  This is that interview.Photo:  Courtesy of Google Arts & Culture

It was a delight to have country singer Randy Travis visit with us in studio at KRAK AM/FM while he was still healthy and a vibrant star in the country music industry.  He was with his then wife/manager who was recovering from a broken leg and resting in our lounge while we visited with Randy.   Later, he would suffer a terrible stroke that would incapacitate him for years and rob him of his singing voice.   However, in this interview, Randy as you'll hear, was sitting on top of the world.Photo courtesy of: The Boot

As half of the lead singers of the group Animotion, Bill Wadham shares his wonderful story of success from writing songs to teaming up with his singing partner Astrid Plane for great songs like "Obsession", "Let Him Go", "I Engineer" , and "Room to Move:"A genuine guy with a humble attitude, Bill shares a story about meeting a fan who thought Bill must be a millionaire since he's got a hit record and is on TV.....it was far from the truth.  Share his bumpy ride to the top and how it all happened with my interview with Bill on 101.5 KHITS.

He's in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and yet he is one of the nicest artists I've ever had the privilege of interviewing on my show.    Felix was creating bands as a teen and by 1965 struck gold when he put together his magical group - The Rascals.  Singing lead on hits like "Good Lovin', Groovin, A Girl Like You, A Beautiful Morning and People Got To Be Free, it's easy to understand his amazing success.Coming to town for a show, I got to share some time with Felix on my show and it was an interview I'll never forget.   Check it out...I think you'll like it.....alot.

You've probably seen him countless times on TV sharing his almost mystical connection with every type of dog imaginable.  From unruly biters, to those scared and timid animals hiding under the bed.  His understanding of how to correct their behaviour truly makes him one of a kind in translating a dogs thought process into one we humans can understand and relate to.In this interview, you'' learn about a huge secret Cesar had and a celebrity who helped him overcome it and because who he is today.   Please forgive an intermittent  slight hum that we unfortunately picked up on the day of our interview.   Although it might be a bit distracting, we feel that what he has to share is worth listening to regardless.   We hope you do too.

Ken Burns widely known documentary series include The CIvil War, Baseball, The National Parks, The Roosevelts, Country Music and more including the purpose of this particular interview to promote his program - The War.   Nominated for two Academy Awards,  one for The Brooklyn Bridge and the other for The Statue of Liberty,  it's easy to understand why audiences and critics alike love his style of story telling using static photographs that his cameras pan and zoom in on with such precision and smoothness that the procedure has been named the Ken Burns Effect.With all his success, I found Ken to be a down to earth, humble and very interesting person to visit with.  I hope you do too.

Like Gary Busey, Annabella Lwin says what's on her mind and has no problem correcting what she perceives as a slight during an interview.   The Burmese singer was discovered at the age of about 13 singing in a dry cleaner and eventually became the lead singer for Bow Wow Wow.   By 14, the band was using nude pictures of her on their album covers much to the disdain of her mother and Scotland Yard.   Later, the band would fire her without any notice and she'd learn about it reading the trades.   That said, she continues to  perform and was on my show to promote a big Rewind Fest show she would be appearing in at Thunder Valley.  Listen and see if you can count how many times Annabella  says I got it wrong with my questions.   Fun Stuff.

Of all the celebrities I've interviewed on the radio over the past 51 years, I must admit that Gary Busey was the strangest.   I had been warned that he was unpredictable, and could be argumentative and brash.   Even so, he still surprised me with his outbursts about facts that I had wrong, the Catholic Church and lots of other surprises.   His segment was so startling at times, that before we aired the interview, we prepared a promo that aired teasing the fact that is there any question that Joey can ask Gary that he might get right?  It was a funny way to prepare the audience for an intriguing visit with an unusual man.

Fran Drescher is an American actress, comedian, writer and activist who is best known for her role as Fran Fine in the TV hit Sitcom - The Nanny (1993-1999).From countless movie roles, Fran even found time to debut on Broadway in Cinderella as stepmother Madame.  A uterine cancer survivor, she[s an outspoken healthcare advocate and LBGT rights activist.   I found her to be a wonderful, friendly and gracious guest who I was delighted to share some time with on my show.

In the early morning hours of September 1, 1985, Dr. Robert Ballard and his team on board the Woods Hole ship R/V Knorr, made maritime history with their discovery of the long lost wreckage of the RMS Titanic.   The find stunned the world and made Dr. Ballard a household name over night. On my show to promote his then new CD Rom program "Titanic: Challenge of Discovery", Dr. Ballard graciously recalls those amazing first moments when he and his team realized what they had found and what their emotions were, at the moment.

On October 8, 1956, baseball history was made and the record still stands - the only perfect game pitched in a world series and the amazing feat was accomplished by my guest - Yankees pitcher Don Larson.   Some might argue that the record was broken by Phillies pitcher Roy Hallady when he threw a no hitter against the Reds on October 6, 2010, but that  was game one of the National League Division Series...a playoff game, not a world series game.  Don was in town to promote his new book and sign some autographs, so in the morning we talked via telephone on my show and then later I dropped by the event to meet him and he kindly signed a baseball that I still own.  I think you'll be impressed with how charming and funny he was recalling all the events of that very special day and how his teammates were afraid to talk to him and break the spell.   

We had the pleasure of having Country Music Superstar Loretta Lynn visit us in studio one morning to promote her latest album and her autobiographical movie - "Coal Miner's Daughter".   I think you'll be as impressed with her geniune kindness and honesty as we were.She even took time to talk to listeners who were beside themselves to be able to chat with the music legend.

World famous fight promoter Don King called me for an interview to promote a big heavyweight championship bout designed to unify  the WBA, WBC and IBF titles into one championship between Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis.  Like most of Kings promotions, this one ended in a huge controversy.    Listen to the very upbeat and well spoken fight promoter who's been sued by most of his fighters from Mike Tyson to Lennox Lewis.   With all that said....he's really hard to dislike.   

Ice skating since whe was 8 years old, Dorothy Hamil won her first national success in 1969 taking the novice ladies title at the U.S. Championships at age 12.  By 1976, at the Winter Olympics, she came in second in the figures and then won the short and long programs taking gold home for the United States.  She is the last single skater to win the Olympics without a triple jump.  How?  By creating a new skating move - a camel spin that turns into a sit spin which became known as the Hamil Camel.  Her short and sassy hair style became a national sensation and by the 70's the media had dubbed her "America's Sweetheart".  I think you'll agree when you hear how sweet she really is in our interview.   

He started writing books in 1965, because his wife got a job working nights at their local police department. After feeding the kids and putting them to bed, Clive was bored and wanted something to do.  That simple desire turned him into one of the most successful and prolific fiction writers in the world.  I have tons of his books and haven't even scratched the surface of all the ones that he has written.  Add to that his underwater research company, NUMA, that has discovered over 60 shipwrecks, and a classic car collection to die for, and you've got a great interview.  Check it out, Clive Cussler will NOT disappoint you.

As a child he starred as Danny Partridge on the TV show The Partridge Family.   By his own admission, Danny's from such a dysfuntional family that his co-star Shirley Jones allowed him to stay at her home in order to avoid his difficult home life at the hands of his abusive father.  Later in life, Danny became a black belt in Karate and found himself  in trouble with the law.  We talk about it all on this interview where he is accompanied by his then girlfriend and now his wife Amy Railsback who's from Rocklin and Roseville where I live.  Check out this awesome talent who's overcome so much to become the stable actor, comedian, producer and radio talent that he is today.  

She's so real, that when you interview her, you have to keep reminding yourself that she's a superstar.  Maybe it's because we're both from New York, but I felt so comfortable talking with Cyndi and asking her anything.  I just knew she'd give me a truthful answer without giving it much thought.  We cover everything from her beginnings to even her venture into world wrestling.    Sit back relax and get set to smile with our visit with the legendary Cyndi Lauper.

Back in 1965, Adrian Cronauer volunteered for a transfer to Vietnam  because he wanted to travel!!    As a member of Armed Forces Radio in Saigon, Cronauer was assigned to the morning show entitled "Dawn Buster" because it started at 6am.  He coined the phrase "Goooooood Morning Vietnam" to start every show and became a legend.  His story reached Robin Williams who thought it would make a great feature film starring him.  In my interview, you'll hear from Adrian, what he thought of the Vietnam, the movie and Robin Williams.  It's worth a listen just to hear his amazing voice and his rendition of the actual catch phrase.

Can you imagine being selected to co-host one of America's most successful TV shows along with Ryan Seacrest and resigning after the first year?   That's exactly what Brian Dunkleman did and obviously I had a ton of questions for him beginning with WHY?He's become a stand up comic and is pretty funny.  Check him out with this latest edition of Celebrity Interviews with Joey Mitchell

They met as kids and  yet Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield would go on to become superstars in the world of music with songs like "You've Lost That Loving Feeling"  Unchained Melody" and so many more.  Then tragedy struck and suddenly Bobby was gone.  Bill relives that night with me and the loneliness that followed.   You'll hear how after so many friends and fans suggested Bill find another singing partner to revive the Righteous Brothers...he finally did.  His honest, frank and revealing interview is one you don't want to miss.

Born in Honduras, one of eighteen kids, Carlos had to really speak out to make himself known, and that he did.   His political, racial, comedy stems from his Latino upbringing and childhood spent in East L.A. Unfortunately for Carlos, Comedian, actor and Podcaster Joe Rogen called Mencia out with accusations of plagerism against the comic that resulted in Carlos seeking mental health help. At the time of this interview, I had no idea of the pending charges of plagerism and therefore don't address them.  It's just a funny, straightforward comedy interview that I hope you enjoy.

He's the teen idol star of the fifties and sixties that never wanted a show business career, much less a teen idol singer but that's what happened to him anyway.  While sitting on his house steps as a 14 year old kid watching an ambulance take his father to the hospital after a heart attack, Fabian is approached by a record producer looking for a kid with great looks to make into the next star from Philly like Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell and others.  Fabian is shocked and annoyed with this guy who doesn't seem to realize his dad's in the ambulance. Weeks later when dad is home, the producer returns and this time Fabian takes him up on the offer.  It was a wise decision that would propel the kid into an international recording artist and movie star.  This is the interview you don't want to miss.

When  one of our most fun studio interviews took place with the outrageous Bobcat Goldthwait, we had no idea of the controversy he would be embroilded in,  soon after his appearance.  We explain what happened and how he actually became a convicted arsonist because of his crazy behavior on a TV show after our studio interview.  However, on our show, we talked with Bobcat about everything from his friend Robin Williams heart surgery to Bobcat's recent bizarre medical procedure and all hilariously funny - of course!This is a must hear visit with a classic and very talented comic...Bobcat Boldthwait.