Who the F*** is Roger Smith?!?

We're now just two months into the second Trump presidency and many among us are reeling. Tariffs have been levied, unlevied and then levied again. Entire government departments have been emptied out. Experts in everything from weather to health have been let go. Our allies are concerned if not outright scared. Oh, and have you gone egg shopping lately? So, it's time to find out what Roger thinks of all this. After all, in Roger's storied career he's been amongst political movers and shakers and even former presidents. Here you'll find out what Roger thinks about a businessman who failed at running casinos now making wholesale changes to our government. It's an enlightening conversation to say the least. And make sure you stay until the very end to find out what Roger thinks about the latest Menedez brothers' news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024 is over and we're facing 2025 with a new administration in Washington. As The Who once said “Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss. We thought it's time to get Roger's take on all this. Do we make like a celebrity and leave the country? What's a second Trump term going to be like? What are his cabinet appointments going to be like? Just why is Trump so popular in the first place? Roger has a unique perspective and it's a very timely and interesting listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Regular listeners to this podcast will remember that Roger testified in the first trial of the infamous Menendez brothers who were convicted of murdering their parents José and Kitty Menendez. Now there's a Netflix series based on the case and there's even the possibility Lyle and Erik may have their sentences shortened. Roger knew the family and worked with José at Live Entertainment. We thought it was time to get his take everything. It was a defining event in Roger's life and it makes for a fascinating podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For his final episode Roger takes us all to the ultimate wrap party at his favorite haunt - Elaine's. The legendary restaurant hosted by its equally legendary namesake, Elaine Kaufman, from 1963 to 2011 and attracted luminaries such as Woody Allen, Tome Wolfe, Leonard Bernstein, Mick Jagger and many, many others. Those are just the raw facts. But Roger makes us feel like we're in the room with him amidst all the glitz, glamor and gossip of a long ago New York. It's our last ride with Roger and he makes it a memorable one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roger's talked a lot about movies; what he thinks of them and what it was like being in the movie business. But here he tells us how how he fell in love with the medium in the first place. From being taken to theaters by his mother to going to Boston's famous art-houses while at Harvard. And there's a lot more including the film Disney has kept hidden, the movie Warner Bros honcho Steve always wanted to remake and the film he predicted would be a smash that an old industry hand thought would fail. And Roger tells us how he thinks we'll watch movies in the future - in theaters? streaming? Listen in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As you well know by now, Roger has met some amazing people. Some famous, some not. But there is one woman who stands above the rest. You'll hear tales of Cuban exiles, dancing, operas, glamorous apartments in several countries and a lost diamond earring miraculously recovered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In one of our most popular podcasts (season 1 episode 4) Roger told us how he came to testify at the Menendez Brothers murder trial. He had a unique perspective on one of the most famous trials on the 20th Century. Now Netflix has announced it will dramatize the events in a film produced by Ryan Murphy. Naturally we wanted to get Roger's take on all this and who he wants to play him in the movie! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here's a quick take on a present day conundrum. Is today's "woke" culture eliminating unflattering depictions of certain cultures and groups? Is our history in danger of being erased? Roger has his own take on it all. He remembers how some very old photographs got him in a spot of trouble way back in the 1980s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's nothing like having to make a decision. In life and in business, making the right choice can mean everything. Here Roger tells us about some of his decisions as well as those made by savvy businessmen. But first he tells us how his own decision to impress someone by picking up the check at dinner almost went awry. You'll learn how his father decided what brand of car to buy and how someone as successful as George Soros picked what sort of businesses to invest in. There's lots to learn here, not to mention - why some Jews have Christmas trees! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roger takes us back to the days when cable TV and stations like MTV and Nickelodeon were the cutting edge of the entertainment business. Those were the days when Roger worked with and became fast friends with legendary Warner Brothers head Steve Ross. Roger tells us how Ross was not only business savvy but generous and gracious as well. Rare traits in big corporations these days. Roger also tells us his days selling encyclopedias and how it led to a friendship with Quincy Jones. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No, Roger doesn't play the violin, but he does know a lot about the music business. Here he tells us about buying a chain of record stores back when that was how most people bought their music. It's a very colorful tale involving a mobster and such arcane terms as "rack jobbing." He also explains how something Danny DeVito said turned out to be good business advice. You'll also hear about his wise sister the talent agent and how he and his sister wound up watching Sigfried & Roy and George Burns in one night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you follow the business end of show business you've no doubt heard about the film libraries own by various companies. Here Roger takes us behind the scenes of acquiring these valuable properties and how they can be leveraged. And although today you can get your entertainment via cable companies, streaming sites and even DVDs, Roger explains how no matter what the technology is, the basics of business remain the same. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As you know by now, Roger's had some amazing experiences in show business, the arts and theater. But this is the first time he talks about sports. He remembers watching the great Sugar Ray Robinson box as well as what eventually turned him off about the sport. Roger also explains why even though he lives in New York, he's not a Mets or Yankees fan. He also tells how he helped bring soccer legend Pele to the Big Apple and Roger goes on to explain his father's rules for betting on horses Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As you've no doubt already realized, Roger knows his way around the spoken word. But he's had some success with the written word as well. In fact, Roger's been published by some pretty famous magazines such as Esquire, Playboy and the showbiz staple,Variety. But not always under his own name. He'll explain why a nom de plume may come in handy at times as well as some of the things he wanted to educate his readers about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once known primarily for potato farms and fishing, the area on the east part of Long Island known as "The Hamptons" is now considered one of the most exclusive areas in the country. It's the kind of real estate where if you have to ask the price you can't afford it. Roger knows it well and here he tells us what it was like there years ago and what celebrities now call it home as well as where they like to eat. He even tells about the time he was hitchhiking and was picked up by a very famous author. It's a fascinating look at a very posh zip code. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roger is no stranger to the pleasures of the grape. In this episode he tells us about some of the very interesting people he's imbibed with. Plus he tells us several pieces of advice he's received while drinking wine as well as advice about ordering wine. And then there's the time he he almost had to pay for a super expensive bottle of the vintage stuff. As they say:"In Vino Veritas." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're taking a break from our usual format with this episode in which Roger speaks with an old pal - John Berendt. The author of the best-selling non-fiction book "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" tells Roger what it's like to deal with editors and publishers, when he knew he had a hit on his hand and what it was like to travel the country doing publicity. John Berendt also acknowledges the role luck had in his success. Roger asks him about future novels and finds out what book of Berendt's only took an hour to write. It's a fascinating discussion and you'll only hear it here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here Roger fills us in on actress Merisa Berenson, who he first met when she was in prep school, just before she starred in "Barry Lyndon." One of the most beautiful women of her time, Roger became her protector of sorts, keeping the likes of Ginacarlo Giananni at a respectful distance. And speaking of "Barry Lyndon," Roger explains how its famously idiosyncratic director Stanley Kubrick grew to trust his advice. No easy trick. Then it's on to another Hollywood legend - Warren Beatty. Despite Beatty's reputation as a womanizer, Roger found out he's quite the family man. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During Roger's days at Warner Brothers there was no one more important in the company's roster of talent than Clint Eastwood. He was easy to work with and his pictures made money. Roger tells us how Warners' efforts to show its appreciation could be a little awkward at times. Then Roger tells us about his dealings with the "mad genius" Dennis Hopper. The "Easy Rider" star had his wild side to be sure, but he also had a keen eye for fine art. And wait until you hear the story about Dennis' daughter... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you thought that Roger had run out of stories about the celebrities he's met in the previous episode, fear not. Here he tells us about giving valuable financial advice to Candace Bergen and the time he tried to get financing for a Robert Altman movie. He also fills us in on Robert Altman's wife and the wheeling and dealing that goes on at the Cannes Film Festival. Turns out there's more going on there than red-carpets and fancy parties. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many of us have had at least one random encounter with a celebrity we'll remember forever, even if the celebrity won't. Roger's certainly had his share and here he tells us about two in particular. First there's the time Harrison Ford went out of his way to introduce Roger to the a capella group known as The Persuasions which then led to Roger meeting the group in New York. Then Roger tells us about the time Richard Gere needed some financial help while in Paris. We'll let Roger tell you the rest of the story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roger told us a few episodes ago about some of his dealings with the theater and here he goes into greater detail, starting with how he became enamored of stage productions as a boy. Both his parents were active in regional theater. He remembers when shows had out-of-town tryouts before opening on Broadway and he also remembers legends such as Elaine May, Peter Flak and even Maggie Smith perform. And as head of Warner Theater Production he got to fund shows and deal with the likes of Mike Nichols, Jules Pfeiffer and Hal Prince. He even tells us of his idea to keep the theater alive and going. If only someone would take him up on it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roger takes us behind the scenes at a Hollywood poker game where he meets and strikes up a long lasting friendship with filmmaker and actor Robert Downey Sr. You may be more familiar with his son, Robert Downey Jr, star of "Iron Man" and soon to be seen in "Oppenheimer." But Robert Downey Sr. is best known for writing and directing "Putney Swope" - a satire of the New York advertising world, as well as other underground films of the 1960s. Roger remembers when Robert Downey Jr. held a party for his father's 75th birthday and Roger sat next to another director he admires - Paul Thomas Anderson. It's another fascinating look at Hollywood's movers and shakers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It seems Roger has wanted to be a philanthropist since he was in school and found out what the word means. And the best part was that he got to give away somebody's else's money. It happened during his days at Warners when the company was flush with cash from its Atari video game division and eager to do good. If you know what happened to Atari then you know that the money didn't last long. But Roger managed to help out the likes of the Kennedy Center and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. But it wasn't all about money - there were fancy parties filled with celebrities and artists and plenty of glamour to go around. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the perks of Roger's days at Warners was the company was so diverse he got to not only interact with filmmakers but also people involved in Broadway musicals. In the first part of this special double episode Roger remembers working with the legenday Broadway producer David Merrick.who was trying to put together the musical 42nd Street.But first he had to secure the song rights from an old Warner Brothers movie. And things got even more complex for Merrick when the show's director and choreographer died at a very inconvenient time. And in part 2 Roger remembers his days in Harvard's legendary Hasty Pudding club and how its members thought they were punking stage legend Ethel Merman, only to have her get one up on them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During his days at the Criterion Collection Roger helped pioneer the director's comments now so common on DVDs. But these were on laser discs, way before DVDs came along. Roger tells what it was like to get a famous auteur like Orson Welles to help publicize the laser disc version of "Citizen Kane." Needless to say an offer of food was involved and Roger found out that his hero had feet of clay. He also tells us what it was like to deal with Barbra Streisand on the laser disc version of "Prince of Tides" and why you make want to think twice before doing any business with "Babs." Plus we'll hear about the other Roger Smiths, yes there are others, but they're nowhere near as interesting as ours. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here Roger explains how he wound up on the red carpet at the Oscars with a Playboy model as his date! He didn't even own a tux at the time but that didn't matter. Roger then tells us of his Army days in Germany during JFK's historical visit there and how the Germans' opinion of the president differed sharply with those of some of his fellow soldiers - a difference that resulted in fisticuffs. Roger also remembers when JFK visited during his days at Harvard and there's also a story about Roger meeting Jackie at a party and how she was "saved" by Norman Mailer of all people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roger takes us back to his days at Carolco Pictures, the "little" movie studio behind the Rambo and Terminator movies. He also has tales of a Stallone power grab, how Schwarzegger got his own airplane and the company's founders Mario Kassar and Andrew Vajna. Roger also vividly describes movie studio accounting and why you should beware of it, plus dealing with tax lawyers and the likes of Richard Donner and William Peter Blatty. Once you listen you'll feel like a Hollywood insider yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roger begins this episode by explaining what led to the downfall of former HBO honcho Michael Fuchs. You'd think the guy who brought such hits to HBO as "Sex and the City" and "The Sopranos" couldn't be fired, but then, this is Hollywood after all. Roger then fills us in on the man he worked closely with at Warner Brothers - Steve Ross. Roger has insight into what made Ross successful as well as one of his ideas that went belly-up even though it involved Steven Spielberg's hit "E.T." and the then successful video game company Atari. It's a behind the scenes account you can't get anywhere else. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode Roger gives us a behind the scenes look at the money side of the movie business and explains why it's the one business where getting fired may be a step up. Plus Barbra Streisand's not so great movie idea and what he thinks of young up and comer Jason Blum. But that's not all - Roger tells about the times he went out with Diane Keaton. It's strange how she's now an AARP cover girl because Roger says she's "eternally young." But did all his time with her lead to anything? You'll have to listen to find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode first takes us to a dinner party where Roger not only has dinner cooked by Danny Kaye, he also gets into a discussion about the true meaning of the word "amateur" with dance legend Mikhail Baryshnikov. Roger then tells us about Robert Redford and how the Sundance Film Festival grew from an outgrowth of the Sundance Institute to a place where studios now go to make deals worth millions. Roger also tells us what Redford would think of the festival now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roger finds himself and other high-flying Warner execs in glamorous Monaco - for business reasons of course. There are not one but two princesses - Caroline and Grace. Small talk leads to a possible return to filmmaking after a 25-year absence for Princess Grace in a remake of William Wyler's brilliant 1936 film Dodsworth and maybe even a rendezvous in Paris. But fate intervenes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roger explains how his early days with the Criterion Collection led to the bonus audio tracks on DVDs. He also talks about working at the studio home of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mel Gibson and his very frank discussion with former president Ford. You'll also hear what Roger thought of a very young Jimmy Carter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roger recounts some bidding wars against the likes of Michael Jackson and an associate of Frank Sinatra. He also tells how Old Blue eyes did him a huge favor as well as a secret the Sinatra family would probably not want you to hear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roger tells how he went from majoring in Modern European History to working with one of the most powerful entertainment executives of all time, as well as an ill-fated video game based on a Steven Spielberg film. He also explains how he helped changed opera for the better and what happened to all those Atari video game cassettes you used to play with. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As if Roger's life wasn't interesting enough, he also chose to testify at the famous Menendez brothers murder trial. It's an aspect of the famous murder case you've never heard before and Roger explains how he had an inside look at the tragic family. He also explains how Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne figured into it all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roger Smith is the most interesting person you've never heard of. He's worked with and met some of the most famous and powerful people in entertainment and politics and lived through some amazing times. He's also quite modest, but host Bill McCuddy gets Roger to name names and tell some truly fascinating stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices