Podcasts about kicking through

The Married with Children Podcast is beyond thrilled to talk to Ritch Shydner this week who played Luke Ventura, Al's original co-worker at the shoe store in Season 1!  Ritch is originally from Pennsville, New Jersey and has made numerous guest appearances on late-night TV as a comic since 1979. Besides playing Al Bundy's co-worker on Married with Children, he has worked as a writer and producer.  He has appeared in Designing Women, Roseanne and feature films such as Beverly Hills Cop II. Ritch has written for Roseanne, The Jeff Foxworthy Show, and HBO's The Mind of the Married Man. In 2006, he compiled stories of comedians on the road for a book entitled I Killed: True Stories of the Road from America's Top Comics, which he co-wrote with Mark Schiff.  More recently, in 2017, he authored Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life as a Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom.  He has been described as “an incredibly funny observational comedian” by the likes of Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, Jeff Foxworthy and Bill Maher. Luigi and Chris talk to him about his early life, his career in standup comedy, his television and film appearances, and of course his time on Married with Children, along with much much more!  You can learn more about Ritch on his website at http://www.ritchshydner.com/.   So let's all take up our normal seats in the nudie bar, grab your beverage of choice, and listen in to the "Answer Man" Ritch Shydner!  You WILL NOT want to miss this interview!

Interview: I am joined by legendary stand-up comedian and author, Ritch Shydner. Ritch is one of the most well-respected funny people in the world. Ritch is not only a hilarious stand-up comic but a comedian historian as well. His book Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-Up In the 1980s Comedy Boom is considered a classic alongside I Killed which chronicles true stories from America's top comics. Rich also produced the movie I Am Comic which explores the world of stand-up comedy.  Ritch shares a ton of amazing stories with me. Including his times on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, working with Jackie Martling, working with Steve Martin, Bill Hicks, Eddie Murphy, Tim Allen, Jerry Seinfeld, Rodney Dangerfield, Jeff Foxworthy, and Sam Kinnison. I also get Ritch to share some of his acting adventures with me that include a season of Married with Children, Roxanne with Steve Martin, Beverly Hills Cop II with Eddie Murphy and so much more.  This is a must for all lovers of stand-up comedy! Our Guest, Ritch Shydner http://www.ritchshydner.com/ https://www.facebook.com/shydnercomedy  https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0796121/  Kicking Through the Ashes  and I Killed (Ritch's books): https://www.amazon.com/Ritch-Shydner/e/B01LYU98OX?ref_=dbs_p_pbk_r00_abau_000000  I Am Comic (movie): https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B00UE91GQ4/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r  In Memory of Ed Asner Ed Asner Family Center: http://teafc.org  Award-winning podcast! Live From Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show: WINNER TOP 25 INDIE PODCASTS 2020 from Indie Pods United! Live From Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show:  1st Annual Snobby Awards: WINNER: Best Comedy Podcast, Best Interview Podcast, and Podcaster of the year! JOIN OUR MAILING LIST!  https://jeffisfunny.com/mailing-list/ Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/JeffDwoskinShow Jeff Dwoskin Presents: Crossing the Steams: Every Wednesday at 9:30 PM ET we are LIVE discussing the best TV shows to binge-watch. I'm joined by a panel of TV-watching experts. You don't want to miss the fun! (Watch past episodes) Watch Crossing the Steams LIVE: @bigmacher on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/bigmacher The Jeff Dwoskin Show on YouTube Subscribe to YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/CTSYouTubeSubscribe Hashtag Fun: Jeff dives into recent trends and reads some of his favorite tweets from trending hashtags. The hashtag featured in this episode is #ComedyCereals Social Media: Jeff discusses the importance of engagement and making sure you focus on the social part of social media. Featured on the show: Hashtag Game: #ComedyCereals Hosted by: https://twitter.com/sneakyvarmint  Tweets featured on the show: https://twitter.com/MeatBlankett/status/1416236786867531777?s=20 https://twitter.com/thefontsavant/status/1416237005495734273?s=20 https://twitter.com/hgmackinnon/status/1416238414786072579?s=20 https://twitter.com/LuiReserve/status/1416239273423122432?s=20 https://twitter.com/laughingskull59/status/1416239592483610627?s=20 https://twitter.com/1cleancat/status/1416239642983243780?s=20 https://twitter.com/zen_aradia/status/1416239754832646147?s=20 https://twitter.com/hgmackinnon/status/1416239892158459907?s=20 https://twitter.com/Ronzo65/status/1416241190379401224?s=20 https://twitter.com/mamecastle/status/1416242027742724099?s=20 https://twitter.com/FreudLuv/status/1416242796172820480?s=20 https://twitter.com/badLwithbadLcat/status/1416246799283671043?s=20 https://twitter.com/TopherPhilanges/status/1416248698892337152?s=20 https://twitter.com/nathanhickey10/status/1416248769235013633?s=20  Follow Hashtag Roundup to tweet along with fun hashtags daily! https://twitter.com/HashtagRoundup Download the Hashtag Roundup app at https://app.hashtagroundup.com/ Follow Jeff Dwoskin: Jeff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bigmacher The Jeff Dwoskin Show: https://twitter.com/JeffDwoskinShow Podcast website: https://jeffisfunny.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/JeffDwoskinShow The Jeff Dwoskin Show is available on Castbox, Podchaser, Humbly, Goodpods,  iHeart Radio, Pandora, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Stitcher, and more!  

If you’re a comic, you most likely own a copy of “I Killed: True Stories of the Road from America’s Top Comics,” a book of short stories compiled by comedy legend Ritch Shydner. Over a 30-year career, Ritch has seen it all and done it all. We met after I read (and loved) his second book, “Kicking Through the Ashes.” We discuss his books, doing comedy at a time when it wasn’t even called “stand-up” yet, the comedy boom of the 80s, open-mics to being on Carson, and hanging with Dangerfield.Pat House is a nationally-touring comedian based out of Philadelphia. A regular performer in comedy clubs, casinos, and theaters all over the country, Pat has been a choice opener for Sebastian Maniscalco, Tom Segura, and Dan Cummins. He recorded his first album Biggest Thing in 2013, and his latest album Heard Enough Yesterday, hit #1 on the iTunes comedy charts. Both can be heard on iTunes, Amazon and Pandora.Ritch's new book, Kicking Through The Ashes: My Life as a Stand-up in the 1980's Comedy Explosion, is OUT NOW! Read a story from the book here..In the 1980s, Ritch made numerous appearances on TV, including Late Night with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with both Johnny Carson and Jay Leno. He did an HBO half-hour special, “One Night Stand.”He played Al Bundy’s co-worker on “Married with Children”, and made guest appearances on many other TV shows, such as “Designing Women” and “Roseanne.”Ritch was able to translate his modest success on TV into an obscure film career, appearing in Steve Martin’s, "Roxanne," and Eddie Murphy's, "Beverly Hills Cop II," before moving on to minor roles on smaller pictures.Ritch wrote for sitcoms such as "Roseanne", "The Jeff Foxworthy Show," and HBO’s “The Mind of the Married Man.”Ritch wrote material for Jeff Foxworthy’s Grammy-nominated comedy albums, “Totally Committed,” and “Big Fun.” He also wrote for Ron White and Jay Leno.In 2006 Ritch was co-author of a book on stand-up, “I Killed”.In 2010 Ritch produced and performed in an award-winning documentary on the world of stand-up comedy, “I Am Comic”.Currently, Ritch is writing a movie adaptation for HBO of Bill Maher's book, "True Story".

Steve Cooper talks with comic Ritch Shydner. Ritch has made numerous appearances on TV, including Late Night with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with both Johnny Carson and Jay Leno and has done an HBO comedy special. He also played Al Bundy's co-worker on Married with Children, made guest appearances on shows such as Roseanne and Designing Women was seen in movies like Roxanne and Beverly Hills Cop II. His writing credits include The Mind of the Married Man, Roseanne and The Jeff Foxworthy Show and recently wrote the movie adaption for Bill Maher's book True Story. In 2010 he produced and starred in the award winning documentary I Am Comic and in 2016 he released his second book Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life as a Stand-up in the 80's Comedy Explosion. He currently is touring the country performing his one man show, America's Reflection in the Fun House Mirror: A History of Stand-up Comedy.

Today's Guest: Peter Shankman, public relations guru 1 of 3   There are a handful of people that social media aficionados and professionals follow religiously for their insight and direction, people such as Chris Brogan, Seth Godin and Robert Scoble, for example. If you know who those guys are, you should probably also get to know social media guru Peter Shankman. Shankman is an industry unto himself, a networker of the first degree who has taken the practice of public relations and marketing to new heights via his mastery of social media. He is best known in journalism circles as the founder of Help A Reporter Out—a.k.a., HARO—a repository of expert sources intended to help out last minute reporting assignments. Journalists send information requests in to HARO—more than 1,200 requests come in a week—and Shankman hooks them up. Shankman also is the founder and CEO of The Geek Factory, a Manhattan-based marketing and PR strategy firm. Over the years, his clients have included Snapple, NASA, Walt Disney World and many more. Peter Shankman Website • Help A Reporter Out • Geek Factory • Twitter • Facebook 2 of 3   3 of 3 Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!   The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Bill Engvall, comedian   Bill Engvall, image via Wikipedia Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of TV stars who haven’t updated their blogs since September 29, 2008… in the new new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Don’t tell my wife, but I’ve watched those Blue Collar Comedy standup specials on Comedy Central starring Bill Engvall, Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy and Ron White about a hundred times. I usually catch them on the little TV in the kitchen while I eat lunch. It doesn’t matter that I already know the jokes and the punchlines – and you know that Larry is always going to be the punchline when they’re together. BILL ENGVALL audio excerpt: "Unfortunately, no, I'm not the love interest (for Jada Pinkett's Smith's character on 'Hawthorne')... If I had my pick, it would be Michael Vartan. But I had a great time with Marc Anthony." These four guys are like a 21st century version of the Three Stooges to my way of thinking. Not in terms of looks or slapping each other around, but because there’s no way a guy can justify to his wife or girlfriend how hard they make you laugh. And like his Blue Collar comedian compadres, Bill Engvall has made a real industry of this Blue Collar business. He sells out comedy tours, has published a book, done movies, and starred in a sitcom under his own name on the Tyler Perry channel – I mean TBS. Now he’s stretching the brand even further in a most unlikely way – guest starring on three episodes of Jada Pinkett Smith’s TNT drama series, “Hawthorne.” Engvall’s second appearance as Det. Jimmy Dupree airs Tuesday, June 28 at 10 p.m. Bill Engvall Website • Blog • iPhone app • Facebook • Twitter • MySpace • Hawthorne on TNT • Lingo on GSN Order 'Here's Your Sign' by Blue Collar comedian Bill Engvall, available on DVD from Amazon.com by clicking on the box cover above! Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Eugene Mirman, comedian, author, The Will to Whatevs, actor, "Flight of the Conchords," "Bob's Burgers" Order "The Will to Whatevs" by comedian Eugene Mirman, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! Eugene Mirman is one of the driest comedians I’ve ever encountered. He’s so droll, so subtle, that at first it’s difficult to detect if he’s on or really believes what he’s saying. Here’s a hint: he’s on. Mirman, who you may know from his guest appearances on the HBO show “Flight of the Concords” or his appearances on the comedy web site, 23/6, is promoting his first book, The Will to Whatevs: A Guide to Modern Life. Eugene Mirman Website • Facebook • Twitter • IMDB • Order The Will to Whatevs from Amazon.com Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Howard Finberg, director, NewsU, The Poynter Institute   Howard Finberg, NewsU, Poynter Institute You may not know my guest today by name, but it’s safe to say that if you read an English-language newspaper anywhere in the world, Howard Finberg is having at least an indirect effect on its content. Finberg is Director of Interactive Learning for NewsU, the online training and education arm of The Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida. That’s where I am today, in fact. NewsU has enjoyed explosive growth since opening its virtual doors on April 11, 2005. Starting with just a few courses and little more than word of mouth advertising, the mostly free training for journalists now has thirty-five courses and 35,000 registered users. In the interest of complete disclosure, I have often worked on assignment for The Poynter Institute and even wrote two white papers and the script for an animated video for NewsU. In fact, I wrote the following Dr. Seuss-inspired rhyme, which Howard himself recorded for NewsU: You can do it wearing a hat. You can do it with your cat. You can do it at night, And you can do it when you look afright. You can do it when things are slow, Or when you can’t get the creative juices to flow. You can do it when mother’s not there, And you can do it in your underwear. Poynter Institute Website • Facebook • Twitter • Podcasts NewsU Website • Facebook • Twitter Howard Finberg Poynter Institute • Facebook • Twitter Order 'Values Craft American Journalism' by Roy Peter Clark of the Poynter Institute, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Parvesh Cheena, actor, "Outsourced" Anisha Nagarajan and Parvesh Cheena, stars of NBC's 'Outsourced' Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of people who may think they can top my Whack-a-Gupta score of 725… in the new new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! A few things I learned about “Gupta,” perhaps the nuttiest sitcom character on network TV in years: • He can’t drive. Not a bike, not a car. • He likes to watch. His boss. In bed. Sleeping. Not sleeping. • He loves the break room cookies. Sorry, Madhuri. Order from Amazon.com by clicking the DVD cover above! • He looks a lot like his glasses-wearing cousin. • He knows how to wear a giant ear and spy on his bosses. • And he can break into Bollywood-style song and dance at a moment’s notice. When “Outsourced” debuted on NBC last September, I have no doubt that Gupta – played to perfection by actor Parvesh Cheena – was one of the characters that set the tongues of TV critics wagging. He was a stereotype and not a good one at that they thought! But given some space to become a three-dimensional figure, Gupta was discovered to be the essence of sweetness, with a few necessary quirks. He could just as easily have been Kenneth the Page on “30 Rock” or even Creed on “The Office.” PARVESH CHEENA podcast excerpt: "I secretly always thought Gupta would one day be with Madhuri in a spinoff: 'Madhuri Tolerates Gupta.' As opposed to 'Joanie Loves Chachi.'" And as the actor playing Gupta, Cheena – like his goofy, guileless counterparts on other NBC Thursday night shows – had to let go of all inhibitions. He succeeded magnificently. Parvesh Cheena Website • Twitter • Order Outsourced: The Complete Season from Amazon.com  Parvesh Cheena, star of NBC's 'Outsourced'   Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Red Peters, comedian, singer, "It's A Red Peters Christmas! Volume 1," Howard Stern Show regular Order It's A Red Peters Christmas! Volume 1 [Explicit], available from Amazon.com by clicking on the CD cover above! Red Peters is back on Mr. Media today to celebrate Christmas his way -- which means putting in your earbuds and getting ready to laugh your ass off. We had such a good time playing Red’s salacious sounds over the summer that when he offered to spend an X-rated Christmas with Mr. Media, how could I refuse? RED PETERS audio excerpt: "I was home from college one year, up in my room wrapping Christmas presents. My mother came walking into my old room. I was smoking a joint and she said, 'Red, aren't you crazy enough without smokin' that sh!t?" In today’s show, we’ll play Red’s latest contributions to the grand canon of holiday tunes. So step aside, Little Drummer Boy. Cover your ears, Silent Night. And don’t come to town yet, Santa Claus. Here come his new instant classics “Have a Wonderful Hawaiian Christmas” and Red’s duet with comedian Margaret Cho, “The Christmas Gift.” We’ll also dip into the vault for a Red favorite from Christmases past, “Holy Sh!t! It’s Christmas.” If you don’t know who Red Peters is, here’s a quick recap: First of all, Red Peters is not his real name. He does, however, live and work in the Boston area. His great joy in writing snappy X-rated songs was recommended to the masses when radio legend Howard Stern first heard and featured him on his terrestrial show. At Sirius XM satellite radio, Howard gave Red his own show. Red Peters Website • Twitter • Facebook • MySpace • Song Snatch • Order It's A Red Peters Christmas from Amazon.com Order Ol' Blue Balls Is Back by Red Peters, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the CD cover above! More Howard Stern related interviews on Mr. Media Radio: Red Peters (June 2010) Stuttering John Melendez (April 2009) Stuttering John Melendez (March 2014; video) Mr. Skin (March 2011) Mr. Skin (March 2010) Mr. Skin (December 2009) Mr. Skin (October 2007) Robert Schimmel (June 2008) Robert Schimmel (April 2008) Lisa Lampanelli (June 2009) Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Red Peters, comedian, singer, Red Peters Presents The Summer Song Sizzler, Howard Stern Show regular Order Red Peters Presents The Summer Song Sizzler, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the CD cover above!   Red Peters’ dulcet tones have undoubted lulled you into listening to music that your mother would likely not approve of. The singer-songwriter takes standard, common melodies and gives them a hysterically filthy twist that makes you go, “What the f---?” And if you’ve never heard Peters’ work, let me be the first to introduce you to a few samples, including “You Promised Me the Moon (But I Prefer Uranus)." RED PETERS audio excerpt: "I did a phoner with Howard. I was on for 40 minutes. He played a little snatch—so to speak--of each song. When he played 'The Ballad of a Dog Named Stains,' Howard just loved it. He flipped out. Within several months, I was in his studio singing it live. We became friends from that point on. He injected quite a bit of life into the Red Peters Project, that's for sure." Red Peters came to the attention of America’s preeminent radio personality, Howard Stern, not long before Stern made the move from CBS to Sirius Satellite Radio five years ago. Stern created a place for him on his Howard 101 channel, where you can often hear Peters playing his own tunes and dirty music from a variety of other composers and performers. His latest CD, “Red Peters Presents: Summer Song Sizzler,” is available on iTunes and is full of charming ditties such as “Vagina” by Pig Vomit and “There’s a Homo in the Bunkhouse” by Bob Garrett’s “Banned.” A little later, I’ll play “The Sex Song” by TastiSkank. Red Peters Website • Twitter • Facebook • MySpace • Song Snatch • Order It's A Red Peters Christmas from Amazon.com Order Ol' Blue Balls Is Back by Red Peters, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the CD cover above! More Howard Stern related interviews on Mr. Media Radio: Red Peters (June 2010) Stuttering John Melendez (April 2009) Stuttering John Melendez (March 2014; video) Mr. Skin (March 2011) Mr. Skin (March 2010) Mr. Skin (December 2009) Mr. Skin (October 2007) Robert Schimmel (June 2008) Robert Schimmel (April 2008) Lisa Lampanelli (June 2009) Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!   The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Peter Golenbock, In The Country of Brooklyn, American Prince: A Memoir Order from Amazon.com by clicking the book above   Order from Amazon.com by clicking the book above You Midwesterners may disagree, but I don’t think there is any single place in this country more representative of the soul of America than Brooklyn and New Jersey. And the fact that I was born in the former and raised in the latter doesn’t color my thinking at all. Both are cultural, ethnic and racial melting pots dating back to the earliest days of the original 13 colonies. But only one is featured as a world onto itself in a new book by my guest, Peter Golenbock. In The Country of Brooklyn is a remarkable trip through the history of one of the United States’ most vital geographic regions, one that has contribute to our nation in the fields of politics, culture, society and pretty much everything else that counts. But that’s not the only new book he has hitting bookstores today. Peter also helped actor Tony Curtis produce his autobiography, titled American Prince: A Memoir, and that is also available today. Two books published on the same day. Not bad, not bad at all! This is Peter’s second visit to Mr. Media; he was my guest in early 2007 when he published the controversial book, 7: The Mickey Mantle Novel. He is also someone I consider a friend. Peter Golenbock Website • Facebook • Twitter • Wikipedia • LinkedIn • Order They Called Me God from Amazon.com Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Loren Weisman, author, The Artist's Guide to Success in the Music Business: The 'Who, What, When, Where, Why & How of the Steps That Musicians & Bands Have to Take to Succeed in Music   Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of everyone from “American Idol” finalist Michael Lynche to rockers Johnny Zoom Cheerlead Squad and death metal pioneers Deicide… in the new new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order Loren Weisman's book, The Artist's Guide to Success in the Music Business, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! Early in my career, I was the pop music critic for, respectfully, the St. Petersburg Times and the Tampa Tribune. In that role, I had frequent contact with up-and-coming local bands that always believed in their heart of hearts that they would be The Next Big Thing. A few of them, such as Savatage, the Johnny G. Lyon Band, The Headlights and the Bobby Friss Band even achieved a modicum of commercial and regional success. LOREN WEISMAN AUDIO EXCERPT: "Prince allowed all of his contracts to expire and created his own digital kingdom."  But the thing that drove me crazy about almost all of them was one in the same: they knew and understood bupkis about the business they were in. They made horrendous deals with managers, nightclubs, promoters and record labels. They put no effort into self-promotion, assuming that if they played great in their garages and warehouses, the world would know about them and beat a path to their door. Music producer Loren Weisman, author of 'The Artist's Guide to Success in the Music Business' I’d hear about this because many would complain when their appearances at local clubs or in concert weren’t publicized in the paper. I’d ask, “Did you send in a press release or announcement?” “No,” came the standard reply. “Everybody knows all about us!” If “everybody” included Mom, Dad and the stoner chicks down the block, maybe so. But the rest of us didn’t know squat about them. So when Loren Weisman’s new book, The Artist’s Guide to Success in The Music Business, recently crossed my desk, it was an easy “Yes” to having Loren on the show. Loren Weisman Website • Twitter • Facebook • LinkedIn • MySpace • YouTube • Pinterest • Google+ • ReverbNation • SoundCloud • Order The Artist's Guide to Success in the Music Business from Amazon.com Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Alex Ferrari, indie film director, Red Princess Blues, Broken Red Princess Blues by Alex Ferrari   Alex Ferrari hasn’t received the break he deserves yet from Hollywood so he continues to make his own luck. The independent filmmaker, who was one of my very first guests on Mr. Media Radio back in 2007 to promote his short horror story, Brokenis back today for the second time to talk about Red Princess Blues. ALEX FERRARI audio excerpt: "Apple's App Store is mysterious. They will reject something for no reason and they will accept something for new reason. Hopefully it's a new distribution method for filmmakers."  Last time he was here, Alex had produced a short animated subject with the help of actress Paula Garces—currently appearing on SyFy’s “Warehouse 13” and all three Harold & Kumar movies—who voiced the lead character. The cartoon was intended as a proof of concept for a full feature Red Princess Blues. Today, he’s here to talk about a left-turn he has taken with Blues—which you can download right this minute as an iPhone app. Alex Ferrari Red Princess Blues Website • Facebook • MySpace • Twitter • YouTube  • Numb Robot     Alex Ferrari Website • Facebook • Numb Robot website • Ferrari Olive Oil • Vimeo • YouTube • Order Lipstick & Bullets from Amazon.com Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Aubrey Plaza, comedian, actress, "Parks and Recreation," "Legion" Aubrey Plaza stars as April Ludgate in NBC's 'Parks and Recreation' (NBC Photo: Chris Haston)   Order 'Parks and Recreation: Season One,' available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD cover above! Playing the intern on a Thursday night NBC sitcom is not a bad gig for a young actor. Look at B.J. Novak, the young man who plays “Ryan” on “The Office.” He was literally unknown when he joined the show and quickly became a strong character onscreen and off, writing at least 10 episodes and producing 33. So what can we expect from Aubrey Plaza, who plays April the (full of sarcasm) Intern on “Parks and Recreation”? Amy Poehler’s character, Leslie Knope, strives to be a positive influence on young April, not quite realizing that April is already smarter and savvier than Leslie may ever be. Okay, maybe she’s not that smart. AUBREY PLAZA audio excerpt: "Amy Poehler is the most fun ever. She was my comedy hero in high school. She started the Upright Citizens Brigade, which is where I trained. My feeling is, if I can make her laugh, then I'm doing my job."  Plaza brings some pretty strong credentials to the role of an intern, including graduating from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and several years of improv and sketch comedy experience at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater—you might know them for producing Stephen Colbert and Amy Sedaris. She also appeared in the Adam Sandler film Funny People, alongside her “Parks and Recreation” co-star Aziz Ansari. Aubrey Plaza Twitter • Order Parks and Recreation: Season One on DVD from Amazon.com Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Actor Alan Ruck star of Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Spin City, Persons Unknown   Order 'Spin City: Vol. 1' starring Michael J. Fox and Alan Ruck, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD boxed set above! Thinking about actor Alan Ruck last night, I was reminded of a Dr. Seuss book called, Oh, The Places You’ll Go! Why? Just think about the places Alan Ruck has gone. He went universe hopping with both Captain Kirk and Captain Picard, to "Spin City" with Michael J. Fox and Charlie Sheen, and to Chicago with Ferris Bueller. ALAN RUCK podcast excerpt: "The best part I have had in a feature film (was as Cameron in Ferris Bueller's Day Off). Other people were offered the film and turned it down. Every time I see Emilio Estevez I want to give him a hug because I knew he was offered the role and decided not to do it. He didn't need the role but I did."  Beat that, Cat in the Hat! And now Ruck is back, starring in a new NBC summer mini-series called “Persons Unknown,” which airs Mondays at 10 p.m. Alan Ruck IMDB • Wikipedia Ferris Bueller's Day Off starring Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck and Mia Sara, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD cover above! -content/uploads/2016/08/Ritch_Shydner_Kicking_front_cover_FINAL-72dpi.jpg" alt="Kicking Through the Ashes by Ritch Shydner, Mr. Media Interviews" width="335" height="502" /> Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Actor Ryan McPartlin, who plays "Captain Awesome" on "Chuck." Ryan McPartlin (L), Sarah Lancaster, Zachary Levi One of the cool aspects of NBC’s spy rom-com “Chuck” is that it has survived on the Peacock long enough for every recurring character to get a moment to shine. Jeff and Lester have their band. Ellie has a heart. Casey has a daughter. The General has, well, okay, I’m still trying to figure that one out. Big Mike loves Subway sandwiches. Morgan is a different kind of genius. And Captain Awesome — okay, just plain ol’ “Awesome” these days — is both a big softie and a go-to spy. That’s a giant leap for Ryan McPartlin’s character on the show. RYAN McPARTLIN podcast excerpt: "We're hoping to hear this week or next if we're going to get more episodes this season. Ratings don't seem to matter; we keep coming back no matter what. That's largely due to the fans. There are so many outlets you can watch 'Chuck' on. We're such a big hit on iTunes, on Hulu, and on NBC.com."  For a long time, he was the guy who walked in and out of scenes, often shirtless, looking, well Awesome. He got credit for doing things no mere mortal—certain not Chuck — could do and always wound up smooching or in the clinch with his fiancée, now wife on the show, Ellie, played by the luscious Sarah Lancaster.Not a bad deal, but not exactly a meaty role. Last season, however, McPartlin’s patience on the sidelines paid off. He, like Chuck, became a bit of an accidental spy himself and was entrusted with the secret of Chuck’s giant brain and new physical prowess. It was one of many fun twists on a show that excels in taking viewers places we never expected and always enjoy exploring. This season, he and Ellie have a bun in the oven. You just know it’s gonna be awesome. Order 'Chuck: The Complete Series" on Blu-Ray DVD starring Ryan McPartlin and Zachary Levi, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the Blu-Ray DVD boxed set above! Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!   The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Ronnie James Dio, lead singer, Dio, Black Sabbath Ronnie James Dio When word reached us last night (May 16, 2010) that singer Ronnie James Dio lost his battle against cancer yesterday at the age of 67, my wife said, “Didn’t you interview him?” Yes, yes, I did. It was May 22, 1986, one of my first interviews at my new job as pop music critic for the Tampa Tribune. It was a telephone interview, as so many were in those days. RONNIE JAMES DIO podcast excerpt: "I just bought a building, in Los Angeles – on Sunset Boulevard. It’s a building that was owned by Charlie Chaplin. It’s going to be a soundstage for a video. It will also be a studio for smaller bands. Again, something to ensure that, later in life, I’ll be able to produce. Because some day I’ll be too old to run around the stage. Though that won’t hopefully happen for a long while yet. I’m building something that will allow me to carry on as a musician, because that’s what I do best."  Order 'Ronnie James Dio - In Memory Of' from Amazon.com by clicking the image above! Sadly, the audio quality has been greatly diminished by the years. In fact, it may not have been very good to begin with, but I’m a pack rat, so I kept it. I can’t even prove that a story based on the interview ever ran—except that the part at the end where he talked about Christmas did appear in a story I wrote for the Orlando Sentinel: "I remember hardly any Christmases, whether as a child or an adult. Christmas is not my big one. I think it's a complete and utter waste of time for me. For some people, it's wonderful. It's wonderful for children. Christmas should be for children. It's just a shame that all the adults have to go through all the bother to make it so wonderful for them. I find it to be just a merchandising nuisance. I think that's it's just been completely and totally blown out of proportion.” I’m going to play my interview with Dio in just a moment, but I must warn you: the sound is really muffled. To increase his voice, I had no choice but to raise mine. This interview has never been heard before. If you’re a fan of Ronnie James Dio, you’ll probably be entertained; if not… I understand. And now, ladies and gentlemen, the late, great Ronnie James Dio, recorded on May 22, 1986—almost 24 years ago this week. Ronnie James Dio Website • Facebook • Twitter • Order Ronnie James Dio - In Memory Of from Amazon.com Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Governor Jesse Ventura, author, American Conspiracies Order 'American Conspiracies' by Jesse Ventura and Dick Russell from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! Jesse Ventura sees conspiracies everywhere. He came to national prominence as a wrestler nicknamed “The Body,” took a turn on the silver screen in Predator with Ah-nuld, and even went by “Governor” for a term. Now he’s bidding for you and me to start thinking of him as “The Brain.” Don’t get me wrong; Ventura hasn’t asked anyone to call him that—yet. But reading his new book, American Conspiracies, it’s clear he’s given considerable thought to the real story behind some of this country’s most nagging unsolved mysteries. GOV. JESSE VENTURA podcast excerpt: "I took the side of the conspiracy. We brought out the facts; ultimately, it's up to the reader to decide. It's called 'learning the truth.' And if the truth causes panic, we're in big trouble." Whether you believe what he believes or think he’s nuts, a reader of American Conspiracies can’t deny Ventura has thought out his positions on everything from the Kennedy assassinations and 9/11 to the world financial collapse we’re just starting to come out from under. I should mention this is ground also covered in his new TV show, TruTV’s “Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura,” every Wednesday at 10 p.m. Not that Ventura is all drama and no fun these days. Anyone who’s caught him on the radio with Howard Stern knows he’s just as comfortable talking smack about Hulk Hogan and telling wild stories about his days as a Navy SEAL as he is discussing conspiracies. Jesse Ventura Facebook   Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!   The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Kambri Crews, author, Burn Down the Ground Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of angry construction workers who are Dumb with a capital D—and dumber—but can hear every word I’m saying… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida!   Order from Amazon.com by clicking the book cover above This is not a show people tune into for a lot of heartbreaking conversation. I’m not Oprah and I don’t enjoy fiddling with your heartstrings. So on its own merits, I honestly would have never chosen Kambri Crews’ new book, Burn Down the Ground: A Memoir as a topic of conversation. But there’s a quirky bit of Mr. Media history tangled up here. KAMBRI CREWS audio excerpt: "It is a sad story. But it's not full of sadness. It's full of hope."  Several years ago, Kambri’s husband, comedian Christian Finnegan, was a guest on the show. We got to talking about in-law jokes and he made a remark about how he doesn’t joke about his because his mother-in-law is a lovely woman and his deaf father-in-law is serving 20 years in a Texas prison for attempted murder. Ba-da-bing? No. That momentarily brought the conversation to a halt. Frankly, I didn’t know what to say. A few weeks ago, a publicist pitched me on a new book by Kambri Crews about her insanely crazy, sometimes violent upbringing as a hearing child of deaf parents. I didn’t really think it was right for this show until I read the last line of the pitch: “She is married to standup comedian Christian Finnegan.” Quick, what’s American Sign Language for “Holy Shit!”? Suddenly I had the opportunity to get what the late broadcaster Paul Harvey would call “the REST of the story.” Kambri Crews Website • Twitter • Facebook • Read an excerpt • Order Burn Down the Ground: A Memoir from Amazon.com Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Erica Durance, actress, "Harry's Law," "Smallville," "Saving Hope" Erica Durance guest stars on NBC's "Harry's Law" (Photo: Vivian Zink/NBC) Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of comic book fanboys who can barely handle looking at George Perez drawings of Wonder Woman, let alone gaze for more than a fleeting moment at Erica Durance actually dressed as the Amazonian… in the NEW new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! If you thought Erica Durance was too hot to handle during seven years of playing reporter Lois Lane on TV’s long-running “Smallville,” wait till you get a load of her tonight kicking bad guy butt dressed as “Wonder Woman” on the latest episode of “Harry’s Law” on NBC at 9 p.m. This particular Wonder Woman costume is suspiciously similar to the one designed for David E. Kelley’s failed NBC TV pilot from last year. And, no disrespect to Adrianne Palicki, the actress who wore the suit then, but Durance will make hearts flutter wildly when you see her in it. Order 'Smallville: The Complete Tenth Season' by clicking on the DVD above! ERICA DURANCE audio excerpt: "The character does not perceive herself as making light (of domestic abuse). It's her way of getting her life back. I don't think there is a person out there who hasn't dreamed of that eye-for-eye justice." Kelley – who produces "Harry’s Law" and is best known as the creator of “Boston Legal,” The Practice” and “Ally McBeal” – obviously knows opportunity when he sees it. I have no idea how the plot of Durance’s guest starring role opposite Kathy Bates turns out. But it’s delightful to know she’s doing the opposite of putting distance between herself and the DC Universe of superheroes. Erica Durance Twitter • Facebook • IMDB • Wikipedia   Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Curt Smith, singer, Tears For Fears Tears For Fears: Songs from the Big Chair, Curt Smith. Order your copy today by clicking on the album cover above! Here’s a Tears For Fears story I guarantee you haven’t heard before: I was the pop music critic for the St. Petersburg Times in 1985, assigned to review a Tears For Fears concert. I rushed back to the paper’s Clearwater bureau that night to file my story. Waiting for it in downtown St. Petersburg was the late night editor, Christine Holsten. I filed my story and waited for her to read it and answer any questions she might have. CURT SMITH audio excerpt: "Tears for Fears is where myself and Roland meet. It's about compromise. I know when I write a certain song that it's not going to be Roland's cup of tea. Our solo work is incredibly personal."  But her major question wasn’t about my story; it was about the photo credit. The photographer identified his picture as Roland Orzabal on the left, Curt Smith on the right. But Christine wasn’t convinced. I said the photographer had it correct, but she had the final call and switched the ID in the caption. Shout: The Very Best of Tears For Fears, Curt Smith. Order your copy today by clicking on the album cover above! It was probably the last time I was right about anything in our relationship, but I was right; she was wrong. A horde of TFF fans called in the next day to say how stupid I was for getting it wrong, of course. (They weren’t happy about being referred to as “teeny-boppers,” either!) That was one of the first real moments that truly bound us and to this day, whenever we hear a Tears song playing, we can’t help but stop and fondly reminisce about that night. We’ve now been married 22 years and counting. Which is my long way of telling you that my guest today is Tears For Fears’ Curt Smith, who has released a new holiday single, “This is Christmas,” and will be playing several solo gigs in Los Angeles in 2011 and will rejoin Roland Orzabal for a Tears For Fears tour of South America and the U.S. West Coast. Tears For Fears' Curt Smith Website • Facebook • Twitter • MySpace • YouTube  • Flickr   Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Ken Davitian, actor, Borat, "Chuck"     Order 'Borat' from Amazon.com by clicking the DVD cover above Granted, the role for which everyone best—or maybe worst--remembers actor Ken Davitian is “Azamat Bagatov,” Borat’s manager in the 2006 movie Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan starring Sacha Baron Cohen. Anyone who saw it will forever have the image of Davitian and Cohen wrestling naked in a motel room scalded into their brains. But Ken Davitian has appeared in plenty of other films, fully clothed. He’s a terrific character actor and from what I’ve seen of him being interviewed elsewhere, quite a gentle soul. In other words, nothing at all like Azamat. KEN DAVITIAN podcast excerpt: "It was in Dallas I was told we were going to do this. I kept saying to Sacha Baron Cohen, 'A fat guy in boxers, that's funny. Funny, funny! No?' He said, 'I want naked.' We ran into an engineers convention, twelve o'clock in the afternoon, somewhere in the Dallas area. We started doing our schtick with each other. I looked into his eyes. I could see him looking at the audience. He stopped. He went out of character, said 'We're not getting any response. Let's go.' We walked out of there totally in character, naked." He recently played the role of “Uncle Bernie” to perfection in an episode of NBC’s “Chuck” titled “Chuck Versus the First Kill.” He was also “Shtarker” in the otherwise forgettable Steve Carrell remake of Get Smart. He’s also been seen in movies such as Soul Men, Meet the Spartans, Holes and S.W.A.T. as well as TV shows such as “The Closer,” “ER” and “Ghost Whisperer.” Coming up, his new film Prankster just got picked up for distribution and will come out in October. He also finished a feature film with former “American Idol” finalist Katharine McPhee and Dave Annable of “Brothers & Sisters” called You May Not Kiss the Bride. It also stars Rob Schneider, Mena Suvari, Tia Carrere, Kathy Bates and Vinnie Jones. Also in the pipeline is another film, Melvin Smarty. Davitian also co-owns a hot dog restaurant in Sherman Oaks called The Infield. Ken Davitian MySpace • Wikipedia • The Infield on Yelp • Order Borat on DVD from Amazon.com Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!   The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Tatiana Siegel, reporter, The Hollywood Reporter Order a subscription to The Hollywood Reporter, available via Amazon.com by clicking on the magazine cover above! How do you measure the summer? Baseball games, picnics, trips to the beach? Around my house, it’s the Monday box office scores – rounded to the nearest million dollars, of course. The first three big movies of Summer 2007 – Spider-Man 3, Pirates of the Caribbean 3, and Shrek the Third – all opened with predictably big weekend hauls. But these three sure things didn’t overwhelm the general movie-going public quite the way most observers thought they would. All three have been panned by critics and aren’t generating the buzz many expected. Their performance opened the door for something a little less spectacular – the new Judd Apatow movie, Knocked Up, which has won rave reviews and could gain even bigger audience as the long hot summer continues – at least until the new Harry Potter movie opens. To talk about this summer’s movies – as well as the just-completed Cannes Film Festival, which she attended – I invited The Hollywood Reporter's Tatiana Siegel to join us today. For the past four years, Siegel has worked at The Hollywood Reporter covering the economics of the entertainment industry. She tracks three major studios: Sony, Paramount, DreamWorks, and MGM. Siegel also covers the agency beat, following the behind-the-scenes developments at such talent powerhouses as CAA, William Morris, and Endeavor. She has interviewed hundreds of studio executives, producers and directors and enjoys unique access to agents, managers and publicists. In this entertaining, informative, audio interview, Siegel reviews the financial performance of the summer's first blockbusters; offers her opinion on Pirates' second week box office plummet; points out the shrinking number of women directors in Hollywood; describes the scene at this year's Cannes Film Festival; explains why Frank Miller's adaption of Will Eisner's The Spirit moved up on the schedule and Sin City 2 stepped back; and finally, why Ari Gold and Vincent Chase still matter. Tatiana Siegel Twitter • LinkedIn • Subscribe to The Hollywood Reporter via Amazon.com Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!  

Today's Guest: Star Price, executive producer, “Penn & Teller: Bullsh-t!” Download 'Penn & Teller: Orgasms,' available from Amazon.com by clicking on the image above! Star Price -- a.k.a., Starling Price -- is the executive producer of the Showtime series, “Penn & Teller: Bullsh-t!” The TV BS show, now in its fifth season, chronicles the efforts of confirmed skeptics and pro-science atheists Penn Jillette and Teller to debunk, well, bullsh-t. Their mission is to expose the truth to an otherwise desperate and gullible public. Most people have seen Penn & Teller somewhere, usually on a talk show performing incredible feats of magic. On this show, they use all the tricks of their trade, including good old-fashioned hidden cameras, to reveal rip-off artists, scammers, and hoaxsters. Price is a writer, producer, director who has worked in television since 1978. In recent years, he’s made a career in reality television, including credits on programs such as “Real Stories of the Highway Patrol,” MTV’s “Celebrity Undercover,” TLC’s “How’d They Do That,” and “Confirmation: The Hard Evidence of Aliens Among Us” for NBC. He’s also recently co-executive-produced the reality series, “Exploring the Unknown” and “Scariest Places on Earth” for the Fox Family Channel, “Amazing Race II” for CBS, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” the pilot for ABC, and “Hotel Hell” for Fox. Penn & Teller Website • Facebook • Penn on Twitter • Teller on Twitter • Download Penn& Teller Bullsh-t!: Orgasms from Amazon.com Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!  

Today's Guest: Adam Falcon, guitarist, Bohemian 959 Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of Marvel Comics characters from Steve Rogers and Sam “Snap” Wilson to those colorful guys in KISS… in the NEW new media capital of the world, St. Petersburg, Florida!   Order Adam Falcon's CD 'Bohemian 959' by clicking the photo above! In my head, the introduction to today’s show with blues/rock/jazz guitarist Adam Falcon goes something like this: Blah, blah, blah – including live performances by Adam – blah, blah, blah! ADAM FALCON audio excerpt: "Just continue to practice and enjoy what you're doing." And then out loud I would say: The first time Adam Falcon was on the show was a lot of fun. I love his music, his guitar style and his general approach to life. He recently got in touch to say he’d be coming to Florida – Miami, to be exact, and he offered to play a few songs live for us to help promote his shows on January 13 and 14 as part of Art Deco Weekend 2012. How could I say no to that? Adam Falcon Website • Twitter • Facebook • MySpace • YouTube • Order Bohemian 959 LISTEN! Adam Falcon's first visit to Mr. Media (2010) WATCH! Adam Falcon returns to Mr. Media to perform live with Living Color's Doug Wimbish and Keith LeBlanc (2013) Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Jonathan Katz, comedian, "Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of long-suffering psychotherapy patients who really need to switch to doctors whose lobbies are not in Squigglevision… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order from Amazon.com by clicking the DVD above! Jonathan Katz is neither a doctor nor a cartoon. But he has been known to be one entertaining funnyman. His old show on Comedy Central, “Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist,” was perhaps best known for two elements during its six-year run: its squiggly animation and the remarkable list of guests who sat on Dr. Katz’s couch, including Ray Romano, Conan O’Brien, Jon Stewart and Louis C.K. Now Katz is back with a new animated show, “Explosion Bus.” Like “Dr. Katz,” “Explosion Bus” was created by Tom Snyder. The new show co-stars comedian Tom Leopold, whose writing credits including “Seinfeld” and “Cheers.” JONATHAN KATZ audio excerpt: "Louis C.K.'s act has changed so much. He got older; he got bolder. Some of my favorite stuff he does is about the Catholic church, which a young kid wouldn't do."  Order 'Caffeinated' by Jonathan Katz, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the CD cover above! So what is “Explosion Bus”? I have to admit I’m having a hard time figuring that out myself. I’ve watched several first season episodes and had a sneak peak at excerpts from season two. Like “Dr. Katz,” it is a model of subtlety and irony. “Explosion Bus” seems to satirizes the reality TV conceit of the moment found in “America’s Got Talent,” “The Voice” and “American Idol” that everyone has talent and could potentially be famous. But it goes in a lot of different directions from there, including being a reality show within a reality show—and one with real viewer submissions. And fans from season one will notice a change in animation style in season two. Check him out in animated form at ExplosionBus.com or on YouTube. Meanwhile, the doctor is in and I’m hoping he can make sense of it all for me. Jonathan Katz Website • Facebook • Twitter • YouTube • Order Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist from Amazon.com • 'Hey We're Back!' Podcast • Explosion Bus website • YouTube Order 'Dr. Katz Live' starring Jonathan Katz, available by clicking on the DVD cover above! Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Jamie Malanowski, author, And The War Came, former writer, Spy magazine Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience that includes folks who still haven’t left my living room since the Tony Hendra interview… in the new new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Part 1   Writer Jamie Malanowski knows Abraham Lincoln! (Interview; 1 of 2) "And The War Came" by Jamie Malanowski. Order your copy now by clicking on the book cover above! When I heard that Jamie Malanowski had penned a book about the days leading up to the American Civil War, I assumed it would be something along the lines of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. You know – something absurdist that could read, if well-crafted, as if it were true. Instead, the former SPY magazine writer and editor has produced something that is true and we can only wish it chronicled something absurdist instead of reminding us that Obama vs. the Tea Party is not unlike Lincoln vs. the Confederacy. JAMIE MALANOWSKI audio excerpt: "I was confronted more clearly than I ever expected with just how fiercely (Southerners) believed in slavery. And how strongly determined they were to keep their property."  And the War Came: The Six Months That Tore America Apart originally appeared online in serialized form in The New York Times “Opinionator” web pages. It is a mesmerizing, week-by-week account from the day of Abraham Lincoln’s election, through the secession of the Southern states, on up to the start of the Civil War. The book is currently available as an e-book, but a print-on-demand edition is in the works. As for Jamie Malanowski, he’s enjoyed one of those careers guys like me can only envy from afar. Writer and editor for SPY magazine, managing editor of Playboy – we could stop there – and he is also the author of a political novel, The Coup. More recently he’s been doing ghostwriting and private editorial consultation. It’s a real pleasure to welcome him to the show. Jamie Malanowski Website • Blog • Twitter • YouTube • Facebook Part 2   Writer Jamie Malanowski knows Abraham Lincoln! (Interview; 2 of 2)   Order 'The Book of Levon' by Jamie Malanowski, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above!   Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

On today's show, a conversation with author and comedian Ritch Shydner. Ritch Shydner rode in on the wave of the 1980s stand up boom, playing stages coast-to-coast, working with the best comedians of the era along the way appearing on HBO, David Letterman, both Jay Leno and Johnny Carson's TONIGHT SHOW as well as working and writing on shows incl. ROSEANNE, MARRIED ...WITH CHILDREN, and THE JEFF FOXWORTHY SHOW. Shydner took time off from doing stand-up in the late 90s but has returned in recent years, I had the good fortune to see Ritch play the Borgota in Atlantic City a few weeks back where he took control of a crowded house and again delivered his lean compact set like the seasoned professional that he is. It's all in Shydner's recent memoir, “Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As a Stand-Up in the 1980s Comedy Boom” on the Mr. Media imprint, a highly-readable book, where Shydner is witness to the birth of modern comedy while working with people of the stature of Jerry Seinfeld, Steve Martin, Robin Williams and Sam Kinison, as well as taking the stage on some of television's most-watched programs. But deeper down in the details there's a beautiful quiet desperation where struggles with economics, status, and chemical abuse, all led to a personal and professional collapse. Plus, there's jokes. I wanted to talk to Shydner about the book but I also wanted to talk about our shared past. We both grew up in the same small Southern New Jersey town, Pennsville, a town of about 14,000, historically tied to the county's DuPont chemical plant and later, The Salem Nuclear Power Plant. It's the kind of small town kids dream of escaping when growing up and Shydner's success was a sort of inspiration and source of local pride. Although I had never met Ritch before, I did attend kindergarten with his younger sister, Rhonda and I believe Ritch was friendly with my cousin Cheryl since high school. As I'd hoped, that Pennsville camaraderie kicked in right away, and we talked about Ritch's opening for the Ramones, working for Roseann Barr, taking bad advice from Sam Kinison making a lethal faux pas with Johnny Carson, his friendship with cult comic Bill Hicks, being competitive with his stand-up ex-wife, knowing who to make fun of, swimming in chemical waste and more.

Today's Guest: Jeff Garlin, comedian, actor, "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "The Goldbergs" Order 'I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With" from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD cover above! Today is a great day to be Jeff Garlin. And for him, tomorrow will probably be an even better day. The sixth season of the hugely popular and hysterically funny HBO series “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” starring Larry David and co-starring Garlin, is now underway. But even better, I suspect, for Garlin is that his first movie as writer, director, and star, I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With, opened on September 5. The New York Times greeted Garlin’s Cheese this way: laid back and affectionate, Cheese is the movie version of a dear friend you could spend all day with. Not bad for a guy from Chicago. Jeff Garlin Website • Twitter • Facebook • Tumblr • By the Way, Jeff Garlin's Podcast • Order Curb Your Enthusiasm, Season 1, from Amazon.com • Order I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With from Amazon.com • Order Curbing It by Jeff Garlin from Amazon.com More Mr. Media Interviews from Curb Your Enthusiasm: Cheryl Hines (Oct. 21, 2007) • Larry David's video editor Roger Nygard (2011) Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Kevin Avery, author, editor, Conversations With Clint, Everything is An Afterthought Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of Rolling Stone magazine writers and past Mr. Media guests such as Ben Fong-Torres, David Wild and Parke Puterbaugh who are hanging on every word today as they seal their own unpublished interviews in air-tight mayonnaise jars and hide them under my bed… in the NEW new media capital of the world, St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'Conversations with Clint: Paul Nelson's Lost Interviews with Clint Eastwood, 1979-1983' by clicking the book cover above! I completely get Kevin Avery – I think. Growing up, he admired the writing and reviews of a long-time Rolling Stone journalist named Paul Nelson. He even wrote a fan letter to the magazine about Nelson; it was published in the April 30, 1981 issue. Personally, while I was a regular reader of Rolling Stone in those days, Nelson’s name and work didn’t have quite the same impression upon me. In fact, I didn’t remember it at all. KEVIN AVERY audio excerpt: "Paul Nelson had a fascinating life. If we worked together, it would not have been the same book; being a very private man, Paul would not have revealed everything that I found out." And, sadly for Avery and other Nelson fans, the legendary writer eventually faded away, a victim of his own inner demons and compulsions. Order 'Everything Is an Afterthought: The Life and Writings of Paul Nelson' by clicking the book cover above But Avery never forgot him. And when he relocated from Salt Lake City to Brooklyn in February 2006, Avery sent his idol a note suggesting they work together to compile a “best of” collection of Nelson’s work. Nelson never responded – directly. I’ll let Avery tell you what happened in a moment. But it won’t spoil the suspense to say that Avery is the author-slash-editor of two new Nelson books, Everything is an Afterthought: The Life and Writings of Paul Nelson, and Conversations with Clint: Paul Nelson’s Lost Interviews with Clint Eastwood 1979-1983. There is a truly compelling story here -- Paul Nelson rediscovered -- whether you’re interest in pop music, film or the mysteries of the writing life. And Everything has a genuine bonus: the foreword is by my own literary idol, Nick Tosches. Kevin Avery Website • Twitter • Facebook • Order Conversations with Clint • Order Everything is an Afterthought src="http://mrmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Ritch_Shydner_Kicking_front_cover_FINAL-72dpi.jpg" alt="Kicking Through the Ashes by Ritch Shydner, Mr. Media Interviews" width="335" height="502" /> Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Chris Browne, cartoonist, "Hagar the Horrible," author, The Monster Who Ate the State Part 1 of 4 (More below)   Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of famous vikings including Leif Ericksen, Erik the Red and Brett Favre… in the new new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'Hagar the Horrible: The Epic Chronicles: The Dailies 1976-1977' by clicing on the book cover above! Hagar the Horrible is getting his due. Finally. The adventures of one of the most unique, consistently funny comic strip characters – a dirty, drunken viking, of all things – is finally being collected in book form with publication of Hagar the Horrible: The Epic Chronicles. The strip, created in 1973 by Dik Browne – co-creator of with Mort Walker of “Hi and Lois” – holds a special place in my heart. When it debuted, I was a 13-year-old with his own subscription to the Newark Star-Ledger. My parents paid for home delivery of the New Brunswick Home News, but it was an afternoon paper with horrible comics and even worse sports coverage. So I took my own money each week – earned cutting lawns in the summer, shoveling snow in the winter – and paid for a morning Star-Ledger subscription. CHRIS BROWNE audio excerpt: "Hamlet, the thin little wisp of a boy in the comic strip, was based on me when I was younger and much wispier." I’m proud to say I have read Hagar from the very beginning. It was a big kick then, a few years ago when an odd business magazine assignment landed me in the Sarasota, Florida home and studio of cartoonist Chris Browne, son of Dik and his successor on Hagar. Chris was a wonderful host and I think it safe to say we hit it off famously. Friendship aside, it’s taken me years to convince Chris to step up to the microphones for a Mr. Media® interview, but the timing couldn’t be better as we celebrate his father Dik’s original work and Chris’ continuing efforts on Hagar the Horrible. Chris Browne YouTube • Website • Facebook • Twitter • Hagar the Horrible (Comics Kingdom) • Blog • Hagar History • The Onion • Raising Duncan by Chris Browne Part 2 of 4 Part 3 of 4 Part 4 of 4 Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!   The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Neil Hopkins, actor, "Lost," Skyline Neil Hopkins, actor, "Lost"   Skyline (Blu-ray) starring Neil Hopkins. Order your copy today by clicking on the DVD cover above! I suspect Neil Hopkins might see himself as a man THISCLOSE to a career breakthrough. You probably know him best as Liam Pace, Charlie’s heroin-addicted brother and bandmate in a couple of backwards-looking episodes of ABC’s “Lost.” He's also had recurring roles on HBO’s “Big Love” and the Starz series, “Crash,” and played the long-lost brother of Dr. McNamara on FX’s “Nip/Tuck.” NEIL HOPKINS audio excerpt: "They had written all these different lyrics for the song; 'You All Everybody' was just the refrain... I thought part of the reason they cast me was because clearly I could sing like a rock star. Then I got to Hawaii and they already had it recorded so we could just lip sync to the playback. When I finally saw it, I thought I guess I'm really not singing on it."  Today, he’s eagerly awaiting the Nov. 12 opening of his new movie, Skyline, which stars Eric Balfour, co-star of Syfy’s hit paranormal series “Haven,” and Donald Faison, long time star of the ABC sitcom, “Scrubs. (Both of whom, I might add, have been Mr. Media guests in the past year.) Skyline is one of those monster—and I do mean monster—sci-fi films that you look at and go, “Oh, please be as good as you look!” The trailer has flying saucers, enormous, nasty creatures, lots of shit blowing up—add a few beautiful women losing their clothes and what more do we need for two hours’ entertainment, anyway? Neil Hopkins Facebook • Twitter • IMDB • Wikipedia Skyline Website   Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!   The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Tom Weschler, long-time road manager, Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, rock 'n' roll photographer, Travelin' Man: On the Road and Behind the Scenes with Bob Seger Travelin Man - A Look Into the Life of Tom Weschler from Primeau Productions on Vimeo.   Order 'Travelin' Man: On the Road and Behind the Scenes with Bob Seger' by Tom Weschler, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above![ Somehow, in all the years I was a rock ‘n’ roll critic for either the St. Petersburg Times, Tampa Tribune or Music magazine in the 1980s, I never saw Bob Seger live. For the life of me, I can’t explain it. I certainly wanted to see him; he’s one of those guys—like Springsteen, Joel and Mellencamp—who always spoke to me. When I was a freshman at the University of Miami, back in ’78, I worked at the college radio station, WVUM, doing air shifts as a DJ and producing dozens of public service announcements. I almost always chose Seger songs as background music. TOM WESCHLER audio excerpt: "In 1978, Bob Seger was playing four sold-out nights in Pine Knob, Michigan, and Bruce Springsteen came to town and wanted to meet Bob. I set it up and I said to Bob's bodyguard—who I hired back in 1971— 'Do me a favor and keep all the other photographers out of here for 10 minutes, will ya?' And I got my shot." And the day I drove away from school at the end of freshman year, back to Jersey, my friend Bob and I only had one 8-track tape to entertain us as we took turns driving non-stop—Live Bullet. That’s why I tracked down Tom Weschler as a guest for the show. He was Seger’s road manager—and unofficial tour photographer—for the first decade or so of Seger’s four-decade career and has frequently dropped back in on his old friend’s career at key moments. Now—with the help of writer Gary Graff—Weschler has produced Travelin’ Man, a coffee table book of photos and memories that no Seger fan will want to live without. Tom Weschler Website • Twitter • Order Travelin' Man: Bob Seger from Amazon.com Order 'Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band: Ultimate Hits,' available from Amazon.com by clicking on the CD cover above! Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Keith Elliot Greenberg, rock historian, December 8, 1980: The Day John Lennon Died Certain days in all of our lives we can’t help but remember. I was sitting at my desk here in St. Petersburg with “The Today Show” on in the background when the first plane flew into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. I was in my kitchen in Gainesville, Florida, on March 5, 1982, when my friend Jim Doten called from a pay phone to say he just heard that John Belushi died. Jim was on his way up from Miami for a visit with a cooler full of fresh shrimp and beer to boil them in. And I was in another Gainesville apartment, 15 months earlier, on December 8, 1980,studying in my bedroom, on December 8, 1980, when one of my roommates, Andy Anderson, opened the door and said, “Hey, your guy died!” Order 'The John Lennon Collection,' available from Amazon.com by clicking on the CD cover above. I didn’t know what the hell he was talking about. “My guy?” Tom Seaver died? Order 'December 8, 1980: The Day John Lennon Died' by Keith Elliot Greenberg, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above. For some reason, Andy connected me with John Lennon when the Monday Night Football game that he and our third roommate, Cesar Quintana, was interrupted by Howard Cosell’s announcement that former Beatle John Lennon had been shot outside his home in New York City. My only connection to John Lennon was that we shared a birthday, October 9. Of course, Lennon was born in 1940; I came along 20 years later. And my first Beatles album, Meet the Beatles, was actually the second LP my parents bought for me at our neighborhood drug store in Somerset, NJ. The first was The Monkees' Headquarters. I still have both original discs. KEITH ELLIOT GREENBERG podcast excerpt: "John Lennon could have lived anywhere in the world. He chose to live in New York... The police officer who was the first on the scene (of the murder) covered the Beatles when they came to Shea Stadium in 1965, not knowing that night, December 8, 1980, that John Lennon would be another part of his story."  Like most people, I was shocked and horrified that some jackass named Mark David Chapman had taken Lennon away from us. It was incredibly wrong. Thirty years later, I can’t say I was eager to read a book that might, potentially, glorify Chapman. But that’s not the book that Keith Elliot Greenberg wrote. December 8, 1980: The Day John Lennon Died is an amazing dissection of people and events on that infamous day. It doesn’t justify Chapman’s action but it does explain what was in his head in the days and weeks leading up to the shooting. The detail and depth is remarkable, the kind of history you just can’t put down. Greenberg brings an interesting background to this project. In addition to writing books and magazine articles for Maxim, The Village Voice and The New York Observer, among others, he’s a producer for “America’s Most Wanted” on Fox. Keith Elliot Greenberg Facebook • Wikipedia • IMDB • Goodreads   Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!   The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Harlan Cohen, 'Help Me, Harlan' syndicated advice columnist, author, The Naked Roommate: For Parents Only Watch this exclusive Mr. Media interview with Harlan Cohen, 'Help Me, Harlan' syndicated advice columnist and author of The Naked Roommate: For Parents Only, by clicking on the video player above! Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience that is rubbing hands together with glee at the prospect of empty nesting while at the same time shedding a tear over four more years of indentured servitude… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'The Naked Roommate: For Parents Only' by syndicated advice columnist Harlan Cohen, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! Three weeks from today, life as we have known it for 18 years in the Mr. Media household will forever change: Rachel is going to college to start her freshman year. I joke about being ready to see my daughter head off and mostly that’s true. And I know she is more than ready to begin a big new challenge and get out from under Mom and Dad’s thumbs. But there is, admittedly, a bit of sadness. HARLAN COHEN podcast excerpt: "Rule number one: Your roommate does not have to be your friend. When your roommate has to be your friend, you're placing unrealistic expectations. A roommate is not a friend. A roommate is someone you share space with to help pay for college. My next roommate rule is: Roommates who want to get along will find a way to get along. The moment your son or daughter calls you and says, 'I hate my roommate!' is the moment your son or daughter becomes the Roommate From Hell. My third rule is the 'Uncomfortable Rule.' It says if your son or daughter is ever uncomfortable, he or she has to tell the roommate within 24 to 48 hours. And the roommate has to tell them. If you don't tell each other, then you're not allowed to talk about it. The problem with millions of college-bound high school students is they suck at uncomfortable. They don't know how to be uncomfortable. Roommates will tweet and instant message each other across the room because they can't have a face-to-face conversation." When Mimi and I return home without the kid, who will provide me with on-site tech support? Who will correct my mistakes from sun up ‘til sun down? Who will need me to remove the occasional spider from terrorizing her? Order 'The Naked Roommate and 107 Others Issues You Might Run Into in College' by syndicated advice columnist Harlan Cohen, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! And who will come up behind me at my desk and demand an occasional hug for no particular reason? To help my wife and I – and you and yours – survive the upcoming earthquake in our lives, I’ve invited Harlan Cohen to be my guest today. Cohen, the nationally syndicated “Help Me Harlan” advice columnist, is the author of The Naked Roommate: For Parents Only, a book recommended by many colleges and universities during parent orientation to help us get through the potentially trying months ahead. Some of the questions Cohen tackles include: • My daughter has been on campus for a few months and never seems to have a care in the world. Is this normal? • When is it appropriate to say something and intervene based on something a parent has seen or read on Facebook? • What are some of the things I should advise my child to bring to college? HARLAN COHEN podcast excerpt: "The following story happened at a Catholic university, of all places. A girl was in her room, in the lower bunk, and her roommate brought a boy home. She had never been in a room where someone had brought a boy home. She was already in her bed and didn't know what to do. The girl waited a while, hoping her silence would cause them to stop. But her being quiet only caused the situation to increase in intensity. So the girl reached out and picked up her cell phone and called her mom. 'Mom, what should I do?' The mom said, 'I'll be right there.' Three and a half hours later, the mom knocks on the RA's door, says, 'My daughter is in this room, we need to get her out of there!' They rescued the daughter and put her in a single occupancy room. That was their solution. I thought that was horrible! For the rest of her life, whenever she gets uncomfortable, they're going to isolate her? That's an example of a parent who can't handle uncomfortable." By the way, I’ll pit my freshman roommate stories against anyone’s: the fall of the Shah of Iran, death threats under the door in the middle of the night, and someone who hated noise, light and fun of any kind. And when he relocated after one semester, my replacement roommate – also Iranian – was the antithesis of the first, outgoing, boisterous, funny, charming, and a big fan of hardcore porn. The lesson for me: never judge an entire race or nationality based on a single representative, kids! Harlan Cohen Help Me Harlan website • Facebook • Twitter • YouTube • LinkedIn • Google+ • Order The Naked Roommate: For Parents Only from Amazon.com   Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Mark Cousins documentary director, The Story of Film: An Odyssey Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of American film students who think they know it all after watching all of the Harry Potter and Twilight films… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'The Story of Film: An Odyssey' by Mark Cousins, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD box set above! There is a lot an American can learn about film from an Irishman. Mark Cousins’ new 15-hour documentary, The Story of Film: An Odyssey, offers a perspective that is dramatically different from a Hollywood-centric view of the celluloid universe. He packs this surprisingly fast-moving epic with film clips and filmmaker interviews from around the world, from Bernardo Bertolucci, director of The Last Emperor, to American Buck Henry, writer of The Graduate. In between, he visits sites of film history on every continent and takes a global view of an industry that Americans incorrectly think of as all theirs. MARK COUSINS audio excerpt: "Live cheaply. Don't got to restaurants. Don't take taxis. If you live cheaply, you don't have to earn much. When you work for low budget, you have creative freedom, which is the best best thing for a filmmaker. I could focus on who did great things at different points in film history."  As a student of cinema myself – my fraying degree is in film studies from the University of Florida, where I studied everything from New Wave French and German cinema to the entire Charlie Chaplin catalog – I’ve become accustomed to movie travelogues that will be 80 percent Hollywood with a little French, German and Japanese dropped in for flavor. But in The Story of Film: An Odyssey, which was just released as a DVD set, Cousins give the rest of the world its due. You’ll watch this documentary and be introduced to the brilliance of many filmmakers whose names and titles you probably never heard of before. Mark Cousins Twitter • Wikipedia • IMDB • BFI • Order The Story of Film: An Odyssey DVD boxed set from Amazon.com Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Jeff Black, singer-songwriter, B-Sides and Confessions, Volume Two   Watch this exclusive Mr. Media interview with Jeff Black by clicking on the video player above! Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience looking for a good story, put to music, to get their day off to a great start… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'B-Sides And Confessions Vol. 2' by Jeff Black, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the album cover above! I heard the first song on singer-songwriter Jeff Black’s new album, B-Sides and Confessions, Volume Two, and that was all it took. One stanza of the lyrics, in fact, cemented his appearance here: I dropped down to see the doctor He gave me some strange strange news He said I think you’re going to live forever boy But you’re to die a little bit before you do JEFF BLACK podcast excerpt: "There are as many different concert nights as there are people on the planet. Luckily for me, the kind of music I write and perform is sought out. There is a huge contingency of people who seek out singer-songwriters" That just really spoke to me and opened a gateway into the folk/Americana style of Black’s music. The good news is that Black is joining me today to talk music and, even better, to play a couple of songs for us. And if you like what you see and hear, you can catch “An Evening with Jeff Black” on tour this fall in Louisville, Kentucky, Valdosta, Georgia, Gainesville, Florida, and right here in St. Petersburg on Sunday, September 15 at The Palladium. Jeff Black Website • Facebook • Twitter • YouTube • Google+ • Order B-Sides and Confessions Volume Two from Amazon.com BONUS! The interview above was actually take two. The first time we tried this, the sound was great but somehow the video went black after just a couple minutes. Jeff Black agreed to release it as a bonus. It includes several different topics and performances of "All Right Now" and "Rider Coming" that are slightly different. Enjoy!   Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!   The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Jeff Black, singer-songwriter, B-Sides and Confessions, Volume Two   Watch this exclusive Mr. Media interview with Jeff Black by clicking on the video player above! Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience looking for a good story, put to music, to get their day off to a great start… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'B-Sides And Confessions Vol. 2' by Jeff Black, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the album cover above! I heard the first song on singer-songwriter Jeff Black’s new album, B-Sides and Confessions, Volume Two, and that was all it took. One stanza of the lyrics, in fact, cemented his appearance here: I dropped down to see the doctor He gave me some strange strange news He said I think you’re going to live forever boy But you’re to die a little bit before you do JEFF BLACK podcast excerpt: "There are as many different concert nights as there are people on the planet. Luckily for me, the kind of music I write and perform is sought out. There is a huge contingency of people who seek out singer-songwriters" That just really spoke to me and opened a gateway into the folk/Americana style of Black’s music. The good news is that Black is joining me today to talk music and, even better, to play a couple of songs for us. And if you like what you see and hear, you can catch “An Evening with Jeff Black” on tour this fall in Louisville, Kentucky, Valdosta, Georgia, Gainesville, Florida, and right here in St. Petersburg on Sunday, September 15 at The Palladium. Jeff Black Website • Facebook • Twitter • YouTube • Google+ • Order B-Sides and Confessions Volume Two from Amazon.com BONUS! The interview above was actually take two. The first time we tried this, the sound was great but somehow the video went black after just a couple minutes. Jeff Black agreed to release it as a bonus. It includes several different topics and performances of "All Right Now" and "Rider Coming" that are slightly different. Enjoy!   Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!   The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Bret Carr, writer, director, star, RevoLOUtion RevoLOUtion, film by Bret Carr. Order your copy today by clicking on the movie poster above! Bret Carr made a movie. Lots of people make movies these days. Every idiot with a digital camcorder thinks he is Scorsese, Tarantino, or Apatow, but Carr approached his first feature film, RevoLOUtion, a little differently. He landed Quinn Redeker, the man behind The Deer Hunter, to write his screenplay. Rocky composer Bill Conti created the title song. Paul Michael Glaser, best known as Detective Starsky from the classic TV series “Starsky & Hutch,” is a producer. Carr even convinced Burt Young, who played Sylvester Stallone’s brother-in-law in the Rocky films, to be himself in RevoLOUtion. But who to play Lou Benedetti, the stuttering, somewhat brain-damaged, yet ultimately inspirational star of the film? That would be Carr himself, who also produced and directed RevoLOUtion. And wait until you hear about his unusual ideas about marketing. Bret Carr IMDB   Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

  Worst Week: The Complete Series, starring Kyle Bornheimer and Erinn Hayes. Order your copy today by clicking on the DVD cover above! Today's Guest: Nancy Lenehan, actress, "Worst Week" It takes a certain kind of woman to play Angela, Sam's mother-in-law on the hysterical new CBS sitcom, "Worst Week." Nancy Lenehan is that woman. Nancy Lineman, actress, Worst Week One week, she and her husband—the judge—are getting busy under his desk. Another week, she rides a cello down a flight of stairs. Oh, and did you happen to see the one where Sam walks in on her in the gynecologist's office and sees her you-know-what? And then writes a magazine column about it? Lenehan has been a guest star on dozens of hit sitcoms over the years, ranging from "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Malcolm in the Middle" to "The New Adventures of Old Christine" and she’s Earl Hickey’s mother on "My Name is Earl." To me, “Worst Week” is one of those show—like “The Office” and even “Seinfeld”—that marches to its own rhythm and needs time to find its audience. It is slapstick funny and yet has moments of warmth and tenderness like no other sitcom on the air today. If you haven’t watched it yet. You should. Now. Nancy Lenehan IMDB • Wikipedia • Facebook   Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Samantha Lockwood, actor, Shoot the Hero Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of slobbering horndogs in the new new media capital of the world and home of the best team in baseball… St. Petersburg, Florida!   Order Shoot the Hero by clicking the DVD cover above! What’s a stunningly beautiful actress like Samantha Lockwood doing in a hail of bullets called Shoot the Hero? Breaking up, making up and robbing a jewelry store with Jason Mewes, for one thing. Getting manhandled by Nicholas Turturo and Danny Trejo for another. She stars with those guys in this new comedy action heist flick written and directed by Christian Sesma. It’s out on DVD and while it may not win an Oscar, it’s a fun ride for a Saturday night date. SAMANTHA LOCKWOOD audio excerpt: "My role is to play Jason Mewes fiance. She's not a b-word; she's a girl who's just frustrated in her relationship. She's dealing with how her fiance spends his time playing videogames. She wants him to grow up and be more mature."  Samantha is doing a grassroots campaign to promote Shoot the Hero and her jewelry line, Fleurings — a style of jewelry that holds water and living flowers. And this week she landed the plum role of silent movie star Mary Pickford in a biopic of the actress’ life. Samantha Lockwood Twitter • Facebook • Pinterest • Instagram • Order Fleurings by Samantha Lockwood Shoot the Hero Website • Order Shoot The Hero from Amazon.com Order 'Fleurings Fresh Flower Vase Necklace' designed by Samantha Lockwood, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the necklace above! Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Roger Nygard, video editor, "Curb Your Enthusiasm" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience that hopes “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and Larry David will go on forever… in the new new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Part 1 of 3   Order from Amazon.com by clicking the DVD cover above The last time Roger Nygard was a guest on this show, he was in a video editing suite in Hollywood and I was where I always am, in the living room studio with the whorehouse red walls. Our subject that day was the release of the expanded edition of Nygard’s terrific, globe-trotting documentary, The Nature of Existence, as well as the passing of one of its subjects, Irvin Kershner, director of the Star Wars sequel, The Empire Strikes Back. In the course of setting the shot, Roger mentioned that we needed be done on time because Larry David was likely to be walking through the door behind him at any time. Uh, back up, I said. Larry David? Order 'The Nature of Existence' [7-Disc Expanded Companion Series] from Amazon.com by clicking the DVD cover above Turns out Roger, on top of his many other credits, has been one of two video editors on seasons 6, 7 and 8 of David’s long-running HBO comedy, “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” My mind was blown. I made him promise to come back on our show to talk about Season 8, which begins on Sunday, July 10. As for Roger, I was mostly aware of his documentary work until that time; in addition Existence, he also directed Trekkies and Trekkies 2. But it turns out he’s quite accomplished in TV sitcoms, having worked on “The Office,” “The Bernie Mac Show” and the very funny, but very short-lived HBO comedy, “The Mind of the Married Man.” Roger Nygard Website • Twitter • Facebook • YouTube •  Curb Your Enthusiasm on HBO • Order Curb Your Enthusiasm, Season 7, from Amazon.com • Order The Nature of Existence, 7-disc extended edition, from Amazon.com More Mr. Media Interviews from Curb Your Enthusiasm: Jeff Garlin (Sept. 14, 2007) • Cheryl Hines (Oct. 21, 2007) Part 2 of 3   Part 3 of 3   Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!   The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Thesy Surface, actress, "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"   Order 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: The Complete Season 6,' available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD cover above! Think about this for a minute. You’re a beautiful young actress, born in Chicago, raised in London and when you open your mouth, the most delightful, sophisticated accent comes pouring out. You’re waiting for your big break in show business when the phone rings. One of the buzziest hit sitcoms on TV, FX’s “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” is calling. They want you for what could become a recurring role on the raunchy, outrageous gross-out fest. Sounds like a dream come true. THESY SURFACE AUDIO EXCERPT: "I think it was Charlie Chaplin who said, 'It doesn't matter how big the role is. Just be memorable.' And Margaret McPoyle is memorable." But… the producers want to paste a dark, heavy unibrow across that lovely forehead of yours. And your hair? Tied into pigtails. At least you’ll get to utter some real clever, coarse dialogue, right? Sorry, kid. Your character is mute. No words will be spoken. But you do get to make a rather salacious move with your tongue. What do you say? Thesy Surface said yes. Yes to Margaret McPoyle, the silly stuff of which TV legends are made on “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” For most people, this will be the first time you’ll have heard Thesy’s voice. Want to hear more? Check out her video blog at ThesySurface.com. And, oh yeah: the show returns to FX for its sixth season on Thursday, September 16 @ 10 p.m. (You can also catch up on episodes you missed on Comedy Central.) Mono-browed Margaret McPoyle — played by Thesy Surface —returns around Halloween. Thesy Surface Website • Facebook • Order It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 6 DVD from Amazon.com Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Richard Kramer, TV writer,  "Thirtysomething," "My So-called Life," "Tales of the City," "Once and Again"; novelist, These Things Happen Watch this exclusive Mr. Media interview with writer Richard Kramer, writer for TV's "Thirtysomething," "My So-called Life," "Tales of the City" and "Once and Again" and author of the coming-of-age novel These Things Happen, by clicking on the video player above! Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of current and former teenaged girls who can’t believe that the Claire Danes in “My So-called Life” and the Claire Danes in “Homeland” is playing two completely different characters – wink, wink… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order 'These Things Happen' by Richard Kramer, available in print or ebook from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! “Thirtysomething.” “My So-called Life.” “Tales of the City.” “Once and Again.” I feel confident saying that I have seen the complete runs of two television series with which writer, director and producer Richard Kramer has been associated — “Thirtysomething” and “Once and Again.” RICHARD KRAMER podcast excerpt: "It's a coming-of-age story but it's not about teenagers. And it's a coming out story that is not about gayness." And that I may have never seen a single episode of the other two, “My So-called Life” and “Tales of the City.” Not that there’s anything wrong with that. RICHARD KRAMER: "We can't believe how Claire Danes grew up. We think of her at 14, when she was this little girl who just came in to audition for 'My So-called Life,' having done one TV show, and we went, 'Oh, my God, who is this?' She was completely focused and adult at 14." “Thirtysomething” and “Once and Again” were two shows that spoke to me at times when I matched up with their demographic: young, married, and, um, still married, I guess. (Have I ever been not married? It’s so hard to remember.) As for “My So-called Life,” I was long past high school when it enjoyed its short but spirited run. And I’ve never been gay – happy, sure – so Armistead Maupin’s “Tales of the City” was not a show I was drawn to for any reason. But now that Richard Kramer has added the word “novelist” to his resume, his first book, These Things Happen, has almost incidentally rolled together elements of all four of the aforementioned TV series — straight marriage, remarriage, gay marriage, straight teens, gay teens, and lots of delicious sounding food — into one uniquely organized tale. RICHARD KRAMER: "At the beginning, 'Thirtysomething' was about a moment in your life when you could still drop in on your friends, unannounced. And when you could walk through the door and it was not about anything other than fun. But then as you get on a bit, you have to call ahead. You have to book the time." These Things Happen came out in paperback this week and HBO recently committed to a half-hour comedy pilot based on the book and produced by Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions. Not bad, Richard. Not bad. Richard Kramer Website • Facebook • Twitter • Wikipedia • IMDB • Order These Things Happen from Amazon.com Order 'My So-Called Life: The Complete Series' (+ Book), available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD cover above! Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Ryan Barton-Grimley, indie film director, The Truth There are essentially nine speaking parts in Ryan Barton-Grimley’s new indie film, The Truth. And two of those parts are in one scene--a couple of actors playing cops who are virtually superfluous to the story--so let’s say seven. Ryan Barton-Grimley, director of The Truth Order The Truth starring John Heard, available by clicking on the DVD cover above! RYAN BARTON-GRIMLEY podcast excerpt: "John Heard -- talk about a saint! We had somebody else, a very notorious actor, notoriously troublesome, cast in that role. He dropped out two days before filming. John Heard came onto our three-week shoot a week in. He saved the day. He's amazing." This is the kind of movie I think Hollywood could learn from in this age of tight budgets and stories that wind out of control. Barton-Grimley tells a taut, suspenseful tale that really leaves the viewer in fear of what revelation—or truth—is coming next. And even when we know, we still don’t know. I heard about The Truth, which stars John Heard, Daniel Baldwin, Erin Cardillo and Brendan Sexton III, because illegal copies of it are flooding the Internet. It’s obviously been the subject of a lot of buzz and curiosity. Cool, huh? Ryan Barton-Grimley Website • IMDB • Order The Truth from Amazon.com Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Joel Gilbert, documentary filmmaker, Bob Dylan Revealed Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of people who won’t figure out that my audio failed to record during the following conversation… in the new new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Part 1 of 2 Order 'Bob Dylan Revealed' from Amazon.com by clicking the DVD above! I can’t imagine the challenge of trying to capture the career of Bob Dylan in a documentary film.For starters, which Dylan? Folk Dylan? Dylan gone electric? Or Dylan the social activist, the poet, the singer and even the mumbler. In his documentary film, Bob Dylan Revealed, director Joel Gilbert spends more than a hour collecting stories and concert film about those Dylans. It’s a slice that adds texture to our knowledge of the legendary performer. Then about an hour and ten minutes in, Gilbert turns his film upside-down to reveal a new focus: Dylan’s short-lived, controversial born-again Christian phase. It’s thick with Christianity: spreading the word of the Lord, Jews for Jesus and the Vineyard Christian Fellowship Church. What I don’t get from the film – with which Dylan clearly didn’t cooperate—is why Dylan set aside a lifetime of Judaism for born-again Christianity. To his credit, Gilbert’s film doesn’t avoid the fact that the public – and even many Christians – didn’t “get” this Bob Dylan. The same thing happened when Dylan subsequently jumped teams again, giving up Christianity for extreme orthodox Judaism and Chabad. Why? We may never know. And that’s not necessarily a fault of Gilbert’s work – it’s just the mystery of Bob Dylan. Bob Dylan Revealed Website • Order Bob Dylan Revealed from Amazon.com JOEL GILBERT audio excerpt: "(Rock critic) Joel Selvin published a piece in the San Francisco Chronicle a very critical piece entitled 'Bob Dylan's God-awful gospel.' He wasn't home, but Bob Dylan called his house and his wife answered. Dylan told her, 'Tell Mr. Selvin he's lost his license to review me.'"   Part 2 of 2   Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Julian Doyle, editor, Monty Python & The Holy Grail, Monty Python’s Meaning of Life, Jabberwocky, Time Bandits, Brazil, Wind in the Willows, Monty Python’s Life of Brian Part 1 of 4 Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience that includes the Reverend Arthur Belling, Cardinal Ximinez, Cardinal Fang, Cardinal Biggles, D.P. Gumby, Mr. Eric Praline, Mr. Nudge, and, of course, Kate Middleton… in the new new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order from Amazon.com by clicking the book cover above! Oh, so many of you! Well, you’ve come to the right place. Joining me today from London is the author of The Life of Brian, er, I mean, The Life of Jesus, Julian Doyle. Doyle is not your usual commentator on matters of the Christian church and the man for whom it is named. Instead he is the long-time editor of Monty Python films such as Monty Python & The Holy Grail, Monty Python’s Meaning of Life, Jabberwocky, Time Bandits, Brazil, Wind in the Willows, and the film that brought us all here today, Monty Python’s Life of Brian. Order Monty Python's Life Of Brian - The Immaculate Edition, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD cover above! JULIAN DOYLE audio excerpt: "It's going to feel like blasphemy to some people because I draw parallels between our Monty Python film, Life of Brian, and other films and which is most accurate." Doyle’s book, The Life of Brian Jesus, walks two paths; primarily it examines similarities between the Python film, the Holy Bible and what is actually known about the life of Jesus Christ. But it also offers several intimate glimpses behind the scenes of the 1979 film, Life of Brian. Is The Life of Brian Jesus for every Python fan? Probably not, as it raises all kinds of questions some loyal Christians might not care to consider. And it’s only a Python book in part, so if you’re looking for a funny memoir of "Flying Circus" days, don’t expect as much of that. But if you’re that rare individual who can handle having your religious beliefs questioned and still practice daily for a position in the Ministry of Silly Walks, step right up! Julian Doyle Website • Facebook • Goodreads • Dead Parrot Shop • Wikipedia • IMDB • Order The Life of Brian/Jesus from Amazon.com Part 2 of 4   Part 3 of 4   Part 4 of 4   Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!   The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Hayley McFarland, actress, "Lie To Me" Hayley McFarland, actress, 'Lie To Me'   Order 'Lie To Me: Season One' starring Tim Roth, Hayley McFarland, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD cover above! Order 'United State of Tara: Season One," available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD cover above! Something was seriously missing from the second episode of the second season of Fox’s drama Lie To Me: punishment for Hayley McFarland’s character, Emily Lightman. Hayley, who plays a young high school student named Emily on the show, lied to her father—Dr. Cal Lightman, played by Tim Roth—about some pretty serious stuff after a classmate of hers was apparently raped at a college frat house party by a star athlete. If that happened in my house, my teen would be grounded—probably for life. HAYLEY McFARLAND: "I saw Pulp Fiction before I started on Lie To Me. I was kind of nervous going to meet (Tim Roth). I thought he'd be mean. But he's great."  But Hayley has probably behaved worse on TV; after all, Lie To Me is just one of this young actress’s recurring gigs; she’s also on Showtime’s United States of Tara, starring Toni Collette. On Tara, Hayley plays the best friend of Tara’s son. Hayley McFarland Twitter • Instagram • IMDB • Wikipedia • Order Lie To Me, Season One from Amazon.com Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!   The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Chris D'Elia, comedian, actor, "Whitney," "Undateable" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of tall, long-haired, bearded, shirtless dudes who sold their Internet companies for a fortune and are trying to steer the hot chicks away from me… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Whitney Cummings and Chris D'Elia star in the NBC sitcom "Whitney"; Order Season One on DVD from Amazon.com by clicking the image above! Sure, sure, poor, poor Chris D’Elia is being set up as eye candy for the ladies on the new NBC sitcom, “Whitney.” Boo-frickin’-hoo! Have you seen the pictures of the show’s lead – and his character’s girlfriend – comedian Whitney Cummings, working through scenes in a lacy purple bra? CHRIS D'ELIA audio excerpt: "Whitney wrote the part for me. She's one of these people who finds people she likes and tries to create opportunities. She told me two years ago that she wanted me to play her boyfriend and I said, 'Cool.'" I think Mr. D’Elia, who we’re about to meet, can handle the trade-off of being a boy toy for female viewers if it means representing all the men watching the show--including Howard Stern, who lusted after Whitney on the radio just this week. Think of all of us envying you in your next bedroom scene with Whitney, dude. “Whitney,” which was created by Whitney Cummings, could be a major break out hit this season if it is anything like her standup act. She’s got a strong supporting cast, starting with D’Elia, himself a working comedian, who was previously a regular in the TBS series “Glory Daze.” You might also recognize Tampa’s own Maulik Pancholy – who previously played Alec Baldwin’s assistant on “30 Rock.” Chris D'Elia Website • Twitter • Facebook • YouTube • MySpace • Order Whitney: Season One from Amazon.com Order 'Whitney Cummings: Money Shot" by clicking the image above! Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!