Mr. Belding? What's become of the 'Saved By the Bell' principal?

Actor Dennis Haskins, image via Wikipedia

By BOB ANDELMAN

Fans of “Saved By the Bell,” have I got a treat for you.

Joining me today is actor Dennis Haskins, who everyone knows as Mr. Belding, the principal on the show through multiple incarnations, starting with all 72 episodes of the original series from 1989-93, on through an episode of “Saved By the Bell: The College Years,” the movies “Saved By the Bell: Hawaiian Style” and “Saved By the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas,” “Good Morning, Miss Bliss” and 80 episodes of “Saved By the Bell: The New Class,” from 1993-2000.

There are even rumors of a “Saved By the Bell” theatrical release in the works.

Honestly, though, I’m more interested to talk with Haskins about his recent multi-episode arc on the first season of the new TNT dramedy, “Men of a Certain Age.” His certain were with Scott Bakula.

Haskins is here to promote his upcoming gig as host of “ACME Saturday Night” this Saturday, March 27. You can watch the online comedy TV show streaming live online @ http://www.acmecomedy.com at 10 pm Eastern, 7pm Pacific.

DENNIS HASKINS AUDIO EXCERPT: "TMZ is very liberal with the truth. Sometimes they're nice to you, sometime they're not. If you believe the good stuff, you've got to believe the bad stuff. I had one situation where they put stuff on that was a complete fabrication. There's nothing you can do about it." 

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Ethan Peck and Lindsay Shaw of ABC Family's '10 Things I Hate About You' hate on Mr. Media!

Larry Miller, Meaghan Jette, Ethan Peck, Lindsay Shaw of 10 Things I Hate About You, image by Getty Images via Daylife

By BOB ANDELMAN

When last we saw Kat and Patrick on ABC Family’s hit comedy series 10 Things I Hate About You, Kat—played by Lindsay Shaw—was protesting the imposition of mandatory uniforms at their high school. And Patrick—played by Ethan Peck—was, well, brooding.

Well, the uniforms are gone, but Patrick is still the brooding loner.

Last year, on the eve of the series’ debut, Lindsay and Ethan came to Mr. Media and gave a preview of the delightful chemistry between them. Now they’re back as the stars of a show the New York Times calls one of TV’s best. And more young people no doubt now know their show than know it was once a hit movie.

Take that, Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles!

LINDSAY SHAW AUDIO EXCERPT: "It is a little overwhelming at first. He is a powerful presence. But Ethan is cuddly in the middle. Above being so cute and dreamy, he's just awesome. Making out with Ethan is super-exciting, something I'd definitely consider doing again. He's got really great, soft lips." 

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Novelist Monte Schultz is 'This Side of Jordan'—and cartoonist dad Charles Schulz

By BOB ANDELMAN

When his father wrote adult characters, they sounded like muffled trombones.

When Monte Schulz writes grown up dialogue, there is no doubt that the words are not from the mouths of babes. To wit:

Something blunt struck Alvin between the eyes, waking him, while a voice he didn’t recognize whispered, “Get up, you little sonofabitch!”

“Huh?”

Alvin felt cold steel pressed to his forehead and opened his eyes. A dark figure stood over him. A rifle barrel extended from Alvin’s forehead to the hands of the man standing in front of him. “Nobody robs Charlie Harper, you little double-crossing sonofabitch!”

Nope, that is just not the way the little round-headed kid talked to Lucy, even after she pulled the football out from under him for the umpteenth time.

Monte Schulz, author of the new novel, This Side of Jordan, in case you haven’t yet made the connection, is the eldest son of one of the world’s most beloved cartoonists, Charles Schulz, creator of the legendary comic strip, “Peanuts.”

This Side of Jordan is a period piece circa 1929. Monte—smartly, in my opinion—went in a completely different direction from his famous dad, narrating the barnstorming, bloodthirsty adventures of an odd trio—a con man, a dwarf and a farm boy at the edge of the Great Depression.

MONTE SCHULZ AUDIO EXCERPT: "My dad read the book before he died. He liked Rascal a lot--'He's such a funny little guy.' He used to tell me I was raising the level of art in the family." 

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'Guiding Light' soap stars bid Mr. Media a fond farewell

Image via Wikipedia

By BOB ANDELMAN

You don’t have to be an afternoon soap opera fan to know and appreciate that a giant passed when CBS turned off the power on Guiding Light on September 18, 2009.

The show was the longest running drama in broadcast history, having started on NBC Radio in 1937 as a 15-minute serial and moving to CBS Television in 1952. It went on to rack up 16,000 episodes.

Now the stars of the show are on a grand farewell tour around the United States, thanking fans for their decades of support. Joining me today to talk about their Saturday, March 27, 2010, appearance at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa, are Guiding Light stars Kim Zimmer and Robert Newman.

Before they do, however, let me tell you that from 11 a.m. until noon that day, five key cast members of Guiding Light will be on hand to answer your questions. Then, for three more hours—from 1-4 p.m.—there will be an opportunity to take photos and get hugs from your favorite stars: Kim Zimmer, Grant Aleksander, Robert Newman, Justin Deas and Michael O’Leary .

To purchase tickets—18 and older only, please—for the March 27 ”Goodbye Guiding Light” event, please visit GoodbyeGuidingLight.com. Tickets are $35 and may also be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets and at the Hard Rock Retail Store inside the casino. For more information call 813-627-Rock (7625).

ROBERT NEWMAN AUDIO EXCERPT: "I came in 1981. I was cast as a bad guy. I came to Springfield to wreak havoc. The fans hated me. About a year into the show. they had some oil rig disaster down in Venezuela. They literally had me handing out checks to widows and orphans of me who died on oil rigs. My character had an epiphany... The strangest twist was cloning my dead wife and growing her from birth to 40 in six weeks." 

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Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Cynthia Tucker frames the health care vote for Mr. Media!

President Barack Obama, image via Wikipedia

By BOB ANDELMAN

No matter on what side of the political fence you sit, today is a day you’ll no doubt long remember: it’s the day a federal health care policy—some would say “system”—emerged after long debate. One day it will likely be remembered as a key accomplishment of President Barack Obama.

By sheer luck of timing, my guest today is Cynthia Tucker, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She is a woman who wears her believes on her sleeve, in her newspaper—via syndication, in a lot of newspapers—and in an online blog.

Ms. Tucker is joining us today to promote her appearance in Sarasota, Florida, where she’ll be the featured speaker at the next Forum Truth event on Wednesday, March 24th at 7:30 pm at Holley Hall, 709 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Tickets are $20 for Forum Truth members and $25 for non-members. For more information on Forum Truth, visit the website, forumtruth.org or call 941-349-8350.

You can read her column in your local newspaper on online @ www.uexpress.com/AsISeeIt or read her blog @ http://blogs.ajc.com/cynthia-tucker/

If I had any doubt Ms. Tucker would be comfortable discussing health care—among other political topics of the day—the headline on her blog this morning clinched it: “Does the GOP really want to run against health care reform?”

I’ve been wondering the same thing for weeks.

CYNTHIA TUCKER AUDIO EXCERPT: "Unfortunately, sometimes you can lose elections if you do the right thing. Doing the right thing can be unpopular. I think back to civil rights legislation in the 1960s. There were certainly Southern politicians who voted for civil rights legislation who lost their seats. And there are going to be some who will lose their seats in November." 

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Young adult novelist Lisa McMann tells Mr. Media: Wake, Fade, Gone. And make it snappy!

Cover of Wake

By BOB ANDELMAN

This is gonna take a minute.

It was the last day of our first family vacation in two years and the three of us were unwinding in the enormous Barnes & Noble bookstore in Burlington, Vermont.

My 13-year-old daughter Rachel found two young adult novels she wanted to buy, both of which her girlfriends had already read and enjoyed. The first was The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, which looked like it was cast in the mode of the Harry Potter books, a series that Rachel has read over and over and over.

The second was a dark and somewhat frightening looking book titled Wake by Lisa McMann. It’s subtitle: “Your dreams are not your own.”

I was dubious; my daughter finds the sight of blood unsettling and isn’t a fan of violence or gore. But it was technically age-appropriate and it meant reading something other than texts on her phone, so okay.

She loved both books and consumed them in the next two days.

Back home, a few days later, she came over to my desk, holding Wake and asked, “What’s your agent’s name?”

“Michael Bourret,” I said.

With a triumphant look in her eye, she pushed Wake in front of me, open to the Acknowledgements page. I read it and smiled: “Warmest gratitude to my fantastic agent, Michael Bourret, who believed in Janie and me…”

Small world.

This week, Gone, the third and final book in the Wake trilogy, completing the adventures of teenage dream catcher Janie Hannagan, hits the shelves of bookstores everywhere. It’s quite a wild ride.

Lisa McMann blog

LISA McMANN AUDIO EXCERPT: "When I finished writing Wake, I almost immediately started writing Fade. I know that wasn't necessarily smart. But I felt like the story wasn't finished, so I wanted to write it for me. Then I thought, 'There could be more.'" 

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'Ziggy' cartoonist Tom Wilson shares scenes from a heartbreaking life with Mr. Media

By BOB ANDELMAN

When I was a teenager—back during the Ford Administration, if you must know—a time when Peanuts was the best thing going in daily comic strips and years before The Far Side shook up the quiet world of single-panel strips, there was Ziggy.

The roly-poly, philosophical mensch was widely quoted, appeared on a zillion greeting cards, had his wisdom collected in books, and came to stand for a certain type of post-Woodstock, pop philosophy.

To be honest, I lost track of my old friend Ziggy over the years; my local paper, the St. Petersburg Times, doesn’t carry the strip now and I can’t remember a time it did in the nearly 30 years I’ve been a reader.

So I was honestly surprised to learn that for almost that long, the strip has been produced by Tom Wilson, Jr., son of Ziggy’s creator. And I was saddened to learn of the heartbreaking trip Wilson has been on for the last two decades. The story begins first with his dad’s illness in the early ‘90s, forcing Tom Jr. to step in on the strip, then picking up steam with his beautiful wife Susan’s diagnosis of breast cancer and followed by seven years of ultimately futile treatment.

Wilson tells his story in a new book, Zig-Zagging: Loving Madly, Losing Badly… How Ziggy Saved My Life.

Tom Wilson's website

TOM WILSON Jr. AUDIO EXCERPT: "She was a preacher's daughter. I felt, 'How could somebody who loved God so much and who fought so hard and was such an angel--how he could take away this from us?' More than a loss of faith, it was more an anger at God." 

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Graphic novelist Brendan McGinley sends Hannibal and Mr. Media to Rome

By BOB ANDELMAN

If you’re worried about the future of comic books, drop by IndelibleComics.com. It’s the online home of one writer and four artists, a place to see examples of their work as well as full graphic novels, plus you can order hard copy of their products.

As an enterprise, it’s neat, clean and highly functional. And the artwork and storytelling is damn good, too.

I invited writer Brendan McGinley to be my guest today because I like his style. I also like the way he has embraced new graphics technology and applied it to one of my favorite 20th century mediums.

If you’re not familiar with McGinley’s work, check it out while we talk about it here on Mr. Media.

Brendan McGinley website

BRENDAN McGINLEY AUDIO EXCERPT: "If you're working with good artists, nine times out of ten, you say, 'Wow, I can't believe somebody reached into my head and got what I wanted based on a four-word paragraph!'" 

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Aubrey Plaza is Parks and Recreation's secret intern weapon of mass sarcasm

Aubrey Plaza, star of NBC-TV sitcom "Community" (Image via Wikipedia)

By BOB ANDELMAN

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 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.

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 on Twitter

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." 

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DON'T MISS: More Mr. Media Radio interviews with the cast of NBC's Parks and Recreation:
Aziz Ansari

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Academy Award nominee Melissa Leo is getting busy with Kristen Stewart, Kate Winslett and me, Mr. Media!

Cover of Frozen River

By BOB ANDELMAN

I think it was the hair.

A Niagara Falls of cascading, curly, dirty red tresses framing a face that could alarm the viewer with its world-weary concern or lighten up any scene with a rare outburst of laughter.

That was how most of us came to know Melissa Leo, a.k.a., female Det. Sgt. Kay Howard, on NBC’s long-running series, Homicide: Life on the Street. She was a hardened veteran investigating murder among a crew of tough guys who treated with respect and a smidgen of trepidation.

Homicide was one of TV’s all-time great shows, continuing the careers of Yaphet Kotto and Ned Beatty and introducing us to new talent such as Leo, Andre Braugher, Kyle Secor, Callie Thorne, Clark Johnson, Michelle Forbes. And it caused the transformation of legendary standup comic Richard Belzer into what must be one of TV’s longest running character, Detective John Munch, who started on Homicide in 1993 and lives on today in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, having wise-cracked his way through more than 260 episodes all told.

But I digress.

Having survived her Homicide partner, Daniel Baldwin, Melissa Leo’s career was low-key for a few years as she became a frequent guest star in TV dramas from The L Word and CSI to Shark and Law & Order.

So how she then went from appearing in Mr. Woodcock with Billy Bob Thornton to being Oscar-nominated for Best Actress for 2008’s Frozen River has got to be a good story.

Melissa Leo is about to join us to talk about a raft of new movies she’s in-—including: Welcome to the Rileys with Kristen Stewart and James Gandolfini; The Fighter with Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg; Betty Anne Waters, starring Hilary Swank; and the just announced Mildred Pierce remake in which she stars opposite Kate Winslet, who beat her for the 2009 Oscar—as well as the April 11 premiere of the HBO series Treme, in which she co-stars with John Goodman.

MELISSA LEO AUDIO EXCERPT: "Kristen Stewart will grow as an actress as she works. She's interested in learning and expanding. She doesn't think she knows it all. She is not going to be caught in the persona she played in those Twilight films. She is going to make a choice to step out of those parameters. This is an actor, not a movie star." 

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Copyright 2010 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

Young adult novelist Sara Zarr finds third time with Mr. Media is the charm! (Or does she?)

Sara Zarr image by Ron Hogan via Flickr

By BOB ANDELMAN

The life of young adult novelist Sara Zarr has changed dramatically in the last three years, following publication of her first book, Story of a Girl.

That book led her to be a finalist for the 2007 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. She didn’t win, but as I told her in our first interview, the morning after the awards, she might have been better off without that first book pressure.

And she never did hit a sophomore jinx: her second work, Sweethearts, was every bit as good and clever as book #1.

Now book #3, the just published Once Was Lost, confirms Zarr’s talents as an inventive storyteller of consistent and lasting talent. And this is a very different story than her first two; forget about this writer taking the easy, familiar path.

This is Sara Zarr’s third appearance on Mr. Media Radio, making her the first guest to return so many times.

Sara Zarr website

SARA ZARR AUDIO EXCERPT: "Can what I believe stand up to my questions about it? It was really challenging material. It pushed me in every way as a writer." 

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First '30 Rock,' now 'Community': Actor and writer Donald Glover is a double threat

Donald Glover, image via Wikipedia

By BOB ANDELMAN
 
On the NBC freshman sitcom hit “Community,” Donald Glover plays “Troy,” a self-involved, former high school football star trying to find a place for himself in a junior college setting where his athletic accomplishments don’t mean much.

On the other hand, the pretty young girl in his study group, Annie—played by Alison Brie—thinks Troy can do anything. Anything with her, that is.

What may surprise fans of the show to learn, however, is that Glover was previously best known as a comedy writer.

He was a writer and executive story editor for “30 Rock,” sharing Writers Guild of America awards with the staff for best comedy series three years running—not usually the most direct line to starring in a sitcom. He also wrote, scored, produced and stars in the movie, Mystery Team.

Listen to more "Community" actor interviews with Mr. Media Radio:
Alison Brie
Yvette Nicole Brown

DONALD GLOVER AUDIO EXCERPT: "When I was writing at '30 Rock,' sometimes Tracy Moran couldn't make it and they'd have me do my Tracy imitation at the table read. Marcy Klein, a producer on '30 Rock' and 'Saturday Night Live,' asked me to audition for 'SNL.' It moved to doing bit parts on '30 Rock' and doing my own standup before 'Community.'" 

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After Richard Doetsch's '13th Hour,' baby, I want more, more, more

By BOB ANDELMAN

Regular listeners know I’m not prone to breathless hyperbole about my guests or their work. If I like a book I’ve read, I tell you straight out. And if I don’t like a book, you probably won’t hear the author interviewed on Mr. Media Radio because to me, lying isn’t worth the effort.

Today, I’m going for what will sound like breathless hyperbole, but when I got to the end of Richard Deutsch’s latest novel, The 13th Hour, I was mad because it had to end! I immediately gave it to my thriller-reading wife and said, “Read this. Now!”

The 13th Hour is the kind of brain-twisting, adult fiction that you can’t—and won’t—put down. Doetsch literally turns the world upside down and sets events in backwards motion.

And dammit, it makes sense.

I’m not the only one who thinks so, either; New Line bought an option to turn the book into major motion picture before it was even published.

Richard Doetsch website

RICHARD DOETSCH AUDIO EXCERPT: "As you travel through this book, friends die. Things change. He's got to set everything in motion because it's all racing to the final hour... Writing it was like playing five games of chess in my head as I moved through the chapters." 

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Jesse Ventura sees 'American Conspiracies' in places Mr. Media only sees incompetence

By BOB ANDELMAN

Jesse Ventura 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.

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.

GOV. JESSE VENTURA AUDIO 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." 

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Comics historian Paul Buhle talks Harvey Kurtzman and Wisconsin scene

Cover via Amazon

By BOB ANDELMAN

What’s so special about Wisconsin, anyway?

My home state, New Jersey, has tomatoes, Sinatra, Springsteen, Atlantic City, the Turnpike and The Sopranos.

What’s Wisconsin got?

Cheese, the Green Bay Packers, cheese, comics, cheese—did I mention cheese?

I’m not much of a cheese eater or a Packers fan, so—according to my notes—we’re apparently talking about comics in Wisconsin. That’s actually in capital letters—Comics in Wisconsin—as in the title of historian and activist Paul Buhle’s new book by that name.

Buhle, who has written more than 40 books on pop culture so far, has documented the origins of comics in his home state. This project details the development of homegrown talents such as Denis Kitchen and connects the cheesehead dots to Robert Crumb, Lynda Barry, Bill Griffith and many more.

Comics in Wisconsin was at least Buhle’s second book published in 2009: he also collaborated with his old friend Kitchen on The Art of Harvey Kurtzman.

PAUL BUHLE AUDIO EXCERPT: "Al Capone vacationed and hid in Wisconsin. And was caught. That should tell you something." 

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Got an idea for a prank? Can you top CollegeHumor.com's Amir Blumenfeld, Streeter Seidell?

Image via Wikipedia

By BOB ANDELMAN

For a good time, try typing www.CollegeHumor.com into your web browser’s window.

You’ll find an endless stream of short videos that will do anything from brighten your day to cause you to hurt yourself from laughing too hard.

I love a good laugh and websites has become really expert at providing humor in easily digestible bites that we can share with friends and family at the push of a button. Humor is what puts the viral in video.

Joining me today are CollegeHumor.com writer-comedians Amir Blumenfeld and Streeter Seidell. They came to my attention in a recent Wired magazine feature by Jason Tanz on hoaxes; the pair is world renowned for pulling elaborate pranks on one another. I’m hoping to learn a little about their site and what makes a good stunt.

That, and how they haven’t killed each other in the process of getting revenge.

STREETER SEIDELL AUDIO EXCERPT: "We were just doing this for fun and the enjoyment of our friends. The first was when I was doing a standup show and Amir told the audience not to laugh at me. And to heckle me. It was a horrible experience." 

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Copyright 2010 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

Disney XD star Tania Gunadi's brush with greatness--and Captain Kirk

Image via Wikipedia

By BOB ANDELMAN

As a co-star of the Disney XD channel’s “Aaron Stone” series, Tania Gunadi has a dual life—she’s the girl next door to Charlie Landers, a.k.a. Aaron Stone, played by Kelly Blatz, and she is also a player in the online game that drives the show’s plot.

And while this might be child’s play to some—Tania is older than she may look. Despite playing a teen on the show, this native of Bandung, Indonesia is actually 26!

Tania might be a familiar face to fans of everything from Even Stevens to Boston Public; she also had a role on an episode of one of my favorite comedies, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” on FX.

TANIA GUNADI AUDIO EXCERPT: "Working on Star Trek with J.J. Abrams was so amazing. My alien makeup took five hours in the morning to put on; we did 11 days of fitting to make it work. My ears would move as I walked and I had a really long tail. J.J. would ask every couple of minutes, 'Are you okay? Can you breathe?'... Chris Pine is so cute. After our scene we walked outside. He said, 'Are you okay? Do you need a jacket?' And I said, 'No, I just need a hug.'" 

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Copyright 2010 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!





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Who killed movie star Natalie Wood? Her ship's captain/lover tells his story of the night she died

By BOB ANDELMAN

What happened to Natalie Wood on the night of November 29, 1981?

The next morning, as we all know, she was discovered floating in the waters off Catalina Island. But what happened during the night before she died?

That night, Natalie was aboard the Splendour, the boat she and her husband, actor Robert Wagner, owned. Also on board was actor Christopher Walken and the ship's captain, Dennis Davern. Wagner and Davern were drunk. None of the three men has talked in detail about the events of that evening.

Until now.

It's not Wagner or Walken that's talking, however. The ship's captain, Davern, has broken his silence in a new book written with his long time friend, Marti Rulli. Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour is his story, his recollection of that horrible night and the 28 years of silence and guilt that have engulfed his life ever since.

In the interest of full disclosure, before we start, I need to tell you that I first heard about this book through my sister, who lives in the same small South Jersey community as Marti Rulli and has done business with her. But that doesn’t mean every friend of Lori’s gets a shot on this show. You still have to accomplish something, okay?

Marti Rulli's blog

DENNIS DAVERN AUDIO EXCERPT: "As soon as we departed Marina Del Rey, Robert Wagner had jealousy written all over him. Tension was building and it was just terrible... All of a sudden Robert picks up a wine bottle and smashed it in the middle of a coffee table. Glass shattered all over everyone. Christopher Walken exited to his stateroom. Natalie went up to her stateroom. I went to the bridge. You could hear the arguing, the screaming. It was torture." 

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Copyright 2010 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

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Dario Scardapane, creator of NBC's 'Trauma' (the drama, not the Leno-O'Brien thing), hopes for second life

Anastasia Griffith, co-star of NBC's "Trauma," image by Getty Images via Daylife

By BOB ANDELMAN
 
Dario Scardapane would like a few minutes of your time on Monday nights at 9 p.m. for the next couple weeks.

Scardapane is the creator and executive producer of “Trauma,” which, I believe, is a beneficiary of The Jay Leno Show’s fabulous flameout at 10 p.m. on NBC. Trauma was one of the most anticipated shows of last fall, but despite some massive explosions, it never got any traction after the first week or two.

Now that NBC has five hours of primetime real estate to unexpectedly fill at 10 p.m., Scardapane’s show is back for a second shot with brand new episodes.

If you didn’t watch the show before, that shouldn’t stop you from jumping in here. The characters are relatable, likable and the situations comfortable for any fans of the recently retired NBC show “er.”

This is Scardapane’s second visit to Mr. Media Radio.

As a former journalist gone Hollywood, I wanted to support his show if I could.

DARIO SCARDAPANE AUDIO EXCERPT: "The network got away from the basics of television, which is programming and developing shows, putting them on the air... NBC's become a vibrant, exciting place to work again." 

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Copyright 2010 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

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'Melrose Place' returns; get the scoop from actor Thomas Calabro

By BOB ANDELMAN

When last we spoke, Thomas Calabro was preparing to host ACME Comedy’s “ACME Saturday Night” live show and being described as a former star of the late lamented TV series “Melrose Place.”

Today, he’s once again a star of “Melrose Place,” which has been revived by The CW and airs every Tuesday at 9 p.m. And he also returned to host “ACME Saturday Night,” on January 23, 2010. You can view an archive of that perforance or watch new episodes when the online comedy TV show streams live every Saturday at 10 pm Eastern, 7pm Pacific, at www.acmecomedy.com.

(Thomas Calabro's website)

THOMAS CALABRO AUDIO EXCERPT: "The name, Melrose Place, remains the same but everything about it is different, so it's sort of like a whole new deal. My first scene--I was a dad, which Michael Manicini had never been before. That was new, too, so it felt like the first day on the set of a new show" 

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Copyright 2010 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

Topless and bottomless actresses? Must be Mr Skin.com's 2010 Anatomy Awards!

Susan Sarandon and daughter Eva Amurri, image by Getty Images via Daylife

By BOB ANDELMAN

Jim McBride is a man’s man—if the man in question likes ogling naked actresses on TV and films.

McBride does all that and, even better, is well-paid to do it, separating him from the rest of us slobs who are mere hobbyists by comparison.

You probably know McBride better by his nom de skin, Mr. Skin, as in MrSkin.com, the web site he created and now runs with a staff of skintrepreneurs. He’s also a weekly contributor to the Howard Stern Show on Sirius satellite radio.

This is McBride’s third visit to Mr. Media Radio, The first two times around, he was here to promote his books, Mr. Skin's Skincyclopedia: The A-to-Z Guide to Finding Your Favorite Actresses Naked and Mr. Skin's Skintastic Video Guide: The 501 Greatest Movies for Sex & Nudity on DVD.

Today, he’s joining me to reveal the winners of MrSkin.com’s 11th Annual Anatomy Awards.

And don't miss the video clip below celebrating one of this year’s big winners, Academy Award-winning actress Helen Mirren, who gets this year's Lifetime Skinchievement Award

Mr. SKIN AUDIO EXCERPT: "Eva Amurri had an incredible year. She was voted best nude scene from television for her great striptease in Californication. This is Susan Sarandon's daughter. She has the Sarandon breasts and she showed them off a few times. She also was the winner of best nude daughter of a famous mother. She's a nip off the ol' block." 

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Mr. Media also interviewed Mr. Skin in 2007 and 2009

Copyright 2010 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

'The Blind Side' coach, Ray McKinnon, recalls Sandra Bullock's bodyguards and his 'Deadwood' days

Image via Wikipedia

By BOB ANDELMAN
 
I’m going to guess that when Ray McKinnon signed on to play Coach Burt Cotton in the 2009 movie The Blind Side he couldn’t have guessed it would be among the top grossing films of the year and that his co-star, Sandra Bullock, would be nominated for an Academy Award as best actress.

Who could have predicted that?

For a guy whose previous best-known role was probably that of Reverend H.W. Smith on the HBO series “Deadwood,” the success of The Blind Side can’t be anything but good.

He’s already been nominated for a 2010 Spirit Award for his role as “Lonzo” in the indie That Evening Sun, opposite legendary actor Hal Holbrook.

McKinnon, by the way, won an Oscar of his own back in 2002 for his work behind the camera on a short, The Accountant.

RAY McKINNON AUDIO EXCERPT: "I never really got to know Sandra Bullock. But I did get to know her security pretty well. And I really liked him. Whenever I felt I needed to talk to him, I'd get within 30 feet of Sandra and we would be talking." 

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Copyright 2010 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

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'Precious' film composer Mario Grigorov explains how he does it on Mr. Media Radio

Image by bioxid via Flickr

By BOB ANDELMAN

Let’s face it: we take much of the music heard in movies for granted. With rare exceptions, it’s composed and put in place to complement the story and dialogue, not to overwhelm it.

Personally, I’m in awe of composers because to my eyes and ears, they speak a foreign language of notes, sharps and staffs that I will never be able to fathom. My daughter plays piano and guitar and has, on occasion, written her own short pieces for piano, and in never ceases to amazes me. It’s a talent she didn’t get from me, that’s for sure.

All of this is my way of saying how much I look forward to engaging today’s guest, Bulgarian-born pianist and film composer Mario Grigorov, in conversation. He is the composer behind the music heard in the topical—and award-winning—film Precious, Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire.

MARIO GRIGOROV AUDIO EXCERPT: "I finished mixing Precious in New York City and I drove home to Connecticut. I have two kids; I'm happy to be home and I was going to make pancakes for them one morning. Natasha, my wife, dashed off to buy milk for the pancakes, five minutes away. By the time she came back with the milk, I was in the car with the electric piano, on my way back to New York, because (director) Lee Daniels called, completely crazed, frustrated. He wanted to fix a cue before the film was completely done. I called my wife on the phone and said, 'I'm really sorry, but I'm driving back to New York...'" 

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