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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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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Law & Order: SVU executive producer Neal Baer spills his show's secrets

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

By BOB ANDELMAN

The Law & Order television franchise has passed through numerous stages over its two decades on the air at NBC. There was innovation, as in the split show format of the original; shock, as in the horrible nature of some of the crimes depicted; expansion, as in the addition of series such as “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”; ubiquity, as in, “isn’t there anything on besides these doggone crime shows”; and, finally, respect, as in Mariska Hargitay winning the 2006 Emmy Award for Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

That’s all the stuff that you and my wife see when you watch hour after hour of “Law & Order.” But what goes on behind the scenes?

That’s what I hope to discover from today’s guest, Dr. Neal Baer, the executive producer of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” Dr. Baer is a real medical doctor with a degree from Harvard; he interned at Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles and, more germane to a discussion of TV, he was on the original writing staff of “ER,” eventually rising to the position of executive producer.

AUDIO EXCERPT: "The secret of the show's success? I think it's the teaming of Mariska Hargitay and Chris Meloni. I think they're the longest running team in drama; Ozzie & Harriet beat them in comedy—they ran for 14 years. They've got great chemistry. Chris represents the rage we feel about the crimes and Mariska represents the empathy we feel toward the victims." 

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Mercy's Jamie Lee Kirchner takes Mr. Media for a hospital tour, stat!

By BOB ANDELMAN

Reports of the death of the TV hospital drama—foretold by the end of "ER" last season after 27 years on the air—were apparently premature.

Showtime has "Nurse Jackie"; TNT has "HawthoRNe" and NBC is back with a new one that adds an "M," a "C" and a "Y" to "E" and "R" and that gives us "Mercy." (Oh, stop groaning—you saw that one coming a mile away.) ("Mercy" Website)

But alert Nurse Hathaway! In this network show, the nurses—not the doctors—are running the asylum. Starring Taylor Schilling, Michelle Tractenberg and my guest today, Jamie Lee Kirchner, "Mercy" lets viewers know who's really in charge on the floors.

"Mercy" airs every Wednesday night at 8 p.m. on NBC.

AUDIO EXCERPT: "It's a friendship show. It's like 'Sex and the City' with cheaper footwear. There's a lot of comedy; just when you think you know who these people are, they make a hard left turn." 

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I'm With Coco #TeamConan

Interview: Alison Brie, COMMUNITY, MAD MEN TV star: Mr. Media Radio

By BOB ANDELMAN

Alison Brie is a supporting actress on two hit series—“Community” on NBC and “Mad Men” on AMC.

Not bad for a young woman whose previous acting resume is still thin enough as to include performances in community theatre shows at a Jewish Community Center in Southern California. And don’t get me wrong—I’m not knocking those credits—it’s a testament to how, when it’s your time in Hollywood, the knocks on the door can come fast and furious.

AUDIO EXCERPT: "Our producers on 'Community' are big fans of 'Mad Men' and were very gracious to let me continue to recur on that show and I hope it works out for season four."

Her big break came in the first season of “Mad Men,” on which she plays “Trudy Campbell,” wife of ambitious silver spooner Pete Campbell. Pete hasn’t quite figured out married life yet—from making babies to staying away from women who are not his wife—but that hasn’t stopped Trudy from stealing most every scene she is in, including her final moment of season three.

As for “Community,” Alison plays “Annie,” the baby-faced, sometimes raw community college student who is desperately trying to fit in with the show’s band of oddball, somewhat older and more experienced characters.

The new NBC show took a few weeks to get its voice, but “Community” absolutely deserves the “Must See TV” tag and is funny from the first to the last minute of each new episode. It deserved a recent full-season pickup from the network and move to anchoring Thursdays night at 8 p.m.




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Copyright 2009 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

Michael McGrady, SOUTHLAND star: Mr. Media Radio Interview

(NOTE FROM Mr. MEDIA: This interview was recorded before NBC canceled "Southland" last week without airing a single episode of its second season. But in the hopes it will turn up somewhere more appropriate--fX, Showtime?--I'm offering it up anyway.) 

By BOB ANDELMAN

Like a bad rash, Mr. Media is making his way through the entire squad room of the new NBC TV drama, “Southland.”

Regular listeners will recall that last spring, at the end of the show’s first season, Regina King, Michael Cudlitz and Shawn Hatosy all scratch their media itch right here. And now I’m delighted to welcome Michael McGrady, who plays Detective Daniel “Sal” Salinger.

Before joining “Southland,” one of the breakthrough dramatic hits of last season, McGrady appeared opposite Taye Diggs in “Day Break” and had recurring parts in “Dirty Sexy Money,” “24” and “CSI.”

His film credits include "Deep End of the Ocean," "The Thin Red Line," "Hocus Pocus," and several others.

AUDIO EXCERPT: "If there were any bugs or kinks that needed to be worked out, they did so over the hiatus. You've got real masterminds behind this, including John Wells and Chris Chulack. As a cast, we feel very confident that any issues we had were worked out over the summer."

He also has a life outside of acting. McGrady, along with his wife, Ilka, are co-founders of the Balanced Life Company, an international organization dedicated to helping people develop and maintain a more balanced and sustainable lifestyle. McGrady is also an accomplished fine artist who owns and operates McGrady Fine Art with his wife.





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More Mr. Media interviews with the cast of "Southland":
• Regina King
• Shawn Hatosy
• Michael Cudlitz

Copyright 2009 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

Dario Scardapane, TRAUMA NBC TV show creator: Mr. Media Radio Interview

 Cliff Curtis and Aimee Garcia star in NBC's "Trauma," Mondays at 9 p.m.

By BOB ANDELMAN

From what I’ve read, the opening 10 minutes of the NBC drama “Trauma”—and say that five times fast—is the greatest introduction to a TV show ever. It cures cancer, tames global warming and reveals the secrets behind “Lost.”

Okay, maybe it doesn’t do the last thing, but still!

Seriously, NBC has had great success with emergency medicine shows going back to “Emergency!”—the one with the exclamation point—and, of course, the long-running “ER.”

AUDIO EXCERPT: "I keep hearing, 'Okay, that's a pretty amazing way to start things. How are you going to keep up with it week after week?'  Television isn't the realm of the timid. Setting the bar really, really high for yourself... I embrace it."

Dario Scardapane is the creator and executive producer of “Trauma,” which, all; kidding aside, is one of the most talked about dramas of the new TV season. And Scardapane brings an unusual background to this show. Instead of being a Hollywood set rat, he’s a former journalist who has worked at Vogue, Los Angeles Times, Details and US Magazine.



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Shawn Hatosy, SOUTHLAND star: Mr. Media Radio Interview

Shawn Hatosy stars as gang detective Sammy Bryant in NBC's new drama series "Southland."

You may have already recognized Shawn from his starring role as John McCain in the adaptation of the senator’s autobiography, “Faith of My Fathers.”

This summer, he will appear in Michael Mann's Public Enemies with Christian Bale and Johnny Depp. He also filmed an upcoming remake of the 1992 cult classic Bad Lieutenant, playing Nicolas Cage's partner.

And Shawn appears in the Justin Timberlake music video to his single, "What Goes Around Comes Around" — alongside Scarlett Johansson.

Shawn is a talent ready to break out big time. “Southland” will probably be the vehicle that does it for him.

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Copyright 2009 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

Cristine Rose, HEROES NBC-TV co-star: Mr. Media Audio Interview

Cristine Rose of "Heroes, image by ewen and donabel via Flickr

If you’re a “Heroes” fan, I’ve got a treat for you today. My guest is Cristine Rose, who stars in the NBC drama as the mysterious, calculating matriarch Angela Petrelli, who, we believe, is willing to sacrifice anything, including her gifted sons, Nathan and Peter, to change the world.

Apparently, having sons played by Adrian Pasdar and Milo Ventimiglia, doesn’t have much impact on Angela!

Christine, who is a commanding presence on the screen, is a veteran TV actress whose roles have included appearances on “Picket Fences,” “Providence” and “Friends.” She even has an episode of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” to her credit, playing, I believe, a Klingon. More recently, she’s been seen on episodes of “How I Met Your Mother” and “Big Love.”

You can LISTEN to this interview with actress CRISTINE ROSE, co-star of the NBC-TV drama "HEROES," by clicking the BlogTalkRadio.com audio player above!

Don't miss these Mr. Media interviews with the "Heroes" cast:

Milo Ventimiglia

David Lawrence

Copyright 2009 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

Sam Jones III, ER, SMALLVILLE actor: Mr. Media Audio Interview

Sam Jones III arrives at "ER" finale party; image by Getty Images via Daylife

Tonight, America’s 15-year love affair with the NBC medical drama “E.R.” comes to a close. The show introduced a lot of actors who became very big stars and today I’m delighted to welcome a young man who is probably hoping he is on the launching pad to become one of them.

Audiences first noticed Sam Jones III as Clark Kent’s best friend, Pete Ross, during the first three seasons of “Smallville.” He has since appeared in a number of movies, including Snipes, Zig Zag and Glory Road.

More recently, Jones became part of the final group of medical students to go through Chicago’s County General Hospital on “ER.” His character was noteworthy because for 17 episodes he played Chaz, the younger brother of long time “ER” doc Greg Pratt, played by Mekhi Phifer.

You can LISTEN to this interview with SAM JONES III, actor and co-star of "ER" and "SMALLVILLE," by clicking the BlogTalkRadio.com audio player above!

Copyright 2009 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

Vik Sahay, CHUCK NBC-TV co-star: Mr. Media Interview

When last we saw Lester, one of the morally challenged Buy More employees on the NBC spy comedy “Chuck,” he was making more than eye contact with fellow employee Morgan’s girlfriend, Anna.

Morgan saw them and was heartbroken. Anna, had it even worse: she was repulsed.

Poor misunderstood Lester.

Doing somewhat better, I suspect, is the actor who plays Lester, Vik Sahay (Sa-High), who joins us this morning to talk about one of Mr. Media’s favorite shows, “Chuck.”

You can LISTEN to this interview with VIK SAHAY, co-star of the NBC-TV show "CHUCK," by clicking the BlogTalkRadio.com audio player below!

Donal Logue, LIFE actor: Mr. Media Interview

Donal Logue via WikipediaDonal Logue joins the cast of the NBC drama series “Life” this fall. He plays the character of Capt. Kevin Tidwell.

My guess is that many of you know Donal than may know “Life.” He starred ina traditional sitcom on Fox, “Grounded For Life” and a non-traditional sitcom, “The Knights of Prosperity,” on ABC.

My guess is that NBC is counting on Donal to add a new dimension of familiarity to “Life,” which built a rabid, if small, fan base in its first season and hopes to improve upon it this year. It airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m.

You can LISTEN to this interview with DONAL LOGUE star of "LIFE" by clicking the BlogTalkRadio.com audio player below!

Copyright 2008 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

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Chris Young, AMERICA'S TOUGHEST JOBS reality show contestant: Mr. Media Interview

Image via WikipediaChris Young came to NBC’s “America’s Toughest Jobs” looking for a challenge, not a new job. He’s a 49-year-old investment banker from Pasadena who signed on for a shot at the big time.

He reportedly also doubled his life insurance policy.

You can LISTEN to this interview with CHRIS YOUNG reality show contestant on "AMERICA'S TOUGHEST JOBS" by clicking the BlogTalkRadio.com audio player below!

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Joshua Gomez, CHUCK co-star: Mr. Media Interview

Image by heath_bar via FlickrI love “Chuck.”

It’s not a gay thing—I’m referring to the NBC TV show that just returned for its second season on Monday nights.

And it’s not just me; my wife and daughter are also huge fans of the goofy, sexy, spy action-comedy starring Zachary Levi, Yvonne Strahovski—the hottest woman working in TV or film today— Adam Baldwin and my guest this morning, Joshua Gomez.

Gomez is “Morgan,” Chuck’s best friend and co-worker at the Buy More Electronics superstore. Morgan has a 19-year-long crush on Chuck’s sister, dates a beautiful Asian co-worker who looks like she just stepped out of a Japanese manga story and, according to Chuck, “the man has a black belt in dumplings.”

You can LISTEN to this interview with JOSHUA GOMEZ, co-star of the NBC TV series CHUCK, by clicking the BlogTalkRadio.com audio player below!

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