'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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You can LISTEN to this interview with THOMAS CALABRO, star of MELROSE PLACE, by clicking the audio player above!

Copyright 2010 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

Super-Manny Mike Ruggles fills in for Supernanny: Mr. Media Radio Interview

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You can LISTEN to this interview with MIKE RUGGLES, Super-Manny of ABC's SUPERNANNY, by clicking the audio player above!

Cover via Amazon

By BOB ANDELMAN

As a middle school girls soccer coach, I enjoy working with kids and their parents, But not, I suspect, enough to want to be Jo Frost, the star of the ABC TV series “Supernanny.” And while it would be tempting to be called “Super-Manny,” the title that falls to her associate Mike Ruggles, I don’t think I’d want to be him, either.

That doesn’t mean it won’t be fun to watch on Friday, January 29 @ 8 p.m. when Ruggles takes over the show for an episode of parenting, “Wally World” style.

In this very special episode of “Supernanny” titled “Super-Manny Special: Griswold Family,” Ruggles might meet just his match in a family of real-life Griswolds. That’s right, the Griswolds—just like in my favorite holiday movie, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

AUDIO EXCERPT: "When they brought me in, they thought it might be good angle to work with Dad. They were centered on Dad, but it turned out the whole family needed work." 

Copyright 2010 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

Chris Gorham, actor, UGLY BETTY, COVERT AFFAIRS: Mr Media Radio Interview

Image via Wikipedia

By BOB ANDELMAN

If you’ve ever watched ABC’s romantic dramedy “Ugly Betty,” you know that Betty’s boyfriend Henry will always be the one who got away.

And came back.

And got away again.

The actor who plays “Henry” is Chris Gorham, a busy young man who is a husband, a father, and host of “ACME Saturday Night” this Saturday, January 30. You can watch the online comedy TV show streaming live online @ http://www.acmecomedy.com at 10 pm Eastern, 7pm Pacific.

(Moments before this interview began, Variety announced that "Ugly Betty" would wrap up the series in its remaining episodes, so that's where the conversation begins...)


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LISTEN! Mr. Media's January 2010 interview with Ana Ortiz and Tony Plana

AUDIO EXCERPT: "I feel bad for everyone on the show. Silvio Horta wanted to tell the story in five years... at least the audience will get a proper ending. But I feel bad for my friends at 'Ugly Betty.'" 

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You can LISTEN to this interview with CHRIS GORHAM, star of UGLY BETTY and COVERT AFFAIRS, by clicking the audio player above!

Copyright 2010 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

Ana Ortiz, Tony Plana, UGLY BETTY ABC TV stars: Mr. Media Radio Interview

Ana Ortiz, "Ugly Betty," image via Wikipedia

By BOB ANDELMAN

The big news is that ABC’s sexy, fashion-funny romcom “Ugly Betty” is moving to Wednesday nights at 10 p.m.

And while I understand that surviving a Friday night timeslot on network TV is like getting a stay of execution from the governor, in the digital age, I have to wonder if timeslots matter at all. Or is my family the only one recording “Betty” on a DVR and watching it at our convenience instead of the network’s?

Of course not.

Anyway, to celebrate the new time slot, I’m being joined by Betty’s older sister, Hilda, played by the red-hot chica, Ana Ortiz, and Betty’s distinguished and wise Papi, played by Tony Plana.

AUDIO EXCERPT: "Oh, my gosh! The show comes from a novella in Colombia. When it ended, the had the character of Betty get together with the Daniel Meade character. The country when bananas and was furious about it. The said Betty would never fall in love with this guy! Betty is going to evolve, but not into Cinderella." 

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You can LISTEN to this interview with ANA ORTIZ and TONY PLANA, stars of UGLY BETTY, by clicking the audio player above!

Copyright 2010 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

Geoff Becker, SHOCKER TOYS founder, acting CEO: Mr. Media Radio Interview

Image of Shocker Toys

By BOB ANDELMAN

A six-inch action figure of Will Eisner’s The Spirit has a permanent place of honor on my desk.

Mixed in among some family photographs on a table to my right is an oddly transparent, 12-inch Spider-Man action figure and, next to him, a 12-inch talking Silver Surfer—although the batteries are apparently dead.

In the hallway, where most of our books are shelved, is a 9-inch high growling Incredible Hulk, and a 12-inch set of the original TV Green Hornet and Kato.

Out in the garage, still in boxes, are at least a dozen female action figures that I bought for my daughter when she was a baby, thinking she might one day like to play with them.

She didn’t.

The point of all this? I like action figures. Which is why I invited Geoff Beckett, acting CEO of Shocker Toys, to be my guest today.

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You can LISTEN to this interview with GEOFF BECKER, founder and acting CEO of SHOCKER TOYS, by clicking the audio player above!

Copyright 2010 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

Steve Dildarian, THE LIFE AND TIMES OF TIM creator, star: Mr. Media Interview

If you ever wondered what Larry David—the star of HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm”—was like in his 20s, the answer may be found in the adventures of a guy named Tim.

Tim is the lead character in a new animated sitcom on HBO called “The Life and Times of Tim.” It is vulgar, nasty and sometimes so subtle you’ll want to rewind and check to see if what you thought you heard was really what came out of the characters’ mouths.

“Tim” comes to us from the mind—and mouth—of Steve Dildarian, who not only created the show but is the voice of its star.

You can LISTEN to this interview with STEVE DILDARIAN, star and creator of HBO's "THE LIFE AND TIMES OF TIM," by clicking the BlogTalkRadio.com audio player below!

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Copyright 2008 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

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Rocco DeSpirito, Still Dancing (Minus Judges)

Freshly eliminated from ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," Rocco DiSpirito ("The Restaurant") was in good spirits this past weekend at the NYC Food & Wine Festival on Saturday. Not without talent, Dispirito showed off his moves, twirling and dipping the Evian models. (Photo by Soul Brother)




Copyright 2008 Bob Andelman. Click here for copyright permissions!

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