Bob Andelman Interviews

SHOWS STARTS @ 11:42 a.m. ET! “The Superstars,” based on ABC’s classic “Wide World of Sports” series of the same name, teams eight professional athletes and eight celebrities at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas to compete for the title of The Superstars Champion. The show airs TUESDAY, JUNE 30 (8:00-9:30 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. The team pairings are Terrell Owens & Joanna Krupa; Jeff Kent & Ali Landry; Robert Horry & Estella Warren; Bode Miller & Paige Hemmis; Kristi Leskinen & Maksim Chmerkovskiy; Lisa Leslie & Dan Cortese; Jennifer Capriati & David Charvet; and Brandi Chastain & Julio Iglesias, Jr. Actress Ali Landry was crowned Miss USA in 1996, She broke into acting as “the Doritos girl” and has appeared in “Criminal Minds,” “Felicity,” “Two Guys and a Girl” and “Popular.” David Charvet rose to fame on “Baywatch” and “Melrose Place” and will star in several upcoming films including Nephilim, Green Flash and Prisoners of the Sun. He is engaged to Brooke Burke (Season 7 “Dancing with the Stars” reigning champion), and the couple has two children together.

Bill Tush began his broadcasting career in 1965 at a radio station in Latrobe, PA, the home of Rolling Rock beer. When he wasn’t hanging out at the brewery, Bill hosted the morning DJ program and the “Mid Morning Polka Party.” In 1974, his radio career landed him in Atlanta, GA and shortly thereafter he joined young entrepreneur Ted Turner at his struggling television station, then called WTCG Channel 17. There, Bill became everything from newsman to commercial spokesman, and even introduced the station’s movies. But he first became nationally known as the wacky guy who read the news in the middle of the night, sometimes with a German Shepard at his side, on SuperStation WTBS. In 1980, he led a cast of zany actors (including Jan Hooks, later of “Designing Women”), in a one hour comedy show called “Tush.” The show ceased production in 1981 and soon after, Bill took off to Hollywood to host a new celebrity talk show on CNN, called “People Now.” In 1993, he was appointed senior entertainment correspondent for CNN’s entertainment unit, and relocated to NYC where he hosted Showbiz Today and Showbiz This Week. In January 2002, after 28 years, Tush left Turner Broadcasting System to pursue other interests including writing and producing.

Underground comic legendary publisher and artist Denis Kitchen joins Mr. Media live to discuss his two new books, Underground Classics (written with James Danky) and The Art of Harvey Kurtzman (with Paul Buhle). Kurtzman discovered Robert Crumb, gave Gloria Steinem her first publishing job, and “Monty Python” animator Terry Gilliam also started at his side. Kurtzman had a Midas touch for talent, but was himself an astonishingly talented and influential artist, writer, editor, and satirist. He created MAD and Playboy's "Little Annie Fanny." Kurtzman's groundbreaking "realistic" war comics of the early '50s and various satirical publications (MAD, Trump, Humbug, Help!) had an immense impact on popular culture, inspiring a generation of underground cartoonists. Underground comix galvanized artists both domestically and abroad; they forever changed the economics of comic book publishing and influenced generations of cartoonists, including their predecessors. While the works of Robert Crumb and Art Spiegelman are well-known via the New Yorker, Maus, and retrospective collections, the art of their contemporaries such as Gilbert Shelton, Trina Robbins, Justin Green, Kim Deitch, S. Clay Wilson, and many other seminal cartoonists who came of age in the 1960s is considerably less known. Denis Kitchen is a pioneering cartoonist, writer, editor, and underground comic book publisher.

Q: I just stumbled onto the “Goats” website and I have absolutely no idea what is going on. What is this exactly? A: In the simplest terms possible, this website is the home of Goats, a comic strip written by me, Jonathan Rosenberg. I've been drawing the strip since April of 1997 and I live in New York City with my wife and some cats. I have a Livejournal if you're interested in the particulars. What is the strip about? A: Goats started out as a pseudo-autobiographical strip and mutated into a sci-fi monstrosity. There's no good way to summarize it but basically it centers around the adventures of two bar patrons, their pets and the increasingly strange people that they meet. I recommend perusing the reader's guide, the character bios and the complete archive of the strip for an idea of where it's been and where it's going. I don't get the jokes in this comic. Is it supposed to be funny? A: Goats is meant to be entertaining. Sometimes that means funny, sometimes that means jokes, sometimes that means sly pop culture references and adventures and fighting and monsters and such. I'm writing a story that I hope people enjoy, and that's my primary goal.

The stories in Syncopated challenge convention, provide perspective, and search out secret truths–all in the inviting, accessible form of comics. Syncopated will give you a daringly different view of the past–from the history of vintage postcards to the glory days of old Coney Island. It will immerse you in fascinating subcultures, from the secret world of graffiti artists to the chess champs of Greenwich Village. And it will open your eyes to pieces of forgotten history–for example, the Tulsa race riots of 1921–and to new perspectives on critical current events, such as the interrogation of prisoners at Guantánamo Bay. These “picto-essays” encompass memoir, history, journalism, and biography in varied visual styles–each handpicked by Brendan Burford, the comics editor at King Features Syndicate. He has also been self-publishing the Syncopated anthology series, and the autobiographical series Brendan Comics, since 2002..

Michael Jackson has died at age 50. The pop idol, whose music, choreography and fashion changed the face of popular culture, was rushed to the hospital shortly after 12:30 p.m. PT today, upon being found unconscious in his Los Angeles home. He reportedly never regained consciousness. In commemoration of this great artist, BlogTalkRadio presents Michael Jackson Remembered tonight at 10 p.m. ET. The live, two-hour special will be anchored by Mr. Media host Bob Andelman, and co-hosted by fellow BTR hosts Kevin Ross, Mutha Knows, Shaun Daily and MarQ with a Q. Guests include Eric Deggans, TV and media critic for the St. Petersburg Times, who is from Michael’s hometown of Gary, Ind. Bob will also be taking calls from fans around the globe who want to share their memories of The King of Pop – and how he impacted their lives forever. In May, pop diva Stephanie Mills told Mutha, “I thought I was gonna marry Michael. I was so in love with Michael.” To read more about her affair with Michael, click here.

Here’s the first penetrating, full look at Will Eisner’s main body of work—strips, covers, illustrations, and design for PS Magazine—produced in a 21-year period between his memorable and historic run of The Spirit and publication of his acclaimed first graphic novel, A Contract with God, in 1978. The author, Paul E. Fitzgerald, was the magazine’s first managing editor. He weaves together two parallel stories—Eisner as an artist in expansive change, and the U.S. Army’s daringly innovative publication that moved from early perilous survival and bureaucratic brinkmanship to 58 years (and still going) as a sweepingly successful communications pacesetter. The author’s knowledge of PS operations and challenges, production techniques, and personalities, coupled with his ongoing personal and professional friendship with Eisner from 1953 until the artist’s death in 2005, provides a unique and close-up look at the “middle period” of Eisner’s creative life. The Eisner shop reflected here included Chuck Kramer, Dan Zolnerowich, Mike Ploog, Murphy Anderson, Dan Spiegle, Alfredo Alcala, and Joe Kubert (who is the current PS contract artist). Order Will Eisner and PS Magazine!

Your dog must be larger than a toaster. Tip well. Never use the word "blossom." Outperform the GPS. Know how to chug a beer (and know that you shouldn't). Always hold the door. Never use emoticons. These are The Maxims of Manhood. They cover every aspect of life: women, sports, sex, the office, family, entertainment, fashion, fitness, and more women. Some of these you'd expect. Some you wouldn't, as they usher in a modern code of masculinity (Your favorite book may not be The Da Vinci Code). In a series of 100 essays, the rules are analyzed, explained, vigorously defended and openly mocked. Every rule has an authorized exception. Except the ones that don't. This book might not be for you. It's only intended for people who fall into one of these seven buckets: 1) you are a man; 2) you will become a man; 3) you were once a man; 4) you are related to a man; 5) you are dating or have married a man; 6) you think that in the future, perhaps, you will date or marry a man; 7) you know, or think that at some point you will know--whether casually or formally--a man. Author Jeff Wilser has met many men. He's been researching The Maxims of Manhood for more than twenty-five years, ever since he felt guilty for breaking the rule "Never cry at the movies" -- he was six; the movie was E.T. This book is his atonement. A former USMC Reserves squad leader, Wilser has been a regular online contributer to sites like GQ, MTV, and VH1, writing about dating, sex, nightlife, and pop culture. He liv

Fantagraphics guys plot a graphic demise for Mr. Media! Instead of chasing girls or putting his nose to the grindstone, Gary Groth published a comic book fanzine throughout high school. In 1975, after acquiring a half-assed education by attending four different colleges and graduating from none, he partnered up with a friend, Mike Catron, and decided that the best way to start a publishing company was to make a pot load of capital by putting on a rock ‘n’ roll convention. Rock ‘N’ Roll Expo, which boasted an appearance by a semi-stoned Hunter S. Thompson, among others, was a financial disaster, but they started a publishing company anyway. In 1976, Groth co-founded Fantagraphics Books by editing and publishing The Comics Journal, which quickly acquired a reputation within the comics profession as anomalous, elitist, persnickety, and muckraking. The magazine was devoted to a) positing lofty standards that few comics readers thought were attainable or even desirable and b) verbally whipsawing anyone who didn’t agree with those standards, and c) championing the rights of comics creators who had traditionally been treated like scum by an autocratic industry. Under the stewardship of Groth and his partner Kim Thompson, Fantagraphics went on to publish graphic novels including many books by pioneering cartoonists who had become established icons such as R. Crumb and Jules Feiffer; classic newspaper strips such as Popeye, Little Nemo, Little Orphan Annie, and Peanuts; and a new generation of cartoonists such as Chris Ware, Ivan Brunetti, Jim Woodring, Megan Kelso, and many others

”Weeds” resident funnyman and fan favorite Andy Botwin (Justin Kirk) will be teaching a how-to course on everything from “Starting a Band” to “Surviving a Bear Attack” in the hilarious new webisode series, “University of Andy.” “Weeds,” Showtime’s top-rated comedy series, is now in its fifth season and airs Mondays at 10p PT/ET. Kirk channels his alter-ego’s, zany and unique take on life lessons for the webisodes. On the show, when Nancy’s (Mary-Louise Parker) husband dies unexpectedly, Andy steps in to fill the void and act as de facto dad to his nephews. His sometimes pot-influenced advice ranges from loopy to downright dangerous, but his good intentions always shine through. To enroll, visit universityofandy.com. Andy on Holding Your Liquor Andy on Satisfying Women Listen to the Mr. Media interview with “Weeds” co-star Joey Luthman (Rad)

STARTS @ 1:15 p.m.! ABC Family’s hit series “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” returns with twelve all new episodes on Monday, June 22 at 8:00 PM. Joining Mr. Media to talk about the new season are series stars Megan Park and Daren Kagasoff. The series cast includes Shailene Woodley, Molly Ringwald, Mark Derwin, India Eisley, Ken Baumann, Kagasoff, Francia Raisa, Park, Greg Finley and Jorge–Luis Pallo. John Schneider, Josie Bissett, Ernie Hudson and Steve Schirripa also guest star. Kagasoff, who is of Russian descent, is the middle of three children. While attending San Francisco State University, he decided that what he really wanted to do was follow his dreams of being an actor. Kagasoff defied all odds when he beat out hundreds of candidates in one of his first auditions where he was hand picked by “Teenager” producer Brenda Hampton for his breakout role as “Ricky.” Park stars in the recent MGM feature film Charlie Bartlett, opposite Anton Yelchin and Robert Downey, Jr. Her other feature credits include Some Things That Stay and Kaw. Megan starred in the Canadian series “Ace Lightning,” “Blobheads” and “Life With Derek,” along with the Emmy-winning and Gemini-nominated series “Dark Oracle.”

Peri Gilpin Candace Cameron Bure Set amidst the high stakes world of competitive gymnastics, the new ABC Family original series “Make It or Break It” premieres on Monday, June 22nd @ 9:00 PM. Its stars include Peri Gilpin (“Frasier”) and Candace Cameron Bure. Sitting on the sidelines are the parents of these stellar athletes. Kim Keeler (Gilpin) is supportive of her daughter’s dream, even moving her family across the country to help reach her daughter’s goal. But Kim worries that her daughter’s utter devotion to the sport is hindering any chance at a semi-normal teenage life. There is a new face at the gym when one of the dads brings his new girlfriend, Summer (Bure), into the fray. Gilpin starred as ‘Roz Doyle,’ the producer of ‘Dr. Frasier Crane’s’ talk radio show, on NBC’s long-running, Emmy Award-winning show, “Frasier.” More recently, she lent her voice to a variety of characters in five episodes of Mike Judge’s smash hit animated comedy “King of the Hill.” Bure is best known from ABC’s hit television series, “Full House,” where we affectionately knew her as ‘D.J. Tanner.’ Still running in over 100 countries in syndication, Candace will forever be part of TV history.

In a riveting page-turner, NBA referee Bob Delaney (with the help of St. Petersburg Times journalist Dave Scheiber) reveals the clandestine life he led before becoming one of professional basketball’s most respected officials. Soon after joining the New Jersey State Troopers in 1973, Delaney was offered a tantalizing undercover assignment: to infiltrate the Mob. And so he became Bobby Covert, the president of Alamo Trucking, a fully operational business used by law enforcement as flypaper for snagging wise guys. While wearing a wire, Delaney dealt daily with mobsters who modeled themselves after their on-screen counterparts (at the height of The Godfather’s popularity), and even crossed paths with Joe Pistone, the real-life Donnie Brasco. After three tense years playing a role in which a single slip could cost him his life, Delaney had gathered enough evidence to convict more than 30 members of the Genovese and Bruno crime families. Struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder from the strain of his undercover life, Delaney began officiating high school and intramural basketball games as a way to rebuild his life, eventually working his way up to the NBA, where he has been a referee for over two decades. This is his amazing true story.

Throughout his career, Josh Keaton has managed to explore every realm of the entertainment industry, diving into music, dance, film, television and stage. But Keaton’s most recent claim to fame has come behind-the-scenes through talented voiceover work. Currently, Keaton is the “man behind the mask” as the voice of both “Peter Parker” and “Spiderman” in the popular animated TV series, “The Spectacular Spider-Man” (Disney XD – Mondays, 7:30PM/ET). His voiceover pursuits have also brought him to the screen multiple times for Hercules along with James Woods and Danny Devito, The Wild featuring Keifer Sutherland and Jim Belushi, Doctor Strange, “King of the Hill,” “Ben 10,” “Batman: The Animated Series,” and “Captain Planet.” Keaton has also been featured on a number of hit shows including “Bones,” “ER,” “Boston Public, “Touched by an Angel,” “Baywatch,” “Chicago Hope,” “Step by Step,” “Sister Sister” and “General Hospital.” He starred in the short-lived Jerry Bruckheimer drama “Skin.” Keaton has also had recurring roles in “Will & Grace,” “Boy Meets World,” “The Secret World of Alex Mack,” “The Young & The Restless” and he co-starred opposite Shia LaBeouf in the “Even Stevens” made-for-TV series finale movie

“In Plain Sight,” USA Network's newest original scripted series, starring Mary McCormack, is now in its second season, airing every Sunday at 10/9c. The series was created and written by David Maples ("Home Improvement, “Huff”) and is shot entirely on location in and around Albuquerque, NM. “In Plain Sight,” was the #1 new original series of the year for ages 25-54 and 18-49, marking the third year in a row USA has had the #1 new series in these key demos (“Psych” in 2006, “Burn Notice” in 2007). The show stars McCormack as Mary Shannon, a U.S. Marshal working in the highly secretive branch of the federal witness protection program (WITSEC). They all have one thing in common—someone wants them dead. Mary's job is to see that doesn't happen, while at the same time attempting to manage her own dysfunctional family. The show also stars Frederick Weller, Lesley Ann Warren, Nichole Hiltz, Paul Ben-Victor, Cristian de la Fuente and Todd Williams. Holly Maples (“The Office”) joins the cast this season in a recurring role as Eleanor, the new administrative assistant, along with Joshua Malina (“The West Wing”) and Laura Prepon (“That 70's Show”). McCormack's breakout performance was opposite Howard Stern in Private Parts. She returned to the Broadway stage this year in “Boeing-Boeing,” starring alongside Christine Baranski, Mark Rylance and Bradley Whitford. Mr. Media saw a performance of the show and McCormack was hysterical.