Bob Andelman Interviews

Joan Van Ark joins “My Name Is Earl” as a guest star this week, put don’t expect it to be like anything you’ve ever seen her do before! She is perhaps best known for her role as Valene Ewing beginning on "Dallas" and then on the spin-off series, "Knots Landing." During 13 seasons as Val, she earned six nominations and two Soap Opera Digest Awards for Best Actress. Joan also starred in the TV comedies, "Temperature Rising" and "We've Got Each Other." In May 1997, she reprieved her role of Valene in the CBS mini-series, "Knots Landing Reunion: Back to the Cul-de-sac," and again, in December of 2005, Joan appeared in a second reunion with the other cast members of the long running CBS Television hit. Van Ark's television movie credits include "When the Darkman Calls," "Moments of Truth: a Mother's Deception," "In the Shadows: Someone's Watching" (actor/producer), "Boys Will Be Boys" (actor/director, Humanitas nomination), "Terror on Track 9," "Tainted Blood," "Menu for Murder," "Always Remember I Love You," "My First Love" and "Shakedown on Sunset Strip." She was also one of the voices for CBS-TV's Saturday morning cartoon series "Santo Bugito," and she provided the voice of "Spider Woman," on another Saturday morning series. In 1997, Van Ark directed a short documentary on homelessness and domestic violence for the Directors Guild of America, which was nominated for an Emmy. “My Name Is Earl” airs every Thursday at 8 p.m. on NBC.

Booby Trap is book four in the award-winning series starring the plus-sized, middle-aged, and whip-smart Odelia Grey. Could Dr. Brian Eddy, plastic surgeon to the rich and famous, possibly be the Blonde Bomber serial killer? Odelia would never have suspected the prominent doctor of killing the bevy of buxom blondes if she hadn’t heard it directly from her friend Lillian — Dr. Eddy’s own mother — over lunch one day. Newlywed Odelia decides to stick her big nose into the case. But this mystery gets even messier than Odelia’s chicken parmigiana sandwich, with everything from homeless kittens to Mob connections. Even with the help of her husband Greg and dog Wainwright, friends Zee and Seth, Detective Dev Frye, and her boss Mike Steele, Odelia discovers just how difficult — and dangerous — it’ll be to bust this killer. Sue Ann Jaffarian is a critically acclaimed, award-winning author and a stand-up comedian who also works as a paralegal. Her first Odelia Grey book, Too Big to Miss, has been optioned for television. Previous titles in this series: Too Big to Miss, Curse of the Holy Pail, and Thugs & Kisses. Coming in September 2009: The Ghost of Granny Apples, book one in a new series.

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. One week, she and her husband are getting busy under his desk. Another week, she rides a cello down a flight of stairs. Oh, and did you 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 "My Name is Earl." Mr. Media loves "Worst Week" and he loves Nancy Lenehan in it. This will no doubt be a fun interview and your questions are welcome, LIVE: 1-646-595-3135. (In case you missed it, "Worst Week" leading man Sam--Kyle Bornheimer--already did an hourlong chat with Mr. Media. Listen to it HERE!) “Worst Week” airs every Monday at 9:30 p.m. on CBS.

The death of former Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboard player Billy Powell on January 28, 2009, reminded me of an interview I did with him on May 5, 1983. Long before Lynyrd Skynyrd reformed around Johnny Van Zant, Powell was recording and touring with the Allen Collins Band (after the Rossington-Collins Band, of which he also was a member broke up). In this interview, I was actually scheduled to speak with Allen Collins, but he never made it.Instead, the band's manager kept handing the phone to everyone else in the band. I was utterly unprepared for them, but it was actually one of the most enjoyable phone interviews I ever did. I hope you'll enjoy this, the first time this crazy interview has ever been heard outside of my office.

Dubbed comedy's "lovable Queen of Mean" by the New York Times, Grammy-nominated Lisa Lampanelli brings her politically incorrect wit to Mr. Media Interviews for the first time to promote her solo stand-up special “Lisa Lampanelli: Long Live the Queen, ”which debuts Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. Taped before a live audience at the Wells Fargo Center of the Arts in Santa Rosa, Cal., the special features Lampanelli offering her unique take on social taboos and stereotypes that even today's boldest comedians rarely broach. Notorious for heckling and charming audience members at the same time, she lives up to her reputation in this no-holds-barred hour. Hailed as a cross between Don Rickles, Archie Bunker and a vial of estrogen, Lampanelli's popularity skyrocketed in 2002 when she was the only female comedian invited to skewer Chevy Chase on the Friar's Club Roast on Comedy Central. Since then, her stinging jests have made her a staple of the Comedy Central roasts, with appearances on shows devoted to Jeff Foxworthy, Pamela Anderson, William Shatner and Flavor Flav. Her special "Dirty Girl" debuted in 2007, while the CD of the same name was nominated for a Grammy Award. Her previous CD was Take It Like a Man.

Katerina Graham has been acting for 10 years. Most know her from guest appearances on Disney Channel’s “Hannah Montana” show, starring Miley Cyrus She has three new projects coming out in the first half of 2009: 17 Again is about a guy whose life didn't quite turn out how he wanted it to and wishes he could go back to high school and change it. He wakes up one day and is seventeen again and gets the chance to rewrite his life. The movie stars Zac Efron, Matthew Perry, Leslie Mann, Michelle Trachtenberg and Melora Hardin. Chicago Pulaski Jones was co-authored by Kel Mitchell, directed by Cedric the Entertainer, and co-stars Mitchell, Cedric, and Tommy Davidson. Boogie Town is a modern day West Side Story for the hip hop generation, taking place in a New York City of the future. There's no more violence, no more drugs -- in their place are illegal dance contests, which occur in the underground world of "Boogie Town." Micha and Jay, leaders of rival dancing crews, acquire superpowers that take the contests to new levels. Katerina also just released her new single, "Boyfriend's Back." Katerina is currently in the studio recording a new album. Many fans know her as one of the Fantana Girls!!

Jesse Plemons returns for a third season portraying fan favorite Landry Clarke in the critically acclaimed drama "Friday Night Lights" on NBC. Last season, Landry joined the football team and became an unexpected asset to the Panthers. He also faced a moral calamity when he accidentally murdered Tyra Collette's stalker, but uncovered a new relationship with Tyra in the process. Landry brings emotional intensity, drama as well as his signature light-hearted, self-deprecating humor to the show. Plemons has been working on multiple television and film projects. Most recently he scored a role in the Kevin Spacey/Robin Williams ensemble feature Shrink. He also wrapped a prominent role in Seth Rogen's movie Observe and Report from Warner Bros and DeLine Pictures, out in theaters Spring 2009. In television, Plemons earned critical praise portraying a young teen struggling to accept his facial disfigurement in the hit drama "Grey's Anatomy." Additional television credits include guest-starring roles on "Huff," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "The Lyons Den," "Judging Amy," and "The Guardian." Additional feature film credits include Like Mike with Bow Wow and Jonathon Lipnicki, Children on their Birthdays adapted from the critically acclaimed short story by Truman Capote, as well as When Zachary Beaver Came to Town, The Failures, All the Pretty Horses, and Varsity Blues. While his career has taken him to the heights of Hollywood, 20-year old Plemons' feet are firmly planted on the ground at his home in Austin, Texas. Originally from Mart, TX, when he is not busy filming, he enjoys playing several sports, being with his family and returning to his Texas roots to rope and ride. Friday Night L

Dulé Hill returns as Burton 'Gus' Guster for the third season of the USA Network original series PSYCH, which airs Friday nights at 10 p.m.. Best known for his work as Charlie Young on "The West Wing," Dulé Hill first came to prominence as The Kid opposite Savion Glover and Jeffrey Wright in Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk (Public Theatre, Broadway's Ambassador Theatre), directed by George C. Wolfe. The history of the African-American people told through tap dance and music, "Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk," proved one of the most exciting events of the 1996 season. His stage credits also include Black and Blue (Broadway's Minskoff Theatre), Shenandoah (Paper Mill Playhouse) and The Little Rascals (Goodspeed Opera House). Last January, Hill returned to the stage where he stared in Dutchman (Cherry Lane Theatre), Amiri Baraka's Obie award-winning play about a white woman who seduces a naïve bourgeois black man on a train with terrifying results. Born in Orange, New Jersey and raised in nearby Sayreville, Hill began attending dance school when he was three and received his first break years later as the understudy to Savion Glover in The Tap Dance Kid on Broadway. He went on to perform the lead role in the musical's national tour alongside Harold Nicholas. In 1999, Hill joined the cast of NBC's acclaimed series "The West Wing," as Charlie Young, Personal Aide to the President (Martin Sheen) and subsequently, Deputy Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff (Allison Janney). During his seven seasons on the acclaimed series, Hill garnered an Emmy Award nomination and four Image Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, as well as receiving two Screen Actors Guild Awards as part of the ensem'

As Barack Obama, the most socially networked politician in U.S. history takes office, you may be thinking about the emergence of social media technology and social networking as an inherent part of the ongoing political grassroots communication infrastructure. If so, think about listening to Sarah Szalavitz, co-founder of 7Robot. Her digital design firm builds engaged communities for studios, brands, and networks, bringing cross-platform stories to a large and active audience. She also produces the No. 1 green web series, ZapRoot. Sarah not only will talk about social media trends and the power of social networking but she also has an inherent understanding of the American political climate and legal system, having attended Harvard Law School, the London School of Economics and Political Science, and briefly practiced law. Sarah is a member of the Television Academy’s Interactive Media Peer Group, the Producers Guild, and Young Literati’s Steering Committee, and is the founder the Delicious Digital Brunch.

The unprecedented election of Barack Obama as President of the United States didn’t just make history; it teaches lessons that every executive can apply to succeed in business against all odds. In BARACK, INC. Winning Business Lessons of the Obama Campaign, Barry Libert and coauthor Rick Faulk present the Obama campaign as an inspiring business case study of exemplary leadership values and winning tactics that can beat even the toughest competitors. This essential manual for an Obama approach to business also tells the stories of pioneering companies that have used similar strategies with miraculous results. The authors interviewed Obama supporters and studied election coverage to tease out the best business insights to be learned from Obama including three pillars of Obama's successful campaign strategy. The authors tell stories not just of Obama, but of his campaign manager, advisers, staffers, volunteers, speechwriter, and of course, Obama's 24-year-old internet czar Chris Hughes. Barry Libert is chairman and Rick Faulk CEO of Mzinga, a leading provider of social software solutions that create online communities for marketing, customer support, and learning for major corporations around the world including ABC, AOL, Disney, iVillage, Chevron Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, MTV, Sports Illustrated, and Prudential Financial. Mzinga helps major corporations around the world create online communities for marketing, customer support, and learning. It manages more than 14,000 communities and has over 60 million unique visitors every month. Barry Libert is a pioneer in using communities and Web 2.0 technologies to help enterprises thrive and accelerate business growth.

John Denver's Lost 1984 Interview Launches New "Mr. Media" Series

Justin Bruening stars in NBC's updated drama series "Knight Rider" as Mike Traceur, estranged son of Michael Knight. Following graduation in Nebraska, Bruening moved to San Diego and was discovered at a local McDonald's by a modeling agent. Next, came his first modeling job in an Abercrombie & Fitch advertising campaign. Soon after, he began to study acting and was noticed by the casting director at the daytime drama "All My Children." He joined the cast in July 2003, playing the contract role of Jamie Martin. While working on "All My Children," Bruening guest-starred on the comedy "Hope and Faith" and the short-lived series "3 lbs." Additionally, he gave a memorable performance in the feature-film festival favorite Fat Girls. After leaving "All My Children" in the summer of 2007 to relocate to Los Angeles, Bruening immediately landed guest-starring roles on "Cold Case" and "CSI: Miami." A mere two months after his arrival, he was cast in the role of Mike Traceur in "Knight Rider." "Knight Rider" airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC.

11,002 Things to be Miserable About compiles all the things in life, big and small, that can ruin your day. Uninspired by the little book, 14,000 Things to Be Happy About, the brother and sister team, Lia and Nick Romeo, started out every day for almost a year by writing a list of bad, sad things to create this antidote. There’s no denying that 14,000 Things to Be Happy About has warmed many a heart and sold a gazillion copies, but it’s probably turned at least as many stomachs with its treacly content. Sometimes you’re just not in a warm, fuzzy, bunny mood. And now more than ever, misery sure loves company… In 11,002 Things to be Miserable About, some of the entries are pretty basic, like rats, wine in a box, conjunctivitis, and running into your ex on your way to the gym, but other entries actually include things like: Dust mites, which make up one third of the weight of a six-year-old pillow. See you can laugh and learn! Author Lia Romeo is an award-winning comic playwright, and her brother Nick Romeo is a fiction writer.Call in and share your misery with them, LIVE: 1-646-595-3135.

Across the globe, Tuesday, January 20, 2009 marks a historic moment in U.S. history, and BET News will be there to provide extensive on-air and online coverage of the momentous inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama. After the longest presidential campaign in U.S. history, the country’s first African American President will be sworn in before millions of people who thought they would never see the day. As thousands venture to the nation’s capitol, BET News will document the multi-level components that go into such a notable event. From the journey of spectators to the integral inside circles of the campaign, BET will tell the stories of a dream realized and document this unprecedented passage of power as George W. Bush extends the presidency to President-elect Barack Obama. Hill Harper ("BET J’s The Best Shorts," "CSI: NY") and René Syler (former host of "The Early Show" on CBS) will co-anchor BET’s coverage of the inauguration swearing-In and parade and will be joined by Jeff Johnson and the rest of the BET News team, celebrities, intellec

Guy Kawasaki is a managing director of Garage Technology Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm and a columnist for Entrepreneur magazine. Previously, he was an Apple Fellow at Apple Computer, Inc. Guy is the author of nine books including Reality Check, The Art of the Start, Rules for Revolutionaries, How to Drive Your Competition Crazy, Selling the Dream, and The Macintosh Way. He has a BA from Stanford University and an MBA from UCLA as well as an honorary doctorate from Babson College. In 1995 he returned to Apple as an Apple fellow. At the time, according to the pundits, Apple was supposed to die again. (Apple should have died about 10 times in the past 20 years according to the pundits.) His job on this tour of duty was to maintain and rejuvenate the Macintosh cult. A couple years later, he left Apple to start Garage with Craig Johnson of Venture Law Group and Rich Karlgaard of Forbes. Version 1.0 of Garage was to provide matchmaking services for angel investors and entrepreneurs. Today, version 3.0 is focused on being a venture capital firm and making direct investments in early-stage technology companies. Currently, Guy is a co-founder of Alltop. Don't miss this rare opportunity to call in and speak with one of entrepreneurial technology's most respected voices, only on Mr. Media: 1-646-595-3135.