Vicki Abelson's Broadcast: The Road Taken

Steve Lukather Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Hold the Line! Steve Lukather may be a bonafide rock star, but he’s also down-to-earth, self-effacing, self-aware, open-minded, hearted, reflective, enthusiastic, passionate, thoughtful, generous, and perhaps sweetest of all, a fanboy like us of his heroes. From the 6-year-old boy blown away by The Beatles on Ed Sullivan, George’s guitar specifically, to the grown man who came to play and friend not only George, but Paul, and closer than close with Ringo, his “boss” for the past decade. Fab stories of all three, not to mention much about Steve and then Jeff Porcaro, David Paich, with whom he began being a serious musician whilst still in high school. Stories about Steely Dan and their various incarnations, one which almost included him, Boz Scaggs, his first major gig, the formation of Toto, sessions, sessions, and more sessions, Dean Parks, Ray Parker, Jim Keltner, Larry Carlton, touring, alcohol, drugs, wild times, Michael Jackson, Thriller, Eddie

Marshall Herskovitz Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Masterclass! I’ve had many stimulating, fascinating, brilliant, talented, fun guests. None more so than writer, director, and producer, Marshall Herskovitz. There’s a reason this human has won more Emmy, Golden Globe, Writers Guild, Directors Guild, Peabody, and Humanitas Awards than I can count… not to mention an Academy Award nomination. Wow, just wow! You don’t get all those awards for writing, creating, and making great television and movies without being a great storyteller, and boy is Marshall that! From his eighth-grade short story to his first attempt at filmmaking, AFI––miracle-ing his way in, meeting Ed Zwick the very first day––a partnership that would change both their lives and all of ours… Snuffy’s specifically and significantly. We talked thirtysomething from throw-away lack of interest to the cataclysmic creative shift in what was possible on series TV. From Day 1 to the present commitment to the reboot usurped by the pandemic. Mar

Today I got to hang with Ed Begley who makes me laugh and think and feel and want to do better and be better. 7x Emmy Award Nominee - St Elsewhere, Better Call Saul, Best In Show, Saturday Night Live, Spinal Tap, Mary Hartman Mary Hartman, Going South, She Devil, My Three Sons, The Dating Game, oh yes he did… even winning a date to Australia… we talked them all and then some… Nicholson, Brando, Streep, Cindy Williams, Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby, Charles Manson, John Belushi, Harry Nilsson, Harry Dean Stanton, Lorne Michaels, Michael Richard’s… Ed Begley Sr, the Chinatown connection, addiction, recovery, slips, righting wrongs, and righting so much right. A power of example in so, so many ways. We talked his just dropped sure to be a bestseller, To The Temple of Tranquility… and Step On It! The book’s a provocative, oft shocking, thrilling peek behind the Hollywood scene… get his book… and step on it… you’ll be so glad you did. https://bit.ly/40gzHtb Ed’s humble, honest to the max, self-effacing, and self-aw

Steve Porcaro Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson I loved every second with 3x Grammy Winner, founding member of Toto, Steve Porcaro. A down-to-earth sweetheart of a guy who just happens to be one arm of the iconic legendary musical Porcaro family. These ain’t no lip-sinking, TV frontmen, the Porcaros define chops. World-renowned drummer, Joe, who left sticks and skins around, brother Jeff, who picked them up and banged them to new heights, Mike who segued to bass, and Steve who found his passion and his niche with keyboards, programming, and sythns. Separately, and together they made musical history. We talked beginnings influences, The Beatles, Keith Emerson, from playing school proms to clubs with David Paich, Hungate, and Lukather, to Boz Skaggs to Toto, Bobby Kimball, Hold The Line, Rosanna, Arquette, and the song, success fulfilling all childhood dreams and then some. Sessions and side work for all of them, Bette Midler, Chaka, Earth, Wind & Fire, Quincy Jones, which led to Micheal Jackson and Hum

David Jackson Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson What a delight music legend David Jackson is. No surprise. I was warned by his legions of loyal fans, most of whom are his brilliantly talented contemporaries. This was fabulous fun, topped perhaps by pre-fed stories with lots of misinformation which paved the way for the truths, which proved to make it all even more fun. So what if David wasn’t actually at Columbia Studios when George Harrison hid the pot from the cops, he told great story! Who cares if David was with Cher in DC, not the Chateau Marmont when she got a call from Jimmy (President Carter), not Henry Kissinger, or when he was offered his own show after being a regular on The Andy Williams Show he didn’t turn it down, it just… well… he tells it... and then some… and then some more. Great stories, all. We hear about Hoyt Axton and how they wrote Ringo’s No No Song, and Three Dog Night’s Joy To The World, and what happened to David in both, there’s the Chambers Brothers, Bo Diddley, Jackson Br

Live from Los Angeles, it was Wednesday eve. Loved spending it with Television Academy Hall of Famer, Laraine Newman. I was a little down-and-out post-new Moderna vax, but thanks to Laraine, I swiftly forgot all about it. She took us through her early childhood, finding her place with the funny. From neighborhood street plays, and school theatre with classmate Paul Reubens, to becoming a founding member of The Groundlings with her sister, Tracy Newman, to Lorne Michaels and Lily Tomlin discovering her for a special which then led to Saturday Night Live. Arriving in New York to some trauma, the SNL experience, characters that transitioned, writers, castmates, running with Gilda, feeling left out with Garrett, drugs, American Hot Wax, Stardust Memories with Woody, a Beatle, the Stones, better drugs, 5 years later, always working, voicework becoming the thing. Motherhood and mazel, Celebrity Autobiography to her audible memoir, May You Live in Interesting Times, available here: https://bit.ly/48opI8M. I savore

Anthony Fedorov Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson I’m still smiling and I’m not sure I’m gonna stop any time soon. What a blast I had with American Idol finalist Anthony Fedorov. It’s been a minute since last we met and Anthony is even more spectacular than I remembered. He opened the show with That Someone, his new song from his new musical, Proud Marys. I loved it! Can’t wait till Sunday when he does it in person at his long-awaited return engagement at the Catalina Bar & Grill. In LA? Please join me! https://bit.ly/3LkJTusHey We talked Anthony’s early childhood in Russia, his scary, years-long medical situation, hoping to talk, let alone sing… and for a living… to worldwide acclaim… crazy! The trauma of getting out of the country and then getting to the USA sans English. The obstacles Anthony has overcome in his young life are astounding, his accomplishments are as well. We talked the American Idol journey, Simon’s advice that changed his life and career, meeting his Idol, Marc Anthony, barely

Steve Conte Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson What a great time, as always, when old pal Steve Conte sits down to chat and sing. That voice! Those songs! The stories! Steve played his latest Coolest Song in the World, Fourth of July, co-written with Andy Partridge of XTC, which was a dream come true for Steve and anyone fortunate enough to hear it. He opened the show with that tune, and then almost at the close, after hearing the back story of his admiration, their meeting, growing friendship, and how it bloomed into co-writing 5 of the songs on Steve’s upcoming LP coming soon from Little Steven’s Wicked Cool Records, and the particulars of this one in particular, after a bit of coaxing, we got to hear it again, with new meaning and appreciation. It’s not oft such an opportunity presents. Worthy. And rockin’ fun! Steve, who started out on drums, courtesy of his obsession with The Beatles, and Ringo, had a couple of great tales about that, how he switched to guitar, bouncing brother John to bass, exa

Max Gail Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson What a thrill it is when someone whose work I admire, adore, and respect exceeds all my expectations as a human. Max Gail, actor, director, advocate, songwriter, two-time Emmy Award Nominee, for Barney Miller, and two-time Emmy Winner for General Hospital did just that. Spending time in his most excellent company felt like a giant hug, like going home. Max took us back to his childhood homes in Detroit and Florida, his six siblings, five of whom are twins, including his twin sister… crazy, the music his father instilled in him, his academic science “nerd” education, the songwriting, with rhyming lyrics of which he treated us to a delicious taste, backing into acting, a gift from his mother, co-starring in the original stage production of One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest as Chief Bromden in San Francisco, and reprising the role in his New York stage debut. He did his first film role in Dirty Harry, small parts on TV, and in commercials, till he got to Barney M

Tom Arnold Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson by Vicki Abelson

taken years to get Danny Kortchmar alone in the Game Changers guest seat, having paid us a couple of previous visits with his Immediate Family brothers. This Danny is kinder, gentler, and oh, so fun. He’s been leaning more and more in this direction to my view since falling in love with Lisa Roy, even after surviving the devastating loss of her life. She was the love of his, and it appears she did him a world of lasting good. Danny will be the first to admit he can be serious and… cranky. No sign of that guy this evening… just great stories of some of the greatest musicians of our time, from one of them, all wonderfully, entertainingly, told. We may have even heard a few previously undocumented firsts… starting as a kid discovering early rock ’n roll, to very soon playing it, summering on Martha’s Vineyard, and the early teenage friendship that would change his life. Jamie, as Kootch calls James Taylor, who talked him into some questionable behavior, then blamed him, classic! Not something I’d imagine or asso

Percussionist Luis Conte- I love him! What a delightful sit down with this young man who escaped Castro’s Cuba to meet The Beatles and ended up playing with everybody else. Fabulous stories about his homeland, hitting Hollywood, Rockin The Boat, The Supremes, Doc Severinsen, hitting the big time with Madonna at the height of her day, Phil Collins at the height of his and the last 20 years with James Taylor. That’s not to mention Elton, Rod Stewart, Clapton, Chaka, Barbra, Randy Newman and way too many more to mention. I loved every single second with this warm, charming, fun, talented, Scorpio brother man. More please! Luis Conte Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson Wed, July 26, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET Streamed Live on the Facebook Replay here: https://bit.ly/43HtS8b

Tony Braunagel Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson What a long great trip it’s been. Grammy and Blues Music Award Winner, Tony Braunagel, took us through his early days in Houston, playing nightclubs at 15 with soul bands, to connecting with a certain Snuffy Walden and Terry Wilson a few years later, playing together on and off over the next 50 + years, including next Wednesday at The Write Off Room with the amazing Teresa James. Tony told great stories about Johnny Nash, London, Rabbit, Bob Marley, New York, Ahmet Ertegun, Paul Kossoff, Back Street Crawler, opening for Foreigner, Kansas, and Robin Trower, LA, Eric Burdon, thrice over the years, including producing three of his albums, Michael Ruff, Katy Segal, Rickie Lee Jones, Bette Midler, Etta James, 8 years with Bonnie Raitt when she rose to superstardom, Buddy Guy, Keb Mo, The Blues Brothers, he’s still doing those gigs, 8 years on According to Jim as a player and an actor, Taj Mahal with whom he still plays in the Phantom Blues Band, winning th

Singer/songwriter, Tony-nominated, film &, TV star, writer, director, producer, author, 1st Star Search Winner, Sam Harris, is a real person with real issues and we talked… real. About struggles with weight, Sam’s conquered his, losing upwards of 30 pounds in recent months, and he told us how he’s done it. Inspiring! We talked about life, as it is now, post pandemic, for him, Danny, and their son, Cooper, and the toll it took on each of them. Sam, hasn’t sung publicly in two years, and he explains why, although, he did close the show with a chilling Donny Hathaway covered tune, inspiring goosebumps. Sam took us back to his Oklahoma childhood, his encouraging, talented, yet, tough father, leaving home at 15, gaining success, how he chose that Star Search victory song, Patti LaBelle’s reaction to Sam doing her rendition of Over The Rainbow, great story there, developing some bad habits––alcoholism, and a food disorder for two, getting sober and healthy, choosing love and parenting at the height of his succes

Jason Scheff Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Rock Star! Jason Scheff’s got the chops, the voice, the lineage, the career, and the hair! And I’m not sure he could be a more lovely, gracious, humble guy. As if thirty years with Chicago weren’t enough, Jason takes us through that experience from the rumors, the auditions, the close race, getting it, the faux pax, righting it big time, the glories of it, the joys, to why he left three decades later. We started with his dad, the iconic bassist, Jerry Scheff, who’s played with countless legends and is one himself. Jason told amazing stories about Jerry and the Fifth Dimension, Elvis, and The Doors. Mind-blowing, and fantastic! He spoke of some of his other champions and heroes, his mother, a singer, who made him a pro at 16, Elton John, Bobby Caldwell, Robert Lamm, getting sober, Bill Champlin, David Foster, Tamara Champlin, the all-stars Todd Rundgren, Christopher Cross, Micky Dolenz, and Joey Molland with whom he performed The Beatles White Album, m

CJ Vanston Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson I could have laughed all night and still have laughed some more! What fun! Composer, producer, songwriter, keyboardist, CJ Vanston––great bit on his name to start, had me laughing to tears story upon story. Oh boy, I needed the eggs. From his musical beginnings, locked in and listening to his dad’s cool jazz band through the floorboards, burning an oven full of their pot at age 4, the tales kept coming, one topping the next… convincing a young Richard Marx to keep and record what would become his biggest hit, when all he wanted was to sell the thing… working with Prince, sorta, blowing away Barbra… Streisand, that is… and Dolly Pardon, seemingly not impressing Don Henley, CJ making a choice that cost him but ultimately made him, and Don coming back around through Katey Segal… how Russ Kunkel introduced him to Christopher Guest, changing everything, leading to touring with Spinal Tap and scoring his films, touring and recording with Joe Cocker, a story abou

Cheri Oteri Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Fun, fun, fun, and more fun. A long-time huge fan of Cheri Oteri’s work - I’m now a huge fan of the human. I loved every second in this Emmy nominees’ great company. As animated as Cheri is on screen, she’s all that and a truck full of fun in conversation. From early days in Philly imitating soap actors, her nana, and Laura Ingall’s, aspiring to rock stardom, landing at A& M Records in publishing and promotion, moonlighting studying at The Groundlings, eventually making the company, until her manager insisted she quit her day job and focus on auditions. Her first gig… Saturday Night Live! Getting there with fellow Groundling, Will Ferrell, soon to be joined by Chris Kattan, Cheri tells the tale of the journey in all his magnificence. From her audition (Jennifer Coolidge was also part of their Groundlings entourage), her callback, the character she brought with, Rita! And how she worked Joy Lipton in, writing her own sketches, writing with Will, how the c

AJ Benza Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson We couldn’t sit further apart on the political spectrum, or how we approach and present what we do, and yet columnist, TV correspondent, talk show host, actor, author, award-winning producer, and podcaster, AJ Benza, is a cherished friend. What we do share is a quest to tell the truth, a platform to do it, a passion for writing, and a great appreciation for celebrity and the people we admire. Starting with today’s scoop––Johnny Depp helping Amber Heard, as AJ long ago predicted he would, AJ dished us some Harvey Weinstein, I winced more than once during that, Chris Noth, Michael Jackson––a story he broke––some sweetness about Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Gabe Kaplan, his acting class audition and how a young Carrie Fisher came to his aid, his SNL near-disaster saved by next week’s GC’s guest, Cheri Oteri, and Jimmy Fallon, and how Seinfeld and Bowie made it a memory to savor forever… he got current again with Jamie Fox and his take on what’s going on there… a

Felix Angel Solis Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson If a good man is hard to find, a great one’s murder. Felix Solis, currently killing it in The Rookie: Feds, and who killed, literally, as Omar Navarro in Ozark, the role which broke him out of actors actor/working actor to famous actor. Deserved. All over the place. Felix’s stunning performance in the Pulitzer-winning, The Cost of Living, is forever seared in my soul. As is his Navarro. How the hell did he make that unconscionable murderer likable and even at times… sympathetic! Chilling and thrilling. We talked about fame, which first found him mid-pandemic when he and we were masked. Here he was on the most talked about show on television, with the most talked about part, and he was hiding in his house avoiding people and life, invisible walking amongst us when he wasn’t. Felix’s reentry into living includes being recognized daily, which he views with humility and recognition, citing an example of his own stargazing awe. His return to “normal,”

Korel Tunador Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson It was such a treat to sit down again with treasured friend, Korel Tunador. I’ve sure missed him. Crazy talented and oh, so fun, quintuple threat––guitar, keyboards, sax, accordion, and vocals, Korel, who’s been playing with Rob Thomas the last many years, spent a dozen + with the Goo Goo Dolls, toured with Katy Perry, and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Wicked Wisdom, and prepped to tour with Hanson, filled us in on how he got each, how the experiences played out, from never making it on the road (the latter) to the Ted Lasso almost religious experience he’s currently living with Rob Thomas and company. Now focused on vocal coaching - pros to unknowns, Korel took us on his journey from piano at 5 in Pittsburgh to stadiums and TV. Explaining how anyone can sing… on key, and learn to harmonize… it’s all about patience and perseverance. Even me? I may have to take him up on that. Korel’s primary instrument of choice is his voice. As if to punctuate the point, he