Mr. Media Interviews By Bob Andelman

Today's Guest: Alex Ferrari, indie film director, Red Princess Blues, Broken Red Princess Blues by Alex Ferrari   Alex Ferrari hasn’t received the break he deserves yet from Hollywood so he continues to make his own luck. The independent filmmaker, who was one of my very first guests on Mr. Media Radio back in 2007 to promote his short horror story, Brokenis back today for the second time to talk about Red Princess Blues. ALEX FERRARI audio excerpt: "Apple's App Store is mysterious. They will reject something for no reason and they will accept something for new reason. Hopefully it's a new distribution method for filmmakers."  Last time he was here, Alex had produced a short animated subject with the help of actress Paula Garces—currently appearing on SyFy’s “Warehouse 13” and all three Harold & Kumar movies—who voiced the lead character. The cartoon was intended as a proof of concept for a full feature Red Princess Blues. Today, he’s here to talk about a left-turn he has taken with Blues—which you can

Juliette Powell wants to hook you up. Not for sex—she wants you to get busy with something much more long-lasting and rewarding: running a successful business with social networking. Her new book, 33 Million People in the Room: How to Create, Influence, and Run a Successful Business with Social Networking, is a quick useful read for anyone afraid of a world gone social networking crazy. It is a bit of a religion, but Powell does wonders for demystifying the cult of online connections.

I’m not superstitious—to the best of my knowledge—but here’s an assignment I would never accept: to report a story from the Bermuda Triangle. But Good Morning America anchor and weather dude Sam Champion did exactly that this morning and lived to tell about it. Still, it won’t surprise me if we have trouble with his phone line. Champion’s report was part of GMA’s three-day series “In Search of the Truth” about myths and legends such as the Bermuda Triangle, Loch Ness Monster and vampires.

Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the popular series of novels relating the Botswana-based adventures of Precious Ramotswe and The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. There are 10 books in the series. And this isn’t even McCall Smith’s only series! He also writes: 44 Scotland Street; the "Isabel Dalhousie" novels and the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series. So it’s a good time to be Alexander McCall Smith.

From 2009: My guest is Brande Roderick—whom I’ve seen naked! Not just in my dreams, mind you, but in the pages of Playboy magazine, where she first came to national prominence. Brande is one of just a handful that linger in your mind and establish an identity. There’s something in her face—maybe it’s ambition, maybe determination. And I’m not the only one. Brande is one of the players in this season of “The Celebrity Apprentice,” Donald Trump’s annual festival of fawning and fables.

From 2009: 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 Phif

You couldn’t fill a half-hour sitcom with every moment of screen time From 2009: Scott Krinsky’s character “Jeff Barnes” has earned in nearly two seasons of NBC’s “Chuck.” But you know what? That’s okay. Because every time Jeff is in the camera frame—almost always with his partner Lester, played by Vik Sahay—you have to watch him. And listen. And frankly, you probably have to listen again. Because what comes out of his mouth is always a head scratcher.

From 2009: Nobody asked, but here are a couple of the movies that changed my life: The Out-of-Towners with Jack Lemmon. Superman with Christopher Reeves. Serpico with Al Pacino. Star Wars. And the first time I saw p0rno in a movie theater. Good thing I saw that show; the police thereafter confiscated our print. So that brings us to my guest today, Variety magazine senior editor Robert Hofler, who is author of a fun new book called "Variety’s The Movie That Changed My Life."

From 2009: Music is a lot like food—we like what we like and can’t fathom people who prefer either sounds or tastes that don’t agree with us. But as you’ll learn for yourself, whether this duo, The Green Children, is good for the environment or not doesn’t matter when you hear their songs. And they’re definitely not children.

From 2009: Joining me today is Chad Cherry, lead singer for a rising metal band called The Last Vegas. They won a national competition called the Guitar Center On Stage contest that attracted 8,000 entries and concluded with them being picked by the guys in the Crue for a contract with their record label and a spot opening for them on tour. And, as you’ll hear in a few minutes when I play their first single, “I’m Bad,” they’re pretty damn good.

Today's Guest: Moses Brown, founder, OnlineBootyCall.com     Moses Brown, founder, OnlineBootyCall.com Folks, let me honest with you: I’m not sure what I’m getting into today. My guest is Moses Brown, founder and CEO of the dating website OnlineBootyCall.com. I’m not single and I’m not interested in hooking up with anyone but I laughed pretty hard when I heard the site’s name. So I figured it could make for a fun interview. The OnlineBootyCall.com site puts out—no pun intended—an amusing vibe, starting with its 10 Commandments, so let’s bring Moses on and see what happens. OnlineBootyCall.com Website • Facebook • Twitter • Crunchbase The Millionaire's Convenient Arrangementby Jane Peden. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above! The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

From 2009: Defining the prototypical acting role for Harold Perrineau is difficult if not damn near impossible. Was it Augustus Hill, the philosophical, always cool, wheelchair-bound inmate in HBO’s violent, often gross-out prison drama “Oz”? Maybe it was the hapless Michael Dawson on “Lost,” who came and went from the show and storyline with dizzying plot twists. Or perhaps it will be his latest character, Detective Leo Banks, on ABC’s new drama, “The Unusuals.”

Today's Guest: Kent Wall, TV sports host   Kent Walls The Florida Gators. The Oklahoma Sooners. It’s time for the 2009 BCS national championship game and so we’re talkin’ football today on Mr. Media with Kent Walls, co-host of Fox Sports and Fox College Sports channel’s “Tailgate Tour.” For the last five months, Kent and his delightful–yes, that’s man code for “hot”—co-host Sarah Karges have criss-crossed college campuses all across the United States in search of pigskin, tail and tall tales. Today, he’s going to tell us what he’s seen. We’ll also get his take on this week’s big game and why the Florida Gators—Mr. Media’s alma mater—will walk away with the big title for the second time in three years. Kent Walls Website • Facebook • Twitter • LinkedIn • YouTube Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!   The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Aubrey Plaza, comedian, actress, "Parks and Recreation," "Legion" Aubrey Plaza stars as April Ludgate in NBC's 'Parks and Recreation' (NBC Photo: Chris Haston)   Order 'Parks and Recreation: Season One,' available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD cover above! Playing the intern on a Thursday night NBC sitcom is not a bad gig for a young actor. Look at B.J. Novak, the young man who plays “Ryan” on “The Office.” He was literally unknown when he joined the show and quickly became a strong character onscreen and off, writing at least 10 episodes and producing 33. So what can we expect from Aubrey Plaza, who plays April the (full of sarcasm) Intern on “Parks and Recreation”? Amy Poehler’s character, Leslie Knope, strives to be a positive influence on young April, not quite realizing that April is already smarter and savvier than Leslie may ever be. Okay, maybe she’s not that smart. AUBREY PLAZA audio excerpt: "Amy Poehler is the most fun ever. She was my comedy hero in high school. She start

Today's Guest: Spencer Quinn, novelist, "Chet the Dog" fiction series Order 'Dog on It: A Chet and Bernie Mystery (Chet and Bernie Mysteries),' available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! Dogs that can express themselves in a language we can all understand are nothing new. Remember the movie Cats & Dogs? One dog had the voice of Tobey McGuire, another the sonorous tones of Alec Baldwin. But how many dogs have written books about their adventures? Point for Chet the Dog, sidekick of Bernie Little and sole employee of the Little Detective Agency and—do you smell that? Hint of bacon, ground black pepper, sizzling burgers on the grill… Where was I? CHET the DOG AUDIO EXCERPT audio excerpt: "Everything is dictated in a mental telepathy way, through Spencer Quinn, whose name also appears on the books. I would call him my muse; he's the interface with the publishing business. But the stories are mine."  Oh, right, the Chet and Bernie mystery series. Book one, Dog Gone It, was a big hit, quick

Today's Guest: Daniel Pyne, novelist, A Hole in the Ground Owned by a Liar, TV writer, "Alcatraz" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of Hollywood screenwriters who plot out my every move on storyboards… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Order from Amazon.com by clicking the book cover above! Hearing that a comic novel takes place in a mine is not the best way to get my attention for a spot on this show. C’mon! A mine? And yet I’ve now fallen for that pitch twice with no regrets. The first was William Kent Kruger’s thrilling Vermillion Drift. And now I’m recommending writer Daniel Pyne’s second novel, A Hole in the Ground Owned by a Liar. It’s a very different story, an adventure with darkly comic overtones. Both books are page-turners; so much for anti-mines prejudice! DANIEL PYNE audio excerpt: "I was interested in doing things that I don't get to do when I'm writing films or television."  Pyne has an advantage as a storyteller in print. Besides having pre

Today's Guest: Actor Alan Ruck star of Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Spin City, Persons Unknown   Order 'Spin City: Vol. 1' starring Michael J. Fox and Alan Ruck, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD boxed set above! Thinking about actor Alan Ruck last night, I was reminded of a Dr. Seuss book called, Oh, The Places You’ll Go! Why? Just think about the places Alan Ruck has gone. He went universe hopping with both Captain Kirk and Captain Picard, to "Spin City" with Michael J. Fox and Charlie Sheen, and to Chicago with Ferris Bueller. ALAN RUCK podcast excerpt: "The best part I have had in a feature film (was as Cameron in Ferris Bueller's Day Off). Other people were offered the film and turned it down. Every time I see Emilio Estevez I want to give him a hug because I knew he was offered the role and decided not to do it. He didn't need the role but I did."  Beat that, Cat in the Hat! And now Ruck is back, starring in a new NBC summer mini-series called “Persons Unknown,” which airs Mondays at 10 p.

Today's Guest: Actor Ryan McPartlin, who plays "Captain Awesome" on "Chuck." Ryan McPartlin (L), Sarah Lancaster, Zachary Levi One of the cool aspects of NBC’s spy rom-com “Chuck” is that it has survived on the Peacock long enough for every recurring character to get a moment to shine. Jeff and Lester have their band. Ellie has a heart. Casey has a daughter. The General has, well, okay, I’m still trying to figure that one out. Big Mike loves Subway sandwiches. Morgan is a different kind of genius. And Captain Awesome — okay, just plain ol’ “Awesome” these days — is both a big softie and a go-to spy. That’s a giant leap for Ryan McPartlin’s character on the show. RYAN McPARTLIN podcast excerpt: "We're hoping to hear this week or next if we're going to get more episodes this season. Ratings don't seem to matter; we keep coming back no matter what. That's largely due to the fans. There are so many outlets you can watch 'Chuck' on. We're such a big hit on iTunes, on Hulu, and on NBC.com."  For a long time, he wa

Today's Guest: Billy Campbell, actor, The Rocketeer, "Once and Again," Meteor Order 'The Rocketeer' starring Billy Campbell and Jennifer Connelly, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD cover above! No movie I can recommend captures the pure summertime wonderment of films better than The Rocketeer. It’s got action, adventure, a man with a jetpack strapped to his back and the spectacular Jennifer Connelly as Betty Page. I can watch The Rocketeer a hundred times and never get tired of it. Which brings us to today’s guest, Billy Campbell. There are two actors that Mr. Media believes cannot work enough and Billy Campbell is one of them. (Bruce Campbell—no relation—is the other.) He recently appeared opposite Ricky Gervais in Ghost Town—my 12-year-old daughter's favorite DVD of the moment. And, of course, he co-starred for too few seasons in the ABC drama, "Once and Again." Now Campbell is starring in NBC's new miniseries "Meteor" as Jack Crowe, a Los Angeles police officer who tries to protect his fami

Today's Guest: Ronnie James Dio, lead singer, Dio, Black Sabbath Ronnie James Dio When word reached us last night (May 16, 2010) that singer Ronnie James Dio lost his battle against cancer yesterday at the age of 67, my wife said, “Didn’t you interview him?” Yes, yes, I did. It was May 22, 1986, one of my first interviews at my new job as pop music critic for the Tampa Tribune. It was a telephone interview, as so many were in those days. RONNIE JAMES DIO podcast excerpt: "I just bought a building, in Los Angeles – on Sunset Boulevard. It’s a building that was owned by Charlie Chaplin. It’s going to be a soundstage for a video. It will also be a studio for smaller bands. Again, something to ensure that, later in life, I’ll be able to produce. Because some day I’ll be too old to run around the stage. Though that won’t hopefully happen for a long while yet. I’m building something that will allow me to carry on as a musician, because that’s what I do best."  Order 'Ronnie James Dio - In Memory Of' from Amazon.c