Mr. Media Interviews By Bob Andelman

Today's Guest: Paul Fitzgerald, Stuart Henderson, Cindy Jackson, authorities, Will Eisner and "PS Magazine" Will Eisner and PS Magazine In the pantheon of comic book masters, Will Eisner’s name is at or near the top of pretty much everyone’s list. He was there at the birth of the genre in the late 1930s – he famously turned down a submission from Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster of a comic book about a character named Superman. Will suggested they go back to art school in Cleveland and get a little better at his craft. Will Eisner, co-founder of the U.S. Army's long-running PS Magazine, during his own military service in World War II Eisner himself is best known as the creator of an enduring but little known character called "The Spirit." This is a big year for The Spirit, with a major motion picture written and directed by Frank Miller currently in post-production and scheduled for release in January 2009. Eisner is also known as the grandfather of the graphic novel for producing one of the genre's earliest an

Today's Guest: Nat Gertler, author, The Peanuts Collection: Treasures from the World's Most Beloved Comic Strip Order 'The Peanuts Collection' by Nat Gertler, available from Amazon.com by clicking the book cover above! When you’re done reading your favorite comic strip today, wouldn’t it be cool to have some lasting ephemera to put on your desk, in your school locker, in the kitchen or on your nightstand? Something that will remind you of the laughs you shared with a beloved cartoon character? Me? Today I’d like a plush Satchel stuffed dog from Get Fuzzy, or a replacement of my long-lost Opus doll from Bloom County. Or anything from Calvin and Hobbs or Pearls Before Swine. But when I was kid, long into my teen years and even at college, it was anything Snoopy. I had a poster in my room of Snoopy lying prone on his doghouse, staring at his empty food dish, waiting for the round-headed kid to fill ‘er up. I also had stacks of the paperback collections of daily Peanuts strips and a treasured hardbound volume as

Today's Guest: Bret Carr, writer, director, star, RevoLOUtion RevoLOUtion, film by Bret Carr. Order your copy today by clicking on the movie poster above! Bret Carr made a movie. Lots of people make movies these days. Every idiot with a digital camcorder thinks he is Scorsese, Tarantino, or Apatow, but Carr approached his first feature film, RevoLOUtion, a little differently. He landed Quinn Redeker, the man behind The Deer Hunter, to write his screenplay. Rocky composer Bill Conti created the title song. Paul Michael Glaser, best known as Detective Starsky from the classic TV series “Starsky & Hutch,” is a producer. Carr even convinced Burt Young, who played Sylvester Stallone’s brother-in-law in the Rocky films, to be himself in RevoLOUtion. But who to play Lou Benedetti, the stuttering, somewhat brain-damaged, yet ultimately inspirational star of the film? That would be Carr himself, who also produced and directed RevoLOUtion. And wait until you hear about his unusual ideas about marketing. Bret Carr

Today's Guest: Joel Meadows, editor, Tripwire: The Genre Magazine   Watch this exclusive Mr. Media interview with Joel Meadows by clicking on the video player above!  Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience full of international fanboys who swear they get all the jokes in “The Big Bang Theory” … in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida!! Tripwire: The Genre Magazine celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2017. Zines dedicated to comic books, science fiction, and genre TV shows and films come and go pretty quickly around the world. They all start with a singular dedication – perhaps obsession – but most vanish in the face of long hours, hard work, little or no compensation and an equal amount of recognition. JOEL MEADOWS podcast excerpt: "Before 'Tripwire,' I would read a magazine called 'Speakeasy.' I'm not sure if it made it to the States, but it was a very snarky British comics magazine. They used to have a column from Grant Morrison. It was sort of a template for us." C

Today's Guest: Eric Balfour, actor, "Haven," "Six Feet Under" Mr. Media is recorded live before a rapt studio audience of Gary Spivey look-a-likes in the NEW new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Haven's Eric Balfour and Emily Rose (Photo by Brian Dowling/Syfy) Have you watched “Haven,” the first season sensation on SyFy? If you had asked me after the first two weeks if I thought the show had legs, my answer would probably have been “No.” Too much didn’t make sense, too many story elements seemed wobbly and aimless, and the relationship between the two stars at the top — Emily Rose as FBI agent Audrey Parker and Lucas Bryant as police officer Nathan Wuornos —seemed flat. Why couldn’t they figure out a better and more consistent use for Eric Balfour’s Duke Crocker? ERIC BALFOUR audio excerpt: "The last four episodes of the season feel really indicative of where 'Haven' could go and what it could be. Except for maybe episode 12. I'm still arguing with them about my storyline in episode 12. I

  Worst Week: The Complete Series, starring Kyle Bornheimer and Erinn Hayes. Order your copy today by clicking on the DVD cover above! Today's Guest: Nancy Lenehan, actress, "Worst Week" 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. Nancy Lineman, actress, Worst Week One week, she and her husband—the judge—are getting busy under his desk. Another week, she rides a cello down a flight of stairs. Oh, and did you happen to 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 she’s Earl Hickey’s mother on "My Name is Earl." To me, “Worst Week” is one of those show—like “The Office” and even “Seinfeld”—that marches to its own rhythm and needs time to

Today's Guest: Bruce Jay Friedman, author, Lucky Bruce, Steambath, The Dick, The Lonely Guy, Splash, Stern   Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of famous writers, brand name celebrities and their heirs who are mentioned in Lucky Bruce and are standing by to see what Mr. Friedman might say about them next… in the NEW new media capital of the world, St. Petersburg, Florida! Order Lucky Bruce: A Literary Memoir by Bruce Friedman by clicking the book cover above! How many guys can write an autobiography that is part Andy Warhol Diaries, part Zelig and part Forrest Gump? Even if you’ve never read a lick of Bruce Jay Friedman’s voluminous career output, or seen one of his movies or Broadway productions, I guarantee you’ll find his new memoir, Lucky Bruce, delightful. BRUCE JAY FRIEDMAN audio excerpt: "In the beginning I didn't think I knew enough to fill up a whole book. Now, with the clock ticking, I don't have enough time to fill out all the ideas I have." Why delightful? Because it’s not the s

Today's Guests: Mark Wheatley, comic book artist, Robert Tinnell, comic book writer, "Lone Justice" Order from Amazon.com by clicking the book cover above Artist Mark Wheatley and writer Robert Tinnell are two good reasons that comic book readers are following the crowds to online media iterations of the 20th century comic panels. EZ Street by Robert Tionnell and Mark Wheatley. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above! Together they produced last year’s Harvey-nominated webcomic EZ Street. Separately, you’ll recognized Wheatley’s work from Hammer of the Gods, Black Hood, Frankenstein Mobster and Mars. And Tinnell is known for comics such as The Black Forest and Feast of the Seven Fishes and film scripts that include Frankenstein and Me, Kids of the Round Table and Believe. He also produced and acted in the film Surf Nazis Must Die. The duo’s latest joint production is the just released, sort-of sequel Lone Justice: Crash! You can read both EZ Street and Lone Justice: Crash! online for free

Today's Guest: Samantha Lockwood, actor, Shoot the Hero Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of slobbering horndogs in the new new media capital of the world and home of the best team in baseball… St. Petersburg, Florida!   Order Shoot the Hero by clicking the DVD cover above! What’s a stunningly beautiful actress like Samantha Lockwood doing in a hail of bullets called Shoot the Hero? Breaking up, making up and robbing a jewelry store with Jason Mewes, for one thing. Getting manhandled by Nicholas Turturo and Danny Trejo for another. She stars with those guys in this new comedy action heist flick written and directed by Christian Sesma. It’s out on DVD and while it may not win an Oscar, it’s a fun ride for a Saturday night date. SAMANTHA LOCKWOOD audio excerpt: "My role is to play Jason Mewes fiance. She's not a b-word; she's a girl who's just frustrated in her relationship. She's dealing with how her fiance spends his time playing videogames. She wants him to grow up and be more mature."  S

Today's Guest: Roger Nygard, documentary director, The Nature of Existence Order The Nature of Existence, a film by Roger Nygard, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD cover above! The DVD of The Nature of Existence hit stores just before the late November 2010 death of The Empire Strikes Back director Irvin Kershner. IRVIN KERSHNER audio excerpt: "The Force is within every one of us. It's using the most powerful parts of our system. We have a big brain that isn't used. We don't know it's potential." Order The Empire Strikes Back, directed by Irvin Kershner by clicking on the DVD cover above! Roger Nygard, director of The Nature of Existence, interviewed Kershner for his documentary and we asked him to return to the show and share some outtakes of his Kershner interview with us. The Nature of Existence is a far more serious study, perhaps, than the works for which Nygard was previously best known, Trekkies, and its sequel, Trekkies 2. But, honestly, it’s just as fun. LISTEN! Roger Nygard's first

Today's Guest: Roger Nygard, video editor, "Curb Your Enthusiasm" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience that hopes “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and Larry David will go on forever… in the new new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Part 1 of 3   Order from Amazon.com by clicking the DVD cover above The last time Roger Nygard was a guest on this show, he was in a video editing suite in Hollywood and I was where I always am, in the living room studio with the whorehouse red walls. Our subject that day was the release of the expanded edition of Nygard’s terrific, globe-trotting documentary, The Nature of Existence, as well as the passing of one of its subjects, Irvin Kershner, director of the Star Wars sequel, The Empire Strikes Back. In the course of setting the shot, Roger mentioned that we needed be done on time because Larry David was likely to be walking through the door behind him at any time. Uh, back up, I said. Larry David? Order 'The Nature of Existence' [7-Disc Expanded Comp

Today's Guest: Joseph Dorman, documentary director, Sholem Aleicheim: Laughing in the Darkness Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of 16-year-old boys in heavy fake beards all speaking in high school Yiddish accents… in the new new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Part 1 of 4   Order 'Sholem Aleichem: Laughing in the Darkness,' a film by Joseph Dorman, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD cover above! I owe my first kiss to Sholem Aleichem. And my second, too. The first was Loye Neville; the second, not long after, was Diane Dunn. Both occurred backstage during dress rehearsals for the North Brunswick Township High School production of Fiddler On The Roof. Surely, you’ve heard of it? JOSEPH DORMAN audio excerpt: "Sholem Aleichem was a terrible, terrible businessman. He was very different from the men and women he was documenting or writing about. He was an assimilated Russian Jew. He lived in a large city, Kiev, for much of his life. And he had the luck of inh

Today's Guest: Ralphie May, comedian Order 'Ralphie May: Too Big to Ignore,' available by clicking on the DVD above! Comedian Ralphie May Ralphie May is the big man on the comedy campus. You know that if you’ve ever seen him—he’s a heavyset southern guy with soft gentle looking facial features. Then he opens his mouth—and, oh my God! You probably remember Ralphie May best from season one of “Last Comic Standing.” Since then he’s proven himself to be one funny, funny MF-er. Which reminds me – if you’re under 18 or easily offended, tune Mr. Media out for the next 30 minutes ad check out the FlyLady or Dr. Blogstein. This show is strictly for grown-ups. Ralphie May Website • Facebook • Twitter • YouTube • Order Too Big to Ignore 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: Chuck Dixon, comic book writer, "The Simpsons, "Batman" Part 1 of 2   Order The Simpsons Movie (Widescreen Edition) from Amazon.com by clicking the DVD cover above! One of the most anticipated movies of this summer -- no, not Harry Potter: Order of the Phoenix -- and no, Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer -- is The Simpsons Movie. And while Matt Groening couldn’t make it to join us today, we are lucky enough to welcome a member of the extended "Simpsons" creative family, frequent Simpsons comic book writer Chuck Dixon. Dixon is a prolific comics writer, easily shifting between the in-jokes and low humor of Bart and Homer for Bongo Comics to the high drama of DC’s caped crusader, Batman. Part 2 of 2   Order the graphic novel Batman: Knightfall, Vol. 1 from Amazon.com by clicking the book cover above!   Order Batman Versus Bane from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above!   Chuck Dixon Website • Blog • Facebook • Order Batman: Knightfall •  Order The Simpsons Movie from Am

Today's Guest: Thesy Surface, actress, "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"   Order 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: The Complete Season 6,' available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD cover above! Think about this for a minute. You’re a beautiful young actress, born in Chicago, raised in London and when you open your mouth, the most delightful, sophisticated accent comes pouring out. You’re waiting for your big break in show business when the phone rings. One of the buzziest hit sitcoms on TV, FX’s “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” is calling. They want you for what could become a recurring role on the raunchy, outrageous gross-out fest. Sounds like a dream come true. THESY SURFACE AUDIO EXCERPT: "I think it was Charlie Chaplin who said, 'It doesn't matter how big the role is. Just be memorable.' And Margaret McPoyle is memorable." But… the producers want to paste a dark, heavy unibrow across that lovely forehead of yours. And your hair? Tied into pigtails. At least you’ll get to utter some rea

Today's Guest: Joel Gilbert, documentary filmmaker, Bob Dylan Revealed Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of people who won’t figure out that my audio failed to record during the following conversation… in the new new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! Part 1 of 2 Order 'Bob Dylan Revealed' from Amazon.com by clicking the DVD above! I can’t imagine the challenge of trying to capture the career of Bob Dylan in a documentary film.For starters, which Dylan? Folk Dylan? Dylan gone electric? Or Dylan the social activist, the poet, the singer and even the mumbler. In his documentary film, Bob Dylan Revealed, director Joel Gilbert spends more than a hour collecting stories and concert film about those Dylans. It’s a slice that adds texture to our knowledge of the legendary performer. Then about an hour and ten minutes in, Gilbert turns his film upside-down to reveal a new focus: Dylan’s short-lived, controversial born-again Christian phase. It’s thick with Christianity: spreading

Today's Guest: Phil Hollows, founder, Feedblitz Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience that includes people who actually understand why a feed is called a “feed”… in the new new media capitol of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida!   List Building for Bloggers interview with Feedblitz founder Phil Hollows!   Feedblitz.com In the five years that Mr. Media has been presented as an online podcast – first in audio, now with video in many cases – I would say that my biggest ongoing headache has been understanding what a feed is, how it works and how to keep it healthy. It hasn’t always been easy. A blog or website’s feed takes the usual content and repackages it in a way that it can be used for many other purposes. For example, you can subscribe to Mr. Media via its feed, which allows you to receive email or RSS updates. The feed lets us automatically send each episode to iTunes, Stitcher and the new, free Mr. Media mobile app for Android smartphones. It also shares the latest interviews like magic w

Today's Guest: Dylan Ratigan, MSNBC TV host, "The Dylan Ratigan Show" Order 'Greedy Bastards: How We Can Stop Corporate Communists, Banksters, and Other Vampires from Sucking America Dry' by Dylan Ratigan, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! I know of at least two things that Dylan Ratigan and I have in common. We both follow Piers Morgan and Howard Stern on Twitter, demonstrating that we share a taste for both the refined and unrefined. And we’re both usually working at 4 p.m. daily, which shows neither of us is quite smart enough to game the system — yet. Oh, wait! Three things! We both probably never want to ride another bus again the rest of our lives. DYLAN RATIGAN audio excerpt: "I ultimately believe that the degree of stress we're experiencing, and all of this nastiness, is an indication of how close we are to solutions. I believe the uncomfortableness that we're all experiencing as a result of the horrors on earth now... are an incredible pressure to compel us to solve a l

Today's Guest: Joey Lawrence, actor, "Blossom," "Gimmee A Break," "Dancing with the Stars" Order 'Blossom: Seasons 1 & 2' with Joey Lawrence and Mayim Bialik, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD above!   Edyta Sliwinska and Joey Lawrence compete in ABC's Dancing With The Stars (Photo: ABC: Adam Larkey) You’ve gotta give Joey Lawrence credit. He survived being a child and teen TV star, hanging out with Nell Carter for 77 episodes of “Gimme a Break” and “Blossom”—Mayim Bialik— for 114 weekly shows. After that he spent some time establishing himself as a serious actor, even asking to be known as Joseph Lawrence for a time. But when he took the unlikely plunge as a contestant on the third season of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” Lawrence made his presence felt in the land of grown-ups—he did a three-episode stint on “CSI:NY”—and I suspect its been smooth sailing ever since. Lawrence and Melissa Joan Hart are currently starring in a new movie on ABC Family, “My Fake Fiance.” Joey Lawrence • Twi

Today's Guest: Patti Lupone, Broadway singer, "Evita," actress, "30 Rock" 30 Rock - Season 3 - "Goodbye, My Friend" - Alec Baldwin as Jack and Patti LuPone as Sylvia. Photo by: Jessica Miglio/NBC (March 3, 2009) I could spend the next hour talking about Patti Lupone’s incredible history on the Broadway musical stage. We’d start with her recent run starring in Gypsy, for which she won a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award, and which drew no less than Stephen Sondheim himself on closing night. I’d have to mention Sweeney Todd, of course, and Evita. And that she is currently touring the country with Mandy Patinkin in a two-act concert. But then I couldn’t fit in the real reason for her joining me this morning: Patti Lupone was a special guest on “30 Rock.” PATTI LUPONE AUDIO EXCERPT: "Good writing allows an actor to act well. Bad writing, an actor has to figure out how to look good. You're lucky when you have good writing."  Patti Lupone Website • IBDB • Wikipedia • IMDB • Playbill Kicking Through the Ashes: My