Mr. Media Interviews By Bob Andelman

Today's Guest: Guillermo Diaz, actor, "Weeds," "Mercy," "Scandal" Actor Guillermo Diaz, star of "Weeds," "Mercy" and "Scandal" I’m gonna be honest with you—I’m far more interested in talking with Guillermo Diaz about his last role—as, curiously, “Guillermo”—in “Weeds,” in which he played Mary Louise Parker’s drug dealer, teacher, friend, antagonist, protector—hey, it was complicated. That Guillermo was one scary mofo. This Guillermo is starring as Nurse Angel Lopez on the new NBC drama “Mercy,” which airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. It’s funny and awkward at times—just like “Weeds,” in some ways—but I think this show demonstrates how much range Diaz actually has. From the Season 3 premiere of "Scandal," it's actor Guillermo Diaz. (ABC/Eric McCandless) GUILLERMO DIAZ podcast excerpt: "I would hope that Guillermo would really like Angel and have a little bit of a snicker with him... I'm coming back to 'Weeds.' It's gonna work out; it's going to be interesting to see what they do with me." He came to national atten

Today's Guest: Marian McPartland, jazz pianist, NPR host   Jazz pianist and National Public Radio host Marian McPartland Order Marian McPartland: Live at Maybeck Recital Hall, available right now at a great price by clicking on the CD cover above! When the news reached me today than legendary jazz pianist and longtime National Public Radio host Marian McPartland has passed away, I was reminded of my time with one of many great artists who tolerated a young music writer early in my career. On October 8, 1983, I interviewed Mrs. McPartland as a preview for an upcoming appearance she would be making in Clearwater, Florida, with her husband, Jimmy McPartland, and her old friend and frequent onstage partner, George Shearing. MARIAN McPARTLAND podcast excerpt: "If everybody is playing well together — bass, drums, piano —I swear there is some kind of sexual thing that is set up. In the music! Of course, it could go to the other thing, too! I won't say it couldn't." Order Marian Mcpartland's Piano Jazz with Stee

Today's Guest: Gregg Binkley, actor, "Raising Hope" Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience that thinks Raising Hope is a sequel to Raising Arizona… in the NEW new media capital of the world, St. Petersburg, Florida!   Order 'Raising Hope: The Complete Third Season' with Gregg Binkley, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD above! Gregg Binkley has waited and waited for his breakthrough opportunity and this may well be the year. Binkley was a recurring character in the first season of the Fox sitcom, “Raising Hope.” He played Barney, the supermarket boss of Jimmy, the baby daddy of Hope, the show’s title character. He apparently struck a nerve in season one, because Binkley has been elevated to series regular going into season two. GREGG BINKLEY audio excerpt: "When they were casting the store manager for 'Malcolm in the Middle,' Bryan Cranston said, 'Why don't you bring in Dan, the Del Taco guy?' He gave me a chance to show another side of myself." Gregg Binkley, actor, Raising Hope

Today's Guest: Paula Garces, actress, "Warehouse 13," Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle Paula Garces, actress, Red Princess Blues Paula Garces is beautiful, smart and ambitious, which makes for a combustible mix is Hollywood. She’s held her own on the critically acclaimed FX series “The Shield” and maintained both her mystery and dignity in both Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle and Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay. She just finished shooting the third movie in the series, A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (in 3D!) and is currently driving Pete crazy as a snappy, sexy veterinarian on the SyFy hit “Warehouse 13.” So the natural next move is hosting a fashion show on the Spanish network The mun2, right? PAULA GARCES podcast excerpt: "Eddie McClintock is fabulous. He is a really funny guy. A lot of what you see in his character are his ideas... When I was first approached about the role on Warehouse 13, there was a possibility it might extend beyond two episodes. After they saw our energy

Today's Guest: Corey Michael Blake, CEO, Round Table Companies, Smarter Comics Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of 47-year-old fanboys who could really stand to take a bath and develop some practical business skills besides knowing how many comics fit snugly in a longbox… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida!   It’s been a while since business writer Daniel Pink was a guest on Mr. Media to talk about his first graphic novel, Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You’ll Ever Need. That book was intended for an audience of job seekers who lacked some basic skills needed to succeed in the modern workplace. They were also people who weren’t likely to buy and read Pink’s nonfiction, picture-less narratives such A Whole New Mind or Free Agent Nation. COREY MICHAEL BLAKE audio excerpt: "I found Chris Anderson's email address. I said, 'We're interested in taking your book, The Long Tail, and introducing it to comic book fans.' In 24 hours I had an answer: 'Let's talk

Today's Guest: A.J. Jacobs, author, The Guinea Pig Diaries, The Year of Living Biblically ] Order from Amazon.com by clicking the book cover above I’m a little worried about A.J. Jacobs. His latest book, The Guinea Pig Diaries: My Life as an Experiment, takes the social tests he put himself through in previous books such as The Know-It-All—in which he read the entire encyclopedia—and The Year of Living Biblically—in which he followed every single rule of the Bible—and reveals a funny, introspective man who may be in danger of becoming a caricature of himself. The Guinea Pig Diaries compiles some of his most brilliant experiments for Esquire magazine, where he is an editor at large, and adds in several new trials. It’s all good, meaty reading, but I’m starting to wince more than laugh at A.J.’s escapades. A.J. Jacobs Where is the line for a man who once outsourced his life to India but more recently spent a month being whipped—figuratively, I think—by his wife? And how much is too much information for readers

Today's Guest: A.J. Jacobs, Esquire magazine writer, contributing editor, author, Drop Dead Healthy, The Year of Living Biblically, The Know-It-All Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of middle-aged Al Bundys who hope we spend the entire interview talking about what it’s like to be in the same room with Sofia Vergara… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida!   Drop Dead Healthy by A.J. Jacobs. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above! If I were the president of one of the broadcast networks, I’d take another look at signing up A.J. Jacobs to make a sitcom based on his life. (And yes, I know it’s been tried before – as described by A.J. himself in Esquire magazine last fall, but this idea is worth a second look.) All the basic elements are there: A.J. is a neurotic, Jewish writer living in Manhattan with his grounded wife and naturally funny three boys, two of whom are twins. His extended family is full of characters, including his late Aunt Marti,

Today's Guest: Larry Thomas, actor, "The Soup Nazi" on "Seinfeld" Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) runs from an encounter with the Soup Nazi (Larry Thomas) on a classic episode of "Seinfeld." (UPDATED JULY 5, 2015: When I discovered the original audio player for this interview with actor Larry Thomas no longer played correctly, I went digging in my audio archives, found the original from June 8, 2007 and upgraded the entire track. But it sounded a little funky. I looked again and there was a SECOND interview with Thomas from two weeks later, June 22, 2007. Then I hit me -- the audio recording the first time was terrible and Larry kindly agreed to a do-over. But with improvements in technology, I unintentionally rescued the first interview. You can now hear both; the first is Mr. Media Episode #32, from June 8, 2007, and the second, Mr. Media Episode #33, from June 22, 2007. And thanks again to Larry Thomas for being such a good sport -- and one of Mr. Media's first podcast interview guests!) Kicking Through the

Today's Guest: John O’Hurley, actor, "Seinfeld," host, "The National Dog Show" It's Okay to Miss the Bed on the First Jump by John O'Hurley. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above! Who IS John O’Hurley? On Thanksgiving Day at noon, he’s the silver-haired host of The National Dog Show on NBC, a job he’s held for nine years. He’s also written a couple of dog tale-oriented books. JOHN O'HURLEY audio excerpt: "The head of NBC Sports gave me a call. I picked up the phone and he said, 'Woof! Woof!' And that's how it started nine years ago."  And he’s been the host of the daily “Family Feud” game show. Still can’t place him? How about his amazing performance on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” in 2005? No? Okay, okay, try this one on: John O’Hurley played Elaine’s boss, clothing catalog entrepreneur J Peterman, as a recurring character for several seasons on “Seinfeld.” The joke was that Peterman was based on a real person and a real company. But what happened later was no joke: when the J Peterman

Today's Guest: Ben Watkins, creator/showrunner, "Hand of God," producer/writer, "Burn Notice" Watch this exclusive Mr. Media interview with Ben Watkins by clicking on the video player above!  Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of true believers whose lives are also filled with sex, lies, brutal violence, hypocrisy and old books with the centers carved out to hide thumb drives… in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! "Hand of God," an Amazon original series starring Ron Perlman, Dana Delany, Andre Royo, Garret Dillahunt and Emayatzy Corinealdi, created by Ben Watkins The name of the show threw me, no denying it. “Hand of God”? Ron Perlman stars in "Hand of God," now in its second season on Amazon Prime. I’m not a particularly religious guy and the new Amazon Studios series – starring Ron Perlman, Dana Delaney, Andre Royo, Emayatzy Corinealdi, and Garrett Dillahunt – now in its second season, didn’t sound like my kind of show. But then I was asked if I would you l

Today's Guest: Peter Carlson, journalist, author, K Blows Top: A Cold War Comic Interlude Starring Nikita Khrushchev, America's Most Unlikely Tourist ] Order 'K Blows Top' from Amazon.com by clicking the book cover above! Peter Carlson could have taken all the research he did on Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev’s two-week barnstorming tour of the United States in 1959 and converted it into a Cold War-era fable such as Dr. Strangelove or The Mouse That Roared. He could have done that, but truth is stranger than fiction and the truths found within K Blows Top: A Cold War Comic Interlude, Starring Nikita Khrushchev, America’s Most Unlikely Tourist are way funnier than even a guy like Dave Barry could have invented. Peter Carlson, author of K Blows Top PETER CARLSON audio excerpt: "Khruschchev kept saying, 'Your capitalists are keeping the Cold War going because they're making money on it.' And the American officials, quite sincerely, said they would never do that. You're crazy Marxists. That's not how it works.

Today's Guests: Legendary MAD Magazine and Humbug! cartoonists Al Jaffee and Arnold Roth.   Order from Amazon.com by clicking the book cover above My mother bought me my first MAD magazine off the newsstand at a Stop & Shop supermarket in 1969. The cover featured a Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid parody that I believe was drawn by Jack Davis. I read that issue over and over again—at least until I convinced mom to buy the next month’s issue. I was nine and it was the funniest thing I ever saw. Over the years, I subscribed to MAD and bought the paperbacks collecting the material I missed in earlier years. MAD was my gateway drug—I dabbled in Sick and Cracked, although they left me unsatisfied. Stan Lee started publishing CRAZY at Marvel Comics and I even managed to get a few letters published there. As I grew older, I started focusing on the names of the artists and writers I liked best—Al Jaffee, Arnold Roth, Dave Berg, Jack Davis and Sergio Aragones—the usual gang of idiots. I also heard about MAD’s

Today's Guest: Laurel Touby, founder, MediaBistro.com Laurel Touby, MediaBistro.com, Jon Fine, BusinessWeek When Laurel Touby started MediaBistro.com in 1996, being a freelancer in the media business was a fairly solitary position. She became the socializer-in-chief, organizing events to draw writers and editors together, posting media jobs, which led to educational programs and daily news updates. In other words, she gave folks like me a community. LAUREL TOUBY audio excerpt: "I went from the girl who knew nobody to the girl who knew everybody!"  I never got too involved in MediaBistro but I appreciated its existence. And I was quite happy for Laurel when, a few years ago, she sold her company for $23 million. Even better, Laurel has stayed with her company. I invited her on the show to talk about what Mediabistro.com has to offer and to talk about how the disassembly of print media might affect her operation in the future. Laurel Touby MediaBistro.com • Facebook • Twitter • LinkedIn The Millionaire's Conv

Today's Guest: Stephanie Rooker, jazz singer, The Only Way Out Is In   Stephanie Rooker and The Search Engine, The Only Way Out Is In. Order your copy today by clicking on the album cover above! Some singers have a way with a phrase or a moment that attracts listeners with instant magnetism. Stephanie Rooker Stephanie Rooker is in that category. Everyone’s ear will interpret her differently, but I like the fluid rap style she brings to her style of jazz in one song and the classic bop present in another. Rooker sings jazz along a metaphorical urban street that borders rap and R&B, while still reflecting the traditional conventions of the genre, including innovation. STEPHANIE ROOKER podcast excerpt: "My voice students want to know, 'When will I find my voice?' But what's exciting is that it's an infinite road that keeps unfolding. I've had several milestones in my life where I hit a new level with my voice, performance, writing or self-expression that I didn't know existed."  She’s a young woman whose

Order from Amazon.com by clicking on the book above!   Today's Guest: Jon Provost, animal activist, actor, "Lassie" I’ve never liked dog-earing pages – you know, when you’re reading a book and you fold back the corner of a page to mark your place, or because there was something interesting on the page to which you’d like to return? Well, I’ve never dog-eared a book as much as I did with Timmy’s in the Well, the new autobiography by Jon Provost, former child star of the “Lassie” television show. This book is not the usual child star recitation of the ills of fame. Okay, it’s a little of that. But Jon Provost’s life is riveting – and so is the telling of his story, assisted as he was by his wife, Laurie Jacobson. I couldn’t wait to have Jon and Laurie on to talk about this fascinating read. Jon Provost Website • Facebook • Twitter • Order Timmy's in the Well from Amazon.com Laurie Jacobson Provost Website • Facebook • Twitter Order 'Dishing Hollywood: The Real Scoop on Tinseltown's Most Notorious Scandals' by

Today's Guest: Brittany Perry-Russell, actress, dancer, Honey 2   Brittany Perry-Russell Order Honey 2 with Brittany Perry-Russell, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD cover above! Maybe the name Brittany Perry-Russell is not instantly recognizable to you. It probably wouldn’t be, not unless you’re in the music business and you go by the name of Rhianna. Or Lil Wayne. Or Usher. Or Ciara. Or Michael Jackson. She was a dancer for what became the singer’s final production, captured forever in the DVD This Is It. And “Glee” TV fans might recognize her as a “Cheerio” from one of her four recent appearances as a cheerleader on the Fox show. BRITTANY PERRY-RUSSELL audio excerpt: "I love working on 'Glee.' By far it's been one of my favorite TV shows to work on. And I love Jane Lynch. I'm a big fan." Brittany is one of the industry’s most talented and sought-after dancers, someone who makes a dramatic impression in every music video in which she appears. The problem with those is that they’re highly v

Today's Guest: George Gray, host, "What's With That House," announcer, "The Price is Right" with Drew Carey "The Price Is Right" announcer George Gray and host Drew Carey George Gray is having way too much fun on his HGTV show, “What’s With That House?” The show, now in its second season, is kind of a goof on the proliferation of shelter TV shows, where viewers are taken into fabulous homes and mansions and led around by announcers in hushed, respectful tones. There’s no respect in Gray’s tone -- and rightfully so. If you haven’t seen the show, I absolutely insist you pause this interview and set your DVR, Tivo, or VCR to record the show. It’s on HGTV every Wednesday at 11:30 PM Eastern or Pacific. You won’t be sorry. (You could also sample it by watching a clip...) Back now? Okay. If Gray seems familiar, it means you probably saw him in ESPN’s sports fantasy reality series “I’d Do Anything” or the syndicated version of “The Weakest Link.” George Gray Facebook • Twitter • Wikipedia • IMDB • "The Price is Rig

Today's Guest: John Amato, political website founder, CrooksAndLiars.com It’s not just this generation. Politics has always been dirty, nasty, bare-knuckle affairs. In the American two-party system, one side always blames the other for whatever ails the country. The new twist in the 21st Century is the emergence of political Web sites and political blogs in particular. Anyone with a point of view can get a free blog from blogger.com or wordpress.com and be online telling the world what they think about anything, anywhere in about ten minutes or less. Some of these new voices are surprisingly thoughtful, literate, and inspiring. Some are just idiots with cyber-megaphones. Some are on the right, some are on the left, but there is no doubt that the best of them and some who are just louder than the others will wield unprecedented influence going into the 2008 Presidential primaries and election cycle. One of the rising stars of the genre is John Amato, agent provocateur of the best-named blog of the bunch, Crook

Today's Guest: Mac Montandon, author, Jetpack Dreams: One Man's Up and Down (But Mostly Down) Search for the Greatest Invention That Never Was   Order 'Jetpack Dreams: One Man's Up and Down (But Mostly Down) Search for the Greatest Invention That Never Was' by Mac Montandon, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! I want a damn jetpack. Is that so hard to understand? There was actually a guy on the “Jimmy Kimmel Show” recently who had one and used it to fly around Hollywood High’s football field in Los Angeles. But he was on the show because it was unusual. I think everyone who wants a jetpack and has the balls to use one, should have one. Maybe it’s a guy thing – I also want to see a man walk on Mars in my lifetime. (Not me, mind you, but some guy.) It’s not like I’m asking for some silly flying car, like in the Back to the Future movies. No, that would be silly. And while we’re at it, I want to drive a really cool car that doesn’t look like every fourth car on the road. Is that too

Today's Guest: Danny Pudi, actor, "Community" Inspector Spacetime -- "Conventions of Space and Time": (l-r) Gillian Jacobs as Britta, Danny Pudi as Abed, Donald Glover as Troy -- (Photo by: Vivian Zink/NBC)   Danny Pudi as Abed on the NBC sitcom "Community." (Photo: Mitchell Haaseth/NBC) It’s a shame Lorne Michaels didn’t sign up Danny Pudi for “Saturday Night Live” before the producers of the NBC sitcom “Community” cast him as “Abed.” He is so flexible in body, mind and voice as to suggest a combination of Jim Carrey, the late Phil Hartman and a thoroughly modern Rich Little. Pudi looks so unassuming that no matter how often you see him do his stuff on “Community,” you can’t help but do a double-take, rewind and watch him do it again. And again. DANNY PUDI Audio Excerpt: "It's really amazing to watch Chevy Chase. To learn from him and watch him... His hands are fun. And the fact I have a Christmas card with Chevy Chase on my refrigerator is wild enough, but the other day he told me my Christmas card is on