Following his triumphant return to Dancing With The Stars and this week’s Hollywood Squares, this marks Tom Bergeron’s return to Game Changers. One of our first and most oft-recurring guests, Tom, remains one of my favorite humans. What a joy to spend time in his good company.

We got the moment-to-moment behind the scenes of Tom’s return to DWTS, with Tom and me, and I’m guessing most watching, getting emotional all over again. The response from the audience and all present for the taping of the 20th Anniversary Show was love and goosebumps all around. Tom recounted what caused his demise at the show, gave us info that the powers that be didn’t have, his surprising reunion with Sean Spicer, his about-to-be reunion with Bobby Bones, and how Tom contributed to his returning his Mirrorball trophy, Tom’s thoughts on the current hosts, the celebrities, and what he thinks about the current format. For my money, bring the guy back! Leaning young is one thing. No one has come close to being as entertaining.

Tom also gave us the skinny on his Hollywood Squares reunion and how he at first led the contestant to defeat, ultimately bringing her to victory and getting his amazing Gilbert Gottfried impression in. He told us about his long relationship with Whoopi, rekindled recently on The View as if no time had passed, and a warning from dear friend, Carl Reiner, to be careful about Whoopi’s beau. We touched on the current Reiner family horror and how fortunate Carl missed it. There were fabulous stories about his great friendship with “Bill” Shatner, Dick Van Dyke, Larry Fine, Moe Howard, his disastrous Emmy gig, his triumphant Emmy wins, and the ongoing philanthropy that led to the Critics’ Choice Association awarding him the first Sam Rubin award.

Tom’s been pivotal in my world for the past 17 years. We touched on the when, where, and whys through the years. As with this show, all the ones before, and pretty much everything he’s ever done, Tom’s downright delightful, warm, and hysterically funny. It’s impossible not to adore the man. In these insanely troubled times, Tom’s the antidote.

Tom Bergeron Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 2/4/26, 5 PM PT/ 8 PM ET

https://youtube.com/live/k5_GV2j-lHo

The Dylan Whisperer

Rob Stoner and I have been in the same city, on the same street, in the same club where I was promoting and he was playing, at the same time, over and over, and somehow we never met. Until tonight. He was worth waiting for. What a fun edutainment!

We talked about his heroes, Chuck Berry to Jerry Lee Lewis, Rob’s famous photographer father, who, like Rob’s later boss, Bob Dylan, used art to change our thinking, to his own early days playing with Pete Seeger and Tim Hardin. From high school bands playing keyboards, guitar, and then bass, great story there as to why he picked it up, to his first session with Pete Seeger, another important mind-shaper, to Tim Hardin, and Don Mclean, with his first ill-fated named first album, Tapestry, to his second album and the session which bore his first #1 hit, American Pie. Rob tells the tale, from soup to platinum single. The session with Robert Gordon and Link Wray, recording a not-yet-wildly famous Bruce Springsteen’s first recording of his soon-to-be monster hit, Fire. Where a young Rob Stoner came up with the iconic bass line that Bruce would soon “borrow.” Rob had his own record deal in ’73, meeting Dylan a year later, Bob telling Rob he’d come to call, and how Rob’s band became the backup band for Dylan’s album Desire when he finally did call about a decade later. Rolling Thunder, Rob, the musical director, for Dylan’s long-held dream to put together a traveling carnival show. How it worked, all the moving parts, and the one erratic member. Dylan. Rob told us about their relationship, never knowing if this gig would be his last, and how, thanks to Robert Gordon (and Link Wray), whom Rob would play with for over 40 years, helped Rob to end it on his terms.

We talked the pandemic and how Zoom changed the game for Rob (and me, and many of us), who grew his teaching practice and extended his reach globally. His daily Facebook videos, doing what he loves, playing music that he loves, which receive millions of views.

A massive Dylan fan since the 60s and enthusiast of most of the artists Rob has played with, it was a thrill to get his take on the Complete Unknown, what it was like for Baez to play with Dylan, why Robert Gordon and Link Wray eventually split up… and so much more. Rob’s been there, done that, and charmingly shares the tales. Loved every moment!

Rob Stoner Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 1/28/26, ***6 PM PT/ 9 PM ET***

Streamed Live on my FB, YouTube & LinkedIn

Eddie Bayers-First Drummer EVER in the Country Music Hall of Fame by Vicki Abelson

Jerry Douglas - King of the Dobro- 16 Grammys, 3 CMAs, 3 AMAs, a Million Stories!

16-time Grammy Winner, three-time CMA Musician of the Year award recipient, Americana Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship award winner, Artist in Residence for the Country Music Hall of Fame, Jerry Douglas, is such an underachiever!

What is a dobro? Uninformed minds wanted to know. Jerry schooled us, but as your fun favorite professor would.

Why a dobro? We got that education too. From his bluegrass-playing steelworker band on the side, father, Flatt and Scruggs obsessed little kid, to professional musician at 16, playing Avery Fischer Hall with headliner David Bromberg, to winning his first Grammy at 19, to playing with James Taylor, John Prine, Steve Goodman, Mumford & Sons, Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, Alison Krauss, to Eric Clapton. We got the skinny on all of them, plus Jerry’s chance meeting with Sir Paul, a seemingly scary Ry Cooder, recording in Abby Road, dinner with Clapton and Ron Wood, how he met his bride of 17 years, parenting 4, grandparenting 7, loving all of them, all of it, except the night of extreme excess that led to his sobriety.

Bonus, he also played us out, as only dobro master, Jerry Douglas, could. I knew when Snuffy and I spent an evening in Nashville recently with Jerry and Jill that he’d be a great guest, as with his playing, he exceeded all expectations.

Jerry Douglas Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 1/14/26, 5 PM PT/ 8 PM ET

Tommy James & The Shondells have sold over 110 million records, had 32 Billboard Hot 100 hits, 23 Gold Singles, 9 Platinum Albums, and been awarded a BMI Five Million-Air Award! Their music has been featured in over 200 films, TV shows (like Breaking Bad & The Simpsons), and commercials. To date, over 300 musicians have recorded covers of their music, including Billy Idol, Joan Jett, Prince, R.E.M., Kelly Clarkson, Bruce Springsteen, and The Boston Pops, and yet, they didn’t see a penny of their royalties! Enter mobster, Morris Levy, of Roulette Records.

It’s a story for the books, and Tommy James wrote it. Me, The Mob, and The Music, soon to be a streaming series on a television near you. It’s a thrill ride read, what a tale, and Tommy shares some highs and lows, complete with impressions, right here.

Tommy James of TJ & The Shondells Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

THURSDAY, 1/8/26, ** Special Time 2 PM PT, 5 PM ET**

Streamed Live on my FB & YouTube

https://bit.ly/49eCSb4

https://www.youtube.com/live/W6myTrGMvcU

Jeff Bridges, her boyfriend, Jeff Beck, a fan boy, Roger Daltrey, the boy next door, and OJ & Nicole, her party guests. She can prove it. She’s got Polaroids of all of them, and so many more. They’re all in her new book, Tight Heads, available here at allnight-menu.com just in time for the holidays.

It was great to sit down and catch up with my pal, Candy Clark. We used to run around BC (before COVID) and shared a bunch of Hollywood adventures, and bumped into each other at a concert or two. It’s been way too long and more Zoom than not since the whole pandemic thing. Candy never stopped making the scene; I’ve barely dipped a toe. Time to change that. And with whom better than this exuberant, energetic, indefatigable beauty?

We talked Candy’s life change from Texas receptionist to New York model with $10 and a business card in her pocket. How she parlayed that to hooking up with American film royalty, an Academy Award nomination, co-starring with a rockstar, and partying with everybody, everywhere, all at once.

Love this amazing woman who refuses to age or grow up. Thank God! Great stories, and she’s so damn easy on the eyes.

Candy Clark on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson- SWEET!

Wednesday, 11/19/25, 5 PM PT/ 8 PM ET

Streamed Live on my FB, YouTube & LinkedIn

Tim Pierce cracked the YouTube code and is such a masterful teacher, after 15 years, I finally get it! So what if he’s a world renowned session guitarist who’s played on the Goo Goo Dolls’ Iris, which has over 5 billion streams, on Michael Jackson’s Black or White and his work was left intact, did 5 albums with Joe Cocker, Bon Jovi’s first hit single, toured with Rick Springfield for four years when he was the biggest rockstar on the planet… so what! The man has made the internet his oyster and managed to make it work for him to unheard of success. He lives every day his way, helping scores of musicians be better guitarists, and is educating me on how to finally thrive on YouTube!

We talked Tim’s miraculous 42 marriage, years of sobriety, how he got started, the choices he made along the way bringing him to this day… his daily routine, his incredible focus, determination, intelliegence, and talent that’s brought him success beyond dreams without leaving his home, except when he chooses, all while being of service to others hungry for his tutelage, including my own Snuffy, a longtime hero of Tim’s.

I’m so fired up to implement what he taught me about videos. I might borrow one of Snuff’s acoustics and tune into Tim’s beginner's classes, and try my long-taloned fingers on the strings for the first time in a gazillion years. Tim’s such a patient and gifted teacher I might strum out a tune or two. You could too. I’ll meet you here https://www.youtube.com/user/timpierceguitar

Tim Pierce on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 11/12/25, 5 PM PT/ 8 PM ET

Streaming Live on my FB & YouTube

FB Replay https://bit.ly/43VK20E

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoRm5iYnReo&t=1194s

Billy Joel, John Fogerty, Bassist David Santos Kills Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

I was so looking forward to catching up with bassist David Santos after almost 40 years. Insane in itself! The sit-down stunningly exceeded my expectations. What crazy fun! David regaled us with story after story… starting with gigging for me on Bleecker Street, doing weddings, The Ringo AllStar Band, sans Ringo, with Billy Preston, Lou Gramm, Mark Farner, Felix Cavaliere, Liberty DeVito, Mark Rivera, Randy Bachman, and a backup singer named Wendy Moten who would change and share his life. They’re a rare rock n’ roll romance success story, today, 30+ years later.

David took us through his 3ish years with Billy Joel, how he got the gig, and how he lost it, 13 years with John Fogerty, how he got it and then lost it, Melissa Etheridge, 7 years, how it got it and lost it, Fleetwood Mac, 1 day, how he got it, lost it, 5 yrs with Crosby, Stills, & Nash, getting it, losing it - does there seem to be a pattern here... yup, hysterically summed up each time. Sure, it’s funny now, in retrospect, as David has great perspective, self-awareness, good humor, and humility. He’s amassed wisdom to add to his formidable talent, perseverance, and ambition. And he always lands bass up! Unlike me, who literally did an unintended mic drop.

As was pointed out, this meaty conversation had comedy, drama, romance, intrigue, horror, heart, and life lessons galore. I could have talked to David all night and still have wanted more.

And more, I’ll get. We have a face-to-face reunion in the reals with Wendy and Snuffy in Nashville coming up. Can you imagine the music those three could make? Don’t know if that’s on the menu, but do know we’ll be seeing Wendy at the Grand Ole Opry, and sharing great local eats! What a way to ring in my next year!

David Santos Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 10/8/25, 5 PM PT/ 8 PM ET

Streamed Live on my FB & YouTube

Links in the Comments

Replay here:

http://bit.ly/46TQ3M4 and here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGNYDGbnpE4&t=3s

Nestor Carbonell Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Nestor Carbonell has it all. A beautiful wife, great kids, a wildly successful career spanning three plus decades, which is hotter than ever, with two hit shows streaming (The Morning Show on Apple TV, and Pulse on Netflix), a brand new film in theatres (Motherland), a sparkling Emmy award (for Shōgun), his first feature about to be cast, an episode of Law & Order to direct, and a beard being grown for a greenlit new movie he’s soon to shoot. That’s just part of the story. What he also has in abundance is humility, accessibility, warmth, kindness, sweetness, and he’s hotter than ever to gaze upon, too. Those insanely dark-rimmed eyes, which he swears are natural, sans “paint” (my new favorite word for make-up), thank you, Nestor, are awfully fun to feast upon, too. He’s the whole enchilada, and I say that with all due respect, and the Harvard grad is due a lot!

We’ve been having a Nestor Carbonell film festival over here for the past week, and barely scratched the surface. Last night alone, we watched Motherland, also available to rent at home, The Dark Knight, which I hadn’t seen since it dropped, what a star-studded extravaganza that is, with a brilliant Heath Ledger in his final film, and, the latest episode of The Morning Show, where Nestor’s Yanko continues to evolve before our eyes, as does the show. Tonight we’ll get back to our Lost binge; we haven’t even gotten to Nestor’s run yet. I’m exhausted just watching the guy. How the hell does he manage it all?

This conversation spoke to Nestor’s easy, self-effacing generosity of spirit. We touched on his parents, his background, early education, that crazy college, finding acting, how he broke in and through, the work, some tricks of his trade, meeting his bride of two decades, Shannon Kenny, her talents, can’t wait to read her All Is Not Lost (on order!), managing career and kids, the sacrifices, getting through the pandemic, how it’s changed him, the work, and the world, and, at each turn, he asked about me––quite a guy.

As versatile and compelling as he is on screen, is as focused and charming as he is in life. Nestor’s an anomaly. The total package. If something’s missing, I missed it. How fun to keep watching and looking.

Nestor Carbonell Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 10/1/25, 5 PM PT/ 8 PM ET

Streamed Live on my FB & YouTube

http://bit.ly/48cr1dw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIWkX8ksNhk

The Blues Magoos Peppy Castro Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

There’s fun, and then there’s spending two hours with The Blues Magoos Peppy Castro! He’s lived a rockers’ life to covet and then some! The Who, Hendrix, Dylan, Jefferson Airplane, JOHN LENNON for Gd’s sake! Stories, stories, stories, one better than the next. He drove a Beatle in a Beetle! Who can say that?

Skipping school and playing the Night Owl in the village when he was 14. 14! When Jimi used to stop in and jam, when Bob would roam the streets with his guitar, when Richie Havens would just wander in… doing the Jack Benny Show with Henny Youngman and Morey Amsterdam firing schtick in the green room, doing The Smother’s Brother’s Comedy Hour with Tommy trying to join the band, touring with The Who and Herman’s Hermits and The Who were the middle act!

An insane story about Micheal Botlon, about getting the role in the original production of Hair on Broadway, doing jingle after jingle - with one I’m still singing… we talked Phoebe Snow, Laura Branigan, Buzzy Linhardt, Jay & The Americans, The Turtles with beloved Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman, Tommy James, Lou Cristie, Joan Jett, on and on, and on! FAB! FAB! FAB!

Forty years in the making - we could’ve screamed across the street at each other in the 80s. I did visit his penthouse once, but thought it was elsewhere. There may or may not have been a lotta pot involved. The antidote to today’s latest crazy… this thing right here. Just hit play. It’s the joy button. Promise!

The Blues Magoos Peppy Castro Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 9/17/25, 5 PM PT/ 8 PM ET

Streamed Live on my FB & YouTube

Replay:

http://bit.ly/46d9CA0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI5Mbp2uy8U&t=2169s