Paging Steven Spielberg! Actor Gregory Harrison's real-life story as the first moral conscientious objector needs to be told. And boy did he tell us here. I'm left in awe, mortified, inspired, and grateful, to name but a few adjectives I'm feeling.

A gifted storyteller as well as thespian, singer, songwriter, and producer, I've known Gregory for years, we've sat down a number of times, but he's always more provocative, informative, fascinating, and passionate than the time before.

Trapper John MD, Falcon Crest, Razorback, Logan's Run, Sisters, One Tree Hill, Gregory starred with moi in The M Word, well he was starring, I was mostly standing. Starting out as the leading man of a feature film, Gregory backed his way into starring on television, on Broadway, and back again. Of late, Gregory starred in The Lion in Winter at The Laguna Playhouse, great story how that came to be, is two years in on General Hospital, his first soap, I have no idea how he does it, yet Gregory managed to demystify it, he's recurring on Chesapeake Shores, just shot a couple more episodes of 9-1-1, and the independent feature, Jimmy & Carolyn, which Gregory feels is his best work yet. That's saying a lot. He starred in The Family Man and is a family man himself, married 41 years, to the same woman, the proud and loving father of 4, and grandpa to three. A Vietnam vet, an outspoken activist, and a spiritual soul, whose personal standards for his own humanity are seemingly beyond mortal, Gregory’s beyond lovely and crazy easy on the eyes. This, like him, is all wins. Can't wait for more.

Gregory Harrison on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 11/30/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3udaJvo

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes

Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com

Nicole Venables now of Hiroshi Beverly Hills Hair Design, for the best tressed.

And, Blue Microphones

Wendy Liebman and Jeff Sherman Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

I could have talked to Wendy Liebman and Jeff Sherman all night and still have asked for more. What fun! With the advantage of knowing each other for some years, the conversation was animated, spontaneous, and effortless.

We talked about the curse of Ventura Blvd and two life-altering accidents pre-pandemic, readying these happy-to-be-home-together lovebirds for what lay ahead. We discussed PTSD, emotional trauma, panic attacks, acceptance, and healing. Armed with great ‘tude and an attentive husband, Wendy weathered what could have been a disastrous 14 months with grace and resolve. And, managed to be productive, as did her caretaker, who did basically everything, and I do mean everything for much of the time. Jeff also managed to stay productive. What the hell was I doing? Binging Netflix, eating crap, and well, this thing right here.

We talked grandkids, dogs, masks, travel, theatre, vaccines, and how one Jeff took as a kid impacted musical theatre in perpetuity. We got a behind-the-scenes track of his doc The Boys, about his father and uncle, the Sherman Brothers, masterful prolific hitmakers, and their actual relationship away from the music and the biz.

Wendy, a psychologist in the making, gave us the skinny on the seemingly random turn that turned her life around and led her exactly where she was intended to be. Her random, hysterical, off-the-cuff comments bring home the point. The woman was made to make us laugh. And boy did she. Jeff’s no slouch neither. I won’t tip my favorite line of the night, but I did just quote it with credit!

They jointly filled us in on how they met. Cute, as they say in the movies. Their romance would make a great one.

Jeff brought it home with a great Monkees story, how he and Micky became best of friends, and how he almost orchestrated TV history. I offered my history with them. Two uber Monkee fans, fanning out.

You can catch Jeff’s Doc, The Boys, on Disney + and Wendy’s Too Tall For TV, on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Wendy-Liebman-Taller-TV/dp/B00IXWFON0

Time flew and we barely scratched the Liebman/Sherman surface. I foresee a Part 2 in our future. Loved every single second.

Wendy Liebman & Jeffrey Sherman Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 11/9/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3DVjFdB

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes

Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com

Nicole Venables, now of Hiroshi Beverly Hills Hair Design for the best tressed.

And, Blue Microphones

Peter Tolan Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Oh please! That was just too much fun. Nirvana for this fan girl to catch up with 14-time Emmy Nominee, and two-time winner, Peter Tolan. In the midst of a Rescue Me re-binge, if you've never seen it or it's been years, do not pass go, run. Please. Brilliant, real, hysterical, terrifying, it's perfect TV. In my all-time top 5.

Peter, bless him, is opinionated and fearless in recounting people, events, and choices, which makes for great conversation and interweb TV.

We started with his recent collaboration with Norman Lear, Guess Who Died, which did just that. With that loaded deck, it’s crazy that NBC pulled the plug. But, it dealt with older folk… who wants to represent them. Us. Hmmm.

We talked his early days in theatre, sketch, cabaret, his early collaborations, a running theme throughout his career… from Linda Wallem, Garry Shandling, Dennis Leary, Billy Crystal, Paul Reiser, and the before mentioned Norman Lear, the man keeps good company. He earns it… and demands it. Breaking almost every rule, from his first spec script landing him a staff writing gig on that very show, unheard of, to getting producing credit before he earned it, an unearned Emmy as he calls it… to earning every one of those other 13 nods, and the nest Emmy Statue he took home.

Fascinating, fun conversation about Carole Burnet, Murphy Brown, getting The Larry Sanders Show, connecting on The Job, creating and making Rescue Me, Analyze This with an intimidating Robert DeNiro, the Mad About You update, Helen Hunt, and the creative crisis Peter found himself in, just pre-pandemic, when two of his babies were thrown out with the bathwater.

All-in-all, a lotta laughs, of course, there were… look at the man’s credits… a lot of insight, intelligence, and clarity. Damn, I had a good time. Enough of this, I have Season 3 episode 10 waiting for me.

Peter Tolan Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 11/2/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3Wq9OVk

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes

Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com

Nicole Venables, now of Hiroshi Beverly Hills Hair Design, for the best tressed.

And, Blue Microphones

Oh.My.God! Maggie Wheeler brought the smart, the empathetic, the funny, great inside stories, and even a song. A very inspiring one. Spectacular all.

How has Maggie spent her COVID staycation? In service, as she has been for 17 years as the creator/director of Golden Bridge Choir, and now, since the start of the pandemic, Together In Song, a worldwide choir of voices, where everyone is encouraged to create community and sing.

We got the scoop on her break in Lorne Michaels’ The New Show, her hysterical audition to win the slot, Johnny Carson, her mom’s memorable note, Henry Jaglom building her first starring film role, casting her ex, an unknown David Duchovny, who, as a result, soon after shot to stardom, Ellen, a love fest, and what went south there, Suddenly Susan, also going south, damn those vivacious redheads, but which led to her being available for Friends, her one-off as Janice turning into a ten-year run–– where the voice came from, the Oh. My. God. and that laugh! Matthew Perry, his brilliance, and his struggles, very soon to come to light in his about-to-drop memoir. Everybody Loves Raymond, the leading role showrunner Phil Rosenthal wanted and fought for her to have, why she didn’t get it, and the featured part he wrote for her instead. 

Maggie’s pragmatic yet forever optimistic, a champion for her family, and friends, causes big and seemingly small, putting her vast gifts where her talented, hysterical, voice is.

I loved every minute reunited with this sweet, funny woman, who’s always doing, giving, being her best, making music sing in the midst of this pandemic.

In LA… there’s a benefit concert this Sunday… info on it, and all things Maggie https://maggiewheeler.net

Maggie Wheeler Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 10/18/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3TkaAkU

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes

Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com

Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products, for the best tressed. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

And, Blue Microphones

Wow. Just wow! As great as it was to sit down with my old pal, renowned drummer, Sandy Gennaro, in August, today may be a game changer for me.

Sure, we talked career… Cyndi Lauper, Joan Jett, Bo Didley, Johnny Winter, Pat Travers, but this time we dug deep into his personal relationships with each of them, their style of banding or bonding as it were. Fascinating. Great stories, all.

The highlights for me were talking about Sandy’s 38-year marriage and what makes it still thrive, joyfully. Lessons learned there. He said exactly what I needed to hear. Likewise, when discussing what prompted his latest career shift, much like the seemingly simple random act of kindness that prompted his life-changing gig with Cyndi, a more recent momentary act of thoughtful, attentive, generosity, led to a whole new beginning as a speaker and author, which is exploding with rewards. I paid Sandy’s example forward, immediately following the Live, whilst speaking at a meeting of entrepreneurs. Not seeking any return or reward, one came totally out of left field. It works when I work it.

Once again this time with Sandy was thoughtful, insightful, inspiring, motivating, and crazy fun.

Seeking a little push in the right direction? Check him out here, and read Sandy’s Beat The Odds in Business & Life. You can get a signed copy with a pair of sticks, at https://sandygennaro.com/beat-the-odds-products/ - Not surprisingly, Sandy gives good signage!

Adored every second of this.

Sandy Gennaro Part 2 Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 10/12/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3yAWxiH

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes

Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com

Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products, for the best tressed. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

And, Blue Microphones

Sitting down with Thaao Penghlis is like feasting on 12-courses––each extraordinary, unique, flavorful, and delicious. I was delighted, entertained, and schooled… on history, health, healing, art, travel, cuisine, culture, manners, and sophistication.

Thaao took us through his latest odyssey to discover the truth about Homer’s, his latest commissioned piece of art, and the dinner party to celebrate, Enrique Senis-Oliver, the world-renowned artist who created it, which I did not attend due to COVID fear… crabmeat, filet mignon & rack of lamb, oh my! Thaao spoke of his many world travels, the lands, people, and cultures that pull him, and why… reincarnation, perhaps a partial explanation of some of his passions, his upcoming podcast, and his new book, daily disciplines––habits which enrich and inspire, family, thoughts for his future, and the not so surprising binge or two he’s indulged during the pandemic.

I’d learn a lot more in life if all of my teachers were as easy on the ears, eyes, mind, heart, and soul as Thaao. I could listen to him for hours. We barely discussed his long and successful career, which allows for the big life he leads, because that big life is so damn fascinating. Inspired by his self-care I indulged in a healthy meal post-broadcast, and I’m determined to recommit to my daily meditation practice, daily workouts, and, long-form writing. I’ll be healthier, more productive, and thinner if I imagine––what would Thaao do, a lot more often.

Blessed to have spent the time in his good company.

Thaao Penghlis Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 10/5/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3EmZ3g2

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes

Thanks to Rick Smolkeof Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com

Nicole Venablesof Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products, for the best tressed. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

And, Blue Microphones

Marcus Eaton Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Live from Florence Italy, singer/songwriter, easy on the eyes and ears, Marcus Eaton, treated us to a mini concert and great conversation. When David Crosby describes you as, "one of the best young singer-songwriters in America - maybe even the world, brilliant musically, brilliant lyrically, and he just plays guitar like God on a good day,” then invites you to tour, record, and co-write with him, and plays on your album… well, it doesn’t get much better than that. And yet, it does. Add to that composing the soundtrack of David Crosby: Remember My Name, and, opening for Bob Dylan, and Dave Matthews, to name two, his own, Versions of The Truth (https://www.marcuseaton.com/music), which Crosby joined him on for some, Invisible Lines, and his new album tentatively titled 'What Is Real' set for release this year.

Marcus started us off with my request of his Better Way, reminiscent of Sting, but oh, so Marcus. We talked about his first trip to Italy, accompanying Roy Mcalister, a renowned luthier, who connected Marcus with his protege, Allessio Guarnieriri, who along with Marcus’ ideas and suggestions created his signature guitar, a masterpiece, the Guarnieri ME. On it, Marcus treated us to his brand new, Something True, Obvious, some crazy in the best way, slap playing, a bow rendition of The Last of the Mohicans, which went viral on TikTok and closed with a smoldering cover of Sting’s Fragile.

There were great stories about growing up in Idaho surrounded by a musically gifted family, getting signed, hitting the road, hungry, literally, a near-miss opportunity in late March 2020 to open for huge heroes, derailed by the pandemic, and finding his soul and his feet in Italy, the land of his heritage, surprising at first glance.

Marcus is an original, one-of-a-kind, take my breath away athletic guitarist, with an evocative voice, and provocative songs––he’s handsome as heck, a gifted fine artist, and well, the whole package is pretty spectacular. I encourage you to Spotify the hell outta him.

I call him "Football." If I had to guess his occupation, well… I've not seen too many singer/songwriters who look quite like this, nor have I heard any who sound like this. Marcus is as easy on the ears, mind, heart & soul as he is on the eyes.

SCORE!

Marcus Eaton Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 9/21/22, ***1 pm PT, 4 pm ET***

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3UZK95t

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes

Thanks to Rick Smolkeof Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com

Nicole Venablesof Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products, for the best tressed. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

And, Blue Microphones

It’s always a warm delicious treat to sit down with James Lee Stanley. There’s a reason he’s opened for everyone from Bonnie Raitt, Art Garfunkle, Bill Cosby (before we knew), Robin Williams, Dionne Warwick, Robin Trower, and Steven Wright for 3 years. His 50+ years of friendship and musical partnership with Peter Tork were covered from start till two days before Peter’s passing when he was felled by rare cancer under his tongue. Shockingly, James survived his own bout of tongue cancer months later, when his beloved wife Evelina suggested an endoscopy, without cause. James was back performing mere months later. Last September, days after sitting down with us here, James fell off his roof, for the first time not under the watchful eye of his Evelina, broke his back, was airlifted for surgery, took no pain meds, and did a concert two weeks after surgery. This is a substance- sans substances.

James treated us to a solo rendition of All I Ever Wanted, one of the many songs he and Peter recorded together. Just today he posted a video of them performing it: https://youtu.be/9VmeUvSYS1A. James also treated us to fab, funny, apropos, Wake The Flock Up, one of my favorite cuts from his All Wood And Doors, Moonlight Drive, and to the ink just dried, brand new, Carnival. Gorgeous vocals and stunning guitars are James’ trademarks.

We talked about his All Wood And Stones, Doors, and Led series, what inspired it, the players who’ve graced it, his upcoming album, his 36th, the documentary, The Opening Act – The Extraordinary Journey of James Lee Stanley directed by documentarian Gary J Katz (Badfinger, Humble Pie, Steve Marriott, Manassas), which has received a Peoples Choice Award, was in the London Lift-Off Film Festival and was accepted into the LA, Chicago, and Atlanta Film Festivals, awaiting judging.

James Lee always leaves me wanting more. Fortunately, I know exactly where to find it JamesLeeStanley.com

James Lee Stanley Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson

Wed, 9/21/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3S68rJ5

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes

Thanks to Rick Smolkeof Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com

Nicole Venablesof Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products, for the best tressed. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

And, Blue Microphones

Whaddya get when you put 5 rock icons and a rockstar filmmaker together on a Zoom screen… besides a ridiculously hip Brady Brunch, Hollywood totally not Squares scene? Nirvana - sans Kurt. Sitting down with The Immediate Family, Danny Kortchmar (Kootch), Leland Sklar, Waddy Wachtel, Russell Kunkel, and Steve Postell, plus documentarian, Denny Tedesco, could have been a chaotic mess, instead. like the brilliance that pervades their music and art, the time flew like smooth jazz, only more like great rock ’n roll… cause that’s way more fun.

We talked current events, their upcoming album, tentatively titled, The Best Record Ever Made, the one cover they’ve covered, to be the first single, their hitting the festivals now documentary, Immediate Family, featuring James Taylor, Keith Richards, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, and Stevie Nicks, to name some, touring in real-time, with Lyle Lovett and Stevie Nicks, and the toll COVID is taking, upcoming shows in Los Angeles at all the Canyon Clubs in November (for the dates, ask Steve), how they first assembled 50 years ago, became The Section, and how they reassembled, added Steve and became The Immediate Family. Denny gave us insights into the making of the movie, and the boys tossed out favorite parts.

For anyone who grew up with or now listens to rock ’n roll, these players define the music of our generation. Pretty much every record in heavy rotation on my turntable through the years was graced with their genius. And now, the brothers come together front and center, featuring not only the hits they helped create, but new songs that will no doubt blaze a similar trail. They rock like hell and together they may just be the best rock ’n roll band any of them has ever been a part of.

Check out the doc preview: https://immediatefamilyfilm.com/

I can’t wait for the thing. I love these guys so damn much as people and as artists. Still flying from the time spent in their collective good company, and I haven’t boarded a plane in 3 years. Long live rock!

The Immediate Family Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 9/14/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3RJOiIp

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes

Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com

Nicole Venablesof Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Productss for the best tressed. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

Peter Riegert Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Stories, stories, and more stories, one better than the next, all fantastical! Peter Riegert exceeded my high expectations and that’s an exceedingly tall order.

Somehow 2 hrs and 45 min flew by in an instant, yet at the same time, we got to know so much about Peter, his life, his work, his thoughts, his heart, and his art.

From the Bronx boy playing stickball to marching with Martin, who had a dream, to an underachieving student, teacher, and waiter, Bella Abzug, to improv, War Babies to Peter’s first resume and headshot––hysterical story! From Off-Broadway, a Marx Brother, to Mamet, aligning lives and love with Bette Midler, Mash, Coma, to the game changer, Animal House, how he got it, so many stories from there to here… Bette, F. Murray Abraham, Tom Matheson, John Belushi, Karen Allen, Mark Metcalf, Chilly Scenes of Winter, John Heard, an Academy Award nomination, Crossing Delancey, Amy Irving, the pickle man––a chick magnet, Local Hero, how that came to be, what it meant to him, crazy stories, one of which brought a tear or two to both our eyes. Burt Lancaster, with whom he shared a long ago historical memory, to Tony Soprano and how James Gandolfini allowed Peter a searingly horrifying yet graceful exit from The Sopranos to Succession and the Amazon crime drama he begins filming on Friday.

We hit highlights of Peter’s work, dug deep into the man, and I hope, gained a new friend. As accessible and fun as Animal House’s Boon, as charming and emotional as Crossing Delancey’s Sam, and as savvy, transformative, and thoughtful as Local Hero’s Mac, Peter Riegert is a warm, complex, fiercely talented human whom I’ve adored since first sight, and respect and appreciate even more now. This time with him was a gift. He's a mensch beyond measure. I so needed the laughs and the eggs.

Peter Riegert Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 9/7/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:
https://bit.ly/3QojuLN

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes

Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com

Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products for the best tressed. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

And, Blue Microphones