Sandy Gennaro Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

I feel like I went “home.” Sitting down with Sandy Gennaro after a 30-year abyss was a walk down the wild side of memory lane and just crazy fun. Having a bunch of our old cohorts from back in the day along for the ride made it that much funner.

Sandy took us from Staten Island, getting ignited by The Beatles, local giggin’ and day jobs to LA, meeting an idol, erring’ at a major audition, helping said idol get that gig, Michael Boloton - not a misspelling, before he was Bolton, Pat Travers, playing arenas, to playing with an unknown Cyndi Lauper, who exploded on their first tour, getting that gig thanks to Sandy’s kindness to a stranger. A recurring theme in his story. Great stories along the way, opening for Queen for months at the height of it all, The Monkees, Davy, and Micky, solo as well, Joan Jett… we got stopped there, the time flew and Sandy had another show to do.

We talked family, his marriage which has thrived for 30+ years, his daughter living her dream, she’s had a great teacher, and Sandy’s been a masterful manifester. His recently dropped, Beat the Odds in Business & Life, which is filled with more great stories, how he did and does what he does, and how we can, too. You can get a signed copy with a pair of sticks, at https://sandygennaro.com/beat-the-odds-products/ - Sandy gives good signage! It’s how his career kind of began. It’s all in there.

There was much laughter, smiles from face end to face end, warm remembrances, an all-around great time. There’s so much more to talk about - we’ll be back. Part Two is promised. Part 1s don’t get better.

Here’s the discussed video of Sandy on Carson playing Stump The Band https://bit.ly/3q0L0Ey - killer!

Sandy Gennaro Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 8/31/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3R84Fyn

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

Liberty DeVitto Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

I can’t stop smiling. How I adore Liberty DeVitto, and would even if he wasn’t one of the greatest drummers of all time––Billy Joel's, iconic partner in music for 30 years.

I’ve known Lib for 30-something years and every time I see him it’s better than the last. Like fine wine, except neither of us is having any––unlike how it was when we met. We talk about that - his climb to stadium rock, the magnums of red, throwing up on his shoes––before Billy, Mitch Ryder, Vanilla Fudge, meeting Billy, Stevie Nicks, Only the Good Die Young, what Lib brought to it, love and their marriages, and marriages, and marriages, Richie Cannata, Russell Javors, Doug Stegmeyer, The Billy Joel Band, how Billy gave up an enormous opportunity out of love, loyalty and respect for them, and how it fell apart after 30 years of stellar music, fame & friendship. Sobriety, perhaps contributing to Lib’s demise.

We talked about the silence between them in the years that followed, Lib’s resurrection, NYC Hit Squad with Ricky Byrd, The Lords of 52nd Street with the original BJ band, his bestselling memoir, https://amzn.to/2CP8qrg, an upcoming book about Santa https://amzn.to/3dS13li, and, his girls, girls, girls. Wife, daughters, and a new baby granddaughter, that is. The reconciliation with Billy, the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame Foundation Band— playing and getting inducted into the Long Island off-shoot, and being featured in the rock doc, Hired Gun.

Life is grand, better than ever. Lib is happy and grateful. And so much damn fun! Couldn’t adore him more. Sitting down with Lib is like going home and being with family. The one you dig.

Liberty DeVitto Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 8/24/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3PTcDK1

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

Loren Gold Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Sitting down with Loren Gold, keyboardist for The Who, and Chicago, both, currently (WHAT!), not to mention a close treasured friend, was win, win, win. Such easy fun.

In the coming days, Loren will be out with both bands. Talk about a bounty of riches. Deserved. We talked about how this craziness came to be, from auditioning for Roger Daltry in 2009, and then, after 3 years of touring with him, being invited to join The Who. Great stories here. Seeing Loren with them at The Hollywood Bowl at the end of 2019, was arguably the best, or at the very least, one of the greatest concerts I’ve ever been lucky enough to see made better still because of Loren. COVID wreaked havoc with both those gigs, only to find it created an opening with Chicago. That whole journey was great to hear.

From 6 yr old Loren, forced to take piano lessons, to 15 yr old Loren, knowing that was all he wanted to do, high school bands and day jobs to touring with Tiffany, Hilary Duff at the height of her fame, becoming her musical director, then in kind for Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, and Taylor Hicks, opening for Kelly Clarkson, and The Doobie Brothers to name but two. All roads leading… to The Who. Who knew!

A pop culture junkie, he still thrills meeting his musical and television heroes and seems to become best friends with all of them. Only knowing Loren for 3 1/2 years, it’s easy to see why. I already count him as one of my nearest and dearest.

Insanely talented, he treated us to a couple of musical interludes, great stories, and to his fab company. I love Loren, and by the outpouring of messages from his fans and fan clubs (plural), I’m not alone. If you’re a Loren, Chicago, or Who fan, and who isn’t, check your local listings, he’ll be here, there, and everywhere. I wait with bated breath for his return with The Who, to the Bowl on November 1st. Hope I’ll see some of you there.

Loren Gold Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 8/17/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3Pxd2BN

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

Can you top this? Yes, we can. How the hell is it possible that this sitdown with The Sopranos Richie Aprile aka David Proval, will go down as one of the most entertaining shows yet? It shall. WOW. What fun. Great stories. Crazy coincidences. More great stories.

As if it wasn’t enough that David’s mother and I share the same family name, and she has the same country of origin as my grandma with the same name, we’re both New Yorkers, David went to Yeshiva, my father taught Yeshiva, our paths crossing about a decade ago while filming Henry Jaglom’s The M Word with Michael Imperioli, post their work in The Sopranos, pre ours at Women Who Write and Game Changers.

Thanks to the suggestion of my new good friend, Mark Metcalf, who also middled last week’s stupendous sitdown with Tim Matheson, I know David’s extensive body of stellar work, Mark added technicolor. I jumped at his suggestion to invite David. My gratitude to both of them is boundless. What fun! I know I said it before, but it bears repeating.

From his grandma and the Yiddish theatre, school plays, Uta Hagen, to Scorcese and Mean Streets, thanks to his friend, Jon Voight, how he got it—DeNiro, Keitel, Pavlo Hummel, again thanks to Voight, which led to Nunzio, a hysterical story about filming with Jack Gilford, Elliot Gould, and James Caan, which included more great stories about James, to the other James… Gandolfini. David’s audition(s) for The Sopranos, so much great stuff there, moving from mobster Richie Aprile to a Rabbi in The West Wing, Teri Garr, Richard Dreyfus, coaching Eddie Murphy, an insanely great story there, a Drama Desk Nomination, Innocent Blood, John Landis, Don Rickels, hysterical stuff there, meeting Sinatra, and sitting down with him, a fan, wow, Everybody Loves Raymond, Italy, and his personal discontent… all straight talk, with loads of laughter and a few tears. I loved every single second, especially when his wife of 46 years, Cheryl, joined the conversation from the other room.

Forget cowbell. More David Proval!

David Proval Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

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

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3QyEmjX

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

If you look up “fun,” it’ll take you right to this thing right here. Exceeding my high expectations, Tim Matheson is even more gorgeous, charming, intelligent, animated, accessible, and fabulous than I could’ve imagined. Don’t think I’ve ever had more fun at 11 in the morning.

Squeezing us in on a busy day of meetings, and a table read for Netflix’s #1 smash, Virgin River, which Tim both stars in, and oft directs, he was relaxed, gave us his full attention, energy, passion, and focus, and, what a treat it was after all these years of adoring him.

We jumped into Animal House, how it went down, how he got it, what almost was, Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Peter Reigert, Karen Allen, Mark Metcalf, who, thanks to his extreme kindness, introduced me to Tim, making today possible.

We circled back through this Burbank boys’ start, My Three Sons, Leave it to Beaver, voicing Jonny Quest, the Western years, Bonanza, The Virginian, co-starring with Kurt Russell in The Quest, opposite Henry Fonda, and Lucille Ball in Yours, Mine and Ours, studying at every turn, including a year of Improv, leading to the big stretch, comedy and portraying the good bad boy, working with Landis and then Speilberg and again Belushi in 1941. All the while absorbing and honing his craft, whilst learning from the masters.

We talked The West Wing, composer Snuffy Walden, our 2 degrees, Aaron Sorkin, Rob Lowe, Allison Janney, Bradley Whitford, Martin Sheen, Tommy Schlamme, the brilliance, professionalism, and frenetic pace.

With our time swiftly waning we touched on This Is Us and landed on VIrgin River, currently readying to roll on Season 5, as I and many binge the just dropped Season 4.

I could’ve talked with Tim all day and still have longed for more. What a great spirit! Such joie de vivre, not to mention ridiculously easy on the eyes, ears, and I suspect, all five senses.

Put it all together- it was FUN! Two thumbs way up.

Tim Matheson Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

*** Wednesday, 8/3/22, 11 am PT, 2 pm ET***

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:
https://bit.ly/3JsAJK5

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

50 years ago yesterday, Ray Parker Jr. and I were in the same room… well, it was Madison Square Garden, he was 18, playing with Little Stevie Wonder, who was opening for The Stones, and, it was Mick’s birthday. That’s some cool shared history… I, a mere speck in the story am claiming my seat. Today was not quite so historic, yet any time in Ray’s company is a huge treat. Add IIFC Award-Winning Filmmaker, Fran Strine to the mix, whose documentary, Who You Gonna Call, about Ray, just dropped, and well, it gets even more special.

We talked about how they met on Fran’s previous doc, Hired Gun, which also featured Ray, and where the idea for WYGC was borne. Ray’s story was just too big to not tell. Known internationally, cross-generation for Ghostbusters, there’s so much more to the story. Growing up in Detroit, police brutality firsthand, playing the clarinet and the sax, how he got his first guitar, and his 10,000 hours before he hit 13 when he had his first big gig with The Spinners. Crazy. Barry White, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Gladys Knight, and Bill Withers, followed, while he was still a kid. How Stevie changed his life, how his mother motivated him, moving to LA, doing his own thing, getting no credit for his Grammy-winning #1 You Make Me Feel Like Dancing, Raydio, his hit, Jack and Jill, to Ghostbusters––a last minute do or don’t get paid stroke of genius. This story is at the heart of Who You Gonna Call, but like Grammy-Winning Hollywood Walk of Famer Ray, there’s so much more to the story. I loved the doc and this time with these two exceedingly talented and charming men.

You can catch the film on Prime and Peacock

https://www.amazon.com/Who-You-Gonna-Call-Ultra/dp/B0B2Q4FCX7

Run! It’s that good.

Ray Parker Jr. & Fran Strine Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 7/27/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3OKtPRn

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

I’ve had the great good fortune to sit down with innumerable heroes. Not sure anyone is more beloved by… everyone… than Ed Begley Jr. Notes and messages flooded in before, during, and after the Live. Besides being a gifted actor in all genres, 7x Emmy Award Nominee, Ed’s a spectacular human who walks the talk like no one I’ve ever known.

We addressed the Covid, how it impacted his life, and career––not much it turns out, the man who never stops working, didn’t! Even getting the virus recently barely slowed him down. Ed’s miraculous one-hour post-Paxlovid cocktail “cure” is hopeful and inspiring. Currently, on the air in Better Call Saul, and Young Sheldon, Ed’s got an exciting film in the can he couldn’t yet talk about, a memoir in the works with a hinted-at story alone worth the price of admission, a film he’s about to say, “yes” to, and, a promised Part 2 here with us.

We went back to Ed’s youth, his Academy Award Winning brilliant father, Ed Begley, a conservationist of a somewhat different variety who instilled in Ed the activism he’s carried forth with gusto from the first Earth Day to today… with everything from the car he drives, the food he grows and eats, the home he built, the products he uses, we’d be hard pressed to find Ed cheating on his beliefs, anywhere. His unwavering commitment to being of service was modeled by his beloved sister.

A hysterical walk down memory lane, from his first gig (My Three Sons at 10!) to the rocky next 6 years––HA! Partnering and killing with Michael Richards, yeah, that one, to opening rock shows for 18 thousand people, to the drinking and pot, which had gotten quite excessive, to how he gave it up and got sober 42 or is it 43, years ago. Scratching the surface of his brilliant career with The In-Laws, his relationship with Alan Arkin and Peter Falk, when the clock struck 6.

A promised Part 2 awaits, and I promise, I shan’t let it slip.

Ed is a human to admire, adore, emulate, and if lucky, hang with. I cherish this time with him, and all time with him, and can’t wait for more.

Ed Begley Jr. Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 7/20/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3yOz6S0

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/

Steve Postell Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Singer/Songwriter/Producer, Steve Postell and I go way back to Bleecker Street in the heady daze of the New York club scene. He's played every club I've booked and guested on every show I've hosted and produced. Whenever we see each other we pick up right where we left off, as comfortable as a pair of favorite faded jeans, and yet, still exciting and new.

Incredible songwriter, amazing guitarist, with the voice of an angel, Steve treated us to a mini-concert sprinkled throughout, from his latest pearls to his golden gems.

A first long-awaited music lesson at 8 with his first guitar, which he outgrew the first week, to his first gig for $25 when he was 13, how an art class with Bob Dylan may have changed his life, to solo gigs, Broadway touring companies, to Broadway itself, with Patti Lapone’s Evita, jingles, record deals, Pure Prairie League, his own bands, recording, engineering, producing, New York to LA, The Night Train Music Club, first meets with Leland Sklar, Waddy Wachtel, Russ Kunkle, and Danny Kortchmar, and how the Immediate Family was born. Danny Tedesco’s upcoming doc on them, featuring players Steve idolized, who are now cohorts and friends… James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Carole King… playing with Michael McDonald, David Crosby, and most recently, Kenny Loggins, around a campfire and on stage, plus his sold-out show at McCabe’s. Steve’s living his dream, always putting in the time with disciplined daily practice, an indefatigable work ethic, and extraordinary talent.

Old friends are treasures. This gifted one, a gift to us all.

Steve Postell Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 6/29/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3I39ncU

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/

Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt

Martha Bolton was Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Now that’s edutainment! Emmy-nominated comedy writer Martha Bolton was only Bob Hope’s first female staff writer, has only written 13 musicals, 88 books, including her latest, Dear Bob… Bob Hope’s Wartime Correspondence with The GIs of WWII, co-written with Linda Hope, only has 13 musicals out there, a few running right now, wrote for Joan Rivers and Phyllis Diller, has won a Golden Scroll Merit Award for Fiction, and has been nominated for a Dove Award, and a WGA Award… what a slacker!

How this woman does it… ‘splained here. Self-taught, disciplined beyond fault, up at 3 am, writes most hours of every day, and loves what she does. We got the skinny on Bob, as a boss, a comedian, an American, and a human… George Burns, Johnny Carson, Milton Berle, Danny Thomas, Sonny & Cher, Joan, and Phyllis. Simply fabulous! Talking to a comedy writer is fun.

Can’t wait to read the book. https://amzn.to/3HMoHuv

Talking to a comedy writer is fun.

Martha Bolton on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 6/22/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3zRWf8u

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/

Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt

Tom Bergeron Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

There’s nothing like sitting down with an adored friend who’s made his mark being in the moment, Live, without a net. Emmy-winner, Tom Bergeron, is my kinda guest. Whip-smart, emotionally intelligent and evolved, hysterically funny, a generous to a fault humanitarian, and oh, so laid back, and easy (don’t tell Lois). This isn’t our first rodeo - it just keeps getting funner.

We got the Tom’s eye view of Dancing With The Stars, from his hiring to his firing (of his own creation- scooped to us on a past Game Changers), the judges, his co-hosts, the pros, the celebs––the joys and the not-so-much ones, dramatic moments, inside dish, to the current state of streaming affairs… could a return be in his future? I hope sure hope they’re smart enough to do so, if he wants it. We talked The Masked Singer, behind the scenes with his crooning Taco, America’s Funniest Home Videos, Bob Saget, Hollywood Squares, Whoopi, Henry Winkler, meditation, and his tome, I’m Hosting As Fast As I Can, which debuted in my living room as Tom himself debuted as Women Who Write’s first man, oh those were the days. We talked improv and radio and how Tom honed his skills to get so damn great at this impromptu thing. The book he’s dropped, not in the stores, from his life, the first reading of that debuted last time here, too, what he’s binging, his dark turn in The Messenger, available at TomBergeron.com, and his film in development conceived over lunch with his now co-producer, William Shatner.

This time with Tom was soul-filling and laughter-fueled. If only it could power my Honda. Forget cowbell. More Bergeron!

Tom Bergeron on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 6/15/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:
https://bit.ly/3mX5GLW

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/

Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt