The year in review––mine. Gratitide–– more me––I'm naming names.

Tonight's scheduled guests, Jeffrey Sherman and Wendy Liebman regretfully postponed for medical reasons. Wishing Wendy Godspeed, whatever the hell that means... what I mean is a miraculous swift healing. Dj, my banner maker is out of town, so getting a fill-in guest without the proper signage seemed unfair. Take the week off? Why not. We're smack in the middle of holiday season. But... we've yet to miss a week in the now 125 weeks we've been doing this and I'm all about streaks and day counts... so...

This was a reflection––noting progress, manifestations, and a bit of an infestation of poor choices leading to better ones.

We talked about setting intentions... the three step manifestation process, and the one-step do better, be better thing.

On 2 1/2 hrs of sleep, I had fried brain, no eggs, no bacon. The Facebook was having "issues." On again, off again, soft focus, is unintended and annoying as fuck. But, the beat went on, with some lovely peoples sitting in live, and now you... not so live, but, very alive.

Merry Happy Everything.

Next week, less me, more guest (s).

Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wed, 12/26/18, 7 pm PT/ 10 pm ET

With Christinna Guzman

Live on The Facebook

http://bit.ly/2y47ZCi

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

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This week's BROADcast is brought to you by Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing.

quikimpressions.com

And, Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products for tresses like the stars she coifs, and regular peoples, like me. I love my hair, and I loves Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

It took 2 1/2 yrs to nail down Norman Lear, a force of nature beyond compare at any age... at 96, in his Sony offices, where he still reads, develops, writes, produces daily, it's unfathomable. Norman’s worth waiting for. A four-time Emmy Winner, Academy Award Nominee, Peabody Award Recipient, American Humanist Award Winner, National Medalist of the Arts, Kennedy Center Honoree––Norman’s a goddamn national treasure.

The maverick who changed television, our thinking, and in so doing, our behavior, reflected back on his neglected childhood, his service bombing Berlin, facing his humanity, where his dream started and how it morphed into who he soon became. Why Norman’s championed women, always; missing Penny Marshall and what’s her name Fisher. Our friends Paul Hipp, and Phil Rosenthal, and why real Jews order Langers #19 without the cheese. He took us through the creation of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Fernwood 2 Night, Sanford and Son, sorry Redd Foxx, we all had a brain freeze; All in The Family, his father, Jesus, the original meathead, Edith losing her faith, and how they struggled for her to get it back; who inspired Maude, and why Norman was driven to create her; why the Jeffersons were important, likewise, why One Day At A Time was then, and is again, now. His passion project, Guess Who Died, and his determination to see it successfully find its senior voice and represent. The boxes of files he’s currently sorting through of ideas once developed, mining for gold to give life to today. The foolishness of the human condition which drives him to write, to create… the spark which translates to genius over and over and over again. To see that spark sparkle just as bright today when I suggested he write a woman like his mother, one many can relate to, who we’ve yet to see on TV, and to see Norman’s wheels begin to turn in that moment… it’s thrilling to anticipate whatever he’ll next spawn.

This was an unforgettable day––an honor, a pleasure, I will cherish forever. Much longer live Norman Lear!

Norman Lear on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wed, 12/19/18

Director of Photography Christinna Guzman

With Samantha Abelson

Live on The Facebook

Full show replay here

https://bit.ly/2R4dvBv

Paul Hipp’s Happy Birthday to Me for Norman, with Norman

https://bit.ly/1SGt87P

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

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This week's BROADcast is brought to you by Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing.

quikimpressions.com

And, Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products​ for tresses like the stars she coifs, and regular peoples, like me. I love my hair, and I loves Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

Arriving at actor, author, collector, world-traveler, chef, and scholar, Thaao Penghlis’s home was a feast for the senses. Magnificent art and artifacts from the entrance to the john, where an enormous, gorgeous, Peter O’Toole as Lawrence oversees the proceedings. Next visit, I hope, a feast the belly––hIs lentil white bean soup recipe had Christinna and I salivating. Thaao lives his life to the full, doing and being his best at whatever he’s approaching at that moment.

From his childhood in Australia, enmeshed in everything Greek, to struggling to eat in New York where he assisted his mentor in the art world, selling to an adoring Jackie Kennedy, Claudette Colbert, Sir John Gielgud, to finding his way to the stage and then film, despite being told he should never act; first forJohn Avildsen, fresh off his Rocky triumph, in Slow Dancing In The Big City, for Ken Russell in Altered States… some stories there! A volatile Russell, difficult William Hurt, and a banished Paddy Chayefsky. A rapist in The Bell Jar, finding his way to the soaps, General Hospital and Days of Our Lives, where an Emmy nomination and a years-long stint awaited him.

Along the way he collected, cooked, traveled, went Indiana Jones discovering hidden treasures, and amassing knowledge and life wisdom.

“If you want to see where you’re going, take a look at who crossed your path.” Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Omar Sharif, are a few who crossed his.

“Life is about becoming the seeds you plant.” Thaao’s continues to flower spectacularly. HIs second book, Seducing Celebrities One Meal At A Time https://bit.ly/2Ggp0kZ dropped, with a third on cultures and cuisines in the works. A Renaissance man if ever there was one.

And boy is he pretty. It serves him. As he serves all who come in his path. Ethics, persistence, fearlessness, food, fashion, travel, surviving 7 soap deaths… stories… FUN!

Thaao Penghlis on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wed, 12/12/18, 7 pm PT/ 10 pm ET

DP Christinna Guzman

Live on The Facebook

Full show replay here:

https://bit.ly/2CaHy21

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

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Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fl

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This week's BROADcast is brought to you by Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing.

quikimpressions.com

And, Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products for tresses like the stars she coifs, and regular peoples, like me. I love my hair, and I loves Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

A rare guest I didn’t know prior to sitting down here, what a revelation and a treat to meet Fred Melamed. Lovely from the start, I was unprepared for his brutal humility, fierce self-reflection, and unflinching honesty. A fascinatingly unique conversation focused on how life affected his work, and his work affected his life.

The Coen Brothers award-winning A Serious Man star talked being adopted, his producer father and visits to the Car 54 set; his unmothering mother, Chanukah as resistance and how it applies today; falling into acting and earning his way into Yale Drama with David Alan Grier, “Fran” McDormand & John Turturro; Broadway at 25 in Amadeus and the severe stage fright he battled nightly; not enjoying theatre, backing into voice acting, where great success followed until that market dried up, leaving the husband and father of two autistic boys panicked, until a call from Joel Coen, perhaps thanks to “Fran,” changed his life. As little as he liked working on the stage, he loved (s) film acting and took to screens big and small. Seven Woody Allen films, Lady Dynamite, In A World; Fargo, Curb, Suspect… over 100 films and TV shows later, with a few soon to drop… notably an Apple TV original with Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Anniston and Steve Carell.

The man has not stopped working, or self-examining. Learning the difference between happiness and comfort; shifting perspective and choosing joy, and gratitude, in his quest to be his best. From my vantage point, he’s doing a damn fine job.

I was provoked to think, to feel, to reach, through every moment. This time worthy and wonderful.

Fred Melamed on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wed, 12/5/18, 7 pm PT/ 10 pm ET

With Christinna Guzman

Live on The Facebook

Full show replay here:

https://bit.ly/2SrxOpk

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fl

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

This week's BROADcast is brought to you by Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing.

quikimpressions.com

And, Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products for tresses like the stars she coifs, and regular peoples, like me. I love my hair, and I loves Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

“Isn’t life fun?” Asks George Shapiro, mega manager of talent in the business of show. It sure is when he’s around. This BROADcast comes with a funny back guarantee. Stories, stories, stories, songs, cheers, accents, impressions––but it’s the stories––his partner, Howard West, friends since they were children; his uncle Carl (Reiner) coming home from the war, George’s hero for his service, before fame and the funny; his own military service as a trained killer (say what?!?) to saving a WAC; Carl with Mel Brooks, being Carl and Mel: his biggest regret; his worst negotiation; the mailroom at William Morris, agenting to breaking away, following Bernie Brillstein in personal management; Andy Kaufman, the unabridged story; Taxi, Tony Clifton, the contract (s), Elvis, Robin Williams, his extreme act of friendship and fun; Milos Forman, this show a love letter to Jim Carrey for bringing Andy back to life; Jerry Seinfeld, “When you see a comedian you like, it’s the closest thing to falling in love.” The career they built together: George talked Emmy, Peabody, and Golden Globe award-winning, Seinfeld; Larry David, how it came to be; American Express, Comedians in Carss Getting Coffee, and, in spite of initially refusing to name next season’s guests, he dropped a few, moments later. Phil Rosenthal, the foodiest in foodyism; Somebody Feed Phil, and Phil, the best of the best; back to Carl, Mel, Dick Van Dyke, Norman Lear, Kirk Douglas, and If You’re Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast––to be released on DVD mid-December. (It’s hysterical.) Julia Louis Dreyfus’s Mark Twain acceptance speech; young comedians he loves; trusting his instincts, always.

@George_Shapiro. Manager and producer of the funny. Thankful for the work he’s done, the man he is, and the joy he’s brought. Grateful he let me steal this precious 1:29:12 from him. #Priceless

Thank you, Aimee Hyatt!

George Shapiro on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wed, 11/28/18, 7 pm PT/ 10 pm ET

With Christinna Guzman

Live on The Facebook

Full show replay

https://goo.gl/sZVYBD

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3 

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fl

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

This week's BROADcast is brought to you by Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. 

quikimpressions.com

And, Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products for tresses like the stars she coifs, and beregular peoples, like me. I love my hair, and I loves Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

Giving thanks for an awe-inspiring chat with Emmy Winning composer, Snuffy Walden. With 13 nominations, 50 + BMI Awards, a lifetime achievement award, being the subject of Mark Maxey’s documentary, Up to Snuff, starring Martin Sheen, Aaron Sorkin, and Eric Burdon, currently kicking ass on the awards circuit, and garnering 21 of them to date––the secret to this man’s success seems to be in the “Yes.” He says it, does the work, and gains richly deserved acclaim. Over and over again.

Playing with BJ Thomas at 14; fronting Stray Dog, rocking like hell, and opening for Emerson, Lake & Palmer around the world; drinking and debauchery, recording Songs in The Key of Life with Stevie Wonder, earning a platinum record, and being in the passenger seat when Stevie drove––oh yes, he did; playing with Dave Mason at the peak, Chaka Kahn when she was breaking I Feel For You, touring with Eric Burdon and having an epiphany which would change his life. Sobriety. “I really feel like God took a damaged soul out of me and put in a fresh one.”

With all of his success before, a few years later, without experience or training, he scored Thirty Something, then The Wonder Years, Sports Night, The West Wing, where he won that Emmy, and dozens upon dozens of others. Thirtyish years later, taking on Sara Niemietz, getting back on stage and in the studio, as a player and mentor.

Snuffy’s humility, humanity, and heart soared throughout our time… in his words and music.

A man of supreme talent, wisdom, and integrity, Snuffy’s willingness and vulnerability spark genius. Baring his soul, laying it open, informs everything he plays, and lives.

I’m inspired to do better, be better having spent the time with him.

Snuffy Walden on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wed, 11/21/18, 7 pm PT/ 10 pm ET

With Christinna Guzman

Live on The Facebook

Full show replay

https://bit.ly/2DDq1R3

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3 

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fl

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

This week's BROADcast is brought to you by Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. 

quikimpressions.com

And, Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products for tresses like the stars she coifs, and beregular peoples, like me. I love my hair, and I loves Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

Jimmy Vivino, Conan O’Brien’s long-time musical director, played, sang, and told first-hand stories about everyone from James Brown. Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, Laura Nyro, Phoebe Snow,Johnny Johnson, Hubert Sumlin, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Muddy Waters, Pinetop Perkins, Levon Helms, John Sebastian, Watkins Glen, The Fillmore East, New Orleans Blues, Uncle Floyd, The Dead, The Band, The Allman Brothers, Paul Shaffer who he credits as teaching him to better orchestrate, Leader of the Pack, Broadway, Ronnie Spector, Felix Cavaliere, The Rascals, Frankie Valli, Robert Palmer., John Prine, Slash, Sly Stone, Bill Graham, The J. Geils Band, Larkin & Poe, Costello, Elvis and Bud, Joe Cocker, Ike Turner, Mike Finnegan, Will Lee.. Jimmy gave a master class on American music, rooted in the blues. From Africa. Even jazz. Fun to discover we were born the same year and were at more than a few concerts together but separate long before we met in the 80s. Great stories, animated storyteller with a wealth and depth of knowledge which is staggering… all told with great good humor and fun! Now that's edu-tainment! (Thanks Melanie Chartoff for my new favorite word)

Jimmy Vivino on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson,

Wed, 11/14/18, 7 pm PT/ 10 pm ET

With Christinna Guzman

Live on The Facebook

Full show replay

https://bit.ly/2Tb2fBz

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Soundcloud http://bit.ly/2hktWoS

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fl

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

This week's BROADcast is brought to you by Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing.

quikimpressions.com

And, Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products for tresses like the stars she coifs, and beregular peoples, like me. I love my hair, and I loves Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

Banner by D.j. Markuson

Jimmy Vivino on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson,

Wed, 11/14/18, 7 pm PT/ 10 pm ET

With Christinna Guzman

Live on The Facebook

Full show replay

https://bit.ly/2Tb2fBz

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Soundcloud http://bit.ly/2hktWoS

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fl

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

This week's BROADcast is brought to you by Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing.

quikimpressions.com

And, Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products for tresses like the stars she coifs, and beregular peoples, like me. I love my hair, and I loves Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

It’s Always Sunny with Pee Wee’s Miss Yvonne, Lynne Stewart. When have I laughed this hard for this long… is there anyone cuter… more good-natured… with more fun stories? From Ricky (Richard) Dreyfuss who proposed in the 4th grade, to junior college BFF Cindy Williams, all three going on to do American Graffiti with another pal, Harrison Ford, hello… auditioning for an uninterested George Lucas, meeting Candy Clark and MacKenzie Phillips, cheerleading for Jack Nicholson, very early days at The Groundlings with Tracy & Laraine Newman, Sandy Helberg, Paul Reubens aka Pee Wee Herman, who would change her life; Phil Hartman, and their years-long working and playing relationship; Robin Williams, Laverne & Shirley, Garry Marshall, Penny Marshall, Jumping Jack Flash, Harry Anderson, his daughter, Comedy Bang-Bang, Bridesmaids, Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy. Maya Rudolph, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia; how to cry. how to keep working, and, with Lynne around, how to stay laughing. What a time ’tis was!

Lynne Stewart on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson, Celebrity Maps to Success

Wed, 11/7/18, 7 pm PT/ 10 pm ET

With Christinna Guzman

Live on the Facebook

Full Show Replay

https://bit.ly/2JNoBo6

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

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This week's BROADcast is brought to you by Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing.

quikimpressions.com

And, Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products for tresses like the stars she coifs, and regular peoples, like me. I love my hair, and I loves Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

No matter how many times I sit down with Filmmaker Henry Jaglom, he’s always got a slew of new and stupendous stories to tell. This time he shared more than a few which he said he’s never told before, and they’re doozies.

Raised by sophisticated, successful parents, Henry’s mother encouraged his love of theatre, nurturing his creative, empathetic nature, in contrast to his father’s keen business acumen. Showbiz called. First as a comedian with his pal, Ritchie Pryor, then as an actor (Gidget, The Flying Nun). He gave up comedy when Richard was funnier and acting when his friend________ scored the part he was up for. I can’t ruin it… it’s too good. He was asked by Bert Schneider to do an edit on Easy Rider. How that came to be, and who his editing partner was, is, well, great stuff.

There are girlfriends Georgia Brown, Karen Black, Brenda Vaccaro, Tuesday Weld, Natalie Wood… a first told story about his meeting Dudley Moore and then introducing him to Tuesday. Meeting Orson Wells. How their friendship began, the films they did together, the meals they shared for years, recently transcribed in Henry’s, My Lunches with Orson. There’s Peter Bogdanovich, Paul Mazursky, Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Jessica Walter, Dennis Hopper, Jack Nicholson, Bob Rafelson, Hal Prince, the impactful director, whose name slipped for the moment… winning an Oscar, producing anti-war shows with Jane Fonda, painting the sign for the Original Improv, sketching his friends before they were famous, and now getting a book deal for that art. His films, 21 of them. With a dream for 4 more, he explains why. And a book, 19 years in the writing, with an offer, made to anyone who comes up with the perfect title.

If you love movies, and who doesn’t… and the people who make them, this time with Henry will thrill. 



Henry Jaglom​ on The Road Taken, Celebrity Maps to Success

Wed, 3/28/18, 7 pm PT/ 10 pm ET

With Christinna Guzman

Live on the Facebook

Full show replay here:

https://bit.ly/2qiEqdM

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Soundcloud http://bit.ly/2hktWoS

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fl

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

This week's BROADcast is brought to you by Rick Smolke​ of Quik Impressions​, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing.

quikimpressions.com

And, Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products​ for tresses like the stars she coifs, and regular peoples, like me. I love my hair, and I loves Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

I came into tonight a huge Amy Aquino fan. I left loving her a gazillion times more. How is that even possible. We started with Bosch. If you’ve yet to watch this stupendous Amazon series, pick up your remote right now. Well, after you check out Amy here… lots of behind the scenes there… here, and everywhere. From Working Girl, Moonstruck, Freaks & Geeks, Brooklyn Bridge with Marion Ross, who’s celebrating her 90th and will be doing so with us at Tuesday’s Women Who Write, and, hopefully. If Amy can slip away from filming, she’ll be with us, too… From PA to Harvard, pre-med, I know, to Yale grad school with Courtney B. Vance and Patricia Clarkson to MN, to non-stop working actor… stage and screens large and small. The girl who was too busy killing school and life to watch TV, Amy’s not just guested on dozens and dozens of shows, she’s had recurring roles on just about all of them, four at once, at times. From ER, Picket Fences, Everybody Loves Raymond, Felicity… on and on and on. From SAG vice-president to assisting to mobilize and facilitate the SAG-AFTRA merger, Amy’s a woman of superior intelligence, conscience, and talent. I have never, ever caught this woman acting. Technically savvy, Stylist and costumer, Craig Ames, remembered a trick she taught them a million years ago on a show they did together… a little white close to the face reflects light… I wore some for both of us. Amy shared a little nugget she picked up from Lindsay Wagner, the secret of her Oscar night lemon bars, and, her neighbors’ dog Jackson, who almost stole the show.

What’s next? If Amy has her way, a role on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Her best friend, and series co-star, Tony Shalub, has been doing his part to help. Amy Sherman-Palladino, something tells me this Amy Aquino's gonna win this. I can’t imagine anything this powerhouse can’t find her way to do.

Amy Aquino on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson

Wed, 10/24/18, 7pm PT/ 10pm ET

With Christinna Guzman

Live on the Facebook

Full show replay here
https://bit.ly/2qbFz6G

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fl

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

This week's BROADcast is brought to you by Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing.

quikimpressions.com

And, Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products for tresses like the stars she coifs, and peoples, like me. I love my hair, and I loves Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/ Her fabulous Ruby Begonia Products can be purchased and shipped from http://www.frendsbeauty.com/