Let's Talk Ten

Dan and professional voice actor BOB BERGEN talk about their favorite VOICE-OVER ARTISTS: from legends like Mel Blanc, Casey Kasem, and June Foray – to some of the current crop of vocal talent, with more than a few surprise choices.

Having been the voice of Porky Pig, Tweety Bird, and Marvin the Martian for over thirty years – not to mention his appearances in Gremlins, Spirited Away, Fraggle Rock, as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars video games and animation (plus tons of commercials and promos) – Bob's an expert in cartoon history and the voices behind your favorite characters.  He also happens to be a truly sweet, funny guy, with stories for days.  

 Yes, he does a few of his famous characters on the show.  And yes, they’re amazing.

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Author BURT KEARNS (“MARLON BRANDO: HOLLYWOOD REBEL”) makes his second appearance on the show, to talk about his favorite BRANDO MOVIES – from the very beginning of the "method" actor's legendary career, all the way to the sometimes strange and sad end.  

 Dan and Burt discuss Brando’s influence on the craft of acting, his political activism, his complicated personal life – and most of all, his movies: the classics, of course (“The Wild One”), but also some of his greatest performances in films that too many have either never seen or even heard of (“Burn!”).  

 Marlon Brando was an odd man; a gifted, stubborn, compassionate, fascinating human being who was too often antagonistic toward his own brilliance.  His life, on-screen and off, made for a hell of a story.  On the page and on this podcast, Burt Kearns tells it beautifully.

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It's THE NEW ZOO REVUE!  COMING RIGHT AT YOU!

After nearly fifty years away from the public eye, Doug and Emily (Emmy Jo) Momary are back, and they’re everywhere – appearing at comic-cons and pop culture conventions, posting on social media, and now – joining Dan Fisher on  “LET’S TALK TEN”.

The three of them talked about how these two crazy theater kids -- fresh out of college and with no television experience whatsoever -- created and starred in what would become a kids’ TV classic.  Doug and Emily also remember the human beings who provided the bodies and voices for Freddie the Frog, Charlie the Owl, and Henrietta Hippo.  

 And what the heck they've been up to for the past fifty years or so.  (SPOILER: They recently celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary.)

 "It's quite an unusual thing,
The animals talk and sing,
With Doug and Emmy Jo,
Every day's a different show....."

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Emmy-nominated television writer TED BERGMAN ("The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour", "Sanford and Son") visits the show to talk with Dan about their favorite television shows from the 1970's.

Ted handles the comedies while Dan covers the dramas as they discuss many of the expected classics ("All in the Family", "Columbo") plus more than a few surprises.  Plus -- Ted has all kinds of amazing behind-the-scenes stories to share, of his adventures in the writer's room, missed opportunities, and life in the Honduras.

As Fred Sanford might say, this is a big one.

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Songwriters JOHN DENICOLA and STACY WIDELITZ join Dan to talk about their  favorite OSCAR-WINNING SONGS.

John is an Oscar-winner himself, for co-writing "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" from the classic film DIRTY DANCING.   He also co-wrote "Hungry Eyes", while Stacy contributed to the 14X Platinum soundtrack with "She's Like the Wind", co-written with his friend Patrick Swayze.

John and Stacy really know both their music and their movies, so it's a fun and lively conversation -- with plenty of behind-the-scenes stories about Dirty Dancing, of course -- plus fond remembrances of Judy Garland, Bob Hope, Nat King Cole, Isaac Hayes, Barbra Streisand, Eminem....and lots more.

You'll have the time of your life.

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Poet and performer JORDAN E. FRANKLIN joins Dan as they attempt to do the impossible.

From the millions of released and recorded songs of the past century, they attempt to winnow down their top ten favorite SONGS they'd each take with them to that proverbial desert island. 

Already, their lists have probably changed since their  conversation.  But it is what it is.  And, as always, it’s a lot of fun.  

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The party’s not over yet.

Dan continues to celebrate the first full year of LET'S TALK TEN episodes by sharing his favorite moments from every episode, including the minis.

Here’s the guest list for PART TWO:  APRIL FISHER, PHOEBE FISHER, WILL HARRIS, RABBI DAVID KOMEROFSKY, TERRY BEATTY, MIMI POND, ADAM NEDEFF, CHRIS MCGINN, HELENE FISHER, ANDY SKUROW, JEFF ABRAHAM, BURT KEARNS, THOM SHUBILLA, RON FRIEDMAN, CRAIG SHEMIN, ANDREW LAPOSHA, CAROLYN CASTIGLIA, DICK DEBARTOLO, JANINE WHITE-DUFFY, GLENN GAYLORD, and J.D. ZEIK.

 No RSVP required.  Everybody's welcome.

A splendid time is guaranteed for all.

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Dan Fisher celebrates the first full year of LET'S TALK TEN episodes by compiling his favorite moments from every episode, including the minis.

This one's so big that it'll take two episodes to contain it.  (PART TWO will drop this WEDNESDAY, JULY 10.)

For PART ONE, please join Dan and his guests H.E. FISHER, ROBYN KINCAID, MICHELE MANTYNEN, KEVIN LADSON, MICHAEL MARONNA, MAT LEFFLER-SCHULMAN, ADAM LONG, SAM PANCAKE, FELICE NEALS, JOSH CHAMBERS, and GEORGE SCHLATTER for big belly laughs, mixed with thoughtful conversation.  

Party on!

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Screenwriter J.D. ZEIK ("Ronin", "Witchblade") joins Dan to talk about their favorite ACTION MOVIES.

Cars, guns, explosions, sword fights, martial arts – they cover the gamut of movies that go boom, crunch, and pow: from the silent era, through the kung fu -70s, to the Sly/Arnold ‘80’s, to what's at the multiplex right now.  

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In celebration of PRIDE MONTH, Dan welcomes an old friend, writer/producer/director and film critic GLENN GAYLORD -- to talk about the LGBTQ-centered films that had an impact, historically and personally.

 You don't have to identify as LGBTQ to enjoy this episode.  You just have to love movies.  The conversation is wide-ranging, covering everything from Midnight Cowboy to Cruising to Moonlight to Bottoms -- plus many more, in between. 

 It's a specific chapter of film history, for sure, but discussed in very personal (and often very funny) terms.

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