Let's Talk Ten

If you were to be stranded on a desert island, away from all contact with civilization, forever and ever – which ten albums would you bring?

 Certifiable music maniac JANINE WHITE DUFFY joins host Dan Fisher to discuss just that – their TOP TEN DESERT ISLAND ALBUMS.

 Listeners are encouraged to “play along”, by considering which ten albums they would each bring to that proverbial desert island.  Our answers might be surprising -- it’s a tricky list – there’s so much classic stuff out there to choose from, taste is subjective, all in good fun, yada yada yada.

You might just want to crank this one up to Eleven.

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Dan fulfilled a bucket-list item by spending time with one of childhood heroes, the truly legendary DICK DEBARTOLO, “MAD’s Maddest Writer” and one of MAD magazine’s original “Usual Gang of Idiots”. 

 Besides going through their lists, Dan and Dick talked a LOT about MAD and its founder William M. Gaines, as well as Dick’s memories of the fantastic artists and writers who worked for MAD -- Al Jaffe, Don Martin, Nick Meglin, and many more.

They also discussed the classic game show “Match Game”, for which Dick was the head writer.  PLUS:  gizmos!  And gadgets!  AND:

* Matching  up the cast of “Seinfeld” with Looney Tunes characters.
* Gaines treats Dick to all the desserts.
* Dan and his Dad’s attend a private screening of a Richard Pryor movie.
* Dick’s fond memories of Charles Nelson Reilly and Brett Somers.
* AND SO MUCH MORE!  (What, me worry?)

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Stand-up comedian and stage performer CAROLYN CASTIGLIA joins Dan to talk about some of their favorite comedic actresses in movies and TV -- as well as some of the most brilliant women working in stand-up today.  Contrary to what Jerry Lewis once said, women can be very, very funny.

PLUS: Dan tells Jerry Lewis to f--- off.

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Dan has a fun and fascinating conversation with Ron Friedman who, since 1965, has written over 700 houurs of broadcast television -- starting with The Danny Kaye show, then going on to write for pretty much every show you watched growing up: The Andy Griffith Show, Get Smart, Bewitched, The Partridge Family, All in the Family, The Odd Couple, Charlie’s Angels, Chico and the Man, Starsky and Hutch, the animated G.I. Joe series – plus, believe it or not, dozens more.

He also wrote the animated Transformers: The Movie, which made him responsible for killing Optimus Prime.

Ron is a fantastic raconteur, and this conversation is loaded with laughs, painful childhood memories of growing up Jewish in Weirton, West Virginia…plus tales of his encounters with show business legends like Victor Borge, Sammy Davis Jr., Lucille Ball, Jonathan Winters Jack Klugman and Tony Randall, Shirley Jones, Freddie Prinze, Ricardo Montalban, Orson Welles….and many, many more.

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Author THOM SHUBILLA joins Dan for a wide-ranging discussion of the James Bond series -- from Connery to Craig -- and its many spin-offs, knock-offs, and children's toys it inspired, focusing especially on the 1960's and Bond's influence on popular culture (and possibly U.S. foreign policy).

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A change-of-pace episode, Dan talks with comedy historian Jeff Abraham and writer-filmmaker Burt Kearns about their book THE SHOW WON'T GO ON, which chronicles the unfortunate final moments of actors, singers, comedians, circus performers, and more -- as they expired in front of their audiences, mid-performance.  

From the famous (Dick Shawn, Tiny Tim, Karl Wallenda) to the talented but lesser-known (Jane Little, Amazing Joe Burrus), the stories are often touching, other times  ghoulishly ridiculous -- but they're all fascinating, and Jeff and Burt are expert story-tellers.  

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Who doesn't love the classic songs of Motown?  Dan sure does, and he found the perfect guest to talk about favorites.

Andy Skurow is a recording industry producer who has overseen the reissues of over 150 classic albums, compilations, and box sets -- mostly on the legendary Motown label.  In 2015, he received the prestigious Heroes and Legends "Cornerstone" award for his life's work as a Motown historian.  He has worked with, interviewed, and befriended legends...and he's got stories to share.

Get ready for a lively and informative discussion about Smokey, Diana, Stevie, the Tops, the Temps, and a lot more -- with plenty of tunes to keep your foot tapping throughout.

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The first-ever guest on "Let's Talk Ten", H.E. (HELENE) FISHER returns for a discussion of favorite COUPLES IN MOVIES AND TV, with her husband, LT10 host Dan Fisher.

Though they've been married for over 30 years, Helene's and Dan's tastes can be quite  different -- which only adds to the fun when they talk about movies and television.  Dan tends to like older, classic Hollywood stuff.  Helene's more into shows that are out there right now, on streaming.  But they've watched a lot of it together, and they love to talk about it.

Released two days before Valentine's Day, COUPLES is romantic, funny, thoughtful, and banter-filled.  You may just love it.

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Career character actor CHRIS MCGINN and Dan got together to talk about their favorite CHARACTER ACTORS in movies and television.  

From those who seem to specialize in very specific roles like Romcom Best Friend or Intractable Authority Figure...to the masters of versatility...we salute actors and the onscreen characters we've come to love.

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COME ON DOWN to join Dan and his guest Adam Nedeff -- as they talk about their all-time favorite television game shows.

Adam's not just a fan -- game shows have been his lifetime's obsession.  Currently an archivist and researcher for the National Archives of Game Show History -- and a published author of eleven books on the subject – his  encyclopedic command of their histories, strategies, and trivia is truly dazzling.

Wheels spin and lights flash throughout a conversation that covers the behind-the-scenes stories, the legendary hosts, the celebrity guests, the laughs, the scandals...and, of course, those fabulous prizes.

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