Mark Roman Empire (also a podcast)

After an 11 month hiatus, Mark returns.

Who needs guests? Not Bill Burr or Greg Proops. Mark joins the flexible format brigade. And brings you up to speed. Where'd the beard go? What's Lt. Frank up to? How's Venka? What is Heroteer? Mark delivers answers.

Recorded at Mark's humble abode, Hollywood, CA.

Recorded, mixed & mastered by Mark Roman.

Mark interviews a friend and fellow busker: the actor, comedian & spokesperson Elliott Branch. See or hear Elliott and one can't help but notice he's a Samuel L. Jackson impersonator. You've seen him at the Laugh Factory Hollywood and in the film shorts "Anger Anonymous" (as Jules Winnfield) and "Deadpool the Musical 2 - Ultimate Disney Parody" (as Nick Fury). Elliott talks Detroit, Hollywood, how stand-up led to his GM gig, being Sam, meeting Sam, his Mace Windu (Star Wars) possibilities and what it's like holding a fake gun as an iconic Pulp Fiction character ... while black.

Recorded at Musicians Institute, Hollywood, CA.

Recorded, mixed & mastered by Ollie Holliday.

Mark interviews stand-up comedian, writer and actress Madison Shepard. Madison has opened for Maria Bamford and plays Jack on “Empty Space” (now streaming on Amazon Prime). She created two short cartoons for Comedy Central Digital’s “Saturday Morning-ish Cartoons”. And she produced and starred in the sketch show "Smile, Baby" which tackled catcalling at The Hollywood Fringe Festival with The Others Theater Company, winning Madison an Encore Producer's Award. Mark first met Madison moments before this interview. Mark steps in it during the interview. But did he learn anything?

Recorded at Musicians Institute, Hollywood, CA.

Recorded, mixed & mastered by Ollie Holliday.

Mark interviews comedian, actor, writer & VO artist Granison Crawford, as seen at The Comedy Store, Flappers & in March on Amazon: Laugh After Dark. Granison won 1st place in Last Comic Standing at the Haha Comedy Club and won "Funniest Comic in LA 2017" at the Ice House Comedy Club (Golden Artist Entertainment). You may have seen Granison on your screen in Diaries of a Door Guy, CSU Crimestoppers Unit & Keeping the Peace. Like Mark, Granison is from Northern California. Mark first met Granison moments before this interview.

Recorded at Musicians Institute, Hollywood, CA.

Recorded, mixed & mastered by Ollie Holliday.

Mark interviews actor, host & foodie Adrian Bustamante. You've seen him on Lethal Weapon, Jane the Virgin and The Newsroom. Look for him in future episodes of Bosch & This Is Us. But Mark knows Adrian from their early acting days in the San Francisco Bay Area. They also share a previous industry and gratitude for The Big Short. All this discussed, plus Mark cherry picks Adrian's ample acting credits ... without even addressing his impressive commercial credits.

Recorded at Musicians Institute, Hollywood, CA.

Recorded, mixed & mastered by Ollie Holliday.

Mark interviews actor, cat dad, & social media personality Kurt Tocci. Yeah, the guy who dances with his cat all over social media. That guy. Whom you've also seen on Cause I’m Savage, Totally TV, Jimmy Kimmel Live & College Humor. (He's also a singer, director & producer.) Kurt shares his Columbine story (not what you think) and what it's like to be the class clown from Colorado who arrives in Hollywood in the age of social media.

Recorded at Musicians Institute, Hollywood, CA.

Recorded, mixed & mastered by Ollie Holliday.

Mark interviews his fav Brit tourist, Hayley De-Sola Pinto, currently on holiday here in Los Angeles. Discussed: Hayley's brash mane of red hair, her singing, her acting, her modeling, tattoos, surfing, her various adventures as a globe-trotter from Cornwall by the sea, and whether or not she was in the original version of "The Office".

Recorded at Musicians Institute, Hollywood, CA.

Recorded, mixed & mastered by Ollie Holliday.

Mark interviews his buddy Anne-Marie Evans, whom he met working on that ambitious superhero show you never saw. Anne-Marie discusses her life as a working artist: Screenwriter, Director, Producer, Blogger, Singer/Songwriter. She shares a little about her TV script "Love Jade" seeking a home in Hollywood. And she makes her pitch to be Mark's sidekick on the podcast.

Recorded at Musicians Institute, Hollywood, CA.

Recorded, mixed & mastered by Ollie Holliday.

Mark interviews a channeler of many characters, powered by Robin Williams realm energy: Jason Thompson. The impersonator, actor, singer and emcee shares details of his performer's life, hailing from Adelaide, Australia. Now in Hollywood, his impersonations and original characters include the Queen of England, Austin Powers, Shirley Shagwell and the Mad Hatter. Frequently found working corporate and private gigs, he's also performed with Michael Bolton, on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and at LA's Cicada Club.

Recorded at Musicians Institute, Hollywood, CA.

Recorded, mixed & mastered by Ollie Holliday.

Mark interviews singer, pianist, SAGAFTRA & stage actor Alice Ko of Kung Fu Panda 3, The Shuttle & Silicon Valley. She shares her journey from Hong Kong, to whatever set in San Francisco where she and Mark met, to Hollywood. Mark attempts to learn a little Cantonese.

Recorded at Musicians Institute, Hollywood, CA.

Recorded, mixed & mastered by Ollie Holliday.