Randy Newman is one of the most misunderstood and under-celebrated musicians of the modern era. Reknowned Music Journalist/Author Robert Hilburn’s new book, A Few Words in Defense of Our Country is the definitive Randy Newman biography and Bob joins us to spotlight the genius and the legend of a great American musician and storyteller.

Robert Hilburn was the music critic for the Los Angeles Times for 35 years and he’s written books about John Lennon, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen and Johnny Cash. Bob tells us that Newman (much like Simon) had to be convinced to have his legacy chronicled. Randy grew up in a legendary musical family in which tooting your horn (metaphorically) was frowned upon. His uncles composed movie scores and they taught Randy to let the work be your voice.

We hear about Randy’s challenging childhood, the pressure he felt to succeed in music and how success, once achieved, incurred his father’s envy. Throughout his career, Randy’s best childhood friend, Lenny Waronker (who became a record exec) believed in him, opened doors and cheered his efforts.

Diving further into Randy’s work flow, creative struggles and anxiety-taming efforts, Bob illuminates Randy’s genre-bending and cultural interrogating musical achievements.

We also delve, with Bob, into the influence once held by music critics in the golden ages of both print media and the music industry. We discuss the futures of recorded music and journalism and Bob tells us about his favorite interview ever… with Bob Dylan… and that one time he went to Folsom Prison with Johnny Cash.

Plus, Weezy recommends the original Apple TV+ movie, Blitz and Fritz is currently into the new series Rivals, streaming on Hulu and other platforms.

Path Points of Interest:

Robert Hilburn

Robert Hilburn on Wikipedia

A Few Words In Defense of Our Country: The Biography of Randy Newman by Robert Hilburn

Robert Hilburn Amazon Author Page

Robert Hilburn on X

Amanda Petrusich

Blitz on Apple TV

Rivals - On Several Platforms

These children of showbiz legends are ensuring that their fathers’ memories and legacies live on. 

We speak with James Tormé and Melissa Tormé-March about their Velvet Fog of a dad, Mel Tormé, as we approach the 80th anniversary of his incomparable contribution to the holiday music canon, 'The Christmas Song'. 

Then Joel Brokaw joins us. His new book 'Driving Marilyn: The Life and Times of Legendary Hollywood Agent Norman Brokaw' chronicles the history of William Morris star-maker, Norman Brokaw, known to Joel as Dad.

Melissa and James share their enthusiasm for Oy! To the World Christmas with a Twist, a new musical playing this month at North Hollywood's El Portal Theatre, which features their father's music alongside a hit list of Christmas classics composed by Jewish-American songwriters. 

James and Melissa take us back to the sweltering July day in 1945 when their Dad and Bob Wells attempted to beat the heat with wintery lyrics and remained sweaty but created magic by conjuring “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…”

They rushed the song over to Nat King Cole who was in at a few bars and proudly led a parade of 80,064 recorded covers, including James’ own version! The Torme kids share their Torme Christmas memories which include their dad and contraband Christmas movies!

Then Joel shares his family's history as a Ukrainian vaudeville acrobatic act that segued into the agency business when his Uncle, Johnny Hyde became VP of William Morris, discovered Marilyn Monroe and took on his young nephew, Norman to drive and accompany Marilyn to events.

Starting in the mailroom, Norman worked his way up to CEO.  We hear about his working relationships with Marilyn Monroe, Kim Novak, Colonel Tom Parker, Dick Van Dyke, Gerald Ford, Mark Spitz, Barry Gordy and so many other greats.

Joel talks about his complicated history with a father whose clients received his primary caregiving. Joel grew up with TV stars spending weekends by his pool, monopolizing his Dad’s attention.

But what were the qualities that made Norman so affective as a talent mentor? We learn the magic ingredients and hear how Norman took the new fangled TV department and made history with Loretta Young, Barbara Stanwyck, Dick Van Dyke and Andy Griffith.  

Joel also talks about Norman's relationship with Bill Cosby and how his father’s dementia buffered him from the horrors of Cosby’s crimes. And, finally, what was the fate of Norman's sacred, secret keeping Rolodex?

Plus, this week Weezy recommends Nutcrackers on Hulu and Fritz is all about Thelma, now in theaters and on streaming platforms.

Path Points of Interest:

Oy! To The World

James Tormé

James Tormé on YouTube

James Tormé  on X

The Christmas Song by James Tormé 

James Tormé at Kookaburra on 12/21

Joel Brokaw

Driving Marilyn by Joel Brokaw

Norman Brokaw on Wiki

Nutcrackers on Hulu

Thelma - Streaming in Most Places  

We sit down with actor Bruce Davison. With almost 300 IMDB credits, shelves full of awards and a slew of illustrious co-stars and stories about A-listers whom he befriended pre-fame-and-fortune, Bruce is brimming with fantastic tales that feature some of the most influential figures in visual media history. Bruce joins us to talk about his career, from his start in the '60s, all the way to current projects  coming soon to a streaming platform near you!

Bruce’s film career took off with a jolt as he found himself starring in the provocatively X-Rated, coming of age saga, Last Summer. Bruce takes us back to the set with Richard Thomas and Barbara Hershey where soundtrack contributor,  Robbie Robertson taught him first guitar chords.

We talk about Bruce’s childhood, growing up in a military family in Philadelphia, the  practical career advice he received from director Robert Aldrich: Be a character actor! Wisdom he gained from Anthony Quinn and the horror and heartbreak behind his Golden Globe-winning performance in 1989's Longtime Companion, the first theatrical feature to address the AIDS epidemic, which was written by Fritz's step-brother, Craig Lucas!

We dive further into Bruce's remarkable Hollywood history with a round of IMDB Roulette (patent-pending) which takes us into private gambling parties with Dino, Desi, Billy, Lucy and Frank Sinatra! Sunday afternoons with Scorsese and DePalma at Margot Kidder's beach house. And we learn the truth behind why Bruce appears as only an extra in Close Encounters. His pal Stephen Spielberg said, “No one want so see the guy from Willard stepping off a spaceship.”

Just how often does Bruce have to answer a question about Rats? To whom does he give credit for the greatest scenes he’s ever performed…? The writers. David E. Kelley, Taylor Sheridan, Craig Lucas and beyond. Additionally, did you know that Bruce is a talented painter? We sample his works and hear about his inspirations.

We get backstage insights from the set of Ozark and Bruce shares dish on his latest projects, including movies with Beau Bridges and Dee Wallace.

Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley, and The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, both on Netflix. And get ready for a Keri Russell deep dive, beginning with The Diplomat which will pull you happily into all four seasons of Felicity!

Path Points of Interest:

Bruce Davison IMDB

Bruce Davison Wikipedia

Bruce Davison on IG

25 Miles to Normal

Camera (2024)

Suitable Flesh (2023)

The Remarkable Life of Ibelin - Netflix

Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley on Netflix

The Diplomat

Felicity

Are Hollywood's youngest stars in any less danger now than those of past eras? We pose this question to Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman’s Claudia Lamb. At age 11 she was cast as Mary’s daughter Heather Hartman in the groundbreaking Norman Lear soap parody. Claudia offers a front row view to her traumatic life as a 70s child star, at the mercy of her abusive parents and insight into how she gnawed through their shackles to pursue a radio journalism career and become a champion for today’s child actors.

Claudia was a gourmet meal ticket to her criminally exploitative parents who squandered all her money as she cranked out hundreds of commercials and print ads as a toddler who was shoved into the spotlight and dragged by her angry and brutal mother to audition after audition.

Claudia candidly conveys the extent of the violence and terror inflicted by her narcissistically cruel mother as Claudia’s labor, throughout her childhood supported the entire family while alienating her five brothers.

Her talent and intelligence branded her as a go-to for commercial producers, where, as a stand-by, she frequently replaced the principal. Then at the age of 11, after being pummeled by her mother for a poor math grade, (working kids needed to keep their grades above a C average) Claudia was dragged to a cattle-call populated by every chubby, frizzy haired 13 year old in Hollywood. Claudia, a scrawny, pigtailed 11 year old nailed the reading and was instantly cast as Heather Hartman where she treasured her three years on the set of Norman Lear's outrageous, unprecedented soap satire.

Claudia tells of marathon filming sessions, (five episodes a week) with no cue cards or teleprompters. (Louise Lasser would scribble her lines on the kitchen table!) She celebrates the immense talents of Mary Kay Place, Martin Mull and Fred Willard, and shares fabulous anecdotes about Donny and Jimmy Osmond (The Donny & Marie Show filmed next door) and how Claudia was nearly crushed by a mob of fans who spotted her chatting up some Osmonds and jumped a fence to get in on that action.

Claudia is frank in her assessment of the adults who let her down as she endured her mother's abuse. Her bruises were in clear view of the wardrobe department. At the age of 18, Claudia put Hollywood in her rear view and became an award winning journalist who now speaks to parents about the reality and dangers posed to children by show business.

Weezy offers a supporting view, recommending Demi Lovato’s new documentary on Hulu and Disney + called Child Star. Fritz is captivated by the Hulu series adaptation of Patrick Radden Keefe’s best-seller about “The Troubles” in Ireland, Say Nothing. And Claudia weighs in on recs with a doc called Casa Bonita Mi Amor on Paramount +.

Path Points of Interest:

Claudia Lamb on IMDB

Claudia Lamb  on Wikipedia

Claudia's Blog

Claudia Lamb on Bluesky

Claudia Lamb on Twitter/X

Claudia Lamb on Instagram

Child Star on Hulu and Disney+

Say Nothing on Hulu

Casa Bonita Mi Amor

Are you looking for comfort, distraction, hope or optimism? We are serving it up with recommendations to soothe, calm and quiet your spirit, plus two inspirational guests! Andrew Jameson is a writer/producer/director who brings his skillset to his advocacy work and Norman Lear biographer Tripp Whetsell joins us to celebrate a life and a body of work that continues to inform, inspire and amuse generations.

Andrew's new project Faces of the City is a series of six documentary shorts which focus on critical community organizing work that is addressing social and economic challenges facing San Francisco's most vulnerable residents. Andrew shares his insights into ways in which the wealthy tech sector, at-risk populations and the city's unique history and culture can unite to forge a balance that would result in more favorable outcomes for all Bay Area citizens.

Then, author/journalist Tripp Whetsell joins the conversation to discuss his new book, Norman Lear: His Life and Times. Deeply steeped in Lear Lore, Tripp teaches a class on Mr. Lear at his almamater Emerson College. His richly researched biography traces the groundbreaking writer/producer's life from his bumpy childhood with a criminal father through his 52 combat missions over Nazi-occupied territory and across his wide swath of history making television.

We get into all of the All in the Family controversies from its provocative scripts to the epic standoffs between Mr. Lear and Caroll O’Connor. From there,Tripp takes us through the spinoffs: Maude and The Jeffersons, to the spinoffs of spinoffs: The Facts Of Life and Diff’rent Strokes. Each one, a trailblazer, boldly addressing themes like race, class, bigotry, feminism, divorce, homosexuality, rape, mixed marriage and  menopause. 

Mr. Lear’s remarkable cocktail of capabilities included creativity, business instincts, courage under pressure, casting genius and a unique ability to foster relationships with the network execs and censors who came to understand that his controversial content translated into buzz, influence and profits!

Plus the whole Media Path team is recommending content to stream while you avoid the news, curl up and sip something soothing.

Path Points of Interest:

Andrew Jameson on IMDB

Faces of the City Trailer

Tripp Whetsell

Norman Lear: His Life & Times

 Tripp Whetsell Amazon Author Page

Tripp Whetsell Book Soup Signing

Abbott Elementary

Nobody Wants This

Gilmore Girls

High Potential on ABC/Hulu

Travelers on Netflix

Dark on Netflix

The O.C.

Matlock

Elsbeth

Parks & Recreation

Religion, Democracy and the 2024 Election with Brad Onishi

Harry Shearer has been delivering groundbreaking comedy that's the stuff of legend for decades, starting off strong as a child actor on The Jack Benny Program, then cutting off every edge in The Credibility Gap, pioneering the mockumentary with This Is Spinal Tap, bringing us over 20 voices in the most culturally relevant animated series of all time, The Simpsons and continuing to revolutionize radio since 1983 with Le Show.

Harry joins us to delve into the magnificent lore which permeates his storied career. We dive deep on Burns, Smithers, Skinner, Flanders, Spinal Tap, SNL and Nixon. Plus, today’s cutting edge motion capture technology is bringing us, from Trump Anti-Social, A Message For Kamboola, with Harry as Trump, now on Youtube.

Harry shares Spinal Tap 2 updates, details about the night he, Christopher Guest and Michael McKean opened for themselves as The Folksmen to the din of the angry chant, “TAP! TAP! TAP!” along with news about Derek's solo masterwork,  Smalls Change. 

We hear about what makes voiceover work for The Simpsons unique within the animation world, the audio breakthroughs which led to his stunning series which reenacts the actual Nixon tapes, Nixon’s The One, and his unpleasant experiences with Lorne Michaels on SNL. 

Harry also tells us about the recent digital archiving of his extensive Le Show catalogue which is now all publicly accessable, dating back to 1983. All this, and a round of IMDB Roulette. With almost 200 credits in play, where will the big wheel stop!?

Plus, Weezy tells us about her personal and professional connection to The Comeback on Netflix and Fritz gives us his passionate take on Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen And The E-Street Band on Hulu.

Path Points of Interest:

Harry Shearer

Trump Anti-Social Presents A Message For Kamboola

Harry Shearer on Wikipedia

Harry Shearer on IMDB

Harry Shearer on Simpson Wiki

Harry Shearer on Facebook

Harry Shearer on Twitter

Harry Shearer on Instagram

Spinal Tap II

Le Show

The Comeback - Netflix

Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen And The E-Street Band - Hulu

Nixon’s The One on Youtube

Mark Felt and Roy Cohn on Firing Line

Gift of Democracy

Media Path Podcast

John Paizis is the creative force behind Performing Arts Studio West whose focus is elevating the talents of performers with intellectual and physical disabilities. Together with friends of the studio, Mindy Sterling and Debra Wilson, John joins us to talk about their latest project, a storybook which puts a dark, new twist on age old fairytales, Mother Goose Reanimated. 

John shares his extensive experience in the non-profit space and how the seeds for this project were planted decades ago when he began working with autistic adults and fostering their potential. 

John, a performer and musician, founded PASW 26 years ago, providing hands-on individualized training, career management, and on-location support for performers with disabilities working in film, television and commercials. They’ve conquered most media but this is their first book!

John shares the themes and inspirations behind the reimagined stories, how the creative team came together, and the collaborative process of writing, casting, costuming, set designing, and shooting a picture book. 

We also hear about Mindy's personal journey with her autistic son and the challenges that he has encountered. Debra shares how she got her big break and talks about her successful voice acting career (she's the current voice of Daisy Duck AND Ursula!), John tells us about working with Frank Oz and Jim Henson and everyone gushes about their recent experience launching the book at Los Angeles Comic Con!

Plus, Fritz is recommending the doc, Maestra on Netflix, Weezy read and loved The Women by Kristin Hannah. And, tasked with sampling and recommending content from our generation, our Gen Z tech, Mason is binging and loving Cheers!

Path Points of Interest:

Mother Goose Reanimated

Performing Arts Studio West

PASW on Facebook

PASW on YouTube

Mother Goose Reanimated Website

Mindy Sterling on IMDB

Mindy Sterling on Wikipedia

Mindy Sterling on X/Twitter

Debra Wilson on IMDB

Debra Wilson on Wikipedia

John Paizis on IMDB

John Paizis on Facebook

The Women by Kristin Hannah

Maestra - Netflix

Gift of Democracy

Media Path Podcast

Youtube

https://youtu.be/4xp9xEoFQN8

The Walton family saga so deeply moved us that scores of devoted fans are now sharing the show with their children and grandchildren. 

Set in Depression era Virginia, The Waltons invited audiences to watch a family overcome adversity through their love, perseverance and the opening of their minds and hearts. 

During its nine year run, we watched the Walton kids grow up right along with us. Between the ages of seven and sixteen, Kami Cotler portrayed the youngest Walton, Elizabeth and while doing show she gained the additional families of her Walton co-stars and fans. 

Kami joins us to talk about a childhood spent on the set of an iconic historical drama, her illustrious and inspiring career as an educator  and the ongoing events and celebrations which continue to unite The Waltons and their audience.

Kami's career as a teacher and administrator was rooted in her own  education, a unique hybrid of inventive and creative on-set tutors and public schools. 

On-set learning did harken back to the one room schoolhouse where Kami learned alongside her older casemates and could easily audit some of their fascinating lessons which were way ahead of her grade level.

Additionally, The Waltons’ set doubled as a constantly evolving, hands-on classroom. Post-Waltons, Kami’s first teaching job was in rural Virginia, which provided a real life emersion into the fictional setting she had inhabited for nearly a decade, and it's where she developed her style and approach as an educator. 

We talk to Kami about her Youtube channel where she reacts to beloved episodes and interviews her wonderful Mom. She tells us what she wishes she’d asked Will Geer and Ellen Corby about working with Woody Guthrie and Laurel and Hardy and she shares how fans are consistently helping her better remember specific events and episodes!

Today, Kami organizes Waltons themed gatherings around the country that are proving to be an enormously rewarding experience for both cast and fans. And, Kami pretty much aces a round of Waltons Trivia! 

Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Social Studies on FX and Hulu and Score on Prime.

Path Points of Interest:

Kami Cotler on Wiki

Kami Cotler on IMDB

Kami Cotler on Facebook

Kami Cotler on Instagram

Kami Cotler on Youtube

Gift of Democracy

Social Studies

Score - Amazon Prime

Happy Days is the iconically classic 70s TV sensation about the 50s. Its legacy is unparalleled, its popularity ongoing. The show  launched a character who remains the embodiment of cool, Fonzie, and it cemented its cast into icon status in perpetuity.  That cast includes Donny Most, who played wise-cracking Ralph Malph, who, complete with his own catchphrase, “I still got it!” took a minor role and turned it into the stuff of legend.

Don joins us this week to look back on his decades in Hollywood, the magic formula that brought Happy Days to fruition, and created a lasting legacy, and his tireless pursuit of creative expression that continues to keep his schedule full and fulfilling.

Don shares stories about his first foray into show business, as a Catskills performing teen, his early guest starring roles on Emergency and Room 222, how he dropped out of college to maintain his acting momentum and landed a small role on Happy Days which he initially turned down until a fateful basketball playing encounter between his manager and Garry Marshall upped the incentives and sealed the deal. Donny and his cast-mates developed a strong, life-long bond which he credits to the collaborative set atmosphere, the genius of Garry Marshall and the strong example set by Ron Howard, which helped anchor egos aboard the Happy Days rocket ride. 

Type-casting came with the Happy Days territory and it took years or hard work on stage for new opportunities to present themselves. Don has since gone into directing and producing and his most recent roles are the most compelling and diverse of his career. 

Potsie took most of the lead vocals in the Happy Days band but Donny has been a singer since childhood and his most recent big-band, American Songbook recording, New York High has a BBC reviewer calling him, “The new Sinatra.”

All this plus the truth behind the lawsuit against CBS,  Happy Days trivia and Don’s dramatic Baywatch rescue!

And, in recommendations, Fritz and Weezy are discussing Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval and Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story, both on Netflix.

Path Points of Interest:

Donny Most

Donny Most on Wiki

Donny Most on IMDB

Donny Most on Twitter

New York High on Apple Music

Far Haven

Harsen's Island Revenge

Unsung Hero

Gallatin Comic Con Appearance

Ellen DeGeneres: or Your Approval on Netflix

Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story on Netflix

Gift of Democracy

Media Path Podcast

You may know William Atherton from Day Of The Locust, The Hindenburg, Looking For Mr. Goodbar, and Real Genius or you may better remember him for vigorously questioning the environmental safety of ghost busting or for receiving a blow to the face which rings in a very Merry Christmas in Die Hard. 

Bill began his career on the stage, performing in Broadway plays by David Rabe, John Guare and Arthur Miller. The Ghostbuster and Die Hard franchises brought him to Hollywood and he joins us to discuss his fascinating history, his heroes and influences and his range of experiences with such performers as Anne Bancroft, George C. Scott, Donald Sutherland, Karen Black, and Diane Keaton. 

Did you know that Bill sings What’ll I Do in Nelson Riddle’s Great Gatsby score!? He tells us all about it and talks about recognizing the greatness of Stephen Spielberg even as a baby director when Bill stared in Sugarland Express. He remembers how Anne Bancroft would not stop talking about Mel Brooks on the set of The Hindenburg, he shares what he learned from the casts of Lost and Desperate Housewives and he addresses the internet’s most time-honored question, is Die Hard a Christmas movie?

Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Will & Harper and Nobody Wants This on Netflix.

Path Points of Interest:

William Atherton

William Atherton on Wiki

William Atherton on IMDB

Gift of Democracy

Media Path Podcast

Nobody Wants This on Netflix

Will and Harper - Netflix