Mr. Media Interviews by Bob Andelman

Today's Guest: Milo Ventimiglia, actor, "Heroes," "This Is Us" Milo Ventimiglia, actor, Heroes, NBC Milo Ventimiglia is not your average save-the-world superhero, although he does play one, Peter Petrelli, on NBC’s hit series “Heroes.” In real life, he’s an ambitious actor and producer whose company, Divide Pictures, just completed a series of five animated holiday shorts available exclusively on the American Eagle Outfitters website. Milo narrated the first episode, “Home for the Holidays”; others feature the voices of Kristen Bell, Lil Jon, Adrianne Palicki, and Pete Wentz, the Fall Out Boy. Milo Ventimiglia Twitter • Order Heroes: Season 3 from Amazon.com BOB ANDELMAN/Mr. MEDIA: I hate to pimp for American Eagle Outfitters, but it seems appropriate here. I have to think that any fan of yours -- and “Gilmore Girls” for that matter -- is going to love “Home for the Holidays” because you play yourself. How much fun was that? MILO VENTIMIGLIA: It was a lot of fun. The “Home for the Holidays” tale was kind of a combination of stories between myself and Adam Green, the writer/director of “Winter Tales.” I was just thinking about different situations I’d find myself in, or that he’d find himself in, and came up with the tale of a guy who’s taking a really miserable plane ride home. ANDELMAN: Now, that’s never happened to you, has it? Order from Amazon.com by clicking the DVD above! VENTIMIGLIA: Not exactly. Like I said, it was a combination of stories between myself and Adam Green. ANDELMAN: How weird was it, though, to find yourself playing yourself and have this kid, I don’t want to give it too much away, but the kid has a little problem with reality, I guess? VENTIMIGLIA: Yeah, I guess, a little bit, a little problem. All he wants to do is relax, but he can’t do that. ANDELMAN: What’s a guy like you doing in the realm of animated holiday shorts? How did that come about? VENTIMIGLIA: It was just another opportunity to work with American Eagle Outfitters. We did one series of shorts with them earlier called “It’s a Mall World,” which I produced, and we just found a great partnership with them. And we pitched the idea of Claymation, and they’re really into it, so we developed a bunch of stories and made these classic tales our own. And what you get is five great shorts. MILO VENTIMIGLIA audio excerpt: "I think in a world where there are people with abilities, I’d take my character’s. He’s a sponge. He can soak up anything. But if I just had any ability, I’d want to be able to teleport. I could go have coffee in Paris if I wanted to and lunch in Italy, then be right back."  ANDELMAN: It’s a lot of fun. How did you get people like Pete Wentz and Kristen Bell to come on board? VENTIMIGLIA: We called up their agents, had excellent relationships, and once you pitched them the idea, they were into it. Kristen Bell, I called myself and said, “I’ve got this thing I’d love for you to work on,” and she was just like, “I’m in. Whatever you want to do, I’m in.” And then the same thing with Lil Jon, Adrianne, and we just kind of threw it out, and they were more than happy, more than excited, to be a part of it. ANDELMAN: What do you want to do next? If you’re kind of playing with this now, I’m guessing you want to go on to bigger and better in production… VENTIMIGLIA: I enjoy it all. I enjoy directing. I enjoy producing. I enjoy acting. And I take the opportunities that are presented to me when they come up. Of course, I’d love to direct a longer format; I’d love to produce a longer format. And there are a bunch of things that I am circling around, but anytime I’m involved in any one of those three, I can direct and you’re producing for my job, I’ll take it. ANDELMAN: We have to talk about “Heroes,” of course, don’t we? We can’t take live calls today, so I did the next best thing, and I solicited questions from friends of mine and fans of yours. VENTIMIGLIA: Alright. ANDELMAN: So these are coming from a few places here. Let’s start with...

Today's Guests: Dominique Debroux and Christopher Henze, documentary filmmakers, 40 Weeks Watch this exclusive Mr. Media interview with 40 Weeks documentary filmmakers Dominique Debroux and Christopher Henze by clicking on the video player above! Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience of future moms and dads... who are just waiting for me to reveal their fate in our next segment … in the NEW new media capital of the world… St. Petersburg, Florida! [ 40 Weeks, a documentary film by Christopher Henze and Dominique Debroux. Download it by clicking on the movie poster above! I was up-close and personal with a pregnancy a little more than 18 years ago when my wife gave birth to our daughter. It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. Thrilling and exhilarating; enervating and exhausting; it packed every emotion I had previously ever experienced into nine months. Sometimes, into a single day. CHRISTOPHER HENZE podcast excerpt: "A pregnancy is completely individual, as unique as a fingerprint. But at the same time, it's 100 percent universal. Every mom, at 12 weeks, is wondering how she's going to go public with the news. They're worrying about miscarriage. Every mom is considering the sex of their baby at 20 weeks. Every mom is wondering when their baby is going to come to viability between 24 and 32 weeks." A generation later, I’ve much enjoyed watching my friends and neighbors across the street, Patrick and Jennifer, going through many of the same twists and turns that we did. That may be why watching a new unscripted documentary film, 40 Weeks, so captured my attention. Married filmmakers Dominque Debroux and Christopher Henze take us on parallel journeys with an array of women all experiencing pregnancy. Some are first-timers, some have already been around the block. At least one finds herself going through it alone, while another gets the devastating news that the cancer she successfully fought back years earlier has returned and will challenge her ability to bring a pregnancy to fruition. DOMINIQUE DEBROUX podcast excerpt: "We gave the moms these great Sony video cameras to do self-filming. The couples would film each other as well as themselves. And every couple of weeks we would send in a verite shooter, someone who--even less obtrusively--would stand there and film. After the first couple of times, the moms forgot she was there. They would be eating dinner and suddenly say, 'Oh, do you want to eat?' 'No, no, I'm not here!'" I know how dealing with one expectant mom could be challenging to say the least; I can’t imagine shepherding an entire platoon through 40 weeks – and the presence of a camera crew. This should be quite interesting. 40 Weeks Website • Facebook • Twitter • Google+ • YouTube • Watch the 40 Weeks trailer Dominique Debroux Twitter • Anna Maria's Foods • Facebook • New York Times review Christopher Henze Twitter • Facebook More baby talk with Mr. Media: • Matthew F. Miller, author, A Dad's Guide to Pregnancy for Dummies (2011) • Ann Lewis Hamilton, author of the novel Expecting (2014) • Julia Roberts, author, Motherhood to Otherhood (2008)     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Eric Wallace, "Eureka," executive story editor,Mister Terrific, comic book writer Writer Eric Wallace talks about Syfy's 'Eureka! (1 of 2)   Order 'Eureka: Season 4.5,' available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD cover above! Mr. Media is recorded live before a studio audience that exists in a timeline that closely parallels your own… in the new new media capital of the world, St. Petersburg, Florida! I would have written this introduction hours ago and had plenty of time to polish it, except – as usual – my wife and daughter insisted I drop everything and watch the latest episode of the Syfy original series “Eureka.” Not that it’s ever a tough sell with me – “Eureka” is, after all one of the smartest and most entertaining shows on TV. I know this cable sweet spot doesn’t attract the word of mouth of shows on the networks or on HBO, but trust me, it’s worth your time. On previous shows, I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with several stars of “Eureka,” including Colin Ferguson, Niall Matter and Neil Grayston. But today us fans of the show get an extra dimension: a behind-the-scenes peek with writer and executive story editor Eric Wallace. The Cast of the Syfy original series 'Eureka' ERIC WALLACE audio excerpt: "We made a bold choice to revamp things. We like what we're doing, we feel strongly about it -- let's stick with it. This is the real universe. We're staying here and not going back. We thought the best way to do it was just not to comment. Syfy said, 'Go for it and don't ever go back.'" DC Comics' Mister Terrific #1, written by Eric Wallace Wallace joined the show in season one as an assistant before joining the writing stuff full time. Now he’s one of the most visible faces of the show’s writing room and his work is featured on the August 8 episode. And when he’s not writing for “Eureka,” Wallace has a second gig as a comic book writer. He’s behind “Mister Terrific,” one of the titles DC Comics is launching as a first issue this fall (Sept. 14). Eric Wallace Blog • Twitter • Eureka Unscripted Writers Blog • Order Eureka Season 4 Order 'Eureka: The Complete Series' (Amazon Exclusive), available from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVDs above! You might also enjoy these interviews with actor on Syfy's Eureka:         Eric Wallace and writers from 'Eureka' at San Diego Comic-Con 2011     Order Will Eisner: A Spirited Life (2nd Edition) by Bob Andelman, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: A.J. Jacobs, author, The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible Order your copy today by clicking the book cover above (2007) A.J. Jacobs must have the best magazine job in America. As editor-at-large for Esquire, here are a few examples of recent stories appearing under his byline: • “My Outsourced Life,” detailing his effort to send his writing assignments to India, • “Googling A.J. Jacobs’s Brain,” about his proposed effort to catalogue his thoughts, dreams, and desires “The Sexiest Woman Alive 2005” and “2006,” in which he spent five months teasing readers as to the identities of Jessica Biel and Scarlett Johansson. And, yes, he was required by law to spend time with each of them, passing off flirtation as research. And then there was his equally painful interview with Eva Longoria of “Desperate Housewives” in which he described each of her body parts in languorous detail. Oh, I could go on and on about the women in his professional life. They also include Mary Louise Parker and Rosario Dawson. But then we’d never get to the reason for this interview, which is to celebrate his hysterical, yet thought-provoking new book, The Year of Living Biblically. A.J. JACOBS audio excerpt: "I was walking around Manhattan in a white robe and sandals carrying a staff. I didn’t have sheep with me most of the time."  BOB ANDELMAN/Mr. MEDIA: I have to start by saying I think you’re a friggin’ genius. Not only do you have an inventive new book and a magazine publisher prompting it and promoting it online and in print, but you’ve also found ways within its own text to subtly plug your last book, The Know-It-All. At least -- I counted -- 13 times directly. A.J. JACOBS: Really? Oh, wow, I didn’t realize I was that good. ANDELMAN: Well, it’s easy. Anyone can figure it out. You actually have an index. There’s an index, and you can go through, and you can count. So directly or indirectly, thirteen plugs, and that, to me, as a guy who’s written a few books, I have to say, I think it’s as brilliant as Nick Tosches thanking himself in the acknowledgements to one of his books because, without him, his books wouldn’t have been possible. JACOBS: That’s true. That’s absolutely true. Yeah, well, that’s nice. Maybe I should have a coupon for the first book in The Year of Living Biblically. ANDELMAN: I think that’s the only thing that’s missing. I think it’s great. I think it’s brilliant. How did The Year of Living Biblically come about? JACOBS: It came about because I grew up in an incredibly secular home. As I say in the book, I am Jewish but in the same way the Olive Garden is Italian. So not very Jewish at all. And I actually thought that religion was gonna wither away, and we’d all live in this sort of scientific world. But, of course, that didn’t happen, and so I became fascinated with was I missing something by not having a spiritual life? But was I missing something essential to being human like someone who’s never heard Beethoven? Or was half the world deluded? So I decided to dive in head first cause that’s what I like to do. So I dive in head first to try to understand the Bible, this most influential book in the world. And I thought the best way to do it would be try to actually get inside the minds of the ancient people and get in the sandals of my forefathers. ANDELMAN: And you did this how? JACOBS: Well, I read the Bible, and I compiled a list of every suggestion, every rule, every commandment in the Bible. And by the end, my list was 72 pages, over 700 rules. Everything from the Ten Commandments we all know, all the famous ones, no lying, no coveting, but it also had dozens, hundreds of obscure rules like don’t wear clothes with mixed fibers and don’t, well, stone adulterers, for instance. So I wanted to try to follow every single one of those. So just commit myself completely to this project. So that’s what I did. ANDELMAN: Now, I’m definitely, I’m about as close to...

Today's Guest: Eddie McClintock, actor, "Warehouse 13" Eddie McClintock was one of those guys who showed up on a lot of TV shows over the years without finding a permanent place to nest and spread his wings—that is, until SyFy chose him to star opposite Joanne Kelly in its signature series, Warehouse 13. The show debuted last summer to high expectations and it quickly delivered, giving the channel’s new spelling of its name a boost and launching a growing fan base for Warehouse 13’s leads, McClintock and Kelly. Tonight, Warehouse 13 returns at 9 p.m. for the opening salvo of its second season on SyFy. But enough about the show. Let’s talk about Eddie McClintock, professional tweeter or twittererererr… This is a man who appreciates the turn his life has taken and isn’t afraid to blurt it out. EDDIE McCLINTOCK podcast excerpt: "Boundaries have never been my strong suit." Order 'Warehouse 13: Complete Season 3' and other W13 DVDs from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD cover above! To wit: “Just want to say THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who has helped make #WAREHOUSE13 a dream come true for me. now...LET'S KICK SOME ASS!! –Eddie” (8 AM Jul 6th) This is also where we can learn what song Eddie is whistling—yesterday, it was “Killer Queen”—or that the cast and crew saw the season two premiere in a real theater, which made us all envious! Eddie McClintock Website • Twitter • Facebook • IMDB • Wikipedia • EDDIE McCLINTOCK: "I want the show to succeed so badly that I act as my own PR person in that regard. I know I come off as, 'Look at me, look at me.' But I've got two sons at home who I need to take care of. I've kicked around Hollywood long enough; I don't want to go out and look for another job. I love my job. I'm desirous of hanging on to it and hanging on to Warehouse 13. That's why I do what I do. And... I have OCD and it's fun."  LISTEN! Earlier Warehouse 13 star interviews on Mr. Media:  • Eddie McClintock September 22, 2009  • Saul Rubinek June 28, 2010 & July 7, 2009 Order 'Will Eisner: A Spirited Life' (2nd Edition) by Bob Andelman, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above! The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Eddie McClintock, actor, "Warehouse 13" I’m a believer in the wonders of SyFy’s new series, “Warehouse 13.” Oh, I won’t lie to you: there were a few moments in the early episodes where my wife, my daughter and I weren’t sure how much longer we’d stick with it. The show took a little time to get its bearings, convincing itself and the rest of us what kind of treasures awaited the patient. But over the course of its last four or five weeks, “Warehouse 13"—the place where America’s greatest secrets are housed, its mysteries answered, its riddles questioned—has captured our loyalty and respect. EDDIE McCLINTOCK podcast excerpt: "Any show needs to find out what it is. Until the actors can get to know who their characters are and who they are to one another, it takes a little while. Take any good show—go back and watch Frasier, Friends, Cheers, Seinfeld—it takes a little while."  One of the big reasons for this—according to the women in my house—is the appeal of Eddie McClintock as Pete Latimer, one half of the Warehouse 13 investigative team. McClintock’s character is part Mulder from “The X-Files,” a dash of Captain Jonathan Archer from “Star Trek Enterprise,” and a measure of the lighter, boyish side of George Clooney in the Oceans movie series. If you haven’t stepped into the Warehouse yet, take advantage of Hulu.com and catch up. The first season finale airs tonight, Thursday, September 22 at 9 p.m., and I know it will be a blast. Eddie McClintock Website • Twitter • Facebook • IMDB • Wikipedia • LISTEN! More Warehouse 13 star interviews on Mr. Media:  • Eddie McClintock July 6, 2010   • Saul Rubinek June 28, 2010 & July 7, 2009 Order Will Eisner: A Spirited Life (2nd Edition) by Bob Andelman, available from Amazon.com by clicking on the book cover above!   The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Trevor Moore, The Whitest Kids U Know Today's Guests: Zach Cregger, Trevor Moore, comedians, "The Whitest Kids U Know," Miss March (2009) They’re “The Whitest Kids U’Know”—and if you don’t know them yet, chances are, you will soon. Zach Cregger, The Whitest Kids U Know The Whitest Kids are Trevor Moore, Sam Brown, Zach Cregger, Timmy Williams, and Darren Trumeter. Their third season of “The Whitest Kids U’Know” TV show is now airing on IFC, the Independent Film Channel, Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. Miss March (Unrated Fully Exposed Edition) starring Trevor Moore and Zach Cregger. Order your copy now by clicking on the DVD cover above! And on March 13, the Whitest Kids star in a new movie, Miss March. Joining me today are two of The Whitest Kids U’Know—and the stars of Miss March—Zach Cregger and Trevor Moore. The Whitest Kids U Know Website • Facebook • Vine • IMDB • Reddit • IFC • YouTube • Wikipedia Trevor Moore Website • Facebook • Twitter • IMDB • Wikipedia Zach Cregger Facebook • Twitter • IMDB • Wikipedia       Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!   The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

"Outlaw Run" by Country Bones, Larry Dennison. Order your copy today by clicking on the record cover above!   Today's Guest: Larry “Bones” Dennison, country singer (2009) Larry “Bones” Dennison has been on the music scene for many years, playing with the likes of Ronnie James Dio and Lita Ford. But tomorrow is a pretty big day for the experienced singer: His band, Country Bones, will be the featured musical guest on Tuesday, April 28 on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” The band’s single "Let It Ride" will also be released on iTunes on Tuesday. A 4-song EP will immediately follow the single. You can also make him your friend on MySpace, Larry Dennison Website • Facebook • Twitter • Wikipedia ] Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Scott Adsit, actor, "30 Rock" Tina Fey, Scott Adsit, 30 Rock, actors, Mr. Media interview (2009) Food for thought: Is Pete Hornberger, producer of “The Girlie Show Starring Tracy Jordan” actually the most normal person on the show’s staff? Or do we only get to see actor Scott Adsit in such short bursts as Tina Fey’s straight man on “30 Rock” that we don’t know the real Pete yet? That’s one of the questions I’ll ask my guest this morning. I’m also curious about his guest role on the most recent episode of “Life On Mars,” in which he plays an actor-slash-bartender. Scott Adsit UCB • The A.V. Club • Wikipedia • IMDB More '30 Rock' cast interviews with Mr. Media: Kevin 'Dotcom' Brown (2010 video) • Grizz Chapman (Audio) • Scott Adsit (2010 Audio) • Keith Powell (Audio) • Patti Lupone (Audio) • Maulik Pancholy (2010 Audio) • Maulik Pancholy (2011 Audio) Mr. Media video interview with 30 Rock's Kevin "Dotcom" Brown in 2012:     Mr. Media video interview with 30 Rock's Kevin "Dotcom" Brown in 2010:     Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!

Today's Guest: Billy Powell, keyboard player, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rossington-Collins Band, Allen Collins Band Order 'Lynyrd Skynyrd - Same Old Blues: Live In London 1975' from Amazon.com by clicking on the DVD cover above! 1983 I remember the day I interviewed the Allen Collins Band. It was May 5, 1983, and it was memorable for many reasons. First, of course, was that I got to speak with Billy Powell, Randall Hall and Leon Wilkeson, former members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, who had reformed, first as the Rossington-Collins Band, then as the Allen Collins Band. Second, the guys in the band were so disarmingly nice. And third, in interviewing the Allen Collins Band, I literally interviewed everyone in the band except their leader, Allen Collins. To this day, I’m not sure where Allen was, but the band’s manager fed me everyone else in the band in the hopes Allen would eventually show up. This was fun, but a little challenging; I was only prepared for Allen. It took a little imagination to think of questions for everyone; amazingly, the conversation went on for 70 minutes before we all acknowledged Allen wasn’t coming and we called it a day. And ultimately my editor decided not to publish a story about the Allen Collins Band without Allen Collins. I was reminded of all this when I heard about the passing of original Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboard player Billy Powell on January 28, 2009. As I understand it, Powell joined Skynyrd first as a roadie. One day, according to legend, singer Ronnie Van Zant heard Powell play “Freebird” on the piano and invited him to join the band as a player. Order '20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of The Rossington Collins Band' from Amazon.com by clicking on the CD cover above! In 1977, Powell was on the chartered plane that crashed and killed Van Zant, as well as Steve Gaines and injured the rest of the band, Powell included. Over the next decade, Powell played in two Skynyrd spinoffs, the Rossington-Collins Band and the Allen Collins Band. And when Lynyrd Skynyrd reunited in 1987, Powell was there. He continued playing with Skynyrd,behind Ronnie Von Zant’s younger brother, Johnny, until Powell’s death. I hope you’ll enjoy this never-before-heard Mr. Media “Lost Tapes” interview with the Allen Collins Band—including the late Billy Powell, recorded on May 5, 1983. Billy Powell Wikipedia Lynyrd Skynyrd Website • Facebook • Twitter • Google+ • MySpace • Wikipedia • Order The Same Old Blues Live - 1975 DVD from Amazon.com Kicking Through the Ashes: My Life As A Stand-up in the 1980s Comedy Boom by Ritch Shydner. Order your copy today by clicking on the book cover above!     The Party Authority in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland!