The Big Wakeup Call

Film expert and TCM host Alicia Malone returned to our show with her thoughts on the upcoming Oscars and to chat about some of her favorite films.  Watch Alicia on the red carpet during ABC's coverage on Sunday.

New York Times #1 Bestselling Author Mark Greaney joined the show once again to discuss his new novel, the latest in his popular Gray Man series, Mission Critical.  We talked about his travels, his writing process, the surrealism of writing in coffee shops on the road, surrounded by writers who want to be him, and how he stays organized (or not) while working on multiple books at once.

Hollywood gift guru Lash Fary returned to the show for a fun chat about what will be in the "Everyone Wins" nominee gift bags for the Academy Awards this year, including some amazing trips, rejuvenating procedures, carefully-crafted booze and some interesting edibles.

Bill McCormick from the World News Center called in to totally run what had been a very pleasant Friday with stories about slow motion Ebola, homicidal deer, self-sustaining robots feeding on flesh, and satellite-eating robots building a death star.

Four-time James Beard award winner and Travel Channel star Andrew Zimmern returned to the show for the first time since 2016.  After catching up a bit, we discussed his new book (and kid lit debut) AZ and the Lost City of Ophir, featuring a boy, his travels, and of course, his food.

It was fun to catch up with Marion Ross, as she called in to talk about the paperback edition of her memoir My Days: Happy and Otherwise.  There's really no better way to begin your day than having Mrs. Cunningham call you "my dear."

Garrett Morris called in to talk about his new movie Granddaddy Day Care and share stories about working in Chicago, his time on SNL and owning a comedy club.

James Rollins returned to the show to discuss his new book, Crucible, which explores humanity's potential extinction at the hands of artificial intelligence. Despite James frightening the you-know-what out of me while describing his book, we managed to have a brief discussion of baseball and favorite local roast beef restaurants while also becoming best friends.

It's The Big Wakeup Call's 2018 End-of-the-Year Show, celebrating yet another year of how we inexplicably continue to be allowed to do this show. Ryan invited many of his favorite guests to call in, and those who actually returned his call were Scott Aukerman, Ben Gleib, Dylan Brody, Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan, and Bill McCormick! If you'd like to skip ahead to the interviews, you could try:

Scott Aukerman 5:22

Ben Gleib 12:55

Dylan Brody 19:10

Heather & Jessica 27:00

Bill McCormick 35:00

Wolfgang Puck called into the show for a fun chat about opening new restaurants, his new online Masterclass series, cooking with seasonal ingredients, and the first time he knew he could make it as a pro chef. I also shamelessly ask him about opening a new place in my neighborhood.