Tue, 8 August 2017
If filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich were just a successful Hollywood writer/director and actor, it’d be impressive enough. His list of accomplishments, published work as an author, hit films, and awards makes him worthy of a ton of esteem already. But Peter Bogdanovich is clearly more than even that. His stories reflect a rich life surrounded by creativity and the art of theater and filmmaking. And beyond even that, he is a living link to a classic era in Hollywood. An era of great filmmakers like John Ford, Howard Hawkes, Orson Welles and Alfred Hitchcock. As a young aspiring filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich in his 20s arriving in Hollywood Peter was befriended by all these men and Bogdanovich even goes on to make a documentary about John Ford and write books about Orson Welles. He talks about his beginnings, working for Roger Corman and then vaulting to Hollywood household name status after he directs The Last Picture Show which he co-wrote with Larry McMurtry. The film gets 8 Academy Award nominations wins two Academy Awards, the BAFTA award for best writing and on that film Peter Bogdanovich falls in love with a 21 year old Cybil Shepherd who he goes on to marry. That creates personal complications for him at a time of great professional success and he discusses that. On the professional side, from Steve McQueen to Barbara Streisand, much of Hollywood is wanting to work with him after The Last Picture Show. He goes on to next direct What’s Up Doc? starring Barbara Streisand and Ryan O’Neal. And the comedy is a smash hit. He follows that with another smash hit called, Paper Moon, a depression era comedy starring Ryan and Tatum O’Neal. Peter explains how and why Tatum was cast. The 10 year old Tatum goes on to get the Oscar for her performance. His relationship with the stunning leading ladies of two of his films captured headlines and created personal issues…marriages and divorces. But the most tragic romantic involvement of Peter Bogdanovich’s life had to be with actress Dorothy Stratten. After her brutal murder, Peter entered a dark period and withdrew from making movies for a time. He discusses this along with his eventual marriage to Dorothy’s younger sister, Louise. Peter talks about writing a book on Dorothy and the entire episode. He also talks bout his recent work as a filmmaker and directing an award winning documentary on Tom Petty. We wish Peter could have stayed longer with us. It was a pleasure and an honor to have him in. Writer/comedian Laura House and documentary producer/director and comic J.Elvis Weinstein join Mark Thompson for this conversation with Peter Bogdanovich. Here are links to Peter’s books and movies. |
Fri, 28 July 2017
GOP strategist, John Thomas, joins and explains what’s going on with this most unorthodox and, many would say, faltering presidency and administration. John is a staunch conservative pundit and Mark is, well, not. Mark and John discuss the environment, regulation and the undoing of everything Obama related. Then, Derek Thompson (Editor at The Atlantic) stops by to talk about his new book, HITMAKERS The Science of Popularity in an Age of Distraction. What makes something, an app, a piece of music, anything, break through the cultural noise and become a hit? Derek breaks it down in a fascinating conversation. J.Elvis Weinstein (Josh) and Laura House join Mark for the conversation with Derek.
Direct download: John_Thomas_and_Derek_Thompson_.mp3
Category:Talk & Interviews -- posted at: 3:05pm EDT |
Fri, 21 July 2017
Michael Wood Jr. says reforming the police force is simple. Of course, his view of simple and yours might diverge. Michael is part of a movement that is responding to a broken law enforcement model that has led to innocent civilian deaths and cops who are often afraid to patrol. He walks us through his experience and perspective on how to bring on change. More information on Michael Wood Jr.’s movement to reform policing: http://civilianledpolicing.org/ J.Elvis Weinstein joins Mark Thompson for the conversation with Michael. We start with THE FAST 15 during which Michael Shure spends the 15 minutes reflecting on OJ Simpson's parole, Senator John McCain and getting a urine test for a new job. That leads to urine test stories and questions. Comedian/writer Laura House joins us for the very start of the show..We love Laura.
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Thu, 13 July 2017
Sometimes an expert is in your own backyard. Mark's father is not only a constitutional lawyer but he's written a book with an extensive legal analysis of past presidential impeachment proceedings and even the attempted impeachment proceedings to remove presidents. But worried it was one of those shouting match shows on cable television, Mark's father, Arnie, initially rejected our show's invitation to join the show hosted by his own son! After it was explained that we wanted a civilized conversation to address all the impeachment talk, Mark's dad agreed to give us a bit of history and handicap the reality of any actions rising to the level of "high crimes and misdemeanors". The show starts with a a brief introduction and then The Fast 15 with Michael Shure talking politics, Russia and then making way for impeachment talk. Comedians Laura House and J. Elvis Weinstein join Mark Thompson for the conversation with his father, Arnie. Then they share facts about their own parents including one being eerily near JFK's assassination and the other having tutored Bob Dylan. |
Thu, 6 July 2017
Show open with Mark Thompson and J. Elvis Weinstein Fast 15 with political analyst Michael Shure: Mark plays a bit of the MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN song for Michael. The song debuted on July 4th. Michael offers up a different campaign song from a different former presidential candidate, Rick Santorum. Then the two compare facts about the Declaration of Independence. Then, actor, STEPHEN TOBOLOWSKY is our guest in a conversation with Mark and J Elvis. Stephen is a well known character actor and author whose life has been marked by brushes with death and remarkable stories of intuition, drug purchases gone bad, being held hostage at gun point and even rediscovering Judaism. His stories come from both in show business and out. Mark is a fan of both of his two books, Dangerous Animals Club and My Adventures with God. Stephen is the reason the band RADIOHEAD has their name. It comes out of a collaboration with David Byrne that Stephen goes into on the show. Stephen’s world takes in quite a lot and he passes along a few amazing stories and even life lessons in this hour.
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Mon, 26 June 2017
As a creator, writer, director and producer of television and film, Dave Mirkin has made quite an impact. He’s been behind some of the biggest television comedies both from the standpoint of audience and in terms of the impact on the culture of television comedy and entertainment. From The Larry Sanders Show to The Simpsons and Newhart, Dave takes us through a bit of his world as it emerges through a robust career. He talks about his good friend Carrie Fisher and their adventure together on a cruise ship filled with the best and the brightest from the arts and technology. J.Elvis Weinstein joins Mark for this conversation along with comedy writer, Laura House. Mark starts the show with a 3 minute update from last week's story on the police in L.A. and a community outreach young cadet program that has ended up in an arrest of an officer and cadets.
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Sat, 17 June 2017
The show starts with Mark and an LAPD tale ripped from the headlines. Then, political analyst Michael Shure stops by for THE FAST 15 with some extra time spent on stories of illegal gaming and even an Angela Merkel sighting. Then writer, comedian and performer, Laura House ( Laurahouse.com ) sits in with Mark as they speak with a radio reporter turned podcaster, Jo Kwon (from KFI radio in L.A.) The crew talks about pot (the focus of this season of Jo's podcast) and Jo's podcast generally which is called, Jo Kwon Reporting. Finally, a former NFL cheerleader who is now a leading primatologist and expert on Madagascar, Mireya Mayor, stops in with husband , Phil Fairclough, who produces wildlife shows for television and film. It's just a brief visit but enough to get a picture of the vanishing magical habitat that is Madagascar and why it's a tough fight to save it.
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Tue, 6 June 2017
What do Biff Henderson's Golf Cart of Death, Jerry Seinfeld and David Letterman Have in Common? Spike Feresten
Comedy writer, producer and host, Spike Feresten is involved in many things...He was a writer/producer on both Seinfeld and David Letterman's show. He also had his own successful late night talk show on FOX-TV. How and why that show went away is a story that Spike shares on this episode. Spike also co-wrote Bee Movie, the Jerry Seinfeld film that was a huge success. He talks about the process of writing that film and thinking through the bizarre world of a bee, or at least the bees in the movie. This episode was recorded at Mark's home which is up the road from Spike's. The two neighbors meet though on the wild roads of L.A. as is discussed in this episode. Michael Shure begins the episode with THE FAST 15, 15 minutes of politics and other items. This week, Mark apologizes to Michael for diminishing Michael's NHL fan status. The two also talk London terrorism, animals and Wonder Woman (the Jewish superhero)
Direct download: Spike_Feresten_final_edit_June_6.mp3
Category:Talk & Interviews -- posted at: 5:47pm EDT |
Tue, 30 May 2017
Actress Dana Delany on the Magic and Craziness of Hollywood... Plus, The President Gets Back From His Foreign Trip
Dana Delany rocketed to fame on China Beach, landed on People Magazine's Most Beautiful People issue TWICE, both in 1991 and 2011 (and she comments on how ridiculous that whole thing is on some level). Dana has starred in some of the highest profile movie and television projects of the last 25 years. Promoting those projects, the randomness of events associated with decisions on what projects to take on and and be part of is something Dana talks about. The group talks about Dana's trip to Vietnam during the time she's starring in China Beach, a television show about the Vietnam war. And Mark mentions that he's just returned from a trip there but the group makes fun of him and his trip. We get to the insane, hormonal shoot that was TOMBSTONE. Plus, she also gets into the film EXIT TO EDEN directed by Garry Marshall in which she starred. The episode begins with THE FAST 15: POLITICS AND MORE with Michael Shure, who has just returned from 2 weeks covering Washington in Washington DC. Shure isn't bothered by Trump pushing his way past other NATO leaders for a photo opp. He IS bothered by Jared Kushner's back channel attempt to communicate with the Russians BEFORE the incoming administration is in power and Jared's lying on the disclosure form about his Russian meetings at Trump Tower. Finally, Michael makes a pitch for the NHL Stanley Cup Finals. Heather Ankeny and Josh Weinstein join Mark Thompson for the conversation with Dana Delany.
Direct download: Dana_Delaney_Memorial_Day_final_final_final.mp3
Category:Talk Show -- posted at: 4:25pm EDT |
Mon, 22 May 2017
Tyler Cowen is a noted economist and professor at George Mason University in Washington. He has published many books on economics and our culture. His latest is: The Complacent Class: The Self Defeating Quest for the American Dream His book breaks down this moment in time in economic terms. We are not as inventive, entrepreneurial, versatile, daring or even productive as past generations. But within this cultural and economic moment in time there ARE members of society who take chances and make positive economic change happen. J. Elvis Weinstein (Josh) and Heather Ankeny join Mark Thompson for this conversation. Before that, Mark walks us through an Apple lawsuit, Elon Musk's day and a fact about millennials. You can buy Tyler Cowens books by clicking here.
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