Las Vegas Backstage Talk

Monthly Column-Gaming Today/ Rita Rudner & Adam Carolla by Michele LaFong

Gaming Today Rita Rudner and Adam Carolla“Getting Personal with the Stars”

By Michele LaFong

“Gaming Today” Column/Adam Carolla and Rita Rudner by Michele LaFong

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by Michele LaFong

Adam Carolla and Rita Rudner are featured in this month’s edition of “Getting Personal with the Stars” Column in Gaming Today.  Radio Personality / Comedian, Adam was promoting his Reunion Tour with Dr. Drew on March 29, at “House of Blues,” at Mandalay Bay.  Carolla, was first most known for “The Man Show,” on Comedy Central, and “Loveline,” with Dr. Drew Pinsky.   He now hosts The Adam Carolla Show,  which set the record as the “most downloaded podcast” as judged be Guinness World Records, and after interviewing him…I can see why.

We covered everything from his humble beginnings.. working as a carpenter, carpet cleaner, and construction worker, to bombing in comedy clubs.

Many questions were answered like how he got to be on the Board for “The Marijuana Policy Project,” when it turned out he doesn’t even smoke marijuana!

Adam Carolla was honest, funny, unpredictable, and did not disappoint.  His persona was exactly the same off camera, as on.  I’m really looking forward to seeing his show on Friday.

Next up was Comedian Rita Rudner.  She too was very similar to her persona on television. Rita was promoting her upcoming show at The Venetian on April 2, where she performs dates intermittently, throughout the year.

She has written four books, Her play “Tickled Pink,” based on her novel that will be debuting sometime in 2013.  It is based on her own experiences as a female comedian coming of age in the 80’s. There are three jokes a minute.

“The 80’s were a very important time for comedy.  Johnny Carson was my favorite host.  He was always very friendly to me and would come into the make-up room and say “hi.”  He was always a very sweet guy. Jay Leno, and Letterman are really terrific at what they do, but they are more of a comedian first, and an interviewer second.

These days, working for herself is very important to Rita.  “Creative Freedom is the most important thing when you are a creative person. I love doing stand-up and writing because no one tells you what to wear, or what to say, what order to do things…no one is telling me what to do.  That’s what I love so much about this profession.

When asked if she has trouble remembering lines she responded:  “Not only do I remember the jokes, but I remember where I was when I thought of the joke…as I’m telling it…but even if I make everyone laugh for the hour and a half, and everyone has a good time, I try to at least try 2-3 new avenues of material at each show, or I’ll have felt that I let myself down.

I always do questions and answers at the end of my show.  I answer the questions honestly, but I also bring in the jokes because I want to be entertaining.  I sometimes bring out my joke notebook, and ask the audience if I can try these new jokes out on them.  They like it and it helps me because they feel like they are in on something, and they are in on something.”

Do you think women in comedy, have it harder?  “Of course!” She responded.

Women have to be twice as good at everything, because the positions of power are usually in the hands of men, and being a stand-up comedian..is certainly a position of power.

I love female comics because they all so unique, and there are so many male comics, that sometimes you can get them confused, but I think every female comic has a very individual voice.  However, I don”t watch any comics really because I’m so busy with my daughter’s piano, tennis, and guitar, etc. and I work.  I do watch sports because it gets me away from things… and I love to watch other people exercise!  I’m hoping it will get on me.

I love living in Vegas because my audience has jet-lag…and I’m fully awake.  I really like doing my own show at The Venetian.  It’s relaxing. I don’t really like when you’re on television, and you’re under a microscope, and you have to rush it in five minutes and be as funny as you’ve ever been.

Even when I’m traveling…the lights are different, the sound is different. The Venetian is like my living room. I know what to expect. And that’s my favorite when I’m in my room in LV, and the audience has come to see me.”

Rita does a Meet & Greet before and after with her VIP audience. “I love to meet the people that I’m going to make laugh in a few minutes, and it makes me less nervous to talk to the people before the show.  It makes it a better experience.  Las Vegas is a Special Place, and I want to give the audience a Special Time.”

Adam Carolla, and Rita Rudner’s full interviews will be aired on Las Vegas Backstage Talk Radio Show on March 28, from 6pm-7:00pm PST on 1230AM in Las Vegas, and The Web. lasvegasbackstagetalk.com.

Both Adam and Rita will be featured in Michele LaFong’s Monthly Syndicated Column, “Las Vegas Backstage Talk,” in Casino Player Magazine. (CP Magazine.)

 

Adam Carolla, Rita Rudner, Carl Labove-LV Backstage Talk w/Comedian Michele LaFong

March 28, 2013  6pm-7pm PST 1230AM in LV & The Web

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Adam Carolla, Rita Rudner, and Carl Labove are this week’s guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk Radio Show with Comedian Michele LaFong on 1230AM KLAV in Las Vegas and The Web.

Adam is a Radio personality, television host, comedian, and actor. He hosts The Adam Carolla Show, a talk show distributed as a podcast which set the record as the “most downloaded podcast” as judged by Guinness book of World Records- Carolla was best Known for co-hosting The Man Show on Comedy Central.

REUNION TOUR Adam Carolla  w/ Dr Drew @ House of Blues in Mandalay Bay H &C Friday,

March 29 @ 8pm  For more about Adam www.adamcarolla.com 

Rita Rudner

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Rita Rudner guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele Lafong on 1230AM KLAV in Las Vegas, and The Web.  Rita explains what is most important to her these days in her very long career in comedy.

Known for her joke writing, with one liners like: “My mother buried three husbands – and two of them were only napping.”

Rita shares her method and inspiration of her day to day life.

Since 2001, Rudner has performed almost exclusively in Las Vegas, selling over one million tickets. She moved to a larger theater at The Venetion  in January 2011. She also created and hosted the syndicated improvisational comedy show Ask Rita, which mimicked the format of a talk/advice show. For this she received a Gracie Allen Award from the American Women in Television and Radio.  In May 2009 she performed for Senator Harry Reid and President, Barack Obama, at Caesars Palace, alongside Bette Midler and Sheryl Crow; a video of some of this performance can be found on Rita’s Facebook  page or YouTube.

Rita Rudner and Adam Carolla were featured in Comedian Michele LaFong’s “Getting Personal with the Stars” Syndicated Column in Gaming Today .

Rita Rudner at Venetion April 2  ritarudner.com 

Carl Labove

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Carl Labove does a Backstage Interview with Michele LaFong that is filled with surprises!  It promises not to disappoint.

LaBove was born in Fort Worth Texas, grew up a military child, which required his family to move all around the world during his youth. At age nineteen he discovered stand up comedy with the man who would become his best friend, Sam Kinison. Together the two founded a Rock & Roll Comedy concept that would earn Billboard Magazines “Top Tour” honors by selling out theaters across the country for 5 straight years.

Skyrocketing to the biggest performance stages in the country as a founding member of “The Outlaws” in the late 80’s, and early 90’s, Carl would establish himself as an unparalleled comedic force during the biggest comedy boom of the last fifty years. Twenty years after “The Outlaws,” Carl continues to sellout venues and amaze audiences from coast to coast. With credits that include The Tonight Show, HBO, Showtime, two comedy CD’s, a concert DVD for Journey Records and much more. There is no end in sight for Carl.

Carl will be appearing at The Laugh Factory at The Tropicana in LV till March 31.  8:30pm & 10:30pm

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Kevin Nealon, Jen Kirkman-LV Backstage Talk with Comedian Michele LaFong

March 21, 2013- 6pm-7pm PST 1230AM in LV and The Web
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Kevin Nealon returns on Las Vegas Backstage Talk Radio Show with Comedian Michele LaFong on 1230AM KLAV in Las Vegas and The Web.
Former Star of “SNL,” sat down with Comedian Michele LaFong after one of his “sold out” shows at he Orleans Showroom, in August, at The Orleans H & C.
Kevin, is mostly known for “Subliminal Man,” “Hans and Franz,” Weekend Update, and he just finished his last season on Showtime Series “Weeds.” For more on Kevin Nealon: www.kevinnealon.com

Kevin Nealon, will soon be featured in Michele LaFong’s Monthly Syndicated “Las Vegas Backstage Talk” column in Casino Player Magazine.

Jen Kirkman

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 Jen Kirkman speaks to Michele LaFong about having just performing her stand-up show along with other writers, and cast members of “After Lately.”

Jen is a regular on “Chelsea Lately” & “After Lately” was in Vegas on March 9 & 10 at The Suncoast Casino for a “Comedians of Chelsea Lately” stand-up show.  Jen also has a hilarious book coming out in April titled, i can barely take care of myself: tales from a happy life without kids.  For more about Jenn: jenkirkman.com/bio

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Comedian Gallagher, Monti Rock III-LVBST w/Comedian Michele LaFong

March 14, 2013- 6-7pm PST-1230AM in LV & The Web

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Comedian Gallagher returns in an exclusive behind the scenes interview with Comedian Michele LaFong on Las Vegas Backstage Talk Radio Show on 1230AM in Las Vegas and The Web.

Since Gallagher’s last visit not so long ago, he announced that it’s not only his National Geiko Commercial that you will see him on. In fact Gallagher is on his way to NY to Star in a Comedy Pilot Series, named “Stool Pidgeons.” “It’s a bit like “Cheers” but further out,” said Gallagher.

After 35 years of non-stop touring, America’s favorite touring comedian is hanging up his Sledge-O-Matic…but not after one last tour. Gallagher’s Last Smash will be his way of saying ‘Thank You’ to his massive audience who has stood by and supported him throughout his career. From the early days of the Comedy Store and the Tonight Show, through all 14 Showtime specials, and his 3,000+ shows – you’ve been with him.See the tour schedule for a show near you. Dates are being added daily.

Gallagher will be featured in Michele LaFong’s Syndicated Monthly Column, “Las Vegas Backstage Talk” in Casino Player Magazine, June & July editions.  Gallagher’s Backstage Videotaped Interviews are posted on casinocenter.com, and lasvegasbackstagetalk.com.

For more about Gallagher:   www.gallaghersmash.com Official site

Monti Rock III

Monti Rock III returns on Las Vegas Backstage Talk Radio Show with Comedian Michele LaFong on 1230AM in Las Vegas and The Web.

Monti is “finally “hangin’ up his dancing shoes,” at age 75, and concentrating solely on being the biggest and the baddest Gossip Columnist in Las Vegas.

MONTI ROCK III AKA DISCO TEX AND THE SEX-O-LETTES is iconic, legendary, unpredictable, an enigma, undefinable, and a legend in his own mind. The media is having a field day rediscovering Monti – See the Vanity Fair issues for December 2009 and February 2010. Vanity Fair refers to Mr. Rock as one of the architecs of the 1960s; a little known fact is that Monti was THE hairstylist, and was the ceator of the blunt cut and asymetrical style, that has remained in vogue for all of these years. His hair styles appeared on the greatest models and magazine covers of the 1960s.

His television appearances from that era was topped by his multitude of appearances on the Johnny Carson Show (a total of 84 times!!!!) and you would never forget his appearance in the cult classic film, “Saturday Night Fever.”

For more about Monti Rock III, click here.

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Larry Gatlin, Ritch Shydner-LVBST w/Comedian Michele LaFong

March 7, 2013- 6pm-7pm PST 1230AM in LV, & The Web

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Larry Wayne Gatlin is an American country music singer/songwriter. He is perhaps best known for teaming up with his brothers Steve and Rudy in the late 1970s, becoming one of country music’s most successful acts of the 1970s and 1980s. Gatlin has had a total of 33 Top 40 singles (combining his solo recordings and those with his brothers). As their fame grew, the band became known as Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers.

Larry will soon be featured in Comedian Michele LaFong’s Syndicated Monthly Column “Las Vegas Backstage Talk” in Casino Player Magazine.

Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers will be appearing at The South Point Showroom, at The South Point H & C March 8-10 at 7:30pm

For more about The Gatlin Brothers: http://www.gatlinbrothers.com/

Ritch Shydner (Backstage Interview)

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Comedian- Writer- Actor Ritch Shydner guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk Radio Show with Comedian Michele LaFong on 1230AM in Las Vegas and The Web. In a backstage interview, Ritch shared his stories of struggle, and successes in his long career.

Late Night with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with both Johnny Carson and Jay Leno. He did an HBO half-hour special, “One Night Stand.”

He played Al Bundy’s co-worker on “Married with Children”, and made guest appearances on many other TV shows, such as “Designing Women” and “Roseanne.”

Ritch was able to translate his modest success on TV into an obscure film career, appearing in Steve Martin’s, “Roxanne,” and Eddie Murphy’s, “Beverly Hills Cop II,” before moving on to minor roles on smaller pictures.

Ritch wrote for sitcoms such as “Roseanne”, “The Jeff Foxworthy Show,” and HBO’s “The Mind of the Married Man.”

Ritch wrote material for Jeff Foxworthy’s Grammy nominated comedy albums, “Totally Committed,” and “Big Fun.” He also wrote for Ron White and Jay Leno.

In 2010 Ritch produced and performed in an award winning documentary on the world of stand-up comedy, “I Am Comic”.

Jay Leno: “And remember, Shydner, don’t tell anyone you wrote those jokes for me.”

Jerry Seinfeld: “Ritch Shydner is a terrific comedy writer and definitely one of the good guys.”

Jeff Foxworthy: “Ritch helped me write two albums, both of which were nominated for Grammys. I’ve always thought that he was one of the best stand-ups ever.”

Bill Maher: Back in the day, in the dingy ratskellers in which we learned our craft, Ritch Shydner was always the comic the other comics came into the room to watch, because he was the funniest. That hasn’t changed, and I’m afraid neither have the ratskellers.”

Ritch Shydner Laugh Factory at Tropicana through March 10, 8:30pm & 10:30pm

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