Las Vegas Backstage Talk

Ventriloquist Terry Fator

July 30, 2015

Audio of show is posted below except on Internet Explorer

Terry Fator 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Singing impressionist/ventriloquist Terry Fator guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.

In 2014, “America’s Got Talent” winner Terry Fator celebrated his 5th year of the award-winning show at The Mirage, where he brings to life a hilarious cast of characters with his unique brand of entertainment combining singing, comedy and unparalleled celebrity impressions. With comedic banter and amazing vocal impressions of musical superstars such as Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Tony Bennett, Toby Keith, Roy Orbison and more, “Terry Fator: The VOICE of Entertainment” is a one-of-a-kind experience.

When audiences last saw Terry Fator, his loveable sidekick Winston the Impersonating Turtle was looking for a new gig on the Las Vegas Strip. Fast forward to 2014 and Winston has gone Hollywood in the updated version of “Terry Fator: The VOICE of Entertainment.” Winston leaves the bright lights of Sin City for big budget movies in sunny California, tasking Fator to audition a cast of characters to find Winston’s replacement as his right-hand man…er…turtle. Those auditioning include Vikki “The Cougar,” country legend Walter T. Airdale, Duggie Scott Walker, Julius, Emma Taylor, the world’s greatest Elvis impersonator Maynard Tompkins and Wrex the Crash Test Dummy.

0:00

Tommy Davidson, Kevin Meaney

July 23, 2015

Audio posted below except on Internet Explorer

Tommy Davidson1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comedians Tommy Davidson and Kevin Meaney guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.

Tommy will be appearing at Treasure Island with David Alan Grier on July 24.

Tommy’s elasticity as a performer has led him through a diverse array of roles including the lead in the Disney animated series The Proud Family and his hilarious character in Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls. Tommy has starred in four successful Showtime specials to date (On Strength of New York, Illin’ in Philly and Takin’ it to DC and Chocolate Sundaes).  Most recently, Tommy has been working on the just-renewed second season of his hit series, Black Dynamite, Adult Swim’s #1 top-rated show. Next up on the feature film front is the extraordinary story of the international celebrity Sammy Davis Jr. whose outsize talent couldn’t save him from himself in, “Deconstructing Sammy,” which Tommy bought the rights to last year and is in development on.

Known for the indelible characters he created on the iconic variety show and spot-on impersonations from iconic figures like Sammy Davis Jr. and President Obama, Tommy is truly the ultimate all-around performer. Selling out every venue in which he performs, Tommy Davidson promises an unforgettable in-studio of incisive wit, hilarious panel, memorable takeaways and big laughs.

Kevin Meaney

Kevin Meaney.

 

 

 

 

 

Kevin Meaney guests on LVBST radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.

Kevin has been one of the country’s most popular standup comedians for more than 25 years. Tom Shales of the Washington Post said, “Picture the precocious love child of Jonathan Winters and Ethel Merman and you have some idea of Kevin Meaney’s act.”

His first HBO special in 1986 catapulted him to the forefront of the comedy scene. In 1987, Kevin made his debut appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and was invited by Johnny to join the guest panel. Since his first appearance, Kevin has returned to the show a dozen times. He was a special guest on Saturday Night Live and has appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, Regis, Oprah and Late Night with Conan O’Brien.

Kevin also starred in the CBS sitcom Uncle Buck which ran for a full season. In addition, he has done numerous guest appearances on both sitcoms and dramas. He also had a featured role in the movie Big.

Known for drawing upon his family relationships for much of his material, Kevin has made such lines as “That’s not Right” and “We’re Big Pants People” and “We’re going to lose the house” (delivered in the tremulous voice of his mother) catch phrases for hilarity. An evening with Kevin is a trip to the funhouse and one laugh escalates into a bigger one and good-hearted humor prevails.

Kevin is also a successful writer and producer. He wrote and produced and starred in a one-man autobiographical play titled Wedding Vows in Vegas which premiered at the prestigious U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado before going on to
a successful summer run in Boston at the Hasty Pudding Theatre. Steve Martin called it, “The most innovative, heart-rending and funny show I’ve seen in along, long time.”

In 2002, Kevin moved home to NY from Los Angeles and began working on Broadway in the hit musical, Hairspray. Hairspray
has been a life changing experience for Kevin and during an interview on XM Radio’s Stand Up Sit Down on May 28, 2008, Kevin told the host that he was gay.
It’s been a big transition but he’s seemed to find humor in how this all happened.

So, Big Pants People of the world unite… your leader is here,his name is Kevin Meaney and he’s on a mission of mirth.

Kevin is currently living in New York with his daughter.

0:00

Don McLean, Judy Collins

July 16, 2015

Audio posted below except on Internet Explorer

Dated: 21/10/2012 Keith Perry exclusive images of Don McLean, one of America's most enduring singer-songwriters who is forever associated with his classic hits "American Pie" and "Vincent," pictured performing at The Sage Gateshead

Legendary artists Don McLean and Judy Collins guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong to promote their upcoming appearance performing their timeless classic American hits at The Orleans Showroom July 18 and 19.

In 1969, McLean recorded his first album “Tapestry” in Berkeley, Calif. Student riots were going on outside the studio as Don was singing “And I Love You So” inside. The album was first released by Mediarts and achieved commercial success.

His transition to international stardom began with the release of “American Pie” in 1971. A month later, McLean’s song first played on New York’s WNEW-FM and WPLJ-FM to mark the closing of The Fillmore East, the famous New York concert hall. Thirty years later, the song was voted # 5 in a poll of the “365 Songs of the Century” compiled by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts.

In 2004, McLean was inducted into The Songwriters Hall of Fame and has charted 40 gold and platinum records during his career.  For more go to http://www.don-mclean.com/

Judy Collins

boho

The Award-winning singer-songwriter Collins’ rendition of Joni Mitchell’s, “Both Sides Now” from her landmark 1967 album, “Wildflowers,” has been entered into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Her version of “Send in the Clowns,” a ballad written by Stephen Sondheim for the Broadway musical “A Little Night Music,” won “Song of the Year” at the 1975 Grammy Awards.

In 2008, contemporary and classic artists such as Rufus Wainwright, Shawn Colvin, Arlo Gutherie, Joan Baez and Leonard Cohen honored her legacy with the album “Born to the Breed: A Tribute to Judy Collins.” For more go to http://judycollins.com/index1.php

0:00

 

Comic Steven Wright

July 9, 2015

Audio posted below except on Internet Explorer
Steven Wright 011Steven Wright1 1-4-14

Academy Award®-winner and Grammy® Award nominee Steven Wright guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong. 

After launching his comedy career at the age of 23 as a regular performer at Ding Ho’s Comedy Club and Chinese Restaurant in Cambridge, Mass., Wright got big break and was booked on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.” Following his performance, Wright was invited to return to the Tonight Show the following week for a rare back-to-back appearance. His new kind of comedy and lackluster voice caught the comedy world’s attention, and he later appeared on “Saturday Night Live” and “Late Night with David Letterman.” As his fame grew, he starred in two HBO specials — “A Steven Wright Special” and “Wicker Chairs and Gravity.”

In 1985, Wright received a Grammy® nomination for his debut album, “I Have a Pony.” Twenty-two years later, he won a second Grammy® nomination for its sequel, “I Still Have a Pony.” Following his second nomination, he was the first inductee into The Boston Comedy Hall of Fame.

In 2011, Wright voiced the character Danny on an episode of the animated series, “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” and guest starred on the hit series “Louie.”  Wright returns to The Orleans Showroom July 9 & 10, with his trademark wit, absurdist one-liners, monotone voice and deadpan delivery. 

Showtime each evening is 8 p.m.  For more about Steven Wright: www.stevenwright.com

0:00

Rita Rudner, Carl Labove

July 2, 2015

Audio is posted below except on Internet Explorer

Rita Rudner2013-04-02 Rita Rudner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Award-winning comedian Rita Rudner, and Comic Carl Labove guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.

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.

Award-winning comedienne Rita Rudner returns to Harrah’s Las Vegas. VIP tickets include a Meet & Greet as well as a commemorative photo.

BUY TICKETS

Carl Labove

Carl L

Carl Labove does a Backstage Interview with Comedian Michele LaFong.

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.

0:00