Las Vegas Backstage Talk

Congratulations Judy Tenuta!

 October 25, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Las Vegas Walk of Stars will honor legendary comedian, actress, author and “Love Goddess”, Judy Tentua  with the 85th star dedication ceremony on Wednesday November 7 , 2018 at 2:00pm in the Mona mi Gabi restaurant at Paris Hotel and Casino located at 3655 South Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nevada.  The star will be placed in the sidewalk at a later date.

 

Judy Tenuta, has been a frequent quest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.  You’ve seen Judy appear in shows in Las Vegas and on stage and television from “The Vagina Monologues” to “Menopause the Musical.” Her stand-up specials have aired on Showtime, HBO, and Lifetime. Judy was featured as the national spokesperson for a series of Diet Dr. Pepper commercials.

 

The self-described “Love Goddess” and “Aphrodite Of The Accordion” has made hundreds of guest and co-hosting appearances on such popular television shows as “The View,” “Late Night With David Letterman,” “Larry King Live,” “Entertainment Tonight,” and “Comics Unleashed.”

 

Judy is a two-time Grammy Award Nominee. Her comedy albums include “Attention Butt-Pirates and Lesbetarians! ,” and “In Goddess We Trust,” Judy was the first female stand-up comic to win “Best Female Comedian” at the American Comedy Awards.

 

Judy has costarred in several independent films, including “Going Down in Lala Land”, “Gibsonburg”, and most recently, “Garlic and Gunpowder”. You’ve also seen her on “General Hospital,” “Corey In The House,” and alongside Hillary Duff in “Material Girls.”

 

Hurray For Marriage Equality! Judy Tenuta, The Love Goddess, is an ordained minister of Judyism and is available for same sex marriages! For availabilities, bookings, and more

 

“We are very proud to honor  Judy Tentua, said Bob Alexander, Founder of the Las Vegas Walk of Stars.

 

The Las Vegas Walk Of Stars will be replacing these stars soon; Bobby Darin, Dick Feeney, Abel Quinonez, and Pedro Haces Burba, ‘Don Bull’.

Bill Maher, “Tommy Lama” (Tommy Savitt)

June 14, 2018

Audio of interviews are posted below

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comedian Bill Maher, and Tommy Savitt, the comedian behind “Tommy Lama”, guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.

Bill has set the boundaries of political humor on what is just about allowed on American television, yet still manages to push the envelope on a frequent basis. His combination of unflinching honesty and blunt observations have earned him a staggering 23 Emmy nominations, a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, and he will be showing off his stuff as he hits the Terry Fator Theatre at The Mirage in Las Vegas , NV , June 15 & 16.

Particularly known for his hugely critical views on religion, Maher’s humor squares to the left of center, and has more often than not set his cross-hairs on the right-wing political movement (particularly the Tea Party), and shows a vociferous support for universal health care, same-sex marriage and environmentalism. However, since the events of 9/11, he has supported racial profiling at transport hubs, and is a supporter of gun rights.

As well as his long-running television panel show Real Time With Bill Maher, he is still a keen participant on the political comedy circuit, often performing over 60 dates per year.

Comedian Tommy Savitt as Tommy Lama

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Self-proclaimed Brooklyn Life Coach Stand-Up Comedian Tommy Lama, brings his unmatched and unorthodox wisdom to the Stratisphere where he delivers this original comedy act to his “disciples” five nights a week. It is a parody of the motivational and spiritual speakers seeking to give his audience a backwards education in enlightenment. Equipped with a number of instruments, tarot cards, and his own custom-made underwear for protection when not in his presence, Tommy Lama’s new spiritually healing hilarity shows at The Dragon Room, inside The Stratosphere.  (Dark Wednesdays & Thursdays)

Tommy Savitt, the comedian behind the Tommy Lama, is a multi-award winning comedian with 15 years of performing experience. Originally a lawyer, Tommy Savitt gave up his career in Real Estate Law to pursue stand-up comedy and acting in productions of Shakespeare in New York City. He has performed on the radio for the Bob & Tom Show as well as Blue Collar Radio. He has also been around the world performing for troops. Tommy Savitt’s alter-ego, The Tommy Lama, has proven a huge hit. 

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Kevin Cronin, Little Anthony

June 14, 2018

 Audio of interviews will be posted below

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Iconic Lead Singer of REO Speedwagon Kevin Cronin guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.

Loosely formed in 1967 playing frat parties at the University of Illinois, REO Speedwagon signed with Epic Records in 1971. The band released nine albums throughout the ‘70s, culminating with the twice-platinum “You Can Tune a Piano but You Can’t Tuna Fish” in 1978.

REO Speedwagon exploded to the top of the charts, setting the bar for other rock bands with their 1980 release “Hi Infidelity.” The colossal hit spent 15 weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200, selling more than 10 million copies. The group’s most commercially successful album, it remained on the charts for 65 weeks and spawned the #1 single “Keep On Loving You” as well as hits “Take It on the Run,” “In Your Letter” and “Don’t Let Him Go.”

The band continued releasing hit albums into the ‘80s, including 1984’s “Wheels Are Turnin’ and its #1 single “Can’t Fight This Feeling.” REO Speedwagon released “Find Your Own Way Home,” their 15th studio album, in 2007. Two years later, they teamed up with fellow Midwestern rockers Styx for the single “Can’t Stop Rockin’,” which became the title track for the groups’ hit summer tour with .38 Special.

The current lineup includes founding member Neal Doughty, iconic lead singer Kevin Cronin, longtime bass player Bruce Hall, former Ted Nugent guitarist Dave Amato and former Wang Chung drummer Bryan Hitt.

Little Anthony & The Imperials

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Little Anthony guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.

Little Anthony and The Imperials are appearing at The Orleans Showroom on June 16 & 17, at 8pm.

They were one of the finest vocal groups to emerge from the talent-rich New York scene. Moreover, they enjoyed unusual longevity for an act of that type, having hits in both the Doo-Wop Fifties and the soul-music Sixties. They outlasted their peers by virtue of “Little Anthony” Gourdine’s powerful, beseeching vocals and the consummate professionalism of the Imperials, who mastered a broad range of material and knew how to work a stage.

“Tears on My Pillow,” their first single as the Imperials, was released on End Records. This classic vocal-group ballad was one of the biggest hits of 1958, reaching #2 on the R&B chart and #4 on the pop chart. Little Anthony and the Imperials were suddenly stars. The story might have ended there, with “Tears On My Pillow” fondly recalled as a vocal-group classic from one of the many one-hit wonders from that era. In fact, some of their followup singles did flop, strong as they were. But the group rebounded with an uptempo number, “Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko Bop,” that capitalized on a dance craze.

Other hits include “Hurt So Bad,” and “Going Out of my Head.”

They received the Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation and have been inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. In 2008, Little Anthony and the Imperials released You’ll Never Know, an album of new songs and rerecorded oldies to celebrate their 50th anniversary as a group.

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Jo Koy, Gregory Popovich

 May 31, 2018

Audio of interviews are posted below

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comedian Jo Koy guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.

From filling clubs across the nation to being seen weekly as a regular guest on Chelsea Lately, Jo Koy has come a long way from his modest start performing at a Las Vegas coffee house. His infectiously explosive energy on stage, insightful jokes and family inspired humor cross all boundaries and led Daily Variety to name him one of the “10 Comics to Watch”.

For more about Jo Koy, click HERE.

You can catch Jo Koy at Treasure Island

Treasure Island Theatre, Friday June 8th 9:00pm

World Famous Popovich Comedy Pet Theater

Gregory Popovich guests on LVBST with Comedian Michele LaFong.

Comedy Pet Theater features an amazing cast of housecats, dogs, parrots. even geese and mice! Critics describe it as a unique blend of comedy, world-champion juggling, and the extraordinary talents of more than 30 performing pets. Gregory Popovich has rescued the animals from shelters all over the country and transformed them into Las Vegas stars! Popovich was a Finalist on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” and is a fifth-generation circus performer who learned early on how to develop strong bonds with animals. He released his first book “You CAN Train Your Cat” in late 2009 and has been featured on The Tonight Show, David Letterman and in USA Today, just to name a few. Comedy Pet Theater performs daily at The V-Theater Planet Hollywood H&C . See below for schedule or for more information call (702) 260-7200

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For more info about Popovitch, CLICK HERE!

Otis Williams, Olate Dogs

May 10, 2018

Audio of interviews are posted below

Otis Williams, original founding member of The Temptations, and Nick Olate & Olate Dogs, NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” winner 2012, guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.

You can catch Otis Williams w/ The Temptations at The Orleans
Orleans Showroom, May 19 & 20  at 8:00pm

For more than 40 years, The Temptations have shined as pioneers of popular music, with decades of smash hits and sold-out performances. An essential component of the original Motown machine invented by Berry Gordy, The Temptations began their musical career in Detroit in the early ‘60s. In 1964, Smokey Robinson wrote and produced “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” the first major hit for The Temptations. An avalanche of hits followed, including “My Girl,” “It’s Growing,” “Since I Lost My Baby,” “Get Ready,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” “Beauty Is Only Skin Deep” and “I Wish It Would Rain.”

Hear the stories behind the hits in this very candid interview.

For more about Otis Williams, click here.

For more about The Temptations, click here.

NBC’s America’s Got Talent Winner 2012 – “Olate Dogs”

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For more about Olate Dogs, click here.

Live in-studio, on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong, are Richard and son, Nick Olate, and four of the Star Olate Dogs that won the million dollar prize this year on NBC’s America’s Got Talent.

Richard Olate is from Chile South America. He is the second youngest in a family of 22 children. His family was very poor. There were many times when they would not have enough to eat for days at a time. His story is not a sad one though. At age 12 he got a dog from the street. He loved the dog and found that he might have a feel for training. There are many dogs roaming the streets in Chile, so guess what……?  When he had put together a routine, he, with his mother’s help, booked his amateur act at schools and small circuses. He quickly got a regular performance schedule but needed more help. His older brother soon joined him and together they decided they could do something special. They were right! They worked hard creating a very unique dog act. They spent the next few years traveling with different circuses throughout South America and in 1989 they premiered in the United States of America. They have been here ever since. Richard has appeared with his dogs in many television shows, made commercials, been in a movie, and worked in stage, night club and circus performances. A true testament that, no matter where you come from, hard work and determination makes dreams come true.

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Paula Poundstone, Jay and The Americans

April 19, 2018

Audio of interviews are posted below

Paula Poundstone (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paula Poundstone, and Jay and The Americans, guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.

Paula Poundstone is appearing at The California Theatre on April 21 at 8pm for a benefit for the San Jose Opera House .

Poundstone began nurturing her stand-up comedy talent in 1979 on the Boston comedy scene before moving to San Francisco. She starred in multiple HBO comedy specials and appeared on “Saturday Night Live.” Poundstone received a Cable ACE Award for a comedy special for her one-hour HBO special “Cats, Cops, and Stuff.” She received her second Cable ACE Award for her self-titled HBO talk show series.

Continuing with many successes throughout the 1990s, Poundstone starred in “The Paula Poundstone Show” on ABC and many other television appearances, including an HBO Special. Poundstone is the recipient of an Emmy Award for her field pieces on the PBS program “Life & Times.”

For more about Paula, click HERE

Jay and The Americans

 

 

 

 

 

Jay and The Americans are appearing at The Golden Nugget on April 20.

With three original members – Sandy Yaguda (“Deane”), Howie Kirschenbaum (“Kane”), and Marty Kupersmith (“Sanders”) – plus the addition of Jay Reincke, Jay and the Americans have recreated the authentic sound of the ‘60s.

Jay and the Americans hits include She Cried, Come A Little Bit Closer, Wax Museum, Hushabye, Walkin’ in the Rain and This Magic Moment.

In 2002, Jay and the Americans were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.

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