Whitney Cummings, Otis Williams
Sept.17, 2015
Audio is posted below except on Internet Explorer
Comedian Whitney Cummings, and Otis Williams, original founding member of The Temptations guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio Show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Whitney Cummings is a Los Angeles based comedian, actor, writer and producer.
Cummings wrote, executive produced, and starred in her autobiographical sitcom Whitney, on NBC. Cummings also co-created and co-wrote, along with Michael Patrick King, the CBS comedy 2 Broke Girls starring Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs.
Whitney was named one of VARIETY’s “10 Scribes to Watch” in 2011, and received the “Comedian of the Year Award” at the 2010 Young Hollywood Awards. In 2009 Cummings was honored as one of ENTERTIANMENT WEEKLY’s “Comedy Stars of Tomorrow” and was named one of VARIETY’s “Top 10 Comics to Watch” in 2007.
Cummings graduated Magna Cum Laude from The University of Pennsylvania, after which she got her start starring as a series regular on MTV’s “Punk’d.”
Whitney is performing at The Venetian Hotel & Casino on Friday, Sept. 19
For more on Whitney Cummings: www.whitneycummings.com
Otis Williams (Original founding member of The Temptations)
Otis Williams, original founding member of The Temptations, guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk Radio Show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
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.”
For more about Otis Williams, click here.
For more about The Temptations, click here.
You can catch Otis Williams w/ The Temptations at The Orleans
Orleans Showroom, Sept. 19 & 20 at 8:00pm
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Jim Belushi, Wild Willy Parsons, J.Chris Newberg
Oct. 2, 2014- 6-7pm PST 1230AM KLAV in LV & The Web
Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)
Comedian, actor and blues musician Jim Belushi guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Jim Belushi along with blues band The Sacred Hearts will bring laughs and soulful hits to the Orleans Showroom October 4 & 5.
Jim Belushi is known worldwide for making people laugh as a regular on “Saturday Night Live,” his long-running comedy series “According to Jim” and his many film appearances. In addition to his film and TV career, Belushi’s music career blossomed in 1995 when he joined forces with House of Blues regulars, The Sacred Hearts. Soon after, friend Dan Aykroyd asked Belushi to join him as part of the Blues Brothers. To get ready to play with the Blues Brothers, Belushi would crash rehearsals for The Sacred Hearts. He had so much fun performing with them, they eventually merged professionally and have been performing as Jim Belushi and The Sacred Hearts.
The band’s first CD, “36 x 22 x 36,” was released in 1998 and delivers a Memphis rhythm & blues sound seasoned with a lot of soul. Additionally, the “According to Jim Soundtrack” was released in 2005, containing the music by Jim Belushi & The Sacred Hearts featured in fan favorite series episodes. Much of the show’s music was written and recorded by Belushi and bandmates Johnny Rubano and Tony Braunagel, who also made regular guest appearances on “According to Jim.”
Wild Willy Parsons, J. Chris Newberg
Emmy Winning Comedian Wild Willy Parsons, and J. Chris Newberg guest in a backstage interview on LVBST.
The New Tropicana should be filled with laughter beginning Monday, Sept. 29 through Sunday, when Wild Willy Parsons takes the stage at the Laugh Factory. Parsons will be sharing the comedy clubs stage with Chris Newberg, and host Brett Riley. At first glance, Willy Parsons’ biker-clad girth could send society’s most decadent citizens scampering for their lives. But instead, The sends them home with a fresh and positive outlook, about their own misconceptions of the stereotypical biker.
Parsons, born Sept. 18, 1959 in San Diego, Calif., attended Mar Vista high school in Imperial Beach, Calif., with actor Matthew Modine, and Ozzy/Badlands ex-guitarist, Jake E. Lee. Willy lives in North Hollywood, Calif., and is best friends with his lifelong idol, Mahogany Rush guitarist, Frank Marino.
Parsons has made numerous TV appearances including “Last Comic Standing,” “Last Call with Carson Daly,” “The Dennis Miller Show,” Showtime, MTV, “The Tracey Ullman Show,” “Evening at the Improv,” Caroline’s Comedy Hour, and “Comics Only,” to name a few. He has opened for such acts as Sam Kinison, Andrew Dice Clay, Richard Jeni, Pauly Shore, Steppenwolf, The Charlie Daniels Band, and Buddy Miles. A stand-up comedian and an actor, Willie has been in several movies including “The Guardian,” directed by William Friedkin, and “Nothing to Lose,” directed by Steve Oedekerk. Willy’s Emmy Award came in 1985, for his writing on “Technical Difficulties.” Wild Willy released his live CD, “American Made,” recorded at The Comedy Store, in 2001.
J. Chris Newberg’s refreshingly smart and edgy humor, delivered with a streetwise sense of philosophic cool, has propelled the guitarist/songwriter-turned-comedian to the forefront of the national comedy scene. Newberg’s standup cleverly combines his hilarious and off-beat observations on life with original acoustic guitar songs and infectious melodies. He has been seen on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “Last Comic Standing” and Comedy Central. Brett Riley is one of the most original fresh faces coming to light in the comedy world. With the swagger of a rock front man and the likability of a college drinking buddy, this walking “series of unfortunate events,” takes the audience on a personal tour of the Riley view. He covers everything from pop culture to relationships, family, advice on how to mess with people, and the ability to sing well enough, to make your mom forget the other stuff that comes out of his mouth.
Kevin Cronin, Ian Anderson, Ted Lange
Sept. 18, 2014- 6-7pm PST 1230AM KLAV in LV & The Web
Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)
Iconic Lead Singer of REO Speedwagon Kevin Cronin guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk with Comedian Michele LaFong.
“Keep On Loving You” rockers REO Speedwagon will bring nearly 40 years of hits to the Orleans Showroom September 19-20.
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.
Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)
Legendary Prog Pioneer Ian Anderson guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk.
A sequel to Thick as a Brick (1972), entitled Thick as a Brick 2, was released on 3 April 2012. It is billed as being performed by Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson instead of being a Tull album proper. Anderson is currently on tour performing both albums in their entirety. A trailer for the newer TAAB album is posted on YouTube.
Anderson played the flute on the track “Cannonball” by The Darkness on their 2012 album, Hot Cakes.
Congratulations on your new album release Homo Erraticus.-a concept album blending rock, folk, and metal music.
Ian Anderson at at Palms Sept. 19.
Ted Lange
Actor/Director Ted Lange guests on LVBST with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Comedian Jeff Wayne, will be performing his one-man show, “Big Daddy’s Barbeque,” for one day only at the Starbright Theater, 2215 Thomas Ryan Blvd., Summerlin, Sunday, Sept. 21.
The Los Angeles Times says this show is “Ferociously funny.” Variety dubbed the show “a one-man riot.” NPR says, “Jeff Wayne has an attitude like Al Bundy, this guy is laughs plus!” Wayne spent many hours researching barbeques, as he began writing the show. Once it was on paper he went to his friend, Ted Lange, who is best remembered as, Isaac (the bartender) on the television series, “The Love Boat,” and asked him if he would direct the show. Lange has kept busy since the “Boat” years directing movies. He just completed filming 26 episodes of “Mr. Box Office,” starring Jon Lovitz, and will be on the “Love Boat” float in the annual Rose Bowl Parade.
The plot of the show is simple: Jeff plays a letter carrier on his day off. He has his weekly barbeque, where he invites his friends over (the audience), and as he cooks Wayne pontificates and opines. “They say you should cut down on red meat, I stopped using Ketchup.” And he tells his audience about the lady we never see but her presence permeates, his XX-wife Phyllis. “Yes we were married, divorced and then I remarried, I wanted my house back!” There is a problem at today’s barbeque, Phyllis has been given tickets to the opera, and she wants to go. Big Daddy doesn’t. Many critics have had the same response, “it’s like watching Ralph and Alice Kramden in the “Honeymooners,” as Big Daddy tries to laugh, sing and dance his way out of going to the opera.
Wayne was always a funny kid, and as soon as he was able to leave Kentucky, Jeff traveled west to learn how to make people laugh, eventually landing at the world famous Comedy Store in Hollywood. A seasoned veteran today, Wayne continues to perform his stand-up comedy at clubs, colleges, cruise lines, and on all the top television shows such as HBO, Showtime, A&E, Fox, and Comedy Central. The late Joe Delaney, of The Las Vegas Sun, tagged him as a “blue collar Lenny Bruce.”
Show time will be at 3:00 p.m., Sunday Sept. 21.call the theater box-office at 702-240-1301.
Helen Reddy, Dom Irrera, Desi Arnaz Jr.,- LVBST
Feb. 13, 2014- 6-7pm PST 1230am KLAV in Las Vegas & streaming live
Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)
Pop Icon Helen Reddy, Comedian Dom Irrera, and Desi Arnaz Jr. guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Best known as a recording artist, Helen Reddy had more than a dozen Top 40 hits in the United States. She was the first Australian to win a Grammy Award and to have three #1 hits in the same year. In television, Helen was the first Australian to host her own one-hour weekly primetime variety show on an American network, along with several specials that were seen in over forty countries.
Her best-selling memoir The Woman I Am (Tarcher/Penguin), reveals that at the height of her career, Helen’s world was shattered by the death of both her parents and, simultaneously, the news that she had a rare and incurable disease, A riveting, frank and ultimately brave memoir, she recounts the emotional highs and lows that have shaped her life as an artist and as a complex woman, with a rich inner life sustained by a strong spiritual faith.
Helen Reddy is appearing at Orleans Showroom on Feb. 15 & 16
Dom Irrera
Dom projects a charisma that firmly engages audiences from the moment he steps out on the stage! His first big break was in, Rodney Dangerfield’s, “Nothing Goes Right,” comedy special for HBO. Irrera’s own, “One Night Stand,” on HBO, earned him his first of several Cable ACE Awards for, “Best Stand-up Comedy Special.” He has appeared on: “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Late Show with David Letterman,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,” “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” “The View,” and several times on “Oprah.” Irrera also guest starred on episodes of “Seinfeld,” “Becker,” “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “King of Queens.” Film credits include a featured role in Robert Townsend’s, “Hollywood Shuffle,” a cameo in the Coen Brothers film, “The Big Lebowski,” and “The 4th Tenor,” starring his old pal Rodney Dangerfield.
When Dom Irrera takes the stage, he does not simply get on it–he owns it! Irrera will be appearing at the Laugh Factory inside the Tropicana Hotel & Casino, Feb. 10 through Sunday, Feb. 16.
Desi Arnaz Jr.
Part 2 will be aired of Desi Arnaz Jr.’s interview from last week.
In a rare interview, Desi Arnaz Jr. speaks of his life and promotes the upcoming “Dam Short Film Festival,” on Feb. 12-16 at the Historic Boulder Theatre, which he owns has since 1986, and helps direct non-profit Boulder City Ballet Company (BCBC) with his wife, Amy Arnaz. For more info: www.damshortfilm.org
Boulder Theatre was built in 1932 during the construction of Hoover Dam and operated as a movie theatre until it could no longer compete with the new, modern movie theaters in Las Vegas. When it closed, Desi purchased the theatre and converted it into a live theatre where BCBC performs and where Desi has produced many shows including: “Ricci, Desi & Billy” (a new version of Dino, Desi & Billy), “An Evening with Linda Purl”, Torme’ Sings Torme’, “The Legacy of Laughter”, “An Evening with Lucille Ball” (starring Suzanne LaRusch as Lucille Ball), Michael Johnson, “A Tribute to Dean Martin” (by Ricci Martin), “Dam Short Film Festival”, “Chautauqua”, “The Nutcracker”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “Swan Lake”, annual children’s dance recitals from Dance Etc. and many more shows. Haley Arnaz is his wife’s child from her first marriage and Desi adopted her when they married in 1987. Desi also has an older daughter, Julia, who lives on the east coast. Recently, Desi has performed “Babalu” (a show dedicated to the music of his father) with his sister Lucie Arnaz in NYC, Miami and in Washington D.C. at the Library of Congress. Most recently, Desi & Lucie appeared at the Paley Center in Beverly Hills, discussing the music of I Love Lucy (1951) and performed two of their father’s songs – “Old Straw Hat” & “Cuban Pete” – with the accompaniment of Ron Abel on the piano.
TweetDana Carvey, Rhonda Vincent-LVBST w-Comedian Michele LaFong
Jan. 30, 2014- 6-7pm PST 1230am in Las Vegas & The Web
Dana Carvey returns on Las Vegas Backstage Talk Radio Show with Comedian Michele LaFong on 1230AM KLAV in Las Vegas, and The Web. LVBST radio show is the only show that “Gets Personal with the Stars.”
Carvey rose to national prominence during a six-year run as a cast member of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” where he created memorable characters “Church Lady,” “Garth” and “Hans” and spot-on impersonations of President George H.W. Bush, Johnny Carson, Ross Perot and Regis Philbin. Carvey’s work on “SNL” garnered him six Emmy Award nominations, including a win in 1993 for “Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program.” He also received multiple American Comedy Awards.
On the big screen, Carvey appeared in supporting roles in “This Is Spinal Tap,” “Racing with the Moon” and “Tough Guys.” He starred in films “Opportunity Knocks,” “Wayne’s World,” “Wayne’s World 2,” “Clean Slate,” “The Road to Wellville” and “Master of Disguise.” Most recently, he had a cameo appearance in “Jack and Jill.”
Dana is featured in LaFong’s Monthly Syndicated “Las Vegas Backstage Talk” column in Casino Player Magazine, and Gaming Today, Feb. edition.
For more about Dana Carvey here.
You can catch Dana Carvey live at The Orleans
Orleans Showroom, Jan.. 31 & Feb. 1, 8:00pm
Rhonda Vincent
RHONDA VINCENT SET TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM
ONLY ME THIS WEEK
Vincent duets with Willie Nelson on new project;
set to appear on The Today Show on February 1 & 2
the fiery vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter dubbed “the new queen of bluegrass” by the Wall Street Journal – is set to release her new two-disc album Only Me on January 28, 2014. In addition to receiving an unprecedented seven consecutive “Female Vocalist of the Year” awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA), being named IBMA’s 2001 “Entertainer of the Year,” and being the co-author of the 2004 IBMA “Song of the Year,” Vincent was nominated for a 2006 Grammy® award for “Best Bluegrass Album” for Ragin’ Live, as well as a double nomination in 2007 for “Best Bluegrass Album” for All American Bluegrass Girl, along with “Best Country Collaboration with Vocals” for Midnight Angel featuring Bobby Osborne.
Joining her on the album is Willie Nelson on the title track, Daryle Singletary featured on “We Must Have Been Out of Our Minds”, and members of Diamond Rio.
“God gave Rhonda an unbelievable voice and I am so thankful that we get to enjoy it. I love her like a sister and enjoy her music as her biggest fan,” says Dolly Parton.
Currently nominated for six SPBGMA awards including Entertainer of the Year, Rhonda continues to be a trailblazer for the genre. Rhonda Vincent & The Rage are the most awarded band in bluegrass history with 88 industry awards.
As part of the promotional blitz for Only Me, Rhonda will be featured in a special two-part Today Show segment that was taped in Nashville (not sure which day Rhonda appears, as of press time), as well as RFD’s Cumberland Highlanders, GAC Top 20 Countdown, RFD’s Rural Evening News, CMT.com, Country Weekly, Bluegrass Unlimited, Huffington Post, the Tennessean, Woodsongs, Billboard, The Boot, Bluegrass Today, AOL, and much more.
Learn more about Rhonda Vincent at http://www.rhondavincent.com
Tweet“Getting Personal with the Stars” Column-Casino Player Magazine/by Michele LaFong
August edition, Paula Poundstone
“Getting Personal with the Stars” Paula Poundstone-online Version: http://t.co/8f04e5zbZ5
Paula Poundstone has been a recurring favorite guest on my radio show, Las Vegas Backstage Talk for over two years. I always attend her show at The Orleans whenever she is in town, as her show never seems to get repetitive, as she uses the audience in her hilarious, spontaneous banter, to weave her material very masterfully throughout.
This unique comedian, an adoptive mother of three, is never at a loss for new material which includes her sixteen “shelter cats,” and two large rescued German Shepard Mixes.)
One thing that always struck me is that Paula always makes her entrance on stage with very wet hair. I had to ask if this was reflective of some kind of ritual or superstition.
No, Paula responded. ”I shower before going on-stage because I want to give the crowd “The Deluxe…” It is this kind rapid- fire, sarcastic, one liner responses, coupled with the fact that Poundstone’s comedy is mostly autobiographical, that make me think “sitcom” every time I see, or interview her. Might you consider doing a sitcom if presented with one? “No…Here’s the thing…My youngest is only 14, and I want to finish ruining his life before moving onto other projects. I want to finish making bad parenting choices before I take that on…I’m hoping that before he gets into college, there might be some elderly role that I can play, that Betty White isn’t available for…and I would have to step in. The schedule on those shows can be pretty grueling, and I kind of like the idea of making sure that someday my son will be gainfully employed so…
Q You became a stand-up early on in life-you just got on a Greyhound bus, and you just started going to clubs. How long was it before you really felt that you “might have something” once you were in the clubs?
A-I don’t know but when I get to that point I will give you a call…when I really think I may have something going on… I really don’t know…I did take the Greyhound bus all over to open mike nights, and seeing what clubs were like in different cities, and I started out in Boston, and ended up a couple of years later in San Fransisco, which had a GREAT comedy scene at that time, and then I moved to Santa Monica, I don’t like to brag, but I live right near a Jack in the Box.
Q-Do you still go out and do guest sets and try out new material?
A-No I don’t have that opportunity to go and do open mikes anymore…I wish I did cause it’s such a great tool…but I have kids. I have to be home every night so that my son can lie to me about doing his Spanish homework.
Q- Do your kids have any interest in being comics or anything in Show Business, and if so how would you feel about that?
A_ if they were interested, I’d have no problem with it. I’d think that would be fun if that’s what they wanted to do. Let me think…well, my oldest daughter would like to sit in a chair…and…you might think… maybe work at a computer, or work at phone banking or something …but no…she just wants to sit in a chair, and it’s been very hard to convince her that there are no jobs that you just sit in a chair and get paid for that. But I’m her mom and she doesn’t believe me…so… she’s still looking.
Q-At least when you have kids, you can learn how to work technology by asking your kids. Do you find that is helpful?
A-Um…No…I don’t, I really don’t!
Q- You started comedy in 1979, and haven’t had a slow season since then have you?
A-“I’ve been very lucky to work a lot over the years, which is great. I’m on the road a lot, a lot a lot! I have many frequent flyer miles, and many, many small shampoos. The truth is that very early on I tried going out for a month straight before I had children…and I was miserable. It was just a horrible experience. I would never do that again. What I do now is I go out on the weekends. Sometimes it’s Thursday thru Saturday. Now I have a system. It works out okay. Occasionally there are weeks where I don’t go out at all…and my children seem to wish that I would. I think we’ve found the right balance somewhere…the best that we could do anyway.
Q-So your kids bring a lot of material to your show…?
A-I don’t even have to write!…I really just have to take notes. My oldest daughter…If only she were kidding. If only there was any irony in the things that she said.
Q How old is she?
A- Twenty one. We’ve actually been getting up earlier in the morning now so that we can fight longer! Otherwise…we’re tired by ten…and I’d like to still get in another good solid hour of yelling and screaming.
Q- Does she get your sense of humor?
A-No…not really. I don’t think so. She believes that everything that I say is the polar opposite of what she must do. I mean honestly, I could actually kill her by telling her to breathe! I tell her all the time “if you don’t get your act together, we’re gonna live together for the rest of our lives…like Laverne & Shirley.
I love my job…just the way it is now. I don’t have to submit what I’m going to do to anybody, and have the “suits” go over it, and decide if they think it’s funny or not. I get to go on stage and say whatever I like. In television, it’s terrible! Oh my God they are a pain! And it’s the people by the way that don’t even go on stage that want to tell you what’s funny, and what’s not. They’re all phonies though. But I do The Craig Ferguson Show regularly, and they are great there, they pretty much give me free reign…But there are a lot of settings…certainly in sitcoms where there’s a script, and there are SO many people that are not performers that are involved in the decision making process…and I hate that.
Paula Poundstone’s latest interview plugging her appearance at The Orleans Showroom, July 5 & 6 at 8pm, can be heard on Las Vegas Backstage Talk Radio Show from 6pm-7pm PST, July 4 & 6 on 1230am in Las Vegas and steaming live on this site. She is also featured in my Monthly Syndicated Column, “Las Vegas Backstage Talk,” in Casino Player Magazine.
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