Vicki Abelson's Broadcast: The Road Taken

I’ve been a candy fan all my life, I’ve been a Candy Clark fan almost as long. Her Academy Award Nominated performance as Debbie Dunham in American Graffiti is unforgettable. We started with a few tech issues. It was worth the little time and frustration for the great stories and fun which followed. We talked vaccines, pandemic protocols, adjusted living, shopping, eating, to making new friends in th midst of it. Candy's got her neighbors, I've got the COVID crazies. We touched on the lunacy but focused on hope. Candy walked us through her humble beginnings in Texas, where her life’s ambition was to be a secretary/ receptionist. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Modeling brought her to NY for a visit. Before touching down she decided to stay. With $40 in her pocket, she made it work. Her acting career began with director John Houston, opposite Stacy Keach and Jeff Bridges, who became her live-in boyfriend. All while she was insisting, “I just want to be an extra!” Words no one else has said,

Sensational storytelling from actor, activist, veteran, sober, surfer, husband, father, grandpa, success story on celluloid and in life, Gregory Harrison. And, the whole gorgeousness thing. We talked his Catalina upbringing, playing baseball and the guitar. A medic during the Vietnam War, stationed in Germany, he set a precedent as the first non-religious conscientious objector. A medic, he set the stage for Trapper John MD, which launched him to stardom. We touched on Logan's Run, Sisters, Henry Jaglom's The M Word, where we met, his Broadway debut in Steel Pier, his just before the pandemic stage turn starring in The Lion in Winter, his current first soap spin in General Hospital, and why it took him so long. Returning to work on 9-1-1, after 8 months of stay-at-home like a good COVID crazy, new hope, and good sleep with the new president. As fabulous as all of that was to hear, it's Gregory's telling of meeting his wife of 40 years on Battle of The Network Stars, the sexy start, to his cocaine-fueled

Keaton Simons On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson by Vicki Abelson

This was one of the greatest shows I've had the privilege to present, in a heavily stacked pack of fabulous. I can't believe how much fun I had with Eliza and Eric Roberts. Even though we opened talking about the pandemic, and the idiot's response to today's Impeachment, the terrorism at his hand, and the threat of next week's violence, once we moved past the weighty issues of the day, we eased into a nothing short of glorious conversation. This couple so love, revere, and enjoy each other, and the load of work they do, even in the midst of this craziness. Eric has 56 projects currently filming, in pre or post-production, procured by miraculous Eliza, who also oft co-stars, handles tech, teaches actors, and steers Keaton Simons' her uber-talented sons' career. I'm exhausted thinking about it all, they live it daily, on top of being stellar humanists who stand-up for worthy cause upon worthy cause and help launch young, up and coming talent. They're a one-of-a-kind, spectacular couple. We got the story behin

We went back in for more. Had such a spectacular time with iconic dynamo, Waddy Wachtel, Zoom couldn't handle the energy and booted us off... we came back and had Waddy two times, and it wasn't enough. As promised, here he's back for Part 3... stories, stories, more stories, with this artist whose music's scored our lives. From a career which has spanned decades, tonight we focused on Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Warren Zevon, Stevie Nicks, Keith Richards, and the X-Pensive Winos, check out this killer video of their Eileen, https://bit.ly/3gVYE6s – I've watched it about dozen times since Waddy shot me the link an hour ago. It just doesn’t get any more rockin' - well, except maybe when you get current. Passion project for all of them, The Immediate Family, with Lee Sklar, Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel, and Steve Postell, crazy-ass rock 'n roll that just doesn't better. Their latest video, New York Minute, is perfection, on every level –– https://bit.ly/3ml8dwY – the fact that there's 50 years of playing his

Epic show with my old pal, iconic child actor, Mason Reese. We spanned Mason’s emergence into his Cleo Award-Winning showbiz career, from age 4 to co-hosting the Mike Douglas Show at 7, passing on Johnny, teaching himself the drums, meeting his idol, Buddy Rich, seeing Sinatra, cultivating Eddie Murphy, Nathan Lane, and Robert Townsend, with his actress mother, loads of talk show appearances, a self-titled sitcom pilot, a student thesis film for Brett Ratner… to the rock years, from playing and hanging at Heartbreak, The China Club, The Rock ’N Roll Cafe, for me, Spo-Dee-O-Dees, to owning his own club and restaurant, and shooting his dream show. Stories, stories, stories, of the people and friends he met along the way. Many, like me, have been around for decades. There’s (in no particular order) Bruce Willis, David Bowie, Phoebe Snow, Dan Wells, Michael Learned, Julian Lennon, Harry Chapin, Eva Gabor, Michael J. Fox, Gordon Lightfoot, Anthony Michael Hall, Stallone,Billy Idol, Cher, and Camilletti…so much in

Did I need the laughs and boy did I get them. An hour + of pure joy. Comedian, actor, and writer, Mark Schiff, was Jewish penicillin for the COVID weary soul. Mark's appeared on The Tonight Show, 11 times, 6 with Johnny, and he tells the stories, and they're fab. He told us about doing Letterman, Leno, touring with Seinfeld, which he's done for the past 15 years, the gift Jerry gave him, wow! Plus a couple of great Jerry stories. Lots of hysterical stories of his journey from dropout to headliner. Starting out in the Bronx, in Yeshiva, reformed, finding booze, pot, and losing school, Mark followed his passion played the hustle, found his groove, sobriety, and success. Mark shared a few tales from his first book, “I Killed: True Stories of the Road from America’s Top Comics," co-written with Rich Shydner, and available here: https://amzn.to/2Vt2eei and talked about his productivity in the time of corona, writing his 2nd book, a collection of essays he's written mostly during the pandemic, published first in

Waddy Wachtel, part Deux. Zoom kicked us off, but they couldn't keep us off. Waddy picked up where we left off... being managed by Bud Cowsill... deals falling away... getting unmanaged by Bud Cowsill... from bands to sessions... Warren Zevon, The Everly Brothers, Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, meeting Lee Sklar, Russ Kunkel, and Danny Korthcmar, game-changing for all of them. Stevie Nicks, Keith Richards... to The Immediate Family... where we barely skimmed the surface. They'll be a part 2... check that, a part 3. Part 1 link, below... Waddy, the early years. Loved every moment with my new favorite Queens boy. Waddy Wachtel on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson Part 2 Wed, 11/25/20, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET Live on The Facebook Replays: Part 1 https://bit.ly/3o0PxDI Part 2 https://bit.ly/33kbWUJ All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3 Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best

Guitarist, producer, and composer, Waddy Wachtel’s career has spanned decades from The Everly Brothers, Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Warren Zevon, Bonnie Raitt, Randy Newman, Don Henley, and Jackson Browne - to playing and writing with Keith Richards in the X-Pensive Winos - to his recent work as musical director, lead guitarist and vocalist for Stevie Nicks, through to his current and passion project, The Immediate Family, with Lee Sklar, Danny Kortchmar, Russ Kunkel, and Steve Postell. This Part 1 (Zoom kicked us off, but we came back, Part 2 link below) started with current events––the COVID. Waddy's one of us. On to his early years, spotting a guitar at age 5 and knowing that was what he wanted to do before he'd even held one. Waddy seems to have imagined to reality a bounty of his dreams. He told of school... what school... one, we shared... crazy. Starting to rise... a couple of times, before hitting LA... we end this part with his manager, Bud Cowsill... and pick it up on Part 2. Loved this so much,

What a delicious way to spend a corona evening. Talked food, COVID, working out & of course, music.= with @RayRayDrums​ percussionist with #Chicago who’s also played with #Aretha #StevieWonder #WillieNelson #PaulStanley #JenniferLopez #ChristinaAguilera @PattiLaBelle #Prince #StevieNicks #TheBackStreetBoys- more. Cross genres & generations. . #Ray Yslas on GameChangersWithVickiAbelson 11/18/20 Replay in my thing What a delicious way to spend a corona evening... we talked food... COVID... parenting... working out... supplements... and of course, music. Ramon Yslas​, percussionist with Chicago, has played with icons, boy bands, pop stars, artists––cross genres, and generations. A great storyteller, we got behind the scenes with Chicago, his beloved, ideal gig, with great serendipity, Paul Stanley, another current ongoing gig, back through his history, from drums to percussion with Latin artists to The Backstreet Boys, Christina Aguilera, working with Stevie Nicks, Aretha, Stevie Wonder, Willie Nelson, Ca

Adam Arkin Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson by Vicki Abelson

Evan Handler Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson by Vicki Abelson

How lucky I was to have happened upon Randy Coleman by chance. He's quickly become one of my favorite singer/songwriters, and people. We talked COVID, finding the good in the midst of it... spiritual practices, starting a book club, going Live, working on a new album, and gracing us with a taste of one of the tracks, St. Theresa (In My Lover's Eyes). Loved it. From Randy's beginnings, growing up in a house filled with music, his older sister, a child prodigy, who had an old guitar, going on the set of 9 to 5 and On Golden Pond, with his dad, Dabney Coleman, following in his father's footsteps, studying to be an actor, more to emulate The Blues Brothers, but pulled, forever pulled to the music. Managed by Doc McGee, he opened for Bryan Adams and Def Leppard, and The Who, at The Hollywood Bowl. But, it was his cover of Bohemian Rhapsody, which has to date, garnered 9 + million views and counting which was Randy's game-changer. His fan base is forever growing, for his covers as well as his originals. A tou

Now that's what I call early afternoon delight. Crazy fun with Harry Shearer, who was just as lovely as he is funneeeee! The Emmy-winning actor for his work on The Simpsons was laid back, tuned in, and willing to follow me everywhere. From his young early show biz days working with Jack Benny to Abbott and Costello, and Richard Burton, what? We talked the Credibility Gap, where he teamed with David Lander and Michael McKean. A lot fruit's been borne from that framily tree. Laverne & Shirley, Fernwood & America 2-Night, Fred Willard, Martin Mull, Norman Lear, SNL, two times, not so much like, either time, Spinal Tap, the most fun ever, well maybe along with the Mighty Wind. Working with Fred and Catherine O'Hara, Albert Brooks, Lorne Michaels, who told him he was his first "Jewish" boy cast hire, For Your Consideration, to The Simpsons, where he'e been for 32 years and 23 or os so characters later, garnering an Emmy-award. We crammed a lotta great in, before Harry's off to do a Porch Concert in New Orleans

It's raining rock icons! Sitting down with The Immediate Family, Danny Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel Leland Sklar, Russell Kunkel, & Steve Postell, icons, heroes... I was surrounded by almost my entire record collection in the Zoom room. Collectively, they've played on pretty much everything, period. James Taylor, Carole King, Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Nicks, Keith Richards, The Stones, Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon, Graham Nash, Neil Young, David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Randy Newman, Brian Ferry, Don Henley, Phil Collins... on and on, and on... Loved hearing how they each arrived at the party, their mutual admiration - love, and respect... how they're living their ultimate dream to be front and center together in a band of their creation-how they're thriving in the pandemic, in spite of it all. What they're doing now and what's coming soon... their EP, Slippin’ And Slidin’ will be released this Friday, the 16th, and they'll be performing live on the StageIt this Saturday, the 17th. You can RSVP and purchase your

Don't get me started! Off the rails! Original #Wings drummer, #DennySeiwell - #PaulMcCartney #JanisJoplin #JoeCocker #JamesBrown - Played Live- GREAT stories! #GameChangersWithVickiAbelson Replay here: https://bit.ly/3iEOmXC Don't get me started! Off the rails! Original Wings drummer, Denny Seiwell, from the little three year old drummer boy, playing in the service during the Vietnam War, jazz clubs in NY, sessions, sessions, sessions, which led to... a Beatle. How he got the Paul McCartney gig, Ram, including Denny playing Live... to Wings, the gigs, the fun... Denny played live again... to leaving... sessions, sessions, sessions... Janis Joplin (posthumously), James Brown, Art Garfunkle, Joe Cocker, to name just some, to the current, TBear and Route 66, and his beloved, Denny Seiwell Trio. Check out Reckless Abandon, and Boomerang (https://dennyseiwell.com/denny-seiwell-shop/). D.enny took us out playing Live again, leaving me sated, blissful and ready for Kamala. Loved every second, love the man. Denn

I don't even know where to begin. Zane Carney is a brilliant guitarist, singer/songwriter, actor, tech wiz, gamer... and his mind! Dare I say, genius? I do. A seeker, he's always asking questions, and he actually listens to the answers. Zane puts the knowledge into action, sans ego, bettering himself, and all in his wake, at every turn. I'm blown away. Literally, mind, heart, and spirit, blown! I knew his music, and I've had enough dealings with him to know how personable, enthusiastic, demonstrative, kind, thoughtful, and lovely he is. Put all that together and the time spent in his good company was like a warm, sweet, cleansing bath, which for two hours washed away and healed six months of pandemic virus. We talked Zane's tenure as a seven-year-old to start, co-star on Dave's World with Harry Anderson, his crazy talented family, picking up a guitar at ten to catch his quickly rising, two years older brother, Reeve, getting good enough, fast enough, to be out touring with major artists while still a teen.

Maggie Baird Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson by Vicki Abelson

So great to be Live with keyboardist/vocalist for The Who, and now, treasured friend, Loren Gold. Loren's played the living room multiple times, backing up both Anson Williams and Donny Most, for two - Happy Days! Not sure I know anyone who appreciates 70s and 80s TV more than Loren. We’ve sat down, and run around, it's always fun. Quintessential Loren… seeing him man the keyboards and backup vocals for The Who at the Hollywood Bowl last October, arguably the greatest concert I’ve yet to see… and that’s saying something. Loren’s been with The Who since 2012 and has played with Roger Daltrey since 2009. Ridiculously accomplished, talented, humble, Loren grew up in Palo Alto with older siblings and music-loving dad who turned him on to The Beatles, The Stones, and The Who, foreshadowing his inevitable future. From a High School band to LA clubs, working as a messenger by day, Loren paid his dues with diligence and focus. Once the great gigs started, he parlayed one into the next… from Hilary Duff to Taylor Hic

How do I love Lee, let me count the ways… Leland Sklar, one of the most storied and successful musicians to ever grace a stage or session, was back in the virtual living room and kicked COVID ass. Passionate, intelligent conversation on the travesty that is the idiot in the chief, censorship, getting creative, his soon to drop coffee table book, named here publicly for the first time, playing alone in the pandemic, daily commitment to his YouTube channel to provide meaningful content and music, currently, socially distancing and masking to record with The Immediate Family: Russ Kunkel, Danny Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel, and Steve Postel; as well as with Judith Owen with Pedro Segundo. We went back to his early days, an award-winning child protege on piano, who became a bassist when his school orchestra needed one. Some things are just meant to be... James Taylor changed his life, The Section a huge part of his life, Carole King, Billy Cobham, Phil Collins, Jackson Browne, The Wrecking Crew, the upcoming Denny