Vicki Abelson's Broadcast: The Road Taken

What a smile! What a sweetheart! Oh yeah, Walfredo Reyes Jr. is also a spectacular drummer/percussionist. Seeing Wally in action last month killing it with Chicago, and then meeting him afterward clinched that he’s the trifecta. This time with him on Game Changers makes clear all three, even if he didn’t lift a stick or slap a cajón. Wally brought his A+ game, treating us to stories about his musical royal family. From his maternal grandfather, his brilliant and accomplished father, Walfredo Reyes Sr., who played with Josephine Baker, Louie Bellson, Bobby Darin, Dionne Warwick, and Debbie Reynolds to name a few, and passed on the percussion/drummer whiz gene to his talented son, who also played with Debbie Reynolds, as well as Ricki Lee Jones, Richard Marx, Sergio Mendes, Smokey Robinson, Boz Scaggs… but we got the stories about his time with Santana, Traffic, then Steve Winwood, Lindsay Buckingham and how he got to Chicago, with a little help from his brother, Daniel, of the Zach Brown Band. We talked Wall

Barbara Feldon Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson The best? Certainly none better. I’m not sure anyone has ever exceeded my very high expectations greater than Barbara Feldon did this day. As much as I admired and adored Get Smart’s Agent 99 for her sophistication, intelligence, knowingness, sly, perfectly delivered humor, demure yet smoldering sexiness, and downright gorgeousness… Barbara is all that, and a truckload of Cheetos. It was so overwhelmingly powerful and thrilling to deep dive with this wise, self-effacing, self-aware, thoughtful, beyond-imagining age-defying beauty, I was filled to the brim with emotion, electricity, excitement, and enlightenment. I got answers to questions I’ve been seeking for years, and I just used more adjectives than I did in my entire novel. That’s what Barbara’s done to me. In the middle of her unputdownable just-dropped memoir, Getting Smarter, I had intended to speedread it but found I couldn’t skip a word, and I can’t wait to finish these liner notes so I can

Happy Happy Joy Joy. Well, Happy Happy Paula Paula. That’s how it feels whenever Paula Poundstone’s around. It was another grey rainy day in SoCal, but the sun was sure shining on the interweb. I laughed pretty much non-stop, my cheeks hurt, in the good way, and a drop of water or two squirted out mine eyes, again, in the best possible way. We talked Paula’s care back out in the world and on the road for well over a year and a half now. Doing loads of gigs, flying everywhere, she’s more cautious than this COVID crazy, masks’ everywhere, and I mean everywhere (some crazy funny stories), and she thankfully remains free of the dreaded thing. We talked health care. For Paula that would be Diet Pepsi, Hostess donut gems, Ruffles potato chips, about 300 situps, and a long walk with her two dogs, as well as caring for her ten cats, to whom she may now be allergic. With Paula, everything’s funny––including her take on parenting, parental controls, her TV viewing, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, MSNBC, getting guest

Stanley Livingston Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson Considering we were kids together, so what if he didn’t know it… Stanley Livingston and I opened with the health report. Remarkably fit and boyish for his 72 years, where the hell did the time go? Stan’s used it well. Some fun revelations––from his mother’s pre-maternal career to his first wife’s like vocation, a great story about James Edwards, more will be revealed, starting his TV life in a wooden box, how a swimming lesson opened the door, working with Doris Day, Debbie Reynolds, Mary Tyler Moore, Charles Bronson, a starring role with Jackie Cooper, Ozzie Nelson, giving him his game-changing break, guitar lessons from Ricky, scoring My Three Sons, with huge box office movie star, Fred MacMurray, crusty lunch companion, William Frawley, Don Grady, who his mother greatly aided, and his real-life brother, Barry, with an already burgeoning career of his own, signing on to the show as his adopted brother during a 5 show arc in the third season. T

Eric McCormack Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson Will and Vicki. The virgin Walden/Abelson voyage. If you’re gonna break the almost 3 yrs to the day pandemic Zoom streak, and do a first Live in person from the new digs, how better than with handsome, charming, fabulous, Emmy, SAG, and GLAAD Award Winning, Eric McCormack? Couldn’t be done. If you’re gonna look into a set of eyeballs, share rarefied air, lotsa laughs, and some snacks, well…it doesn’t get better than this. Thank you, Loren Gold for putting up with my incessant begging and pleading and making this happen. Exceeding all expectations, Eric was easy, expressive, talented (he did accents, impressions, and sang a teeny bit), and crazy fun. Stories, stories, and more stories, one better than the last. When we wrapped and Eric’s fab assistant, Michelle Loparo, said some of said stories were new to her, well, score! From his early days in Toronto, school plays with David Furnish, no, really! Day jobs at Baskin Robbins, and a gas station, his fa

What a glorious reunion with the brilliantly talented prolific songstress, Harriet Schock, who wrote the Grammy-nominated #1 hit, Ain't No Way To Treat A Lady, and her stunningly talented, vocal accomplice, Andrea Ross-Green. It was thrilling to hear them again in perfect harmony with new songs from Harriet’s upcoming album, Paintings (the title track she treated us to is an absolute killer), as well as the mash-up of her Ain’t No Way to Treat A Lady and One Time Lover. We were also treated to my request, Over and Over, one of my all-time favorite Schock classics, and My Now, a new tune from her soon to drop, Paintings. We went back to Dallas, her musician doctor father who encouraged her with all his heart, coming to LA, the heartbreak that inspired that #1 hit, being covered by The Partridge Family, Helen Reddy, Manfred Man, Johnny Mathis, Smokey Robinson, Roberta Flack, to name just some, her films with Henry Jaglom, ongoing songwriting workshops which attract the creme de l creme in LA and now with Zoom

Teresa James & Terry Wilson Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson They may sing the blues but they sure make me happy. Grammy nominees Teresa James and Terry Wilson treated us to our first live mini-concert in Game Changers history. And it was spectacular! With their brand new album of reimagined Beatle songs, With a Little Help From Her Friends, which debuted at #9 on the Billboard Blues chart at the fore, the last third of the show was devoted to cuts from said album, and one of my favorites of theirs, Don’t Make A Habit of It. Joining them was longtime Rhythm Tramps guitarist Billy Watts (Eric Burdon, John Mayall), and drummer, Richard Millsap (currently touring with John Fogerty). Special thanks to Louie Kovic for making it happen. Celebrating Teresa’s nomination for Contemporary Female Blues Artist of the Year, from The Blues Foundation, we talked their early years in Texas, separately and eventually together. Terry, who goes back with my beau, 50+ years, then London calling and forming Back Street

Larry Amoros Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson For a good time call Cheryl, or watch this. I literally laughed til I cried. Larry Amoros, head writer for Joan Rivers, Joy Behar, Rosie O'Donnell, and Barry Manilow, tore down my house, and boy, did I need the eggs. Is there anyone funnier? Larry’s story about Bea Arthur alone! Holy cow, HYSTERICAL! A genius standup, I’m tempted t say it’s all in the delivery, but it’s not. He’s got gems, about Joan. Johnny Carson, Jane Fonda, Rosie, Joy, Barry, Mel Z Lawrence, the Catskills, his mother, Melissa Rivers, the Espys, Palm Springs… funny, funny, funny! I had the best time. We also talked drinking and drugging, bottoming out. getting sober, recovery, being of service. and even that was funny. It was also heartfelt, sincere, humble, just beautiful. I love Larry! Larry Amoros Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson Wed, February 8, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET Streamed Live on The Facebook Replay here: https://bit.ly/3xaTpss

Dean Parks Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson Dean Parks has played with everyone on every album ever recorded. Close. His discography is so long I had to take rest breaks as I was scrolling. How many did we get to? Well, we polished some of the gemstones. A 5-year-old with a steel guitar, he was playing with the big boys at 6. Clarinet followed, and saxophone, which he still plays brilliantly, before focusing on guitar, where he is lord and master of the sessions. Starting with Sonny and Cher, Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder’s Innervisions (in my top 10 of all time), Songs in the Key of Life, spectacular memories there, meeting Snuffy Walden and the years of work he did with him, Jimmy Webb, Dolly Parton, Bette Midler, Barbra Streisand, Linda Ronstadt, The Jackson Five, great fun there, Crosby, Stills and Nash, then Crosby and Nash, then Croz, having just rehearsed for an upcoming tour before his passing. Lovely feelings recounted. Touring with James Taylor, as his hands when he broke his, and the challe

Paul Williams Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson It’s been 9 yrs since Grammy, Golden Globe, Oscar Winner, and Hall of Famer, Paul Williams, graced my living room. That’s almost as long as it’s been since I began campaigning to get him to do this. Worth the wait! And then some. Putting aside Paul’s decades of accomplishments, the dozens upon dozens of his songs that weave through the fabric of our lives, continue to move us, and break our hearts––for me, just today, crying in the shower singing along to, I Won’t Last a Day Without You… plus all of the film scores he’s composed, his TV and movie appearances, chairing and presidenting, over ASCAP, his efforts for MusicCares, and his unwavering and indefatigable devotion to his sobriety, recovery, and being of service to others. I have yet to meet anyone so adored by absolutely everyone, pretty much all with a story of how he’s impacted their lives with his art and his heart. There are gorgeous tidbits here, not all pretty, some of poor behaviors as

Leland Sklar Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson It’s always a stupendous no BS joy to sit down with bassist, and humanitarian extraordinaire, Leland Sklar. Does absence make the heart grow fonda, does familiarity breed an easy intimacy that translates to free-flowing fun? I’m gonna say, “Yes.” This was a gas! In the best possible way. Lee filled us in on his festival fall. Well, the film festivals for Denny Tedesco’s doc, Immediate Family, were total triumphs, but Lee’s lack of self-care whilst promoting it landed him in ER with a brain bleed, damaged hand, facial stitches, and an oral reconstruction surgery degree to add to his resume. Ouch, what a story! The film however is blissfully sensational! We talked about Lee’s YouTube Channel, only two years in the making with over 215K subscribers, new videos dropped daily, and bi-weekly clubhouse, which has created community and camaraderie. Leave it to Leland. We got the story behind Lee’s Everybody Loves Me, a photo collection of “birds” as it we

Live with The Cowsill on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson There’s so much wonderfulness and fun packed into this 1:15 Live, I’m woe to break it down and give any spoilers. Suffice it to say we talked about their avid, loyal fans, me being one, since kneesocks, their group dynamic, how the 7 came and went, family auditions, oh yes they did, how the harmonies stack, how the songs on their new album, Rhythm of the World, got written, recorded, and out there in spite of the pandemic and a stroke of someone’s bad business, the hero who saved the day, meet & greets, how they genuinely love their fans and invite all to join them, even when they’re eating, their podcast, Peter Noone for one, The Flower Power Cruise this March, another Happy Together Tour this summer, and always, Bob, Susan, and Paul, loving being together, whether taking a “snow day,” continuing to thrill their fans and make musical magic, or just chatting it up with the likes of me. I’ve been blessed to present Bob a few times over the last decad

Today Live! Steve Ferrone, most prominently known as the drummer in Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, is also a former member of the Average White Band and has recorded and performed with Duran Duran, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, Slash, Chaka Khan, Eric Clapton, Bee Gees, Scritti Politti, and Johnny Cash. Steve’s also appeared on recordings by Brian May, Anita Baker, George Benson, Jonathan Butler, Bryan Ferry, Eric Clapton, Christine McVie, Peter Frampton, Jeff Golub, Rick James, Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Freddie King, Tracy Chapman, Pat Metheny, Steve Winwood, Michael W. Smith, Paul Simon, and Jaco Pastorius, will be in the house! His house, but Zoomin' with us. Already a legend when I was booking rock clubs in New York back in the days, I was in a daze and don’t think we ever spoke, but I was always aware whenever he was around by the admiring ruckus surrounding him. There were a number of near misses through the years, finally meeting him at one of Steve Postell's gigs some years ago, and then at Wi

We talked and walked through Kevin’s childhood, early days of steel drums, french horn, to guitar… architecture, bands, playing parties, selling flowers, Papa John Creach, sessions, his first deal and album as Kevin Moore at 41, to two years later being nominated for a Grammy as Keb’ Mo’… four more Grammy victories, currently awaiting his night at The Staples Center… do I hear six? We talked about his songwriting––lots of honesty, humility, self-knowing… where his philanthropy and activism began, a ready-to-go draft dodger, his one ask - to meet Taj Mahal, and boy, did he meet him. Working with Darius Rucker and his awe for Hootie & The Blowfish, telling their truth. Kevin sharing that he likes to be uncomfortable with his lyrics-brilliance that is his. We talked his spiritual path, and if he prays- “everything out of my mouth is a prayer.” Wow. He gracefully credits Depak. I smiled so big and so much for so long… for the entire 1:35:29 broadcast, my face hurts. In the good way. The very best way. I loved

How fun to sit down with a young old friend and catch up after a long pandemic pause. Olympian, Tai Babilonia, is as beautiful, luminescent, gracious, inspiring, perseverant, focused, and fun as she ever was. The World Figure Skating Champion, and 5x U.S. Figure Skating Champion, was as fearless in retelling milestones in her life as she was living them. From great triumphs to heartbreaks, big and small, Tai’s acceptance of her lot, no matter what, no doubt helped carry her from one victory to the next. Her gratitude for her good fortune, her love, and respect for her parents, her brother, and her son are admirable and enviable. We talked about Tai’s journey on the ice––thank God for Mabel Fairbanks who took a very young Tai and forced her hand into Randy Gardners––beautiful story there bookmarked with the pages being written with loving care, overseen by Tai and Randy to honor her. From the ’76 Olympics to the 5 US Championships, to being only the 2nd Americans to win the World Championship, to the nightmar

Jason Alexander Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Wow! Just wow! I’ve loved Jason Alexander since Pretty Woman, and in everything, I’ve seen him in since. He somehow managed to exceed my high hopes and great expectations as a human, a storyteller… a mensch! Such a huge fan, I was anxious that I’d muck it up being in awe. His smile as soon as he entered the Zoom room set me at ease, and his open willingness allowed the conversation to never cease flowing. It would be impossible to cite a favorite “part.” Each story a gem. From his family of NOVIDS (love it!) how they coped, continue to, how he met his wife, adorable story, the secret of their 40-year martial success as Jason has come to see it––magnificent, I’ve replayed that part thrice already, his parents, how he shifted his dream from magic to show biz, fabulous story there, landing his first Broadway show at 19, Sondheim and Hal Prince, please! The Rink with Liza and Chita, an inspiring tale to take forward, a terrific story about scoring Pretty

John Waite Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson John, no Waite-ing! Hot on the heels of his just-dropped doc, the ridiculously talented insanely handsome activist, humanist, and gifted storyteller, made time for us this morn prior to his concert tonight in Atlanta, which is being recorded for a Live album no less. As if Georgians didn’t have enough to celebrate this day. I certainly did. It was more than worth waking up at the crack of dawn after watching the Warnock runoff victory speech last night and then John Waite - The Hard Way (streaming as of yesterday on Prime), for another opportunity to sit down with this treasured new friend. As has come to be fashion, the conversation exceeded all expectations. Speaking of fashion, this forever stylish, nattily well-dressed man was interviewed for the doc for four days, as was, without ego, his emotions as real and raw as his unusual for him casual appearance, relinquishing all control of the shoot and the final product to the filmmakers. We talked at len

Paging Steven Spielberg! Actor Gregory Harrison's real-life story as the first moral conscientious objector needs to be told. And boy did he tell us here. I'm left in awe, mortified, inspired, and grateful, to name but a few adjectives I'm feeling. A gifted storyteller as well as thespian, singer, songwriter, and producer, I've known Gregory for years, we've sat down a number of times, but he's always more provocative, informative, fascinating, and passionate than the time before. Trapper John MD, Falcon Crest, Razorback, Logan's Run, Sisters, One Tree Hill, Gregory starred with moi in The M Word, well he was starring, I was mostly standing. Starting out as the leading man of a feature film, Gregory backed his way into starring on television, on Broadway, and back again. Of late, Gregory starred in The Lion in Winter at The Laguna Playhouse, great story how that came to be, is two years in on General Hospital, his first soap, I have no idea how he does it, yet Gregory managed to demystify it, he's recu

Wendy Liebman and Jeff Sherman Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson I could have talked to Wendy Liebman and Jeff Sherman all night and still have asked for more. What fun! With the advantage of knowing each other for some years, the conversation was animated, spontaneous, and effortless. We talked about the curse of Ventura Blvd and two life-altering accidents pre-pandemic, readying these happy-to-be-home-together lovebirds for what lay ahead. We discussed PTSD, emotional trauma, panic attacks, acceptance, and healing. Armed with great ‘tude and an attentive husband, Wendy weathered what could have been a disastrous 14 months with grace and resolve. And, managed to be productive, as did her caretaker, who did basically everything, and I do mean everything for much of the time. Jeff also managed to stay productive. What the hell was I doing? Binging Netflix, eating crap, and well, this thing right here. We talked grandkids, dogs, masks, travel, theatre, vaccines, and how one Jeff took as a kid impact

Peter Tolan Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Oh please! That was just too much fun. Nirvana for this fan girl to catch up with 14-time Emmy Nominee, and two-time winner, Peter Tolan. In the midst of a Rescue Me re-binge, if you've never seen it or it's been years, do not pass go, run. Please. Brilliant, real, hysterical, terrifying, it's perfect TV. In my all-time top 5. Peter, bless him, is opinionated and fearless in recounting people, events, and choices, which makes for great conversation and interweb TV. We started with his recent collaboration with Norman Lear, Guess Who Died, which did just that. With that loaded deck, it’s crazy that NBC pulled the plug. But, it dealt with older folk… who wants to represent them. Us. Hmmm. We talked his early days in theatre, sketch, cabaret, his early collaborations, a running theme throughout his career… from Linda Wallem, Garry Shandling, Dennis Leary, Billy Crystal, Paul Reiser, and the before mentioned Norman Lear, the man keeps good company. He ear