KCET’s Emmy®-winning Show The Migrant Kitchen, Season 2 premieres Nov. 8th

By

Judy Shields

-

November 7, 2017

0

Migrant Kitchen – Season Two Premieres Nov. 8^th

By: Judy Shields

Los Angeles, California (The Hollywood Times) 11/7/2017 – “We are coming down to the last few weeks of post-production. Sound design, color and usually working up to the very last moment so that we can sent off the final cut to be released.” Antonio Diaz, Founder/Executive Producer – Life & Thyme told The Hollywood Times during a telephone interview.

On KCET in Southern California THE MIGRANT KITCHEN premieres Wed., Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. followed by MEALS READY TO EAT at 8:30 p.m.

On LinkTV nationwide (DirecTV 375 and DISH 9410) THE MIGRANT KITCHEN premieres Wed., Nov. 8 at 9 p.m. followed by MEALS READY TO EAT at 9:30 p.m.

(Clockwise from top, left to right: Cauliflower Tandoori from Badmaash, Sonoko Sakai prepping noodles, Vietnamese broth, and Carlos Salgado at work. Images Courtesy of Life & Thyme)

Broken Spanish, Cassia and Badmaash Among Chefs Set To Appear in Season 2 of Life & Thyme’s Emmy®-Winning Series THE MIGRANT KITCHEN Premiering on KCET and Link TV Nov. 8

New Season Explores How the Next Generation of Chefs Is Creating Cuisine Inspired by the Immigrant Experience.

Watch a preview of The Migrant Kitchen, our Emmy®-winning food series that explores Los Angeles’ booming food scene through the eyes of a new generation of chefs whose cuisine is inspired by the immigrant experience. Produced in partnership with culinary publication Life & Thyme, The Migrant Kitchen‘s second season will premiere on Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. PT on KCET in Southern California and at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Link TV nationwide (DirectTV 375 and DISH Network 9410). https://www.kcet.org/shows/the-migrant-kitchen/the-migrant-kitchen-season-2-trailer

THE MIGRANT KITCHEN, produced in partnership with acclaimed culinary publication Life & Thyme, dedicated to documenting global food culture. THE MIGRANT KITCHEN explores Los Angeles’ booming food scene through the eyes of a new generation of chefs whose cuisine is inspired by the immigrant experience.

The second season of the James Beard Award and Webby-nominated series, continues to spotlight chefs who are combining traditional, ethnic cuisines with new flavors and fresh technique that have transformed the culinary landscape of the city, making it one of the food capitals of the world.

Season two will examine tradition and innovation in cuisines celebrating the food cultures of Mexico, Vietnam, Japan and India, as well as their various interpretations found in Los Angeles. Episodes will feature interviews with key Los Angeles chefs and food influencers including Ray Garcia (Broken Spanish, BS Taqueria), Bryant Ng (Cassia), Sonoko Sakai (author of Rice Craft), Wes Avila (Guerilla Tacos) and the Mahendro family (Badmaash).

The Migrant Kitchen Emmy Award Envelope with Antonio Diaz

The interview with Antonio Diaz:

The Hollywood Times (THT): Although this is your second season, how did the show first come about?

Antonio Diaz (AD): Late 2015, KCET and Juan Devis, Chief Creative Officer at KCET reached out to me and said they wanted to develop a new show around food and I love your work at Life & Thyme, so let’s chat and see if we can come up with something. We had an idea for documenting the immigrant experience of Los Angeles through the lens of food. A lot of it has to do with food and we wanted to tell the story of what immigrants contributed to society, specifically in LA and really highlight the fact that the food industry, the restaurant industry, the backbone of this whole industry are immigrants.

Season one did really well last year. It got us a James Beard nomination and won us an Emmy® and pushed us to do season 2 which was really exciting.

August Dannehl, Juan Devis & Antonio Diaz

THT: Who came up with the title “The Migrant Kitchen?”

AD: It was actually Juan. He is great coming up with titles for each of the episodes. We had to come up with the name and we had about a hundred of them and mostly bad ones and Juan pitched to us “The Migrant Kitchen” and that fit perfectly and rolled off the tongue very well. It does capture what the show is about.

THT: Where do you find these great migrant chefs and their stories?

AD: I run a company called Life & Thyme which is a digital publication and a print publication at one point, and thus month we turn five years old! We have been documenting culinary stories all around the world, focusing on fool culture, the chefs, on social issues around food and obviously our home base of LA. In LA, we really built a solid connection within the industry, the gatekeepers of the restaurants, the publicists and PR company, contributors and creators that document the stories.

Who are the people that have not been spoken too, like a dishwasher. We are constantly chatting with the chefs, cooks and the coffee roasters. This is our business and we talk about it every day and through those connections, it has been a lot easier for us to find stories, we know where to start. We can call these Chefs and ask them if they are interested in being part of the show.

THT: What can we look forward to in Season 2?

AD: Season 2 is a little different from Season 1. Season 2 is the next generation of immigrant chefs. We are tackling Mexican, Vietnamese, Japanese and Indian food this season. We are not necessarily capturing the traditional cuisine that you would find in the Motherland. We want to see what the younger generation of chefs that were raised in Los Angeles and grew up with the food, either through their family or growing up with it. They went to culinary school and were training under the best French chefs. They are starting these business restaurants, not for survival reasons, which is a lot of reason why immigrants start restaurants because that is what they cook at home and that is what they know coming from their countries.

These other chefs do it because of their passion, it’s what they want to do. They want to highlight the flavors they grew up with but to put a different spin on it. They want to make it more creative. A taco doesn’t have to be one dollar, cheap food, why can’t it be as sophisticated as French food or Italian food. This is the difference between this season and last season. To really focus on these young chefs that are trying to change their stereotypes of their food and culture.

THT: Do you have an all-time favorite food?

AD: I am bias because I come from a Mexican background, and my parents are Mexican immigrants, so I can’t live without tortillas or tacos. For me Mexican food you can do anything with it and it’s so complex and so varied that I am a little bias, it’s my favorite. It is also one of the episodes that I directed.

THT: Do you like to cook?

AD: I do, but I have less time to really spend time in my own kitchen. If I do, it’s a one pan situation and what is fast!

THT: In your opinion, do you believe there will come a day when we no longer have “printed” media?

AD: Unfortunately, I think it will come to that one day. In the last couple of years, like a bubble, an intense interest in these high-end, indie-style coffee table/publication books. They were released every quarter or bi-annually and people loved it. This was the case in the last few years, I feel like it will start to disappear and it might have been a thing, but there will always be those true fans that they love the romance of print, and I am one of them, smell the paper, feel it, but it is an enormous finally expense to getting running it and sustain it. Digital content is far easier to produce and much more inexpensive to produce. You can pump it out immediately, where you document a story and it will take months to get it out.

THT: Do you plan to have a book one day?

AD: That is something I have thought about. There could be an anthology or collection of recipes from all these chefs we have had the pleasure documenting. Cookbooks I see a little different than publications. Cookbooks are only getting stronger and coming out and everyone’s grandmas is coming out with one. They are timeless. There might be a Life & Thyme cookbook in the future. I love print and the printed magazine was only a phase for us that we had to kind of do to understand and be a validated publication, but I think maybe in the future there might be another iteration of it, some sort of cookbook or anthology book or something a little bit more timeless and long-lasting.

THE MIGRANT KITCHEN will telecast as follows (subject to change):

Wed., Nov. 8 – “Alta California”:

A collective of culturally connected, distinguished chefs (including Ray Garcia of Broken Spanish, Wes Avila of Guerilla Tacos, Carlos Salgado of Taco Maria, as well as Jorge Gaviria of corn purveyor, Masienda) work to preserve heritage and push forward the “Alta California” Mexican food movement. By celebrating those dishes and ingredients integral to Mexico’s cuisine and its economy, a group of accomplished Mexican-American chefs are working to elevate not only the food, but what people of their heritage can achieve in the food business. Featured in the episode: Guerilla Tacos, Orange County’s Taco Maria, Broken Spanish, BS Taqueria.

Wed., Nov. 15 – “Badmaash”:

Indian food has often been associated with stiff restaurants, all-you-can-eat buffets and heavily spiced, cream-based dishes. The Mahendro family (Anu, Pawan, Nakul and Arjun) immigrated to Los Angeles and found that they didn’t recognize any of the so-called Indian food available to them.

Like carefully selected spices to a classic Indian dish, each family member contributes something special and significant to their restaurant Badmaash and to the city of LA. Featured in the episode: Downtown LA’s Badmaash.

Wed., Nov. 22 – “Omotenashi”:

Charles Namba and Courtney Kaplan, the couple behind Echo Park’s Tsubaki, have always loved the culture of izakaya but found Los Angeles lacking in these Japanese taverns. Sonoko Sakai is a teacher with a passion for buckwheat and the near-sacred art of soba noodles, and Seiichi Yokota knows how to prepare and preserve fresh fish with a traditional Japanese technique never seen before in Los Angeles. Each aims to introduce Angelenos to the unique spirit of Japanese hospitality and the culture’s deep culinary customs.

Featured in the episode: Echo Park’s Tsubaki, Sonoko Sakai, Wild Live Seafood and Spago Beverly Hills.

Wed., Nov. 29 – “Beyond Pho”:

Banh Mi. Spring rolls. Pho. The war and its subsequent refugees. These are things most commonly associated with the Vietnamese culture and its people. But a group of chefs in Los Angeles (including Cassia’s Bryant Ng and Kim Luu-Ng, Diep Tran of Good Girl Dinette, and Minh Phan of Porridge & Puffs) are hoping to demonstrate that there’s so much more than that.

Chef Minh Phan of Porridge + Puffs (Photo KCET)

Featured in the episode: Cassia in Santa Monica, Good Girl Dinette in Highland Park, Red Boat Fish Sauce.

Join the conversation on social media using #migrantkitchen, #lifeandthyme

ABOUT ANTONIO DIAZ

Creative Director and entrepreneur, Antonio Diaz, began his career in the interactive and graphic design field focused on creating products and stories in the digital space for the past 10 years. He has founded creative agencies, led the art and technical direction of tech startups, produced/directed several short films, and founded Life & Thyme, a culinary media company, in 2012. Based out of Los Angeles, Antonio is focused on building relationships and partnerships to offer meaningful experiences in video, photography, and publishing by merging creativity and storytelling with food and culture.

Homepage

https://www.facebook.com/lifeandthyme

Tweets by lifeandthyme
https://www.instagram.com/lifeandthyme/
https://vimeo.com/lifeandthyme

ABOUT KCETLINK MEDIA GROUP

KCETLink Media Group is a national independent, nonprofit, digital and broadcast network that provides high-quality, culturally diverse programming designed to engage the public in innovative, entertaining and transformative ways. With a commitment to independent perspectives, smart global entertainment, local communities, and opportunities for engagement and social action, KCETLink depicts people and the world through a lens unavailable elsewhere in U.S. media. A viewer-supported 501(c)(3) organization, KCETLink content is distributed nationally via satellite on Link TV DIRECTV channel 375 and DISH Network channel 9410 and on KCET in Southern and Central California via broadcast and cable, as well as through various digital delivery systems. For additional information about KCET and Link TV productions, web-exclusive content, programming schedules and community events, please visit kcet.org or linktv.org. Select programming from KCET and Link TV is also available for streaming on Amazon, Apple TV and Roku platforms.

https://www.kcet.org/
https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.kcet.org/home
https://twitter.com/home?status=https%3A//www.kcet.org/home

KCET’s Brand New Show – Meals Ready to Eat Premieres Nov. 8th

By

Judy Shields

-

November 7, 2017

0

MEALS READY TO EAT will premiere tomorrow night, Wednesday, November 8 at 8:30 p.m. PT on KCET

By: Judy Shields

Los Angeles, California (The Hollywood Times) 11/6/2017 – The military is just my opportunity to connect it to my life and my experiences, but to tell stories that most people don’t know that we have unturned around the world. We try to find stories that nobody knows about, we had to broadcast it.” August Dannehl, Executive Producer and Host of Meals Ready To Eat told The Hollywood Times during a telephone interview.

Meals Ready to Eat debut season showcases the surprising foodie culture and gourmet culinary practices of the military-veteran community. The new series is produced, written, directed and hosted by veterans and comes to KCET from military-veteran media brand We Are The Mighty.

MEALS READY TO EAT will premiere this Wednesday, November 8 at 8:30 p.m. PT on KCET in Southern California and 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on Link TV Nationwide (DirecTV 375 and DISH Network 9410).

Host August Dannehl with a MRE (Photo Carla Choy Photography)

Navy veteran, food aficionado and show host August Dannehl goes behind-the-scenes into the vibrant world of military food operations, from gourmet recipes developed inside military dining halls to a Marine veteran who utilizes his military experience to command a first-class kitchen.

Meals Ready to Eat Director Kyle Hausmann-Stokes with Executive Producer and Host August Dannehl

Directed and co-written with Dannehl by award-winning filmmaker and US Army combat veteran Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, the series also features interviews and cooking demos with key Los Angeles chefs and food influencers including Mike Williams (Norah), Neal Fraser (Redbird), Mei Lin (Bravo’s Top Chef), Holly Jivin (The Bazaar at SLS), Tim Hollingsworth (Otium) and mixologist
Matt Seigel (The Nice Guy).

The interview with Host August Dannehl:

THT: How did this new show get it’s start?

AD: “About two years ago now, I have always been interested in food. I was in the Navy for six years and when I got out I was in kind of a cross roads. I was either going to go to the Kona Institute of America and probably have to spend a year in a professional kitchen before that or I was going to go to NYU Film School. NYU Film School was kind of like a dream since I was a kid. I ended up deciding to go to that school and got on the track to become a filmmaker. I decided that I can make movies for a living and I can still cook for people on the side, but I couldn’t do it the other way around.”

“The whole idea behind the new show is gourmet, whole-cuisine idea in the military. The show is about people and people coming together and where their culture takes them in food. Whether it’s an ancient 4,000 year old recipe on an island like Guam or olive oil that brings people together in the west bank, it’s really about people and the food they share.”

“When I got to We Are The Mighty three years ago, this was the start of the company and my job was to come up with ideas for videos, like digital videos. I have always been obsessed with food shows. I was brought up with Bobby Flay and The Food Network. I actually was on a food network show called “All-Star Academy” for a season a couple of years ago. Taken by how you can cinematically tell a story through the vehicle of food, whether it is eating food or food in different cultures around the world. There was nothing for food in the military and the food was known as ‘bad.’ I wanted to change that because being in the Navy, the military in general, is an opportunity for young people to travel the world and I wanted to harness that and put that into a show. That was the original idea, it that became the show that we have now.”

THT: I was wondering how being in the Navy as a former Nuclear Reactor Electrician led you to your career in film and food.

AD: “Not quite a lot of overlap. I will tell you this, there are certain things I learned about physics that helped me in the kitchen. Like heat transfer. A huge portion of my curriculum was learning about the physics of how heat gets transferred from one metal to another. From fire onto metal, and how heat is like a fluid that goes from one material to another. That is a huge part of running a nuclear reactor. I looked into the Navy because of 911 and I wanted to get to a place where I could sink my teeth into an education and I wasn’t there at 18.”

“There was a couple of reason and once I figured out that there was this job of being a nuclear reactor on an aircraft carrier, I naively thought that would bring me around the world. I really only saw a lot of the ocean, basically on a floating city with no reason to port. I was in a floating city. Cooking for my friends for the holidays, because we couldn’t go home, built more love for cooking for people and hearing their responses on that.”

THT: When did you first cook something and what was it?

AD: “Man, the funny story about that. My Mom never allowed me into the kitchen. She was an amazing cook, she is a Turkish woman who really knows how to spice everything. We didn’t have a lot of money growing up, until she remarried, there were times we actually had to go to the food bank. She really knew how to take weird ingredients and reinvent them and make them interesting.”

“It made me long to try it and to impress her. I probably made a sandwich and experimented with different types of sauces. What kind of sauce or vinegar can I use with this sandwich.”

THT: What is the coolest thing you learned from doing these shows?

AD: “A lot of food things and especially cooking with these amazing chefs in LA. I have learned the tricks of the trade. One thing that I assumed at the beginning of this journey, and it would prove to be true is that food really is a unifier. Food can bring people together, it doesn’t matter about your background. If you can sit down and have a meal together or say farm together, you can bring food to one another.”

” Our ultimate goal, in any branch of the military, is to keep peace in the world, sometimes you have to fight wars to do that. But going around the world and learning about these stories of peace through a military lens, food is so powerful. I have this line ‘food is the intepicist of war,’ if you can break bread together and bring people together, then we realize we are all the same. Food is a world unifier.”

MRE August Dannehl courtesy of We Are The Mighty

THT: Did you have any favorite foods from the shows?

AD: “We visited Okinawa and there is a story about a thing called Taco Rice. It’s like Japanese white rice that gets slathered with Americanized taco ingredients, bright yellow cheddar cheese, ground beef and shredded lettuce. My favorite food is clean sushi, very refined fish and rice, there is a history to that. The history of why a sushi chef becomes a sushi chef. Eating that was a whole experience and that was I would say my favorite because it had a story with it. It was an actual surprise when I stuck my spoon into it and it wasn’t what I expected but that is what the show is all about. Telling stories that not a lot of people would expect from the title.”

THT: Where do you see yourself in five years?

AD: “I went to film school to be a director, I wanted to tell a story and tell them on as big of a stage as possible. Hopefully ‘We Are The Mighty,’ a company that I am a part of and very close to, grows and it has been growing and I have been growing with it. We look to make feature films, documentaries and scripted shows. Hopefully still telling stories on a bit of a grander scale.”

Chefs featured on Meals Ready to Eat Series

Mike Williams

Mike Williams didn’t serve as a military chef but as a field radio operator in the Marine Corps. After learning his passion for cooking, Mike quickly climbed the ranks and is now the executive chef at NORAH, a contemporary American eatery in West Hollywood, CA.

His palette has evolved since his days in the Corps but, as Mike will tell you himself, some of his fondest military memories have something to do with an MRE.

Wed., Nov. 8 – Episode One “Natick and Fort Lee”:

Meet the scientists and chefs working to ensure the health and wellbeing of our nation’s finest, even as they are challenged by the toughest terrains and harshest conditions in the world. Watch host August Dannehl and fellow veteran Mike Williams, currently the Executive Chef of West Hollywood restaurant Norah, transform the military’s utilitarian ration MRE into a mouthwatering “Jambalaya Risotto with Duo of Duck.”

Neal Fraser

Neal Fraser has spent years honing his skills as a dedicated chef and restaurateur. He’s opened an impressive selection of successful restaurants and eateries featuring Modern American cuisines, ranging from Fritzi’s casual hotdogs in the Farmer’s Market to the decadent dining at Redbird and Vibiana in DTLA. Chef Fraser learned from the best, and thanks to is unceasing in his mission to provide incredible flavors and dining experiences.

Wed., Nov. 22 – Episode Three “CIA and Petit Trois”:

Walk the halls of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) located just across the Hudson River from West Point. Spend time with Chef Ludo Lefebvres’ lieutenant, Will Marquardt, Army veteran and Chef de Cuisine at celebrated French bistro Petit Trois in Hollywood. Host August Dannehl joins Top Chef Master and CIA veteran Neal Fraser, currently the owner of downtown L.A. restaurant Redbird, to demonstrate a simple yet refined technique that can result in a gastronomic work of art.

Matt Seigel

Matt Seigel is one of the leading mixologists both in LA and in NYC. Before becoming the owner and chief operator of In The Spirit Of Hospitality, Seigel – an LA native – spent three years in the Big Apple working at Eleven Madison Park and The NoMad. He has a passion for taking ingredients out of the kitchen and into his drinks.

Wed., Nov. 15 – Episode Two “Darling Farm and 10th Mountain Whiskey Brigade”:

Visit former Army Ranger Jon Darling’s farm and 10th Mountain Whiskey, a craft distillery that honors the legacy of the daring World War II Army division. West Hollywood’s The Nice Guy Mixologist Matt Seigel and host August Dannehl toast the military’s valor by making a “Lamb-Infused Whiskey Cocktail” and a “Braised Lamb Belly with Sour Cherry Compote.”

Mei Lin

Chef Mei Lin was born in China, raised in Detroit and earned the title of Top Chef in 2014. She won her episode on Esquire’s Knife Fight, and has contributed some of her recipes to Oprah’s cookbook. Mei’s no stranger to blending cultures and cuisines, she’s been traveling the world researching for a new restaurant, and frankly, we’re all excited to see what she’s going to bring to the table.

Wed., Nov. 29 – Episode Four “Okinawa and Guam”:

Travel across the Pacific to Okinawa and Guam where the U.S. military has been a strong influence for decades. Host August Dannehl and Top Chef winner Mei Lin explore the fusion of Asian and American flavors with her “Island Congee with Coconut Milk-Braised Pork Shoulder.”

Holly Jivin

A native of Savannah, Georgia, Holly Jivin pursued her passion for the culinary arts at The Art Institute of Atlanta, before relocating to Los Angeles to help open The Bazaar by José Andrés in Beverly Hills in 2008. Today, she leads her culinary team in flawlessly executing Chef José Andrés’ eccentric vision, and bringing innovative, playful and flavorful dishes to the table.

Wed., Dec. 6 – Episode Five “Coast Guard and Philly”:

Food can be a strong source of comfort and enabler of camaraderie as expressed by Coast Guard cook Arianna Gunn and South Philadelphia Fire Department resident chef and Marine veteran Bill Joerger. Chef de Cuisine Holly Jivin, who leads a team of more than 30 people at The Bazaar by José Andrés at the Beverly Hills SLS, prepares the restaurant’s signature interpretation of a “Philly Cheesesteak.”

Tim Hollingsworth

Chef Tim Hollingsworth’s restaurant, Otium in Downtown LA was inspired by the latin word meaning to socialize and is Tim’s opportunity to share a piece of his life with the people that come in for a meal.

Raised in Texas and trained all over the world, Chef Tim’s resume includes running the kitchen as Chef De Cuisine of The French Laundry and placing sixth out of 24 of the most prominent chefs in the world at the highly-regarded Bocuse d’Or World Cuisine Contest.

Wed., Dec. 13 – Episode Six “Israel”:

Journey to Nablus in The West Bank and the streets of Tel Aviv in search of food that brings people together. Tim Hollingsworth, former chef de cuisine for Thomas Keller’s Michelin-starred restaurant The French Laundry and now Executive Chef at downtown L.A. restaurant Otium, cooks up a “Dry-aged Beef Tartare with Yogurt Mint Bulgur” inspired by his wife of Palestinian and Iraqi descent.

Join the conversation on social media using #MRE. Tell all your friends about this new food show, especially all your military friends and family!

ABOUT KCETLINK MEDIA GROUP

KCETLink Media Group is a national independent, nonprofit, digital and broadcast network that provides high-quality, culturally diverse programming designed to engage the public in innovative, entertaining and transformative ways. With a commitment to independent perspectives, smart global entertainment, local communities, and opportunities for engagement and social action, KCETLink depicts people and the world through a lens unavailable elsewhere in U.S. media. A viewer-supported 501(c)(3) organization, KCETLink content is distributed nationally via satellite on Link TV DIRECTV channel 375 and DISH Network channel 9410 and on KCET in Southern and Central California via broadcast and cable, as well as through various digital delivery systems. For additional information about KCET and Link TV productions, web-exclusive content, programming schedules and community events, please visit kcet.org or linktv.org. Select programming from KCET and Link TV is also available for streaming on Apple TV, Amazon and Roku platforms.

https://www.kcet.org/
https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.kcet.org/home
https://twitter.com/home?status=https%3A//www.kcet.org/home

ABOUT WE ARE THE MIGHTY

We Are The Mighty (WATM) is the leading multi-platform media brand engaging America’s military, a loyal group who comprise one-third of the country (114 million). WATM’s team of veterans and media professionals authentically capture the voice of this community with original and branded content, experiences and events that entertain, break down stereotypes, inspire and celebrate the spirit of service. WATM and the groups we work with including companies, nonprofits, and veteran service organizations, among others strive to have a positive and meaningful impact on the community we serve.

http://www.wearethemighty.com/
https://www.facebook.com/themighty
https://twitter.com/WeAreTheMighty
https://www.youtube.com/user/mightynetworks

Connecting Cultures Through Food/KCET Outdoor Premiere Screening-The Migrant Kitchen and Meals Ready To Eat

By

Judy Shields

-

November 6, 2017

0

Connecting Cultures Through Food

By: Judy Shields

Los Angeles, California (The Hollywood Times) 11/3/2017 – “Antonio and team from Life & Thyme came to me and I saw them as people with vision and good hearts and that is how we started working together for our episode on The Migrant Kitchen.” Chef Carlos Salgado from Taco Maria’s in Orange Country told The Hollywood Times Thursday night at KCET’s Outdoor Premiere Screening Event for THE MIGRANT KITCHEN and MEALS READY TO EAT at LA Plaza De Cultura y Artes in Downtown Los Angeles.

10 Chefs are featured in THE MIGRANT KITCHEN Season Two provided tastings of some of L.A.’s globally inspired cuisine – including Cricket Tacos!

KCET screening of The Migrant Kitchen & Meals Ready to Eat (Photo THT)

KCET kicked off the fall launch of two food series THE MIGRANT KITCHEN (in partnership with acclaimed culinary publication Life & Thyme) and MEALS READY TO EAT (produced in partnership with military-veteran media brand We Are The Mighty) with a private outdoor screening event/chefs tastings at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes in downtown Los Angeles.

Over 250 guests attended the special screening event including the cast and crew from both series premiering on KCET on Weds., Nov. 8 starting at 8 p.m.

Chef Minh Phan of Porridge + Puffs featured in Season 2 The Migrant Kitchen serves guests at KCET’s premiere event at La Plaza de Cultura y artes Nov. 2, 2017 (Photo KCET)

The event began with a reception featuring chefs highlighted in season two of THE MIGRANT KITCHEN that included Taco Maria’s Carlos Salgado, Good Girl Dinette’s Diep Tran, Porridge & Puff’s Minh Phan, Tsubaki’s Charles Namba, Sonoko Sakai (author of Rice Craft), Badmaash’s Pawan, Nakul and Arjun Mahendro, Spago’s Tetsu Yahagi and Yokose Seafood’s Seiichi Yokota. Chiguacle’s Elsa~Arellano (provided the much-buzzed-about cricket tacos) and Academy of Culinary Education’s Cecelia de Castro also provided samplings of cuisines showcasing L.A.’s unique food scene.

Kenchinjiru, Fall Vegetables with soba dumplings (Photo THT)

Creamy chicken salad of tandoori spices, lime whip and cilantro (Photo THT)

The Hollywood Times had the opportunity to interview three of the chefs that cooked for the guest at the premiere screening.

Chef Carlos Salgado from Taco Maria in Orange County:

THT: When did you decide you wanted to open a restaurant?

Carlos Salgado: “When I was growing up, I had no concept of my future in owning a restaurant. As am immigrant kid, I didn’t look to kindly to the work my parents did. I thought it was very simple and too humble, not exciting, even embarrassing. I can say that now because I feel so much differently. Now I know they are smart and artful people, that working in restaurants gives us the opportunity to work closer to the fundamental forces in our lives that matter most. In reality they were the noblest people I knew and the richest.”

THT: Where do you see yourself in five years?

CS: “Well my son will be five and a half, so hopefully I will be a stay at home dad. But if have to continue to be a chef, then I hope to continue to focus on the work that we do at the restaurant and maybe open something else. I also do the food program at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs. The menus there are ours. It is a different part of my personality and it’s fun. I get to try other things. Beyond that, I should probably care about making money, more than anything I care about these kids (referring to his staff), who are my family. My parents taught me that the staff don’t work for us they work with us and we are all trying to help each other.”

THT: What is your specialty at your restaurant?

CS: “Corn, corn tortillas!”

Carlos Salgado’s Taco Maria restaurant made LA Times Restaurant Critic Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants Guide that was in this Sunday’s LA Times (subscribers only) as No. 5 on his list! Way to go Carlos. Congratulations.

There were a couple other restaurants featured on Season Two of Migrant Kitchen on the list.

In early 2017, Salgado joined forces with Ace Hotel to bring all new menus to King’s Highway, the desert roadside diner at the Ace Hotel and Swim Club in Palm Springs, California

http://www.tacomaria.com/

Next interview was with Tsubaki’s Charles Namba:

THT: When did you open your restaurant Tsubaki?

CN: “Eight months ago in Echo Park on Alison Avenue. It is tradition home style Japanese izakaya food that I grew up on.”

Sajura Masu Tartare – Crudo of ocean trout, pickled daikon, salmon roe, yuzu, shiso (Photo THT)

THT: What was the first thing you learned to cook?

CN: “I basically when I was 21 moved to New York, but before that I needed a job and it was cooking pizza here in LA first and then I moved to New York and I got a job at a Japanese restaurant and worked there for two years and then cooking French for after that for about seven years and then I came back to Los Angeles and decided to cook food that I grew up with.”

THT: Are you looking to open more restaurants?

CN: “We are expanding and opening another restaurant right next door to our current one. I have six chefs currently.”

THT: What draws customers to your restaurant?

CN: “I think just because it is different and no one if doing quite what I am doing, we do the most classic dishes and I don’t want to change that.”

Final interview was with Good Girl Dinette’s Diep Tran.

THT: What dish did you prepare for tonight’s event?

DT: “It was a black pepper pork confit with quail egg and it is just an old-time homey dish. We were asked to showcase a dish that kind of represents us, so this is the dish.”

THT: Is it something your Mother and Grandmother made when you were a child?

DT: “It is was every Vietnamese grandmother made at some point. This is a dish you should know before going out on your own.”

THT: Where did the name of your restaurant “Good Girl” come from?

DT: “I just wanted a name that was just fun and didn’t take itself to seriously and I like that it’s symetrical, it has four letters. I like the name.”

THT: What is your specialty?

DT: “I would say that it is a true neighborhood spot. It’s a good reflection of the neighborhood that you could come weekly and a no fuss, but just enough effort. We get people on their first dates, they celebrate theirs birthday here and kids love coming to Good Girl Dinette for their birthdays.”

The Good Girl Dinette is in Highland park and has been opened since 2009.

http://www.goodgirldinette.com/

Beverages were generously provided by ONEHOPE Wine, Don Francisco’s Coffee, Hint Water and World Sake Imports, whose Kerry Tamura is also featured in the upcoming season of the series that explores Los Angeles’ booming food scene through the eyes of a new generation of chefs whose cuisine is inspired by the immigrant experience.

Desserts by Doan’s Bakery Chocolate Peanut Butter Shortbread (Photo THT)

Desserts were provided by Woodland Hills’ Doan’s Bakery.

Guests were welcomed with a raffle by KCET’s Vice President of Communications Ariel Carpenter followed by opening remarks from Chief Creative Officer Juan Devis who then introduced Life & Thyme Founder and THE MIGRANT KITCHEN Director/Co-Producer Antonio Diaz.

Acclaimed culinary online publication Life & Thyme’s Ben Hunter, Stef Ferrari, and Antonio Diaz (Photo KCET)

Navy veteran, Executive Producer and host of MEALS READY TO EAT August Dannehl then introduced KCET’s new series written, produced and directed by military veterans that explores the unexpected gourmet foodie culture of military/veteran communities around the world.

Surrounded by heat lamps in the Olvera Street locale, guests then settled into their cozy KCET-branded blankets, (which we all got to keep and take home with us-Thank you KCET) to watch the outdoor premiere of the new season of THE MIGRANT KITCHEN and the debut of the new series MEALS READY TO EAT.

Meals Ready to Eat Director Kyle Hausmann-Stokes with Executive Producer and Host August Dannehl (Photo KCET)

Raffle items at the event included a $50 Doan’s Bakery gift certificate, a $75 gift basket from Belcampo, a cooking class valued at $125 from BLVD Kitchen, three bottles donated by 10th Mountain Whiskey valued at $150 and finally, a $250 gift certificate for two at The Bazaar by Jose Andres at SLS Beverly Hills.

The premiere episodes of both series were screened. Descriptions of each episode are as follows:

[ https://www.kcet.org/shows/the-migrant-kitchen ]THE MIGRANT KITCHEN episode one, “Alta California” shows a collection of culturally connected, distinguished chefs (including Ray Garcia of Broken Spanish, Wes Avila of Guerilla Tacos, Carlos Salgado of Taco Maria, as well as Jorge Gaviria of corn purveyor, Masienda) working to preserve heritage and push forward the “Alta California” Mexican food movement. By celebrating those dishes and ingredients integral to Mexico’s cuisine and its economy, a group of accomplished Mexican-American chefs are working to elevate not only the food, but what people of their heritage can achieve in the food business. Featured in the episode: Guerilla Tacos, Orange County’s Taco Maria, Broken Spanish, BS Taqueria.

[ https://www.kcet.org/shows/meals-ready-to-eat ]- MEALS READY TO EAT episode one, “Natick and Fort Lee” uncovers the scientists and chefs working to ensure the health and well-being of our nation’s finest, even as they are challenged by the toughest terrains and harshest conditions in the world.

Watch host August Dannehl and fellow veteran Mike Williams, currently the Executive Chef of West Hollywood restaurant Norah, transform the military’s utilitarian ration MRE into a mouthwatering “Jambalaya Risotto with Duo of Duck.”

All guest were given a recipe book like the one pictured as they left the fantastic and delicious food experience screening event.

Both shows will also be streaming on YouTube, Roku, Amazon and Apple TV.

Don’t forget to tune into the Migrant Kitchen, Season Two this week:

Wednesday Nov. 8, 8:00 PM PT [KCET-HD]
Wednesday Nov. 8, 11:30 PM PT [KCET-HD]
Friday Nov. 10, 10:30 AM PT [KCET-HD]

and Meals Ready to Eat, Season One:

Wednesday Nov. 8, 8:30 PM PT [KCET-HD]
Thursday Nov. 9, 12:00 AM PT [KCET-HD]
Saturday Nov. 11, 6:00 PM PT [KCET-HD]
Sunday Nov. 12, 6:00 PM PT [KCET-HD]

They are two really great shows that will inspire you to come out to the restaurants featured on Migrant Kitchen and even want to make a few of the recipes shown on Meals Ready to Eat.

The Hollywood Times photograph, who also attended this event, took upon himself to look up Merriam-Webster definition of Food. I bet not that many folks have looked it up. Here is it.

Wesbter’s Definition of Food

1 a: material consisting essentially of protein, carbohydrate, and fat used in the body of an organism to sustain growth, repair, and vital processes and to furnish energy; also: such food together with supplementary substances (such as minerals, vitamins, and condiments)
2: nutriment in solid form
3: something that nourishes, sustains, or supplies

About KCETLink Media Group

KCETLink Media Group is a national independent, nonprofit, digital and broadcast network that provides high-quality, culturally diverse programming designed to engage the public in innovative, entertaining and transformative ways. With a commitment to >independent perspectives, smart global entertainment, local communities, and opportunities for engagement and social action, KCETLink depicts people and the world through a lens unavailable elsewhere in U.S. media. A viewer-supported 501(c)(3) organization, KCETLink content is distributed nationally via satellite on Link TV – DIRECTV channel 375 and DISH Network channel 9410 – and on KCET in Southern and Central California via broadcast and cable, as well as through various digital delivery systems. For additional information about KCET and Link TV productions, web-exclusive content, programming schedules and community events, please visit kcet.org or linktv.org. Select programming from KCET and Link TV is also available for streaming on Hulu, Apple TV and Roku platforms.

Our House – Grief Support Center

By

Judy Shields

-

November 3, 2017

0

Our House – Grief Support Center

By Judy Shields

Hollywood, California (The Hollywood Times) November 3, 2017 – “Non-profit grief support center. We serve people all across the life span who has experienced a death of someone close.” Lauren Schneider, LCSW, Clinical Director of Child and Adolescent Programs at Our House told The Hollywood Times during a telephone interview.

This is one organization that I believe everyone should be looking into. We will all, at one time or another, have to deal with death and grief. Why not take the time to look into this organization for their support. Enjoy the following article.

Lauren Schneider & Greg DeHart One Last Hug Three Days At Grief Camp Premiere Screening April 2 2014

The Hollywood Times (THT): I read that Our House is a great support group for young children.

Lauren Schneider (LS): “Yes we do, we start working with kids as young as four years old and up. Everybody who comes to our facility is placed in a group within their age who have experienced the same type of death. So like a child who is 15 and has had a parent die would be with other 15-year-old high school age kids that have had a parent die.”

“We believe that the support that is available from people who are in your peer group is what is going to be most helpful at that time. We are not a mental health center, and we don’t do therapy at all. Everything is group support from peers rather than from a therapist. The groups are facilitated by our groups leaders, who for the most part are volunteers that we train to lead the groups.”

THT: What is your background and training?

LS: “I am a clinical social worker and I had been working with grieving children in another setting but I have been running this program over 15 years now. Most of my career has been working with grieving children. Most of what I know I have learned from the kids themselves, because you can read all the books in the world and all the studies and everything like that and that’s wonderful, but grief is so unique and every time you are in a room with grieving children you really do learn something about how that particular child is feeling. That is the best environment to learn.”

THT: Do you have counsels and therapists?

LS: “We have wonderful volunteers that are really committed. Many of them stay with us for years and they really provide high quality support to the kids in their groups. Our volunteers are truly remarkable and they are prepared for the work they do.

The kids program, we have a school base support program, one of the largest in the country. We served 900 students last year in public schools here in Los Angeles County. Kids sometimes don’t show their grief on the outside, because they are outside playing and not sitting around with the grownups talking about it. They use distractions to cope with the pain of loss. They get left out of family discussion and might not get the support and have to grieve alone.”

THT: I read about your grief camps, tell us a little about those.

LS: “We have grief support camps that we offer. We have two sessions in the summer, so kids can come for a weekend, a two-night sleep away camp. That is both a fun outdoor camping experience and a way to get grief support by sharing your experience with your peers with the help of the volunteers. In camp they are encouraged to express themselves and this helps them with support.”

Lauren Schneider talked about the documentary she allowed to be made about her camps. It is called “One Last Hug…and a few smooches” an Emmy award-winning HBO documentary about Children’s Grief. It can be found on HBO https://play.hbogo.com/

Laura said the camp is a very magical setting where kids can just be kids for a weekend and do an enormous amount of healing after a death of someone very close to them.

Applications for camp are being accepted in February next year for the summer. They do have a lot kids that go to these camps.

Camp Erin LA & OC – Three weekends each summer, OUR HOUSE Grief Support Center hosts Camp Erin-Los Angeles and Camp Erin-Orange County. The weekend-long camp provides children an opportunity to learn coping skills, enjoy traditional summer camp activities, and connect with other children who are also grieving the death of someone close.

Who is Erin?

Camp Erin is named in memory of Erin Metcalf, a friend of Karen and Jamie Moyer who died of cancer at age 17. Erin’s wish was to help other children navigate through their grief.

What activities do campers participate in throughout the weekend?

Camp Erin combines traditional camp activities with grief support, education and remembrance projects and ceremonies. Campers swim; navigate a rock wall and rope course; engage in arts and crafts; and enjoy other activities designed to encourage and promote healing. Camp Erin allows children a chance to share their thoughts, feelings, and memories about the person who died with their peers. They participate in memorial ceremonies as well as outdoor activities that allow them to enjoy the freedom of childhood.

Who takes care of the campers?

Camp counselors are highly trained and compassionate volunteers who are there to support campers as they participate in activities and bond with one another. OUR HOUSE Directors and staff oversee the counselors throughout the entire weekend.

Our House offers three different journals. On is for kids under 10, which they can complete with a grown up and express their thoughts and feelings and to hold on to their precious memories. Kids are afraid of losing memories of those that have died, Lauren said.

The second journal is a teenager journal version is one that the kids can work on themselves to express their feelings and write down their memories of those that have recently passed away.

The third journal is the adult journal. These journals have very simple props that provide enough structure for them so that it decrease that overwhelming feeling and you can just start off by responding to the simple props.

The website offers these journals as well as several books on grief.

Lauren also mentioned that they have an enormous variety of one-page handouts on different topics that can be helpful for school personnel on how to support kids and many related to children’s grief. How to prepare a child who will be attending a funeral, whether for a friend or a loved one. All these handouts can be found on their website below.

www.ourhouse-grief.org

She said that the most important thing to know is, what they are doing at Our House, is wonderful for the LA community but that there are grief support centers in the United States that have groups like theirs that are doing groups in school and grief camps and groups year round. People call Our House from all over the country and they can give them referrals for grief support resources in their communities. They have a great network of grief support centers nationally.

Our House will be celebrating their 25^th anniversary in April 2018 and there will be a very big event to celebrate the occasion. Their school base program is 20 years old next year and their camp Aaron, which is a national grieving camp and they are celebrating its tenth anniversary here in Los Angeles next summer. A big year for Our House.

There is an event happening on November 17^th. See below for more information:

Spend an Evening Laughing Out Loud – OUR HOUSE’s 9th Annual Night for Hope

Hosted by OUR HOUSE Associate Board
Friday, November 17, 2017
The Palace Theater Downtown LA
Doors Open at 6:30pm 21+

Click here for tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/night-for-hope-2017-tickets-38296244097

Our House is always looking for volunteers, the commitment to lead one school group per semester is a very small commitment, it’s about one hour a week, plus go through some training and so through supervision. There is probably a couple thousand students that could benefit from a grief group that will never have that opportunity because Our House does not have enough volunteers. Their next volunteer training is in January 2018.

So please look up being a volunteer to make a difference in a grieving child or adults life. Click here: http://www.ourhouse-grief.org/volunteer/

About Lauren Schneider LCSW

Lauren, a nationally recognized authority on Children’s Grief, has provided trainings for mental health clinicians, educators, clergy, health care providers and graduate students throughout the community since 2000. Lauren is the author of “Children Grieve Too: A Handbook for Parents of Grieving Children”. She also created “My Memory Book…for grieving children” as well as grief-related curricula for use at Camp Erin Los Angeles and in OUR HOUSE grief support groups. Lauren is the Associate Producer of “One Last Hug…and a few smooches” an Emmy award-winning HBO documentary about Children’s Grief. She trains and supervises OUR HOUSE group leaders as well as MSW and MFT clinicians and students. Lauren maintains a private practice in Los Angeles specializing in grief and loss.

Lauren’s areas of specialty are:

Talking to children after sudden deaths due to homicide, suicide, overdose or acts of terrorism the more stigmatized and unusual the circumstances of the death the less likely adults are to feel comfortable talking to their children about the cause when someone they love has died.

Children need to be told the truth in age appropriate language because they always find out the truth and they will feel anger, resentment or a lack of trust towards those who weren’t honest with them if they aren’t told the truth.

Helping grown-ups understand how to explain these types of death and how to empower their children to create their own narrative so they can comfortably talk about it with friends.

Preparing children for funerals or memorial services

Fostering resiliency in grieving children

Published Articles, Books & Film:

“Children Grieve too: A Handbook for Parents of Grieving Children.”

My Memory Book…for grieving children”

Associate Producer of “One Last Hug…and a few smooches” an Emmy award-winning HBO documentary about Children’s Grief.

About Our House

Grief is a natural reaction after the death of someone close. Yet in our society, few people are prepared for the intensity and duration of the grief process. Learn about OUR HOUSE Grief Support center and how we were founded on the premise that grievers need understanding, support, and connection. If you or someone you care about is grieving, we are here to help.

The OUR HOUSE mission is to provide the community with grief support services, education, resources, and hope. Since 1993, OUR HOUSE has helped thousands of grieving children, teens, and adults as they embark upon their journeys to hope and healing.

As a nonsectarian, nonprofit organization, we are reliant on the generosity of donors, corporate/community partners, and annual fundraising events. We offer special thanks to all of our volunteers, donors, and sponsors for their continued support.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Pc6ORZOBx8&w=540&h=303

About the Founder Jo-Ann Lautman

Jo-Ann Lautman was leading “Mommy and Me” classes at a pre-school in West LA as well as working with the Cedars-Sinai Hospice team during the early 1990s. Sadly, one of the moms died unexpectedly in her “Mommy & Me” class leaving a young widower and their child. At that moment, trying to console the young gentleman, Jo-Ann recognized there was an overlooked need for grief support in Los Angeles, particularly for younger grievers who were expected to “bounce back” and “find someone new.” Jo-Ann decided to make room for new passages in life, with the promise of keeping memories and dreams alive.

As the word about the groups grew, so did the seeds of OUR HOUSE. After two years helping the young widow and widowers find sweetness again in their life, OUR HOUSE Grief Support Center launched in October 1993 with its grief support mission as a safe and comfortable place to start the process of rebuilding lives after the devastation of the death of someone close.

From a staff of two to now 24 employees, from one group room to 11 group rooms in three offices, over 450 volunteers, satellite and school groups throughout LA County, OUR HOUSE serves grieving children and adults of all races, religions and ages, from 4 to 94. We have moved and grown and look to the future with the celebration of our 25th anniversary in 2018.

Easterseals Strides for Disability 5k Run 3k Walk

By

Judy Shields

-

October 25, 2017

0

By: Judy Shields

Long Beach, California (The Hollywood Times) – “Thank you all for coming out this morning to join Easterseals at our 17^th Annual Strides for Disability walk/5k run.” Mark Whitley, President and CEO told the crowd that gathered before the 8 am 5k run in Long Beach Shoreline.

Easterseals Southern California (ESSC) – which assists more than 10,000 people with disabilities – held its 17th annual Strides for Disability walk, this past Saturday, Oct. 21 in Long Beach.

Nic Novicki crossing the 5k finish line Strides4Disability (THT)

Hosting this year’s event as emcees are actor/comedians Nic Novicki (Boardwalk Empire, Gotham Comedy Live), Johnny Cardinale (Chelsea Lately) and Brian Swinehart (Key & Peele, Conan).

Johnny Cardinale crossing the 5k finish line (THT)

Also “in the house” will be the Los Angeles Chargers with plenty of games and giveaways.

Brian Swinehart and his 1st place medal for his age group 5k (THT)

The Hollywood Times had the opportunity to speak the emcees.

Nic Novicki (Boardwalk Empire, Gotham Comedy Live) Nic Novicki is an actor, comedian and producer who has performed on six continents.

His television credits include: Boardwalk Empire, The Sopranos, AXS Gotham Comedy Live, Jack and Triumph, The Neighbors, Austin and Alley, Private Practice and Drop Dead Diva. He has appeared in several movies, such as Life Happens, November Rule, The Last 5 Years, Boston Girls and Breaking Wind and will soon be seen in the upcoming Dead Ant.

Nic has produced several feature films, television pilots and web series for companies including Sony, CBS, Air China, Maxim and Universal and is an active member in the Producers Guild of America’s Diversity Committee. Nic wrote for the CBS Diversity Showcase and has also written and directed several short films including A Little Broke, which was acquired by the TV station Shorts HD.

As a stand-up comedian, Nic has toured all over the world, including several tours for the troops overseas through Armed Forces Entertainment. He has performed stand up on AXS Gotham Comedy Live.

He is the founder and Director of the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge.

He has also done several Armed Forces Entertainment tours, performing for the troops in Kosovo, England, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, France. Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, Portugal, and Spain.

Nic Novicki launched the Disability Film Challenge in 2014 in response to seeing disabilities underrepresented both in front of and behind the camera. As someone with a disability, Nic created the challenge to give aspiring filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their work and provide them with meaningful exposure.

In 2017, Nic and Easterseals Southern California joined forces to expand the challenge, now known as the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge. As the leading nonprofit supporting people with disabilities, Easterseals brings additional attention to the challenge, using its numerous communications channels to encourage participation.

Nic announced the dates for the 2018 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, check out his YouTube announcement here:

Friday, April 13 – Sunday April 15, 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPtyf7gkp8c

https://www.nicnovicki.com/

Johnny Cardinale with a bucket of raffle tickets

Johnny Cardinale (Chelsea Lately) Comedian

THT: What brings out here to the Easterseals Strides for Disability?

JC: “I came out to help my friends Nic Novicki and Brian Swinehart to MC this event. I have known Nic for a long time, we lost touch, because I was traveling and he has been producing shows and we were at an Emmy’s party downtown and sitting next to each and we reconnected. I have been traveling entertaining our military, I have done 15 of those tours and I asked Nic if he would be interested in doing one of those with me and he said yeah! I had one come up six months later, so I called Nic up and I he has been on three tours all around the world with me entertaining our military. He got me involved with Easterseals over the last year and here I am today.”

THT: What is like being over there entertaining our troops

JC: “It’s a great honor and after a show they will stop by to thank me and I will tell them, no thank you for being here. They don’t like to be thanked. They are conditioned to know that it is their job, their duty and I believe it’s good that we go over there now and again to thank them and let them know they are appreciated.”

“I have been on a total of 15 so far and Nic has been on three of those with me. We have been through Germany, Romania, Hungary and we went to Egypt and went inside the big pyramid of Giza. It was amazing because at the time we were there, tourism was down 80-90%, so we had the pyramid all to ourselves, me Nic and two other comics. There was just the five of us in the Great Pyramid of Giza.”

“I have done shows here in the states for Operation Gratitude, which sends care packages over to them and also does things for the disabled here in the states.”

Johnny said to go online and look up Operation Gratitude, Wounded Warriors and Easterseals and to volunteer their time. An hour a week or even an hour a month. You don’t have to give money, give your time to volunteer.

THT: What are you doing these days?

JC: ”I have been travelling. I just got back from Phoenix, and in Oregon before that and who knows what the next year will bring. I have been travelling the last 12 years non-stop. I want to stay in town more often, but I have to get out there and make a living.”

THT: Where do you see yourself in five years?

JC: “One of Two things, either having a very successful career as a voice over actor and then a writer, like a book or second having my own show in Las Vegas. I play guitar and see in my comedy act and it kind of a big show and I do it on Cruise ships and corporate gigs and a lot of people say I should do a Vegas show. To have it in my own Johnny Cardinale theatre would be great.”

He wants to write a book one day, go away in the woods and write it.

THT: Where and when is your next local area gig?

JC: “They are on my website and I will be performing in downtown Beaumont, California. I do it the third Saturday of the month at the Sand Trap Sports Bar. I bring three comics from LA and tonight we have Jodie Miller, who was just on America’s Got Talent and a couple of comics. I have been doing it for six years this past September.”

Johnny Cardinale at the Sand Trap Sports Bar, Beaumont CA

www.johnnycardinale.com

Johnny said he grew up in Calimesa, right next to Beaumont. Who would have known there is comedy in Beaumont!

http://thesandtrapsportsbar.com/

Johnny is a stand-up comedian, actor, voice actor and singer/songwriter. Known for Bobby Khan’s Ticket to Hollywood (2011), Sparrow (2013) and Actors Entertainment (2009).

He also writes and produces short videos which you can see on YouTube and Instagram. Please follow him on both and Twitter!.

He has performed in all fifty states and forty-nine countries. You can hear his comedy on Sirius/XM’s “Laughs USA” channel. He also has original songs on iTunes, iHeartRadio, Spotify and other platforms.

Brian Swinehart (Key & Peele, Conan) Comedian, actor and writer

The Comedian Host warming up with Zumba (THT)

THT: What brings you out here today?

BS: “I like what Easterseals does and I have done a couple of their event with Nic. It is really a great organization and I love to run myself, I really enjoy running, so it was the best of both worlds for me.”

THT: What was your time?

BS: “I think my times as about 23 minutes. Not bad. In 2015 I ran the LA Marathon and I finish it.”

THT: How do you prepare for the LA Marathon?

BS: “I actually run with the LA Leggers, they are a group in Santa Monica. They meet on Saturdays and they give you a schedule to follow. I ate an apple this morning, but the night before a Marathon I eat lots of carbs which is fun, so in the mornings I don’t eat much.”

THT: What are you doing these days?

BS: “I’m actually heading down to San Diego after this event to do a show down there. My writing partner and I just got one of our scripts made called “Burning Shadow” IT’s about a guy that sees his exact double, but his exact double is blind and homeless, it’s a drama. I have written several comedies, but the first drama script and it gets made.”

THT: Is the movie currently in the film festival arena?

BS: “Yes and the producers are working on that now. Julie Delpy a famous French actress is in it.

THT: How did you get into the business

BS: “Three days after I came into town, a good friend of my acting teach in Ohio, named Bernette, who lives in Pasadena just happen to have an attic room for rent. I still go and visit her and she is in her 80s now. She took me to the paramount studios and to show me around and showed me the ropes and I got on the show “Freaks and Geeks.” I figured I would stay and it is challenging and especially comedy. I believe we spend as much getting to the gigs as we make doing them.”

THT: Where do you see yourself in five years?

BS: “I would like to get one script a year made and I think me and writing partner, who is awesome, can get that accomplished. I would like to get a few parts in the scripts we write, not the main star, just in it. I want be a headlining stand-up comic around the country.”

“I did the Disability Film Challenge the past couple of years, and my last film was called “wheels” which is actually about my friend, who is in a wheelchair. What happened there was we were all hanging out and at the end of the day, I had to left him out of his wheelchair and put him into the car. That changed my perception on everything, because getting into a car is not something I ever thought about doing, your just do it without a thought and take it for granted. That fact that he has to have someone left him into the car every time he gets into a car, so I started out with the thought when they gave up the topic to write our script. It was a short film with Wheels being put into the car. I the Hollywood business, you get a little worried about things that matter to you, but they’re not really like that big. When you see stuff like Wheels having to have someone put him in a car, I wanted to capture that struggle he has to deal with on film. Most people will not ever have that experience. “

You can see this short on the easterseals YouTube page.

Brian Swinehart is an American actor, writer, stand-up comedian, and award winning producer. He was born and raised in a small country town in Ohio. Brian was raised by his parents Howard and Susan Swinehart. In 1999 his father Howard died. In 2000 with the blessing of his mother Brian left Ohio to go to California to pursue a career in acting. Brian had studied with some of the best acting teachers and acting schools in Hollywood. In 2009 his training was about to get even deeper when he got a job as the stand-in for Matthew Mcconaughey in the movie Lincoln Lawyer. On the set of Lincoln Lawyer Brian watched Matthew closely, read lines with him and threw a football with him at lunch. Brian worked on a Mccongnahey impression which many people consider to be the best Mcconaughey impression out there today. In 2012 Brian was in the movie about last night where he got to work with Steve Pink a director Brian greatly admires Swinehart was in several scenes playing Kevin Hart’s co-worker. In 2013 Brian booked a role in the TV Pilot Broken Dreams where he acted with academy award nominee Danny Aielo. Danny saw Brian at the audition and said “Who is that kid we need him on the project I want to work with him.”In 2014 after the passing of Paul Walker Brian was hired to be a stand-in and hand double for Paul’s character. Whose character name was coincidentally Brian. In 2015 Brian stood in for Josh Holloway on the TV show Colony and was in two national commercials one of which played during the Super Bowl. In 2016 Brian is scheduled to headline a national comedy tour and has a script called Rehabbers he co-wrote with Alex Nahon in production.

http://brianswinehart.com/

It was a beautiful Saturday morning with many runners, walkers and sponsors giving away cool stuff and delicious protein bars, bananas, apples and plenty of bottled water.

Strides4disability 5k they’re off No 448 is Anthony Gallo who was the first runner to cross the finish line

They had a raffle drawing for a cruise or $6,000 cash, $3,000 and an Ipad Pro.

Strides4disability grand prize winner of $6000 with Nic Novicki and Mark Whitley, President and CEO (THT)

Strides for Disability honors diversity, promotes inclusion and shows what disability means today. This unifying and spirited event brings together a diverse group of people – with and without disabilities – to break down barriers and show what’s possible with the right access, opportunities and support.

Together, we celebrate the strides we’re taking to change the way the world defines and views disability while making positive, meaningful differences in people’s lives.

The Hollywood Times caught out with some of the runners and they caught threw breathe to talk with us.

Strides4disability Andrew Gallo 1st person to cross the 5k finish line (THT)

Anthony Gallo – 1^st male winner of the 5k at 17:58.

THT: How many 5k’s do you run?

AG: “A great amount. I used to run them in college as my main event. The last time I race it was down at the San Diego Marathon and I placed 33^rd. So this is my getting back for Boston, which is my first time. I train five to six days a week, 4 to 8 miles and a long run on Sundays of upwards to 15 miles and even more when it gets closer to the marathon.”

THT: What do you eat the night before a run?

AG: “Lots of carbs, I love pasta and eating that the night before a race because it gives you energy to burn off during the race. I flew in with my, who is actually in the race as well, and we actually came down here for a normal run and we saw that there was a 5k and said let’s do it.

Nic, Brian, Johnny and Anthony Gallo (THT)

We love hoping into stuff like this and especially when it is a charity event like this one. We love contributing and getting everyone hipped up.”

What a great way to train and raise money for Easterseals, thanks to Anthony and all the runners this past Saturday morning in Long Beach at the shoreline.

Strides4disability Joel 1st female to cross the 5k finish line (THT)

Joella Leskovits – 1^st Female winner of the 5k 22:00

THT: How did you get involved in this race?

JL: “My company helped sponsor this event, James and Gable Insurance brokers.”

THT: Are you an avid runner?

JL: “Yes, I like to run marathons and I heard they were doing this and I was happy to be able to support them and get a 5k in as well.”

THT: So you have ran a marathon before?

JL “Yes, it was the San Diego marathon and I have done a couple of half marathons. I do want to run the Boston marathon one day.”

THT: How do you train for these 5k and 10k runs?

JL: “Doing these types of 5k helps me to prepare and running with my friend, who is running today as well. I left her because she did not want to run with me.

Evelyn and her dog Lucas crossing the finish line (THT)

Evelyn De Robles, dog Lucas and husband Issac.

1^st dog to cross the finish line

THT: Are you a 5k running family?

EDR: “We did actually train from this one, I said let’s just go do it and I knew about it a while back. 3.1 miles and I think believe our times was 33 minutes.”

THT: Is this the first time Lucas has run with you?

EDR. “Yes this is the first time he has run. He did really well, he beat me actually, and he kept dragging me along, he was leading me on.”

THT: do you plan to do a half marathon?

EDR: “Maybe down the line, we run for fun and our health.”

THT: Do you run for charity events like this one?

EDR: “Yeah, we are actually sponsored through my company, Medical Specialties Managers (MSM), they do the medical billing for Easterseals, so this was a team event. My husband is actually a tri athlete and has many medals already.”

Walk sponsors are … CVS Pharmacy, Century 21, Amway, SpecialCare (Mass Mutual), Mark Bertrand, Fraternal Order of the Police, Medical Specialties Managers, Inc., T-Mobile, US Bank, Autism Learning Partners, Behavioral Health Works, CBS Entertainment Diversity, Packaging Corporation of America (PCA), Armanino LLP, James + Gable Insurance Brokers, Inc., Netsmart, Ultimate Software, Banana Boat, barkTHINS, Dasani, ENM Sales & Services, Faraon, Grocery Outlet, Journeys Martial Arts Academy, KRAVE, Los Angeles Chargers, Lyft, Mike Thompson RV Superstores, Minute Clinic, Nature’s Bakery, Pepsi, South County Photo Club, Tacos & Co., The Ms. Wheelchair California Foundation and TruMoo.

Behavorial Health Works (BHW) sponsor booth (THT)

About Easterseals Southern California

For nearly 100 years, Easterseals has been an indispensable resource for individuals and families with developmental disabilities or other special needs. The services provided by Easterseals Southern California (ESSC) – in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Imperial, Kern, San Bernardino, Riverside and Ventura counties – make profound and positive differences in people’s lives every day, helping them address life’s challenges and achieve personal goals so that they can live, learn, work and play in our communities. With 2,300 employees, 60+ service sites and hundreds of community partnership locations, each year ESSC assists more than 10,000 people, providing adult/senior day services;

Easterseals Autism Therapy Services booth (THT)

autism therapy; child development/ early education; employment services, veteran employment support; independent living options; and more. At Easterseals, 87% of our income is spent on services. Join us in changing the way the world defines and views disabilities.

Join the Conversation …

Let’s take on disability together at: Easterseals.com/SouthernCal
Like us: www.facebook.com/EasterSealsSoCal
Follow us: www.twitter.com/EasterSealSoCal

The Goldbergs: 100th Episode Celebration at The Paley Center for Media

TV

By

Judy Shields

-

October 19, 2017

0

By: Judy Shields

Beverly Hills, California (The Hollywood Times) – “I knew in my heart if it didn’t happen, there would be no show. I’m glad I had clips of my Mom yelling at me and my Dad saying I was a Moron. A lot of the clips, my family won’t allow me to put it on television, there is a scene where my family is yelling in the background and I am eating wheat thins off the floor and my Mom said ‘Adam is going to be a filmmaker’ and my Dad says ‘Oh please!’ That is the end of it.” Adam Goldberg told the sold out theatre at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills this past Tuesday night.

The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills presented The Goldbergs 100th Episode Celebration as part of its PaleyLive Fall Season. The program featured a screening, panel conversation, and audience Q&A with the cast and creative team.

The 100^th episode will be airing next Wednesday, October 25 on ABC at 8 p.m. and it will be a Halloween themed episode. Don’t miss it and if you having seen the show yet, you need to catch up on the ABC app.

BEVERLY HILLS, CA OCTOBER 17: (L-R) Director Lea Thompson, executive producer Doug Robinson, actor Sam Lerner, actresses Hayley Orrantia, Wendi McLendon-Covey, creator Adam Goldberg and TV Guide’s Jim Halterman speak onstage during PaleyLive: The Goldbergs 100th Episode Celebration at the Paley Center in Beverly Hills on October 17, 2017. (Photo by Imeh Bryant/The Paley Center)

In attendance:

Wendi McLendon-Covey, “Beverly Goldberg”
Hayley Orrantia, “Erica Goldberg”
Sam Lerner, “Geoff Schwartz”
Adam F. Goldberg, Creator and Executive Producer
Doug Robinson, Executive Producer
Lea Thompson, Director
Moderator: Jim Halterman, West Coast Bureau Chief, TV Guide Magazine

The Hollywood Times was on the purple carpet and caught up with Lea Thompson, Hayley Orrantia and Sam Lerner.

Lea Thompson

THT: How did you get to direct the 100^th Episode?

Lea Thompson: I don’t know, it was the luck of the draw. I’m not sure, but I was happy to take it. I had a meeting with Adam a year ago, and he was like ‘great do you want to direct one?’ and I was like, yep and they me this one and said by the way, it’s the 100^th episode, and I said I am not worthy of this great honor, but I was super, super happy to do it. I love the show.

THT: What do you miss about the 80s?

LT: Big hair, funny clothes, price of real estate

THT: What were you doing in 1980s?

LT: I was a movie star, just becoming a movie star, I have been a very lucky girl. I grew up in the 70s and I definitely torn up the 80s and when I started to do research for this show and YouTube some stuff, the space camp episode and the some kind of wonderful episode and Howard the Duck episode, I was a big part of that pop culture and I think Adam’s favorite movie is Back to The Future. I’m not sure. After they figured this was the Halloween episode, they had to make a decision about some costumes and you will see the costumes they came up with.

THT: What did you do as the director on this episode?

LT: Basically the shot of the scenes, the feeling of the scene, sometimes we get to pick the set and help cast. The gatekeeper for the show, the schedule and directions. To reenergize the crew and actors especially after 100 episodes. Remind them how great they are and it’s easy to lose sight of that.

THT: Will you be directing more of The Goldbergs?

LT: Yes, I will be directing the next show, which starts next week and I am very honored.

THT: What else have you been working on?

LT: I have a movie I just did, call “The Year of Spectacular Men” at it will be shown at the LA Femme International Film Festival this Saturday night.”

Lea Thompson directed the movie and her Daughter Madelyn Deutch authored the screenplay and Lea’s other Daughter Zoey Deutch is in the film as well. How cool is that!

Sam Lerner

THT: What’s happening?

SL: A hundred episodes, that it so cool and I am so happy to be here. I am happy to be part of the show and I feel really lucky.

THT: Aren’t you a regular now?

SL: I am and it only took four years. So I’m really excited that it is official now. Watching my role grow as the seasons have gone on has been awesome. Started as Barry’s friend, and then slowly dropping hints of how his sister is attractive and then the whole full Jim and Pam things going on for a few years and finally it was official.

THT: I understand that this episode is a Halloween one, what was your costume?

SL: I got to dress as Marty McFly in this episode and it was directed by Lea Thompson, which is really cool, like a dream come true. She is the sweetest person ever. I had the orange vest and the Nike’s too.

THT: Have you been working on anything else besides The Goldbergs?

SL: I did a movie a couple of months ago called “True or Dare”, Lucy Hale and Tyler Posey are the two leads of the movie and I got to play a different character than I am used to playing. He is like a frat guy, who is not nice, and it was cool to play that type of character.

Wendi McLendon-Covey

THT: What is like to have done episode one and now you have done episode 100, has it been easier or harder with your character?

WMC: I just love playing her so much and I have to say in some ways it is easier, but in some ways it is a little harder and more draining emotionally on me because now that I love these kids so much, I know that sounds dumb, but I get in my zone with them and I say is this what your parents are going through with you. Its genuine, I can’t hardly stand it when I look at old shows and see how little Sean was, and I’m like what is he supposed to do, of course he has to grow up.

Hayley Orrantia

THT: How has it been from episode one to episode 100, has it been easy or harder?

HO: You know what the answer should be easier, but the answer would be no. It’s not easier. I think it is the challenge of working with 200 people on one set. There are a lot of things that come up and it’s been a lot of hard work but I am thankful that I get to do it. There is nothing that I can complain about, I feel like I blinked and we got to a hundred episodes. It happened so fast.

THT: In the Halloween episode, what is your costume?

HO: I am dressed as Lea Thompson in Back to the Future, and it was great that she was there to direct it and say that’s not right, so let’s do this. Really cool for her to have been there.

Sam Lerner with Hayley Orrantia and Wendi McLendon-Covey (THT)

THT: Do you have a favorite episode?

HO: My favorite one was Dirty Dancing, because one, it is a fun one to pay tribute too, but also, my main thing was that the Friday night that we filmed the dance scene in an actual gymnasium, we filmed there until 2 a.m. Saturday, which normally people would be like get me out of here, it’s so late, but I got to work with every single main cast member, A.J. just my best friends outside set and got to hang out until 2 a.m. film a really fun episode for a TV show. I think by far that one was my favorite one.

Panel moderator Jim Halterman West Coast Bureau Chief TV Guide

Adam Goldberg, Creator & Executive Producer, spoke about how he and Doug Robinson, Executive Producer worked on a formula for making the show feel like you could watch any episode at any time and don’t feel like you can’t relate.

Doug Robinson Exec Prod, Sam Lerner, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Hayley Orrantia, Lea Thompson and moderator Jim Halterman (THT)

Doug Robinson said that they never planned on using the home video footage for the pilot. Adam said in the second episode it wasn’t there because he didn’t know it was a ‘Thing’ and then they said you should show more of those. That is how they came about.

Jim asked Doug why did he think the show was special.

DR: Adam showed me his home videos years and years ago. We did a show together called “Breaking In” and when that show got cancelled I told Adam it’s time to do your family show. When he showed it to me the first time I said that is your show, your family is insane and he said, why would anyone care about my family, nobody is going to care, it’s not a show and I think it took him becoming a parent to understand what it was from the other side to really see that it was a show, now we are going to do your family show and everyone is going to want to do it. To Adam’s credit, he put together the most awesome pitch that I have ever had the pleasure to be part of. Just a collage of his home videos it was incredible, that is where it all came together.

JH: Wendi talk about when you first stepped in to the role of Beverly Goldberg and how you found her?

WMC: They approached me about maybe doing this and they gave me a script and I thought it was funny, but it was the script package that Doug was just talking about that sold me on it and I thought if we are being true to this, what a dream job, these people are insane. It was so rare and a video of your mom yelling at you and midstream asked about where you got that sweater.

AG: When you are casting these pilots, it’s like a mad rush and everyone is going after the same actors and Wendi was the only person that we wanted from the beginning, she had already had four offers at that point, it was this bake off.”

Wendi said “I’m a big deal!” and the audience erupted in laughter.

JH: Does your family have a say of yes or no on the clips you do show?

AG: Absolutely, yes. Barry especially, Troy, who is not here tonight captures so well, is like just such passion and going from zero to one hundred in a way that is hilarious, I would purposely try to make my brother lose it and so a lot of video is like him being like 20 years old and hysterically crying and screaming. Those in particular, he says, please don’t show that.

(L-R) Actresses Hayley Orrantia, Wendi McLendon-Covey, creator Adam Goldberg, and TV Guide’s Jim Halterman speak onstage during PaleyLive: The Goldbergs 100th Episode Celebration at the Paley Center in Beverly Hills on October 17, 2017. (Photo by Imeh Bryant/The Paley Center)

JH: How is it to cast yourself as a pre-teenager before when the show started?

AG: For Haley, she sent a tape and we watched it and she was the first person to audition. That’s it, and they we go we can’t just look at a tape and say that’s it, it just doesn’t work that way. So we proceeded to look at everyone in town and then we went back and said it’s the person on the tape. Haley is really gifted in turning a joke, which even on a tape would like her fireplace in the backgrounds at home while she would still do, like this is our person. Hailey was really easy.

Garlin was my Dad, he is my Dad, we has channeled by Dad, I have hired my Dad to play my Dad. The perfect Jeffing, he was angry at ABC, just like my Dad would be angry at people easily. He read the script and said, ‘yeah okay I’ll do this.’ He came in and he and Wendi started to improvise, and he said, year I got this. He proceeds to yell at the network president for five minutes for not putting his previous pilot on the air.

Casting me, finally was Sean, he just came in and he was 13, we thought he was 8. He was a kid from Chicago and he had never been on a set before. He didn’t know what was happening.

Doug chimed in and said to Sean: What are you doing out here and he said I’m on a business trip, with that really high voice he had then, it was the funniest thing.

AG: he would talk about video games and then like he was a real kid and I think the thing that got him the job was he wore glasses and that fits the character and he said ‘yeah I have a lazy eye.’

Doug: Troy was the last piece of the puzzle. We had him come back eight or ten times and some actors are great at auditions, but I think Troy, who is so gifted and he just didn’t find the character and they wouldn’t allow us to hire him even though we wanted him and asked him to come to the table read. When he came to that table read, he just crushed it, he brought it to a whole other level and they were like ‘how about this guy’ and we said you mean the guy that we have been saying we want for the last several weeks.

AG: It was Troy from the beginning but you have to bring in a couple of people, so I ended up calling Matt Bush whose in the JTP, who plays Andy Cogan, who was like in his 30s and just go with this kid.

Doug: We have George Segal, which were like please, and thankfully he said yes.

AG: We were about to shot the pilot and he said, ‘I can’t wait to be doing a multi cam again’ and we said no were are using a single cam and he goes ‘oh, that’s better for the actors right?” and we went yeah!

Jim asked Lea Thompson, you have done sitcom, you have done drama, you have done everything, what do you make of the show coming in later as a director of the show?

(L-R) Director Lea Thompson and executive producer Doug Robinson speak onstage during PaleyLive: The Goldbergs 100th Episode Celebration at the Paley Center in Beverly Hills on October 17, 2017. (Photo by Imeh Bryant/The Paley Center)

LT: I always loved the show, and what I loved is the incredible attention to detail. A lot of time a show, especially after it’s been going for a long time, the writers leave, and no one cares, but this show, Adam turns up, every single cut, every single prop, every single line, every single actor, every single song, so I think that the audience feels that attention to detail. I felt so happy to be able to play in the sandbox that is so incredible with all these incredible artists.

JH: Wendi I have to ask you of course, Beverly’s hair gets a lot of attention. What is your relationship with the hair?

WMC: You know, there are good days and bad days. She is like a jealous lover. I hate that thing. That is what she looked like. All of our Mom’s looked like that, at least in my part of the country. They all had their helmets of armor, and once she gets put on me I’m ready to go. Am I making any sense? Informs a lot of how she moves and how she behaves during the day, because once you are quaffed, nothing can take your mojo away and you do it for you, maybe you just going to Gimbals to buy a bra, but you got to look good, and you are going to command respect. That it the 80s for me.

JM: Hey Haley talk about playing Erika from day one until now.

HO: I talked to Adam and he said because he and Erik had a big age gap, you didn’t have as many story lines as you did with Barry, so at the beginning, I think trying to find what that relationship was, what that character was. So I think she has changed a lot and has become her own independent kind of hard headed person and very passionate about things. Obviously, focusing on the musical career was cool to add to it. I think this year specifically going away to college, you see her time to struggle with being on her own and being an adult and something that I can personally relate to, like getting away from the family, yes I have my independence, but can I do this by myself. I think that is something you will see this season that is a big part of who she is in the first place.

(L-R) Actor Sam Lerner and actress Hayley Orrantia speak onstage during PaleyLive: The Goldbergs 100th Episode Celebration at the Paley Center in Beverly Hills on October 17, 2017. (Photo by Imeh Bryant/The Paley Center)

JM: in the music career, obviously you were singing on the episode, you did a great job, so did that storyline come from Haley?

AG: It comes from Haley being incredibly talented and when she sings we only have to pay half price on the songs (laughter) so we are not paying REO Speed wagon or whomever it is that week. The thing with Erika, people say like on Twitter, when they realize Erika is not real, they are like there is no Santa Claus.

When I started the show, I refused to call it The Goldbergs, and they were The Silvers in the pilot and I thought, like Haley said, my brother in real life is so much older than me, I thought it would just open up the world and have more story lines if there was a daughter and the great thing about this character is that I am so locked in to how Pops would be, or how my Dad would be or how I would be and there is one person in this family that that is no rules. I don’t get a phone call after the morning it airs. That their feelings are hurt, it has really turned out fantastic.

What I love that we did was the thing about my oldest brother, he was just like my Dad and super stubborn and everything was butting head with them. The writers in the room, the women saying that they went through this and went through that and that character for all the writers is really fraying for us, because they will pick some great stories, but then I’ll go like yeah but I didn’t like Star Trek, so that Star Trek convention story doesn’t make sense to me.

JH: One the best things about the show is how you pay tribute to these movies that I grew up, Revenge of the Nerds, Back to School, talk about the early days, was that something you wanted to go back to frequently

Doug Robinson, The Goldbergs Writer, Sam Lerner, The Goldbergs Writer (THT)

AG: The first seven I did not, look I thought it was going to be cancelled after about three episodes, so I had a lot of stories I wanted to tell right away and I kept going back to the Goonies, over and over, like a really weird way and the writers were like what’s up with this guy and Goonies. Then in episode eight or nine I said we are doing a Goonies episode, we are still around and it’s crazy. One of the writers, Lou, was like came to me and said I don’t know about this, this is weird. Goonies, what is happening so he just named it Adam’s Follies, because he was certain that it would undo the show and this would be the nail in the coffin that would end the show. Once I did that and we were still on the air and the most fun I had, then it was wide open, we did Ferris Bueller, and all these movies. It’s funny, we don’t do that many, but people seem to think we do it every episode, I say that I show the Revenge of the Nerd episode. The most joyous part is getting to do these movies that I got to watch over and over again as a kid and someone would say to me there is no way you watched that as a kid, I did watch it and it was very inappropriate.

JH: asked Lea Thompson, who do you approach directing in general and how did you approach it with this show

LT: A lot of time, I have directed myself, which is kind of strange, so this is a real joy not have to direct myself. I am very difficult, as an actor. It’s such a joy to be able to use all that I have learned from the 35 years in Hollywood. I have worked with a lot of great directors and I get such a joy working with these amazing actors. It was fun for me. Comedy and drama inform each other and in good writing they exist side by side and I think they are not different in a lot of ways. There is beautiful drama in every one of these Goldbergs, I don’t like people that don’t have a sense of humor, I don’t believe them. I like comedies, because a sense of humor needs intelligence, so that is what I love about this show. They inform each other, so I am happy to do both.

Jim Halterman asked the actors if they have a wish list that they still want to do on this show?

WMC: I want to do a vacation episode. I want to see them go on a road trip and have it be miserable. Go to a wedding or some kind of solemn occasion where someone gets the giggles so badly. I just can’t wait until one of them gets married.

AG: You know when an actor is like I want to be in wedding and have the giggles, that is something Wendi wants to do and now we have to do it, because it is going to be so great.

(L-R) Actor Sam Lerner, actresses Hayley Orrantia, Wendi McLendon-Covey, and creator Adam Goldberg speak onstage during PaleyLive: The Goldbergs 100th Episode Celebration at the Paley Center in Beverly Hills on October 17, 2017. (Photo by Imeh Bryant/The Paley Center)

There was an emergency meeting with George this year and we were like what’s going on, we sit down and he says, ‘look, kids love this show, I really want to do a How’s On First, and we went okay and he said that’s it! That’s the emergency, he says it’s a great routine and it’s very funny and the kids will like it. We go okay. So we are going to do an episode with Pops trying to teach Barry How’s on First, Barry is like ?? It could be one of the best we have ever done.

HO: I have no idea, I get surprised with every episode they come up with and it’s way funnier than I could ever come up with myself. So I just let the professional handle it.

SL: We talked about a Sixteen Candle episode. That would be cool. We are just along for the ride.

An audience member asked a question if there any song or movie that said no to them.

Adam’s answer was Thriller. Adam even wrote it and really powered through and written letters and he believed his love of Thriller would make it happen. It will never happen he believes.

And audience member made them cool magnetics in honor of the 100^th episode and went up on stage to personally hand them to each of them. The cast was very appreciative of the special and thoughtful gift.

A young member of the audience asks if anyone has tried to quit the show. Laughter erupted once again.

Adam said yes that Jeff quits every day and then he would ask Jeff I hear you are quitting and Jeff would say oh come on, it just said that. Jeff will say I’m out of here.

Another audience asked what the real Beverly Goldberg thinks of how Wendi portrays her?

Wendi answered: I just happen to have some of her Tweets! She is great one Twitter and follow her on @goldilocks405. Wendi’s scene at the window tonight was so real, that she sounded just like me and Adam’s response to please just stop so realistic, scary and surreal. Okay Adam no you really owe me a call for making me cry tonight. This is on Twitter!

Adam said her mother calls him a hundred times a time and if I took her calls the show would never get done.

Adam said for all the ABC Shows, Halloween is always a big deal, He loved when Wendi was the Predator mom, it was such a stretch and he just wanted Wendi in a Predator costume running down the street and saying there is poising in the candy.

THE GOLDBERGS – “Couples Costume” – Halloween (ABC/Ron Tom)
WENDI MCLENDON-COVEY, JACK HERNDON

Sounds like this episode is going to be a memorable one and AJ is back and Adam gave us a spoiler of a possible girl band! Back to the Future is the movie theme.

The Goldbergs got picked up for the fifth, currently running and a sixth season too.

Rebecca Metz, Actress on FX’s Better Things, Talks About 2nd Season

By

Judy Shields

-

September 29, 2017

0

Rebecca Metz, Actress on FX’s Better Things, an FX Original Series, Thursday 10PM on FX

By: Judy Shields

Los Angeles, Calif (The Hollywood Times) 9/29/2017 – “Whenever I talk to people about the show, I say, honest to God, I would tell you to watch it, even if I wasn’t on it!” Actress Rebecca Metz (Better Things), told The Hollywood Times during a telephone interview this past week.

Better Things is an American comedy-drama television series created by Pamela Adlon and Louis C.K. for FX, starring Adlon as a divorced actress who raises her three daughters by herself.[3] FX gave a 10-episode order on August 7, 2015. The series premiered on September 8, 2016. On September 20, 2016, FX renewed the series for a second season, which premiered on September 14, 2017.

The show creator are:

Photo by Buchan/Variety/REX/Shutterstock –
Pamela Adlon and Louis C.K.
FX ‘Better Things’ TV show panel, TCA Summer Press Tour, LA 09 Aug 2017

Pamela Adlon – Actress | Producer | Writer -Pamela Adlon comes from an acting family and began her career in television in 1983. She has appeared in many popular TV shows, including as a voice actress in a number of animated TV series including, most famously, King of the Hill (1997) for which she won an Emmy for her role as Bobby Hill. Born: July 9, 1966 in New York City, New York, USA

Louis C.K. – Writer | Producer | Actor Louis C.K. was born on September 12, 1967 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA as Louis Szekely. He is a writer and producer, known for Late Night with Conan O’Brien (1993), Louie (2010) and Louis C.K. Oh My God (2013) Born: September 12, 1967 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Rebecca Metz play’s the Main Character Sam’s Talent Agent Tressa. Our interview follows:

Better Things – Rebecca Metz plays Tressa

THT: Did you decide at a young age that you wanted to become an actress?

RM: Yeah, I would like to say that it was The Muppet Show. I grew up watching The Muppet Show and the backstage screens on The Muppet Show, I was like that’s what I want to do, that’s where I want to be. I started doing theatre pretty young. Both of my parents were singers in all kinds of community chores and things. They would do a musical and they would need a kid and I would do that and I went to performing arts camps and there was performing arts magnet program in my high school and I have been aiming in that direction most of my life.

No one was going to talk me out of it.

THT: How did you get this role of Tressa in Better Things?

RM: When I heard the show announced, I keep a list of projects I am interested in, so I can let my manager/agent know about it and I wanted to be a part of the. I am a huge fan of Louie and Pam’s work with him and on her own. Casting director Felicia Fasano also cast me as a casting director on Californication, so she likes to cast me in industry roles and it’s kind of fun. She called me in for it and I read with a bunch of other people.

One interesting thing about the way Pam and Louie cast, you don’t get the material ahead of time. For most auditions you get the sides, the script that you are going to read at the audition. With Pam and Louie you just show up and get it when you get there, so you only have about 15 minutes with it. Everybody was reading the same material, she just wanted to see actors and so after the audition I got a call that I was going to be part of the show, but they didn’t know what role yet. It was you are going to be on the show, we just don’t know who you are going to be or how many episodes you are going to do. We will let you know, that was because Pam was still writing.

So overtime as the show developed, I found out that I would be Tressa and the role grew and I am still learning about Tressa, which is nice.

THT: With the second season just starting a couple of weeks ago, will we be seeing more of Tressa?

RM: Yep, I am in more of this season than I was in the last season. It is really exciting about the character. Pam wants the show to feel very real and not feeling scripted or fake, to feel like life.

Rebecca asked me if I have seen things from my life on the show that I recognize? There were several scenes from different episodes that I could relate to.

Pamela Adlon and Louis C.K, are amazing writers.

THT: How long does it take to shoot an episode?

RM: It was about two months this time around that I was working on it. It is really interesting, because this show does something called “cross-boarding” which means we shoot several episodes at once, and we shot all 10 episodes at once, whatever location we were in, we would shot everything that takes places in that location for all 10 episodes. So instead of a show like “Shameless” which I was on for three seasons, where you shot one episode at once, 8 days shooting one episode. So on Better Things, we might be shooting scenes from five different episodes, which is crazy to keep track of as an actor, and insane for the producer and crew. It’s all on location. The house scene is the same as last season.

THT: Do you prefer theatre over television/movies?

RM: I love them both. The acceleration of theatre is that there is no do-overs, you only get one chance to do it and the audience is right there with you. you feel them react. TV and film are exciting because it’s sort of the opposite, you can do things more than once. Spend a couple of hours on scenes. In theatre you get the whole play at once and everything about your character is given to you right at the beginning and spend the whole time working on that. In television, every time the new list comes out, I learn something new about my character and all the other characters on the show and you are playing someone, but constantly getting to know, and that is really fun as an actor, so I love them both. I am going to keep doing them both as long as people will let me.

Rebecca Metz Red Carpet Better Things Season 2 premiere Photo by Paul Archuleta

THT: do you like to perform in small theatre venues or larger ones?

RM: I have done quite a bit of work in intimate theatres, especially working on developing new plays, which I really do love. I really enjoy being involved in the process of working with the writer who is still trying to figure out what the play is going to be and to help shape it and participate in that development process.

That usually takes place in the smaller theatres. I think there is something relaxing about going into a theatre and just knowing that you are there so the duration and you are going to watch whatever gets put in front of you and find value in it. There is something about live people performing in a room with an audience, there is an energy there that on camera cant’ really capture.

THT: do you have a charity you work with?

RM: I help with the silent auction for the ACLU. I’ve done some performance events where the proceeds were donated to Plant Parenthood. I would love to work with some animal rights charities, ASAP. That is definitely on my list to donate my time and to get involved with.

Rebecca said she had a cat in her lap as we were speaking.

THT: Is there anything else you might be working on in the near future?

RM: I don’t know what’s in store next, but I did a Disney movie called Magic Camp that will be coming out in April 2018. I have seen it and it is a great movie. It is a movie about card magic tricks, not the Harry Potter type of magic. I am playing a parent of one the kids that performs magic. The kids in the movie do incredible magic! We spend a few days shooting a scene where the kids do some magic and even sitting there for three days watching them, I still could not figure out how they did those tricks. They are so good and I can’t wait for people to see it.

THT: Do you have hobbies?

RM: Wine is my hobby. We love wine tasting and do a lot of cooking at home. When I have time and not working a ton, I have gotten into sourdough. I have gotten crazy and obsessed and looking at sourdough blast on my iPad. I have made my own starter and have some troubleshooting to do this weekend, especially now that the weather is getting cooler.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1556548/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t6
Better Things is a great television show on FX. It shows us all that there truly are better things in life! Click here to see a clip for Season 2.

http://www.fxnetworks.com/video/1032565827847

You can also download the FXnow app to watch anywhere (except when you are driving a car!)

http://www.fxnetworks.com/fxnow

Season one is currently streaming on Hulu only.

Rebecca Metz on set with the cast of Better Things

Series Cast

Pamela Adlon – Sam Fox (20 episodes, 2016-2017) Mikey Madison – Max/Sam’s Eldest Daughter (20 episodes, 2016-2017) Hannah Alligood – Frankie/Sam’s Middle Daughter (20 episodes, 2016-2017) Olivia Edward – Duke/Sam’s Youngest Daughter (20 episodes, 2016-2017) Celia Imrie – Phyllis/Sam’s Mom (20 episodes, 2016-2017) Rebecca Metz – Tressa (10 episodes, 2016-2017) Alysia Reiner – Sunny (9 episodes, 2016-2017) Lucy Davis – Macy (7 episodes, 2016-2017) Greg Cromer – Jeff (6 episodes, 2016-2017) Milla Sofia Press – Paisley (4 episodes, 2016) Patricia Scanlon – Joy (4 episodes, 2016-2017) Cailey Fleming – Sorrow (4 episodes, 2017) Cuete Yeska – Reynaldo (3 episodes, 2016-2017)
Website: http://rebeccametz.com/ FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/rebecca.mitz Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRebeccaMetz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therebeccametz/ Imdb: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1556548/
About Rebecca Metz

“I feel pretty lucky to be working in television right now,” says Rebecca Metz, who recurs in the critically acclaimed, award-winning F/X series Better Things, (Better Things), its second season premiering September 14. Rebecca returns as “Tressa,” talent manager and friend to Sam Fox (Pamela Adlon.) “This season, we learn more about Tressa, and I’m excited for the audience to get to know her better. Pam added such great depth and detail to the character.” Adlon is the show’s co-creator and executive producer, directed every episode in season 2, and is Emmy-nominated for her role as Sam. Before Better Things, she was best known for her roles as “Marci” on Californication, Louis C.K.’s on-again-off-again love interest “Pamela” on Louie, and for her Emmy-winning voiceover work. In addition to her Better Things role, Rebecca appears in the Disney movie Magic Camp, coming to theaters in the spring of 2018.

“The boundaries are being pushed further than they’ve ever been pushed before,” notes Rebecca. “There’s more of an interest than there’s ever been in portraying a truly broad range of people and characters.” And for this accomplished character actor, that means more opportunities to show her remarkable range in both comic and dramatic roles on some of today’s most groundbreaking shows. Since graduating from the prestigious Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, Rebecca has made her mark on television in a string of memorable guest roles on dozens of popular and critically acclaimed shows, from Nip/Tuck to Weeds to Maron. Most recently, she appeared on Grey’s Anatomy, Bones, Major Crimes, and in recurring roles on Lopez and Shameless.

A proud Jersey girl born and raised in Bruce Springsteen’s hometown (Freehold, not Asbury Park — look it up), Rebecca was drawn to acting from an early age. Her parents, both classically trained singers who perform in community choirs, inspired her to follow a creative path, as did a favorite childhood TV show. “I honestly think the impetus for wanting to be an actor came from watching The Muppet Show,” she says with a laugh. “And from the backstage scenes, where they’re all freaking out and having a crisis and trying to keep from showing it onstage. I thought that looked really fun.”

After studying theater and the performing arts in high school, Rebecca was accepted into the highly competitive acting conservatory program at Carnegie Mellon. Most of her classmates aspired to work on Broadway or in film, but she harbored different ambitions. “My background is in theater and I will always come back to it, but I wanted to be on television before it was ‘cool,’” she says. “I’ve always loved TV. It just felt like the right place for me.” Early in her career, Rebecca made the most of small roles on The King of Queens, Gilmore Girls and Scrubs among many others. (She once spilled a tray of drinks of Maura Tierney while working on ER — sorry, Maura!)

Then she took a huge leap forward with a pivotal, graphic role on Ryan Murphy’s plastic surgery drama, Nip/Tuck. Even on a show known for controversial characters, Rebecca’s fearless turn as masochistic patient Abby Mays stood out as one of the series’ most memorable. When Rebecca was offered the challenging part, she remembers thinking, “OK, here’s where I find out what I do when faced with a really great role that will demand a lot of me psychologically and emotionally. And I was really excited about it.” And her courage paid off. “I got to go in for bigger and better roles after Nip/Tuck,” she says. “It changed everything.”

After Nip/Tuck, Rebecca began landing more dramatic roles on shows like Boston Legal, The Mentalist, Justified and Southland. But her comedic skills have continued to serve her well, too, on Weeds, Californication, The Mindy Project, The Thundermans, Maron and particularly Shameless, on which she appeared for three seasons as the foul-mouthed Melinda.

“I really like the current trend in television right now that blurs the line between drama and comedy. I think that’s how life tends to be,” Rebecca notes. And even on comedies, she adds, “I like characters with a dark streak. I like characters who find comedy in darkness. I like characters that let me push myself to make a big choice.”

In addition to her frequent television and commercial work, Rebecca has appeared in numerous independent and short films, most recently Jake Hoffman’s Asthma (2014). She is also a voiceover and stage actor whose theater credits include Sheila Callaghan’s Kate Crackernuts (24th Street Theatre) and Burglars of Hamm’s award-winning musical, The Behavior of Broadus (Sacred Fools).

But today, there’s no question that Rebecca is all about the small screen. “Television is going to places it’s never been before,” she declares. “And I get to be a part of that. Every time I go to work, or even go to an audition that is in the front of my mind. I feel very fortunate to be here for it.”

MINDI ABAIR AND THE BONESHAKERS

By

Judy Shields

-

September 26, 2017

0

Performed at the Grammy Museum Clive Davis theatre

By: Judy Shields

Los Angeles, California (The Hollywood Times) 9/26/2017

What a treat it was to hear Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers live and in person in such an intimate environment like the Clive Davis theatre at the Grammy Museum on September 15^th. The sound coming from the stage that night was incredible. She is really that good for a girl! The Boneshakers are a multi-talented band, mixing music with words and delivering a grand performance to boot.

Their new album, The EastWest Sessions was released on September 15^th, so get yourself a copy today, and don’t forget to get a copy for a friend who appreciates great music. Click on the link: http://www.mindiabair.com/shop/eastwest-sessions

Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers, Hollywood, California. 22 April 2017.

Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers talked about how it was to record their new album at the EastWest sound studios environment.

Third Richardson said “you need to know your opportunities when they present themselves. There is a little hang just outside of Studio 2, there is a back ramp, it’s pretty much like the back entrance. So anyone that comes and parks into the property has to walk right pass studio 2, where we were recording. I was just chilling out back there and a black Tesla pulled up and holy David Grohl, just the entire week, it was great and the drums you are going to hear it, I wanted him to hear it. Justin Timberlake was there too. Just to get to hang with these people, to feel the energy and level of creativity they are operating under that environment.”

Mindi said “she was looking for Third and asking where he was and she goes outside and Third is sitting in Dave Grohl’s Tesla listening to The Sky is A Neighborhood by the Foo Fighters, which their new album was being released the same day as ours, which I think is totally cool. He is out in the car and his head is just rocking out. It was pretty fun to see that.”

“It was pretty crazy to feel the ghost of those rooms and those that came before you and I think it makes you up your game. Time to make a good record”

Justin Timberlake walked by the room they were in and said ‘”you guys are killing it.” Timberlake was fascinated with their song “She Don’t Cry No More” he was talking about it and even singing it.

Mindi Abair and the Boneshakers at BB King Blues Club

Mindi said they recorded the record live and gets the energy from the audience. She remembers doing “Vinyl,” the opening single, which she is singing and playing her sax and she said she has good lungs, but that there is a point, where she needs to catch her breath, so she will look over at Randy and says Guitar solo! The band said they really love playing their songs live.

Mindi also talked about the time she spent with Gregg Allman down at his home in Georgia to and record a song together. She said she is so lucky to have spent that time with him and that he was such a great guy. A beautiful man.

The Hollywood Times caught up with Mindi and The Boneshakers for a round of questions:

Mindi Abair (Saxophone/Vocals)

THT: Who or what inspired your love of music?

MINDI ABAIR: I grew up on the road with my father’s band The Entertainers. They were a blue-eyed soul band with tons of energy. My Dad would knock his knees together and shimmy and shake playing sax. He was fun to watch. My grandmother was an opera singer and when we got off the road and moved to St. Petersburg, FL, my father would put together 8 rock bands a year to tour across the US. I just sat in their practice rooms and soaked it all in. How cool to really immerse and have music around 24-7 from such a young age.

THT: What was the first instrument you learned to play? Why did you choose it? How old were you?

MA: I first started lessons on piano at age 5. I loved my teacher and I got a lot from it. I started saxophone at age 8. 4th Grade Band started and my teacher Ann Reynolds laid every instrument out so we could see them. She told us to find one we vibed with and sit down with it and we’d learn to play them. I chose saxophone because I’d seen my Dad playing it on stage and he looked like he was having a blast. I wanted to have that much fun!

THT: Did you taken lessons or are you self-taught?

MA: Even though my father and grandmother were very musical, they never wanted to push me or be “stage” parents. They wanted me to find my own passions and follow them. My father gave me one “tip” right before I walked onstage when I was in the Florida All-State Jazz Band as a high school senior. He told me about a cool saxophone “lick” to play in my solo. So I tried it onstage. It didn’t work. My father apologized later that he told me the wrong notes to play. So, maybe it was better they let me do my own thing! I had less than a handful of lessons before college. But once I started college, it was ON!

THT: Who is your biggest musical inspiration?

MA: When I was a kid I would watch MTV all the time. I wanted to be Tina Turner strutting it out there on stage or Nancy Wilson from Heart kicking up her leg rocking a guitar solo. I never realized you could do that with a saxophone until I saw David Sanborn. His music was pop/rock and he was out there screaming and wailing on a sax just like these rock singers I was so enamored with. He was the missing link for me to a whole new world of letting my saxophone speak for me in a larger way.

THT: What do you enjoy most about performing?

MA: Playing live is my absolute favorite thing to do. I love writing songs and making records, but getting in front of an audience and getting that back and forth conversation with music is priceless. There’s a huge connection for me being on stage and playing with the band and feeling the energy of the audience.

THT: Other than music, what are you passionate about?

MA: I’m passionate about music education for kids. I’m a National Trustee for the Recording Academy, the organization that put on the GRAMMYs. They give so many resources to education for kids and help to put music back into the schools- it’s so necessary. I also love to be inspired by amazing women. I built a website based on our new song http://www.prettygoodforagirl.net that empowers women and features women breaking the glass ceiling… it inspires me!!

THT: Share a memorable moment from your career. MA: Some sax players dream of playing a show with Miles Davis. I dreamt of playing with Bruce Springsteen. And one night Max Weinberg called me and said “We’re playing The Beacon Theater in NYC tomorrow night with Bruce Springsteen. I know you know the solo and all the parts for “Spirit in the Night.” Would you come play?” I was a blur to the airport. Clarence Clemons had recently passed away and they hadn’t found his replacement yet. I was honored to just be in the room…. playing one of my favorite songs… with one of my favorite artists… in NYC. Amazing.

Randy Jacobs (Guitar, Vocals)

THT: Who or what inspired your love of music?

RANDY JACOBS: My Grandmother, Detroit City and Mrs. Joan Blischke.

THT: What was the first instrument you learned to play? Why did you choose it? How old were you?

RJ: I always wanted to play guitar. Mrs. Blischke, the mother of my best friend, let me play hers and showed me how to play chords. Greg Riley, the older brother of another friend, taught me how to tune it and gave me a practice amp after I got my first guitar for Xmas in1970. It was a Sears Tel Ray Teisco (Hound Dog Taylor style) electric guitar I was 13.

THT: Did you taken lessons or are you self-taught?

RJ: Self-taught, I still mostly learn by ear. How I got to here is amazing to me! LOL

THT: Who is your biggest musical inspiration?

RJ: No one person inspired me but several people from Detroit you may have never heard of including, guitarists Bruce Nazarian and Donald Anthony, bassists Eddie Watkins, Lamont Johnson, Tony Green, Michael Henderson, and Tony Newton, as well as producers Barrett Strong, and Don Davis, and I can’t forget Mrs. Joan Blischke.

THT: How did you become a part of Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers? What do you enjoy most about this band?

RJ: Mindi and I met in the early 90’s via a weekly gig at the Mint in Hollywood. I was blown away by her and we always remained connected somehow by overlapping projects, gigs and such. The Boneshakers was my band and she was a fan of the energy and our blues power. She sat in with us at a festival in 2014 and it just became evident that we (Mindi and I) had an incredible chemistry. It was suggested by her former manager Bud Harner that we join forces and we haven’t looked back. I really enjoy the cast of personalities and great musicianship, it’s rare to have a package that works so well together. Everyone in the band is top notch in all aspects. They raise me up on stage and inspire me.

THT: What does playing music mean to you, spiritually or in an entertaining sense….or what do you enjoy most about performing?

RJ: Music is one of the biggest joys of my life. It’s the interaction with the audience and my connection with the band that really gets me excited. There is such power that comes from us. I get chills thinking about it.

THT: Other than music, what are you passionate about?

RJ: My son Daniel Jacobs, who’s in college on a volleyball scholarship. He was All-American last year, so I’m very proud. And, Basketball…I play almost every day when I’m home. I can’t get enough.

THT: Share a memorable moment from your career.

RJ: A while back, my old band Was (Not Was) played the Mayan theater in LA for our record release party for Are You OK?. The day before they said Elton John was going to sit in and we would do “Philadelphia Freedom”. I worked on it up until show time sweating bullets. After the song Elton leans over and says “now that was the funkiest guitar I ever heard.” What a rush!!!

Rodney Lee (Keys)

THT: Who or what inspired your love of music?

RODNEY LEE: My father inspired my love of music. He wasn’t a musician, but a true fan of music. He had reel to reels and used to belong to tape clubs where he could check out recordings and dub them from reel to reel. Music was always playing in the house, and he was really into jazz – especially jazz organists such as Jimmy Smith and Richard Groove Holmes.

THT: What was the first instrument you learned to play? Why did you choose it? How old were you?

RL: My first instrument was the piano, and I began taking lessons at 10 years old. Not sure why I was drawn to the piano…we had one in the house and I always wanted to play from when I was much younger.

THT: Did you taken lessons or are you self-taught?

RL: I started taking classical piano lessons and got into jazz organ a few years later. All through high school I took classical piano lessons and separate jazz organ lessons.

THT: Who is your biggest musical inspiration?

RL: Starting out, I was really into Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, and Jimmy Smith.

THT: How did you become a part of Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers? What do you enjoy most about this band?

RL: I’ve played in the Mindi’s band since 2002! The addition of The Boneshakers was a long time coming, and I could see Mindi was moving into a more blues rock sound. The right combination of players finally presented itself with The Boneshakers. There is a musical maturity about this band in that everyone is truly listening to what’s being played — that’s what makes it so special for me. We are all focused on the end result.

THT: Do you have a favorite charity or organization? What is it? Why is it important?

RL: My favorite charity is CARE.org It’s all about fighting poverty all over the world and thereby improving the lives of children born into impossible situations. I developed a series of educational music CDs for kids after my son was born 9 years ago. It’s called Groove Kid Nation (GrooveKidNation.com) — It’s all about introducing toddlers to the sound of real musical instruments and not the cheap imitation from plastic toys. Mindi even guests on a song. It’s a labor of love for me and I donate a portion of the proceeds to CARE.

Derek Frank (Bass, Vocals)

THT: Who or what inspired your love of music?

DEREK FRANK: I think I was originally intrigued/inspired when I first heard Queen. My dad had the 8-track News of the World, and it’s the first album I ever remember hearing. My love of music grew from there… then once MTV came out and I could actually see people playing that was it, I was hooked.

THT: What was the first instrument you learned to play? Why did you choose it? How old were you?

DF: I took early stabs at playing piano and guitar… then one day, I was messing around in my local music store waiting for my guitar lesson. I decided to try out a bass, not really knowing what it was. Once it was in my hands, I knew that I had found my instrument. Did I choose it? No, it chose me.
THT: Did you taken lessons or are you self-taught?

DF: I took lessons early on, and then got formal training at Interlochen Arts Academy and the University of Miami. But probably my most valuable lessons have been learned through experience. There’s nothing like “on-the-job training”!

THT: Who is your biggest musical inspiration?

DF: That’s a tough one, because I have so many. Some of my favorite bass players are James Jameson, Pino Palladino, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Greg Phillinganes, Larry Graham, John Paul Jones, Marcus Miller, and Rocco Prestia.

THT: How did you become a part of Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers? What do you enjoy most about this band?

DF: I got called to audition for Mindi’s band in 2010. I was referred by her then guitarist, Jay Gore, and then drummer, Jamey Tate. I guess the audition went well, ‘cause I’ve been with her ever since. I love the new musical direction she’s taken since teaming up with The Boneshakers. I feel like the blues/rock/soul direction lets Mindi shine, and she’s becoming more of the artist that she’s meant to be. And everyone in the band is just So. Damn. Good. Everybody plays with such passion and taste… and it’s different every night. You never know exactly what’s going to happen! I love the unpredictable nature of our shows. We know basically what we’re going to play, but there are always surprises. We all keep each other on our toes. lt’s a true joy to get up on stage and make noise with all these bad asses night after night!

THT: What do you enjoy most about performing?

DF: I love everything about it. I love the idea of being able to fulfill the lifelong dream I’ve had about being a professional musician. I love putting smiles on people’s faces night after night, traveling to places I would never visit on my own, seeing the world in a much different light than I would if I were merely a tourist, the camaraderie, the fun of hanging out with such talented and driven friends, the musical conversation we have on stage together, the uncertainty of it all, the fact that no two shows are ever the same. I just love every aspect of it: the good, the bad, the ugly…. but it’s all good in my mind.

THT: Other than music, what are you passionate about?

DF: I love the outdoors. I love snowboarding, running, hiking, and mountain biking. If I couldn’t make a living playing music, I’d probably be in the mountains somewhere.

THT: Share a memorable moment from your career.

DF: That’s a tough one. They’re all memorable! Maybe one of my recent favorites is from last year. We we’re in China with the Mindi Abair Band (The Boneshakers weren’t available, so we billed it as the Mindi Abair Band). We had one free day in Beijing, as the show wasn’t until 9pm or so. None of us had ever seen the Great Wall of China, so we got up early, and hired a car service to take us there (about a two hour drive from the hotel). We only had about an hour to spend at the wall, but we HAD to see it…when else would we ever get the opportunity? It’s moments like that that I live for. Seeing the world, and taking advantage of every opportunity and experience.

Third Richardson (Drums, Vocals)

THT: Who or what inspired your love of music?

THIRD RICHARDSON: My family was and still is one of the biggest musical inspirations. My Grandfather was a Drummer and my Father played everything practically. My brother and I grew up playing and singing in church and at home with our mother and sisters! Holidays are the best with the Richardsons!

THT: What was the first instrument you learned to play? Why did you choose it? How old were you?

TR: I was drawn to the drums from the beginning. I’m sure I was banging around in my mother’s womb. I started playing and literally keeping a beat at the age of 3, from what I’ve been told. Before that it was pots and pans, and lampshades for cymbals.

THT: Did you take lessons or are you self-taught?

TR: Although I’ve never taken a lesson, I can’t say that I’m self-taught. I feel that I’ve been a sponge from the beginning. I’ve surrounded myself with great musicians I admire that taught me everything I know, on and off the drum set.

THT: How did you become a part of Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers?

TR: Mindi and I are from the same town, so I became a fan of her music early on. As I started to establish myself as a drummer in the business, we would see each other on the road at concerts and festivals. The opportunity presented itself for me to work with her and it was the perfect match. I knew Randy’s work as a Super Guitarist/ Music Director. We have a really good chemistry and a similar work ethic. He would always bring me on tours and other projects he was involved in. Then the stars in the sky aligned for us to be able to do this together and it’s been magical from the beginning.

THT: What does playing music mean to you, spiritually or in an entertainment sense…or what do you enjoy most about performing.

TR: Well, from a young age I’ve felt that the basics of drumming came quite naturally. Considering the talent of my family, I knew this was a god given gift. With that being said, I have to have that spiritual connection or passion with the music when I’m performing. That’s how it was at home as a kid and it’s still the same today.

Sweet Pea Atkinson (Vocals)

THT: Who or what inspired your love of music?

SWEET PEA ATKINSON: My Mother and going to church.

THT: What was the first instrument you learned to play?

SP: While I never learned to play an instrument, I’ve been singing since I can remember.

THT: Did you taken vocal lessons or are you self-taught?

SP: I never had any lessons, I just always enjoyed singing.

THT: Who is your biggest musical inspiration?

SP: The late Marvin Junior from the group the Dells…there will never be another. His voice really hit me.

About Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers

Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers features band leader Mindi Abair (Saxophone, Vocals), Randy Jacobs (Guitar, Vocals), Sweet Pea Atkinson (Vocals), Rodney Lee (Keys), Derek Frank (Bass, Vocals), and Third Richardson (Drums, Vocals). Their first record together Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers LIVE in Seattle was released September 2015 to significant critical acclaim, and a 2 ½ year non-stop tour schedule across the US.

In April 2017, the band took a short break to record their first studio record. The EastWest Sessions was recorded over five days at legendary Hollywood recording studio EastWest Studios with renowned Blues Rock producer Kevin Shirley (Led Zepplin, Joe Bonamassa, The Black Crowes, Aerosmith). The album, which will be released September 15, 2017, is a powerful, bluesy, momentous, and deeply emotional journey. The album features a track with iconic blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa, and 2017 GRAMMY® winner in the Best Contemporary Blues Album category, Fantastic Negrito.

She authored the book “How To Play Madison Square Garden – A Guide to Stage Performance” and serves as a National Trustee for The Recording Academy.

The artists she’s toured with and/or recorded with are a testament to her talent: Aerosmith, Gregg Allman, Keb’ Mo’, Joe Perry, Bobby Rush, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Lalah Hathaway, Duran Duran, Adam Sandler, Lee Ritenour, The Backstreet Boys, Booker T. Jones, Jimmy Webb, Mandy Moore, Max Weinberg, Bill Champlin, David Pack, Mocean Worker, The Ides of March, Rick Braun, Teena Marie, Bobby Lyle, Jonathan Butler, and Peter White.

About EastWest Studios

EastWest Studios is the world’s premier recording facility. Located in the heart of Hollywood, the studios have given rise to some of the most celebrated music of the last fifty years, from Frank Sinatra to The Rolling Stones, and has produced more Grammy-winning albums than any other studio in the world. Now, this iconic complex has been brought into the 21st century by an astonishing collaboration between EastWest Sounds producer Doug Rogers and internationally renowned designer Philippe Starck.

The idea was simple – take to the most historic recording studios in the United States and transform it to meet the needs of contemporary artists and producers recording in the new millennium. The key ingredient, however, was in preserving the integrity of the live recording rooms, as built by legendary engineer Bill Putnam in 1961.

The result is a truly unique experience that stimulates both the aural and visual senses, that combines the epic sound recordings of the past with a bold, playful vision of the future. A place where artists can meet, mingle, and be inspired, while at the same time shaping the way music is heard for generations to come.

We invite you to discover EastWest Studios for yourself by exploring our diverse recording spaces, our incredible history, and how we provide today’s discriminating artists the utmost in service, all in an unparalleled creative environment.

The 1920’s – 1950’s

No other studio in the world has a story like ours…

Originally constructed as Cash Is King grocery market in 1933, the recording studios have a history that spans over 80 years.

Cash is King was at its time the largest market on the West Coast (you can still see some of the meat locker doors from this time). The market survived the Depression years until 1942 when it was converted into Madame Zucca’s Hollywood Casino. Madame Zucca’s entertained World War II soldiers with its wild burlesque shows and not-so-legal gambling. Over the next couple of years, the name was changed to the Cotton Club and then again to the French Casino in attempts to get around new liquor and gaming laws.

By 1950 the casino had closed and the building was converted into a radio broadcast center. First called West Coast Productions, the main stage was where Studio 1 stands today and produced hit radio shows like the Tennessee Ernie Ford Show. In 1954 the name was changed to Radio Center Theatre.

In 1957, Don Blake acquired the building and it was renamed Western Recorders. Soon, Blake would go on to sell Western Recorders to an engineer named Bill Putnam – Frank Sinatra’s personal engineer – who kept the name, but started the process of transforming the space into the recording studio we know today.

The 1960’s

Ushering in a New Age in Media

By 1960, Bill Putnam was already known as one of the giants of the recording industry.

The inventor of the modern day recording console, he had already founded an incredibly successful recording studio in Chicago called Universal Recording. With the backing of his clients Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby, Putnam moved to California to realize his dream of creating the largest recording studio complex on the West Coast. He first purchased United Studios at 6050 Sunset Boulevard, then purchased Western Recorders in 1961.

As soon as the doors opened, Western Recorders was producing some of the biggest hits of the pop music era. Frank Sinatra, whose new label Reprise was also housed in the building, recorded some of his greatest work in Studio 1, including “My Way”, “The Summer Wind”, “That’s Life”, and his duet with his daughter Nancy Sinatra “Somethin’ Stupid”. Also in Studio 1, the original Mission Impossible theme song was recorded, Elvis Presley revived his career with his 1968 Comeback Special, Roger Williams sang “Born Free”, and Peggy Lee recorded her hit “Is That All There Is?”.

The early years of Studio 2 were dominated by some of the most memorable recordings of American television, including the themes from The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, and Hawaii Five-O. Other hits from the time in Studio 2 include Ricky Nelson’s “Fools Rush In”, Wayne Newton’s “Danke Schoen”, the Righteous Brothers’ “Soul & Inspiration”, and Mason Williams’ “Classical Gas”.

It was in Studio 3, however, that sound of the 60s generation came into being. Here, The Beach Boys recorded their masterpiece album Pet Sounds and some of their greatest hits, including “California Girls”, “Good Vibrations”, and “God Only Knows”. It was also here that The Mamas & The Papas recorded their smashes “California Dreaming”, “Monday, Monday” and “Dancing in the Street”. Other notable recordings from this period include Scott McKenzie’s “San Francisco”, “Make Your Own Kind of Music” by Mama Cass, Barry McGuire’s anti-war anthem “Eve of Destruction” and The Cowsills’ hit “Hair” from the musical “Hair”.

The 2000’s

During the Cello years, the studios took on a more hard rock sound. Rage Against the Machine, System of a Down, Audioslave, Jimmy Eat World, Ryan Adams, Natalie Merchant, and Sum 41 made some of their best work during these years in Studio 2, along with the return of Weezer, Tom Petty, Blink 182, and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. The room became a favorite of legendary producer Rick Rubin.

The early work of The Mars Volta and Muse came through Studio 3 and were mixed in Studio 5. Also in Studio 5, mixes were done for My Chemical Romance, Franz Ferdinand, and New Order, along with the soundtracks for the films Spider-Man, The Scorpion King, and Daredevil. The ambience of Studio 1 lent a large sound to albums by AFI, Tool, and Macy Gray, as well as HBO’s Six Feet Under.

In 2005, Cello Studios shut down and the studios were in danger of closing for good. Just before it was slated for demolition, EastWest Sounds owner Doug Rogers purchased the facility, who changed the studios to our contemporary name – EastWest Studios. First though, Rogers brought in famed designer Phillippe Starck to completely remodel the lobby, kitchen, and artist lounges in order to bring the facility into the 21st century, while preserving the historic look and sound of the recording rooms.

In 2009, EastWest Studios opened its door for business. The soundtracks for the films Burlesque and Get Him To The Greek were recorded in Studio 1 and 2, respectively, and pop phenomenon Rihanna recorded work for her album Rated R in Studio 3.

The 2010’s

Since opening, EastWest Studios has carried on this proud tradition of recording the best of the industry. In Studio 1, music has been recorded for the TV shows Mad Men, Glee, Scandal, CSI, American Idol, The Voice and for the films Iron Man II, This is 40, and Eat, Pray, Love, as well as award-winning albums To Be Loved by Michael Bublé, Foster The People’s debut album Toches, Justin Bieber’s Believe, Ariana Grande’s breakout Yours Truly, and Justin Timberlake’s twin albums The 20/20 Experience.

Studio 2 is still rocking with the return of The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Garbage, Muse, AFI, Sum 41, Slayer, and Metallica. Rihanna, Frank Ocean, Demi Lovato, Lea Michele, Kelly Rowland and Janelle Monáe have recorded some of their biggest chart toppers in Studio 3, which was also the site of scoring sessions for HBO’s Behind the Candelabra and FX’s American Horror Story. In 2013, Studio 5 went through extensive renovations and reopened in 2014.

For over 50 years, we have been making music history, turning out more Grammy winning recordings than any other studio in the world. Our goal remains to provide artists with the utmost in service, the best in new and vintage technologies, and an unparalleled creative environment.

MINDI ABAIR AND THE BONESHAKERS TO APPEAR THURSDAY NIGHT (9/14) GRAMMY MUSEUM-LA LIVE

By

Judy Shields

-

September 13, 2017

0

Tomorrow night, Thursday, September 14th – Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers to celebrate their new album release date of September 15th.

By: Judy Shields

Los Angeles, California (The Hollywood Times) September 13, 2017 “I write 99% of the music, to me it is really the way to get much of you on a CD as possible and I think playing other people’s music is a blast, but sometimes you wish you wrote a song, you have to play it. I think writing music just really helps you emote and helps people to understand what is in your heart and where you are coming from. I always love to write the song and record it.” Mindi Abair told The Hollywood Times today.

It was great speaking to Mindi Abair this afternoon about her new album Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers: The EastWest Sessions. The album will be released this Friday, September 15, 2017. This album is full of wonderful songs written or co-written by Mindi Abair.

The album starts off with awesome saxophone music, then this amazing voice, soulful and gritty, it’s Mindi Abair! “Vinyl,” the first song on the album will get you up and dancing and if you are not able to get up off your seat, you will be tapping your feet.

Each song has its own unique tone and style. Mindi has done a great job with the lyrics, the music and her saxophone playing. The fourth song “Pretty Good For A Girl” featuring Joe Bonamassa has turned out to be an Anthem song for all women to whom inspire us all and uplift women.

This is a must album for all music lovers, no matter what genre of music you enjoy; this is truly an album to add to your collection.

It will be available on itunes so you can have it to take along on your iphone or android for your listening pleasure everywhere you go. Click the link to https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-eastwest-sessions/id1264565123

But, before you can buy it this Friday, Mindi Abair and the Boneshakers will be at the Grammy Museum, right here at LA Live in Los Angeles to talk about the new album tomorrow, Thursday, September 14th. So what better way to inspire us, than give us the opportunity to listen to some of the tracks, live and in person!

So don’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity. Tickets are still available. Here is the link for the Grammy Museum and your chance to get a ticket. http://www.grammymuseum.org/events/detail/mindi-abair

The cover was shot on Sunset Blvd and it took four tries for the shot. It came out great with the shadows of the band members. Mindi said it was taken at 7:15 in the morning.

The phone conversation went something like this:

THT: Was David Sanborn an influence for you?

MA: Absolutely, yeah! I think he had an influence, probably everyone that came after him, whether they want to admit it or not. He was someone who played with huge pop and rock stars, singer, songwriters, the Paul Butterfield Blues band, he had a solo career that was just great. He was like the missing link for me. I was watching MTV and thinking, wow I want to be Tina Turner or Heart. I watched the energy they had, I didn’t know you could do that with a saxophone until David Sanborn came out with his music. It sounded like awesome rock that was on the radio, yet he was a lead singer with a saxophone in his hand, the coolest thing in the world.

THT: How did you get into music and playing the saxophone?

MA: I grew up on the road with my Dad’s band, which was called The Entertainers, I was about five then. There was a lot of music every day. My Grandmother was an opera singer, so a lot of varied music growing up. When school started, I was lucky enough to have a band program and our band instructor, Ann Reynolds put a bunch of instruments out on the ground and said pick out which one appeals to you, sit down and learn how to play it. That is what I did and I picked the saxophone because I watched my Dad play it. His knees were knocking together and he was rocking out having a blast, so I choose the saxophone because it looked like a lot of fun and I choose well!

THT: You were a roadie at such a young age.

MA: I was lucky that no one told me that it was odd for a girl to play a saxophone until it was way too late. Everyone just went with me, it was something that I found my identity with and I really love it and it became a part of who I really was. It became an extension of me and what a cool thing to have an instrument that helps amplify who you are and a voice bigger than you would normally have.

THT: How old where you when you played your first concert?

MA: I would do anything they would allow me to do. My Dad had a recording studio in our house, there was my parent’s bedroom, my bedroom and the third bedroom was a recording studio. One day my Dad said you are coming along on this one, I was 10 years old, and he said so why don’t you join me since I need a horn section for this song we are recording. He recorded me and him and I thought that was pretty cool.

THT: When did you write your first song?

MA: I would always be messing around in elementary, middle school and high school and just mouthing words of a song. I didn’t really write songs until I was in college. I was learning the words of music. Delving into what I was doing, some lessons in school and just playing and having a good time.

THT: Is this your first record with The Boneshakers?

MA: This is actually our second record. Our first record was a live record. When Randy Jacobs, who is the Grand Poobah and founder of The Boneshakers, we decided to make it official in 2015 and we became to go with Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers. The band is so special and after three days of rehearsal we knew, it was incredible. Randy and I have been friends for over 20 years, we were in a rock band together when I first moved to LA. He would do back flips right into the audience and a tremendous performer. The Boneshakers were playing at the Newport Jazz Festival on one stage and I was playing on another stage. I went over and just sat in and it was just wonderful. What music should be and I stayed on the stage all night.

This is the way music should be, so much fun and that is what made us say, let’s just join forces. Our first show was in Seattle and it was recorded live and became our live recorded record, which came out in September 2015.

Mindi Abair, EastWest Studios, Hollywood, California. 22 April 2017.

Mindi said that they are the currently number 3 on the radio Blues/Rock album chart radio and she is totally excited about it and she is having fun.

Mindi also spoke about her number 4 song “Pretty Good For A Girl” and how that song came about.

“It has started to climb up the charts and take a life of its own. You never know what people are going to latch onto, what is going to rise above. “Pretty Good For A Girl” was a song I wrote about being a woman in a man’s world. A lot of us have done something amazing, and broken the glass ceiling or cracked it or done something like that and only to have someone would say ‘That’s pretty good… for a girl.’” I have had that said to me quite a few times over the years, so I thought I would write a tongue and cheek song about it. It has become this type of anthem. A motivation, a call of action and it’s been fun to watch the transformation.

I made a website called Pretty Good For A Girl.net and I thought it would feature all these women who are doing incredible things and because sometimes we don’t celebrate each other like we should. It inspires me to see these amazing ladies.

I created it mostly for me to have a place to pay homage to these wonderful women. But I want people to go there and be part of it. The incredible women that we are featuring every week, and are doing these great things.

We also put out a call to action. We are making a music video for “Pretty Good For A Girl” that I want to feature women in all walks of life doing amazing things. So there is a promotion we are doing asking women to send in 20 or 30 second videos of themselves of doing what you do in action. Whether you are an incredible skateboarder, an artist painting, a doctor saving someone’s life, a guitarist rocking out, we want to see so we can release the clips in this music video to empower woman. Check out the link below.

Mindi Abair Pretty Good for a Girl TShirt

Below is a link to the PrettyGoodForAGirl website: https://www.prettygoodforagirl.net/

Mindi also works pretty tirelessly about having music back in schools. Kids getting an education in music is important. It’s a different way of learning and understanding language, and what you can accomplish in life. She is a trustee for the Recording Academy which puts on the Grammys. They are putting together something that is coming out in a couple of months. A dream would be to put a teacher in every school for music. If anyone could do it, she would hope that the Recording Academy can. It is something that can happen and be a better world to live in with music. She really believe that there is enough fire power out there to make a difference in bringing music back into school at an early age.

Tour Info: http://www.mindiabair.com/tour/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MindiAbair/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mindiabair
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindiabair/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfjJsy3yK8wdvN6RyPh6jlg

About Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers

One of the most recognized and sought-after saxophonists/vocalists, two-time GRAMMY nominee Mindi Abair has been electrifying audiences with her dynamic live performances and utter command of the saxophone since her debut album in 2000. No one since Junior Walker has brought saxophone and vocals in one package to the forefront of modern music, with a raucous tone and dynamic stage presence. She has garnered ten #1 radio hits, six Top 5 solo records and two #1 spots on the Billboard album charts. In 2014, Mindi received her first GRAMMY® nomination in the Best Pop Instrumental Album category, followed by a 2015 GRAMMY® nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for her solo LP Wild Heart featuring Gregg Allman, Joe Perry, Trombone Shorty, Booker T. Jones, Keb’ Mo’, and Max Weinberg.

The daughter and granddaughter of working musicians, Abair continues to captivate fans while evolving her sound. In 2014, after two seasons as the featured saxophonist on the hit series American Idol, Abair released Wild Heart. This LP showcased a compilation of grittier rock and soul tracks featuring some of the biggest names in music. To help translate this sound to her live shows, Mindi enlisted longtime friend and The Boneshakers founder Randy Jacobs (Bonnie Raitt, Was Not Was, Willie Nelson) to inject his brand of Detroit Blues Rock. The collaboration was undeniable, and it lead to an almost immediate decision to join forces creatively. Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers features band leader Mindi Abair (Saxophone, Vocals), Randy Jacobs (Guitar, Vocals), Sweet Pea Atkinson (Vocals), Rodney Lee (Keys), Derek Frank (Bass, Vocals), and Third Richardson (Drums, Vocals). Their first record together Mindi Abair and The Boneshakers LIVE in Seattle was released September 2015 to significant critical acclaim, and a 2 ½ year non-stop tour schedule across the US.

In April 2017, the band took a short break to record their first studio record. The EastWest Sessions was recorded over five days at legendary Hollywood recording studio EastWest Studios with renowned Blues Rock producer Kevin Shirley (Led Zepplin, Joe Bonamassa, The Black Crowes, Aerosmith). The album, which will be released September 15, 2017, is a powerful, bluesy, momentous, and deeply emotional journey. The album features a track with iconic blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa, and 2017 GRAMMY® winner in the Best Contemporary Blues Album category, Fantastic Negrito.

She authored the book “How To Play Madison Square Garden – A Guide to Stage Performance” and serves as a National Trustee for The Recording Academy.

The artists she’s toured with and/or recorded with are a testament to her talent: Aerosmith, Gregg Allman, Keb’ Mo’, Joe Perry, Bobby Rush, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Lalah Hathaway, Duran Duran, Adam Sandler, Lee Ritenour, The Backstreet Boys, Booker T. Jones, Jimmy Webb, Mandy Moore, Max Weinberg, Bill Champlin, David Pack, Mocean Worker, The Ides of March, Rick Braun, Teena Marie, Bobby Lyle, Jonathan Butler, and Peter White.

Look Mindi Abair up on Wikipedia, there I some great info. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindi_Abair

About the Grammy Museum

Established in 2008 as a partnership between the Recording Academy and AEG, the GRAMMY Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to cultivating a greater understanding of the history and significance of music. Paying tribute to our collective musical heritage, the Museum explores and celebrates all aspects of the art form—from the technology of the recording process to the legends who’ve made lasting marks on our cultural identity. In 2017, the Museum integrated with its sister organization, the GRAMMY Foundation, to broaden the reach of its music education and preservation initiatives. As a unified organization, today, the GRAMMY Museum fulfills its mission of making music a valued and indelible part of our society through exhibits, education, grants, and public programming.

Debuted December 2008 in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the GRAMMY Awards
One-of-a-kind, 30,000 square foot museum with interactive, permanent and traveling exhibits
Four floors of dynamic and stimulating exhibit space
More than two dozen exhibits that explore great music, everything from rock and hip-hop to country, classical, Latin, R&B, and jazz
200 seat state-of-the-art Clive Davis Theater
Rooftop Terrace – perfect for special programs and private events
Interesting and thought-provoking educational and public programs featuring films, lectures and performances

Extraordinary Stan Lee Event

By

Judy Shields

-

August 25, 2017

0

Stan Lee honored at the Saban Theatre

By: Judy Shields

Beverly Hills, California (The Hollywood Times) August 25, 2017 – “A guy gave me a lift in his car, what do you mean how did I got here!” Laughter erupted as Stan Lee told Chris Hardwick after Hardwick said they made a video to show how Stan Lee got here today.

Extraordinary Stan Lee Logo

Tuesday night at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, Stan Lee was honored by a roster of celebrity guests and industry giants during an intimate, nostalgic look back at his storied career during Extraordinary: Stan Lee. The live show was broadcasted in more than 180 movie theaters in the U.S. and Canada.

Stan Lee Tribute, Tuesday, August 22, 2017, in Beverly Hills, CA. (Jeff Lewis)

Hosted by Chris Hardwick, special guests included: David Hasselhoff (Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2), Tom Bergeron (Dancing with the Stars), Lou Ferrigno (The Incredible Hulk), Pom Klementieff (Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2), Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2), Alan Tudyk (Star Wars: Rogue One), musician/producer RZA (Blade Trinity), director Jon Schnepp (The Death of ‘Superman Lives’: What Happened?), Peter Shinkoda (Marvel’s Daredevil), Kelly Hu (X2: X-Men United), director Morgan Spurlock (Super-Size Me), Todd McFarlane (Amazing Spider-Man), Andy Signore (Screen Junkies), writer Marv Wolfman (Crisis on Infinite Earths), producer Michael Uslan (Batman), director David Yarovesky (Guardians Inferno), producer/director Kenneth Johnson (The Incredible Hulk), Hal Sparks (Queer as Folk), Disney Imagineer Ted Robledo (Iron Man Experience).

Continue