Gregory Popovich-Movie Premiere
Our friend: “America’s Got Talent” Finalist Gregory Popovich
Locals premier feature-length film at Las Vegas Film Festival
‘Popovich and the Voice of the Fabled American West’ debuts Aug. 3 at the Palms
“Popovich and the Voice of the Fabled American West” – the first film for performer Gregory Popovich and second feature film for local brothers Jerry and Mike Thompson – will premiere at the Las Vegas Film Festival this weekend and to the public during a screening at the end of the month.
The family friendly film tells the story of Popovich, a former circus legend struggling as a street performer on the wild streets of Las Vegas. When his junkyard home full of stray animals is put in danger, he and his animal pals use all their circus tricks to save it. See the trailer for the film here.
This summer, the film competed in the 17th Annual Dances with Films festival in Los Angeles and won the Audience Choice Award.
The Lied Animal Foundation will receive $1 from every ticket sold to the public screening.
WHO: Gregory Popovich, star of the film as well as of the Strip favorite the “World Famous Popovich Comedy Pet Theater” at Planet Hollywood, along with the film’s directors and Las Vegas natives, Jerry and Mike Thompson (Rancho High School and UNLV graduates), will be available for interviews before and after the screening. The film features more than 45 animals, most were rescued from the local Lied Animal Foundation.
WHEN: Las Vegas Film Festival – 1:20 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 3
Public Screening – 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 30-31
WHERE: Las Vegas Film Festival: Public Screening:
Inspire Theater Brendan Theaters, inside the Palms
Corner of Fremont Street and Las Vegas 4321 W. Flamingo Road
Boulevard in Downtown Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV 89103
Fred Turner, Sommore
Aug. 28, 2014- 6-7pm PST 1230AM KLAV in LV & The Web
Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)
Fred Turner, of Bachman & Turner, guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk with Comedian Michele LaFong.
The musicians at the heart of legendary band Bachman-Turner Overdrive are recording and touring again as a new, full-throttle rock machine: Bachman & Turner. They will be appearing at The Cannery on Aug. 30, at 8pm.
After over 20 years of fan demand, Randy Bachman and Fred Turner-two giants of rock n’ roll-are finally re-united.
The duo and their top-notch band have released their first new single in two decades, “Rollin’ Along,” which is currently available for streaming at their website bachmanandturner.com and for sale at iTunes. The track offers fans a long-awaited glimpse into Bachman & Turner’s self-titled, brand new album currently set for a September 7th release on E1 Music (Canada), and RBE Music/Fontana (U.S.). Bachman & Turner’s upcoming studio album will be stocked with all original new tracks penned by the pair; in addition to “Rollin’ Along,” the album’s anthems include “Rock and Roll Is the Only Way Out” and “Slave To the Rhythm,” which have a sound that seamlessly fits alongside Bachman-Turner Overdrive classics “Takin’ Care of Business” and “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet.”
Over the course of a four-year run, Bachman-Turner Overdrive sold in excess of 30 million records, earning a staggering 120 platinum, gold and silver discs, and notching up hits in more than 20 countries. The band reached #1 on Billboard’s singles chart (“You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet”) and album chart (Not Fragile), as well as scoring another handful of hits including “Taking Care of Business,” “Hey You,” “My Wheels Won’t Turn” and “Looking Out for #1.”
With the two singers sharing lead vocal duties, the album features smoking mid-tempo anthems such as “Rock ‘N’ Roll is the Only Way Out” and “Rollin’ Along,” as well as the funky riff of “Moonlight Rider” and a slow-burning blues shuffle, “Waiting Game.” In addition, tracks like “Slave to the Rhythm” offer a gratifying fusion of chords with catchy choruses, not to mention the distinctive growling vocals familiar to fans from Bachman-Turner Overdrive classics such as “Let it Ride” and “Roll on Down the Highway.”
For more go to their website: bachmanandturner.com
Sommore
Actress and comedienne Sommore guests on LVBST with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Equal parts classy and sassy, Sommore’s frank, fearless routines and controversial wit have garnered loyal fans worldwide. Among the top-grossing stand-up comediennes in the United States and abroad, Oprah Winfrey proclaimed her “a force to be reckoned with in the new millennium.”
New Jersey native Sommore began her career as the first woman to host BET’s ”Comic View,” later hosting Russell Simmons’ “Def Comedy Jam” and “Showtime at the Apollo.” In 2000, she entered “The Guinness Book of World Records,” performing for an audience of more than 50,000 people in Atlanta as part of the “Queens of Comedy” tour. A recording of the show became the longest-running and highest-rated special in the history of Showtime Networks. She is the 1995 recipient of the Richard Pryor Award for Comic of the Year.
Sommore’s film credits include roles in “Soul Plane,” “Friday After Next” and “Something New.” She has also graced the small screen, appearing on “Flavor of Love,” as a regular on “1 vs. 100” and competing for the winning team on season six of “Celebrity Fit Club.” Her comedy specials “The Queen Stands Alone” (Comedy Central, 2008) and “Chandelier Status” (Showtime Networks, 2012) earned rave reviews.
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Rickey Smiley, Jay Siegel’s Tokens
Aug. 21, 2014- 6-7pm PST 1230AM KLAV in LV & The Web
Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)
Comedian Rickey Smiley, and Jay Siegel of Jay Siegel’s Tokens guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
A notable “clean” comic, Smiley finds comedy in everyday observations. He brings his cast of beloved original characters with him to Las Vegas, including church lady “Mrs. Bernice Jenkins,” “Lil’ Daryl,” “Joe Willie” and redneck “Beauford.”
Smiley is perhaps most famous for his prank calls, in which he presents absurd situations and cases of mistaken identity in the voices of one or more of his original characters. His six comedy albums of prank calls have garnered favorable reviews.
Star of his own top-rated, nationally syndicated radio show, “The Rickey Smiley Morning Show” is heard on urban radio stations across the country. It features Smiley’s signature prank phone calls, news and music, as well as interviews with entertainers including Kevin Hart, Ne-Yo, Ice Cube and Nicki Minaj.
Taking his comedy talents to the silver screen, Smiley has appeared in films such as “Friday After Next,” “First Sunday,” and “Baggage Claim.” He has also hosted and appeared on “BET’s Comic View” and appeared on “Comedy Central Presents,” as well as HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam” and “Def Comedy Jam: All Stars.” The third season of Smiley’s sitcom “The Rickey Smiley Show” recently aired on TV One.
Jay Siegel’s Tokens
Jay Siegel guests on LVBST. “An Evening of Pop and Doo Wop” Features Jay Siegel’s Tokens, Joey Dee & The Starliters and The Angels.
Jay Seigel’s Tokens are best known for their doo wop hits, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” and “Tonight I Fell in Love.” The group later expanded into being the first vocal group to help produce singles for other artists, contributing to huge hits like 1962’s “He’s So Fine” by the Chiffons. Later productions include Tony Orlando and Dawn, The Happenings, Randy and The Rainbows, and Robert John. In addition to their contributions to pop music, members of the group have worked on advertising jingles for Clairol, General Foods, Wrigley’s gum, Sunkist, Wendy’s and more.
TweetJoy Behar, Donny Most
Aug. 14, 2014- 6-7pm PST 1230AM KLAV in LV & The Web
Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)
Comedian Joy Behar, former Co-Host of The View returns to Las Vegas Backstage Talk with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Whether Behar is performing standup or interviewing celebrities and politicians, she has been recognized as innovative comedic talent and a leading woman both on television, stage and the big screen. In addition to co-hosting ABC’s Emmy-winning daytime talker “The View” for 12 seasons, Behar hosted “The Joy Behar Show” on HLN and “Joy Behar: Say Anything!” on Current TV.
In the 1980’s, Behar set out to pursue comedy professionally and instantaneously received bookings from famous New York clubs including Caroline’s and Catch a Rising Star. She went on to win three MAC Awards and a CableACE Award later in her career.
Joy will be appearing at The Venetian as part of The Lipshtick series on Aug. 22 & 23
Joy Behar and Colin Quinn remember working for LaFong Productions.
Donny Most
Donny Most guests on LVBST with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Don is probably best known for his co-starring role as Ralph Mouth in the long running television series “Happy Days”. During this time, he worked with such emerging talents as Ron Howard and Garry Marshall. Recently, Don was seen in a recurring role on the hit TV show – “Glee”, as well as starring roles in the indie film – “The Yankles”, and“Chez Upshaw”, starring Kevin Pollack and Illeana Douglas. He just finished starring in “Campin Buddies”, along with a role in the independent film – “Remember Isobel”, and the film short – “Duality.” Most’s other feature film credits include “ED TV”, directed by Ron Howard; “Crazy Mama”, directed by Jonathan Demme, and “The Great Buck Howard”, starring John Malkovich. In television, his other guest starring roles include “Men Of A Certain Age”, “Century City”, ‘Star Trek:Voyager’, ‘Yes, Dear’, ‘The Crow, ‘Sabrina’, ‘Sliders’, ‘Dark Skies’ and ‘The Family Guy’.
Following in the footsteps of some of his peers, Don has now directed three feature films. “His first, “The Last Best Sunday”, had its World Premiere at the Seattle International Film Festival, and was a feature film winner at the Telluride IndieFest. “Moola”, starring William Mapother, Shailene Woodley, Treat Williams, Daniel Baldwin, and Curtis Armstrong, premiered at The Newport
Beach Film Festival, where it earned Most The Outstanding Achievement in Directing Award. Don also directed “Harley’s Hill”, his first family film, which was recently seen on Showtime, Starz and Encore.
In another area, Don has recently gone back to his first love – singing. Don has always loved the standards/swing/big band style of music, and has just mounted his show – “Donny Most Sings And Swings”. He recently performed it at “Vitello’s Jazz Club”, in Studio City, Los Angeles to great acclaim.
Most will be appearing at The Catalina Jazz Club, Aug. 20, 8:30pm
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Rudy Ruettiger-LV Backstage Talk w-Michele LaFong
Aug. 7, 2014- 6-7pm PST 1230AM KLAV in LV & The Web
Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)
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Rudy Ruettiger guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk with Comedian Michele LaFong in-studio.
VOICES OF RUDY: THE JOURNEY TO THE MOVIE’ MAKES WORLD PREMIERE AT TROESH STUDIO THEATER IN THE SMITH CENTER
One-Man Show Starring Rudy Ruettiger Shares Inspiring Life Story
TWEET: “Voices of Rudy:The Journey To The Movie” starring Rudy Ruettiger debuts
@TroeshStudioTheater – Smith Center Aug. 9-7 p.m. Tickets $34-$39.
One of the most inspiring movies of our time, “Rudy,” is now a one-man show starring Rudy Ruettiger and will make its world premiere at the Troesh Studio Theater in The Smith Center Saturday, Aug. 9 at 7 p.m.
Ruettiger will entertain and inspire as he shares his life story of how he accomplished his dream of going to Notre Dame and how he convinced Hollywood to make a movie of his life, which earned him an invitation to the White House.
“I am so excited to be a part of such an inspirational project,” said the show’s producer/director Tony Sacca. “Rudy has touched the world with his movie and now he will again touch and inspire people with his one-man play.”
The play will include a multi-media presentation with scenes from the blockbuster movie as well as personnel photos of his family of 14 brothers and sisters. As Ruettiger tells his story, he will share many voices of people who influenced his life as well as naysayers that he confronted on his journey.
Comic impressionist Rich Natole will create some of the celebrity voices such as Bill Clinton when Rudy was invited to the White House and Sylvester Stallone who was among the first to see the screen play and regretted passing on the project after he saw the film and met Ruettiger.
