Lisa Lampanelli, The Queen of Mean…is Newly Lean!
By Michele LaFong- “Getting Personal with the Stars” in Gaming Today- Feb. 12, 2013
Lisa Lamanelli, the self proclaimed “Queen of Mean” is returning to The Pearl Concert Theatre on Feb. 16, at 8pm at The Palms Hotel & Casino. “Expect to see a whole new hour of material,”promised Lisa. “Much of it will be about the craziest experience of my life… spending sixteen weeks competing on “Celebrity Apprentice,” Donald Trump’s Reality Show on NBC, “I LOVED it!” Lisa screamed. “I watched myself on TV afterward. I was such a Mental Patient on that show! I got SO much material though, and it’s such great exposure. It raises your profile.
Here’s the only problem. The minute I finished doing The Apprentice, I was getting recognized every single day, in the city of NY, and I was loving it…Then I go and lose 105 +lbs, and no one recognizes me! I’m not getting free coffee anymore… I’m not getting FREE anything! So it’s a double edged sword, this weight loss. I’m less famous, cause I don’t look like me anymore… but maybe now I’ll live till I’m 70, instead of dropping dead.”
Perhaps it was that philosphy that led to Lisa’s decision to get Gastric By-Pass Surgery.
“I just got tied of hating the way my body looked in the mirror!” There were a couple of incidents that happened on The Apprentice that triggered me to want to do something about it. It wasn’t that alone, of course. It was many things over the years, from my past. In fact, we’re working on A One-Woman Broadway, show about my life, and we get into this, and explain how it came about…”
At age 51, Lampanelli, is making the effort to live a life of balance. She takes time off to enjoy her home, on the water in Connecticut, and has three assistants, and has a few dollars!
I really think that comics are afraid to improve themselves, because they’re like: I won’t be funny if I get thinner, or I won’t be funny if I go to the shrink and get more healthy mentally, and emotionally. But there’s always gonna be so much twisted stuff about us, that I don’t think we ever have to worry about being too healthy for comedy.
I’ve been in-therapy for many years. I think I took a cue from Howard Stern. He has become a better human being, and performer by going to therapy three or four times a week. I don’t do that, but I take a lot of workshops, I also have a house at Kenya Ranch Health Spa, in Tuscon, where I work on myself from a spiritual, and psychological point of view. I’m also going to a six day retreat for emotional eating because I don’t want to gain the weight back. Weight is about emotion and not about food.”
Lisa Lampanelli…she’s still a heavy-weight in comedy, and would never be one to be accused of doing a “half-assed” job!
Her full interview can be heard on Las Vegas Backstage Talk Radio & Web Show, Thursday, Feb. 14 from 6pm-7pm PST on 1230AM in Las Vegas, or stream live on-line.
Lampanelli is also featured in Michele LaFong’s Monthly Syndicated Column, “Las Vegas Backstage Talk,” in June’s issue of Casino Player Magazine. (CP Magazine.)
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“It’s the Norm” reviews Comedian Michele LaFong & Bobby Rydell at The Suncoast
IT’S THE NORM (Review)
Bobby Rydell and Michele LaFong at Suncoast Hotel & Casino
By: Norm Johnson | January 16th, 2013
Norm Johnson’s review site “It’s the Norm” here—>
Bobby Rydell and Michele LaFong at Suncoast Hotel & Casino
Went to the Suncoast Hotel & Casino Sunday evening to see an entertainer I hadn’t seen in years, but one I remembered from the ‘60s, when I first reviewed his show at the old Sahara Hotel & Casino. At the time, he was a hot number among the teenage crowd, and, that particular evening, he was the opening act for the great George Burns. Oh, his name? Why it’s Bobby Rydell.
Like I said, I haven’t watched this senior citizen perform in years—and that’s no body’s fault but this writer. My friend, Michele LaFong, had invited me as her guest, so off we went to the Suncoast. And, gang, am I honestly glad that I had the opportunity—it was a most amazing night!
First things first. LaFong, who has a weekly radio show on KLAV radio, is a comedian, impressionist, and a ventriloquist. She was Rydell’s opening act for the three evenings at the Suncoast. I had heard of her comedic skills, but had never seen her actually perform. So, I was going to see two acts of whom I had little first-hand
Michele LaFong and Puppets
knowledge. I must say, Michele, is a damn good ventriloquist. After all, she should be—having been a protégé of the late, great Senor Wences, who passed away in 1999 at the age of 103.
Wences was one of many stars who became world famous by appearing on the Ed Sullivan “Toast of the Town” television show. The ventriloquist appeared on Sullivan’s show 43 times during its 23 year run on television. When LaFong appeared on stage, we noticed some props which looked vaguely familiar—they should, they were the same props given to her by Senor Wences before he died. She immediately began throwing her voice all over the showroom, which in itself is an amazing act. After a few minutes, she began to prepare her hand for the emergence of the most famous hand puppet in the world, Johnny. Michele was perfect, in my opinion (I watched the Sullivan Show every Sunday evening like millions of other viewers did). She also had the famous suitcase where a weird, little puppet named Pedro lived. It is a mystery to me why this lady, Michele LaFong, is not working full-time on a Las Vegas stage. I think Terry Fator is great, but I believe LaFong is unique, wonderful, and her act belongs to the millions who adored Senor Wences.
Her 25-minutes over, the 10-piece band struck up a familiar tune, as a screen came down, and a film began showing a few highlights of the teenage rock and roll idol’s career during the ‘60s. The film over, out walked an older, gray-haired, dapper Rydell. Bobby had aged nicely I thought to myself, as he began his “remember me” show. Wow, I was really surprised just how strong his voice was, and my mind began a trip back in time, when I was a lot younger, and was dancing in nightclubs, and in a few movies in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s in Hollywood.
Bobby Rydell
Rydell, who was born in Philadelphia 70 years ago, and grew up in a section of Philly that created a number of teenage sensations—Frankie Avalon, Freddie Bell, James Darren, Fabian, Mario Lanza, Chubby Checker, Eddie Fisher and Al Martino. During his 60 minutes on stage, between such songs as “We Got Love,” and “Sway,” Bobby tells little stories about his famous friends. One of my personal favorite show segments was Rydell’s tribute to a fellow teenage sensation, who died far too soon at age 37, Bobby Darin. Included in the tribute medley was “Splish-Splash,” “Beyond the Sea,” and, of course, “Mack the Knife.”
Rydell closed the show to a SRO crowd with perhaps his best known hit, “Volare,” and he was off the stage. We visited briefly with him and Michele backstage. Having had very serious surgery in July—a double transplant of a kidney and liver, Bobby was somewhat exhausted. I reminded him of a review I wrote when he opened for George Burns at the old Sahara. “Yeah, wow, those were wonderful days in Vegas, weren’t they?” And, of course, I told him I thought he was better today than he was as a teenage idol. I meant it too. His voice is clear, strong and his pronunciation is perfect. And, gang, he may have gray hair, but he looks like a man just approaching 60. So, do yourself a favor the next time you see, or hear that Rydell, will be appearing in a showroom near you—go get your tickets right away, because you do not want to miss seeing a great entertainer do what he does best–sing beautiful songs!
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Gaming Today Column – Bobby Rydell by Michele LaFong
“Getting Personal with the Stars” Gaming Today – Column by Michele LaFong
Note: Bobby Rydell has added Comedian Michele LaFong as Special Guest at The Suncoast Showroom.
Bobby will also be featured in Michele LaFong’s Monthly Syndicated Column, “Las Vegas Backstage Talk,” in Casino Player Magazine.
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Bobby Rydell with Special Guest, Comedian Michele LaFong-The Suncoast
by Michele LaFong
Today, I interviewed “Original Teenage Idol” Bobby Rydell. He was my guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk Radio Show on 1230 am KLAV, in Las Vegas, and The Web. He was on the show to promote his up-coming dates at The Suncoast Showroom, Jan. 11-13 at 7:30pm I will also be opening for him, and performing “A Tribute to Senor Wences” with The “Original Johnny” lipstick hand-puppet that Wences “handed-off” to me, documented in LIFE Magazine.
This will be Bobby’s first time performing a full hour+ show in a year since surviving double surgery, a liver, and kidney transplant.
“I was really sick for a year. I said to my wife: it’s over! Get the will ready because I’m gone honey! The very next day, I got a call from Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia telling me to get in right away. That afternoon, I was in the OR for 20+ hours having both a liver and a kidney transplant. I was in July 9. I was home July 19. After 10 days in the hospital, that was it. I had no pain, no nothing. So God Bless Jefferson Hospital, and their whole surgical team!”
“If it weren’t for my wife, I wouldn’t be here. She happens to be a nurse. She saved my life.”
Rydell, is no stranger to playing Las Vegas. His first appearance here was back in ’60 or ’61, at The Sahara Hotel. “I did two weeks with George Burns. I used to stand in the wings after I was done performing, and just watch him. How he delivered a line, his timing.” There wasn’t a short-list of the Icons that Rydell hadn’t worked with over the years. He had great stories. “Jack Benny, I did his TV show, I worked with him, we did “Theater in the Round” together, Perry Como, and Tody Fields. “The one guy who was really been behind me, he was “My Superstar” …Red Skeleton.”
I did 12 shows with Red. The Red Skelton Hour, years ago on CBS, Television City, and then Red took me under his wing because he lost his son Richard at 15 years old via leukemia. When I did his show, I was just like 18, or 19 years old, and the producer of the show, Cecil Barker, said to me at rehearsal “I understand that you do an impersonation of Red.” I said “yeah, I do Clem Kadiddlehopper”, he said “can I hear it?” (So I did it.) “And Red was rehearsing with David Rose, he overheard me doing this, and he started talking back to me as Clem Kadiddlehopper . Then we did that show, and we did a couple of shows like that, and then on the third or fourth show, they wrote in a character, Zeek Kadiddlehopper, that was me. I played (Red’s) Clem Kadiddlehopper’s cousin. Cecil Parker said to me “you are the first person who ever imitated one of Red’s characters on Red’s TV show, and he flew me to his house in Palm Springs, and I met his wife, his daughter… he had 3 poodles, a Mack howl on his shoulder that bit me… Those were great times! Then, a few years back before he passed away, I went to see him with my children. He was at the Caesars in Atlantic City. He introduced me, and I went backstage, then you know how he does of the silent things where he does the old man? You know …. “Walking in the Parade,” all of those “Bits,” and I started crying,” you know, (He said while choking up.) because he meant so much to me. “So I went backstage, and I said to Red, I said “you did it again. You made me cry.” He said… “was I that bad?!” (lol…”Sorry, I got a little “teary eyed” there…) It happens to me a lot when I’m telling old show-biz stories from the past… I cry a lot more now!
Bobby Rydell’s full interview will be aired this Thursday, from 6-7pm PST. Stream live lasvegasbackstagetalk.com. It will be archived on the website. He will also be featured in Michele LaFong’s Monthly Syndicated Column, “Las Vegas Backstage Talk,” in Casino Player Magazine. (CP Magazine.)
TweetGaming Today Column-Bill Engvall by Michele LaFong
Article in GAMING TODAY with Engvall “Getting Personal with the Stars” by Michele LaFong
Bill will also be featured in Michele LaFong’s Monthly Syndicated Column, “Las Vegas Backstage Talk,” in Casino Player Magazine, as well as his Backstage video taped interview from The TI, posted on Lasvegasbackstagetalk.com Website, and on Casinocenter.com.
TweetGaming Today-Bill Engvall by Michele LaFong
Bill Engvall was my guest last week on Las Vegas Backstage Talk Radio Show, in Las Vegas on 1230AM KLAV. He was plugging his appearance at Treasure Island on Friday Dec. 14.
I just had to ask Bill what life was like on the road with “The Blue Collar Comedy Troupe,” and whether the characters of the comics was just an act.
The first question out of my mouth was “who was the most “out of their minds” amongst you? Was it Jeff Foxworthy, Ron White, Larry the Cable Guy, or you?” Bill responded without hesitation. “Larry… He also was the sweetest guy. We called him the “Mikey” of the Comedy Troupe. He could be talked into going along with anything.
He also was really the only redneck amongst us.” It’s not at all an act. He pretty much got married on four wheelers!” “So that’s not a costume that he wears?” “Umm…No! That’s part of the reason that he’s so popular and people can relate to him so well because there are no aires, he’s just genuine.”
When asked “which comic was the hardest to follow of The Blue Collar Comedy Troupe, Bill retorted “Ron White. Ron really is one of the funniest guys out there, but when we first started the tour, both Ron, and Larry “The Cable Guy” were unknowns. I was a long-time headliner doing comedy the longest, longer than even Foxworthy.
In fact, the first two years of The Blue Collar Tour, I didn’t enjoy myself. I was too focused on “being bigger than Jeff Foxworthy because Jeff and I were kind of at the same level when we started. Then he just sky-rocketed, and took off. I wanted to be Jeff Foxworthy, and in the process, I forgot to be Bill Engvall.
Then one day, Ron White and I were sitting and talking at a bar…go figure…and he said “Engvall, I remember the days in Dallas I’d go up on stage and just gut the room. I remember thinking “follow that Engvall!
You then would go up there with that slow delivery, and your story telling, and within five minutes the audience was going…Ron who?!” “I thought oh my God, I’ve gotten away from what got me to where I’m at! So I got back to being Bill again, and started having the greatest time of my life.
I made the decision early on to work clean. In fact, I got passed over for “HBO’s One Night Stand” because they said that I wasn’t edgy enough. But in the long-run, I’ve worked ten times longer than those guys that had their “HBO One Night Stands,” so I think I made the right decision.
The Blue Collar Comedy Tour served as a good venue for Bill, although it proved to be a double edged sword. “People don’t assume that you can do anything other than that! “It’s taken me years to break out of that “Blue Collar” Mold. ” But break out he did! Bill Engvall has just sold a pilot which he will soon be starring in a new dramatic role.
Engvall will also be featured in Michele LaFong’s Monthly Syndicated Column, “Las Vegas Backstage Talk,” in Casino Player Magazine.
Bill Envall’s videotaped backstage interview from the TI, with Comedian Michele LaFong is posted on lasvegasbackstagetalk.com, and casinocenter.com.
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