Apr. 19, 2011: Happy Birthday Senor Wences! The legacy of this “pop icon” lives on…s’alright? S’ALRIGHT!
by Michele LaFong
To date, one of the biggest thrills of my life, was in March of ’98, when the now, late Senor Wences, the most famous international ventriloquist in the world, “passed the torch” to me, as documented in LIFE magazine.
My good friend, and 100 year old mentor, handed-off his original puppets, and rights to his famous characters, giving them new life, and enabling them to be introduced to a new generation.
And so “the legacy” of Senor Wences, Johnny, and Pedro, continues.
These days, Pedro, the head in the box, is starring in a new public announcement commercial against texting and driving. The new slogan is: Don’t end up like Pedro, and be “a head in a box!” And Johnny, the lipstick hand-puppet landed an on-going role with me, on The Jada Grace Show, a new pilot series, which will air next year.
Every April 20, Senor Wences’ birthday, the original “Johnny,” “Pedro,” and myself, have a champagne toast to celebrate the late, and great, Senor Wences. April 20, 2011, is particularly special, since this would have been Senor Wences’ 115th Birthday!
This year, not only will we all be toast-ing, but Johnny, Pedro, and myself, plan on getting toast-ed, in honor of The Great Senor!
Also, for this very special occasion, we will be observing a 5 minute “moment of silence,” without any of us moving our lips, after we simultaneously sing “Lady Of Spain,” while drinking a glass of water!
Come, join the party!
TweetJan. 6, 2011: Bob Cummings will be the new co-host with Michele LaFong on “Las Vegas Backstage Now!”
Starting Tuesday 1/11/11, veteran radio jock, Bob Cummings, formerly known as “The Boogie Man,” and “Bobby McGee” will be co-starring with me in “Las Vegas Backstage Now!” on KLAV 1230 AM that airs on the Internet at 8PM Pacific Time .
Bob Cummings has many years of radio experience as an announcer, personality, program director, etc.
Richard Spasoff, my former radio partner and co-star of Las Vegas Backstage Now is busy producing, and starring in new shows of his own. We’re proud of Richard, and wish him all the best!
Please join us this coming Tuesday, 1/11/11, on Las Vegas Backstage Now. Our guests will be Todd Aaron Jenson, award-winning journalist and author of “On Gratitude,” (in which Sheryl Crow, Jeff Bridges, Alicia Keys, Deepak Chopra, and 42 other celebrities share what they are most grateful for.)
And, Lou Ragland, the leader of The World Famous Ink Spots.
TweetJan. 4, 2011: Demond Wilson, (Sanford & Son) and Murray Sawchuck, (America’s Got Talent) tonight, on Las Vegas Backstage Now!
Tonight, at 8PM Pacific Time, on Las Vegas Backstage Now, our radio show hosted by RichardSpasoff and myself on KLAV 1230 AM, and on the Internet nationally, we will have Demond Wilson, from Sanford & Son, and Murray Sawchuck, (America’s Got Talent) as our guests. It should prove to be a really interesting show!
Last night, I popped in at Bootlegger’s, (a popular Las Vegas “show-biz hangout.”) Monday is open mike night. Apparently, I walked in just as Rich Little began performing his set. He was trying out some new material that went over very well with the crowd of “regulars” having dinner, and waiting for their stage time.
Next up, was Steve Rossi from “Allen & Rossi,” back in “The Ed SullivanShow days. The last time I worked with both Steve Rossi and Rich Little, was in 1994, when we were taping a TV show out of The Debbie Reynold’s Hotel & Casino, on The Las Vegas Strip, where I had my own show, “Vegas Live,” four nights a week. The TV show was not mine. I had nothing to do with it. Nor did I book the acts on the show. However, the show was named “Las Vegas Live,” which did not make me happy, especially since my crowd thought that this was my show they were coming out to see. To add insult to injury, I wasn’t even a booked act on the show! (Welcome to Show Biz!)
When I explained to Debbie Reynolds that a lot of people came out to see me that night due to the name confusion. Debbie agreed that I should at least be on the show. The producer of the show told me begrudgingly: “you’re on next,” which was the third spot of the night. It was great fun. I got a standing ovation after performing a seven-minute set consisting of stand-up comedy, and impressions. The producer then put on Impressionist, Rich Little. I don’t think that Rich was too happy having to perform his set right after I did all of those impressions.
That’s Show Biz! I wonder if Rich remembers me. If not, I won’t be the one to remind him! LOL
TweetJan. 2, 2011: Comic/Ventriloquist, Michele LaFong, is featured weekly with the world famous Ink Spots, on The Las Vegas Strip
Starting Saturday 1/8/11, at 4PM, and every Saturday thereafter, I will be the featured comedy act on a show called “If I Didn’t Care,” starring The World Famous Ink Spots on an unlimited run in The Wolf Theatre, at The Clarion Hotel & Casino on The Las Vegas Strip.
The last time we “shared the bill” was two years ago, at The Palace Station Casino in Las Vegas. I was extremely impressed with their high energy, tight, and moving performance. They were better than ever!
Lou Ragland, The Ink Spots’ leader, who looks like “Fred Sanford,” from Sanford & Son, also does a mean impression of him in the show.
Now, in the show, when he says “listen you big dummy,” he’ll be referring to one of my puppets or… my agent!
Coincidentally, this coming Tuesday, Demond Wilson, the actor who played Lamont, “the big dummy,” will be a guest on Las Vegas Backstage Now, the radio show hosted by Richard Spasoff, And myself.
I wonder what Demond would think of Lou’s impression of Redd Foxx’s “Fred Sanford.”
We may soon find out!
For ticket information: http://www.wolftheaterlasvegas.com/
TweetDec. 17, 2010: Senor Wences, and his famous characters, will be re-introduced to a new generation on a national T.V. series
The JadaGrace Show is a new, national, variety television show, soon to be released, starring “nine year old sensation,” singer, dancer, actress, JadaGrace.
In episode # 3, I, Michele LaFong, protege of famous international ventriloquist Senor Wences, and Johnny, his famous “lipstick hand-puppet, were introduced as a new recurring act. Johnny and Senor Wences’ other famous characters were passed on to LaFong in March of ’98, as documented in LIFE magazine.
In a very funny scene, following Michele & Johnny’s performance, in which Lafong and Johnny were thanking JadaGrace and her manager, for hiring them, JadaGrace’s manager had a question for LaFong, and got frustrated when Johnny, the puppet, kept answering for Michele. In an unplanned “take,” the manager actually covered the “lipstick hand-puppet’s” mouth with his hand, to shut him up!
The actor who “plays” the manager, confessed off camera, that looking at Johnny’s face, and forgetting that the “lipstick hand-puppet” was not a real person, was “truly disturbing!”
“Kudos” to The JadaGrace Show for being the first national television series that will re-introduce Senor Wences, and his beloved famous characters, to a new generation, since “The Muppet Show Featuring Senor Wences” and thanks to the power of YouTube, here is a portion of that show… You’ll love the opening … Typical Senor Wences!
TweetDec. 4, 2010: Las Vegas Backstage Now starring Michele LaFong & Richard Spasoff “beats Stevie Wonder To The Punch!”
Last Tuesday was the debut of Las Vegas Backstage Now on KLAV 1230 AM, With Your Hosts, Michele LaFong, and Richard Spasoff.
Lisa Dawn Miller was one of the very talented guests we had on our show. She is the daughter of “world renowned” Ron Miller, (1932-2007) who “was one of the most prolific and significant songwriters of all time.”
His countless hits of original songs include “For Once In My Life,” and “Touch Me In The Morning.”
Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, and Stevie Wonder, are just some of the legends in music that have recorded Ron Miller’s endless list of very famous songs.
Lisa Dawn Miller is also a gifted songwriter and singer, with a signature style. She is a producer, actor, and was a great interview!
The highlight was when Lisa broke some great and exciting news about Oliver Richman, Lisa’s ten-year old son, who previous to this news, was already booked to be our featured Guest Star for our up-coming show this Tuesday.
The news came, as a result of a music-video that featured a performance of Oliver Richman, produced by Lisa, and posted up on You-Tube. The video went “viral” immediately, and caught the attention of Stevie Wonder Productions!
Stevie Wonder, who, of course, sang and recorded many of Ron’s songs, was also a huge fan and friend of Lisa’s very famous father, Ron Miller.
Stevie Wonder, now aware of Oliver Richman and Lisa Dawn Miller’s talents, invited them both to perform at Stevie’s 15th Annual “House Full Of Toys” Benefit at The Nokia Theatre, live, in L.A., on Dec.18.
Remember Stevie…or should I say Mr. Wonder…Las Vegas Backstage Now discovered Oliver Richman first!
Don’t forget to catch ten-year old, Oliver Richman, who will be featured along with humor writer, Carol Scibelli, creator and author of “Poor Widow Me!”
Las Vegas Backstage Now this Tuesday, December 7, at 8pm Pacific time on KLAV 1230 AM.
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