May-Las Vegas Backstage Talk column
May-Las Vegas Backstage Talk
Syndicated column in Casino Player Magazine, and Gaming Today.
by Michele LaFong
(click on articles to enlarge)
Comedian/Actor John Pinette was a favorite recurring guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show. He was found dead recently in a hotel room in Pittsburgh, where he was attending a family function. He was only 50. The apparent cause of death was a pulmonary embolism, his manager, Larry Schapiro, said. John was expected to return on LVBST in mid-May to promote his return engagement at The Orleans Showroom. I was looking forward to it because he always made me laugh on and off stage. I was an avid fan of all of his stand-up specials “Show Me the Buffett,” “I’m Starvin’!” and “Still Hungry.” I laugh just thinking about them! He was working on another stand-up project when he died. He will be greatly missed. On April 10, I re-aired my first interview with him. It covered everything from his legendary stint on the last episode on Seinfeld, to his starring role in “Hairspray” on Broadway. The interview is worth listening to and is archived on lasvegasbackstagetalk.com
Felix Cavaliere and The Rascals put on a rockin’ high energy, “crowd pleasing” show at The Suncoast Showroom last month. I loved that he continuously got up from behind the keyboard to dance! Not only did Felix play all his hits as promised in our interview like “Good Lovin’,” “Groovin’,” “A Girl Like You,” “A Beautiful Morning,” “People Got to Be Free,” and How Can I Be Sure?,” but he also threw in many surprises like when he sang “You Better Run” by Pat Benatar. I had no idea that Cavaliere had written that song! He’s a tremendous talent. It’s no surprise that he is a Songwriter’s Hall of Fame inductee.
Legendary Comedian Marty Allen performed a string of show dates together with his wife Singer Karon Kate Blackwell, at The Plaza in celebration of his 92nd birthday. Marty has not lost any of his timing, charm, or connection with his audience. He still delivers a solid, “old school” updated, throw-back to vaudeville type of show. I just love him! He’s “old school” and iconic, always doing a Meet & Greet at no charge following every show. Some of the celebrities that attended were Terry Fator, Rich Little, and even Marty Allen’s former Comedy Team Partner, Steve Rossi. Wonders never cease. Who knows… in another10-20 years perhaps Allen & Rossi will reunite on-stage as well! Since both Marty Allen, and Steve Rossi have guested on LVBST separately, when I compared their videotaped interviews, I couldn’t help but notice how hilariously different their recollections are of their past history together. The edited video is posted on gaming today.com
After interviewing Comedian Tommy Davidson, one of the original cast members of “In Living Color,” on Fox TV, I went to see him perform in the “In Living Color Reunion Tour” with David Alan Grier, at Aliante Casino. David opened the show. His stand-up was honest and well-paced. His political material was very strong. Both David, and Tommy’s comedy had substance and depth, were animated, and engaging. Both used their voices well, and performed creative sound effects.
Tommy’s show had less of a stand-up feel to it and was more stylized. His impressions and characters were spot-on, and his take-off of President Obama was hilarious. It was nice to see these two skilled comedy veterans perform back to back. The only thing that would have made the evening perfect is if at the end of the show they would have done something together.
Comedian George Wallace ended his show on April 26, after a ten year run at The Flamingo. Wallace expects to do a little bit of everything while moving on from the 10-year run at Flamingo Las Vegas. “I may tour the world, the US, do some radio and television and continue to make people laugh and enjoy my life. I am blessed and we will see what lies in store for me. Although there is no word yet of who or what will replace Wallace in the 10pm slot, Rumor has it that it could possibly be going to Tommy Davidson. He is fresh, popular, and versatile enough to pull off a one-man show in Vegas. He has paid his dues in show-biz, and deserves the slot.
Speaking of deserving the slot, many of you have been thanking me for recommending Singing Funnyman Pianist Michael Shane who by popular demand has recently been given his own nights at Bootlegger Bistro. Shane is scheduled every Thursday, and Friday in May from 6pm, as a solo act, and has Special Guest drop-ins as well. With no cover charge, great food and atmosphere, Michael’s show at Bootlegger Bistro should be a no-brainer!
Picks for May: Comedian Tom Dreesen, May 2 & 3 Smith Center, Olivia Newton John May 6-10, Flamingo, Jane’s Addiction, The Linq, May8-10, Gary Puckett and Union Gap, May 9-11, South Point, Ray Romano/Kevin James, May 9 & 10, Mirage, Eli Young Band, May 10, Palms, LeAnn Rimes, May 9 & 10, The Orleans, Leslie Gore and Peggy March 11, Suncoast, Lilly Tomlin, Danny Wright, May 11, Smith Center, Cheech & Chong, May 16, Hard Rock, Lewis Black, May 17 & 18, Mirage, The Oak Ridge Boys, May 16, Eastside Cannery, Jeffrey Osborne and Peabo Bryson, May 17, Cannery, Ben Vereen, May 17 & 18, Suncoast, Kansas, May 17, Redrock Resort, Guns N’Roses, May 21-June 7, Hard Rock, Air Supply, May 23-25, Orleans, Kathy Griffin, May 23, Mirage, Ralphie May, May 23-25, South Point, Ron White, May 24, Mirage, Bruce Bruce, May 24 & 25, Suncoast, Cher, Cyndi-Lauper, May 25, MGM, Katt Williams, May 25, Hard Rock, Backstreet Boys, Avril Lavigne, May 30 & 31, Planet Hollywood, Paula Poundstone, May 30 & 31, The Orleans, Johnny Mathis, May 30, Smith Center, Paul Rodgers, May 31, Eastside Cannery.
Marty Allen, Emilio Castillo-Las Vegas Backstage Talk w/Comedian Michele LaFong
Oct. 24, 2013- 6-7pm PST 1230AM in LV & The Web
Comedy Legend Marty Allen & Co-Star, Karon Kate Blackwell, guest on LV Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
In the 1970s and 80s, Allen made hundreds of television appearances, becoming a regular on “Hollywood Squares.” He also appeared on “Circus of the Stars,” in a cameo on “The Mario Brothers Show,” as a guest star on game shows such as “Password”, and in ten made-for-television movies.
At only 91 years of age, Allen has no intention of retiring and still works a full year and runs two miles on a treadmill daily.
“I feel like the Energizer Bunny. I just keep going,” Allen remarks. “I enjoy it. I can’t stop. People ask me where I get all the energy from to keep going and I joke that I’m on the pill. They believe me and want to know where to buy it for themselves.”
Allen met his co-star Blackwell in the mid-1980s, and the duo began performing together, combining his comedy with her music.
Beginning on Thursday, Oct. 24, legendary comedian Marty Allen and co-star Karon Kate Blackwell will take the stage of the classic showroom at the Plaza Hotel & Casino for a special three-night engagement.
Emilio Castillo
Emilio Castillo, Founder and Leader of Tower of Power guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong in Las Vegas and The Web.
Tower of Power’s musical odyssey began in 1968 when tenor saxophonist/vocalist Emilio Castillo met baritone sax player Stephen
“Doc” Kupka in July of that year. Originally named The Motown’s, the guys paid homage to the R&B sound that influenced them while adding their own personal twist. In 1970, the now renamed Tower of Power landed its first record deal with Bill Graham’s San Francisco Records. Their next album, Bump City, was recorded on Warner Brothers and produced a string of hits giving the band its first national exposure. At least 60 talented musicians have toured or recorded with the band in its 45 years and they have been featured with artists as diverse as Aerosmith, Elton John, Little Feat, Phish, Santana, Heart, and many others, forever infusing the radio airwaves with Tower’s musical DNA. Each year Tower of Power tours the United States, Japan and Europe, playing sold out shows all over the world. Recent releases include “Great American Soulbook”, a collection of classic soul tunes, and the 40th Anniversary Concert DVD. Tower has never been busier or more in demand.
For more: www.towerofpower.com
Tower of Power is appearing at The South Point H&C on Oct.25-27 at 7:30pm
TweetThe Wayans Brothers, Pablo Francisco-LVBST w/Comedian Michele LaFong
July 25, 2013 6pm-7pm PST 1230AM in LV&Web
![Shawn-Marlon-Wayans-2-263x200[1]](https://www.lasvegasbackstagetalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Shawn-Marlon-Wayans-2-263x2001.jpg)
The Wayans Brothers return on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong on 1230AM in Las Vegas, and The Web.
This time around I got to interview Shawn and Marlon separately, and it was very telling how different their answers to the same questions were. Actually quite comical!
The Wayans family is filled with talented members, so there is no surprise that the two youngest brothers, Shawn and Marlon Wayans, have followed in their family’s footsteps as Hollywood icons. So far in their relatively short careers, these two comedic prodigies have topped box offices and toured successfully around the country.
Both Shawn and Marlon made their acting debut in 1989 in their brother Keenen Ivory Wayans’ feature film “I’m Gonna Get You Sucka.” Immediately following their feature film debut, they joined the cast of the Emmy Award-winning comedy series “In Living Color.”
“The Wayans Bros.” sitcom, which Shawn and Marlon created and starred in, was the first WB show to be sold into syndication after heading up the WB network lineup for five years. Shawn and Marlon’s past film credits include the hit comedy “Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in The Hood,” which they co-wrote, produced and starred in together.
More recently Shawn and Marlon starred in the box office hits “Little Man” and “White Chicks,” both of which they also co-wrote and produced. The brothers began co-writing this string of blockbusters with the smash “Scary Movie,” where they also starred along side each other, and was directed by their brother Keenen Ivory Wayans. Co-written, produced and starring Shawn and Marlon Wayans, “Scary Movie 2” was the only sequel in the “Scary Movie” franchise with direct Wayans involvement. Shawn and Marlon were next seen on the big screen in “Dance Flick,” the comedy co-written with brother Keenen Ivory, which premiered in May 2009.
Shawn and Marlon, along with their brothers and sisters, created “Thugaboo” and the subsequent “Boo Crew” animated specials for Nickelodeon, which began premiering in August 2006. In addition to creating, the Wayans are also writing, directing and voicing the series which takes a humorous look at the trials and tribulations of nine inner city kids. TheBooCrew.com was released in fall 2009 and plans are underway to turn The Boo Crew into a daily comic strip. Marlon also starred in the 2009 blockbuster “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.”
In January 2013, Marlon wrote, produced and starred in the comedy hit, “A Haunted House,” an outrageous send up of the “Paranormal Activity” movie which also stars Cedric The Entertainer and Essence Atkins. Additionally, Marlon executive produced a comedy series, “Second Generation Wayans” starring his nephews, Damon Jr. and Craig which debut on BET Networks in January 2013.
When not on the road performing standup, Shawn and Marlon can be found hard at work in the “lab” where the Wayans siblings are busy concocting their next project.
Doors at the Pearl will open at 7 p.m. and show time is 8 p.m. The Pearl Box Office is open daily from noon until 7 p.m. with extended hours on select event days. The Pearl is now on Twitter. Follow @PearlatPalms for concert announcements and event information.
Pablo Francisco
Comedian Pablo Francisco guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong on 1230AM KLAV in Las Vegas and The Web.
Pablo continues to bring his audiences to their feet with boisterous laughter and applause. He weaves together his arsenal of characters, spontaneous outbursts, and clever insights to create a stand-up show that more resembles an hour-long comedic jazz
riff. He is an off-the-wall, animated character that points out the absurdity in an illogical, pop-culture obsessed world.
His unmatched take on all things pop culture has taken him into the ranks of the most popular touring comedians worldwide. Pablo’s enormous popularity continues to sour driving his Myspace Comedy page into the top three most visited on the site. His outrageously funny material has hooked millions of viewers on his YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/pablofranciscocomedy.
South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on May 25 – 27th
Tweet“Gaming Today” Column/Adam Carolla and Rita Rudner by Michele LaFong
by Michele LaFong
Adam Carolla and Rita Rudner are featured in this month’s edition of “Getting Personal with the Stars” Column in Gaming Today. Radio Personality / Comedian, Adam was promoting his Reunion Tour with Dr. Drew on March 29, at “House of Blues,” at Mandalay Bay. Carolla, was first most known for “The Man Show,” on Comedy Central, and “Loveline,” with Dr. Drew Pinsky. He now hosts The Adam Carolla Show, which set the record as the “most downloaded podcast” as judged be Guinness World Records, and after interviewing him…I can see why.
We covered everything from his humble beginnings.. working as a carpenter, carpet cleaner, and construction worker, to bombing in comedy clubs.
Many questions were answered like how he got to be on the Board for “The Marijuana Policy Project,” when it turned out he doesn’t even smoke marijuana!
Adam Carolla was honest, funny, unpredictable, and did not disappoint. His persona was exactly the same off camera, as on. I’m really looking forward to seeing his show on Friday.
Next up was Comedian Rita Rudner. She too was very similar to her persona on television. Rita was promoting her upcoming show at The Venetian on April 2, where she performs dates intermittently, throughout the year.
She has written four books, Her play “Tickled Pink,” based on her novel that will be debuting sometime in 2013. It is based on her own experiences as a female comedian coming of age in the 80’s. There are three jokes a minute.
“The 80’s were a very important time for comedy. Johnny Carson was my favorite host. He was always very friendly to me and would come into the make-up room and say “hi.” He was always a very sweet guy. Jay Leno, and Letterman are really terrific at what they do, but they are more of a comedian first, and an interviewer second.
These days, working for herself is very important to Rita. “Creative Freedom is the most important thing when you are a creative person. I love doing stand-up and writing because no one tells you what to wear, or what to say, what order to do things…no one is telling me what to do. That’s what I love so much about this profession.
When asked if she has trouble remembering lines she responded: “Not only do I remember the jokes, but I remember where I was when I thought of the joke…as I’m telling it…but even if I make everyone laugh for the hour and a half, and everyone has a good time, I try to at least try 2-3 new avenues of material at each show, or I’ll have felt that I let myself down.
I always do questions and answers at the end of my show. I answer the questions honestly, but I also bring in the jokes because I want to be entertaining. I sometimes bring out my joke notebook, and ask the audience if I can try these new jokes out on them. They like it and it helps me because they feel like they are in on something, and they are in on something.”
Do you think women in comedy, have it harder? “Of course!” She responded.
Women have to be twice as good at everything, because the positions of power are usually in the hands of men, and being a stand-up comedian..is certainly a position of power.
I love female comics because they all so unique, and there are so many male comics, that sometimes you can get them confused, but I think every female comic has a very individual voice. However, I don”t watch any comics really because I’m so busy with my daughter’s piano, tennis, and guitar, etc. and I work. I do watch sports because it gets me away from things… and I love to watch other people exercise! I’m hoping it will get on me.
I love living in Vegas because my audience has jet-lag…and I’m fully awake. I really like doing my own show at The Venetian. It’s relaxing. I don’t really like when you’re on television, and you’re under a microscope, and you have to rush it in five minutes and be as funny as you’ve ever been.
Even when I’m traveling…the lights are different, the sound is different. The Venetian is like my living room. I know what to expect. And that’s my favorite when I’m in my room in LV, and the audience has come to see me.”
Rita does a Meet & Greet before and after with her VIP audience. “I love to meet the people that I’m going to make laugh in a few minutes, and it makes me less nervous to talk to the people before the show. It makes it a better experience. Las Vegas is a Special Place, and I want to give the audience a Special Time.”
Adam Carolla, and Rita Rudner’s full interviews will be aired on Las Vegas Backstage Talk Radio Show on March 28, from 6pm-7:00pm PST on 1230AM in Las Vegas, and The Web. lasvegasbackstagetalk.com.
Both Adam and Rita will be featured in Michele LaFong’s Monthly Syndicated Column, “Las Vegas Backstage Talk,” in Casino Player Magazine. (CP Magazine.)
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