Cover/Feature Ray Romano in Casino Player Magazine-Oct. by Michele LaFong
“Getting Personal with the Stars” -Ray Romano
by Michele LaFong
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M-I saw on the news recently that you were in town, with Actor-Impressionist Kevin Pollak and you were both like the only celebrities left in the poker tournament at The Rio
R-“Yeah, I played at The Main Event, the last one on World Series of Poker (WSP) the big poker tournament. I played it the last six years in a row. With 6000 people in it, it goes seven days and they narrow it down till they have 9 people left, and I made it to day 3, my record was day 2… so this year I actually broke my record.”
M-How did you place compared to Kevin Pollak? (He was on LVBST last year during WSP…)
R-This year I lasted about two hours longer than him.
We both busted out on day three.
R-We play a home game like once a month at home. Brad Garrett plays, Jason Alexander…I started when I was 17 playing with the boys in the neighborhood in Queens.
M- Who is the best poker player out of the group?
R- “Not Brad! I’ll tell you who is not…
Actually, Cheryl Hines believe it or not, plays a mean game. Jason Alexander… well… we are all the same but Brad is so wild, he can get lucky and win because he’s so crazy/wild, but also he can bust-out pretty soon…I will say this… because I’m being honest… he’s the funniest!…and the most politically incorrect.”
M-Speaking of which, you’ve managed to stay out of trouble in terms of “political correctness;” you’re never in the news getting in trouble, saying something you shouldn’t have said…
R- No… you know why? Can I say a bad word? No, I better not…
M- Sure, say it…
R-Cause I’m a “bleep” (the word was short for kitty cat!) Seriously, that’s just not my style. I actually do this in “my act.” I did one politically incorrect joke on television once. I did a joke about obsessive-compulsive people, and it wasn’t that bad, but you don’t want to insult them… because once they start writing letters they don’t quit…Every day you get a letter!
But really…my act’s about my life, my family, my kids, my wife, how much sex I’m not having…it just never comes into play for me to get into trouble…I’m just not a political comedian.
M-These days, you don’t have to be a political comic to get into trouble, and you’ve done a good job so far…
R-Nowadays, with twitter, blogs, every hour there’s always somebody putting their foot in their mouth
M- Are you on Twitter?
R- I am not on twitter!
M- Why…are you afraid?
R- I’m afraid on 2 counts. I’m afraid about saying the wrong thing…trying to be funny and it comes across the wrong way…and also I don’t want people to be able to attack me. I don’t want to give them another venue. The Internet is enough…Believe me, I get it on The Internet, and I don’t learn my lesson. I go on it too much. I read the reviews, and I read the comments…and then I’m in therapy!
M-It really affects you?
R-Yes, it does. It shouldn’t but it does. I never learn my lesson…
M-But you don’t get attacked a lot…I even looked for it online searching for the negative on you… just because…
R-Well I could show you where to go… you got to know where to find it! Like last year, I was on the TV show “Parenthood,” and I was competing against Jason Ritter, for Lauren Graham’s affection. Now, Jason Ritter is thirty years old, and he’s a young stud…and I’m fifty- plus whatever…and …believe me, if you want to get online then…I mean there were some people in my camp, but there were a lot of people who were happy to tell me how I should get lost!”
Critically, “Men of a Certain Age” was a hit, and again, I don’t want to sound obnoxious, because I don’t seek out the bad reviews…but I’ll find them, and when “Men of a Certain Age” came out, it was hard to find a bad review when we first came out… in fact it won The Peabody Award, but we still got cancelled, so that just tells you…the business is all about money…it all comes down to the buck.
M-Do you have any idea what you could have done differently, or should have done to keep that show alive?
R-I don’t really know…I’m not going to criticize TNT because they were the only ones who would put us on. It’s hard to sell a show about three fifty –year old men, who are going through a mid-life crisis in today’s television, but they put us on. I think it was a tough fit though. What does well on their network are The Light Crime Dramas, and they’re good shows but our show was so different than that, so I don’t know that the TNT audience was taking to our show…maybe it would have worked on a different network where you don’t need as many ratings…like some of these critically acclaimed shows like “Madmen,” “Louie,” and all these great shows that survived with a small cult, loyal audience.
“Men of a Certain Age” was my show that I created with Mike Royce. I created it from the ground up.
At the time that Men of a Certain Age got cancelled, the closest thing on television to that would be “Parenthood,” as far as the tone of the show goes. I was a fan of Parenthood, and I was a friend of the show-runner Jason Katims, and when Parenthood got cancelled, we were talking, and it came up about possibly doing an arc on his show, and I said “if you find me something on your show, whatever my agent quotes you for my price, I’ll do better than.” About three weeks later, my agent called me and said “Uh…did you promise Jason Katims that you would do the show for less money? I said yeah…yeah I did, because the work was important to me, and that’s how it started…and I didn’t even know I was going to be on again this year but we found another storyline, so I’m back again this season.
M- Any new creations in the works?
R- We got a couple of things we were just toying around with. I just acted in a small independent movie, called “Rob the Mob.” It’s a real life-story about these 2 young lovers who rob from The Mafia in the 90s. I play a reporter, and hopefully that will come out in the next couple of months, and I’m trying to write a screen-play about an Italian family from Queens, which of course, I come from… we’re actually looking to do Jim Valvano’s story, who was the coach for North Carolina State, “Jimmy V’, (there’s a foundation that raises money for cancer, cause he died of cancer)…and we’re trying to do his life-story. I’m trying to get the role of Jimmy V. It’s a great inspirational story about his life. He won the championship in 1983, and sadly he died ten years later, but it’s a cool story that we’re trying to do now.
M- I remember bumping into you in the hallways, at Joanna Beckson’s Acting Studio in Manhattan when we were coming-up in our comedy careers- your class was letting out, as mine was coming in, and I remember that your manager Rory Rosegarten had insisted that all his acts take these acting classes so that we’d be prepared for our own sitcoms. Were you really happy that you had taken those classes when you ended up landing your own series on Television, and did it make a big difference for you?
R-It was a big help but to be honest, when I got “Everybody Loves Raymond,” they gave me an acting coach then as well. When we first started they said “we want to try to hook you up with an acting coach to maybe meet once a week, and go over the script.” They said “you know this is different than stand-up…people are going to talk back to you now!”
M-You seemed very at ease with your acting-right from the get go, as opposed to Jerry Seinfeld for example who when early in the series, was not at all an actor but really grew as the show went along and became much more natural.
R-Well, I did too but the one thing that was great about Everybody Loves Raymond was that I was involved, and in the Writer’s Room and everything felt organic, and if it didn’t… we would work on it until it did… and I would either have to find it through acting, or through writing. Of course if you watch me on season one verses season seven, and eight- like anything, you evolve with time.
M- When I was researching you, I noticed you were on the Celebrity Atheist List.
R-I saw that! No, it is not true. I was an Altar Boy when I was growing up in Queens. The Internet also claimed I had a severe peanut allergy, which I don’t…I’m eating almond butter right now as we speak!
My full interview with Ray will air Oct.17, 6pm-7pm PST on “Las Vegas Backstage Talk” radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong, on 1230AM in LV and streams live on lasvegasbackstagetalk.com. Ray Romano is appearing at The Mirage with Kevin James Oct.18 & 19 also Nov.22 & 23.
TweetLas Vegas Backstage Talk column in Casino Player Magazine
August edition: by Michele LaFong
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Hi again!
Last month, on casinocenter.com, we featured some short, edited, backstage interviews. Thanks so much for all your feedback. It is very much appreciated, and we are paying attention to your comments.
Update: I passed on every lead that came in from all of you to Gallagher regarding interest for his Gaming Software gambling technology that he invented to keep slot players in casinos as entertained as they are with online. I will keep you posted, especially if history is made, as a result of your interest and responses.
I was at Gallagher’s new show at The Laugh Factory at The Tropicana last night, and was stunned that he had such a packed room on a Sunday night. Word must be getting out fast that he is still very funny even without smashing water-melons! He seemed fearless about trying new material on stage, and is masterful at working the crowd. He will continue to perform his 7pm show, at least through the summer.
Another very popular Headliner on the “casino circuit” is Pat Benatar/Neil Giraldo. I was blown away with their performance at The Pearl Theatre, at The Palms H & C last month. After my interview with Singer/Songwriter Neil Giraldo, Pat Benatar’s long-time “hit-writing” husband, visionary, and co-star of over 30 years, I felt like I knew them both for years. I never considered myself a real fan of their music, but after seeing them live…I guess I am, and I cannot recommend their show enough!
Another star that didn’t at all disappoint in his performance was The Legendary Dave Mason, who was performing at The Pearl Theatre, the following week. When I interviewed him by phone, he seemed a little low key, but on stage he came out strong and sustained interest and energy throughout. I also liked that he explained how his hit songs came about. It was truly hilarious when Dave after singing a couple of songs revealed that he was not making a “fashion statement” by wearing shorts on stage… rather it’s that he forgot to pack his pants! (I can relate to that.)
Comedian/Actress Wanda Sykes also put on an excellent show at The TI, and had the packed room in stitches throughout. I am still laughing about her reference to what happens to a woman “downstairs” after menopause…“that no one ever warns us about!” I was very surprised when backstage, immediately following the show, Wanda told me that some of the material she did, was being tried out for the very first time. (No one would ever have known!)
Dr. Julio Garcia, Plastic Surgeon to the Stars, returned on LVBST to warn us about the many new in-office procedures, which promise us a look of “instant youth,” but may not necessarily make us look better. He gave some great tips on the best way to find a really qualified plastic surgeon, and the many ways we can shave-off years instantly, even without surgery. He has agreed to offer free consultations for “CP readers” for the month of August providing you mention CP Magazine at the time that you make the appointment.
August’s line-up of popular headliners appearing in Las Vegas includes Grammy® award-winning singer-songwriter Rick Springfield, mostly known for “Jessie’s Girl,” and his acting role on “General Hospital.” When he guested on my radio show last year, the response was amazing. Springfield was so popular with our listeners, that WROM Radio, one of our affiliate stations in Michigan reported that after 400,000 listeners clicked in …it shut down their entire site! Rick is performing at The Orleans Showroom, August 3 & 4.
Another recommended Headliner is Five-time Grammy® winner BJ Thomas, mostly known for the hits “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” and “Hooked on a Feeling.” BJ was one of the most genuine, unassuming, “down to earth” Stars that I’ve ever met. He is genuinely shy, has never been comfortable with his fame, and still always gets nervous when performing. It’s adorable! I witnessed him being really hard on himself last year back-stage, following a stellar performance, in which he received three standing ovations! Thomas is returning to The Suncoast Showroom on August 10 & 11, and plans to come in early to do a videotaped interview with me.
Another exciting show coming in is The Monkees. I was lucky enough to have opened for them on their first re-union tour at The Sands H & C, in Las Vegas back in ’94. It was only Davey Jones, and Mickey Dolenz that were from the original group but it was still a great show, and the crowds just loved it! It will be interesting to see all the remaining members of the original line-up, Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork perform together. It’s such a shame that Davey Jones is no longer with us. He will always be loved and missed. The Monkees will perform at the Grand Events Center inside Green Valley Ranch Resort on Aug 10.
“Gregory Popovich’s Comedy Pet Theatre,” has returned to the “V” Theatre at Planet Hollywood with daily performances at 2:30pm. This Veteran of The Russian Circus, was a finalist on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” He is the only one I’ve ever seen that has so many trained cats doing amazing things in his show. He is scheduled to return on our program, and this time around bring some of his trained animals.
Actor- Impressionist Kevin Pollak, is headlining The Improv, at Harrahs, H& C, on Aug. 30 & 31. What a treat! I interviewed him last year at The World Series of Poker Tournament, at The Rio. Kevin was playing poker against Carl Reiner, and many other celebrity, and non-celebrity Poker-champs. (He is the only celebrity that placed in last year’s competition!) Pollak shared tips on having “the best poker-face,” and explained how different the game of poker is in tournaments. Some real good, and entertaining advice. Kevin Pollak’s edited video and others are now posted on casinocenter.com.
I’m always open to comments, feedback, and questions. Please stay in touch via facebook, twitter, or email. ‘Til next month…
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