Rob Schneider, Don Brewer, Russell Peters
August 31, 2017
Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)
Rob Schneider guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong, the only show that “Gets Personal with the Stars.”
Rob Schneider is appearing at The Laugh Factory, at The Tropicana H & C, Sept. 2 & 3
After opening for comedians such as Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfeld, Schneider made his network television debut in 1987 on “The David Letterman Show.” In 1990, “Saturday Night Live” producer Lorne Michaels saw Schneider’s appearance on HBO’s “13th Annual Young Comedians Special” and hired him to be a regular on SNL. During his four seasons on SNL, Schneider was nominated for three EmmyR Awards and a Peabody Award..
Schneider is well-known for his longtime collaboration with Adam Sandler and Sandler’s production company, Happy Madison. Schneider has starred in several Happy Madison projects, including “The Benchwarmers,” “50 First Dates,” “The Longest Yard,” “Eight Crazy Nights,” “Little Nicky” and “Mr. Deeds.” Schneider co-wrote and starred in “Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo,” “Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo,” “The Hot Chick” and “The Animal.”
Schneider was the star of the new CBS show, “Rob,” about a lifelong bachelor who married into a tight-knit Mexican-American family. Rob is a successful architect who elopes with Maggie in Las Vegas after a whirlwind romance.
For more about Rob Schneider, click HERE.
Don Brewer (Grand Funk Railroad)
Don Brewer, original founding member, co-lead singer and drummer for Grand Funk Railroad guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Known as “The American Band,” the high-energy five-piece group will play forty shows all over the USA this year. Grand Funk Railroad includes original founding member Don Brewer (vocals and drums, writer and singer of the multi-million selling hit, We’re An American Band) and bassist Mel Schacher, “The God Of Thunder.” Joining Don and Mel are true “All Stars.” Singer Max Carl is a rock veteran from 38 Special. Max penned and sang 38’s biggest hit “Second Chance” and was co-founder of California’s legendary Jack Mack and the Heart Attack. Don refers to Max as “the best blue-eyed soul singer on the planet.” Lead guitarist Bruce Kulick is best known for his 12 years with KISS and also has credits with Michael Bolton, Meatloaf and Billy Squier. (KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley were influenced early on by Grand Funk.) Keyboardist Tim Cashion has a master’s degree in music from the University of Miami. Affectionately called “Dr. Tim,” his credits include stints with Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band and English soul man Robert Palmer.
Comedian Russell Peters
Russell Peters guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Comedian Russell Peters is a very funny guy.
And not just kind of funny.
He’s so friggin’ funny that his standup touring earned him, according to Forbes, a whopping $21 million last year.
With that in mind, it’s about time you get familiar with Mr. Peters because we think he really deserves to be more famous. In fact, his current international tour is called…Almost Famous.
Russell is working on new material and figuring out his new set in clubs across the United States. These are work in progress shows! You never know what’s going to happen. Lots of free-styling and improv. Watch for new dates to be announced soon and watch for new international dates in 2018 & 2019!
To see a complete listing of Russell’s upcoming shows, click here.
And be sure to register for Russell’s Emails to be notified about shows in your area ahead of the general public
TweetBJ Thomas, Sommore
August 24, 2017
Audio of interviews are posted below (scroll down)
Five-time Grammy® Award winning hit-maker BJ Thomas, guests on “Las Vegas Backstage Talk” radio Show with Comedian Michele LaFong. LVBST radio show is the only show that “Gets Personal with the Stars.”
Five-time Grammy® Award winning hit-maker BJ Thomas will perform at the Golden Nugget on August 25.
In 1966, Thomas released his first hit record, a cover of Hank Williams classic, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” From 1967 to 1975, Thomas charted numerous hits, including: “The Eyes of a New York Woman,” “Hooked on a Feeling,” “It’s Only Love,” and “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song.”
Thomas is perhaps best-known for “Rain Drops Keep Fallin’ On My Head,” featured in the 1969 movie “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and winner of an Academy Award® for “Best Original Song.” Since then, the song has been featured in numerous movies, including “Forrest Gump,” “Clerks II,” “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” and “Spider-Man 2.”
During the ‘80s, Thomas’ music crossed over to the country charts with “Whatever Happened to Old-Fashioned Love,” “New Looks from an Old Lover” and “Two Car Garage.” He became the 60th member of the Grand Old Opry in 1981.
In 1985, Thomas recorded “As Long As We’ve Got Each Other” which was later used as the theme song for the hit ABC sitcom, “Growing Pains.”
In 2007, he released his fourth holiday album, “Home for Christmas.”
More about BJ Thomas here–>
Comedian Sommore
Actress and comedienne Sommore guests on LVBST with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Sommore is appearing at The Suncoast Showroom August 26 & 27 at 7:30pm
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.
TweetRita Rudner, Carl LaBove
August 10, 2017
Audio is posted below except on Internet Explorer
Award-winning comedian Rita Rudner, and Comic Carl Labove guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Rita explains what is most important to her these days in her very long career in comedy.
Known for her joke writing, with one liners like: “My mother buried three husbands – and two of them were only napping.”
Rita shares her method and inspiration of her day to day life.
Since 2001, Rudner has performed almost exclusively in Las Vegas, selling over one million tickets. She moved to a larger theater at The Venetion in January 2011. She also created and hosted the syndicated improvisational comedy show Ask Rita, which mimicked the format of a talk/advice show. For this she received a Gracie Allen Award from the American Women in Television and Radio. In May 2009 she performed for Senator Harry Reid and President, Barack Obama, at Caesars Palace, alongside Bette Midler and Sheryl Crow; a video of some of this performance can be found on Rita’s Facebook page or YouTube. Rita is currently on tour.
Carl Labove
Comedian Carl LaBove, is appearing at The Laugh Factory, at The Tropicana H&C with Andrew Dice Clay August 11-13 at 10pm. Also, July 23, at 8pm, with Brad Garrett, and Landry.
Carl LaBove was born in Fort Worth Texas, grew up a military child, which required his family to move all around the world during his youth. At age nineteen he discovered stand up comedy with the man who would become his best friend, Sam Kinison. Together the two founded a Rock & Roll Comedy concept that would earn Billboard Magazines “Top Tour” honors by selling out theaters across the country for 5 straight years.
Skyrocketing to the biggest performance stages in the country as a founding member of “The Outlaws” in the late 80’s, and early 90’s, Carl would establish himself as an unparalleled comedic force during the biggest comedy boom of the last fifty years. Twenty years after “The Outlaws,” Carl continues to sellout venues and amaze audiences from coast to coast. With credits that include The Tonight Show, HBO, Showtime, two comedy CD’s, a concert DVD for Journey Records and much more. There is no end in sight for Carl.
TweetFrank Caliendo, Robert Klein
August 3, 2017
Audio posted below except on Internet Explorer
Comedian, actor and impressionist Frank Caliendo guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Caliendo is perhaps best known for his impressions of famous actors Al Pacino, Robin Williams and Robert DeNiro; former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton; broadcasters John Madden and Charles Barkley; and talk show hosts Dr. Phil, Jay Leno, and David Letterman.
A veteran of televised comedy, Caliendo has starred in numerous television shows including “MADtv,” “Mike & Mike,” “Hot in Cleveland,” and his own series on TBS “Frank TV” in 2007 and 2008.
From 2003 to 2012, Caliendo was a fixture on the “Fox NFL Sunday” pregame show where he worked with Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long and the rest of the team. His “Frank’s Picks” segments were featured during the broadcasts of Super Bowls XXXIX, XLII and XLV.
Frank is appearing at The Orleans Showroom August 11 & 12 at 8pm.
Robert Klein
Actor/Comic Robert Klein guests on LV Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
In 1975, Klein was the first comedian to appear in a live concert on HBO. Since then, he has gone on to star in eight one-man shows on the network.
Among many starring roles in television, he has co-starred in “Sisters,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “The Stones” and “Heartland.”
Klein has also appeared in many notable films including “Hooper,” “Primary Colors,” “People I Know,” “Two Weeks Notice” and “How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days.”
TweetTony Orlando, Anthony Cools
July 20, 2017
Audio posted below except on Internet Explorer
Tony Orlando, and Hypnotist Anthony Cools guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Tony is appearing at The South Point Showroom July 21- 23 at 7:30pm
Tony Orlando brings to the stage a warmth and exhilarating energy that electrifies an audience. From million selling records (five number one hits), a popular television variety series, movies and Broadway (Barnum and Smokey Joe’s Café), Tony Orlando has conquered every facet of show business.
Through no plans of his own, Tony was coaxed into putting his voice on a demo record for a song titled “Candida” for his friends Hank Medress and Dave Appell at Bell Records. The record was released under the name of the record promotion director’s daughter, Dawn.
“I think it is really the rule of show business that every big break you get you back into it without knowing it at the time. A few weeks after recording ‘Candida’ I had forgotten all about it. And then Hank Medress calls me and says, ‘Hey man, we’ve got a hit!’ The crazy thing was the song kept climbing the charts till it hit number one,” says Orlando.
Hoping lightning would strike again, Medress had Orlando recorded “Knock Three Times.” The song not only became number one, it was the tip song of 1971 selling over six million copies worldwide. The immense popularity of the song is still evident today. Tony’s recording of the song was featured in the hit movie Now and Then.
Realizing it was probably safe to give up his successful career at CBS Records, Tony decided to jump full force into what was already a meteoric rise to the top. Along with Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson, Tony Orlando and Dawn became an international sensation.
Amazingly enough, Tony hadn’t even begun to scratch the surface of his stardom. In 1973 he recorded “Tie A Yellow Ribbon ‘Round The Ole Oak Tree.” The song was number one for the year, became Orlando’s theme song and grew into an American anthem of hope and homecoming, reunion and renewal.
More about Tony Orlando here–>
Hypnotist – Anthony Cools
World-famous hypnotist Anthony Cools performs at Paris Las Vegas, using his skills for decidedly evil purposes, tapping into the carnal desires and subconscious naughtiness of his audience, shearing off all inhibitions.
Not only is Cools the only hypnotist playing in a casino on the Las Vegas Strip, his show is the longest-running hypnotist show in Las Vegas history, and the longest-running show at Paris Las Vegas.
Signature stunts in his hilarious and interactive 90-minute show include handshakes that induce vocal, sexual responses, as well as several other tricks so shocking, we can’t even print them.
More about Anthony Cools here–>
You can catch Anthony Cools headlines at Paris Las Vegas.
Anthony Cools Showroom, Nightly 9:00pm, Dark Mon & Wed
Ralphie May, Felix Cavaliere
July 13, 2017
Audio of interviews are posted below (Scroll down)
Ralphie May guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
In a very candid interview Ralphie May addresses some of the obstacles and behind the scenes’ “going-ons” that are realities in”the business” of show business. He also speaks about his very first gig. Opening for Sam Kinison.
Veteran comedian Ralphie May’s popularity exploded after the success of the first season of NBC’s hit reality series, “Last Comic Standing”. Long-time fans of Ralphie’s stand-up were joined by countless new fans when America thought he was robbed of the winner’s title. Despite the show’s outcome, Ralphie’s special brand of comedy combines the familiar elements of hip-hop and topical comedy with a dash of southern down-home flavor and quick wit making Ralphie May one of the most popular comedians in the country. His first DVD, appropriately titled “Just Correct,” went PLATINUM!
His special brand of humor and incredible timing has allowed him to cross social, cultural, and ethnic barriers and has earned him roles in such films as FOR DA LOVE OF MONEY and GAS, to name a few of several independent productions. Ralphie has worked as an actor, writer and producer on ESPN’s Mohr Sports starring Jay Mohr and had four appearances on CBS’s The Late Late Show w/ Craig Kilborn as well as eleven appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live. He has been seen on Tough Crowd, The Man Show and MTV’s Bash as well as in guest-starring roles on numerous television shows including NBC’s Whoopie. In an appearance on The Tonight Show w/ Jay Leno he received a standing ovation, the first comedian in 10 years to receive this honor. The New York Times raves, “Ralphie is phenomenal…”The Washington Post describes his comedy style as a “Tour de Force.” At the age of seventeen, Ralphie entered a talent show, to which the winner would get to open for Sam Kinison. A dream came true… Ralphie won the contest and after the show, Sam turned to Ralphie and said, “That was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”
More about Ralphie May here–>
You can catch Ralphie May headlining at Harrah’s Showroom starting 9/28-11/4 (Check dates)
Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals
Rock & Roll and Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee Felix Cavaliere guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong, and brings his Rascals to the Golden Nugget, Friday, July 14.
In the mid-60s, Cavaliere formed The Young Rascals with Dino Danelli, Eddie Brigati and Gene Cornish. The band signed with Atlantic Records and had their first No. 1 hit with “Good Lovin’” in 1966. The Young Rascals went on to be one of the biggest groups in the county for the remainder of the 60s with songs, “Groovin’,” “A Girl Like You,” “A Beautiful Morning,” and “People Got to Be Free,” the latter the groups’ biggest hit, topping the charts for five weeks in 1968. The follow up single, “A Ray of Hope,” was written for and about Teddy Kennedy.
Following the disbandment of The Young Rascals in 1972, Cavaliere continued on as a solo-artist releasing his self-titled debut album in 1974, followed by “Destiny” in 1975. Two years later, he returned to a band environment with the release “Treasure,” the self-titled debut from his new band. Cavaliere returned to solo work with the release of “Castles in the Air” in 1979.
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