Media Path Podcast

Sustaining Success & Conquering Hollywood Ageism with Anne-Marie Johnson

Best known for her roles as Lynn Williams on Hill Street Blues [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hill_Street_Blues], Alieen Lewis on Double Trouble [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_Trouble_(American_TV_series)] and Raj’s wife, Nadine on What's Happening Now!! [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What%27s_Happening_Now!!], Anne-Marie Johnson played Althea Tibbs on In the Heat of the Night [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Heat_of_the_Night_(TV_series)], Alycia Barnett on Melrose Place [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melrose_Place], Sharon Upton Farley on Girlfriends [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girlfriends_(American_TV_series)], Liz Shelton on Tyler Perry's House of Payne [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyler_Perry%27s_House_of_Payne] and Dr. Patel on Days of our Lives [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Days_of_our_Lives]. She was also on In Living Color [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Living_Color] and in this very episode of Media Path Podcast and we do get into it all! Why was her character killed off of Melrose Place? She was told it was because the producers did not know how to write for black characters! Was her experience on Mad About You pleasant? No! Helen Hunt was a nightmare. She absolutely adored working with Raven Simone and with the cast of Diff’rent Strokes. She had a blast collaborating with Keenen Ivory Wayans in the creation of the iconic hooker, Cherry in I’m Gonna Git You  Sucka and Anne-Marie gifts us with a blow-by-blow account of how her Oprah knockoff character on Living Single generated a studio audience laugh that lasted for five minutes! Anne-Marie is starring in a new film called, The Addiction Of Hope, written and directed by her husband, Martin Grey. It’s the story of an aging actress who, as roles diminish, is forced to reexamine her life, her priorities and her choices while her sister faces a health crisis. Anne-Marie takes on a rousing round of IMDB Roulette and in recommendations, Lisa loves the new  Emily Catalano standup special, Weezy is obsessed with the best selling novel, Theo Of Golden by Allen Levi and both of our hosts vow to explore Funny AF with Kevin Hart on Netflix. Path Points of Interest: The Addiction Of Hope [https://www.theaddictionofhopefilm.com/] Anne-Marie Johnson on Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne-Marie_Johnson] Anne-Marie Johnson on IMDB [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0424509/] Emily Catalano Unspecial [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY-_4ioQ188] Funny AF with Kevin Hart on Netflix [https://www.netflix.com/title/82054722] Theo Of Golden by Allen Levi [https://www.amazon.com/Theo-Golden-Novel-Allen-Levi/dp/1668236516]

Iconic Girl Boss & 80s Pop Culture Deep Dives with Julie Brown!

80s/90s Comedy/Music/Satire Icon Julie Brown joins us and prepare to mop up some tea! Just exactly how did Julie Brown become an MTV trend setter? She made fun of the videos. Fans loved it and the frenzy gave rise to Julie’s very own show, Just Say Julie.  We head back to an innocent age when it was still ridiculously ludicrous for the homecoming queen to have a gun. Then we explore the inspiration for Julie’s first film, Earth Girls Are Easy. Getting it made, however, was difficult. Julie starred with Gina Davis, Jeff Goldblum and Jim Carrey and the film launched the music videos, Cause I’m A Blonde and I Like ‘Em Big And Stupid.  Next, inspired by the outrageous stories she’d hear from friends who had worked with Madonna, Julie parodied Madonna’s self absorbed doc-noir, Truth Or Dare, with Medusa: Dare To Be Truthful. We talk about Attack Of The 5’2” Women, with a cameo by our own Lisa Arch, in which Julie roasts headline hogs Tanya Harding and Lorena Bobbitt and we compare notes on 100 Things To Do Before High School on which Julie wrote and Lisa played Principal Hader.  And finally, we unleash a rousing round of IMDB Roulette where the wheel stops at Happy Days, The Jeffersons, Newhart, Laverne and Shirley, The Incredible Shrinking Woman, Shakes The Clown, The Middle and Camp Rock.  Plus, Weezy and Lisa are recommending and discussing Trust Me: The False Prophet on Netflix.  Path Points of Interest: Julie Brown  [https://www.juliebrown.com] Medusa: Dare to be Truthful [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104843/] Attack Of The 5'2" Women [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109167/] Cause I’m a Blonde [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ol4oWChjzk&list=RD4Ol4oWChjzk&start_radio=1] Homecoming Queen’s Got a Gun [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG3yGdQYwqg&list=RDxG3yGdQYwqg&start_radio=1] I like em big and Stupid [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFfWqSI_aJQ&list=RDTFfWqSI_aJQ&start_radio=1] Vague [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmfE5KPnYjw] Julie Brown on Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Brown] Julie Brown on IMDB [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0113935/] Julie Brown on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/missjuliebrown/] Julie Brown on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/juliebrownfans] Julie Brown on Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@JulieBrownTV] Trust Me: The False Prophet [https://www.netflix.com/title/81758532] Lisa Arch on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lisa.arch/] Lisa Arch Presents Mother's Day at Flappers [https://www.flapperscomedy.com/site/shows.php?event_id=77982] Hold You Foundation [http://www.holdyou.org/]

Reimagining The Hollywood Dream & A Constant Commitment To The Craft with William McNamara

From growing up on the fringes of Hollywood’s inner circle to navigating the highs and lows of an unpredictable acting career, William McNamara brings a lifetime of stories, and hard-earned perspective, to this episode of Media Path. The seasoned actor has produced a series called The Trouble with Billy, based on his own life (now available for purchase in pre-release) and Billy joins us to reflect on an unconventional childhood shaped by early exposure to the industry. His mom palled around with Valerie Perrine and a very young Billy found himself on sets and at parties with  Bob Fosse, Ryan O’Neal, and Elliot Gould, experiences that fueled his desire to earn a spot for himself within the entertainment community. His determination was challenged when his folks, in an effort to shield him from Manhattan’s temptations, sent him away to boarding school at the age of 11. Billy found his way back to NYC by getting into Columbia, auditing film classes at NYU and immersing himself in archival footage at the Museum of Broadcasting. Billy was quickly booking commercials and modeling jobs and when he landed a film role and wanted to drop out of college, his parents threatened to cut him off. He said, “Not a problem. I’ve got $100,000 in the bank.” Billy talks reverently about the impact of the groundbreaking 1992 TV movie Doing Time on Maple Drive, in which he portrays a gay young man named Matt, in the midst of his agonizing journey towards coming out to his parents. This film continues to change and save lives. Behind the scenes on Maple Drive, Billy met the lost and disheveled actor who would play his brother. Unimpressed but willing to lend advice, Billy watched as his co-star, Jim Carrey attacked and mastered the art of dramatic acting. Set to play Montgomery Clift in a TV movie about Elizabeth Taylor, Billy’s mentor Roddy McDowall  arranged a rare interlude with Ms. Taylor during which she imparted a cherished memory and acting lesson from her dear friend Monty. Billy’s experience on Dream a Little Dream with the “two Coreys,” was more of a nightmare, trapped inside the undisciplined Coreys bubble which featured them either coming to work or not, depending upon the hangover.  Hoping to broaden his range, Billy took on the role of a serial killer which threatened to murder his confidence. Test screenings of Copycat led to weeks of reshoots. Billy was panicking until Roddy brought in his friend Tony for some serial killer coaching. It was Anthony Hopkins! This is a candid, emotional, and deeply reflective conversation about resilience, reinvention, and a turbulent show biz path that has served to inspire William McNamara’s deeply personal new project, The Trouble with Billy. In current recommendations-- Lisa: Twisted Yoga on Apple TV+ Weezy: David Archuleta's Memoir, Devout: Losing My Faith To Find Myself Path Points of Interest: The Trouble with Billy [https://thetroublewithbilly.com/] The Trouble With Billy on Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@thetroublewithbillyofficial] William McNamara on Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_McNamara] William McNamara on IMDB [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001530/] William McNamara on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/williammcnamara108/] William McNamara on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/wmcnamara2/] Twisted Yoga [https://tv.apple.com/us/show/twisted-yoga/umc.cmc.5igm85np97uvzrg4cl7wpzz6f] Devout: Losing My Faith To Find Myself by David Archuleta [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJJGJSB6/?bestFormat=true&k=devout%20david%20archuleta&ref_] David Archuleta [https://davidarchuleta.com]

Interviewing Legendary Teen Idols & A Trailblazer In 60s Music Journalism with Ann Moses!

Before celebrity culture was manufactured and media-trained, Ann Moses was right in the middle of it, capturing a generation of hot, young stars just as they were becoming icons. In 1966, an 18-year-old Ann Moses landed a position as the editor of Tiger Beat Magazine where she worked until ’72! Ann remembers serving Walt Disney a refreshing orange juice, at the Sunkist booth where she worked at Disneyland and telling him she had written two articles for the employee newsletter. His sage words? “You never know where that will take you.” Armed with a pad, a pen, a tape recorder, a camera and relentless curiosity, she began chasing stories and opportunities.  Ann shares how she talked her way into an interview with the Dave Clark Five when they performed at Melodyland Theater in Anaheim. She asked their road manager for just five minutes with the band. They gave her 35 minutes and her career was in gear. Joining Tiger Beat as an intern when it was just five issues deep with a staff of just four, Ann made herself indispensable. Her bosses sent her to clubs, sets, recording studios, and concert halls. She returned with loads of great photos and interviews and got to work writing, editing and creating contests, experiences and content that took readers right along with her.  While covering Dino, Desi and Billy, Ann was offered a drink by Dean Martin. She requested a coke. She then sat down with Lucille Ball, for several hours, to talk about her son, Desi Jr. The interview spilled into a lunch where Lucy said, “Enough about me and Desi. Tell me about you.” Tiger Beat’s exclusive access to The Monkees and The Partridge Family found Ann regularly visiting their sets for hours of personal time that led to fascinating stories. Spoiler: Monkee Talk was not actually written by The Monkees and Mike Nesmith spent an entire year avoiding Ann who was more than happy to talk, instead, with his wife, Phyllis. Bobby Sherman could not have been more friendly and amenable. While David Cassidy was also difficult to pin down until a note went home to his dad, Jack Cassidy. Ann opens up about her whirlwind romance with The Bee Gees’ Maurice Gibb, including a European adventure and a shocking revelation at the end of their time together. What’s the last thing you want to hear a man tell you in bed? She heard it! She also reflects on the Tiger Beat vs. 16 Magazine rivalry and she recalls the first time she saw the Osmonds open for Nancy Sinatra and the full-circle moment when she reconnected with Donny last year in Vegas!  It’s a joyful, fascinating conversation about a time when fame was more personal, access was real, and one young reporter armed with a camera and a tape recorder, could find herself at the center of it all. In current media, Weezy is ’recommending the documentary Paul McCartney: Man on the Run on Prime. Path Points of Interest: Ann Moses [https://annmoses.com/] Ann Moses on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/annmosestigerbeat/] Ann Moses on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/annmoses/] Ann Moses/Donny Osmond Reunion [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOvBY4iK7RE] Meow! My Groovy Life With Tiger Beat's Teen Idols [https://www.amazon.com/Meow-Groovy-Tiger-Beats-Idols/dp/0692898115/] Ann Moses on Youtube [https://annmoses.com/] Man On The Run [https://www.primevideo.com/detail/Paul-McCartney-Man-On-The-Run/0LW7BTTRHEXS0VVF1F3UT4TWAF]

Topping The 80s Charts & How The Clubs Made Radio History with Expose Founding Member Laurie Miller

The story of Exposé includes hit songs, groundbreaking sounds, and a behind-the-scenes journey that is as compelling as the music itself. We sit down with artist manager and producer Ray de la Garza, original Exposé member Laurie Miller, and former Arista Director of Dance Music Promotion David Jurman to discuss Point of No Return: X-posed, the new documentary on Tubi that revisits the rise of the iconic ‘80s vocal group. Formed and popularized in Miami, Exposé’s original lineup (Laurie, Sandée, and Alé) helped bring the freestyle sound to national attention alongside writer/producers Lewis Martineé and Frank Diaz.  We dive deep into the breakout single “Point of No Return.” We reveal the ingredients that blend to create its unique flavor and we explore the vibrant club scenes in Miami and New York that fueled the rise of freestyle, often described as Latin hip hop, during a moment when dance music was built by DJs and performed by real musicians. Laurie and Ray take us inside Exposé’s whirlwind launch: flying city to city for radio, press, and club appearances, as Laurie created and shaped the group’s style and choreography.  Our guests also open up about the shocking transition that revealed a completely new Exposé lineup at the brink of the group’s first album release. Laurie shares how it felt to watch three new girls ride the momentum they had built. David Jurman offers a fascinating look at the industry side of the music business, explaining the role of a “Billboard-reporting Club DJ” and how hits were made before the internet, guided by one-on-one simple but powerful questions: Can you hum it? Can you remember the name of it? Will you buy it? The conversation expands beyond nostalgia into a thoughtful comparison between then and now: from the decline of club culture and the changing role of live performances, to the challenges artists face today in an era where music lives forever on streaming platforms but attention is harder than ever to capture. In current media -- Weezy and Lisa discuss the Netflix documentary,  Louis Theroux: Inside The Manosphere Path Points of Interest: Point Of No Return -X-Posed [https://tubitv.com/movies/100052268/point-of-no-return-x-posed] Ray De La Garza [https://canvasrebel.com/meet-ray-de-la-garza/] Laurie Miller [https://www.lauriemiller.com] Exposé on Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expos%C3%A9_(group)] Lewis Marinée [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Martine%C3%A9] XICA Productions (shee-ka) [https://www.lauriemiller.com/xica-productions] Louis Theroux: Inside The Manosphere  [https://www.netflix.com/title/81920687]