Media Path Podcast

Making Teen Movie Classics & Tales Of The Second City with John Kapelos

We welcome actor John Kapelos, whose unforgettable turns in The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles enshrine him as a John Hughes Universe fixture. From Second City to Shermer High, John weighs in on comedy, character & The Hughes legacy. John takes us back to his youth in London, Ontario, Canada, and his first big leap into show business as a member of Second City Chicago, from where he toured for over three years and studied under the mentorship of John Candy: John Kapelos shares his thoughts on the recent Candy documentary and the warmth and sensitivity of the icon who showed him the way. He shares the magic of an electric comedy scene which included Eugene Levy, Martin Short, Dave Thomas and Catherine O'Hara, and how the Chicago and Toronto improv cultures differed. We also get his perspective on the sexism which permeated the comedy scene. We dive into John’s transition from stage to screen, his admiration for John Hughes’ ability to capture the voices of teenagers, and we get Breakfast Club behind-the-scenes intrigue. How did John manage to enrage Emilio Estevez? And how did he ultimately receive absolution from Martin Sheen on the set of The West Wing? It’s all here. And in a thrilling round of IMDB Roulette, we learn why Desperate Housewives was a piece of (cup)cake and how John sustained an injury on the set of Seinfeld, attempting to not crack up at Kramer! In current media-- Weezy: Netflix Limited Series,  Death By Lightning Fritz: Netflix Movie, A House Of Dynamite Path Points of Interest: John Kapelos on Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kapelos] John Kapelos on IMDB [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0438127/] John Kapelos on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thejohnkapelos/?hl=en] John Kapelos on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/john.kapelos] Too Hip for the Room [https://music.apple.com/us/album/too-hip-for-the-room/1439457760?i=1439457972] Death By Lightning [https://www.netflix.com/title/81438325] A House Of Dynamite [https://www.netflix.com/title/81744537]

Stories With Universal Themes & The Relatability Of A Gay Marine with Greg Cope White

We’re joined by two authors whose stories illustrate courage, creativity, and the unpredictable tides of adversity and accomplishment, while also uniting us through humanity’s common threads. Greg Cope White is the Marine whose true story inspired Boots on Netflix. His book is called The Pink Marine and Greg takes us behind the scenes on its screen adaptation with the cast going through actual bootcamp to emerge as actors who could realistically portray Marine recruits. In serving as a writer and Executive Producer on the show, Greg had the opportunity to flesh out stories beyond those of himself and his best friend, Dale. Greg’s character is called Cam and he joins The Marines before “Don’t Ask. Don’t Tell,” when it was completely illegal to be gay in The Marine Corps. We quickly learn that every recruit is hiding or trying to prove something. Dale became Ray in the series and he is running from an abusive father, attempting to build pride in himself.  We also meet characters who struggle with their weight or have had brushes with the law or have never fit in. Pressure makes diamonds and Marines. Bonds form and Greg reports that the actors in the show are as tight as any fighting unit. Michael Gregg Michaud introduces us to Christopher Jones: Wild in the Streets, his new book chronicling the meteoric rise, and mysterious disappearance, of one of Hollywood’s most compelling shooting stars. From 1960s heartthrob to sudden recluse, Chris’s story is one of talent, turmoil, mental illness and cultural transformation. We hear about Greg's solidarity buzzcut and we learn about the Christopher Jones - Sharon Tate connection, it's an episode brimming with mystery, tragedy and triumph! And in current media--  Weezy: Season 3 of The Diplomat on Netflix  Fritz: Mr. Scorcese - A documentary series on Apple TV+ Path Points of Interest: Boots on Netflix [https://www.netflix.com/title/81427990] Greg Cope White The Pink Marine by Greg Cope White on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0997285710] The Pink Marine on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@thepinkmarine] Greg Cope White on X [https://x.com/eatgregeat?lang=en] Greg Cope White on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/eatgregeat/?hl=en] Greg Cope White on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/GregCopeWhite] Christopher Jones: Wild in the Streets by Michael Gregg Michaud [https://www.amazon.com/Christopher-Jones-Wild-Streets-Biography/dp/B0FHD4M5YM/] Michael Gregg Michaud on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001K7Z9W6/about] Christopher Jones on Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Jones_(actor,_born_1941)] Michael Gregg Michaud on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/michael.michaud.90] Michael Gregg Michaud on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/michaelgreggmichaud/] The Diplomat on Netflix [https://www.netflix.com/title/81288983] Mr. Scorcese on Apple TV+ [https://tv.apple.com/us/show/mr-scorsese/umc.cmc.4a06j5lm5pxny9nx505zo5g0y]

Johnny Carson's Legacy & The Power Of His Tonight Show

We’re pulling back The Tonight Show curtain, not only to reveal Johnny Carson, but to explore the lore and the legend that were Johnny’s Tonight Show reign. Joining us are Love Johnny Carson author and The Carson Podcast host, Mark Malkoff, along with Carson Tonight Show guest and Leno Tonight Show writer, Jimmy Brogan. Mark’s new Carson book offers a decade-by-decade deep look at the King of Late Night. Through his multitude of podcast interviews with Carson insiders, Mark peels away the stony myth to reveal that the real Johnny was more like the brilliantly charming, funny man you saw on TV and less like the icy, ramrod figure,  of legend, stealing himself from social intimacy. In actual fact, in order to get from points A to B, Johnny had to hold his gaze on the horizon and keep moving or he would attract a crowd.  Mark and Jimmy share what made Johnny so important to them and to comedy itself. Jimmy recalls turning down his initial invitation to guest on the show because although his crowd work was extraordinary, you can’t do that with a studio audience and he knew he wasn’t ready. Fritz, a standup comedian who became an NBC weatherman worked upstairs from The Tonight Show. He was groomed by talent coordinator Jim McCawley to appear on Carson and then easily fill in when a guest fell out. Mark’s deep research reveals a Johnny few have seen: the private man behind the poise. We learn about his secret yearning to be a singer. (he took three weeks of lessons to duet with Julio Iglesias as Willie Nelson ), his need for strong boundaries with fans, and his quiet interest in humanism and social justice.  Mark also debunks myths about famous feuds with Wayne Newton and Joan Rivers, while Jimmy shares his own Joan Rivers talk show audition story and memories of the bumpy Carson into Leno transition. From Kermit the Frog guest-hosting The Tonight Show to Johnny’s competitive streak, sensitivity and complex charm, this episode dives into the brilliance, insecurity, and humanity of a television legend.  Plus, Mark tells us about his own outrageous social experiments, including overcoming his fear of flying by living on an airplane for 30 days, visiting every Starbucks in Manhattan in one day and collecting keys to cities from Mayors across America! In current media -- Weezy:  Netflix Documentary, The Perfect Neighbor Fritz: Apple TV+ documentary, Stiller and Meara: Nothing Is Lost Path Points of Interest Love Johnny Carson: One Obsessive Fan's Journey To Find The Genius Behind The Legend by Mark Malkoff [https://www.amazon.com/Love-Johnny-Carson-Obsessive-Journey/dp/0593472551/] Mark Malkoff [https://markmalkoff.com] Mark Malkoff on Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Malkoff] The Carson Podcast [https://carsonpodcast.com] Mark Malkoff on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/markmalkoff/] Jimmy Brogan [https://www.jimbroganonline.com] Jimmy Brogan on Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Brogan] Jimmy Brogan on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jimmybroganhaha/] Jimmy Brogan on Mark's Podcast [https://carsonpodcast.com/?s=Jimmy+Brogan] The Perfect Neighbor [https://www.netflix.com/title/82018736] Stiller and Meara: Nothing Is Lost [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37674658/]

Redefining Women In Comedy & Staying Up All Night Again with Rhonda Shear

We welcome Rhonda Shear, an intrepid entrepreneurial trailblazing woman in the fields of comedy, 90s late night TV, and online intimate apparel sales.  Rhonda has so much to tell us! Her iconic USA weekend movie show, Up All Night is coming to Youtube! Her cheeky, late-night, movie marathon antics pulled in big ad dollars and turned B-movies into must-see-TV.  But, before finding her voice, Rhonda’s early days in Hollywood were fun but bumpy as she fought to prove that a gorgeous and sexy woman could also be smart and funny. Rhonda’s bold approach was to tear down doors, almost literally. She and her improv partner crashed soundstages to break into their act on the sets of Steve Allen, Merv Griffin and The Smothers Brothers! Rhonda’s adventurous path ultimately brought her back to her junior high school sweetheart, Van Fagan who is now her husband and business partner. Together, they have forged an empire that includes lingerie, loungewear and the celebrated “Ahh Bra. “ And like any lingerie mogul who began her career in comedy, Rhonda is thrilled to be returning to her roots with an Up All Night reboot. It’s a collaboration with the Kings of Horror Youtube Channel, combining her production know-how and facilities with their massive 14,000-title B-movie library. The first installment drops on October 25th. Rhonda reflects on a life lived boldly, the lessons she’s learned, and why she proudly calls herself an “accidental feminist.”  Plus, IMDB Roulette takes us through Rhonda's bombshell guest spots and a we play a round of Do You Know More Than Google? People Also Ask What? About Rhonda Shear and does she have the answers? In current media recommendations -- Weezy: The series Boots on Netflix, based on The Pink Marine by Greg Cope White Fritz: The John Candy Documentary on Prime, I Like Me Path Points of Interest: Rhonda Shear [https://rhondashear.com/] Rhonda Shear - Wikipedia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhonda_Shear] Rhonda Shear - Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/rhondashear/] Rhonda Shear - Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/RhondaShearOfficial] Rhonda Shear - Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@RhondaShearTV] Kings of Horror - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@kingsofhorror] Up All Night: From Hollywood Bombshell To Lingerie Mogul, Life Lessons From An Accidental Feminist by Rhonda Shear [https://www.amazon.com/All-Night-Hollywood-Bombshell-Accidental-ebook/dp/B0777Y964H/] John Candy: I Like Me - Documentary on Prime [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrcQRsrBcCk] Boots - Netflix [https://www.netflix.com/title/81427990] The Pink Marine by Greg Cope White [https://www.amazon.com/Pink-Marine-Journey-Through-Manhood-ebook/dp/B01BK4H2QY/]

Yes, And... 50 Years Of Improv Comedy with The Off The Wall Improv Group!

The Off The Wall Improv Comedy Group has been entertaining audiences for 50 years! Blossoming, in 1975 out of a dance studio next to a West Hollywood hamburger stand, the group has worked with Robin Williams, John Ritter, George Wendt, Chevy Chase, Garry Shandling, and Jim Belushi, with Michael Feinstein at the piano!  Original members, Andy Goldberg, Wendy Cutler, and Paul Willson join us to share their unique history and regale us with backstage lore and intrigue. These three became go-to Hollywood players, appearing on Laverne and Shirley, Mork and Mindy, The Golden Girls, Cheers, Hill Street Blues, The Larry Sanders Show, Columbo and so many more!  Their improv gifts also suit them perfectly for looping sessions where they fill in the background voices in TV and movie scenes. Listen carefully and you will hear them in Meet The Parents, Monster’s Ball, The X Files, Justice League, and How To Train Your Dragon.  Paul, Wendy and Andy take us through the proud history of improv comedy which was born out of theater games taught to children, and has gone on to train and launch  countless stellar careers.   Plus, Andrew Jameson joins us to talk about his doc series, Faces Of The City which is now streaming on Roku. And in current media --  Weezy: The Runarounds on Prime Fritz: Task on HBO Path Points of Interest: The Runarounds Trailer [https://www.amazon.com/The-Runarounds-Season-1/dp/B0FB9PPKZM] Task - HBO [https://www.hbomax.com/shows/task/86bc816f-97a7-4cd6-8d53-08d5e6337063] Faces of the City [https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/85d1f305ebc4c8e3e0ab1960ce004d42/faces-of-the-city/season-1] Off The Wall [https://andygoldbergcomedy.com/off-the-wall-improv/] Off The Wall on Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@offthewallimprov] Improv Comedy by Andy Goldberg   [https://www.amazon.com/Improv-Comedy-Andy-Goldberg/dp/1479123315] Off The Wall on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/p/Off-The-Wall-Improv-Comedy-Group-100057311235419/] Fanatic Salon Theater [https://fanaticsalon.com/]