Bruce Vilanch Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 

We were Live with 6x Emmy Winner, Bruce Vilanch, even though he only stakes genuine claim to 2 of them, he’s got 6. Well, he was awarded 6, he gave one to his mother, one to his manager, one to his business manager, and he’s got 2 in his possession. They all still count, Bruce. And they’re all deserved. This human has brought so much joy, and so much laughter to audiences around the globe for decades. 

Bruce has written for 24 Oscar broadcasts, was head writer for 14 of them, and collaborated with hosts such as Whoopi Goldberg, David Letterman, and Billy Crystal, we talked about all of those: fun with Whoopi, outsider Dave, magic with Billy, and the infamous Rob Lowe/ Snow White monologue, difficult Ellen, no surprise there, wildness with Jack Palance, apologies from James Franco, great stories, all! 

We talked the Hollywood Squares, which brought Bruce front and center - put him on camera, made him a celebrity, helped him land Hairspray and his star turn as Edna Turnblat on Broadway… how the show worked, great tales about Little Richard, Garth Brooks having the funny, Whoopi, again, John Davidson hosting and the adlib that brought the house down, or was it? 

Starting as a child actor, always funny, writing the funny for the Chicago Tribune, meeting Bette Midler, a relationship that has spanned 55 years and has been a game and life changer. Writing for Joan Rivers, Lily Tomlin, Robin Williams, Roseanne, Nathan Lane, and pretty much everyone else in Hollywood. 

The pandemic kept Bruce busy - his book, It Seemed Like a Bad Idea at the Time, drops March 4th and is available for pre-order now https://www.amazon.com/Seemed-Like-Bad-Idea-Time/dp/0914091921 he wrote the book for the Dolly Parton musical, Here You Come Again, which has enjoyed successful runs across the states and is currently readying a run in London’s West End. Bruce is featured in Studio One Forever, about America’s first iconic gay disco, streaming now on Prime. 

Bruce is everywhere and has done everything. Indefatigable and talented beyond compare, Bruce can get inside the head of just about anyone - be them and make them funny. Funnier. What a gift. He’s a treasure. I adore him and I’m damn grateful he never stops working. Do us all a continued favor, Bruce, stay busy!

Bruce Vilanch Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 
Wednesday, 12/4/24, 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET
Streamed Live on my Facebook
Replay here:
https://bit.ly/3BdtJ4d

Bruce Vilanch Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Jimmy Vivino Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 

It had been six long, 4 1/2 COVID years since last I sat down with my old friend, multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer, and long-time musical director for Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Vivino. It was like coming home. Almost the same age, we have many shared (unbeknownst to us at the time) memories of concerts at The Filmore East, Watkins Glen, the glory daze of the NY club scene, and a bounty of mutual friends. Talk about being in one’s comfort zone. 

Jimmy talked growing up in New Jersey, his carpenter trumpet-playing father, his talented brothers, Jerry and Floyd, and how they began and evolved - he talked Conan, Laura Nyro, Phoebe Snow, Donald Fagen, John Sebastian, Al Kooper,  Levon Helm, The Allman Brothers, Albert King, Tom Petty, Prince, Bruno Mars, Michael McDonald, Johnny Johnson, Hubert Sumlin,  Stevie Wonder, Muddy Waters, Pinetop Perkins, John Sebastian, The Dead, The Band, Harry Shearer, Paul Shaffer, whom he credits as his mentor, Leader of the Pack,  Broadway, Ronnie Spector, Felix Cavaliere, The Rascals, Frankie Valli, Slash, Sly Stone, The J. Geils Band, Elvis Costello, and the James Brown and Friends Set Fire To The Soul with Aretha, Robert Palmer, and Joe Cocker, that he orchestrated. Incredible stories all around, and this special is available on YouTube… wow - Snuff and I just watched it. Spectacular.

We talked about COVID and Jimmy joining Canned Heat, currently touring with them, and Bill Murray, as well as still doing shows with Will Lee and The Fab Faux. His first all-original album, Gonna Be 2 of Those Days, is due to drop in February, signed copies are available for pre-sale at jimmyvmusic.com He treated us to a track to close the show.

Life is busy, busy. busy… just the way Jimmy likes it. And so do we who follow and adore him. I so enjoyed every second of this. Jimmy needs to write a book and get all these stories down. He knows and has played with everyone. Such fun! 

Jimmy Vivino Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 
Wednesday, 12/11/24, 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET
Streamed Live on my Facebook
Replay here:
https://bit.ly/49vuRwT

Jimmy Vivino Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Jim Beaver Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Laurence Juber Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 

How life-affirming to be back Live with 2x Grammy Winner Laurence Juber. Laurence got us started with his Cobalt Blue. Loved it! What an extraordinary finger-playing guitarist. Gorgeous. 

We talked the LA fires, the Juber evacuation plan, fortunately not taken to fruition. Animals before guitars, his one-of-a-kind custom shop signature Martin, and a Les Paul were the two that made the cut. Laurence is doing what he can to help, performing at a series of gigs that will donate their proceeds, including Tuesday’s big fundraiser at The Canyon Club. 

Laurence talked with great pride about his two daughters, both achieving big things in the biz. He also spoke with great love and reverence of his wife, Hope, to whom he’s been married and a true partner in life and oft in art, for 42 years. It’s clear that it’s family first and creating for the Jubers. There’s no sitting around eating bonbons and watching the tube for this high-functioning family. 

We talked about Laurence’s early days and influences, clarinet his first instrument, finding guitar, and learning to read music in a day. He claims. everyone was doing it. His dream was to be a session player, and he quickly realized it in Abby Road Studios with the likes of George Martin. He gigged around with innumerable bands, quite happy to be doing so, until Denny Laine made that fateful connection. Auditioning with drummer Steve Holley, their lives both changed that day when Paul McCartney asked what they’d be doing for the next few years. A childhood fantasy realized, until a pot bust in Japan. 

Laurence spoke of his solo work, lots more session work,  segueing to TV, which led him to some work with a guy named Snuffy, and ultimately to scoring and composing… writing two musicals with Hope, one, the ever popular, Gilligan’s Island: The Musical.

There was a Grammy with Sir Paul for Rockestra, the first instrumental Grammy, and his solo arrangement of The Pink Panther Theme earned him a second Grammy.

Laurence has played on innumerable hits, some he’s found out about years later reading about them. He’s an amazing man with incredible talents. This was a much-needed soul-filling reminder of all that’s good and right with the world during troubled and turbulent times. He took us out with guitar perfection. 

Click here for all that’s Laurence Juber laurencejuber.com including info on where to purchase his own coffee blend, and download his latest, A Day in My Life. Or grab the vinyl! 

Laurence Juber Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 
Wednesday, 1/22/25, 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET
Streamed Live on my Facebook
Replay here:
https://bit.ly/42oDeZq

Laurence Juber Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

John Conte Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 

What crazy fun to sit down with my old dear friend, bassist John Conte, whom I hadn’t seen in decades. How is it possible that he appears to have aged barely a day? Seriously! 

John took us back to childhood days, his jazz-singing mother, Rosemary, his early days on guitar, and his brother Steve at first on drums. Their first band when John was 8 or 9, their early songwriting, including John’s first song, Maryanne, Sittin on a Log, which he gave us a little taste of.  He was a boy with a dream of playing arenas with rock stars.  He told us how they flipped instruments, with John choosing bass. His college days, jazz-infused, where he gigged around with stellar players like Terence Blanchard. 

We tripped down memory lane, where we met, in the md-80s at The Rock ’n Roll Cafe on Bleecker Street, 1/2 of The Brothers of Conte, as I affectionately came to call them, with his brother Steve, they were weekly regulars whenever their schedules allowed. John was in Blood, Sweat & Tears, his first major gig, at the time, and told us all about that. Great stories there, including playing Madison Square Garden. Not bad for a 23-year-old. During their tenure at the Rock ’N Roll, late one rainy night they brought in their friend, Phoebe Snow, a life changer for me who had been a diehard fan since high school. The Phoeb’s and I became fast friends, and I have the boys to thank for that as well as for years of amazing live music there, and at Spo-dee-o-dee’s, Woody’s, RockGirl, The Marquee, The Cafe Wha, True Blue and The China Club, where they were also a part of my RockGirl Jam Band. A stellar bassist, with an easy temperament and oh so easy on the eyes, it was always a joy when John was around. I made him tell his requisite Chuck Berry story. 

At that same time, the Conte brothers, as part of The Hudson River Rats, were laying the foundation for much of the session and road work that was to follow. Like Finding himself in the studio with Tony Visconti and David Bowie. John’s description of hearing Bowie vocalize in his ear gave me goosebumps. He talked about laying down tracks with Peter Wolf and Ian Hunter, getting to jam with loads of his heroes. 

The Conte Brothers connected with Kyf Brewer and Company of Wolves were borne. They did some showcases, got signed, did a tour with Richard Marx, and foreshadowed John’s future, one with Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes.

John talked us through touring with Joan Osbourne (beautiful words here), Roseanne Cash, and Southside Johnny choosing him in 2007, a gig that would take him through to present day. There was a short tour with Billy Joel during his 2012 comeback with our friend, Tommy Byrnes, lovely to hear John’s take on it, and great stories about his tenure playing with The Disciples of Soul, the house band for the American Music Honors where he got to play with honorees, Jackson Browne, Mavis Staples, John Mellencamp and Dion, as well as host, Bruce Springsteen and Steven Van Zandt. John’s shared the stage with Bruce numerous times before, memorably for an impromptu 45-minute set with Southside.  John’s recounting of that and of playing with Peter Frampton (and Sheryl Crow) at the Sandy Hook Promise Benefit is another moving, goosebump-inducing tale. 

I loved every single second with my old friend. It’s thrilling to see how his life has played and continues to play out. The young boy living his dream. Southside Johnyy’s future may be unsure, but John’s certainly isn’t. He’s always got multiple projects cooking, his own music in the works - check him out here johnconte.bandcamp.com and here Facebook.com/johncontebass  I just adore the boy. He’ll always be a rockboy to me and damn, he sure still looks like one.

John Conte Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 
****Wednesday, 1/29/25, 1 PM PT, 4 PM ET****
Streamed Live on my Facebook
Replay here:
https://bit.ly/4hbKHj6

John Conte Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Mark Metcalf on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

As if sitting down twice with Animal House’s Mark Metcalf was not enough (it wasn’t), thrice was the charm. And, I suspect, just the beginning of many more conversations to come… and that’s exactly what this was… a conversation. 

Sparked by Mark’s just-dropped memoir, Tim Tim Timmy, which is at once gut-wrenching, heart-stopping, terrifying, life-affirming, informative, entertaining, and inspiring, we talked about suicide, family dysfunction, addiction, mental illness, the differences… Asperger’s, ADD, depression, neurodiverse, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar, being on the spectrum, and how one size doesn’t fit all. How a proper early diagnosis can change the course of a life, prematurely ending Tim’s and giving space for Mark’s son Julius to thrive way beyond expectations.  

We talked about Mark’s life choices, and how they impacted his brother, his marriage, his son, and his career. How a misstep may have led to a seasoning, a reasoning, his ultimate redemption. 

The beach in Gaza was not lost on us, the scary insanity crept in more than once. We touched on the current state of the business too, self-tapes, and the horror of it all. With a quick streaming recommendation. 

In the end, it came down to love, responsibility, willingness, and action. That works at home, with our work, and with our nation. 

I’m hopeful. I’m inspired. I’m better informed. And I adore, even more, Mr. Metcalf. 

Treat yourself to Tim Tim Timmy. In this dumbed-down mess of times, it’s a smart, sophisticated, thought-provoking, yet accessible and non-putdownable enticing read. https://www.amazon.com/Tim-Timmy-Mark-Metcalf/dp/B0DQ6M7XTV?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER 

Mark Metcalf Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson
Wednesday, 2/5/25, 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET
Streamed Live on my Facebook
Replay here:
https://bit.ly/4aV1vJ2

Mark Metcalf On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

John Fugelsang Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 

Stop everything! John Fugelsang, a Drama League-nominated actor, comedian &  host of Tell Me Everything on SiriusXM, is one thought-provoking, gracious, informed, intelligent, sexy liberal! And boy did fill the hour with passion and hope. 

With informed insight, John offered us tools when dealing with the maga faux Christian right, which will be expounded upon in his upcoming book, Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person's Guide to Taking Back The Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds, which will be published this August by Simon & Schuster. 

We talked this election, John and my belief, or disbelief, I should say. We talked 47, Musk, RFK Jr, Bush, Clinton, Sanders, Obama, Kamala, Vance… there’s meat on these here bones. 

The son of a nun and a Franciscan brother, quite the story in itself (and John tells it so well), his break from traditional religion at a very early age and his reason for it, which I found particularly compelling, how he got started in the business of show, first making money at it at the ripe young age of eleven. How stage took him to stand-up, and then interviewing. Hearing about what he describes as hs novice 4 hours with George Harrison, where George played on air for the last time, four songs he’d never played on air, and then jetting off to London the next day to interview Paul. Oh my lord! 

We rounded out the hour discussing our mutual passion for Bob Dylan, John’s 60+ concert experiences greatly different than my one. Our mutual love and admiration for A Complete Unknown, John’s certainty that Timothée will garner an Oscar, and perhaps Edward Norton as well. Me, not so much, even after voting for both of them for SAG Awards today. 

John is a funny, provocative, thrilling conversationalist. I had a spectacular time in his good company. I highly recommend giving this a watch as an antidote to the current crazy. 

John Fugelsang Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 
Wednesday, 2/19/25, 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET
Streamed Live on my Facebook
Replay here:
https://bit.ly/4350OLc

John Fugelsang Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Rosemary Butler Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Part 1

Astrologer Zoe Moon warned it was gonna be a crazy day. I read that first thing this morning but forgot about it until 4:45 pm when things started going sideways. What could have been a non-show disappointment, turned into a delayed, technical bit of a mess, but ultimately delightful chat with the incomparable Rosemary Butler. Just the appetizer for what is sure to be a delightful feast when next we meet, Wednesday, March 26th, promptly Live @5! 

Instead of what I thought would be a quick hello, sorry, see you next time, Rosemary delighted with some choice stories about where she came from, her two all-girl bands, The Ladybirds and Birtha, opening for The Stones, great stuff there from the Beatles fan who eventually did get to sing with her hero, Paul, who inspired her to be a lefthanded singing bassist, through sheer Moxie, thanks to Kenny Loggins and Peter Asher, a funny Three Dog Night/Chuck Negron tale, a wonderful Ray Charles invitation, Bonnie Raitt, who she credits with changing her life, but we barely scratched the surface there as we did with Jackson Browne. 

Rosemary has sung, toured, and recorded with everyone who's anyone... Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor,  Carole King, Neil Diamond, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston, to name a few more - those stories and lots more when Rosemary comes back, under more ideal conditions, feather in hand, with her adorable exuberance to amuse and delight us! 

In addition to being an iconic backup singer whose memorable riffs have scored my life, Rosemary is a renowned vocal coach and gigs regularly. For all things Rose rosemarybutler.com

She's beautiful, adorable, has lived a life dreams are made of, with a voice that'll deservedly live forever. Can't wait for more. 

Rosemary Butler Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson  Part 1 
Wednesday, 2/26/25, 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET
Streamed Live on my Facebook
 Replay here:
https://bit.ly/3XmsoQp

Rosemary Butler Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Benny Harrison Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 

What fun to sit down and catch up with keyboardist, singer, songwriter, producer, Benny Harrison, who I’ve known for 5 decades. There was so much I didn’t know. Benny gave us the back story––growing up mixed race from hard-working parents who may or may not have been on the wrong side of the law, but who taught him strong work ethics and appreciated immediately and encouraged his musical gifts.

When his brother sold his piano, Benny turned lemons into lemonade, practicing at a local school which garnered him his first professional gig with Henry Gross, which led him to sing onstage with Michael McDonald. When I met up with him, he was sitting in with Mason Reese, and then Phoebe Snow sat in with Benny and The Spydrs. A kickass player and entertainer, Benny was in regular rotation at all the clubs I booked back in the day. 

Benny tells a great story about a night at Spo-Dee-O-Dee’s and a couple of huge surprise special guests. 

Benny has played with Vernon Reid; Corey Glover; Joe Walsh; Elvis Costello; Simon Kirke; and Charlie Drayton, among many others and for four years his Spydrs were the house band at The China Club’s famed Monday nights where Bruce Willis, Rick James, Steve Stevens, Linda Perry, Eddie Vedder, Billy Idol, and whoever was in town, would sit in with the band. We talked with mutual zeal of our love for the place, those nights, that time. 

Benny has been active with Veterans who are either suffering from PTSD, alcohol, drug abuse, or homelessness, in a program called Voices of Valor. It's a 9-week process to write a song with the Vets who have served our country. He produces and creates the musical/harmonic part of the process, and then takes the Vets into a recording studio, where they can experience the process. He shared a most moving sweet story of a silent woman’s transformation. 

Working on an upcoming Documentary, Back Up Front, it tells the story of players including him who started out in front, worked the backline and are once again stepping out front.

Benny’s upcoming album, Pages, drops April 14th. He had planned to perform a couple of the tunes with his producer, Mike Ciro, but that didn’t pan out. He treated us to a few little tastes with an unmiked guitar. A few tech challenges, but as with all things Benny went with it, eventually singing a capella. He’s a pro!  To get the album, be at The Bitter End for the album release, and for all things Benny go to BennyHarrison.com. I got an advance listen- it’s fab! 

I adore my dear friend. It was such a treat to get lost in time and tales with this talented, resilient, fun, and passionate, pal. 

Benny Harrison Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 
Wednesday, 3/5/25, 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET
Streamed Live on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtfBeq7CsGg&t=3s

Benny Harrison Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Jim Vallely Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 

Sitting down with Emmy and WGA award winner, Jim Vallely was a cozy, comfortable, fun, and funny hang. He even told us a joke joke, on request. It’s one he’s been “testing” as part of a sociological experiment of sorts. Win/win, we got a laugh with a lesson.

Who knew that having a seizure in 6th grade would lead to a career as a TV comedy writer. Jim takes us through and it makes perfect sense. This accountant studying student just happened to sit next to the right guy at an NYU audition, ask his mother the right question on the right day, marry the right girl, move into the right apartment, partner with the right actor/comedian, Jonathan Schmock, become 1/2 of The Funny Boys comedy team, appear on Johnny Carson, co-star on the sitcom, Double Trouble, and then write on The Golden Girls, one of the most successful sitcoms of all time. Brotherly Love, Ladies Man, Action, Two and a Half Men, My Wife and Kids, The John Larriquette Show, Till Death,  Extended Family, as well as Arrested Development, for which he garnered 4 Emmy nominations, and the aforementioned awards, followed.  Jim was an executive producer and co-creator with Will Arnett and Michael Hurwitz of Running Wilde on Fox. There’s more.

Jim tells a great Carl Reiner/Alan Brady story, tells us how the real Kramer, Larry David, Bill Maher, Callie Khouri, Chris Thompson, Don Reo, Mitchell Hurwitz, Will Arnett, and Jay Mohr factor into his story, gives us the before, during, and after of his career milestones, and speaks with great pride and tenderness about the great loves and joys of his life, his talented wife, Maggie, and his successful daughter, Tannis.

We talked about our friends, Taylor Negron and Ron Zimmerman. There is no friend like Jim. His love, devotion, and care for Ron, was a gift he gave all of us who loved him. Jim’s a tender-hearted, special man. And boy, is he funny. A very funny boy, indeed! 

Jim Vallely Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 
Wednesday, 3/12/25, 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET
Streamed Live on my Facebook & YouTube 
Replay here:
https://bit.ly/4iCKgPq 
YouTube
https://www.facebook.com/vickiabelson/videos/937526015211102

Jim Vallely Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

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Rosemary Butler Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Game Changers with Vicki Abelson