Friday, February 27, 2015

Catherine Price Vitamania

It's winter. We take vitamins. Really? Which ones? Are you sure its the right fix? Vitamin C isn't what you think it is. From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with Catherine Price In VITAMANIA, Price takes us on an expedition through history and across continents to reveal the surprising story of how we came to believe that food could be medicine, nature could come in pills, and that anything natural must be safe—and how this way of thinking opened the door for a multi-billion dollar industry and a rotating cast of confusing dietary trends. In so doing, she both demolishes many of society’s most cherished myths about nutrition and challenges us to reevaluate our own beliefs. About the Author CATHERINE PRICE is an award-winning journalist whose written and multimedia work has appeared in publications including The Best American Science Writing, the New York Times, Popular Science, O: The Oprah Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Washington Post Magazine, Salon, Slate, Men’s Journal, Mother Jones, PARADE, Health Magazine, and Outside.

Terry Crews

He has no problem calling himself one of the most famous failures on the planet. What? How does he stay so incredibly funny and positive? From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with actor Terry Crews Terry Crews is perhaps best known for playing Julius on the UPN/CW sitcom Everybody Hates Chris and for his appearances in Old Spice commercials, as well as films such as Friday After Next, White Chicks, Bridesmaids, Idiocracy, Gamer, and The Expendables. Crews starred as Nick Kingston-Persons in the TBS sitcom Are We There Yet? and as himself in the BET reality series The Family Crews. He currently plays NYPD Sergeant Terry Jeffords on the Fox sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine, hosts the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and is the host of FOX's World's Funniest Fails Crews was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the 11th round of the 1991 NFL Draft. His career included stints with the Rams, the San Diego Chargers, the Washington Redskins, and the Philadelphia Eagles. After retiring from the NFL in 1997, Crews pursued an acting career and got a role as T-Money on Battle Dome. He later had roles in films such as White Chicks, Friday After Next, Training Day, Soul Plane, The Longest Yard and The Benchwarmers. He has made many cameo appearances; he was in Blink-182's music video for "Down" as a police officer and in Jamie Kennedy's "Rollin' with Saget" as a security guard. Crews appears in "Click" as the singing driver Adam Sandler's character Michael Newman encountered while stuck in traffic. He has been featured in several Old Spice TV commercials for their "Odor Blocker Body Wash", their body sprays, deodorant and most recently, their shaving lotion. The ads are directed by Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim. He has also done commercials for Nike. He starred in his own reality series on BET, The Family Crews, about his everyday life with his family. The show premiered on February 21, 2010. Since 2013, he has starred on the two-time Golden Globe award winning television show Brooklyn Nine-Nine. He has been nominated for a 2015 Screen Actors Guild award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, and a 2015 Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his work on the show. MORE INFO ON WORLD'S FUNNIEST FAILS, AIRING FRIDAYS AT 8PM/7PM CT ON FOX Terry Crews (star of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” on FOX) is the host of "World's Funniest Fails" which airs Fridays at 8pm ET/PT on FOX (produced by dick clark productions). The show has been pulling in great ratings for the time slot since its premiere on Jan. 16 with over 3 million viewers each week. Series Description: Comedian guest panelists choose their favorite “FAIL Video” from a series of categories. The panelists then will have to convince host Terry Crews to send their nominations to the “FAIL Leaderboard.” By the end of the show, there will be six nominations and it will be up to the panelists to convince Crews to choose their videos as “FAIL of the Week.” Guest comedian panelists: Among the show’s guest panelists are Russell Peters, Erik Griffin (“Workaholics”), Iliza Shlesinger (“Last Comic Standing”), Tone Bell (“Bad Judge”), Jamie Lee (“The Pete Holmes Show”), Kurt Braunohler (“Bunk”), Cameron Esposito (“Maron”), Jo Koy (“Chelsea Lately”), Loni Love (“The Real”), Chris Franjola (“Anarchy Afterword”), Arden Myrin (“Chelsea Lately”), Brian Posehn (“The Sarah Silverman Program”) and Greg Proops (“Whose Line Is It Anyway?”), Annie Lederman (“Chelsea Lately“), Gary Valentine (“The King of Queens“), Baron Vaughn (“Fairly Legal“), Julian McCullough (“Chelsea Lately“), Mamrie Hart (“Camp Takota“), Mary Lynn Rajskub (“24: Live Another Day“) and Brooks Whelan (“Saturday Night Live“). Messaging: Family friendly show – great opportunity to watch with your kids. There is something for everyone! These fails have taken the internet by storm. OFFICIAL SHOW WEBSITE: fox.com/worlds-funniest-fails OFFICIAL SHOW TWITTER: @funniestfailstv OFFICIAL SHOW INSTAGRAM: @funniestfailsfox OFFICIAL SHOW FACEBOOK: facebook.com/WorldsFunniestFailsFOX

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Mary Wilson of The Supremes

It wasn't just a movement of sound. It became a way of life that grew outside the four walls of Barry Gordy's office. I can't imagine my 36 year radio career not featuring Smokey, Marvin, Michael and The Supremes. From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with Mary Wilson. Where were you when Michael Jackson unveiled his iconic moonwalk for the very first time as part of the legendary TV special Motown 25: Yesterday • Today • Forever? You likely remember those "six seconds that changed the world", as the historic concert televised by NBC on May 16, 1983, became an immediate sensation and water-cooler event in an era before social media. Now, music lovers and pop culture aficionados alike will have the opportunity to see magic and history being made as the Emmy® Award-winning program will air exclusively as a fundraising event on public television stations this February and March, marking the first TV broadcast of the concert since its debut more than 30 years ago. It will make its national public broadcasting premiere on February 28 at 8pm ET & PT/7pm CT (check local listings). Motown 25, under license from Mr. Berry Gordy’s West Grand Media and jointly distributed by StarVista Entertainment and TJL, TJ Lubinsky’s celebrated public television distribution company, will be broadcast exclusively for public televisions’ celebrations of Black History Month on February 28th, with repeat broadcasts throughout March. Produced by Motown Productions with Suzanne de Passe, Don Mischer and Buz Kohan, Motown 25 was taped before a live audience at California’s Pasadena Civic Auditorium and showcased virtually every Motown artist from the company’s inception, including Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, The Supremes, The Jackson 5, The Miracles, The Temptations, Four Tops and many others. The show also featured many guests outside the Motown Records sphere who had been influenced by Motown artists, including Linda Ronstadt, who performed a memorable duet with Smokey Robinson, Billy Dee Williams, Jose Feliciano and British new wave star Adam Ant, who was riding a wave of popularity from MTV exposure. As an added highlight, the historic evening was hosted by Richard Pryor, who was arguably the hottest comedian in the world at the time. A seminal event in pop culture history, this concert event, which would capture the Emmy® for Best Variety Program and a George Foster Peabody Award, would establish the gold standard for all future televised concert events and go on to provide the backstory for the Tony®-nominated Broadway play, Motown The Musical. “With the popularity of ‘Motown: The Musical’, which continues to open in major markets across the U.S., and the program’s recent success on DVD, there’s never been a better time to re-air the original broadcast”, says Suzanne de Passe, the Executive Producer of the TV show. “Whether you’re discovering that incredible night of music for the very first time, or are huge fan of Motown whose been eagerly awaiting the show’s return to TV, ‘Motown 25’ offers a lifetime of magic and memories for everyone”. Recalling his own memorable experience from seeing the original 1983 broadcast, TJ Lubinsky remembers “It was the only time in my life where everybody was talking about the same thing for the next couple days,” he said. “Teachers, kids in school, disc jockeys on the radio were all buzzing. It was just one of those shows…I knew that in some way I had to be a part of all this. At TJL, we’re so proud to be the content providers bringing this historic event back to prime time television in celebration of Black History Month on February 28th nationally with repeat broadcasts throughout March.” ABOUT MARY WILSON Ms. Mary Wilson still performs with the same passion as she did singing with the original Supremes, but the world renowned celebrity is now using her fame and flair to promote humanitarian efforts to end hunger, raise AIDS awareness and encourage world peace. While Ms. Wilson is best known as a founding member of the world’s most famous female trio – they recorded 12 No.1 hits from 1964 to 1969 – the legendary singer’s career did not stop there, and she continues to soar to untold heights. Ms. Wilson is a best-selling author, motivational speaker, businesswoman, former U.S. Cultural Ambassador, the recipient of an Associate Degree from New York University in 2001, and an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Paine College in Augusta, Georgia. In 2007, Ms. Wilson was named international spokeswoman for the Humpty Dumpty Institute, a platform she uses to condemn the death and destruction caused by hidden landmines and unexploded ordnances in less developed countries.

David Soucie Malaysia Flight 370

David B Soucie is CNN aviation and safety analyst. He's worked in the cockpit, on the hanger floor, crash sites, within the aviation boardroom, and inside the Washington D.C. beltway. He's seen death up close and personal. Author of Why Planes Crash: An Accident Investigator's Fight for Safe Skies. He is a former FAA and FAA Accident Inspector. • What can be done to assure commercial airplanes don't literally disappear? • How many people must vanish or die before meaningful changes are mandated by regulatory authorities? • Who is responsible for making safety improvements mandatory? • Why hasn't something been done to assist search and rescue teams respond quickly to downed aircraft? • All of these accidents with Asian airlines - it safe to fly in Asia? • Is there something seriously wrong with the safety regulatory system when it can't implement the simplest remedy to this deadly risk even when it rests on the graves of hundreds and hundreds of innocent lives? ABOUT DAVID SOUCIE David B Soucie is CNN aviation and safety analyst. He's worked in the cockpit, on the hanger floor, crash sites, within the aviation boardroom, and inside the Washington D.C. beltway. He's seen death up close and personal. Author of Why Planes Crash: An Accident Investigator's Fight for Safe Skies. He is a former FAA and FAA Accident Inspector.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Randy Jackson The Music of Led Zeppelin

Nearly every boy grows up wanting to be a Rock Star. But how many get to play the role of Robert Plant? From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with the man who'll perform with the Charlotte Symphony Randy Jackson. The full interview This concert is one night only, Saturday, March 21 at Ovens Auditorium. Tickets are $25-$79. Brent Havens will conduct: http://www.windbornemusic.com/bios_brenthavens.php The Music of Led Zeppelin was Windborne's very first Classic Rock Symphony venture in late 1995. The concept was originated with this show and Mr. Havens began transcribing and scoring the show in August of that year. Hiring top notch studio musicians and searching for a singer that could handle the difficult range of singer Robert Plant was no easy task. Finding Randy Jackson to handle the part was fortuitous and he was a perfect fit for the show. After a couple of shows in Virginia, The Music of Led Zeppelin was brought to Atlanta's Chastain Amphitheater in 1996 and met with great success. From there the show began its North American tour across the country and into Canada. The music features a massive array of songs from the Zeppelin catalog, many of which already had orchestration. It was a perfect fit for orchestras. Whether the orchestra is playing the lush harmonies afforded the songs or playing the lick-based lines that were created by Plant, Page and John Paul Jones, the driving tunes allow the musicians to dig into their instruments and rock with the band or play counterpoint melodies to the guitar solos or singer. The concept was to keep the band as close to the original recordings as possible and to wrap the orchestra around the band as one big entity. Rather than the orchestra being a separate part of the music it becomes another instrument within the band. The show even features an Electric Violinist. Some of the songs that you may hear on the show are Kashmir, Black Dog, Good Times, Bad Times, All of My Love and of course Stairway to Heaven. And just so you know, it's a rock show with rock lighting... and even a mirrorball. Come to the concert ready to be amazed! More: http://www.windbornemusic.com/show_lz.php

Jonathan Magnum

He's brilliant wild. Insanely quacky. Exceptionally on the move to do whatever it takes to get someone to laugh. From the IHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with Jonathan Magnum from Lets Make A Deal With his gift for improv comedy, Jonathan Mangum has made a name for himself as one of television’s quickest, and smartest, wits. Mangum is seen daily on the hit CBS game show Let’s Make A Deal alongside his longtime friend and collaborator, Wayne Brady. Prime time audiences will recognize him from recurring on the hit CW improv comedy series Whose Line Is It Anyway? Mangum’s career in improv began while in college in Orlando, Florida. Soon after, he moved to Los Angeles, and landed work on one hit series after another including NCIS, Reno 911, Just Shoot Me, Married With Children, Pushing Daisies, The Sarah Silverman Show, The Drew Carey Show, Drew Carey’s Greenscreen Show, and The Wayne Brady Show. After two seasons working on The Drew Carey Show as fan favorite character Scott, he was invited to join the Drew Carey Improv All-Stars. The group went on to tour in over 60 venues, including Carnegie Hall. He has also been touring internationally with Wayne Brady performing improve since 2000. Mangum’s feature film credits include The Bucket List, House at the End of the Drive, Imagine That, and The Revenant. In addition to acting and improv comedy, Mangum has written for an array of television including The Wayne Brady Show, The Brandon T. Jackson Show, and BET Honors. He cowrote and stared in Home Purchasing Club as well as the short film Conversations. He wrote an animated pilot called The Lumberjacksons, and continues to develop ideas for television and film. Born in Charleston, S.C., Magnum grew up in Mobile, Alabama. He lives in Los Angeles and is married to Leah Mangum, a writer, actor and casting director. They have two children. CONFIRMED JONATHAN MANGUM COMEDY GIGS (with Wayne Brady) Feb 15th Grand Prairie , Tx - Verizon Theatre Feb 20th & 21st Tempe, Az - Tempe Improv (2 shows/night) Feb 24th Las Vegas ( Aria Resort ) Award show (maybe solo ) Feb 27th Las Vegas - Terry Fator Theatre at Mirage Hotel & Casino Feb 28th Edmunton, Canada - River Cree Casino Mar 13th Coconut Creek (near Fort Lauderdale), Florida - Seminole Casino Mar 14th The Event Center at Hollywood Casino - Charles Town, WV Apr 17th Vegas Terry Fator Theatre at Mirage Hotel and Casino Apr 22nd Newport , VA - Ferguson Center for the Arts Apr 23rd Hopeville , VA Apr 24th Brunswick, NJ. State Theatre Apr 25th Cranston, RI. May 1st Morristown, NJ May 2nd Music Box at the Borgata - Atlantic City, NJ Sept 4th Tulalip , WA - Tulalip Casino twitter: @Mangum1 www.jonathanmangum.com http://www.facebook.com/themangum

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Mark Harris Five Came Back

Hollywood was in a political mess. It took Pearl Harbor to pull them out of it. Actors saved the industry and their story shaped the way we look at war. From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with Mark Harris No industry professionals played a bigger role than five of America’s most celebrated directors: • John Ford joined the Navy, filmed the battle of Midway and was also present at Normandy right around D-Day. His documentary “The Battle of Midway” is the war’s first great chronicle of a battle. • William Wyler—the only Jewish man of the five—joined the Army Air Force, a decision that resulted in one of the great documentaries about a squadron of fighting men, “The Memphis Belle,” and also in his hearing loss. He used all of his war experiences to make a definitive masterpiece about the war’s aftermath, “The Best Years of Our Lives.” • John Huston made two important documentaries during the war, “Report from the Aleutians” and the largely faked “Battle of San Pietro,” and one right after the war, “Let There Be Light,” about mentally ill veterans in an army hospital. • George Stevens was present in the North African campaign, the liberation of Paris, and the Battle of the Bulge. He led the first American cameras into Dachau, and what he filmed there became crucial evidence at Nuremberg. More than any of the five, he was emotionally shattered by the war, although he went on to extraordinary accomplishment. • Frank Capra stayed largely in Washington, D.C., where he ran the Army’s filmed propaganda efforts, and oversaw dozens of newsreels, cartoons, intelligence reports and documentaries for both public and military use, most famously the seven “Why We Fight” films, which became mandatory viewing for all GIs.

Ozzy Comic Book On The Way

Comic books aren't just for super heroes. From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with the master behind the plan. The maker of the new Ozzy Osbourne and Ian Flemming Comic books. It's Darren Davis Portland, Oregon - Bond. James Bond. The fictional character is synonymous with action, intrigue, beautiful women, and maniacal despots bent on world destruction. The life of 007's creator, Ian Fleming, proved to be a template for his greatest creation. This week, Bluewater explores the man behind the myth, or should we say the man who is a myth? The 28-page comic biography, “Orbit: Ian Fleming: The Man Behind James Bond,” was written by Matthew J. Elliot and features art by Ross Bampfylde. The comic book explores the life of the man responsible for one of the most enduring literary and cinematic adventure characters. Fleming, a British author and journalist, also served as a British Naval Intelligence author. This experience fueled stories rife with intrigue, danger, and secrets. Fleming’s eleven Bond novels rank among the best-selling fiction novels of all time, and his children’s story, “Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang” has been adapted into feature films and for the Broadway stage. Biographies featuring literary figures are not new for Bluewater Productions, which offers a diverse library of stories culled from classic myths, science fiction, superheroes, and Hollywood legends. Past biographies have featured the life stories of Neil Gaiman, Stephen King, Anne Rice, L. Frank Baum, and Lewis Carroll. A biography of Margaret Mitchell, author of “Gone with the Wind” is also planned. “It’s all part of our business model,” states President and Publisher Darren G. Davis. “I have guest taught in schools and found comic books to be an excellent way to reach children and young adults.” “One of the most important factors that drive the team behind Bluewater is the mission to get kids reading,” said Davis. The Portland, Oregon-based publisher has had the privilege to work closely with schools and libraries on this initiative. “Growing up, I was a reluctant reader. We hope to reach kids in similar situations that may be more apt to read when a comic book is placed in front of them.” “Orbit: Ian Fleming: The Man Behind James Bond” can be downloaded to your e-reader from iTunes, Kindle, Wowio, ComiXology, DriveThru Comics, Google Play, Madefire, My Digital Comics, Overdrive, Iverse, Biblioboard, Flipkart, Axis360, Epic!, Blio, Entitle, Comicblender.com, Indie Comic Tracker, Wheeler, Scoop, Nook, Kobo and wherever eBooks are sold. Print copies are available at Comic Flea Market by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ZlD5Bs “Orbit: Ian Fleming: The Man Behind James Bond” will be released on February 11, 2015. Further Information: Interviews and PDF Review copies are available upon request. Please feel free to use the cover image & pages for your publication. To download a 5-page preview plus covers please click here: http://WWW.BLUEWATERPROD.COM/comics/IanFlemmning.zip

Phil Collen From Def Leppard

When there's this much rock blasting from a one arena. There's gonna be party from the ticket booth to the tailgating celebration to every song sent through those stacks of amps and speakers. Fro the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with Phil Collen of Def Leppard Def Leppard hits the road this summer with two of the biggest bands in Metal and Rock Styx and Tesla. Tickets on sale now for DEF LEPPARD’S massive North American tour w/ STYX and TESLA. The Live Nation-promoted tour hitting nearly 50 cities across the U.S. and Canada will kick off on June 23 in Tampa, Fla. VIP and Meet & Greet Packages on sale now HERE Dates June 23 - Tampa, FL (Midflorida Credit Union)- BUY NOW June 25 - West Palm Beach, FL (Cruzan Amphitheatre - BUY NOW June 27 - Birmingham, AL (Oak Mountain Amphitheatre) - BUY NOW June 28 - Atlanta, GA (Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood) - BUY NOW June 30 - Charlotte, NC (PNC Music Pavilion) - BUY NOW July 2 - Bristow, VA (Jiffy Lube Live) - On Sale March 6th July 3 - Virginia Beach, VA (Farm Bureau Live) - BUY NOW July 5 - Uncasville, CT (Mohegan Sun Arena) - BUY NOW July 7 - Gilford, NH (Bank of NH Pavilion at Meadowbrook) - BUY NOW July 9 - Mansfield, MA (Xfinity Center) - BUY NOW July 11 - Bethel, NY (Bethel Woods Center for the Arts) - BUY NOW July 12 - Darien Center, NY (Darien Lake Performing Arts Center) - BUY NOW July 14 - Toronto, ON (Molson Canadian Amphitheatre) - BUY NOW July 15 - Youngstown, OH (Covelli Centre)* - BUY NOW July 17 - Clarkston, MI (DTE Energy Music Theatre) - BUY NOW July 21 - Mt. Pleasant, MI (Soaring Eagle Resort & Casino)* - BUY NOW July 23 - Wantagh, NY (Nikon at Jones Beach Theatre) - ON SALE Feb 28th July 24 - Saratoga Springs, NY (Saratoga Performing Arts Center) - BUY NOW July 25 - Holmdel, NJ (PNC Bank Arts Center) - ON SALE Feb 28th Aug 7 - Sturgis, SD (Buffalo Chip Campground)** - TBA Aug 8 - Sioux Falls, SD (Sioux Falls Arena) - BUY NOW Aug 10 - Oklahoma City, OK (Chesapeake Energy Arena)* - BUY NOW Aug 11 - Kansas City, MO (Starlight Theatre) - BUY NOW Aug 14 - Sedalia, MO (Missouri State Fair) - TBA Aug 15 - Des Moines, IA (Iowa State Fair) - TBA Aug 17 - Cincinnati, OH (Riverbend Music Center) - BUY NOW Aug 18 - Nashville, TN (Bridgestone Arena) - BUY NOW Aug 21 - Dallas, TX (Gexa Energy Pavilion) - BUY NOW Aug 22 - Woodlands, TX (Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion) - BUY NOW Aug 23 - Austin, TX (Austin360 Amphitheater) - BUY NOW Aug 27 - St. Paul, MN (Minnesota State Fair) - TBA Aug 28 - Grand Forks, ND (Alerus Center) - BUY NOW Aug 30 - Noblesville, IN (Klipsch Music Center) - BUY NOW Sept 1 - Allentown, PA (Allentown Fair) - BUY NOW Sept 3 - Louisville, KY (KFC Yum! Center) - BUY NOW Sept 4 - Maryland Heights, MO (Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre) - BUY NOW Sept 5 - Tinley Park, IL (First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre) - BUY NOW Sept 16 - Auburn, WA (White River Amphitheater) - BUY NOW Sept 17 - Ridgefield, WA (Northwest Amphitheater) - BUY NOW Sept 19 - Mountain View, CA (Shoreline Amphitheater) - BUY NOW Sept 22 - Chula Vista, CA (Sleep Train Amphitheatre) - BUY NOW Sept 23 - Phoenix, AZ (Ak-Chin Pavilion) - BUY NOW Sept 25 - Albuquerque, NM (Isleta Amphitheatre) - BUY NOW Sept 26 - Denver, CO (Pepsi Center) - BUY NOW Sept 28 - West Valley City, UT (USANA Amphitheater) - BUY NOW Sept 30 - Spokane, WA (Spokane Arena) - ON SALE Feb 27th Oct 2 - Bozeman, MT (Brick Breeden Fieldhouse) - ON SALE Feb 27th Oct 4 - Bismarck, ND (Bismarck Civic Center) - BUY NOW

Monday, February 23, 2015

Big Freedia Queen Of Bounce

Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce,” premieres Wednesday at 11/10c on FUSE, Feb. 25th. It’s the highest-rated show in the network’s history. From the iHeart Rradio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with the master of Twerking. Big Freedia (pronounced “FREE-da”), known as the Queen of Bounce, is at the forefront of the Bounce rap movement (a subgenre of hip-hop born out of New Orleans and known for its call and response style and lightening speed booty-shaking dance). Performing five out of seven nights in any given week with dancers she calls The Divas, Big Freedia’s show is nothing short of dazzling. She tours every city in America from New York to San Francisco and is always a favorite at festivals such as Electric Forest, Hangout Fest, FunFunFun Fest, SXSW, and Bonnaroo, among many others. Though gay and proud, Big Freedia asserts that her (Freedia is a he but uses the feminine pronoun for her stage persona) sexuality has little to do with her music and rejects the term Sissy Bounce (the queer brand of Bounce). “All Bounce is Bounce,” he insists. “There’s no need to separate it out. All types of people—gay, straight, rich, poor, black, white come to my shows. People just wanna get out and shake their azzzz and have a good time!” And therein lies the beauty of Big Freedia: She can rock a pair of dangling gold earrings and light up a blunt and chop it up with the hardest rapper around. She’s not a gay artist, but rather an artist who happens to be gay. Big Freedia has gone from a local New Orleans phenomenon to a national one over the past two years. After appearing in two episodes of HBO series ‘Treme’ [as herself] and in 2010, she released her debut EP on Scion A/V Presents: Big Freedia, produced by NOLA producer BlaqNmilD. The EP featured notables “Excuse” and “Almost Famous; other fan-favorites include “Gin in my System” “Azz Everwhere” and “Y’all Get Back Now.” Adding to her catalog, this year she released “Nah Who Mad” and “Booty Whop,” and she was featured on Spank Rock’s Everything is Boring and Everyone is a Fucking Liar LP, on the track “Nasty.” This month, she was featured on “Peanut Butter” with actor Ru Paul. This January, Freedia made her television network debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live! She appeared on “Last Call with Carson Daly,” FADERTV, PITCHFORK TV and has been lauded in press outlets such as The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Fader, RollingStone.com, SPIN, OffBeat, Chicago Tribune, Columbia Spectator, Pheonix New Times, San Francisco Chronicle, LA Times, LA Weekly, among many other media outlets. Always pushing artistic boundaries, this year Big Freedia went hi-tech by releasing the Big Freedia Booty Battle Video Game, which Forbes magazine covered, calling it “…everything a great game should be.” Raised on Josephine Street in uptown New Orleans, Big Freedia, born Freddie Ross, was raised by his mother, a hairdresser, and stepfather, a truck driver for Coca-Cola. When Freddie was 15, the family moved to a more upscale neighborhood in New Orleans. Freddie—along with his brother Adam and sister Crystal Ross—were immersed in music at home by their mother, who often sang along to her Gladys Knight and Patty LaBelle records around the house. But it was the Baptist church choir where a young Freddie flourished. ”My mother made sure I never missed practice,” recalls Freedia. It’s no wonder that by the time he was 18, Freedia moved from member to director of the choir. A product of the hip-hop generation, Freedia was rocking RUN DMC, Salt ‘n Pepa and Adidas Shell Tops as a teenager. One night in 1991 he heard “Where Dey At” by MC T Tucker, (what many believe to be the first recorded Bounce track) and he was transfixed. After starting as a back-up dancer for Katey Red, the original “Sissy Bounce” rapper, Freedia knew Bounce was his calling and eventually broke out on his own. Big Freedia is in the studio wrapping up her highly-anticipated debut LP, Da Idol and is filming episodes of a reality TV series for FUSE TV, Bounce. Finally, in the works is her DVD: Big Freedia Presents: Twerk Bounce & Pop, featuring real Bounce dance instruction from Big Freedia and some of her best and noted Divas

Friday, February 20, 2015

Ziggy Marley

The world has been inspired by his lyrics and music. 2015 is the year we celebrate his life. Bob Marley. From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut the man behind his father's 70th birthday extravaganza Ziggy Marley Throughout history, no artist has so dominated the world of music as Bob Marley. A musical, political and even spiritual icon, a figure of almost mythical proportions, both poet and prophet, Marley was the first Jamaican artist to give voice to the struggles of his people and the Rastafarian culture, and the first to gain worldwide fame. Today, Bob Marley remains one of the 20th century’s most important and influential entertainment icons. Marley’s lifestyle and music continue to inspire new generations around the world as his legacy lives on through his music. In the digital era, he has the second-highest social media following of any posthumous celebrity, with the official Bob Marley Facebook page drawing more than 74 million fans. Marley’s music catalog has sold millions of albums worldwide and his hits compilation, Legend, holds the distinction of being the longest-charting album in the history of Billboard magazine’s Catalog Albums chart and remains the world’s best-selling reggae album. The Marley family will honor the legacy of Bob Marley commemorating his 70th birthday milestone and his importance in the history of global music with a year-long celebration.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Nigel Smith 2015 Oscar Predictions

You know me. My life outside of Radio is all about the movies. The Super Bowl of Hollywood is this weekend. While 50 Shades of Grey isn't up for an award there are plenty of flicks and films that could create a serious upset in the predictions. From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with Indiewires Movie Man Nigel Smith in Hollywood. Indiewise Managing Editor Nigel Smith will talk to you about this year's Oscar race as we go down to the wire. This is one of the tightest competitions in years between Boyhood, Birdman and last-minute dark horse American Sniper. Last chance to talk about it before they give out the gold statues Sunday night February 22nd. ABOUT NIGEL SMITH Nigel M. Smith is the New York-based Managing Editor at Indiewire, where he writes and edits daily for the site, heads up the Features section and serves as the primary liaison with IW's parent company, SnagFilms. Since joining IW in 2010, Nigel has conducted hundreds of interviews and covered virtually every major film festival. He can frequently be seen moderating talks with talent in New York and at festivals around the world. Nigel holds a Masters in Arts Journalism from Syracuse University, where he currently serves as an Advisory Board Member. Besides IW, Nigel’s writing has also appeared in Bullet Magazine, USA Today, MTV and The Post and Courier. ODDS ON WHO WILL WIN THE MAJOR AWARDS (FROM BUSINESS INSIDER) The 87th Academy Awards will air on Sunday, February 22. If you're trying to guess who will take home the statues, the list of odds below should help you out. The list was compiled by John Avello, who's in charge of the sportsbooks at the Wynn Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. He compiles an annual Oscar odds list each year, and he has since become the premiere source for predicting the big winners. Below are the odds for the five major awards categories. Best Picture "Boyhood," 2 to 5 "The Imitation Game" - 7 to 1 "The Grand Budapest Hotel" - 9 to 1 "Birdman," - 18 to 1 "Selma" - 20 to 1 "The Theory of Everything" - 30 to 1 "Whiplash" - 60 to 1 "American Sniper" - 75 to 1 Best Actress Julianne Moore, "Still Alice" - 1 to 9 Reese Witherspoon, "Wild" - 8 to 1 Rosamund Pike, "Gone Girl" - 25 to 1 Felicity Jones, "The Theory of Everything" - 40 to 1 Marion Cotillard, "Two Days, One Night" - 60 to 1 Best Actor Michael Keaton, "Birdman" - 5 to 6 Eddie Redmayne, "The Theory of Everything" - 11 to 10 Benedict Cumberbatch, "The Imitation Game" - 20 to 1 Steve Carrell, "Foxcatcher" - 30 to 1 Bradley Cooper, "American Sniper" - 75 to 1 Best Supporting Actress Patricia Arquette, "Boyhood" - 1 to 7 Emma Stone, "Birdman" - 12 to 1 Meryl Streep, "Into The Woods" - 15 to 1 Keira Knightley, "The Imitation Game" - 25 to 1 Laura Dern, "Wild" - 28 to 1 Best Supporting Actor J.K. Simmons, "Whiplash" - 1 to 5 Edward Norton, "Birdman" - 10 to 1 Ethan Hawke, "Boyhood" - 12 to 1 Mark Ruffalo, "Foxcatcher" - 14 to 1 Robert Duvall, "The Judge" - 30 to 1

Jeff Dye

Performing this weekend at Charlotte's Comedy Zone!!! From Seattle Washington comedian Jeff Dye returns with a man to man look at the hottest movie in theaters 50 Shades of Grey. Plus a lot more!!!

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Waterloo Revival

I've always believed Country Music is the true Social Media. Nashville may be hot. But Country Music is kept alive by the people. From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with a couple of newcomers that woke up one day... quit their job... and landed a huge deal in Country Music, Waterloo Revival.

Jessica Walter

This is one of very few actresses that total get it when I ask, "What haven't you done in Hollywood? How far are you willing to go?" From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with Archer's mother Malory. Actress Jessica Walter. Jessica Walter began her career in her home town of New York City where she conquered numerous Broadway productions including Advise and Consent, Neil Simon’s Rumors, A Severed Head, Nightlife and Photo Finish, a role that earned her the Clarence Derwent Award for Most Promising Newcomer. Also on stage, Walter has worked at New York’s famed Playwright’s Horizons and the Los Angeles Theater Center, where she starred in Tartuffe opposite Ron Leibman, her Emmy® and Tony® Award-winning husband. She recently starred in the Broadway revival of Anything Goes, which picked up several Tony Awards this year. Walter’s feature film work includes Clint Eastwood’s Play Misty for Me (Golden Globe® Award nomination, Best Actress in a Motion Picture). A short list of Walter’s additional film work includes The Group, Slums of Beverly Hills, Lilith, The Flamingo Kid, Dummy, Number One and Grand Prix (Golden Globe nomination, Most Promising Newcomer). Her numerous television roles include “Malory Archer” on Archer, the title character in the series Amy Prentiss (Emmy Award win, Best Actress); Trapper John, M.D. (Emmy Award nomination); The Streets of San Francisco (Emmy Award nomination); and Arrested Development (Emmy Award nomination, SAG nomination). Walter has also appeared in miniseries’ including Wheels, Scruples, Bare Essence and Victory at Entebbe. She has guest-starred in over 60 episodic television roles and appeared as a regular in several recent television series. Walter provided her voice for ABC's primetime Jim Henson series Dinosaurs. Additional voice-over work has included serving as a spokeswoman for Southern California Edison, Albertsons supermarkets and Chase Bank. In addition to her work in theatre, film and television, Walter has served as 2nd National Vice President of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), and was an elected member of the SAG Board of Directors for over a decade. Jessica Walter as “Malory Archer” A career spy comes with a lot of emotional baggage. When that career spans 50 years and was sidetracked by an unplanned pregnancy and the decades of resentment which followed it, the baggage actually needs its own separate train car. And when that train is overloaded with secrets and fueled by every liquor from absinthe to vodka, it’s time to get off the tracks because Malory Archer is coming down the line. As the stern-yet-more-stern spy agency director, Malory is a highly successful woman in a field dominated by men. Any number of whom – including Nikolai Jakov of the KGB and Burt Reynolds of Burt Reynolds – may be Archer’s father.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

John Hooper The Italians

There is so much to see in Italy. But what do we truly know and understand about the Italians? From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with author John Hooper How can a nation that gave us the Renaissance have produced the Mafia? How could a people so concerned with bella figura (keeping up appearances) have chosen Silvio Berlusconi as their leader—and not just once but three times? Sublime and maddening, Italy is a country of seemingly unsolvable riddles. In The Italians, British journalist John Hooper explores the fascinating story of a country divided by geography and dialect, by politics and history. Overrun by invaders at intervals for 1,500 years, Italy’s people may have an uneasy relationship with foreigners. But foreigners love them. Digging deep into their history, culture and religion, Hooper offers keys to understanding everything from their bewildering politics to their love of life and beauty, football and freemasonry, sex, symbolism and the reason why the Italian language has twelve words for a coat hanger, yet none for a hangover. • By 2005, 82% of Italian men between the ages of 18 and 30 were still living with their parents. The equivalent figure for the United States was 43% and in none of the three biggest European nations—France, Britain, and Germany—was it higher than 53%. • In Rome, every establishment that serves food has gnocchi on its menu on Thursdays. And, in most cases, they are not to be found there on any other day of the week. This tradition exists nowhere but in Rome, and no Roman knows why it exists. • Vodafone, the UK-based cell phone operator, has had huge success in Italy. Why? It offers a service, only available in Italy, known as “Alter Ego” that enables customers to have two numbers on the same SIM card. Perfect for cheating husbands or wives, and very useful for anyone who wants to make him or herself temporarily unavailable. • Sir Winston Churchill is credited with having said, “Italians lose wars as if they were football matches, and football matches as if they were wars.” Italy has taken home four World Cups, more than any other country besides Brazil. John Hooper’s entertaining and perceptive new book is for anyone seeking to understand contemporary Italy and the unique character of the Italians. Here, he reveals the Italians so few travelers ever get the chance to know. John Hooper is the Rome-based correspondent for The Economist and The Guardian. He has also written or broadcast for The Economist, The Guardian, The Observer, BBC, NBC, and Reuters and has reported from more than 30 countries, including various war zones such as Kosovo and Afghanistan. He brought to light the so-called “Ship of Death” migrant-trafficking disaster of 1996 and was part of The Observer’s award-winning team that investigated its aftermath. His book The Spaniards (1986) won the Allen Lane Award for a best first work of non-fiction in 1987. It has since been revised and updated as The New Spaniards (2006). He speaks six languages.

Matt Tucker

You can travel back multiple years and see how important Charlotte's been to the world of Country Music. The music scene is moving forward and making waves in Nashville. From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with Matt Tucker Born in Rock Hill SC, Matt Tucker was raised on country music. Raised in a very musically inclined family, Tucker has always loved to sing and in 2008 decided to get serious with it. He began playing in honky-tonks around Rock Hill, SC with his father. Soon he was breaking out as a solo artist playing acoustic gigs. Putting together his first band, a couple years later, he began to realize his full potential and started on his journey to Nashville. Influenced by some of country music's most known legends (George Strait, Alan Jackson, Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty) and modern artists (Jake Owen, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Garth Brooks) just to name a few. Tucker's southern upbringing definitely shines through his songs. His music reflects the new country phase but with some ol' traditional ways. 2013 was a great year for Matt, he and all the folks behind the scenes have been making lots of friends in Music City (Nashville, TN). In October, 2013 Tucker became a SESAC affiliate known as Guitbox Publishing referred in by Hall of Fame songwriter, Sam Tate. Soon after he released a 4 song "EP” recorded in Nashville, TN at Midtown Studio with Pat Holt producing and engineering. In December of 2013 a big CD release party at one of the Southeast's premier country night clubs (Coyote Joes: Charlotte, NC) helped spark his self-written single “Tonight” to take hold and has started getting Radio airplay. Lately Matt and the band are continuing to grow and work very hard! Getting ready to hit the studio again soon to record new music and expand to a regional Country act, also a possible permanent move to Music City, Nashville TN. 2014 has been a great year for MTB, currently touring the Carolinas and surrounding promoting Matt's new EP released in October, 2013. Touring is a job but it’s fun and has its perks! In April, 2014 Matt landed the biggest festival in his home area, Come See Me Festival. Come See Me is a 2 week event wrapped up with a huge all day tailgate party with food, beverages, games and music! Matt and the band headlined this show to a record setting fifty plus thousand people in the 30 years it's happened. Safe to say Matt's hometown has his back, and he has theirs! In May of 2014, Matt signed with local agent Brian Crews of Crewser Entertainment. Brian is now working out of Nashville booking a few regional acts and tour managing Ray Scott! 2014 was a great year for Matt and the boys, they’ve played all over the Southeast and played some shows with some well know artist like: Jason Michael Carrol, Trent Tomlinson, Blackhawk, Josh Thompson, Jeff Bates, Ray Scott and many more regional up and comers! "Respect is earned where given, and we can't do this without you... the friends/fans", MT. 2015 is projected to be a great year for MTB. They plan to make the permanent move to Nashville, TN where they can utilize the tools they have there. The new CD “Finding My Dreams” is said to be released in early 2015 and new music to be recorded started in late spring of 2015. Keep your radio dials tuned for Matt Tucker to come across as they make the push to the next level! Matt and the boys continue to work hard to put together a crowd pleasing high energy show that showcases their own songs as well as covering old favorites and current day hits. Currently one of the "Carolinas" top independent Country acts, and taking hold regionally. Tucker plans to bring the package until the receiver is found! Look out for MT "Country Rockin" a town near you! Stay tuned for there will be a lot more out of this very driven and admirable young man in the Country Music Industry.

Sean Lowe

He was that guy! There he was on national television and he wouldn't bend from his faithful way of life. How real was Sean Lowe? Was it just another way to get girls? From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with the star of ABC's The Bachelor Looking for love on reality television – where temptation, compromise, and betrayal are the norm – could cause anyone to falter. In his new autobiography FOR THE RIGHT REASONS (Nelson Books; January 27, 2015; $24.99), ABC’s “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” favorite Sean Lowe traces his incredible path to unexpected stardom, life-changing love, and personal faith, sharing behind-the-scenes moments of the two groundbreaking television franchises created to help real people find real love. Sean’s story is now a beloved piece of pop culture: the Dallas-raised college football standout fell into a late-twenty-something rut, single and selling insurance while he prayed for another life. He writes: “I was twenty-eight years old, stuck in a job I didn’t love. Every day, I answered questions about floods, lightning, and automobile collisions and ate my lunch watching ‘Seinfeld’ reruns. It wasn’t a bad life, but it didn’t feel like I was headed to anything more.” Unbeknownst to Sean, his sister and brother-in-law submitted an application for him to appear on the eighth season of The Bachelorette, and his life changed forever. He placed a disappointing third on the show and nursed a surprisingly real heartbreak, dumbstruck after believing he and The Bachelorette had a profound connection rooted in shared faith—a faith he held tightly throughout the show. He writes, “When I was on The Bachelorette, she often described me as ‘perfect.’ But I’m fallen, flawed, and in need of redemption.” Disappointed but still hopeful, the humble hero then became the star of the seventeenth season of The Bachelor and the entire country watched as the blond, steak-eating Texan fell in love with Catherine Giudici, a Birkenstock-wearing vegan from Seattle—a match made in reality TV heaven. Millions tuned in one year later to see the two tie the knot live on national television. “For the Right Reasons” is about Sean’s real life journey in the complicated world of reality TV. Sharing exclusive stories of his experiences on The Bachelorette and The Bachelor—along with his impressive run on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars—Sean gives readers insight into how the shows are produced and what happens when the cameras turn off. Stories of genuine friendships formed with crew and cast mates shed warm light on the people working—and caring—off camera. Recalling his sudden departure from The Bachelor he writes: “I stared out the window, unable to speak. I only turned around when I heard loud sniffling. The camera ops and sound techs were not supposed to be involved in the show in any way except behind the scenes, of course. One really sweet sound tech, named Kittye, was in the backseat with me. […] She was staring out the window too—crying. […] I looked up and saw that the producer Jonah and my handler Brenner were both bawling.” From the isolation that ensues when phones, tablets, and laptops are confiscated for the duration of the show, to the globe-trotting luxury he experienced for the first time, Sean recounts the highs and lows of participating in two of the most unique and popular television series ever. He shares never-before told moments and show secrets, including why he convinced producers to break the rules and allow him to see Catherine the night before the proposal, and why no one ever eats on one-on-one dates. Sean also argues that the camera fairly portrayed him and others. He explains that while dramatic storylines propel the shows, the characters sketched—whether villainous or virtuous—are usually accurate representations of the individuals off screen.

Friday, February 13, 2015

Mark Miller

Valentines Day weekend... So I found a guy that's been on 500 dates. He should know about love right? From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with Mark Miller How does a self-described “virginal social outcast” and divorcé become one of America’s top online dating experts? How does a man who has been on over five hundred first dates stay optimistic that love is just around the corner? This Valentine’s Day, I hope you’ll consider an interview with comedian, author, and former LA Times columnist Mark Miller. After his divorce, he endured over five hundred first dates in order to find “the one.” He chronicles the painful, the memorable, the horrible, and the unbelievable in 500 DATES: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the Online Dating Wars (Skyhorse Publishing; February 3, 2015; ISBN: 9781629144665; $16.95 paperback). JAY LENO said about the book: Tells you how dating really is . . . with tremendous humor and insight.”

Bryan Callen

American actor Bryan Christopher Callen was born in Manila, Philippines on January 26, 1967. He was raised in the South Bronx of New York City and graduated from Morris High School. He later attended American University and majored in drama. He was soon discovered by producers while he was performing at a comedy club. He landed a spot on MADtv, debuting in 1995. He played characters like Pool Boy and Al Casdy, in addition to impersonating Bill Clinton, Robert De Niro, Al Gore, Steven Seagal, Kevin Bacon, Jim Carrey and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Bryan Callen’s other appearances on television include those in Entourage, Oz, and NYPD Blue. He later starred on Sex & the City, How I Met Your Mother and the Showtime series Fat Actress. He then landed a part on The Secret Life of an American Teenager. He was next seen on Chelsea Lately before getting cast on the MTV series Death Valley.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Paul Luftenegger Returns

It's Valentines Day Weekend! Millions will crowd into theaters and participate this seasons modern day love story. After these twenty four hours of love are over. What's next? Internationally recognized recording artist Paul Luftenegger speaks from the heart by way of sharing his journey as a singer/songwriter. He's traveled the world with a piano and in the hearts of millions... a love song has been born.

Ted Giola Love Songs

Seriously... How did we get here? Was it a love song on the radio? From the IHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with an expert on love songs. Ted Giola Musical historian and Daily Beast columnist Ted Gioia uncovers the hidden truths of love, one of the most dominant themes of music in the last millennium. While many tend to view love songs as simple, sentimental, and formulaic, Gioia proves that no other style of music has led to more censorship, controversy, or reprisals. Based on more two decades of research, Love Songs provides readers with the backstories that shaped the most popular hits including Darwin’s theory of evolutionary connection between animal songs and human music courtship, the fertility rites of ancient cultures, and the sexualized YouTube videos of the present day. The colorful and contentious history of the love song also includes anecdotes on such artists as Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, Cole Porter, Elvis Presley, Stevie Wonder, Cher, and Miley Cyrus. As Gioia writes in his Introduction: “The persistence of the love song throughout human history testifies to its hold on us. More than a cultural meme, it appears to be some sort of quasi-biological necessity. This persistence is all the more impressive given the fierce opposition these songs have faced over the centuries… As we shall see, the history of the love song is also the history of the repression of the love song.” By researching beyond the prominent yet fabricated history of the love song and pinpointing the “outsiders” who have truly influenced this style of music, Gioia aims to change society’s perception of the love song from misunderstood and unmoved to a force for individual rights and sexual freedom.

Liz Shannon Miller from Indiewire

The new winter TV season is here! It's looking to be one of the best time in television. There's new places to see shows. Plus some pretty serious actors are making it back to little box. From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with Indiewires Liz Shannon Miller Years before "Breaking Bad," Albuquerque's premiere "criminal" lawyer Saul Goodman was Jimmy McGill, a public defender who puts on a good show, but struggles to get his clients off and never has enough stickers on his parking ticket. Bouncing between the courthouse, a local diner, the electricity-less house of his brother Chuck and a tiny office in the back of a Vietnamese nail salon, Jimmy has his eyes on a potential financial jackpot -- the Kettleman family, which may be sitting on a million dollars thanks to an "accounting discrepancy" on the part of the husband. But in his attempt to win over the Kettlemans' business, a mix-up regarding Mercury station wagons puts Jimmy face-to-face with a loaded gun. There are maybe more noble ways to try to win over a client than hiring a pair of skateboarding twins to fake a car accident. Maybe, just maybe, you shouldn't do that to manipulate a client into picking your services. The Bar Association probably frowns upon such a move -- and probably has an even bigger problem with you doing it to the wrong person. "Better Call Saul" opens with the reveal of a prophecy fulfilled -- as Saul Goodman once told Walter White, "The fun's over. From here on out, I'm Mr. Low Profile, just another douchebag with a job and three pairs of Dockers. If I'm lucky, a month from now – best case scenario – I'm managing a Cinnabon in Omaha." And life in Omaha, for Saul, is a scary and lonely thing: Constantly looking over his shoulder in public, filling his evenings with alcohol and repeat viewings of his glory years. Odenkirk's performance in that prelude says everything; there's a sad tragedy to knowing that your glory years were the ones you spent as a storefront legal adviser to drug dealers. Meanwhile, we find out how Jimmy met not only Mike Ehrmantraut, but one of "Breaking Bad's" first heavyweights, the very testy Tuco. Neither introduction is particularly fortuitous, though at least Mike doesn't pull a gun on him. Not much looks that different, here in the year 2003, but the technology is just a little bit bigger and bulkier. Most importantly, the phones all flip open. That was always fun, to end a phone call by snapping your phone shut. Way more satisfying than pressing a button on a touchscreen. What's wrong with Chuck? Plenty. Jimmy's meeting with Hamlin, Hamlin and McGill, Chuck's old law firm, seemed to indicate that Chuck is sick, but that illness may not be physiological. No names of diseases are thrown around in this episode, but based on the electricity-free house, a fear of cell phones and Chuck's request for letters to be translated into Finnish, Jimmy's brother's problems seem to be primarily in his head. On The Journey From Jimmy to Saul - same actor, same city, same profession. So what makes Jimmy, as we know him now, different from the man he will become? The key distinction is that Saul had a confidence that comes from success -- but when we meet him here, Jimmy is just pure desperation, scrambling like crazy to make a semi-legal living. Yet the foundation for a name change is laid, courtesy of Chuck, who tells Jimmy that he should change the name of his legal practice, because the name McGill is already associated with Chuck's old firm. Chuck calls it "professional courtesy," but also encourages Jimmy to consider it an opportunity for a new identity. We know that eventually Jimmy will do so -- but given his hatred of the Hamlin-controlled firm, it seems unlikely at the moment that he'll do so willingly. The drink that Jimmy splashes together in the opening... flash forward to the present day? (Man, writing about this show is going to get confusing fast.) Anyways, that drink is known to bartenders as the Rusty Nail, a combination of Drambuie and whiskey. Here's Esquire's recipe. Try it, if you like your Scotch with a side order of Scotch. Jimmy's initial sales pitch to the Kettlemans is full of classic bits -- "I don't go looking for guilty people to represent -- who needs that aggravation?" and "it's getting arrested that makes people look guilty." But we have to go with this off-hand remark about the quality of Jimmy's car: "The only way that car is worth $500 is if there's a $300 hooker inside it!" One of "Better Call Saul's" odder quirks (actually, one of Jimmy McGill's) is a love for very deliberate pop culture references, which today includes a rousing tribute to Ned Beatty's performance in "Network" -- which no one at Hamlin, Hamlin and McGill recognizes. Great film is wasted on corporate lawyers, it appears. In Conclusion, Your Honor, "Uno" is a quiet introduction to the world of "Better Call Saul," lacking massive initial stakes and relying a lot on built-up goodwill from "Breaking Bad" to inspire interest. But if that interest is there, then it's a treat to see Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould push the universe they originally created into some new directions, and really rely on the concept of longform storytelling, letting mysteries unravel slowly. This isn't always going to be captivating television -- uncertainty about what exactly happened to Chuck, as one example, is likely to be an ongoing source of frustration. But so far "Better Call Saul," has done something tough: Take something that is technically a prequel -- that has a predetermined ending -- and keep audiences feeling like they have no clue what will happen next.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Striking Matches

When your two front people are brilliant guitarists. They played for the biggest names on the planet. Scored music for the tv show Nashville. How does Striking Matches keep the faith? From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with Striking Matches With their T Bone Burnett-produced debut album, guitar-wielding duo Striking Matches creates an unexpected and unique sound that defies easy categorization. The music of Striking Matches—Sarah Zimmermann and Justin Davis–occupies that sweet spot at the intersection of country, rock and blues, where all of the elements blend to form an authentically raw and rootsy sound that has a timeless and international appeal. Indeed, their songs including “When the Right One Comes Along” and “Hanging on a Lie” have been featured on ABC’s hit drama series Nashville and recorded by the show’s stars Sam Palladio and Clare Bowen, and attracted an international fan base. Their first performances in London produced sold-out shows and audiences with a deep knowledge of their lyrics, even before the release of their first full album. Their debut self-titled EP was named among iTunes “Best of 2012″ and received national attention from outlets such as NPR, the BBC and The Wall Street Journal. “The Nashville TV show was definitely a big break for us,” Sarah says. “It was the first time we had any national or international attention. That opened the door to a lot of fans finding us here in the U.S., but even overseas when the show came out in the U.K.,” she says. Striking Matches is the debut artist on the newly revived label, I.R.S. Nashville, and has toured with Train, Vince Gill, Ashley Monroe and Hunter Hayes. “Our music is best left up to interpretation, but we hope it represents an amalgamation of everything that has influenced us over the course of our lives, which comes from rock and roll, country and blues, and we fall somewhere in between all of those,” Justin says. Although their debut album is a perfect fit in the landscape of today’s commercial music, it also stands out from the rest of the pack with its driving rhythms and simple yet artful production that’s designed to showcase the compelling harmonies, honest lyrics and innovative guitar playing. They had a hand in writing all 11 songs on the album, which captures the high energy and spontaneity of their popular live shows. Of course, that’s not surprising, given that both have built a musical foundation on guitar playing and gravitate toward guitar-driven music, such as The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, Steely Dan, Patsy Cline, Jerry Reed and Chet Atkins. Justin is known for his fast, intricate playing, while Sarah was influenced by the blues guitarists who strive to make every note count and last. “I have always found Sarah’s guitar playing interesting because it seems to complement mine,” he says. Both shared the same dream growing up, even though they came from different backgrounds and regions. Justin was raised in Atlanta by parents who work in the medical field. “While they didn’t play any music, they had really great taste in music and that helped set me on a path that I am forever grateful for,” says Justin, who was raised on music such as Sam Cooke, Petula Clark, Otis Redding, Ray Charles and Motown greats. He began writing songs at age 10 and has been playing guitar as long as he can remember. But he looked like a late bloomer compared to Sarah, who was raised outside of Philadelphia and began playing clarinet in second grade, violin in third grade and guitar in fourth. Her father was a musician who repaired woodwinds and other instruments in a downstairs studio, so she was immersed in music and was influenced by the Dixie Chicks. “They proved to me that a girl can play just like a guy can play,” she says. “They were my inspiration for being a lead guitar player.” Both decided to pursue their dreams of having a career in music by moving to Nashville. Their paths crossed when both decided to attend Belmont University in 2007 and major in guitar, so they attended the same guitar seminar class and were randomly paired together by their professor early in the semester. “It was a room full of guys and we were saying, ‘Well, as long as we don’t get the girl, we’ll be all right,” Justin recalls. “They called my name and Sarah’s. I thought, ‘Great. It’s all over now.’ I said, ‘Do you know any blues?’ She pulled out her slide and proceeded to leave everyone’s jaw on the floor, including mine. It was one of those ‘we should do that again’ moments.” And they did just that. They began performing songs by Nickel Creek, Alison Krauss and Keith Urban, which led to writing together, which resulted in their first public performances at places such as the Bluebird Cafe. While they continued to perform with others, they loved the music they made together most of all. “This was always where we were having the most fun,” he says. “It was the most fulfilling. It was a dynamic of complement that didn’t exist anywhere else.” Sarah won a scholarship to take a songwriting course at Vanderbilt University, and one of the guest speakers was veteran music executive John Grady. “He sat down, looked at me and said, ‘I know you,’” Sarah says. “The day before, someone had shown him a video we put on YouTube and he liked it. We started talking and got back together the next day. I think it was fate.” After discussions with several labels, they accepted the offer to be the first artists on I.R.S Nashville. “I don’t know that there is a cooler label that I would want to be a part of,” Justin says. “It has such a history and it feels right.” The duo was also thrilled when they heard that famed producer T Bone Burnett, who produced their favorite Grammy-winning album Raising Sand by Alison Krauss and Robert Plant, wanted to work on their debut project. “The environment in the studio was all vibe,” Sarah says. “It was really relaxed. T Bone has a way of making you feel super important and everything you are doing is right, and if it is not, he will guide you to where it needs to be. He knows how to bring out the very best of us.” The best includes songs such as “Hanging on a Lie,” which they reinterpret with grit, a distorted mandolin and a mid-song jam session, as well as the organic and honest “Nothing But the Silence,” the guitar-centered “Trouble Is As Trouble Does” and “Make a Liar Out of Me” and groove-oriented “Never Gonna Love Again.” “We haven’t written our best song yet,” Justin says. “We are so proud and grateful for everything so far, especially this record, and the sky is the limit for us. Creatively, we started writing songs while we were in the studio and especially when we finished. There was no resting. We are still hungry.” Adds Sarah, “We have more to say and we want to be heard.”

Amy Steinberg

Inside this social media driven world. There's still too many invisible singer/songwriters. What if we began to step forward? From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with Amy Steinberg Uplifting, enlightening and hilarious with a voice that can burn the house down, Amy Steinberg is singer, songwriter and storyteller like none other. The main thrust of her work comes from marrying the sacred and profane, fusing the dreamlike nature of spirit with the rooted realness of sexuality and humor. She plays the piano and guitar with her own swingy rhythmic bounce, injecting shades of jazz, rock, hip hop, and poetry, all with a theatrical flair. Deeply soulful, with her bombastic belt she sings of self-love, open-mindedness, and the holiness of everything. Her 10 independent release, “Broken Open” is due out this February. This spring Amy is making a big move to Chicago to rock out as Musical and Creative Arts Director at the Bodhi Center

Andrew Grant Jackson

I've always been associated with writing and producing specialty shows for Radio. My first in the Carolina's was a show called Ten and Ten. I didn't feature the music and the artists that made it. We totally relived the life and style. There was no internet. It meant hardcore research. It was a family reunion today inside the iHeart Radio Studio. I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with Andrew Grant Jackson. Fifty years ago, during twelve unforgettable months in the middle of the turbulent Sixties, America saw the rise of innovative new sounds that would change popular music as we knew it. In 1965: The Most Revolutionary Year in Music, music historian Andrew Grant Jackson (Still the Greatest: The Essential Songs of The Beatles’ Solo Careers, Where’s Ringo?) chronicles a groundbreaking year of creativity fueled by rivalries between musicians and continents, sweeping social changes, and technological breakthroughs. Read excerpts from the book with audio/visual companions and browse playlists at www.1965book.com. The Beatles developed the folk-rock jangle alongside the Byrds on songs like "Ticket to Ride," raced the Who to be the first to use feedback on record, and competed with the Kinks and Yardbirds to be the first to use the sitar on Rubber Soul. Dylan fused surreal lyrics with rock and roll and broke the time constraints of Top 40 radio with the six-minute "Like a Rolling Stone," spurring his peers to a new level of lyrical sophistication in number one folk-rock singles ranging from the topical ("Eve of Destruction" and "The Sound of Silence") to the psychedelic ("Mr. Tambourine Man") and the confessional ("Help!"). New genres were born as James Brown invented funk with "Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag," the Beach Boys led the way in baroque pop, and garage bands laid the groundwork for punk. Soul artists at Motown and Stax Records, along with the Impressions and Staple Singers, released epics that galvanized the Civil Rights movement. Never before had popular music been so diverse. Bakersfield musicians and the "outlaws" rebelled against the glossy Nashville sound. John Coltrane released his jazz masterpiece A Love Supreme. Bob Marley and the Wailers released their odes to "rude boys" and the first version of "One Love." Frank Sinatra plotted to storm his way back into "Beatle Land." Andy Warhol got the Velvet Underground on The CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite. And in Northern California, the Grateful Dead become the house band at Ken Kesey’s "Acid Tests," while Allen Ginsberg invented Flower Power to save an anti-war rally from the Hell’s Angels. As the Pill, miniskirt, psychedelics, Vietnam, and the musicians’ own long hair incited youth to non-conformity, anthems like the Rolling Stones’ "Satisfaction" amplified and accelerated the demand for freedom throughout the Western world. 1965 is a fascinating account of a defining year that produced some of the greatest songs, albums, and artists of all time. “Jackson presents a thoroughly entertaining romp through one mighty year in pop-music history.”—Booklist “Jackson’s rapid-fire jaunt through the musical highlights of 1965—the rise of Motown and Stax Records, the early music of David Bowie, the arrival of the Bakersfield sound—is a helpful survey for readers unfamiliar with the history of popular music.”—Publishers Weekly “Lively… Jackson does a solid job covering the hit-makers.”—Kirkus Reviews “From the Beatles to the Byrds, from Dylan to the Stones, from the Beach Boys to Motown, author Andrew G. Jackson brilliantly details how the year 1965 was essentially rock and roll’s coming-out party. 1965: The Most Revolutionary Year in Music is filled with interesting insight and analysis into how a unique confluence of cultural events helped spur many of popular music’s all-time greats to reach their artistic apex, all within one, short, action-packed twelve-month period. If you weren’t there the first time around — or even if you were — sit back and prepare yourself for one heck of a ‘ticket to ride.’”—Kent Hartman, author of The Wrecking Crew: The Inside Story of Rock and Roll’s Best-Kept Secret “The Beatles, Stones, Dylan, Coltrane, The Dead, Velvet Underground, Motown … what wasn’t happening in 1965? Andrew Grant Jackson painstakingly chronicles this pivotal year in music with an eye for detail and the big picture – an exciting ride with a timeless soundtrack.”—Joel Selvin, author of Summer of Love and Here Comes the Night: The Dark Soul of Bert Berns and the Dirty Business of Rhythm and Blues “1965 is a year that pop fans… revere [for] the sheer volume of innovative music and cultural transformation. A half-century on, it all remains astonishing but Jackson takes us through these 365 earth-changing days with steady hands and an addictive style. I started making a playlist almost immediately.”—Marc Spitz, author of We Got the Neutron Bomb and Twee

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Master Jr Chef Jenna

I began my cooking career frying bologna and fresh eggs. We see where that landed me. From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with a true champion of food preparation Master Jr Jenna The kids are back and taking over the kitchen. Season Three of the hit cooking competition series MASTERCHEF JUNIOR returns Tuesday, Jan. 6 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. Host and award-winning chef Gordon Ramsay and fellow judges restaurateur Joe Bastianich and acclaimed chef Graham Elliot welcome 19 of the best junior home cooks in the country between the ages of 8 and 13 – including two 8-year-olds; four 9-year-olds; three 10-year-olds; five 11-year-olds and five 12-year-olds – to the MASTERCHEF JUNIOR kitchen, where they will compete for the MASTERCHEF JUNIOR trophy and the $100,000 grand prize. Also in the premiere episode, America’s Top 19 junior home cooks are introduced to their first mystery box challenge, in which they must make a complete restaurant-quality dish using only the ingredients in the mystery box. The winner of the challenge will have a significant advantage in the next round and select which of the judges’ favorite pastas the remaining contestants will prepare in the elimination round. Later, the 14 junior home cooks with the best dishes will advance in the competition. This season, the MASTERCHEF JUNIOR finalists will compete in a wide range of delicious challenges and cook-offs, including a messy meringue pie challenge, a mystery box challenge featuring food that gets better with age, a sushi tag-team race and the fan-favorite restaurant takeover. ABOUT JENNA JENNA is 12 and her hometown is New York City. Signature Dish: Sesame-Crusted Flash-Fried Tuna with Avocado on a Bed of Arugula Favorite Dish to Eat: "Definitely steamed mussels in a white wine garlic sauce. I always eat it on my birthday."

Robert Englund

What? You thought being horrified in cold damp movie theaters was so last decade? Then watch it at home! Fear Clinic! From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with Freddy Krueger Robert Englund. Robert Englund began his acting training at age 12, taking drama courses at the University of Oakland, U.C.L.A., California State-Northridge, the Michigan Academy of Dramatic Arts, and the Rochester, NY, branch of R.A.D.A. Englund made his first professional appearance in a Cleveland production of Godspell. His first film role was the bumptious backwoodsman Whitey in Buster and Billie (1974), after which he paid his dues in a series of villainous bit parts: shooting down Burt Reynolds at the end of Hustle (1975); beating up Kris Kristofferson in A Star is Born (1976); and so on. In 1984, he was cast as Willie, one of the few sympathetic Earth-invading extraterrestrials in the sci-fi TV miniseries V. Impressed by this performance, director Wes Craven buried Englund under several layers of latex and collodion and cast him as malevolent, mass-murdering wraith Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). The actor became an instant star, appearing in five Nightmare sequels, hosting a 1988 television spin-off, and basking in the glow of a plenitude of fan clubs. Although Freddy's only redeeming quality was his morbid sense of humor, Englund became an idol to the young, who emulated the actor each Halloween donning Freddy masks and plastic claws. Far from concerned that this idolatry might lead to delinquency, Englund allowed that he enjoyed playing Freddy, and felt pride at having created so memorable a screen persona. (In all fairness, he also emphasized to his most impressionable fans that it was all play-acting, and that his homicidal tendencies were strictly confined to the screen.) Outside of his Nightmare appearances, Englund's most significant credits were his one-shot directorial stint on the theatrical feature 976-EVIL (1988); his characterization of the title role in a medium-budget film adaptation of Phantom of the Opera (1989); and his hosting chores on the Craven-produced TV anthology Nightmare Café (1992). ABOUT FEAR CLINIC, ON BLU-RAY AND DVD FEBRUARY 10TH After terrifying audiences from coast to coast – Closing Night Event at ScreamFest 2014 Los Angeles and Opening Night Screening at 2014 New York City Horror Film Festival – Fear Clinic, the latest excursion into unrelenting terror will be released on Blu-ray™ and DVD on February 10, 2015 by Anchor Bay Entertainment. The highly anticipated shocker stars horror icon Robert “Freddy Krueger” Englund, Fiona Dourif, Angelina Armani, Thomas Dekker, as well as Stone Sour and Slipknot lead vocalist Corey Taylor in his acting debut, and is directed by Robert G. Hall (Lightning Bug, Laid to Rest, ChromeSkull: Laid To Rest II). With blood-chilling special effects by award-winning FX creators Robert Kurtzman and Steve Johnson, Fear Clinic will take viewers on an unforgettable journey into the very soul of terror itself. SRP is $26.99 for the Blu-ray™ and $22.98 for the DVD. Co-written by Hall and Aaron Drane, the film is based on the critically acclaimed and fan favorite 2009 FEARnet.com series. When trauma-induced phobias begin to re-emerge in five survivors a year after their horrifying tragedy, they return to the “Fear Clinic,” hoping to find the answers they need to get cured. Dr. Andover (Robert Englund), a fear doctor who runs the clinic, uses his “Fear Chamber” to animate their fears in the form of terrifying hallucinations. However, the good doctor soon begins to suspect that something more sinister may be at work, something that yearns to be more than just an hallucination... Bonus features on Fear Clinic Blu-ray™ and DVD to be announced. Here’s the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i699QdmhtKA

Monday, February 9, 2015

Shelia McCauley Keys

You know the story. Now get to know the person that made the story. From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with author Shelia McCauley Keys the niece of Rosa Parks Sheila McCauley Keys, and Sheila’s twelve siblings. "Auntie Rosa," as Sheila and her siblings called her, left the south for Detroit in 1957, where she reconnected with her only sibling, Sylvester McCauley, and his thirteen children. In the years that followed, Parks became a guiding force and inspiration to her nieces and nephews, and in this remarkable book, they share with readers the great wisdom of their Auntie Rosa. Parks gained worldwide recognition for her brave act on an Alabama bus in December 1955, but that was just one moment in a life lived with great humility and courage. The stories collected here by her closest family members paint an intimate portrait of a great American hero, and offer life lessons that will inspire generations to come. ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Sheila McCauley Keys is the seventh niece of civil rights heroine Rosa Parks. In 2013, Keys was featured in PBS’s live television broadcast of the National Day of Courage, celebrating what would have been Mrs. Parks’s hundredth birthday. That same year, Keys joined President Obama and legislators in unveiling a statue of Rosa Parks in the Capitol Rotunda. Keys has become an active voice in efforts to preserve her aunt’s legacy. Contributions to this book are made by the family of Rosa Parks, which includes the children and grandchildren of Sylvester and Daisy McCauley, along with their families. Eddie B. Allen Jr. is an award-winning reporter and freelance journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Reuters, The Associated Press, BET.com, and the Detroit Free Press. Allen was a Rosa Parks Scholarship recipient at age seventeen, and he later covered Mrs. Parks’ nationally televised funeral as well as various aspects of the freedom struggle that carries her footprint.

Kyle Kinane

He loves LA but he came to the south to do a Comedy Central special. From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with comedian Kyle Kinane Kyle Kinane returns to Comedy Central in the world premiere of I Liked His Old Stuff Better, debuting on Friday, January 23 at Midnight ET/PT. For fans that can’t wait for Kinane’s new material, the special will be available on January 20 on CC: Stand-Up Direct. Filmed at the historic 40 Watt Club in Athens, Georgia, Kyle Kinane’s new special delivers wonderfully grim anecdotes filtered through his own optimistic lens. In I Liked His Old Stuff Better, his second special for Comedy Central, Kinane chooses to marvel rather than rue such experiences as falling in the shower and receiving pickled eggs as a token of love. I Liked His Old Stuff Better will be available on January 24 in the Comedy Central App to fans that sign in via their cable or satellite provider. The Comedy Central App is available for free for iOS on the App Store, on Chromecast, for Android on the Google Play store, and for Xbox One. The extended and uncensored version of I Liked His Old Stuff Better will be available for download on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Xbox Video, Sony Entertainment Network, Vudu and Google Play on January 27. The digital album also will be available on that date on iTunes, Amazon MP3, Google Play, Spotify and all streaming services. The album pre-order link will be available on January 13. The special will be available for pre-order in SD and HD on Amazon and iTunes on January 16. Kinane has appeared on @midnight, Conan, Workaholics, and Comedy Bang! Bang! He can be heard as the voice of Comedy Central and in various animated programs such as Regular Show, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Bob’s Burgers, TripTank and the feature film EPIC, among others. His first one hour special, Whiskey Icarus, aired on Comedy Central in 2012. I Liked His Old Stuff Better is executive produced by Kinane, Dave Rath, Tracey Baird and Krysia Plonka. JoAnn Grigioni is the Executive in Charge for Comedy Central. Clips: http://www.cc.com/video-clips/v0xhhe/stand-up-kyle-kinane--drinking-in-the-shower

Friday, February 6, 2015

Tim Dowling

It no longer matters who the money maker is in the house. Both sides of the family have been able to work it out. The journey to locate peace....can take a little bit of time and effort. From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with author Tim Dowling Tim Dowling, star columnist for The Guardian, shares his hilarious take on modern family life, parenthood, and marriage in his new book HOW TO BE A HUSBAND. This is not a self-help book. Tim Dowling doesn’t have any solid advice for you on how to be a man—he tried hard to become one for a while, but in the end he just got older. This is simply the story of being a “house husband” who works from home, and the domestic responsibilities he takes on such as answering the door and myriad DIY tasks, which make him -- if not a good husband -- a relevant one. Being a husband and father in the era of “The End of Men” isn’t easy, and Dowling continues to struggle to find ways to remain relevant to his family. Please let me know if you would like an interview with Tim Dowling. Thanks!

William Albrecht

William Albrecht is a highly decorated Vietnam veteran and retired Secret Service officer. Over a White House career spanning 25 years, he served on the protection details of four American Presidents and of numerous foreign dignitaries. Following his retirement, Albrecht managed Executive Security Operations for the Ford Motor Company before returning to his hometown to open a security consulting business.

Jon Pardi

The destination of a single song lyric reaches far beyond the four walls of labels. Jon Pardi is proof of that. Born in California. Raised in Texas. Now living in Nashville. That's way too information. Someone better bust open a beer.

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Marlon Wayans

The Wayans have always been the most down to earth family of entertainers you'll ever meet. Their passion is performance. Performing this weekend at Charlotte's Comedy Zone...from the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with Marlon Wayans

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Bon Qui Qui Anjelah Johnson

This is why you should never give up on character. She was huge on Mad TV. Instead of putting the role away. Anjelah Johnson kept the vision alive and now has released an entire collection of songs. From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with Bon Qui Qui Disgruntled fast food employee turned hip-hop Goddess Bon Qui Qui is back and returns with the release of her debut full-length album, Gold Plated Dreams. on January 20, 2015 via Warner Music Nashville. The album is available for pre-order now. Since being fired from King Burger, Bon Qui Qui has worked many odd jobs and lost them all. In the search for her calling, the employee with no filter made it her life mission to dominate the hip-hop world and recorded her first rap single, “I’m a Cut You”. She’s still her ghetto fabulous self, but with a new career and a new weave. Watch “I’m a Cut You” Video here: http://youtu.be/p-KdXdfmWa0 Bon Qui Qui is the alter ego of Mad TV’s Anjelah Johnson-Reyes. This original character arose from the Mad TV sketch “King Burger” and followed Johnson-Reyes’ stand-up routine, “Nail Salon”, which went viral and made her an internet sensation; the video currently logs 33 million YouTube views. Bon Qui Qui has since been viewed and replicated by over 65 million people worldwide. After recording and releasing three songs and two music videos as Bon Qui Qui, Anjelah signed a record deal with Warner Bros Records and is set to release her debut album. Bon Qui Qui recently teamed up with Benefit Cosmetics for her third music video, “This Is How We Do It (Benefit Remix)”. All songs and videos are currently available on iTunes and YouTube. Anjelah is a former professional cheerleader for the Oakland Raiders and as a Raiderette, was named Rookie of the Year and performed in Super Bowl XXXVII. In June 2009 Anjelah recorded her first one-hour special for Comedy Central and Warner Brothers Records titled, That’s How We Do It. Her second one-hour special, The Homecoming Show, aired on NUVOtv in July 2013 and is currently available on DVD. Johnson has starred in such films as Our Family Wedding, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel and Enough Said. Anjelah has also guest starred on shows such as The Shield, Ugly Betty, Curb Your Enthusiasm and others all while performing stand-up comedy nationwide. www.facebook.com/BonQuiQui www.twitter.com/realbonquiqui http://instagram.com/realbonquiqui

US Navy Seal Mike Ritland

He has seen real team work. He's lived the life on a war path that couldn't have been won without the aid of his partner. A dog. From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with US Navy Seal Mike Ritland The Navy SEALs are known as "the teams" for good reason. Every member of the unit understands the role he has to play, spends hours of working together to build trust, and forges an unbreakable bond through repetition and commitment. As a Navy SEAL and a trainer of military working dogs, Mike Ritland has spent nearly his entire adult life fostering the best of human and canine attributes—a respect for authority, care for other’s well-being, and a commitment to getting things done right. He has created one of the most successful canine training programs in the country, providing dogs and training for the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs, TSA, and the Department of Defense, as well as elite Special Forces units within the US Military. Ritland also established the Warrior Dog Foundation, which helps to transition dogs from an operational environment into a state-of-the-art kennel facility. Ritland offers a unique perspective to dog training that has proven as effective in the living room or backyard as it did on the battlefield. His easy-to-follow instructions will teach you how to transform your dog into the ultimate companion. About the Author: Mike Ritland joined the navy in 1996, and after twelve years started his own company to train dogs for the SEAL teams. His clients include the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs, TSA, and the Department of Defense. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller Trident K9 Warriors, which is being adapted for film.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Dr Rachel Ross from The Doctors

I love talking to two different people: Preachers and Doctors. They both have incredible stories to share about the mind body and soul. From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with Dr Rachel Ross from The Doctors Dr. Rachael Ross is a recurring co-host on the Emmy® Award-winning talk show, The Doctors, and a practicing board-certified family medicine physician and sexologist whose engaging manner and frankness has garnered comparisons to Dr. Ruth Westheimer. A pioneer of groundbreaking discussions about relationships, sex, health, abstinence HIV/AIDS prevention and comprehensive sex education for teenagers, Dr. Rachael has spread her message to audiences across the U.S. on television, social media and numerous publications. For Dr. Rachael, practicing medicine is something of a family business. She continues to practice in her hometown of Gary, IN, with her father, Dr. David Ross and her brother, Dr. Nathaniel Ross, while mom Ruthie serves as office manager. Dr. Rachael’s sister, Rebekkah Ross, was also a physician and part of the Ross Family Doctors’ practice until she passed away from complications related to sickle cell anemia in 2011. In 2012, Dr. Rachael received Northwest Indiana’s prestigious Athena International Service Award for the work she started in 2004 with her sister Dr. Rebekkah, mentoring girls in their hometown. The duo’s philanthropy has also been recognized by the National Council of Negro Women. In addition to her family practice, Dr. Rachael has been a featured speaker at college campuses nationwide and has been quoted as an expert in Cosmopolitan and Self magazines and contributes to several medical publications. She is also the author of Down Right Feel Right – Outercourse: For Her & For Him, designed to help couples develop greater intimacy. Dr. Rachael earned her M.D. from Meharry Medical College and her Ph.D. from the American Academy of Clinical Sexologists, along with a B.A. from Vanderbilt University, where she studied anthropology. She now lives in Chicago, and in her free time refurbishes furniture, dabbles in interior design, maintains her medical practice in Gary, and commutes throughout the U.S. passionately offering “prescriptions for life.” The Doctors, now in its seventh season, won the 2010 Emmy® Award for Outstanding Talk Show/Informative and has been nominated five times in the category. For additional information on The Doctors, please visit www.thedoctorstv.com.

Monday, February 2, 2015

Dr Janet Kennedy

I've never been a sleeper. Sleeping to me is a total waste of time, The doctor looked at me the other day and about had a cow. I've always blamed my bad sleeping on radio. But it actually goes deeper. From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with Dr. Janet Kennedy who says great sleeping begins with the youngest of children and she's got the cure to you child's sleepless nights. THE GOOD SLEEPER: The Essential Guide to Sleep for Your Baby (and You), is written for exhausted parents (and you), giving them immediate access to the information they need! Reassuring and easy to understand, Dr. Janet Kennedy addresses head on the fears and misinformation about the long-term effects of crying and takes a bold stand on controversial issues such as co-sleeping and attachment parenting! With polarizing figures and techniques dominating the marketplace - and spawning misinformation across the internet - Dr. Kennedy’s methods and practices create an extensively researched and parent tested approach to sleep training that takes both babies' and parents’ needs into account to deliver good nights and days of sleep, and no small dose of peace of mind. THE GOOD SLEEPER is a practical, empowering - and even entertaining - guide to help parents understand infant sleep. This research based book will teach parents the basics of sleep science, determine how and when to intervene, and provide tools to solve even the most seemingly impossible sleep problems. The ugly truth is there is no one-size-fits-all technique. Parents are left having to navigate an overwhelming number of options, often giving up altogether because they can’t agree on a strategy, don’t understand the principals behind them, or out of sheer exhaustion at and confusion over the voluminous, often contradictory advice. Kennedy is a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of NYC SLEEP Doctor, a specialty practice dedicated to the treatment of sleep disturbance in babies, toddlers and adults. A media mainstay, she provides in-home behavioral assessments for parents of babies and toddlers— developing a step-by-step treatment plan to address sleep problem—and teaches her acclaimed Raise a Good Sleeper class to new and expecting parents at pediatric offices, moms’ groups and private meetings around the country. With THE GOOD SLEEPER, she cuts through the noise that is parenting sleep advice to provide counsel that is authoritative, clear, practical and empowering—and affords parents a fundamental grasp of infant sleep: how it works, how much they need, and how to shape good habits. THE GOOD SLEEPER focuses on: • The physiological process of sleep, drowsiness and overfatigue. • Maintaining a short period of wakefulness between naps. • The importance of teaching a baby to self-soothe. • Preference for extinction methods vs gradual extinction or so-called "no-cry" solutions. BUT THE GOOD SLEEPER GOES FURTHER: • The first 3-months is defined as its own gradual sleep training process to avoid the necessity of extinction. • There is a focus on concrete soothing strategies that keep the baby calm and the parents sane. • The distinction is made between soothing strategies appropriate in the first 3 months and those appropriate as the baby’s response to stimulation changes. There is focus on identifying the point of transition and phasing-out appropriately. • The method provides a clear framework with enough flexibility to fit into the reality of parents’ lives. • The difference between a child’s needs vs desires or habits is emphasized, underscoring the parent’s role in prioritizing needs such as sleep and self-soothing over the child’s desire for round-the-clock contact. • THE GOOD SLEEPER addresses head-on the fears and misinformation about the long-term effects of crying and takes a bold stand on controversial issues such as co-sleeping and “attachment parenting.” • Parents are addressed as people undergoing a huge life transition complete with their own feelings, struggles, and adult sleep issues. Dr. Kennedy uses her expertise in these areas to help new parents through this adjustment, empowering them to be decisive in their new roles.

Louella Pickett

I've been spinning music on the radio for 36 years. Before the internet the stories shared over song intros was based on short paragraphs printed to history books. Today those closest to the roots of Rock n Roll are beginning to share the entire story. From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with the true story about the legendary Wilson PIckett Do the Watusi like my little Lucy," sang legendary soul singer Wilson Pickett about his little sister he called "Lucy Coot." January 19, 2015 marked nine years since Wilson’s death. Lucy Coot, aka Louella Pickett-New, honors her brother today in her new memoir "Don’t Let The Green Grass Fool You." "The death of my brother was one of the most profound experiences of loss in my life," Pickett-New said. Wilson reached his dream of being a star with classic hits like "Mustang Sally," "Land of 1,000 Dances" and "In The Midnight Hour." Known for his energy and passion as a musician, unbeknown to the public, his road to stardom was not always smooth sailing. And even after his established fame, Wilson faced career-destroying hardships. In Pickett-New’s memoir, she shares her many memories of her brother, including their childhood, living with Wilson in New York City at the peak of his fame, and the many events that made Wilson a beloved brother. Merging her own memories with those of her siblings and others close to Wilson, Pickett-New paints a portrait of the complex and wounded man behind the powerfully expressive voice. "A flawed yet brilliant soul, he inspired many fans, fellow musicians and the world." Pickett-New said. For more information, visit www.pickettgreengrass.com "Don’t Let The Green Grass Fool You: A Siblings Memoir of Legendary Singer Wilson Pickett" By Louella Pickett-New ISBN: 9781499052855 Available in softcover, hardcover, e-book Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Xlibris