Dan Navarro Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson They say you can never go home- they didn’t have their old pal Dan Navarro on their show––took me right back to shared memories with Chloris Leachman in the living room, the Mets winning a 2015 playoff game at Dodger Stadium (unlike today), seeing Lori Lieberman at The Grammy Museum, Mike Finnega…

Dee Wallace Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Dee Wallace has been a literal life changer for me, let alone a game changer in the business of show and as a self-creation healer. We signed up for a session as soon as I got off the interweb tonight. I’ve been employing Dee’s techniques since first we met at Women Who Write in 2011. I got refre…

My crush on William Katt began decades ago with the tumbling blonde spirals of Tommy Ross in Carrie, the close-cropped Sundance, to the shorter golden curls of Pippin… it wasn’t just the hair, of course… that face, the smile, his voice… the whole damn package. Like millions of other baby boomers, he had us swooning for years. How lovely to sit down…

Narada Michael Walden Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Wow! I’ve seen hundreds of photos, loads of videos - I’ve never seen Narada Michael Walden in an orange bowler. When was the last time I wore orange? InSync! From the first moment to the last, what a glorious, grateful, exuberant lovefest. Narada is as passionate, fun, inviting, and acc…

Jorma Kaukonen Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Let your fingers do the running to the play button. Please! One of the greatest, funnest, most illuminating conversations I’ve had the privilege to share, Jorma Kaukonen, iconic legend, musical hero, rock god, (I mean, come on!) exceeded all expectations and then some. From early days in Pakis…

Rumer Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson It had been too long, too many years, since I’d last seen Rumer, whom I first heard about through our mutual friend, the late, J Marshall Craig a decade ago. As soon as I had my first taste I became obsessed with her and made it my quest to have her sing in my living room. I saw her perform at a benefi…

Ritch Shydner Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson - Part DeuxRitch Shydner could come back every week and we’d never run out of things to discuss, it would always be entertaining, and he’d always be funny. Co-host! There are no accidents. Losing his signal last week on the road in Georgia was a blessing. We got a Shydner double dip.This conver…

Ritch Shydner Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonWell, that was a first! On the road with Ronna and Ritch Shydner as they traveled from Florida back home to North Carolina. Literally, in the car, in the fading light, in rural Georgia, with intermittent signal. It was as much a surprise to me as to you! Kinda like doing an interview in a disco …

Will Lee Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonHead to head with the DNC, two news junkies didn’t walk into a bar but did get lost in conversation and fun. It’s easy when one of them is Grammy Winner, crazy talented, lovely, humble human, Will Lee.It’s been a few years and a world of changes since last we spoke, this time focusing on the road to …

Josh Sussman on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonWhat fun, as I expected! What edutainment, that I couldn’t have anticipated! We got the inside scoop on the differences of the pre and post-pandemic biz scene from SAG Award Winner, Josh Sussman. Fascinating, insightful, delightful! Booking his first audition for My Crazy Life, playing Tom Green’s bes…

Cathy Moriarty Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonGirl Crush! I’ve had one for years on Academy Award Nominee, Cathy Moriarty, now after spending a virtual hour with her, forgetaboutit! I always knew she was an incredible actress, whether making me laugh or cry, but, what an amazing woman… mother, daughter, loyal friend, and pet rescuer. We ta…

Greg Mullavey on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonWhen one of my life’s heroes walks off the screen into the reals and supersedes all expectations, that’s a home run. So goes it with Mary Hartman Mary Hartman’s, Greg Mullavey. I got a taste interviewing him on the Zoom a few years ago, but this go ‘round witnessing him honoring his craft onstage at …

Peter Onorati Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonSO FUN! Spending time with Peter Onorati is like going out in the bright sunshine after a month in a dark cave. Such joy! We talked Italy and the wondrous vacation he treated his immediate family to visiting their extended family in towns I’ve never heard of and can’t begin to pronounce. But, I …

Snuffy Walden Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonLemonade! That’s what you get when you take a brilliantly talented, supportive beau, and the greatest, most fun-loving, and devoted co-commiserators on the planet and mix them together on what could have been a rough one. My gratitude is boundless. What fun this was! It helps when said Beau is E…

Oh, what crazy fun! Melanie Taylor who’s sung with pretty much everybody who’s anybody is such an absolute blast, joy, whip-smart, street-smart, soulful, intuitive, talented, informative, unabashedly opinionated and dare I say… right… at least, right on! We started with traveling the world, and how Mel’s work, touring, has enabled her to do so, mor…

Tom Bergeron on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonWhat a blast to sit down again with the just honored inaugural recipient of The Sam Rubin Award from The Critics Choice Association and Emmy-Winner, Tom Bergeron. The humble humanitarian was as funny and feisty as ever regaling us with one show biz gold story after another and commanding us to Google …

Thaao Penghlis Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonLooking as fit, youthful, and handsome as ever, thrice Emmy nominated, Thaao Penghlis, was a model of class, sophistication, charisma, and information. As has always been the case, the conversation flowed and the time flew. We talked about Thaao’s travels to Egypt and Greece, how to best visit …

Susan Seidelman Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonI’ve been desperately seeking Susan Seidelman for 14 years… some things, some Susans, are worth waiting for! Loved every second with this film maverick whom I’ve admired since we were both kicking around Greenwich Village, kinda “bad girls,” who looked, good. There’s so much common thread (wel…

Toto’s Joseph Williams Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonHold the line! What a way to reenter this arena - with arena rockstar Joseph Williams of Toto! I had the best time - can’t stop smiling. Joseph could not have been more accessible, personable, humble, willing, thoughtful, informative… entertaining, and warm––like a fuzzy blanket on a co…

I’m filled to the brim with love, compassion, and inspiration. I so enjoyed every moment in Lydia Cornell’s most excellent company. A strong, talented, generous, capable woman, who knows who she is, where she’s been, and where she wants to be, allowing for godshots that may alter her future at any turn, AFI Best Actress nominee and People’s Choice …

Rick Vito Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonWhat a lovely way to spend a sunny afternoon. Grammy-nominated guitarist, singer, and producer, Rick Vito, probably best known as a member of Fleetwood Mac, was a sunny delight, hisself. Coming to us Live from Franklin TN, following the release of his recently dropped latest album, Cadillac Man, we …

Hal Linden Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonDoes it get better than this? Someone’s gonna have to prove it to me. Wow, what a time with Hal Linden! As nice, charming, handsome, and tall (well, I’m guessing on the last), as his Barney Miller, Hal was all that and a hefty bag of Cheetos. Absolutely age-defying - I want to see his birth certifi…

Warren Ham Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonWhat an absolutely delightful sit down with multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, Warren Ham. As much as I was blown away seeing him do his thing (s) Live with Ringo and his All Starr Band, singing lead, background vocals, playing flute, sax, harmonica, keyboards, and percussion, I’m exhausted just t…

Butch Patrick Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonWhat a fun chat with Butch Patrick, aka Eddie Munster, who’s warm, easy and so comfortable in his skin that it’s impossible to not feel like an old friend coming home. Butch makes everyone in his path feel seen, heard, and important. What a gift. We talked about current events… living in Arkansa…

Rudy Sarzo of Quiet Riot Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonI got to sit down again with bassist extraordinaire, Rudy Sarzo... Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, The Guess Who, Blue Oyster Cult - who's also a modern-day humanist, animal rights activist, author, mentor, CG artist, and an evolved, spiritual, gentle soul. And what a time it w…

OMG, where has George Schlatter been my whole life? I could've been a contenda!George Schlatter relishes the accidents and has made a career and created a legacy spinning them into comedy gold. Sock it to me! Here comes the judge! Look that up in your Funk and Wagnells! It’s not everyone who creates language that becomes part of the lexicon. 25x Em…

Federico Castelluccio of The Sopranos Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonI knew Federico Castelluccio, Furio Giunta, on the Sopranos, is a crazy talented artist on screen and canvas, is charming, easy on the eyes and ears, but damn! I was unprepared for one of the most fascinating, spectacular conversations I’ve had to date. I know little to n…

Rock ’N Roll Hall of Famer Ricky Byrd Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonHanging out with Rock’N Roll Hall of Famer, Ricky Byrd, is like going home. Back to the days… when we were both in a daze. I was booking the Rock 'N Roll Café on Bleecker Street, Ricky was already a rockstar, center stage as lead guitarist with Joan Jett and the Blackhear…

Simon Kirke of Bad Company Live on Game Changers With Vicki I was Live with Simon Kirke, co-founder of Free and Bad Company, two of the greatest rock bands in history. A huge lifelong fan, it was a thrill to sit down and hear how it all went down, including how Snuffy, a guitar player kinda close to my heart, ended up playing on Free’s Heartbreaker…

James Morrison Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonHow fortuitous that my first show back after an 8-week hiatus was with the stunningly soulful James Morrison––actor, writer, filmmaker, musician, husband, father, fellow, and stellar human. James was Chicken soup for my post-COVID soul. Discovering just before we went on the air that my treasur…

Vincent Curatola of The Sopranos Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonI’m not sure how it’s possible to meet a person once on Zoom and feel like they’re a treasured friend that I’ve known forever, but that’s exactly how it is with Vincent Curatola, aka Johnny Sack of The Sopranos, whom before meeting I feared would whack. Me. On this our second …

Lori Lieberman Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonBeing with Lori Lieberman, the very first musical guest at Women Who Write, and the only artist to perform at every WWW location over the past decade-plus is like going home. Five years since our last midday soiree, it was so wonderful to reconnect and catch up. We got the unabridged Killing Me…

Steve Lukather Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonHold the Line! Steve Lukather may be a bonafide rock star, but he’s also down-to-earth, self-effacing, self-aware, open-minded, hearted, reflective, enthusiastic, passionate, thoughtful, generous, and perhaps sweetest of all, a fanboy like us of his heroes. From the 6-year-old boy blown away by…

Marshall Herskovitz Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonMasterclass! I’ve had many stimulating, fascinating, brilliant, talented, fun guests. None more so than writer, director, and producer, Marshall Herskovitz. There’s a reason this human has won more Emmy, Golden Globe, Writers Guild, Directors Guild, Peabody, and Humanitas Awards than I can…

Today I got to hang with Ed Begley who makes me laugh and think and feel and want to do better and be better.7x Emmy Award Nominee - St Elsewhere, Better Call Saul, Best In Show, Saturday Night Live, Spinal Tap, Mary Hartman Mary Hartman, Going South, She Devil, My Three Sons, The Dating Game, oh yes he did… even winning a date to Australia… we tal…

Steve Porcaro Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonI loved every second with 3x Grammy Winner, founding member of Toto, Steve Porcaro. A down-to-earth sweetheart of a guy who just happens to be one arm of the iconic legendary musical Porcaro family. These ain’t no lip-sinking, TV frontmen, the Porcaros define chops. World-renowned drummer, Joe, …

David Jackson Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonWhat a delight music legend David Jackson is. No surprise. I was warned by his legions of loyal fans, most of whom are his brilliantly talented contemporaries. This was fabulous fun, topped perhaps by pre-fed stories with lots of misinformation which paved the way for the truths, which proved to…

Live from Los Angeles, it was Wednesday eve. Loved spending it with Television Academy Hall of Famer, Laraine Newman. I was a little down-and-out post-new Moderna vax, but thanks to Laraine, I swiftly forgot all about it. She took us through her early childhood, finding her place with the funny. From neighborhood street plays, and school theatre wi…

Anthony Fedorov Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonI’m still smiling and I’m not sure I’m gonna stop any time soon. What a blast I had with American Idol finalist Anthony Fedorov. It’s been a minute since last we met and Anthony is even more spectacular than I remembered.He opened the show with That Someone, his new song from his new musical, …

Steve Conte Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonWhat a great time, as always, when old pal Steve Conte sits down to chat and sing. That voice! Those songs! The stories! Steve played his latest Coolest Song in the World, Fourth of July, co-written with Andy Partridge of XTC, which was a dream come true for Steve and anyone fortunate enough to he…

Max Gail Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonWhat a thrill it is when someone whose work I admire, adore, and respect exceeds all my expectations as a human. Max Gail, actor, director, advocate, songwriter, two-time Emmy Award Nominee, for Barney Miller, and two-time Emmy Winner for General Hospital did just that. Spending time in his most exce…

Tom Arnold Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson by Vicki AbelsonDi Vicki Abelson

taken years to get Danny Kortchmar alone in the Game Changers guest seat, having paid us a couple of previous visits with his Immediate Family brothers. This Danny is kinder, gentler, and oh, so fun. He’s been leaning more and more in this direction to my view since falling in love with Lisa Roy, even after surviving the devastating loss of her lif…

Percussionist Luis Conte- I love him! What a delightful sit down with this young man who escaped Castro’s Cuba to meet The Beatles and ended up playing with everybody else. Fabulous stories about his homeland, hitting Hollywood, Rockin The Boat, The Supremes, Doc Severinsen, hitting the big time with Madonna at the height of her day, Phil Collins a…

Tony Braunagel Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonWhat a long great trip it’s been. Grammy and Blues Music Award Winner, Tony Braunagel, took us through his early days in Houston, playing nightclubs at 15 with soul bands, to connecting with a certain Snuffy Walden and Terry Wilson a few years later, playing together on and off over the next 50…

Singer/songwriter, Tony-nominated, film &, TV star, writer, director, producer, author, 1st Star Search Winner, Sam Harris, is a real person with real issues and we talked… real. About struggles with weight, Sam’s conquered his, losing upwards of 30 pounds in recent months, and he told us how he’s done it. Inspiring! We talked about life, as it is …

Jason Scheff Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonRock Star! Jason Scheff’s got the chops, the voice, the lineage, the career, and the hair! And I’m not sure he could be a more lovely, gracious, humble guy. As if thirty years with Chicago weren’t enough, Jason takes us through that experience from the rumors, the auditions, the close race, getti…

CJ Vanston Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonI could have laughed all night and still have laughed some more! What fun! Composer, producer, songwriter, keyboardist, CJ Vanston––great bit on his name to start, had me laughing to tears story upon story. Oh boy, I needed the eggs.From his musical beginnings, locked in and listening to his dad’s …

Cheri Oteri Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Fun, fun, fun, and more fun. A long-time huge fan of Cheri Oteri’s work - I’m now a huge fan of the human. I loved every second in this Emmy nominees’ great company. As animated as Cheri is on screen, she’s all that and a truck full of fun in conversation. From early days in Philly imitating soap…

AJ Benza Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonWe couldn’t sit further apart on the political spectrum, or how we approach and present what we do, and yet columnist, TV correspondent, talk show host, actor, author, award-winning producer, and podcaster, AJ Benza, is a cherished friend. What we do share is a quest to tell the truth, a platform to …