Born and raised just south of Boston, I’ve been fortunate to see three of the greatest pro sports dynasties ever in person – the Boston Celtics, New York Yankees, and New England Patriots. From Bill Russell’s Celtics of the 50s-60s and Larry Bird’s Cs of the 80’s…to the Mickey Mantle led Yankees of the 50’s and early 60’s and Jeter’s Yanks of the 90s, I was blessed to see all those great teams in person.…
John Shaffner is the dean of production designers in Hollywood. This Montana native has been nominated for an extraordinary 60 Emmys in his career with multiple wins. John’s fertile mind conceived and executed the sets on: FRIENDS, BIG BANG THEORY, WILL & GRACE, BOB HEARTS ABISHOLA, GEORGE LOPEZ, DREW CAREY and so many more. In addition, John was the President of the Television Academy of Arts and Sciences. John notes that, ironically, all his EMMY nominations…
The best Christmas song and vocal was recorded more than 50 years ago and its back story is like a Hallmark Channel movie. And it really happened. Frank Pooler was the choir director at Cal St. Long Beach. In 1946, just after the war, he was stationed in Germany and during the holiday season, he missed his fiancé. So, Frank wrote a poem longhand called “Merry Christmas, Darling”. It had NO melody. Frank and his…
Actor Stephen Lang has had a remarkable career. He is now starring as Colonel Miles Quaritch in the smash hit AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER. His Quaritch also was the antagonist in AVATAR which grossed more the $3 billion in 2011. But Stephen is so much more than Quaritch. Amongst his many film roles, Steve starred as the Old Man in DON’T BREATHE, Ike Clanton in TOMBSTONE, General Stonewall Jackson in GODS & GENERALS, and…
A collection of random thoughts, as I embark on my 73rd holiday season…. I am forever thankful for all the blessings I have shared, and for those I look forward to in the future. To family and old friends who have blessed my life and have gone to a better place… and to those who continue to make my life better like my wife Karen, daughter Erin, Son-in-Law Charlie, and my two granddaughters Frankie &…
Sports has played a significant role in my life…from my days as a young boy when I played ball daily…to today, after many years of working in the world of sports. I tell you this to magnify why I’m so concerned with my state of mind when it comes to watching sports on television these days. It’s simply not holding my attention as it has my entire life. These days, I’m constantly flipping the channel…
Billy Van Zandt is one half of the famous TV writing duo Van Zandt/Milmore, with his late partner Jane Milmore. A playwright and actor, Billy is the author of the best-selling TV memoir Get in the Car, Jane. Van Zandt/Milmore were nominated for an Emmy Award for their television special I Love Lucy: The Very First Show, and won People’s Choice and NAACP Image Awards for their work on the Martin Lawrence comedy Martin and a Prism Multi-Cultural Award for his work on TV’s The Hughleys. He and…