Former MLB Umpire Cowboy Joe West is back with the guys on March 1, as they discuss amongst other things: behind the scenes stories about baseball managers and players, what goes on in the bullpen, the art of rubbing up baseballs, and the vison of Walter O’Malley’s moving the Dodgers west in 1958. Other topics will include: the future of the Big 10, Huey Lewis and the News, Sudden Sam McDowell, The Andy Griffith…
Roy Firestone is a seven-time Emmy Award Winning and seven-time cable ACE Award-winning host, interviewer, narrator, writer and producer. He will join Mick and Mook on the February 22nd episode of A Mick A Mook and A Mic. Roy was the original host of ESPN’s legendary Up Close, Up Close Classic, and Up Close Primetime. As an actor, Roy was featured in the Academy Award-Winning film, Jerry Maguire, where he played himself in a scene…
It could be 1959 or 60. Possibly, 1961. They could be 17, 18 years old, still wearing leather. It could be the beginning of Hamburg, when they performed long, exhausting sets in sleazy strip bars. Still, this is one of the earliest photos of Paul and John singing and writing a song, just the way you see it. See, in the early years, Paul and John, with left and right-handed guitars, made it easy for…
Bruce Ferber is a novelist and an Emmy Award-sinning writer. He joins Mick and Mook on the February 15 episode of A Mick A Mook and A Mic. Ferber’s first job in TV was writing for Bosom Buddies starring Tom Hanks and the late Peter Scolari. Bruce recalls it being “a magical introduction to the business.” Other Ferber show credits include Growing Pains, Duet, Coach, Home Improvement and Sabrina the Teenage Witch, among others. Ferber’s…
Another Super Bowl is upon us. It’s hard to believe that this is SB LVII (#57)! However, for those of you old enough to remember, this is actually Super Bowl #55. The first two games were called the AFL-NFL Championship Game, which commenced in 1967. The name ‘Super Bowl’ was initiated in 1969, and called Super Bowl III, thus retro-activating the first two games into the new name. In addition, the AFL-NFL merger didn’t take…
Jim Breech, a former placekicker in the National Football League, will be joining Mick and Mook on the February 8th episode of A Mick A Mook and A Mic.. Jim played for the Oakland Raiders in 1979 and Cincinnati Bengals from 1980-1992. His 1,151 points with the Bengals is a franchise record. Breech also played in Super Bowls XVI and XXIII, and was perfect in both games – not missing a field goal or extra…
(ED NOTE: In light of recent happenings regarding Alec Baldwin, this blog by Joshua Meltzer, who has worked with Frank (The Mook), has been a leader in the Union, and is the Property Masters Guild’s first President, is particularly relevant today.) For many reasons, I have stayed quiet on social media regarding the Rust tragedy. But now that charges have been filed and they are starting production again, a new narrative is being told. This…
Rick Bronson is an award-winning Comedian, Magician, TV Host, Writer, Producer, Musician and Taxidermist. He also owns and operates some of North America’s top comedy clubs, including The House of Comedy. Rick’s one-man show has earned him 8 COCA Comedian of the Year awards. He won an AMPIA award for Best TV Host for his work on the award-winning travel series, ‘The Tourist’. His one-hour special for The Comedy Network and CTV was the highest…
With January ending, I thought it would be apropos to reminisce about two American icons, both born in the month of January…Elvis Presley, the King of Rock ‘n Roll (born 1/8/35), and Civil Rights Leader, Dr. Martin Luther King (born 1/15/29). You might be surprised to learn of their relationship and that one of Elvis’ great songs and performances was dedicated to MLK. As the years fly by, I’m increasingly appreciative to have grown up…
Did Tom Brady just throw his last pass? Only he will tell us…and only he should. 10 Super Bowl performances. 7 wins. 5 Super Bowl MVPs. 3 League MVPs. 15 Pro Bowls. Record for most regular season starts and wins. Most passes. Most completions. Most TD’s. Oldest player to ever win MVP (40 years old). He’s the only player to beat all 32 NFL teams. He’s the best…ever. Nothing to prove. Nothing to come back…
Tony Sepulveda is the Senior Vice President of Casting at Warner Bros Television. During his 28-year stint at WBTV, he has been the casting director on such shows as “Family Matters,” “Knots Landing,” “Friends,” and “The West Wing.” He has three Emmy nominations. Born in Santa Rosa, California, Tony graduated from UCLA, where he originally studied to be an actor. Here’s Tony’s first-hand look back at how his career path changed: “I went to UCLA…
As I watched the recent horrific happening on Monday Night Football regarding Bills’ player Damar Hamlin, I was touched by the two emotions that evolved during that life-or-death situation. They were emotions that I also experienced while watching…both heartbreaking and heartwarming moments. The way Damar went down and the immediate reaction of the players, one knew this was a serious issue. It was heartbreaking to watch. However, as time elapsed, it also became heartwarming watching…
For 40 years, Tony Hernandez was a mainstay on the sports television screens for his work in San Francisco, WCBS in New York City, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. Tony also pioneered LA Dodgers play by play on cable television in their World Championship year of 1988. Now retired and living in Montana, Tony has authored a marvelous book, ‘ALWAYS TURN DOWN THE FIRST OFFER.” The book recounts his days with the likes of Reggie Jackson,…
I’m a very sentimental person. Always have been. Always will be. New Year’s Eve is often a wistful time, not a raucous time for me. I can’t wait for a better year next year, but aside from the song “Auld Lang Syne”, which is a Scots-language poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song, we have very few, if any, memorable New Year’s Eve songs. But…
Lacretta may prove to be the breakout star of the 2023 television season for her role as Gurgs in the revival of the iconic NBC series Night Court. You may ask yourself – where has she been hiding? The answer to that question is she had been working on her craft in opera, Broadway, and Musical Theatre, nationwide. Now that you have found her, you will never forget her. The Mick and The Mook are…
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…
A stand-up comedian for 40 years, Joey Kola has performed for hundreds of thousands of people throughout his career in the US, Canada, and England. His high-energy, spot-on punch lines, and fast delivery assault an audience like a comedic freight train. Joey’s topical and timeless material combine to always make his audiences laugh. Joey has been voted Best TV Comic 5 years in a row by Time Out NY Magazine. He also warmed up shows,…
Why I love both versions of When She Was My Girl for different reasons. Any writer who is fortunate enough to have his song covered by two such great artists is miraculously fortunate. I count my blessings daily. Larry Gottlieb and I wrote the song in the Motown tradition of sad lyrics in an up-tempo major key. David Wolfert produced it brilliantly in its first iteration, and The Four Tops sold it with a most…
The November 30th episode of A Mick A Mook and A Mic will feature Dwight Hicks, the former San Francisco 49ers’ All-Pro, two-time Super Bowl Champion and current actor. Dwight began his NFL career in 1979, winning Super Bowls in 1982 and 1985. He was named to four consecutive Pro Bowls, as a free safety, from 1981-1984. He was also an All-Pro selection in 1981. After his football career, Dwight went on to become a…