I know many are going through some challenging financial times these days. Hell, making a trip to the supermarket is no picnic for me either. In the past two years my grocery bill has increased drastically. And as a diabetic who lives alone, believe me, I purchase the same boring food every week, so it’s not like I’m buying more. Thanks Joe! But that aside, remember it’s not the food on the table that makes…
He doesn’t know. He couldn’t know how much he means to me. He is there every day. There by my side in stressful times. There by my side in happy times. He is mostly happy all the time. My dog, Kobe, has been my best pal since the day I rescued him. I had been distraught like many of you after we lost Kobe Bryant…then Covid hit and isolated me (like you, too) … and…
Rosero McCoy, who will be joining Mick & Mook on November 23, is one of the most established and well-rounded Choreographers in the Entertainment Industry. He has worked with the likes of Emmy Award Winner, Zendaya, Usher, Prince, and former First lady Michelle Obama. Some of Rosero’s choreography film credits include Rags, Rio, Honey 2, Camp Rock 2, Alvin and the Chipmunks 1 & 2, Step Up, Beauty Shop, Vanilla Sky, and Garfield 1 & 2. His choreography can also be seen on hit TV…
With Veteran’s Day approaching, many emotions run through my head and heart. As a grateful Baby Boomer, I’ve witnessed, firsthand, the trials and tribulations of being a veteran, specifically war veterans of World War II and Vietnam. Those two wars played a significant role in my life. For those who read my blog, you know that my dad was a WWII Veteran who paid a heavy price serving his country. As a paratrooper during the…
Acclaimed sports columnist and basketball analyst, Peter Vecsey, joins Billy and Frank on the November 9th episode of A Mick A Mook and A Mic. The controversial writer has been a fixture in the New York and NBA Media Industry for decades. An analyst for NBA TV, Vecsey has also worked for the NY Post, TBS and NBC. A highly touted writer and TV analyst, Vecsey was the recipient of the Baseball Hall of Fame’s…
Forty years ago, almost to the day, I was at The Power Station co-producing and co-writing with Rachel Sweet and Larry Gottlieb for Rachel’s album for Columbia records. Around nine o’clock, Rachel wanted to take a fifteen-minute break. She said she needed to freshen up for a visitor. When she was doing that, I went to the lounge and sat down on a banquette. The Honeymooners was on, and I began watching. About five minutes…
George Lopez, ‘America’s Mexican’ and Star of the hit ABC Series “George Lopez”, which was the first fully Latino-based cast in Hollywood history, joins Mick and Mook on November 2. George’s new NBC series “Lopez v Lopez” debuts this week (November 4) with his daughter, Mayan, as the co-star. George rose from a childhood of nothingness to reach a level of stardom to which few have ascended. TV, movies, and a NY Times best-selling author,…
Harry Caray, the legendary baseball announcer was broadcasting an NBA exhibition game once in Memphis. (Harry did broadcast basketball for the St. Louis Hawks). Harry was taking a nap when the phone rang. “Hello”, said Harry. “Hello Harry, this is Elvis Presley, and I’m a big fan of the Hawks”. Before he could finish the sentence…Harry hung up on the caller. Some idiot is pranking me, he thought. The phone rings again. “Harry, it’s really…
As the 2022 MLB Playoffs approached, I wondered if I’d have enough interest to watch all the games. You see, my Red Sox sucked this season and were nowhere to be found in the brackets. An ALCS finalist in 2021, they finished dead last in the AL East this year. Embarrassing! So, with no rooting interest, could the playoffs hold my attention? As I looked at the brackets, there was really no one to specifically…
Anyone who has watched TV or movies knows Jack McGee. See him on the street and you will say to yourself, where do I know that guy from? The answer is you’ve seen him in more than 100 movies and TV shows. Best known on TV for his role opposite Denis Leary in Rescue Me, where he played a grizzly fire fighter…which was not a big stretch for Jack, as be spent many years as…
John Lennon would have been 82 years-old on October 9th had some psycho not shot him six times in the back on December 8, 1980…on my birthday. 82 years old! We can’t even figure out legislation to keep people who have mental problems from owning weapons…but that’s another post. 82 years old! I think about all the music he could have made and was busy making. I think he would’ve written and performed with Paul…
Nestor Carbonell is currently co-starring in the hit series “The Morning Show,” opposite Jennifer Aniston & Reese Witherspoon, now shooting its third season for Apple TV Plus. Nestor is most often recognized for his integral role in the series “Lost” as Richard Alpert, as well as his turn as Mayor Anthony Garcia opposite Gary Oldman in Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight”. He reprised his role as the Mayor of Gotham City in the box-office hit…
Not long ago I was doing the sports segment on a LA morning TV show. I made a reference to Howard Cosell. The show’s co-anchor had no idea who that was. THAT’S A CO-NEWS ANCHOR!!! Hey, Howard died way back in 1995. The point I wanted to make isn’t to embarrass anyone, but to point out that not just news people, but all kinds of people today (mostly young people) have very little cultural knowledge…
Faith Ford is a recipient of five Emmy Award nominations and two Golden Globe Award nominations for her eleven-season portrayal of reporter ‘Corky Sherwood’ on the CBS series “Murphy Brown.” She also starred in the ABC hit comedy series “Hope & Faith” with Kelly Ripa for three seasons, and later on “Norm” opposite Norm Mc Donald and Laurie Metcalf. In addition to her highly successful acting career, Ford made her writing debut in 2004 with…
For those of you who read my blog, you know that I, fortunately, come from a very close and loving family. My Mom and Dad grew up in the same neighborhood, married at a young age (when my dad returned home from WWII), owned businesses in town, and became very well-known and respected in our community. Over the years, many friends of my brother and I considered our parents their second parents. Often, friends would…
Mick and Mook will discuss a variety of topics in next week’s (October 5) episode, including: The Royal Family, Netflix, Former President Trump burying Ivana on a golf course, Bill Maher, Quaaludes, and a lot more. Plus, they’ll introduce a new segment on the show, which will feature future Hall of Fame Baseball umpire Joe West talking about the upcoming baseball playoffs. Joe will also discuss the new rules for the 2023 MLB season. So,…
It is damn near impossible now to get quality time with athletes as a journalist, the enemy banished outside upon the arrival of Covid—never again to be afforded intimate access. I knew Kobe Bryant, adored him, disliked him, laughed, and yelled and all in the same interview. He was human, and I came to understand that. Even Kevin Brown was human, although I could argue the alternative. I’m not sure I could function today in…
John Larroquette needs no introduction. The 5 Time Emmy Award winner for Night Court and Boston Legal also won a Tony on Broadway for his role in How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. John’s other TV, Broadway and Feature Film credits are too numerous to mention. A Louisiana native, Larroquette will again delight audiences this winter when NBC television brings back a new version of Night Court starring John as the…
Sadly, there is one guarantee in life…death. Unfortunately, as we grow older, that occurrence comes far too frequently. That is the sad truth about aging – we lose loved-ones, friends, and acquaintances on a regular basis. And while we accept this fact, it does not make it any easier when it occurs. With the 2022 football season upon us, I think of one of its great players, Gino Cappelletti, who we lost this year. Gino,…
Off The Meter represents the culmination of a forty-year career of driving a yellow cab while trying to make a difference in the world. John McDonagh is currently producer and host of Radio Free Eireann and Talk Mac, We and Thee with Malachy McCourt and Corey Kilgannon, a weekly radio shows heard on Pacifica station WBAI, New York. John began his career as a NYC Yellow cab driver after serving in the U.S. Army in…
“They knew what they were signing up for.” “Ignore the infirmed, bury the dead, and just move on” seems to be the callous chorus of all too many insensible lawmakers who have never left the comfort of their own office nor lifted anything heavier than a pen. Too many of the so-called “powers that be” are only too happy to prattle these tired cliches to the families of first responders and war veterans. As…
Hank Bauer, a record shattering running back from tiny D-3 Cal Lutheran, was picked up in 1977 by the San Diego Charger and went on to become, perhaps, the greatest special teams player in NFL history Bauer holds the NFL single-season record for most special-teams tackles with 52, a record which will never be broken (28 tackles is second). As a short-yardage specialist and often referred to “Hank the Howitzer” for his explosive running style, Bauer…
On September 11,2001, FDNY Battalion Chief Rich Alles responded to the World Trade Center twenty minutes after the second collapse. His assignment entailed the supervision of search and rescue units for the entire two weeks of the operation. He witnessed untold horrors. Now retired with the rank of Deputy Chief, Rich helped lobby Congress for the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act (The Zadroga bill). Still maintaining an active presence at Ground Zero, Rich brings extensive…
It’s been a tough few years for movie theatres. First, they were completely out. Then they were kinda out? But also, it was like, you’re spaced out, wearing masks, being quiet…so they were back in. Then they were totally back…but everything was releasing on streaming at the same time so they were out again? In reality, though, no matter how big your TV is, no matter how loud your sound system is, no matter how…
Make no mistake, I’m a firm believer of capitalism. God bless you for making as much money as you can, if it’s done legally – and not like a politician (but that’s a blog for another time). However, over the years, I’ve watched professional sports team-owners, unions, and athletes get so consumed with money that it has taken over the dialog in sports. Fans now talk more about how much money an athlete makes rather…