Baring It All with Call Me Adam

This season on my podcast, Baring It All with Call Me Adam, I am spotlighting My Entertainment Idols.Today I am catching up with Actress Michelle Clunie, who you know for portraying Melanie Marcus on Showtime's hit Television Series Queer As Folk.The last time Michelle Clunie was on the New York Stage was in 2012 when she starred in her Off Broadway play US. In this NEW interview, Michelle is Baring It All with Call Me Adam about:How Pen Pals made her want to return to the New York StageWhat she hopes audiences come away with after seeing Pen PalsWhat she would tell Melanie from Queer As Folk todaySomething she's never shared beforeSo much more Pen Pals is the extraordinary story of two friends that unfolds over decades. With a rotating cast of renowned actors, no two performances will ever be the same.Bernie and Mags live in two different countries, they’ve never met, and yet they’re best friends. Because they’ve been pen pals for over fifty years. Since they were teenagers, they’ve shared every aspect of their lives with each other. The trivial bits, the most intimate details, all the happiness, all the heartache. They’ve told each other things they wouldn’t dare tell another soul. Even though Bernie lives in New Jersey and Mags is from England, the women are closer to each other than anyone else in the world.Come witness the journey of their lifetime. In their own words.Pen Pals will run at the Daryl Roth DR2 Theater, with a rotating cast of stars, from August 15, 2025-December 21, 2025.Michelle Clunie will be playing Bernie from September 3-14, 2025.Click here to watch this interview in video format!Special Thanks:Joe Trentacosta, JT Public RelationsTheme Song by Bobby CroninPodcast Logo by Liam O'DonnellEdited by Adam RothenbergUnderscore Music by CutiqueConnect with Me:Website: www.callmeadam.comFacebook: @CallMeAdamNYCInstagram: @CallMeAdamNYCMore on Michelle Clunie:Michelle Clunie is an award-winning veteran actress, born and raised in Portland, Oregon. Michelle stepped foot on stage at seven years old, first appearing in plays, operas and ballets.She made her stage debut in Los Angeles at 23, in A Comedy of Eros, earning her a Drama-Logue award. She went on to star in numerous television, film and theatre productions earning awards in all three mediums, including a Backstage Readers’ Choice Award for her performance in The West Coast premiere of Neil LaBute’s The Mercy Seat.In 2012 she wrote, produced, and starred in the Off-Broadway play US earning rave reviews, as an actress as well as writer, with critics comparing her style to Aaron Sorkin and Thornton Wilder.Michelle is most often recognized as ‘Melanie Marcus’ in the groundbreaking series QUEER AS FOLK. The popular series was based on the original British series, but the American remake for Showtime, remains incredibly popular to this day, with a passionate, continually building fan-base.Most...

This season on my podcast, Baring It All with Call Me Adam, I am spotlighting My Entertainment Idols.Today I am catching up with Actress Nancy McKeon, who you know as Jo Polniaczek, from the beloved & long running 1980s series The Facts of Life.Nancy is kicking off the return of Michael Griffo's play Pen Pals, when she steps back into the role of Bernie, beginning August 15, 2025.In this NEW interview, Nancy is Baring It All with Call Me Adam about:Why she wanted to come back to Pen PalsWho she would write a Pen Pal letter toHow she met her husband of 25 yearsSome behind the scenes info from The Facts of Life So much more Pen Pals is the extraordinary story of two friends that unfolds over decades. With a rotating cast of renowned actors, no two performances will ever be the same.Bernie and Mags live in two different countries, they’ve never met, and yet they’re best friends. Because they’ve been pen pals for over fifty years. Since they were teenagers, they’ve shared every aspect of their lives with each other. The trivial bits, the most intimate details, all the happiness, all the heartache. They’ve told each other things they wouldn’t dare tell another soul. Even though Bernie lives in New Jersey and Mags is from England, the women are closer to each other than anyone else in the world.Come witness the journey of their lifetime. In their own words.Pen Pals will run at the Daryl Roth DR2 Theater, with a rotating cast of stars, from August 15, 2025-December 21, 2025.Nancy McKeon will be playing Bernie from August 15-31, 2025.Click here to watch this interview in video format!Special Thanks:Joe Trentacosta, JT Public RelationsTheme Song by Bobby CroninPodcast Logo by Liam O'DonnellEdited by Adam RothenbergUnderscore Music by CutiqueConnect with Me:Website: www.callmeadam.comFacebook: @CallMeAdamNYCInstagram: @CallMeAdamNYCMore on Nancy McKeon:An actress, director, and producer best known for playing the role of Jo Polniaczek on the beloved long-running 1980s sitcom, The Facts of Life. She starred in and produced the sitcom Can’t Hurry Love and starred with Jean Smart in the sitcom Style & Substance. She portrayed Inspector Jinny Exstead on the Lifetime police drama The Division from 2001 to 2004. She also directed two episodes. Nancy starred in numerous made-for-TV movies in the 1980s and 1990s, some including A Cry for Help: The Tracey Thurman Story, in which she portrayed the title role of Tracey Thurman, and Firefighter portraying the first female firefighter in Los Angeles County. Strange Voices, she portrayed a woman with schizophrenia. Love, Honor and Obey; The Last Mafia Marriage, mini series with Eric Roberts.She produced many of these movies through her film company, Forest Hills Entertainment. In 1999, she wrote and directed her own short film, A Wakening. The film won two film festival awards. 

This season on my podcast, Baring It All with Call Me Adam, I am spotlighting My Entertainment Idols.Today I am catching up with Motown Singer & Songwriter Charlene Oliver, who you know as the songstress behind the #1 song, "I've Never Been To Me," written by Ron Miller & featured in one of my favorite movies, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.Charlene & I last spoke in 2020 and now I am thrilled to be speaking with Charlene once again! In this NEW interview, Charlene is Baring It All with Call Me Adam about:How she came to record the global hit song, I've Never Been To MeGetting out of her abusive marriageFinding tranquility amongst the chaos of the worldThe sweetness of candySo much more "I've Never Been To Me" is available to stream on all music platforms!Special Thanks:Adam White & Jeff OliverTheme Song by Bobby CroninPodcast Logo by Liam O'DonnellEdited by Adam RothenbergUnderscore Music by CutiqueConnect with Me:Website: www.callmeadam.comFacebook: @CallMeAdamNYCInstagram: @CallMeAdamNYCMore on Charlene Oliver:Charlene Oliver always knew she wanted to be a singer, from her childhood in Hollywood in the late 1950s, one of two sisters in a loving family of Italian/American origin. Charlene's first break came with the offer to join Petula Clark's backing singers at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. Before long, she was auditioning in front of legendary Motown boss Berry Gordy and to her joy, being signed, the first ever white female singer to be signed to the label.Her first song, "All That Love Went To Waste," came out in 1974, followed by two albums on the Motown label. Then writer Ron Miller persuaded Charlene to record his song, "I've Never Been To Me," in 1977, but the single only just scraped into the Top 100.By the early 1980s, Charlene's career seemed to be stalling and she had left the US to move to her second husband Jeff's home in Essex, England, where she found work in the local sweetshop.It was there that she heard, in 1982, that a Florida DJ had been pushing her song so much that it had been re-released, and was finally hitting the charts. Within a few weeks, the singer found herself back at the top, as the song hit #1 in country after country all over the world, and she left her Essex sweetshop to fly on the Concorde to perform internationally. The growing international success of the musical Priscilla, Queen of the Desert has confirmed her as a hugely popular singer amongst the gay community, and recently she released a new club version of her iconic song in association with Eye Witness.Charlene's story has it all: the stars, the fame, the struggle, the pain.

This season on my podcast, Baring It All with Call Me Adam, I am spotlighting My Entertainment Idols.Today I am catching up with three-time Emmy Award Winner Cady McClain, who you know for playing Dixie Martin on ABC's Soap Opera All My Children & more recently, Pamela Curtis on CBS' Daytime Drama, Beyond The Gates!Cady & I last spoke in 2024 when she was starring in Austin Pendleton’s play Orson’s Shadow and now I am thrilled to be speaking with Cady once again as she returns to the theatrical stage to be directed by Austin Pendleton in Walter John Thompson’s What Happened Was which will be playing in the Chain Theatre’s Summer One Act Festival for 3 performances ONLY! In this NEW interview, Cady is Baring It All with Call Me Adam about:How she got involved with What Happened WasWhen she has felt unseen & how she made herself more visibleAdvice she would give someone on working with their exHow Austin Pendleton elevates her as an actressSo much more In What Happened Was, a dilapidated bar that flickers between memory and imagination, two actors trapped in an endless loop confront love, regret, and the fragile line between reality, performance and the unbearable silence of being unseen.Directed by the legendary Austin Pendleton, What Happened Was will play 3 performances ONLY - July 22, 2025, August 1 & 2, 2025. Click here to watch this interview in video format!Special Thanks:Katie Rosin, Kampfire PRTheme Song by Bobby CroninPodcast Logo by Liam O'DonnellEdited by Adam RothenbergUnderscore Music by CutiqueConnect with Me:Website: www.callmeadam.comFacebook: @CallMeAdamNYCInstagram: @CallMeAdamNYCMore on Cady McClain:Cady McClain is a history-making three-time Emmy© Award winning actress, two-time Emmy© nominated director, and an accomplished producer and writer who has worked for over 40 years in film, television, and theater. She is proud to be the new Artistic Director for Axial Theatre, a twenty-four year theatrical institution dedicated to the development of new plays.A Los Angeles Native, Cady spent 25 years living in New York City to pursue acting training and work in theatre. She studied for eight years with Master Teacher Michael Howard and was proud to be the youngest student he ever accepted into his master class. Cady went on to enjoy performing in such historic theatrical productions Off-Broadway as David Ives’ The Red Address at Second Stage, Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing at Lincoln Center Theater, A Comedy of Errors at the Hudson Guild, Barefoot in the Park at the Westbury and Valley Forge Music Fair, Quiet on the Set at the Westbeth, and Self Offense at the Cucaracha Theater Company. In addition to performing in a one-woman show of Wallace Stevens poetry called Inventions of Farewell (directed by Estep Nagy) at the Here Theater in NYC, she is particularly proud of Mona7 - a short one-woman show she wrote, produced, co-directed,

This season on my podcast, Baring It All with Call Me Adam, I am spotlighting My Entertainment Idols.Today I am catching up with Steve Burns, who you know as the original sleuth finding host of Nickelodeon's Blue's Clues.I first interviewed Steve in 2017 when he released his album Foreverywhere (alongside Steven Drozd of The Flaming Lips).From 1996-2002, on camera, Steve Burns was entertaining millions of kids as the happy go-lucky host of Nickelodeon's Blue's Clues, but towards the end of his run, behind-the-scenes Steve was starting to hear multiple rumors of his death which was one of the events that led him to struggle with depression. Now, Steve his bringing his story to the theatrical stage with his solo show debut in Steve Burns Alive.In this NEW interview, Steve is Baring It All with Call Me Adam about:What life was really like behind the camera during his days on Blue's CluesHow he almost missed his opportunity to write the theme song for CBS' Young SheldonWhy he is grateful to be alive todayHow he hopes this interview will help someone who is also struggling with depressionSo much more In Steve Burns Alive, Steve dissects the bizarre phenomenon of being mourned while still breathing. This isn't just his story—it's an excavation of how parasocial relationships shape our reality, how digital mythology replaces truth, and what happens when millions of strangers grieve a version of you that never existed.Steve Burns Alive cuts through the layers of myth and performance to expose the raw mechanics of human connection in the digital age. This is not a children's show. This isn't nostalgia. This is an unflinching forensic examination of what it means to exist in the space between who people think you are and who you actually are, and the stories we tell about the people who shaped our childhoods.Steve Burns Alive will play for 3 performances ONLY, from July 23-25, 2025 at The Club at La Mama in NYC's East Village.Click here to watch this interview in video format!Special Thanks:Emily Owens PublicityTheme Song by Bobby CroninPodcast Logo by Liam O'DonnellEdited by Adam RothenbergUnderscore Music by CutiqueConnect with Me:Website: www.callmeadam.comFacebook: @CallMeAdamNYCInstagram: @CallMeAdamNYCMore on Steve Burns:Steven Burns is best known as the original host of Blue’s Clues, where he spent seven surreal years solving mysteries with a cartoon dog and a talking mailbox. Then he disappeared. On purpose.Since then, Steve has released indie rock albums, toured with The Flaming Lips, wrote the theme song for Young Sheldon, been a host and storyteller for The Moth and gone massively viral by quietly breaking the internet with a heartfelt message to a generation of now-grown-up viewers.

This season on my podcast, Baring It All with Call Me Adam, I am spotlighting My Entertainment Idols.Today I am speaking with musical sensations Bucky Heard & Tim D. Lee, who are part of the iconic musical duo, The Righteous Brothers, alongside original member Bill Medley. Tim has recorded and toured with The Righteous Brothers for over 35 years & is the group's current Music Director & Tour Manager.In 2016, Bucky joined The Righteous Brothers when original founding member Bill Medley reformed the group, choosing Bucky has his new singing partner.In addition to being part of The Righteous Brothers, Bucky & Tim have now teamed up to write the music and lyrics to Mark Corallo & Eileen Nelson’s Off Broadway Musical, Mike & Mindy's Wild Weekend Jam.In this interview, Bucky & Tim are Baring It All with Call Me Adam about:What it was like write the music & lyrics for Mike & Mindy's Wild Weekend JamHow the music & lyrics in this version of the show differ from previous incarnationsWhat is something they both have "Lost That Loving Feeling For"When there has been a time a song has had an "Unchained Melody"So much more Click here to watch this interview in video format!In Mike & Mindy's Wild Weekend Jam, audiences will once again be transported into the spirited world of two dreamers—Mike and Mindy—as they juggle love, life, and a whole lot of family drama in their quest to make it big. Set in early ‘90s Brooklyn, the story follows high school sweethearts Mike and Mindy who, despite working as a plumber and hairdresser, have never let go of their dream of becoming music stars.Their weekly “Wild Weekend Jams” are a chaotic mix of music, dancing, and eccentric relatives. But when word gets out that a top music producer might stop by, tensions rise—especially with Mindy’s old-school Italian father Don, whose disapproval threatens to tear it all apart. Will love, laughter, and music be enough to hold the night—and their future—together?Mike & Mindy's Wild Weekend Jam will play the Mainstage at The Player's Theatre in NYC through July 20, 2025.

This season on my podcast, Baring It All with Call Me Adam, I am spotlighting My Entertainment Idols.Today I am speaking with Emmy Winning Producer Dan Watt, whose Emmy Winning documentary EVERYBODY DANCE is a heartfelt trip inside the everyday challenges and blessings of kids living with neurological disabilities, following 5 kids, their families and dance teacher on a journey through life and toward their dance recital.After 10 years of working for Columbia Pictures and Simon Cowell, at 45-years-old, Dan Watt left his corporate job and jumped into entrepreneurship, starting his own independent production company, DancinDan Productions.In this NEW interview, Dan is Baring It All with Call Me Adam about:How he went from Performer to Independent ProducerWhy he gave up corporate life for the unknown world of entrepreneurshipThe lessons he has learned from being an entrepreneurWhy he wanted EVERYBODY DANCE to be his first documentaryHow he go to be Bea Arthur’s personal assistant (Dorothy from The Golden Girls)So much moreEVERYBODY DANCE won a 2024 Emmy Award in the Independent Programming category at the 76th Annual Emmy Awards.EVERYBODY DANCE is available to watch on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Google Play, Tubi.Click here to watch this interview in video format!Special Thanks:Theme Song by Bobby CroninPodcast Logo by Liam O'DonnellEdited by Adam RothenbergUnderscore Music by CutiqueConnect with Me:Website: www.callmeadam.comFacebook: @CallMeAdamNYCInstagram: @CallMeAdamNYCMore on Dan Watt:Dan Watt is the 2024 Emmy Award Winning Producer & Director of the documentary EVERYBODY DANCE.Dan worked for 5 years at Columbia Pictures in the film development department on such films as HOUSE BUNNY with Anna Farris and Just Go With It with Jenifer Aniston and Adam Sandler. Dan then went on to work with Simon Cowell for 5 years starting with the documentary film about the band ONE DIRECTION titled THIS IS US. Prior to Dan’s film career he produced Gala Fundraisers with Bea Arthur, Chita Rivera, Dixie Carter, Carol Channing and Melissa Manchester. Dan also produced Tony Nominee, Anika Larsen’s debut cd SING ME TO SLEEP and songs with Ben Vereen. He is currently in production on an “untitled” documentary with Tony and Pulitzer Prizer wining producer Daryl Roth and a documentary with Rosie O’Donnell.

This season on my podcast, Baring It All with Call Me Adam, I am spotlighting My Entertainment Idols.Today I am speaking with Jason ‘Bea’ Schmidt, one of my favorite & arguably the world’s premier Bea Arthur impersonator.Jason is heading off to Provincetown this summer to present his new show Bea Arthur’s Brat Summer: A Drag Pop Broadway Fantasia.In this NEW interview, Jason is Baring It All with Call Me Adam about:How Chappel Roan influenced the creation of Bea Arthur’s Brat SummerWhy audiences will love this new showHow he hopes to win a Tony AwardWhat he wishes he knew as an entrepreneurHow he stays focused on the task at handSo much moreIn Bea Arthur’s Brat Summer, a Tony-Award Wanting star takes on the brattiest pop singers of today and the classics of Broadway.Bea Arthur is having the brattiest summer since … last summer. Inspired by the music of Charli XCX, Kander and Ebb, Chappel Roan, Jerry Herman and so many more - Jason B. Schmidt, arguably the world’s premiere Bea Arthur impersonator brings you the Pop-Broadway-Mashup-Adventure, nobody asked for, but everybody will be talking about for the next 100 years, or seconds. Featuring live-singing, stand-up comedy and a teensy bit of historical fiction, this show tastes like cigarettes, vodka and… BeatriXCX.Bea Arthur’s Brat Summer will play The Arthouse in Provincetown, MA from May 26, 2025-September 9, 2025 at 7pm EST (on Mondays/Tuesdays).Click here to watch this interview in video format!Special Thanks:Theme Song by Bobby CroninPodcast Logo by Liam O'DonnellEdited by Adam RothenbergUnderscore Music by CutiqueConnect with Me:Website: www.callmeadam.comFacebook: @CallMeAdamNYCInstagram: @CallMeAdamNYCMore on Jason B. Schmidt/Bea Arthur:Jason B. Schmidt is the Bea Arthur impersonator, voice-over talent, and member of the hilarious drag troupe, The Golden Gays™! In addition to his extensive off-Broadway, off-off-Broadway, and Regional credits, Jason has also traveled the U.S. starring in numerous high-quality productions.Jason B. Schmidt isn’t your average performer. He is the world’s premier (and only!) Bea Arthur impersonator. He’s perfected his craft to give audiences an unforgettable performance that Ms. Arthur would have definitely approved of in his hit show Beatrice Arthur: Astral Dame.Additionally, his work with The Golden Gays has been seen all throughout the U.S. What began as a flash mob extravaganza at RuPaul’s DragCon has skyrocketed to sold-out engagements, tours, and cruises all over the U.S., in Mexico and in the middle of the ocean. Previously, Jason starred in Dog Opera by Constance Congdon, which he also co-produced at the Little Times Square Theatre opposite his performing and producing partner Darlene Rae Heller. He is proud to have been part of the dynamic ensemble cast of Momentum Rep’s It’s Only Life, the theatrical revue of John Bucchino’s best musical...

This season on my podcast, Baring It All with Call Me Adam, I am spotlighting My Entertainment Idols.Today I am speaking with Actor Andrew Keegan whose role as Kevin in the gay romantic comedy, The Broken Hearts Club, was very instrumental in my own coming out journey as I saw myself reflected in him.Now, Andrew is trading in romance for revenge in the new psychological thriller Healing Towers where Andrew plays Detective Joe Coolridge who has to rescue his daughter from a twisted mental institution.In this interview, Andrew is Baring It All with Call Me Adam about:Why he wanted to star in Healing TowersWhat was the scariest part of filming Healing TowersA project he signed onto that turned out not to be what he expectedA role that allowed him to act out one of his fantasiesWhat it was like to kiss Dean Cain & Timothy Olyphant in The Broken Hearts ClubHealing Towers is currently available On Demand and On Digital platforms!In Healing Towers, a detective's search for his missing daughter uncovers a horrifying link to a twisted psychiatrist’s dream therapy treatment, where deranged patients are forced to enact their darkest fantasies on innocent victims.Click here to watch this interview in video format!Special Thanks:One Tree EntertainmentTheme Song by Bobby CroninPodcast Logo by Liam O'DonnellEdited by Adam RothenbergUnderscore Music by CutiqueConnect with Me:Website: www.callmeadam.comFacebook: @CallMeAdamNYCInstagram: @CallMeAdamNYC

This season on my podcast, Baring It All with Call Me Adam, I am spotlighting My Entertainment Idols.Today I am speaking with Tony, Emmy & SAG Nominated Actor Norm Lewis whom I last interviewed in 2019 when he was getting ready to perform at 54 Below.Now, Norm is once again lighting up the New York Stage, in the Off-Broadway production of Ceremonies in Dark Old Men, which has not had a NYC production in almost 40 years.In this interview, Norm is Baring It All with Call Me Adam about:Why now is the right time to revive Ceremonies in Dark Old Men The similarities between the play’s time period (1950’s) and todayHow Norm got his nameSome jobs Norm had prior to making it as an actorWorking with the legendary Vanessa WilliamsSo much moreOriginally scheduled to play through May 18, 2025, Ceremonies in Dark Old Men has been EXTENDED, due to popular demand, through June 29, 2025 at The Theatre at St. Clements in NYC! Click here for tickets!In Ceremonies in Dark Old Men,  it’s New York in the 1950s. Russell Parker, a ne'er-do-well barber and the widowed father of three adult children, spends his days playing checkers and reminiscing about his life in vaudeville as a song and dance man. His two sons, Theo and Bobby, are dreamers of a different sort – a pair of petty criminals looking for a “score" in the form of ill-conceived and dangerous bootlegging and numbers schemes. Russell's daughter, Adele, the only gainfully employed member of the family, refusing to work herself into an early grave like her mother. When Adele's long-simmering resentments boil over and the boys' criminal enterprise falls apart, tragic consequences ensue for the whole family.A Personal Behind-The-Curtain Note….I have loved Norm ever since I saw him in his Broadway debut in the 1994 Original Broadway production of The Who’s Tommy. Since then, I have had the pleasure of seeing Norm in Les Misérables (2006 Broadway revival), Sondheim on Sondheim (Broadway 2010), The Gerhswins’ Porgy and Bess (2012 Broadway), The Phantom of the Opera (Broadway 2014) Once on this Island (Broadway March 2018), Sweeney Todd: The Demon of Fleet Street (Off-Broadway June 2018), and Chicken & Biscuits (Broadway 2021).I have also loved Norm in his many television & film appearances including his recurring role, acting besides Vanessa Williams, on VH-1’s Daytime Divas, his guest starring roles on The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and TV Land’s Younger as well as seeing him in the 2nd Sex and the City film.Click here to watch this interview in video format!Special Thanks:Brett Oberman at Keith Sherman & AssociatesTheme Song by Bobby CroninPodcast Logo by Liam O'DonnellEdited by Adam RothenbergUnderscore Music by CutiqueConnect with Me:Website: www.callmeadam.comFacebook: @CallMeAdamNYCInstagram: @CallMeAdamNYCMore on Norm Lewis:Emmy, Tony, and SAG Award...

This season on my podcast, Baring It All with Call Me Adam, I am spotlighting My Entertainment Idols.Today I got to speak with Actress Nancy McKeon whom I grew up watching on the hit TV series The Facts of Life, and also enjoyed watching her on Lifetime TV's The Division and CBS Style & Substance (co-starring Jean Smart). Now, Nancy is making her Off-Broadway debut in the new play Pen Pals  by Michael Griffo. Nancy is heading back into the show for its final week (February 5th-9th, 2025)!I had the best time speaking with Nancy because it felt like I was talking to an old friend!In this interview, Nancy is Baring It All with Call Me Adam about:How Double Dare's Marc Summers helped her get involved with Pen PalsWhat she would write to her younger self, if she sent Pen Pal LetterWhen there was a time the world didn't live up to hear dreamsThe nerdiest thing she does to wind down after a long daySo much moreNancy returns to Pen Pals for the show's final week, February 5th-9th, 2025!Pen Pals is the extraordinary story of two friends that unfolds over decades. With a rotating cast of renowned actors, no two performances will ever be the same. Bernie and Mags live in two different countries, they’ve never met, and yet they’re best friends. Because they’ve been pen pals for over fifty years. Since they were teenagers, they’ve shared every aspect of their lives with each other. The trivial bits, the most intimate details, all the happiness, all the heartache. They’ve told each other things they wouldn’t dare tell another soul. Even though Bernie lives in New Jersey and Mags is from England, the women are closer to each other than anyone else in the world. Come witness the journey of their lifetime. In their own words.Pen Pals is proud to partner with the Susan G. Komen® and will donate 5% of the total ticket sales and 100% of all customer donations collected to Susan G. Komen®, whose mission is to save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer.Click here to watch this interview in video format!Special Thanks:Theme Song by Bobby CroninPodcast Logo by Liam O'DonnellEdited by Adam RothenbergUnderscore Music by CutiqueConnect with Me:Website: www.callmeadam.comFacebook: @CallMeAdamNYCInstagram: @CallMeAdamNYCMore on Nancy McKeon:An actress, director, and producer best known for playing the role of Jo Polniaczek on the beloved long-running 1980s sitcom, The Facts of Life. She starred in and produced the sitcom Can’t Hurry Love and starred with Jean Smart in the sitcom Style & Substance. She portrayed Inspector Jinny Exstead on the Lifetime police drama The Division from 2001 to 2004. She also directed two episodes. Nancy starred in numerous made-for-TV movies in the 1980s and 1990s, some including A Cry for Help: The Tracey Thurman Story, in which she portrayed the title role of...

This season on my podcast, Baring It All with Call Me Adam, I am spotlighting My Entertainment Idols.Today, I am going back in time and Behind-The-Curtain to bring you this blast from the past, my 2013 interview with Nicki French, award-winning international recording artist, known for her smash hit dance version of Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart."In this interview, Nicki is Baring It All with Call Me Adam about:How she handles her success What she loves about musical theatreHow she decides what songs to recordWhat she loves about the creative process in putting an album togetherSo much moreSpecial Thanks:Theme Song by Bobby CroninPodcast Logo by Liam O'DonnellEdited by Adam RothenbergUnderscore Music by CutiqueConnect with Me:Website: www.callmeadam.comFacebook: @CallMeAdamNYCInstagram: @CallMeAdamNYCMore on Nicki French:Nicki was born in Carlisle, Cumbria to Mum Eileen and Dad Joe. Music was destined to be in the family – dad played the drums when he was younger, and mum the violin. Nicki’s brother, Tim, is very musical too – a guitarist and singer who is a fabulous song-writer. However, her two sisters, Allison and Carolyn, stayed away from music – probably plenty to listen to already in the household!The family moved down to Tenterden in Kent when Nicki was four years old. Always a keen singer, one of her early memories was sitting next to the radio, listening to the new chart rundown and singing along to all the songs, when Auntie Sally, her Godmother, came in and said to mum and dad, "She’ll be a singer when she grows up!"The first ‘gig’ came at the age of seven, when Nicki was chosen to sing a solo - the first verse of "O Little Town of Bethlehem" at the Infants’ School Christmas Concert! From then on there was no turning back! A few years later she won the local talent contest, and within the year had joined her first band, Krisp, run by Tim and his friend Kelvin. They worked the most salubrious places – working mens’ clubs and holiday camps – wooh!From the age of 16, Nicki studied Music and Drama at West Kent College in Tonbridge, Kent, passing her ‘A’ Levels two years later. At the annual college musical, she played the lead role of Laurey in Oklahoma!, earning rave reviews for her performance. She then moved up to London and started auditioning for bands and theatre shows. Not many know that Nicki actually was part of a duo in the early 1980s – name of Whisky and Sofa! They released a song called "Dirty Den," about the Eastenders character! It was played on the Radio One Breakfast Show and that was about it! Amazing though, it was written by an extremely well-known writer, Barry Mason. He wrote "The Last Waltz" for Engelbert Humperdinck and "Delilah" for Tom Jones. Credibility sadly was NOT in existence on "Dirty Den."Nicki started working the pubs and clubs, moving onto gay pubs and clubs a short while later – The Spread Eagle in Shoreditch was her first! However the most exciting show for Nicki was at the Player of the Season annual dinner/dance at Tottenham Hotspur FC – her team! They had just signed a new player and were introducing him to the fans – a player by the name of Paul Gascoigne, and Gazza and all the other players got up on stage with her to perform a couple of songs – a special moment. Nicki had been working on the gay scene for some time, when she made one of her regular visits to perform in a club in...

This season on my podcast, Baring It All with Call Me Adam, I am spotlighting My Entertainment Idols.A few weeks ago, I conducted an e-mail interview with Alt/Pop Singer-Songwriter Rachael Sage about her new reimagined album Another Side.Today, I am so excited to dive even deeper into the release of this album.In this interview, Rachael Sage is Baring It All with Call Me Adam about:Running her own record label, MPress RecordsStaying true to herself & beliefsThe power of communityGay Pride MonthSo much moreYou can watch the video edition of this episode here.Special Thanks:Jill Richmond Johnson, Publicity Director MPress RecordsTheme Song by Bobby CroninPodcast Logo by Liam O'DonnellEdited by Adam RothenbergConnect with Me:Website: www.callmeadam.comFacebook: @CallMeAdamNYCInstagram: @CallMeAdamNYCMore on Rachael Sage:Since founding her own label MPress Records two decades ago, NYC-based folk-pop artist Rachael Sage has steadily released a slew of vibrant, dynamic albums described by Goldmine Magazine as "mesmerizing...thoughtful, pensive and flush with an emotional flourish, all carefully and adeptly executed." She has toured with an eclectic list of artists including Rufus Wainwright, Ani DiFranco, Beth Hart, Howard Jones, and Grammy® winners Shawn Colvin and Judy Collins – with whom she also recorded a critically-acclaimed duet of Neil Young's "Helpless."In addition to being a six-time Independent Music Award-winning musician and producer, Rachael is also a John Lennon Contest Grand Prize winner who has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, SXSW, and toured globally from Japan to Berlin with her band, The Sequins. Rachael is also a visual artist and former ballet dancer who performed with the New York City Ballet.A self-described "cancer thriver", she is additionally a philanthropic advocate who has raised money for a wide range of causes, including Foundation For Women's Cancer, WHY Hunger, American Refugee Committee, and National Network For Youth (NN4Y).Her 2020 album Character yielded the Billboard-charting single "Blue Sky Days", and her side-project Poetica, an adventurous fusion of poetry with jazz, classical and Americana musical elements in the vein of Leonard Cohen and Laurie Anderson debuted in October 2021. Rachael's sparkling cover version of the Yazoo classic "Only You", from her full-length album The Other Side, reached #32 on the Mediabase Top 40 radio chart. Her singles "I Made A Case (feat Howard Jones)" and “Deepest Dark” are also available.Her companion acoustic album Another Side was just released on May 17, 2024. You can stream it everywhere you listen to music & order hard copies from Rachael's website.

This season on my podcast, Baring It All with Call Me Adam, I am spotlighting My Entertainment Idols.Today, I am going back in time and Behind-The-Curtain to bring you this blast from the past, my 2010 interview with Jo Dee Messina, 2-time Grammy Award nominee, and Country Music Superstar.In this interview, Jo Dee is Baring It All with Call Me Adam about:Whom she still wants to work withThe best advice she's given, but not taken for herselfWho she would dream about while sleepingIf she ever thought about quitting musicSo much moreFor the print edition of this interview, and see some photos of Jo Dee with me and my dad, click here!Now, here’s a little Behind-The-Curtain Story….In 2010, Jo Dee was embarking on her most intimate tour to date, the Music Room Series Tour, where she left the big stadiums behind, and came to smaller clubs and venues, like her NYC stop at Michael Feinstein’s cabaret club Feinstein’s at the Regency.I was very fortunate to get a pair of press tickets to see the show, and interview Jo Dee right after. The kindness Jo Dee showed me during and after the interview is something I have never forgotten. She took her time answering my questions, even though there was a crowd of people waiting for her at the VIP after party. She made me feel as if I was the only person she had to talk to that night. After we were done, she let me take a picture with her, and then, asked my dad if he wanted a picture with her, and told him to come up to take one. We truly felt like royalty being with Jo Dee.Here’s an additional Behind-The-Curtain story for you…When I started recording the interview on my phone, Jo Dee asked if this was going to be published as an audio interview or in print format. At that time, I didn’t have a way to share the audio, but now, all these years later, I do, and it’s through this podcast.So, as you listen to this interview, I hope you feel all the excitement, fun, and laughter we had together. Special Thanks:Angela Villanueva, MSO PRTheme Song by Bobby CroninPodcast Logo by Liam O'DonnellEdited by Adam RothenbergUnderscore Blast From The Past Intro Music by CutiqueUnderscore Intro Music by Collin ScudderConnect with Me:Website: www.callmeadam.comFacebook: @CallMeAdamNYCInstagram: @CallMeAdamNYCMore on Jo Dee Messina:Jo Dee Messina is a trailblazing country music artist, known for her powerful vocals and chart-topping hits. With the breakout song “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” she became a household name and went on to achieve nine No. 1 hits and sixteen Top 40 songs. Jo Dee’s success made her the first female in country music history to celebrate three consecutive multi-week, chart-topping songs.In addition to her studio accomplishments, Jo Dee’s passionate and high-energy performances have captivated audiences across the country. She shares her hit tunes, emotionally-driven songs, and personal testimony, connecting with fans and inspiring them with her authenticity.As an independent artist, Jo Dee embraced her strong, empowered persona and founded Dreambound Records. Jo Dee’s dedication to presenting her story with honesty has allowed people to see beyond the surface and connect with...

This season on my podcast, Baring It All with Call Me Adam, I am spotlighting My Entertainment Idols.Today, I am going back in time and Behind-The-Curtain to bring you this blast from the past, my 2010 interview with then 3-time Tony nominated Broadway Actress Kelli O'Hara.Now, here’s a little Behind-The-Curtain Story….In 2010, I got to attend the opening night of Kelli O’Hara’s one-woman show Beyond The Ingenue at Michael Feinstein’s cabaret club, Feinstein’s at the Regency on the Upper East Side in NYC.In addition to seeing the concert, I got to interview Kelli live, at the VIP after party. When you listen to this episode, I hope you feel all the excitement that I felt, and was swirling around me, while talking to Kelli at that opening night party.When this interview took place, I did not have a podcast, so I had to transcribe the interview into print format. Now I do have a podcast, and I am so excited to share this interview with you.In this interview, Kelli is Baring It All with Call Me Adam about:Who inspired her to become a performerThe Best Advice she has receivedA Strange or Unusual Talent she hasFavorite way to stay in shapeSo much moreTo read the interview, and see a photo of me & Kelli, click here!Special Thanks:Dan Fortune, Fortune CreativeTheme Song by Bobby CroninPodcast Logo by Liam O'DonnellEdited by Adam RothenbergUnderscore Intro Music by CutiqueConnect with Me:Website: www.callmeadam.comFacebook: @CallMeAdamNYCInstagram: @CallMeAdamNYCMore on Kelli O'Hara:Kelli O'Hara has unequivocally established herself as one of Broadway's great leading ladies. She recently starred in the Tony Award-winning revival of South Pacific at Lincoln Center, enrapturing audiences and critics alike with her soulful and complex interpretation of Nellie Forbush, and garnering a third Tony nomination.A native of Oklahoma, Kelli received a degree in opera, and, after winning the State Metropolitan Opera Competition, moved to New York and enrolled in the Lee Strasberg Institute.She made her Broadway debut in Jekyll & Hyde and followed it with Sondheim's Follies, Sweet Smell of Success opposite John Lithgow, and Dracula. In 2003 Kelli committed to a production of The Light in the Piazza at Seattle's Intiman Theatre. The show landed on Broadway in 2005 and earned Kelli her first Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations. She moved from one huge critical and commercial success to another when she joined Harry Connick on Broadway in the 2006 Tony award-winning production of The Pajama Game, for which Kelli received Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Award nominations. Kelli has worked regionally and Off Broadway in Sunday in the Park with George at Reprise, My Life With Albertine at Playwright's Horizons, and Beauty at the La Jolla Playhouse.In addition to her critically acclaimed performance as Eliza Doolittle in the New York Philharmonic production of My Fair Lady, Kelli has performed a solo concert at Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops conducted by Rob Fisher. She has sung at Carnegie Hall with Barbara...

This season on my podcast, Baring It All with Call Me Adam, I am spotlighting My Entertainment Idols.Today, I am going back in time and Behind-The-Curtain to bring you this blast from the past, my 2019 interview with Olivia Newton-John, 4-time Grammy award winner and Sandy from the mega hit movie musical Grease.This was my third, and what turned out to be my final time interviewing Olivia. I was given 10 minutes to conduct a telephone interview with her. Now, here’s a little Behind-The-Curtain Story….When this interview took place, I did not have a podcast, so I had to transcribe the interview into print format. Now I do have a podcast, and I am so excited to share with you my original phone conversation with the one, the only Olivia Newton-John.At the time of this interview, Olivia's autobiography, Don't Stop Believin' was recently released, which is what brought us back together.In this interview, Olivia is Baring It All with Call Me Adam about:How she keeps her positive outlookWhat she learned about herself from writing her autobiographyHow she has adapted to the changes in the music industryWhat she still hopes to achieveSo much moreIf you want to read the interview, and see some photos of Olivia, you can do that here!Special Thanks:Michael Caprio, Caprio Media DesignTheme Song by Bobby CroninPodcast Logo by Liam O'DonnellEdited by Adam RothenbergUnderscore Intro Music by CueTique Connect with Me:Website: www.callmeadam.comFacebook: @CallMeAdamNYCInstagram: @CallMeAdamNYCMore on Olivia Newton-John:Olivia Newton-John’s appeal seems to be timeless. With a career spanning more than five decades she is still a vibrant, creative individual adored by fans around the globe. Born in Cambridge, England in 1948, the youngest child of Professor Brin Newton-John and Irene, daughter of Nobel Prize winning physicist, Max Born, Olivia moved to Melbourne, Australia with her family when she was five. Her first big break was winning a talent contest on the popular TV show, Sing, Sing, Sing, which earned Olivia a trip to London. By the age of fifteen she had formed an all-girl group called Sol 4 and, in 1963, Olivia was appearing on local daytime TV shows and weekly pop music programs in Australia. When she eventually took her prize-winning trip to London, she teamed up with her friend from Melbourne, Pat Carroll (now Pat Farrar), to create a double act, “Pat & Olivia,” and the duo toured army bases and clubs throughout the UK and Europe. Olivia cut her first single for Decca Records in 1966, a version of Jackie DeShannon’s "Till You Say You’ll Be Mine,” and in 1971, she recorded a cover of Bob Dylan’s "If Not For You," co-produced by Bruce Welch and fellow Aussie and friend, John Farrar, whom she continues to collaborate with today.Olivia’s U.S. album debut, Let Me Be There, produced her first top ten single of the same name, with Olivia being honored by the Academy Of Country Music as “Most Promising Female Vocalist” and a Grammy Award as “Best Country Vocalist.” This proved to be only the beginning of a very exciting career. With more than 100...

This season on Baring It All with Call Me Adam I am spotlighting My Entertainment Idols.Today, I am going back in time and Behind-The-Curtain to bring you this blast from the past, my 2017 interview with then Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Lisa Loeb.At that time, Lisa was getting ready to release her new family album Lullaby Girl, and celebrating the 23rd Anniversary of her platinum-selling hit song "Stay (I Missed You)." In this interview, Lisa is Baring It All with Call Me Adam about:The creative process behind Lullaby GirlWhen there was a time that Lisa felt like saying "Reality Bites"What is something she didn't want to see "The Way It Really Is"?A quirk her friends made fun of her forSo much moreThis interview was recorded over the telephone and I am sharing our original phone conversation with you, the listener. This interview has been edited down from it's original version. If you want to read the full interview, you can do that here!Special Thanks:Gina Tolentino, Missing Pieces GroupTheme Song by Bobby CroninPodcast Logo by Liam O'DonnellEdited by Adam RothenbergUnderscore Intro Music by CueTique Connect with Me:Website: www.callmeadam.comFacebook: @CallMeAdamNYCInstagram: @CallMeAdamNYCMore on Lisa Loeb:Grammy nominated Lisa Loeb is a singer-songwriter, producer, touring artist, author and philanthropist who started her career with the platinum-selling Number 1 hit song "Stay (I Missed You)" from the film Reality Bites. A trailblazing independent artist, Lisa was the first pop musician to have a Number 1 single while not signed to a recording contract. She followed that remarkable feat with the hit singles "Do You Sleep," "I Do," and "Let's Forget about It" and the albums Cake and Pie and No Fairy Tale, among others.Lisa continues to craft irresistible pop songs for the 21st century, while designing Lisa Loeb Eyewear, writing children's books, and supporting non-profit causes. The Los Angeles based mother of two is well-known to parents and kids for her albums Catch the Moon (with Elizabeth Mitchell) and Amazon Music exclusives, Nursery Rhyme Parade! and Feel What U Feel (featuring Craig Robinson and Ed Helms). She has also published two picture book-CDs for Sterling Children’s Books: Lisa Loeb’s Songs for Movin’ and Shakin' and Lisa Loeb’s Silly Sing Along.In addition to these family albums, Lisa's Camp Lisa raises funds for The Camp Lisa Foundation to allow kids, who wouldn't normally have the opportunity, to go to summer camp, and in 2015, the American Camp Association, New England named Lisa Loeb as their Camp Champions Honoree.Lisa's recent film and television appearances include Netflix’s Sandy Wexler, TV Land’s Teachers, Amazon’s Creative Galaxy, @Midnight with Chris Hardwick, Last week Tonight with John...

This season on Baring It All with Call Me Adam I am spotlighting My Entertainment Idols. Today, I am going back In time and Behind-The-Curtain to bring you this blast from the past, my 2016 interview with Mel B, who you know as Scary Spice from the Spice Girls.In 2016, Mel B was getting ready to star in Chicago the Musical on Broadway in the role of Roxie Hart. I had the opportunity to speak with Mel B during Chicago the Musical's Press Day.In this interview, Mel B is Baring It All with Call Me Adam about:What she relates to most about Roxie HartHow she balances work and motherhoodHow she likes to Spice Up Her LifeWhat is one thing that she wants, that she really, really wantsSo much moreMel B played the role of Roxie from December 28, 2016-February 19, 2017.If you want to watch the video version of this interview, you can see it here.Special Thanks:Heath Schwartz, Boneau/Bryan-BrownPhoto of Me & Mel B - Joseph MarzulloTheme Song by Bobby CroninEdited by Peter PavlakisPodcast by Liam O'DonnellUnderscore Intro Music by CueTique Connect with Me:Website: www.callmeadam.comFacebook: @CallMeAdamNYCInstagram: @CallMeAdamNYC

After seeing Marc Summers' new Off-Broadway show, The Life and Slimes of Marc Summers, I am so honored to have been granted the opportunity to speak with him for My Entertainment Idols, a special series on my podcast Baring It All with Call Me Adam.In this interview, Marc is Baring It All with Call Me Adam about:What he learned about himself from performing The Life and Slimes of Marc SummersHow Marc allows himself to get messy without reverting back to old habitsWhat is something Marc has done post cancer that he wouldn't have done prior to his diagnosisWho are some of Marc's Entertainment IdolsWe bring Double Dare into 2024So much moreI grew up watching Marc as the host of Nickelodeon's Double Dare, and have been a fan ever since. I always wanted to be on Double Dare & I finally got to live out that childhood dream, when I got to go up on stage at Marc's one man show, during the game show segment.Wait until you hear the Behind-The-Curtain story I tell Marc during this interview about that moment in his show!The Life and Slimes of Marc Summers plays at New World Stages in NYC through June 2, 2024.Special Thanks:Joe Trentacosta, JT Public RelationsTheme Song by Bobby CroninPodcast Logo by Liam O'DonnellEdited by Adam RothenbergConnect with Me:Website: www.callmeadam.comFacebook: @CallMeAdamNYCInstagram: @CallMeAdamNYCMore on Marc Summers:With one of the most diverse and eclectic careers in the entertainment industry, Marc is probably best known for putting Nickelodeon on the map as the host of Double Dare. He also hosted What Would You Do? as well as the first live special on Nickelodeon launching the Nickelodeon Studios in Orlando, Florida.Marc has hosted two talk shows on Lifetime, History IQ on The History Channel, as well as Unwrapped, one of the longest-running shows on Food Network. He was the original host of Next Food Network Star when Guy Fieri won, and he has also covered many news stories while appearing as a regular on ABC’s Home Show.Marc was the Executive Producer of both Dinner Impossible and Restaurant Impossible, as well as a shark special on Discovery. He is also a frequent guest on Guy’s Grocery Games and has been in several episodes of Diners, Drive-Ins, And Dives.Marc has appeared on OPRAH three times, with Howard Stern twice, and in a classic episode of The Tonight Show with guest Burt Reynolds. Google it – It is all spontaneous!

So excited to begin Season 5 of my podcast, Baring It All with Call Me Adam!This season I am spotlighting My Entertainment Idols.I am thrilled to kick off this season with Singer, Songwriter & Actor Brentley Gore, who you know from NBC's '90s television series California Dreams.Last year, I got to interview Brentley who played Matt Garrison on California Dreams, along with Jennie Kwan who played Samantha 'Sam' Woo when they came to NYC for the California Dreams Reunion Concert.NOW, Brentley has released his newest solo album, At The Ready, and I am so proud to say I am a fan of it.In this NEW interview, Brentley is Baring It All with Call Me Adam about:The meaning behind his new album, At The ReadyHis creative process for writing an albumWhen he had to put on a brave face, but was really struggling insideHow Brentley would portray Matt Garrison on California Dreams todayWho are some of Brentley's Entertainment IdolsSo much moreAt The Ready is available to stream on all digital music platforms.Special Thanks:Scott Appel, Scott Appel MediaTheme Song by Bobby CroninPodcast Logo by Liam O'DonnellEdited by Adam RothenbergConnect with Me:Website: www.callmeadam.comFacebook: @CallMeAdamNYCInstagram: @CallMeAdamNYCMore on Brentley Gore:Brentley Gore is a multi-talented performer and creative professional with over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry. He is best known for his role as Matt Garrison on the hit television show California Dreams, which aired in over 48 countries and established him as a teen star. In addition to his acting career, Brentley is a talented singer-songwriter and musician. He has released several albums as a solo artist, including Up Until Now, which includes a mix of songs recorded with his previous band King Straggler, as well as solo recordings. Many of the songs on the album were recorded with the late producer Don "Redcloud" Smith, who had credits on albums by artists such as Tom Petty, Keith Richards and the Rolling Stones. Brentley is also a gifted stage actor, winning the Ovation Award for his performance in the off-Broadway musical The Fantasticks.In addition to his performing career, Brentley has also worked behind the scenes in the entertainment industry. He has served as a professor of performance and song craft at the prestigious American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Brentley was also the founder of the Los Angeles Performing Arts Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the performing arts. In the fall of 2022, he had a starring role in the rock opera, Staring Into Nothing in Los Angeles.