Media Path Podcast

When family stories become show biz stories, the world listens. Fitting that very bill we’ve got actor Keith Coogan, the grandson of the original child star, Jackie Coogan, whose namesake law in the state of California, is the first to safeguard the rights of young performers in Hollywood. Keith talks about growing up with this legend plus his own iconic roles as a prolific film and TV child actor!Keith's career proves that show business blood runs thick: He told his mother he wanted to act before he even knew of his family legacy. His great grandfather, Jack Coogan Sr. was a Vaudeville and silent film star. His grandfather, Jackie Coogan was known, in the 1920s as, “the most famous boy in the world!” Keith began booking roles by the age of eight and quickly became a go-to casting choice, for TV guest spots and commercials starring Henry Fonda and Robert Morse.Keith’s show biz success made his grandfather proud but a little jealous and relieved when Keith developed into a working actor rather than America’s darling.Keith tells us about the legendary events, which led to The Coogan Act - After Jackie’s father died in a car crash, the young superstar’s hard earned fortune was squandered by his stepfather.Passed in 1939, The Coogan Law requires that a portion of a child's earnings be placed in a blocked trust account until the child turns 18.Keith recalls with great fondness his experiences working with stellar casts and crews on the “Babysitter” cult greats, 'Adventures in Babysitting', and Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead. Plus Toy Soldiers, The Waltons and The Fox and The Hound.We play IMDB Roulette and get into Laverne and Shirley, Mork and Mindy, and Little House!In recommendations-- Weezy: Netflix series, North of NorthFritz: Book, How Democracies Die by Daniel Ziblatt and Steven LevitskyPath Points of Interest:Keith Coogan Keith Coogan on WikipediaKeith Coogan on IMDBKeith Coogan on InstagramKeith Coogan on XKeith Coogan on YouTubeKeith Coogan on FacebookKeith Coogan MerchNorth of NorthHow Democracies Die by Daniel Ziblatt and Steven LevitskyMedia Path Podcast

We have entered an exciting new TV drama era in which creators are immersing viewers in the gritty, heart wrenching details of real life trauma. We are celebrating this provocative and inspiring new chapter by focusing on two of the most buzz-worthy shows in the stream-os-phere, The Pitt on Max and Adolescence on Netflix - Prepare for a fresh frame of reference on the emerging television landscape!The Netflix show Adolescence is sparking tons of discussion, and we are entering   the dialogue via our producer Dina Friedman who watched the limited series with her 13-year-old son, Ryder. As a portrayal of a young man who's accused of murdering a classmate, presented without cuts, Adolescence is a bold, ambitious and unflinching production in both form and content.As a serving middle-schooler, Ryder offers unique insights into social media, bullying and the relationships between middle schoolers, technology and their parents. Ryder shares his opinion on the online “’manosphere” and incel' culture which Adolescence explores and he talks about the forces currently shaping his peers' friendship and romantic interactions, while Dina provides the parental perspective.Lesley Boone is also with us to discuss her role as night shift charge nurse Lena on the Max medical show beloved by audiences, critics and medical insiders, The Pitt. Another unique production, The Pitt, which has been lauded as perhaps the most realistic hospital drama to date, is shot in sequence, with star actors, serving as background extras when a scene requires that perspective shift.Lesley shares behind-the-scenes insights and her views on what makes the show stand out within the medical procedural genre. She tells us how medical professionals and veterans work both on and offscreen, ensuring authenticity. For example: That nurse you see in the background operating a heart monitor or swapping out a fluid bag is an actual nurse!Lesley talks about the impressive professionalism of Noah Wyle, the medical training received by the cast and she shares the trade secret that allowed an actor with a fork stuck up her prosthetic nose  break for lunch!In recommendations --Weezy:  Netflix documentary Bad Influence: The Dark Side of KidfluencingFritz: The book FIGHT by Jonathan Allen and Amie ParnesPath Points of Interest:Lesley Boone on WikiLesley Boone on IMDBLesley Boone on InstagramThe Pitt on MaxAdolescence on NetflixFIGHT by Jonathan Allen and Amie ParnesBad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing

The exuberantly effervescent Jo Anne Worley, queen of the quip and paradigm of the pizzazz, turns our studio into a cabaret club this week, dazzling and delighting with stories of show biz daring do… her fearless stage style, her bold reach for brilliance, behind the scenes lore from the set of Laugh-In and a fabulous flurry of anecdotes and memories from an unrivaled career.The girl from Lowell, Indiana knew she was destined for the business when she distracted the most vicious teacher in her two-room schoolhouse with a hilarious crack that saved the hide of another student.After high school she hit the ground and then the train running out of her tiny town towards the Pickwick Players and a life in theater, where she literally ate the scenery, salting and snacking on a tomato during a key court scene in The Mikado.  Jo Anne built an all singing and dancing nightclub act because, at the time, women did not talk on stage. Her comic gifts so impressed Merv Griffin’s wife, it lead to her frequent appearances with Merv on his show and a chance to audition for George Schlatter, creator of Laugh-In.Her iconic role on that revolutionary sketch show earned her a permanent spot in pop culture and entertainment history and she shares with us some deep insider info: How John Wayne gallantly lifted her down from the joke wall and that time a mime, Marcel Marceau, perfectly impersonated this vocally resonant performer without a sound.No one makes an entrance, or unleashes a song parody or lights into a Bob Hope story like Jo Anne Worley! So strap in for hilarity. What did Jo Anne say to Jerry Lewis to earn her spot in his comedy workshop? What’s it like to share a fence with Jonathon Winters? And we’ve got a rollicking round of IMDB Roulette that serves as a masterclass in the glory days of entertainment. In recommendations--Weezy: Tetris, Apple TV+ Movie and The Tetris Murders doc Series on Max Fritz: Hulu Sitcom, Mid-Century Modern Path Points of Interest:Jo Anne Worley on WikiJo Anne Worley on IMDBActors and Others for AnimalsActors and Others for Animals Ebay ItemsBilly Barnes Bash at Catalina Jazz Club on April 27thRuta Lee's Birthday on May 30thTetris (The Movie)The Tetris Murders MId Century Modern on HuluMedia Path Podcast

We've always suspected that the key to uniting our polarized nation may lie in our shared entertainment, and now we have definitive proof. It comes in the form of comedian Bobby Collins who has toured our nation and beyond, many times over, performing in states of every color, at USO and U.S. embassy shows abroad, and at political events for both parties. He comes to us with insights from the front lines. Bobby prides himself on bringing his relatable and comforting brand of humor to increasingly divided audiences from one state and one venue to the next and he’s here to talk about how he navigates these politically perilous times, and he’s delivering road stories from touring with the biggest names to ever grace a stage!Bobby's comedy career seemed predestined when his parents named him after Bob Hope. And Bobby was primed for the spotlight watching his parents’ joyful reaction to the comics who appeared on Ed Sullivan.After a short detour ( as an executive at Calvin Klein!) he brought a date to the comedy club, Catch a Rise Star, and when she was ready to leave, he called her a cab and stayed to soak in more comedy. He began honing his craft there and was soon asked by the owner if he’d like to MC.One night, a business card handed to him turned into an invitation to open for Cher. From there, he went on to tour with Frank Sinatra, Julio Iglesias, Tony Bennett and he tells us about his bumpy ride with Dolly Parton who reached out for forgiveness in her book!Bobby does not shy away from 'doing' politics, but his material seeks our common humanity and gives voice to observations upon which we can all agree, replacing darkness and anger with the welcome recognition of our similarities. After shows, people often tell him how his act brought them much needed healing and comfort, arguably more crucial now than ever. Also, was Sinatra a good tipper? Why did Cher make Bobby sweat? And how did Julio manage to truncate a dressing room visit from Donald Trump!?In recommendations --Weezy: Netflix Series, AdolescenceFritz: Paramount+ Series, Landman, streaming on several platformsPath Points of Interest:Bobby CollinsBobby Collins WikipediaBobby Collins Standup 90sOn The Inside by Bobby CollinsBobby Collins - FacebookBobby Collins on YoutubeBobby Collins on InstagramBobby Collins on TikTokAdolescenceLandman, Paramount, Netflix and others

Two artists who have left an indelible mark on American music are, in actual fact,  a married couple with a brand new album on the verge of dropping. The Bangles' Vicki Peterson and The Cowsills' John Cowsill join us! Differences between these two abound: New England vs. Southern California origins, 60s family pop vs. 80s girl-band rock, drums vs. guitar; but the parallels are even more striking....Both Vicki and John were raised by Top 40 Radio, they began performing very young and played in extraordinarily influential bands with their siblings. And so importantly, they share the honor of touching audiences with music that became lifetime soundtracks. Their new collaborative album, 'Long After the Fire' (including the about-to-drop-on-March 21st-single, 'Is Anybody Here') features covers of songs written by John's late brothers, Billy and Barry Cowsill. It was an uphill battle to acquire the rights to license the music, but thanks to Vicki's tenacity and their producer’s rich  industry knowledge, Vicki and John have leaned the expanse of their talent and exquisite harmonies into this very personal project.Vicki tells us about her rock stardom ride with the Bangles and John shares his early worries that having entered professional show biz at the age of seven, his career chose him and therefore the subsequent attention often felt embarrassing.We also talk about, 'Family Band: The Cowsills Story’, a documentary that Weezy made about the Cowsills. We discuss John's time with the Beach Boys, Vicki’s collaborations with her sister-in-law, Susan Cowsill and Vicki and John give each other the business with the well-earned nicknames, ‘Child Star' and ‘Rock Star’. Plus, we have a round of IMDB Roulette for the ages and an exclusive, in-studio performance!Path Points of InterestVicki Peterson and John CowsillVicki Peterson and John Cowsill on YoutubeA Thousand Times Video Vicki and John on InstagramVicki and John on FacebookJohn CowsillJohn Cowsill on FacebookJohn Cowsill on InstagramJohn Cowsill on WikiJoey's SongVicki Peterson on WikiThe BanglesVicki Peterson on FacebookNorman's Rare Guitars DocumentaryViet Nam: The Way That Changed America - Apple TV

A Golden Age Hollywood star in every sense, at just 16 Ruta Lee was  cast in the all-time great movie musical, 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers', subsequently becoming the designated smoldering beauty, spicy sexpot and fiery vixen in  iconic TV Westerns, mysteries and dramas of  the '50s and '60s. She is celebrating her 90th birthday in classic Ruta fashion: with a one-woman show, fabulously titled 'Consider Your Ass Kissed! This week she brings her legendary inside showbiz lore and boundless energy to the Media Path studio!Ruta's story begins with her Lithuanian background and parents who escaped the oppression of the Communist regime to Montreal, Quebec, where Ruta was born, singing and dancing. Her mother reached out to a Lithuanian priest in Los Angeles and thus began the plan to head for Hollywood.Ruta’s Hollywood High training prepared her to land roles on The George Burns & Gracie Allen Show, The Roy Rogers Show and then iconic films including Funny Face with Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn and Sergeants Three with The Rat Pack! Ruta recounts her heroic efforts to extract her Grandmother from a Siberian internment camp. She took her request straight to Khrushchev! She tells us about her work with The Thalians, an organization founded by Hollywood actors to help children receive mental health care. Also, what is Audrey Hepburn's keep-slim advice? And what job yielded Ruta the most lucrative income? And with public speaking being our number one fear, Rick Mitchell joins us to talk about his new book, one of the most crucial reference guides of all time, 'How to Write a Funny Speech for a Wedding, Bar Mitzvah, Graduation & Every Other Event You Didn't Want to Go to in the First Place'!In recommendations-- Weezy: "Reality Winner Noir" - Reality (2023) on Max and Winner (2024) on HuluFritz: 'Nickel Boys' now streaming on PrimePath Points of Interest:Ruta Lee Consider Your Ass Kissed by Ruta LeeRuta Lee in“CONSIDER YOUR ASS KISSED”At The Purple Room in Palm Springs, Saturday & Sunday, March 29th and 30that The El Portal Theatre, Friday, May 30th, 2025Ruta Lee on WikipediaRuta Lee on FacebookThe ThaliansRick MitchellHow to Write a Funny Speech Buy LinksNickel Boys (2024)Reality (2023) on MaxWinner (2024) on HuluMedia Path Podcast

Sharon Scott Williams bares her soul in a play called Crazy Mama, a powerful, personal story that's at once unique and wholly relatable. It's about family, mental illness and the bonds and devotion that propel us to protect and defend those we hold dear.  Crazy Mama is running at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura, CA March 26 - April 6, 2025. It stars Linda Purl and is directed by Anson Williams, both icons of classic TV, including Happy Days, and one of whom is married to playwright Sharon Scott Williams. (You only get one guess which.)Sharon came home from school, at the age of eight, to find her mother wielding a knife, in a psychotic episode. The ensuing events led to extended hospitalization and a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. Her family’s coping heroism inspired her, decades later, to write a memoir, which Sharon’s husband, actor and director Anson Williams (Yes, you guess correctly), felt would make an astonishing one-woman stage show.With Linda Purl in the starring role (playing 16 different characters!) the stage play of 'Crazy Mama' gives audiences the opportunity to reflect on their own experiences and it provides a conduit to conversations about mental illness, trauma and family dynamics. Sharon tells how the crafting of the play inspired the processing of her long buried, confusing emotional cocktail of fear, guilt, shame, and anger and with similar Virginia ancestral roots, Linda identified instantly with the work and the power of its messages.Plus, Sharon, Anson and Linda all claim Covid Love stories! Sharon, an Ojai, California Real Estate agent, had shown Anson a house a decade earlier. But, with both of them single, she received a text invitation from him for lunch! They spent the pandemic falling in love. Linda ran into an acquaintance with a very similar show-biz history, Patrick Duffy. Their mutual friend, Richard Thomas paved the way and their Zoom friendship blossomed into romance! Also, we are proud to present our all-new IMDB Roulette Sub Genre quiz sensation, Were You On It, featuring full disclosures about Anson and Linda’s appearances on: Baywatch, The Waltons, The Secret Storm, Fantasy Island, Black Market Baby and I Married A Centerfold!In recommendations-- Weezy: Documentary Beatles 64 on Disney+Fritz: Documentary Becoming Katharine Graham on Amazon PrimePath Points of Interest:Crazy Mama at The Rubicon TheatreAnson Williams IMDBAnson Williams WikipediaAnson Williams on FacebookLinda Purl IMDBLinda Purl WikipediaLinda Purl on InstagramLinda Purl in "POSSIBILITIES - songs of HOPE, RISK and MAYBE" at Catalina Jazz Club in HollywoodBeatles 64 - Disney+Becoming Katharine Graham - Amazon Prime

Arnetia Walker has lit up stages and screens for decades and she joins us this week to review her stunning show biz resume, including her latest entry, Bookie, the Chuck Lorre Max comedy on which she is currently slaying as Grandma.We are also joined by artist and Holocaust Survivor Erika Kahn, a first-hand witness to the consequences of authoritarian rule, scapegoating, and nationally sanctioned brutality. Erika offers vital insight for us in our fight against a dangerous wave of fascism.Orphaned as a child, Arnetia Walker’s showbiz career began at New York City's High School for the Performing Arts where her talent and dreams were nurtured and encouraged. Arnetia was embraced by a similar culture of community and support when she won her first Broadway role with Hal Linden in The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window and then A Raisin in the Sun. Both  Lorraine Hansberry's plays.With a favorable alignment of the stars and talent recognition from Michael Bennet, Arnetia went from understudying Stephanie Mills in The Wiz to co-starring in Dreamgirls… a show within which she ultimately played every starring character. (But not on the same night.) As gifted an actor as she is a singer, Arnetia talks about her slew of TV appearances, including her lead role in the Witt Thomas Harris sitcom, Nurses and the circumstances under which that part prevented her from being cast in  E.R.Currently, she is stealing every scene as the ruthlessly direct Grandma in Bookie. Arnetia shares what it's like to work with Chuck Lorre and Sebastian Maniscalco. She tells us about her cabaret era and her passion for cooking and she boldly takes on a round of IMDB Roulette that jars some treasured TV memories!Then, Centenarian Erika Kahn recalls her childhood in Nazi Germany, and she contrasts and compares the climate which led to the Nazi atrocities with that of our current perilous pivot point in America. Erika is a tenacious activist whose words of hope and optimism are essential for those of us taking on the rise of American fascism.In recommendations --Fritz: Netflix Series 'American Manhunt: OJ Simpson'Weezy: The Movie 'Studio One Forever' (2023), streaming on several platforms Path Points of Interest:Arnetia WalkerArnetia Walker on IMDBArnetia Walker on WikipediaArnetia Walker on TiktokBookieErika KahnWe Played Marbles: Remembering A Stolen ChildhoodA documentary featuring Erika KahnAmerican Manhunt: O.J. SimpsonStudio One Forever

In the 1970s, Gregory Harrison went east to Hollywood. The son of Catalina Island’s glass bottom boat captain, Gregory began dreaming of a career in acting when a Doris Day movie was filmed on and named after his father’s Glass Bottom Boat. Now 120 IMDB credits into his career, Gregory joins us for a debriefing.After serving as an Army medic during the Viet Nam War, Gregory’s guest star appearance on MASH in 1976 foreshadowed his earning the role of Gonzo Gates on Trapper John MD in 1979, which was around the time Trapper began to look more like Pernell Roberts than Wayne Rogers. Gregory starred in the TV version of Logan’s Run, a role that required a lot of running, which trained him for an appearance on Battle of the Network Stars where he met his future wife, Randi Oaks (competing for a rival network.) He’s most proud of his role in Centennial, the epic mini-series based on the James Michener novel. A TV event so beloved that fan gatherings are held today where enthusiasts can tour the original sets!Gregory just completed a three and a half year run on General Hospital, his first soap, on which he got to guest star with his daughter, Lily Anne Harrison. Hallmark fans know him as Joe O’Toole on the Signed, Sealed and Delivered movie series. And a fun fact is that the 8x10 glossy that Gregory is most often asked to sign is a shirtless pose from the TV movie, For Ladies Only, in which a struggling actor makes ends meet by stripping. Who, amongst us with a rock hard body doesn’t relate?Also joining us is journalist and former White House correspondent Brian Karen. Brian is directing a documentary titled Trump: The First 100 Days. (It’s a horror movie.) His new book is called Free The Press and his upcoming event at The Comedy Chateau in North Hollywood on February 27th is Free Speech and Comedy with special guests Tom Arnold and Hal Sparks.In Recommendations —Fritz: Sly Lives! The Burden of Black Genius - HuluWeezy: James by Percival EverettPath Points of Interest:Brian Karem on WikipediaFree Speech and Comedy at the Comedy Chateau, February 27thFree the Press Just Ask the Question PodcastGregory Harrison on WikipediaGregory Harrison on IMDBTrapper John MD PilotTrapper John MD OpeningLogan's Run SeriesFalcon CrestSigned, Sealed and Delivered MoviesCentennial Mini-SeriesSly Lives! The Burden of Black Genius - HuluJames by Percival Everett

Alexander Polinsky began his showbiz career on stage, at seven, and soon landed a role on one of the 80s’ biggest sitcoms, Charles in Charge. From there, Alex followed his imagination into working as a toy maker, a magician, a chef, a clown, a musician and a voice actor. Alex joins us to share stories about his Universal backlot adventures, his spiritual healing journey and his new album!Alex comes from an acting lineage. His parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles were performers and by age ten, he had acquired more fame than anyone yet in the Polinsky acting dynasty. But the pathway to happiness has been more circuitous. Alex played Adam Powell (who had Charles in Charge of him from ages 10 to 16.) Not the best supervision. Alex stepped forward during the #MeToo movement, along with his co-star, Nicole Eggert, to allege that he was persistently bullied, tormented and sexually harassed by the star of the show. Charles in Charge was not a safe set for children but Universal had recently turned their backlot into a theme park and Alex enjoyed the run of it… to the point where his adventuring through attractions triggered lasers that awakened floods and giant apes! He had the opportunity to learn from veteran actors and special effects masters. Lessons and wisdom that informed his future endeavors.Alex transitioned from actor to toymaker, designing the molds that shaped icons of creative play… Polly Pocket and the talking Pee Wee Herman doll. But he dreamed of becoming an action figure and his voice over work has shrink wrapped exactly that! He voices Control Freak in Teen Titans, Argit in Ben 10 and Darington in Blaze and the Monster Machines. All now action figures!Alex's parents valued spirituality, and when he was ready to begin his healing journey he turned to Buddhism and its tenets of mindfulness and self-discovery. His fascination with the Theravada school of Thai Buddhism recently brought him to a monastery in Chiang Mai where he studied its history and is planning on recording the audiobook version of the biography of influential monk Ācariya Mun Bhūridatta Thera!Alex’s band with Johnny Vallone is called Make Magic. Their new album is Before Your Very Eyes and they describe their music as evocative, emotional, impressionistic, alt rock/pop with a theatrical flair. All that plus a rousing round of IMDB Roulette!In recommendations --Fritz: The movie Conclave, Streaming on Several PlatformsWeezy: The PBS Series Funny WomanPath Points of Interest:Alexander PolinskyAlexander Polinsky on IMDBAlexander Polinsky on WikipediaMake MagicMake Magic on SpotifyMake Magic on Apple MusicĀcariya Mun Bhūridatta Thera biographyAlexander Polinksy on InstagramAlexander Polinksy on TiktokAlexander Polinksy on XConclave (2024)Funny Woman - PBSMedia Path Podcast