I’m filled to the brim with love, compassion, and inspiration. I so enjoyed every moment in Lydia Cornell’s most excellent company. A strong, talented, generous, capable woman, who knows who she is, where she’s been, and where she wants to be, allowing for godshots that may alter her future at any turn, AFI Best Actress nominee and People’s Choice …

Rick Vito Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonWhat a lovely way to spend a sunny afternoon. Grammy-nominated guitarist, singer, and producer, Rick Vito, probably best known as a member of Fleetwood Mac, was a sunny delight, hisself. Coming to us Live from Franklin TN, following the release of his recently dropped latest album, Cadillac Man, we …

Hal Linden Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonDoes it get better than this? Someone’s gonna have to prove it to me. Wow, what a time with Hal Linden! As nice, charming, handsome, and tall (well, I’m guessing on the last), as his Barney Miller, Hal was all that and a hefty bag of Cheetos. Absolutely age-defying - I want to see his birth certifi…

Warren Ham Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonWhat an absolutely delightful sit down with multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, Warren Ham. As much as I was blown away seeing him do his thing (s) Live with Ringo and his All Starr Band, singing lead, background vocals, playing flute, sax, harmonica, keyboards, and percussion, I’m exhausted just t…

Butch Patrick Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonWhat a fun chat with Butch Patrick, aka Eddie Munster, who’s warm, easy and so comfortable in his skin that it’s impossible to not feel like an old friend coming home. Butch makes everyone in his path feel seen, heard, and important. What a gift. We talked about current events… living in Arkansa…

Rudy Sarzo of Quiet Riot Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonI got to sit down again with bassist extraordinaire, Rudy Sarzo... Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, The Guess Who, Blue Oyster Cult - who's also a modern-day humanist, animal rights activist, author, mentor, CG artist, and an evolved, spiritual, gentle soul. And what a time it w…

OMG, where has George Schlatter been my whole life? I could've been a contenda!George Schlatter relishes the accidents and has made a career and created a legacy spinning them into comedy gold. Sock it to me! Here comes the judge! Look that up in your Funk and Wagnells! It’s not everyone who creates language that becomes part of the lexicon. 25x Em…

Federico Castelluccio of The Sopranos Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonI knew Federico Castelluccio, Furio Giunta, on the Sopranos, is a crazy talented artist on screen and canvas, is charming, easy on the eyes and ears, but damn! I was unprepared for one of the most fascinating, spectacular conversations I’ve had to date. I know little to n…

Rock ’N Roll Hall of Famer Ricky Byrd Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonHanging out with Rock’N Roll Hall of Famer, Ricky Byrd, is like going home. Back to the days… when we were both in a daze. I was booking the Rock 'N Roll Café on Bleecker Street, Ricky was already a rockstar, center stage as lead guitarist with Joan Jett and the Blackhear…

Simon Kirke of Bad Company Live on Game Changers With Vicki I was Live with Simon Kirke, co-founder of Free and Bad Company, two of the greatest rock bands in history. A huge lifelong fan, it was a thrill to sit down and hear how it all went down, including how Snuffy, a guitar player kinda close to my heart, ended up playing on Free’s Heartbreaker…

James Morrison Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonHow fortuitous that my first show back after an 8-week hiatus was with the stunningly soulful James Morrison––actor, writer, filmmaker, musician, husband, father, fellow, and stellar human. James was Chicken soup for my post-COVID soul. Discovering just before we went on the air that my treasur…

Vincent Curatola of The Sopranos Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonI’m not sure how it’s possible to meet a person once on Zoom and feel like they’re a treasured friend that I’ve known forever, but that’s exactly how it is with Vincent Curatola, aka Johnny Sack of The Sopranos, whom before meeting I feared would whack. Me. On this our second …

Lori Lieberman Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonBeing with Lori Lieberman, the very first musical guest at Women Who Write, and the only artist to perform at every WWW location over the past decade-plus is like going home. Five years since our last midday soiree, it was so wonderful to reconnect and catch up. We got the unabridged Killing Me…

Steve Lukather Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonHold the Line! Steve Lukather may be a bonafide rock star, but he’s also down-to-earth, self-effacing, self-aware, open-minded, hearted, reflective, enthusiastic, passionate, thoughtful, generous, and perhaps sweetest of all, a fanboy like us of his heroes. From the 6-year-old boy blown away by…

Marshall Herskovitz Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonMasterclass! I’ve had many stimulating, fascinating, brilliant, talented, fun guests. None more so than writer, director, and producer, Marshall Herskovitz. There’s a reason this human has won more Emmy, Golden Globe, Writers Guild, Directors Guild, Peabody, and Humanitas Awards than I can…

Today I got to hang with Ed Begley who makes me laugh and think and feel and want to do better and be better.7x Emmy Award Nominee - St Elsewhere, Better Call Saul, Best In Show, Saturday Night Live, Spinal Tap, Mary Hartman Mary Hartman, Going South, She Devil, My Three Sons, The Dating Game, oh yes he did… even winning a date to Australia… we tal…

Steve Porcaro Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonI loved every second with 3x Grammy Winner, founding member of Toto, Steve Porcaro. A down-to-earth sweetheart of a guy who just happens to be one arm of the iconic legendary musical Porcaro family. These ain’t no lip-sinking, TV frontmen, the Porcaros define chops. World-renowned drummer, Joe, …

David Jackson Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonWhat a delight music legend David Jackson is. No surprise. I was warned by his legions of loyal fans, most of whom are his brilliantly talented contemporaries. This was fabulous fun, topped perhaps by pre-fed stories with lots of misinformation which paved the way for the truths, which proved to…

Live from Los Angeles, it was Wednesday eve. Loved spending it with Television Academy Hall of Famer, Laraine Newman. I was a little down-and-out post-new Moderna vax, but thanks to Laraine, I swiftly forgot all about it. She took us through her early childhood, finding her place with the funny. From neighborhood street plays, and school theatre wi…

Anthony Fedorov Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonI’m still smiling and I’m not sure I’m gonna stop any time soon. What a blast I had with American Idol finalist Anthony Fedorov. It’s been a minute since last we met and Anthony is even more spectacular than I remembered.He opened the show with That Someone, his new song from his new musical, …

Steve Conte Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonWhat a great time, as always, when old pal Steve Conte sits down to chat and sing. That voice! Those songs! The stories! Steve played his latest Coolest Song in the World, Fourth of July, co-written with Andy Partridge of XTC, which was a dream come true for Steve and anyone fortunate enough to he…

Max Gail Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonWhat a thrill it is when someone whose work I admire, adore, and respect exceeds all my expectations as a human. Max Gail, actor, director, advocate, songwriter, two-time Emmy Award Nominee, for Barney Miller, and two-time Emmy Winner for General Hospital did just that. Spending time in his most exce…

Tom Arnold Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson by Vicki AbelsonKirjoittanut Vicki Abelson

taken years to get Danny Kortchmar alone in the Game Changers guest seat, having paid us a couple of previous visits with his Immediate Family brothers. This Danny is kinder, gentler, and oh, so fun. He’s been leaning more and more in this direction to my view since falling in love with Lisa Roy, even after surviving the devastating loss of her lif…

Percussionist Luis Conte- I love him! What a delightful sit down with this young man who escaped Castro’s Cuba to meet The Beatles and ended up playing with everybody else. Fabulous stories about his homeland, hitting Hollywood, Rockin The Boat, The Supremes, Doc Severinsen, hitting the big time with Madonna at the height of her day, Phil Collins a…

Tony Braunagel Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonWhat a long great trip it’s been. Grammy and Blues Music Award Winner, Tony Braunagel, took us through his early days in Houston, playing nightclubs at 15 with soul bands, to connecting with a certain Snuffy Walden and Terry Wilson a few years later, playing together on and off over the next 50…

Singer/songwriter, Tony-nominated, film &, TV star, writer, director, producer, author, 1st Star Search Winner, Sam Harris, is a real person with real issues and we talked… real. About struggles with weight, Sam’s conquered his, losing upwards of 30 pounds in recent months, and he told us how he’s done it. Inspiring! We talked about life, as it is …

Jason Scheff Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonRock Star! Jason Scheff’s got the chops, the voice, the lineage, the career, and the hair! And I’m not sure he could be a more lovely, gracious, humble guy. As if thirty years with Chicago weren’t enough, Jason takes us through that experience from the rumors, the auditions, the close race, getti…

CJ Vanston Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonI could have laughed all night and still have laughed some more! What fun! Composer, producer, songwriter, keyboardist, CJ Vanston––great bit on his name to start, had me laughing to tears story upon story. Oh boy, I needed the eggs.From his musical beginnings, locked in and listening to his dad’s …

Cheri Oteri Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Fun, fun, fun, and more fun. A long-time huge fan of Cheri Oteri’s work - I’m now a huge fan of the human. I loved every second in this Emmy nominees’ great company. As animated as Cheri is on screen, she’s all that and a truck full of fun in conversation. From early days in Philly imitating soap…

AJ Benza Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonWe couldn’t sit further apart on the political spectrum, or how we approach and present what we do, and yet columnist, TV correspondent, talk show host, actor, author, award-winning producer, and podcaster, AJ Benza, is a cherished friend. What we do share is a quest to tell the truth, a platform to …

Felix Angel Solis Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonIf a good man is hard to find, a great one’s murder. Felix Solis, currently killing it in The Rookie: Feds, and who killed, literally, as Omar Navarro in Ozark, the role which broke him out of actors actor/working actor to famous actor. Deserved. All over the place. Felix’s stunning performa…

Korel Tunador Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonIt was such a treat to sit down again with treasured friend, Korel Tunador. I’ve sure missed him. Crazy talented and oh, so fun, quintuple threat––guitar, keyboards, sax, accordion, and vocals, Korel, who’s been playing with Rob Thomas the last many years, spent a dozen + with the Goo Goo Dolls,…

Friends who used to be 30 Something, Wingnuts, and Field of Dreamers, lend me your ear (s), and your eyeballs. Emmy-winner Timothy Busfield is a scream! His Burt Lancaster alone is worth the watch. Hysterical, and right on point. Tim’s amazing bride, Melissa Gilbert joined us for a sec, she’ll be back! But she was a big part of the conversation––ho…

Michael Ruff Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonIn his first ever interweb interview, perhaps interview period, 3rd Zoom of his lifetime, and that includes 2 with his family, multiple Grammy-nominated producer and songwriter, BMI Award and Cable Ace Award winner, Michael Ruff, tried to be a little ruff, deflecting and avoiding answering questi…

Like fine wine gaining depth, strength, and taste with age, so is Grammy-winning comedian, actor, writer, director, cannabis activist, Tommy Chong. After a lifetime of adoring this man and his art, having spent countless hours laughing over and over and over again at his funny, I’ve been struck by his warmth, generosity, intelligence, centeredness,…

Snuffy Walden Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonThere are no accidents. House stand-in as he so aptly named hisslef, Emmy-Winning Composer, Snuffy Walden, was just what the doctor ordered. Live from the dining room, with Rufus for the most part chillin’ between us, Snuffy got down, got real, letting us in as he seamlessly weaved through music…

What a smile! What a sweetheart! Oh yeah, Walfredo Reyes Jr. is also a spectacular drummer/percussionist. Seeing Wally in action last month killing it with Chicago, and then meeting him afterward clinched that he’s the trifecta. This time with him on Game Changers makes clear all three, even if he didn’t lift a stick or slap a cajón.Wally brought h…

Barbara Feldon Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonThe best? Certainly none better. I’m not sure anyone has ever exceeded my very high expectations greater than Barbara Feldon did this day. As much as I admired and adored Get Smart’s Agent 99 for her sophistication, intelligence, knowingness, sly, perfectly delivered humor, demure yet smolderin…

Happy Happy Joy Joy. Well, Happy Happy Paula Paula. That’s how it feels whenever Paula Poundstone’s around. It was another grey rainy day in SoCal, but the sun was sure shining on the interweb. I laughed pretty much non-stop, my cheeks hurt, in the good way, and a drop of water or two squirted out mine eyes, again, in the best possible way.We talke…

Stanley Livingston Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonConsidering we were kids together, so what if he didn’t know it… Stanley Livingston and I opened with the health report. Remarkably fit and boyish for his 72 years, where the hell did the time go? Stan’s used it well. Some fun revelations––from his mother’s pre-maternal career to his first …

Eric McCormack Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonWill and Vicki. The virgin Walden/Abelson voyage. If you’re gonna break the almost 3 yrs to the day pandemic Zoom streak, and do a first Live in person from the new digs, how better than with handsome, charming, fabulous, Emmy, SAG, and GLAAD Award Winning, Eric McCormack? Couldn’t be done. If …

What a glorious reunion with the brilliantly talented prolific songstress, Harriet Schock, who wrote the Grammy-nominated #1 hit, Ain't No Way To Treat A Lady, and her stunningly talented, vocal accomplice, Andrea Ross-Green. It was thrilling to hear them again in perfect harmony with new songs from Harriet’s upcoming album, Paintings (the title tr…

Teresa James & Terry Wilson Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonThey may sing the blues but they sure make me happy. Grammy nominees Teresa James and Terry Wilson treated us to our first live mini-concert in Game Changers history. And it was spectacular! With their brand new album of reimagined Beatle songs, With a Little Help From Her Friends,…

Larry Amoros Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonFor a good time call Cheryl, or watch this. I literally laughed til I cried. Larry Amoros, head writer for Joan Rivers, Joy Behar, Rosie O'Donnell, and Barry Manilow, tore down my house, and boy, did I need the eggs. Is there anyone funnier? Larry’s story about Bea Arthur alone! Holy cow, HYSTERI…

Dean Parks Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonDean Parks has played with everyone on every album ever recorded. Close. His discography is so long I had to take rest breaks as I was scrolling. How many did we get to? Well, we polished some of the gemstones. A 5-year-old with a steel guitar, he was playing with the big boys at 6. Clarinet follow…

Paul Williams Live on Game Changers with Vicki AbelsonIt’s been 9 yrs since Grammy, Golden Globe, Oscar Winner, and Hall of Famer, Paul Williams, graced my living room. That’s almost as long as it’s been since I began campaigning to get him to do this. Worth the wait! And then some. Putting aside Paul’s decades of accomplishments, the dozens upon d…

Leland Sklar Live on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonIt’s always a stupendous no BS joy to sit down with bassist, and humanitarian extraordinaire, Leland Sklar. Does absence make the heart grow fonda, does familiarity breed an easy intimacy that translates to free-flowing fun? I’m gonna say, “Yes.” This was a gas! In the best possible way. Lee fill…

Live with The Cowsill on Game Changers With Vicki AbelsonThere’s so much wonderfulness and fun packed into this 1:15 Live, I’m woe to break it down and give any spoilers. Suffice it to say we talked about their avid, loyal fans, me being one, since kneesocks, their group dynamic, how the 7 came and went, family auditions, oh yes they did, how the h…

Today Live! Steve Ferrone, most prominently known as the drummer in Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, is also a former member of the Average White Band and has recorded and performed with Duran Duran, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, Slash, Chaka Khan, Eric Clapton, Bee Gees, Scritti Politti, and Johnny Cash. Steve’s also appeared on recordings by Bri…