Happy Birthday Cuzz

Today is the birthday of Chuck E. Gekas (aka Cuzz).  Cuzz is the cousin to the brothers Chuck and Jim Gekas.  It's funny because I am friends with all three of them and each friendship is unique and means a lot to me.
Cuzz is my partner in silliness with such projects as the Backup Catcher Hall of Fame.  He is one of the founding fathers of the 3-1-1.  He has done some work behind the camera for my interviews on Johngy's Beat.
Cuzz is a great friend and I appreciate his friendship greatly.  Happy birthday Cuzz!

Cuzz and me in Indianapolis, IN-July 2011.

Celeb Jersey Cards #76 Dick Butkus & Mike Ditka

This is a regular series which combines my passion for trading cards with my interest in celebs.  The Bears have a bye week, but I didn't want to ignore them, especially coming off 2 wins.

I will lead off with Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus.  Butkus was a local Chicago kid who became one of the most ferocious tacklers in the NFL.  Nobody was tougher, yet I learned in Las Vegas earlier this year that he is also one of the nicest people I have met.  I am not sure how he would do on ice, but I know he would have looked great with the Indianhead on his sweater, as he shows on his Celebrity Jersey Card.

What Butkus was to the Bears defense, Iron Mike Ditka was to the Bears offense.  The Hall of Fame tight end took the Bears to the Super Bowl as a coach and became a Chicago icon.  Ditka would also have done the Indianhead proud.  He still looks good in it, as seen on his Celebrity Jersey Card.

Autograph Tales:Steve Myer

In my never ending quest to bring recognition to the backup quarterbacks of my youth, I am featuring Steve Myer, a member of the expansion Seattle Seahawks.  Actually, Myer played his entire four year NFL career with the Seahawks.
For the first year of the Seahawks existence, undrafted Jim Zorn was the starter and veteran Bill Munson was his backup, with Myer as the third string.  It was thought that Zorn's scrambling ability was a primary factor in him originally getting the nod.  Myer became Zorn's primary backup the next year and stayed in that role for three years before retiring.
Years ago, Myer sent me a signed picture along with signing my index card.  Myer never had a football card.  Back then, football card sets were smaller and bad teams like the Seahawks rarely had two qb's represented.
As always, I close with my salute to backup qb's.  You probably remember Jim Zorn, but now you might remember Steve Myer, too!

On the Beat with Sara Richard Again!

In August at Chicago Wizard World, I met and interviewed Sara Richard for the first time.  Last weekend at the Wizard World con in Columbus (OH), I again got to talk to the talented young illustrator, author and sculptor.
Currently, Sara is a freelancer and she has worked on projects for Hasbro, too.  Her creations are fascinating, beautiful and really just cool.  Her subjects are varied, although her site states that she is "developing a style that incorporated my love of Art Nouveau and wildlife (mostly the extinct kind)".
In our first interview, I failed to ask Sara about her work with the Manchester Animal Shelter and her fascination with dinosaurs.  I took care of both questions this time, along with getting an update on her latest work.  I hope to continue to see Sara at these events and to keep getting updates.  I also plan on purchasing some of her artwork the next time I see her.
After you watch the video below, please check out SaraRichard.com and the Sara Richard Facebook page to learn more about Sara and to see her awesome work.  Can you tell I am a big fan?

On the Beat with Unshaven Comics

At the recent Ohio Wizard World convention, I literally stumbled into a quick interview with the guys at Unshaven Comics.  I have wanted to talk to these guys for a while, but somehow missed them at other conventions in the Chicago area.
Matt Wright, Marc Alan Fishman and Kyle Gnepper are the creative force behind Unshaven Comics.  Their stated goal is "to make comics, make friends and gain a legion of fans".  The trio's first printed effort was "The March", a fictional account based on the 2006 Chicago event which saw 400,000 people march against a change in immigration law.  Since then, Unshaven Comics has released Disposable Razors #1, #2 and #3.
I got to meet Matt, Marc and Kyle and see all of their cool offerings at their booth.  Kyle gave us a quick rundown of Disposable Razors #3, while Marc and Matt (looking very friendly and very unshaven) made a couple of appearances.
These guys really are a talented team.  I hope to meet these guys again at a future con and get an update on their future projects.  When you are done watching the video below, please check out UnshavenComicsOnline.com and the Unshaven Comics Facebook page to learn all about the unshaven trio and their creative products.

On the Beat with Tom Batiuk

Last weekend, I spent time with my cousins in Columbus (OH).  While there, I went to the Wizard World convention and spoke to a handful of the featured guests.
I have been to many Wizard World cons (Chicago, NY and Philly) over the years, but this was my first in Columbus.  It is always a great event.  This one was a bit smaller than the others, but a fantastic event.
I have been a faithful reader of the Funky Winkerbean comic strip for more than 30 years.  When I saw that its creator Cartoonist Tom Batiuk was a featured guest, I contacted him about an interview and he graciously agreed.
I could have talked to Tom for hours (although he probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much as I would).  The Funky strip has covered so much ground, from silly to serious.  There is so much material and so many possible questions and that doesn't even include John Darling and Ed Crankshaft, his other two famous strips.  We talked about how he kept the comic strips fresh, why and how he decided to deal with some serious issues, the Funky time leaps and more, including a small scoop for 2012, which will be Funky's 40th anniversary!
Tom has created such funny and multi-layered characters.  The depth of his characters and stories have had lasting impacts, such as Lisa's Legacy Fund, stemming from a character's battle with cancer.
I really appreciate talking to Tom.  Having basically grown up following his creations, it was a real pleasure and a thrill.  I look forward to what the future holds for the Funky Winkerbean strip, especially during his big 40th anniversary year.  I hope to meet Tom at a future con and hopefully he will talk to us again about the latest happenings.
I was already a big fan of Tom and his work.  Now I am an even bigger fan.  After watching our video below, please check out FunkyWinkerbean.com to learn more about Tom, Funky and the rest of the gang.  

On the Beat with Ryan Dempster

I talked to Ryan Dempster a few years ago.  That Dempster interview is on YouTube.  When I asked him about his favorite city in which he's played, he responded with "Chicago".  Maybe he was being a "homer", but he seemed very sincere enough.
On our recent trip to Houston, I asked him about his favorite city (not necessarily where he played).  He did not reply "Chicago".  Therefore, I think this adds confirmation to his previous answer.
In the video below, Dempster discusses his favorite city and why he was throwing a football in the outfield.  Ryan is a real class act.  Dempster loves Chicago and Chicago loves him!

Friendly Encounters: Joe Rogan and Dawn "Zigzag" Montefusco

This is a regular feature about friends who have met celebs.

I first stumbled across Dawn Montefusco while researching WordStock, a literary festival in Portland (OR).  Dawn (nicknamed ZigZag for her introverted and extroverted phases) is a writer, social media consultant, life coach, blogger and more based in the Portland area.
She has a couple of sites.  One is her professional site.  The other is her blogsite Ms. ZigZag and it is full of ...well just about everything and anything.  That includes poetry, adventures, introspection, fun with friends and much more either serious, silly or somewhere in between, but all interesting.
Recently, ZigZag met Joe Rogan, an actor and comedian and a favorite among my friends.  Now, I will turn it over to ZigZag...
When I bought my ticket to see Joe Rogan at Helium Comedy Club in Portland, Oregon I had no idea what I was in for. I had only heard him on podcasts and youtube, but I have always loved his sharp wit, crass sense of humor, and progressive intellect. Needless to say the show was amazing. Joe performed for about 90 minutes and was hilarious for every minute of it. The crowd went crazy for Joe. For a guy who spews the word f*** endlessly, and brags about pot smoking, Rogan was amazingly cerebral and astute on some serious topics: aging, gay rights, death, religion and the like. This is one of the reasons I have such a huge crush on the man. But there was a catch. 80% of the crowd was men (mostly big guys in baseball caps) and the women that showed up looked slightly annoyed, like they were only there to satisfy their boyfriends. I've never seen so many sour-puss faces on females. Granted, Joe was making some intense jokes, but hey this is comedy and Joe loves to push to the edge. Lighten up ladies.

After the show Joe and the other comics were in the lobby and took pictures and provided autographs to everybody. He was really sweet and patient with everyone. I can't wait to see him again.
I really appreciate ZigZag sharing her story.  I have never met Rogan, so this is as close as I could get for now.  Maybe someday, I'll catch Rogan at one of his appearances and I'll have my own story to tell.  Actually, I'd like to meet ZigZag someday, too.  Until then, I hope you enjoyed ZigZag's and I hope you will check out her site.  You won't be disappointed.

ZigZag Montefusco and Joe Rogan in Portland, OR-Early 2011.

Bear Down Sunday #7

Today the Bears (3-3) are playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2), their former division rival.  Both QB's (Jay Cutler and Josh Freeman) are having good years.  It's nice not to hear cries for the backup quarterback for once, although I am a big fan of the backup quarterback in general.
Continuing my plight to give recognition to the backup quarterbacks of my youth, I am featuring Mike Rae.  Rae starred at USC, leading the Trojans to an undefeated season, a Rose Bowl win and the National Championship in 1972.
Rae was drafted by the Oakland Raiders, but played three years in the CFL before playing in Oakland.   With the Raiders, he backed up Kenny Stabler for two years, before moving on to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he backed up Doug Williams.  He finished his NFL career with one season with the Washington Redskins, backing up Joe Theismann.  He moved on to the USFL, playing two seasons before he retired.
Rae is one of only a handful of players who played for the CFL, NFL and USFL.  He was part of the 1976 Super Bowl Champion Raiders.
Rae sent me the signed 8x10 below when I wrote him a note asking for an autograph.  I am grateful for the photo, I just wish it was color to show the cool creamsicle jerseys of the old-school Buccaneers.  You all remember Stabler, Williams and Theismann.  Now, hopefully you will remember Mike Rae!

Celeb Jersey Cards #75 Dirk Nowitzki & Greg Louganis

This is a regular series which combines my passion for trading cards with my interest in celebs.  The World Series is underway and Celebrity Jersey Cards is featuring both teams.

Dirk Nowitzki lead the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA title last season.  The Rangers invited him to throw out a ceremonial first pitch.  Much like Dan Marino did with a football, Nowitzki tossed a basketball (from that distance, would it be worth 3 points?).  Only time will tell if Nowitzki's magic rubbed off on the Rangers.  MLB refused to allow Nowitzki to throw out the first ball in the World Series, but Johngy's Beat is proud to have him on a Celebrity Jersey Card!

Although swimmer Greg Louganis was born and raised in California, he somehow managed to head east and toss out the first pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals.  I am not sure of the connection, but I do know that Louganis broke the jersey code by tucking it into his pants.  That jersey faux pas did not prevent him from landing on a Celebrity Jersey Card.

On the Beat with Sarah French

I was originally supposed to talk to Sarah French at Days of the Dead, but Sarah couldn't make the convention.  When I saw she was scheduled to appear at Flashback Weekend, near my home, I contacted her and asked for a raincheck on the interview.  She graciously granted my request.
Sarah is an actress and model from Minnesota.  She has also worked under the name of "Scarlet Salem".  She loves the horror genre and already has an impressive resume of work.  Sarah has several projects in various stages of completion and is always quite busy.  She also is featured in the web series Ghostbustin 911.
Sarah was a real delight.  She was funny, insightful and had a great infectious laugh.  I really appreciate her time and consideration in speaking to us.
In addition to her busy acting career, Sarah has been appearing at several autograph conventions.  On November 4-6, Sarah will be at CrypticCon in Bloomington (MN).
We talked about the start of her career, her current projects and much more in the video below.  After you watch our interview, please head over to SarahFrenchOnline.com, Sarah's Facebook page and Sarah's YouTube channel to learn more about this talented, young actress.

On the Red Carpet at Fancypants Premiere

Over the last couple weeks, I have featured interviews and info about Fancypants, a new movie produced by Chicago's Humble Pie Films, starring a lot of great Chicago talent.  It was obvious that this was a labor of love for everyone involved.

Thanks to Jennifer Fortney of Cascade Communications, I was able to get red carpet access for pieces that appeared here on Johngy's Beat, as well as online pieces for Global Traveler, JW's Wrestling Memorabilia and WrestlingFigs.com.  I want to thank Jennifer for everything.  It was a real pleasure dealing with her.

I sincerely hope I have opened a few eyes to Fancypants.  It's a fresh, heart-warming movie made by Chicago people.

As I complete my coverage of the Chicago premiere of Fancypants, I am leaving you with several pictures of the cast and crew behind this eciting new movie.  I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed being at the premiere.

Patrick Gleason (Leon the Lion) and date

Beth Horn (Animal Babe) and Amy Hendricks (Alex)

 Jackson Dunn (Tommy)

 Producer Daniel Hanson and date

Director of Photography Jim Andre

 Director-Screenwriter Joshua Russell and Megan Russell.

Kirby O'Connell (Flora) and friend

Mike Carey (Teddy) and Kimberly Carey

Noah Rogers (Jones)

Patrick Zielinski (Sal) and date

Scott Beatty, JayHawk Evans and me at our professional best in Chicago, IL-October 2011.

On the Beat with Kirby O'Connell

Today, we conclude our interview series with the cast and crew of Fancypants.  Kirby O'Connell plays Flora, a new promoter who runs things her way and her way includes the phasing out of Leo the Lion (portrayed by Patrick Gleason).
Kirby plays Flora with just enough toughness without going over the top.  She could have very easily become a caricature of an evil wrestling promoter.  Instead, she kept it believable and enjoyable.
In the video below, Kirby tells us this is her first red carpet walk.  She has fun with it though she admits it is kind of a weird feeling.  I am sure there will be more such moments for Kirby and I am just glad I had the opportunity to get this close.
After watching the Kirby O'Connell video, if you haven't done so already, go to FancypantsMovie.com, HumblePieFilms.com and the Fancypants Facebook page.  I am sure you will enjoy learning more about the great people who put so much effort into Fancypants.

On the Beat with Noah Rogers of Fancypants

A couple weeks ago, we featured Jackson Dunn, the young star of Fancypants.  Jackson's friend Noah Rogers also appears in the movie as Jones, a friend of Jackson's character Tommy.  Young Noah is one of many who made their acting debut in Fancypants. 
I believe Noah's sister accompanied him on to the premiere.  They appeared to enjoy themselves on the red carpet as you will see in the video below.  Noah answers some questions about his acting future, his interest in wrestling and the evening.  Both were great sports throughout and even broke out a little funky dance for fun.
I don't know what is in Noah's future plans, but he did a great job in Fancypants and probably will have some acting in his future.  Either way, at least he had his moment in the spotlight at the premiere and he deserved it.  He seems like a cool kid.
Tomorrow we will feature Kirby O'Connell.  Until then, but after you watch the video below, please check out FancypantsMovie.com, the Fancypants Facebook page and HumblePieFilms.com for more pictures, info and fun.

Friendly Encounters

This is a weekly series about friends who have met celebs.

My sister Nancy and her husband Dave went on a trip to Michigan.  While Nancy isn't quite sure which way they went, she does know they went through Green Bay (WI) at some point.
Nancy and Dave aren't really baseball fans, but they attended a baseball game in Green Bay.  The Green Bay Bullfrogs beat the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters in a battle of teams from the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer league.
Ever on the lookout for a Friendly Encounter, Nancy jumped at the chance to pose with Jeremiah the Bullfrog (do they have to pay royalties to Three Dog Night?) at the game.  For a mascot, Jeremiah doesn't look all that friendly.  (At least he didn't shun her, like Fredbird did to our nephew Matt years ago in St. Louis).
I am not sure and I don't have the energy to burn the calorie to look it up, but I believe this is Nancy's first Friendly Encounter appearance with a person (even if it is a person in a giant frog costume).

Jeremiah and Nancy Blais in Green Bay, WI-July 2012.

Bear Down Sunday #6

The Bears (2-3) host the Minnesota Vikings (1-4) in a "must win" game for both teams.  The Bears looked bad last Monday, but the Vikings have looked bad all season.  Today, once again, I am combining features by featuring Celebrity Jersey Cards #74 on a Bear Down Sunday.  Hopefully, these cards look better than the teams have.

Representing the Vikings is Timothy Busfield wearing a Twins jersey from the movie Little Big League.  I know it isn't a Vikings jersey.  I couldn't find any celeb wearing a Vikings jersey.  Apparently the Vikings don't have any celeb fans.  We can give them Jim Belushi if they want!

On the other end of the spectrum is the celeb representing the Chicago Bears.  You might remember Danielle Fishel as Topanga from tv's Boy Meets World.  Since then, she has continued acting, has become a spokesperson for Nutrisystem and became a contributor on The Tyra Banks Show.  I like Busfield, but if the game was decided on Celebrity Jersey Cards, the Bears would crush the Vikings today.
This Celebrity Jersey Card is dedicated to Laurence Holmes of WSCR in Chicago.  Laurence is a fellow DePaul grad, my favorite Score host and a big fan of Topanga!

A Belated Happy Birthday to Fran

How did I miss it?  How did I possibly miss the big red asterisk on my wall calendar next to my pc?  It was indeed a smallbrain moment.
Fran Gallagher's birthday was 5 days ago and I missed it!
Fran is a lot of things.  As president of Global Traveler magazine, he is my boss/client.  He is an avid golfer.  He loves to have a good time.  Most of all, he is a great, great friend.
Fran recently surprised the heck out of me by showing up at my mom's funeral service.  The guy flew from Philadelphia to show his support for me.  I was just floored.  I was also happy that the rest of my family got to meet Fran.
Fran and I exchange barbs (and punches) continually when we are together.  It has been that way for the 27 or so years we have known each other.
The photo below is typical Fran.  After poking me for my blogs, he made me the Globility Award winner at Global Traveler's annual awards ceremony.  Then, when the photog came to take the picture, Fran pranked me.  One minute serious, the next insane.
Beyond the jabs though is a deep respect.  Fran is a true friend..a brother in fact.  So here it is in writing...you are like my brother and I love you, big guy!

Fran Gallagher and me in New York, NY-January 2010.

PJ Soles and The Show

Over the last few days, I have tried to give an overview of The Show, which will star PJ Soles.  At Days of the Dead, in just a few minutes of conversation there, PJ got me hooked on the premise of The Show.  I had to learn more and I wanted to share it with all of you.
I have been a fan of PJ for a long time.  I enjoyed her early work such as Carrie, The Boy in the Plastic Bubble, Halloween and Stripes.  Perhaps my favorite role of hers was Riff Randall in Rock 'N' Roll High School, also starring the Ramones.  Since then, PJ has done a good amount of tv, while still appearing on the big screen, in movies including The Devil's Rejects.
I met PJ several years ago, but I was able to have an actual conversation with her at Days of the Dead.  I was so intrigued by The Show, that I forgot to talk to her about Rock 'N' Roll High School!
I hope you jump on the bandwagon for The Show.  Matt Russell has promised to send me updates and I will continue to post them on Johngy's Beat.  I really appreciate Matt for his time and consideration in giving us some extra info and insight into The Show.
This concludes my three day coverage of The Show.  If you haven't done so already, go to TheShowmovie.com, The Show's Facebook page and "like" it and then go to The Show's Twitter page and "follow" it.

PJ Soles, Cuzz Gekas and me in Indianapolis, IN-July 2011.

On the Beat with The Show and Matt Russell-Part 2

Yesterday, I posted the first part of my Q&A with Matt Russell, the creative force behind The Show. Below is the second part of my Q&A with Matt.

Q-What role does PJ Soles have, and how did she become involved?
MR-PJ will be playing the integral role of the protagonist's mother. She and I first met in the summer of 2003 at a horror convention in Chicago where she was a guest of honor, and I was just a 17-year-old kid in the crowd. We got to chatting and she really liked me for some reason, so she gave me her e-mail address, and we kept in touch for the next five years. She was nice enough to read my early screenplays, called me every year on Halloween night, and at one point was even going to fly to Chicago on her own dollar to appear in a student film of mine, but her schedule didn't align. When I finally moved out to Los Angeles in 2008, we became a lot closer, and she went to bat for me on several occasions to get me some writing gigs, including one instance where she insisted I be brought on to write her segment of an upcoming horror anthology that she was asked to direct. When I decided that I was finally going to make THE SHOW, there was no question who I was going to approach for this important role.
PJ is one of the sweetest, kindest--and needless to say--most beautiful people I've ever known. She's selfless, charming, loyal, funny, and she has that infectious laugh that anyone who's seen HALLOWEEN and STRIPES knows exactly what I'm talking about. She's also one of the best people to have in your corner because when she believes in you, she's a constant strong wind in your sails and always the first person to promote you to anyone who will listen. I'm blessed to have her as a friend, and I can't wait for us to finally get to work together.

Q-Is anyone else involved at this point?
MR-My friends from high school, James Babiarz and Brian Palmert--producers of the fine short film THE EXEMPTION OF HUNTER RILEY, which played at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival--will be producing alongside me, but there is currently no one else cast at the moment aside from PJ. We're still in the early stages of pre-production so we haven't begun actively casting just yet. The crew will mostly consist of close friends, but I am also pursuing a few people whom I've been hoping to work with for a long time. They've expressed interest, but nothing has been set in stone.

Q-What is a rough time table for THE SHOW?
MR-We're aiming to have the film completed by mid-next year at the latest. I have a particular festival I'm aiming for, but I'd rather not say it when we're this early in pre-production.  As we build up to production, we're really looking to involve the fans with its creation. We'll be launching our Kickstarter campaign soon, complete with some interesting rewards for anyone who donates, and we'll have a lot of fun updates and goodies for people to enjoy throughout the creative process!

I hope you have enjoyed learning about The Show.  I also hope you have gone to TheShoemovie.com,  The Show's Facebook page and "liked" it and have started "following" The Show on Twitter.

On the Beat with The Show and Matt Russell-Part 1

At Days of the Dead, Cuzz Gekas and I met PJ Soles, one of my all time favorites.  We talked to PJ about her career, including Stripes and Carrie.  In turn, PJ told us about her newest project, The Show, an upcoming movie written for the screen and directed by Matt Russell.  It is based on a short story by Bentley Little.  PJ's description intrigued me and her exuberance sold me. 
I contacted Matt and he graciously agreed to answer some questions.  Today, I am running the first two questions.

Q-How did THE SHOW project get started?
MR-I first read "The Show" in Bentley Little's anthology THE COLLECTION, and I immediately saw the film in my head. I wrote an adaptation of it just as a personal exercise, but turned it in for a class assignment in film school a few months later. When my class responded strongly to it (I was told by one classmate that it gave him nightmares), I decided I would attempt to option it. Very quickly though, I discovered that Bentley is a tough guy to get ahold of. Unlike most people in this media-obsessed world, he's very reclusive. He has no website, no Twitter or Facebook, not even an e-mail address! It was only a happy coincidence that I came in contact with another horror novelist by the name of Scott Nicholson, who often corresponded with Bentley and was nice enough to forward my request to him (the long version of my quest to option the rights can be found on the film's blog at DeepDishCinema.blogspot.com). I received a letter from Bentley a couple of months later, and he and his agent were generous enough to grant me a $1 option, but the terms are such that I cannot make any profit from the finished film. I cannot sell copies on DVD or charge admission for screenings. I can, however, submit it to film festivals and the finished film will be posted in its entirety on the official website once it completes its festival run.
It's a big risk spending this much time, effort, and money on a short film, especially one that you cannot see profit on, but this is a story that I've been wanting to tell for quite some time, and I'm finally going to be able to exorcise this demon! I'm also very honored and gracious to be given the opportunity to bring Bentley's work to the screen. He has long been a great contributor to horror fiction (he's one of Stephen King's favorites), and I think his work deserves as much attention as it can get! If the finished film leads even one person to discover his work, I'll be happy.

Q-Can you tell us a little about the plot of THE SHOW?
MR-I can't divulge too much of the plot right now so I'm afraid I will have to resort to the official synopsis: One night while out with his best friend, Danny learns about The Show. A form of entertainment unlike anything he ever could have imagined, with an allure too tempting to resist. What their money buys them is more than just spectacle, but a glimpse into the darkest depths of human nature. As time passes, Danny soon realizes that his morbid curiosity may have consequences unlike any he could have foreseen. Consequences that will force him to face everything he's ever truly feared... If you're one of those people who cannot wait, the story can be found in Bentley Little's book, THE COLLECTION. It's a very creepy and intense story that unflinchingly examines a lot of dark human issues while also scaring the hell out of you simultaneously, which is what great genre fiction is all about.

I hope you learned a bit about The Show  Come back tomorrow for the next part.  Until then, please check out TheShowmovie.com, The Show on Facebook and The Show's Twitter page.

Friendly Encounters

This is a regular series about friends who have met celebs.

My sister Jean's family went to Michigan and came back with a Friendly Encounter.  Okay, I am sure they went up for other reasons and have their own memories, but for the purpose of this blog, the Friendly Encounter is the goal.
While in Michigan, they attended the International Cherry Pit Spitting Contest.  Brian "Young Gun" Krause took top honors for the second consecutive year.  Brian spit a cherry pit 66 feet, 1.25 inches, in beating the field, which included his father Rick "Pellet Gun" Krause (a 16 time winner).  Brian now has nine titles and the world record of 93 feet 6.5 inches.
The Parker contingent got into the cherry pit spitting action.  The winner of that sectional was Kyle Kolb, Sam's boyfriend and a deserving champion.
My only problem with Kyle is that he wins too much.  Kyle (with teammates or solo) has won at bags, Wii games and other games which I would like to forget.  Then again, I am used to getting beat by the Parker contingent.  Oh well, it's all about fun, right?  Yeah right!
Anyway, they all had a great time in Michigan and eagerly posed with Rick Krause to gain their Friendly Encounter!

Kyle Kolb (aka the Champ) in Eau Claire, MI-July 2011.

Sam Parker, Kyle Kolb, Rick Krause, Matt Parker and Erin Galligan in Eau Claire, MI-July 2011.

Bear Down Sunday #5 on a Monday

Today, the Chicago Bears (2-1) face the Detroit Lions (4-0) and I am at the game.  I am combining two regular features, by having today's post be subtitled:Celebrity Jersey Cards #73 Jay Cutler & George Plimpton.  Each man/card represents one of the combatants.

Obviously, I have to start with Jay Cutler making his first Celebrity Jersey Card appearance, but he is not wearing a Bears uni.  Instead, he is sporting the Indian head sweater of the Blackhawks, Chicago's last champion.  Hopefully, some of that championship lustre rubbed off on Cutler.

I was never a big fan of the Lions, but I did enjoy George Plimpton's book, Paper Lion.  Plimpton once suited up for a pre-season game for the Lions.  He has also been a sideline guest.  Plimpton's Celebrity Jersey Card comes from his sidelines days, not from the book or subsequent movie (Alan Alda played Plimpton in the film version).

On the Beat with Mike Carey of Fancypants

Mike Carey was a firefighter paramedic and also a professional wrestler named Skull Manson for Windy City Wrestling.  He also has experience in bare-knuckle full contact fighting.  He is adding "actor" to his resume with his role as "Teddy" in Fancypants.
Mike enjoyed his time on the red carpet.  He talked a bit about his wrestling career and he exchanged fun banter with the paparazzi.  Proving he was a good sport, he even gave us his fiercest wrestling pose.  Mike was fun, casual and charismatic.  I look forward to seeing his career develop.
We are going to take a lttle break from our coverage of Fancypants, but we will be back in the near future with a little more from the Chicago premiere.  Until then, and after watching the video of Mike Carey below, please check out FancypantsMovie.com, the Fancypants Facebook page and HumblePieFilms.com to learn more about Fancypants and to get future updates.

On the Beat with Daniel Hanson of Fancypants

Over the last four days, we have presented interviews with Patrick Gleason, Jackson Dunn, Joshua Russell and Beth Horn of Fancypants.  Another integral part of Fancypants was Producer Daniel Hanson.
Hanson is part of the trio (with Joshua Russell and Jim Andre) behind Humble Pie Films, a relatively new production company.  The company is dedicated to producing the highest quality films without having huge budgets.  They are passionate and patient enough to take the time to do things right.
A few days after the event, I contacted Daniel to get a little more info on Humble Pie Films.  He responded with the following:
We are growing at Humble Pie Films and plan to have 3 feature length projects set to go to pre-production next year. We have many good scripts in development and we get new stuff all the time. Chicago has a great film industry and many many talented people.
This is exciting news for Chicago talent and for Chicago itself.  I see great success in the future of Humble Pie Films and for all involved.
Daniel took a few moments to answer our questions at the recent premiere.  The first question was about the creation and development of Fancypants, but the actual question got cut off due to a recorder glitch.  Hanson's entire answer and all that follows was recorded properly.
After you watch the video below, please be sure to visit FancypantsMovie.com, HumblePieFilms.com and the Fancypants Facebook page.  You'll find a lot of interesting info there about the cast, crew and the movie.  Stay tuned tomorrow for our feature on Mike Carey.

On the Beat with Beth Horn of Fancypants

I have met Beth Horn several times and have interviewed her twice.  It was during those interviews when I first learned of Fancypants.  A movie about wrestling starring Beth and Roddy Piper?  Sounded great to me!
Beth plays Animal Babe, one of Leo the Blue Lion's opponents in the ring. Aside from her time on American Gladiators, this is Horn's biggest role and she does a great job.
In the video below, the first minute or so shows some of the frenzy of the red carpet.  It also has an appearance by Patrick Zielinski and Amy Hendricks two of her co-stars.
When Beth comes over, we asked her about the physical rigors of Fancypants as compared to American Gladiators.  We also got a bit of a scoop from her about a future project.  She said Joshua Russell was involved and she gave us the initials "OMG".
I really like Beth.  She's always good for an interview and even willing to give Johngy's Beat a scoop now and then!
After watching the video, please go to FancypantsMovie.com, HumblePieFilms.com and the Fancypants Facebook page to learn more about the interesting cast and crew and the movie itself.

On the Beat with Joshua Russell of Fancypants

Over the last two days, I have featured interviews with Patrick Gleason and Jackson Dunn, who portrayed the two main characters in Fancypants.  They are really the heart and soul of this fine movie.
One of the creative forces behind Fancypants is Joshua Russell, Director and Screenwriter.  Joshua, Jim Andre and Daniel Hanson are the founders of Humble Pie Films, a Chicago-based film production company.  The goal of Humble Pie Films is to make high quality movies on a low budget.  They feel a great story is more important than the size of the budget.
It was wonderful to see Joshua enjoying the evening.  He worked long and hard for this day and it all went so well.  I am excited that I was there to share a little bit of it.
We talked to Joshua about the movie and what it could do for future indy films and for Chicago-based projects.  Of course, I also squeezed in a wrestling question.
Tomorrow we will feature Beth Horn.  Before that, but after watching the video below, please check out FancypantsMovie.com, HumblePieFilms.com and the Fancypants Facebook page to learn more about the story and the people behind it.  Also, check out my Global Traveler blog for more coverage of Fancypants.

On the Beat with Jackson Dunn of Fancypants

Yesterday, I started my look at the new movie Fancypants by featuring an interview we did with Patrick Gleason at the premiere.  Gleason played Leo the Lion, a wrestler being pushed out of the spotlight who finds that he has one super big fan left, in the form of 8 year old Tommy.
Jackson Dunn is the Wilmette (IL) student who played Tommy and brilliantly captured the excitement of a youngster following and meeting his hero.  Making Jackson's performance even more impressive is the fact that it was his acting debut.
We got to talk to Jackson as he walked the red carpet at the premiere.  He admitted he wasn't much of a wrestling fan, but he did enjoy being around Roddy Piper.  We also talked about how he got the part and what he is doing now.
Jackson was great.  Right after my questions, someone yells for him to mimic the look he had in the movie poster.  Jackson obliged the request in good spirit.  It was all done in fun, but Jackson was such a good sport.  Extra points go to him for sporting red Chuck Taylors with his tux.
Tomorrow, we will feature Joshua Russell the Director and Screenwriter.  Until then, after you watch the video below, please check out FancyPantsMovie.com, HumblePieFilms.com and the Fancypants Facebook page to learn more about the movie, cast and crew.

On the Beat with Patrick Gleason of Fancypants

Last week, I attended the premiere of Fancypants, a film produced by Chicago's Humble Pie Films, shot in Chicago and featuring a lot of Chicago talent.  Aside from it being the first showing of Fancypants, it was also a celebration for all.
Fancypants is the story of Leo the Blue Lion (portrayed by Patrick Gleason), a wrestler who is nearing the end of his career.  He has one true fan left, in the form of Tommy (played by Jackson Dunn).  The relationship, interaction and growth of the two are at the heart of this movie.  It is part comedy, part drama, part farce, part inspiration, but all very enjoyable.
We had the opportunity to talk to the cast and crew on the red carpet.  Over the next several days, I will be featuring those interviews, while giving a glimpse of the fun that was had by all.
First up is Patrick Gleason.  Gleason is a childhood friend of Jim Andre (Director of Photography).  A resident of Maywood (near Chicago), Gleason is an ex-convict who is making his acting debut.
We talked to Gleason about how he got the role, learning to act and wrestle and other topics.  Gleason was extremely gracious throughout the night.  It was a real pleasure meeting and talking to him.
Tomorrow, we will feature Jackson Dunn.  Until then, after you watch the video below, check out Fancypantsmovie.com, HumblePieFilms.com and the Fancypants Facebook page to learn more about this exciting new movie.

Friendly Encounters

This is a regular series about friends who have met celebs.

It's been a few months since we last featured Joshua Kohl of DodgerBobble.  As always, he has been busy with attending player appearances, following the Dodgers and showcasing the newest and coolest bobbleheads.  DodgerBobble is a great site and a daily stop of mine on the internet.
Last June, Joshua met Shawn Green, one of my favorite former players.  Green was signing his new book, The Way of Baseball: Finding Stillness at 95 mph.  Joshua also brought a few other goodies hoping Green would sign them, which he did.  It's always an extra treat when you can get a couple other things signed at a book signing.  You can read Joshua's full report and see more pictures by clicking here.
As always, I appreciate Joshua sharing his picture here.  There will be more of Joshua here in the future, but until then, go to DodgerBobble.com to check out his great site.

Joshua Kohl and Shawn Green in Glendale, CA-June 2011.

Bear Down Sunday #4

The Chicago Bears at 1-2 face the Carolina Panthers, who are also 1-2.  People expected both teams to start like this, but better things are expected from the Bears going forward.
Expectations are tricky things.  Being the son of the greatest running back can lead to expectations, especially if you play the same position.  Just ask Jarrett Payton.
Jarrett enjoyed success at Miami, but went undrafted in the NFL.  He did sign with the Tennessee Titans and saw some action with them in 2005.  Since then, he has played for the Montreal Alouettes, the Toronto Argonauts and the Chicago Slaughter.
While Jarrett has had some success on the field, his career pales in comparison to his father's and even his uncle Eddie's.  With or without football stardom, Jarrett has done successful work in a very important area.
Jarrett and his mother Connie and sister Brittney have done excellent work with the Walter Payton Foundation, which is dedicated to helping the neglected, abused and underprivileged children of Illinois.  Jarrett's contribution isn't in name only.  I have seen him at many events promoting the foundation and meeting the fans.  He is active and involved.  When I met Jarrett at a sports collectibles show, he was hapily talking and posing for pictures with anyone who approached him.
Jarrett might not have met the expectations to be an NFL star (although those expectations might not have been fair).  Still, he is a winner in life and that is truly what matters.
Now, back to the current Bears.  Let's hope they start meeting expectations and there is no better time to start than today against the Carolina Panthers and an old Chicago Favorite, Ron Rivera.

Jarrett Payton and me in Rosemont, IL-March 2009.

It's Hammer Time Again!

The Cubs season is officially over, after being realistically over for about 5 months.  Not much good came out of this season, but I did have some fun at the old ball park anyway.
One of the best times was with my old buddy Tom Skalski, one of my first friends ever.  As I have detailed here before, Tom and I went to grade school and high school together.  He was a great friend, through good times and bad.
We drifted apart shortly after I moved to the north side.  Work, business and other such silliness got in the way and sadly, I wasn't proactive in keeping contact.  We ran into each other once at a Hawks game and once at our old church's summer festival, but that was all and that shouldn't have been enough for two old friends.
A couple years ago, we regained contact.  There was a call here, an email there and even some texts.  We hooked up for a Cubs game last year (another Cubs loss) and a Hawks game this year (a win!).
A few weeks back, Tom came up and we saw the Cubs lose to the Braves.  Oh sure, we would have loved to see a Cubs win, but it didn't ruin our day.
I had a great time laughing about the old days, our other friends and good times.  It was like being back in time.  We are already planning a Hawks game or even a Mt. Carmel game.  Great laughs shouldn't be spaced that far apart!
Sometime this summer, Tom's sister Karen told me her boys check out this site.  Boys, if you are reading this, I want you to know that your mom, Tom and the rest of the family always treated me like family.  They are all special and I have wonderful memories with and because of them.

Tom Skalski and me in Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL-August 2011.