Friend Encounters: Bill Murray and Mike Preston

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

Today's feature is a bit of a source of angst for me. Although I have known Mike Preston for many years, I do not know the story of this picture.

I know Mike was involved in Bill Murray's Groundhog Day. I suppose the best guest would be he was an extra on the film. The problem with that theory is I have seen many pictures of Mike with the stars, like the one today. I know Mike is resourceful and possibly could finagle his way into many pictures. I also know Mike is very talented and funny. That could have endeared him to the staff and crew.

In either case, Mike is a great guy. I met him years ago when he was still hosting PsychoBabble on cable. I even managed to worm my way onto a couple episodes. Mike had some health issues in recent years, but it is good to see him back and even performing on occasion.

I have never met Murray. I have met and interviewed his brothers Andy and Joel, the latter who is a chef at Murray Bros. Caddyshack in Rosemont and Florida. The Murray family is like royalty in Chicago.

Maybe someday I will finally meet Bill. Maybe someday I will also get the story on Mike and Groundhog Day.

Bill Murray and Mike Preston in Woodstock, IL-1992.

PsychoBabbling

PsychoBabbleTV is one of the best, most underrated fun sites on the internet.  Mike Preston is the creative blowtorch behind the madness and he has a great cast of characters to support his insanity.

I am proud to say I have joined forces with PsychoBabbleTV on occasion (with the Chicago Bliss, Days of the Dead and other endeavors).  I have also appeared briefly on an episode as Dr. Burnbaum's assistant (a role that I nailed and hope to reprise).

In addition to the PsychoBabbleTV episodes on YouTube, there are hundreds of great interviews, pictures and other fun stuff on PsychoBabbleTV.net.  Do yourself a favor and check it out, but give yourself plenty of time, because there is a lot of material and all of it is gold.

Jimmy McHugh, Mike Preston and me in Schaumburg, IL-November 2015.

Friendly Encounters: Bruce Kulick and Mike Preston

This is a weekly feature about friends who have met celebrities.

Johngy's Beat has hooked up with Mike Preston and the PsychoBabbleTV crew a few times.  The latest was in November at Days of the Dead.  We were very excited to be a part of the interview with Bruce Kulick, long-time member of KISS.  That interview can be found at Bruce Kulick Interview 2014.
Preston has interviewed a ton of celebrities over the years.  Johngy's Beat is slightly envious of the success attained by the PsychobabbleTV crew.  The whole gang at PsychobabbleTV has been very receptive to us and I hope we can partner with them in the future.
It was fun watching Preston interview Kulick.  I hope you check out the interview to see for yourself.  Preston knows his stuff and is very smooth and comfortable.  Kulick was very pleased with this interview and I am sure his fans will enjoy it, too.

Mike Preston and Bruce Kulick in Schaumburg, IL-November 2014.

Johngy Is PsychoBabbling

Mike Preston is the creative force behind PsychoBabbletv.com, a podcast done in talk show format.  Each show can feature pretty much anything from an Ozzy impersonator to a random assortment of comedians.  In short, PsychoBabble is aptly named.

I met these wackos while on Bliss coverage.  They did not go for the hardcore sports angles.  Instead, they went their own unique way.  With the Bliss, that way is far more entertaining.

PsychoBabbletv is sort of Johngy's Beat's goal.  I have no complaints about my site and my stuff, but Mike and the PsychoBabble crew just take it to another level.

This weekend at Days of the Dead, I will be teaming with them for a bit.  This should be a fun partnership.  We each bring something to the table.  No matter what, this should at least be a unique experience.

Mike Preston and me in Mount Prospect, IL-November 2014.