This Is Not A Bit

Russ Rossam
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Fascinating, in-depth interviews with innovators and game-changers in film, television, music, and comedy. Email host Russ Rossam at Russ.Rossam@gmail.com.

  1. 10/17/2022

    Holly and Barry Tashian (music legends who have crossed paths with everyone from The Beatles to Emmylou Harris)

    Holly and Barry Tashian exemplify the best in the music industry - people who truly love the live music experience, and whose love of music conveys to their audience wherever they perform.  They went to high school together in New England before marrying and performing music together. Barry's band The Remains opened up for The Beatles in 1966 on their final U.S. tour.  After The Remains split up, Barry recorded with Gram Parson and Emmylou Harris. Later, both Holly and Barry performed with Harris, leading to a long and fruitful collaboration.  Holly and Barry now live in Nashville, and their recordings showcase their spectacular harmonies and songwriting.

    55 min

  2. 03/03/2022

    Michael Lembeck (director on "Friends," "Everybody Loves Raymond," and "Mad About You")

    This Is Not A Bit

    50 min

  3. 03/03/2022

    Mimi Pond (writer on "The Simpsons" and "Designing Women") and Wayne White (art director for videos by Peter Gabriel and Smashing Pumpkins)

    Mimi Pond and Wayne White are a creative couple extraordinaire.  They first met at one of Wayne’s puppet shows in New York City in the early ‘80s.  Both Mimi and Wayne went on to make their mark on American culture, starting on Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, where Mimi served as a writer and Wayne as a puppeteer and art director.  Mimi went on to write the first full episode of “The Simpsons,” as well as writing on “Designing Women.”  Wayne went on to work on the CBS series “Beakman’s World” and art directing the videos for Peter Gabriel’s “Big Time” and The Smashing Pumpkins’ “Tonight Tonight,” for which he won an MTV Video Award.  In this interview, Mimi discusses her work as a cartoonist for The Village Voice and National Lampoon, as well as her graphic novels about her time as a waitress in Oakland, and Wayne discusses his painting and print-work based on his interest in history and wordplay.  They impart many lessons of living a creative life, urging creative people to follow what they really love to do, be prepared to work anywhere, and find the right boss.

    40 min

  4. 03/03/2022

    Paul Dooley (actor in “Breaking Away,” “Sixteen Candles,” “The Runaway Bride,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” "Waiting For Guffman")

    Paul Dooley is a legend of acting, improvising, and writing.  He has played beloved father roles in such films as “Breaking Away,” “Sixteen Candles,” and “The Runaway Bride,” as well as Larry David’s father-in-law in “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”  When Paul first moved to New York City from his home state of West Virginia, he contacted his college friend, the one and only Don Knotts, who helped Paul find acting work.  From that connection, he later joined the New York City branch of “Second City” with Alan Arkin and Barbara Harris, and later starred on Broadway in “The Odd Couple” under the direction of Mike Nichols.  As head writer on the PBS program “The Electric Company,” he hired such luminaries as Rita Moreno and Mel Brooks to act on the series.  Paul co-wrote and acted in numerous Robert Altman films.  Paul later became part of the repertory company for Christopher Guest’s string of improvised comedies, starting with “Waiting For Guffman.”  In this interview, Paul discusses performing stand-up on “The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson,” acting in his first film at age 49, and working with such actors as Robin Williams, Bea Arthur, Dennis Quaid, and Elaine May.

    37 min

  5. 03/03/2022

    Richard Edlund - Part 1 (Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor on original "Star Wars" trilogy" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark"))

    This Is Not A Bit

    32 min

  6. 03/03/2022

    Richard Edlund - Part 2 (Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor on original "Star Wars" trilogy" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark")

    This Is Not A Bit

    48 min

  7. 03/03/2022

    Shel Talmy (producer of The Who's "My Generation," The Kinks' "You Really Got Me," David Bowie's debut single)

    Shel Talmy produced records that set the templates for hard rock and punk rock.  After growing up in Chicago and learning the art of sound engineering in Los Angeles, he began his career as a producer in London in the early ‘60s.  The list of the records he produced is staggering - singles by The Kinks (“You Really Got Me”, “All Day And All Of The Night,” “Sunny Afternoon”), by The Who (“My Generation”, “The Kids Are Alright”, “I Can’t Explain”), and even David Bowie’s debut single.  He also produced the great “Friday On My Mind” by the Easybeats, and he worked with Manfred Mann, Pentangle, The Creation, and The Damned.  In this interview, Talmy discusses his unique approach to music production, how he helped the Kinks get the guitar distortion on “You Really Got Me,” and the advice he gave The Who’s Keith Moon about playing drums in the studio.   (Note: Many apologies for the poor sound quality - the interview took place by phone, and unfortunately the recording software left much to be desired. However, close listening will be rewarded, as Shel knows the history of rock music as few others have.)

    36 min

  8. 03/03/2022

    Tamra Davis (director of "Billy Madison," "Half-Baked", countless classic music videos)

    This Is Not A Bit

    42 min
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About

Fascinating, in-depth interviews with innovators and game-changers in film, television, music, and comedy. Email host Russ Rossam at Russ.Rossam@gmail.com.

Information

  • Creator
    Russ Rossam
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2022 This Is Not A Bit
  • Show Website
    This Is Not A Bit