Tag: Entertainment Interviews 2015

  • Al Roker, Al Roker 2015, Al Roker Today Show, Al Rocker Book 2015, Storm of the Century Al Roker

    NBC’s Today Stalwart and All Around Good Guy, Al Roker – Literally a Man for All Seasons – Talks About His Latest Book, His Gastric Bypass Surgery, “What’s in Your Neck of the Woods,” More

    Since 1996, people across America have started their morning with Al Roker. The co-anchor and weatherman for NBC’s Today has informed millions of Americans about what to expect, climate wise, from all regions of the country. Over the years, Mr. Roker has been live on the scene, from some of America’s worst natural disasters and storms. The veteran TV morning show personality has written a new book. An author of eight titles, he says this is the first one that is weather related. His new book is titled The Storm of the Century: Tragedy, Heroism, Survival and the Epic True Story of America’s Deadliest Natural Disaster: The Great Hurricane of 1900. The book features the stories of the people who lived in the town of Galveston, Texas where the worst reported storm in American history occurred. Away from his media career, Mr. Roker gave us a very personal look into his life in terms of his weight challenges. In 2002, he got gastric bypass surgery and millions of Americans witnessed his weight loss from the procedure. We ask him about that, why his Weather Channel show Wake Up with Al was cancelled, as well as some other stories from his career.

  • Tiana Empire, Serayah, Serayah McNeil, Serayah 2015, Actress Serayah McNeil

    Multitalented Serayah, Fox’s Empire’s Tiana, Opens up about Her Success, Stardom, Working with Taylor Swift and the Future

    It is not common for an unknown actress to land a major role on a TV show, particularly one that becomes an overnight hit. For Serayah McNeil, playing singing sensation Tiana, on the popular Fox TV show Empire, is remarkably her first role. Known to her fans as simply Serayah, she now wants people to recognize her for all she is doing away from the urban music TV drama. With the opportunity to perform in front of a live crowd at the BET Awards in June and to work with A-list music star Taylor Swift on a variety of projects, it is only the beginning of Ms. McNeil building a multidimensional career. Serayah was also with Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez and many other big names at this past weekend’s MTV Video Music Awards. Many people in show business will be placed in one genre and many times are not taken seriously when they try to do something else outside of what is perceived to be their specialty. For Serayah, playing a music star on television has led her to now performing as a music star in real life – think Jennifer Lopez as Selena and then as a pop star in her own right.

  • A Rowdy RIP to Roddy Piper: Wrestling Great to Ring in Sky; CYInterview Looks Back at 2003 Chat

    "Rowdy” Roddy Piper, one of the great professional wrestlers to make his name back in the 1980s, a golden age of wrestling, if there ever was one, has died. I was fortunate to speak with him, at length, on two different occasions. Below is the second of our conversations. After making a return to the WWE at WrestleMania 19, Roddy parted ways with the company in 2003. After his release, I spoke with him in-depth about the state of the WWE at the time, being featured in the HBO Real Sports segment about pro wrestlers and drug usage and a variety of other topics. In 2005, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

  • Spirit of the King, Spirit of the King 2015, Elvis Impersonators 2015, Steve Connolly Elvis, Chris Yandek, Chris Yandek Steve Connolly, Best Elvis Impersonator in Las Vegas, Best Elvis Impersonators, Las Vegas Elvis Impersonators 2015

    Hunk a Hunk of Burning Elvis: Steve Connolly Keeps Elvis Alive – Show at Four Queens Hotel on Freemont Street in Downtown Las Vegas a Must for Everyone, Elvis Fan and General Music Lover Alike

    Elvis Presley will always be known to the world as The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Few entertainers will ever reach his level of notoriety and accomplishment. Then there are the Elvis impersonators. Steve Connolly is arguably the most celebrated Elvis impersonator in the country. He has received numerous accolades and opportunities owing to his portrayal of the King, both in Las Vegas and across the country. See our photo with him above with an Elvis portrait he painted. As the only Elvis entertainer to ever have a show running daily in a Las Vegas Strip Casino, at Bally’s Las Vegas, and endorsements from the likes of former President Bill Clinton, Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler, current presidential candidate Donald Trump and even Elvis Presley’s conductor Bobby Morris, Mr. Connolly’s show, titled Spirit of the King, really does bring Elvis back to life. The show is currently at the Four Queens Hotel located in downtown Las Vegas, on Freemont Street. With over 5000 performances impersonating the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Mr. Connolly’s appearance, vocal range and impressions of Elvis are spot on. If you are not an Elvis fan before seeing his show, you will be one after.

  • R.I.P “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes; Goodbye to a Pro Wrestling Original; From the Archives, Our Conversation from 2003

    CYInterview is saddened to hear of the passing of pro wrestling legend, The American Dream, Dusty Rhodes. He was 69. Today, World Wrestling Entertainment public relations representative Tara Carraro sent me a release on the passing of Mr. Rhodes. You can read it below: “WWE is deeply saddened that Virgil Runnels, aka “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes — WWE Hall of Famer, three-time NWA Champion and one of the most captivating and charismatic figures in sports entertainment history — passed away today at the age of 69. Runnels became a hero to fans around the world thanks to his work ethic, his impassioned interviews and his indomitable spirit. Moreover, Runnels was a dedicated father to WWE Superstars Goldust (Dustin Runnels) and Stardust (Cody Runnels), a caring husband and a creative visionary who helped shape the landscape of WWE long after his in-ring career had ended. WWE extends its sincerest condolences to Runnels’ family, friends and colleagues.”

  • Chris Yandek, Chris Yandek Claire Sinclair, Entertainment News 2015, Stratosphere hotel and Casino Shows 2015, Las Vegas 2015, Las Vegas Entertainment Scene 2015, Las Vegas Entertainment Shows 2015, Las Vegas News 2015, Las Vegas Strip Shows 2015, News 2015, Pin Up Show Photos, Stratosphere Pin Up Show, Claire Sinclair Pin Up Show, Clair Sinclair, Claire Sinclair 2015, Pin Up Show Stratosphere Hotel, Pin Up Las Vegas Show Cast, Pin Up Stratosphere Show, Playboy Claire Sinclair, Claire Sinclair Interview, Pin Up Show at Stratosphere

    Claire Sinclair Dazzles in Pin Up at the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas: CYInterview On Hand For the Sensual Fun!

    For more than two years, Claire Sinclair and her popular Pin Up Show have been one of the attractions on the Las Vegas Strip. You can see the 2011 Playboy Playmate of the Year perform in the lead role in Pin Up, at the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino. (See our photo with Ms. Sinclair above.) In 2014, the show was voted Best Showgirls by The Best of Las Vegas. If that were not enough, this year it was also given the honor of Best Adult Show. With a set of drop dead gorgeous women, great dancing and music by a phenomenal band, Pin Up brings together provocative beauty with serious artistic performance. Ms. Sinclair, who hosts the show, provides her own entertainment through a set of diverse skits. A few times during the show, she even shows off her moves in nothing but tiny panties and pasties. Hubba, hubba! The show takes you through 12 months of pin up beauties, paying tribute to those classic calendars of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.

  • Lea Black Photos, Lea Black 2015, Real Housewives of Miami 2015, RHOM, RHOM 2015, RHOM Photos, Lea Black Book, Lea Black’s Novel, Lea Black Book Signing, Lea Black Red Carpets and White Lies, Red Carpets and White Lies: A Novel, Red Carpets and White Lies Book Signing, Lea Black Book Signing, Lea Black’s Novel, Lea Black’s Book

    “Social Mayor of Miami” Lea Black: The Star of Real Housewives of Miami, Philanthropist, Entrepreneur, Wife and Mother Now an Author with Red Carpets and White Lies – Get It!

    A few weeks ago we attended the kickoff for Lea Black’s first novel, Red Carpets and White Lies [see here]. The Coral Gables event, hosted by musician and producer Emilio Estefan, was enjoyed by many. Mrs. Black, the “Social Mayor of Miami,” Real Housewives of Miami star, philanthropist, entrepreneur, wife of prominent attorney Roy Black, mother and now author joined featured columnist Jay Bildstein and me, for an in-depth conversation about her first work of fiction.

  • Ron Perlman 2015, Ron Perlman Book, Easy Street The Hard way

    The Great Ron Perlman: Actor Extraordinaire, Author and Man of Insight Opens Up About His Work, His Life and His Book, Easy Street (The Hard Way)

    Succeeding in show business calls for the ability to overcome personal doubt, while at the same time dealing with a variety of other adversities. Rarely does a person break through and gain widespread recognition for his artistic endeavors. The people who do make it often have a compelling narrative to share. One such individual is Ron Perlman, a true artist and an A-list actor whose story is as inspirational as it is entertaining. Mr. Perlman’s body of work is diverse, his talent rich and his performances soulful. He has written a book, Easy Street (The Hard Way), which has been out for a few months now. If you have not yet read it, you are truly missing out.

  • The Tragic Death of Pro Wrestler Pedro Aguayo Ramirez: Pro Wrestling School Owner, Former Wrestler, Bodybuilder, Voice of the Golden Age of Bodybuilding, CYInterview Regular Ric Drasin Comments

    Last week, Mexican professional wrestler Pedro Aguayo Ramirez was accidentally killed in the ring during a match with former WWE and WCW superstar Rey Mysterio Jr. The reported autopsy stated trauma to the neck and a cervical fracture as causes of death. Bodybuilder, professional wrestling school owner, former professional wrestler and the man keeping the memory of the golden age of bodybuilding alive, Ric Drasin joins us to give his analysis on this tragic event. Mr. Drasin, a CYInterview regular, is well educated in the art of professional wrestling. Aside from pro wrestling, his bodybuilding background goes back to the 1970s when he was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s training partner.

  • The Cabaret South Beach, Erica Sommer, South Beach 2014, The Cabaret Lounge South Beach, Cabaret South Beach, Cabaret in Miami, Miami Piano Bars, South Beach Piano Bars, Erica Sommer 2014, Chris Yandek, Carlos Gonzalez, Musician Erica Sommer, Musician Carlos Gonzalez, Soloist Erica Sommer, Chris Yandek 2014

    The Talented Erica Sommer: South Beach Singer Extraordinaire

    At the end of 2013, we attended the opening of South Beach’s popular new hotspot The Cabaret South Beach. Back then, we sat down with the owner Edison Farrow and, additionally, had a chance to meet some of the great voices who frequently perform there [see here]. At the time, we were introduced to singer and songwriter Erica Sommer. All the performers at The Cabaret South Beach have their own brand of talent, but Erica’s ability to make you feel emotion, while she sings, is one of a kind. With over 20 years performing, as a solo artist and also as a lead singer for various rock bands including Raging Geisha, Ms. Sommer’s performances are both intimate and lively. Many of today’s biggest music stars have background singers. Erica got the chance to show off her talent for the Celine Dion song Right in Front of You. On the business side of the music industry, she also used to work for Gloria and Emilio Estefan. There are many layers and stories to her musical journey, but for now she is focused on solo performances. To close 2014, we went back to The Cabaret South Beach on December 27th as Erica gave a special two hour performance. She performed for the first time in 18 years with musician and fellow soloist Carlos Gonzalez.