Interactive leadership seminar Detroit Michigan Today

Trash-Talk Pioneer

I'm featured in the new documentary "Évocateur,"  about legendary talk-show host Morton Downey Jr. Here's an excerpt from an article on the film in NorthJersey.com:

Documentary explores what made trash-talk pioneer Morton Downey Jr. tick
excerpted from NorthJersey.com

Talk show veteran Bill Boggs, who served as Downey's executive producer after Downey made the leap from local to national success, also appears in the documentary.

"I lived through it," Boggs told The Record in a recent interview, "and I think the filmmakers told the story well ... except for a couple of things. Some people say Mort was the antecedent to 'The Jerry Springer Show.' That's true and not true. The Springer show is a normal host with crazy guests. The Downey show was, for the most part, normal guests with a crazy host."

Boggs also agreed with the assessment of Buchanan, the Fox News pundit, who says in the film that Downey hooked into an audience that eventually moved on to Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, and Glenn Beck - a hard-working, right-leaning group of blue-collar Americans who always seem to feel (no matter how many Hannitys, O'Reillys and Becks come along) that there is no one speaking for them.

"The thing about Mort," Boggs added, "is that he was a highly charismatic performer who came along at just the right time. He didn't just give opinion, he gave emotional opinion. He would take a viewpoint - and, like a debate champion, he could have taken either side - on issues like feminism, abortion, the military and so on and run with it. We'd bring up an issue, ask what his view was, and then structure the show that way. I don't think Mort ever argued a point that he didn't believe in, although he was capable of doing it."

Read the full article here

Three's a charm...

For third consecutive year, "My Generation" nominated for an Emmy in best Lifestyle Program category.

Now we just have to beat Martha Stewart.  :)

Atlantis

The PHX Forum at Atlantis was a huge success, and I had a great time as emcee. 

I'm interviewing David Brenner Sunday at the 92nd Street Y, NYC. Then off a few days later to Chicago to deliver my "Got What it Takes?" three-hour interactive seminar to the Tovarsnow company.

Winter 2013

photo by Bill Boggs.

New Photos

Here are a few recent photos I thought you'd find interesting.

With the cast of LeRoy Neiman Remembrance in NYC

With Jerry Stiller and Lady Jane Rothchild

Aboard Crystal Symphony as celebrity lecturer (2012)

Fergie Meets Twinkies!

The sad news about the demise of Hostess Twinkies reminded me of Sarah, Duchess of York.

What do Fergie and Twinkies have in common?

Well, me, actually, since I introduced the Duchess to the classic American snack during one of my interviews with her.

Enjoy the video below, and if you have any Twinkies stashed away, now's the time to dig in.

Teri Shields, RIP

Sad news, Teri Shields passed away. I interviewed her years ago with her daughter Brooke (Brooke became a frequent guest of mine.)   My interview with Teri was quoted in today's New York Times. There's a link to a video of the original interview below:

“Fortunately, Brooke was at an age where she couldn’t talk back,” she told the television interviewer Bill Boggs a few years after “Pretty Baby” was released in 1978.

In that interview Teri Shields said that people who accused her of exploiting her child were jealous. She also spoke bluntly about her daughter’s appeal.

“They see total innocence, which is totally there,” she said, as Brooke sat beside her. “And two, they have the sexy child too, they have the sexy person — that appeals to them.”

Mr. Boggs interrupted: “Yeah, it’s the forbidden fruit.”

Teri Shields responded, “Yes, and yet it’s all wrapped up in one, and that is really appetizing.”—The New York Times

Sad news to hear that Phyllis Diller passed away—she brought laughter to so many. I'll remember her fondly and this interview I did with her on my show.

Gore Vidal, R.I.P.

Of the thousands of people I've interviewed, Gore Vidal stands near top of list for being a guest on TV who looked great, entertained, raised pulses and ratings. His assertion: 'There is not one human problem that could not be resolved if people would simply do as I advise,' was a line he uttered that I will never forget.

Finally, a brand new look!

It's been in the works for a long time, but I'm pleased to report we've finally launched the newly designed web site billboggs.com

You'll find easy access to videos of my celebrity interviews as well as biographical info, TV career highlights, samples of my travel writing, slide shows and a lot more. And each month you can watch a featured video right inside our masthead banner. Doesn't get any easier than that.

CLICK HERE to check out the site and be sure to add it to your Favorites since we frequently update it.

Enjoy!

A little birdy told me...

An Artful Arf

Here I am with Uggie, co-star of THE ARTIST.

I think I was upstaged.

Dick Clark—TV Legend

You can't grow up in Philadelphia (as I did) go into television and NOT know Dick Clark. Dick Clark was one of the most successful people ever to have worked in TV. First as an announcer at the local ABC station. Then a big break and onto Bandstand then a local show in Philadelphia..and from that break, Dick made huge strides both as a performer and as a producer. Ultimately taking his company Dick Clark Productions public and making millions and millions of dollars. Dick Clark's talents? A brilliant communicator, wise business man and frugal producer, and to the many who've met him along the way, a lovely human being. In this interview I asked Dick to pick an era of rock music that would go into a time capsule and be shot into space—one year that he'd pin it all on...see what he says. I've been grateful to Dick over the years for his many appearances on my shows and we've worked together as well. He is in fine fresh form in 1986—one of the hardest working men in show business, and yes I know, I also interviewed James Brown.

CLICK HERE to view the interview with Dick Clark.

Jazz Night

Mel Brooks and jazz king Vince Giorando

Mel Brooks was in a star-studded audience of jazz fans, including Leonard Maltlin and singer Marilyn Maye at Club Cache in NYC for Vince Giorando and the Nighthawks Monday night show. Vince and the big band perform Mondays and Tuesdays and play jazz arrangements from 1930's and 40's..maybe the last of it's kind in NYC and a true treat.

Street Wise

I’m being interviewed tomorrow on Lou Telano’s STREET WISE radio program—WGBB 1240AM.Radio.
The show runs from 7:30PM to 8:30. Hope you can tune in.

More details at the link here. 

Tree and Metropolitan Museum of Art, March, 2012

Photo: Bill Boggs

Click on image for larger view.

Happy Anniversary!

I’ve got to admit, time really does fly by.

I began this blog on this day back in 2006.

I posted an item about one of my favorite restaurants—the charming Homestead Inn in Greenwich, Connecticut where I had the best meals of the previous year, 2005.

Just thinking about now makes whets my appetite...

Join me in a toast to future travels and adventures—Cheers Everyone!

"American Romance"

I'm proud to say I am co-executive producer, together with Jeff Leibowitz, on a brilliant new CD of compositions by Bernard Weinstock called American Romance. These are piano epics recorded in Nashville with the country's best sidemen that bring classical piano into the 21st Century.

Click here for sample track “Back Again”

Order the CD from Amazon

With composer-pianist Bernard Weinstock (NYC).

I Will Be On XM Talk Radio 168 Live This Saturday

I am so excited to let you know that I will be appearing live on XM Radio Channel 168 as a guest on the “David Essel Alive!” Talk Radio this Saturday January 28th at 6:00pm EST/ 3:00pm PST. It would be great if you could tune in on XM Radio Channel 168 or if you don’t have XM you can listen online anywhere in the world by going to www.davidessel.com so as long as you are online you can hear this interview. Check out my name in the line-up for this week’s show!

The topic I will be discussing is: You Got What It Takes?! You are welcome to call in at 800-548-8255 and David will take your call. I hope you’ll set some time aside in your busy schedule this weekend to join me. I look forward to hearing from you.