#Roger Kabler

[greensparty]

2023 Northeast Comic Con Spring Edition Wrap-Up

Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to cover the Northeast Comic Con (read my coverage here), a fun cool convention for lovers of comics, pop culture, and collectibles. Last Summer, I attended their 2022 Collectibles Extravaganza and it was my first convention since 2019. Felt good to be back!

Here is my lightning round of guests I got to speak with at this year’s con:

Roger Kabler is a funny comedian and in the last few years he has been doing the Robin Williams Experience, where he does his excellent Robin Williams impression. I spoke with him last Summer and he had just finished making an independent film Being Robin about his experience of returning to comedy after Robin Williams died. His film is doing some screenings and it’s worth checking out. See details here.

Cowboy Mach Bell is another celebrity I spoke with last Summer. He was the singer for the Joe Perry Project from 1982-1984 among many other bands and he has written some books about his experiences as well. Since last time I saw him, he has suffered some health issues, but I’m happy to say he’s back singing and his new band Mach Bell Experience are playing Geno’s Rock Club in Portland, ME this Sat. 3/18.

Melanie Chartoff is someone who has popped up in all corners of pop culture: acting, voiceover, author, coach, theater, TV, and film. I was a big fan as a teen of TV’s Parker Lewis Can’t Lose and she was so good as Principal Musso. A decade earlier she was a cast member on the sketch show Fridays along with Larry David, Michael Richards and more. But probably the funniest thing she did IMHO was the episodes of Seinfeld as Robin, George’s single-mom girlfriend. In “The Fire” episode, George attends the birthday for Robin’s son and upon the fear of a fire, he pushes everyone out of his way. I asked Melanie how she managed to keep a straight face in that episode and she replied “well, you know, I’m an actress, right?”. Well put! Robin later returned for the finale when Jerry and his friends were on trial.

Charlie Schlatter has been a highly prolific actor and voiceover since the 80s. I first became aware of him when he was the lead in 1988′s 18 Again, where he and his grandfather (played by George Burns) switch brains. It was actually one of my favorite brain-switcher movies of that era. I asked Charlie about making that film and he said “working with George Burns, to this day (I’m an old man now), but it was one of the best experiences of my life. He was the most generous and gracious human being you can imagine. It was like working with my true Grandfather everyday.” In 1990, Schlatter played the title character in the TV adaptation of Ferris Bueller. I told him I was a big fan of that TV show (it lasted 13 episodes) and he said “You were the one?” [laughs]. I was a big fan of the John Hughes movies Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, which was showing the character on a day off, but it was cool to have a TV series that showed what the character was like in school on a typical day. He was very appreciative I enjoyed that show.

I first met Samantha Mathis at the 2015 Rock and Shock festival. She and I have a mutual friend in common and I reminded her at the Northeast Comic Con. In 2020, when I tweeted about the anniversary of Pump Up the Volume, which she starred in, she liked it on Twitter! She has appeared in tons of gems including that great episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, where she sat next to Larry on the plan. This time I saw Ms. Mathis, I was excited to talk to her about working with John Woo on his 1996 film Broken Arrow. I mentioned that I actually made a film To Be John Woo (a tribute and parody of John Woo films). She was congratulatory when I told her Mr. Woo sent me a Christmas card the following year after he saw it! On working with Mr. Woo, she said “I was in awe of being in John Woo’s presence. It’s no secret that Quentin Tarantino heavily lifted from John Woo in the beginning of his career. So, I was just in awe of watching how he shot things. There was a sequence where he must’ve set up ten different cameras at different angles. I had just never seen someone use the camera that way before.” That movie was one of Woo’s early Hollywood movies and there’s some phenomenal action sequences in it.  

This convention is always a fun time! Big thanks to Gary Sohmers and his team as well as my friend comedian Ken Reid of the TV Guidance Counselor podcast (I was a guest in 2015) who hosted several panels at this year’s fest.

For info on Northeast Comic Con and there other events: https://necomiccons.com/

[lukeevansgirl22]

The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue is a cute movie!

Hey guys! I’m here to do a review for the movie “The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue!” I loved this movie because it’s so adorable and awesome! The movie is about the brave little toaster and his friends must save the animals at a veterinary hospital from being sent to a testing laboratory. With the cast of Jessica Tuck, Chris Young, Roger Kabler, Deanna Oliver, Eric Lloyd, Thurl…

[kwebtv]

The Carol Burnett Show  -  CBS  -  November 1, 1991 - December 9, 1991

Comedy Variety (4 episodes)

Running Time:  60 minutes

Stars:

Carol Burnett

Rick Aviles

Chris Barnes

Meagen Fay

Roger Kabler

Jann Karam

Richard Kind

Jessica Lundy

[beatkonductaz-blog-blog]

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A post shared by Beat Konductaz (@beatkonductaz)

#SavingRobinWilliams @beatkonductaz working on the set of this new #SAG @screenactorsguildua film with Roger Kabler and Larry White. Here is a dropped clip from the scene. We've been having so much fun on this set, can't believe it's almost over. @djohlow on Sound, @markfronk (Director of Photography) on Cams and @hamburginimerci on lighting. Roger Kabler (Robin) is a beast of an actor and by far the funniest comedian that we have ever had the pleasure of working with. Larry is an amazing Director and the script was written with Robins family and friends in mind. The crew was on point and have met some really cool and talented people. The film is coming together better and faster than expected and has already won 2 awards for the script. Looking forward to the completion of this film. Blessed to be a part of this experience. Found a new respect for the whole industry. #RobinWilliams #film #comedy #act #depression #alzheimers #drugs #family #comic #robin #movie #filmset https://www.instagram.com/p/B4uzJFygJcM/?igshid=1ibsp3t7o8gls

[brokehorrorfan]

Event Report: NorthEast Comic Con (Spring 2019)

Back in November, I spent my Thanksgiving weekend attending my first NorthEast Comic Con & Collectibles Extravaganza. Having had a blast, I was excited to return for the next semi-annual event. Thankfully, I didn't have to wait very long, as its Spring 2019 edition occurred over Saint Patrick's Day weekend. I returned to the Regency Hotel in Boxboro, Massachusetts on March 16 to experience all the celebrities, panels, comedy, concerts, vendors, and other fun it had to offer.

The afternoon kicked off with a panel featuring iconic comedian/actor Gilbert Gottfried (Aladdin). He was funny, as he naturally is, but this was not a standup set; it was an honest conversation. He discussed everything from the recent fake outrage over his not being in the new Aladin film and the controversial jokes that resulted in his being fired as the voice of the Aflac Duck, to being raised on the Universal monster movies (and questioning why the Wolf Man dressed so well if he knew he was going to transform into a werewolf) and comedy in the modern age. ("The internet makes me feel sentimental for old-time lynch mobs," he quipped.)

Prompted by audience questions, Gottfried also talked about his ad-libbing on Aladdin (during which he would occasionally have to be stopped and reminded that it was family film), working with John Ritter on Problem Child (which no one thought was going to be a hit), Howard Stern, Hollywood Squares, Wife Swap, his Amazing Colossal Podcast, and more. Never one to miss an opportunity for an off-color joke, Gottfried responded to a comment about a failed TV pilot by stating, "Buddy Holly has better luck with pilots than I do." The session was recorded for the The Boston Comedy Podcast, so you'll be able to hear it in its entirety soon.

Later in the day, I caught another panel with Nicholas Brendon of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Criminal Minds fame. With no need for a host, the animated and entertaining Brendon began by riffing on the likes of tuna casserole to cannibalism for a few minutes before launching into the entire story of how he was cast on Buffy (in which he went from production assistant on Dave's World to reluctant actor, then booked Buffy a mere two months later). He was open and honest about his past struggles, but he has turned over a new leaf and is now giving back by using his celebrity to raise awareness for mental health.

In addition to Gottfried and Brendon, the guest list included Chris Rankin (Harry Potter franchise), Gigi Edgley (Farscape), Ann Robinson (The War of the Worlds), Mark Goddard (Lost in Space), Clayton Prince (Hairspray), animation producer Jeff Kline (Transformers Prime), Emmy Award-winning puppeteer Bill Diamond (Little Shop of Horrors), author and Squirrel Girl co-creator Will Murray, Disney comics writer Joe Caramagna (Duck Tales, Frozen), cartoonist Guy Gilchrist (The Muppets), and paranormal investigator Kadrolsha Ona Carole, among others.

NorthEast Comic Con's standup battle royal proved to be a fun way to spend any down time. Local and budding comedians had the opportunity to sign up and perform seven minutes of material for a chance to win $100 a day and compete for the $500 weekend prize. The competition was judged entirely by audience applause, and Phil Anthony ultimately took home the grand prize. It was apparent that some of the competitors didn't have much stage experience, with bits that weren't fully realized or comedic timing that needed work, but the audience was receptive and ready to laugh.

Comedian Roger Kabler has been impersonating Robin Williams for many years, which earned him a finalist spot on the ABC celebrity impersonator reality competition The Next Best Thing in 2007. Following Williams' death, Kabler decided to utilize his talents and pay tribute to Williams with a film called Being Robin. A brief portion of the movie was shot at the convention, and attendees were allowed to participate as audience members as Kabler performed a portion of his Williams act. Not only does he have the voice and look down, but Kabler also nails Williams' idiosyncratic mannerisms. The film is currently seeking funding; I’m looking forward to seeing the final product after witnessing a small portion in the making.

An unexpected highlight of the previous NorthEast Comic Con was seeing Gwell-o, a Gwar-inspired metal band featuring members of the comedy rock act Green Jelly dressed as intergalactic monsters in homemade, cardboard and duct tape costumes. They performed as part of the Saturday night after party this time around, and I couldn't miss it. A new layout to the stage allowed all nine members of the band to fit up there. The lineup features four people who sing backups and perform combat theatrics during the show, while the other five musicians perform a mix of originals and covers, including Gwar's "I Hate Love Song" and "Sick of You," Green Jelly's "Three Little Pigs," Judas Priest’s “Night Crawler," and “I Need Mo’ Allowance” from the cartoon Doug.

Proudly hailing for Ipswich, Massachusetts, The Fools headlined the after party. At first glance, they seem like a rock act in the vein of The Rolling Stones or Van Halen. Upon a closer listen to vocalist Mike Girard's lyrics, however, it becomes apparent that they are satirizing the classic rock acts of yesteryear as much as they are paying tribute to them. That's not to say they don't take themselves seriously; the quintet makes their tight live show appear effortless.

Along with the celebrities, panels, standup comedy, and live concerts, NorthEast Comic Con offered cosplay contests, gaming, kids activities, and more, not to mention dozens of exhibitors and vendors. Many attendees came in costume, ranging from pop culture giants to comic book characters to original creations. For my money, two people dressed in large, elaborate Kang and Kodos costumes from The Simpsons were the most impressive.

A NorthEast Comic Con employee mentioned to me that this was the convention's biggest turnout at the Boxboro location yet. While it's wonderful to see the event grow with bustling crowds of enthusiastic fans, I revel in the fact that NorthEast Comic Con & Collectibles Extravaganza remains an intimate experience in comparison to the massive pop culture expos, which can be overwhelming and impresonal. On top of that, the show continues to keep its prices low and value high.

Click here to see all of my NorthEast Comic Con Spring 2019 photos.

[blackkudos]

Ron Glass

Ronald E. "Ron" Glass (July 10, 1945 – November 25, 2016) was an American actor. He was known for his roles as the literary Det. Ron Harris in the television sitcom Barney Miller (1975–82), and as the spiritual Shepherd Derrial Book in the short-lived 2002 science fiction series Firefly and its sequel film Serenity.

Early life

Glass was born in Evansville, Indiana, the son of Lethia and Crump Glass. Graduating from Saint Francis Seminary in 1964, Glass attended the University of Evansville, where he received a Bachelor of Arts double majoring in Drama and Literature. Years later, the university honored his work in television and film with their highest commendation, the Medal of Honor. Glass stated in an interview that he knew he wanted to act while he was in college. A teacher liked his voice and encouraged him to try out for a play. He went on to act in that play (and many others) during his time there.

Career

Glass made his stage debut at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis before moving to Hollywood. His earliest TV appearances include episodes of Sanford and Son in 1972, an episode of Hawaii Five-Oin 1973, an episode of All in the Family in 1973, an episode of The Bob Newhart Show, and episodes of Good Times in 1974. In 1975, he landed the role of Det. Ron Harris in Barney Miller which ran until 1982. The following season, Glass also co-starred with Demond Wilson on television in the short-lived remake of The Odd Couple, called The New Odd Couple. On December 13, 1985, he played a soul-collecting devil opposite Sherman Hemsley's mathematics professor in an episode of the revived Twilight Zone series. In 1992, he co-starred in the short-lived sitcom Rhythm and Blues, a kind of "black WKRP", playing "the fifth Top" opposite Roger Kabler. In 1996, Glass was cast as uptight history teacher Roland Felcher in the NBC sitcom Mr. Rhodesopposite comedian Tom Rhodes. In 1999, he appeared in an episode of the NBC sitcom Friends as Ross Geller's divorce lawyer, Russell.

After that, Glass appeared in dozens of television series, including sitcoms such as Family Matters and the series Teen Angel where he played God's cousin Rod. He had a guest appearance in the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Nightingale". He was a series regular in the science fiction series Firefly (2002) and the sequel film Serenity (2005), in which he played Derrial Book, a pseudo-Christian "Shepherd" with a mysterious past. Glass provided the voice of Randy Carmichael for the Nickelodeon series All Grown Up! and Rugrats, and the character Garth in the video game Fable II. In 2008 he appeared in the film Lakeview Terrace alongside Samuel L. Jackson, and starred in the 2010 version of Death at a Funeral as Duncan.

Personal life & Death

Glass, who never married, died November 25, 2016. He was 71, and was a member of the Soka Gakkai International, a lay Buddhist organization.

Wikipedia

[loveofpitbulls-blog]

Artist: Roger Kabler

[timestiloz]

Hangin with Robin Williams impersonator Roger Kabler. This guy doesn't just look like Robin Williams - he IS Robin Williams in every way, his speech, mannerisms, the jokes - everything ! Catch this guy when you can... You'll definitely be hearing more about him in the future. #robinwilliams #comedy #impersonator #lookalike https://www.instagram.com/p/BnRkMk0BoMD/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ls3ajwfvmyav

[greensparty]

2022 Collectibles Extravaganza

My pals at the Northeast Comic Con (which I’ve covered in the past) had a collectibles Collectibles Extravaganza at Boxboro Regency (Boxborough, MA) on July 1-3. For me, this marked my first time at a convention since 2019. This didn’t have as many guests and panels as most cons as the emphasis was on exhibitors, but there were quite a few special guests and I was lucky enough to catch up with some.

me with a Tribble at the convention

First up was a Zoom reunion panel discussion. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the PBS children’s show, which was produced by WGBH. It was on until 1978 and then reruns for the next few years. I remember watching it as a kid and the big thing I remember was all of the kids with their striped shirts and they would play on the giant Z, O, O, and M letters. This year there have been a ton of reunion celebrations. I caught the panel of original cast members Bernadette Yao, Joe Shrand, Kenny Pires, Maura Mullaney, and Nancy Walker. I am not nearly as much of a Zoom expert as other PBS shows, but it was fun to see them all and the positive message the show has had on fans over the years.

the Zoom reunion panel

Roger Kabler’s Robin Williams Tribute Experience

Next was Roger Kabler, comedian and impressionist, mostly known for his spot-on Robin Williams impression. He recently made an indie film Being Robin about his experience. “After he died I was very haunted by him and felt compelled to carry out his work. Like [Robin Williams voice] ‘I want to go back to work now, c’mon let’s go’. And I was retired, I wasn’t going to do it, because showbiz is very dangerous for me. But I was like, who am I to say no to Robin Williams if its true? If its true, I should really listen and be respectful.” I remembered seeing Kabler on the short-lived 1992 NBC sitcom Rhythm & Blues, where he played a radio DJ and there was one scene where he did a wicked impression of both Robert De Niro and Robin Williams in the movie Awakenings. Was there feedback from Williams about that? “I didn’t hear anything about that, but apparently he saw something I did around 2007 or 2008, when I did an impression of him on a TV show. It was a reality show about celebrity impressionists The Next Best Thing and I did Robin and he saw it and it got back to me that he really liked it. That was nice to hear, but I never actually met him.” As for the impression itself, he says “Its more of inhabiting. But its an homage and people seem to like it”. His film Being Robin is currently seeking distribution. I will have a review soon, so stay tuned!

Bell (lower left) with Joe Perry (second from left), Danny Hargrove, and Joe Pet circa 1983.

Next was Cowboy Mach Bell. He played in several bands including Thundertrain, but I know him because he was the singer for Joe Perry Project from 1982-84. During the time Joe Perry left Aerosmith in the early 80s, he formed his own band the Joe Perry Project. The lineup changed with each album, but their 1983 album Once a Rocker, Always a Rocker had one of their best lineups with Bell on vocals, Joe Pet on drums, Danny Hargrove on bass and of course Perry on guitar. That album has left a lasting impression especially among Joe Perry fans. “I’m finding out more and more right now” says Bell, “that people who do remember those tours are going back to that album. The interesting thing with books, movies, records - we’re realizing that those that we listened to and then put aside, we come back to and listen with new ears as you’ve moved along. The Once a Rocker, Always a Rocker album is among those albums. It was in between the time that Aerosmith had gotten back together. Now listening to the album, it still stands up, there’s a lot of great musicality in it, catchy songs. I’m learning more now as I connect with fans now. We didn’t have social media back then. It was just come to town, here’s the songs, goodbye. Never thought I’d see those kids again.” In the last few years, Bell has written some books about his rock and roll memories including Once a Rocker, Always a Rocker: A Diary and I Gotta Rock. “I kept a daily diary when I was with The Joe Perry Project with all the gigs we did, recording and all the van rides. I had the diaries all these years.” So he revisited these diaries and put them together. In addition to his books, he is also developing a top secret band as well. Can’t wait!

For info on the Collectibles Extravaganza: https://collectiblesextravaganza.com/

[kwebtv]

Ron Glass, Christopher Babers, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Anna Maria Horsford, Roger Kabler, Troy Curvey Jr. and Miguel A. Núñez Jr in “Rhythm and Blues”. 

[beatkonductaz-blog-blog]

#SavingRobinWilliams @beatkonductaz working on the set of this new #SAG @screenactorsguildua film with Roger Kabler and Larry White. We've been having so much fun on this set, can't believe it's almost over. @djohlow on Sound, @markfronk (Director of Photography) on Cams and @hamburginimerci on lighting. Roger Kabler (Robin) is a beast of an actor and by far the funniest comedian that we have ever had the pleasure of working with. Larry is an amazing Director and the script was written with Robins family and friends in mind. The crew was on point and have met some really cool and talented people. The film is coming together better and faster than expected and has already won 2 awards for the script. Looking forward to the completion of this film. Blessed to be a part of this experience. Found a new respect for the whole industry. #RobinWilliams #film #comedy #act #depression #alzheimers #drugs #family #comic #robin #movie #filmset https://www.instagram.com/p/B4uiZsTgzWv/?igshid=w86txijh015u