2000s

September 7, 2020

The Flashback Interview: Brie Howard

Johnny Caps 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, Alexander O'Neal, American Girls, android, Boxing Gandhis, Brie Howard, Chiller Theatre, Earthquire, Fanny, Fanny Walked The Earth, Keith Moon, Michael Jackson, Peter Criss, Ringo Starr, Robbie Nevil, Tapeheads, The Runnin' Kind 0

My first exposure to my newest interview subject, Brie Howard, came when I heard her background vocals and instrumental work on Robbie Nevil’s song C’est La Vie, which I first came across on an 80s compilation CD I purchased in the late 90s. As I grew older, I would come to discover more about Brie’s work not only as a drummer and a singer, but also as an actress and a baker. I met Brie at the Chiller Theatre convention last October, as shown in the cover photo, and was honored to meet her. We became Facebook friends a few months later, and I worked on setting up an interview with her. Brie Howard has been performing since the 1960s, deftly making her way through multiple genres of music, and earlier this Summer, she took the time to speak to me about her long and diverse career. I hope you all enjoy getting to know this incredible talent. Say hello to Brie Howard! Johnny: Hello, Brie! Brie: Hi, Johnny! How

August 27, 2020

The Flashback Interview: Greta Blackburn

Johnny Caps 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, 48 HRS, Chained Heat, convention, Conventions, Dutch Treat, Greta Blackburn, Modeling, Money Moves, Ms. Fitness, Party Line, Three's Company, Unfair Advantage, V: The Final Battle, Yellowbeard 0

In 1997, to mark my 15th birthday, I rented three Eddie Murphy movies from the video store. One of those movies was 48 HRS, and that film was my first exposure to my newest interview subject. Greta Blackburn played Lisa, a hostage of Ganz (James Remar), and although her role was small, it was memorable. As I grew older, I would see Ms. Blackburn in movies like Chained Heat and Yellowbeard, and then I would become familiar with Greta’s work beyond that as a model, a musician and an author. I became Facebook friends with Greta Blackburn earlier this year, and we talked earlier this Summer about her long and varied career. I hope you all enjoy getting to know this incredibly beautiful and versatile performer. Say hello to Greta Blackburn! Johnny: Hello, Greta. Greta: Hi. Johnny: How are you? Greta: I’m well, thank you. Johnny: Alright. I have my questions ready to go… Greta: Good… Johnny: Starting with this: You first broke through as a model. How did you

August 26, 2020

The Flashback Interview: Sandy Helberg

Johnny Caps 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, 79 Park Avenue, High Anxiety, History Of The World Part 1, Sandy Helberg, Solid Gold, Spaceballs, The Golden Girls, The Groundlings, The Hollywood Knights, Up The Creek 0

My first exposure to my newest interview subject, Sandy Helberg, came through the movie Spaceballs, where he memorably played the character of Dr. Schlotkin, the plastic surgeon who was going to give Princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga) her old nose back if King Roland (Dick Van Patten) didn’t turn over the key to the air lock. As I grew older, I came to see that Sandy Helberg was an incredible talent as both an actor and a writer. Through the help of Kim Hopkins, my dear friend and former interview subject who also connected me to Stuart Pankin, I spoke with Sandy on Monday, August 17th, and I hope you all enjoy getting to know this great talent. Say hello to Sandy Helberg! Sandy: Hello? Johnny: Hi, Sandy. Johnny Caps here. Sandy: How are you? Johnny: I’m doing good. First of all, thank you for taking the time to speak to me. Sandy: No problem. Johnny: Alright. I have my questions ready to go, starting with this: You’re one of the

August 10, 2020

The Flashback Interview: Joanna Cassidy

Johnny Caps 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, 240-Robert, Barbarians At The Gate, Blade Runner, Buffalo Bill, Bullitt, Chiller Theatre, Club Paradise, convention, Conventions, Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead, Joanna Cassidy, Modeling, Murder She Wrote, Night Games, Odd Mom Out, Shields And Yarnell, six feet under, Star Trek: Enterprise, Superman: The Animated Series, The Outfit, Together Forever, Under Fire, Who Framed Roger Rabbit 0

I go back a long way with my next interview subject’s work. I first saw Joanna Cassidy in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, which I saw at the age of 5 with my family at a drive-in double feature with Big Top Pee-wee. Ms. Cassidy’s work in Who Framed Roger Rabbit as Dolores really made an impact on me. As I grew older and my 80s fandom blossomed, I would see her work in movies as diverse as Blade Runner, Under Fire and Club Paradise, and find her to be a unique and outstanding presence in each film. I met Ms. Cassidy at the Chiller Theatre convention in April of 2018, as shown in the cover photo, and it was great to meet her. I’d always hoped to interview Joanna, and last month she took some time to speak to me about her long and wide-ranging career. I hope you all enjoy reading this interview. Say hello to Joanna Cassidy! Johnny: You started out as a model. Who were your favorite

August 4, 2020

The Flashback Interview: Stuart Pankin

Johnny Caps 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, action, An Accidental Christmas, Arachnophobia, convention, Conventions, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Dinosaurs, Fatal Attraction, Free To Be...You And Me, Irreconcilable Differences, Life Stinks, Love At Stake, Not Necessarily The News, Scavenger Hunt, Shakespeare, Stuart Pankin, The Artist, The Hollywood Knights, Theatre 2

My first exposure to my newest interview subject’s work came from the late 80s to the early 90s. I saw Stuart Pankin on both HBO’s Not Necessarily The News, where he played anchorman Bob Charles and many other characters, and ABC’s Dinosaurs, where he provided the voice of Earl Sinclair. As I grew older, I would see Stuart Pankin in movies like Love At Stake and Arachnophobia, and find him to be a very funny talent. My friend and former interview subject Kim Hopkins, who worked with Stuart in The Hollywood Knights, suggested Mr. Pankin to me as a potential interview subject and helped to connect us on social media. I spoke to Stuart on Monday, July 27th, and I hope you all enjoy getting to know him. Say hello to Stuart Pankin! Stuart: Hi. There’s no one here to take your call, but if you leave a message, I’ll get back to you…No. It’s me. Johnny: Hi, Mr. Pankin. How are you? Stuart: Hey, Johnny. How ya doin’? Johnny:

July 13, 2020

The Flashback Interview: George McGrath

Johnny Caps 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, Big Top Pee-wee, Cheeseball Presents, George McGrath, On The Television, Pee-wee's Playhouse, The Groundlings, Tiny Toon Adventures, Tracey Takes On, Whose Line Is It Anyway? 0

One of the first TV shows to make an impression on me was Pee-wee’s Playhouse, and my newest interview subject, George McGrath, played a large part in making it so memorable. Whether he was voicing Globey or writing episodes of the show, George McGrath helped make a big impact on me. Later on, I would be witness to his great writing on projects ranging from Tiny Toon Adventures to Tracey Takes On… I reached out to Mr. McGrath about an interview recently, and we spoke on July 6th. I hope you all enjoy getting to know this incredibly creative man. Say hello to George McGrath! Johnny: Hello, Mr. McGrath. George: Hello, Johnny. Johnny: Thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to do this interview. George: No problem. Johnny: Alright. I have my questions ready to go, starting with this: Was being a performer what you wanted to do when you were younger, or had you initially had a different career goal in mind? George: I originally wanted

July 6, 2020

The Flashback Interview: Leigh French

Johnny Caps 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, 24, A Mighty Wind, American Ninja 2: The Confrontation, buffy the vampire slayer, Bull Durham, Children Of A Lesser God, DreamWorks Animation, Driving Miss Daisy, Elvira: Mistress Of The Dark, Forrest Gump, Halloween II, I Spy, Kansas City, Leigh French, North, Rain Man, Robin Williams, Summer School, The American President, The Great Smokey Roadblock, The Hollywood Knights, The Magic Of Belle Isle, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, WUSA 0

When I was five years old, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour was revived for CBS. I was a little too young to understand the humor, but I can recall watching the reunion special that served as the pilot. That was my first introduction to my newest interview subject, Leigh French. Leigh was, of course, an essential part of the first Comedy Hour from the 60s, most memorably playing the character of Goldie O’Keefe, host of the Share A Little Tea With Goldie segments. As I grew older, I would become familiar with Leigh French in a new way as she worked as an ADR coordinator on some of the most well-known movies of the past three-and-a-half decades, working on movies ranging from three Best Picture Oscar winners, Rain Man, Driving Miss Daisy and Forrest Gump, to movies directed by both Rob Reiner and his late father, Carl Reiner. With all of her many credits, I knew Leigh French would make for an amazing interview subject. We’d been talking since at

June 19, 2020

The Flashback Interview: Linda Carol

Johnny Caps 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, Back To The Beach, Beverly Hills Bodysnatchers, Carnal Crimes, Future Hunters, Inside Out II, Linda Carol, Modeling, Network, Reform School Girls, School Spirit, Sweet Bird Of Youth, The Room Of Words 0

My first exposure to my newest interview subject, Linda Carol, came when I purchased the DVD of Reform School Girls in 2001. Her work as Jenny, one of the innocents behind bars at Pridemore, really made an impact on me. Many years later, I befriended Linda Carol, shown in the cover photo taken by Maurice Brogan Jr., on Facebook, and we’ve become good friends since then. I interviewed Linda on Friday, June 12th, and I hope you all enjoy getting to know her. Say hello to Linda Carol! Johnny: Hello, Linda. Linda Carol: Hi. Johnny: How are you? Linda Carol: I’m doing good. How are you? Johnny: I’m doing good. Thank you for taking the time to do this interview with me. Linda Carol: Sure. I mean, anything I can do to promote my career (laughing), you know, and anything to make the teenage society of America be more informed about B movies, ha ha… Johnny: Alright. I have my questions ready to go, starting with this: Had you always

June 10, 2020

The Flashback Interview: Lori Lethin

Johnny Caps 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, Bloody Birthday, Charlie's Angels, convention, Conventions, Diff'rent Strokes, Lori Lethin, Murder She Wrote, Return To Horror High, The Day After, the prey, The Wave, therapy 0

My newest interview subject, Lori Lethin, has been a Facebook friend of mine for several years. I reached out with a friend request because I liked her work in the movie Bloody Birthday, but there’s more to Lori Lethin than that film. She had many acting credits from the 70s to the 90s before she switched careers and became a therapist. I interviewed her on May 26th, and I hope you all enjoy getting to know her. Say hello to Lori Lethin! Johnny: I’d like to start off with this question: Had you always wanted to be an actress, or did you initially have your mind set on a different career path? Lori: Well, no, I didn’t always want to be an actress. It just sort of happened. I was here on the island of Catalina, and my parents ran a burger place called The Sandtrap, which was on a picturesque golf course. One day I was watching some commercials, and I thought, “You know, I bet I could do

June 3, 2020

The Flashback Interview: John Caglione Jr.

Johnny Caps 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, Academy Awards, Amistad, Angels In America, C.H.U.D, Chaplin, Dick Tracy, Friday the 13th, Friday The 13th Part 2, Hunters, John Caglione Jr., Looking For Richard, makeup, Manhunter, Oscars, Saturday Night Live, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, The Blob, The Brave, The Cotton Club, the dark knight, The Hurricane, The Sopranos, Waco, Zelig 0

A few months back, I wrote the article 15 90s Things I Like. One of the projects I mentioned was Dick Tracy, and my newest interview subject, John Caglione Jr., is a large reason why I loved that movie so much. With his Oscar-winning makeup designs, created alongside Doug Drexler, John Caglione Jr. helped bring the characters of Chester Gould’s classic comic strip to life. There’s more to John than that, though, as he’s been creating makeup since he was a teenager and one of the youngest staff members at Saturday Night Live. He’s worked with legendary directors like Steven Spielberg and Francis Ford Coppola, his working relationship with Al Pacino, which began on Dick Tracy, has been going on for over three decades now, and he’s still working to this day. John took the time out of his schedule to speak to me on Monday, May 25th, and I hope you all enjoy getting to know this icon of entertainment makeup. Say hello to John Caglione Jr.! Johnny: Thank

May 22, 2020

Editorial: 5 More 90s Things I Like

Johnny Caps 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, Andrew Dice Clay, Belinda Carlisle, Casino, Live Your Life Be Free, Sounds Of The Eighties, The Day The Laughter Died, The Truman Show, Time-Life 0

A short while back, I wrote an article entitled 15 90s Things I Like, an article where I listed my most favorite pop culture from my least favorite decade. There were actually a few 90s items I left out, though, so I wanted to do a follow-up listing 5 more 90s things I like. It’s a mixture of movies and music, and I didn’t want to let these projects go unacknowledged. Let’s jump right in. To start off with, the first 90s thing I like is the Martin Scorcese crime drama Casino, which celebrates its’ 25th anniversary this year. For most people, Goodfellas is viewed as the best of Scorcese’s 90s movies, the project that reaffirmed his status as one of America’s greatest filmmakers. I saw Casino first, though, and that was the crime movie that made its’ place in my heart. I’m not knocking Goodfellas. It’s a wonderful movie. There’s just something about Casino that appeals to me more, though. It’s difficult to say what it is, though. Perhaps

April 22, 2020

The Flashback Interview: Deborah Dutch

Johnny Caps 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, Bruce Lee Fights Back From The Grave, Chiller Theatre, convention, Conventions, Death Dancers, Deborah Dutch, Dinosaur Island, Jokes My Folks Never Told Me, Modeling, Playboy, Protocol, Sorority Girls And The Creature From Hell, The Amazing Howard Hughes, The Haunting Of Morella, The Hollywood Warrioress, The Man Who Wasn't There, Theatre, Torchlight 0

My newest interview subject, Deborah Dutch, is a talent I’d been hoping to interview for several years. I would see pictures of her shared by Facebook friends, and I was taken by her beauty. Looking at Deborah Dutch’s extensive list of credits, I was impressed by all the films she did and talents she worked with. I was first connected to Deborah by my friend and two-time interview subject Debra Lamb, a long-time friend and collaborator of Ms. Dutch’s. From there, Deborah and I became fast friends, and we had two great, long conversations that form the basis of this interview. I hope you all enjoy getting to know her. Say hello to Deborah Dutch! Johnny: I start with my first question: As your IMDB page notes, you started on Broadway. What were your favorite shows that you appeared in? Deborah: Well, I am actually thrilled you asked that question because that was a very exciting time for me in my life. When I say I was on Broadway, I

The Flashback Interview: Brie Howard

The Flashback Interview: Greta Blackburn

The Flashback Interview: Sandy Helberg

The Flashback Interview: Joanna Cassidy

The Flashback Interview: Stuart Pankin

The Flashback Interview: George McGrath

The Flashback Interview: Leigh French

The Flashback Interview: Linda Carol

The Flashback Interview: Lori Lethin

The Flashback Interview: John Caglione Jr.

Editorial: 5 More 90s Things I Like

The Flashback Interview: Deborah Dutch

Comic Book Solicitations

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Oni Press Solicitations November 2023

Podcasts

Couch Command Podcast – Ant-Man 3: QUANTUMANIA, THE MENU, The DC GUNNIVERSE, VELMA, and STAR TREK: PICARD

Couch Command Podcast – THE BLACK HOLE

Couch Command Podcast – Geek Out Session #1: THE LAST OF US, WILLOW, SECRET WARS and MORE!

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