50 Years ago: My “Woodstock”, “Easy Rider” Weekend!

by | Aug 17, 2019 |

What's Next? Peter Fonda died this weekend at the age of 79. Fifty years ago this weekend his signature film, “Easy Rider” debuted in1969, just part of my cultural confluence that eventful summer. I had just graduated from Notre Dame. My girlfriend, lived in Manhattan...

“Toy Story 4”-Triumphant!

by | Jun 21, 2019 |

Not having kids ( no endless DVD repeats) and of a certain age ( detail hard drive almost full), I must admit, though I loved the first 3 Pixar “Toy Story” movies, I don’t remember a thing about them, except that they were better than three quarters of what Hollywood...

“Apollo 11” Don’t Miss This One!

by | Mar 17, 2019 |

Documentarian Todd Douglas Miller's "Apollo !!" is an amazing example of what a great nation can accomplish when it applies its scientific curiosity and bravery to explore the limits of the human experience. Miller used some 11000 hours of audio and hundreds of hours...

Tim Russell’s 2019 Oscar Predictions

by | Feb 9, 2019 | ,

2019 Tim Russell’s  Oscar Predictions The 91st Oscar Ceremony will be without a host this year but that’s okay if the writing for the presenters is sharp and salient. Sometimes I wonder why actors agree to read the often lame patter that litters the awards shows....

Stan and Ollie

by | Jan 19, 2019 |

"Stan and Ollie", a biographical look at the marvelous comedy duo Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, starring John C. Reilly and Steve Coogan, is a godsend to people of a certain age (ahem) that spent way too much time as a teen watching these two on late night TV, or...

Micheal Moore’s “Fahrenheit 11/9”

by | Sep 25, 2018 |

Michael Moore’s latest documentary should make fans of his past efforts to champion a progressive agenda quite happy (for the most part). He talks bout the 2016 election and how it was a sure thing for most pundits, pinning the blame for Trump’s entry into the fray...

Onward and Upward

by | Sep 20, 2018 |

‪I won’t be a part of the show this year, but I’ve had a great 24 year run with "A Prairie Home Companion" and it's successor "Live From Here",  Along the way, I've enjoyed  meeting some interesting people, amazing audiences, travel experiences, brilliant writing by...

Big Fun at the Greatest State Fair in the Land

by | Sep 10, 2018 |

Minnesota State Fair recently concluded it’s annual 12 day run. WCCO-AM’s Dave Lee invited me again to be in his “Minnesota Hospital” comedy Soap Opera on both Fridays of the Fair. I played “Dr. Trump” the administrator. Dave’s character, Dr. Gil Whitney always has a...

“Hearts Beat Loud”: Summer Crowd Pleaser

by | Jul 4, 2018 |

"Hearts Beat Loud" is a coming of age (both Middle and and Teen) film that finally gives Nick Offerman (the grumpy, steak loving, Ron Swanson of "Parks and Rec" fame) a chance to shine as a leading man. He plays Frank Fisher, a middle aged owner of a failing...

Chicago Cooking is “Da Best!”

by | Jun 14, 2018 |

What's the secret to the magic of Chicago's cooking style? We found out on @livefromhereapm at the historic Ravinia Festival in Chicagoland. https://youtu.be/3xatCgAEyDM

My 2018 Oscar Score

by | Mar 4, 2018 |

Here’s a final Oscar score: 17 correct Predictions out of 24, but I did get all 6 major categories, including Best Picture, right. Congrats to Allison Janney, my 1995 “A Prairie Home Companion” cast mate! We knew this day would come.

2018 Oscar Winner Predictions: All Categories!

by | Feb 19, 2018 | ,

It's that time of the year, the 90th Oscar Ceremony is just around the corner and the consensus is that the big honors will be split between "The Shape of Water" and "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri", with lots of tough races for the undercard categories. The...

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