Let's Talk Ten

Property Master, film fanatic, and album collector KEVIN LADSON returns to the show -- hanging out with Dan to talk about their favorite SOUNDTRACKS. From massive epics to indie gems...goofy comedies to international cinema... scored by symphony orchestras, synthesizers, electric guitars, and every sound in between -- these two friends look back on the stone-cold classics they've watched on t...

For a special Halloween treat, llustrator/cartoonist ("The Batman Strikes", "Rex Morgan, M.D.") TERRY BEATTY returns for a super-sized episode -- talking  MONSTERS with Dan. These two grown-up "monster kids" enthusiastically discuss the classic Universal creatures portrayed by Karloff, Lugosi, and Chaney Jr., the stop-motion wizardry of Ray Harryhausen, the vivid bloo...

That WASN'T all, folks! With too much fans and too many great stories to contain within a single episode, Dan and his guest BOB BERGEN are back to talk about who's left on their Top Ten lists of their all-time favorite VOICE ARTISTS. Bob's not only been the vocal talent behind Tweety Bird and Porky Pig, he's been friends with many of the legends of the business.  Add to the con...

Dan and professional voice actor BOB BERGEN talk about their favorite VOICE-OVER ARTISTS: from legends like Mel Blanc, Casey Kasem, and June Foray – to some of the current crop of vocal talent, with more than a few surprise choices. Having been the voice of Porky Pig, Tweety Bird, and Marvin the Martian for over thirty years – not to mention his appearances in Gremlins, Spirited Away, Fraggle Rock...

Author BURT KEARNS (“MARLON BRANDO: HOLLYWOOD REBEL”) makes his second appearance on the show, to talk about his favorite BRANDO MOVIES – from the very beginning of the "method" actor's legendary career, all the way to the sometimes strange and sad end.    Dan and Burt discuss Brando’s influence on the craft of acting, his political activism, his complicated personal life – and most...

It's THE NEW ZOO REVUE!  COMING RIGHT AT YOU! After nearly fifty years away from the public eye, Doug and Emily (Emmy Jo) Momary are back, and they’re everywhere – appearing at comic-cons and pop culture conventions, posting on social media, and now – joining Dan Fisher on  “LET’S TALK TEN”. The three of them talked about how these two crazy theater kids -- fresh out of college and with no te...

Emmy-nominated television writer TED BERGMAN ("The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour", "Sanford and Son") visits the show to talk with Dan about their favorite television shows from the 1970's. Ted handles the comedies while Dan covers the dramas as they discuss many of the expected classics ("All in the Family", "Columbo") plus more than a few surprises. ...

Songwriters JOHN DENICOLA and STACY WIDELITZ join Dan to talk about their  favorite OSCAR-WINNING SONGS. John is an Oscar-winner himself, for co-writing "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" from the classic film DIRTY DANCING.   He also co-wrote "Hungry Eyes", while Stacy contributed to the 14X Platinum soundtrack with "She's Like the Wind", co-written with his...

Poet and performer JORDAN E. FRANKLIN joins Dan as they attempt to do the impossible. From the millions of released and recorded songs of the past century, they attempt to winnow down their top ten favorite SONGS they'd each take with them to that proverbial desert island.  Already, their lists have probably changed since their  conversation.  But it is what it is.  And, as always, it’s a lot...

The party’s not over yet. Dan continues to celebrate the first full year of LET'S TALK TEN episodes by sharing his favorite moments from every episode, including the minis. Here’s the guest list for PART TWO:  APRIL FISHER, PHOEBE FISHER, WILL HARRIS, RABBI DAVID KOMEROFSKY, TERRY BEATTY, MIMI POND, ADAM NEDEFF, CHRIS MCGINN, HELENE FISHER, ANDY SKUROW, JEFF ABRAHAM, BURT KEARNS, THOM SHUBILL...

Dan Fisher celebrates the first full year of LET'S TALK TEN episodes by compiling his favorite moments from every episode, including the minis. This one's so big that it'll take two episodes to contain it.  (PART TWO will drop this WEDNESDAY, JULY 10.) For PART ONE, please join Dan and his guests H.E. FISHER, ROBYN KINCAID, MICHELE MANTYNEN, KEVIN LADSON, MICHAEL MARONNA, MAT LEFFLE...

Screenwriter J.D. ZEIK ("Ronin", "Witchblade") joins Dan to talk about their favorite ACTION MOVIES. Cars, guns, explosions, sword fights, martial arts – they cover the gamut of movies that go boom, crunch, and pow: from the silent era, through the kung fu -70s, to the Sly/Arnold ‘80’s, to what's at the multiplex right now.   Support the show

In celebration of PRIDE MONTH, Dan welcomes an old friend, writer/producer/director and film critic GLENN GAYLORD -- to talk about the LGBTQ-centered films that had an impact, historically and personally.  You don't have to identify as LGBTQ to enjoy this episode.  You just have to love movies.  The conversation is wide-ranging, covering everything from Midnight Cowboy to Cruising to Moonligh...

If you were to be stranded on a desert island, away from all contact with civilization, forever and ever – which ten albums would you bring?  Certifiable music maniac JANINE WHITE DUFFY joins host Dan Fisher to discuss just that – their TOP TEN DESERT ISLAND ALBUMS.  Listeners are encouraged to “play along”, by considering which ten albums they would each bring to that proverbial desert island.  O...

Dan fulfilled a bucket-list item by spending time with one of childhood heroes, the truly legendary DICK DEBARTOLO, “MAD’s Maddest Writer” and one of MAD magazine’s original “Usual Gang of Idiots”.   Besides going through their lists, Dan and Dick talked a LOT about MAD and its founder William M. Gaines, as well as Dick’s memories of the fantastic artists and writers who worked for MAD -- Al Jaffe...

Stand-up comedian and stage performer CAROLYN CASTIGLIA joins Dan to talk about some of their favorite comedic actresses in movies and TV -- as well as some of the most brilliant women working in stand-up today.  Contrary to what Jerry Lewis once said, women can be very, very funny. PLUS: Dan tells Jerry Lewis to f--- off. Support the show

Dan has a fun and fascinating conversation with Ron Friedman who, since 1965, has written over 700 houurs of broadcast television -- starting with The Danny Kaye show, then going on to write for pretty much every show you watched growing up: The Andy Griffith Show, Get Smart, Bewitched, The Partridge Family, All in the Family, The Odd Couple, Charlie’s Angels, Chico and the Man, Starsky and Hutch,...

Author THOM SHUBILLA joins Dan for a wide-ranging discussion of the James Bond series -- from Connery to Craig -- and its many spin-offs, knock-offs, and children's toys it inspired, focusing especially on the 1960's and Bond's influence on popular culture (and possibly U.S. foreign policy). Support the show

A change-of-pace episode, Dan talks with comedy historian Jeff Abraham and writer-filmmaker Burt Kearns about their book THE SHOW WON'T GO ON, which chronicles the unfortunate final moments of actors, singers, comedians, circus performers, and more -- as they expired in front of their audiences, mid-performance.   From the famous (Dick Shawn, Tiny Tim, Karl Wallenda) to the talented but lesse...

Who doesn't love the classic songs of Motown?  Dan sure does, and he found the perfect guest to talk about favorites. Andy Skurow is a recording industry producer who has overseen the reissues of over 150 classic albums, compilations, and box sets -- mostly on the legendary Motown label.  In 2015, he received the prestigious Heroes and Legends "Cornerstone" award for his life's...

The first-ever guest on "Let's Talk Ten", H.E. (HELENE) FISHER returns for a discussion of favorite COUPLES IN MOVIES AND TV, with her husband, LT10 host Dan Fisher. Though they've been married for over 30 years, Helene's and Dan's tastes can be quite  different -- which only adds to the fun when they talk about movies and television.  Dan tends to like older, classic...

Career character actor CHRIS MCGINN and Dan got together to talk about their favorite CHARACTER ACTORS in movies and television.   From those who seem to specialize in very specific roles like Romcom Best Friend or Intractable Authority Figure...to the masters of versatility...we salute actors and the onscreen characters we've come to love. Support the show

COME ON DOWN to join Dan and his guest Adam Nedeff -- as they talk about their all-time favorite television game shows. Adam's not just a fan -- game shows have been his lifetime's obsession.  Currently an archivist and researcher for the National Archives of Game Show History -- and a published author of eleven books on the subject – his  encyclopedic command of their histories, strateg...

Dan is joined by some auld acquaintances --  Terry Beatty, Michele Mantynen, Mat Lefler-Schulman, Robyn Kincaid, Kevin Ladson, Adam Long, Phoebe Fisher, Josh Chambers, David Komerofsky, H.E. Fisher,  Sam Pancake, and George Schlatter -- to reminisce about our pop cultural FIRSTS -- First movie in a theater? First records purchased with our own money? First Saturday morning cartoons?   First movie...

For this "mini" dropping on Christmas morning -- though suitable for year-round listening -- Dan talks about the history of "TOYS!" and toy commercials...plus the toys he grew up loving and the ones his kids loved -- as well as the importance of playing.  It's a sweet, fun little episode, crammed with lots of trivia, fond memories, and interesting clips from all eras.  It...