Milling About

Sheila Palomar of The Babcock House joins host Robin Milling to talk about the historic and haunted Bed & Breakfast in Appomatox, Virginia; just moments from the famous surrender site which ended the Civil War. Built in 1884, it was home to the Babcock family who ran it as a boarding house until 1995. Sheila shares spirit stories with Robin including a gentleman who walks the halls whose footsteps she has heard herself. Strange things have been known to occur at The Backcock House like doors closing by themselves and covers getting tugged. A woman named Mary who loved the house so much has literally never left, and there's Claire who likes to hum in the hallway when she dusts. Sheila says she's relieved that they're friendly ghosts! Along with the six-room accommodation, there is a delicious menu prepared by her husband Jerry with specialties such as apple cheddar chicken which was originally created for their daughter's wedding. For more information visit www.babcockhouse.com

Veteran stage and screen actor Tony Lo Bianco joins host Robin Milling to discuss his return as Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia in The Little Flower for a special limited engagement. Tony tells Robin the reasons why he wanted to bring back his one-man show which is the third incantation of the colorful mayor's life. Tony's passion for the leaders of this country is evident as he urges young audiences to see the play running October 23-November 2 at the Dicapo Opera Theater in New York City. For more information visit @TonyLoBianconycon Twitter and Facebook.

Marilyn Monroe tribute artist Erika Smith joins host Robin Milling for lunch at Segafredo's in New York. For the past three years Erika has been wowing audiences from NYC to the Far East with her uncanny spot-on portrayal of MM. Erika tells Robin that on her recent visit to China as Marilyn she felt like a Beatle, as she couldn't go anywhere without getting her picture taken! Ironically, she once performed for Paul McCartney and his then fiance Nancy Shevell. Erika reveals how she developed Marilyn's persona after a booking agent for party entertainers saw her burlesque show as Scarlet O'Hara. Also an actress and writer, she is currently developing her own sitcom for network television which will feature what she knows best -- an actress playing Marilyn. For more information visit: www.ErikaSmith.net www.MarilynMonroeTributeArtist.com www.Youtube.com/erika516 www.Facebook.com/erika.smith.9440 www.Twitter.com/TheErikaSmith    

Cabaret performer Tom Judson joins host Robin Milling to talk about his one-night only gig at 54 Below in New York City called Nature Boy: Songs Of The Earth & Sky. Tom will do what he does best, sing songs with the theme of nature accompanied by himself on piano, weaving stories of his colorful life in between. And what a journey Tom has had as he tells Robin stories of growing up on his grandparent's farm in upstate, New York; living this bucolic, protestant lifestyle to many years later shocking everyone with the news that he had made a series of films for grown-ups! Tom says the experience was quite fun actually and was flattered to be asked at the age of 44. You can't say Tom hasn't experienced everything life has to offer and that is prevalent in his multi-talented repertoire.  Tom sings Simon & Garfunkel's For Emily: Whenever I May Find Her. For more information visit www.tomjudson.com  

Trouble With The Curve star Matthew Lillard makes his directing debut withFat Kid Rules The World. Lillard joins host Robin Milling to talk about the natural progression he's made behind the camera. He tells Robin how jitters didn't even come into the picture as directing and being a family man with three kids have satisfied his life. Lillard says teaching acting prepared him to get a great performance from his actors, but admits he's a little disappointed the coeds didn't crush out on him! Lillard was a fat kid who grew into his lanky body naturally, but says the real story behind the film is about kids who are on the outside looking in. An outsider himself, Lillard was drawn to the stage in high school, but it was a flubbed line that gave him the motivation to succeed. For more information visit www.tuggthefatkid.com

Oliver Platt joins host Robin Milling to talk about his role in The Oranges. It's the story of two families whose friendship is tested when Leighton Meester's character begins an affair with Platt's best friend played by Hugh Laurie. The scenario inspires one of the best lines given by his movie wife Allison Janney. Also a television star, Oliver talks about wanting to reunite with his Huff co-star Hank Azaria and the advantages of working with your friends. Approaching the final season of the The Big C, as Laura Linney's husband, Paul Jamison, Oliver weighs in on former guest star Susan Sarandon's self help guru in the series.      

Writer Jordan Okun joins host Robin Milling to talk about the inspiration for his debut novel L.A. Fadeaway, about what it takes to rise up the ranks to become a Hollywood agent. Jordan himself got his start at ICM, one of the biggest talent agencies in Hollywood, and rose through the assistant ranks. Disillusioned with the reality of the job, it was there he began journaling. Those journals became the blueprint for his protoganist, who would achieve the agency status Jordan initially desired. Jordan admits his own guilty pleasure for tabloid gossip can get the best of him, sharing an insider's view into the goings-on in the Hollywood biz. He tells Robin his book is a cautionary tale as well as entertainment. In fact some agents have been 'sniffing' around for possible film and television deals. Jordan would love to see his book made into a film with Andrew Garfield as the lead but first he is working on his second novel, exploring the fraternity world. For more information visit http://authors.simonandsch

Beloved Carol Burnett Show television stars Vicki Lawrence and Tim Conway join host Robin Milling to talk about The Carol Burnett Show DVD which features 16 classic episodes hand-picked by Carol. Many of us grew up watching these masters of sketch comedy in our living rooms. Vicki and Tim recall milestone moments of meeting their spouses while working on the show, Harvey Korman's relentless laughter, and why audiences were glued to their television sets from 1967-1978. Tim tells Robin what inspired the character of the old man, and Vicki reveals there may be a new chapter on the small screen for Mama! For more information visit TimeLife.com

The Brooklyn Brothers Beat The Best stars Ryan O'Nan and Michael Weston join host Robin Milling to talk about their buddy music film. The two actors tell Robin they became fast friends after meeting on an audition just three months before shooting began. Ryan wrote and directed the film as well as penned several of the soundtrack tunes, now available on CD from Rhino Records. Their first single Come On Girl is featured at the end of the show. Both actors brought their musical talents to the film; Ryan is a guitarist/vocalist for indie outfits such as  Against The Wall, while Weston is an accomplished keyboardist but his character's instruments came from his childhood toybox. The story of a musician who wants to graduate from playing for mentally challenged audiences in a fuzzy moose suit is a frustration Ryan and Michael can relate to as they tell Robin about their nightmare gigs.

The line is always long but it's worth the wait at Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room in Savannah, Georgia. The history of Mrs. Wilkes dates back to 1943 when a young Sema Wilkes purchased a boardinghouse and began the tradition of feeding her guests family style in the dining room. Her granddaughter, Marcia Thompson joins host Robin Milling continuing that Southern hospitality as she greets you at the door as if you have entered her private home for lunch serving 22 dishes family style with no menu. Marcia talks about her grandmother's special recipes and how she treated everyone the same when you sat down to eat in her dining room. Nothing has changed in 68 years as she tells Robin how everyday folk break bread with famous folk and stand on line waiting their turn, including President Obama, Dennis Quaid, Robert Duvall and Alan Rickman. On any given day little bowls of fresh and tasty vegetables such as collard greens, succotash, black-eyed peas, and butter beans served with plates of fried chicken, mac & chees

Ted Dennard, aka the Honey Bee Whisperer joins host Robin Milling from the Savannah Bee Company in Savannah, Georgia. Ted has a passion for honey bees that is unbridled, insisting they are sweet, no pun intended, until pissed off or provoked; he stopped counting after 20,000 stings! Otherwise,Ted says they go on their merry way buzzing away and supplying the world with goodness and healing as honey works wonders as a moisturizer and antiseptic. The Savannah Bee Company store carries a full range of honey products from bath to baking; he's in the process of developing a line of honey based shampoos and conditioners. And of course the delicious Tupelo and Sourwood honey can be sampled on an apple slice or just licked off a spoon. Speaking of Tupelo honey, Ted testifies that Ulee's Gold where Peter Fonda played a beekeeper is the real deal as it was made on the Apalachicola River from authentic Tupeolo trees. In fact Savannah Bee Company has Tupelo honey from that very same spot where the movie was filmed, and

Stratton Leopold of Leopold's Icecream in Savannah, Georgia has two favorite passions; making movies and making icecream. Since 1919 the creamery confection has been in Stratton's family; he took on the family business but didn't give up his dream of becoming a Hollywood producer. Movie posters of films he's worked on like The Big Chill, and Mission: Impossible III,adorn the walls. There's a wall of photos with Stratton and Tom Cruise famously smiling with a vanilla cone. Stratton tells Robin Alan Rickman's favorite flavor is pistachio which at Leopolds is made with all natural ingredients.  Props from films he's produced are encased in glass. In the corner is a vintage Panavision camera which Stratton says Ben Affleck gleefully unlocks taking movies of the patrons enjoying their lunch. For more information visit www.leopoldsicecream.com

For Ellen star Paul Dano joins host Robin Milling to talk about his part as a musician who struggles between his role as a rock star and his role as a father. Paul tells Robin he related to his character as he has a band in real life called Mook which he started with high school pals. Paul got deathly ill shooting in the cold winter in Messina, New York as his wardrobe didn't consist of much except leather jeans and a jacket with a wife beater T-shirt. Paul says he was able to use his sickly pallor to his advantage in some of the inebriated bar scenes. Somewhat of a method actor, Paul spent some time hanging out in the local pubs secluding himself from the cast as his character was often lonely drowning himself in alcohol. Paul has a busy slate of films coming up including Looper where he plays a hitman co-starring Bruce Willis and Twelve Years A Slave as a plantation overseer with Brad Pitt.

Milling About host Robin Milling meets with the women of Savannah Inns in Savannah, Georgia. This feisty foursome of innkeepers banded together, each offering their own personal style and hospitality to their historic B&Bs. Meet Teresa of Azalea Inn & Gardens whose tiny terrier Joey greets you with a lick from his lopsided tongue. Dating back to 1885, the inn has 8 rooms, 10 chimneys, a carriage house, and grotto pool. Meet Shannon of Dresser Palmer House, whose 16 room house is the largest of the four. Dating back to 1876, it was the home of Samuel Palmer & Henry Dresser, whose precocious little girl ghost named Madeline, leaves shiny pennies on your carpet. Meet Jackie of the Ziegler House Inn, the home of Solomon Ziegler dating back to 1856. Her 7 room inn was once a bordello with suites only.  Meet Diane of Green Palm Inn in the colonial fort district, notorious for sea captains causing a raucous in the local taverns. Dating back to1897, it is the smallest with only 4 rooms, and a fireplac

Powerhouse showbusiness couple Michael Biehn and Jennifer Blanc-Biehn join host Robin Milling to talk about their rockin' sexploitation flick, The Victim. It was a labor of love for the Biehns as Michael wrote, produced, starred and directed the film, while Jennifer starred and produced. And as Michael says, they did it on the cheap working long and hard hours in just 12 days with no special effects for zombies and vampires; just good old-fashioned dirty cops, drugs and strippers with a little bit of action and a little bit of torture! What more could you want from a grindhouse film? And there's plenty of grinding and action in The Victim. Michael and Jennifer reveal how being a married couple influenced their sex scenes on screen, and how the sex and fight and  scenes were basically unchoreographed. Jennifer jokes she still has the marks to prove her dedication to undergoing multiple takes. Forming their own production company Blanc Biehn Productions, their next project will be Treachery. For more inform

Joseph Gordon-Levitt rode like hell in the film Premium Rush and paid for it dearly with 31 stitches! Joe and writer/director David Koepp join host Robin Milling sharing the details of the accident that happened on set. Joe says it was the worst movie injury he's had to date. Even while practicing, things got a little hairy when Joe took off a car's side mirror when he was just practicing.  Joe also talks about his preparation to become a bike messenger and the metaphor for life he took away with him while making the film.        

Let's Do Lunch! visits Rosemary's in New York's Greenwich Village for a delicious Italian tasting. Named for the owner's mother, it borrows her warmth and hospitality from her home in Tuscany. Executive chef Wade Moises began his career under far less glamorous circumstances, working at a biker bar flipping burgers where the staff was a shady lot on parole from prison. The experience motivated him to study at The Culinary Institute of America where he honed his penchant for Italian cooking. It was the early 90s and Wade was hooked on Mario Batali's cooking show, vowing right then and there to work with the restauranteur. And he did just that sharpening his skills at Batali's Babbo and Lupa. Coming to Rosemary's after his travels through Italy, Wade has fine tuned his creations with such dishes as salami style octopus, orecchiette with homemade pork sausage, and linguini with zesty lemon and chilis which he describes as a sleeper hit. The house made foccacia is draped with a thin sliver of lardo which you can

Powerhouse vocalist Amy Lynn of Amy Lynn & The Gunshow joins host Robin Milling. Think a little Aretha, a little Tina and a little Mariah and you've just cracked the surface of what Amy sounds like as she brings her own unique soulful belt to these Diva comparisons. And there's nothing like seeing The Gunshow live; her band is led by new hubby Alex Hamlin on sax and an infectious horn section grounded by keys and drums with hot back-up singers. The sound can only be described as an assault on the senses with Amy front and center crooning songs such as Missing You, I Believe To My Soul, You Bring Me Joy and their new single Clearly It's Me featured at the end of the show. As a special treat Amy performs Can't Put My Finger On It accompanied by Alex on baritone sax. For more information visit Amy Lynn & The Gunshow on Facebook, @amylynngunshow on Twitter and http://amylynnandthegunshow.com/

Can a wolf be socialized to be a pet and live like a domesticated animal with other dogs? That is the question behind the documentary True Wolf.  Director Rob Whitehair joins host Robin Milling to talk about a wolf named Koani who was an abandoned pup raised by a Montana couple. Koani is trained to walk on a leash albeit quite a long one, and to play nicely with other dogs. The only difference is she eats 1,200 pounds of meat each year and lives in a den; so can a wolf truly live in captivity? But when the wolf is brought into the classroom to educate the students, the local community unleashes their concerns on the wolves' natural instincts as a predator.  It's a story of nature vs. nurture, and what does it mean to be wild. For more information visit www.truewolfmovie.com

Linus Roache exits the courtroom and enters the world of high stakes trading in Supercapitalist. Linus reunites with host Robin Milling after being her very first guest on Milling About. He talks about what it might feel like to be super rich and how he would spend his wealth philanthropically. After years on Law & Order, Manchester-born Linus is a bonafide New Yorker, making it official by becoming an American citizen. The star of Batman Begins also weighs in on the Dark Knight Rises tragic shooting, and how movie violence may not be to blame. Next he will make a miniseries in the U.K., The Making of a Lady based on a love affair between an English lord and his housekeeper.