Milling About

Andy Garcia joins host Robin Milling to discuss his starring role in At Middleton. Andy plays a father bringing his son to college orientation, who strikes up a relationship with Vera Farmiga, bringing her daughter to the same orientation, played by her real life sister, Taissa. In real life Andy has two daughters of his own, both of them actors. In fact his daughter Daniella appears in the film. Andy tells Robin what it's like having them follow in his footsteps. Next he stars in the animated film, Rio 2 and the features Rob The Mob and Kill The Messenger. For his next directing job Hemingway & Fuentes, Andy tells Robin he hired a St. Augustine boat builder to build an authentic Cuban skiff for his boat captain Gregory Fuentes. He also announces a new cast member to replace Anthony Hopkins as Hemingway so stay tuned.

Author Sherill Tippins of Inside The Dream Palace The Life and Times of New York's Legendary Chelsea Hotel joins host Robin Milling for Let's Do Lunch! at The Fourth in the Hyatt Hotel in Union Square. Since 2006 Sherill has been working on the book which tells all kinds of stories about the famous inhabitants that lived there; not to mention the cockroaches living side by side with them! Through her conversations with former beloved landlord Stanley Bard she writes about the celebrities who called the Chelsea Hotel their home such as Ethan Hawke staying for free under the conditions he get Uma Thurman back. Playwrite Arthur Miller used the hotel to recover from his break-up with superstar Marilyn Monroe to avoid the paparazzi, and where he stayed to write After The Fall about his relationship with her. And of course there are the famous ghostly inhabitants which Sherill's psychic friend encountered while staying in room 325 with her to research the book. Her friend claims they would all crowd into the room

Alice Eve has been on the Star Trek Enterprise in Star Trek Into Darkness, a sexy Irish nanny in Sex And the City 2, and most recently a hooker in Some Velvet Morning. They are all very different characters than who she is in real life, but none so as being a hotel proprietor also running a brothel in Cold Comes The Night. And she gets to be the first actress to work alongside Bryan Cranston post Breaking Bad! For her role Alice tells host Robin Milling she actually changed dirty bed sheets in motels around the Catskill area where the film was shot to get an idea of a day in the life. Talk about method acting! This year Alice can be seen in 1:30 Train opposite director/star Chris Evans filmed in New York City last Christmas, and she is reteaming with Neil LaBute for Dirty Weekend opposite Matthew Broderick.  

New York Times bestselling author Vivek Tiwary of The Fifth Beatle joins host Robin Milling for Let's Do Lunch! at Giorgio's. A Beatles fan since the womb, it was a passion project 21 years in the making for Vivek to tell the untold story of The Beatles manager and founder Brian Epstein. Through years of interviews with people who knew him, the tale of seeing them at The Cavern Club to bringing them to the world stage unfolds in this graphic novel illustrated by Andrew C. Robinson. A film is already in the works based on the novel, with Bring It On director Peyton Reed at the helm.  Casting is a bit hush hush but there will be plenty of music due to unlimited access to the Lennon/McCartney catalog. What Vivek may have in common with Epstein is not taking 'no' for an answer. He even has the four rejection letters to prove it. He says, “That's what Brian Epstein went through. He got rejected for The Beatles by every single record label!” 'Thumbs up' came from Paul McCartney, Ringo, Yoko Ono and Olivia Harriso

'Heeeeere's Johnny!' was the melodious phrase Ed McMahon would say every weeknight for 30 years to introduce Johnny Carson, the beloved talk show host of The Tonight Show. Henry Bushkin, author of 'Johnny Carson' was there beside him for 18 of those years as his lawyer but as he writes, 'his earpiece, mouthpiece, enforcer, running buddy, tennis pal, drinking and dining companion, foil or the quicker picker upper.' Henry joins host Robin Milling to talk about the ups and downs of representing the most powerful man in show business whether it was dealing with his divorces, the NBC network or his personal happiness or unhappiness off camera. He tells Robin Johnny was not the man the country went to bed with at night joking and cajoling celebrity guests, but rather complex and complicated. He says, 'I've gotten letters and e-mails from people saying they had no idea how he was off the screen compared to who he was on the screen. If he's Mr. Rogers off the air who would be interested in him? I think this book is

Drew Lachey is dreaming of a charitable Christmas. Drew tells host Robin Milling the many ways he has made someone else's Christmas wishes come true. It all started with 98 Degrees visiting urban neighborhoods for The Boys and Girls Club singing accapella Christmas carols, doo-wop style. That spirit of giving back blossomed into what Drew and his family do today; supplying gifts for the Boys and Girls Club and the Children's Hospital in his hometown of Cincinnati. His children are also learning the love of giving. He says, “My daughter actually gave up getting birthday presents at her birthday party this year for donations for the Children's Hospital raising almost $1,000. That's one of the things as a parent where you're like, 'Yes! I'm doing something right!'” In fact Drew encourages everyone to make a difference in somebody else's life, foregoing that tie clip or Itunes gift card. That homey feeling is one of the reasons why h'es joined Up, the family friendly network which features shows his seven year-o

It seemed that Spider-Man:Turn Off The Dark, the Broadway musical was doomed from the start with the production suffering budgetary issues, actors getting injured attempting aerial stunts, not to mention personality clashes with the show's directing diva Julie Taymor. Now the story behind the web of chaos and collaboration is told from co-book writer Glen Berger who has penned Song of Spider-Man about what it was like to stand side by side with Taymor helping to create her vision, only to be spun out of control. Glen tells host Robin Milling how a need to seek vengeance on then President Bush inspired the scene that would get him the gig. He describes, “the Green Goblin is tickling the ivories on top of the Chrysler Building, ending with him pushing the piano off in order to murder the little ants down below, and winding up caught in Spider-man's web.” Ironically he says that scene may have gotten him the job, but ultimately led to Taymor's dismissal. Glen writes joyously about working with Taymor who he de

Sunlight Jr. writer/director Laurie Collyer joins host Robin Milling to discuss working with her stellar cast which includes Naomi Watts, Matt Dillon and Norman Reedus. Laurie tells Robin how Matt went through rigorous wheelchair training to portray his paraplegic character who is married to Watts in the film. She says he was so convincing in the chair and the way he finessed getting in and out of it that she was surprised when he actually got up to walk in-between takes! Matt also had to practice wheeling Watts around on his lap. That playfulness was captured by an on-set photographer. Laurie says, “They had a lot of fun. One of our publicity stills wasn't shot as that but they were just having fun playing around 10 feet away from the craft service table with Matt wheeling her around on his lap and it's actually the photo that's now our poster.” And then there's Reedus, red hot from The Walking Dead who contributed his own idea to the look of his character; Watt's risky and wild ex who still has a thing for

Penthouse publisher Bob Guccione is the subject of Filthy Gorgeous, a documentary chronicling the rise of the media mogul and his magazine. Jane Homlish, his longtime personal assistant for over 30 years who is featured in the film, joins host Robin Milling to talk about a relationship so unique it will never exist for her again. Jane tells Robin she was convinced that Guccione was the right fit for her inquisitive nature as a young traveler who also had a passion for art. When she answered an ad for a receptionist job she quickly moved up the ranks, knowing Guccione would not only be her boss, but her mentor. They connected creatively in their shared love of art, and spiritually searching for a greater truth as Jane, a Catholic school girl, thought she would be a nun and Bob thought he would be a priest. Jane earned his respect, ultimately overseeing the magazine from cover to cover, curating his massive art collection and his home where 11 pony size Rhodesian Ridgebacks once ruled the roost. They became 'i

Milling About visits The Evergreen Inn Bed & Breakfast in Spring Lake Heights, New Jersey. Dating back to 1873, it was once a stagecoach stop. Innkeeper Laurie runs the inn like she's hosting a dinner party or hanging with friends at the local Jersey Shore pub. A great storyteller, she entertains her guests at breakfast. If you're still sleeping or even slightly hung over she is the perfect wake-up call! Her juice glasses are on a slant to confuse you even more. She says, 'it's 140 years old so I don't know if I'm the one that's slanted in my 40s or the house is slanted but it works for me!' One wonders if her five year-old daughter is an inspiration, joking she's a 'beard' for her goofiness. Leaving the corporate world she fell into hospitality having a Yureka moment finding a Christmas ornament that said 'Evergreen Inn.' Since 1997, she put her management skills to work with a homey renovation. The rooms are named for evergreens like The Redwood, a tribute to The Eagles' Hotel California and her 'thing

Author Christopher Rice joins host Robin Milling over lunch at The Cecil in Harlem to talk about his first supernatural novel, The Heavens Rise which is a page-turner featuring a 'Louisiana swamp mind-control parasite atmosphere.' Chris returns to New Orleans he says to give the community a kindness post Katrina. Compared to his first book A Density of Souls, where he trashed everyone he went to high school with, he is now paying homage to the people of the city and their desire to see it thrive. Chris says that of all his novels The Heavens Rise is the most cinematic and he would want to be involved in writing the screen adaptation. He may come full circle as he originally moved to Los Angeles to write screenplays; surprising even himself by writing a book. As the son of Anne Rice and his late father Stan who was a creative writing professor and poet, writing was inevitable. Chris reveals his father read him Tin Tin as a bedtime story while mom favored singing show tunes to lull him to sleep! Lunch with C

In Broadway Idiot documentary filmmaker Doug Hamilton gets an all access pass to film a behind-the-scenes look at Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong as he observes the cast and crew interpret his music for the stage from day one to opening night of American Idiot. Doug joins host Robin Milling to discuss how he got inside this Broadway world shown from the unique perspective of this musical superstar. He knew he had something special when he captured a teary-eyed Armstrong watching the cast performing his songs for the first time. Illustrating his commitment to the project, Armstrong offered home video footage as a pre-teen singing Send In The Clowns to replace a scene for the film which was already in the can. Doug says, "I had found this old footage of Billy, not what you see in the film, singing Christmas songs at 14 in some hospital. He said, 'this is great but I can do better.' " He had gone to his cousins and gotten that old family footage. I had to remix the film with that new scene but it was so worth

Daniel Radcliffe was once the bespectacled boy wizard of Harry Potter. With a bit of a scruff and near 25 it doesn't seem odd that he prefers Dan. Speaking to him since he's 10, you happily adopt the name as he's permanently left the Hogwarts building. In Kill Your Darlings he may still be wearing Potter-shaped glasses but the comparisons firmly end there. Dan joins host Robin Milling to discuss taking on the role of Beat poet Allen Ginsberg. He tells Robin he modestly dabbled in sonnets when he was 17, but now he's working towards writing screenplays he can direct. To get into the mindset of unrequited heartache for Lucien Carr (played by Dane DeHaan), director John Krokidas, who also joins Robin, suggested he borrow Renee Zelwegger's method of listening to music before the scene. Dan chose jazz singer Jo Stafford while Krokidas turned to bands such as The Libertines with similar torture in their relationship. John, who is well versed in the Beat Generation keyed into Ginsberg for being openly gay in the 40s

Veteran Hollywood studio executive David Picker joins host Robin Milling to discuss his book Musts, Maybes And Nevers, an inside look at the movies that were produced during his reign at United Artists Corporation, Paramount, Lorimar and Columbia Pictures. A third generation motion picture producer, Picker was responsible for bringing films to United Artists by any means necessary. He tells Robin the real story behind the James Bond franchise that's never been heard before and how his cousin's husband started the Thunderball rolling if you will by introducing him to Ian Fleming's novels. David orchestrated The Beatles' films A Hard Days Night bringing director Richard Lester on board and was instrumental in starting Steve Martin's movie career with The Jerk. Born in Brooklyn, Picker followed in his family's footsteps loving movies as his father Eugene Picker ran Loews Theaters, and his uncle Arnold Picker was a founding partner in the new 1951 United Artists. He worked alongside some of the greats and not so

Director Kyle Patrick Alvarez releases his sophomore film, C.O.G. which he wrote based on a story by David Sedaris. Kyle tells host Robin Milling getting the rights to the story from Sedaris was a challenge as he regularly passes on the idea of making his stories into films. Determined, Kyle showed up at a Sedaris book signing with his first film, Easier With Practice, in hand. His passion plea was his personal connection to C.O.G.which deals with the intersection of religion and sexuality.  Growing up in the Mormon community dealt with that in spades! Four months later Sedaris e-mailed and Alvarez became the first person to adapt his writings for the screen.  Kyle is clear that C.O.G. is not a coming out story but more about coming to terms with being seen as a gay person; nor did he want to cast an openly gay actor as a gimmick. Jonathan Groff was just the right person for the job. He says, 'I think Jonathan has the quality of being an openly gay actor for most of his career, arguably his entire career and

Choreographer John J Zullo joins host Robin Milling to discuss the new season of John J Zullo Dance/Raw Movement featuring three works inspired by memory. A film student at American University, John saw Bill T. Jones Arnie Zane dance company piece Still Here and discovered the emotional impact dance can achieve. Referring to the season as his Memory Suite, All What This Do Has You Happened See? Before is about perception and fragments of memory while This Equisite Diversion/Mysterious Skin is about blocked memories and the process of recovery. Six foot glowing plexi-glass panels play with perception as a metaphor for moving through corridors in the mind. The third piece Project XIII explores varying memories through 12 different versions of one movement. This Equisite Diversion/Mysterious Skin was inspired by Scott Heim's novel Mysterious Skin about two young boys who are sexually exploited. John says, 'it had a really strong impact both in my own personal experiences having been sexually abused at a very y

Jonathan Groff has a new philosophy about apples; he may never look at an apple the same way again thanks to his role as an apple factory worker in C.O.G. based on a story by David Sedaris. Jonathan tells host Robin Milling he spent months on a real assembly line alongside workers amazed by what goes into sorting the bright red fruit. Growing up in Lancaster, PA farm country Jonathan was no stranger to menial jobs. For his horse trainer father he shoveled poop out of horse stalls and drove a tractor spraying weeds on the horse farm. His grandmother had many Amish women working her garden so Jonathan would often drive them home after mowing her lawn. He laughs, 'Sometimes I was an Amish chauffeur!' Jonathan who is Mennonite never opened up about his sexuality in high school. It wasn't until he got to New York that he came out. Recently he tells Robin he returned home for his high school musical where many of the students were out and proud. 'They were out living their lives and I thought, 'wow this is so grea

Let's Do Lunch! visits Novecento in New York's Soho for a traditional Argentinian tasting prepared by Chef Oscar Santana. Celebrating 33 years in the business, Oscar came from Mexico with his wife to pursue his dreams, working his way from washing dishes oddly enough right across the street at Felix, to becoming chef at Novecento. Santanta offered a meat eaters feast starting with pan fried crispy sweet breads that melt in your mouth, served with green beans, mushroom, corn and yuca fries. The appetizer empanadas are enough for a meal. Each flaky serving features a different shape filled with meat, chicken with sweet onions and white wine, spinach and mozarella cheese and ham and mozarella cheese; gooey and delicious. Another traditional dish served at Novecento is Trio Argentino, a threesome of chorizo, blood sausage and sweet breads accompanied with chimichurri sauce that you want to eat with a spoon. And of course it wouldn't be complete without Entrana, Argentinian skirt steak with creamy mashed potatoe

John Schneider is doing double duty on the nighttime soap scene with Tyler Perry's The Haves And The Have Nots and Mistresses. In the former John stars as Jim Cryer, king of the haves, sowing his married oats and gluttonously taking whatever he can have. It's Tuesday night's guilty pleasure on OWN. John joins host Robin Milling from Baton Rouge, Louisiana which serves as the home of his production company, John Schneider's Fairlight Films named for himself of course, and his regal standard poodle. It is also close proximity to Atlanta where the show shoots and Savannah, where his daughter attends college. John tells Robin he can relate to the riches his character possesses having once owned a jet for the convenience of shuttling himself from Thousand Oaks, California to Vancouver during Smallville so he could be home with his kids in time for sports Saturday. The similarities end there as John is a much happier person but says he's having a hell of a time portraying him. The season finale airs tonight but w

Milling About visits Hotel Zero 1 in Montreal, Canada. Senior Marketing Manager Michele Cantin tells host Robin Milling it's an ideal location just steps away from Chinatown and the cultural district Quarter des Spectacles, ripe with art, music and food festivals. For sightseers the Old City and the Old Port are a short walk away. This chic boutique-style property was once home to students attending nearby University of Quebec. The walls are concrete so the renovation focused on the 163 rooms which are stylized for comfort with just enough room for the essentials. The minimalist European aspect might not appeal to Americans looking for lots of space but you soon trade that for efficiency and charm. The beds are the centerpiece with 250 thread count sheets and microfiber duvet and pillows. The cupboards contain kitchenettes with hideaway appliances such as a mini refrigerator and coffeemaker. Cantin is no stranger to the hospitality business having worked at a spa, but jumped at the chance to launch the openin