TV/Radio

Queer Eye’s Tyreek Wanamaker Talks Show and Life

November 17, 2020 Activist, Entertainment, TV/Radio 49:46

Season 5 Episode 4 of Queer Eye in Philadelphia featured Tyreek Wanamaker from Philadelphia. Queer Eye is a fun, inspiring show and the episode with Tyreek may be the most inspirational. Tyreek is our guest on this episode.

Tyreek overcame a variety of obstacles in his life including having a brother doing life in prison and being homeless much of his high school years. These days, Tyreek is active in his community. He is co-founder of the non-profit organization The Block Gives Back, which aims to “promote community involvement and engagement throughout Philadelphia by targeting issues within the community and devising a plan to recruit local volunteers, businesses, organizations and community leaders to help us in working toward a solution.” They do a weekly event called Feed the Block which creates food for those in need.

He also works at The Mighty Writers were he helps kids master the art of communicating effectively through the written word.

We caught up with Tyreek about his experiences on Queer Eye, how is life has changed since the show, the community work that he’s currently involved with, and his future plans, which may include running for a local office.

Tyreek on Instagram

BUTCH CORDORA – Philly LGBTQ Media Star & Poker Shark

June 26, 2020 Authors, Entertainment, TV/Radio, Writers 54:44

Philadelphia LGBTQ media star and poker shark Butch Cordora joins The Philly Blunt for a Live Bluntcast via Facebook Live. Butch created and starred in the cable interview show In Bed with Butch. He produced a line of annual calendars posing naked alongside straight naked guys called Straight & Butch, and he recently released a poker book called “The Gay Guyde To Poker: Use Your Minority as a Weapon.”

Butch came to Philly in 1987 from the Wilkes-Barre area to live as an openly gay man. He broke television ground by being an openly gay television host on his local cable show called In Bed with Butch, where he interviewed members of the gay community in their pajamas in a bed. He even had members of the Village People in his bed. Butch also broke down barriers with his calendar called Straight & Butch where he posed naked with straight naked men.

Butch followed his love of poker becoming a regular poker shark, who runs local poker games at clubs in Philly and New York City and recently published a poker book called A Gay Guyde to Poker.

He’s good dude and lots of fun. We hope you enjoy this interview about Butch’s endeavors and where Philly has come regarding the gay community from when he first arrived on the scene in 1987.

MICHAEL COARD – “Angriest Black Man in America”

June 11, 2020 Activist, Authors, Crime, Politics, TV/Radio 1:08:21

Activist, journalist, defense attorney, and self-proclaimed “Angriest Black Man in America!”, Michael Coard joins us for Bluntcast #16.

We discuss the George Floyd protests here in Philly and around the world.

Michael also gave us his opinion on the Rizzo Statue. He actually wanted the statue to remain in place with a few additions to serve as a constant reminder of the city’s past racial history.

We talked about his views on defunding the police and he offered some advice on what white folks can do to be part of the solution.

LINKS:

Michael Coard: Instagram/Twitter/Facebook

Jerry Blavat: Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, Geator with the Heater, Boss with the Hot Sauce

December 19, 2019 Authors, Entertainment, Music, TV/Radio 1:07:43

Philadelphia is not a city of celebrities. It’s a city of legends. And we were lucky enough to sit down with one of the biggest legends of all. Jerry Blavat grew up in South Philly, and by age 13 he was a star dancer on the original (pre Dick Clark) American Bandstand. A few years later, while still in high school, he was valeting for Don Rickles. His story only gets wilder from there, and features appearances from Sammy Davis Jr., Chuck Berry, and Angelo Bruno. 

In 1960, he started working in radio. With a show still on WXPN, he’ll be starting his 60th year on radio in 2020. While on radio in the 60s, he gave himself the nickname “The Geator with the Heater, the Boss With the Hot Sauce”. The nickname Geator has stuck, and it rings out all over Philadelphia. Older Philadelphians know him from his legendary dance parties, where kids from all over Philadelphia came together to get down. Millenials know him from the parties he puts on at Memories at Margate, where he still keeps the crowd dancing every Friday and Saturday night. 
 
At age 79, the tireless Geator is working as hard as ever. As we were setting up for the interview, he was on the phone, discussing with his business partner what songs Peaches and Herb were going to be singing at his big Disco, Rock n Roll, and Soul show at the Kimmel Center on January 25th. He’s got the weekly show on WXPN. He’s got the summer gig at Memories. He makes appearances at the Thanksgiving Parade each year, as well as at the Mummers Parade. He’s part of an annual Malt Shop Cruise. I asked him if he ever thought about retiring, and he told me that his followers would get too mad at him, so he can’t. Think about that for a second: at age 79, Blavat still has enough diehard fans that he simply can’t retire. 
 
This is a highly entertaining and far ranging interview. He discussed his friendship with Sammy Davis, an INSANE story about Chuck Berry, and how he and Dick Clark started as adversaries but became good friends. What an honor it was for us to sit down with a true Philly legend, and to hear some of the best stories we’ve ever heard on the show. Whether you’re a fan of the Geator, or just a fan of great music, or just like to hear great stories, you’re going to enjoy this one, guaranteed. 
 
LINKS:
Jerry Blavat: www/Facebook/Book
O’neal’s Pub: www/Facebook/Twitter

John Bolaris: Part 1: Storm of the Century, South Beach, and Survival

July 1, 2019 Entertainment, TV/Radio 31:22

John Bolaris was a rock star in Philadelphia from 1990 through the early 2000’s. He wasn’t actually a rock star, but a meteorologist with rock star status. He ran in circles with professional athletes and dated models and playmates, all while being the 3rd highest paid meteorologist in the United States. John is currently a luxury realtor in the Philly and New Jersey markets.

Turmoil and scandals, however, seemed to follow Bolaris at every turn during his time as a meteorologist. His wife informed him that she wanted a divorce on the day he made his debut in Philadelphia. Colleagues in Philly did not welcome John with open arms, in fact, someone threw dog feces on his car.

While at WCAU in Philadelphia, John was regularly disciplined by the station for a variety of behaviors that were said to harm his credibility such as wearing a turtleneck, having bangs, or getting a tattoo on his derriere.

In Part 1 of this two-part interview we discuss how a weather-obsessed child from Long Island, who drew up his own weather forecasts, ended up on television in the Philadelphia market. John discusses how his wife informed him of her desire for a divorce on the day of his Philadelphia debut.

We also cover, in detail, the days leading up for the infamous Philadelphia “Storm of the Century” that never came. John walks us through the decisions and interactions leading up to this alleged storm and claims that the “Storm of the Century” was never his idea or in his forecasts and that he even hit the airwaves on the Sunday night before the alleged storms arrival and said it wasn’t happening.

In Part 2, we get in-depth into the infamous Miami South Beach scandal that found John drugged and scammed out of over $40,000 by the Russian Mob through the use of seductive and attractive women.

John talks about the impact coming forward and pressing charges had on his career, ultimately leading to its end. Bolaris walks us through the darkest days of his life following the end of his meteorology TV career and about his daughter being his saving light.  

We also put John through the Philly Blunt round.

This is Bolaris like you’ve never heard him. 

LINKS:

JOHN BOLARIS: twitter

Bolaris’ Black Label Realty: www

The Post Bar: www/Facebook

John Bolaris: Part 2: Storm of the Century, South Beach, and Survival.

July 1, 2019 Entertainment, TV/Radio 0:40:15

John Bolaris was a rock star in Philadelphia from 1990 through the early 2000’s. He wasn’t actually a rock star, but a meteorologist with rock star status. He ran in circles with professional athletes and dated models and playmates, all while being the 3rd highest paid meteorologist in the United States. John is currently a luxury realtor in the Philly and New Jersey markets.

Turmoil and scandals, however, seemed to follow Bolaris at every turn during his time as a meteorologist. His wife informed him that she wanted a divorce on the day he made his debut in Philadelphia. Colleagues in Philly did not welcome John with open arms, in fact, someone threw dog feces on his car.

While at WCAU in Philadelphia, John was regularly disciplined by the station for a variety of behaviors that were said to harm his credibility such as wearing a turtleneck, having bangs, or getting a tattoo on his derriere.

In Part 1 of this two-part interview we discuss how a weather-obsessed child from Long Island, who drew up his own weather forecasts, ended up on television in the Philadelphia market. John discusses how his wife informed him of her desire for a divorce on the day of his Philadelphia debut.

We also cover, in detail, the days leading up for the infamous Philadelphia “Storm of the Century” that never came. John walks us through the decisions and interactions leading up to this alleged storm and claims that the “Storm of the Century” was never his idea or in his forecasts and that he even hit the airwaves on the Sunday night before the alleged storms arrival and said it wasn’t happening.

In Part 2, we get in-depth into the infamous Miami South Beach scandal that found John drugged and scammed out of over $40,000 by the Russian Mob through the use of seductive and attractive women.

John talks about the impact coming forward and pressing charges had on his career, ultimately leading to its end. Bolaris walks us through the darkest days of his life following the end of his meteorology TV career and about his daughter being his saving light.  

We also put John through the Philly Blunt round.

This is Bolaris like you’ve never heard him. 

LINKS:

JOHN BOLARIS: twitter

Bolaris’ Black Label Realty: www

The Post Bar: www/Facebook

Natalie Egenolf: Struggle, Success, and Sports Radio

October 1, 2018 Entertainment, TV/Radio 00:28:51

Natalie Egenolf is on the Philadelphia radio airwaves on 97.5 The Fanatic and NBC Sports Philadelphia TV every day from 2p.m. – 6p.m. as a co-host/update person on the highly-rated Mike Missanelli show. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Natalie’s inspiring journey is one of persistence and passion. Learning a work-ethic from her single-mother, she worked her way from receptionist to on-air personality in a major media market.

Natalie discusses the difficulties of being a female in a male-dominated world, the part of her body that internet-commenters focus on, and a horrendous date where her date stole a dolphin.

Natalie requested we record this episode at The Standard Tap, a Philly staple for over two decades that some say was the first gastropub in the country.

Links:
Natalie Egenolf: Facebook/Twitter/Instagram
Standard Tap: Facebook/Twitter/Instagram

Filmmaker Tigre Hill Talks Corruption, Controversy and Criticism.

September 22, 2018 Entertainment, TV/Radio 00:35:00

Tigre Hill is an acclaimed documentary filmmaker. Hill catapulted to the national spotlight with his film The Shame of a City, in which he followed the Sam Katz campaign  in attempt to unseat Mayor John Street in Philadelphia’s 2003 election. The race gained national attention when an FBI bug was found in Street’s office. The film revealed corruption and manipulation with the city’s political landscape.

Not afraid of controversy, Hill’s next film, The Barrel of a Gun, tackled the subject of Mumia Abul Jamal and the killing of Officer Daniel Faulkner.

We sat down with Hill at Good Dog Bar to find out how a kid from Wynnefield gets into filmmaking and why he chooses the topics he does. Things got quite interesting throughout this episode as some of our hosts criticized and challenged some of Hill’s creative decision and preferences. Things cooled off once we started talking about following porn stars on twitter and Stanley Kubrick.

Tigre was a good sport about the interview. That shows you how great the Good Dog is, especially their burger, which Tigre had. Good Dog is on 15th Street between Walnut and Locust Sts. Their bar staff is always one of the best in the city. Never turn down an invite to Good Dog. 

Links:
Tigre Hill: Facebook/Twitter
Good Dog Bar: Facebook/Twitter