harryconnickjr

Rikki talks with Scott Newman of the Jingle Jank Podcast for a look back at holiday songs from Boy Bands, Diva's & honorable mentions of the 90s. They may not agree on some songs & some artists, but they had a lot of fun talking Christmas music from this decade.

I don't know if you are born with talent, but it pours through Harry Connick Jr's veins. At age three, he performs for smiles; by age nine, Harry is recording an album and plays the Piano Concerto No. 3 Opus 37 of Beethoven with the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra, and by the end of his teens, he is in New York with his first record deal.

Harry Connick Jr has sold over 16 million albums and has won over audiences with his recorded and live music, acting in moves, television and performing on Broadway. 

In this podcast, Harry shares his life story. The phone call from Rob Reiner, who invited Harry first to play incidental music in the movie When Harry met Sally and ended with Harry singing most of the songs and finding fame. Matthew Modine took him under his wing on a film set to show him what it takes to own the camera and how Harry had to stretch himself doing a television show like Will and Grace.

You will also learn three of Harry Connick Jr's life lessons that you can apply to help you do more and to be more, to get to where you need, want and deserve to go. 

Harry talks about dreaming big and then animating that dream, so you never lose sight of your destination or your faith that you will be living it one day. Harry talks about the importance of dreaming and doing, the hours he invests in preparation and practice so that he can break down the door when opportunity knocks. Finally, Harry Connick Jr opens up about how he dealt with COVID and the darkness he felt when his stage lights turned off and the microphones to go quiet.  

That period of isolation, and the grief he felt from 14 people he knew dying from COVID, led Harry Connick Jr to a renewed faith in his religion, in himself, and performing and creating a new album, 'Alone with My Faith'. It was therapy for himself and what he hopes is a gift for all who are struggling with the realities of today. As I did, I encourage you to listen to the album with headphones on and the room dark.

This episode is all about the best singers at Christmas time. Chances are you’ve danced to a tune from a crooner like Bing Crosby, Dean Martin or Ella Fitzgerald, or newer singers like Michael Buble and Il Divo. Rikki chats with JJ from Christmas Music News (@NewXmasMusic on Twitter).

Don't forget you can find us on Twitter: @BellsSleigh

Instagram: @bellssleighchristmas

Facebook: Sleigh Bells and Mistletoe Podcast

Piano tuners interact with a broad swath of people, including performing celebrities, stage crew, academics, and everyday families with kids taking lessons. They interact with people on stage, backstage, in their workplaces, and in their homes. Billy Sadler has been an Independent Piano Tuner & Technician since 1971. He shares some of his experiences with celebrities including Prince, Leon Fleisher, Harry Connick Jr., and Chris Thile.

Happy Independence Day 2018, everybody! We're taking the week off for the holiday, so we decided to re-air one of our favorite episodes that originally dropped July 4, 2017. We hope you have good time re-listening to it, and we'll be back in your ears next week with a brand-new episode. 

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ORIGINAL SHOW NOTES:

If world events are making you feel less than celebratory, you can always take solace in the fact that there aren't currently any giant spaceships filled with genocidal aliens hovering over the world's major cities like in Roland Emmerich's 1996 megablockbuster, "Independence Day.”

Be warned that although "Independence Day" contains a large ensemble cast of mostly A-List actors, the unoriginal script and horrid directing produced some of the worst performances of their careers.

Jeff Goldblum plays David Levinson, a lowly, unambitious MIT-educated math genius, chess Grandmaster and cable television executive who can read binary and easily destroy an armada of alien ships with his 1995 Apple PowerBook 5300.

Will Smith plays Captain Steven Hiller, a gung-ho Marine who's in love with a stripper with a heart of gold and is capable of coldcocking an armor-clad alien with one punch. He can also inexplicably pilot any kind of vehicle, be it a helicopter or alien ship.

Bill Pullman plays President Thomas J. Whitmore, a former Desert Storm fighter pilot turned politician. Pullman’s Dirty Harryesque acting delivered the most hackneyed oration in the history of film, until it was overtaken by the 2009 release of James Cameron’s "Avatar."

Randy Quaid plays Russell Casse, a drunken Vietnam vet and father of three who reforms his ways just in time to sacrifice himself and save the world. The makers of this movie seem to believe that criminally irresponsible alcoholic parents are the height of comedy.

Judd Hirsch plays Julius Levinson, David’s Yiddish-accented father who serves as a chauffeur and hype man to his son throughout the film.

Brent Spiner plays Dr. Brackish Okun, an eccentric Area 51 scientist character. In reality, Spiner is just a pawn to get weirdo Trekkies like Jim to like the movie.

Gravelly-voiced Robert Loggia plays General William Grey, a tough old Marine who serves as the President's trusted military advisor throughout the film.

Famous crooner-turned-actor-turned-daytime talkshow host, Harry Connick Jr., plays Lieutenant Jimmy Wilder, a pilot in Will Smith's squadron who is fond of doing Jesse Jackson impressions and calling Will Smith "Big Daddy."

Harvey Fierstein has a brief cameo as Marty Gilbert, a co-worker of Jeff Goldblum who feels compelled to call his mother after learning of the alien arrival. Upon learning of the aliens' hostile intentions, he also decides to warn his brother and bookie, but decides to spitefully forego warning his lawyer.

Join us as we discuss our favorite Reddit news source, DonkeySemen69, and learn about Keating's love for watching horses get punched in the face.

Tell us what you think by chatting with us (@filmsnuff) on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, or by shooting us an email over at mailbag@filmsnuff.com.

Visit our website at https://www.filmsnuff.com.

Happy Independence Day, everybody! If world events are making you feel less than celebratory, you can always take solace in the fact that there aren't currently any giant spaceships filled with genocidal aliens hovering over the world's major cities like in Roland Emmerich's 1996 megablockbuster, "Independence Day.”

Be warned that although "Independence Day" contains a large ensemble cast of mostly A-List actors, the unoriginal script and horrid directing produced some of the worst performances of their careers.

Jeff Goldblum plays David Levinson, a lowly, unambitious MIT-educated math genius, chess Grandmaster and cable television executive who can read binary and easily destroy an armada of alien ships with his 1995 Apple PowerBook 5300.

Will Smith plays Captain Steven Hiller, a gung-ho Marine who's in love with a stripper with a heart of gold and is capable of coldcocking an armor-clad alien with one punch. He can also inexplicably pilot any kind of vehicle, be it a helicopter or alien ship.

Bill Pullman plays President Thomas J. Whitmore, a former Desert Storm fighter pilot turned politician. Pullman’s Dirty Harryesque acting delivered the most hackneyed oration in the history of film, until it was overtaken by the 2009 release of James Cameron’s "Avatar."

Randy Quaid plays Russell Casse, a drunken Vietnam vet and father of three who reforms his ways just in time to sacrifice himself and save the world. The makers of this movie seem to believe that criminally irresponsible alcoholic parents are the height of comedy.

Judd Hirsch plays Julius Levinson, David’s Yiddish-accented father who serves as a chauffeur and hype man to his son throughout the film.

Brent Spiner plays Dr. Brackish Okun, an eccentric Area 51 scientist character. In reality, Spiner is just a pawn to get weirdo Trekkies like Jim to like the movie.

Gravelly-voiced Robert Loggia plays General William Grey, a tough old Marine who serves as the President's trusted military advisor throughout the film.

Famous crooner-turned-actor-turned-daytime talkshow host, Harry Connick Jr., plays Lieutenant Jimmy Wilder, a pilot in Will Smith's squadron who is fond of doing Jesse Jackson impressions and calling Will Smith "Big Daddy."

Harvey Fierstein has a brief cameo as Marty Gilbert, a co-worker of Jeff Goldblum who feels compelled to call his mother after learning of the alien arrival. Upon learning of the aliens' hostile intentions, he also decides to warn his brother and bookie, but decides to spitefully forego warning his lawyer.

Join us as we discuss our favorite Reddit news source, DonkeySemen69, and learn about Keating's love for watching horses get punched in the face.

Tell us what you think by chatting with us (@filmsnuff) on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, or by shooting us an email over at mailbag@filmsnuff.com.

This episode is sponsored by the USA SAFETY Act (Uniting and Strengthening America by Stubbornly Affirming Freedom by Eliminating Terrorist Yearnings Act of 2017).

Visit our website at https://www.filmsnuff.com.