Phyllis Diller is one of a kind. Breaking out in a comedy career at a time when many women were not prominent in the business, Phyllis pretended to smoke from a long cigarette holder, talked about her husband Fang and burst out with that infectious laugh.
Many may not know she studied in Chicago at the Sherwood Music Conservatory. She appeared in the musical Hello, Dolly! following that with cartoons such as Family Guy and A Bug’s Life. She graced our television sets for decades from The Jack Paar Show in ‘50s to now with The Rosie O’Donnell Show who created a loving tribute to Miss Diller recently. After turning down major news outlets for interviews, Nunn on the Run was honored to have a little time with her.
Jerry Nunn: Hello, Ms. Diller. I just saw you on The Rosie Show. Do you have any special memories from past Chicago trips here?
Phyllis Diller: It was so great hearing Jackie & Ray work the Ritz Carlton.
JN: How was visiting Roseanne Barr and appearing on her reality show?
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Jose Villarrubia is a teacher, colorist and illustrator in Baltimore with roots in Madrid, Spain. This openly gay crossover artist has photography that was featured at the Baltimore Museum of Art as well as in Latin America. He has taught at Towson University along with The Baltimore School of Arts. Recently he won the Harvey Award for best colorist for his Cuba: My Revolution graphic novel. We discussed how Jose has taken over the world of imagination when he was in town for the Wizard World Convention.
Jerry Nunn: Hola, Jose. This convention is jammed packed.
Jose Villarrubia: Are you a comic fan?
JN: I am a huge one. I learned how to read by reading comics as a kid.
JV: Wonderful.
JN: Tell me about you. Where are you from?
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Rosie O’Donnell started in stand-up before landing roles on television movies. The Rosie O’Donnell Show won Emmys and launched her into the talk show circuit. She came out of the closet two months before the show ended its run. Rosie then became the moderator on The View she showing her strong opinions and causing some controversy. Since then she has been raising children, blogging and running Rosie Radio on Sirius XM Radio. She now starts a new endeavor on the OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network with The Rosie Show.
Jerry Nunn: Hi, Rosie. We love seeing you pop up around town and I wanted to welcome you personally to Lakeview and Boystown. I expect you to be at Sidetrack for Show Tunes Sundays.
Rosie O’Donnell: Honey, I didn’t even know about this. I’m jotting it down. Sidetrack Show Tunes, what time?
JN: It’s around four o’clock. It’s every Sunday. Sidetrack is the gay bar there with two hundred televisions. They reenact Broadway musicals, for example the crowd throws napkins when it’s the Titanic and everyone sings all the words.
RO: Oh my lord, I am so there. They’d better reserve me a table.
JN: (laughs) I can arrange that for you.
RO: Can you do requests? Do they ever do The Rink?
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British group Graffiti6 are showing their true “Colours” with a tour coming to Chicago, not once but twice. The six are really two with songwriters Jamie Scott and TommyD teaming up to make beautiful music together. Their songs have been featured on Grey’s Anatomy, Covert Affairs, and CSI: NY. Jamie has performed with such artists as Alicia Keys, and Kelly Clarkson.
We found him on the road ready to launch a new tour with a stop in the Windy Wity.
Jerry Nunn: Hey. Jamie. Where are you calling from?
Jamie Scott: I’m calling from the tour bus heading from Alabama to Charlotte.
JN: How’s the south?
JS: It’s cool, man, an interesting place!
JN: You are originally from London and the United States is still new for you, correct?
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Born and raised in Tennessee, Kimberley Locke came to fame after appearing on the American Idol television series in 2003. She finished third behind Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken. She later appeared on season three and seven. She continued her television trend appearing on Celebrity Fit Club for VH1.
She brought her latest EP Four For The Floor to Roscoe’s Tavern and we chatted backstage after the show going back to our roots for the holidays!
Jerry Nunn: Hi, Kimberley. I am so excited about our mutual Tennessee connection. Where were you born?
Kimberley Locke: I was born in Portland, Tennessee. It is just north of Gallatin.
JN: My parents live in Gallatin. That is very country.
KL: I grew up on a farm. I’m a country girl who was feeding chickens and ducks.
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The Real Housewives of Atlanta have been turning up the heat on Bravo for years and now begins the fourth season of the show. Hotlanta got hotter as NeNe Leakes from the show recently landed a spot on The Celebrity Apprentice 4 stirring up some trouble for Trump and the gang. This Georgia peach ultimately walked off the show without raising money for her cause but her appearance sparked controversy and entertainment. Nunn called NeNe in ATL at dinnertime to find out the roots of the single wife and how it all began.
Jerry Nunn: Hi, NeNe. How’s Georgia?
NeNe Leakes: Well, I am at a restaurant so I can’t be too loud.
JN: Did you just do a show in New York?
NL: Yes, I was doing a play at the Beacon Theatre called Love Him Is Killing Me.
JN: How did that go?
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Victoria “Tori” Spelling and husband Dean McDermott have been working the reality show circuit for years now. Although the series on the Oxygen Network was titled Tori & Dean: Inn Love for the first two seasons centering around a bed & breakfast, the third season was renamed Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood with a move to California and has remained with that title even today. Now in its sixth season the show shakes it up by opening a new furniture business called InvenTORI.
Growing up the daughter of Candy and Aaron Spelling has kept Tori in the public eye with television shows such as The Love Boat, Saved by the Bell and Beverly Hills, 90210. She went after a movie career with Trick and House of Yes then found her niche on her own show NoTORIous on VH1.
We caught up to the happy couple just before the debut of their newest endeavor.
Jerry Nunn: Hello, Tori and Dean. I know this is a big day for you both with tons of press the day before the show debuts.
Tori Spelling: A little bit, not that much. We are very particular, just the ones we want to do like you.
JN: That’s good to hear. I’m excited to talk to you because you have been such a great gay supporter.
TS: Oh my gosh, thank you!
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