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Mo Rocca
Mo Rocca 180: Only half as tedious as the regular news

Mo Rocca has appeared on a bunch of shows, including 'The Daily Show,' 'I Love the 80s,'... read more

Becoming Michelle Obama!

Posted Jul 2nd 2008 11:00PM by Mo Rocca

Talk about an historic election: both women running for First Lady are knockouts. Whichever woman prevails, millions will emulate her look.

But how easy is it to look like the next First Lady? Let's start with Michelle Obama. For some helpful hints, watch...

The Singing Bee - It's Back!!

Posted Jul 1st 2008 7:00PM by Mo Rocca
Filed under: Mo's Videos, Mo Rocca, Joey Fatone, Singing Bee, Eddie Cantor, Puccini

The Singing Bee was the best reality show of last summer. So where is it this summer?!

Not to fear, we've taken it to the street!


Please Don't Sneeze In My Jamba Juice!

Posted Jun 30th 2008 12:30PM by Mo Rocca

This is NOT an anti-Jamba Juice post. In fact I drink a Jamba Juice after every workout. But I need to share this experience, if only to find out if I should be concerned.

Well, should I?

Watch Me Skate!

Posted Jun 28th 2008 12:00PM by Mo Rocca
Filed under: Mo's Videos, Mo Rocca, Xanadu

Actually this really isn't about me. This is my interview with the Funniest Girl on Broadway. Kerry Butler is the star of Xanadu on Broadway and she is a riot. You must see this show before she leaves the cast. (If you can't see it with her, see it anyway. It's non-stop laughs. And it's 95 minutes and intermission-less, like most Broadway shows should be.)

Kerry is rare. She's hilarious without ever mugging. She's not outrageous in the least. In fact she sings beautifully. And she manages to be believable in the Olivia Newton-John muse-on-skates role. Don't ask how. Just go see the show if you can.

Lucky Smoker Speaks Out!

Posted Jun 27th 2008 3:00PM by Mo Rocca

UPDATE: This story below, about a mysterious lucky smoker, was published under the title "Smoker's Luck" two days ago. Now, in a stunning development, the lucky smoker has posted a comment (#36 in the comments section).

***

Smoking is dirty. Smoking is disgusting. Smoking kills. Right?

I certainly didn't need convincing. Last month I shot an episode of Law and Order: Criminal Intent. I was playing TK Richmond, an extortionist gossip columnist who gets blown up in his car. Peter Blauner's script for the episode was first-rate, so I was thrilled.

Except that I needed to smoke. As readers of this blog know I've never smoked pot. In part this is because the one time I smoked a cigarette I nearly fell to my death.

I was a 16 year old summer acting student at the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem. The students would cluster on top of these giant stone blocks in the courtyard and smoke. When I finally scaled one of the blocks and took my first drag of my first cigarette the buzz was overwhelming. My head began spinning, and it was all I could do to grab hold of one of the other black-clad brooding would-be Hamlets.

It was clear: smoke was not welcome in my lungs.

But with my stint on CI, I was faced with a choice: my art or my health. DeNiro famously gained 320 pounds for Raging Bull. And TK was my LaMotta. So I chose art. And boy did I suffer for it.

The office scene was the second to last I was to shoot. I was at my typewriter, on the phone pressing one of the subjects of my column to make a pay-off. I didn't have to type -- just talk on the phone while I was smoking. (Not a tall order. Burt Lancaster in Sweet Smell of Success managed to type, smoke and talk on the phone simultaneously.)

But I was committed to beginning my line on a smoky exhale -- and we were using filterless Camels. And so I began puffing, then inhaling deeply. Even typing this now nauseates me -- and for good reason. After 11 Camels, I stood up, moved into the kitchen set for my final scene ... and began violently heaving. If only there'd been a vomiting scene in the script, I would have come away with an Emmy. (Even as I was hurling into a trash can, I felt badly for the crew. I knew they wanted to bust out laughing and I understood why. I'm a really loud vomiter. But they were total pros.)

The Method approach hadn't worked. Languishing over the trash can, the ghost of Olivier came to me: "Try acting ... it's much easier." I wiped the upchucked grits from the corners of my mouth and returned to set, resolved never again to smoke.

But that was before I met Adrian Moreira.



TO BE CONTINUED! (I have to eat my oatmeal, then go see my personal trainer, Isaac. It's a back and biceps day. I'll be back with the conclusion later.)

***

AND NOW THE CONCLUSION OF "SMOKER'S LUCK" ...

"There's no point. They just don't fit," I said to Joe, the salesman at De La Sole Footwear in the Castro section of San Francisco.

I'd spent the previous day at the World's Ugliest Dog Contest in Petaluma, where the winner Gus, a three-legged, one-eyed Chinese crested, tried to rip my face off. (I'd be in a foul mood, too, if droves of people were pointing at me, cooing "Isn't he uuuuugly?")

Now I was headed to the airport but stopped at De La Sole to pick up a pair of Clae sneakers, the hottest kicks around. When it was clear they didn't have my size, Joe began scrawling their website information. That's when I suddenly realized my flight was taking off in less than 80 minutes.

I sprinted to my Mitsubishi rental. (Ooh, I just realized that spell-check recognizes Mitsubishi but doesn't recognize Obama. They'll have to update that.) And I tore through the streets of San Francisco, en route to SFO. The Avis agent was a blur as I ran for the monorail to take me to my terminal.

It was on the airport train that I saw a mysterious man with striking Nelson Rockefeller frames. We didn't speak. We didn't need to. We knew that we were both headed to New York on American Airlines with e-tickets that needed to be printed more than a half-hour before takeoff ... and our flight was departing in 33 minutes! The tension was unbearable.

As soon as the train doors opened at Terminal 3, we began running. Running hard. It became a competition for that one special seat. (Irrational, since I instinctively knew he was aisle, I a window.) The mysterious man had at least three lengths on me when the American Airlines counter came into view. It looked like I would have to live with the silver medal, when suddenly he stopped. He just crapped out in front of United. I flew past and printed my e-ticket with one minute to spare.

Moments later the man I'd come to know as Adrian stumbled up to the next monitor, defeated -- like Eight Belles, just waiting to get shot.

"Congratulations," he gasped, conceding victory. "You made it. That's what I get for smoking." He hardly needed to swipe his credit card. It was 29 minutes before takeoff. There would be no e-ticket for Adrian. We shook hands, then parted.

I felt so proud, so healthy, like a giant winner. I trotted through security, all smiles, and nestled into my exit row window seat. How blessed was I? The woman next to me was fine-boned and narrow-shouldered, even if she did have a gigantic head. It was like sitting next to a Bratz Doll. Not once did she invade my space.

For a moment I wondered if Adrian would ever make it back to New York. (Flights these days are filled to capacity.) Then I forgot all about him.

***

Then yesterday I was returning from a visit to Dr. Saguaro. I was walking down Fifth Avenue, not a care in the world, when out of the corner of my eye I saw Adrian! He was smoking outside his office building. (It turns out he works at J Records.)

"Hi!" I said, genuinely surprised, before I took it down a few notches. I didn't want to sound so perky, especially after his humiliating episode. I lowered my gaze. "You didn't make the flight ... did you?" I said in my best condolence voice.

"Actually," he said, taking a drag, "I did. Yeah, they put me in a business class seat."

I was stunned.

"Yeah, it was great," he continued. "The [check-in] lady helped me out, gave me an upgrade. There were a bunch of seats up there. You missed out."

It didn't seem fair. It didn't seem right. The man with the reckless health habit had won out over those of us who do what we're supposed to do? What ever happened to justice? What ever happened to karma?

Or had I brought this on myself by being smug?

Or is there such a thing as ... Smoker's Luck?








Choose: Grandmothers or Grandfathers?

Posted Jun 25th 2008 10:30PM by Mo Rocca
Filed under: Mo's Videos, Mo Rocca

I know it's a difficult question to answer. But too bad, life is full of tough choices. Now suck it up and choose: Grandmothers or Grandfathers? (But first, watch the video.)

Michelle Obama Whitey Tape Found!

Posted Jun 24th 2008 11:50AM by Mo Rocca
Filed under: Mo's Videos, Mo Rocca, Michelle Obama, Whitey

The Whiteygate Tape has been found. Now judge for yourself.

Tim Gunn's Guide to Polygamist Style

Posted Jun 24th 2008 11:00AM by Mo Rocca
Filed under: Mo Rocca, Polygamy, Tim Gunn, Yearning For Zion

Ever since federal authorities raided the YFZ (Yearning For Zion) Ranch in Southwest Texas, the country - or at least everyone who watches Larry King Live - has been gripped by the images of polygamist wives in prairie dresses. It's easy to snark at their hopelessly outdated couture. (So '90s ... as in 1890s.)

But only one man can offer constructive advice...

Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!

Posted Jun 23rd 2008 11:30AM by Mo Rocca
Filed under: Mo's Videos, Mo Rocca, Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me

Good morning, everyone. We're glad that so many people appreciated our unearthing of the Michelle Obama Whiteygate Tape last Friday. And we acknowledge the anger many felt at the posting of material that might influence the impression some have of the prospective First Lady.

It was indeed a gut-wrenching decision for the Mo Rocca 180 editorial board. Several members were insistent that we withhold or "filter" the tape. But the majority of us sided with full disclosure. After the last seven years, it remains more important than ever that we in the press not suppress information. Journalists are quick to champion "Freedom of the Press." But with that Freedom comes a responsibility to our Public. We need to trust you to discern what matters. And you can only do that with full disclosure from us.

And now for some me-oriented fun! Yesterday on CBS Sunday Morning I did a piece on Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me! It's a super fun radio quiz show that I've been on six years. My buddy, the hilarious Adam Felber, got me on the show and I can't thank him enough. Enjoy!

(P.S. I'll be posting more written material soon. I know I've been a little video heavy lately.)

My Interview with John Leguizamo

Posted Jun 17th 2008 12:00PM by Mo Rocca
Filed under: Mo's Videos, Mo Rocca

John Leguizamo and I are both half Colombian, so I knew we'd really hit it off. By the way I don't think my Spanish is that bad...

My Interview with Susie Essman

Posted Jun 16th 2008 10:00AM by Mo Rocca
Filed under: Mo's Videos, Mo Rocca

Well I'm back from my vacation! Where in the world was I? Pictures to come. But first...

Susie Essman (Curb Your Enthusiasm) is as funny when she's not cursing as when she is. And as you'll see in this interview, she's a true romantic.

iFido Relaunch

Posted Jun 13th 2008 11:15AM by Mo Rocca

Final day of Mo-less Mo Rocca 180, everyone!

Apple announced that they will soon release a new, cheaper iPhone. Sounds appealing. Then again, iPhones were used in Brooklyn to lure people into being robbed! Not so appealing. Hardly a fair comparison of pros and cons, but it does illustrate that purchasing a smart phone is a tough decision.

Maybe it's easier to just go with an iFido, first launched on Mo Rocca 180 last year.

Obama Smokes, and Maybe That's Good?

Posted Jun 11th 2008 1:41PM by Mo Rocca

Continuing our week of looking into the Mo Rocca 180 vault while Mo is on vacation...

Obama has admitted to smoking a few times in the past months. While we admire anyone trying to get rid of a bad habit, Mo Rocca 180 has been worried for a while about the consequences to a politician's voice should he/she abruptly quit a long smoking habit. Here's a report filed last March that tackled this issue early.

Fakin' It

Posted Jun 10th 2008 9:18AM by Mo Rocca

Continuing re-run week here at Mo Rocca 180 while Mo is out of town...

Here's one of my favorites, "Fake Compliments for an Ugly Baby"



I'd love to continue this series. Mo Rocca 180 has done Fake Laughs and Fake Surprise Party Reaction in addition to this one. Can you suggest any others?

Heat Wave!

Posted Jun 9th 2008 8:32AM by Mo Rocca

Hillary's out! Gas prices soar! Clint Eastwood and Spike Lee spat!

But one thing is dominating the news desk here at Mo Rocca 180 studios more than any other: the heat wave in NYC. It's crazy out here folks. And with that here's a piece that we did during last year's heat wave: Hula-Hoopin'.

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The Singing Bee - It's Back!!
The Singing Bee was the best reality show of last summer. So where is it this summer?!Not to fear,...

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