There's a lot of excitement in the studio tonight. Even though the evening is bittersweet, there is this energy of the bigger and better things to come, and Potenza is the man with a plan. The final episode of the "Late Night With Johnny P" show is filming tonight, and the place is packed.
Cue Elvis one last time, and Potenza strolls out for his final monologue of the series. His audience is a melting pot of friends and family; he gives them all a shout-out by name, and he's grateful to them all for their years of support. The show has filmed every month for the last ten years straight with Potenza here at the CTV Studios on Cable Way with only a short break in both the summer and the winter, but it's time for Potenza to recharge, regroup, and come back bigger and better later this year. Everyone needs a rest, and Potenza has earned one. But you know he's not going anywhere. The Staten Island Advance recently published an article written by Inside Out columnist and Features reporter Carol Ann Benanti; here she interviews Potenza about his show and upcoming plans, so be sure to click the button at the end of this post for more information!
The first on tonight's to-do list is to present a free gift certificate worth $5,000 to one of his audience members, courtesy of Sean McCusker of Affordable Concrete. Potenza can't find the envelope with the winning name. He has the rubber band, but not the envelope; luckily, he knows whose name is in it. And the winner is… former Late Night guest Karen Goeller! Congratulations, Karen!
The show takes a bit of a serious turn as Potenza dedicates the show to all of the people who have been affected by cancer - perhaps themselves or a family member or friend. At this time, he asks us all to bow our heads and say the "Our Father". It's a very emotional moment for everyone in the studio.
After the prayer, Potenza announces the guests for tonight; we have Comedian Rich Carucci, a special appearance by Friendship Lights creator Jack Giambanco, legendary daredevil Ron Starr, his special guest reality star Vinny Parco, and musical guests, rock and roll band Black Water Rising. 
Potenza has something really cool to show us - a five minute clip of some of the actors and personalities he's had on the show who sent him videos to wish him well; people like Christian Taylor and Wally Kurth, Angelo Venuto, Apache Ramos, Artie Pasquale, Fred Rubino, Gaetano Iacono, Joe Causi, Lou Martini, Jr., Paul Borghese, Sean Kanan, Gemini the Comedian, Freedom Williams, Stephen Buda, Jose Hernandez, and Marc Montague. It was a nice outpouring of love from past and future guests.
Before Potenza gets to the first guest, he wants to thank the people behind the scenes who help make the show possible; Potenza may play butcher, baker, and candlestick maker around here, but he's not an octopus. He wants to thank the crew that stuck around to work with him - they know what Potenza wants and how he wants it, and these crew members have stayed with the show for a very long time time.
Can you say "Too big for her britches"?
Among the many talented, loyal crew members who are largely in attendance tonight, Potenza thanks Frankie D'Augusta (sound), Sal Marino (camera), Christine Schiavone (camera), Marla Weinstein (public relations), Charlie Olson (camera), David Marcus (editing, directing), Bernadette Means (camera) Kenny Graham (director, studio engineer), Cathleen Gillingham (photographer, blogger, and yours truly) Jo Cavallo (stand-in photographer and Potenza's head shots), Mary Rizzo (audience reservations), Eileen Hanlon, who was filming a behind-the-scenes documentary tonight, and our great new intern, Brandon Rose, who we hope comes along with us for the next series. Potenza also pays tribute to a couple of crew members who passed away over the last few years: Frank Dudley, a former floor director, and Lewis "Screwy Louie" Sarofky, who was the sound guy at one time. Rest in peace, gentlemen.
Potenza goes on to thank SICTV; he loves it, it's his second home, without Staten Island Community Television, there would be no "Johnny P" show. I will add to that that it has been an absolute pleasure and a fun learning experience working on the set with these folks the past two years, and looking forward to the next incarnation of Potenza's show.
It's time for the guests, and Potenza calls Jack Giambanco, the creator of Friendship Lights. Giambanco makes his special appearance with members of his Dream Team, singer/actress Domini Monroe, who is also a past guest, and actress Murielle Augustin. Giambanco has a special gift for Potenza and all of tonight's audience members; he created a special edition light to commemorate the last episode of the show. Augustin brings the lights to Potenza, and before they are handed out, he picks one for his mom and one for his 'old lady'. Giambanco asks that we all pull our tabs so we can all light up at the same time; tonight we are making a special wish for anyone with cancer or affected by it. On the count of three, we all pull our tabs and make a wish. Potenza is genuinely touched by this, and really loves and appreciates it.
Before his next guest comes out, Potenza gives a shout out to past Late Show guest Jeff "Fat Rat Bastard" Pirrami, for inviting Potenza to an event where he got to meet a bunch of celebrities, including Tony Danza; he even escorted Burt Young of the Rocky franchise to his limo after the event. Pirrami had been on the previous show, and he heckled Potenza the entire time. Funny stuff. I loved every second of it. Potenza, not so much. You'll have to watch to hear the story.
'Why does it say 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' across your chest?"
Comedian Rich Carucci is the next guest; he says it's good to be here, and by the way "P" stands for perfect hair. He jokes about celebrating two days of sobriety, tailgating at "Disney on Ice", getting old and his upcoming high school reunion. He tells us about being best man at the wedding of his brother to his eye-candy trophy wife, feeling broke in a stripper bar, being late for work because of car trouble. Carucci is a 911 operator and tells us how much fun that is, jokes about Pizza Tuesday and Tootsie Rolls at Planet Fitness, on being a Jets fan, the death of James Gandolfini with no help from Chef Boy-Ar-Dee, his marriage and divorce, his son's new job, and the tattoos of his ex-wives' names and what they say now. He leaves us all with a bit of good advice about enjoying your life. You can find Carucci on Facebook, and at http://richcaruccicomedy.com/
Potenza rolls a video of a guy doing some pretty impressive motorcycle stunts in places like Englishtown NJ, some tightrope walking while performing archery, and some footage of him practicing speed skating. Ron Star, Potenza's next guest, seems to have taken over show business. He said he started as a kid swinging in trees, started off as a speed skater, and after watching a lot of daredevil Evel Knievel, knew what he wanted to do with his life. During one particular jump, Star made the announcer at Raceway Park curse because he didn't expect Star to light himself on fire just before he hit the gas and jumped over 20 cars. I believe the term used was "Holy SHIT!" but Star didn't say it that way. He totally could have, though.
Daredevil Ron Star
Star and Potenza talked about Joe Franklin amongst other things, and how they met at Gateway Beach while Potenza was performing with his band NYB many years ago. He is very proud of Potenza's accomplishments and how he turned his past show "Gangsters of Rock" into the "Late Night With Johnny P" show. Potenza originally got involved with the CTV studios so he could promote his band NYB, and Star has a lot of really great things to say about Potenza, how far he's come with the show over the years, and how comfortable he's gotten with doing the show without a co-host at Star's suggestion. He was confident that Potenza could handle it on his own, and of course he does just fine and will just keep doing better as time goes on.
Reality TV Star Vinny Parco is Potenza's next guest; Parco was also a guest on the Joe Franklin show. Parco is an actor who gets a lot of work playing detectives; he's been called upon to speak on TV shows about his expertise in investigation. In the near future, they will be doing live cases on a new YouTube series. They have been getting a lot of child custody cases; the city hires them as mediators for people who don't want to go to the courtroom, but just want to get the custody proceedings done. Instead of going to court, they agree to be on the TV show and settle it in front of the cameras.
Vinny Parco
Parco has been in the detective business for 37 years; Potenza calls him "The Italian Kojak". Parco likes what he does, and he loves the business. He's working on a new book called Rogue PI which is about cases that were in the newspapers and on TV. Parco likens himself to a shark who never stops swimming. You can find Parco on Facebook at www.facebook.com/VinnyParcoPI/.
Shout-out to Joseph Bennett of Talent Raters Magazine who is in the audience tonight. Bennett's magazine features interviews with actors, singers, and musicians. There is an article in the current issue about Potenza. You'll be hearing a lot more about Bennett, Potenza, and Talent Raters in the future!
The last musical act to appear on 'The Late Night With Johnny P' show (remember this for a future Jeopardy! question) is the rock band Black Water Rising. They have a new album coming out, and they also write all of their own music. Potenza rolls a video for the first single on the new album. The song is called "Payback", which is very dark and intense and matches the mood of the song perfectly. It was directed by Noah Shulman, and stars Jose Hernandez, Jr. of the hit HBO series OZ.
The last time they were on Potenza's show was in May 2010, and they talk about how the band stays together after all this time; there has to be a chemistry with a band, and if there isn't one, it won’t last. The length of time they've been together is a testament to how well they all work with each other.
Look for Black Water Rising on tour this year; you can find them on all the usual social media outlets, and at their website, http://www.blackwaterrising.com/
Potenza sits in on drums with Black Water Rising
So, it's that time. The time where the interviews are done, and you can hear some Dean Martin music in the background. Johnny P says his goodbyes to a decade of late night madness and a lot of fun and reminds us that he's just taking a little break and not going anywhere. He thanks everybody, and signs off thanking last, but not least Paulie from Nucci's Restaurant South for supplying the catering to the show for free every month for the last nine years. Paulie is a gentleman who gives back, and Potenza really appreciates everything he does and considers him part of the family. Nucci's makes a terrific Eggplant Rollatini, by the way! Thanks again, Paulie!
The Late Night With Johnny P show may be over, but I can promise you there is way more planned for the future. Take Care, and Stay Tuned!
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CategoriesLate Night With Johnny PThere's a lot of excitement in the studio tonight. Even though the evening is bittersweet, there is this energy of the bigger and better things to come, and Potenza is the man with a plan. The final episode of the "Late Night With Johnny P" show is filming tonight, and the place is packed. |
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