After a long delay, The Baker's Dozen has returned! This time we've decided to interview a triple threat: This guy has been on TV, Radio, and the big screen! It's Riki Rachtman - former MTV VJ and co-host of radio's "Love Line." Riki is cool as all hell and when we needed a Baker's Dozen fast, he answered them in a day. So sit back and start learning more than you ever thought you'd need to know about Riki Rachtman!
1) You have worked a lot in radio, and television, you've even been in some movies. Tvadviceguy.com is a TV related website, so most of our questions will be TV related. But, what do you like better - Radio or TV?
TV is so much easier. Its just me for better or worse. I have always been a
big shut up and shoot guy.. Radio is much harder especially talk radio. You
have to come up with something that is interesting and will compell people
to call in .The radio I do now "Racing Rocks with Riki Rachtman" takes a lot
of research and about 3 full days of writing.
2) You hosted "Headbangers Ball" on MTV from 1990-1995. What is your
favorite moment from that job?
Its hard to pick one. I liked meeting ACDC because I was a fan and they were
so cool. Alice in Chains at the waterpark stands out. playing football at
Dallas stadium with Pantera was great..Skydiving with Megadeth.. Jeez I dont
know. Several bands were great to hang with like the above mentioned and
Anthrax, Queensryche etc etc
Riki in his hairday, er, I mean hayday as host of MTV's "Headbanger's Ball."
3) You hosted "Love Line" with Dr. Drew before Adam Carolla. Soon the three
of you hosted together, then you quit. How pissed were you when "Love Line"
became nationally syndicated, became a TV show, and has made Adam Carolla
tons of cash?
Truth be known I flat out turned down the tv show because I didnt think it
would work. I hosted radio with Drew and Adam and Drew did the tv pilot.
They thought it would be a good idea to have Adam spend more time with Drew
so the 3 of us hosted Loveline for a while then I quit to start my own radio
show. Am I pissed or jealous about Adam. Not at all. He is talented and the
guy has always been cool to me
44) Have you ever considered moving on from being a TV "personality" and
becoming an "actor?""
Sure Ive had a few acting roles but mostly playing a prick dj. Small stuff I
would love to get the chance but I aint goin out on auditions. I hate them
they are filled with actors.
5) How much TV did you watch as a child?
A lot more than I do now I know I loved Little Rascals. No I wasnt around in
the 50's they used to air it in the late 70's. Partridge Family was a fave
6) There's talk of a major motion picture being made about your life. Tell
us what you can about that, and who would you like to see cast as Riki
Rachtman?6) There's talk of a major motion picture being made about your life. Tell
us what you can about that, and who would you like to see cast as Riki
Rachtman?
Let me tell you the whole thing is very surreal.I didnt pitch it I was
approached I think people will be surprised. Not because of the
accomplisments but because of some of the failures. Things got really low
for a while. I have yet to read the first draft of the script but should in
a few days. I have more details on my website plug plug
www.cathousehollywood.com. Yeah Ive heard the jokes about who should play
me. how about that kid that played Corky from facts of life. Maybe Ludacris
7) What shows are on your Tivo season pass?
Dont have Tivo but it would probaby copy anything Nascar, Nip Tuck, and when
hockey season starts LA Kings games..National geographic has some great
shows too
8) Let's play the T.A.G. "Either/Or" game. Which do you prefer?
MTV or VH1?
VH1.
60 Minutes or 20/20?:
60 minutes..or 20/20 maybe some dateline or wrestling
Cops or America's Most Wanted? :
Cops
Golden Girls or Empty Nest?:
never seen them but I do have an idea of a
show about LA Women called Empty Girls
Conan O'Brien or Jimmy Kimmel?:
Jimmy.
The Misfits or Faster Pussycat?:
Both different both good dont have to
choose
9) You can be seen constantly on those VH1 and MTV specials like "When the
80's Ruled the World" or "100 Metal Moments" etc. Do you ever get sick of
talking about the same thing over & over?
Hey at least someones listening. I wish I could talk about something else
but its a good time either way. I read on a message board ( bad idea) that I
would appear on anything...Not the truth I have turned down things but I
really like doing that stuff. Its what I do.I was a rock tv guy for fun and
for a living.
10) You're a big-time NASCAR fan, have you done any work for Speed TV?
Speed TV is scared of me. I dont understand it. They want the rock nroll
demos for NASCAR and I own that group. I did just film Nascars 25 Greatest
Finishes for CMT...ya CMT
11) In 1996 you did a guest spot on the Mario Lopez cop show "Pacific Blue."
Was that your rock bottom?
You do your research.Im impressed Rock Bottom? That was cool I had a guest
starring role on a tv show as an actor. I never got to do that. OK maybe it
wasnt NYPD Blue or Deadwood. but noone else gave me a spot
Riki lights a cigar to celebrate his role on "Pacific Blue."
12) If you could be adopted by any TV family (past or present), who would it be?
Shirley Jones was the best tv mom. The Munsters had the best cars.I had a
crush on Melissa Sue Anderson from LIttle house on the prarie so it would be
kinda weird if she was my sister but then again Im sure that stuff happened
out in the sticks. One Day at a time same thing with Valerie Bertinelli.
13) Im going to list some names, you jot down some thoughts about them.
Dr. Drew = Very hard working...No very very hard worker
Ren้e Zellweger = Did that one movie with her before she hit big and she was really cool. Then she blew up and I saw her at Swingers coffee shop and she was just the same
Allan Arkush = Hey he let me play Eddie Cochran in a movie so thats good by me
Axl Rose = I owe him a lot. He has always been very supportive to his
friends. I have not heard from him in over a decade. I dont know his state
now but I wish these kids could have seen Guns n Roses live
Pauly Shore = Ya know it always pissed me off when someone would say shit
about me in an interview. So I wont piss Pauly off this time
Adam Carolla = He is a smart guy and I am happy to see him succeed
Kerri Kasem = I have never seen her in a bad mood. Very up beat .However
she broke a major radio rule..One her dad Casey should have told her. When
you hear a girl on the radio you think shes hot but then see her in person
and.....YIKES..its Sasquatch......Kerri sounds hot on the radio but when you
see her shes even better
Penelope Spheeris = Hey she made the Decline of Western Civilization a great
look at Punk in the early 80's late 70's....Loved that movie.. When she made
the Decline 2 the Metal Years she showed us how pathetic some of us were. She
also showed how electric and exciting some of those times were. Some of the
masters like Mustaine, Lemmy, Alice Cooper looked cool as hell...It also
helped spread the word of the Cathouse
Big thanks to Riki for taking the time to answer these ridiculous questions. Keep an eye out for that movie, keep an ear out for his radio gigs, and click your mouse to www.cathousehollywood.com to keep up with all things Rachtman!
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