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Assorted ramblings from the world of entertainment:
l Most performers have publicists or "people" who call reporters and schedule their interviews at a specific time.
Marc Price just cold calls.
Price is better known to a generation of television viewers as Skippy, the lovestruck neighbor of the Keatons on the 1980s sitcom "Family Ties." But Price also is the son of comedian Al Bernie, a contemporary of guys like Milton Berle and George Burns, and he went into the family business -- standup comedy -- which is how he makes his living these days.
We talked last year when he performed at the now-closed Bourbon House 45 the same night Jay Leno was up the road at Packard Music Hall, and he called this week to plug a return visit to the area with two shows at 8 and 10 p.m. Saturday at the Magic Tree Eatery & Pub in Boardman (tickets are $20).
Price, who just celebrated his 50th birthday, doesn't have the notoriety these days that comes with a hit television show, but he's enjoying life. One of the smartest things he did when the TV money was rolling in steadily was buy a piece of property in Southern California's Laurel Canyon.
"I never got around to building the dream house, I didn't get that in," Price said, but he has an RV tucked away there when he isn't on the road. "I love where I live."
He's also in love, seeing Angela Jones, probably best known for her role in "Pulp Fiction" (she's the cab driver who picks up Bruce Willis after he double crosses Marsellus Wallace and doesn't throw his boxing match).
"It's the first time I've felt this way," he said. "Maybe I felt this way before, but I was always too scared to take it to the next level. I just wanted to make sure. It took longer than I thought it was going to take, but it was worth the wait."
The TV gig remains his calling card and "Skippy from 'Family Ties'" usually can be found on the advertising wherever Price performs, but it's not a big part of his live act.
"I would do Mallory jokes for days if they worked," he said. "The audience that goes to comedy venues don't really know the show. A lot come to the show because they know me as Skippy, but they're there for a comedy show and I have one to deliver."
Price said his act runs the gamut from jokes in the style of the old-school comedians he grew up around as well as more contemporary bits. He even can get a little political, which isn't easy in the Trump era.
"It changed the day after the election, I felt it," he said. "The same jokes that worked before the election didn't work any more. (Trump supporters) were not having any more. They don't want to hear mean jokes about their guy, they want it to go the other way.
"I'll admit it. I try to give people what they want. On the other hand, I'm a liberal. I can't hide who I am. I tell jokes Trump people can enjoy, then I'll call them out on it."
l CityMusic Cleveland Chamber Orchestra has an interesting series of concerts planned next week that should appeal beyond classical music fans.
"What's on David Bowie's Playlist" will have the orchestra led by conductor Avner Dorman performing works by composers Bowie admired and was influenced by (John Adams' "Short Ride in a Fast Machine," Philip Glass' Heroes Symphony, Richard Strauss' "Im Abendroth") as well as orchestral arrangements of some of Bowie's songs -- "Sunday," "Time," "Ziggy Stardust," "Moonage Daydream" and "Lazarus." Performing with the orchestra will be Richard Kline, lead singer of the Bowie tribute act Diamond Dogs.
Performances are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Jerome Church in Collinwood, 7:30 p.m. March 16 at Westlake City Schools Performing Arts Center in Westlake, 7:30 p.m. at Lakewood Congregational Church in Lakewood, 8 p.m. March 18 at Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus in Slavic Village and 4 p.m. March 19 at Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple in Beachwood. Admission is free.
l If you're in Cleveland for the concerts, keep an eye out for celebrities. Shooting around the city this month is "White Boy Rick," which features Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Bruce Dern, Piper Laurie, Rory Cochrane and Bel Powley.
It stars newcomer Richie Merritt in a film based on the true story of Richard Wershe Jr., who became the FBI's youngest-ever informant at age 14 in Detroit in the 1980s and a major crack dealer who was arrested at age 17.
Andy Gray is the entertainment writer for the Tribune Chronicle. Write to him at agray@tribtoday.com