Vinny Presents

Johnny "Roast Beef" Williams — the wise guy in the hot pink Cadillac from Goodfellas — sat down with Vinny live to tell the whole story: growing up in East Harlem, how Martin Scorsese discovered him at Rao's and named the character after him, the audition, his first day on set, and a lifetime in New York.Johnny talks Scorsese, De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Paul Sorvino, Honeymoon in Vegas, and his book "From 10029 to 90210" — launching January 12.Johnny's website: johnnyroastbeef.comFollow Johnny on Instagram and Facebook (Johnny Roast Beef) for book updates — we'll have him back to talk about the book.Subscribe to Vinny Presents for more Hollywood interviews every week.0:00 Intro — Vinny welcomes viewers, introduces Johnny, joining from the West Coast0:55 Johnny says hello; Rao's in LA and Frank Pellegrino Sr.2:50 Growing up in East Harlem — 2nd Ave and 103rd, Calabrian grandmother, mother the breadwinner, "poor but we didn't know it"5:40 How Rao's began for him — around 1970, friend Bobby bartending, Frank Pellegrino's cousin, his deli (1979), Annie and Vince9:45 How Scorsese found him — Nick Pileggi's "Wiseguy" book (1985–86), casting director Julia Taylor, the audition13:05 The audition joke — reading Tony Darrow's "I gotta get out of town" line: "Is this a Western? Am I getting on a stagecoach?"14:50 The night at Rao's — Angela passes Johnny at the bar to sit with Nick Pileggi and Marty17:50 Callback audition at the World Trade Center — Marty, the reader, "I don't talk to the top of a man's head"20:20 He gets the part — headshot, SAG union, the wardrobe fur coat22:10 First day on set — the pink Cadillac death scene, five hours of makeup, two bullet holes, Page Six the next day, his mother thought he'd been killed24:10 Why he wrote the book — the stories, 80% of the characters now gone, proofing pages for a January launch28:30 Rao's regulars and the old neighborhood; Vinny on South Philly's Palumbo's31:00 Rao's guys cast in Goodfellas (Petey Neck, Mikey Black and others); authenticity vs. Johnny Depp in Donnie Brasco33:00 Hollywood — his agent, bringing bagels to NBC/Paramount, the Playboy Mansion, cooking frittata back at the club, staying grounded, his children36:00 Struggle as a character-builder, his grandmother, the jobs he worked, return to East Harlem for the feast (Aug 2025)39:00 Food as celebration — the Italian wedding with 77 cocktail stations, Chinese New Year42:30 On set with De Niro, Paul Sorvino and Ray Liotta; James Garner and the Rockford Files special44:45 Honeymoon in Vegas — three months on the film, Nicolas Cage, James Caan, Sarah Jessica Parker47:00 Being natural, not "acting"; Sydney Greenstreet as his model49:55 Scorsese's direction in the trailer — "Jimmy Conway killed over 30 people… I want to see that you know that"51:30 The De Niro scene — "don't get excited" as the trigger; Thelma Schoonmaker's editing53:50 Did they know Goodfellas would be huge? First screening, taking his mother to the Ziegfeld screening, the construction-job boss story58:20 Paul Sorvino — opera, "Once Upon a Time in Queens," a coming film with John Travolta and Mira Sorvino1:00:30 Rapid-fire — James Caan directing him on set1:01:50 Joe Pesci — knew him before Goodfellas; the wig story1:03:30 Ray Liotta — quiet like the dinner-table scene, which was largely improvised; Catherine Scorsese1:04:15 Wrap-up — the book (launch January 12), follow Johnny on Instagram/Facebook, a return visit for the book; sign-off at 1:07:15Follow Vinny: @vinnyfromsouthphilly#JohnnyRoastBeef #Goodfellas #VinnyPresents #LiveInterview #MobMovies #MartinScorsese #RobertDeNiro #RayLiotta #JoePesci #Raos

🔴 LIVE with veteran actor Joe Cortese!50 years ago, Joe Cortese starred in The Death Collector (1976) — the movie that gave the world its FIRST look at Joe Pesci AND Frank Vincent. In this interview, Joe tells the wild audition story, how the film won him a three-picture deal with Dino De Laurentiis, and what 50 years of Hollywood has looked like since.He also talks Green Book, his brand-new film Here's Yanni!, AI and the movie business, the Raging Bull origin story, Death of a Salesman on stage, and his next project — a streaming series called The Old Guard.📅 Recorded live Sunday, November 8 at 8:30 PM ET.Subscribe to Vinny Presents and tap notifications bell 🛎️ for more Hollywood interviews every week.Follow Vinny: @vinnyfromsouthphilly#JoeCortese #TheDeathCollector #JoePesci #FrankVincent #GreenBook #AmericanHistoryX #HeresYanni #VinnyPresents #LiveInterview #actor 📅 LIVE was on Sunday, November 8 at 8:30 PM ET . Please subscribe and set notifications on to catch more great Live interviews! Subscribe to Vinny Presents for more Hollywood interviews every week.Follow Vinny: @vinnyfromsouthphilly0:00 Welcome and Introduction0:50 The Death Collector Turns Fifty6:52 The Business Then and Now9:35 Green Book: They Wouldn't Release It15:45 Here's Yanni: How It Started22:35 AI and the Movie Business27:41 Mosquito Bowl: A WWII Movie28:15 Cinema and De Niro30:00 Raging Bull and Death Collector Origins34:45 TV Work and the Psychic37:35 Future Plans and Great Directors39:30 The Bag That Came Back41:50 Death of a Salesman on Stage44:30 You Got to Love It47:30 Sign-Off and Goodbyes49:18 The Old Guard and Farewell#JoeCortese #GreenBook #AmericanHistoryX #HeresYanni #VinnyPresents #LiveInterview #Actor🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5400080421093376

🔴 LIVE with wrestling legend Big Vito!Vito LoGrasso joins Vinny live to talk about his career in wrestling — from his WCW days as Big Vito to his WWE run as Vito in the Full Blooded Italians with Nunzio, and life in and out of the ring.Drop your questions in the live chat — Vito will answer them live!📅 LIVE Thursday, November 5 at 8:30 PM ET — set your reminder so you don't miss it.Subscribe to Vinny Presents for more Hollywood interviews every week.Follow Vinny: @vinnyfromsouthphilly#BigVito #VitoLoGrasso #WCW #WWE #FullBloodedItalians #VinnyPresents #Wrestling #LiveInterview🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5400080421093376

He was doing open mics with Chappelle, Chris Rock, Rogan, and Adam Sandler — then Dice Clay watched his set at Pips Comedy Club with a camcorder, and everything changed.Michael 'Wheels' Parise went from house MC at Pips to Dice's main opening act, from Radio City Music Hall to executive chef and Cannoli Kings founder, from leaving the road for family to an accidental Las Vegas residency — and now hosts the How Not to Bomb podcast.A stand-up for years, a Las Vegas headliner, and the original modern-day Mob Comic.In this episode, Wheels sits down with Vinny from South Philly to tell the whole story: the open-mic circle, the Dice discovery, the Rogan pool game, the catering empire, the Vegas comeback, and his books Put the Pot On and How Not to Bomb.Pro Bio:Michael “Wheels” Parise is a stand-up comedian, chef, entrepreneur, author, and business strategistwhose career spans nearly four decades in entertainment and hospitality. Beginning at Pip’s Comedy Club in Brooklyn in 1987, Parise built his reputation through sharp observational humor, candid storytelling, and a commanding stage presence. A longtime performer alongside Andrew Dice Clay and a regular at the legendary Comedy Store, he has headlined Las Vegas venues including the Rio, Tropicana, and Riviera. His television credits include Showtime’s Dice, and he co-hosted Rollin’ with Dice and Wheels, which reached No. 1 on iTunes in 2014.A 1986 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Parise built a parallel career in restaurants andcatering. His ventures include Los Angeles’ Tangerine, Cannoli Kings, Parise’s New American Bistro in North Carolina, and Parise Coffee & Cannoli Bar in Venice, Florida. His culinary work earnedrecognition from the Great Chefs of Los Angeles, while his Italian-American heritage continues toinspire his recipes, products, and stories. As founder of The Parise Group, he helps business owners strengthen operations, develop leaders,sharpen their brands, and turn ideas into practical strategies. His approach draws on decades offirsthand experience opening businesses, leading teams, serving customers, and performing underpressure. Parise also founded the How Not to Bomb Network, home to Everybody’s Got a Story andStraightened Out with Andrew DiDonato. His books include How Not to Bomb: The Complete Guideto Standup Comedy, Put the Pot On: Italian American Recipes and Stories, and Off the Line: Becomea Restaurant Coach & Consulting Strategist.Based in the Tampa Bay area, Parise continues to perform, produce, write, and build businesseswith the same philosophy that drives his consulting work: “Clarity over chaos.”👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more Hollywood interviews!🔔 Subscribe to Vinny Presents on YouTube📲 Follow Vinny: @vinnyfromsouthphilly🎙️ Follow Wheels: @wheelslive#MichaelWheelsParise #AndrewDiceClay #HowNotToBomb #StandUpComedy #VinnyPresents #DaveChappelle #ChrisRock #joerogan 0:00 Broke Open-Mic Days & the Comedy Club Circle1:15 Welcome: Wheels' Comedy, Cooking & Podcasting1:59 Chef Life: CIA Class of 1986 & 10 Restaurants3:11 Wanting to Be a Comedian Since Age 83:37 Losing His Father at 7 & Finding His Calling5:12 Meeting Dice in 1989 at Pips Comedy Club6:32 Dice Discovers Him: The Camcorder Story7:39 Radio City & Becoming Dice's Main Opening Act9:29 Dice Undisputed & the Comedy Store Days10:07 Dom DeLuise & South Philly Ties10:58 Pool Days, Hustling & the Rogan $25 Joke14:27 Learning From the Greats vs. Today's Comics17:12 The Palm Beach Rescue Set20:09 Food as Love & the Executive Chef Years21:59 Leaving the Road & Starting Cannoli Kings24:47 Recession, Asheville & Moving to Vegas25:33 The Accidental Vegas Comeback & Residency28:18 Podcast History & the How Not to Bomb Network31:02 Rollin' with Dice and Wheels & the Tape Vault33:28 Books: Put the Pot On & How Not to Bomb35:15 Paresi Coffee36:39 Closing: Mentorship, the Show's Name & Goodbye

🔴 LIVE with horror scream queen Sadie Katz!Sadie joins Vinny live to talk about her career in horror — from playing Sally Hillicker in Wrong Turn 6: Last Resort to the Goddess Ishtar in Blood Feast, plus House of Bad, Party Bus to Hell, and her work as a WGA writer, director, and producer.Drop your questions in the live chat — Sadie will answer them live!📅 LIVE Monday, November 9 at 8:45 PM ET — set your reminder so you don't miss it.Subscribe to Vinny Presents for more Hollywood interviews every week.Follow Sadie: @sadiekatzFollow Vinny: @vinnyfromsouthphilly#SadieKatz #WrongTurn6 #Horror #ScreamQueen #VinnyPresents #HorrorMovies #LiveInterview

Gianni Russo returns to Vinny Presents — and this time he goes deep on The Godfather, Frank Sinatra, and Marilyn Monroe, in his own words.The Godfather's Carlo Rizzi talks about:• How The Godfather got made — Coppola, Joe Colombo and the Italian Anti-Defamation League, Paramount, the Robert Evans lobby meeting, the Oscars, and residuals• Marilyn Monroe — meeting her through Frank Costello, washing her hair as a shampoo boy, and what he saw up close• Frank Sinatra — a friendship that started at the Copa, a shared December 12 birthday, and the hospital transistor-radio story• Mob-era New York — Frank Costello, the Copa, and the five families• His early life — polio, five years at Bellevue, and the Salk vaccine experiment• His books — Hollywood Godfather, Mafia Secrets, and a third book on the way0:00 Cold Open: The Robert Evans Meeting0:25 Welcome Back, Gianni Russo1:38 His Claim to Fame: The Godfather2:42 Polio, Bellevue & the Salk Vaccine5:02 Monaco, Prince Albert & Costello's Apartment7:37 Mob-Era New York: Costello, the Copa & the Five Families16:00 How The Godfather Got Made21:30 Marilyn Monroe26:52 Frank Sinatra29:33 His Books: Hollywood Godfather & Mafia Secrets30:54 Closing: Longevity, Health & Goodbye🔔 SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss the next interview:https://www.youtube.com/@VinnyFromSouthPhilly?sub_confirmation=1👉Gianni’s website: https://www.giannirusso.com/holiday-gifts/📲 Follow Vinny:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinny_from_south_philly/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vinnyfromsouthphilly#GianniRusso #TheGodfather #FrankSinatra #MarilynMonroe #VinnyPresents #HollywoodGodfather #Mafia #HollywoodHistory #CarloRizzi #southphilly

Actor and filmmaker Ryan Halasz almost quit twice making his crime movie 'The Muscle' — and then it won best feature.It starts the way every indie story starts: a kid in an attic with a box of degraded Bruce Lee VHS tapes, glued to the screen anyway. Karate and taekwondo as a kid, Muay Thai and jiu-jitsu later, campy movies shot on a Hi8 camera for family — and eventually film school, where wanting to be a filmmaker was his way of saying he wanted to be an actor before he had the courage to say it outright.'The Muscle' grew out of his earlier short 'The Distance Line' — an homage to those attic tapes with a little sprinkle of New Jersey, the state he calls the craziest, coolest, most insane place to grow up in the '90s and early 2000s. To Ryan, the film wasn't really just a film: it was a journal, a way to heal, a way to show people can find the good in the bad.And he made it on almost no money. All sweat equity. Reshoots over too much grain in a shot. A close-up on a brick of cocaine — not real cocaine. Day 30: his Subaru Outback's transmission smoking, the car packed with gear, hot lights and ladders, a giant lighting box built for Godfather-style lighting — and catching himself about to say "I'm never doing this again" for the second time in his life.What made it worth it wasn't an award or a festival. It was watching people believe in it — PAs to lead actors to the cinematographer — with almost everyone he approached ready and willing, and maybe a hundred people showing up to a location he wasn't even sure about. A passion project that still budgeted to feed everybody.Ryan also talks fight choreography — he just worked on a film called 'Brotherhood' — and he offers collaboration, acting work, and fight choreography to anyone reaching out. Best way to reach him: Instagram.SUBSCRIBE for more: https://www.youtube.com/@VinnyFromSouthPhilly?sub_confirmation=1Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinny_from_south_philly/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vinnyfromsouthphillyChapters - 00:00 Cold Open: The Night He Almost Quit- 00:52 Welcome & Introducing Ryan Halasz- 01:48 How It Started: Bruce Lee, Attic VHS & Hi8 Movies- 04:55 Vinny's South Philly Video Store Days- 06:27 'The Muscle': New Jersey Roots & a Film That Healed Him- 09:01 All Sweat Equity: Tiny Budget, Reshoots & a Prop Brick- 10:51 The Bad: Freezing on 42nd Street (2010)- 11:56 Day 30: Smoking Subaru & Godfather Lighting- 13:19 The Good: People Who Believed- 15:37 Don't Quit: Where to Find RyanIMDB - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3912283/IG - https://www.instagram.com/themusclemovie/ TRAILER - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaR1YOyeg8A INTERVIEW – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLKafK1mruITCIFF - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0ok0MXGbiYNJFF - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2tfDghNQFo DIRECTING REEL!!!!!! - https://vimeo.com/51050290?share=copy&fl=cl&fe=ci#RyanHalasz #TheMuscle #IndieFilm #IndependentFilm #Filmmaking #NoBudgetFilm #BruceLee #NewJersey #CrimeMovie #FightChoreography #VinnyPresents

Vinny from South Philly sits down with Alex Javo — Greek-American filmmaker from Atlanta, born in '96 — who went from movie extra (he was Ralph Macchio's stand-in on Cobra Kai season 1) to directing his own feature film.Alex breaks down the whole journey: how a short film he shot with his buddy grew into "Enzo the Mafia's Boxer," how a friend's recommendation got Eric Roberts to read the script ("director's choice," Roberts said), and how posting a Zoom table-read clip on Instagram is what landed Frank Stallone. Plus his deep love for Rocky, Goodfellas, and Scarface growing up, and real advice for anyone trying to make their first film.If you're an indie filmmaker, this one's for you.Alex Javo is an Atlanta-based Actor/Director born and raised in Georgia. Alex began his career in 2017 and has since been featured in over a dozen tv episodes and feature films. His most notable credits include Condors Nest, Malcolm, Empathy, Homicide Hunter and now Enzo. With fifteen “Best Actor” awards across several international film festivals, Alex Javo is a force to be reckoned with in comedic and dramatic roles alike.Instagram pages for Enzo Movie updates@alexjavo@enzo.the.movie#VinnyPresents #EnzoTheMafiasBoxer #ericroberts #stallone

She went from Zumba instructor and mother of five to breakout star of Netflix's “Members Only: Palm Beach”— and became the show's most beloved figure. Rosalyn Yellin joins Vinny from South Philly to talk about stepping into the spotlight, finding her voice on camera, her philanthropy work, and what Palm Beach high society is really like behind the gates.From navigating gossip and rumors with grace to firing back at Bethenny Frankel's "Walmart Birkins" dig with pure class, Rosalyn's story is proof it's never too late to become who you were meant to be.Follow Rosalyn:Members Only: Palm Beach (on Netflix): https://www.netflix.com/title/81915922Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosalynyellin/?hl=enTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rosalynyellinBeauty brand: https://www.instagram.com/yuvetica?stkn=MXJ1eWR1bGc4aXR5bA==🎙️ New episodes of Vinny Presents every week — Hollywood stories, reality TV, and South Philly flavor.📩 Business inquiries: VinnyfromSP@gmail.com📸 Instagram: @vinnyfromsouthphilly🎵 TikTok: @vinnyfromsouthphilly📘 Facebook: Vinny from South Philly[00:00] Rosalyn Yellin shares her excitement about getting cast on the Netflix series while living in Bucks County and watching reality television as an escape.[01:15] Introduction: The episode kicks off with the rebranding to Vinny Presents and introducing reality TV breakout star Rosalyn Yellin (Members Only: Palm Beach). [02:05] Landing the Reality Role: Rosalyn shares how she was recommended for the Netflix series through local auditions in her area. [03:15] Transitioning to Florida: Discusses moving from Bucks County, Pennsylvania to Palm Beach, Florida after raising five children. [06:05] Philanthropy and Community Work: Transitioning away from teaching dance fitness to getting heavily involved in local charity and animal shelter work. [09:31] Pros and Cons of Reality TV: Reflecting on fan interactions, the surreal experience of filming, and dealing with online critics and internet trolls. [11:41] Launching the "Uvetica" Wellness Brand: Rosalyn discusses creating her all-in-one anti-aging and wellness supplement (hair, skin, nails, biotin, NAD+, and resveratrol) formulated in a clean laboratory near her home. [15:35] Moving into Scripted Film: Discusses taking on her first minor scripted role (nine lines) in an upcoming thriller movie. [16:41] Behind the Scenes of Reality TV: Opening up about how reality television production works, including producer guidance and storyline directions. [19:38] Future Goals and Aspirations: Emphasizing that you are never too old to pursue your dreams and building a brand in the entertainment and modeling space.#RosalynYellin #MembersOnlyPalmBeach #VinnyPresents

How does a kid from New York go from the US Army to sets like *Dumb Money*, *Zero Day*, and *The Night Agent* — and then start directing and producing his own projects? Kevin B. Ploth joins Vinny to talk about his wild ride as an award-winning actor, director, writer, and producer, his work as COO of ARTIMIS Theatrical Productions, and what's next with “The Giant”.Follow & Support KevinWebsite: https://www.ARTIMIS.bizInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/artimistheatricalproductions?igsh=MWxrc3E3OHoxNWl5dA%3D%3D&utm_source=qrLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/artimis-theatrical-productions-llc-llc-7a7b24306?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_appTwitter: https://x.com/artimisllc?s=21&t=HEwjE80WqGLOwgcCVbeLyghttp://www.imdb.me/KevinBPloth🎙️ New episodes of Vinny Presents every week — Hollywood stories, indie filmmaking, and South Philly flavor.📩 Business inquiries: VinnyfromSP@gmail.com📸 Instagram: @vinnyfromsouthphilly🎵 TikTok: @vinnyfromsouthphilly📘 Facebook: Vinny from South Philly[00:00] Intro and opening banter ("Vinnie from South Philly" and "Vinny Presents") [00:31] Introduction of guest Kevin B. Ploth [01:21] Kevin's family background, military service, and entertainment roots [02:56] Early days in Philadelphia theater, University of the Arts, and working on the movie Philadelphia [05:04] Influences from life experiences, writing, and the inspiration behind The Giant [06:55] Navigating industry challenges, maintaining integrity, and avoiding bitterness [08:08] Milestones with The Giant and building a loyal cast and crew [10:14] Upcoming micro-shorts, documentary screenings, and team building [11:37] Shared experiences in the Philadelphia food and beverage industry [13:40] Memories of Anthony Bourdain and lessons learned from the restaurant world [15:44] Balancing artistic vision with business practicality and the studio system [18:30] Evolution of acting schools, industry standards, and the cyclic nature of Hollywood [21:42] Leadership philosophy, mentorship, and knowing when to pass the baton [24:19] Cast members, sponsors, and veterans in media and entertainment (VME) [27:52] Importance of loyalty and closing remarks / where to find Kevin online#VinnyPresents #KevinBPloth #HollywoodInterview