THE BIGGER PICTURE with Timothy Spangler

SUSAN SULLIVAN, star of "Castle," "Dharma & Greg" and "Falcon Crest," is our special guest this Sunday night! SUSAN starred for seven successful seasons as "Martha," Nathan Fillion's outrageously entertaining mother, on the hit ABC series "Castle." She also recurred alongside Martha Plimpton and Jay R. Ferguson on ABC's "The Real O'Neals." SUSAN is well known to television audiences for starring roles in the long running hits "Dharma & Greg" and "Falcon Crest," and she has made innumerable recurring and guest appearances on shows including "Two and a Half Men," "The Nine" and "Judging Amy," to name a few. In addition to her series roles, SUSAN has starred in numerous features and television movies, including "My Best Friend's Wedding," "The Incredible Hulk," "Midway," "A Perfect Stranger" and the classic miniseries "Rich Man, Poor Man." SUSAN currently stars In LA Theatre Works radio production of "Watch on the Rhine." Set in Washington, D.C. on the brink of U.S. involvement in World War II, this suspenseful drama is a timely reminder to keep our eyes open, to remain vigilant and involved. As the clouds of war gather in Europe in the late 1930s, a leader in the German resistance arrives in Washington DC, accompanied by his American wife, Sarah and their children. The Müllers stay at the home of Sarah's wealthy mother, Fanny Farrelly (played by SUSAN), who, like most Americans at that time, is unaware of the storm brewing in Europe. Hear our live interview with SUSAN SULLIVAN this Sunday evening!

WILL BRADLEY, from ABC Family's "Pretty Little Liars" and HBO's "The Normal Heart," is our special guest this Sunday night! WILL was raised in the rural southern community of Sautee-Nacoochee, Georgia. After graduating with a degree in theatre from Brenau University in Gainesville, he worked extensively on the stage. His first film work was as the young naval ensign William H. Flood, in Scott Free's production of "Killing Lincoln" on the National Geographic channel, starring Tom Hanks as narrator and Billy Campbell as Abraham Lincoln. He is perhaps best known for the role of Jonny Raymond in ABC Family's "Pretty Little Liars." He also played Marion in HBO's "The Normal Heart" with Mark Ruffalo and Jonathan Groff. WILL currently is starring in the world premiere at Atwater Village Theatre of "Walking To Buchenwald," a comedy about learning what it means to be American in a world that no longer admires the U.S. Cultural, national and gender identity; politics; marriage; death; and the mutability of theater are some of the many motifs that run through this play, in which a soon-to-be-married couple, Schiller and Arjay, take Schiller's parents on their first trip to Europe. Hear our live interview with WILL BRADLEY this Sunday evening!

WADE ALLAIN-MARCUS, from HBO's "Insecure" and the new FX drama "Snowfall," is our special guest this Sunday night! WADE is an accomplished writer, director and actor. His most recent feature, "French Dirty," which he co-wrote, directed and starred in, premiered at the 2016 Los Angeles Film Festival and was released on Netflix. As an actor, he has had significant roles in the studio films "Brooklyn's Finest" (with Antoine Fuqua and Don Cheadle), "Beyond the Lights" (with Gina Prince Bythewood and Minnie Driver) and "Take Me Home Tonight" (with Anna Farris and Topher Grace). He can currently be seen recurring as "Derek DuBois" in HBO's "Insecure" and as "Diego" in the new FX drama "Snowfall." WADE is currently starring in the world premiere of "Fixed," a new play set in the heart of L.A.'s Historic Filipinotown. Miracles Malcañang is a ladyboy masseuse who "walks" for Filipinotown's infamous House of Malacañang. When Miracles' forbidden love affair sparks tensions between the city's hottest political family, two families must come together to understand the power of desire, identity, and honor. Hear our live interview with WADE ALLAIN-MARCUS this Sunday evening!

ROS GENTLE, actress from “American Crime Story: The People Vs OJ Simpson” and Australian shows “Neighbours” and “Home and Away,” is our special guest this Sunday night! In Australia, ROS worked predominantly in television appearing in such shows as “Neighbours,” “Home and Away,” “GP,” “Mother and Son,” “A Country Practice,” “Land of Hope,” “Mother and Son,” “Carson’s Law,” and, most notably, as a multiple personality in “Prisoner.” In the United States, ROS recently appeared in a recurring role in “American Crime Story: The People Vs OJ Simpson.” Other TV includes HBO’s “Hello Ladies,” “Agent X,” “Santa Sent Me to the ER,” “Tabloid,” “LAX,” “Outrageous 911 Calls,” Tattoo Nightmares” and more. Films include “Suing the Devil” (alongside Malcolm McDowell), as well as “Remember When,” “Sienna’s Choice,” “The Method,” “Discarded” and the award-winning Australian film “Winning Formula.” She is currently starring in L.A.’s Australian Theatre Company presentation of “Grey Nomad” by Australian playwright Dan Lee in a visiting production at the Skylight Theatre. Two couples, a wet T-shirt competition — and one vast country. As a growing number of Australian retirees choose to continuously circumnavigate the world’s largest island in their caravans and RVs, a new comedy captures their unique spirit and sense of camaraderie. Directed by Iain Sinclair, “Grey Nomad” opens on Monday, September 11. Hear our live interview with ROS GENTLE this Sunday evening!

KELSEY SCOTT, Emmy-nominated actress from "Fear the Walking Dead: Passage," is our special guest this Sunday night! KELSEY is also a writer and producer best known for her role as Anne Northup in the OSCAR-winning "12 Years A Slave" and as Wes Gibbins' mother, Rose, on "How to Get Away With Murder." "Fear the Walking Dead: Passage" is a 16-episode short form program spin off that follows Sierra (played by KELSEY), a formidable survivor of an undead apocalypse, who takes an injured woman under her wing during her search for sanctuary. Passage is nominated for an Emmy in a new category called Short Form Video. Additionally, KELSEY has been nominated for an Emmy as best actress in a short form video. Hear our live interview with KELSEY SCOTT this Sunday evening!

EARNESTINE PHILLIPS, actress recently seen in "Speechless" and "The Mindy Project," is our special guest this Sunday night! Originally from Dallas, Texas, EARNESTINE has appeared in a number of the most popular TV shows in recent years, including "NCIS: Los Angeles," "Southland," "Desperate Housewives," "Glee, Bones," "ER" and "The Shield." Most recently she has appeared in "Speechless" and "The Mindy Project." EARNESTINE is a longtime member of Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum repertory company and is a three-time NAACP Theatre Award winner for her performances in "The Tempest," "As You Like It" and "To Kill A Mockingbird." She is currently starring in "Trouble in Mind," the scathingly funny backstage drama about interracial politics by pioneering African American playwright Alice Childress. The groundbreaking 1955 satire follows an integrated theater company in rehearsal for a "progressive" anti-lynching drama. The play-within-a-play, entitled Chaos in Belleville, marks the first opportunity for gifted African American actress Wiletta Mayer (portrayed by ERNESTINE) to play a leading lady on Broadway. But what compromises must she make to succeed? Hear our live interview with EARNESTINE PHILLIPS this Sunday evening!

ALAN BLUMENFELD, actor from fan-favorite TV shows "Heroes" and "Gilmore Girls," is our special guest this Sunday night! As a professional actor for the past 40 years, ALAN has a long history of work in film, television and theater. On the small screen, he has had more than 300 guest starring roles including "Shameless," "Murder in the First," "Arrested Development," "Castle,' "Parenthood," "Dirty Sexy Money," "Grey's Anatomy," "CSI" ad ER," in addition to memorable recurring roles on "Heroes" and "Gilmore Girls." On the big screen, he has appeared in "The Interview," "Righteous Kill," "In Her Shoes," "The Ring" and "Heartbreakers." A frequent and accomplished stage actor, ALAN will be taking the lead role of Shylock the Jew in William Shakespeare's comic tragedy "The Merchant of Venice" at the Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga. Hear our live interview with ALAN BLUMENFELD this Sunday evening!

BILLY HAYES, author of the bestselling Turkish prison memoir "Midnight Express" is our special guest this Sunday night! BILLY has been writing, acting, and directing since his bestseller "Midnight Express" was published in 1976. The memoir about his arrest and time in Turkish prisons was quickly adapted into the Academy Award-winning motion picture released in 1978. He followed up with two sequel books, "Midnight Return," about his experiences after escaping, and "Letters from a Turkish Prison--1970-1975." In 2010 the British TV series "Locked Up Abroad" gave BILLY a chance to retell his story in his own words in interviews as well as theatrical re-enactment. The overwhelming response to this program attracted producer Barbara Ligeti, who developed and premiered "Riding the Midnight Express with Billy Hayes" at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2013. Since then the show has played Off-Broadway in New York twice, London, Edinburgh, Melbourne and Beirut as well as other American cities. Additional international engagements are being planned. The documentary, "Midnight Return-the Story of Billy Hayes and Turkey," has recently screened at the Santa Barbara, Newport Beach and Cannes Film Festival. Hear our live interview with BILLY HAYES this Sunday evening!

DAISUKE TSUJI, actor from "Brockmire" and "The Man in the High Castle," is our special guest this Sunday night! DAISUKE (pronounced Dice-Kay) was born in Kuwait, then moved to Japan, but mostly grew up in Sacramento, and eventually ended up with a B.A. in Theater Arts from UCLA. In addition to stage acting, he was also on tour with Cirque du Soleil. His film and TV credits include "Brockmire," "The Man in the High Castle," "The Blacklist," and Clint Eastwood's "Letters from Iwo Jima." He is currently working on a video game, which he can't really talk about yet! DAISUKE is currently starring in the Antaeus Theatre Company's production of Shakespeare's "As You Like It" at Kiki and David Gindler Performing Arts Center in beautiful downtown Glendale. Hear our live interview with DAISUKE TSUJI this Sunday evening!

SHANNON LUCIO, actress from "The OC," "American Horror Story" and "Roots," is our special guest this Sunday night! Shortly after receiving her BA in Theater from the University of Southern California, SHANNON landed her breakout role on "The O.C." Recently, she recurred on "American Horror Story" and the mini-series "Roots." Her other past notable television credits include "Prison Break," "True Blood," "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." and "Grey's Anatomy." Some of her noteworthy films are "Grounded" opposite Aaron Paul and Lena Olin, "Fireflies in the Garden" with Julia Roberts and Ryan Reynolds, and "Feast of Love" directed by Robert Benton. She is currently in Los Angeles appearing at the Atwater Village Theatre in "The Cake," a play by Bekah Brunstetter. Hear our live interview with SHANNON LUCIO this Sunday evening!

DEBRA JO RUPP, star of Fox's hit comedy "That '70s Show," is our special guest this Sunday night! DEBRA has performed in well over 300 roles in film and television. She is probably best known for her 8 seasons playing Topher Grace's beloved mother 'Kitty Forman' on "That '70's Show." She is also very well known for her recurring roles as Phoebe's (Lisa Kudrow) sister-in-law 'Alice' on the hit series "Friends" as well as Jerry Seinfeld's booking agent 'Katie' on "Seinfeld". Equally adept with comedy or drama, her many other television appearances include "Better With You" (ABC); "From Earth to the Moon" (HBO); "The Office" (NBC); "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (NBC); "The Jeff Foxworthy Show," (ABC); "ER," (NBC); "Hart of Dixie" (CW); "The Tracy Morgan Show" (NBC); and "Elementary" (CBS) just to name a few. Her numerous film appearances include "She Wants Me" with Josh Gad, Hilary Duff and Charlie Sheen; "She's Out of My League" with Jay Baruchel; "Kickin' It Old Skool" with Jaime Kennedy; "Clockwatchers" with Toni Collette, Parker Posey and Lisa Kudrow; and more recently "The Opposite Sex". DEBRA has also performed many voiced characters in films such as "Air Buddies", "Super Buddies", "Spymate", and "Garfield". She has enjoyed working with a number of iconic film directors including Robert Zemekis in "Death Becomes Her'; Jonathan Lynn in "Sgt. Bilko"; and Stephen Gyllenhaal in "A Dangerous Woman". Ms. Rupp memorably made her film debut working with director Penny Marshall and star Tom Hanks in "Big." DEBRA's career started in the theater, and working on stage remains her first love. She received nominations for New York's Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for her portrayal of well known radio and television sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer in "Becoming Dr. Ruth" at the Westside Arts Theatre. She performed on Broadway in a major revival of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" with Kathleen Turner and Charles Durning. She is returning to Los Angeles to appear at the Atwater Village Theatre in "The Cake," a play by Bekah Brunstetter. Hear our live interview with DEBRA JO RUPP this Sunday evening!

BO FOXWORTH, actor from HBO's "All The Way," is our special guest this Sunday night! BO has numerous film and television credits including most recently an appearance on HBO's "VEEP," and the role of Robert McNamara in the HBO movie "All The Way" starring Bryan Cranston. He is a member of the prestigious Antaeus Theatre Company, where he appeared in "Cloud 9," garnering both Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle and Stage Raw Awards for his role as Betty/Edward, as well as in "Henry IV," "The Liar," "The Crucible" (Ovation nomination for Best Lead Actor), "Macbeth" (in the title role), "The Seagull" and "The Malcontent." BO is currently starring in the world-premiere of the play "Building the Wall" at the Fountain Theatre. Written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan (who also wrote "All the Way" and "Hacksaw Ridge"), this play sees the Trump administration carrying out his campaign promise to round up and detain millions of immigrants. As a writer interviews the former supervisor of a private prison, it becomes clear how federal policy has escalated to a terrifying, seemingly inconceivable, yet inevitable conclusion. Hear our live interview with BO FOXWORTH this Sunday evening!

DOMINIC BOGART, from AMC's "Fear the Walking Dead" and critically-acclaimed film "Birth of a Nation," is our special guest this Sunday night! DOMINIC first gained widespread-recognition in the 2012 Sundance film "I Am Not a Hipster," which featured his band Canines. He has appeared in a number of TV shows, including NBC's "FlashForward" and HBO's "The Chris Rock Show." Recently, he appeared in Nate Parker's Nat Turner biopic, "The Birth of a Nation," which won top prizes at Sundance, and sci-fi features "400 Days" and "Pandemic." In June, DOMINIC can be seen in several episodes of season three of "Fear the Walking Dead" and in August he will appear in "The Glass Castle" with Brie Larson and Woody Harrelson. Hear our live interview with DOMINIC BOGART this Sunday evening!

ELLEN GEER, accomplished actress from the cult classic film "Harold and Maude," is our special guest this Sunday night! ELLEN got her start performing in regional theaters across the country, including the Tyrone Guthrie Theatre, American Conservatory Theatre of San Francisco and the Old Globe in San Diego. She has worked continuously for 46 years in television and motion pictures since making her debut in Richard Lester's "Petulia "in support of Julie Christie and George C. Scott. Probably best remembered for her turn as the committed actress who is lined up as the third (and last) date for Harold by his mother in the cult classic film "Harold and Maude." ELLEN has played character and supporting parts in scores of movies and television shows. Some of her other film credits include "Hard Traveling," "Patriot Games," "Clear and Present Danger," "Phenomenon" and "The Odd Couple ll." Since 1978, ELLEN has been the artistic director of her father Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum, where she helped the theater develop from a Sunday afternoon workshop performing Shakespeare to a professional repertory theater company now in its seventeenth season with a negotiated Actors Equity Contract. She has produced and directed over 50 Theatricum productions, including plays by Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, Chekhov and Thornton Wilder, as well as Greek classics. ELLEN was an associate professor at U.C.L.A. teaching Shakespeare to graduate students in the theater department for 15 years. Hear our live interview with ELLEN GEER this Sunday evening!

RICH SOMMER, star of AMC hit series "Mad Men," is our special guest this Sunday night! Best know to television audiences as Harry Crane for seven seasons on the AMC series "Mad Men," RICH has also recurred on Season 2 of "Wet Hot American Summer," on Judd Apatow's "Love" (for Netflix), and on Jenji Kohan's "Glow," which will debut on Netflix in June. Other TV credits include "Masters of Sex," "The League," "The Office," "Elementary" and the upcoming TV movie "The Sackett Sisters." His film credits include "Girlfriend's Day," "My Name is Doris," "Fairhaven," "The Devil Wears Prada," "Celeste and Jesse Forever," "The Giant Mechanical Man," "LBJ" and the upcoming "A Crooked Somebody." For the stage, RICH has appeared on Broadway in "Harvey" and in off-Broadway in productions of "Buried Child" and "The Unavoidable Disappearance of Tom Durnin." He is currently starring in an all-star cast set for world premiere docudrama "The Tug of War." With the world on the brink of war, the judgment of an untested president is called into question. What kind of intellectual and emotional stamina does it take to make the right decision? As Soviet nuclear missiles move ever closer to Cuba, President John F. Kennedy must parse his inner circle's conflicting counsel to prevent nuclear annihilation. Five performances only, May 25-28, at UCLA's James Bridges Theater. Hear our live interview with RICH SOMMER this Sunday evening!