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[0:10] Robbie Rozelle: It's the round table with me, Robert Bannon. Except here's the thing. I'm not Robert Bannon. This is a surprise. This is Robert Bannon's 40th birthday surprise. Guys, I'm so I'm so stinking excited because we're gonna talk to this little baby. We're bringing in friends and people who he has interviewed and loved and worked with to talk to this little baby boy who was born 40 years ago, and he doesn't know anything. So don't say anything. I'm gonna bring him in, and we're gonna surprise. Okay, here we go. Surprise!

[1:06] Robert Bannon: Okay. Yep. I hate surprises. Uh-huh. Not being in control. I also hate this hat. But this hat was delivered to me from him.

[1:22] Robbie Rozelle: Yeah. Guess what? It's your 40th.

[1:26] Robert Bannon: Thank you, Robbie. Let's wait. First of all, let's talk about this. Okay. You are a Halloween baby, right?

[1:36] Robert Bannon: I am born October 31st, 1983.

[1:40] Robbie Rozelle: And so there you are with truly either the world's biggest pumpkin or you are a smurf.

[1:47] Robert Bannon: Both are true. Great. What was your favorite Halloween costume?

[1:55] Robbie Rozelle: As a grown-up or as a child?

[1:56] Robert Bannon: Okay, so there's a thing about being born on Halloween. Like some people love it. Thank you, everybody. Oh my gosh. They're all coming in. Oh, Rose Bannon says, seems like yesterday.

[2:09] Robert Bannon: That is my mother, obviously. But my grandmother used to make costumes. We used to have Halloween parties. We had grown-up Halloween parties with grown-up piñatas full of grown-up things. It's a very unique birthday. It's a weird day to have a birthday. You know, as a kid, when you go home with your cupcakes, you want people to remember it, and all they are is like, I'm dressed like Superman, I'm dressed like Barbie, I'm dressed like... I can't say Barbie because I'm a member of SAG, but you know what I'm talking about.

[2:38] Robbie Rozelle: You're not, no, you're promoing some, uh, you're promoing a piece of plastic.

[2:42] Robert Bannon: I'm pro the toy. So the long short, look, I'm breaking out. This is terrible.

[2:48] Robbie Rozelle: You really are. Wait, baby Bannon so adorbs, not wrong. Christine just turned 50.

[2:55] Robert Bannon: I am like a Nordic child. I look like Casper the Ghost had a child on Halloween, and Robert Bannon came out.

[3:05] Robbie Rozelle: Well, and he was you're not wrong. Friends, here's the thing there's so much happening. This is Robert Bannon week, because not only is he celebrating his 40th, the 40th. I can't even talk. This hat, you can take it off, it's probably taking you.

[3:21] Robbie Rozelle: But tonight at midnight, we are having a baby. Surprise. There it is. There's my baby. There's the baby. You know what? I think I have something. Because I'm shameless.

[3:38] Robert Bannon: Stealing my gig.

[3:40] Robbie Rozelle: Yeah, you're welcome. So "Rewind" is a show that we did. We're gonna talk about it later, but the album comes out at midnight. Robert, we reached out to so many people. There's so many people who love you. And I've got several packages of people who love you.

[4:00] Robert Bannon: Choose is your goal to make me cry is 100%. That's all we're gonna do. Are you guys in the comments? I want to hear if you want Robert to weep and how much.

[4:11] Robbie Rozelle: Okay, so I want you to choose. I see. Choose A, B, or C.

[4:14] Robert Bannon: B for Bannon.

[4:22] Robbie Rozelle: B for Bannon. Just there's some people who just want to love you.

[4:27] Candy Milo: Hey Robert, this is Candy Milo, and I'm coming to you live from Los Angeles. I just wanted to tell you what a joy it is to know you. You are a light in this world. The way you give to others is amazing, and your kids are lucky to know you, and I am lucky to know you. I hope you have an amazing birthday, and I wish I could sing, but I can't. Alright, I will. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you, happy birthday, dear Robert.

[5:06] Candy Milo: What? Okay, you can do the end. Happy birthday to you, I'm Dexter. Boy genius! Happy birthday, honey. Happy birthday, Robert. Thank you so much for being a great friend and an inspiration. For oh, what a milestone birthday! Congratulations and wishing you many, many more.

[5:31] Jane: Hi Robert, Jane here. Happy birthday. I just want to tell you, I am so glad that we know each other. I am so grateful that you called me to sing that duet with you all those years ago. Well, I guess not that many years ago, but a few. Because you are such a lovely person, and I'm so happy to know you, and I think you do so many wonderful good things in the world, and I'm just happy you're here. So happy birthday, so much love to you, and I hope to see you soon.

[5:59] Jasmine Brandt: It's Jasmine Brandt, and I just wanted to send this quick video wishing Robert happy birthday. It's so cool that you have a birthday actually on Halloween. Anyway, I hope this year is amazing. Matter of fact, I know it's gonna be amazing. I hope this is the best year yet. Wish I was there to celebrate, but happy birthday. Enjoy your day. Take some time to be present, and if you drink like I do, you're fucked up. Happy birthday, Robert Darling.

[6:31] Melissa Manchester: Happy birthday. Oh, such a Scorpio. Hi, Robert, Melissa Manchester here from the road with the National Tour of "Funny Girl" as Mrs. Rose Bryce. Wishing you a very happy birthday. I know that I'm one of many sending best wishes for a great year ahead and a sublime celebration of you. Be well, my friend.

[6:59] Peppermint: Well, hello, Robert. Surprise. It is me, Peppermint, and I gotta tell you, being interviewed by you has always been such a joy. You ask such great questions, and I couldn't be more happy to help celebrate your birthday. I'm sorry that I'm not there in person, but hopefully you're just as surprised as we hope you are. And yes, to a Halloween birthday. I'm totally here for it. So a big happy birthday from me to you, and thank you so much for always making me feel comforted and you know, just like very related to. I feel like you're related to me. Are we my cousin? Anyway, a big happy birthday to you. Happy 40th. Been there, done that, and happy Halloween, you know. Ow.

[7:53] Peppermint: Anyway, big kiss. It was about this time last year that we were in New York together. You were showing me around. We went to all these incredible shows for free. Had such a good time with you, and we also just had a, you know, we were sitting in traffic, so we had plenty of time to have like good conversations and just I think we both motivated each other to like elevate who we thought we were, which is what Scorpios gotta do for each other. It's both of our birthdays right now. We're both Halloween Scorpios. Happy birthday. I think about you every time I think about that random diner we went to where you cried laughing that I ordered like calamari and a milkshake. I don't remember what it was, but I know you remember what it was.

[8:43] Peppermint: Happy birthday. I hope you are having a great day.

[8:48] Unknown speaker: Lights, camera, and me without a stitch of makeup on. That joke actually works better if you're wearing makeup, but I'm not because I'm stuck in Massachusetts without any drag, but I wanted to reach out anyway and say happy birthday, Robert. Please have a great time today. And um don't have too much fun though, because you're getting older and you have to be careful now. You might break something or pull something, and then you know, who has insurance? And also, you know, by the time we're retirement age, social security won't be a thing, but anyway, I digress. Have a great day, and um, yeah. Sempre Viva live forever.

[9:24] Tanara Mallory: What's up, Robert? This is Tanara. Everybody's so creative. See how creative they got putting together a nice 40th birthday celebration for you. Happy birthday to I know that probably sound a little differently different to your ear, but it's supposed to sound that way. See that? See how brave I got singing to a singer? I'm a little different, that's why. Robert, I love you. Thank you so much for being a true, true friend. Thank you for giving me my first interview. Robert, you are amazing. I hope today is everything you want and dreamed of. So welcome to the 40 club. It only gets better from here. Trust me. You going up, your age is going up, the knees gonna start wobbling, but don't worry about that. You good, you'll be alright. Take care, Robert, and happy birthday to you. I wish you many, many more.

[10:22] Robert Bannon: Oh. Oh my goodness. Uh-huh. What in the world? What in the I literally was uh I saw you. If I just wish the one thing I hate about streaming artists you can't have like you in the little corner just like reacting in real time. Because I wish everybody could have seen your mouth down.

[10:46] Robbie Rozelle: I all these people who love you so much. Tanara. Tanara is uh Robbie, Robbie and Matt Gould wrote me about Tanara, and um, and I don't really TikTok the talk too much. I'm a little old. So Tanara um was someone that Robbie sent me and Matt Gould sent me. Matt Gould is gonna be a Broadway superstar, and then she became my friend. And my students, like I can interview Isaac Mizrahi, I can interview anyone, and then my students want to know Tanara because she, you know, everybody is...

[11:11] Robert Bannon: Hang on. We're getting a FaceTime right now. Hold on one second. Don't no, no, no, no!

[11:30] Unknown speaker: Happy Fatih!

[11:39] Robert Bannon: She better sing. You better give Patty LaBelle real notes all day, filling in.

[11:46] Unknown speaker: Yes! Oh, you don't have to say that. We're ready. Actually, come on. Everything he just said about you is correct. I was texting him. I was like, you need to watch this. This is some of the funniest. It's the only reason I have TikTok. I don't believe in it, but it makes me cackle so hard in bed every night. Just like, what the fuck are they making? And what is she saying about it? That's all I care about. Thank y'all for your support. I mean, thank you for introducing me to Robert. Robert, you have been the talk in my home more than you could ever believe. I talk about you like we grew up together because you made me feel that comfortable.

[12:27] Unknown speaker: It's scary when you blow up and don't know what to do with it, and you find somebody that's genuinely in your corner. Like I've never felt more comfortable. Anything you said to me felt I can feel it coming from your heart. And everybody in those videos just proved me right. It just showed through every video all the love that you share with everybody. And I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I do. And I'm sure we are going to have many, many moments together in the future. I feel it coming, and I can't wait.

[12:59] Tanara Mallory: Tanara, I feel very protective of Tanara. Personally, Robbie and I are still waiting to blow up. So we don't know what you're talking about because it's not actually at my age, it does not happen. Three million followers plus on TikTok. I'm lucky I have five. And you are so brilliant.

[13:23] Robbie Rozelle: And Robbie, no acting school.

[13:25] Tanara Mallory: Thank you. No acting school.

[13:27] Robbie Rozelle: No, no, no. Just naturally just bananas.

[13:31] Unknown speaker: Wait, wait. Is this about me or you?

[13:33] Tanara Mallory: No. It's always about you, my friend. See, see? You can't. You can't even talk back and just and just he can't sit back.

[13:42] Robbie Rozelle: Tanara. You just spill everything.

[13:46] Tanara Mallory: You can. I need you in "Dream Girls." I need you in "Chicago." I need you in all of it.

[13:52] Unknown speaker: Hey, I'm here, able, willing, ready.

[13:56] Tanara Mallory: Come on. I am on Miss Mama Morton. What I have. Listen, Tanara, this is not about me. No, this is not about you or me or anyone. It's about us. And I promise Robbie, and we're gonna talk after off this because Robbie can help. We've tried, we've had conversations, and I know I trust Robbie. And anyway, moving on.

[14:18] Robert Bannon: Oh, I just you saying it I said you're I just I love her so much. When Tanara was on the CBS early show, she was interviewed by Gail King. She came to New York, she came to New York, she is not one that it was a big adventure for you. It was national. It was, you know, a first primetime interview. She reached out, and I was just so grateful that we got to meet in person.

[14:42] Tanara Mallory: And the best you were there for me in a jealous where I broke down. I'm not gonna lie, I broke down there and you pulled me back together. It's very overwhelming here.

[14:52] Unknown speaker: Absolutely.

[14:53] Unknown speaker: Yes, yeah.

[14:54] Tanara Mallory: And Robert is he's a like a big hug, right?

[14:58] Unknown speaker: Exactly.

[14:58] Unknown speaker: That's all like a one like an embrace and nothing, uh worried about nothing after that.

[15:03] Tanara Mallory: Nothing after. I was just so worried about her because she took a bus, Robbie, and I had to drop her off at I had to drop her off at Port Authority in New York City.

[15:13] Unknown speaker: This is you know, everybody's so creative. I bet she saw some things that were definitely different.

[15:20] Tanara Mallory: I did I did my bus. The bus I got on was more than differently different. I'm not even gonna start, but it really showed me. I was like, boy, this is riding in comfort, I guess. I don't know.

[15:33] Tanara Mallory: I had a student, I had a student who um reached out to me and said to me, and and Tanara sent videos to her and reached out to her. You are always there for the people that you make smile every single day. And I want to say to you that you make us laugh. And there are people in hospital. There are people going through tough times. There are people in really they turn to you and you give them the greatest gift, which is to make them laugh. So thank you for what you do.

[15:58] Unknown speaker: Oh, you're welcome, and thank you.

[16:01] Tanara Mallory: That's my friend. Like we are, I love you. Like you are my same. I don't so natural. It's just like you, I go off of energy, and the energy you give off.

[16:12] Unknown speaker: Oh my goodness. I don't if anybody has a way of putting a shield up. I don't know how. You'll bust right through. It's like, nah-uh, here I am, and you're gonna take me. And I swear, I mean, it's it's I can't even explain it in words. He's like a kind version of the Kool-Aid.

[16:27] Unknown speaker: Apparently, I appreciate both of those comments.

[16:30] Unknown speaker: Yes, indeed. I mean everybody. Tanara, thank you. Robbie.

[16:36] Robbie Rozelle: Oh, you're welcome.

[16:37] Unknown speaker: No, thank you. Tanara, thank you. Thank you so much, really. And you are fearless, fearless. Uh what you're going, what you're doing, she's out here as a creator making it. That is the I'm gonna quit my job right after this show.

[16:55] Tanara Mallory: Good about that for you. Except for like insurance.

[16:59] Unknown speaker: I can't wait to hear it. Midnight. Congratulations.

[17:02] Unknown speaker: Congratulations. I can't wait to hear it. Tanara, thank you so much for joining us.

[17:07] Tanara Mallory: Oh, thank you for having me. I appreciate it. You enjoy the rest of your birthday. Celebrate hard, have a drink for me.

[17:14] Unknown speaker: You better start second. When you come to New York, Robbie, Robbie is taking us out to dinner.

[17:20] Robbie Rozelle: Yeah, done.

[17:21] Unknown speaker: Hey, sounds good. What you want? I'll be looking for you, Robbie.

[17:27] Robbie Rozelle: I'm gonna throw on my eating dress. I love you.

[17:30] Unknown speaker: There you go. I'm ready. I'm ready. Bye, Tonara. Thank you.

[17:36] Robbie Rozelle: Oh my gosh, I love her. I love her. Also, that voice.

[17:42] Unknown speaker: Yes, she sings. Come on.

[17:45] Robbie Rozelle: So funny. And just naturally, just it's the sweetest person. I just I didn't know.

[17:51] Unknown speaker: All right. A or C.

[17:55] Unknown speaker: Uh uh uh uh uh C. Like my grades.

[18:02] Kyle Ball: Happy birthday, Robert. It's Kyle Ball, your favorite director, you know, the guy who's always sticking his head out from behind the camera and being like sing it again, Robert, but with an even sexier squint in your eyes. So proud of you. Your number one fan. I'm miss your buddy. Happy birthday. Here I am at the Ethel Barramore Theater in New York City, wishing my pal Robert a happy 40th birthday.

[18:34] Swami: Hey Robert, Swami here, your favorite midland high school chorus teacher. I just want to check in and wish you the happiest of birthdays. I'm so glad to see you showcasing your amazing vocal talent. Your voice is a gift that people need to hear. Now I'm a true believer in finding joy in your work, and through singing, I think you have found that joy. And it makes me happy and proud to think that I may have had even just a little bit to do with that. So that being said, Robert, I'm gonna wish you a happy birthday with a song, and I'm gonna close it with a classic Ridgefield Park ending. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday. Happy birthday Robert. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday Robin. Enjoy your day man.

[19:22] Unknown speaker: That's my high school co that was my chorus teacher in high school seventh grade till twelfth grade and told me that I needed to keep singing and all the years I did it he would see me and be like why aren't you singing and um wow and Kyle Ball who directed I think he knew and from a distance uh appreciate and went to acting school with him and then Bruce Sussman is my Bruce Sussman as in Barry Manilo Bruce Sussman As in wrote this song hold please I have a clip everything you die I will fight for every single day help me work it out make it right for every single day but this I swear can stay my birth if you go I will love you as I do today and I love you every single day.

[21:28] Unknown speaker: From it's chicken. It's it's it'll be sticking. It is um that there's an eighth song Barry Manilow Mega Medley.

[22:05] Unknown speaker: Mm-hmm.

[22:07] Robbie Rozelle: I'm so excited to be able to have this out in the world, and thank you to everybody who sent love. Woo! This is people love you.

[22:17] Unknown speaker: I don't, but like others do.

[22:21] Robbie Rozelle: That's not true. I adore you. And I've loved working with you. When Kyle said your favorite director, I said, who, bitch?

[22:28] Unknown speaker: Right.

[22:29] Robbie Rozelle: Well, he filmed, but when I'm on stage, the best news. It's only been it's only been the the Robbie Rozelle. I won't do a show without him. We love a good medley. Well, guess what? There's a bunch of great medleys on this album. Regardless. What that review once told us that we did too many medleys. There's never such a thing as too many medleys. Medleys are fun. Somebody said best singer and teacher. Thank you, Waffle VR student. This is it's a student who they watch every week, and I don't know their name.

[23:02] Unknown speaker: Well, he said hello to you on the stairs today.

[23:07] Robbie Rozelle: Now I do. Oh, thank you, Waffle VR. So come see my room tomorrow, 2.14. Great. 2 14. So send gifts to 214.

[23:19] Robbie Rozelle: Um I loved creating Rewind with you. It's so special. It's so uh you it's so authentic to you. It just it's so beautiful.

[23:32] Unknown speaker: There's somebody in the waiting room, but I'm seeing that it says uh that their device isn't connected. So as soon as they come in, I'm having somebody else come in. But we're gonna vamp and talk about rewind a little bit in the meantime. Um I had the idea to do a show. We we did a show called I did a sh album and show called Unfinished Business, and it was about a very specific time in my life, and it was about coming back to music. But we thought with Robbie that it would be fun in this day and age where nostalgia is kind of in, and you know, growing up the 90s were 23 plus years ago, that if we went back being born in 1983 and then go living through the 90s. So if you are somebody who's a little of a certain age and you remember a VCR and a VHS tape and an eight track, you know, there's stories about growing up sweating like Mike Tyson at a spelling bee.

[24:20] Robbie Rozelle: I I see it. Oh my god. It's really fun.

[24:24] Unknown speaker: It is I have never. Um, so so it's a really fun album. It's a small, tight band, no background singers, no guests. It is literally me telling an hour of you. It makes me feel like this inside.

[24:42] Unknown speaker: What the heck? Just confetti flying everywhere.

[24:45] Unknown speaker: Oh. Somebody asks a great question. What's your favorite song on the CD Rewind?

[24:52] Robbie Rozelle: Oh. Um, that I performed, or that what's the most fun for me to sing? Um. Oh my goodness. You know, my favorite song, I think, on the album, um, that gets me every single time. I'm um it's very rare. I'm at a loss for words. Uh you can see. I think my favorite song on the album uh is Rainbow Connection. I think it's Rainbow Connection. It's really beautiful. And and that was for your mom.

[25:21] Unknown speaker: This album it's very personal. Like that's for your mom. You have uh Harry Chapen for your dad.

[25:28] Robbie Rozelle: It's my dad, you know. My dad is the I think he knew dad now. He thinks he's like an international superstar because uh he is featured in that music video. And my mom is very unassuming. She's she doesn't really like the attention, so she usually hides and and and comes by herself and sneaks out in the night. And I I kind of had to force a moment uh for her because she, you know, she doesn't she's not about that. And um, not that my dad is really either, but you know, he's been he is he has been a part of it with the song. So I think he knew it on the album. We mashed it up with um Cats in the Cradle, and but the Muppet Medley and my love for Kermit the Frog is um I is is vast. So I we Muppet medleyed up the Muppet Show theme song and Muppet Babies into Rainbow Connection.

I really love it, and I really I love Whitney, and we did get the chance to do I Wanna Dance with Somebody, and no one should sing, no one should sing Whitney except probably Whitney, but we did or you or me.

[26:25] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[26:25] Robbie Rozelle: People in the world who could sing Whitney Houston, me and Whitney Houston. And also that Queen who does Whitney. And Kevin Smith Kirkwood.

[26:35] Unknown speaker: Correct.

[26:37] Robbie Rozelle: Yeah. Correct. It's amazing. We love Mama Rose. Greg and Rose are superstars.

[26:43] Unknown speaker: They both are.

[26:44] Robbie Rozelle: They are like the John Henry. Did you know the Carpenters were the first to record Rainbow Connection?

[26:49] Unknown speaker: I've heard their version. I heard Barbara Streisand's version of it. Um everybody. I've I I love there's my mom. I she's right now at at a concert, and she won't go in until the show is over.

[27:01] Unknown speaker: Oh. Thank you.

[27:04] Unknown speaker: Hi, friends. Rose.

[27:05] Unknown speaker: I'm so sorry. Yes. And yeah. It's just it's a treat. And the I think the album's a treat, and just a testament. Every story's on there.

[27:17] Unknown speaker: Yes. Every story. Uh I tell this, I tell my first date. I tell I tell the story about my rent audition that went poorly. I tell a story about, you know, uh that how I became infatuated with Barry Manila, which is a very true and now known, very known thing.

[27:37] Robbie Rozelle: It's wildly known. Um so everybody at midnight, rewind. Look at that handsome little asshole.

[27:49] Unknown speaker: He well that see that picture is taken by Michael Hull, and that whole design is by Rob by Robbie Rosell. Don't know him. Um to Yaz, please Yase Hiko Focolooka, who is my music director. Um, and I I lend you him from time to time. I've stolen him from Robbie.

[28:11] Robbie Rozelle: We talked about this in uh in the Pride Show. In the Pride Show. And the Pride Show will be back. Robbie will be at 54 Below in in next year.

[28:19] Unknown speaker: Well, I'm also gonna be at the Chelsea Table and Stage Christmas special. We are going to Chelsea Table and Stage on December 9th at 7 o'clock. You can get your tickets. There is going to be guests, there's going to be Christmas music, and there is going to be fun, and I love a Santa suit, and I it is gonna be a blast.

[28:41] Robbie Rozelle: So if you want to follow la la la and ho ho ho yourself like Robbie Rozelle does, go correct. Also drop in the comments, drop in the comments what you want to hear the two of us duet on, because that would be fun for us.

[28:56] Unknown speaker: I would love it, and I hope the answers are Christmas.

[28:59] Robbie Rozelle: I know it's not gonna be this though. Uh so Yaz and Robert and I were in a group text today because we're already working on something new for Robert.

[29:10] Unknown speaker: Yes.

[29:11] Robbie Rozelle: Yeah. There's a Christmas single coming. Don't save it all for Christmas Day. It is a continuation of my series called No One Should Sing These Songs, like Whitney Houston and Celine Dion. And there you go.

[29:25] Unknown speaker: So like we're not resting, is what I'm saying.

[29:29] Unknown speaker: Oh, I don't know what that is.

[29:32] Unknown speaker: We're not resting at all.

[29:34] Unknown speaker: And why would we?

[29:35] Unknown speaker: Really?

[29:36] Unknown speaker: I don't know what this is.

[29:37] Unknown speaker: I don't know how to rest.

[29:38] Unknown speaker: I'm trying.

[29:39] Unknown speaker: Oh, somebody said that we should sing Baby It's Cold Outside.

[29:43] Unknown speaker: The the the gayer non-rapey version.

[29:46] Unknown speaker: I mean, I don't think it gets gayer than when Liza Minelli and Alan Cumming did it together, but we could try.

[29:53] Unknown speaker: I I mean, I wanted to do the 12 gays of Christmas and and count down like you know, whatever you know what I'm saying.

[30:03] Unknown speaker: Just count down the gays of Christmas.

[30:06] Unknown speaker: Yeah, you know, like 12 Lords of Leaping, that's gay automatically.

[30:10] Unknown speaker: I mean, so are you.

[30:12] Unknown speaker: Okay.

[30:14] Unknown speaker: So we've done A, we've done, or sorry, we've done B, we've done C.

[30:19] Unknown speaker: Let's jump to A, shall we?

[30:21] Unknown speaker: Oh god.

[30:22] Robbie Rozelle: Just get ready. Buckle up.

[30:24] Robbie Rozelle: Hey, old man. I just wanted to say happy birthday. I hope it's the best one yet. I am so proud of the person you're becoming every day. The better version of yourself, the best human that you are. I am sending you so much love, and I know big things are waiting to happen for you. I'm so proud of you, and I love you so much. Happy birthday.

[30:51] Unknown speaker: Happy birthday, Robert. Here's the big photo. Keep shining that bright light everywhere. And thank you for taking me to all the red carpets. I enjoy it very much. We enjoy you and hope you have a wonderful, happy, happy birthday. And here's to many, many more birthdays, Robert. Love you.

[31:08] Unknown speaker: Love you too. Bye!

[31:09] Unknown speaker: Happy birthday, Robert from Texas. Happy 40th birthday to be exact. I cannot believe you are 40. Um, but more specifically, I cannot believe that we have known each other for over 30 years. We have so many good memories, so many funny times. Um, and I don't know what I would do today without our daily LH group chat. Um, I hope you have the best year. You deserve it. And hopefully, I can get back to New Jersey to see you soon. Happy birthday. Bye.

[31:49] Unknown speaker: Happy birthday, Robert. You're 40 and old. We love you. Enjoy it. Bye.

[31:56] Unknown speaker: Happy birthday, Robert. You are now 280 years old in dog years.

[32:01] Unknown speaker: Hi, Robert. I can't believe you're 40. We've been friends for a very long time. A bacillion years. And I love all of our talks. And every time we're together, we're always laughing so much. Um, I hope 40 brings you nothing but happiness and everything that you deserve. You are an amazing person, and I love you so much. Happy birthday.

[32:26] Unknown speaker: Hey Robert. Just uh sending you a little happy birthday wish while I sit in traffic on my way to work on October 25th, which happens to be my 47th birthday. And I can't believe that I'm 47 and you're 40. How did that happen? I feel like we were just dressed up as clowns when I think you might have been two years old. Um, I hope you have an amazing day, and I hope you have the best year yet. The 40s are definitely the best years. Enjoy. We love you. Happy birthday, Robert.

[32:58] Unknown speaker: I can't believe you're going to be 40. My little baby cousin. Which means I'm gonna be 50. We're getting old, but I think we're still fun. Love you.

[33:13] Unknown speaker: Happy 40th birthday, Robert. I am so proud of you. I am your proud stage aunt because you have Mama Rose. You have the real Mama Rose, and you're very blessed to have that. I wish you the best. I hope all your dreams come true. And if you're ever in a store that has rocking chairs, think of me. I love you. Happy 40th birthday.

[33:35] Unknown speaker: Happy birthday, Robert. Happy birthday to my godchild Robert. Happy 40th birthday. Wish you all the best in the future and everything that you're doing. You're doing a great job.

[33:48] Michael Orland: Roberto, it's your old buddy Mike here. Um, it's hard to believe that it's been 25 years, just about uh since we first met way back when at the John Harms Theater. Uh, we've been through a lot in those 25 years. Uh, and uh you've always had my back, and I've always got yours. Um, I just had to stop in and quick wish you a very happy 40th birthday. Um, we're all super impressed with everything you've accomplished in the last you know few years, and uh the best is yet to come. Uh PS, uh, if you ever need it, I'm pretty sure that I might still have that bootleg VHS copy of Rent from uh your original uh Broadway audition. Um, so yeah, you know how to reach me. Uh love you, buddy. Take it easy.

[34:37] Unknown speaker: Happy birthday, Robert Michael. I wish you the most and the best. Happy birthday and bajioni always, and kisses and best wishes always. Stay as great as you are. I love you.

[34:56] Unknown speaker: Happy birthday, honey. You are a great blessing. You have warmth and special charm. That is just amazing. We are very lucky to have you in our lives. No words can describe the pride and gratitude that comes from being your mom. I love you, honey. I wish you a million more. Enjoy it. Happy birthday.

[35:23] Unknown speaker: Hey Robin. Happy birthday. Happy 40th birthday. Thank God you're 40, because that means I'm younger than you. But anyway, love you.

[35:37] Unknown speaker: Oh, that got me.

[35:40] Unknown speaker: That got me. I saw you.

[35:41] Unknown speaker: I saw you weeping into your dog.

[35:45] Unknown speaker: That got Clarence.

[35:46] Unknown speaker: Clarence.

[35:48] Unknown speaker: First of all, Mike. I need that footage. Mike, it's real story.

[35:52] Unknown speaker: It's on the album.

[35:56] Unknown speaker: Yeah, but I need that footage of your audition. My grandmother and uh in in her 90s here in Jersey, my parents, my brother have one brother, my one brother, Sean, and my sister-in-law, uh, Christina, and um, and then people that are been around, you know, my life forever. Um, well, it's um my Christens, my friends Kristen and Kristen, uh, we went to in seventh grade. We did all the school plays together. Esther is my sister from from uh another continent, and and to find them and be here, I'm Mike and Adrian and my little Sam's and my my people. Um, I'm very lucky. I just um first of all I want to thank Adrian because she is the person who collected all of these videos and sent them to me so I could cut them together.

[36:45] Unknown speaker: Well, thank god.

[36:47] Unknown speaker: Um, but she she's the one who really did a call to arms for you. She's incredible. You're so loved. I also need to talk about your grandmother's grease poster.

[36:59] Unknown speaker: Yes, that was I was duty in seventh grade. Everybody is in front of Robert Bannon merch. Did you notice? I'm I'm I like a dollar. Everything's for everything Venmo Robert.

[37:14] Unknown speaker: You um, oh I love you, my friend.

[37:19] Unknown speaker: I love her.

[37:21] Unknown speaker: I love her too. Listen, now you've had you you work with Yaz a lot, etc. etc. But you've also had another music director who's timing in right damn now.

[37:32] Robbie Rozelle: Oh my goodness! That is oh hi boys.

[37:41] Michael Orland: How do you get Michael Orland to come on this show?

[37:49] Robbie Rozelle: Oh, can I tell a story about Michael Organiz?

[37:52] Yes, Robbie. I'm sorry you have to hear this. I I know many stories. Carry on.

[37:58] Robbie Rozelle: When Michael, please follow Michael Orland. Michael Orland has music directed literally from Oscar winners to Grammy winners to Emmy winners to Broadway World Cabaret Award losers, like me and Robbie. And we non-winners, I like to say. It is my Tony Award Watcher. Uh huh. Is one of the funniest, sweetest people. He is so so incredibly talented. So incredibly popular. And getting to getting to know you and be your friend. He has been there for me in a personal way. He has always answered the call. He's always there. And I know there are so many singers in the world who you are always there for. Thank you, Michael.

[38:48] Michael Orland: It is an honor. I'm so honored to be here. I'm so late in getting a music video. I mean, a birthday video. I was like, I have to come on live. I'm time. I didn't send one in time. So you know Michael's been very helpful.

[39:02] Unknown speaker: No, this is amazing. This is the best. I'd rather talk.

[39:07] Unknown speaker: So listen, you're 40. You're very good at it. You're a baby.

[39:12] Unknown speaker: That's my goal waist size, please.

[39:15] Unknown speaker: Really? Because my goal weight is I've had air.

[39:19] Michael Orland: Nice. Michael was was uh just at 54 below. Michael was just at in in at Cafe Carlisle with who's amazing.

[39:32] Unknown speaker: I know. I saw your interview with her. That was really beautiful.

[39:36] Unknown speaker: I isn't she like an amazing beautiful person? Amazing beautiful person. And then we were Robbie and I were on uh 54 Below after after you and Clint Holmes. Amazing show. Yes, that's right. Got to hang out because it was so fun. And Michael, I wish you you did one of your open mics. I want a Michael Orland open mic in New York.

[39:59] Michael Orland: I want to I know I you know uh 54 Below and my friend Debbie Gravit had you know talked to them about me doing it. I love her. I love her too, but I haven't like I haven't followed through with it. I need to because I have like I this in November I'm doing Studio City at the uh at the write-off room, and then I'm doing my monthly one at Oscars. Then I'm also starting in November 20th, I'm doing four a year at the beautiful um in Vegas, the Smith Center at Myron's Cabaret. So I'm so excited. November 20th, I'm starting there.

[40:31] Unknown speaker: No. I want to come to New York. I want to come to New York. I have the best most talented friends there. I need to like do it.

[40:37] Robbie Rozelle: Michael, don't you think Robert and I should do a show together that we can take everywhere?

[40:42] Michael Orland: Yes.

[40:43] Robbie Rozelle: The Robbie and Robert show R and Right.

[40:46] Unknown speaker: R Square, whatever.

[40:48] Robbie Rozelle: I like a little bit I could use some R and R.

[40:51] Unknown speaker: That's a great title. I could use some marinara.

[40:55] Unknown speaker: I truly just ate a full bowl of meatballs before I started this. I'm so hungry right now my Mongiaro is just kicked in. My husband is Italian and like on Sunday he makes sauce and the the whole machine. But uh it it was just in the fridge and I was like oh this is so great.

[41:16] Unknown speaker: Does he make a mean gravy?

[41:18] Unknown speaker: Yeah.

[41:19] Unknown speaker: Yeah. That's so I'm supposed to ask how Jinx are you how is Jinx is I literally okay so Jinx gets picked up to go to the park every day Monday through Friday from 3 30 to 6 30 but today the groomer who comes to the house because she is very traumatized by getting a bath like I understand too I am too and the groomer came at 3 30 and so I had to just take her after she was groomed to the park to drop her off.

[41:50] Unknown speaker: Oh you're like first world problems trust me.

[41:54] Unknown speaker: No you have the most beautiful dog the most well behaved dog. I'm just gonna show you how beautiful she is I'm obsessed with her myself.

[42:00] Unknown speaker: Please.

[42:02] Unknown speaker: Look at here she is with her baby.

[42:04] Unknown speaker: Oh, wait, there this is.

[42:06] Unknown speaker: All I see is a ring light.

[42:08] Unknown speaker: I know. I didn't want you to know I had a ring light from my good lighting. You're truly like.

[42:13] Unknown speaker: I sure do.

[42:15] Unknown speaker: Wait, can I, Michael? I don't want to. I don't want glasses because you'll see the ring light in it.

[42:19] Unknown speaker: It happens.

[42:20] Unknown speaker: Michael, I don't know. I don't want to put you on the spot, Michael, and I don't want to, I don't want to share Michael's. You know, this fact I learned at Michael's gorgeous house, the most beautiful is that Michael.

[42:36] Unknown speaker: I don't know. If you don't tell people this, and then we're gonna ignore that I say it, but isn't isn't it before American Idol, before Kelly Clarkson, before Jennifer Hudson, didn't you kind of get your go in LA with Estelle Getty?

[42:50] Michael Orland: Well, she was one of my best friends when I first moved here. I was working with puppeteer Wayland Flowers, and um okay. No, you're 40 is too young to know who that is. I know. Okay, thank you, Robbie.

[43:04] Michael Orland: He was a puppeteer, Wayland and Madam, and I was his I moved out, I like was a little burned out from doing piano bars in New York City. I was work, I was living in New York City, and it was like the end of 86, and I moved to LA and I literally the first weekend I moved here, I met Estelle Getty. Um, and uh we became fast friends. We were so close. As a matter of fact, the first time I told American Idol I couldn't come in was because I told um um I didn't want to tell my friend Estelle Getty that I couldn't meet her for lunch the next day like we had planned. I didn't want to call her like the night before. Can you imagine?

[43:41] Unknown speaker: So put it all working.

[43:42] Unknown speaker: This is Waylon Flowers and Madam, by the way.

[43:44] Unknown speaker: Oh my god.

[43:45] Unknown speaker: But do you remember him, Robert?

[43:46] Unknown speaker: No, 40's too young.

[43:48] Unknown speaker: No, but I love this. This is gay culture. We need to teach these things, or we can't.

[43:56] Unknown speaker: Wayland Flowers and Madam.

[43:57] Unknown speaker: Not Waylon Jennings.

[43:59] Unknown speaker: Not Wayland Jennings. No different.

[44:00] Unknown speaker: And then Michael. Wait, so you you had to tell Sophia from the Golden Girls no.

[44:05] Michael Orland: Well, I know I didn't want to, so when they called me up the first time to come on like help out on American Idol on season one, I said, I can't I said to my friend Deborah Burt, I said, I can't come in tomorrow.

[44:17] Michael Orland: Um, a friend of mine asked me for a favor, and I can't call her at nine o'clock tonight and say I can't come tomorrow. So I said no to American Idol the first time because I didn't want to tell Estelle no because she was a friend and she never asked me for anything in this one particular day. She asked me to go to lunch with her with another one of the Golden Girls. And uh, so I didn't want to call her and say I can't come. No, you go to lunch with the Golden Girl. I but I so wait a minute. So I but I said no to American Idol. What a dummy when I think back, like what a dummy. Like you're fine. I did okay. It was okay. You're not Dunkleman. You know what I mean?

[45:01] Michael Orland: Um, Michael plays. If you see Kristen Chenoweth, if you see Idina, if you see any of that, that's all Michael. And when Michael, he is, he's helped when I needed music, he helped when I needed voice lessons. He showed up to play piano for me. He is just a funny fun. Hey, we had a fun time when we played, we did your show with the amazing Vatellos that I missed all my, I miss it there. I love it there. Well, you have a good one. I didn't return an email. I'm gonna have to cut the write-off room. I uh, that's a deal. Robbie and me will bring the show there, and you're gonna have to come and play something for us. Fine. Fine, I'm not afraid. Okay. Uh no, I'm gonna hand you Sondheim.

[45:48] Michael Orland: Oh, now he's good. And Piazza. Just a medley. Piazza is my favorite score to play. I love this. It's so fun. Michael, thank you for coming in. All right, you guys love you both. Happy birthday, Robert. You are such a loved person. I just, I've been watching, I've loved watching everybody just. It's just been a Robert Bannon Love Fest. We call it an RBLF. I appreciate you so much, Michael.

[46:22] Michael Orland: My pleasure. I'm so glad I could come on and uh with my ring light. You can't even see it now. No, I never. Now you now you can. Now you can't. I would never. You look amazing. You do. I look, I look 60 with the ring light and 62 without it. No, you look, you don't look a day over. We look like we're the same. We're amazing. This is a unhinged baby. I can be right a child. I'm telling you. I could be his father, but that's because I'm from upstate New York. Okay, that's different. Yeah. Okay, that's different. Love you boys. Happy birthday, Robert. Thank you, Michael. I can't wait to see you. Thank you. We'll see you soon.

[47:14] Robert Bannon: Ah, I love Michael Orland. You know, I love Michael Orland. I try not to. He's so humble and so sweet about his career. He has played for everyone.

[47:26] Michael Orland: Yeah.

[47:27] Robert Bannon: Ever literally everyone. Not me, but like everyone else. But hold on, because I'm getting another knock on our virtual door.

[47:34] Michael Orland: We have a nervous breakdown.

[47:36] Robert Bannon: You are a nervous breakdown. You were a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown, is what you are.

[47:40] Antwayn Hopper: I take a lot of NX.

[47:42] Robert Bannon: We go.

[47:43] Antwayn Hopper: Oh my god.

[47:51] Robert Bannon: That's my break. That's Broadway superstar, Antwayn Hopper. You know, of the Tony winning Pulitzer Prize winning Antwayn Hopper.

[48:03] Antwayn Hopper: Say that.

[48:03] Robert Bannon: With your I love you.

[48:06] Antwayn Hopper: I love you, Antwayn Hopper.

[48:09] Robert Bannon: I adore you. I can't believe you're here. Listen. Listen, Antwayn Hopper is one of my favorite interviews. You know, you, you know, Polk PR said, will you interview Antwayn Hopper? And I said sure. And I didn't know Antwayn Hopper is a good time. I didn't know Antwayn Hopper is from Oklahoma. I didn't know Antwayn Hopper went to Carnegie Mellon. I didn't know Antwayn Hopper was gonna spill the tea. I didn't know Antwayn Hopper was gonna talk about all the talk, and we just hit it, and our interview has been one of the most watched.

[48:38] Antwayn Hopper: So good.

[48:39] Robert Bannon: 17,000 inner and he told you how he got booked because of Sending Alana Club.

[48:44] Antwayn Hopper: That's it.

[48:46] Robert Bannon: I watched. Also niceness. Can I just say happy birthday to you? And that uh we're so lucky to have you. I mean, I'm speaking for the community of Broadway. Um, you make it hip, you make it exciting, you've encouraged me, you've been over here to encourage me personally, and you mean a lot to me.

[49:09] Antwayn Hopper: I actually clocked in at 6:45, but then I realized, oh, I'm really early. So I got me a little glass of wine and I've been watching, but I just want you to know you mean a great deal to me. You are someone who has stayed with me and pushed me. And we have big plans and big dreams. And it's all gonna this he you are you are a real light and a talent, and and you just have only wait till you hear the music he's gonna come out. Wait till you see what Antwayn Hopper is. Antwayn is the moment.

[49:42] Robert Bannon: No, so wait, how are you how do you feel?

[49:46] Antwayn Hopper: Um, this whole hour so far, a 50 minutes gives me a lot of anxiety. I feel overwhelmed and grateful. You know, what I it not to make this uh take time, but it's about you, shut up. It is about you. I'm like, come on, you're you're off. When I was when I was 32 years old, I was very lost. I did not sing in 15 years, I had not come out, I had I was I was 300 pounds, I was so sad, I was so upset about my and when I now hear um and see what has happened over the past eight years of like stepping into truth, stepping into what I've been afraid of my whole entire life. Um, I am so overwhelmed. I can't put into words, and and I think that the past few weeks, I've been kind of heavy about this because not that 40 is a big deal, but it is a monument.

It is like in your head when you think like if I'm 80, this is four halfway through. It's like it's that it's that moment where um and and I'm just really grateful uh to to be where I am, and I'm so honored to know people like you both and every I'm it's very overwhelming. I don't even know what to say. I'm mother lost.

[50:52] Robert Bannon: Can we talk about the crew that put all this together?

[50:58] Antwayn Hopper: Your crew.

[50:59] Robert Bannon: My from Robbie. Adrian, you know, Adrian has been on top of the city. Adrian and me.

[51:06] Antwayn Hopper: Yeah.

[51:07] Robert Bannon: Robbie and Adrian. I'm like, they have been working on the city. Well, let me be quiet, but honey. She is it. Adrian comes to red mic does as well, but Adrian and Mike do red carpets. Um, they show up, they do not know how we show up with CBS and Playbill and Fox and all these people, and then we show up with my phone and my little microphone, and we just do it. And that's what we do. We have, you know, we fake it till we make it, and that's what we're gonna do.

[51:36] Antwayn Hopper: But you've got your over million streams.

[51:38] Robert Bannon: You literally, and it's you and a flip phone. You know what I mean?

[51:45] Antwayn Hopper: Wait, Robert, are you allowed to talk about what you have cooking in terms of like what shows are coming?

[51:53] Robert Bannon: Or have you already waited am I no? We like the Christmas show.

[51:56] Antwayn Hopper: Yes!

[51:58] Robert Bannon: The Robert Bannon Christmas special Saturday, December 9th, 2023. Showtime, 7 p.m. Tickets available at Chelsea Tables and Stage dot venue ticks.com. Why don't you come? We, you know, you know, Robbie's singing with me. Kevin Smith Kirkwood is singing with me. I maybe Antwayn needs to sing, you know, like maybe please come home, you know, like um Christmas, the snow's coming down.

[52:26] Antwayn Hopper: I love that you just meet him, Darlene.

[52:29] Robert Bannon: Are you singing, Robert?

[52:30] Robert Bannon: Yeah.

[52:32] Antwayn Hopper: We gotta figure out something. If anything, I could do Grinch.

[52:35] Robert Bannon: But Antwayn, you know what's happening tonight at midnight, right?

[52:38] Antwayn Hopper: Yes, the Robert Bannon rewind live in concert, which was taped at the Green Room 42.

[52:45] Robert Bannon: There was ready. Listen, Antwayn came to my to my show that the last show, and Antwayn walks into a room, and people go fan out because Antwayn is broad, like people know the white suit from the Tonies.

[53:01] Antwayn Hopper: That's when I met people know the life.

[53:03] Robert Bannon: Billy Reese be like was like, I need to be Antwayn's friend now and book him for pride and playbill and all that. And you know, Antwayn, Robbie's Robbie's husband is the playbill uh is Len Rardino a playbill that works in Brian.

[53:19] Antwayn Hopper: I met, I think I met him um yes, I'm upset.

[53:25] Robert Bannon: Well and I met you at Robert's concert when he and I sang uh what that song from chess.

[53:32] Antwayn Hopper: Yes, yes, yes, yes loud loud.

[53:32] Robert Bannon: Antwayn Hopper, and let me tell you, Antwayn Hopper has the most stately apartment.

[53:44] Antwayn Hopper: I see like I'm a little jealous, honestly.

[53:49] Robert Bannon: I look like a hoarder. You have your fake, you have your fake bricks up, and you just have gorgeousness behind you. It's rude, frankly.

[53:55] Antwayn Hopper: Wait, Robbie, do you have cassette tapes?

[53:58] Robbie Rozelle: I have a couple, but more, it's like vinyl and books on theater and awards.

[54:07] Robbie Rozelle: Uh and I'm starting a campaign. Everyone, bring back your VCRs, bring back your D players, don't throw them out.

[54:14] Antwayn Hopper: Sad, yes, give me a DVD.

[54:16] Robbie Rozelle: Yes, I don't want to live stream it.

[54:19] Antwayn Hopper: I mean, I'm gonna do that tonight.

[54:22] Robert Bannon: Did I just get the way we were?

[54:24] Robbie Rozelle: Double dips?

[54:25] Antwayn Hopper: Yeah, yes, yes, yes.

[54:27] Robbie Rozelle: Because I'm what?

[54:28] Antwayn Hopper: G E I G H G-E-I-G-H-G.

[54:34] Robbie Rozelle: Yeah.

[54:35] Antwayn Hopper: Yes.

[54:36] Robbie Rozelle: Bring back physical media in all forms.

[54:39] Antwayn Hopper: I like that.

[54:39] Robbie Rozelle: I love it.

[54:40] Antwayn Hopper: I like that.

[54:41] Robert Bannon: Antwayn, you know, you're like one of my favorite performers, one of my favorite people. You're electric. His voice is electric, his acting is electric. And then offstage, he's just real, real and deep and honest. And we have you have been through it, and you are you are such a survivor and you are so inspiring and such a good friend. You're always there. And I am and you've really encouraged me and pushed me.

[55:02] Antwayn Hopper: And I can't.

[55:09] Robert Bannon: Like I'm not trying to, I'm sorry, I just was being nostalgic. I did a show in Connecticut. It was a bad bad summer stock production of Music Man with someone that ended up working with. I went and saw his show. And I was very blown away by it because I had never seen people depicted and the community depicted like in the show.

[55:30] Antwayn Hopper: Oh, I saw it off Broadway.

[55:32] Robert Bannon: And then to meet Antwayn and then to be friends with him and be an admirer of his work and the truth that he brought. And I just had a conversation the other day with a rapper, a gay rapper named Deadly in LA. And Deadly is a Mexican rapper, and he was talking about the gay gay culture. And I use your work as an example because I feel like there are a certain segment in the queer community that does that thumbs their nose down to, you know, the queer community of color that thumbs their nose down to the trans community. They want to keep in charge of what they look like, who they represent, who they support, and there are artists out here who are breaking down walls. Antwayn is breaking down walls, and and I'm so proud to to root and cheer for what you do and and the work and you you've sacrificed mind, body, spirit, blood, sweat, and tears to tell stories. So thank you.

[56:26] Antwayn Hopper: And you know what you can do.

[56:28] Robert Bannon: I can bring him a follow.

[56:30] Antwayn Hopper: Happy birthday.

[56:31] Robert Bannon: And I'm like, Robert, you are like, oh, it's not because what you said, it's what you stand for and in your integrity, and I know you mean it, but um, how selfless you are. We are here to celebrate you, and um, I'm on the verge of tears. You would think it was my birthday.

[56:47] Antwayn Hopper: Wait, but let me just say, Robert, again, every day it's our birthday.

[56:50] Robert Bannon: Go.

[56:51] Antwayn Hopper: Happy birthday. I'll do whatever you ask if you want to do anything. But um, I'm very, very, very happy to have met you, and I'm very, very excited about our future. I mean that. And Robbie, I look forward to seeing you on stage soon as well.

[57:05] Robbie Rozelle: Oh, baby.

[57:06] Antwayn Hopper: Okay.

[57:07] Robert Bannon: Uh, up, up, let's go. Listen.

[57:13] Antwayn Hopper: Oh, people watching.

[57:18] Robert Bannon: You're mad. One of the one of the best ways that you can support um queer creators and creators of color, etc. is by throwing them a follow and liking their shit.

[57:29] Antwayn Hopper: Oh, wow so it moves up in the algorithm, right?

[57:32] Robert Bannon: Follow me. Follow Robert. Follow Antwayn. We need it. We because we're hidden a lot of the time by the algo and things like that.

[57:42] Antwayn Hopper: So the best thing you can do is just give it a thumbs up or like get it takes no time to double tap.

[57:49] Robert Bannon: You know what I'm saying?

[57:50] Antwayn Hopper: Yes.

[57:50] Robert Bannon: If you can do it on Grindr, you can do it on Instagram.

[57:53] Antwayn Hopper: Oh.

[57:54] Robert Bannon: Oh, oh, he said that.

[57:56] Antwayn Hopper: Do they still have dudes nudes?

[57:58] Robert Bannon: Unclear.

[58:00] Antwayn Hopper: I'm not on it.

[58:01] Robert Bannon: I was straight back then.

[58:03] Antwayn Hopper: I was straight back then.

[58:05] Robert Bannon: I um, there's so much to unpack, isn't it, y'all?

[58:09] Antwayn Hopper: Uh-huh.

[58:10] Antwayn Hopper: He also tried to tell us in the pre-show that he could have been a father.

[58:14] Robert Bannon: He could have with a lady person.

[58:18] Antwayn Hopper: Robert, um collecting the full pearls.

[58:25] Robert Bannon: I can't.

[58:26] Antwayn Hopper: That's hot, though.

[58:30] Robert Bannon: Wait, you were gonna.

[58:31] Antwayn Hopper: Were you gonna marry a woman?

[58:32] Robert Bannon: I did.

[58:33] Antwayn Hopper: What?

[58:36] Robert Bannon: Oh, we're coming over with wine and unpacking all that.

[58:39] Antwayn Hopper: I did.

[58:43] Robert Bannon: I did.

[58:44] Antwayn Hopper: Robert, I knew there was something.

[58:46] Robert Bannon: I'm okay.

[58:47] Antwayn Hopper: I'm not gonna explain it, but that's hot.

[58:49] Robert Bannon: I mean, you know.

[58:52] Antwayn Hopper: He thinks it's hot. I mean, you know, us gays, we have our fetishes. I'm a little boy from Topeka. I'm from Topeka, Kansas. There's been many times when I was in the kitchen with, you know, my friend's mom, and you get a glance at the dad. I'm not gonna say which, but you know, it happens. I always just have a thing, you know.

[59:11] Michael Orland: You were married?

[59:15] Antwayn Hopper: I'm a way it changes everything, doesn't it? Oh, it just, you know what I mean? Don't judge a book. Well, don't you put white cover sometimes?

[59:24] Michael Orland: Certainly not that cover, not that one though.

[59:27] Antwayn Hopper: No, Antoine, I'm gonna show you one photo, and I need you to deconstruct it for a while.

[59:31] Michael Orland: Oh god.

[59:32] Antwayn Hopper: Oh god, help me. Please let it be Robert, though.

[59:35] Michael Orland: It is. This is young Robert Bannon.

[59:38] Antwayn Hopper: Oh my god. One year for his birthday because he's a Halloween baby. Let's talk about that and that pumpkin.

[59:47] Michael Orland: Wait, no, but this is actually really adorable. Oh my gosh. Let's talk about your beautiful blonde hair. Come on. Let's talk about that oversized hat.

[59:56] Antwayn Hopper: Oh good lord. But you know what, honey? I, you know what? My buddy. My buddy.

[1:00:04] Michael Orland: It's kind of giving big sister.

[1:00:05] Antwayn Hopper: But yes. I was gonna ask if though if those were ruffles on that white blouse.

[1:00:11] Michael Orland: I no tea.

[1:00:13] Antwayn Hopper: Okay, that's rolled up, please.

[1:00:14] Michael Orland: Oh, you're right. Unclear.

[1:00:18] Antwayn Hopper: Honey, that's what's it? Home country garden? Real name. That's actually his tree house.

[1:00:24] Michael Orland: It is my mom owned a hair salon.

[1:00:29] Antwayn Hopper: That's why. So you know. You had a blowout under that, didn't you? Put a little Diana Ross on and a little manicure at five years old, and you go to the hairstyle.

[1:00:42] Michael Orland: And I just got through watching the Tanya Tucker, um, you know, documentary. That gave me Tanya Tucker, honey. Listen to Stand by Your Man.

[1:00:50] Antwayn Hopper: I did she sing that because it didn't come up in the documentary.

[1:00:54] Michael Orland: Yes. Why wouldn't she put that on?

[1:00:57] Antwayn Hopper: She did Delta Dawn, but she didn't put standby.

[1:01:00] Michael Orland: Delta Dawn is... Oh shit.

[1:01:02] Antwayn Hopper: Oh Delta Dawn, though.

[1:01:04] Michael Orland: Thank you. I'm talking about Tanya Tucker.

[1:01:06] Antwayn Hopper: Tanya Tucker. Delta Dawn is a good song.

[1:01:09] Michael Orland: It's a great one. It is that one, honey. She did that. Anyway, happy to be in the audience. Come on, Craig following, following.

[1:01:17] Michael Orland: I'm thrilled. Thanks, Craig. Antoine, thanks for coming in.

[1:01:21] Antwayn Hopper: Thank you. I think we're gonna have an office. Someone knows. I'm sliding into your DMs in 10 minutes, uh, with my number because we are gonna kiki.

[1:01:32] Michael Orland: Oh, and Anthony. Let it fly. Because I also, I know the per, I know the person from that music man and everything that's around it.

[1:01:45] Antwayn Hopper: So I also am friends with James.

[1:01:50] Michael Orland: Love Jameson James.

[1:01:51] Antwayn Hopper: With who, honey?

[1:01:52] Michael Orland: James Jackson Jr.

[1:01:54] Antwayn Hopper: Yeah! Come on. Yes! Come on. Y'all can't handle it. We love you. Thank you.

[1:02:03] Antwayn Hopper: I love it when you say Kiki. That's so straight.

[1:02:08] Michael Orland: Okay. I love everyone and everyone. Keep supporting Robert. Keep supporting everything that's lovely and artistic and new. That's all. Bye, everybody.

[1:02:17] Antwayn Hopper: Thank you, Antoine. Can I take a, can I say thank you to the guests that were here? I want to thank you, please. Michael and Antoine and Tanara for being here live. 162 people you all stalked to get to send videos.

[1:02:34] Robert Bannon: And I want to thank my own, like team at my house. Like my, my firstly, after many years, I have a really amazing person. And I want to just give a shout out to my Darius because Darius is in San Diego. Darius is on the Pride Board, International Pride Board, and he would, and he's flying across the country to spend my birthday with me. And I know that he is so never misses a show. And then this is the show that he's in a conference in here. But I want to say that I appreciate and love. He has shown me love that I did not know was ever in the cards for me ever again. And I'm so grateful for him.

[1:03:10] Robert Bannon: I'm grateful for Adrian for putting this together and my old friends, Kristen, Kristen and Esther and Sam and Mike and Adrian and Adrian, Adrian, Adrian, who put a lot of this in, reached out to me and she also, she, she, I believe because I had something else delivered for you from her. Do you want me to, am I supposed to light it? Well, you can light it if you want. This is hilarious. Okay, guys, you know what I'm doing this? You know what I'm doing again? You know what I'm doing tomorrow? I'm going to see Ricky Martin. It's kind of gay. That's what you do when you turn 40.

[1:03:10] Michael Orland: Okay, happy birthday friend. Happy birthday. Birthday to you. You already blew it out with figures. You're early. I like this. I was told you love an MM cake. I'm, I'm, it's from like sheets or something. You know I like whipped cream. I like guys, the world is better placed because Robert Bannon came into our world 40 years ago.

[1:03:10] Antwayn Hopper: My lord, it's true. Robert, don't tell the predators that they don't feel that way. Here's what I want to, I'm gonna leave you with this. I hope people stream the album at least midnight, Rewind. But I want you to look at this kid.

[1:04:52] Michael Orland: Who is you? Oh, and what would you, what would you looking back from the vanish point of being 40 in a few days?

[1:05:01] Robert Bannon: Oh boy, this is what do you, what do you say to this child? Um, where'd you find these pictures? Um, I wanted a really, uh, can I tell a story?

[1:05:22] Michael Orland: Please.

[1:05:22] Robert Bannon: Better than anyone I know. Um, that was really sweet. Um, I think that, um, when I got divorced, well, you were talking about ex-wife, whatever. Um, I got divorced, and I had met, uh, had paid all this money after I got married to go meet Oprah, and I, um, and I've always wanted to tell this story in a show, and I met Oprah, and we, she did her like live your best life, and I was trying to find myself, and I went right after I got married to Miami, and we met Oprah, and I, I used to be a nerd, and I used to dream about show business, I used to dream about knowing artists. I just wanted to be around people that were artists, and I used to write letters to famous people, and I wrote a letter to Oprah's assistant and told her that I just got married and I spent my money from my wedding to meet Oprah with my wife, and we got this picture signed, and Oprah wrote, Live your best, like, like you know, like manifest your best life, blah blah blah, love Oprah.

And then I hung it up, and then I got divorced, and I would see this picture and I would say manifest your best wife and it was life. And I was sad that I couldn't hang it up. And I took another copy of it and I sent it to her, and I told, I just was in a weird place, and I told the whole story about I was getting divorced and I was lost, and I didn't know what my life was over, and blah blah blah. And FedEx delivered a package and I opened it up and it was a letter from Oprah, and it said, Life goes on and gets better. And life goes on and gets better, and it's gotten better and it gets bigger, and everything happens for a reason. And if you're out there and if you're afraid, if you are different, if you are somebody who doesn't want to step into what you feel like you need to be and who you are because you're afraid of what people will think, you will find this amazing community of people who you will love and will love you.

And um, you've been that for me every single Thursday. You all are the gift to me. This show is a gift for me. The people who come on this show are a gift for me. And each and every one of you every single week that have supported me and my family and my friends, I put them on a roller coaster, y'all, and you all have been riding with me. So I hope to see you at a show down the road at my house, say hello.

[1:07:28] Robert Bannon: I want to thank Robbie Rozelle for being an incredible friend. You are an incredible friend, you are an incredible collaborator, but more so than the music, more so than the shows. Your friendship, your friendship means the world, the world to me. And um, you're always there for me. And I love it's, uh, you know, they always say you can't choose your family, but the great thing, uh, within the queer community and the artistic community is you definitely can, uh, create a chosen family, and um honestly, you were my greatest pandemic find. Because that's what you've become to me. Just family.

[1:08:13] Robbie Rozelle: And right? Yes. Now I'm tired, but um, there were so many people who just love you and to be able to pour that love on you is just a joy and a blessing.

[1:08:34] Robert Bannon: Here's the thing, guys. What you're gonna do, you're gonna go at midnight. You're gonna listen to Rewind. Um, maybe you're just gonna turn on Spotify, leave it playing all night long while you turn the volume all the way down. Um, that's what Robert says he's doing for himself. Did you do that for Unfinished Business?

[1:08:51] Robbie Rozelle: No, now's the time, guys. Um, love that album. Um, it's a beautiful album for what it is. And is that real? Is that too much tea for the show?

[1:09:07] Robert Bannon: No, I don't think so. Uh, here's it's very much baby pictures.

[1:09:11] Robbie Rozelle: Yeah.

[1:09:12] Robert Bannon: It is a beautiful, it is a beautiful album. It is, is, is, uh, with a lot of money, it is all live musicians, it is strings, it is a bass clarinet. It is just, is limited in telling the story. And I think Rewind does. But you, it's also a teaching moment, right, for yourself. And you, you learned so much making it, and if you hadn't made it, I wouldn't have found you. And Robbie Rozelle was the first person I saw re-post the album, uh, when that album came out in July of 2020, 21, 22. And I would not be doing it, did not have the right producer, it has a rich producer, but it didn't have the right producer, and it because they took all my money, and um I also, but that producer introduced me to StreamYard, introduced me to the idea of doing the show, and then when that show, Quarantine Cabaret and Cocktails ended, um, I went to Robbie's house and told him that I wanted to do something, and I was gonna do it twice a month.

I was gonna do it just for fun. I was gonna do it. I tried to pitch it as like when you put out a record, Robbie. Let me just have your guest, and then a million streams, a hundred plus um shows later, and uh, and oh in a month, almost eight or nine thousand downloads on the Broadway Podcast Network. Um, I mean yeah, wait, that's a thing. I should put that up.

[1:10:36] Robbie Rozelle: Yeah. So if you're on the treadmill, you know, uh, Craig Strong Thompson from before and whoever's watching right now for the first time. You can listen to us, and sometimes there's new content on there that we don't. And next week, if I can promote next week's Thursday show, next yes next week on Wednesday. On the first, we will recap the birthday weekend. We will recap the actual birthday. I'm not here Thursday because we're working the red carpet for a show on Broadway, but it will be uh Trina Braxton of the Braxton's like Tony's and Tmar's sister, the Trina Braxton. Trina Braxton will tell us about being in Braxton Family Values, and then I will show you exclusively the red carpet of the New Jersey Hall of Fame induction dinner, hosted by Danny DeVito, and they're inducting Bruce Springsteen's wife Patty and Tony Orlando, and we're gonna talk to them all. But they couldn't be bothered with Don. Don't just Tony Orlando.

[1:11:38] Robert Bannon: So be here every week. Be here every week. Come on, every every week. We're round tabling. Robert, this has been a joy, a blessing.

[1:11:49] Robbie Rozelle: Over the top.

[1:11:49] Robert Bannon: I love you.

[1:11:50] Robbie Rozelle: I love you so much.

[1:11:51] Robert Bannon: I love you, thank you.

[1:11:52] Robbie Rozelle: Thank you for so stupid. I don't know what to say. Just please, please um follow Robbie, listen to his album, and come see us in December and stream Rewind tonight.

[1:12:04] Robbie Rozelle: Yeah. So you can follow me at Diva Robbie. Um, Rewind out at midnight. Spread the word. That's another thing that helps. Just throw the album up in your Instagram story. Great. What a great way to help spread the word. And it takes sharing is free.

[1:12:22] Robert Bannon: Yes.

[1:12:24] Robbie Rozelle: I'll share yours. I'll share, you know, I, I try to be active on the, you know, I really don't. Do you like social media?

[1:12:30] Robert Bannon: No, I hate it.

[1:12:32] Robbie Rozelle: Hate it.

[1:12:34] Robert Bannon: Yeah.

[1:12:35] Robbie Rozelle: But it's fine. Whatever. Disclaimer alert. Social media is terrible.

[1:12:45] Robert Bannon: Give me back my show.

[1:12:48] Robbie Rozelle: I love you. I'm so grateful to everybody who watches. The only thing that Robert doesn't share is that cake.

[1:12:55] Robert Bannon: Um, and Nor should he.

[1:12:57] Robbie Rozelle: No. But I won't eat the carb part. I'll only eat the whipped cream and sprinkles. I'm just so grateful that this happened to give us this. Thank you, everybody, for watching, and we will see you very soon.

[1:13:12] Robert Bannon: Thank you. Best is yet to come.