Karen Ocamb is now a leading LGBTQ journalist in LA, but decades ago she was a cranky teenager on the East Coast, who was very gently reproved by Paul Newman over some freshly caught fish. When Newman died, Ocamb filed a loving commentary on her two encounters with the star.

Then, since Newman won the Academy's Jean Hersholt award at the Oscars in 1994, another distinguished journalist, Hollywood historian Alex Ben Block, goes to the Hollywood Walk of Fame to tell us who Jean Hersholt was and why he's beloved in the Industry.

Both of these pieces originally aired in October of 2008.

Support for this podcast comes from Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live; and bythe Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

Off-Ramp theme music by Fesliyan Studios.

I start this week's podcast with a piece of audio I was instructed never to play again. Ever. It's Tom Jones adapting his mega-hit "She's a Lady," so it goes "He's a Rabe, whoah whoah whoah he's a Rabe..."

The person who told me not ever to run it again was Rico Gagliano, who was just jealous. I mean, the best he could ever get is Gerardo.

We originally aired this interview on KPCC in December of 2008, when Sir Tom released the album, "24 Hours."

Support for this podcast comes from Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live; and bythe Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

Off-Ramp theme music by Fesliyan Studios.

Rabe: It's (still) Cold Outside!; Animated Conversations; Drawing the Line; These Kids are Alright; And These Kids Aren't; Food for Thought; Go West Chef; Hammer Time; A Modern Collection; Low Merlot; Brad's Secret

Rabe: It's Cold Outside!; King in a Temple; Johnie's No More; A Little Night Music; Colombian Folk with a Twist; Eating in the City of Angels; Eating in 1984; No Big Deal; Apple Pared; Reporter's Roundtable

Off-Ramp Makes Friends and Influences People; Take a Hike; How Great Thou Art; Call Your Bookie; The emerging bank of America; Cheveux au natural; Beat It; Princess of Whales; So You're a Marine Biologist?; Rocky Un-Robed; Hit 'Em Where They Feel

Future City; Back to the Future; Mirror, Mirror; The Making of a Queen; Rose Rustler; Edward Scissorhands; New Art; Sana Sana; Resolutions; Call Sheet

A Christmas Carol Redux

Message from John Rabe This week we are doing a virtual broadcast from the Alhambra's Apocryphal Mall. (It's not on a map, hit "listen to entire program" to get there) Listen in as Off-Ramp regulars drop in to talk, share and scuffle! -John

Our Lady of the Ladle -- On DVD; Nunsense; Sweet Deal; The Making of "Sweet Land"; Eeny Meenie Mighty Mo; Menorah on a Mazda; OCMA Biennial; Reporter's Notebook; Mars Water Sponsor; A Public Good-Bye; Call Sheet; WEB EXTRA: Eye of the Tiger

It isn't easy being Green; Cello Fellow; Crime Buster; How Great Art Thou; Road to Hollywood; Blade II; Wining and Dining; Bozo The Bling-Bling Clown; Call Sheet; Reporter's Roundtable; WEB EXTRA: A Year-Round Winter Wonderland