The legendary broadcaster and author Bill Boggs discusses his new novel Spike Unleashed: The Wonder Dog Returns (Post Hill Press, 2023), and his storied television career, with Joseph Planta.

Spike Unleashed: The Wonder Dog Returns by Bill Boggs (Post Hill Press, 2023). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Spike Unleashed

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Bill Boggs joins me now. The legendary broadcaster has just published a new book, Spike Unleashed: The Wonder Dog Returns. It’s a follow-up to his 2020 book The Adventures of Spike the Wonder Dog. These are hilarious, timely, and biting novels as told to Bill Boggs, by Spike, an English Bull Terrier who finds himself a television and social media sensation. We continue following Spike and his adventures in American popular culture and politics. Along the way, alongside his human Bud, and through Mr. Boggs, we get the often humourous, absurdist social commentary about the world of entertainment, that Spike has seemingly found himself in the midst of. I’ll ask Bill about the real dog that he had that inspired Spike, that appeared with him on local television back in North Carolina. The Philadelphia native was then lured to New York City, where in 1975 he became the host of WNEW’s Midday Live. He became a star in New York City with his daily program, that featured guest appearances by everybody, including Frank Sinatra, among so many others. A classic, which you can find of Bill’s YouTube channel, BillBoggsTV, which really says it all about the 1970s, and New York in the ‘70s, features Lawrence Welk and the Studio 54 fixture Disco Sally. I’ll ask Bill about the fame that catapults Spike to superstardom, as well as the celebrity that Bill also experienced in those days that he was on New York television daily. He went on to produce the syndicated series Comedy Tonight, and The Morton Downey Jr. Show, and he had a regular program on the Food Network, as well as other outlets. Visit his website at www.BillBoggs.com. This new book is published by Post Hill Press. He joined me from New York City a week and a half ago. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Bill Boggs; Mr. Boggs, good morning.

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