THE PLAYERS

KAREN SALKIN

Though Karen began her show business career by running away and joining the circus, she’s best known as the hostess of her long-running television show, Karen’s Restaurant Revue. Although the show is often less about food and more about her ongoing exploits, childhood in Brooklyn, show biz adventures, and life in general, Karen has become known as one of the most popular and hip Los Angeles restaurant critics.

In addition to being an actress with many stage, screen, and TV credits, (which provide much fodder for her comedic rants), she’s been a frequent TV host and guest, with her favorite gig being a couple of Tonight Show appearances. 

Karen’s resume includes several radio shows, including co-hosting the nationally syndicated political show Talk Back with Fred Wallin. Together, they’ve also helmed many a sports radio show, which is one of her favorite subjects.

In the past, Karen has been a model, dancer, hip-hop club promoter, and elementary school teacher, and attended four colleges, collecting two degrees along the way.

In the past few years, she’s become  a successful freelance journalist, with former assignments for People.com and TVGuide.com. Her column, Out To Lunch, is the most widely-read feature on BeverlyHillsPeople.com. She’s also the restaurant critic for the Culver City News and Blue Pacific News.

With the launch of ItsNotAboutMe.tv, Karen is finally able to combine all of her many interests into one endeavor. She tells it like it is about her experiences–the good, the bad, and the ugly.

And with the video aspect of this site, she’s thrilled to be able to bring you her takes on, as Johnny Carson said, “Whatever pops into her mind at the moment.”

MR. X

Obviously, by choosing the name Mr. X, he doesn’t want you to know anything about him! So, suffice it to say, this mystery man is the person behind Karen’s successes. He created, and forced her into doing, her long-running cable TV show, Karen’s Restaurant Revue, which is what springboarded her into every other endeavor.

He’s a talented actor, singer, and writer in his own right, in addition to being Karen’s dishwasher, dog wrangler, laundry man, gardener, hairdresser, electrician, sanitary engineer, chef, plumber, cleaning crew, tech support, male nurse, personal shopper, and financier.

CLARENCE, AKA THE SINGING DOG

The most precious being in the world, Clarence has been Karen’s co-star for his whole life. He’s known mainly for his amazing singing ability, but just this year, like the famous opera singers before him, Clarence has gone into retirement in that category.

But you can see his beautiful face, and mouth-watering (in every way!) kissing technique, in the podcasts coming soon to this site. Just don’t be too jealous now!

REVIEWING PANELS

I’m happy to announce the addition of “reviewing panels” to the site. As long-time readers know, I always use the opinions of pals in my restaurant reviews, because as the site states, It’s Not About Me.

Now we’ve added panels for many aspects of the site, including the Beauty and Gift Ideas sections, so we can bring you the consensus opinion, where applicable.

As of now, most panel members are located in Los Angeles, with a handful in NY, and they’re all people I know with opinions I trust. As there’s more time, I have prospective members scattered throughout the country to add on. The group is both sexes, multi ages and ethnicities, and fun people in general.

I’ll have a link up soon where you can apply to join, as soon as we can accept strangers to the panel. So, please keep checking for it, if you’re interested.