Too Close for Comfort Actress Lydia Cornell Interviews World Leaders, Presidential Candidates, And Pulitzer Prize Winners for New Radio Show

Los Angeles (PRWEB) May 23, 2008 -- You may remember her as Sara Rush, the dazzlingly beautiful yet stereotypically dumb blonde on ABC's '80s hit sitcom, Too Close for Comfort. Performing alongside TV icon Ted Knight, Lydia Cornell (http://www.lydiacornell.com) quickly catapulted onto the Hollywood scene, co-starring on a top-rated show while still in her late teens. Since Too Close for Comfort ended with the death of Knight two decades ago, Cornell has become one of the Internet's most witty and outspoken bloggers - as well as being a novelist, a stand-up comedian, and a screenwriter.

Cornell is now the co-host of Basham & Cornell, a daily talk radio show broadcasting live from Las Vegas on KLAV 1230 AM Monday - Friday at 8 A.M. PST and simulcast worldwide on the web at http://www.klav1230am.com. Recent guests have included Valerie Bertinelli, John and Elizabeth Edwards, John Dean, Pat Buchanan, Dennis and Elizabeth Kucinich, Valerie Plame-Wilson, Pulitzer Prize winner Charlie Savage, Ed Asner, Senator Charlie Rangel, Greg Palast, best-selling authors, and more. With a knife-sharp sense of humor, Cornell discusses politics and social issues from a heartfelt spiritual perspective. "This is the most important election of our time," Cornell said. "It's a thrilling time to be changing the world." Basham & Cornell has just been picked up by WXB 102, the No. 1 highest-rated online radio station in the dancepunk/80s/new wave genre at http://www.wxb102.tk, for its weekend talk programming.

Now signed to Ebeling Literary Agency, Cornell has also become a prolific author. Cornell's writing has been described as a cross between Dave Sedaris and Anne Lamott. In an upcoming book, Lydia chronicles her tragic-comic journey as a female in the 21st century and explores being an American in this bizarre new millennium where 'peace' seems to be a dirty word. A children's advocate and role model for young women, Cornell and her sons volunteer at Hope Gardens Residence for Homeless Women and Children, which is partnered with Union Rescue Mission. Profits from Cornell's ventures go to various children's charities, including Give Kids a Break, Girls Inc., and Feed the Children.

Although probably better known for her comedy work, which has included stand-up gigs at the Riviera and the Sahara in Las Vegas and opening up for Paul Rodriguez, Cornell has gradually developed a buzz for openly writing about her views of world events in her award-winning blog. And controversy as well. Her article, "Death is Sexier than Sex...to Ann Coulter," expressing outrage at Coulter's 'extermination speak,' caused an uproar when Coulter published Cornell's home phone number and private e-mail on the front page of her website in retaliation. Cornell was slapped with death threats and hate mail, but mainly she received hundreds of love letters in support of her statements. She was even given a Purple Heart, sent to her from disabled Marine combat veteran John Conley. The Cornell-Coulter feud was covered by MSNBC, CNN, Fox, and the Huffington Post. There is an ongoing investigation into Coulter fans hacking into Cornell's website and e-mail.

Best known for Too Close for Comfort, Cornell still hasn't stopped acting. She guest-starred opposite Larry David on a recent episode of HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, garnered a Best Actress nomination at the Method Fest, and is currently in the new indie film Damage Done.

###