Wink Martindale: I always had a desire to re-record "Deck of Cards" because it had been out of print and unavailable for a number of years. At the same time I had been saving some of my all-time favorite narrative stories and poems to record. Thus during the Spring of this year [2000] I recorded all these and released them on a CD titled "Winking At Life" [no relation to my book of the same title, I just liked that particular title]. Interestingly the narratives tracks were recorded at RCA Studio B, where Elvis had recorded such hits as "It's Now Or Never", "Are You Lonesome Tonight", and other monster hits. It was an eerie feeling, but an honor at the same time.

Dean S. Planet: From your broadcasting years, what was your favorite interview?

Wink Martindale: I truly enjoyed all my interviews. But of them all, I would point to interviews with singer Nat "King" Cole's widow Maria; Neil Diamond; Jack Lemmon; Richard Rodgers; Dick Haymes; Sammy Davis; Steve and Eydie; and Tony Bennett.

Dean S. Planet: What do you think of the current state of game shows?

Wink Martindale: Thanks to the success of Regis and "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire", game shows are back in vogue. I have said for years that when a game show comes along that grabs the imagination and interest of the viewer again [as "Millionaire" did], we would see a proliferation of games again. That hasn't happened yet to the degree I expected, but I like most of the new shows. I am not surprised that the copycats of "Millionaire" did not last.