Karen Carpenter: Starving For Perfection with Randy Schmidt

TSC Interviews Karen Carpenter doc writer/producer Randy Schmidt! For more info: karencarpenterdoc.com/
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About This TSC Gaming Ent Interview: TSC News TV host Fred Richani interviews writer, producer, music historian, and best selling author Randy Schmidt about the powerful documentary Karen Carpenter: Starving For Perfection, her cautionary tale, why he didn't involve Richard Carpenter with the doc, The Carpenters' impact, and what fans can learn from her story.
Author Randy Schmidt Interview Time Stamps:
00:00 Karen Carpenter: Starving for Perfection Trailer
02:01 Randy Schmidt on Karen Carpenter documentary
04:43 Randy Schmidt on Karen Carpenter's cautionary tale
05:51 Randy Schmidt on Karen Carpenter's story with hindsight
07:37 Randy Schmidt on mental health, music industry
09:00 Randy Schmidt on Karen Carpenter doc interview subjects
10:58 Randy Schmidt on Richard Carpenter, Carpenter Family
13:35 Follow Randy Schmidt online, Karen Carpenter doc screenings
14:45 Why people should watch Karen Carpenter: Starving For Perfection
“Karen Carpenter: Starving For Perfection” is an AMS Pictures production from the incredible film team led by Director Randy Martin (The Sundance Channel series “The Inspiration Sessions,” “Barack Obama: The Man and His Journey”), Producer & Writer Randy Schmidt (bestselling author of the 2010 national bestseller “Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter,” “Judy Garland on Judy Garland: Interviews and Encounters”), Producer & Editor Brad Osborne (“Tom Petty: Won’t Back Down,” “Shania Twain: The Price of Fame”), and Executive Producers Carnie Wilson (the multi Billboard 100 charting and Grammy Nominated pop band “Wilson Phillips”) & Andy Streitfeld (“I Was Lorena Bobbitt,” “A Defining Moment: Four Tuskegee Airmen and the Inauguration of Barack Obama”), Director of Photography Osman Tello (“Murder Made Me Famous”), and Editors Chuck Brown & Paul Ellison.
About the Film: Karen Carpenter was the first in a long line of celebrities to suffer from an eating disorder during an era when the vastly misunderstood disease brought shame and public humiliation. For the first time, we hear Karen Carpenter's personal struggle in her own voice through never-before released recordings and through the legendary voices of those who knew her and were inspired by her music. As the #1 American musical act of the 1970s, the Carpenters were on “top of the world," producing a string of pop masterpieces, including "Close to You," "We've Only Just Begun," and "Rainy Days and Mondays." But behind closed doors, Karen's quest for perfection resulted in low self-esteem, a disheartening love life, and a public battle with anorexia nervosa, which ended with her untimely death at the age of only 32. Forty years after her death comes “Karen Carpenter: Starving For Perfection,” a captivating, revealing, and unvarnished documentary providing astounding new insight into the singer's tragically short life and enduring musical legacy.
#karencarpenter #KarenCarpenterStarvingForPerfection #KarenCarpenterDoc #KarenCarpenterDocumentary #thecarpenters #richardcarpenter #randyschmidt #TSCGaming #TSCNews #FredRichani #TSC #TSCGamingEnt #TSCEntertainment #FredRichaniMedia #TheSportsCourier #SportsCourier #Richani #TSCGamer #TSCGamingAndApps #FilmAndTV #Films #documentary #documentaries #documentaryfilmmaker #starvingforperfection #AMSPictures

[@TSCGamingEnt]

For more info: karencarpenterdoc.com/

[@lvelez1999]

Hurts to hear Karen say, "The only way to stop is to just die." Breaks my heart

[@jimdonovan5861]

She was the best, hands down ... there will never be another Karen Carpenter

[@TSCGamingEnt]

🫶

[@gabrielainda3536]

I simply have no words to explain how I love Karen Carpenter, God bless her.

[@TSCGamingEnt]

Thanks for watching!

[@emillion4470]

What struck me from the trailer is a picture of Karen in a red bikini - tanned, beaming with health and youthful vitality. She had a gorgeous hour glass figure -curves and all. Shocking how could she not see her beauty.

[@TSCGamingEnt]

A cautionary tale for sure. She's still beloved to this day.

[@artistbrindle]

Did her family compliment that beautiful figure though? I don’t think they did.

[@jimmalloy7279]

​@artistbrindle Whose "family complements their figure"? Are you kidding? It's like the therapist who tried to get her mother to say she loved her. Would that solve the problem for a 32 year old woman? She knew her mother loved her, but she needed to love herself.

[@michellewolters9319]

@@jimmalloy7279NO!!! Karen did NOT know that her mother loved her, because her mother did not show her love!!! Their mother favored Richard and made it very obvious. Karen‘s mother was cold and callous to her. And for no reason! Karen‘s home Life affected her for the rest of her short life. It began and ended with her mother.

[@jimmalloy7279]

@michellewolters9319 You were there? Or did you read a tabloid story designed to push people's buttons to sell? People don't stave themselves to death because of unaffectionate mothers.

[@stephd8309]

I was 2 when Karen died but my mum was a huge fan and I grew up loving Karen's voice. I think her voice was so utterly beautiful and no one compares.

[@ronaldzincone5896]

Randy, thank you for doing this documentary at Karen's 40th anniversary of her passing. It needed to get done. We definitely need to get KC's story out there to the public. There is definitely a resurgence in "The Carpenters" music and legacy and this documentary will not only shed light on who Karen was, the dark and the light, but also about her angelic voice, the greatest in history, and put more of a spotlight on anorexia nervosa. We need to keep Karen's legacy and the legacy of "The Carpenters" going.

[@TSCGamingEnt]

Thanks for watching!

[@scottyh8494]

I am so happy that there is finally a documentary out on Karen Carpenter updated and for the younger generation to see and they will be able to hear the greatest voice in music history that was ever recorded.

[@TSCGamingEnt]

👍

[@gregman1715]

It's Truly Sad Karen Should Still Be Here With Us Looking Back At Her Amazing Life She Was A Beautiful Young Lady With The Most Beautiful Voice I've Have Ever Heard I Feel So Much Love And Sadness For Her Karen You Are Still Loved After 40 Year's And Always Will Be ❤️💔

[@TSCGamingEnt]

🙏🫶

[@JoJo1955]

Imagine for a moment that you are given at birth - a gift of extraordinary musical talent, academics, sportsmanship, etc., and that you are in the 'world class' category for expressing your talent with natural ease. You are enjoying your practically otherworldly talents and people love you so much that they cannot get enough of what you do. But add in personal family/love dysfunctional relationships, contract and touring demands and you literally lose control/burn out over your very soul and life itself. THEN, to make things worse, you turn on yourself and become OCD about your weight, or maybe drugs, whatever. THEN, you seek perfectionism of which is impossible - because your talent is already 'perfect'. Helluva life. Karen has been at peace for the last 40 years and although I hope we'll see her in another incarnation (you never know), the lessons she has given us are timeless. Karen, you are singing with the angels now. You are now free. Thanks for your voice, your drumming and exceptional personality.

[@captainfantastic9158]

Just listening to my favourite Carpenters song, "You," from the A KIND OF HUSH album. Her vocal is, to my ears, her finest ever, on a list that includes "Solitaire" and "I Need To Be In Love." Though Starving For Perfection isn't exactly a feel-good movie, at least it gives us the opportunity to have Karen in our lives once again. REST IN POWER, KAREN.

[@hornybodhisattva]

We need A Netflix biopic series ❤🎉

[@texasgirl6450]

Beautiful person. ❤

[@debbieprice4591]

Thank You, Randy.

[@TSCGamingEnt]

Thanks for watching! 🫶

[@bdavis4099]

I remember Rosemary Clooney on a Merv Griffin show talking about Ms. Carpenter. She said, "She has the chops."

[@TSCGamingEnt]

🙏

[@sherrywhitley6927]

She was beautiful, and Talented. Great idea for a documentary for Mrs. Karen Carpenter.

[@TSCGamingEnt]

🫶

[@themelhurry]

Such a great interview! Can’t wait to see this documentary!

[@TSCGamingEnt]

Thank you, Director Mel!!!!

[@j.c.b6473]

I can't wait to see this! I know it will tell the true story since Richard is not involved or controlling things.

[@TSCGamingEnt]

Thanks for watching!

[@lvelez1999]

You know what? This may be great but, people need to leave Richard alone

[@j.c.b6473]

@@lvelez1999 😂😂😂

[@renarga6886]

She was a GODDESS, both in looks and in talent. How sad everyone could see that, except herself.

[@TSCGamingEnt]

Thanks for watching!

[@klauskarnath2935]

Perfection was allways in her Mind

[@jimf.9822]

I am so anxious to watch this documentary. I am willing to buy it or rent it, whatever it takes. HOW DOES ONE ACQUIRE IT? WHEN WILL IT BE AVAILABLE? PLEASE HELP!

[@angelafishburn7654]

Same here. I'd totally buy it to see it.

[@mariagastelum7923]

Thank you for this work on an amazing singer!

[@TSCGamingEnt]

Thanks for watching!

[@specialdudeable]

What timing! Amazingly a recent Acadamy Award winner mentioned the Carpenters, and actually started to sing his version of Top Of The World, and the recent listen to the Carpenters music on KZbin. Maybe a major motion picture is in the future as well?? What actress would need an Oscar??

[@TSCGamingEnt]

👍

[@bamainatlanta]

it blows my mind they have yet to do a Hollywood movie about her life

[@SomewhereInTime5059]

​@@bamainatlantamine, too. Crazy!

[@rhondamartinez7614]

What a great interview!💜

[@TSCGamingEnt]

Thanks so much!

[@vpwb]

Good interview!

[@TSCGamingEnt]

Thanks so much!

[@robbiemckenzie7822]

Hard to believe that now both Suzanne Sommers and Olivia Newton John are gone to

[@TSCGamingEnt]

💔💔💔

[@cocoaorange1]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@cherylb2008]

Just finishing Little Girl Blue, for the first time

[@TSCGamingEnt]

Thanks for watching

[@SS-kg3tx]

Where can we see this? She was amazing.

[@TSCGamingEnt]

Hopefully soon. Currently on festival circuit and seeking distribution.

[@Lovejazz01]

RIP ONJ, still heart broken 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾💔💔💔💔💔💐💐💐💐, RIP Suzanne Somers🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾💐💐💐

[@danielcraig3987]

Bums me out because she was the queen with the best voice but nobody talks about her like they should just think if she would have never got sick ❤

[@robertpiarulli6230]

I honestly think the reason for that is because she wasn't promoted as solo yet. She was the female premier voice of the 1970s and Olivia was next in line

[@user-vh4nt6li2z]

Where can I watch this documentary?

[@jurgengenuit4176]

Where Can we See the documentary please?

[@TSCGamingEnt]

Still making its rounds in festivals and will hopefully get distribution this year!

[@lisaj1387]

Is this ever going to be available streaming, or just watchable at West Coast film festivals?

[@TSCGamingEnt]

They're in the process of getting distribution. Given who's involved in the doc, I wouldn't be surprised if we'll get good news soon. :)

[@jimf.9822]

Good question! Why isn't it readily available by now? The demand is there. Needless to say, I'm dying to see it. Hope that it's released before I do.

[@jimhensley8235]

When will this documentary be available for viewing by the general public?

[@TSCGamingEnt]

Hopefully soon. Currently on festival circuit.

[@jon221074]

when is this docu available?

[@TSCGamingEnt]

Still on the festival circuit. To be determined!

[@jon221074]

@@TSCGamingEnt thanks for the update

[@edelweiss9424]

A GREAT LOS!!!!!! 🥲🥲🥲

[@TSCGamingEnt]

🙏❤️

[@Alyssa-cd7el]

Where can we watch the full documentary?

[@TSCGamingEnt]

TBD. It's still on the festival circuit.

[@jimf.9822]

Good question! Why isn't it readily available by now? The demand is there. Needless to say, I'm dying to see it. Hope that it's released before I do.

[@rebekahTee-er3rz]

Has richard blocked it by any chance?? He did with tom Haynes animation.

[@lvelez1999]

​@@rebekahTee-er3rzoh please don't assume things about Richard. Assuming things about people is painful. I've had many false assumptions about me and they hurt. It Only matters what God says about us. And He says in His Word that we are, "fearfully and wonderfully made." Perfection will never be achieved because Only God - GOD - is Perfect ✝️

[@susanmuir3579]

Is this movie in theaters?

[@TSCGamingEnt]

Film festivals for now! Check karencarpenterdoc.com/ for updates :)

[@idelljohnson5440]

Is this going to be on Reelz?

[@TSCGamingEnt]

We'll see! Still on festival circuit last time we checked.

[@idelljohnson5440]

Thank you 😊

[@TSCGamingEnt]

Thanks for watching! @@idelljohnson5440

[@user-fb3vd8yn5i]

Karen is gone, Olivia is gone, Suzanne is gone, dang.

[@TSCGamingEnt]

:(

[@lvelez1999]

Only God knows, 100%, what really happened

[@TSCGamingEnt]

🙏💔

[@katylake212]

What's this insistence in turning Karen into a victim? She wasn't a weak person; hard to believe, but it really takes a lot of self discipline to be anorexic. She did what she wanted to do. That unfortunately including anorexia. I had a mother similar to hers, and I was also anorexic in my teens. After all I've read on her, the things that ring truest about her condition was her mother's attitude towards her (yes, that matters), and once when she was a normal weight but wore an outfit that wasn't exactly flattering. She read something in a review criticizing her weight and that was the lit fuse for the starvation. My mother criticized my weight, and I heard someone in school make a remark about my butt. That summer, I lost so much weight my school uniform fell off me in September. Everyone tells you how great you look, and that makes you starve more.

[@davidsheriff9274]

And it doesn't help that KZbin refuses to ban Eugenia Cooney from their platform.

[@lvelez1999]

She was weak in other ways, and strong in others, like a lot of us. No one is trying to insult her

[@SteveM-gj2vy]

She married one guy from England. It didn't work out. Did she have any other close love relationships? It doesn't add up. And all she needed was someone to care about and be cared for, is my takeaway.

[@jackhouran8851]

Never married a guy from England!

[@SteveM-gj2vy]

@@jackhouran8851 I was wrong ( a few times) in the mid 90s. But not often. 😁 But I guess i was here. I swear i saw a doc that even said she moved to the UK with him. We should find him and egg his house. JK JK. you never know about how people hear a joke

[@SomewhereInTime5059]

​@SteveM-gj2vy no. "The British guy" was very nice and, if you haven't already, read "Little Girl Blue", TPTB with A&M & etc., deliberately sabotaged that relationship, with both of them being deliberately lied to. And one of the ones who worked with A&M years later came forward in an interview and talked about this. So the last thing the people in charge of her career and who were making boocoos of money off of her wanted, was for her to up and settle down and get married, and have a kid or two. There was deliberate interference done unbeknownst to them. She was the cash cow for a heck of a lot of ppl! There is little wonder why she turned to the one thing she could control... a debilitating and ultimately life-taking ED.

[@jimf.9822]

@@SomewhereInTime5059 Could the "The British Guy" be John Adrian or Terry Ellis? Both were good for Karen and both re;relationships were sabotaged one way or another. Poor Karen!

[@lvelez1999]

She just needed to know that she was Beautiful and Loved just the way she was, in God's Eyes, Who made her. No one else matters. When we chase what we want without calling to God, then, we make a mess.