Showing results by narrator "Terry Gross"

In this special compilation, you'll hear exhilarating excerpts from classic interviews with 14 stars of comedy, including Tracey Ullman on her zany characters, Chris Rock on growing up small and black in a white neighborhood, Carol Leifer on the inspiration for her brand of cabaret comedy, and Henny Youngman on his famous line, "Take my wife, please."

Comic book creator Stan Lee on this edition of Fresh Air. Stan Lee was the leading creative force behind the rise of Marvel Comics and is responsible for many of the best-known comic book heroes. Forty years ago, he co-created the character Spider-Man. He also helped create The X-Men, The Fantastic Four, and The Incredible Hulk. He is now chairman emeritus of Marvel Enterprises, and is executive producer of the new movie, Spider-Man.

Paintings have been falling off of walls, a loud and loyal dog has gone missing, a gurgled message is being transmitted by walkie-talkie - strange things are happening all over the town of Stain'd-by-the-Sea. Called upon to investigate these suspicious incidents, young Lemony Snicket collects clues, questions witnesses, and cracks every case. Join the investigation and tackle the mysteries alongside Snicket, then turn to the back of the book to see the solution revealed.

We're beginning a series of hard rock and heavy metal. We start with Judas Priest lead singer Rob Halford. The band, originally from Birmingham, England, was most popular in the 1970s and 80s, and pioneered the heavy metal sound. Then, founding guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield of the metal band Metallica. Hetfield also co-writes many of the songs for the group, which has been around since the 1980s.

Actor Michael Caine on this edition of Fresh Air. Caine has made over 70 films, from Alfie to Sleuth to Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Hannah and Her Sisters. He has worked with such esteemed directors as Brian DePalma, John Huston, and Woody Allen.

Filmmaker Mike Hodges and actors Michael Caine and John Spencer on this edition of Fresh Air. Hodges debut work, the 1971 Get Carter starring Michael Caine, was hailed as the greatest British thriller ever. A new remake of Get Carter is out in theatres, starring Sylvester Stallone, with an appearance by Caine. Hodges also directed the recent film Croupier.

Though Fresh Air has been categorized as a "talk show", it hardly fits the mold. Its 1994 Peabody Award citation credits Fresh Air with "probing questions, revelatory interviews, and unusual insights." And a variety of top publications count Gross among the country's leading interviewers. The show gives interviews as much time as needed, and complements them with comments from well-known critics and commentators.

Writer Alain de Botton and novelist David Benioff on this edition of Fresh Air. Alain de Bottom is the author of several books including How Proust Can Change Your Life, and The Consolations of Philosophy. His latest book, The Art of Travel, is a reflection on travel, the anticipation versus the reality, how one often travels to escape the familiar and mundane - but can't escape oneself, and an examination of the art and literature of travel. David Benioff is the author of 25th Hour. His book, about a former drug dealer in New York City out on the town on...

Novelist Mark Salzman and remembering jazz trombonist J.J. Johnson on this edition of Fresh Air. Mark Salzman is the author of the new novel, Lying Awake, about a cloistered nun who discovers that her spiritual visions may be induced by epilepsy.

Novelists Paul Auster and Michael Cunningham on this edition of Fresh Air. New York based writer Paul Auster is the author of ten novels. His latest is The Book of Illusions. For a year beginning October 1999, Auster gathered stories sent to him by men and women across the United States. The stories were all true, short, and personal. As part of NPR's "National Story Project" Auster read them over the air. Those stories were collected in the book, I Thought My Father Was God.

Singer, songwriter, musician, and arranger Barry Manilow is on this edition of Fresh Air.

Former New York Times Balkans Bureau Chief and Middle East Bureau Chief Chris Hedges on this edition of Fresh Air. Hedges is currently living in New York. He's covered war zones in Central America, the Middle East, and the Balkans for more than 20 years and is the author of the new book, War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning.

An expert in climate change research, Paul Mayewski and science fiction writer Sheri S. Tepper on this edition of Fresh Air.

Hear former Daily Show and Colbert Report executive producer Ben Karlin, comedian Rob Corddry, Daily Show senior black correspondent Larry Wilmore, Colbert Report host Stephen Colbert, and film critic David Edelstein on this edition of Fresh Air.

Hear presidential historian Michael Beschloss and jazz critic Kevin Whitehead on this edition of Fresh Air. Michael Beschloss' new book is Presidential Courage: Brave Leaders and How They Changed America 1789-1989. He takes a look at the crucial moments when a President risked his political career for the good of the country, often by taking an unpopular or controversial stand.

Novelist Stephen King on this edition of Fresh Air. In 1999, the prolific and popular horror writer experienced something that could have come out of one of his books: he was struck by a car while walking along a rural road in Maine and nearly killed. Six operations and a long recovery followed. Five weeks after the accident, King started writing again and published the novella, The Plant over the Internet. His latest book is On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft.

Because Audible was not granted digital audio rights to today's issue of Fresh Air, we have selected a great interview with British comedian, stand-up performer, and actor Eddie Izzard from the Fresh Air archive.

Psychologist Kay Redfield Jamison and an archive interview with actor David Paymer on this archive edition of Fresh Air. Jamison is an authority on manic-depression and suicide.

Journalist Steven Weisman and writer Sarah Vowell on this edition of Fresh Air. Steven Weisman has covered politics, economics and international affairs for The New York Times for over 30 years. He now writes editorials for the paper. In his new book, The Great Tax Wars: Lincoln to Wilson - The Fierce Battles over Money and Power That Transformed the Nation he looks at the battles over "wealth, power and fairness" that led to the establishment of the income tax.

Triumph the Insult Comic Dog and Photographer Robert Freeman on this edition of Fresh Air. Triumph appears regularly on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. He's a puppet and the creation of Robert Smigel, who also created the animated short "TV Funhouse" on Saturday Night Live.