Showing results by narrator "Terry Gross"

The creator of The Simpsons Matt Groening and writer Elisabeth Sifton on this edition of Fresh Air. Earlier this year The Simpsons celebrated its 300th episode, making it the longest running animated series on TV.

Writer David Sedaris on this edition of Fresh Air. Sedaris is best known for his contributing work with Public Radio's This American Life. He's written three books of essays, Barrel Fever, Naked, and his latest Me Talk Pretty One Day.

Comedian and political satirist Al Franken and actor Benicio Del Toro on this edition of Fresh Air. In December, Franken was part of a USO tour performing for troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait. The tour lasted eight days, and he returned Christmas Day. He'll talk about the tour and do some of his routine from it. Franken's books include Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right and Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot.

Hear German filmmaker Werner Herzog and critic Milo Miles on this edition of Fresh Air. Werner Herzog's new film is Rescue Dawn, based on his 1997 documentary Little Dieter Needs to Fly. It's the true story of Dieter Dengler, the only U.S. pilot to have sucessfully escaped from a North Vietnamese-controlled prison.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and playwright, actor and director Sam Shepard on this edition of Fresh Air. Jimmy Carter received the Nobel Peace Prize this week, and was only the third President to do so. We listen back to several of his interviews: in which he talks about his work as a mediator his life in the Whitehouse and his spiritual life. Sam Shepard won a Pulitzer for his play Buried Child and was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Chuck Yeager in The Right Stuff.

Journalist Naomi Klein and American Film Institute founder George Stevens, Jr. on this edition of Fresh Air. Klein, author of No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies, takes a look at the global reach of multinational corporations, their pervasive use of branding to sell a concept, the impact on culture and society, and the protest movement that's resulted. Stevens was a production assistant on the 1952 classic western Shane, directed by his father George Stevens.

Comedienne Carol Burnett on this edition of Fresh Air. Carol Burnett earned wide critical and popular acclaim and an Emmy for her work on The Garry Moore Show (from 1959-62). The Carol Burnett Show debuted in 1967 and won 22 Emmys in a run of more than a decade.

Journalist James Fallows on this edition of Fresh Air. Fallows is the National Correspondent for The Atlantic Monthly, a regular commentator on NPR, and a licensed pilot. In his new book Free Flight: From Airline Hell to a New Age of Travel, he looks into the technological innovations which will change airline travel.

Writer Michael Chabon and actor Steve Buscemi on this edition of Fresh Air. Michael Chabon won a year 2000 Pulitzer prize for his novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay which is now out in paperback.

Filmmaker Jim Jarmusch and author John Irving on this archival edition of Fresh Air. Jarmusch often acts as writer, director, and producer of his films.

Hear writers Michael Chabon and Jon Savage on this edition of Fresh Air. Michael Chabon won a Pulitzer Prize in 2000 for his novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. His new novel is The Yiddish Policemen's Union: A Novel. His other books include The Mysteries of Pittsburgh and a collection of stories entitled Werewolves in Their Youth. He has also written for many publications, including The New Yorker, Harpers,, and Esquire.

Writer Vernor Vinge and actor Steve Buscemi on this edition of Fresh Air. The author of 16 books of science fiction, Vernor Vinge gained a cult following for his early role in writing about cyber-culture and the Internet. His new book, Across Realtime, came out earlier this year. He talks about the difficulty of writing science fiction when technology outdates itself as rapidly as it does. Vinge teaches computer science at San Diego State.

Former NASA flight director Chris Kraft and humanitarian aid worker Kenneth Gluck on this archive edition of Fresh Air. Chris Kraft was NASA's first flight director, from the first forays into space in the 1960s to after Neil Armstrong landed on the moon in 1969. Kraft also created Mission Control. He's written a new book, Flight: My Life In Mission Control. Kenneth Gluck was working with Doctors Without Borders in Chechnya when he was kidnapped and held for 26 days.

Actor Jeff Bridges and singer and songwriter Joe Pernice on this edition of Fresh Air. Jeff Bridges has starred in The Last Picture Show, The Fabulous Baker Boys, Tucker, The Big Lebowski, Seabiscuit and other films. On each of his movie sets he's photographed the action behind the scenes.

Looking at HBO's hit series The Sopranos as it enters its third season on this edition of Fresh Air. First, an interview with creator and executive producer David Chase. Actor Michael Imperioli, who stars as Christopher, has written some episodes. Imperioli also appeared in five Spike Lee films, and starred in, co-wrote, and executive produced Lee's film Summer of Sam. Imperioli also appeared in the films Goodfellas, Malcolm X, Clockers, and Household Saints.

Comedian and political commentator Al Franken on this edition of Fresh Air. His new book is Lies and the Lying Liars who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right. Franken recently made headlines when the Fox News Channel tried to sue him over the phrase "fair and balanced," which Fox claimed as its own. Fox lost, and Franken got lots of publicity for the book, and it is now a best seller.

Authors Dalton Conley and Niall Ferguson on this edition of Fresh Air. Dalton Conley is the author of the memoir, Honky, about growing up white in a predominately African American.

Former US Secretary of State Madeline Albright on this edition of Fresh Air. Before being appointed by President Clinton in 1996, she served as the US Permanent Representative to the United Nations. She also served in Clinton's cabinet and on the National Security Council. Albright's new memoir is entitled Madam Secretary.

Head coach of the L.A. Lakers Phil Jackson, producer Henry Hampton, and journalist Nicholas Lehmann on this archival edition of Fresh Air. Jackson talks about coaching prior to leading the Lakers to the championship. Jackson coached the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships with his unique coaching style. Before that he played for eleven years with the New York Knicks, worked as a television color commentator, and coached minor-league for four years.

Hear journalist and historian Burton Hersh, book critic Maureen Corrigan, and rock critic Ken Tucker on this edition of Fresh Air. Burton Hersh has chronicled the Kennedy family for over 35 years. His new book is Bobby and J. Edgar: The Historic Face-Off Between the Kennedys and J. Edgar Hoover that Transformed America. Hersh writes that, as attorney general, Robert Kennedy tried to keep his FBI director on a short leash.