Larry Charles, who wrote many of the most memorable episodes of Seinfeld, has a new memoir out: Comedy Samurai: Forty Years of Blood, Guts, and Laughter. He is also interviewed by Terry Gross on Fresh Air: 'Seinfeld' Writer & 'Borat' Director Larry Charles. In his new memoir, Comedy Samurai, Larry Charles reflects on his career in … Continue reading Not That There’s Anything Wrong With That
Podcasts
Discrimination in the U.S. Military
Here’s an especially good episode of The Thinking Atheist, Targeted: Discrimination in the Military, as Seth Andrews zeros in on all the different ways that the U.S. Military is discriminating against its citizens because of that sexual predator who is currently inhabiting the White House.
Don’t Mess With the Cuban
On Fresh Air Todd Purdum talks about Desi Arnaz and how he shaped the modern sitcom with I Love Lucy. It’s a reminder of how stupid network executives were in those days (they still are) and how afraid they were of anything that even implied S-E-X, so when Lucy got pregnant they had a case of … Continue reading Don’t Mess With the Cuban
Charlie Gilbert
Stephen Sondheim fans, if they know the name Charles Gilbert, know it as the name of the fellow who wrote an unsuccessful play that gave Sondheim the germ of an idea that led to him and John Weidman developing the musical Assassins. And while that is correct as far as it goes, Charlie Gilbert has … Continue reading Charlie Gilbert
You Think You Had a Bad Day?
In the April 15 episode of Scriptnotes Craig Mazin describes a truly bad day that he had when he was a beginning writer. I venture to say that very few bad days can compare to his. After that, Craig and John August discuss oners—those single take shots that directors love, well, some directors, and actors … Continue reading You Think You Had a Bad Day?
Piano Puzzler
This week’s Piano Puzzler was a particular favorite for me, because the hidden tune turned out to be one of my favorite tunes although it’s from a show that I feel only so-so about. I happen to like the classical composer that it was paired with as well. In fact, I picked up on the … Continue reading Piano Puzzler
Say Nothing
Once again I’m recommending the Scriptnotes podcast, this time the episode entitled “Say Nothing with Joshua Zetumer”, where Craig Mazin goes solo and interviews none other than Joshua Zetumer about his recent mini-series Say Nothing. Craig welcomes writer and showrunner Joshua Zetumer, creator of the limited series Say Nothing, to explore the process of dramatizing real … Continue reading Say Nothing
The Tell-Tale Heart
If there is one Edgar Allen Poe story that I think every American child encounters sometime during their journey through school, it must be “The Tell-Tale Heart”. It’s my favorite of the Poe tales, short and very much to the point. On the latest episode of the Scriptnotes podcast, John August interviews Robert Eggers, the … Continue reading The Tell-Tale Heart
How Louis Armstrong Became The First Black Pop Star
Here’s another podcast recommendation. On Fresh Air author Ricky Riccardi (note the “I” at the end of his name) talks about his new book on Louis Armstrong’s early life, Stomp Off, Let's Go: The Early Years of Louis Armstrong. Terry Gross leads him through Armstrong’s early life where he was brought up around sex workers … Continue reading How Louis Armstrong Became The First Black Pop Star
The Black Rose of Audra
I had tickets to see the revival of Carousel on Broadway back in, I think, 1994 that featured Audra Macdonald as Carrie Pepperidge. Simone, Chris, and I had so enjoyed our New York adventure in seeing Sondheim and Lapine’s Passion a few months earlier that I ordered us tickets for what sounded like a terrific production. … Continue reading The Black Rose of Audra