Filmmakers Rob Epstein & Jeffrey Freidman. They've produced a film version of Russo's book, "The Celluloid Closet." The documentary includes film clips and interview with actors, directors, writers and critics.
Writer Andre Dubus. Dubus' short stories earned him 1991's Bernard Malamud Award from the writers group, PEN. In 1986 DUBUS was crippled when he was hit by a car as he was trying to assist another motorist. His new collection of essays is "Dancing After Hours." (Knopf)
Film Critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert join Terry Gross on stage in Chicago for a "live" audience version of Fresh Air. This was recorded in February 1996. The duo began their TV collaboration in 1975 on Chicago Public Television station WTTW. After two successful season, the program became a national PBS show. In 1981 it moved to commercial television.Their show is now known as "Siskel and Ebert" and is heard in 180 markets. Gene Siskel is film columnist for the Chicago Tribune, and Roger Ebert is critic for the Chicago Sun-Times.
"New eras demand new voices." words from William Kristol defending the creation of his new conservative magazine "The Weekly Standard." Kristol talks with Terry Gross about why he feels vigorous debate among conservatives is needed if republicans want to lead the nation. Kristol is editor and publisher of the Standard which has been criticized for highlighting divisions within the Republican Party. Kristol has served as chief of staff for one time Secretary of Education William Bennet and for Vice President Day Quayle.
Editor of Consumer Reports Travel Letter (CRTL), Ed Perkins. He has spent 25 years in travel research and consulting He began editing CRTL, widely known for its objective consumer oriented research. He has a nationally syndicated travel column and has appeared as a travel expert on Good Morning America, The CBS Evening News With Dan Rather, and other TV and radio programs.
Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new two-disc set of historical recordings of the theater music of Kurt Weill: "From Berlin to Broadway," (Pearl Records)
One of the most respected historians of the media Erik Barnouw. He is the author of the three-volume "History of Broadcasting." Barnouw was the first chief of the Library of Congress' Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recording Sound Division." Barnouw has a new memoir about his life, "Media Marathon: A 20th Century Memoir." (Duke University Press).
Record producer Nick Venet. He has produced more than 300 albums in his career and has collected numerous Grammy nominations and awards. He is co-producer of a new Bobby Darin box set (Rhino). Venet was also Darin's producer and friend.
Journalist James Stewart. He won the George Polk award in 1988 and the Gerald Loeb awards in 1987 and 1988. He was the recipient of the 1988 Pulitzer prize for his articles in the Wall Street Journal on the 1987 stock market crash and the insider trading scandal. That same year he became the page one editor for The Wall Street Journal and held that position until November of 1992. Currently he is a contributor to The New York Magazine and an editor-at-large at SmartMoney magazine. He has a new book on the Whitewater scandal, "Blood Sport: The President and His Adversaries."
T.V. critic David Bianculli explains how two programs are making changes to appease their respective audiences: "Murder One" and Dana Carvey's Variety Show.
The Very Rev. James Parks Morton, Dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine has announced his intentions to resign on Jan. 1, 1997. He will be leaving after 25 years of leadership at the world's largest Gothic cathedral to head a new organization, the Interfaith Center of New York. During his tenure as Dean of the nation's largest church he has created a congregation of 1,000, built 20,000 apartments for the poor, and established a living community of faith having much of the same energy and intellectual stimulation possessed by medieval cathedrals.
Amherst College professor Austin Sarat, a Ph.D. in political science with a law degree from Yale University, is teaching a course on Murder which is the most popular in the school's history--with one fifth of the entire student body enrolled. It breaks the record of a course on Human Sexuality offered in the 70's. The syllabus includes selections from literature, film, and television like "Crime and Punishment," and "Macbeth," as well as "Pulp Fiction," and "Psycho." (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)
Internationally renowned professor of behavioral pharmacology at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, Nicholas Dodman, is an expert in domestic animal behavior and psychology. In the new book "The Dog Who Loved Too Much" (Bantam) he illustrates his unique treatments and creative cures for pet disorders with stories from his own practice. Dr. Dodman's therapeutic innovations include, changes in the dog's diet, exercise regime, and even the prescription of some "human" personality drugs. (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane).
Part Two of Rock historian Ed Ward's piece on the burgeoning Austin, Texas music scene. The SXSW (South by Southwest Music & Media Conference) is meeting at the Austin convention Center March 13-17.