From the Archives: Harry Anderson Cons His Way On TV.
Con-man-turned actor Harry Anderson. Anderson is best known as Judge Harry Stone on the former NBC comedy series "Night Court." Anderson began his con-man career as a street performer. He eventually drifted to San Francisco where he would perform near Fisherman's Wharf or to lines of moviegoers outside theaters. He then graduated to Las Vegas, opening for acts like Kenny Rogers. Appearances on "Saturday Night Live" and in various television shows led to his work on "Night Court." Anderson put his cons and schemes into a book, "Games You Can't Lose: A Guide for Suckers." In the introduction, titled "Hello, Sucker!," Anderson states his intent: "It's not whether you win or lose ... it's whether I win or lose." (REBROADCAST FROM 5/5/89)
Guest
Host
Related Topics
Other segments from the episode on April 1, 1994
From the Archives: Ricky Jay Shares Stories of Unusual Performers and Swindlers.
Ricky Jay, one of the world's great sleight-of-hand artists: a scholar of the unusual, curator of the Mullholland Library of Conjuring and the Allied Arts, an actor and author of "Learned Pigs and Fireproof Women." Currently, Jay performs to sold out shows at Broadway's Second Stage, in a show directed by playwright David Mamet, "Ricky Jay and his 52 Assistants." (REBROADCAST from 10/21/87).
From the Archives: Debunking "Faith Healers."
James Randi, magician and debunker of people with claims to extrasensory perception. (REBROACAST FROM 9/7/87).
From the Archives: Magic for People Who Hate Magic.
Magician and juggler Penn Jillette. He's one half of the comedy team of Penn and Teller. They are to traditional magic what the Rolling Stones are to the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. Penn and Teller revel in making fun of traditional magicians, whom they characterize as sleazy lounge performers. Their hit Broadway show was a mix of rock and roll, insults, self-injury and baffling illusions. When David Letterman invited Penn and Teller to "Late Night," the pair made hundreds of hissing cockroaches appear on Dave's desk.
"House of the Spirits" is a Mess.
Film Critic Stephen Schiff on Hollywood's latest epic, "House of the Spirits," based on the book by Isabel Allende.
Transcript
Transcript currently not available.
Transcripts are created on a rush deadline, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of Fresh Air interviews and reviews are the audio recordings of each segment.
You May Also like
Harry Anderson Cons His Way On TV
Anderson was a street performer and con artist before he was cast in the first season of Cheers. That part eventually led to his role in the show Night Court. Anderson has a new book called Games You Can't Lose: A Guide for Suckers.
Comic Turned Actor Rick Aviles.
Street performer turned film actor Rick Aviles (a-VEEL-us). Aviles started out doing comedy on the streets of Manhattan, and was named "Comic of the Year" by the Village voice in 1980. He's since appeared in the movies "Mondo NY," "Street Smart," and "Spike of Bensonhurst." Aviles has a part in Jim Jarmusch's new movie, "Mystery Train."
'Better Call Saul' Breathes New Life Into 'Breaking Bad' Characters
The new show's co-creator says it became a writers' room joke on Breaking Bad that if something didn't fit it would go on the Saul Goodman show, or what is now AMC's Better Call Saul.