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Rescue 911 Forces You to Ask the Question: What is Real and What is Staged?

Television critic David Bianculli reviews an episode of "Rescue 911," the CBS series that sends a film crew out on emergency police calls. Their most famous piece of tape yet is the call from Charles Stuart in Boston to say he and his pregnant wife had been shot by a black assailant (this turned out to be a cover up for Stuart, who apparently murdered his wife and shot himself). Bits of the tape have been shown on newscasts, but this is its first full airing on the show.

03:39
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Other segments from the episode on February 26, 1990

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, February 26, 1990: Interview with Thomas McGuane; Review of Barbara Denerlein's album "Straight Ahead!"; Interview with Danny Elfman; Review of the television shoe "Rescue…
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22:04

Writer Thomas McGuane Discusses His Work.

Writer Thomas McGuane. McGuane's been called "Ernest Hemingway with a sense of humor ... (and) ... Franz Kafka journeying through Montana." He's the author of the acclaimed novels The Sporting Club, Ninety-Two In The Shade, and To Skin A Cat. McGuane's latest novel is called Keep The Change. It follows a self-despising artist as he travels to Montana to try to make a new life for himself. McGuane himself runs a ranch in Montana. (Rebroadcast. Originally broadcast September 22, 1989.)

Interview
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06:58

Barbara Dennerlein's American Debut.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a new album by German jazz organist Barbara Dennerlein (DEN-er-line). The album, "Straight Ahead!" is her first to be released in the U.S. and Kevin says part of the reason for its success is that Dennerlein doesn't sound like other jazz organists.

Review
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11:29

Film Composer Danny Elfman.

Composer and musician Danny Elfman. Elfman has been gaining a reputation as one of Hollywood's most talented film composers, and just won a Grammy Award in Instrumental Composition for his theme from "Batman." He also composed the music for "Beetlejuice," "Midnight Run," and both Pee Wee Herman movies, and he leads the rock band Oingo Boingo. (Rebroadcast. Originally broadcast June 12, 1989.)

Interview

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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.

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03:49

Television Mini-series Captures Essence of Crime.

Television Critic David Bianculli previews "Echoes in the Darkness," an upcoming CBS miniseries about the murder of schoolteacher Susan Reinert and her two children in the Philadelphia suburb of Upper Merion. The principal of the school, Jay Smith, and a fellow teacher, William Bradford, were later convicted of the murder.

Review
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09:30

Sinister twin sisters wield all the power in the latest 'Dead Ringers' adaptation

David Cronenberg's 1988 movie Dead Ringers, like the book on which it was based, was all about birth, death, love and power — but mostly from the male point of view. This new six-episode Prime Video adaptation of Dead Ringers preserves all of that. But showrunner Alice Birch, who created this TV version, changes it, too, by giving its female characters all the power.

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Daughter of Warhol star looks back on a bohemian childhood in the Chelsea Hotel

Alexandra Auder's mother, Viva, was one of Andy Warhol's muses. Growing up in Warhol's orbit meant Auder's childhood was an unusual one. For several years, Viva, Auder and Auder's younger half-sister, Gaby Hoffmann, lived in the Chelsea Hotel in Manhattan. It was was famous for having been home to Leonard Cohen, Dylan Thomas, Virgil Thomson, and Bob Dylan, among others.

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This fake 'Jury Duty' really put James Marsden's improv chops on trial

In the series Jury Duty, a solar contractor named Ronald Gladden has agreed to participate in what he believes is a documentary about the experience of being a juror--but what Ronald doesn't know is that the whole thing is fake.

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