Known today equally as a musician and actor, Ice Cube was born O'Shea Jackson. He first gained notoriety in the late 1980s with the revolutionary group N.W.A. He now also acts in and produces movies, including this year's comedy Are We There Yet? (This interview originally aired Jan. 10, 2005.)
Recently issued in paperback, Joseph O'Neill's novel Netherland emerged to immediate acclaim in 2008, and many critics — including Fresh Air's Maureen Corrigan — placed it on a footing with The Great Gatsby.
Journalist Alex Perry wrote the new e-book The Hunt for Boko Haram: Investigating the Terror Tearing Nigeria Apart. He says Boko Haram doesn't have logical reasons for the atrocious acts it commits.
Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new CD that captures the legendary maestro Arturo Toscanini leading the NBC Symphony Orchestra in rehearsals of the second and third acts of Verdi's "La Traviata."
.J.M. Berger studies extremists, their twisted ideologies, the misinformation they feed on, how they use social media to amplify their message and recruit new followers, and the violent acts they incite and commit.
Commentator Maureen Corrigan has a holiday round-up of some of her favorite books of the year, including two newly published books, "Inspector Imanishi Investigates" by Seicho Matsumoto, and "The Folding Star" by Alan Hollinghurst.
Film critic Justin Chang reviews the new film by writer-director Eliza Hittman who made the acclaimed coming-of-age dramas 'It Felt Like Love,' and 'Beach Rats.'
He has died at age 73. Wilson won the Pulitzer Prize for his play, "Talley's Folly." He wrote 17 full length plays and 30 one acts. Titles include "The Hot L Baltimore," "Burn This," "Fifth of July" and "Redwood Curtain," which had just come out when Terry spoke to Wilson in 1992. Wilson was one of the founders of The Circle Repertory Company in New York. He was nominated for Tony Awards for "Angels Fall," "Talley's Folly" and "Fifth of July." (REBROADCAST. ORIGINAL AIRDATE: 3/13/92)
Film critic David Edelstein reviews We Don't Live Here Anymore, based on two novellas by the late Andre Dubus. The film centers on acts of infidelity between two couples in a small college town. Edelstein says the movie is "like a bad marriage greatest hits collection."
Rock historian Ed Ward continues his series on cities and rock and roll. Today's city is New Orleans. Artists discussed include Dave Bartholomew, Fats Domino, Lloyd Price, Little Richard, Allen Toussaint, Lee Dorsey, Dr. John (Mac Rebennack), The Meters, The Neville Brothers,
Two momentous films open nationwide on the same day. Sicko radically challenges our perspective on health care. Ratatouille radically challenges our perspective on rats in kitchens. Cynics will say there's a better chance of a rodent becoming a chef than of universal health care for Americans. That underestimates the big fighting rat at the center of Sicko.
Record producer Joe Boyd has worked with Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd, Nick Drake, Richard and Linda Thompson, R.E.M. and many other musical acts. He has a new memoir, called White Bicycles: Making Music in the 1960s.
Record producer and consultant Colin Escott. Escott's had a long association with Sun Records, the company responsible for many of the great acts from the dawn of rock and roll. Escott has a new book about Sun, called "Good Rockin' Tonight" (published by St. Martin's Press).
Rock historian Ed Ward profiles the work of TK Productions, the Miami recording company that in the mid-70s brought out acts like K.C. and the Sunshine Band ("That's the Way I Like it" and "Get Down Tonight"), George McRae ("Rock Your Baby") and Betty Wright ("Where is the Love"), musicians who combined classic southern rhythm and blues with the up-tempo beat of disco.
Filmmaker Jim Jarmusch is new movie is called Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, starring Forrest Whitaker. Jarmusch often acts as writer, director, and producer of his films. His other films include Stranger Than Paradise, Down by Law, Mystery Train, Night on Earth, and Year of the Horse.
Film critic David Edelstein reviews Spiderman 2, with Tobey Maguire revisiting the superhero based on the Marvel Comics series. Kirsten Dunst returns as Mary Jane Watson, Peter Parker's love interest, and Alfred Molina stars as the villain Doc Ock.
Tucci previously made his co-directing and co-screenwriting debut with the film "Big Night" which was a critical and commercial success. His latest film which he directed and wrote is "The Impostors." He also acts in the film. Tucci's previous acting credits include: "Deconstructing Harry," "Kiss of Death," "Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle," and "Billy Bathgate."
Oliver Stone directed a film adaptation of Bogosian's play Talk Show, about a radio shock jock. Bogosian stars; he acts regularly in theater and television.
Rock historian Ed Ward investigates the little known original versions of some of rock's most classic songs. Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, and Jerry Lee Lewis' covers are discussed.
