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Breaking the Sitcom Rules

The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd dispenses with laugh tracks and multi-camera shots, which allows the show to explore new territories in television comedy.

03:30
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Other segments from the episode on May 18, 1987

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, May 18, 1987: Interview with Sam Donaldson; Review of Henry Threadgill's album "You Know the Number"; Interview with Nadine Gordimer; Review of the television show "The…
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28:15

Confronting the President

ABC reporter Sam Donaldson is known for his loud, often aggressive manner of questioning President Reagan during press conferences and other news events. He believes his style is necessary, especially considering Reagan's predilection for secluding himself from the media.

Interview
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09:36

Novelist Nadine Gordimer

The white South African writer hopes that her works have educated her readers about the realities of apartheid in her home country. Her newest book is called A Sport of Nature.

Interview

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21:06

The Final "Days and Nights of Molly Dodd"

Actress Blair Brown of the Lifetime cable sitcom, "The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd." She plays a single, divorced woman living in New York. The show is in its last season; Molly, who is white, is forty and pregnant with the child of her late boyfriend, who is black.

Interview
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03:48

TV in the 1980s: The Big Picture.

Television critic David Bianculli gives his picks for the best shows of the 80s..the big surprise is that relatively few of them were on the three major networks.

Review

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Riz Ahmed is his own worst critic. His show 'Bait' explores that

(1.) Actor, writer, and producer RIZ AHMED. He’s nominated for an Emmy for his starring role in the Prime Video series “Bait” in which he plays a British Pakistani actor auditioning to be the next James Bond. AHMED is also a writer and creator of the series.

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Dolly Parton lived her motto: 'More is more'

We remember DOLLY PARTON, singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur and philanthropist. PARTON died yesterday in Nashville, Tennessee. She was 80 years old. Dolly Parton made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry in 1959 when she was just 13. Since then, she wrote thousands of songs, including "Coat of Many Colors," "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You," which was later a hit for Whitney Houston. PARTON was one of the few performers who was successful enough to start her own theme park.

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