Publisher of the New York Times Arthur Sulzberger Jr. He’s just been named “Publisher of the Year” by Editor and Publisher Magazine. Sulzberger’s family is one of the foremost newspaper families in the world. His great-grandfather Adolph Ochs bought the paper more than a century ago. Arthur Sulzberger Jr., was appointed publisher by his father Arthur Ochs Sulzberger in 1992.
British novelist Martin Amis. He’s considered one of the leading British writers of the late-twentieth century and one of the most controversial. His books include “Night Train,” “Money: A Suicide Note,” “The Information,” and “London Fields.” He’s just written a new memoir, “Experience: a Memoir” (Talk Miramax Books). Much of it is about his father, the late writer Kingsley Amis.
Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews two new novels about China: “Becoming Madame Mao”(Houghton Mifflin) a fictional biography by Anchee Min, and the detective novel, “Death of a Red Heroine” (Soho) by Qui Xialong.
Jeffrey Eugenides (“u-GEN-eh-dees”) is the author of “The Virgin Suicides” (paperback, Warner books) a gothic flavored novel about five sisters who kill themselves. The book is set in suburbia in the 1970s and is told in the voice of boys – now men – who were obsessed by them. The book was critically acclaimed when it was first published in 1993. It’s now the subject of a new movie.
World music critic Milo Miles reviews some funny rap music, “Carpal Tunnel Syndrome” (Nijatunes) by the Canadian DJ Eric San, MC Paul Barman’s “It’s Very Stimulating” (WordSound), and “Green Velvet” (F-111) by the DJ Green Velvet.
Writer David Sedaris is best known for his contributing work with Public Radio’s “This American Life.” He’s written three books of essays, “Barrel Fever,” “Naked,” and his newest “Me Talk Pretty One Day” (Little Brown)
TV critic David Bianculli reviews “Survivor” the new summer series on CBS, in which 16 contestants are marooned on a tropical island for more than a month. The winner takes home a million dollars.
Jim DeRogatis is the author of “Let it Blurt: The Life & Times of Lester Bangs, America’s Greatest Rock Critic” (Broadway Books). Bangs wrote about rock ‘n’ roll for the Rolling Stone, Cream, and The Village Voice. DeROGATIS describes him as, “the great gonzo journalist, gutter poet, and romantic visionary of rock writing—its Hunter S. Thompson, Charles Bukowski, and Jack Kerouac all rolled into one.”
Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new production of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” starring Kelsey Grammar of “Frasier.” The show is in tryouts in Boston this week and opens on Broadway next.
Jon Stewart is the co-producer and anchorman of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” The show is an alternative take on the news. Previously Stewart had a part on HBO’s “The Larry Sanders Show.” He also hosted Comedy Central’s “Short Attention Span Theater.”
British comedian, stand up performer, and actor Eddie Izzard. Izzard is currently selling out venues in the US and Canada, with his new stand up show “Circle”. He has won over fans with his quirky comedy and his cross-dressing. The Chicago Tribune says "Izzard lives up to his billing. He's very bright, very fast and very hip.” As an actor, Izzard has appeared in the films Mystery Men, The Avengers, and the Velvet Goldmine.
Writer Clifford Wright. His new book is “A Mediterranean Feast: The Story of the Birth of the Celebrated Cuisines of the Mediterranean, from the Merchants of Venice to the Barbary Corsairs, with more than 500 Recipes.” (Morrow) As you can tell from the title, it’s a comprehensive look at Mediterranean foodstuffs, cooking and culture, at over 800 pages. It won the James Beard Cookbook of the Year award, and it is being developed into a 13-part series for PBS called “A Cook’s Tour: Mediterranean Journeys with Clifford Wright.”
Actress Amy Sedaris. She’s the star of the comedy series “Strangers With Candy” that airs Monday and Saturday nights on Comedy Central. Sedaris plays Jerri Blank, a 47-year old ex-con, ex-prostitute lesbian high school freshman. She’s the sister of David Sedaris, a humor writer who has been on Fresh Air several times. Amy and David have produced and written several plays together, including the 1996 Obie award winning “One Woman Shoe.”
Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz talks about making the familiar fresh and the unfamiliar accessible. He has a review of two recent concerts.
Description (Program)
British writer Linda Grant. She’s the author of the new memoir, “Remind Me Who I Am, Again” (Granta Books) about her mother’s disappearance into dementia (diagnosed as Multi-Infarct Dementia). She first wrote about her mother’s situation in the pages of the Guardian. Grant’s other books include “Sexing the Millennium” and “The Cast Iron Shore.” (THIS INTERVIEW CONTINUES INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW).
