Documentary filmmaker Robert Weide ("WHY-dee"). He's made his reputation making films about comedy and comediennes. His films include: "The Marx Brothers In a Nutshell" (PBS), "The Great Standups" (HBO), and the Emmy Award winning "W.C. Fields Straight Up." His latest project is the HBO documentary "Lenny Bruce: Swear to Tell the Truth" (on HBO). It premiered on HBO August 9th.
Documentary filmmaker Robert Weide ("WHY-dee"). He's made his reputation making films about comedy and comediennes. His films include: "The Marx Brothers In a Nutshell" (PBS), "The Great Standups" (HBO), and the Emmy Award winning "W.C. Fields Straight Up." His latest project is the HBO documentary "Lenny Bruce: Swear to Tell the Truth" (on HBO). It premiered on HBO August 9th.
We hear an excerpt of an interview with Lenny Bruce's mother, Sally Marr. The interview was conducted in 1989 by radio producer Larry Josephson for his program "Modern Times." (Josephson's radio documentary "Lenny Bruce Remembered" can be ordered by calling, 1-800-528-4424, or writing Radioart, Box 2000 GPO, New York, N.Y. 10116. The cost is $30 for 2 tapes. The documentary is 4 hours long).
Actor Dan Hedaya. He's currently starring as President Nixon in the new comedy about Watergate, "Dick." His performance has been called "hilarious and sly." Though Hedaya stars in this film, he's best known for his supporting role in many other films and TV shows.
Adventure writer Randy Wayne White. He wrote the "Out There" column for "Outside" magazine for many years. He's now a monthly columnist for "Men's Health" and is the author of the new book, "The Sharks of Lake Nicaragua: True tales of adventure, travel, and fishing." (The Lyons Press).
Farmer and psychologist Michael Rosmann ("ROSE-man"). He's a fourth generation farmer who also listens to the problems of other farmers. With the price of crops and livestock going down, many farmers are struggling and often losing their farms, some of which have been in their families for generations. Rosmann lives and works in Harlan, Iowa. He helped found the Sharing Help Awareness United Network (SHAUN), a nonprofit group that finds counseling for farmers even if they can't afford it.
Journalist Paul Solotaroff is a former editor at The Village Voice. He's written a new book that follows the progress of a group in therapy in New York City. It's called, "Group: Six People In Search of a Life." (Riverhead Books)
Actor Pierce Brosnan. The actor who is the latest incarnation of James Bond has two new films: 1) "The Thomas Crown Affair" which is a remake of the original Steve McQueen film. It's also produced by Brosnan's production company, Irish Dream Time, and stars Brosnan and actress Rene Russo. 2) "The World is Not Enough" the latest 007 film, to be released in September. Brosnan is a native of Ireland. He was first noticed in the U.S. for his role on "Remington Steele."
TV critic David Bianculli comments on the demise of Mystery Science Theater 3000. After ten years of ribbing, roasting and skewering the worst films ever, MST3K shown on The Sci-Fi Channel presents its final episode this weekend .
World music critic Milo Miles offers a tribute to South African singer "Mahlathini". He died last week at the age of 61. Simon Nkabinde Mahlathini (nicknamed "the Lion of Soweto") was best known for his lead vocals for the group Mahlathini and the Mhaotella Queens after emerging on the international stage with the 1985 sampler The Indestructible Beat of Soweto.
Terry Gross's interview with French screenwriter and director Francis Veber. He's best known for his farcical french comedies "La Cage Aux Folles" and "The Tall Blonde with One Black Shoe" (which he collaborated on with the director). His latest comedy, "The Dinner Game," was a hit last year in France and is now in the U.S. This year VEBER was honored with a career tribute at the Cannes Film Festival.
Writer Andrew Smith has written a new book about the food that is a staple at movie theatres - popcorn. It's called "Popped Culture: A Social History of Popcorn in America" (University of South Carolina Press).
Film translator Henri Behar is one of the most sought-after subtitlers in the business. He's subtitled over 100 films, mostly from English to French, but also from French to English. He's subtitled films by Woody Allen, David Mamet, and Spike Lee. Recently he subtitled "Shakespeare in Love," and "Halloween 2." For over 10 years he's also served as moderator at the Cannes Festival press conferences. And he co-wrote the book "Hollywood on the Riviera: The Inside Story of the Cannes Film Festival." (William Morrow, 1992).
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson. She is also former President of Ireland. Robinson visited Sierra Leone recently. She warned that the United Nations will not recognize the amnesty, brokered in the peace accord, as applying to gross violations of human rights.
Human rights activist and pro-democracy leader in Sierra Leone, Zainab Bangura ("ZI-nahb Bahn-gurrah"). She's been threatened both by the government and by the rebels because of her outspokenness.
Barbara Bogaev interviews astronomer and writer Donald Goldsmith about the future of space travel. He was the consultant to the PBS documentary film "Voyage to the Milky Way" (TV/Books) and is the author of the companion book.
Birder and naturalist Scott Weidensaul author of "Living on the Wind" (North Point Press) discusses the habits of migratory birds, what makes them do what they do, and how they're able to do it.
