Rock critic Ken Tucker comments on the success of white rapper Vanilla Ice's debut, To the Extreme, and The Simpsons Sing the Blues, a compilation performed by the voice actors of the popular animated show.
Pizzarelli's new album, "My Blue Heaven," features his interpretations of some great songs from the swing era. He is the son of noted jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, and often performs in the New York cabaret scene.
Magnuson starred in the movies, "Making Mister Right," and "A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon," and on the TV series, "Anything But Love." She's had numerous one woman monologue shows in Manhattan. She joins Fresh Air for an interview, and shares an excerpt of one of her life performances, about groupies following Doors' frontman Jim Morrison.
Film critic Stephen Schiff review the new film, in which the muscled actor plays a cop who goes undercover as a teacher to capture a drug kingpin. Schiff says the movie tries to be all things to all people, but it somehow works.
Writer Frank White's book "The SETI Factor," looks at the ongoing search for extraterrestrial intelligence. In 1992, NASA will begin a comprehensive scan of the heavens for radio signals from other solar systems. White says, as a result of that search, it's quite likely that within the next 25 years we'll finally know if we're alone in the universe.
Maureen Corrigan comments on high art and pop culture in her review of the High and Low show at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The exhibit sharply divided audiences. Corrigan says she was perversely pleased with everything she saw -- including the inclusion of advertisements, graffiti, and comic books.
Film historian Kevin Brownlow is best known as the man who reconstructed the silent movie masterpiece Napoleon. His new book, Behind the Mask of Innocence, is an examination of how pre-World War One filmmakers, contrary to popular belief, addressed social issues of the day.
World music commentator Milo Miles examines the genre, which was developed in the Caribbean, developed in France, and was influenced by African and American traditions.
Misrach has been photographing the American West since the mid-70s. His new collection, "Bravo 20," is a photo essay on a region of the Nevada desert that has been illegally used as a bombing range by the Navy for the past 30 years. He hopes that the site can eventually be turned into a national park.
Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz tries his hand at television reviewing. He turns to one of his favorite Norman Lear shows from the late 70s, "Fernwood 2-Night," a satirical talk show whose edgy humor still resonates today. It airs nightly on cable TVs Nick-at-Nite.
Film critic Stephen Schiff and book critic John Leonard look back at the movies and books of 1990. They give us their favorites from the year, and consider trends and highlights in popular culture.
Television critic David Bianculli reviews the new Masterpiece Theatre series, "Scoop," based on the Evelyn Waugh novel of the same name. It's about a young, inexperienced foreign correspondent in 1935.
Fresh Air producer Amy Salit interviews filmmaker Stephen Frears about his new film "The Grifters," based on the novel by writer Jim Thompson. Frears earlier films include "My Beautiful Laundrette," "Sammy and Rosie Get Laid," "Prick Up Your Ears," and "Dangerous Liaisons."
Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the new collaboration between composers and musicians Brian Eno and John Cale. Tucker says it's a gentle, pleasant departure from their more avant-garde work.
Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews what he says is Coppola's best movie since the last Godfather. He says it's not perfect, but it's better than anything else in theaters right now.
The photographer is known for both her freelance work and portraits of famous and ordinary people in her home city. Aperture Press has recently released a new book of her photos.
