Television critic David Bianculli considers the strengths and weaknesses of the major networks in 1990: CBC, NBC, ABC, and Fox. Criteria include the quality of existing shows and the number of recently added programs
Several bands that emerged from the 1970s punk scene -- including Television, the Talking Heads, the Ramones, and Blondie -- got their start at the Manhattan nightclub. Rock historian Ed Ward tells its story.
The writer, known for her ongoing series of autobiographies, is one of this country's leading black female poets. She talks with Fresh Air guest host Marty Moss-Coane about how she switches between prose and poetry, and the formal, respectful modes of communication she prefers in the classroom and other professional contexts -- which Angelou says is an integral part of the African American community.
Talking Heads frontman David Byrne featured Brazilian singer Margarich Menezes on a recent tour. World music critic Milo Miles says she blew Byrne out of the water. Menezes' politically-informed new album, Elegibo, is intriguing but uneven -- though Miles admits that, as an American listener, he may be missing something.
Critic Owen Gleiberman says "Ghost" is a tense, touching, and funny love story starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, and Whoopi Goldberg. Swayze's character dies, and Goldberg channels his spirit to communicate with his still-living love Demi Moore.
Gregg grew up in a poor Philadelphia neighborhood, and eventually had a 13-year career as a National League umpire. He has a new memoir about what it takes to make good calls.
Peter Bart was a senior vice president of the MGM/United Artists studio, and has just written a new book called "Fade Out." He discusses his efforts to turn the company around as the Hollywood studio system came to a close.
Critic Owen Gleiberman reviews The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, which stars comedian Andrew Dice Clay as a rock and roll detective. Gleiberman calls the movie monotonous; Clay's performance, like his standup, is crass, but not without charisma.
Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "Banned In the USA" by 2-Live Crew. Their previous album, As Nasty as They Wanna Be, was declared obscene, and they were later arrested for simply performing their music at a concert. Tucker doesn't find much merit in 2-Live Crew' often misogynistic songs, but he vigorously condemns the efforts to criminalize their music.
The jazz musician is an in-demand sideman, and is also known for his composed pieces. In discussing his career, Ehrlich says that improvisation and composition are part of the same musical gesture. His new quartet album is called The Traveller's Tale.
Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews the scholars's new book, You Just Don't Understand, which examines what the distinct speech patterns adopted by men and women say about gender roles and expectations. Corrigan says Tannen is insightful, and avoids any attempt to account for this difference.
Former NYPD officer Vincent Murano worked in the Internal Affairs Division, and went undercover to investigate crooked cops. His new book details his methods and some of his more memorable cases.
The label has reissued the complete recordings of the maestro, which include over 80 releases. Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews three boxed sets featuring works by Beethoven, Brahms, and Verdi.
Book critic John Leonard reviews the memoirs of Andrei Sakharav, a Russian scientist and political dissident who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1975. Leonard says the book is more than autobiography -- it's a guide for global citizenship.
Film scholar Douglas Gomery has a new essay in the anthology Seeing Through Movies, in which he discusses the history of the movie theater, and how theater owners designed the audience experience over the decades.
The band, comprising brothers Dorsey and Johnny, as well as guitarist Paul Burlison, were contemporaries of Elvis, and released several memorable records. But their music was constantly overshadowed by other artists. Rock historian Ed Ward has this profile.
Environmentalist Michael Oppenheimer says that rising temperatures could cause international crises like wildfires and food shortages. He has a new book about ways to curtail this trend on the individual, corporate, and governmental levels, called Dead Heat.
While network TV takes a break until the fall, cable channels premiere fresh programming for subscribers. Critic David Bianculli reviews Fear, a made-for-TV movie on Showtime, starring Ally Sheedy as a psychic who investigates serial killers.
Lomax, along with his father, used portable recording equipment to capture regional American music -- including the songs of African Americans, prisoners, and the legendary Woody Guthrie. This effort eventually led to the founding of the American Folklife Center.
