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THE INTERVIEW
To The Best of Our Knowledge
from Wisconsin Public Radio
Novelist John Updike doesn't like doing interviews.
At least until the interview starts. Then he realizes it's kind
of flattering to talk about himself. Now, he's written a novel about
a famous artist being interviewed. In this hour of To the Best
of Our Knowledge, John Updike on why an interview is like a
therapy session.
SEGMENT 1:
John Updike talks with Steve Paulson about
the business of being interviewed. Updike is skittish about giving
interviews, but often finds himself saying more than he'd planned
once he gets going. Updike's new novel, "Seek My Face,"
is basically one long conversation between a young journalist
and the famous old painter she's come to interview. Also, Glen
Tilbrook is a British singer and songwriter. He suffered a
massive panic attack when he was supposed to interview Randy Newman.
We hear excerpts from that infamous occasion, and the song Tilbrook
composed to commemorate it. And, Stephen Thompson is an
editor at The Onion newspaper, and editor of "The Onion A.V.
Club: The Tenacity of the Cockroach." It's a collection of
interviews with the likes of Mr. T, The Unknown Comic and Harlan
Ellison. Thompson tells Jim Fleming what those interviews were
like and does a terrific Mr. T voice.
SEGMENT 2:
Allen Long is a former dope-smuggler and
the subject of Robert Sabbag's book "Loaded: A Misadventure
on the Marijuana Trail." Anne Strainchamps interviewed them
a week apart. In this piece she reports on their relationship
and their very different perspectives on it. Sabbag regards Long
as a finished story; someone to send a Christmas card to. Long
thinks they're lifelong friends.
SEGMENT 3:
Adam Sisman is the author of "Boswell's
Presumptuous Task," a study of Boswell's "Life of Johnson."
Novelist Beryl Bainbridge has written "According to
Queeney" about Dr. Johnson's relationship with his friend,
Mrs. Thrale. Both writers talk with Steve Paulson about Boswell
and Johnson and Boswell's immortal biography of the brilliant
18th century man of letters.
Cassette copies are available
at 1-800-747-7444.
Ask for "The Interview," program number 03-02-02-A.
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Books:
- Beryl Bainbridge, According
to Queeney (Carroll & Graf)
- Robert Sabbag, Loaded: A Misadventure on
the Marijuana Trail (Little Brown)
- Adam Sisman, Boswell's Presumptuous Task
(FSG)
- Stephen Thompson & The Onion A.V. Club,
The Tenacity of the Cockroach: Conversations with Entertainment's
Most Enduring Outsiders (Three Rivers Press)
- John Updike, Seek My Face (Knopf)
Music:
- Chick Corea: Expressions - Oblivion
- Combustible Edison: "The Millionaire's Holiday"
from the album "I, Swinger
- Chet Baker: Alone Together" from the album
"Deep in a Dream"
- Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonata in E-flat K474
(Decca) Andras Schiff, piano
Distribution dates:
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Questions and comments can
be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org
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