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Terry Gross at her microphone in 2018

Terry Gross

Terry Gross is the host and an executive producer of Fresh Air, the daily program of interviews and reviews. It is produced at WHYY in Philadelphia, where Gross began hosting the show in 1975, when it was broadcast only locally. She was awarded a National Humanities Medal from President Obama in 2016. Fresh Air with Terry Gross received a Peabody Award in 1994 for its “probing questions, revelatory interviews and unusual insight.” America Women in Radio and Television presented her with a Gracie Award in 1999 in the category of National Network Radio Personality. In 2003, she received the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s Edward R. Murrow Award for her “outstanding contributions to public radio” and for advancing the “growth, quality and positive image of radio.” Gross is the author of All I Did Was Ask: Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians and Artists, published by Hyperion in 2004. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, and received a bachelor’s degree in English and M.Ed. in communications from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She began her radio career in 1973 at public radio station WBFO in Buffalo, NY.

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19:25

From the Archives: Charles Busch on Performing in Drag.

Playwright, female impersonator, and novelist Charles Busch. His play, "Psycho Beach Party" has been made into a new film. His play, the camp classic, "Vampire Lesbians of Sodom," was the longest-running play in Off-Broadway history. His other plays include, "Red Scare on Sunset" and a show which parodied the variety shows of the 60s, "The Charles Busch Revue," in which he made seven costume changes in an hour and 15 minutes. Busch's also wrote a novel, "Whores of Lost Atlantis." (REBROADCAST from 7/29/93)

Interview
16:13

From the Archives: Morgan Freeman Makes his Directorial Debut.

Actor Morgan Freeman. He's currently starring in the new film "Nurse Betty." He's one of stage and screen's most acclaimed actors, for his ability to emerse himself in different roles. He's originated the role of the chauffeur in the Broadway production of "Driving Miss Daisy." Later he revived the role in the movie version, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award.

Interview
44:27

David Gergen and Presidential Politics.

Former White House adviser David Gergen. He worked with Presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Clinton. Gergen left politics and become a regular analyst on The Newshour with Jim Lehrer and Nightline. He is also Editor-at-large at U.S. News & World Report. His new book is “Eyewitness to Power: The Essence of Leadership” (Simon & Schuster).

Interview
44:50

Bill Moyers Discusses Death and Dying.

Bill Moyers has a new PBS series about death and dying, but the focus isn't just on dying; it's on trying to live a decent life in the face of death and on the movement to improve care at the end of life, such as new approaches to pain relief and hospice care. The series also examines some of the difficult personal and medical choices faced by people who are dying and their loved ones. The series is called "On Our Own Terms." It premieres Sunday evening on most PBS stations and continues over the next three consecutive nights.

Interview
40:24

Musicians Kathleen Hanna and Johanna Fateman.

Kathleen Hanna and Johanna Fateman of the band, Le Tigre (lay-TEE-gruh). Hanna was the lead singer of the 90s band Bikini Kill. Bikini Kill was part of the music/cultural/feminist movement know as “Riot Grrl,” which focused on the concept of ‘girl power” and young women’s empowerment. The movement was based primarily in Washington, DC and Olympia, WA, and its members formed bands, wrote fanzines, and held meetings, protests and festivals. HANNA was a leader and spokesperson for the movement. Her first solo project after Bikini Kill was called Julie Ruin. She then formed Le Tigre.

14:59

T.V. Week: Phil Donahue, T.V.'s Most Popular Talk Show Host.

Phil Donahue host and creator of The Phil Donahue show which originally went on the air in 1967 in Dayton, Ohio. It went into syndication in ‘69, moved to Chicago in ’74, and then to New York before going off the air. Donahue’s show gave rise to the daytime talk shows of today with audience participation and outrageous guests. (REBROADCAST FROM 11/12/85)

Interview
08:10

T.V. Week: Jeopardy's Alex Trebek.

Alex Trebek, host of the game show "Jeopardy." He’s been hosting the show for years. And he’s played himself as host of Jeopardy in a number of TV shows including, “The Simpsons,” “Seinfeld,” “Ellen,” “The Larry Sanders Show” and many others. (REBROADCAST from 9/3/87)

Interview
07:49

T.V. Week: Actor and Writer Jack Larson Looks Back at His "Superman" Days.

Jack Larson was Jimmy Olsen, the cub-reporter on the original “Superman” TV show. Since then he’s become a librettist, poet, and playwright. One of his poems "The Relativity of Icarus" was part of a Joffrey Ballet." He's also written a couple of versed plays, "The Candied House," and "Cherry, Larry, Sandy, Doris, Jean, Paul." (REBROADCAST from 4/12/93)

Interview
10:41

T.V. Week: Television Comedy Writer Larry Gelbart.

Comedy writer Larry Gelbart. In the 1950s he was part of a team of television writers that included Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks, Neil Simon, and others who wrote for Sid Caesar's "Your Show of Shows" and "Caesar's Hour." Gelbart went on to develop and write for the television version of "M*A*S*H. Also, he wrote the screenplays for "Oh, God!" and "Tootsie," and the stage play for "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" (which has recently been revived on Broadway). (REBROADCAST from 8/19/96)

Interview

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