November 1, 1996

Spalding Learns to Ski

An excerpt from the next edition of "This American Life" from WBEZ: a performance excerpt from monologist, actor and writer Spalding Gray. His latest show "It's a Slippery Slope" opens this Sunday at New York's Lincoln Center Theater. This excerpt was recorded at Chicago's Goodman Theater.

16:45

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Guest

Spalding Gray

Host

Terry Gross

Other segments from the episode on November 1, 1996

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, November 1, 1996: Interview with Toni Morrison; Review of Amy Rigby's album "Diary of a Mod Housewife"; Commentary on skiing; Commentary on email.

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November 1, 1996

21:49

Novelist Toni Morrison on Crimes of Passion

Next week, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist will be honored at the National Book Awards ceremony for her distinguished contribution to American letters. In 1992, at the time of this interview, she had a new novel "Jazz," and a book of essays, "Playing in the Dark." Her novel, "Beloved," won the Pulitzer prize. She's written five novels in all. (REBROADCAST FROM 4/24/92).

Interview

Toni Morrison

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November 1, 1996

04:47

A Former Punk's Album of Grown-Up Rock and Roll

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the new solo album by Amy Rigby. In the early eighties, Rigby was part of the all-woman punk band the Shams, and following that, a country-rock outfit called Last Roundup. After a long silence, she's back with a new solo album called "Diary of a Mod Housewife."

Review

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November 1, 1996

04:26

Letter-Writing Conventions Change in the Digital Age

Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg looks at how email technology is altering the way we write letters.

Commentary

Transcript

Transcript currently not available.

Transcripts are created on a rush deadline, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of Fresh Air interviews and reviews are the audio recordings of each segment.

Since 1979, Gray has been performing monologues about his life and anxieties before audiences. "Swimming to Cambodia" was about the Vietnam war and his acting part in the film "The Killing Fields," "Monster in a Box" was about writing/vacation and Hollywood, and "Gray's Anatomy" was about an eye ailment. His latest is considered his most confessional, "It's a Slippery Slope" about marriage and learning to ski.

Interview

Spalding Gray

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August 20, 2013

50:40

Mike Birbiglia, 'Sleepwalk'-ing On The Big Screen.

The comedian co-wrote a film with Ira Glass, of public radio's This American Life, about his life and sleepwalking disorder. But making Sleepwalk With Me, based on Birbiglia's one-man show and comedic memoir, caused Birbiglia anxiety — which exacerbated his disorder.

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October 18, 2010

44:27

Spending The Night With Sleepwalker Mike Birbiglia.

Comedian Mike Birbiglia has a disorder that makes him sleepwalk. He recounts his worst episode — as well as other painfully embarrassing moments — in his comedic memoir, Sleepwalk With Me.

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Spalding Learns to Ski

Guest

Host

Related Topics

Other segments from the episode on November 1, 1996

Novelist Toni Morrison on Crimes of Passion

A Former Punk's Album of Grown-Up Rock and Roll

Letter-Writing Conventions Change in the Digital Age

Transcript

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Monologuist Spalding Gray on a Slippery Slope

Mike Birbiglia, 'Sleepwalk'-ing On The Big Screen.

Spending The Night With Sleepwalker Mike Birbiglia.

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