Here's The Thing
By WNYC Radio
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Podcast Description
In WNYC's new podcast series, award-winning actor Alec Baldwin gives the listener unique entrée into the lives of artists, policy makers and performers. Alec sidesteps the predictable by taking listeners inside the dressing rooms, apartments, and offices of people such as comedian Chris Rock, political strategist Ed Rollins and Oscar winner Michael Douglas. Here's the Thing: Listen to what happens when an inveterate guest becomes a host. Subscribe now and get new interviews every two weeks.
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1 |
Preview: Dick Cavett | Coming up next week on Here’s the Thing, Alec visits with the master of talk, Dick Cavett, at his house on Long Island. They discuss Marlon Brando, interviewing Laurence Olivier, and meeting Orson Welles. Listen here to what Dick was like as a very early talker, in Comstock, Nebraska. | 2/22/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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2 |
Rob Morris | Alec talks with Rob Morris, president and co-founder of Love 146, an organization that fights to prevent child sex slavery and provide aftercare for its victims. The numbers around the child sex trafficking industry are staggering. Over a million children are sold into this multi-billion dollar industry each year. As Rob explains to Alec, he sees behind the numbers: “This is not about an issue, this is not about a cause. This is somebody’s daughter, this is about somebody’s son. Little boy. Little girl.” READ | Interview Transcript | 2/12/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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3 |
Lorne Michaels | Lorne Michaels is one of the most influential figures in American entertainment. Alec goes to Rockefeller Center to visit Michaels in his office – the same office he’s had since 1975, when he created Saturday Night Live. Michaels went on to launch the careers of some of the biggest names in comedy: Belushi, Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, Chris Farley, Chris Rock, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey … the list goes on and on and on. “The only way you can manage creative people is with very loose reigns,” says Michaels. He says he works with “people at the point of their career where nothing matters but the work … people just completely devote themselves to the show.” Lorne Michaels is the rare producer in that he’s truly involved in all aspects of production, yet he says when he does his job right, he leaves no fingerprints. READ | Interview Transcript | 1/29/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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4 |
Preview: Lorne Michaels | In the next episode of Here's the Thing, Alec goes to Rockefeller Center to visit Lorne Michaels in his office – the same office Michaels has had since 1975, when he created Saturday Night Live and from which he has launched the careers of some of the biggest names in comedy. Listen to a preview of Lorne talking about what it's like to produce Saturday Night Live -- week after week. | 1/23/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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5 |
Joe Berlinger | Alec talks with director Joe Berlinger about his latest film for HBO Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory -- the third film in a series of documentaries about a crime that took place 18 years ago in rural Arkansas. Berlinger says, “We made these three movies as acts of advocacy” – which is not his usual style as a long-time documentary filmmaker. “I believe the audience should be treated like a jury. You give them the information, you weigh both sides, and you let them come to their own conclusion.” These films were different, acknowledges Berlinger: “We clearly have a point of view that there is a huge injustice.” Early in his career Berlinger worked for famed documentarians David and Albert Maysles. He says the Maysles brothers taught him about “The act of faith about making a film about real life as it’s unfolding.” Berlinger is known for his documentary work, has dabbled in features, but says he’d “love another opportunity to do a feature at some point, but, you know, I’m just used to being the author of my own work, being totally in control.” READ | Interview Transcript | 1/15/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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6 |
Erica Jong and Molly Jong-Fast | Alec talks with writer Erica Jong and her daughter Molly Jong-Fast about sex, divorce and the impact on sexuality on young women today. Erica has been through 3 divorces – she’s on her fourth marriage. She says “Divorce was the hardest thing [she] ever went through … Divorce is terrible. Divorce is difficult. We have no rules for it. It's so incredibly painful. Molly – still on her first marriage – says she’s learned “marriage is incredibly hard work.” Molly and Erica spar about the legacy of the feminist movement – but Molly concludes that her mother’s own legacy is about being honest. READ | Interview Transcript | 1/2/12 | Free | View In iTunes |
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7 |
Stephen Daldry | Alec sits down with director Stephen Daldry, whose new movie, "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," opens on Christmas Day. Stephen offers a window into his past – from training as a clown and driving giraffes through Pompeii to being serenaded with Billy Elliot songs by a persistent Elton John. Alec and Stephen trade notes on acting styles -- and whether being Mayor – of New York or London – would be satisfying. Stephen says he makes work “to change the world;” Alec’s no longer sure change is possible. READ | Interview Transcript | 12/21/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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8 |
Chris Rock | Chris Rock says he "wanted [his] acting to grow." So what did he do? He took a job on Broadway. Alec goes backstage with Rock after a matinee of The Mother F**ker With The Hat to hear about what it was like for Rock to be in his first play. Rock says rehearsal was the hardest thing he's ever gone through in his life. Chris Rock and Alec talk about the play, the movie business and Rock's career in stand-up. Alec asks Rock about how the people in his life respond to his stand-up -- which as Alec says, can "filet them on stage." "I'm like a lawyer," says Rock; "it would all hold up in court." That said, he admits that everybody is uncomfortable. READ | Interview Transcript | 12/5/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
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9 |
Kris Kardashian Jenner | Alec talks with Kris Kardashian Jenner, the self-described “momager” of the Kardashian clan. Kris explains what it’s like to live and work with her family: “you can’t get more controlling than that.” Kris describes her family’s retail roots--her grandmother owned a candle store, her mother opened a store, and Kris herself, along with her daughters, opened two clothing stores. “I sold t-shirts,” says Kris. “This is what I did all day long.” For Kris, a reality show like Keeping Up with the Kardashians was a no-brainer: “if somebody says, we could...shine a camera on your shop every day, hello, I’m signing up.” Kris tells Alec her daughters are surprisingly frugal--they have taught her about business and work ethic. She thinks she’s taught them about drive. READ | Interview Transcript | 11/21/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| Total: 9 Episodes |
Customer Reviews
WNYC
This gets 5 stars before existing, That's how good it is.
Smart Alec
I've been waiting for this. Alec Baldwin has the voice, the personality, and the perfect blend of smart and smart alec to pull this off. I predict a long history if he's not first recruited to national politics...
Clohn Art
I dabble in the prophetic from time to time. I foresee this being epic. 5 stars.
