Singing Spirituals at the White House
This song, “Lord, I Done Done What You Told Me To Do” echoed through the halls of the White House on Wednesday night. The song was performed by the Howard University Choir, as part of a White House...
View ArticleJulianne Moore on Movies and Multitasking
Julianne Moore is one of the most accomplished actors of our day. She’s appeared in dozens of critically acclaimed films—including "The Hours," "Boogie Nights," "A Single Man," and "The Kids are All...
View ArticleHearing the Sounds of Home
A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet… but what about a song in any other key? Could the Beatles’ guitar gently weep if it were written in a major key? For that matter, would Eric...
View ArticleSoul Legend Bill Withers on his Life and Music
(Original air date: Feb 5, 2010) Best known for his classics "Lean on Me," "Just the Two of Us," "Ain't No Sunshine," and "Lovely Day," soul legend Bill Withers is the subject of a recent documentary...
View ArticleRomance, Vengence and Burlesque: Thanksgiving Movies to Catch and to Skip
The biggest movie weekend of the year is upon us: there's a lot to see. Mandy Moore stars in Disney's "Tangled," a new animated version of Rapunzel; Christina Aguilerra and Cher bare (almost) all in...
View ArticleColin Firth on 'The King's Speech'
We speak with Colin Firth about his latest film, “The King’s Speech,” which centers on Queen Elizabeth’s father, King George VI. Firth plays Albert George, unexpectedly forced to take the throne after...
View ArticleMovies: 'Black Swan'
Darren Aronofsky's dark ballet film "Black Swan" opens today, and it's already being mentioned as a contender for Oscar season. But the film elicited very different reactions from our movie...
View ArticleImagining WikiLeaks' Political Drama as Literal Drama
The tale of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks that has transpired in recent months, and especially the events of the past couple of weeks, has played out like a dramatic thriller. It now seems somewhat...
View ArticleNerdcore Rapper MC Frontalot Watches WikiLeaks Saga
Nerdcore rapper MC Frontalot has put out many albums with songs about tech subjects, including online security and the futility of trying to keep secrets in a wired world. Most of his albums have found...
View ArticleRemixing the Holidays: American Idol's Crystal Bowersox On Her Favorite...
All this week we're talking with musical artists and experts about their favorite seasonal songs for our annual "Remixing the Holidays" series. First up: Crystal Bowersox. The American Idol runner-up...
View Article'Law and the Multiverse' Considers Superheroes, Legalities
Would the X-Men's Scott Summers qualify for workplace protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act? (Probably). Is it illegal to attempt to reveal a superhero's secret identity? Likely, as the...
View ArticleUS Census: Finding Beauty in the Numbers
Where many journalists and policy makers see stark data in the new census numbers, some see the potential for art. Sound artist Ben Rubin and UCLA statistics professor Mark Hansen are best known for...
View ArticleFor Broadway's 'Spider-Man,' the Show Must Go On...Or Must It?
The Broadway production of "Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark," saw another crisis on Monday night, as one of its actors fell over 20 feet, severely injuring himself. This is the fourth performer to be...
View Article'Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow' Turns 50
We've been talking about songs that were controversial when we were younger, and one of our favorites, "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" by the Shirelles, turns 50 today. It was the first ever number...
View ArticleAir Supply on What Makes a Great Love Song
On Valentine’s Day, we’re going to be joined by the high priests of the top forty love song: Air Supply, also known as Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock. Their mission: to help Takeaway listeners...
View ArticleA Medley of Love Songs on Valentine's Day
The eternal enigma of the love song — get it right and you can build an entire career on one iconic romantic tune, get it wrong and remain the butt of endless jokes, humiliations, and rickrolling...
View ArticleT.C. Boyle on 'When the Killing's Done'
In 1853, a steamship named the Winfield Scott ran aground near the Channel Islands, which are off the coast of California. Unfortunately, when the ship landed, so did a certain foreign species that...
View ArticleMovie Date: Rafer and Kristen's Oscar Picks
The Oscars are this Sunday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time and all week long, we’ve been gearing up for the big night, interviewing nominees and blogging about the awards show. And even before their nominations...
View ArticleThe Real George Carlin
Sally Wade is George Carlin's widow, and she has some stories to tell. But they're not all about the comedian and popular thinker as a gruff man given to strings of four-letter words. In her new book...
View ArticleThe Spy Who Loved Me: A True Life Story
When we think of spies in love, we might imagine the wacky but passionate Boris and Natasha. Alternatively, we might think of Naomi Watts and Sean Penn, depicting Valerie Plame and Joseph Wilson in the...
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