The Bob Edwards Show, December 19-23, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011: Scholar, writer, and BBC host Adam Nicolson is the author of the book God’s Secretaries: the Making of the King James Bible. Celebrating its 400th anniversary this year, the Bible has—more than any other book in English—shaped our language and beliefs. Then, Bob goes backstage at the Music Box Theater in New York where actress Kim Cattrall is starring in a Broadway revival of Noel Coward’s Private Lives. Cattrall is best known for her role as Samantha in the HBO series Sex and the City.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011: Internationally renowned pianist Lang Lang is one of the world’s leading interpreters of Franz Liszt. To honor Liszt’s 200th birthday this year, Lang Lang recorded a collection of his favorite compositions for his album Liszt: My Piano Hero. Then, it’s time for our annual visit with Rolling Stone contributing editor Anthony DeCurtis. He’ll share his picks for the best CDs of 2011, just in time to include on your holiday shopping list.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011: William Joyce is the author and illustrator of many beloved children’s books, including George Shrinks and Rolie Polie Olie, both of which are Emmy Award winning TV shows. He is also a commercial illustrator whose has graced multiple New Yorker covers and a filmmaker who contributed to Toy Story, A Bug’s Life and Robots. His most recent book, The Man in the Moon, is the first in a series called The Guardians of Childhood. Joyce is currently directing an animated film version of the series for DreamWorks Animation. Then, country musician Mandy Barnett talks with Bob about adding her powerhouse vocals to the holiday music repertoire with a new album titled Winter Wonderland.
Thursday, December 22, 2011: Dan O’Keefe was a writer on Seinfeld when he decided to incorporate some O’Keefe family traditions into the show’s plot-less plot. And that’s how America found out about Festivus. O’Keefe reminisces about his unique upbringing and the vision his father, who founded the holiday for “the rest-of-us,” had for it. Then, Bob speaks with the man who personified Festivus, Jerry Stiller. Stiller is half of the legendary comedy duo Stiller & Meara and he’s joined by his wife, Anne Meara.
Friday, December 23, 2011: Doyle McManus, Washington columnist for the Los Angeles Times joins Bob to discuss the latest political news. Next, The Art Museum is being hailed as an art book like no other. Much heavier and larger than any coffee table book, The Art Museum would be better suited for its own viewing stand. Amanda Renshaw, spent 10 years on the project, choosing close to 3,000 works to guide the reader through 30,000 years of art. Then, in this week’s installment of our ongoing series This I Believe, we hear the essay of Becky Sun. Most kids believe in Santa Claus, and lose their faith as they get older. Sun has followed the opposite trajectory. An early childhood disappointment had her convinced Santa didn’t exist — a belief she held into adulthood. Then a friend with a big heart and a bearded father helped change her mind.