The Dinner Party

This week: Essayist John Jeremiah Sullivan takes a hard left turn...Talk show giant Dick Cavett spits out etiquette tips... We learn the meaning of "peplum"... Mega-producer Nile Rodgers gets revenge on Studio 54... The Edsel flops right into a cocktail glass... And Caldecott Award-winner Brian Selznick (Hugo) shares unforgettable picture books - for adults. Plus a playlist from indierock supergroup Wild Flag.

This week, Sir Richard Branson drops the 'sir' for us... writer Jonathan Lethem squeezes Gertrude Stein, Jack Kerouac, and Drew Barrymore into a hot tub.... why we wanted our MTV... the (non-Portland) trailblazer of b-ball backboard-breaking... "Extreme Makeover: Urban Food Store Edition"... and iconic singer-songwriter Judy Collins muses on being a muse.

This Week: Cyndi Lauper reveals that her true colors are the blues... Comedian Jenny Slate hears voices and tells us her faves... a seasonal organic, free-range serving of New Yorker Mag's Adam Gopnik... Henry Rollins punks your etiquette questions... and why Thanksgiving won't let you eat cake.

This Week: Author Chuck Klosterman tosses aside salad... Rap diva Big Freedia on booty etiquette... And the Zagats guide Brendan through the history of the Zagat guide. Plus, the Beatles' rooftop concert in first-person, John Hawkes on playing a monster, and a soundtrack from a Little Dragon.

This Week: The Dinner Party Download fattens up to become *The Dinner Party* - a cool hour of culture. Actor Antonio Banderas talks about learning to talk... jazz phenom Esperanza Spalding cues up her party soundtrack... and Rico tastes Turkish Delight. Plus, killer beer, documentaries for the doc-averse...and etiquette from Jackie Collins.

This week: As we ready for next week's hour-long show premiere, we serve up two more courses from the DPD test kitchen. You'll hear suggestions for your dinner party soundtrack from Swedish band Little Dragon. Plus, author Alexander Maksik flies into a moth-joke trap.

This week: 28-time bestselling novelist Jackie Collins drops by to give Etiquette lessons... and to dish about Michael Caine's birthday bash. Plus, more experimentation from the DPD test kitchen, a call for your calls, and a track from phenom Luke Rathborne.

This week, we continue to prepare for the hour-long version of the show by serving up some new courses. You'll "overhear" a story from author Jeanne Darst, take a Chattering Class on urban design with filmmaker Gary Hustwit, and learn the number of our new dinner-party hotline. (Drunk dialing allowed.) Let us know what you think! Plus, a traumatizing joke from debut novelist Justin Torres, and a new tune from the Stepkids.

Welcome to *The Dinner Party* - a culture show that gives you everything you need to win this weekend's dinner party.. On the menu: Pulitzer Prize winner Jennifer Egan quacks us up, comedian Demetri Martin takes us on a dietary journey, and we pose our burning etiquette questions to Broadway sensation Elaine Stritch. Plus, an interview with breakout actress Greta Gerwig, poetry from Billy Collins, and lots more.

This week: Steve James, director of "Hoop Dreams" and "The Interrupters," interrupts our regularly scheduled programming to list some docs you'll love, even if you're doc-avoidant. Plus, Swedish singer-songwriter Jens Lekman gets up in his own grill. Much more to come as we prep for a longer, tastier DPD... stay tuned.

This week: Filmmaker Gus Van Sant gives us the silent treatment... America says Uncle... And Brendan gets the lowdown on gluten from Erin "Babycakes" McKenna. Plus, Soleil Moon Frye (a.k.a. Punky Brewster) kids around, and Feist offers up a bluesy new tune.

This week: Musician/Artist Terry Allen re-mystifies love... Sweden gets on the right track... And tennis superstar Novak Djokovic eggs himself on. Plus, a joke from a bitter Kiwi and a bouncin' track from Big Freedia.

This week: TV on the Radio explains why it's raining milk...The Sun talks craziness about the moon...And we treat ourselves to the cake to end all cakes. Plus, a joke from actress Claire Sloma and a fierce new track from Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks.

This week: Filmmaker and artist Miranda July reveals her secret identity...The Mona Lisa takes an Italian vacation...And Bobbies crack down on super-soakers. Plus, a joke from musician Forrest Day and a mesmerizing tune from Lana Del Rey.

Back by popular demand, it's another all-star, all-icebreaker show: Almost every joke we've aired in the last year, collected in one convenient podcast. Patton Oswalt, Miranda July, Spike Jonze, Lemmy and many, many more regale you with miniature tales of animals in bars, drummers in hell and dumb dictators. It's a veritable feast of corn and cheese. Click here for the list of jokes and their tellers...