Playback

We've resurfaced from the brand new NPR archives, with some timeless stories from May 1988.  Richard Nixon gives political advice to the '88 Republican Presidential nominees, filmmaker Robert Altman shares insights on the creative process, Leo Kottke goes New age and Dr. John joins Terry Gross in the studio to do the thing only he can do.  

This month's Playback features a treasure trove of funny stuff from February 1988.  Terry Gross interviews  comedian Jackie Mason, cartoonist Lynda Barry talks to Renee Montagne about love, and "the monosexual" comes to town.

It's January and a great time to take a fresh look at all that is 1988!  This month we feature an interview with Matt Groening, the creator of "The Simpsons," who reveals what's really underneath Marge's bouffant.  We also hear from singer songwriter T-Bone Burnett, writer Vertamae Grovosnor, and Harry Shearer moonlighting as a Banana Association spokesman. 

It's a special year-ender episode of Playback!  We relive memorable news headlines of 1987, visit with comedian Jonathan Winters, and hear "The Blue Moose," an original holiday radio comedy featuring star turns from Nina Totenburg, Susan Stamberg, and Daniel Schorr as "The Moose."  

This month we celebrate radio in all its glory with a nod to the 9th anniversary of Morning Edition, a story about underground radio stations during the Vietnam war and Scott Simon takes a trip to the Kinsey Institute for a profile of Alfred Kinsey, the biologist who became famous for his research on human sexuality.  

In this October episode of Playback, we time travel 50 years ago to the Cuban Missile Crisis, fast forward twenty five years to experience the Black Monday stock market crash of 1987, celebrate the edgy humor of Comedian Jackie Mason, and listen to a creepy Halloween story by cartoonist Gary Larson.

This month on Playback Elvis is back in the building and summer 1987 is on its way out. Author Nora Ephron reads her short story "Insider Trading," actress Carrie Fisher talks about growing up in Hollywood and we have an astonishing report on a rise in alien abductions.  

It's hats off to summer 1987 on this month's Playback.  NPR's Scott Simon interviews the popular ice cream duo Ben & Jerry, the Telstar Satelite turns 25, Snow White (the movie) turns 50 and film director John Waters rekindles his passion for the drive-in movie. 

(Repeat) It's the Crazy Time Warp edition of Playback with stories from June 1983.  Comedian Jack Paar talks about how he was on the air when the martians landed during the War of the Worlds broadcast in 1938, the Grateful Dead is officially deemed retro, Sally Ride becomes the first American Woman in space… and Frank Mankewicz remembers the life of Robert F. Kennedy.

This month we unlock mysteries of the universe – and celebrate the 25th anniversary of Fresh Air as Terry Gross interviews comedian Harry Shearer.  Actor James Earl Jones lends some insight on how he overcame a serious speech impediment, singer Rosemary Clooney chats about her pal Irving Berlin, and Charles Lindbergh, the aviator, speaks!

In this special "What's in a Name" edition of Playback we practice saying Sylvia Poggioli's name, enjoy some commonly misunderstood song lyrics and listen to interviews with Gregory Peck and Duke Ellington.

It’s March, 1987 – and time for some quarter century soul searching.  Former first lady Betty Ford talks to Susan Stamberg about her addiction to drugs, and alcohol, commentator Jeff O’Brien reveals that he’s clueless without his wife and Naomi and Wynona Judd talk to Noah Adams about how they discovered country music.  

It’s February 1987, a good time to forget about Iran Contra, forget where you left your car keys, and remember the debut of the Car Talk guys.  Also, Scott Simon talks to sex guru Dr. Ruth Westheimer and we catch up with Betsy Walters who shares the story of her parent’s divorce at age eight and her memory of it 20years later.

It’s a brand new year on PLAYBACK and we celebrate January 1987 with some otherworldly radio fun. The late actor River Phoenix talks about his formative years, beat poet Allen Ginsburg sings and talks about the 60’s, UFO’s are sited, HDTV is invented, and we observe bubble wrap appreciation month.

This month on Playback, we get festive with filmmaker John Waters, and take a holiday excursion to FAO Schwartz with Robert Krulwich. Also, as an end of year bonus, the Beastie Boys trash the NPR studios in an interview with John Hockenberry – and director Oliver Stone, still in Saigon, reflects on making the movie “Platoon.”