Bullseye with Jesse Thorn

We're celebrating the holidays this week in a big, exciting way. It's the Bullseye Holiday Special! We've got Jennifer Hudson, Judy Greer, Zach Cherry, Tower of Power and Jesse's mom! So much holiday cheer it'll make you flip out.

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Rachel Bloom is a comedian and songwriter. She created and starred in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. The spring of 2020 was a tough time for a lot of us. It took Bloom a few years to process all that, and now we have the result: Death, Let Me Do My Special on Netflix. Bloom joins us to talk about her special. We get into what it was like to see the world grieve the loss of his writing partner, Adam Schlesingler, so publicly. Plus, we talk about Bobi, a dog who lived to be over thirty years old!

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Ken Burns is one of the greatest documentary filmmakers of all time. He's dedicated much of his life to covering the story of America through his works: The Civil War, Country Music, Jackie Robinson, just to name a few. His recent work ventures outside of The United States to record one of the greatest minds in history: Leonardo da Vinci. Ken Burns comes to Bullseye to discuss the renaissance man, quilts, and so much more.

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Come to the table and join us, as we celebrate "Hanksgiving." That's right, our guest this week is Tom Hanks! He joins the show to talk about the limits of charm, shares driving etiquette tips and his shift from comedy acting to working in drama.

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Canonball is a segment that takes a closer look at albums that should be considered classics. This time, MC Skiz Fernando joins Bullseye to discuss the game changing album Operation: Doomsday by MF DOOM. Skiz just released a book that records the life and death of the hip-hop legend. It's called The Chronicles of DOOM: Unraveling Rap's Masked Iconoclast. Skiz stops by to key us into the classic album, including songs like: "Tick Tick" and "Rhymes Like Dimes."

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Paul Williams has lived an extraordinary life. He's a songwriter who's written songs performed by Three Dog Night, Tiny Tim, The Carpenters, and David Bowie. On the latest episode of Bullseye we get into it all: Falling out of airplanes. Dressing as an Orangutan from Planet of the Apes on Carson. The simple genius of Kermit the Frog's Rainbow Connection,which was surprisingly complicated to write.

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Tavi Gevinson is a very talented actor and writer. She was just fifteen years old when she founded the fashion magazine Rookie, a smash success that is still beloved today. She returns to the show to talk about some of her new projects, what impacts social media has had on her career and how she dealt with the pressure of being called a wunderkind.

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Connie Chung is a TV legend. She is an Emmy-winning newscaster and interviewer, and the first Asian American to host a major network news show. She chronicles her life and career in her new book Connie: A Memoir. Connie joins Bullseye to talk all about her memoir, what she misses the most about reporting the news, and the wonder of the modern standing desk.

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J. Kenji López-Alt is a food writer and chef. He wrote the books The Food Laband The Wok: Recipes and Techniques. The holidays are coming up – if you're looking for some new recipes to try, some of our favorites at Bullseye include López-Alt's roasted potatoes, chocolate chip cookies and standing prime rib. Making your own mayonnaise the López-Alt way only takes two minutes! A version of this interview originally aired in March of 2022.

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"Weird Al" Yankovic is the undisputed king of parody music. He's been recording music for over four decades and sold millions of records. Al just turned sixty-five, and we're celebrating with a look back at our conversation with the music icon!

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James Adomian is a comedian with a foot in two worlds. He's a stand-up comedian and impressionist who's performed on the Late Late Show, Conan, Jimmy Kimmel Live and many more. He's got a brand new stand-up special out now called James Adomian: Path of Most Resistance. He joins us to talk about the new special and even does a few impressions.

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DeMar DeRozan is a basketball player for the Sacramento Kings. He's a six time NBA All-Star and an Olympic gold medalist. DeRozan just released a memoir: Above the Noise: My Story of Chasing Calm. He joins us to talk about some tough subjects covered in the book like his struggle with depression. He also gets into what it was like to be named dropped in one of the hottest songs of summer – Not Like Us by Kendrick Lamar.

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Good gourd! It's a very special Halloween Spooktacular edition of Bullseye, where we're revisiting some of our best Halloween interviews. First up: R.L. Stine, creator of the Goosebumps series. Then, a very special visit from comedian Andy Daly with the song that changed his life: The Monster Mash! Finally, the "damned" finale: Cassandra Peterson, the woman behind Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.

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Nicolay of the Foreign Exchange joins us to talk about the song that changed his life. A Prince track that, honestly, we were very surprised hadn't been picked yet.

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MAVI is a rapper from Charlotte, North Carolina. In recent years, he's become one to watch. On his latest album Shadowbox his flow teems with self doubt and anxiety. The melodies and samples linger long after the record's finished. MAVI joins us on the latest episode of Bullseye to discuss the record. The themes in his albums are often filled with pain and loneliness, so get into how he's been doing lately to handle those feelings.

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Jordan Morris is a comedy writer, podcast host, and author. His new graphic novel Youth Group follows a teen who apprehensively joins a Christian youth group and comes to find that demons are real! Fear not, as the youth group is intent on exorcising the demons from whence they came. We get into Jordan's graphic novel and so much more on Bullseye.

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What do the films Men in Black, The Addams Family and Raising Arizona all have in common? They were all shot by cinematographer and director Barry Sonnenfeld. He's responsible for filming and directing some of the biggest movies from the 20th century. He joins us to talk about his new memoir and reflect on his many years in show business.

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Sérgio Mendes died last month. He was 83 and had been dealing with long COVID for several months. His band Brasil '66 was at the forefront of a bossa nova explosion that introduced the genre to listeners across the world. When Mendes joined us nearly a decade ago, he talked about how his music evolved over the years and he got into the show at Carnegie Hall that changed music history forever.

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Herb Alpert is most famous for the music he created with his band, Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass. His career as a musician and producer has spanned over six decades, breaking ground on artists like The Police and Janet Jackson. In the nine years since Herb was last on Bullseye, he's dropped nine more records. We revisit our conversation with the music legend in honor of the recent release of his 50th studio album, 50.

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André 3000 is one of the greatest rappers to ever grace a microphone. He is, of course, one half of the Grammy winning rap group Outkast. Between the years of 1995 and 2006, he and his partner Big Boi released some of the most iconic rap records of all time. Late last year André released an album called New Blue Sun. It's an ambient spiritual jazz record where André plays the flute. He just kicked off a Fall tour in support of the album. We are beyond thrilled to have André 3000 join us on the show to talk about his recent album. He also gets into where he currently stands on rapping. Plus, he shares with us what his time working in the fashion world was like.

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Earlier this year, Casey Wilson and Jessica St. Clair put together an audio book called The Art of Small Talk. Think of it as a guide on navigating through brief conversations with strangers. In the audio book, they discuss why small talk is important and how it brings us as human beings, living our lives, closer together. On this episode, Jessica and Casey will get into how to perfect the art of small talk. They'll tell us what works for them and walk us through a few examples. They'll even coach Jesse on how to best engage in small talk at the dog park.

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Eve is an icon in hip-hop, a west Philly rapper whose flow, style and production helped define the genre in the early 2000s. She's released three incredible albums–all of which reached either gold or platinum–and stands out as the first lady of rap collective The Ruff Ryders. Eve covers it all in her new memoir, Who's that Girl?. It's about Eve's journey in hip-hop, acting, motherhood, and mental health. We talk all about it and so much more on Bullseye.

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Wendy and Lisa recorded some stone cold classics with Prince's band The Revolution: Purple Rain, Raspberry Beret, Kiss, When Doves Cry and more. These days, they're known for their work composing scores for TV and movies: Heroes, Dangerous Minds, Crossing Jordan, and Nurse Jackie. Wendy and Lisa talk with us about their 40-plus year partnership, and their Emmy award-winning work as composers. And of course, what it was like to collaborate with Prince, and work on some of his most iconic records.

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Ian Frazier, is a writer who, for lack of a better term, does the thing. If there is a place that fascinates him he goes to that place, immerses himself in it, and writes about it. And that's exactly what he did for his new book about the Bronx called Paradise Bronx. He joins us to talk about the history of the New York borough and even tells us how he mapped out the radius in which residents can smell cookies from a local bakery. Plus, he shares what items he brings with him when he goes out to explore a city.

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Tyrese Gibson is a renaissance man. He's a Grammy-nominated singer, blockbuster actor, an accomplished author, and model. His latest project is a crime drama–1992. It's set in Los Angeles, the day four police officers charged with beating Rodney King were acquitted. We talk about the film and the commercial that jump started his career. Plus, Tyrese presses pause mid-interview to take an important call from a rap legend.

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Lynda Barry is a legend of alternative comics. These days, she teaches at the University of Wisconsin. Her book What It Is, was recently re-issued on paperback. When we talked to Lynda in 2020, she'd just released Making Comics. It's sort of an illustrated guide on how to create comics. At the heart of the book is a belief Lynda has: Anybody can draw. Anyone can make comics. Yes, even you!

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Jon Hamm is an actor with a lot of range. He can do serious, and he can definitely do funny. When he last joined us on the show, he had just starred in a comic noir called Maggie Moore(s). A film with a perfect mix of serious and funny. He chatted with us about that film, how he landed his memorable role on Mad Men, and much more.

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ScarLip is hip-hop's next rising star with her forceful flow and energy inspired by the late rapper DMX. She's just been named to XXL's 2024 freshman class and received the stamp of approval from hip-hop giants Busta Rhymes and Snoop Dogg. We get into her ascent in the game, breath control while performing, and staying in school against all odds. Plus: What's a Glizzy? We answer that and so much more.

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Entering the studio with Jesse Thorn on the latest episode is John Cena. The wrestler turned actor talks about his path to the ring and Hollywood. John recently announced his imminent retirement from wrestling – he talked with us about that decision. Plus, John's always wanted to learn how to play piano, and he's thought of a way to make that happen. His latest project is an action comedy called Jackpot! in which he stars alongside Awkwafina. You can stream it now on Amazon Prime.

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Michelin-starred chef René Redzepi, host of the new show Omnivore on Apple TV+, joins us on the latest installment of I Wish I Made Thatto talk about a recipe he wishes he'd invented: a beautiful vegetable dish called Le Gargouillou.

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Common and Pete Rock are two of hip-hop's greatest heroes. Now, the two icons have combined their genius to release their first collaborative work together, The Auditorium Vol. 1. We get into the album, discuss some of the pair's most profound tracks, and spin into a conversation on breakdancing at 50.

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Ghostbuster! Beldar the Conehead! Blues Brother Elwood! The one and only Dan Aykroyd joins us. In the audio documentary Blues Brothers: The Arc of Gratitude, Aykroyd tells the story of how the band formed, how it persevered through decades of tumult, including the death of its co-founder and friend, John Belushi. Dan Aykroyd talks about the history of The Blues Brothers, the making of Ghostbusters, and so much more.

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Bilal is a vocalist with a foot in two worlds. He's a rap fan's favorite jazz singer, or a jazz fan's favorite hip hop singer. He joins to talk about his new project Live at Glasshaus (Glasshaus Presents), which came out earlier this summer. He also shares how he and his longtime collaborator and friend Robert Glasper first met. Plus, Bilal also talks about how he got together with a big band in Germany to perform a Curtis Mayfield tribute concert.

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Megan Stalter is an actor and comedian. She plays Kayla Schaefer on the hit show Hacks, the wildly inappropriate, yet charming assistant to Paul W. Downs' manager character. Stalter also stars in the new film Cora Bora. She plays the title character, a singer/songwriter in a long distance relationship that she senses is in trouble. Megan Stalter joins us to talk about the film, her time on Hacks, and so much more.

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Actor and comedian Paul Scheer recently joined us before a live audience at LAist – our hometown public radio station in Los Angeles – to talk about his new book Joyful Recollections of Trauma. Paul also shares a story about an intense encounter he had with actor Christopher Walken when he was younger. Plus, he tells us how he's become such a big Los Angeles Clippers fan.

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Les Savy Fav recently released OUI, LSF, their first album in 14 years. On the latest episode, Jesse chats with Tim Harrington and bassist Syd Butler of Les Savy Fav. Harrington is in his 50's now and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder not too long ago. He opens up about taking better care of himself. Butler and Harrington also get into the new record, which was recorded in Harrington's attic – please don't tell his landlord.

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Serj Tankian is the lead singer and co-founder of the hard rock band System of a Down. He's also a solo artist, activist, symphony composer, and an author. He just released his book Down With The System: A Memoir (Of Sorts). Serj talks all about the book, his time as the frontman of System of a Down, and his love for Barbara Streisand.

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Molly Gordon joins us to talk about starring on FX's hit series The Bear. She get into what it's been like working with the incredible cast and how it's been to play a resident ER doctor on the show. She also shares what it was like growing up with parents who worked in show business and tell us what they taught her about filmmaking.

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Ms. Pat's standup comedy is direct, clever and raw. She headlines shows all over the country and she's got her own TV show - The Ms. Pat Show on BET Plus. We'll get into her Emmy nominated sitcom, her extraordinarily difficult road to success and why she decided to take a chance on standup in the first place. Plus, a bonkers story about the time she took an order from a U.S. President at a fast food restaurant.

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Tanya Tucker is a country music legend! She's been singing since she was nine years old and has released about two dozen records in her time. When Tanya was last on Bullseye, she had just released her Grammy award-winning album While I'm Living. She talks about the album, turning down Elvis Presley, and so much more.

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Chances are you've probably seen Kaitlin Olson on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The show's been on the air for almost two decades now! Olson also performs on the TV comedy Hacks. She earned an Emmy nomination for her part on the show. When Olson came on Bullseye back in 2015, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia had just wrapped its 10th season! She talked with us about morally broken comedy characters and whether it's a good idea to fall in love with the creator of your TV show.

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Twyla Tharp is a legend in the world of dance. She's danced and choreographed professionally for nearly 60 years. Tharp is 82 and she's still working just as hard as ever. She has a new show that she choreographed – How Long Blues. When we spoke to Twyla she had just written a book called Keep it Moving: Lessons for the Rest of Your Life. We're thrilled to revisit this conversation. She's one of the most insightful, hilarious, and sassy guests we've ever had on the show.

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Michael Stipe is forever cemented in the minds of music fans as the lead singer of R.E.M., one of the biggest rock bands in history. He's also made some fun appearances on shows like At Home with Amy Sedaris and The Adventures of Pete and Pete. R.E.M. was also recently inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame where they performed their classic song "Losing My Religion." When Stipe was last on Bullseye, we talked with him about discovering his voice, his passion for photography, and the new music he'd been writing.

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You may have heard Ray Suarez on Bullseye before. He was last a guest on the show in 2016 and has since interviewed all kinds of folks for us. Lately, Ray has been spending a lot of time abroad. He lectures at the New York University campus in Shanghai. During his time abroad, he's been thinking a lot about what it means to be an immigrant. He's interviewed people from all across the globe on the topic, and has compiled their stories into a new book called We Are Home: Becoming American in the 21st Century.

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Walton Goggins is a master of comedy, action and drama – take his latest project Fallout – a performance that blends all of that into something really special and compelling. Walton joins us to talk about the series, and why he was so enthusiastic to take the role before he even knew much about it. Walton also gets into his love of horseback riding and growing up with a father who's larger than life. Plus, how one of the characters he portrays on Fallout became an accidental sex symbol.

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Alonso Duralde is a critic, podcast host, and film writer. He just published a new book, Hollywood Pride: A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Representation and Perseverance in Film. It looks at the history of film through a queer lens, showcasing the contributions of queer actors and directors in Hollywood. Alonso joins Bullseye to talk about the book, portrayals and erasures of LGBTQ+ characters, and some quintessential queer movies to watch.

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Maya Erskine stars in the Amazon Prime series Mr. and Mrs. Smith. It's an action thriller in which she stars opposite Donald Glover. It's a dark, high stakes, prestige, serialized adaptation of the 2005 film of the same name. Maya joins us to talk about the series and how she prepared for the role. We also get into her time in college and how she'd make skits with her longtime friend and collaborator Anna Konkle. Plus, she shares some stories with us about her time in arts high school.

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The record producer Steve Albini was a legend. He recorded with The Stooges, Pixies, Nirvana and so many others. He passed away last month at the age of 61. Jesse Thorn spoke with him 17 years ago. The interview was recorded live at the Second City in Chicago. In the conversation they got into his creative process and why he thought the best albums were made over a weekend rather than several months. They also talked about Missoula, Montana and how that influenced his taste growing up.

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Shonda Rhimes is one of the most accomplished TV writers and producers of our time. She's written shows like Scandal, How To Get Away With Murder, and Grey's Anatomy, one of the longest-running primetime TV shows ever. When Shonda was last on Bullseye, Shonda spoke with our correspondent Jarrett Hill on her newest project, Queen Charlotte – it's a spinoff of the widely popular Bridgerton series. With Bridgerton now in its third season, we revisit our conversation with Shonda Rhimes.

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Richard Thompson began his music career as the guitarist for the English folk rock band Fairport Convention. Following his time with the group, he began performing as part of a duo with his then wife, Linda. Then, after the couple split, as a solo artist. Thompson has recorded over two dozen albums. His latest record is called Ship to Shoreand it's out now! He talks with us about the new record, his time with Fairport Convention and even performs a few songs alongside his wife, Zara Phillips.

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Billy Dee Williams might be best known as Lando Calrissian in the Star Wars franchise. He's an actor with eight decades under his belt and a man of many talents. He's a painter, a singer, and author who just released his memoir, What Have We Here? Portraits of a Life. Billy Dee Williams joins Bullseye to talk about his memoir and galaxies, far, far away.

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We're presenting a preview of Maximum Fun's newest show Primer. In its debut season, music writer Yosuke Kitazawa (PBS SoCal, Light in the Attic) joins Christian Dueñas and special guests to explore Japanese City Pop. The show celebrates the lives of its artists, explores the cultural and historical context of the songs, and they reflect on the impact that music had on listeners everywhere. Linda Marigliano joins Primer to discuss City Pop icon, Miki Matsubara and her debut record, Pocket Park.

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Ed Ruscha has made art for almost 65 years. His work is in collections all over the world. His medium is eclectic – he's a painter, a photographer, an installation designer, a printmaker, and one of Los Angeles' most iconic artists. LACMA, just put on a retrospective of Ruscha's work. NOW THEN covers a career that's spanned over five decades. We get into the exhibit. We also get into some of his most famous works, including Chocolate Room – which is exactly what it sounds like.

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Tig Notaro is a Grammy and Emmy nominated stand-up comedian. Her new comedy special Hello, Again is out now, and it's hilarious. Tig returns to the show to talk about Hello, Again, her comedy career and her time starring in a Star Trek show.

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Miranda July is a multi-disciplinary artist and filmmaker. She's directed movies like Kajlillionaire and Me, You and Everyone We Know. She's designed apps and even recorded a spoken word album. She also just published her second novel, All Fours. In it, July covers marriage, middle age, and perimenopause. Miranda joins Bullseye to talk about her book, her career and the wild new soda flavor she helped make.

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David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker – together they created some truly classic comedies: Airplane!, Top Secret, and The Naked Gun. They recently wrote a book called Surely You Can't Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane!. We've got Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker on the latest episodes to talk about the book and the rules of comedy. They also dive into why they cast Leslie Nielsen in their projects and what it was like to work with him.

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Lisa Ann Walter has been in show business for a long time and has seen a lot. You may have seen her most recently as Ms. Schemmenti on the ABC sitcom Abbott Elementary. When we asked her about the craziest day of her career, she took us back to 2010, to the set of the Ashton Kutcher action/comedy film Killers.

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Actor and comedian Cole Escola has written and starred in some of the funniest TV comedies: Difficult People, Hacks, and At Home with Amy Sedaris. Cole's recently taken their writing from the small screen to the stage with Oh, Mary!, a one act play that examines the forgotten life and dreams of Mary Todd Lincoln, like you've never seen before. The play makes its Broadway debut this summer. Cole joins Bullseye to talk about Oh, Mary!, gender, and all things Mary Todd Lincoln.

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Isabella Rossellini is probably best known as an actor, having acclaimed parts in movies like Blue Velvet, Death Becomes Her, and Big Night. She's also a model, a performance artist, an accomplished singer and even an academic. When Isabella Rossellini joined Bullseye in 2022, she'd just starred alongside Jenny Slate in the animated film Marcel the Shell with Shoes On. She spoke with guest host Louis Virtel about her role in Marcel the Shell with Shoes On and why she is attracted to working in experimental film.

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Throughout his nearly fifty year music career, Raffi has fought for kids. He's done it with beautiful, fun, and funny music. He's also done it as an activist. Raffi is on the really short list of children's performers who connect directly with the youngest people. When we last chatted with Raffi, he had just released his 2014 album Love Bug. He talked to us about the album, his early childhood in Egypt, his social activism and why he's dedicated his life to entertaining children.

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[r] Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham, creators of the TV show Playing House, talk about their real-life friendship and the marathon improv sessions that produce the show's jokes. Plus comedian Hari Kondablou on how he fits into the "alternative" comedy scene and on graciously accepting his audience's suggestions for jokes.

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Keegan-Michael Key pulls the curtain back on writing and performing for Key & Peele. Then, Tituss Burgess from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt tells about growing up in Georgia and why Titus Andromedon is such a special character on TV (he'll also talk about the show's breakout hit, Peeno Noir).

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Comedians David Wain and Michael Showalter join Jesse to talk about their new series Wet Hot American Summer: First Day Of Camp. Plus 30 Rock's Toofer, Keith Powell on the 1976 satire Network and Jesse recommends the new season of Andy Daly's comedy show, Review.

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Director Liz Garbus joins Jesse to talk about her new Nina Simone documentary, What Happened, Miss Simone? Later Oliver Wang talks to Jesse about his new book: Legions Of Boom: Filipino American Mobile DJ Crews in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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Jesse talks to singer-songwriter Shamir about high school, musical genres and his new album Ratchet, plus hip-hop producer Pete Rock discusses his best loved collaborations and how he breathes new life into classic records by sampling.

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[r] Actress Judy Greer joins Jesse Thorn to talk about her roles in Archer and Arrested Development. Her book I Don't Know What You Know Me From: Confessions of a Co-Star charts life as a talented and prolific performer who's figured out you get to be funnier playing the best friend than the lead. Greer co-stars in the FX series Married, which returns for its second season this week. Later Jesse sits down with musician Ishmael Butler of Shabazz Palaces and Digable Planets, plus he'll explain the genius of Orson Welles' Touch of Evil.

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Jesse talks to movie director, Penelope Spheeris. She directed Wayne's World, but before that was best known for her music documentary series, The Decline of Western Civilization. Jesse also sits down with singer-songwriter Bhi Bhiman.

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Jesse talks to acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee. Spike tells us about his new movie, Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, how he really feels about Larry Bird and about his own very serious addiction.... to Air Jordans. Later Jesse sits down with Katja Blichfeld and Ben Sinclair. The couple created the series High Maintenance, a "not on television" show that follows a New York City marijuana delivery guy as he visits his various clients. Plus, Jesse tells us about the best satire of the last ten years, MTV 2's Wonder Showzen.

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Writer/director Dan Gilroy and star Rene Russo of 'Nightcrawler' talk about exploring the seedy business of TV news, collaborating as a married couple, and working with Jake Gyllenhaal. Nightcrawler is nominated for an Academy Award for Best Screenplay.

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[r] Two late night hosts and Daily Show alums! Jesse talks to John Oliver about why it's sometimes weird to make jokes about American politics when you're a Brit and then with the new Nightly Show host Larry Wilmore about how being a Daily Show correspondent is the perfect prep for hosting one's own show. Plus, the brothers from My Brother, My Brother and Me proffer advice on solo concert-going and playing video games with your boss, and Jesse tells us about the greatest pop song ever (sorry, there's no question about it).

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Steve Buscemi! The best ever. The actor, director and producer joins Bullseye to talk about dying on screen dozens of times, and how his father shaped his career in the civil services and encouraged him to pursue acting. We'll look back on the first ever movie he acted in – one that ended up being a pivotal moment in the history of American queer cinema. Plus, he'll talk to us about trying his hand at stand-up as an eighteen year old kid from Long Island.

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DJ Quik is one of the most prolific figures in West Coast hip-hop. He's a great rapper, but he's always considered himself a producer first, crafting some of the most inventive samples and beats of the genre. This summer, DJ Quik joins fellow legends Warren G and Snoop Dogg for a tour across that great nation to the North on the Cali to Canada Tour. When Quik joined Bullseye in 2014, he talked about the method behind his sampling and his awesome, awesome hairstyles over the years.

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Keita Takahashi is a video game creator and designer. He's responsible for the classic genre defining puzzle game Katamari Damacy. Keita Takahashi has a new game coming out soon. It's called to a T and it's about a child whose arms stick straight out like a "T". We talked with Keita Takahashi about how he got into designing video games and how he pitched the idea for Katamari Damacy to the folks at Namco. He also talks with us about his new game, to a T.

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Alison Brie is the star of beloved television shows Community, Mad Men and BoJack Horseman. She joins us on the latest episode of Bullseye to talk about her latest: Apples Never Fall. We get into her time growing up in South Pasadena and what she learned about herself while working on the physically demanding wrestling tv series GLOW. Does she think the long-awaited Community movie is actually happening? Only one way to find out!

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Paula Pell spent 18 years behind the scenes as a writer on Saturday Night Live. These days, you can see her on Girls5Eva–a sitcom about a 90s girl group that reunites today. She plays Gloria, the queer elder of the group making the most of their second wind. When she joined the show back in 2019, Pell starred in Wine Country alongside a few SNL legends. She also gave us an insider's view on some of her more controversial work on the late-night comedy staple.

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Shabaka Hutchings makes brilliant, beautiful genre blending songs. His music is vivid, complex and hypnotic. He recently hung up his saxophone and is playing the flute these days. When Shabaka joined the show back in 2021, his band Sons of Kemet had just put out a record called Black to the Future. He talked with us about making the new record during quarantine. He also discussed being an only child, the first instrument he learned to play and his love of old school gangster rap.

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On the latest episode, R&B singer SiR joins us to talk about his new record Heavy, growing up in Inglewood and his musical family. Plus, he gets vulnerable and frank about his path to sobriety. Right now is the best time to support Bullseye and the MaxFun podcasts you love by starting a monthly membership or upgrading your existing one! Learn more athttps://maximumfun.org/join/

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Jenny Slate has starred in films like Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Obvious Childand Everything Everywhere All at Once. She's also a standup - she just released her second special! Jenny Slate: Seasoned Professional.Slate joins us to talk all about it. The MaxFunDrive is still going strong – right now is the best time to support Bullseye and the MaxFun podcasts you love by starting a monthly membership or upgrading your existing one! Learn more at https://maximumfun.org/join/

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There aren't many actors who can straddle the worlds of high art and blockbusters as deftly as John Malkovich. His latest project is The New Look, a TV show on Apple TV +. The series takes place in Nazi-occupied France and tells the story of how France's fashion industry navigated a terrifying, inhuman reality. John Malkovich joins us to chat about The New Look and his love of fashion. He also talks to us about his upbringing and early years as a performer. Plus, we also get into one of our most favorite scenes of his from the film Burn After Reading.

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Movie stars, writers, artists: these are the typical fare for Bullseye interviewees. For our production company's annual MaxFunDrive, though, Jesse talks with Bullseye listeners. He asks them the same question: Hey, what's your job? We're presenting a sneak peek at one such interview with Joe - an apprentice an electrician in South Boston.

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Peter Dinklage joins us on the latest episode to talk about his new film American Dreamerand working alongside Shirley MacLaine. We also get into Game of Thrones and his time breaking into the industry. Plus, he talks about his time as a singer in a pop-punk band and getting a scar at the legendary venue CBGB's! TheMaxFunDrivekicks off this week. Right now is the best time to support Bullseye by starting a monthly membership or upgrading your existing membership! Learn more athttps://maximumfun.org/join.

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Kali Reis is a boxer, with two championships in two weight classes. She's also an actor. She first starred in the indie film Catch the Fair One, and her latest role is in HBO's True Detective: Night Country. Kali Reis joins the show to talk about the new season of True Detective, what it's been like to break into acting and more.

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Bill Bradley is a two-time NBA champion and hall of famer, Olympic gold medalist, and former U.S. Senator. He recounts all of this and more in his one-man show, Rolling Along: An American Story.Bill joins Bullseye to talk about his theatrical performance, his 2000 run for President of the United States, and so much more.

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Musician Laura Jane Grace fronts the punk band Against Me. On the latest , episode Jordan Morris chats with Laura about her early days playing shows in laundromats, her love of Guns N' Roses, and what it's like to record an album while in quarantine. Laura Jane Grace's latest album Hole in my Headis out now and available on her Bandcamp. Jordan Morris co-hosts a new podcast with Emily Fleming on Maximum Fun called Free with Ads.

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Bob Edwards died last month. He was 76. Edwards was the original host of Morning Edition when the program launched in 1979 – a legend in the public radio game. To commemorate his passing, we're replaying Jesse's 2007 interview with Edwards - back when the show was broadcast out of the woods in Santa Cruz, CA.

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Corb Lund is a country and western musician from Alberta, Canada. He's been recording music since the nineties and just released a new record called El Viejo. Like his earlier work, it's clever, plain spoken and beautifully produced.When Jesse first talked to Lund, back in 2010, it was at a folk festival up in Calgary – his hometown. Now, he joins us in the studio with his guitar to talk about the new album and play a few songs.

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Catherine Opie's photographs have been shown in museums all over the world. Her career spans nearly four decades. Breathtaking photographs of queer and fetish communities, street photography in Los Angeles, portraits of surfers, her friends and families. She joins us to talk about her latest exhibit — a retrospective at Regen Projects. Plus, she tells us about the time she made her own dark room in her childhood bathroom, and also some of the incredible historical items she collects.

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Sacha Jenkins has chronicled hip-hop culture for decades now. He is one of the founders of the legendary magazine Ego Trip and has produced documentaries on Wu-Tang Clan and Cypress Hill. His new documentary, All Up In The Biz, highlights the life and rhymes of the late rapper Biz Markie, known for his 1989 hit "Just A Friend." Sacha Jenkins sits down with us to talk about Markie's legacy and unconventional approach to life and music.

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Ten years ago Seth Meyers hosted the NBC show Late Night for the first time. Taking on a gig like that might seem a bit daunting, but Seth was up for the challenge. He's since gone on to interview hundreds of guests, create thousands of regular segments and navigate a pandemic-induced lockdown. Seth Meyers joins us on the show to talk about all things Late Night. He shares what ideas he had when first starting the show, what he loves about hosting it, how it's evolved over the years and much more.

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Chloë Sevigny is known for a lot of things in showbiz – but she is perhaps best known for being cool. She has an impeccable fashion sense and makes waves in that world. She's an Oscar nominated actor for her role in Boys Don't Cry. An indie darling in films like The Last Days of Disco and Broken Flowers. Chloë talks with Jesse about how she kept it cool after all these years. We'll also geek out with Chloë about her making own clothes.

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Meshell Ndegeocello has made a career as a bassist, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist. She's been performing professionally for over thirty years now and has recorded albums spanning folk, rap, rock, blues, you name it. Just a few weeks ago she earned a Grammy for her album The Omnichord Real Book. When we had Meshell on the show back in 2009, she'd recently released her album The World Has Made Me The Man of My Dreams. She talked with us about the album, coming up in DC's go-go scene, imagining the sound of the bass and more.

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The Nancy comic strip is one of the most iconic and influential strips out there. It's a comic snob's favorite, but you also don't have to be a super fan to love it. Cartoonist Bill Griffith is a comic nerd who loves Nancy. Last year he released a graphic biography about the creator of Nancy. It's called Three Rocks: The Story of Ernie Bushmiller. It's a beautiful appreciation of Bushmiller's work. Bill Griffith joins the show to talk about the book and the long-lasting impact that Nancy has had on comics.

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We must break him! Dolph Lundgren's performance in Rocky IV features two of the most memorable pieces of dialogue in the storied franchise. Dolph stops by to chat about his time dating Grace Jones, the Rocky audition that almost never happened and his new movie: Wanted Man.

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Bob Mortimer is a comic and author, renowned for his work in the British comedy double act Vic and Bob. These days, Mortimer is also a novelist. We talk with Mortimer about his mystery novel The Clementine Complex, his debut in the U.S., loosely based on Mortimer's time as a lawyer.

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Trace Lysette is an actor, rapper and former drag performer. Last year, she had her first lead role in a film called Monica. It is a wonderful, quiet, haunting drama about a trans woman caring for her estranged mother who is terminally ill. We talk with Trace about her work in the film and about how her years as a drag performer helped her find her gender identity. Plus, we also take a listen to a few of her rap tracks.

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Jo Firestone's comedy special Good Timing is the culmination of months of work from her and a group of senior citizens who wanted to learn stand-up comedy. Jo joins us to talk about the special, and what she learned from her students. She also talks about researching her role as a doomsday prepper on one of our favorite TV shows: Joe Pera Talks With You. A version of this interview originally aired in October of 2021.

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Prodigy formed Mobb Deep alongside his partner Havoc when they were teens. Together the duo basically started gangster rap for the East Coast. When he joined the show back in 2011, Prodigy had just written a biography called My Infamous Life. He talked with us about the book and also his lifelong battle with sickle cell anemia. In 2017, he was hospitalized for his anemia and died while in care. Late last year, the FDA approved a new therapy to treat and almost eliminate symptoms of sickle cell disease. Had it been available to Prodigy when he was alive, there's a good chance he'd still be here today.

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Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter (now X) aren't what they used to be. Some of those social media platforms have changed beyond recognition, many others have just become harder to use. In 2022, Cory Doctorow put a word to it: ens**tification. Cory joins us to talk about his book The Internet Con: How to Seize the Means of Computation, and what we can do when platforms change. Plus, how the internet can become a better, more rewarding place.

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Craig Robinson is likely in some of your favorite shows. The Office. Pineapple Express. And of course, Brooklyn Nine-Nine. These days, he's got a series of his own. It's called Killing It. On Bullseye, Robinson stops by to chat about the show's second season. We ask him about his character Craig and whether or not he's a fool for chasing the American Dream. Plus, Robinson gets real about his own career and whether or not he thinks he's made it.

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