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A Depressed Comic Actor Learns How to Be Sad

Actor, writer, and Monthy Python member John Cleese suffered from depression and sought therapy from Robin Skynner. In 1983, the two released a co-written book called Families and How to Survive Them. They're collaborating on new book about mental health. Cleese also runs a video production company specializing in instructional films.

24:23
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Other segments from the episode on September 17, 1990

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, September 17, 1990: Interview with John Cleese and Robin Skynner; Review of Don Pullen's album "Random Thoughts"; Interview with Don Byron; Review of of the television…
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06:39

Don Pullen Has the Greatest Right Hand in Jazz

Kevin Whitehead reviews the pianist's new trio album. Pullen uses his unconventional technique in traditional jazz setting, which may appeal to listeners turned off by the avant-garde. But he can still play in a more conventional, classical style.

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11:20

A Black Musician Plays Traditional Klezmer

The Klezmer revival is mostly led by third-generation American Jews. Clarinetist Don Byron is a notbale exception -- he's an African American musician who pays tribute to the compositions of Mickey Katz. Byron is an alumnus of the Klezmer Conservatory Band, and he performs on the anthology album "Live At The Knitting Factory, Volume 3."

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03:31

The Best Late Entries in the Fall TV Season

Television critic David Bianculli reviews The Flash, a live action show based on the D.C. comic strip, and Evening Shade, about a high school football coach played by Burt Reynolds. Bianculli also expresses his disappointment that Twin Peaks got snubbed at the latest Emmy Awards.

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21:41

Gilliam's 'Imaginarium': Surreal And All-Too-Real.

Terry Gilliam's new film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, is another entry into his long line of dream-like films. But it's also the final performance of the late Heath Ledger. Gilliam joins host Terry Gross to talk about the personal and professional challenges of creative filmmaking.

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12:41

Actor Michael Palin on His Post "Python" Career

Palin is best known for his comedy work with England's legendary Monty Python troupe. But his new movie, "American Friends," is a romance based on the life of his great-grandfather. Edward Palin was a 35 year-old tutor at Oxford University when he met 17-year-old Brita, an American girl touring Europe. Oxford tutors in the Victorian era were sworn to chastity, so Edward Palin left his job to marry Brita. Michael Palin found the story in his great-grandfather's journal.

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52:30

Daughter of Warhol star looks back on a bohemian childhood in the Chelsea Hotel

Alexandra Auder's mother, Viva, was one of Andy Warhol's muses. Growing up in Warhol's orbit meant Auder's childhood was an unusual one. For several years, Viva, Auder and Auder's younger half-sister, Gaby Hoffmann, lived in the Chelsea Hotel in Manhattan. It was was famous for having been home to Leonard Cohen, Dylan Thomas, Virgil Thomson, and Bob Dylan, among others.

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43:04

This fake 'Jury Duty' really put James Marsden's improv chops on trial

In the series Jury Duty, a solar contractor named Ronald Gladden has agreed to participate in what he believes is a documentary about the experience of being a juror--but what Ronald doesn't know is that the whole thing is fake.

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