Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
Conversation starter
This week, TV star Alan Alda serves up a series of thought-provoking interviews, there’s a mysterious comedy-drama, plus something for the little ones
CLEAR + VIVID WITH ALAN ALDA
The distinctive voice of MASH and West Wing star Alan Alda is one of the many reasons to check out this intelligent and thought-provoking interview show.
As expected, there are some big showbiz names included – Bette Midler recalling her childhood in Hawaii, Michael Keaton on his early days in standup, 95-year-old Mel Brooks on how the industry used to be.
But, keen for this podcast to feature ‘spirited conversations’ on a range of topics, Alda’s guest list also includes specialists from all walks of life, such as the man who demoted Pluto from a planet and a neuroscientist who made a discovery while filling in an application for a dating app.
Alda is deeply interested in every subject discussed, and his attentive but relaxed interviewing style makes complicated subjects straightforward to understand.
WHERE TO START: Friends, Will and Grace, Frasier and Big Bang Theory writer James Burrows remembers his first job backstage of his father’s bombing musical Breakfast at
Tiffany’s.
WHERE THE STARS FELL
Dr Edison Tucker can’t die. This is why she is intent on proving the existence of the supernatural. When she moves to Jerusalem, Oregon, it’s not long before she encounters a whole doctorate’s worth of research subjects.
Then there’s
Lucy, a wildly successful yet reclusive fantasy novelist who becomes Ed’s new roommate and sparring partner over everything from who should do the washing up to theological theory.
Newcomers to this fun and often touching comedy-drama have a glorious two seasons of episodes to witness the two women’s combative relationship grow into something deeper as they discover the truth behind Jerusalem’s and their own mysteries.
WHERE TO START: Episode one sets up the two main characters’ chemistry and gives you the sense Jerusalem is not your usual small town.