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The Leonard Lopate Show

Friday, March 31, 2006
  • Moving Words

    On today's show, Leonard's brother Phillip Lopate pays tribute to the art of American film criticism. Then, Aaron Eckhardt describes his role in the new film “Thank You for Smoking.” Plus: Amy Irving joins director Richard Jay-Alexander and playwright Marta Goes for a conversation about their production of A Safe Harbor for Elizabeth Bishop. And we’ll learn about saints on this week’s Please Explain.

The Art of Film Criticism

Since the early 20th century, movies have captured the imaginations of many Americans…especially writers. Phillip Lopate pays tribute to the new art form they created--film criticism--in American Movie Critics.

Events: Phillip Lopate will be leading a panel with Kent Jones, Andrew Sarris, J. Hoberman, and Stanley Kauffmann
Monday, April 3 at 6:30 pm
The Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center
165 West 65th Street, between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway
For tickets, call 212-496-3809 or visit filmlinc.org

Open Phones: Everyone's a Critic

We take your calls on movie reviews. Can you trust them, or not? Call 212-433-WNYC. That's 212-433-9692.

A Safe Harbor for Elizabeth Bishop

Amy Irving brings to life the passion of a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet in A Safe Harbor for Elizabeth Bishop. She describes the production along with playwright Marta Goes and director Richard Jay-Alexander.

Please Explain: Saints

On this week's Please Explain we'll learn about sainthood--from which virtues different saints represent, to how someone becomes a saint.

Leonard talks to Monsignor James P. Moroney, Executive Director of the »United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Secretariat for the Liturgy; and Kenneth L. Woodward, longtime Vatican observer and journalist for Newsweek. He's author of several books including Making Saints: How The Catholic Church Determines Who Becomes A Saint, Who Doesn't, And Why.

Tributes: Jeanne-Claude

The Leonard Lopate Show

Jeanne-Claude created environmental works of art with her husband and fellow-conspirator/collaborator Christo. Together, they wrapped the Reichstag in Berlin, the Pont-Neuf in Paris, and created The Gates, with billowy orange drapes, in Central Park. Jeanne-Claude just died at the age of 74. You can hear Leonard Lopate’s last interview with them both, from July 19, 1999.

Let’s Go Swimming!

The Leonard Lopate Show

According to the Centers for Disease Control, bacterial, viral, and parasitic organisms found in recreational water in the United States sicken thousands of people every year, and even result in deaths. We’ll speak with chemist and industrial hygienist Monona Rossol about the protozoa, amoebas and other things that love to go swimming with us. Monona is also founder and President of Arts, Crafts and Theater Safety.

Frank McCourt

The Leonard Lopate Show

Frank McCourt has been a guest many times on this show over the years, starting in 1996 for the memoir, Angela’s Ashes, that would earn him a Pulitzer Prize. Fame came to him late in life, after he’d retired at the age of 65 from teaching English and creative writing at public schools here in New York. He was a sweet, eloquent man who spoke with grace and humility; he just died at the age of 78 after a battle with cancer. You can hear him speaking with Leonard Lopate for his Survival Kit in 2000, and in 2005, for his memoir, Teacher Man.

Science and Faith

The Leonard Lopate Show

Earlier this week, Pres. Obama announced that he plans to nominate geneticist Dr. Francis Collins to lead the National Institutes of Health. You can listen to Leonard’s 2006 conversation with Dr. Collins about how he reconciles his personal faith with his professional scientific knowledge.

FDA to Regulate Tobacco?

The Leonard Lopate Show

May 14, 2009
Congress is getting ready to a vote on whether to make tobacco subject to FDA regulation. You can listen to a segment we did in May about the bill and what it would mean for the cigarette companies.

Our 3-ingredient Challenge wins a James Beard Award

The Leonard Lopate Show

On May 3, the Lopate Show won its third James Beard Award for our 3-ingredient challenge. In August, we asked our listeners to call in and name 3 ingredients and then challenged New York chef and 3-ingredient expert Rozanne Gold to whip up a recipe! You can listen to the 3-ingredient challenge and get some inspiration for simple, delicious, and unexpected dishes.

Leonard is on Facebook

Now Leonard is on Facebook! We’re posting photos, status updates, links to notable interviews, and lots more. Check it out.

Barack Obama, Circa 2004

The Leonard Lopate Show

Listen to President-Elect Barack Obama on the Leonard Lopate Show in November 2004. He had recently won a seat in the U.S. Senate, and only a few months before, his rousing speech during the 2004 Democratic National Convention catapulted him into the national spotlight.