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On Demand

The Leonard Lopate Show

Wednesday, September 19, 2007
  • Tiki Barber
    NFL great Tiki Barber has released a new book, "Tiki."

    Tiki Talks

    On today's show, Tiki Barber talks about the ups and downs of playing professional football. Then, we'll look at the 40th anniversary of the musical "Hair." And a veteran journalist investigates his own family's dark history. Plus, word maven Patricia T. O'Conner answers your questions on the use and misuse of the English language.

Open Phones: NYC's Ugly Buildings

Leonard takes your calls on NYC's ugliest buildings. What do you think is the worst building in New York? What makes it ugly, awful, or dysfunctional?

Tune in to hear more about NYC's worst buildings on September 25, when NY Times Streetscapes columnist Christopher Gray joins us to share his winning (or should we say losing) choices.

Tiki Barber Talks

In Tiki, Tiki Barber talks about his childhood, growing up alongside his identical twin brother Ronde with a strong mother and absent father. He recounts his extraordinary football career and surprise retirement at the age of 31. He joins Leonard to speak about his past and the challenges that lie ahead.

Tiki is available for purchase at amazon.com


Event: Tiki Barber will be speaking and signing books
Friday, September 21 at 12:30pm
Barnes & Noble on 5th Avenue
555 5th Avenue, between 45th and 46th Streets

The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical

The year is 1967 and the Vietnam War is at its height. In New York City, a tribe of hippies rail against the establishment, protesting intolerance, brutality, and the dehumanization of society. This is the story from the famous musical “Hair.” The original production premiered at The Public Theater in 1967 and then moved to Broadway for a run of 1,873 performances. Galt MacDermot, who wrote the music for “Hair,” talks about what it’s been like preparing the 40th anniversary concert performances for Joe’s Pub in the Park.

Events: “Hair” will be performed on September 22, 23, and 24 at 7pm
At The Delacorte Theater in Central Park (Mid-Park at 80th Street)
Tickets are free and are distributed on the day of the show at The Delacorte Theater and The Public Theater (425 Lafayette Street)
Learn more about the show here.

A Veteran Journalist Gets Personal

Mike O’Connor is a veteran journalist: having worked as a reporter for CBS News, the New York Times, and NPR. But he turns his attention inward in Crisis, Pursued by Disaster, Followed Closely by Catastrophe. He decided to write this deeply personal account after uncovering the dark truth about his family’s past.

Crisis, Pursued by Disaster, Followed Closely by Catastrophe is available for purchase at amazon.com

Patricia T. O’Conner

Word maven Patricia T. O’Conner responds to recent reader mail and answers your questions about the use and misuse of the English language. Call 212-433-9692 or post a question or comment during the show. If your question isn’t answered on air, you can email Patricia directly by going to her website, grammarphobia.com, and clicking on "write us."

Woe Is I Jr. is available for purchase at amazon.com

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.