Television

Borgen's heroine is Birgitte Nyborg, superbly played by Sidse Babett Knudsen. Pilou Asbaek plays Don Draper-ish spin doctor Kasper Juul.

Arts

'Borgen' Is Denmark's 'West Wing' (But Even Better)

11:10am February 05, 2014

by John Powers

Critic John Powers says that Borgen, a Danish TV series about a woman who unexpectedly becomes Denmark's prime minister is "irresistibly bingeable." The third and final season has just been released on DVD.

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Seun Summers (left) and Idris Brewster have been best friends since before they were kindergartners. They're both college sophomores today, and their parents say each is thriving in his respective school. (Seun is at York College, part of The City Univers

Education

'American Promise' Probes Race Issues In NYC Private School

7:42am February 04, 2014

by Karen Grigsby Bates

The PBS documentary traces the progress of two African-American students through one of New York City's most elite private schools. Questions arise about the trade-off of a superior education and the psychological and cultural trauma each boy experiences at times.

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Arts

Comedian's Career Is Central To 'Quality Balls'

12:00am February 02, 2014

Legendary comedian David Steinberg is the subject of a new Showtime documentary called Quality Balls. NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Steinberg, whose controversial routine was responsible for the cancellation of the Smothers Brothers' TV show in the 1960s.

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Books
Arts

What Wakes B.J. Novak Up In The Middle Of The Night?

7:58am January 31, 2014

by Lynn Neary

B.J. Novak is a triple threat. He got his start in show business as a standup comedian which led to a job on the hit comedy series The Office. Novak had a regular part on the show but he was also one of the writers. Now he has put his writing talent to work on a book of stories: One More Thing.

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Sports

The Surprising After Effects Of A Notorious 'Wardrobe Malfunction'

8:00pm January 30, 2014

Audie Cornish speaks with writer Marin Cogan about the infamous "wardrobe malfunction" incident at the Super Bowl halftime show featuring Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake, which happened a decade ago this month. Marin wrote a piece on the incident that is featured in ESPN the Magazine.

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Bobby Moynihan (left) appears on Saturday Night Live as the character "Drunk Uncle."

Arts

For 'SNL' Cast Member, The Waiting Was The Hardest Part

6:20pm January 26, 2014

by NPR Staff

After years of working at a restaurant by day and performing improv comedy by night, Bobby Moynihan got the opportunity of a lifetime: an audition for Saturday Night Live. But as Moynihan recalls, actually getting his 'big break' on the show was much more difficult.

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Books

An Admitted 'Ham' Shares Slices Of Show-Biz Life

12:14pm January 25, 2014

Sixteen short stories of a triumphant, tragic, and most of all, hilarious life in show business make up Sam Harris' new memoir, Ham: Slices of a Life. NPR's Jacki Lyden speaks to Harris about his rise to fame after winning the first season of the 1980's hit TV show Star Search.

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Sports

In The Super Bowl Ad Game, One Small Business Will Win Big

8:55pm January 24, 2014

by Elizabeth Blair

This year, one lucky little company's professionally produced commercial will air during the Super Bowl's third quarter — all free — thanks to a contest held by the software firm Intuit. The four finalists include an organic egg farm and a natural compost supplier. For Intuit, it's a smart way to drum up more business.

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World News

Danish TV Drama Sparks Discussions On Wills

8:20am January 23, 2014

by Sidsel Overgaard

A popular new drama series on Danish TV about a family torn apart over a disputed inheritance has viewers concerned about their own estate planning. Denmark's largest legal chain says online inquiries about inheritance issues are up by 143 percent.

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Bobby Bottleservice is a recurring character on Nick Kroll's Kroll Show.

Before 'Jersey Shore' Owned Sleaze, There Was Bobby Bottleservice

6:42pm January 19, 2014

by NPR Staff

Nick Kroll's sketch comedy TV series, Kroll Show, kicked off its second season this month. One of his signature characters is a seedy, wannabe ladies man named Bobby Bottleservice. Kroll says playing a variety of characters keeps him from being pigeon-holed by his role as Ruxin on the FX show The League.

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