Bullseye with Jesse Thorn

Boots Riley is known nowadays for his work as a writer, but he's been making waves as an artist for years. In his early 20s, he was the frontman and founder of the Coup, a fiercely political hip-hop group from the Bay Area. But in recent years, Boots has made his way over to film-making. In 2018, he wrote and directed his first ever feature film: Sorry To Bother You. If you saw it, you know it is hilarious and scary and insightful and generally very bonkers. And then Boots had another idea. His new show I'm A Virgo takes the word bonkers to new heights, literally. It's a story about a 13-ft-tall giant, a Black teenager living in the Bay Area. But the show's not about his super powers. It's about how he sees himself, and the little personal things about him — like his star sign. I'm a Virgo is a great show, but this isn't an interview about I'm a Virgo. Boots Riley is a writer. And his union, the Writers Guild of America, has been on strike since May. On Bullseye, we'll talk about what is at stake in the dispute between the WGA and the studio heads - represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Plus, we'll get into his early career as a rapper and his roots in activism.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Chris Estrada is a stand-up comedian and co-creator of the TV comedy, This Fool. Estrada also stars as the show's main character: Julio. Julio lives in South Central Los Angeles, where Chris grew up, but the show isn't autobiographical. Julio works at a local nonprofit that helps former gang members adjust to life on the outside. The show follows the misadventures of Julio and his cousin Luis who has finished up a lengthy prison sentence. The show is funny, human, unexpected and at times, surprisingly sweet. We talk with Chris about co-creating This Fool, his love of hardcore punk music and his late start as a stand-up comedian. The latest season of This Fool comes out July 26th on Hulu. A version of this interview originally aired in September of 2022.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Christine Baranski is an actor with an impressive resume. She attended Juilliard and went on to perform on Broadway. She's also an Emmy award winning actor, who's starred on shows like The Good Fight and The Good Wife. You'll soon be able to watch Christine Baranski in the animated sitcom Praise Petey. The show premieres July 21 on Freeform. When she joined us on Bullseye last year, she reflected on her time portraying Diane on The Good Fight. Plus, she talked about being one of the early graduates of Juilliard, and her long-time collaborated relationship with Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Kool & the Gang have made some of the biggest hits of all time. We're talking about some of the greatest party songs ever: "Get Down On It," "Celebration," "Ladies Night." But, we're also talking about a lot more than just dance floor fillers. Kool & the Gang hit the music scene in the mid-60s and took off running. By the time they started recording in 1968, they were one of the baddest bands in the country. Now, it's been a half-century since Kool & the Gang started making music, and they're still at it. They have a new album dropping on July 14th called People Just Wanna Have Fun. On Bullseye, Robert "Kool" Bell stops by to chat about the new album and his long career with Kool & the Gang. Plus, the stories behind the group's hit songs and what motivates them to keep recording after more than 50 years.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

It's a strange thing, to be famous, right? Like, really really famous. Famous like Khalid, the singer. He deals with it in stride, though: making brilliant music that tries to touch the heart of every fan at his shows. He's sold millions of albums. Billions of plays on streaming apps. He plays to huge crowds. Madison Square Garden. MGM Grand Garden. He's currently on a stadium tour with Ed Sheeran. When we spoke a few years back he had just released Free Spirit. He talked with Jesse about growing up an army brat, and acclimating to that fame. Plus, we know Khalid can sing, but can he rap? We'll get him to freestyle some bars. A version of this interview was released in April of 2019.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Nick Kroll is a comedian, actor and writer. Nick starred on the FX show The League, created the sketch comedy series Kroll Show. And if you watched VH1 in the early 2000s, you probably saw him making jokes about pop culture on Best Week Ever. But lately, Nick's focused more on the animation world. In 2017, he co-created the show Big Mouth on Netflix. It was an instant hit. And last year, Nick launched a new show in the same universe called Human Resources. The show centers around those same monsters from Big Mouth. But, it takes a look at their workplaces, along with the adult feelings they represent. Its second season just hit Netflix. Nick Kroll joined us to talk about his work on Big Mouth and Human Resources. Plus, why he's traded in his on-screen roles for voice acting gigs and a seat behind the scenes. He also gets into the lessons he's learned since becoming a father.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The podcast Think Twice examines one of the toughest subjects in American pop culture: Michael Jackson. Not just his biography or his art, but what he means. The greatest pop music icon ever. An avatar of the complexity of race in America. And of course, an accused child molester. How do we deal with all these things? How should we? What do we remember? What have we forgotten? Think Twice asks these questions. The show is hosted by journalist Leon Neyfakh and writer Jay Smooth. Leon and Jay join us to talk about Think Twice and the complicated legacy of Michael Jackson. Content Warning: This interview discusses the allegations that Michael Jackson abused children. If you or someone you're listening with might be sensitive to that, we wanted to give you a heads up.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Ann-Margret is your classic triple threat: she can sing, she can dance and she can act. Oh yeah, and you can't forget the fact that she's legendarily beautiful. But perhaps what's most remarkable about Ann-Margret is the fact that she's been a star for 60 years. Ann-Margret was discovered by George Burns when she was still a teenager. He put her in his Vegas act. That got her a record deal. Then a movie deal. And the rest is history. She's since appeared in over 50 films and released over a dozen albums. And the accolades continue. She's won five Golden Globe awards, a screen actors guild award and six Emmys! Back in April, she released a new album called Born To Be Wild. It's her first project in over a decade. On Bullseye, we stopped by Ann-Margret's beautiful home to chat about her album Born To Be Wild. We also get into a very vulnerable moment in her life: the loss of her husband Roger Smith and their 50 years of marriage.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

These days, the look is everywhere, but the next time you see someone in a designer logo, head-to-toe: know that Dapper Dan brought you that. If you can picture LL Cool J or Rakim in 1987, you're probably picturing something Dapper Dan made. Anyone who was anyone on the streets of Harlem knew Dapper Dan's was the place for the most outrageous, extravagant styles. Dapper Dan joins us on the latest episode of Bullseye. He gets into his time as a street hustler and when he first started making his own clothes. Plus, what it was like when he finally became part of the fashion world after years of being sued and raided by giants in the fashion industry.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Jon Hamm is an actor with a lot of range. He can do serious, and he can definitely do funny. The Missouri-born actor is hilarious in the movie Bridesmaids. And on a dime, he can be breathtaking like his role Don Draper in Mad Men. His latest work can be seen in a comic noir called Maggie Moore(s). On Bullseye, Jon Hamm chatted with us about his role in the film Maggie Moore(s) and how he landed the role on Mad Men. Plus, he gets into his move to Missouri to LA and his (almost) failed attempt at becoming an actor.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy