Bullseye with Jesse Thorn
NPR
Bullseye is a celebration of the best of arts and culture in public radio form. Host Jesse Thorn sifts the wheat from the chaff to bring you in-depth interviews with the most revered and revolutionary minds in our culture. Bullseye has been featured in Time, The New York Times, GQ and McSweeney's, which called it "the kind of show people listen to in a more perfect world."
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 17, 2012 • 1h 16min
Lisa Kudrow, Eric Andre and American Pickers' Danielle Colby
Lisa Kudrow — the "dumb" one from Friends — talks about her career in brain science, and her current Showtime show Web Therapy. Plus, Eric Andre deconstructs the talk show — quite literally.And Jesse goes on a hunt for the ultimate flea market find, with American Picker Danielle Colby.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Jul 10, 2012 • 57min
Robert Glasper and Pendleton Ward
Robert Glasper transforms the 90s grunge hit Smells Like Teen Spirit into something surprisingly beautiful. Jesse talks to Pendleton Ward about his animated show Adventure Time. It combines two great elements of teenage boyhood: innocence and Dungeons & Dragons! And Found Magazine's Davy Rothbart shares a mysterious note uncovered in Texas.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Jul 3, 2012 • 1h 1min
Mark Adams, Dave Hill, Jordan Ranks America
Mark Adams – a magazine editor who had never even slept in a tent as an adult– treks through the Andes tracing the journey of Hiram Bingham. And the comedian Dave Hill ALSO throws himself into a difficult situation – performing at Sing Sing Correctional Facility. As a goof! Plus, Jordan Morris helps get America in order – by ranking its things.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Jun 26, 2012 • 1h 1min
Elvis Mitchell, of Montreal's Kevin Barnes and My Brother, My Brother and Me
Elvis Mitchell on how he made a career writing about movies, and why he was arrested on the Canadian border with Cuban cigars and 15 thousand in cash. Kevin Barnes, from of Montreal, goes small in the studio but BIG and BOLD on stage. Plus, the Brothers McElroy solve listeners' pressing pop culture problems and use a lot of Jurassic Park refereces in the process.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Jun 19, 2012 • 1h 24min
Scott Aukerman, Mark Duplass, David Rees
Mark Duplass is involved in half a dozen projects. But he isn't worried about spreading himself too thin. Plus, Jesse talks to the writer and comic Scott Aukerman about sketch comedy on the cult classic Mr. Show, scripts for doomed film projects, and what it's like hosting a new, surreal TV talk show: Comedy Bang Bang. And David Rees gets serious about the ART of pencil sharpening.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Jun 12, 2012 • 1h 24min
Ice-T, Greta Gerwig and Aaron Freeman
In his new movie, Ice-T interviews Snoop, Rakim, and a bunch of other famous rappers. Plus, Ice reveals whether he wrote raps for Mr. T in the 80s. Jesse also talks to Greta Gerwig — star of the new movie Lola Versus, — and Aaron Freeman — formerly of the rock band Ween — about the song that changed his life.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Jun 5, 2012 • 57min
Daniel Handler, The Sklar Brothers and Nico Muhly
Daniel Handler delves into his memories of young love to pen the novel "Why We Broke Up" — the twist? He writes the girl's side of the story. The Sklar Brothers talk about their new comedy album – from performing as identical twins to broadening their sports-nerd base. Plus Jesse suggests the Canadian TV show The Newsoom and American composer Nico Muhly shares the song that changed his life. [originally aired February 2012]Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
May 29, 2012 • 58min
Kurt Braunohler and Walter Mosley
Comedian Kurt Braunohler explains his improvised anti-game show, where among other things, comedians are challenged to verbally shame puppies. The comedy group Kasper Hauser will interrupt our entertainment program to bring you a fake news broadcast. And the novelist Walter Mosley on his distinctive brand of detective fiction. Plus the AV Club's Scott Tobias and Nathan Rabin discuss Wes Anderson's new film Moonrise Kingdom and the new stand-up comedy special from Hannibal BuressLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
May 22, 2012 • 1h 6min
R.A. Dickey, pitcher for the New York Mets
Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey talks about fighting his way through 10 years as a marginal pro baseball player before giving himself over to the uncontrollable but devastating knuckleball.Then we travel back to the early 60s, on the streets of San Francisco, where James P Coyle & Mal Sharpe convince a man to rob a bank for them — all in the interest of humor. And for his Outshot, Jesse suggests you check out The Best Show on WFMU.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
May 15, 2012 • 59min
Benedict Cumberbatch, Morgan Webb, Craig Finn
Craig Finn of The Hold Steady talks about the unpredictable and emotional music of the punk band The Replacements, and how one their songs changed his life. Video game journalist and TV host Morgan Webb talks semiotics, video games, and who REALLY makes up the gaming community. The actor Benedict Cumberbatch talks about putting his spin on one of pop culture's most ubiquitous heroes, Sherlock Holmes. And Jason Kottke suggests you check out the documentary Senna — about the Brazilian Formula One driver, and two mini-documentaries about HAM.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
