Entertainment

Performer-in-residence Harry Connick, Jr. performs to two tunes about his hometown.

Performer-in-residence Harry Connick, Jr. plays songs by Matt Dennis and Cole Porter.

Brad Dourif has played several killers and disturbed people throughout his career. He won an Oscar for his portrayal of a mental patient in the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. He voices a killer puppet in the new horror flick, Child's Play. Dourif says these kinds of roles pay the bills, but he keeps his eye out for other, more varied parts.

Randy Quaid's brother Dennis often gets leading-man roles; Randy frequently plays what he calls "country bumpkins." He says he enjoys his career as a character actor, but is glad to branch out to directing. His debut in that role will be the upcoming Power of the Dog, which will costar his brother.

Accordionist and composer Guy Klucevsek joins Fresh Air to perform a solo arrangement of a new work, and to play a recording of a recent musical collaboration. He's slated to perform at the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Next Wave Festival.

Actor Robert Prosky is best known for his performance as a role call sergeant in Hill Street Blues. He appears in David Mamet's new movie Things Change. For 23 years he worked at Washington, DC's Arena Stage.

Kevin Boyle's group Article 19, name after the United Nations provision protecting free speech, fights against censorship around the world, both in democracies and dictatorships.

Ken Tucker reviews the home video release of the highest grossing film of all time. He says the movie doesn't transfer well to the smaller dimensions of a TV screen, but its heart is still there. Conversely, Cinderella is perfect for home viewing, but it still suffers from Disney's sentimental revisions of the original tale. The Three Caballeros, another recent Disney release, is also worth watching.

Performer-in-residence Harry Connick, Jr. plays the music of Harold Arlen. While his name may be known to few, Arlen wrote several popular and recognizable songs.

AKA Michael Harris on the Bob Newhart Show. He joins Fresh Air to talk about his character's developing love life. Scolari also juggles, a talent which will soon be featured on sitcom.

Curtin is an alumnus of Saturday Night Live, and now stars in the sitcom Kate & Allie. She joins Fresh Air to talk about the direction of her new show and some of her favorite SNL sketches. Curtin also reflects on how actresses and women writers on SNL always had to fight for airtime.

Performer-in-residence Harry Connick, Jr. performs a few Duke Ellington songs.

New Orleans-based performer-in-residence Harry Connick, Jr. performs a few classic standards.

The Brazilian, guitar-playing brothers are in Philadelphia as part of their East Coast tour. They talk to Fresh Air guest host Marty Moss-Coane about their early music lessons and influences. The Assads' newest album, Alma Brasileira, features music exclusively by Brazilian composers.

The jazz piano wunderkind performs some classic swing tunes on piano.

The former teen model later pursued an acting career on stage and screen. Despite her efforts to distance herself from her early days in fashion, Twiggy says it would be untenable for her to give up her distinctive moniker. She costars in the new movie Madame Sousatzka, in which she plays an aspiring pop star.

Hanks made his name in Hollywood in films like Splash, The Money Pit, and Big. He stars opposite Sally Field in the new movie Punchline, in which he plays a standup comedian. To master the role, he developed and performed a routine, which he performed for months before shooting began.

Performer-in-residence Dick Hyman talks about the late musician's approach to jazz. Hyman briefly studied with Wilson, who had a light touch and clarinet-like phrasing.

Oscar-winning actress Sally Field stars opposite Tom Hanks in the new movie Punchline. Field's character Lilah is an aspiring stand-up comic who still has a lot to learn. Field also produced the film. She talks about her early career in television, and the risks she took to pursue her dream of acting.

Jazz singer Sheila Jordan grew up in a Pennsylvania coal mining town. She says if she had never heard Charlie Parker, she would have become a country singer. She was recently laid off from her day job of 21 years; now she can perform full-time. Bassist Harvie Swartz joins her for an in-studio performance.