The Best of Fresh Air 2010

Comedian Joan Rivers, Still A 'Piece Of Work'()  

Joan Rivers

December 31, 2010 Few topics are off-limits for the brash comedian: She has joked about her many face lifts, her husband's suicide, her bankruptcy and the sacrifices she made as a female performer. The documentary Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work follows the comedian as she fights to still make people laugh.

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Sarah Silverman: Playing The Dummy For Laughs()  

Sarah Silverman

December 31, 2010 Comedian Sarah Silverman is known for delivering closely observed social commentary in a disarming, politically incorrect style. She tells stories about her childhood and her career in a new memoir, The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption and Pee.

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Inside LCD Soundsystem With Frontman James Murphy()  

James Murphy

December 30, 2010 The pop-dance-electronic group's founder tells Terry Gross why he stopped complaining about other bands and decided to start making his own music instead. LCD Soundsystem's latest album is called This Is Happening.

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Jay-Z: Interviewed And 'Decoded'()  

Jay-Z

December 30, 2010 Jay-Z is one of the most successful hip-hop artists of all time. On Fresh Air, he discusses growing up in Brooklyn surrounded by drugs and violence, and the stories behind many of his famous songs.

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The Price Of Putting 'Your Brain On Computers'()  

Man surrounded by paper and digital gadgets

December 29, 2010 The constant stream of information we get through mobile and hand-held devices is changing the way we think. Matt Richtel, a technology writer for The New York Times,explains how the use of digital technology is altering our brains — and how retreating into nature may reverse the effects.

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At 80, Musical-Theater Icon Stephen Sondheim Looks Back()  

Stephen Sondheim

December 29, 2010 The New York Times calls Stephen Sondheim the "greatest and perhaps best-known artist in American musical theater." Sondheim composed the music and lyrics for, among others, Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods andCompany. He joins Fresh Air to discuss his career in musical theater.

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Jon Stewart: America's Ruling King Of Fake News()  

Jon Stewart

December 28, 2010 In an interview with Terry Gross, taped in front of a live audience in New York City, the Daily Show host deconstructs his upcoming "Rally to Restore Sanity" on the National Mall and explains how The Daily Show comes up with material.

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The Rise Of 'Parks' Funny Tool Aziz Ansari()  

Aziz Ansari

December 28, 2010 Comedian Aziz Ansari has appeared on HBO's Flight of the Conchords, ABC's Scrubs and MTV's Human Giant. Nowadays he stars opposite Amy Poehler on NBC's workplace comedy Parks and Recreation.

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The Many (Cartoon) Faces Of Actor Billy West()  

Zapp Brannigan

December 28, 2010 If you've watched cartoons in the past few decades, you probably know Billy West's voice: He's played Philip J. Fry and Zapp Brannigan on Futurama, plus Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd in Space Jam (and more). West explains how he comes up with his voices — and demonstrates a few of his favorites.

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Keith Richards On 'Life' With The Rolling Stones()  

Keith Richards

December 27, 2010 The guitarist opens up about his music, his legendary journeys on the road with The Rolling Stones and his occasionally contentious relationship with lead singer Mick Jagger in a new memoir called Life.

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