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Thursday

Spacey And Fincher Make A 'House Of Cards'

Kevin Spacey is the star and a producer of the new Netflix series House of Cards, on which David Fincher is a co-producer. Melinda Sue Gordon/Netflix hide caption

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Melinda Sue Gordon/Netflix

Spacey And Fincher Make A 'House Of Cards'

Fresh Air

Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey and Oscar-winning director David Fincher team up for a new Netflix original series that premieres Friday. House of Cards follows a Machiavellian politician as he schemes to take down the president of the United States.

Spacey And Fincher Make A 'House Of Cards'

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Wednesday

'House Of Cards' Is Built To Last

Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright star in the new Netflix original series House of Cards, which premieres Feb. 1. Patrick Harbron/Netflix hide caption

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Patrick Harbron/Netflix

'House Of Cards' Is Built To Last

Fresh Air

Two new dramas fueled by intrigue premiere this week: The Americans on FX and House of Cards on Netflix. While The Americans has its moments, House of Cards is the show that's going to make television history.

'House Of Cards' Is Built To Last

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William H. Macy Is 'Shameless' On Showtime

In Shameless, William H. Macy is the dysfunctional father of six. Cliff Lipson/Cliff Lipson/SHOWTIME hide caption

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Cliff Lipson/Cliff Lipson/SHOWTIME

William H. Macy Is 'Shameless' On Showtime

Fresh Air

As the alcoholic paterfamilias Frank Gallagher on the Showtime series Shameless, the actor enjoys portraying a man with a dark side. But he says it's Frank's better qualities that make him sustainable as a character.

William H. Macy Is 'Shameless' On Showtime

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Tuesday

Monday

Author Interviews

Al Roker On Being The 'Jolly Fat Person'

Roker won fame as the ever-smiling weatherman on NBC's Today show. But he also endured years of indignities because of his weight. Then, in 2001, he had bariatric surgery and lost more than 100 pounds. Roker speaks with NPR's Michel Martin about his experiences and his latest book, Never Goin' Back.

Al Roker On Being The 'Jolly Fat Person'

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Watch This: Neil Gaiman's Imaginative Favorites

Neil Gaiman is also the author of Coraline, American Gods, Anansi Boys,Stardust and M Is for Magic. He was born in Hampshire, England, and now lives near Minneapolis. Darryl James/Getty Images hide caption

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Darryl James/Getty Images

Culture

Watch This: Neil Gaiman's Imaginative Favorites

From The Muppet Show to The Twilight Zone and a creepy animated version of Alice in Wonderland, author Neil Gaiman shares his film and television favorites for the occasional Morning Edition series Watch This. Gaiman calls the Muppets "one of the comedic glories of the human race."

Watch This: Neil Gaiman's Imaginative Favorites

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Friday

Tina Fey: '30 Rock' Star And Creator Moves On

"I was worried about being the mouthpiece for anyone and being politicized personally," Tina Fey says about playing Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live. "It ended up being a lot of fun, but it did permanently politicize me in a way." Platon/HGB USA hide caption

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Platon/HGB USA

Tina Fey: '30 Rock' Star And Creator Moves On

Fresh Air

The writer, actress and comedian has helmed the hit NBC show — which will have its series finale on January 31 — for seven seasons, during which time she's had two kids, been in a few movies and written a memoir called Bossypants.

Tina Fey: '30 Rock' Star And Creator Moves On

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Alec Baldwin Bids Goodbye To Jack Donaghy

Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin appeared in one of several parodies in one of 30 Rock's live episodes. Dana Edelson/NBC hide caption

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Dana Edelson/NBC

Alec Baldwin Bids Goodbye To Jack Donaghy

Fresh Air

As 30 Rock wraps up its seven-season run on NBC, the star talks about why he chose to take on the role of Jack Donaghy in the first place and about looking to NBC bigwig Lorne Michaels for inspiration in creating the character.

Alec Baldwin Bids Goodbye To Jack Donaghy

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Tracy Morgan: '30 Rock' Let Him Be Himself

On on 30 Rock episode, Jon Hamm and Tracy Morgan appeared together in a sketch about racial stereotyping. Dana Edelson/NBC hide caption

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Dana Edelson/NBC

Tracy Morgan: '30 Rock' Let Him Be Himself

Fresh Air

As the series prepares for its finale, the comedian talks about how Tina Fey created the character of Tracy Jordan specifically for Morgan and how she allowed him "to fly over the cuckoo nest once a week."

Tracy Morgan: '30 Rock' Let Him Be Himself

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Tina Fey: Sarah Palin And 'Saturday Night' Satire

Tina Fey won an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for her role as Liz Lemon on 30 Rock. hide caption

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Tina Fey: Sarah Palin And 'Saturday Night' Satire

Fresh Air

Fey's impersonation of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin helped draw record audiences to Saturday Night Live in the fall of 2008. The former head writer for SNL opens up about politics, satire and her Emmy Award-winning sitcom, 30 Rock, which will have its series finale on January 31.

Tina Fey: Sarah Palin And 'Saturday Night' Satire

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Lives Of Praise, Lives In Progress On 'The Sisterhood'

The new TLC show The Sisterhood follows the lives of five preachers' wives in Atlanta. TLC hide caption

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TLC

Lives Of Praise, Lives In Progress On 'The Sisterhood'

The Sisterhood is a new reality show about the lives and struggles of five Atlanta-area preachers' wives. The show has been likened to the Real Housewives franchise and has drawn criticism for its warts-and-all portrayal of the women. But they say they felt called by God to participate.

Lives Of Praise, Lives In Progress On 'The Sisterhood'

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Wednesday

'Friends' Will Be There For You At Beijing's Central Perk

Customers chat at a Beijing cafe modeled after the Central Perk cafe in the hit American sitcom Friends, in 2010. Nearly a decade after the series ended, the popularity of Friends continues among young Chinese, who use the show as a language-learning tool and enjoy its depiction of young Americans. Ng Han Guan/AP hide caption

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Ng Han Guan/AP

Asia

'Friends' Will Be There For You At Beijing's Central Perk

A Chinese man in Beijing has set up a cafe identical to the New York hangout on the hit TV show. For owner Du Xin, Friends is "like a religion" — and he's not the only one. He's opened a second Central Perk in Shanghai, capitalizing on the Chinese fondness for the six friends and their laid-back, freewheeling lives.

'Friends' Will Be There For You At Beijing's Central Perk

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