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Tuesday

Patti Harrison Takes The Lead In 'Together Together'

Patti Harrison stars in Together Together as Anna, a young single woman who agrees to be a gestational surrogate for a single man in his 40s. Tiffany Roohani/Bleecker Street hide caption

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Tiffany Roohani/Bleecker Street

It's Been a Minute

Patti Harrison Takes The Lead In 'Together Together'

Patti Harrison is known for bringing her absurd, caustic, yet charming comedy to supporting roles on shows like Search Party, Broad City and Shrill. But now she's in a starring role in the romantic comedy Together Together. In it, Harrison plays a young single woman who agrees to be a gestational surrogate for a single man in his 40s, played by Ed Helms. Sam talks to Patti about what it was like to play a role different from everything she's done before, why Together Together is even billed as a rom-com, and the quandary of representation as a trans woman.

Patti Harrison Takes The Lead In 'Together Together'

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Tuesday

The Warped Reality of Eric André's 'Bad Trip'

Sam Sanders chats with Eric André. NPR hide caption

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NPR

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The Warped Reality of Eric André's 'Bad Trip'

Sam talks to actor and comedian Eric André about the evolution of the prank genre with his Netflix hidden-camera comedy Bad Trip. They chat about the complications of making a prank show while Black, who André would never prank, and why everyone could use a little absurdism to warp their realities.

The Warped Reality of Eric André's 'Bad Trip'

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Saturday

Opinion: Remembering The Late Comedy Writer Anne Beatts

Anne Beatts attends the Live From New York! documentary's Los Angeles premiere after-party on June 10, 2015. Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images hide caption

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Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images

Opinion

Simon Says

Opinion: Remembering The Late Comedy Writer Anne Beatts

NPR's Scott Simon remembers comedy writer Anne Beatts, who died this week at the age of 74. She worked in male-dominated writers' rooms at Saturday Night Live and National Lampoon magazine.

Opinion: Remembering The Late Comedy Writer Anne Beatts

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Friday

Friday

The Dangers of White Supremacy, Plus Demi Adejuyigbe Brings Joy

President Donald Trump during the first presidential debate Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. Julio Cortez/AP hide caption

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Julio Cortez/AP

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The Dangers of White Supremacy, Plus Demi Adejuyigbe Brings Joy

When President Trump told white supremacists to "stand back and stand by," the country responded with heavy criticism. Sam talks with Kathleen Belew, assistant professor of history at the University of Chicago, about what we get wrong when we talk about the white power movement. Then, Sam chats with Demi Adejuyigbe, writer for The Amber Ruffin Show. They talk about his career, his viral September 21 videos, and how he uses online fame for good.

The Dangers of White Supremacy, Plus Demi Adejuyigbe Brings Joy

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Tuesday

Larry Wilmore's Return to Late Night

Larry Wilmore's new late night show Wilmore premieres Sept. 18 on the NBC streaming service Peacock. PR hide caption

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PR

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Larry Wilmore's Return to Late Night

Larry Wilmore has a resume that could rival pretty much anyone's in Hollywood. Name a show and he probably had his hands in it. He created The Bernie Mac Show, co-created Insecure, wrote for shows like In Living Color, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and The Office, and served as the "Senior Black Correspondent" on The Daily Show. He also had his own late night show called The Nightly Show.

Larry Wilmore's Return to Late Night

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Tuesday

Hasan Minhaj On Faith And Seeking Answers

Hasan Minhaj hosts Patriot Act on Netflix. Mark Seliger/Netflix hide caption

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Mark Seliger/Netflix

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Hasan Minhaj On Faith And Seeking Answers

Comedian Hasan Minhaj is not afraid of talking about his faith, even when it gets him in trouble. He's a two-time Peabody Award winner and host of the Netflix show Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj, which has just begun its second season. He talks to Sam about being an Indian American Muslim, how he finds joy in family and what his faith means to him today.

Hasan Minhaj On Faith And Seeking Answers

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Tuesday

'Insecure' Star Yvonne Orji on Finding Comedy and God

Yvonne Orji plays Molly on the HBO series Insecure. James Anthony hide caption

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James Anthony

It's Been a Minute

'Insecure' Star Yvonne Orji on Finding Comedy and God

Yvonne Orji plays the part of best friend Molly Carter on the HBO series Insecure, but Orji will soon headline her own stand-up special in June called, "Mama, I Made It." Orji talks to Sam about religion, getting her start in comedy at a Nigerian beauty pageant, growing up with strict immigrant parents and finding the humor in all of it.

'Insecure' Star Yvonne Orji on Finding Comedy and God

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Friday

A New 'The Office' Comedy For The COVID-19 Era?

Members of the cast of The Office, a show that producers may resurrect with characters working from home because of the coronavirus outbreak. Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images hide caption

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Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Coronavirus Updates

A New 'The Office' Comedy For The COVID-19 Era?

The executive producers of The Office say they plan to begin work on a new remote workplace comedy, inspired by the "new normal" of the COVID-19 crisis.

Tuesday

Nearly 80 Years On, The USO Still Keeps Service Members Connected To Home

The USO operates 230 locations on seven continents, manned by more than 30,000 volunteers. Austin Cross/KPCC hide caption

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Austin Cross/KPCC

National

Nearly 80 Years On, The USO Still Keeps Service Members Connected To Home

LAist 89.3

The United Service Organizations aims to bring the comforts of home to armed forces around the world as well as help civilians understand more about modern military life.

Nearly 80 Years On, The USO Still Keeps Service Members Connected To Home

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Friday

Julia Louis-Dreyfus: 'I Don't Think I've Made It ... And I Like That'

For her starring role as Vice President Selina Meyer in the seventh and final season of Veep, Julia Louis-Dreyfus recently received another Emmy Award nomination for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series. She won the award six years in a row from 2012-2017. Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images

She's Funny

Julia Louis-Dreyfus: 'I Don't Think I've Made It ... And I Like That'

Nominated for a ninth Emmy Award in acting, the star of Veep and Seinfeld talks about getting her first laugh, her rocky start at Saturday Night Live and the #MeToo movement.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus: 'I Don't Think I've Made It ... And I Like That'

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Tuesday

Tuesday

Friday

Comedian Brian Regan Sees The Dinosaurs In Everyday Life

The comedian Brian Regan, pictured here in his Netflix special Nunchucks and Flamethrowers, has earned a reputation as a comic's comic. Jeffery Garland/Netflix hide caption

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Jeffery Garland/Netflix

Performing Arts

Comedian Brian Regan Sees The Dinosaurs In Everyday Life

He's a favorite of other comics — a physical, observational and airtight performer who works "clean." All that helps explain why families make up a good portion of his massive audience.

Comedian Brian Regan Sees The Dinosaurs In Everyday Life

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Saturday