‘The West Wing’ was my inspiration. 25 years on I got to meet President Bartlet When NPR was offered the chance to interview Martin Sheen and Melissa Fitzgerald about The West Wing, I dashed through the newsroom with an energy to rival the show's iconic walk and talks. Scott Detrow
Remembering Phil Donahue, the pioneering king of daytime talk shows Donahue, who died Aug. 18, hosted an issue-oriented, afternoon talk show that paved the way for Oprah and others. David Bianculli offers an appreciation, and we listen back to a 1985 interview. Terry Gross
Inside 'The West Wing,' 25 years later NPR’s Scott Detrow speaks with Martin Sheen and Melissa Fitzgerald about all things West Wing. Fitzgerald co-wrote a new book called What’s Next about the legacy of the show. Karen Zamora
Pioneering TV host Phil Donahue has died at age 88 Phil Donahue may have developed a reputation for presenting passionate discussions on hot-button topics through cheeky stunts. But he told NPR in a 2021 that an early inspiration was mainstream news journalists, who he saw as fearless truth tellers. Eric Deggans
Groundbreaking police drama 'Homicide: Life on the Street' is finally streaming The seven-season show about a Baltimore police homicide unit didn’t feature gun battles and car chases. The tone, pacing and camera work were all groundbreaking when the show started in 1993. Eric Deggans
'Homicide: Life on the Street' is available to stream on Peacock "Homicide: Life on the Street," which debuted in 1993, is finally available to stream. The show was groundbreaking in its portrayal of Baltimore's homicide police. Eric Deggans
'Homicide: Life on the Streets' is streaming, at last The acclaimed police procedural set in Baltimore will be streaming Peacock. We’ll listen back to interviews with executive producer and writer Tom Fontana and actors Andre Braugher and Clark Johnson.
The most pressing question about Tim Walz and JD Vance: Who should play them on SNL? Steve Martin has said he turned down an offer from SNL to play Walz. Our critic offers some alternatives. Eric Deggans
'Women in Blue' fight sexism -- and a serial killer -- in this Mexican drama Set in 1971 Mexico City, this lively Apple TV+ drama focuses on four police women who discover that it’s easier to capture a serial killer than to deal with the misogyny of the men around them. John Powers
Lucille Ball’s hometown is a comedy destination. No joke Acts range from family-friendly slapstick to edgy standup at the four-day comedy event held in Jamestown, N.Y., home of the I Love Lucy star. Elizabeth Blair