Skip to main content
Playlist Interview

Interview

"My Way of Thanking America": Lidia Bastianich Celebrates Immigrants Like Herself in a New Special

Daniel Hautzinger

The celebrity chef Lidia Bastianich came to America as a child and found a new home and life. In a new special, she visits, cooks, and eats with immigrants, especially those who have settled in less urban parts of America, as a way of thanking her adopted home country. 

From the Archive: 'New Yorker' Writer Jane Kramer

Daniel Hautzinger

New Yorker writer Jane Kramer discusses the myth of the American West, the rise of big agribusiness and its effect on both traditional ranching and cows, and what bringing her daughter along on her reporting could do, in this 1978 interview from the WTTW archives. 

An Interview with the Writer and Producer of Ken Burns's 'Country Music'

Daniel Hautzinger

“Country music is a different way to look at who we are as people and what our shared history is," says Dayton Duncan, the writer and producer of Ken Burns's upcoming eight-part Country Music documentary series. "It is uniquely American in its origin."

30 Years of Frontera Grill

Daniel Hautzinger

When Rick and Deann Bayless opened their regional Mexican restaurant, they shared a wall with a bar called the Rendezvous -- for a reason -- and a ceiling with rent-by-the-hour flophouses. 30 years later, it's a staple of Chicago's culinary scene.

The Secret Life of Animals: An Interview with a Producer of 'Spy in the Wild'

Daniel Hautzinger

Tonight at 8:00 pm, "Meet the Spies" in the finale of Spy in the Wild. We talked to series producer Philip Dalton about how the cameras can capture animals' most intimate behavior.

America's Test Kitchen's Thelma and Louise

Daniel Hautzinger

Bridget Lancaster and Julia Collin Davison, the new co-hosts of America's Test Kitchen, have been with the show since day one. They give a behind-the-scenes look at how recipes are developed, and crack each other up in the process.

"Her Life is History": The Universality of Maya Angelou

Daniel Hautzinger

Maya Angelou was beyond prolific, and her life touched on many of the most significant people and events of the twentieth century. The creators of a film about the great woman discuss the difficulty of capturing her multi-faceted life on film, why they admire her, and what she was like.

Enlarging the Historical Framework: Pamela D. Toler's Look at the Amazing Women of the Civil War

Daniel Hautzinger

The author of Heroines of Mercy Street discusses the determination and accomplishments of female Civil War nurses, the importance of writing about women in history, and her broad historical interests.

From Storefront Theater to PBS Drama: Gary Cole

Daniel Hautzinger

Actor Gary Cole began his career in the small experimental theaters of Chicago, became famous for roles like the bureaucratic monster Bill Lumbergh, and now plays the patriarch of the Green family on Mercy Street.

'Meat and Candy': An Interview with Old Dominion's Matthew Ramsey

Daniel Hautzinger

The lead singer of the country band, who can be seen on Soundstage Thursday, February 9 at 9:00 pm, talks about the band's upcoming album and the story behind the delightful title of their debut.

"The Great Force of History": An Interview with a Creator of 'Mercy Street'

Daniel Hautzinger

Lisa Q. Wolfinger, Co-Creator and Executive Producer of  Mercy Street, talks about the stories behind the series, the importance of history, and the difficulties of creating an elaborate period drama.

"Food Tells Us Who We Are": An Interview with Lidia Bastianich

Daniel Hautzinger

Cookbook author, TV chef, and restaurant owner Lidia Bastianich just won a James Beard Award for her TV special "Holiday for Heroes." She told us she made the special to "say my thank you to the veterans for maintaining this freedom that we have."

Interview 'The Interview Show': Mark Bazer on his Talk Show

Daniel Hautzinger

Robert Falls, artistic director of the Goodman Theatre, and actor David Duchovny join Mark Bazer on The Interview Show. Find out Mark's aspirations for the show and what guests he's most excited about this season.
Subscribe to Interview