Television

On Boardwalk Empire, Steve Buscemi's character, Nucky Thompson, is modeled after Enoch "Nucky" Johnson, the corrupt county treasurer of Atlantic City during the Prohibition years. The HBO show started its fifth and final season Sunday.

Arts

As 'Boardwalk Empire' Comes To A Close, Creator Reminisces About Its Start

8:26am September 12, 2014

The HBO show began its final season Sunday. Terence Winter says he wrote the Prohibition-era drama in part to work with Martin Scorsese. It was "something I couldn't possibly ... pass up," he says.

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In this undated photo, Theodore Roosevelt waves to a crowd.

Arts

3 Roosevelts Come Alive In PBS Documentary, Ken Burns' Best Yet

11:56pm September 11, 2014

by David Bianculli

A 14-hour biography of Theodore, Eleanor and Franklin Delano starts Sunday. Actors including Paul Giamatti and Meryl Streep put on Emmy-worthy vocal performances reading from an Emmy-worthy script.

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Theodore Roosevelt, seen here in 1885, was haunted by the fact that his father didn't fight in the Civil War.

Arts

Ken Burns' 'The Roosevelts' Explores An American Family's Demons

6:29pm September 10, 2014

by NPR Staff

In a new PBS documentary series, Burns turns his lens to Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, and how each triumphed over adversity.

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Black Jesus is the latest from Aaron McGruder, who created the politically charged comic strip and animated series The Boondocks.

'Boondocks' Creator Asks, 'What Would Black Jesus Do?'

12:37pm September 05, 2014

by Neda Ulaby

Aaron McGruder's Black Jesus premieres Thursday night on Adult Swim, and it features a Christ who drops f-bombs and drinks 40s. So is it sacrilege or subversive? Some biblical scholars weigh in.

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One of the competitors on The Chair is Anna Martemucci, a graduate of New York University film school who has written and acted before, but never directed.

Arts

In 'The Chair,' Two Filmmakers Make Movies From The Same Script

11:18pm September 04, 2014

by David Bianculli

The new 10-episode reality show on Starz follows Anna Martemucci, a graduate of NYU film school, and Shane Dawson, who's been making YouTube videos for eight years. They compete for $250,000.

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Health & Safety

X Prize Competition Could Make 'Tricorder' A Reality

8:01pm August 31, 2014

Many Star Trek gadgets have made the journey from science fiction to real life. Arun Rath talks to Grant Campany about the X Prize Foundation's competition to bring the medical tricorder to life.

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Aaron Paul On Playing A Meth Dealer On 'Breaking Bad'

1:57pm August 27, 2014

Paul won the Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series for playing student-turned-drug dealer Jesse Pinkman. In 2011, he said his character was supposed to die in the first season.

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Arts

Louis C.K. Reflects On 'Louie,' Loss, Love And Life

1:57pm August 27, 2014

C.K. won an Emmy for outstanding writing in a comedy series for an episode on his FX show Louie. In 2011, C.K. told Fresh Air about making his comedy special and his relationship with other comedians.

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Past Winners Do Well At 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards

3:14pm August 26, 2014

by Eric Deggans

Plenty of statuettes were handed out Monday night at the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. ABC's Modern Family won for best comedy series and AMC's Breaking Bad won best drama series.

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Arts

Seth Meyers' 'Late Night' Challenge: What To Do With His Hands

1:25pm August 25, 2014

Meyers is hosting the Emmys Monday. In April, he told Fresh Air why he left Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update to take over Late Night from Jimmy Fallon in February. Originally broadcast April 23.

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