Television

During JFK's funeral, live TV coverage helped make John-John Kennedy's salute an indelible image of American history.

Arts

How Live TV Helped America Mourn The Loss Of JFK

2:50pm November 22, 2013

by David Bianculli

Critic David Bianculli remembers watching the original news coverage of Kennedy's assassination — four days of unprecedented television — when he was 10 years old. He recalls how from that point on, TV, not radio, was the dominant medium for breaking news.

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After 50 Years, Regeneration Keeps 'Doctor Who' Current

5:45am November 22, 2013

by Eric Deggans

Not counting a 16-year break the British science-fiction TV series took around the 1990s, Doctor Who is celebrating its 50th anniversary on Saturday. There's a special in 3D that's going to be simulcast in 75 countries, and the BBC has made a movie about the history of Doctor Who.

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Keegan-Michael Key (left) and Jordan Peele both started their careers at Second City, Peele in Chicago and Key in Detroit.

Arts

For Key And Peele, Biracial Roots Bestow Special Comedic 'Power'

2:19pm November 20, 2013

Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele each have a white mother and black father, and a lot of the jokes on their Comedy Central show are about race. Peele tells Fresh Air that their backgrounds allow them to do characters others would feel uncomfortable doing.

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Mark Consuelos (from left), John Goodman, Clark Johnson and Matt Malloy star as four Republican senators sharing a house in Washington in Alpha House, Amazon's first original series.

Arts

Amazon Opens An Entertainment Door With 'Alpha House'

8:07pm November 15, 2013

by Eric Deggans

The online retailer is premiering its first original show — a comedy about four senators bunking together in D.C. NPR's Eric Deggans says the series, which stars John Goodman, isn't quite the sharp comedy you might expect from creator Garry Trudeau.

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El Rey, which will be targeting a young Latino audience, is being spearheaded by filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, shown at the premiere of his recent film Machete Kills in October.

Arts

Comcast Deal Puts New Minority-Run Channels In Play

8:15am November 12, 2013

by Mandalit del Barco

The conglomerate is launching new networks — targeted at diverse audiences and run by Sean Combs, Magic Johnson and Robert Rodriguez — to satisfy an agreement made with the FCC when the company merged with NBCUniversal.

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2 Finalists Vie To Be 'Master Chef Junior'

10:17am November 08, 2013

It's a big night for two of the youngest and best chefs in the country. The reality cooking show, Master Chef Junior, crowns its first champion on the show's season finale. Morning Edition's Steve Inskeep talks to the two finalists and celebrity chef judge Joe Bastianich.

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Boardwalk Empire features music by Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks.

Vince Giordano: The Fresh Air Interview

5:42pm November 06, 2013

Giordano has been obsessed with 1920s jazz since he first heard it on his grandparents' Victrola. His band the Nighthawks performs the music heard on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire.

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Norwegian Broadcaster Lures Viewers With 100 Hours Of Chess

7:08am November 06, 2013

The airtime on government-owned NRK will focus on a young Norwegian player's quest to become world champion. It will also make a statement about television. The broadcaster says it's pioneering what it calls "slow TV." A previous effort at slow TV featured 12 hours of non-stop knitting.

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Jon Stewart, shown here interviewing President Obama on The Daily Show in October 2012, has been lampooning the problems with the Affordable Care Act website in recent episodes.

Arts

Medicinal Laughs: Could 'Daily Show' Sour Millennials On ACA?

6:00pm October 30, 2013

Jon Stewart's news-driven comedy show has mined many a joke from the Affordable Care Act's rocky rollout. NPR TV critic Eric Deggans spoke with All Things Considered's Audie Cornish about whether the mockery could have a real impact on younger viewers' responses to the health care law.

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A countdown clock at Fusion's Miami studio tracks the time until the network's Monday launch.

Fusion Wants Young Latinos To Turn On Their TVs

9:47am October 28, 2013

by Greg Allen

The new English-language cable channel, which launches Monday, aims to reach younger viewers with a Daily Show-inspired mix of news, pop culture and satire.

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