Bullseye With Jesse Thorn

Music writer Andrew "Noz" Nosnitsky gets into why bay area rapper Saafir's debut record Boxcar Sessions, deserves to be inducted into the canon of great pop culture albums.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Linda Holmes knows what goes into a good romantic comedy. Linda has written about pop culture for more than 20 years and is a huge fan of the genre. She's also written romantic comedy novels herself. Linda joins us on Bullseye to discuss her latest novel Back After This. She breaks down the clichés that make rom-coms great and the tropes that make them stink.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

You may know him as Zorro, or as a very Zorro-like cat from the Shrek universe: Puss in Boots. It's Antonio Banderas! He talks with us about reconnecting with, and then portraying his friend and collaborator Pedro Almodóvar. Plus, he talks about how his acting experience in Hollywood did not, for the lack of a better term, translate to acting in Spanish films.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Pedro Almodóvar is one of the most acclaimed filmmakers of all time. He's the director of the movies Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down, Women on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown and, most recently, The Room Next Door . He chats with us about his dramatic endeavor Julieta, his new wave band, and his unseen ailment.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Dr. Frasier Crane! Beast from X-Men! Sideshow Bob from The Simpsons! Our guest needs no introduction: it's Kelsey Grammer. He's an incredibly talented actor and a fascinating, complicated person. He gets into his time working on Cheers while struggling with substance abuse – and how he learned to forgive himself. Don't worry there's plenty of time for some laughs, too. He talks about the inspiration for the voice of Sideshow Bob and embraces the viral clip of him falling from a few years back.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Tramell Tillman plays Mr. Milchick on Severance, the bizarre, fascinating sci-fi workplace show on Apple TV +. Tramell Tillman is great as Mr Milchick. He shares how he collaborated with Ben Stiller to create the character. He also talks with us about his upbringing in Baltimore, his experience being raised in the Baptist church, and his early appearance on The Wire.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

We welcome director Mike Lee back to the show. He talks with us about his recent film Hard Truths and what it was like to reunite with actor Marianne Jean-Baptiste on the project. He also tells us about how he reacted to reading one of the first rave reviews he received as a filmmaker.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Isabella Rossellini is probably best known as an actor, having acclaimed parts in movies like Blue Velvet, Death Becomes Her, and Big Night. She's also a model, a performance artist, an accomplished singer and even an academic. When Isabella Rossellini joined Bullseye in 2022 she spoke with correspondent Louis Virtel about her role in Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, collaborating with David Lynch and why she is attracted to working in experimental film.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Stanley Tucci is handsome, a great cook, a killer dresser and, of course, an excellent actor. Most recently, he stars in the Oscar nominated drama Conclave. He also had a part in the mega budget action series Citadel – a show he told us he had a lot of fun working on.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

We're taking a moment to remember the life of soul singer Brenton Wood. He died earlier this month. He was 83. Brenton was also responsible for the hit songs Oogum Boogum Song, Gimme Little Sign and Baby You Got It. When Brenton joined us in 2023 he was still going on tour well into his 80s. He talked with Bullseye about that decision and his secret to sounding so great well into that age. He also got into his time growing up in San Pedro and the South Bay area of Los Angeles.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Adam Scott is best known for his iconic roles in comedy: Parks And Recreation. Party Down. Step Brothers. His latest is a departure from the roles traditionally associated with the actor. On Severance, he portrays the show's protagonist Mark. While the show has some comedic elements, it's very dark and mysterious. The second season of the show just started airing on Apple TV+. We get into Adam's role as Mark, his first job as a taffy maker, and so much more.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

We welcome back actor and writer Sharon Horgan to talk about her new series Bad Sisters. It's a black comedy and drama about murder, family and betrayal. Sharon joins us to talk about how she got the idea for creating the show and what it was like to share the project with the world.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Rapper Denzel Curry was born and raised in Miami, but his music doesn't really sound like he's from Miami. With his reputation as a Soundcloud rapper – his home isn't so much the neighborhood he grew up in as the website where he posts his music. He joins us to talk about his latest record King of the Mischievous South and his time growing up in Miami. We also get into some of his hobbies – he's a big fan of the card game Magic The Gathering.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Vulture senior editor and writer Jesse David Fox joins us to talk about Comedy Book. It's a book about the history and evolution of comedy through covers and interviews of greats like Jerry Seinfeld, Ali Wong, and Adam Sandler.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Nick Park is the creator of the beloved stop motion series Wallace & Gromit, as well as the movies Shaun the Sheep and Chicken Run. His latest project is the movie Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. He joins us to talk about the film and answers our most pressing question: Has he met any real life dogs named Gromit, and how many of those dogs were good boys?Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Jeff Hiller is an actor and comedian. Alongside Bridget Everett he stars in the HBO comedy Somebody Somewhere. The series just wrapped its third and final season. Hiller joins us on Bullseye to talk about the show. We also get into Hiller's time as a teacher and performer at the Upright Citizens Brigade theater in New York. He talks about what he learned there, what he loved about it and what frustrated him most about the experience.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Our first guest of the year is the one and only Jude Law. He joins us to talk about his work on the new Star Wars series Skeleton Crew and his new film The Order. He also shares insight into what it takes to pull off a good accent.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Marianne Jean-Baptiste is a classically trained actor who has over 50 credits to her name, including Secrets & Lies and the FBI show Without a Trace. She currently stars in the film Hard Truths, directed by Mike Leigh, and has received critical acclaim for her performance. When we talked in 2020, she'd just starred in the new thriller In Fabric. We're revisiting our conversation with the actor, talking about the film and the time she read a newspaper for 45-minutes as part of an audition.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

John Larroquette is an actor with almost 50 years of experience. His big break was on the NBC sitcom Night Court. The show aired its last episode in 1992. But after nearly 30 years, it's made its way back on air. When John joined us he talked about the experience returning to set after so many of his former co-stars had passed. He also spoke candidly about his struggles with substance abuse. This interview also dives into less serious topics ... including The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Nikki Giovanni died earlier this month at the age 81. We were fortunate enough to get to talk with her in 2021 and wanted to revisit our conversation with the late poet. She spoke with us about the first poem she remembered writing, overcoming teenage angst and why she was not afraid—excited even—to find life on Mars.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy