Search the Fresh Air Archive

Close Search

A Depressed Comic Actor Learns How to Be Sad

Actor, writer, and Monthy Python member John Cleese suffered from depression and sought therapy from Robin Skynner. In 1983, the two released a co-written book called Families and How to Survive Them. They're collaborating on new book about mental health. Cleese also runs a video production company specializing in instructional films.

13:17
Queue

Guests

Host

Related Topics

Other segments from the episode on January 1, 1993

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, January 1, 1993: Interview with Les Paul; Interview with John Cleese and Robin Skynner; Review of New and Used's album "Souvenir."
Queue
27:56

Guitar Pioneer Les Paul

Paul shaped much of the sound of rock and roll. He invented the electric pickup, the device that made the electric guitar possible. He also pioneered the first multi-track recorder, and his innovations established the recording studio itself as a legitimate musical instrument. Gibson has sold guitars designed by Les Paul since the early 50s; vintage models are now worth thousands of dollars. Paul also had many top 40 hits in the 50s and his own TV show. There's a new boxed set of his music, called "Les Paul: The Legend and the Legacy."

Interview

Transcript

Transcript currently not available.

Transcripts are created on a rush deadline, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of Fresh Air interviews and reviews are the audio recordings of each segment.

You May Also like

Queue
21:41

Gilliam's 'Imaginarium': Surreal And All-Too-Real.

Terry Gilliam's new film, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, is another entry into his long line of dream-like films. But it's also the final performance of the late Heath Ledger. Gilliam joins host Terry Gross to talk about the personal and professional challenges of creative filmmaking.

Interview
Queue
12:41

Actor Michael Palin on His Post "Python" Career

Palin is best known for his comedy work with England's legendary Monty Python troupe. But his new movie, "American Friends," is a romance based on the life of his great-grandfather. Edward Palin was a 35 year-old tutor at Oxford University when he met 17-year-old Brita, an American girl touring Europe. Oxford tutors in the Victorian era were sworn to chastity, so Edward Palin left his job to marry Brita. Michael Palin found the story in his great-grandfather's journal.

Interview

Did you know you can create a shareable playlist?

Learn How
Advertisement

Recently on Fresh Air Available to Play on NPR

52:30

Daughter of Warhol star looks back on a bohemian childhood in the Chelsea Hotel

Alexandra Auder's mother, Viva, was one of Andy Warhol's muses. Growing up in Warhol's orbit meant Auder's childhood was an unusual one. For several years, Viva, Auder and Auder's younger half-sister, Gaby Hoffmann, lived in the Chelsea Hotel in Manhattan. It was was famous for having been home to Leonard Cohen, Dylan Thomas, Virgil Thomson, and Bob Dylan, among others.

Queue

Related segments from the Fresh Air Archive:

43:04

This fake 'Jury Duty' really put James Marsden's improv chops on trial

In the series Jury Duty, a solar contractor named Ronald Gladden has agreed to participate in what he believes is a documentary about the experience of being a juror--but what Ronald doesn't know is that the whole thing is fake.

Queue

Related segments from the Fresh Air Archive:

See All Recent Segments

There are more than 22,000 Fresh Air segments.

Let us help you find exactly what you want to hear.
Just play me something
Your Queue

Would you like to make a playlist based on your queue?

Generate & Share View/Edit Your Queue