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TV in the 1980s: The Big Picture.

Television critic David Bianculli gives his picks for the best shows of the 80s..the big surprise is that relatively few of them were on the three major networks.

03:48
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Other segments from the episode on December 25, 1989

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, December 25, 1989: Interview with Susannah McCorkle; Commentary on jazz in the 1980s; Interview with Bobby McFerrin; Review of the best television shows of the 1980s.
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06:55

Jazz in the 1980s: An Historical Era.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead looks back on jazz in the 80s...the big figures, the big trends, the big albums, and he takes a guess as to what the 90s will bring.

Commentary
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11:21

Singer Bobby McFerrin.

Jazz vocalist Bobby McFerrin. He's been called a one man vocal group, with teh ability to simultaneously sing parts from bass to falsetto. McFerrin had been well known to jazz audiences for years, but finally had a big crossover hit with his song "Don't Worry, Be Happy." Terry spoke with him two years before that song came out, in an interview originally broadcast on 1/20/87 and 09/29/1986

Interview

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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.

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41:32

Oscar Winner Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington directs and stars in the new film The Great Debaters, inspired by the true story of Wiley College's winning debate team of the early 1930s. The film also stars Forest Whitaker.

Actor Denzel Washington
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21:44

Actor David Morse.

Actor David Morse. He's best known for his role in the 1980's hospital TV series "St Elsewhere" as Dr. "Boomer" Morrison. Last year he costarred with Jack Nicholson in "The Crossing Guard" which was directed and written by Sean Penn. Most recently Morse can be seen in the film "12 Monkeys."

Interview
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23:06

TV Producer and Writer Tom Fontana on Telling Long Form Stories

Executive producer and writer, Tom Fontana. He was writer and producer for the TV show, "St. Elsewhere." He's currently executive producer, along with filmmaker Barry Levinson, of "Homicide: Life on the Street," a new cop drama on NBC. Reviewers say it goes beyond formula to offer a "more complex psychological portrait" of crime fighters and criminals.

Interview

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