EP127: Meet Kara Mayer Robinson: celebrity journalist
Kara Mayer Robinson has written for the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, Hollywood Reporter, and has her own podcast, “Really Famous.” She and Ken discuss the world of celebrity interviews with a little gossip and goofy banter along the way.
Saw this interview with Liz Feldman, creator of Netflix show DEAD TO ME, https://variety.com/2019/tv/features/emmys-in-conversation-russian-doll-dead-to-me-leslye-headland-liz-feldman-interview-1203235169/ which includes her take of comedy vs jokes. "I had to basically strip jokes out. I started as a joke writer and a lot of the sitcoms I wrote for were very jokey: “2 Broke Girls,” every line was a joke. It was an impulse, but at a certain point I went through and de-jokified every script. I had to make the comedy come out of real characters; it couldn’t feel like a joke."
I'm kinda of the opinion that "stalker level" knowledge of guests is preferred. Those who have a depth of knowledge of the person they are interviewing make for a more interesting interview. Lawrence O'Donnell has a great skillset. Not only does he do a well researched interview, he always has a psychological component, which is unique. It's not just what a person says....it's what they don't say that is also telling. Their motivations are often revealed for those who are dialed in. Mind you, he does a lot of "take downs" which is not necessarily a format for a friendly interview, but one must listen to what is not being said. I recall a talk show interview with George Harrison, from the 60's or 70's where the host kept attributing music to Paul McCartney, when it was the music of John Lennon... a very rookie mistake.
Larry King, a pathetic excuse for an interviewer, loves to brag about the fact he does absolutely no research for his interviews. I guess that would work with many of the overnight success no-names that fill our entertainment world today. People who have barely done anything and have nothing to talk about. But when you get the heavyweights ... they quickly see through the novice "interviewers" who like to call themselves journalists. I have done hundreds of interviews and have never NOT done research on someone. Not fair to them, not fair to your audience or your readers. I have no interest in "making someone cry" ... that is grandstanding as far as I'm concerned. I have always kept in mind that the talent sitting across from me is the star. They are what people want to see and hear. Finally, cut Ed Asner out of your promo reel. Him sitting there and yawning serves you in no way.
@Arlen Peters - well said. I'm not trying to be critical, but there are a lot of late night talk show interviews that feel like cocktail party conversation....the kind that is so boring, that one gets up, walks away and looks for a more interesting person to converse with. If I'm not learning, or genuinely laughing....and not just because the host or guest is giggling at essentially nothing, or intellectually challenged, possibly with something I've never pondered before, I will tune out. Having said that, I'm sure it is a difficult skill set to cultivate and maintain. Ken can make most any topic interesting. Most people cannot. Most of the best interviewers, themselves seem to be brilliant people with a vast degree of knowledge about a broad range of topics.
I recall when King had Fay Wray, who'd just issued her autobiography "On The Other Hand" (a "King Kong" reference), on his overnight radio show. Wray talked quite a bit about her early career -- she made dozens of films, in all sorts of genres, before and after the "scream queen" roles she's remembered for today -- and Larry was amazed to learn she'd made a movie with William Powell. Now I wouldn't have expected King to know Fay's filmography or co-stars for a particular title, but she and Bill were among the industry's most active actors at the time, so it shouldn't have surprised him the way it did.
6 comments :
Saw this interview with Liz Feldman, creator of Netflix show DEAD TO ME, https://variety.com/2019/tv/features/emmys-in-conversation-russian-doll-dead-to-me-leslye-headland-liz-feldman-interview-1203235169/ which includes her take of comedy vs jokes. "I had to basically strip jokes out. I started as a joke writer and a lot of the sitcoms I wrote for were very jokey: “2 Broke Girls,” every line was a joke. It was an impulse, but at a certain point I went through and de-jokified every script. I had to make the comedy come out of real characters; it couldn’t feel like a joke."
I'm kinda of the opinion that "stalker level" knowledge of guests is preferred. Those who have a depth of knowledge of the person they are interviewing make for a more interesting interview. Lawrence O'Donnell has a great skillset. Not only does he do a well researched interview, he always has a psychological component, which is unique. It's not just what a person says....it's what they don't say that is also telling. Their motivations are often revealed for those who are dialed in. Mind you, he does a lot of "take downs" which is not necessarily a format for a friendly interview, but one must listen to what is not being said. I recall a talk show interview with George Harrison, from the 60's or 70's where the host kept attributing music to Paul McCartney, when it was the music of John Lennon... a very rookie mistake.
Larry King, a pathetic excuse for an interviewer, loves to brag about the fact he does absolutely no research for his interviews. I guess that would work with many of the overnight success no-names that fill our entertainment world today. People who have barely done anything and have nothing to talk about. But when you get the heavyweights ... they quickly see through the novice "interviewers" who like to call themselves journalists. I have done hundreds of interviews and have never NOT done research on someone. Not fair to them, not fair to your audience or your readers. I have no interest in "making someone cry" ... that is grandstanding as far as I'm concerned. I have always kept in mind that the talent sitting across from me is the star. They are what people want to see and hear. Finally, cut Ed Asner out of your promo reel. Him sitting there and yawning serves you in no way.
@Arlen Peters - well said. I'm not trying to be critical, but there are a lot of late night talk show interviews that feel like cocktail party conversation....the kind that is so boring, that one gets up, walks away and looks for a more interesting person to converse with. If I'm not learning, or genuinely laughing....and not just because the host or guest is giggling at essentially nothing, or intellectually challenged, possibly with something I've never pondered before, I will tune out. Having said that, I'm sure it is a difficult skill set to cultivate and maintain. Ken can make most any topic interesting. Most people cannot. Most of the best interviewers, themselves seem to be brilliant people with a vast degree of knowledge about a broad range of topics.
I recall when King had Fay Wray, who'd just issued her autobiography "On The Other Hand" (a "King Kong" reference), on his overnight radio show. Wray talked quite a bit about her early career -- she made dozens of films, in all sorts of genres, before and after the "scream queen" roles she's remembered for today -- and Larry was amazed to learn she'd made a movie with William Powell. Now I wouldn't have expected King to know Fay's filmography or co-stars for a particular title, but she and Bill were among the industry's most active actors at the time, so it shouldn't have surprised him the way it did.
I agree with Karan G, Ken has that magic that breathes life into a topic.
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