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'Half Nelson,' a Twist on the Student-Teacher Theme

Film critic David Edelstein reviews Half Nelson, starring Ryan Gosling. Gosling stars as a young inner-city junior high school teacher who develops a drug habit, and the friendship he strikes up with one of his students.

07:11
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Other segments from the episode on August 18, 2006

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, August 18, 2006: Interview with Tommy Chong; Review of a new re-issue of Jackie McLean's "it's time;" Obituary for Bruno Kirby; Review of the film "Half Nelson."
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21:19

Tommy Chong

Tommy Chong, along with Cheech Marin, made a career out of making jokes about being stoned. Cheech & Chong recorded six gold comedy albums and starred in seven films. Chong recently spent nine months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to sell drug paraphernalia; he says he pleaded guilty to protect his son whose company was targeted. He now has a book, The I Chong: Meditations from the Joint. This interview originally aired on Feb. 7, 2005.

Interview
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07:09

A Reissue of '60s Jazz from McLean

Jazz alto saxophonist Jackie McLean passed away in March. McLean was a disciple of Charlie Parker and a leading hardbop saxophonist in the '50s.

Review
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13:14

Actor Bruno Kirby's Memorable Roles

Bruno Kirby died Monday at the age of 57 from complications of leukemia. Kirby played the would-be comedian in Good Morning, Vietnam and Carrie Fisher's boyfriend in When Harry Met Sally. Over the years Kirby played in dozens of movies, TV shows and on Broadway. This interview originally aired on July 27, 1990.

Obituary

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Author Yaa Gyasi Says Writing Can Be 'An Act Of Love And Justice'

Race and belonging are the central themes of Yaa Gyasi's work. Her 2016 debut novel, Homegoing, about slavery, won a National Book critic's circle award, and the National Book Foundation's 5 under 35 honor.
Gyasi's new novel, Transcendent Kingdom, draws on Gyasi's life as the daughter of immigrants from Ghana.

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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.

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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.

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