Treffer: Fresh Air with Terry Gross, March 12, 1990: Interview with John Gregory Dunne; Interview with Martin Amis; Review of the television shows 'Life of Python' and 'Twenty Years of Monthy Python--Parrot Sketch Not Included.'

Since its national debut in 1987, Fresh Air with Terry Gross has been a highly acclaimed and much adored weekday magazine among public radio listeners. Each week, nearly 4.8 million people turn to Peabody Award-winning host Terry Gross for insightful conversations with the leading voices in contemporary arts and issues. The renowned program reaches a global audience, with over 620 public radio stations broadcasting Fresh Air, and 3 million podcast downloads each week. Fresh Air has broken the mold of 'talk show' by weaving together superior journalism and intimate storytelling from modern-day intellectuals, politicians and artists alike. Through probing questions and careful research, Gross's interviews are lauded for revealing a fresh perspective on cultural icons and trends. Her thorough conversations are often complemented by commentary from well-known contributors. Fresh Air is produced at WHYY-FM in Philadelphia and broadcast nationally by NPR.
INT 1: Journalist, screenwriter and novelist JOHN GREGORY DUNNE. In his latest book, "Harp," Dunne explores what it means to be Irish Catholic in America. Dunne explores his own history - "from steerage to suburbia in three generations" - his college days longing to be a WASP, his family's scarred history (suicides, murders), and what he calls his "insane desire to be assimilated." Dunne's earlier novels include "The Red, White and Blue," "True Confessions," "Vegas" and "Dutch Shea, Jr." He is married to the writer Joan Didion, and together they've written the screenplays for the films "The Panic in Needle Park," "A Star is Born," "Play it as it Lays" and "True Confessions." His brother is the writer and former film producer Dominick Dunne. (Rebroadcast. Original date 9/6/89). REV 1: MUSIC REVIEW PREEMPTED. EXTENDED INTERVIEW 2. INT 2: British novelist MARTIN AMIS (pronounced like Amos). Newsweek magazine calls his new novel, "London Fields," "an upside-down murder mystery, morality tale, nuclear science fiction and postmodern love story." His earlier novels, such as "The Rachael Papers," "Other People" and "Money," have made him a literary star in England, and also placed him under attack from British feminists, who object to his satirical portrayals of women. REV 2: Television critic David Bianculli two Showtime cable specials about the British comedy group, Monthy Python's Flying Circus. The specials are called "Life of Python," and "Twenty Years of Monty Python--Parrot Sketch Not Included." David says they're both fun, but both fall short of telling the full story of the group.