In this episode of “Now What?” you’ll hear from actor Alan Alda. He first made a name for himself playing Hawkeye Pierce, a surgeon in a mobile operating unit during the Korean War on M*A*S*H. Alda has worked for directors like Martin Scorsese in "The Aviator" and Steven Spielberg in "Bridge of Spies." And there were the political roles including Senator Arnold Vinick on "The West Wing." Alda has also written best sellers and been married to the same woman for almost 60 years. He talks about what it's like to live in other people's skin and what he wants to leave behind when he's gone. It’s all on “Now What?” which was produced with help from Gabe Zimmer and Steve Zimmer. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
In this episode of “Now What?” you’ll hear from legendary TV producer Norman Lear who created “All in the Family” and other hit TV shows including Sanford and Son, The Jeffersons, One Day at a Time and Maude. Now, Lear has sold a new show to NBC about adventures in a senior community. In LA, I opened Google maps and sailed onto the 405 in my rental car, wending my way to the Beverly Hills office of the 95-year old television writer and producer. We had so much fun, singing, laughing and talking about what it means to live in the moment and what happens when those moments run out. It’s all on “Now What?” which was produced with help from Stephen Colon, Nathaniel Beaver, Gabriel Zimmer and Steve Zimmer. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.
In this episode of “Now What?” you’ll hear from Jane Pauley, who took over as co-host of the Today show when she was barely 25. Audiences loved the straight forward mid westerner who reminded them of the girl next door, the one you hoped your son might marry. When a younger, blonder woman made it a little too crowded on the set, Pauley moved on to co-host Dateline. A series of severe mood swings eventually led her to a stint in a psychiatric ward. But she's a woman who's all about re-invention and she's back on TV in another high profile role, host of CBS Sunday Morning. We talk about her journey in television and how life always manages to pack its share of surprises. It’s all on “Now What?” which was produced by Carole Zimmer and Nick Ciavatta with help from Gabe Zimmer and Steve Zimmer.
In this episode of “Now What?” you’ll hear from Elizabeth Lesser, co-founder of the holistic learning center, the Omega Institute and author of several books including “Marrow: A Love Story.” From the time Lesser was a child she found herself seeking a spiritual path. Starting out as a midwife, she witnessed the many wonders of birth. Now Lesser is coping with the other side of that equation, the death of her younger sister Maggie, a year after Lesser gave her sister a stem cell transplant. A frequent guest on SuperSoul Sunday, Lesser has talked with Oprah about gratitude and why she believes in change. Now, Lesser talks with host Carole Zimmer about life, death and the power of love. “Now What?” was produced with help from Nick Ciavatta, Justin Foy, Gabe Zimmer and Steve Zimmer.
In this episode of “Now What?” you’ll hear from Gideon Irving who travels around the world performing his show in peoples’ living rooms. It’s a mix of song, magic and stories that Stephen Sondheim has called eccentric and exhilarating. Gideon has just had a hit off-Broadway show that’s about to tour across the country. And he’s planning to spend a year on horseback riding through what was once known as the Wild West, stopping at homes along the way to do his shows. Did you know there’s even such a thing as a horse motel? Gideon and I had a lot of laughs making up songs and talking about why he’s such a nut for adventure. It’s all on “Now What?” which was produced with help from Nick Ciavatta, Gabe Zimmer and Steve Zimmer.
Lesley Stahl started her career at CBS in 1972, a year when networks began to feel the pressure to hire more women. In that same year, Stahl made a name for herself covering Watergate, the scandal that led to Richard Nixon’s administration. She went on to cover the White House in the Carter, Reagan and George H.W. Bush Administrations. For the past 26 years, Stahl has been a 60 minutes Correspondent reporting from Iraq and Afghanistan, collecting 12 Emmys along the way. She says one of the best days of her life was going to see the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. The other best days have nothing to do with the news. They’re all about her grand children Jordan and Chloe. I went to 60 Minutes to talk to Stahl about why her walls are covered with photos of little children and why being a grandmother is the best assignment she’s ever had. It’s all on “Now What?” which was produced with help from Nick Ciavatta, Gabe Zimmer and Steve Zimmer.
Kelly Carlin’s father George became one of the most famous counter culture comedians of all time. His “7 dirty words” routine went all the way to the Supreme Court. George was the guest host of the first Saturday Night Live show ever broadcast. He did 14 stand-up comedy specials for HBO, wrote three best sellers, won 5 Grammy Awards and is idolized by comedians like Louis C.K. But try growing up as his daughter. He spent too much time away from home and used too many drugs. Kelly Carlin wrote all about it in “A Carlin Home Companion: Growing Up with George.” I went to see Kelly at her home in LA. We talked about comedy, addiction and how the Buddha was right when he taught that in life is full of suffering as well as joy.
It’s all on “Now What?” which was produced with help from Nick Ciavatta, Stephen Colon, Dan Przygoda, Gabe Zimmer and Steve Zimmer.