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Inside the Actors Studio

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Taken before a taping of Inside the Actors Studio at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University
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Taken before a taping of Inside the Actors Studio at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University
Inside the Actors Studio is the Emmy-nominated, longest-running original series on the Bravo cable television channel, hosted by James Lipton. It is produced and directed by Jeff Wurtz. The program, which premiered in 1995, is seen in 79 million American homes and in 125 countries around the world. It is taped at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University's New York City campus.

Contents

About the program

The program began as a televised craft seminar for students of the Actors Studio Drama School, a joint venture of the Actors Studio and New School University. It was taped at the New School's Tishman Auditorium in New York City.

In May 2005, the contract between the Actors Studio and New School University was not renewed, and the Actors Studio Drama School folded. As a result, Inside the Actors Studio is no longer associated with, or taped at, The New School. Beginning with the twelfth season, in the fall of 2005, the program has been taped at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University's New York City campus. The show now has a new set with a gritty backstage feel, designed by Will Rothfuss for Blair Broadcast Designs.

Since its premiere, Inside the Actors Studio has had exactly 200 actors as guests. While most of the show is a one-on-one interview conducted by Lipton, the program ends with the host submitting a questionnaire to the guest. The questionnaire concept was originated by French television personality Bernard Pivot. The program usually concludes with a question-and-answer session with the students.

Criticism

Inside the Actors Studio has been the target of criticism in its last year due to the fact that many of the guests, such as Barbara Walters and Elton John, for example, have nothing to do with acting. In addition, there are some who claim that Lipton is far too overindulgent in praising some guests, such as introducing Eddie Griffin as "an acknowledged leader of a generation". This has led to several parodies of the show.

Guests

Trivia

  1. What is your favorite word?
  2. What is your least favorite word?
  3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
  4. What turns you off?
  5. What is your favorite curse word?
  6. What sound or noise do you love?
  7. What sound or noise do you hate?
  8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
  9. What profession would you not like to do?
  10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
  • The entire interview process takes about three hours to complete. However, the interview shown on television is cut to approximately 45 minutes excluding commericals.
  • When Tom Hanks revisited in 2006, Lipton announced him as the first encore guest of the show. In truth, he actually wasn't. Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane both appeared twice on the show: in solo appearances in 1995 and 1996 (respectively) and together in 2005.
  • When Dave Chappelle was on the show, he flew in straight from Ohio for the interview. However, he did not make it on time for the interview and was 3 hours late. During the 3 hour wait, the students were entertained by watching season 1 of Chappelle's show. The whole interview lasted until 1 in the morning.

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