Mr. Media Interviews by Bob Andelman

From 2009: "Friday Night Lights” is TV’s feel-good story—every time it gets renewed for another season that is. Season three, now airing on NBC, actually bowed last fall on DirecTV, which saved it at the last minute from cancellation a year ago. The show has a loyal but smallish fan base and critics love it. That’s all great, but what does any of this mean for the character of Landry Clark and the actor who plays him, Jesse Plemons? Let’s find out.

Chadwick Boseman was great in the live action "Black Panther" and "Avengers" films, making him one of the highest grossing action stars of all time. But he is not the longest running actor to play the role of Wakanda’s king, T’Challa. No, for the past eight years, it is James Mathis III who has been the voice of the Black Panther in animation, anime, interactive games and live shows including Marvel Universe Live and The Marvel Experience.

From 2010: Last year, on the eve of the series’ debut, Lindsay Shaw and Ethan Peck came to Mr. Media and gave a preview of the delightful chemistry between them. Now they’re back as the stars of a show The New York Times calls one of TV’s best. And more young people no doubt now know their show than know it was once a hit movie. Take that, Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles!

From 2009: The name of their new ABC Family show is “10 Things I Hate About You,” so I think it only fair that I get to quiz these two young stars, Lindsey Shaw and Ethan Peck, about the 10 things they hate about someone—anyone! They can tackle these 10 anyway they want: five each or nine for Ethan and one for Lindsey. And if this doesn’t work, I’ll ask each of them to recite a bit of their character’s dialogue, completely out of context, of course.

From 2008: You know the guy who played Debra Messing’s ex-husband on the original mini-series for “The Starter Wife"? You know, the guy who became a flunky for Dr. House last year on “House”? Well, Basche is taking that guy’s place on the new season of “The Starter Wife.” He is, to put it in TV trivia terms, the new Darrin on “Bewitched.” That’s right: Kenny Kagan has a new face! But you already know David if you’re a fan of “Lipstick Jungle,” where he is maintaining a role as Kim

From 2008: We’ve never met, but somehow Jodi Thomas has written the story of my life in her latest novel, "Tall, Dark and Texan." As long-time listeners will know, I grew up in the 1800s on Whispering Mountain in Texas. I was tall, dark and mostly silent, scaring off small children and even hardened criminals until I found the love of a good woman. Are you buying this? I’m lying, of course. But I have to admit I liked the idea of secretly being Teagan McMurray, the strong and silent type.

From 2008: The car is cooler than before, the star is younger, the women are more beautiful, Val Kilmer is the new voice of KITT, the super talking car and um, well, what else do you need? Joining me today is Gary Scott Thompson, show runner and executive producer of the new "Knight Rider." He was also the creator and executive producer of a show I liked a lot, “Las Vegas.” Thompson was also the writer of such feature films as The Fast and the Furious and 2 Fast 2 Furious.

From 2008: My younger brother is a great kid. He’s not always the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he’s the kindest, gentlest, most supportive brother in the world. Okay, maybe second. Randy—you know, Earl’s younger brother on “My Name Is Earl”—is the most blindly supportive brother on earth. Ethan Suplee plays Randy to Jason Lee’s Earl and has for several seasons now. Randy is the kind of brother some might see as a burden, but Earl can’t seem to think of anyone he’d rather pass the ti

From 2008: I well remember my first encounter with wireless Internet service outside of my home. It was the Cellular Telecommunication & Internet Association's Wireless 2002 show in Orlando. I was sent to cover it for Technology Meetings magazine. WiFi changed my life—and the magazine’s too; my cover story on that event was the last issue in the magazine’s short history. My guest today is a big fan of it, too: Dave Hagan, CEO of Boingo Wireless.

From 2008: Emanuel Jal’s life reads like something out of a movie—which is no doubt why his story is featured in a new documentary called War Child. Jal was a child soldier in Sudan who overcame unimaginable violence, death and destruction and fled after being forced to fight as young as eight years old. Today he is a rising international hip-hop star with one of the most amazing life stories you’ll ever hear. War Child received a viewer’s choice award at the Tribeca Film Festival.