The Big Wakeup Call

Theresa Caputo called in to talk about season 13 of Long Island Medium on TLC as well as her current tour, which has her coming to the NIU Convocation Center in DeKalb on Tuesday, October 30th. Topics: How the show has evolved since 2001, using her gifts to bring comfort and relief, and what to expect at her live show.

Author Kelsey Miller called in for a fun chat about her new book I'll Be There For You: The One About Friends. We discussed our initial introductions to the show (Kelsey at age 10, me as an already cynical 23-year-old Gen X slacker), how and why it became such an important (and in many ways groundbreaking) show, how some of the jokes and situations haven't necessarily aged well, and why that Central Perk couch was never already occupied.

The World News Center's Bill McCormick dialed us up for our weekly chat about things and whatnot. This week we had an in-depth review and discussion about A Star Is Born, including thoughts on Oscar Bait, directing choices, casting rumors, and potential DVD commentary reveals (though the laundromat where I get my DVDs never has the special features). Plus: an important public service announcement regarding an important drug treatment.

Legendary Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre joined the show to talk about his upcoming appearance at Reggie's Rock Club in Chicago and his new album "Roads Less Traveled."

Anthony Atamanuik called in to talk about his new book American Tantrum: The Donald J. Trump Presidential Archives, and his new Comedy Central special A President Show Documentary: The Fall of Donald Trump. We discussed how the book is a fine, PBS-like companion to The President Show, the mental and physical side effects of becoming Donald Trump, and fond childhood memories of reading transcripts of the Nixon tapes.

The Daily Show correspondents Desi Lydic and Ronny Chieng called in to promote the show's upcoming week in Miami, as well as their live midterm election special. Topics included a retro discussion of hanging chads, what Florida-specific nuggets might be included in the broadcasts, dealing with longitudinal differences, and meeting The Wiggles.

Greg Sargent, author of the popular “Plum Lime” blog at The Washington Post, called in to talk about his new book, An Uncivil War: Taking Back Our Democracy in an Age of Trumpian Disinformation and Thunderdome Politics.

In his weekly visit from the World News Center, Bill McCormick and I had yet another lively discussion surrounding our never-ending series of random topics, including name-dropping, comic books, and eating human heads.

Nicholas Gonzalez called in to talk about the new season of ABC's hit series The Good Doctor. We discussed how he was uniquely qualified to learn the necessary medical lingo, whether he prefers playing a doctor or a detective, and what it's like to play a character you love to hate.

Nina Burleigh is the national politics correspondent at Newsweek and a best-selling author. She called in to talk about her new book Golden Handcuffs: The Secret History of Trump’s Women, which examines the relationships he has with all of the women in his life, including his mother, grandmother, wives, and daughters.