The Front Row Network

Front Row Classics welcomes author Katie Gee Salisbury this week. Katie has just penned a wonderful book on one of the 20th century's greatest pioneers of film, Anna May Wong. "Not Your China Doll: The Wild and Shimmering Life of Anna May Wong" is a page turning exploration of Wong's life set against the Jazz Age and early days of Hollywood. Salisbury shines a spotlight on Anna May's glamourous life along with her rebellious personal life & fight for less stereotypical roles.

"Not Your China Doll: The Wild and Shimmering Life of Anna May Wong" is available from Dutton Publishing wherever books are sold.

Katie Gee Salisbury is the author of Not Your China Doll, a new biography of Anna May Wong, the first Asian American movie star. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Vanity Fair, The Ringer, the Asian American Writers' Workshop, and elsewhere. She was a finalist for the Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship in 2021 and gave the TED Talk "As American as Chop Suey." She also writes the newsletter Half-Caste Woman. A fifth-generation Chinese American who hails from Southern California, she now lives in Brooklyn.

Front Row Classics is taking a look at one of the greatest romantic screwball comedies of the 1930s. Brandon is joined by Mia Tiffany from Movies with Mia to discuss 1937's The Awful Truth. Leo McCarey's film about marriage and infidelity still packs a hilarious and poignant journey for movie goers. Brandon and Mia discuss the fantastic chemistry between Cary Grant and Irene Dunne as well as the witty script by Vina Delmar. This film is often credited with creating the "Cary Grant persona" we all know and love.

You can see all of Mia's classic film reactions at https://www.youtube.com/@MoviesWithMia/featured

And that's a wrap on movie awards season 2024! The 96th Academy Awards have come and gone and we have a new champion atop the movie world. Oppenheimer took home the most awards of the night including the top prize but there were plenty of fun times to be had at a ceremony that finally felt like a true celebration of film again.

Jeremy, Ryan, Erin old Front Row pal and Binge Buddies host Bryan Dressel are here to break it all down and give you the biggest moments and takeaways from a fantastic ceremony.

DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW/REACH US AT: Website: www.nprillinois.org/programs/front-row-network X (Twitter): @frontrowreviewz Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefrontrown... Instagram: frontrownetwork YouTube: https://bit.ly/2NyawO0

The tradition continues at the Front Row as we are proud to once again bring your our Oscars Forum! We have an absolutley packed house of Front Row personalities as we break down all 10 films nominated for Best Picture, what they're nominated for and what they might be able to take home on Oscars night. Join Ryan, Jeremy, Brandon, Brett, Erin, Alex, Steve, Larry and the returning Lou Hare to get the low-down on how to win your Oscar pools this Sunday!

In this PART 2 we're discussing 5 films: Oppenheimer Poor Things Zone of Interest Maestro Past Lives

THE 96th ACADEMY AWARDS will air LIVE on Sunday, March 10th on ABC.

DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW/REACH US AT: Website: www.nprillinois.org/programs/front-row-network X (Twitter): @frontrowreviewz Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefrontrown... Instagram: frontrownetwork YouTube: https://bit.ly/2NyawO0

The tradition continues at the Front Row as we are proud to once again bring your our Oscars Forum! We have an absolutley packed house of Front Row personalities as we break down all 10 films nominated for Best Picture, what they're nominated for and what they might be able to take home on Oscars night. Join Ryan, Jeremy, Brandon, Brett, Erin, Alex, Steve, Larry and the returning Lou Hare to get the low-down on how to win your Oscar pools this Sunday!

In this PART 1 we're discussing 5 films: Killers of the Flower Moon, The Holdovers, Anatomy of a Fall, Barbie and American Fiction. PART 2 will be released tomorrow.

THE 96th ACADEMY AWARDS will air LIVE on Sunday, March 10th on ABC.

DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW/REACH US AT: Website: www.nprillinois.org/programs/front-row-network X (Twitter): @frontrowreviewz Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefrontrown... Instagram: frontrownetwork YouTube: https://bit.ly/2NyawO0

We're taking another look at one of the greatest comedies in movie history. Billy Wilder's Some Like it Hot is celebrating its 65th anniversary and remains a fresh and funny as it was in 1959. Jackson Cooper joins Brandon this week to discuss every memorable moment/ We also pay tribute to the incomparable performances of Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis.

Front Row Classics is pleased to welcome renowned Wizard of Oz expert & Judy Garland historian, John Fricke. John has contributed his knowledge and expertise to countless books, documentaries, and home video releases over the decades. He provides insight into why Garland remains a powerful pop culture figure more than fifty years after her death. Brandon and John discuss his earliest experiences as a Garland fan, including an unforgettable story of seeing Judy in concert. They also commemorate the 85th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz and 80th anniversary of Meet Me in St Louis.

Front Row Classics is celebrating its 200th episode! I'm so very grateful for to you ,the listeners, for continuing to support this labor of love.

For our 200th episode, we're welcoming a very special guest : legendary actress and wildlife activist, Stefanie Powers. Powers grew up in the heyday of Los Angeles and even attended Hollywood High School. Brandon and Stefanie discuss her decades-long career in film, television and theater. Having worked with luminaries like John Wayne, Tallulah Bankhead, Bing Crosby & Maureen O'Hara, Stefanie has a wealth of perspective on the golden age of show business.

We discuss her starring role in The Girl from U.N.C.L.E in the 60s which made her the first woman to star in an hour long series. We ,of course, also spend time discussing the beloved series, Hart to Hart and her co-star, Robert Wagner.

Stefanie has also dedicated her life to wildlife conservation. She founded the William Holden Wildlife Foundation following the death of her lifelong love, William Holden.

You can find out more about the foundation along with ways to give at whwf.org.

Front Row Classics welcome Turner Classic Movies host, Dave Karger, this week. Brandon and Dave are discussing his newest book "50 Oscar Nights: Iconic Stars & Filmmakers on Their Career-Defining Wins". Dave sat down with 50 past Oscar winners to recount the details of their respective victorious evenings. Some stories are triumphant & celebratory. Others are poignant & complex. In this conversation, you'll hear Dave recount stories from the likes of Steven Spielberg, Rita Moreno, Mel Brooks and Nicole Kidman among several others.

"50 Oscar Nights: Iconic Stars & Filmmakers on Their Career-Defining Wins" is available from Running Press and Turner Classic Movies wherever books are sold.

Dave Karger is an award-winning TV host, interviewer, journalist, and film expert. He is a host on Turner Classic Movies and has been the Oscars expert on NBC's TODAY since 2000. He also spent over 15 years writing about the Oscars for Entertainment Weekly, has cohosted ABC's Live from the Red Carpet pre-show, and served as the Academy's official red-carpet greeter on Oscar night. In 2015, Dave received the Publicist's Guild Press Award, honoring the year's outstanding entertainment journalist. He has been called "this generation's mass-media cinematic ambassador" by The Wrap and a "beloved entertainment guru" by The Hollywood Reporter.

Front Row Classics is celebrating Valentine's Day with one of the most popular romantic films to ever come out of Hollywood. Breakfast at Tiffany's remains one of Audrey Hepburn's most iconic works. Beyond the Mouse's Vanessa Ferguson and NPR Illinois' Bea Bonner join Brandon to discuss all aspects of the movie. The hosts discuss Hepburn's unlikely performance as call girl, Holly Golightly. They also discuss their favorite scenes and Henry Mancini's evocative score including the Oscar winning song, "Moon River". Time is also taken to address the controversy surrounding the performance of Mickey Rooney as Mr. Yunioshi.