Total SF

“The Last Black Man in San Francisco” director Joe Talbot and star Jimmie Fails come to The Big Event archive studio to talk about the scrappy road to making the indie movie that the longtime friends co-wrote. Host Peter Hartlaub asks about the 5-year production of the film, and the struggles (and heartwarming joy) of relying on the kindness of strangers for location scouting. And Hartlaub, Talbot and Fails all share their Danny Glover stories. The S.F.-based actor is a star in the film. 

Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music is "The Tide Will Rise" by the Sunset Shipwrecks off their album "Community."

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Episode 73 of The Big Event is an interview with Taron Egerton, who plays Elton John in the new biopic "Rocketman." Host Peter Hartlaub talks asks Egerton about his friendship with Elton John, his approach to singing classic songs and what memorabilia he kept from the "Rocketman" shoot. (It's big, and going in his kitchen.)

Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music is "The Tide Will Rise" by the Sunset Shipwrecks off the album "Community."

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A crossover episode of The Big Event and San Francisco City Insider podcasts, recorded live on May 16, 2019, at the Betabrand Podcast Theater in the Mission District. San Francisco Chronicle pop culture critic Peter Hartlaub and San Francisco columnist Heather Knight interview BFF.fm online radio founder Amanda Guest, The Nocturnists podcast host Dr. Emily Silverman and Muni Diaries co-hosts Tara Ramroop and Eugenia Chien.  

Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music is "The Tide Will Rise" by the Sunset Shipwrecks on the album "Community."

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Episode 72 of The Big Event is an interview with Penelope Houston, lead singer of the legendary 1970s punk band the Avengers. Houston joins host Peter Hartlaub and Chronicle music critic Aidin Vaziri to talk about San Francisco, her solo career (including most recent album "On Market Street"), and her work at the S.F. Public Library, where she's curating a punk rock archive. And she talks about why she still enjoys touring with the Avengers and singing the old songs, which still have relevance in 2019. .More information about Penelope Houston at www.penelope.net

Producer by Peter Hartlaub. Music is "The Tide Will Rise" from the Sunset Shipwrecks, off their album "Community."

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Episode 70 of The Big Event is a tribute to the 1997 movie "The Game," by David Fincher. Chronicle columnist Beth Spotswood and The Big Event host Peter Hartlaub celebrate the greatness of the movie, name a few flaws, discuss David Fincher's dislike for the film (and whether that matters) and estimate how much a real-life The Game would cost.

Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music is "The Tide Will Rise" by the Sunset Shipwrecks off the album "Community"

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Chronicle columnist Leah Garchik announced in her May 1 column that in June, she will leave the newspaper after 47 years. Host Peter Hartlaub and reporter Steve Rubenstein sat down with Garchik to talk about her first day in San Francisco, her beginnings as a columnist and what she plans to do next.

Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Theme music is "The Tide Will Rise" by the Sunset Shipwrecks.

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Kaseem Bentley, the son of a Muni bus driver, moved to Los Angeles a couple years ago. But he came back to record his debut comedy album, "Lakeview," filled with crowd interactions, storytelling and seemingly endless Bay Area references, from the 5 Fulton bus to the Serramonte Mall.

Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music is "The Tide Will Rise" by the Sunset Shipwrecks.

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Episode 69 of The Big Event is a conversation with Art Spander, the former San Francisco Chronicle journalist who started covering the Warriors for the newspaper in 1965. Now in his 80s, Spander continues to cover the team for his web site www.artspander.com. The sports reporter talks about his beginnings as a reporter in 1960, and why he has no intentions to retire.

Produced by Peter Hartlaub. The Big Event theme music is "The Tide Will Rise" by the Sunset Shipwrecks off their album "Community."

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Episode 68 of The Big Event is The Bands We Follow with San Francisco Chronicle sports columnist Ann Killion. Killion talks to host Peter Hartlaub about The Avett Brothers, who she has seen in concert 20 times since son introduced her to the band. She also talks about her father Leo, who wrote a hit song in the 1940s, her early sports fandom and her path to becoming a sports columnist. 

Produced by Peter Hartlaub. The Big Event theme music is "The Tide Will Rise" by the Sunset Shipwrecks off their album "Community."

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