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Pop Culture

Wednesday

Interactive TV Allows Viewers To Shop Remotely

Remotely Interested? With the "simple push of the 'Select' button," Optimum Select allows viewers to request information, coupons and free samples. Cablevision/Optimum Select hide caption

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Cablevision/Optimum Select

Television

Interactive TV Allows Viewers To Shop Remotely

A new TV advertising service will give viewers the ability to get information, coupons and free samples without leaving the couch. Optimum Select invites viewers to hit a button on their remote controls to learn more about advertised products.

Interactive TV Allows Viewers To Shop Remotely

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Monday

Fashion, A La Mode Again At The Multiplex

Coco Before Chanel, starring Audrey Tautou, explores the early life of the iconic French designer who changed fashion history with her classic tweed suit. Sony Pictures Classic hide caption

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Sony Pictures Classic

Movies

Fashion, A La Mode Again At The Multiplex

Hollywood and haute couture have always been a good fit: From the cinematic runways of Stanley Donen's Funny Face to the behind-the-scenes tastemaking of The September Issue, fashion and the business of it have long been favorite topics on film. Bob Mondello charts the trend.

Fashion, A La Mode Again At The Multiplex

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Sunday

Tony Danza Shows High School Students Who's Boss
Mary Altaffer/AP

Television

Tony Danza Shows High School Students Who's Boss

Actor Tony Danza, known for his roles on the sitcoms Taxi and Who's the Boss?, is now playing to a much smaller venue. He's teaching English to 26 sophomores at a Philadelphia high school for a reality show to air next year on A&E.

Tony Danza Shows High School Students Who's Boss

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Friday

Television

The Men Behind AMC's Hit 'Mad Men'

Fresh Air

The reign of AMC's Mad Men continues with a new season and another Emmy. Terry Gross discusses the show's success with executive producer Matthew Weiner and actors Jon Hamm and John Slattery.

The Men Behind AMC's Hit 'Mad Men'

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Television

'60 Minutes' Still Ticking After 41 Years

If broadcast TV news is a dinosaur, then 60 Minutes is a prime-time T-Rex. The CBS newsmagazine draws 14 million viewers every Sunday evening and was television's 10th-highest-rated show in 2008.

'60 Minutes' Still Ticking After 41 Years

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Palestinian TV Show Satirizes Life, Leaders

A Palestinian woman works in the kitchen while listening to the TV program Country on a String in the West Bank city of Nablus. The irreverent comedy mocks and often bites the hand that feeds it: the government. Majdi Mohammed/AP hide caption

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Majdi Mohammed/AP

Middle East

Palestinian TV Show Satirizes Life, Leaders

Country on a String is unusual in the Arab world — a comedy sketch show that takes aim at Palestinian leaders on the TV channel they control. The popular show debuted during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Palestinian TV Show Satirizes Life, Leaders

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Thursday

Television

Comedian Ansari Enjoys Playing Sleazebag On TV

Aziz Ansari was doing stand-up the entire time he was studying business at New York University. Now, he plays public servant and jerk Tom Haverford on NBC's new sitcom Parks and Recreation. Ansari says it's "always fun to play a dude who's kind of a sleazebag."

Comedian Ansari Enjoys Playing Sleazebag On TV

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Television

Will Colleges Give NBC's 'Community' Good Marks?

The comedy world has eagerly awaited the arrival of Community, a new NBC sitcom about a band of wacky misfits who attend a community college. And community colleges have been getting ready too, hoping this show will not add to the image problems they face.

Will Colleges Give NBC's 'Community' Good Marks?

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Author Interviews

Craig Ferguson's Adventures As An 'Unlikely Patriot'

When Craig Ferguson dropped out of high school at age 16, he had no idea what he wanted to do with his life. In his new memoir, American On Purpose, Ferguson chronicles the story of his life, from Glasgow, to big time comedy, to becoming host of CBS's Late Late Show.

Craig Ferguson's Adventures As An 'Unlikely Patriot'

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World

An Indian Doctor's Cure-All: Charlie Chaplin

Ashok Aswani has been a fan of Charlie Chaplin for more than 40 years. Now, the practitioner of ayurvedic medicine heads a club of other equally serious fans of the silent-movie-era icon and uses Chaplin movies to help patients suffering from depression.

An Indian Doctor's Cure-All: Charlie Chaplin

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Monday

Economy

Adidas, Puma Break From Rivalry For A Day

More than 60 years after a feud between brothers Adolf and Rudolf Dassler resulted in the creation of the sportswear companies Adidas and Puma, the two rivals are making peace — for a day. Employees from the companies played on mixed teams to mark International Peace Day.

Adidas, Puma Break From Rivalry For A Day

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Television

Op-Ed: 'Cosby Show' Redefined The Black Family

The Cosby Show celebrates its 25th anniversary this week. In her article for The Root, senior culture writer Teresa Wiltz writes that Bill Cosby and the Huxtable family normalized "black excellence and black achievement."

Op-Ed: 'Cosby Show' Redefined The Black Family

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Opinion

Can I Just Tell You?

Race: The Non-Issue That Is

In her weekly commentary, host Michel Martin revisits former President Jimmy Carter's recent suggestion that President Obama is being heavily scrutinized in part because some are uncomfortable with a black president. Martin says to Carter's critics that time spent on pretending that race is not an issue could be better used thinking about how to bring about a colorblind reality.

Race: The Non-Issue That Is

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2009 Emmys: Same Winners, But A Better Show

Actress Glenn Close accepts an Emmy for best lead actress in a drama series for Damages. Kevin Winter/Getty Images hide caption

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Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Opinion

Television

2009 Emmys: Same Winners, But A Better Show

Mad Men repeats as the Emmy winner for best drama series, while 30 Rock claims its third straight comedy series trophy. Neil Patrick Harris hosted the show, and he's being credited with turning it around. Last year's show was the least-watched ever.