Posts Tagged ‘Blank on Blank’
Blank On Blank: Nina Simone 1968 Interview (Video)
February 22, 2017
Back in the day renowned Italian national radio on-air personality Lilian Terry recorded a favorite, long-sought celeb interview – of Nina Simone – by the skin of her teeth. See, Nina being Nina… She did not make a habit of talking to White people. And Lillian almost missed out, because she had the complexion for rejection. However, once Nina found out Lillian was ‘from Egypt’ though (born in Cairo to a father from Malta and a mother from Italy), the two were formally introduced and found themselves talking about Nefertitti and the Pharoahs in no time. Only days later Lilian went to Nina’s house in Mt. Vernon, New York, and recorded this conversation.
Posted in Animation, Celebrity, History, Series, Videos | 
Tags: Blank on Blank, Lilian Terry, Nina Simone, Nina Simone On Shock, PBS, PBS Digital Studios | 
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Blank On Blank: Stevie Wonder 2005 Interview (Video)
September 29, 2016
Incredible interview of the legend, Stevie Wonder, by British journalist Barney Hoskyns. The audio is good enough, but you know PBS Digital had to juice it up with animation in the best way. It is short but impactful nonetheless, esp. with Wonder talking about his first brush with racism.
“I think I discovered, you know, the whole thing of color when I went down South once, when my grandmother passed away,” the musician says in the video. “There were some kids, White kids that lived nearby or whatever, [that said], ‘Hey, n!gger!”
Wow.
Posted in Animation, Celebrity, History, Series, Videos | Tags: Barney Hoskyns, Blank on Blank, Keys of Life, PBS, PBS Digital Studios, Stevie Wonder | No Comments »
Nina Simone Speaks On Her Fashion Making A Statement, Black Pride And More (Video)
June 20, 2016
Great interview audio compiled by PBS Digital. Nina Simone wowing listeners right from the start: Did she say she hit the stage in an outfit that made her appear NUDE? WHOA! Talking about her baby girl and the world she will grow up in, music inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. So much in such a short clip.
Posted in Animation, Celebrity, Interview, Series, Videos, Vintage | Tags: Blank on Blank, Nina Simone, PBS, PBS Digital Studios, Shock | No Comments »
Blank On Blank: John Coltrane 1966 Interview (Video)
June 2, 2015
“I want to be the force which is truly for good.”
– John Coltrane in 1966, as told Frank Kofsky
Realness. Straight from November 1966. Frank Kofsky spending a day with the great jazz saxophonist John Coltrane, conversing as they rode about and made stops here and there in Huntington, New York. Coltrane had just turned 40. He would die from liver cancer less than a year later.
Coltrane talks about moving to the country, setting up to practice, connecting with the sound of an instrument, Malcolm X, music as means of expressing that state of society, and how he wanted to change the world.
– PBS Digital Studios
Enjoy the recorded conversation set to animation. Great stuff from PBS. Give thanks.
Posted in Animation, Celebrity, History, Series, Videos | Tags: Blank on Blank, Giant Steps, John Coltrane, PBS, PBS Digital Studios | No Comments »
Blank On Blank: Robin Williams’ 1991 Playboy Interview (Video)
December 5, 2014
“Comedy is there to basically show us we fart, we laugh. To make us realize we still are part animal…. So you don’t take yourself seriously and destroy the species.â€
– Robin Williams in 1991, as told to Lawrence Grobel.
PBS’ Blank on Blank series animates Robin Williams (RIP). The animated video provides insights on the late comedy mega-celeb via his 1991 Playboy interview. Sex and orgasm faces, world economy and government, film and farts as fuel in the future… so much crazy… BUT some stuff (like coming worldwide financial collapses) were eventually on the money.
Posted in Animation, Celebrity, History, Series, Videos | Tags: 1991 Playboy Interview, Blank on Blank, PBS, PBS Digital Studios, Playboy, Robin Williams | No Comments »
Blank On Blank: Michael Jackson Speaking On Godliness (Video)
September 18, 2014
“My singing… I’ll just say it simple as possible: it’s just godly.”
– Michael Jackson
The legend of Michael Jackson lives, in all facets, through things like this interview; animated for and presented by PBS’ Blank On Blank series. And part of his legend, is the well-known quirkiness inherent in in-person interaction with the King Of Pop. Even before “Thriller,” MJJ had his rules… like don’t stare or look him directly in the eyes. The rule/directive for this interview: Michael only talks to his sister Janet. So the interviewer, John Pidgeon, had to ask his questions to then 13-year old Janet Jackson who then relayed them to Michael.
Still, we get great insight from the session. Check it out.
Posted in Animation, Celebrity, History, Series, Videos | Tags: Blank on Blank, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson Speaking On Godliness, PBS, PBS Digital Studios | No Comments »
Blank On Blank: Ray Charles Speaking On Singing True (Video)
January 10, 2014
Interview by Joe Smith captured some gems in interviewing the late great Ray Charles during the writing of “Off the Record” (June 3, 1987).
“If somebody don’t like something that I do, that’s his or her prerogative. Just like it’s mine.”
– Ray Charles
Posted in Animation, Celebrity, History, Series, Soul, Videos | Tags: Blank on Blank, PBS, PBS Digital Studios, Ray Charles, Ray Charles on Singing True | No Comments »
Barry White Speaking On What He Knows Best: Making Love (Video)
January 10, 2014
Not sure if you remember where you were when The Maestro, Barry White, passed from this realm… but if you love good ‘love’ music, you gotta miss his music!
“When a man’s making love, the last thing he thinks about is war.”
– Barry White
That’s right. Check out the Blank on Blank by PBS animation of audio of an interview by Joe Smith, during the writing of Off the Record (April 3, 1987; Los Angeles, California, USA). Dope content. A lot to think about and enjoy in this one.
Posted in Animation, Celebrity, History, R&B, Series, Soul, Videos | Tags: Barry White, Barry White on Making Love, Blank on Blank, PBS, PBS Digital Studios | No Comments »
James Brown Knew How The World Worked (Video)
December 16, 2013
Another great PBS ‘Blank on Blank’ episode. This one features animation of an interview with the ‘hardest working man in show business’… the late great Soul Brother #1, James Brown! An artist known to speak on politics and civil rights, he also had a thing or two to say about late President Ronald Reagan. Watch. Very interesting.
Posted in Animation, Celebrity, History, Radio, Series, Videos | Tags: Blank on Blank, James Brown, James Brown on Conviction, PBS, PBS Digital Studios, Respect & Reagan | No Comments »
PBS’ Blank On Blank: Interview With Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong (Video)
December 14, 2013
Okay, so we’re hooked on PBS’ Blank on Blank series. Great animation built up around a 1964 radio interview with legendary jazz trumpeter/vocalist Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong. Interviewed by Michael Aisner and James R. Stein. Originally aired on WNTH (Winnetka, Illinois).
“You’ve got to be good or as bad as the devil. … Even if we had two, three days off I still had to blow that horn a few hours to keep up the chops.”
– Louis Armstrong
Posted in Animation, Jazz, Series, Videos | Tags: Blank on Blank, Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong, Louis Armstrong, Louis Armstrong on His Chops, PBS, PBS Digital Studios, Satchmo | No Comments »
PBS: ‘Blank on Blank’ Presents Tupac On Life And Death (Video)
December 12, 2013
“I feel like a tragic hero in a Shakespeare play.”
– Tupac Shakur
Interviewed by Benjamin Svetkey in March 1994, the recording of Tupac’s candid comments was put to good use here; bringing life to the PBS ‘Blank on Blank’ animation. Something about the cartoon images moving, speaking in the video. Just watch and experience and learn from Tupac once more; no 3D technology required.
Posted in Animation, Hip-Hop, History, Television, Videos | Tags: Blank on Blank, PBS, PBS Digital Studios, Tupac Shakur, Tupac Shakur on Life and Death | No Comments »
Larry King On Getting Seduced (Video)
December 11, 2013
In all my years in radio I can relate to this story from Larry King! Hahaaa!
“I’m playing these records. The phone rings and I pick it up: ‘WAHR.’ And this lady’s voice – I can still hear her voice – she goes: ‘I want you.'”
– Larry King
Posted in Radio, Videos | Tags: Blank on Blank, Larry King, Larry King Now, Larry King on Getting Seduced, PBS Digital Studios | No Comments »
