KQED On Q: Web Exclusives

Find out more about the people and programs that make public media so special. Check back often for more exclusive Web-only interviews and stories.

Alan Cheuse

Cheuse Reviews

Alan Cheuse wears a number of professional hats. Trained as a literary scholar, he's been reviewing books on All Things Considered since the 1980s and splits his time between the coasts. He spends nine months of the year in Washington, D.C., where he teaches writing at George Mason University, and writing during the summers in Santa Cruz. He graciously offered himself up as an interview subject

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Downton Abbey - Mary and Matthew

The Lowdown from Downton Abbey

In August 2011, as filming of Downton Abbey's second season was wrapping up, Dan Stevens, Elizabeth McGovern, and Michelle Dockery spent several days visiting the West Coast. During their whirlwind trip to San Francisco, they spoke with On Q's editor about their experiences filming the series. Find out what they did to prepare for their roles, which is their favorite room in the Downton house, and which question they're most tired of being asked.

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More Downton Abbey Web Extras at KQED.org/abbey

Kwan Booth talks with a woman while covering 2010 Freshfest for Oakland Local.

A New Telling of a Classic Tale

San Francisco Ballet received choreographer/director John Neumeier's rare permission to present the American premiere of The Little Mermaid in March 2010. The ballet—as much theater as it is dance—takes the performers and the audience into deep emotional terrain. It premieres on public television stations across the country in December 2011. San Francisco Ballet prima ballerina Yuan Yuan Tan spoke to KQED about her experience as the Mermaid.

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Pearl Jam

The Untold Story of a Great American Rock Band

Coming to public television in October 2011, Pearl Jam Twenty is a definitive portrait of the seminal rock band, created by award-winning director and music journalist Cameron Crowe. In a recent interview, band members discussed their early musical influences.

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Girl on iPad

MindShift: Exploring the Future of Education

As students and teachers return to school, some will be in the classroom reading from books and writing on blackboards (true, it's more likely white boards these days) as educators and children have done for generations. Others, however, will be sharing information on iPads, watching instructional videos on YouTube, and studying using apps on their smartphones—often using technology developed by companies in Silicon Valley

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La Boheme

The Opera Returns to KQED

Celebrated sopranos, renowned tenors, and beloved baritones return to KQED for a second run of San Francisco Opera productions, recorded live in high definition at the War Memorial Opera House. The 2011 series features Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème and Tosca and Gaetano Donizetti’s Lucia de Lammermoor and The Elixir of Love.

We spoke to David Gockley, general director of San Francisco Opera, about changes that have come to opera since filming began and about the series.

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Kwan Booth talks with a woman while covering 2010 Freshfest for Oakland Local.

KQED News Partnerships Bring You More Bay Area Coverage

KQED News is participating in Networked Journalism, a national program connecting established news organizations with blogs in their communities. KQED community news coordinator Molly Samuel took some time to discuss the program and how it will help keep you informed about what's happening in all corners of the Bay Area.

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CA Watch Reporters

Keeping Watch on News in California

The investigative team at California Watch has partnered with KQED for several insightful reports, and continues to shed light on issues that are at times overlooked by other media outlets. Michael Montgomery, a producer-reporter for KQED News and California Watch, recently answered some questions about the organization and its work.

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Mark Samels

American Experience

Mark Samels has been the executive producer of American Experience since 2003. Produced by WGBH/Boston, American Experience is television's most-watched and longest running history series. During a visit to San Francisco, Mark took time to talk about the series and its current (23rd) season.

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Scott Shafer

From City Hall to KQED

Scott Shafer is a trusted voice of the news on KQED Radio. He provides insightful analysis and in-depth coverage of important issues as host and reporter for weekly newsmagazine The California Report. But Scott hasn't always been a radio host. Learn about his path to radio and what he does when he's not behind the mic.

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Jon Brooks. Photo credit: Christiana Ceppas

Get Your News Fix

News Fix is KQED’s weekday blog about events and stories impacting the Bay Area and beyond. It draws from the growing number of websites, blogs, and online resources covering Northern California and adds the expert reporting and analysis of KQED journalists.

Jon Brooks is News Fix’s editor, host, chief blogger, and Bay Area newshound, searching for what’s news in the region. He took time from a busy day to answer a few questions.

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Kitchen Sisters

The Hidden World of Girls

The Kitchen Sisters, Davia Nelson and Nikki Silva, are award-winning independent producers who have been working together in the Bay Area for more than 25 years. They are now hard at work on a new year-long multimedia series exploring the hidden world of girls. Find out more in a conversation with Davia.

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Robert Stone

Earth Days

Earth Days—acclaimed documentary director Robert Stone's latest project—premieres on KQED at 9pm on Thursday, April 22, 2010. Stone talked to KQED about the making of the film and his hopes for the future.

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Jim Lehrer

The New NewsHour

On December 7, 2009 The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer will re-launch with a new look, a new correspondent, and a new program title: PBS NewsHour.

Jim Lehrer recently shared his thoughts about the upcoming changes in a short question and answer session.

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Robert Stone

View from the Director's Chair

Robert Stone has developed an international reputation over the last 20 years, with a range of unique and critically acclaimed feature documentaries about American history, pop culture, and the mass media. He spoke to KQED about his career path, Civilian Conservation Corps—his newest film for American Experience, and the modern environmental movement.

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Miller Bros

Either You're In or You're in the Way

Logan and Noah Miller were working-class twentysomethings chasing big baseball dreams when their homeless, alcoholic father died in Marin County Jail. Against considerable odds, the tenacious twins parlayed their grief into a film, and now the book Either You're In or You're in the Way. They open up about their hard-won success and the personal events that led them to it.

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Doug McConnell

On the Road with Doug McConnell

KQED is proud to welcome Doug McConnell to the public television family with OpenRoad, a new weekly series focusing on the entire West—from Alaska to Mexico and the Rockies to Hawaii. Learn more about Doug's early travels, his favorite park and his biggest honor. (Hint: It involves an official ranger hat.)

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Wayne Thiebaud

In Conversation with Wayne Thiebaud

His iconic still lifes pay homage to America's favorite foods, and his insights into the theory of painting have influenced generations of students. At age 88, Wayne Thiebaud still paints every day.

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Kristi Yamaguchi

A conversation with Kristi Yamaguchi, host of "Great Performances Dance in America: San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker"

Kristi Yamaguchi speaks about her own family holiday traditions, her experience on Dancing with the Stars, and her Always Dream Foundation. Watch Kristi host the television premiere of the San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker on December 17, 8pm on KQED TV 9.

Watch video of the full conversation

Jacques Pepin

One on One with Jacques Pépin

Jacques Pépin, one of today's most respected chefs and teachers, returns to public television with Jacques Pépin: More Fast Food My Way. Find out what Jacques had to say about current and future projects, cooking at home and more.

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Elizabeth Farnsworth and Patricio Lanfranco

Exhuming History with "The Judge and The General"

With The Judge and the General, Bay Area filmmaker Elizabeth Farnsworth and co-director Patricio Lanfranco vividly portray the kind of character transformation that alters not just an individual's life, but the course of history. Read an interview with Elizabeth Farnsworth.

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Also on KQED.org this week ...

Election 2012
What's Government For?

This year it's not just about choosing who will govern us, but also how government should work.

Prop 8 Demonstrators in front of SF City Hall
The Lowdown: Decoding the News

For educators and the generally curious, The Lowdown is a multimedia guide to understanding big news from California and beyond.

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