Gregory Maguire

Everyone knows the story of young Dorothy Gale of Kansas, and her epic journey to meet the great and powerful Wizard of Oz.

And we know that along the way she “liquidates” the Wicked Witch of the West.

Back in 1995, Gregory Maguire built on L. Frank Baum’s work to create “Wicked,” the backstory of the Wicked Witch of the West. “Wicked” became a moden day cultural phenomenon.

One of the several times I’ve interviewed Gregory Maguire over the years was in 2005, for his book “Son of a Witch.”

And in this interview, you’ll also hear how, in a strange turn of events, the Iraq war and the fall of Saddam Hussein helped inspire this book.

Here now, from 2005, Gregory Maguire:

The Broadway musicl inspired by Gregory Maguie’s “Wicked” recently became Broadway’s fifth-longest running show.

Dean Smith

If not for the coronavirus, this would have been Final Four weekend.

So, for you basketball-starved fans, let me share with you an intrerview I did some 20 years ago with the coach who took his team to the Final Four eleven times during his 36 seasons with the University of North Carolina.

Dean Smith was one of the winningest coaches in college basketball history, including:
.. 22 seasons with at least 25 wins
.. 35 consecutive seasons with a 50% or better record.[3]
.. and two national championships.

Smith was also Michael Jordan’s college coach.

Here now, from 1999, my interview with Dean Smith:

Dean Smith died in 2015, just days before his 84th birthday.

One-Minute Interviews

Since 1985, I’ve done over 10,000 interviews, with notable people, not-so-notable folks, some you’ve never heard of, some downright infamous.

In most cases, I had anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes with my interview subject. Time to have a cup of coffee, make some small talk, do the interview, and sign some autographs, and say our goodbyes.

But every now and then, I would have a lot less time for the interview. In some cases, only a minute. So today, some short takes.

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How would you prepare, if you were told you could interview Jay Leno, about his new children’s book — but for only exactly 90 seconds? Here’s the entire tape from 2004 — I brought my wife Hillary with me that day.

Photo: Georges Biard

In 2011, another celebrity children’s book author — actress Julianne Moore, at the National Book Festival in Washington, DC.

In 2006, another book, another celebrity — this time, I got 26 seconds with the great former NFL quarterback Warren Moon.

And then, at the 2008 National Book Festival, former NFL running back Tiki Barber.

Also in 2008: legendary CBS newsman Daniel Schorr.

I got almost a minute and a half in 2006 with Apple co-founde Steve Wozniak.

I’ve saved my favorite short-take interview for last.

Photo: Garry Knight from Bromley, Kent, England

It, too, happened at a National Book Festival in Washington in 2008. As I was standing in the Media tent, looking out at the crowds, I spotted a familiar face. Actually, I saw the smile first, and recognized it — and knew I had to try to get a minute with .. Dustin Hoffman.

I hurried over to him, and said the stupidest thing anyone can ever say to a celebrity.

“Are you who I think you are?”

Luckily he was very gracious, very kind. And he agreed to a quick interview, on the condition that I talk to him like just a festival-goer, not a celebrity. That’s why he adopted a bit of a different voice. But here’s my sixty seconds with Dustin Hoffman.