satire – Now I've Heard Everything

Author Douglas Adams and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to An Incredible Literary Series

July 9, 2025Bill Thompson

As a writer and a radio and TV personality in the 1970s, Douglas Adams wasn’t having a great deal of success.

That is, until 1978 when he co-created a radio series called “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.”

And when that series became a book, , well, as they say, the rest is history. Millions of people around the world now have a copy of that book and its sequels, which have made Douglas Adams one of the most popular authors of the second half of the 20th century.

I first met him in 1987, when we talked about his book Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. Another time we talked about his nonfiction book Last Chance to See, and then in 1992 we met once again to talk about Mostly Harmless, which was, at the time, the latest in the Hitchhiker’s series.

So here now, from 1992, Douglas Adams.

Douglas Adams died in 2001 from a heart attack. He was 49.

How Sir Peter Ustinov Imagined The Ultimate Odd Couple

May 19, 2025Bill Thompson

British-born Peter Ustinov was a multi-talented, multi-award-winning actor. Classic movie fans know him well – “Spartacus,” “Topkapi,” both of which earned him an Oscar, but also “Quo Vadis,” “The Sundowners,” and “Hot Millions.”

But acting was only part of his Portfolio. Ustinov was also a director, a popular raconteur, and a novelist.

Indeed, the two times that I interviewed him were both conversations about his fiction.

One of those interviews was in 1991. That was the year Peter Ustinov wrote satire imagining God and the devil going on a kind of fact-finding mission in the modern-day world – as humans.

The book was called The Old Man And Mr Smith.

Now, Peter Ustinov described himself as a secular humanist, and his portrayals of God and the devil should be taken in that context.

In any case, I think you’ll find this interview a delight to listen to.

So here now, from 1991, Peter Ustinov.

Peter Ustinov died in 2004 at age 82.

Imagining An American Theocracy: The Satire of Tony Hendra

February 23, 2025Bill Thompson

There is a growing movement of Christian nationalism in the US, and opposition to it is growing just as fast.

So what might a Christian theocracy actually look like?

Leave it to renowned satirist Tony Hendra to fill in some of the blanks. I mean, who better than one of the original editors of the National Lampoon?

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In 2006 Tony Hendra wrote a satire called The Messiah of Morris Avenue. Set in the not too distant future it imagined what might happen if Jesus Christ returned, but not at all in the way many Christian fundamentalists think He will.

Now keep in mind this interview was done almost 20 years ago, but see if you don’t think it sounds really relevant today.

So here now from 2006 Tony Hendra.

Tony Hendra died in 2021, at age 79.

Maureen Dowd’s satirical Take on The Gender Politics of Our Time

January 29, 2025Bill Thompson

Are men necessary?

No, I’m not asking the question, I’m merely repeating the title of the 2005 book by the renowned New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd.

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In a witty, often tongue-in-cheek examination of the sexual politics of the day, Dowd explains many of the perplexities of male-female relationships , which seems especially relevant in today’s world where politicians define us as men or women, period.

I met Maureen Dowd just before Christmas 2005 to talk about her book.

So here now, from 2005, Maureen Dowd.

Maureen Dowd turned 73 a couple of weeks ago. She’s been with the New York Times since 1983.

Capitol Steps

July 4, 2022July 4, 2022Bill Thompson

Once upon a Time three staffers for a United States Senator decided to put on a little Christmas show, just a little thing with song parodies and skits, just for entertainment.

They’re little show was a hit and they ended up putting on that show for a few other small private groups.

Before long, a few other Hill staffers join them and they’re little events. Became bigger events more organized events with bigger audiences

The year was 1981 and that’s how the capital steps was formed. And over the next four decades. The capital steps became the nation’s premier political satire group.

Two of those founding members, Bill Strauss and Elaina Newport wrote a book in 1992 called fools on the Hill and that’s when I had a chance to meet them.

So here now from 1992 Bill Strauss and Elaina Newport

The Capitol Steps disbanded in 2021, done in by the lack of bookings because of COVID.

Bill Strauss died in 2007 at age 60.

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Art Buchwald

March 18, 2020April 21, 2020Bill Thompson

Art Buchwald may be the first modern-day American journalist to be accused of producing “fake news.” After he wrote a satirical piece about President Dwight Eisenhower’s breakfast habits, Ike’s press secretary actually held a news conference to denounce Buchwald’s column and offer the real facts about the President’s breakfasts.

For decades to follow, Art Buchwald wrote about Washington politics, but also daily life in America, but always with a sharp satirical wit.

I interviewed him several times, including the interview you’re about to hear, from 1991, when

America was still in the recession that started in 1987, when Anita Hill and Iran-Contra were still fresh in everyone’s mind, and the “George Bush” he’s talking about is George H.W. Bush.

Here now, Art Buchwald, from 1991:

The last time I talked with Art Buchwald was in 2005 — he died a little over a year later, at age 81.

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