Welcome to Better Know a Guest, your weekly guide to the wonderful and diverse array of personalities appearing on ‘The Colbert Report’ and ‘The Daily Show’ each week.
Hey there Hubsters! Who’s ready for a new week of news? All of you? I thought so. Is there anything that’s happened that you readers want to hear about? (While you’re pondering, take a moment to see how much Stephen’s microwave is selling for, it’s crazy. At least they’re getting free shipping.)
This week is also another three-day week, as Monday appears to have reruns scheduled. Stephen’s guests this week are a physicist, a film director, and a retired US Army General.
Jon’s guests this week are an actor, a film director, and a soon-to-be television show host for MSNBC.
Tuesday, February 18 (2014)
Brian Greene (World Science Festival)
Brian Greene is an American theoretical physicist and string theorist. A professor at Columbia University since 1996, Greene is popular physics educator, and has written several books on theoretical physics and hosted several PBS documentaries for the NOVA series. He is on the show to promote the World Science Festival, which aims to educate the public on scientific advances. The WSF is a production of the Science Festival Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to a scientifically informed public. The project produces programs throughout the year in NYC and around the world, in addition to an annual program. The Festival’s annual celebration will take place from May 28 – June 1, 2014. Launched in 2008, the Festival was praised by The New York Times as a “new cultural institution”, with the first six Festivals drawing nearly a million visitors with others watching online.
Born: February 9, 1963 (New York City, New York, United States)
Education: Stuyvesant High School | Harvard University | Oxford University
Books: The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory | The Fabric of the Cosmos: Space, Time, and the Texture of Reality | Icarus at the Edge of Time | The Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos
Follow: @BGreene
Wednesday, February 19 (2014)
Alexander Payne (Director: “Nebraska”)
Alexander Payne is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. His movie Nebraska follows a father (Bruce Dern) who receives a sweepstakes letter in the mail, and, after much debate, convinces his son (Will Forte) to go on a trip claim his riches. The film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013, is shot in black and white and examines life in America’s heartland. The film has received praise from many critics, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Guardian, Variety, USA Today, and, most memorably, The Rolling Stone, where Peter Travers called it “a movie to bring home and live with, to kick around in your head after it hits you in the heart. It’s damn near perfect.”
Born: February 10, 1961 (Omaha, Nebraska, United States)
Education: Brownell-Talbot School | Creighton Prep | Stanford University | UCLA Film School
Filmography: Citizen Ruth | Election | Jurassic Park III | About Schmidt | The Assassination of Richard Nixon | Sideways | King of California | The Savages | Cedar Rapids | The Descendants | Carmen | Paris je t’aime | The Passion of Martin
Awards: Independent Spirit Award | Academy Award | Gotham Award | AACTA International Award
Thursday, February 20 (2014)
Stanley McChrystal (Author: “My Share of the Task: A Memoir”)
Stanley McChrystal is a retired United States Army General and former commander of the U.S. Forces Afghanistan. He will be promoting his memoir My Share of the Task, which explores major events and controversies in his military career, beginning in the post-Vietnam military and ending as an American General. Generally, the book has received good reviews, with Tom Brokaw praising it as “an important, riveting, and instructive account of the triumphs and trials of America’s two longest wars,” and John Lewis Gaddis stating, “I know of no better book on the nature of modern military command.”
Born: August 14, 1954 (Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, United States)
Education: United States Military Academy, West Point | Special Forces School, Fort Bragg | Infantry School, Fort Benning
Commands Held: International Security Assistance Force | Joint Special Operations Command | United State Army Central | 75th Ranger Regiment | 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment | 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry | A Company, 3rd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment | A Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment | SFOD-A, A Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group
Military Campaigns: Operation Desert Shield | Operation Desert Storm | Operation Enduring Freedom | Operation Iraqi Freedom
Awards: Defense Distinguished Service Medal | Legion of Merit | Bronze Star
Follow: Watch his TED Talk
And now, let’s check in with our good friend Jon Stewart over at ‘The Daily Show’!
Tuesday, February 18 (2024)
Kevin Spacey (Actor: “House of Cards”)
Kevin Spacey is an award-winning American actor, and star of the Netflix Original Series House of Cards, based on the BBC miniseries of the same name. Spacey plays Frank Underwood, a Democratic Senator from North Carolina. The show, which released its second season on February 14th, follows Underwood’s political (and often personal) dealings in Washington DC, along with those of his wife, Claire (Robin Wright), Washington reporter Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara), and others who are fortunate enough to work with them or unfortunate enough to get in the way. The series has received critical acclaim since its debut, with the first season winning three Emmy Awards and earning nine nominations.
Born: July 26, 1959 (South Orange, New Jersey, Unite States
Education: Northridge Military Academy | Canoga Park High School | Chatsworth High School | Julliard School
Filmography: Working Girl | See No Evil, Hear No Evil | Henry & June | Seven | The Usual Suspects | Outbreak | L.A. Confidential | A Bug’s Life | American Beauty | The United States of Leland | Superman Returns | Fred Claus | The Men Who Stare at Goats | Casino Jack | Margin Call | Horrible Bosses
Discography: Beyond the Sea | That Old Black Magic
Awards: MTV Movie Award | New York Film Critics Circle Award | Academy Award | Chlotrudis Award | National Board of Review Award | Empire Award | BAFTA Award | Screen Actors Guild Award
Previous ‘Daily Show’ Appearance(s): Interview – November 1, 2001 | December 13, 2004 | June 29, 2006
Previous ‘Colbert Report’ Appearance(s): Interview – January 13, 2011 | August 14, 2013
Follow: @KevinSpacey
Wednesday, February 19 (2014)
David O. Russell (Director: “American Hustle”)
David O. Russell is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. His latest film American Hustle, is a crime comedy-drama loosely based on the FBI ABSCAM operation of the late 1970s and early 1980s. It follows two con artists Irving Rosenfeld and Sydney Prosser (Christian Bale and Amy Adams) who are forced to set up a sting operation on corrupt politicians (one of whom is played by Jeremy Renner) by FBI agent Richard DiMaso (Bradley Cooper). Along the way, the antics of Rosenfeld’s unpredictable wife (Jennifer Lawrence) threaten to complicate the operation. The film was released to critical acclaim, having been nominated for, and won, many awards. It has received positive reviews from The Rolling Stone, The Washington Post, Empire, and more.
Born: August 20, 1958 (New York City, New York, United States)
Filmography: Spanking the Monkey | Flirting with Disaster | Three Kings | Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy | I Heart Huckabees | Soldiers Pay | Wake Up Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie | Outer Space Astronauts | The Fighter | Silver Linings Playbook
Awards: Independent Spirit Award | Sundance Film Festival Award | National Society of Film Critics Award | BAFTA Award | National Board of Review Award | Toronto International Film Festival
Follow: Website
Thursday, February 20 (2014)
Ronan Farrow (Host: “Ronan Farrow Daily”)
Ronan Farrow is an American journalist, lawyer, activist, former U.S. government adviser and soon-to-be host of MSNBC’s Ronan Farrow Daily. The show will air weekdays at 1 p.m. starting February 24. Very little information is available for the show. Farrow (famously the son of actress Mia Farrow and filmmaker Woody Allen) has is no stranger to politics, having served in the US Department of State as Special Adviser for Global Youth Issues under Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He is an avid activist for a number of causes, notably UNICEF.
Born: December 19, 1987 (New York City, New York, United States)
Education: Bard College | Yale Law School
Awards: New Activist of the Year (New York Magazine) | Up and Coming Politician (Harper’s Bazaar) | 30 Under 30 (Forbes Magazine) | McCall-Pierpaoli Humanitarian Award, Refugees International | Honorary Doctorate, Dominican University of California
Follow: @RonanFarrow
Please remember to vote in our weekly favourite guests polls, and don’t forget to let us know which guests you’re looking forward to! Also please try to comment with any tips or suggestions that you have for this post. Thanks! Here’s to a great week of shows! That’s all for this week Hubsters! See you next time!
Better Know a Guest: February 17 – 20, 2014
Hey there Hubsters! Who’s ready for a new week of news? All of you? I thought so. Is there anything that’s happened that you readers want to hear about? (While you’re pondering, take a moment to see how much Stephen’s microwave is selling for, it’s crazy. At least they’re getting free shipping.)
This week is also another three-day week, as Monday appears to have reruns scheduled. Stephen’s guests this week are a physicist, a film director, and a retired US Army General.
Jon’s guests this week are an actor, a film director, and a soon-to-be television show host for MSNBC.
Tuesday, February 18 (2014)
Brian Greene (World Science Festival)
Brian Greene is an American theoretical physicist and string theorist. A professor at Columbia University since 1996, Greene is popular physics educator, and has written several books on theoretical physics and hosted several PBS documentaries for the NOVA series. He is on the show to promote the World Science Festival, which aims to educate the public on scientific advances. The WSF is a production of the Science Festival Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to a scientifically informed public. The project produces programs throughout the year in NYC and around the world, in addition to an annual program. The Festival’s annual celebration will take place from May 28 – June 1, 2014. Launched in 2008, the Festival was praised by The New York Times as a “new cultural institution”, with the first six Festivals drawing nearly a million visitors with others watching online.
Born: February 9, 1963 (New York City, New York, United States)
Education: Stuyvesant High School | Harvard University | Oxford University
Books: The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory | The Fabric of the Cosmos: Space, Time, and the Texture of Reality | Icarus at the Edge of Time | The Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos
Follow: @BGreene
Wednesday, February 19 (2014)
Alexander Payne (Director: “Nebraska”)
Alexander Payne is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. His movie Nebraska follows a father (Bruce Dern) who receives a sweepstakes letter in the mail, and, after much debate, convinces his son (Will Forte) to go on a trip claim his riches. The film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013, is shot in black and white and examines life in America’s heartland. The film has received praise from many critics, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Guardian, Variety, USA Today, and, most memorably, The Rolling Stone, where Peter Travers called it “a movie to bring home and live with, to kick around in your head after it hits you in the heart. It’s damn near perfect.”
Born: February 10, 1961 (Omaha, Nebraska, United States)
Education: Brownell-Talbot School | Creighton Prep | Stanford University | UCLA Film School
Filmography: Citizen Ruth | Election | Jurassic Park III | About Schmidt | The Assassination of Richard Nixon | Sideways | King of California | The Savages | Cedar Rapids | The Descendants | Carmen | Paris je t’aime | The Passion of Martin
Awards: Independent Spirit Award | Academy Award | Gotham Award | AACTA International Award
Thursday, February 20 (2014)
Stanley McChrystal (Author: “My Share of the Task: A Memoir”)
Stanley McChrystal is a retired United States Army General and former commander of the U.S. Forces Afghanistan. He will be promoting his memoir My Share of the Task, which explores major events and controversies in his military career, beginning in the post-Vietnam military and ending as an American General. Generally, the book has received good reviews, with Tom Brokaw praising it as “an important, riveting, and instructive account of the triumphs and trials of America’s two longest wars,” and John Lewis Gaddis stating, “I know of no better book on the nature of modern military command.”
Born: August 14, 1954 (Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, United States)
Education: United States Military Academy, West Point | Special Forces School, Fort Bragg | Infantry School, Fort Benning
Commands Held: International Security Assistance Force | Joint Special Operations Command | United State Army Central | 75th Ranger Regiment | 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment | 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry | A Company, 3rd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment | A Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment | SFOD-A, A Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group
Military Campaigns: Operation Desert Shield | Operation Desert Storm | Operation Enduring Freedom | Operation Iraqi Freedom
Awards: Defense Distinguished Service Medal | Legion of Merit | Bronze Star
Follow: Watch his TED Talk
And now, let’s check in with our good friend Jon Stewart over at ‘The Daily Show’!
Tuesday, February 18 (2024)
Kevin Spacey (Actor: “House of Cards”)
Kevin Spacey is an award-winning American actor, and star of the Netflix Original Series House of Cards, based on the BBC miniseries of the same name. Spacey plays Frank Underwood, a Democratic Senator from North Carolina. The show, which released its second season on February 14th, follows Underwood’s political (and often personal) dealings in Washington DC, along with those of his wife, Claire (Robin Wright), Washington reporter Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara), and others who are fortunate enough to work with them or unfortunate enough to get in the way. The series has received critical acclaim since its debut, with the first season winning three Emmy Awards and earning nine nominations.
Born: July 26, 1959 (South Orange, New Jersey, Unite States
Education: Northridge Military Academy | Canoga Park High School | Chatsworth High School | Julliard School
Filmography: Working Girl | See No Evil, Hear No Evil | Henry & June | Seven | The Usual Suspects | Outbreak | L.A. Confidential | A Bug’s Life | American Beauty | The United States of Leland | Superman Returns | Fred Claus | The Men Who Stare at Goats | Casino Jack | Margin Call | Horrible Bosses
Discography: Beyond the Sea | That Old Black Magic
Awards: MTV Movie Award | New York Film Critics Circle Award | Academy Award | Chlotrudis Award | National Board of Review Award | Empire Award | BAFTA Award | Screen Actors Guild Award
Previous ‘Daily Show’ Appearance(s): Interview – November 1, 2001 | December 13, 2004 | June 29, 2006
Previous ‘Colbert Report’ Appearance(s): Interview – January 13, 2011 | August 14, 2013
Follow: @KevinSpacey
Wednesday, February 19 (2014)
David O. Russell (Director: “American Hustle”)
David O. Russell is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. His latest film American Hustle, is a crime comedy-drama loosely based on the FBI ABSCAM operation of the late 1970s and early 1980s. It follows two con artists Irving Rosenfeld and Sydney Prosser (Christian Bale and Amy Adams) who are forced to set up a sting operation on corrupt politicians (one of whom is played by Jeremy Renner) by FBI agent Richard DiMaso (Bradley Cooper). Along the way, the antics of Rosenfeld’s unpredictable wife (Jennifer Lawrence) threaten to complicate the operation. The film was released to critical acclaim, having been nominated for, and won, many awards. It has received positive reviews from The Rolling Stone, The Washington Post, Empire, and more.
Born: August 20, 1958 (New York City, New York, United States)
Filmography: Spanking the Monkey | Flirting with Disaster | Three Kings | Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy | I Heart Huckabees | Soldiers Pay | Wake Up Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie | Outer Space Astronauts | The Fighter | Silver Linings Playbook
Awards: Independent Spirit Award | Sundance Film Festival Award | National Society of Film Critics Award | BAFTA Award | National Board of Review Award | Toronto International Film Festival
Follow: Website
Thursday, February 20 (2014)
Ronan Farrow (Host: “Ronan Farrow Daily”)
Ronan Farrow is an American journalist, lawyer, activist, former U.S. government adviser and soon-to-be host of MSNBC’s Ronan Farrow Daily. The show will air weekdays at 1 p.m. starting February 24. Very little information is available for the show. Farrow (famously the son of actress Mia Farrow and filmmaker Woody Allen) has is no stranger to politics, having served in the US Department of State as Special Adviser for Global Youth Issues under Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He is an avid activist for a number of causes, notably UNICEF.
Born: December 19, 1987 (New York City, New York, United States)
Education: Bard College | Yale Law School
Awards: New Activist of the Year (New York Magazine) | Up and Coming Politician (Harper’s Bazaar) | 30 Under 30 (Forbes Magazine) | McCall-Pierpaoli Humanitarian Award, Refugees International | Honorary Doctorate, Dominican University of California
Follow: @RonanFarrow
Please remember to vote in our weekly favourite guests polls, and don’t forget to let us know which guests you’re looking forward to! Also please try to comment with any tips or suggestions that you have for this post. Thanks! Here’s to a great week of shows! That’s all for this week Hubsters! See you next time!