[captioning made possible by kcet public television] tavis: i am pleased to welcome patti smith to this program. the legendary performer has just released "just kids," a heart felt memoir. it is an honor to have you on this program. >> thanks. tavis: first of all, put that picture backup of the cover. i want you to tell me about this vote -- photo. tell me about it. >> well, it was -- robert and i met in 1967, so this was our anniversary, september 1, 1969. we wanted to go to coney island for our anniversary. we both loved coney island, and in the back, in fact, when i saw the picture, i saw the word "heroes," and i said, "is that not a great?" and he said, "patti, a heroe is a sandwich." [laughter] that picture documented a very happy day for robert and i, and when i look at it, it still makes me happy. tavis: you talk about earlier in your career, at one point, there was an attempt by the record industry to make you a harder edged verison of cher. >> that was an earlier record company in 1971. quite a good deal, quite a lot of money. i was not really interested in that, so in 1975, i

[captioning made possible by kcet public television] tavis: pleased to welcome back to this program, honored to have on this program lyle lovett. the fourth time grammy-winning it -- grammy winner and actor recently starred alongside our friend helen hunt and the stage production of "much ado about nothing." in january, he is appearing on the last ever episode of the iconic music series "austin city limits." up♪ i will rise again i will stand tall i will stand tall i will rise up ♪ >> ♪ ooh tavis: you are one busy dude. >> thankfully. i love my job and i want to keep it. tavis: your acting, singing, recording. >> it is a wonderful thing to do something that you want to do. it is rare that i have had two days that are alike. i love all of the variety. does that mean that you are restless, super gifted, and need better things to do, or all of the above or none of the above? >> i think it means that i have so many talented people. that is the thing i love the most about getting to do music or acting. i get to meet so many immensely talented people and hang out with them, learn from them

[captioning made possible by kcet public television] tavis: always pleased to welcome quincy jones to this program. the iconic musician, composer, all around renaissance man is as busy as ever. in addition to a new book, "q on producing," he also has a new album, "q: soul bossa nostra." from the disk, here is some the video. ♪ >> ♪ yeah, luda keep a flock of p-y-t's wotith him ♪ tavis: you are so cool. i love that banks there fedora. >> look like a gangster. tavis: how are you doing? >> i am doing well. you are looking good. tavis: i cannot keep up with you. this short, the fabric, this is so nice. >> this is mandarin. i am studying mandarin and arabic. 18 languages. it is fun. i can't even speak english. tavis: how did you become such a citizen of the world? >> you know, the truth? it is probably because i never had a mother. i made a deal very early, my mother was taken away in a straitjacket. it 12 languages, boston university. strait jacket, seven years old. my second mother of was it like precious. i made a deal with myself that if i did not have one, i would use music as my moth

[captioning made possible by kcet public television] tavis: once stevie wonder and i got it going, there was no way we were going to fit our conversation into just one show. so here is part two with the iconic musician and songwriter, stevie wonder. tavis: over the last year we have had everybody from mr. goshedy, the -- mr. gordy, the chairman, to lionel, and now we close this year with stevie wonder, motown 50. we all know that motown would not have turned 50 without little stevie wonder. when you look back on that 50-year journey, what do you make of your contribution to motown as we know it 50 years later? >> well, i don't know. i mean, to me it's an amazing story. just the story of berry gordy who needed $750-some dollars to do this record that he did and going to new york and working with, you know, jackie wilson, working with barrett strong, writing some great songs back then, obviously meeting smokey robinson and what a great songwriter/lyricist he is. and think of the contribution that he's made to american music. i don't know,

[captioning made possible by kcet public television] tavis: pleased to welcome sheryl crow to this program. the multi grammy-winning singer- songwriter has started a tour in support of her latest project, "100 miles from memphis," a celebration of r&b music. from the cd, part of a video. dayssummer i just want to be what you want me to summer days baby i just want to be with you i just want our love to shine ♪ tavis: i live not too far, just down the road and around the corner from sheryl crow imaging center. >> fantastic. tavis: congratulations, and thank you. >> we are really excited about it. we are hoping to open them up all across the nation. we're trying to help women who are uninsured be diagnosed and treated. the great thing about imaging center is we have a digital mammography machine that would just installed, the latest technology, and it is full service. you can be diagnosed and treated there, not just shuffled through the system all over town. it is full service, and it is a combination of conventional medicine as well as any choice of eastern medicine to others. tavis: while

[captioning made possible by kcet public television] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- >> always pleased to welcome natalie cole. she has been performing since she was a baby. natalie debuts at disney hall. she is out with a new book about the defense of the last few years including a kidney transplant -- the events of the last few years, including a kidney transplant and the death of her sister. it is nice to see you. >> thank you. tavis: chris started playing really hard when you left. you look great as you always do. when you were here last time, i recall saying to myself, i hope i get a chance to see you. i am thrilled. >> i would say gods still has some stuff for me to do. i did not know i was that close. >> how close were you? >> maybe 8%. my kidney function have less than 8% left. that is how close. tavis: first of all, the title. i love me some d j rogers, and one of my favorite songs is "love brought me back." >> i was in new york, and i heard that, and i thought, that is the title of my book. it makes sense. when you look back at certain thing

[captioning made possible by kcet public television] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- tavis: robert putnam is the professor of public policy at harvard and he is also a best- selling author with books like "bowling alone." his latest is called "american grace." >> good to be with you. tavis: when you say american grace, you mean -- >> they are very religious people. the average american is more religious going to church and believing in god. we are also highly diverse. most places in the world that have high -- people that are very devout and very diverse also have a lot of mayhem. like bosnia, beirut, baghdad, or bombay. we take our religion seriously, we are very diverse, and we respect one another across the faith lines. tavis: you said a couple of things that i want to go back and get. are we as religious as we once were? as far as the trend goes? >> we are probably about as religious or a little less religious than 50 years ago. we try to have an in-depth survey of religion in american life. one thing that has happened is that we become more polar

kcet public television] national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- ♪ ♪ tavis: do i have to pay royalties for that? >> the big payback. tavis: over the course of these seven seasons i have had the honor wheels fall off. just make it really incredible. thanks to all the various people who participated throughout the years, we have had some great talent. great people just working with keeping it together. the nokia theater is where we have done it for the past three years. it has been nice. just this time of year when we can go and we have been giving every single year to the junior blind of america $50,000 each year. but it is to make sure every child -- not just young people but even the teenagers and those who are about to go to college will get those things they would love to have for christmas. to be able to enjoy themselves as well as do something great to help them with whatever they are doing. computers, the latest technology. we plan to give away some of the iphones. because you probably know this -- the incredible thing about the technology that exists on the ipad, the i

[captioning made possible by kcet public television] tavis: police to have hilary swank. she has a successful string of movies including her winning role in "boys don't cry" and "million dollar baby". her latest movie is called "conviction." >> wi-fi needed the steve bge -- i finally took the stupid ged test. or all applies to moscow. -- or i can apply to law school. you have to promise me that you never tried to kill yourself ever again. please. don't. tavis: 5 with saying that last night for the 18th time in the last two weeks, i was watching "amelia." i was thinking that you seem to be drawn to to stories. what is that about? >> you are right about that. it is hard to find really original, compelling works of fiction for women especially. i find these true life stories about these women are some of the most compelling stories. the truth is stranger than fiction "conviction" -- and you would say that when never happen. >> it is based upon this. >> i find it to blow my mind and i read the script in to find out this really happened. that happened to them in real life? wal

kcet public television] national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- ♪ ♪ tavis: do i have to pay royalties for that? >> the big payback. tavis: over the course of these seven seasons i have had the honor of sitting across from so many people. i think i can safely say it doesn't get much bigger or better than tonight. the incomparable stevie wonder. on december 18 in downtown l.a. he his staging his annual benefit concert. this year marks the 15th anniversary of this tremendous charity and features an all-star lineup. tickets are going fast but there are still good seats available stevie wonder, an honor to have you on this program. are you doing all right? >> i am good. tavis: does this feel like 15 years? >> each time feels like the first time. i think that is because i am always so excited to again do this and do it until the wheels fall off. just make it really incredible. thanks to all the various people who participated throughout the years, we have had some great talent. great people just working with keeping it together. the nokia theater is where we have done it for the p

[captioning made possible by kcet public television] tavis: thank you. always pleased to welcome kevin spacey to this program. he is a successful producer and theater director. his latest film is called "casino jack", based on the real-life story of lobbyist jack abramoff. >> and here, a scene from "casino jack". >> it is an all cash business. use your imagination because i've got plans. >> plans to open up my own school. public education sex. >> -- sucks. i am trying to do stuff that matters. >> i do not know. this is not a bunch of native people. i am going to say no. tavis: you're trying to spend jack abramoff as a modern-day robin hood in that scene? >> i think in his own mind, that is the orthodox robin hood. that is an interesting point. when i started doing research for the part, let's face it. he was painted as the devil incarnate. the lowest -- evillest, greediest man. was there a swiss chalet, was there a jet? he was not pay his mortgage. he was giving away a lot of the money and he was trying to do things to justify some of the things that he

[captioning made possible by kcet public television] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- tavis: clarence b. jones served as all longtime counsel in part on the speech writer for dr. martin luther king. he is a scholar at stanford now. his text is called "behind the dream," the making of a speech that transformed the nation. >> a good to see you, my friend. in januaryll be back when we get to dr. king's birthday. but i wanted you on tonight because of the furor you unleashed this week on "the huffington post." you need to go and read it. essentially, what you do is to py lovinvlgly that rogessives might have to consider running a candidate in the primary against president obama in 2012. the last time something like this happened, jimmy carter and ted kennedy. what did you think was going to happen when you wrote this piece? >> first of all, it was difficult to write. i drafted on a saturday evening, last saturday evening and i read it and said, you know, i do not know i want to post this. i will let it sit. i got up the next morning and listened to a coupl

[captioning made possible by kcet public television] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- tavis: tonight, a conversation with one of popular music's biggest stars, nora johnans. she is on tour. on october 2, she will be on hand in milwaukee with many others for the 25th anniversary of farm aid. we are glad you joined us. >> all i know is his name is james and he needs extra help with his reading. >> i am james. >> yes. >> to everyone making a difference, you help us live better. >> with every question and every answer, nationwide is proud to join tapis in working to remove obstacles to empowerment one obstacle at a time. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from the words like you. thank you. -- from viewers like you. ed thank you -- thank you. >> i am pleased to welcome norah jones to this program. she is on tour in support of her most recent cd. you can pick up a copy of her next project, a copy of many collective collaborations, and on october 2, she will be in milwaukee with an all-star lineup to celebrate the 25th anniversary of farmaid. before

[captioning made possible by kcet public television] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- tavis: trent reznor is the front man for one of rock's morse popular groups, most popular groups, nine inch nails. this year, trent is a golden globe nominee for his work on the original score for "the social network". here a scene from "the social network". >> do you think i deserve your full attention? >> i have a legal obligation to say no. >> you do not think i deserve your attention? >> i think that if your clients want to sit here and sit on my shoulders and be tall, they can. you have the minimum attention. the rest of my intention is back at the offices of facebook. did i adequately answer your condescending question? tavis: wow. so rock stars composing original film scores. there was a time when this was not the coolest thing to do in hollywood. now you are cranking these things out. how did you get pulled in? >> i'd decided to take some time off from my day job at nine inch nails, take some time to think about what was next, get out of the grind of touring a

[captioning made possible by kcet public television] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- >> i've said before i felt the middle-class tax cuts were being held hostage. i think it is tempting not to negotiate with hostage-takers. unless the hostage gets home. then, people will question the wisdom of that strategy. the hostage was the american people in this case. and i was not willing to see them get harmed. i could have enjoyed the battle with republicans over the next month or two. as i said, the american people are on our side. this is not a situation in which i have failed to persuade the american people. i know the polls. they're on our side. >>tavis: president obama defendg his deal. i am pleased to be joined of -- by one of to independence. senator bernie sanders. always an honor. >> good to be with you. tavis: are you buying his been? >> i am not. the president is absolutely right that it is an outrage that our republican colleagues would hold hostage an extension of benefits for 2 million unemployed workers today. that is an outrage. he is right th

[captioning made possible by kcet public television] tavis: rebecca skloot is an award winning science writer. she has "the immortal life of henrietta lacks". good to have you on this program. >> good to be here. tavis: i travel and i am a pretty observant person. i have noticed on airplanes, on trains, in waiting rooms, i have seen so many people reading this book. the first thing that got my attention, i noticed a lot of black woman who are coming in contact with you in this book. that is what got my attention. what is the story? i had heard the name before but did not know the story. i knew we had to talk. i see so many people connecting with what is in this book and that is important. so many times we see black woman fall behind in health care and health treatment. when i got a chance to get the book, it is rare that i see a book where the cover willie does tell you what the story is. a great design on this cover. but this cover-up. want to read from it. -- i want to read from it. doctor took -- doctors to occur -- took her cells adnd they never died. her children found out in thei

[captioning made possible by kcet public television] tavis: gordon brown is, of course, the former prime minister of great britain whose public service includes his time as english chancellor of the exchequer and he has released a text about the economic downturn called "beyond the crash." overcoming the first crisis of globalization. he joins us tonight from new york. it is an honor to have you on this program. >> it is a pleasure. tavis: let me start by asking the obvious. you called the book "beyond the crash." by that, you mean exactly what? >> i mean if you look at lehman brothers, the subprime mortgage crisis, irish banks, greek debt, what's happening around the world, the slow recovery, we're seeing something bigger than the individual crisis themselves. we're dealing with a fundamental shift in the way the economy is working. for 200 years, america and europe dominated world production and world exports and manufacturing. now for the first time, the rest of the world outproduces america and europe, and we have to deal with these problems and these problems at the heart of what we

[captioning made possible by kcet public television] tavis: noah feldman is a professor of law at harvard who was named by "esquire" magazine as one of the 75 influential figures for the 21st century. he's also a noted author whose new text is called "scorpions, the battles and triumphs of f.d.r.'s great supreme court justices." we were talking about the fact that many presidents get supreme court picks but this guy, f.d.r. >> he had nine of them. he ran the whole table. first term he didn't get any and he was furious because the supreme court at the time was blocking all the big new deal programs he put into place so he threatened to pack the court, got into a huge fight with congress over it, beat back in court. they had a switch in time where one justice flipped from one side to the other. and when he started picking, he got on a roll. tavis: tell me about these four. we'll talk about them individually. tell me why, of all the nine that he had, the nine choices he had, nine vacancies, why these four guys? >> they were all self-made men either from poverty or from this side of it, they

[captioning made possible by kcet public television] >> darren aronofsky is a talented director, writer and producer who's previous projects including "the wrestler," "requiem for a dream" and "pi." his latest movie, "black swan," opens friday. here now, scenes from "black swan." >> feel my touch, respond to it. >> i don't want to talk about that. >> you really need to relax. >> it's the role, isn't it? it's all this pressure. i knew it would be too much. i knew it. >> what she's doing here? >> you made me your ultimate. >> the only person standing in your way is you. >> i have my ways. >> nobody's after you. >> please believe me. >> what happened to my sweet girl? she's gone! >> there's buzz on this film but also a lot of buzz on natalie. >> absolutely. >> deserved? >> i think so, yeah. she worked really hard for this, spent a year training, 365 days, five hours a day becoming a ballerina, which is a tall order at 27, 28. >> performance, every director wants to pull the best out of his or her subjects. the talent they're working with. but it appears just by looking at your work that pe

[captioning made possible by kcet public television] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- tavi>> i thought that people cae to a with the spirit of trying to work together. i think it was a good start. the american people did not vote for gridlock. they are demanding cooperation and they are demanding progress, and they will hold all of us, and i mean all of us, accountable for. tavis: president obama yesterday following his meeting with both parties. among those attending that meeting is illinois senator dick durbin. he joins us tonight from capitol hill. good to have you back on this program, sir. >> nice to be with you. tavis: your take away from the meeting? >> it was a good meeting. for those of us who've been lucky enough to be in meetings like this, it was extraordinary. we had a formal meeting in the roosevelt room and the white house. it had all the principles involved and leaders from the administration as well as from congress with our staff. then after that, the president said, i would like to ask the members of congress to join me and the vice-

[captioning made possible by kcet public television] tavis: please welcome danny boyle back to this program. the oscar-winning director of films like "slumdog millionaire" and "trainspotting" is in the middle of the conversation about this year's best film. his latest is called 127 hours, starring james franco. here now a scene from "127 hours." ♪ ♪ tavis: i was just whispering to you in that clip -- that clip is a good example of what i was just sharing with you. this movie really made me appreciate -- we see these categories for the academy awards for sound and music score and those kinds of things, that may not be as fancy as best picture, but that scene right there underscores how important sound and music are to a film. franco didn't say a word in that clip, but you can feel the energy. you can hear the sounds and the music. talk to me about that as a director. >> 70% of a movie is sound. you don't think it is, but it is. if you take the sound off, it's just -- forget it. it's amazing the way it develops the film and the character. like in this film, there's no one there for him to tal