i'm tavis smiley. stabbed at the heart of america's so-called negro problem and baldwin's rich raw relevant flaws from steve shapiro. tonight the photographer known for iconic images joins us to discuss his contribution to the very special reprint and actress laura durhan is here. we glad you've joined us with conversations with steve shapiro and laura duran in just a momen moment. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> pictures with worth a thousand words and steve shapiro could fill a thousand books. the latest edition of james baldwin's "the fire next time" so shapiro, an honor to have you. >> it's my pleasure. >> let me unpack this thing. it came in this beautiful pack ca packaging and all of this. they sent this to me a few weeks ago and i had a chance to go through it. it is beautiful. >> they did a great job and it has interesting elements as the text of james baldwin's fire next time and an introduction by john lewis. it has a piece written by baldwin's

i'm tavis smiley. prime minister winston churchill on the crown has taken awards at the critics choice and sag awards. this weekend you can catch him as a billionaire property developer in the film "beatriz at dinner." we're glad you joined us. the conversation with john lipco coming up in just a moment. ♪ ♪ >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. ♪ ♪ >>> always pleased to have john lithgow on this program. the prolific actress won trophies for his protraoor tra churchill and you can catch him on the big scene in the dark cam me, "beatriz at dinner." here a scene from "beatriz at dinner". >> when i first came to the united states a long type aime >> did you come legally? >> yes. >> how did that work? >> i had family on my mother eastside. >> they are all zit zcitizens. >> you work for the ins? >> i'm curious. a lot of people come here illegally. i was curious how she did it. >> i'm laughing already because i have seen this, i whispered to you when you walked on the

>>> good >>> good evening from los angeles, i am tavis smiley. this month, we did our program in new york city, while there we sat down with tony bennett at 90 years young. he joins us to talk about his latest projects and the continuati continuation celebration of his years. i am glad you are joining us with the celebration of tony bennett, coming up right now. ♪ >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like yoyou. thank you. ♪ >>> to quote the title of his latest book, tony bennett, just getting started. he celebrates his 90th year. last december our program televised his celebration of tony bennett celebrates 90. ♪ i don't care if it is china town or on the river tide, i don't have any reason ♪ ♪ let them all behind, we are in a new york state of mind ♪ ♪ >> i get excited. [ laughter ] >> i get excited every time i see you do this. that nbc special was something special >> it was, thank you very much. it was amazing. >> i loved it. >> yeah. >> how did it feel? >> you have been feed so many times so many times all around the wor

. >>> good evening, from los angeles, i'm tavis smiley, tonight, a conversation with a violinist, working with wynton marsalis, and her deep commitment to music. a conversation with nicoletta benedetti coming up right now. ♪ >>> and by contributions to the pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> nicola benedetti is one of the most sought-after virgolinis of her generation, she wraps up her north american tour, nicola, i'm honored to have you here. >> thank you so much, it's an honor to meet you. >> thank you, it's an honor to have you here, finally, i thank my friend, wynton marsalis, for getting you here. as a matter of fact, the last time yi say you, you didn't see me, i was in the audience. you were performing, a great performance. >> thank you. >> i read somewhere, wynton may have told me when he first gave it to you, you told it that it was not complex enough, is that true? >> it's absolutely true. >> okay. >> i mean, to be totally truthful. it was just the first draft of the first movement of which there are four. but it -- he says it shocked him because he is used t

i'm blessed, tavis. my mom gave me one of the greatest gifts and that was the knowledge that there was more than me in the world. the knowledge that may not be attainable. that's one of the greatest gifts that parents should be giving their kissed. they exist with them and don't show them a world beyond themselves. some parents may say and i understand why, but what's the point of showing this kid a life they will never attain. if they don't know it exists, how can they aspire to it. you limit yourself. they will say did you ever dream of having what you had and the daily show? how could i dream of it? i didn't know it existed. they say live to your dreams, but your dreams are limited by your imagination. my mom made sure that i knew of a world that i would never access and i would do just that. >> if i hear you correct, you were about 6 when mr. mandela left prison and you were 10 when he became president. do you remember? >> i remember. it's funny, i remember those moments more than some of my life sto

i'm tavis smiley. tonight a conversation with award-winning filmmaker oliver stone. the dvd and blu-ray release of his film, "snowden," comes out december 27th, and there's also a new book out about his work. it's called "the oliver stone experience." we'll talk about that and much more tonight with filmmaker oliver stone, coming up in just a moment. ♪ >>> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. ♪ >>> pleased to welcome award-winning director oliver stone back to this program. his latest project is called "snowden," which releases december 27th on dvd and on blu-ray. there is also a wonderful and very heavy coffee table book called "the oliver stone experience," which delves into his film work over the years. we'll get to this later in the program. before we start our conversation, though, with oliver stone, first a clip from "snowden." >> where's the modern battlefield, soldier? >> everywhere. >> what's the first rule of battle? >> never reveal your position. >> and

>>> good evening, from largest, i'm tavis smiley, this talented actor joins us to discuss his filled "the united kingdom." this story describes an african king who married a white person. we're glad you joined us. david ayellowah. >>> and by contributions to your pbs station, from viewers like you. thank you. ♪ ♪ >>> i am pleased for welcome david ayellowah to this program, the talented actor stars and produced united kingdom, based on the true story of an interracial marriage to an african prince to a white british clerk who became his queen and uproar they faced in a world of apartheid. more on what they faced in the united kingdom. >> i'm very pleased to meet you, sir. >> i would speak to my nephew alone. refreshments will be provided for you in the house. >> over two decades of preparing you to be our king. and this is how you face me. a white woman by your side? are you trying to tear us apart? >> we have heard so much. >> why would you do this to us? >> be something that makes no sense to you. be somewhere. look at them. they are fighting because of you. >> when, david, did you

angeles, i am tavis smiley, tonight our first conversation with roger corman, the director responsible for more than 400 f films during his long career. he joins us to discuss his sa tief tire of the films and keb moe talks to us. we are glad you join us, all of that in just a moment. ♪ and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. ♪ please welcome our legendary film producer roger corman back to this program. his latest release was "death rate" which is on netflix and dvd. a trailer from "death rate" 2050. my fellow citizens of this great country of ours. the united corporations of america. welcome to that death race. what about frankinstein. >> i see frankinstein will be extinct tomorrow. ♪ >> by the way, just for the record my hair -- >> the leader there, the chairman, the president does have a sort of an interesting hair hairdo. were you trying to make a particular statement mr. corman? >> they were sort of an inside joke. we shot the picture earlier in the primaries, we had no idea f that trump would be president. we thought it was a little joke and we

i'm tavis smiley. access to healthy, fresh food remains a challenge for many people in communities across the nation. while fast food and junk food are readily available. a conversation with food activists and entrepreneurs who are helping communities exercise their right to grow, sell, and eat healthy food. we're glad you've joined us. our conversation about food, roy choi, ron finley and sam polk in just a moment. >> and by contributions to your pbs stations from viewers like you. thank you. >>> joining me for a conversation tonight about food justice, sam polk, ceo of every table which sells grab and go affordable fresh meals in california. ron finley, urban gardener and founder of the ron finley project, we call him the gangster gardener. roy choi, chef and restaurateur, good to have you guys here. >> thank you, thank you. >> i want to have a conversation. it seems to me, which i think is a good thing, that -- across the country there is a growing conversation about what some call food justice. foo

i'm tavis smiley. one in five children in the country shows a sign of a mental health disorder that can interfere with their daily life and make learning a serious challenge. tonight, part of our road to health series, conversation with adolescent psychiatrist, about how to identify and treat mental illness in your kids. then, grammy winner, and two time oscar nominated singer songwriter joins us for a conversation and premiere performance of her new single. we are glad you joined us. all of that in just a moment. ♪ ♪ and by the robin wood johnson foundation working with diverse partners to build a culture of health so everyone in america can live pro dock tihealthy liv. the california endowment, health happens in neighborhoods. learn more. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers look you. thank you. >>> child's mental health is an important aspect of their development. in the high tech world conditions anxiety and depression have become increasingly common for more now, how to identify p

i'm tavis smiley. first a conversation with paula sound stone, known for being a fixture on the comedy scene for nearly four decades now, accomplished author, her latest is "the totally unscientific study of the search for human happiness." then we'll talk to the man at the center of the starz drama "american gods" actor ricky whittle, paula poundstone and ricky whittle coming up in just a moment. >>> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >>> we welcome comedienne paula poundstone to this program, the self-proclaimed doubting thomas determined to find the secret to lasting happiness and tried a series of experiments in that quest. she shares her findings in a new book titled "the totally unscientific study of the search for human happiness." i am delighted to have paula poundstone on this program. >> thanks so much for having me. >> good to see you again. why self-proclaimed doubting thomas? >> my book is a series of experiments, as you say, doing things this i or o

. >>> hi, i'm tavis smiley.n me next time for a conversation with "the daily show's" trevor noah about his memoir. that's next time. we'll see you then. --ccaptions by vitac -- www.vitac.com >>> >>> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. ♪ - today on america's test kitchen, bridget prepares coq au riesling, gadget guru lisa reviews waiter's corkscrews, and julia cooks the ultimate tuscan-style beef stew. right here on america's test kitchen. america's test kitchen is brought to you by dcs. dcs: manufacturers of professionally styled indoor and outdoor kitchen equipment.

for more of this conversation, go to pbs.org/tavis to hear more what the brilliant minds have to say about how we fix this crisis. particularly for students of color trying to get a high quality education. up next on this program, singer clint holmes, stay with us. >> so here now, clint holmes. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [ applause ] >> thank you. >> my man, ted holmes still sounding good, good to have you on, man. tell me about rendezvous. >> well, you know it's a little bit autobiographical that is cd is, and the title comes from this club that my dad used to take me to when i was a little kid. when i was about 12. and my dad was a jazz singer. and the actual name of the club is the colored musicians club. and it's still in buffalo and it's now a landmark in buffalo. but i called it the rendezvous because i couldn't rhyme that. so the idea is that's where music became really important to me. is when i saw what it did to my dad, his demeaner, he was at different mans than the man who was tired and angry and he'd walk into this club and light up. and i wa

i'm tavis smiley. tonight a conversation with john mellencamp. the grammy winning singer-songwriter known for music that gifs voice, his music includes jack and diane and hurts so good. he is a humanitarian. he advertised the first farm aid concert in 1985 along with willy nelson. his latest project is called sad clowns & hillbillies. he joins us to discuss the project and so much more, i suspect. we're glad you can join us for a conversation with john mellencamp coming up in just a moment. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> he really needs no introduction. his latest project is called sad clowns & hillbillies. it marks his 23rd full length album. here now, from john mellencamp. ♪ who are we trying to kid ♪ an easy target ♪ don't matter, never did ♪ crosses burning ♪ such a long time road ♪ still don't let go >> so i was waiting to see you the other night at the greek theater, whether or not you would do this song. and i'm watching you and the band, the entire concert. except on this one song, because co

and i think the fact, tavis, is we all play games when we're young.ords we want to be them at some point in our lives. and so that we admire them even more. i don't think there are many kids who sit around and want to be actors. i don't think there are many kids who want to sit around and be senators. be so many of us want to be athletes. so we're really envious of them. put them up on the pedestal. >> what's the value of sport to date our lives. i ask that with the backdrop of a great judge who once said -- maybe earl warren who said i read the sports pages first because it tells me of a man's accomplishments. these days you see the men getting in trouble. what is the difference day than back in the day when you first started covering these guys. >> sport is good because it's healthy.we're talking more abou celebrity. i think at its best sport does bring us together. i'm not thinking that's the end of the world and that's going to cure all of our problems. but you go to a ball game and you sit next to somebody and you may have nothing whatsoever in c

. >>> good evening, from los angeles, i am tavis smiley, tonight first actor allen nol discusses his new book titled "if i understood you when i have this look on my face." >> discovering new ways to help people communicate and relate to one another effectively then benjamin booker joins us of his debut album, withe are glad youe joining us, all of that is coming up just a moment. ♪ >>> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. ♪ allen nol award winning actor known for playing the hawkeye pearce, he's also the best selling author, his latest book titled "if i understood you when i had this book on my face." allan nol, i am honored to have you on this program, my friend. >> me too. >> good to see you. >> good to see you, too. >> can i tell you how much, how excited i got when i saw this book come across my desk. one of this things that's wrong with our world is we don't communicate well and that's obvious. you got your fingers on the polls of what's wrong with our democracy. >> i resonated with the culture as it was happening. i did not know it is goin

>>> good evening from los angeles, i am tavis smiley. the actor known of the most interesting man in the world. he's successful and his new memoir of stay interesting and regina king joining us in front and behind the camera. coming up in just a moment. ♪ and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. ♪ before becoming something of a cultural icon jonathan gold spends decades appearing in hollywood of hundreds of tv shows but never make it big until he landed the role of the most interesting man in the world. look at that face. his new memoir calls "what if." i don't ever tell stories about my life but when i do, they are true and amazing. i am honored to have you in this program >> thank you, my pleasure. you must not be going anywhere now without being stopped. >> good, i am delighted about that. keep it coming. >> yeah. >> not at all. >> the back story is that for 45 years basically, you were in this town. >> right? >> trying to make it like everybody else and then eventually this commercial. we'll come to

smiley at pbs.org. >> i'm tavis smiley.me next time with ricky widdle, about the small screen adaptation of the novel american gods. that's next time. we'll see you then. >> and by the robert wood johnson foundation, working to build a national culture of health so everyone in america can live productive and healthy lives. the california endowment. health happens in neighborhoods. learn more. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. ♪ - today on america's test kitchen, dan uncovers the secrets to the perfect roast rack of lamb, jack challenges chris to a tasting of dijon mustard, julia cooks the ultimate roasted brined turkey, and bridget prepares root vegetable gratin. america's test kitchen is brought to you by dcs. dcs: manufacturers of professionally styled indoor and outdoor kitchen equipment.

smiley at pbs.org. >> i'm tavis smiley.me next time with ricky widdle, about the small screen adaptation of the novel american gods. that's next time. we'll see you then. >> and by the robert wood johnson foundation, working to build a national culture of health so everyone in america can live productive and healthy lives. the california endowment. health happens in neighborhoods. learn more. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. ♪ ♪

i'm tavis smiley. travis alexia has garnered high prize for his poems and short stories about contemporary native american life. he discusses his first work of nonfiction, a personal and moving memoir titled, "you don't have to say you love me." we're glad you've joined us. a conversation with sherman alexi coming up in a moment. ♪tavis smiley. test. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. ♪ >>> so pleased to welcome novelist and poet sherman alexi back. with more than two dozen published works, he's out with a memoir titled, "you don't have to say you love me." it's a collage of essays and poems about his childhood on a spokane indian reservation and complicated relationship with his manager. she -- with his mother. happen honor to have you back. >> thank you. >> i'm curious as to how you felt when you saw the cover art. when i saw it in broken, fraying photo in the center, and that title, "you don't have to say you love me," before i got into this, it hit me. >>

i'm tavis smiley. access to healthy, fresh food remains a challenge for many people in communities across the nation. while fast food and junk food are readily available. a conversation with food activists and entrepreneurs who are helping communities exercise their right to grow, sell, and eat healthy food. we're glad you've joined us. our conversation about food, roy choi, ron finley and sam polk in just a moment.

i'm tavis smiley. we saw the fireworks of james comey's testimony before the senate and shining a light on what happened in his meeting with president trump. did he deliver enough evidence to amount to obstruction of justice? are his business interests being enriched in violation? tonight we look into this and more in a conversation with barbara boxer who spent three decades as a lawmaker on capitol hill before retiring from the u.s. senate earlier this year. we're glad you've joined us. a conversation with barbara boxer in just a moment. ♪ ♪ >>> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. ♪ ♪ >>> pleased to welcome back barbara boxer to this program, the lifelong democrat and former senate from this state of california, retired in january after more than 30 years in congress. yet she remains committed to fighting for the cause she believes in. her memoir is out now in paperback. senator boxer good to have you back on this program. >> glad to be with you. >> let me start

>>> good evening from los angeles, i'm tavis smiley, this weekend, thousands of marchers gathered. a conversation with maxine waters who believes there was collusion and has pledged to fight day and night to hold donald trump accountable. we're glad you joined us, a conversation with maxine waters in just a moment. >>> and by con distributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >>> always pleased to have maxine waters on this program, serving her 14th term in congress, representing my district, california's 43rd, glad to have you back. >> nice to be here with you. it's been a while. >> it has been a while since you've been in the studio. i wonder if i can address this story that seems nonsensical to me. i went online to read it, saw the footage myself. what do you make of this story that you shoved a reporter, i'm asking this in light of what we all saw, the congressman who body slammed a reporter. now they're accusing you of shoving a reporter, what happened? >> you're going to hear a lot, because a lot of people are following me around. i have a lot of people f

. >>> for more information on today's show, visit tavis smiley at pbs.org. >>> hi, join me next time for a conversation with violinist, that's next time. we'll see you then. >> and by contributions from pbs viewers like you. thank you. >>> be more, pbs . >> be more, pbs. >>> good evening from los angeles. a path to social mobility. more and more students who enter college don't finish. tonight the conversation first about why this is happening and what can be done about it. then, singer clint holmes joins us fampbs and conversation about his latest project, it's called rendezvous, we're glad you joined us, all of that in just a moment.

. >>> good evening from los angeles, i am tavis smiley.or known of the most interesting man in the world. he's successful and his new memoir of stay interesting and regina king joining us in front and behind the camera. coming up in just a moment. ♪

. >>> good >>> good evening from los angeles, i am tavis smiley. this month, we did our program in new york city, while there we sat down with tony bennett at 90 years young. he joins us to talk about his latest projects and the continuati continuation celebration of his years. i am glad you are joining us with the celebration of tony bennett, coming up right now. ♪

earlier this month gunmen stormed the parliament while it was in session and opened fire almost similar tavi a city we saw suicide blasts the muscle earmuffs the founder of the islamic republic of iran so two very important and precious buildings to the iranian people were types there eighteen people were killed and dozens more were injured and islamic state claimed responsibility for that attack now after this that these attacks iran vowed revenge and it clearly meant every word that it said these ground to ground missiles strikes that we saw yesterday launched from western iran and into syria's eastern resort targeting the militants which iran said were responsible for those twin attacks that we saw into iran earlier this month and this is an unprecedented move because it marks the first time that iran has launched strikes on syrian soil since the country descended into chaos in two thousand and eleven and it also shows perhaps that when it means business it means business. perhaps the perception shift it has or is when it comes to iran and while the west as a whole wants that iran is a co

seeing a project through the say the database should be up and running in a year or two what is this tavis link to expect that to be up and running?. >> with the use of task force and with that database that you referred to in the last couple of weeks this on our commitment continues so we across the law enforcement committee need better data and most people recognize that to challenge that commitment to do the work that we need to get there but to have that time line by a 20/20 one. >> thank you for being here want to ask a question added the authority and independence of the fbi of a interested in your take on the matter while the fbi operates as part of the justice department of course, due to the nature of the work historically it has been seen as relatively independent the fbi director is considered one of the most independent officials of the federal government for go deal agreed?. >> yes. >> several measures are put in place including the 10 year term. day believe that maintaining a relatively independent fbi is important to the integrity?. >> yes. >> back constitutional reality if

. >> tavis you respond within hours what they tried to reduce systematically is due discredit democracy in the eyes of the citizens i did think that was not hyperbole but we need to meet this squarely with the multitude of ways. >> don't disagree and to a knowledge as that fluidity but i am curious what that means to lead france a conversation with european allies and i would like your opinion on that. >> this has to be held talking to the germans and the austrians about the consequences of the senate bill so talk about the separation of powers i perceived congress to be tougher. >> so politicians and this is because those german companies are invested i am not a big fan of this project frankly so those better not discuss that are put out there but actually four years and then also that lesson of that experience is frass as allies to discuss what is a net interest that would be as a significant importance. >> one president tromped --- trump even after we should keep that as a structure. >> i already said that i think that helps the president and it is not great kelso think it is america

. >> tavis struck when you said president trump.[laughter] if you threaten somebody you'd better deliver on the threat to. so typically in politics he is not the first governor north right and if you don't do what i say. for almost every instance they failed to deliver on the threat. very famously on the obamacare revealed -- repeal vote they threaten to quit the eisenhower executive office building and it just isn't how politics works. so elected politicians is the distinct species from the rest of us -- with listings for survival they relate to donald trump bought the 42 percent approval different mating and they will relate to him at 32 percent approval. so his trading range will between 35 and 42% and may go as low as 32 or 31 but remember donald trump won by 100,000 votes across three streets -- states and lost the popular vote but it worked to be reelected requires the democratic party to nominate fundamentally the unelectable candidate so again between to historically and popular candidates and then in the two-person race one

. >> tavis is any worse than that?. >> humphries executor to examine the agency that was described by the supreme court in the case to have limited jurisdiction with quasi legislation and it did not have the powers of the fcc to enforce the law. >> that was later described as executive power. >> there is a distinction with the ftc and humphrey's executor they are both executives. >> examining the ftc in 1935 with limited powers subsequent it was the inferior officer it with the free enterprise fund says we will win intrusions' with the exclusive power of the president to be accountable faithfully to execute the laws. >> but i'm asking how was this different to diminish the power of the president? spinning disk goes further than anything congress has ever attempted to do in history. >> how is the president's power with the same removal removal?. >> and to recognize it was going further than it ever thought before. >> in limiting the president's power and first of all, the removal power is limited first is a single person