"Inside the Actors Studio" (1994) TV series 1994-

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | unknown

Release Date:

27 June 2003 (Germany)

Genre:

Talk-Show

Plot:

Famous actors, directors and writers reminisce about their careers and the philosophy behind their careers.

Plot Keywords:

Interview | Show Business | Actors Studio | Writing | Four Word Title

Awards:

Nominated for 15 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

James Lipton

...

Himself - Host / ... (234 episodes, 1994-2013)

Series Directed by
Jeff Wurtz		(11 episodes, 1996-2009)

Series Writing credits
James Lipton		(12 episodes, 1994-2009)

Series Produced by
Michael Kostel	....	producer (96 episodes, 1995-2004)
Alice Siess	....	associate producer / producer (75 episodes, 2000-2005)
Jeff Wurtz	....	producer (19 episodes, 2005-2009)
Sabrina Fodor	....	producer (16 episodes, 2005-2007)
Jasmin Proios Gammon	....	associate producer (13 episodes, 2003-2004)
Gina Angelone	....	producer (12 episodes, 1995)
James Lipton	....	executive producer / associate producer (9 episodes, 1994-2012)
John Servidio	....	producer (4 episodes, 2001-2004)
Julie Schwarz	....	associate producer (4 episodes, 2007-2009)
Shawn Tesser	....	producer (3 episodes, 2008-2009)
Eileen Lanci	....	associate producer (2 episodes, 2001)
Christian Barcellos	....	executive producer: Bravo (unknown episodes)
Frances Berwick	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Caroline Kaplan	....	series producer (unknown episodes)
Jeremy Kareken	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Vienna Steiner	....	executive producer / producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Angelo Badalamenti		(15 episodes, 1994-2011)

Series Cinematography by
Jeffrey Burns		(2 episodes, 2004)
Michael Fitzgerald		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Jeff Wurtz		(10 episodes, 1994-2009)

Series Makeup Department
Michele O'Callaghan	....	makeup artist / make-up (5 episodes, 1994-2007)
Laurie Lambardi	....	make-up / makeup artist (2 episodes, 2001-2004)
Audrey Da Costa	....	key makeup artist / makeup artist (2 episodes, 2008-2009)
Yoko Fumoto	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 2009)

Series Production Management
Stan Schnier	....	production manager (4 episodes, 2001-2005)
Patrick Burns	....	production manager (3 episodes, 2007-2009)
Bob Conover	....	production manager (2 episodes, 2001-2003)

Series Art Department
Joey DePaolo	....	stagehand (15 episodes, 2004-2006)
Patrick Moran	....	stagehand (5 episodes, 2005)
Mark Johnston	....	graphic design (4 episodes, 2001-2007)
Jeff Rochstein	....	graphics (4 episodes, 2007-2009)
George Xenos	....	scenic design (2 episodes, 2001-2004)

Series Sound Department
Tim Cereste	....	sound mixer / audio (13 episodes, 1994)
Bob Aldridge	....	audio engineer (4 episodes, 2007-2009)
Jeff Rochstein	....	post audio / post audio mixer (4 episodes, 2007-2009)
Rand Gamble	....	sound (3 episodes, 2001-2004)
Alex Kushman	....	audio (2 episodes, 2001-2003)
Steve Giampaolo	....	audio assist / audio assistant (2 episodes, 2007-2009)
Kevin Hartman	....	house audio (2 episodes, 2008-2009)
Liz Ip	....	audio assist (2 episodes, 2008-2009)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
J.M. Hurley	....	video engineer / senior video controller (140 episodes, 1994-2009)
Tim Cereste	....	senior video / video engineer (99 episodes, 1994-2004)
Katherine Ray	....	camera operator (13 episodes, 1995-1996)
Eric Espeut III	....	camera utility (4 episodes, 2005)
Mark Britt	....	jib operator (4 episodes, 2007-2009)
Jeffrey Burns	....	lighting designer / lighting director (4 episodes, 2007-2009)
Pete Forrest	....	camera operator (4 episodes, 2007-2009)
John Lott	....	lighting board operator (4 episodes, 2007-2009)
Dave McCarrie	....	tape operator (4 episodes, 2007-2009)
Pahu Van Riel	....	gaffer (3 episodes, 2001-2004)
Jay Kulick	....	jib operator (3 episodes, 2007-2009)
Chris Peterson	....	electric / electrician (3 episodes, 2007-2009)
Rich Houseman	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 2008-2009)
Doug Schneider	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 2008-2009)
Jeff Steiner	....	electric (3 episodes, 2008-2009)
Don Wood	....	electric (3 episodes, 2008-2009)
Steve Long	....	video utility (3 episodes, 2010-2011)
Daniel McKenna	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 2010-2011)
Kevin Collins	....	camera (2 episodes, 2001-2003)
Scott Herde	....	camera (2 episodes, 2001-2003)
Bill Scammon	....	camera (2 episodes, 2001-2003)
Keith Anderson	....	video engineer (2 episodes, 2003-2005)
Jim Nassetta	....	camera (2 episodes, 2003-2005)
Simon Miles	....	lighting director (2 episodes, 2004-2005)
Laurent Legall	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 2008-2009)
Justin M. Lubin	....	still photographer (unknown episodes, 2004)

Series Editorial Department
Amy Leland	....	assistant editor (13 episodes, 2010-2013)
Jill Rizzi	....	assistant editor (3 episodes, 2001-2004)

Series Music Department
Jim Bruening	....	music editor (7 episodes, 2008-2009)
Angelo Badalamenti	....	composer: theme music (6 episodes, 2008-2009)

Series Other crew
Jordan Gosnell	....	production assistant / stage manager (25 episodes, 2007-2012)
Lisa Rosado	....	production assistant (13 episodes, 2007-2012)
Jeremy Kareken	....	research associate / researcher (8 episodes, 2001-2009)
Sam Sibble	....	production assistant (8 episodes, 2004-2005)
Daniel McKenna	....	production assistant (8 episodes, 2008-2009)
Bob Reynolds	....	assistant: to Mr. Lipton / assistant to executive producer / ... (7 episodes, 2001-2009)
Joy Besozzi	....	theatre manager (4 episodes, 2007-2009)
John Fistos	....	technical director: Pace University / technical director (4 episodes, 2007-2009)
Maher Kheirbek	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 2007-2009)
Beth Rooney	....	stage manager (4 episodes, 2007-2009)
Jasmin Proios Gammon	....	photo researcher (3 episodes, 2003-2005)
Daniel Byron Spangler	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 2004)
Nikoo Yahyazadeh	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 2004)
Ed Lavin	....	utility (3 episodes, 2007-2009)
Russell Muccigrosso	....	utility (3 episodes, 2007-2009)
Daniel Shepard	....	production associate (3 episodes, 2007-2009)
David Watson	....	director of cultural events: Pace University (3 episodes, 2007-2009)
Jeff Zorrilla	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 2007-2009)
Michelle LaBarbera	....	assistant stage manager (3 episodes, 2008-2009)
Dana Marcolina	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 2008-2009)
George Schak	....	technical manager (2 episodes, 2001-2005)
Teague Clements	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 2001-2003)
Lisa Monroig	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 2001-2003)
Grégory Santerre	....	stage manager (2 episodes, 2002)
August Barber	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 2007-2009)
Stephen J. Friedman	....	president: Pace University (2 episodes, 2007-2009)
Robert Brotzman	....	engineer / utility (2 episodes, 2007-2008)
Gus Arvanitopolous	....	utility (2 episodes, 2009)
Philip Cottone	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Gabriel Friedman	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Chris Robertson	....	rights and clearances (unknown episodes)

Series Thanks
James Douglas	....	photographs courtesy of (1 episode, 1999)
Dorothy Stone	....	photographs courtesy of (1 episode, 1999)
Joseph Stone	....	photographs courtesy of (1 episode, 1999)
Sharon Stone	....	photographs courtesy of (1 episode, 1999)
Cate Blanchett	....	acknowledgment: photographs courtesy of (1 episode, 2003)
John Cusack	....	photographs courtesy of (1 episode, 2007)
Sam Ash	....	special thanks (1 episode, 2009)
Christian Barcellos	....	acknowledgment: for Bravo (1 episode, 2009)
Frances Berwick	....	acknowledgment: for Bravo (1 episode, 2009)
Patrick Harbron	....	acknowledgment: photographs courtesy of (1 episode, 2009)
Rich Hardcastle	....	acknowledgment: photographs courtesy of (1 episode, 2009)

Production Companies

• Actors Studio, The
• Bravo Cable
• Betelgeuse Productions LLC
• In the Moment Productions Ltd.

Distributors

• Bravo Cable
• Cinefil Imagica (????) (Japan) (TV)
• Multishow (Brazil) (TV)
• NHK-BS2 (????) (Japan) (TV)

Also Known As:

"Inside the Actors Studio: The Craft of Theatre and Film" - USA (first season title)
"Actors Interview" - Japan (English title)

Runtime:

65 min | 60 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Brazil:Livre | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M (some episodes) | Australia:PG (some episodes)

Filming Locations:

John L. Tischman Theater, The New School, New School University - 65 West 12th Street, Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Actors Studio, The

Trivia:

So far, Tom Hanks, Anthony Hopkins, Alec Baldwin, and Billy Crystal are the only guests to have been interviewed for an encore episode. (Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick both appeared a second time as well, but to discuss The Producers (2005)).

Quotes:

[regarding Lipton's guest appearance on "The Simpsons," in which Ranier Wolfcastle appears on "Inside the Actor's Studio," gets into character as McBain, and shoots Lipton]
James Lipton:Would it have been too much trouble for you to go out and get a prop gun?
Harry Shearer:[as Ranier Wolfcastle] I'm not the prop man. I'm the actor!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Janet Jackson (#29.17)" (2004)

Fun look inside the business

I've been watching this series for several years. When it's good, it's really good, and when it is bad, it is still usually interesting. The best shows, in my opinion, are those from very experienced top-dog actors and directors, but "lesser" actors usually have interesting things to say too. My favorite shows were those that featured Stanley Donen, Norman Jewison, Mike Nichols, Spike Lee, Ron Howard, Anthony Hopkins, Matt Dillon, Meryl Streep and Gary Sinise. These interviewees really let you into their working process and career history without a lot of bloated self-importance. When the interviewees don't say much: "Duh, I don't know," act too cool, or start waxing philosophical about dumb movies, then it can be pretty dull. Worse is when guests like Robin Williams agree to be on the show and then don't cooperate with the format, turning it into an opportunity to show off. It doesn't happen often, but it grates when it does. James Lipton is ideal as the very knowledgeable but groveling sycophantic host, and he seems to relish playing the part. At least he is consistent in his praise (over overpraise) of every guest equally, whether they have had a 10 year or 60 year career. He doesn't focus on flops or bad reviews, so the guests aren't defensive, and on balance, that's probably the best way to do it. It's clear that he just loves the business. My favorite part is when he reads some question from his stack of blue cards that shows he has REALLY done is his research, often stunning and amusing the interviewee. I've heard more than one person say, "Where did you get THAT?" or "Have you been speaking to my mother/therapist?" I usually turn it off when the students get up to ask their questions because often they are too fawning and embarrassing.