Bullseye with Jesse Thorn

Jesse Thorn

Bullseye is a celebration of the best of arts and culture in public radio form. Host Jesse Thorn sifts the wheat from the chaff to bring you in-depth interviews with the most revered and revolutionary minds in our culture. Bullseye has been featured in Time, The New York Times, GQ and McSweeney's, which called it "the kind of show people listen to in a more perfect world."

  • 1 hour 43 seconds
    Kelsey Grammer
    Dr. Frasier Crane! Beast from X-Men! Sideshow Bob from The Simpsons! Our guest needs no introduction: it's Kelsey Grammer. He's an incredibly talented actor and a fascinating, complicated person. He gets into his time working on Cheers while struggling with substance abuse – and how he learned to forgive himself. Don't worry there's plenty of time for some laughs, too. He talks about the inspiration for the voice of Sideshow Bob and embraces the viral clip of him falling from a few years back.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy
    18 February 2025, 8:00 am
  • 39 minutes 21 seconds
    Tramell Tillman of 'Severance'
    Tramell Tillman plays Mr. Milchick on Severance, the bizarre, fascinating sci-fi workplace show on Apple TV +. Tramell Tillman is great as Mr Milchick. He shares how he collaborated with Ben Stiller to create the character. He also talks with us about his upbringing in Baltimore, his experience being raised in the Baptist church, and his early appearance on The Wire.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy
    14 February 2025, 8:00 am
  • 39 minutes 39 seconds
    Mike Leigh on 'Hard Truths,' James Bond and more
    We welcome director Mike Lee back to the show. He talks with us about his recent film Hard Truths and what it was like to reunite with actor Marianne Jean-Baptiste on the project. He also tells us about how he reacted to reading one of the first rave reviews he received as a filmmaker.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy
    11 February 2025, 8:00 am
  • 47 minutes 17 seconds
    Isabella Rossellini
    Isabella Rossellini is probably best known as an actor, having acclaimed parts in movies like Blue Velvet, Death Becomes Her, and Big Night. She's also a model, a performance artist, an accomplished singer and even an academic. When Isabella Rossellini joined Bullseye in 2022 she spoke with correspondent Louis Virtel about her role in Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, collaborating with David Lynch and why she is attracted to working in experimental film.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy
    7 February 2025, 8:00 am
  • 37 minutes 59 seconds
    Stanley Tucci
    Stanley Tucci is handsome, a great cook, a killer dresser and, of course, an excellent actor. Most recently, he stars in the Oscar nominated drama Conclave. He also had a part in the mega budget action series Citadel – a show he told us he had a lot of fun working on.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy
    4 February 2025, 8:00 am
  • 47 minutes 48 seconds
    Remembering soul singer Brenton Wood
    We're taking a moment to remember the life of soul singer Brenton Wood. He died earlier this month. He was 83. Brenton was also responsible for the hit songs Oogum Boogum Song, Gimme Little Sign and Baby You Got It. When Brenton joined us in 2023 he was still going on tour well into his 80s. He talked with Bullseye about that decision and his secret to sounding so great well into that age. He also got into his time growing up in San Pedro and the South Bay area of Los Angeles.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy
    31 January 2025, 8:00 am
  • 48 minutes 9 seconds
    Adam Scott
    Adam Scott is best known for his iconic roles in comedy: Parks And Recreation. Party Down. Step Brothers. His latest is a departure from the roles traditionally associated with the actor. On Severance, he portrays the show's protagonist Mark. While the show has some comedic elements, it's very dark and mysterious. The second season of the show just started airing on Apple TV+. We get into Adam's role as Mark, his first job as a taffy maker, and so much more.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy
    28 January 2025, 11:51 am
  • 41 minutes 57 seconds
    Sharon Horgan
    We welcome back actor and writer Sharon Horgan to talk about her new series Bad Sisters. It's a black comedy and drama about murder, family and betrayal. Sharon joins us to talk about how she got the idea for creating the show and what it was like to share the project with the world.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy
    24 January 2025, 8:00 am
  • 36 minutes 46 seconds
    Denzel Curry
    Rapper Denzel Curry was born and raised in Miami, but his music doesn't really sound like he's from Miami. With his reputation as a Soundcloud rapper – his home isn't so much the neighborhood he grew up in as the website where he posts his music. He joins us to talk about his latest record King of the Mischievous South and his time growing up in Miami. We also get into some of his hobbies – he's a big fan of the card game Magic The Gathering.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy
    21 January 2025, 8:00 am
  • 39 minutes 10 seconds
    The history and evolution of comedy with writer Jesse David Fox
    Vulture senior editor and writer Jesse David Fox joins us to talk about Comedy Book. It's a book about the history and evolution of comedy through covers and interviews of greats like Jerry Seinfeld, Ali Wong, and Adam Sandler.

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy
    17 January 2025, 8:00 am
  • 44 minutes 58 seconds
    'Wallace & Gromit' Creator Nick Park
    Nick Park is the creator of the beloved stop motion series Wallace & Gromit, as well as the movies Shaun the Sheep and Chicken Run. His latest project is the movie Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. He joins us to talk about the film and answers our most pressing question: Has he met any real life dogs named Gromit, and how many of those dogs were good boys?

    Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    NPR Privacy Policy
    14 January 2025, 8:00 am
  • More Episodes? Get the App