Tonight's guest on The Daily Show is Tom Brokaw and the panelists on The Nightly Show are Dan Savage, Alexandra Wentworth, and Kerry Coddett.
Tom Brokaw is an American television journalist and author best known as the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News from 1982 to 2004. He is the author of The Greatest Generation (1998) and other books and the recipient of numerous awards and honors. He is the only person to host all three major NBC News programs: The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, and, briefly, Meet the Press. He now serves as a Special Correspondent for NBC News and works on documentaries for other outlets.
He is on tonight to discuss his book A Lucky Life Interrupted: A Memoir of Hope
Tom Brokaw has led a fortunate life, with a strong marriage and family, many friends, and a brilliant journalism career culminating in his twenty-two years as anchor of the NBC Nightly News and as bestselling author. But in the summer of 2013, when back pain led him to the doctors at the Mayo Clinic, his run of good luck was interrupted. He received shocking news: He had multiple myeloma, a treatable but incurable blood cancer. Friends had always referred to Brokaw’s “lucky star,” but as he writes in this inspiring memoir, “Turns out that star has a dimmer switch.”
Brokaw takes us through all the seasons and stages of this surprising year, the emotions, discoveries, setbacks, and struggles—times of denial, acceptance, turning points, and courage. After his diagnosis, Brokaw began to keep a journal, approaching this new stage of his life in a familiar role: as a journalist, determined to learn as much as he could about his condition, to report the story, and help others facing similar battles. That journal became the basis of this wonderfully written memoir, the story of a man coming to terms with his own mortality, contemplating what means the most to him now, and reflecting on what has meant the most to him throughout his life.
Brokaw also pauses to look back on some of the important moments in his career: memories of Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the morning of September 11, 2001, in New York City, and more. Through it all, Brokaw writes in the warm, intimate, natural voice of one of America’s most beloved journalists, giving us Brokaw on Brokaw, and bringing us with him as he navigates pain, procedures, drug regimens, and physical rehabilitation. Brokaw also writes about the importance of patients taking an active role in their own treatment, and of the vital role of caretakers and coordinated care.
Generous, informative, and deeply human, A Lucky Life Interrupted offers a message of understanding and empowerment, resolve and reality, hope for the future and gratitude for a well-lived life.
I don't think I will be reading it, but it sounds like an interesting book.
Dan Savage
is an American gay activist, author, media pundit, and journalist. Savage writes the internationally syndicated relationship and sex advice column Savage Love. In 2010, Savage and his husband Terry Miller began the It Gets Better Project to help prevent suicide among LGBT youth. He has also worked as a theater director, sometimes credited as Keenan Hollahan.
Alexandra Wentworth
is an American actress, comedian, author and producer.
Wentworth was a cast member on the Fox sketch comedy series In Living Color from 1992 to 1994, where she was known for impressions of Cher, Amy Fisher, Hillary Clinton, Princess Diana, Brooke Shields, Lisa Marie Presley, Sharon Stone, and others. She has also made correspondent appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Oprah Winfrey Show. In 1995, she played Jerry's girlfriend Sheila ("Schmoopie") in the famous "Soup Nazi" episode of Seinfeld. She also had a recurring role as the title character's boss on the WB series Felicity. In 2003, she co-hosted the syndicated talk show Living It Up! With Ali & Jack, with Jack Ford.
Kerry Coddett
is an actress, comedian, and writer from Brooklyn, NY, who still resides in Brooklyn, NY. She lives an exciting life.
An Upright Citizens Brigade diversity scholar, Kerry also writes and stars in her own sketch comedy web series The Coddett Project.
Her work has been featured in Huffington Post, Jezebel, the New York Daily News, Gothamist, Elle, Salon, Elite Daily, and Mashable. Kerry can also be seen doing stand up at Caroline’s on Broadway, The Stand, and Stand Up NY, to name a few.
This Week's Guests
THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART
We 5/13: Reza Aslan
Th 5/14: Rebel Wilson
It looks like they will be taking a bit of time off next Mo 5/18 to Mo 5/25 returning Tu 5/26. Enjoy the break.