Inside the Actors Studio
| Inside the Actors Studio | |
|---|---|
| Logo Inside the Actors Studio logo | |
| Starring | James Lipton |
| Opening theme | Angelo Badalamenti |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| Production | |
| Running time | 60 minutes; 120 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | Bravo |
| Release | August 14, 1994 |
Inside the Actors Studio is the Emmy-nominated, longest-running original series on the Bravo cable television channel, hosted by James Lipton. It is produced and directed by Jeff Wurtz. The program, which premiered in 1994, is seen in 79 million American homes and in 125 countries around the world. It is taped at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University's New York City campus.
About the program
The program began as a televised craft seminar for students of the Actors Studio Drama School, originally a joint venture of the Actors Studio and New School University. It was taped at the New School's Tishman Auditorium in New York City.
In May 2005, the contract between the Actors Studio and New School University was not renewed. Beginning with the twelfth season, in the fall of 2005, the program has been taped at the Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University's New York City campus. The show now has a new set with a gritty backstage feel, designed by Will Rothfuss for Blair Broadcast Designs, and The Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University has re-opened in new facilities.
Since its premiere, Inside the Actors Studio has had over 200 guests. Of those guests, there have been 74 Academy Award winners: 8 directors; 4 screenwriters; 61 actors and actresses; and 2 musicians. While most of the show is a one-on-one interview conducted by Lipton, this is followed by the host submitting a questionnaire to the guest. The questionnaire concept was originated by French television personality Bernard Pivot, after the Proust Questionnaire. The ten questions Lipton asks are:
- What is your favorite word?
- What is your least favorite word?
- What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
- What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
- What sound or noise do you love?
- What sound or noise do you hate?
- What is your favorite curse word?
- What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
- What profession would you not like to do?
- If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
The program usually concludes with a question-and-answer session with the students.
In France, the show has been broadcast since 1999 on Paris Première.
Guests
Ensemble guests:
- Cast of Everybody Loves Raymond (Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, Brad Garrett, Doris Roberts, and Peter Boyle)
- Casts of Law & Order (creator Dick Wolf, Chris Noth (Law & Order; Law & Order: Criminal Intent), S. Epatha Merkerson (Law & Order)); Christopher Meloni (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) had to leave before his interview during the taping because of an illness he had that day, he was edited out of the introduction since he was not able to be interviewed during the show.
- Cast of The Producers musical (director Susan Stroman, Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick)
- Cast of The Simpsons (Nancy Cartwright, Hank Azaria, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Harry Shearer, and Yeardley Smith)
- Kavner left in the middle of the show for an unknown reason, leaving an empty chair for much of the show until it was removed during a commercial break.
- Cast of Will & Grace (Debra Messing, Eric McCormack, Sean Hayes, and Megan Mullally)
Trivia
- The Inside the Actors Studio questionnaire was given by Stephen Merchant to Karl Pilkington on The Ricky Gervais Show Podcast over two episodes for humorous effect.