Primer

  • Primer A guide to Japan’s Studio Ghibli, home of Totoro and Spirited Away 

    A discussion of the themes and films of the studio behind many beautiful, challenging animated films. 

    May 17, 2012 | 12:00pm -

  • Primer A guide to the freewheeling films of Richard Linklater 

    Amble the freewheeling path of one of America’s most eclectic directors. 

    April 26, 2012 | 12:00pm -

  • Primer Robert Bresson

    A guide to one of film’s most forbidding, and rewarding, directors.

    February 9, 2012 | 12:00pm -

  • Primer Leonard Cohen

    Catching up with the exquisite melancholy of Canada’s premier singer/songwriter.

    February 2, 2012 | 12:00am -

  • Primer Francis Ford Coppola

    Untangling the career of one of America’s greatest directors, and one its most unpredictable.

    January 19, 2012 | 12:00pm -

  • Primer Autobiographical comics 

    A guide to the writers and artists who have laid their lives out on the page. 

    December 15, 2011 | 12:01pm -

  • Primer TV Christmas Specials

    A guide to Christmas specials, from the classic to the forgotten.

    December 8, 2011 | 12:00am -

  • Primer John Carpenter 

    Halloween and The Thing are just two highlights in the career of a suspense master.

    October 27, 2011 | 12:01pm -

  • Primer Newspaper Comics 

    What you need to know about newspaper comics past and present, from Alley Oop to Ziggy. 

    September 1, 2011 | 12:00pm -

  • Primer Elvis Presley

    How to get beyond the preconceptions and appreciate the brilliance of one of music’s most iconic figures.

    August 18, 2011 | 12:00pm -

  • Primer Robert Altman

    From documentaries to TV to filmed plays to ’70s classics to late-career masterpieces, Robert Altman did it all

    June 23, 2011 | 12:00pm -

  • Primer Albert Brooks

    Surveying the work of a wildly funny, extremely influential comedian, actor, filmmaker and, most recently, author.

    June 16, 2011 | 12:00pm -

  • Miami Vice

    Primer 1980s TV Dramas

    When television dramas got serious, and seriously good.

    April 28, 2011 | 12:00am -

  • Southern Comfort (1981)

    Primer Walter Hill

    An overview of the director of The Warriors, 48 Hrs., and many more films, which he claimed were all Westerns.

    April 14, 2011 | 12:00pm -

  • Carrie

    Primer Brian De Palma

    A guide to watching director Brian De Palma’s movies about watching.

    March 10, 2011 | 12:30pm -

  • On The Town

    Primer MGM Musicals

    A guide to the essential moments, and key turning points, in the output of the studio whose name became synonymous with musicals.

    February 10, 2011 | 12:00pm -

  • Cheers

    Primer 1980s sitcoms

    The 1980s: When the sitcom died and then rose from its own ashes.

    January 13, 2011 | 12:00pm -

  • Miles Davis

    Primer Miles Davis

    Exploring the world of Miles Davis.

    December 9, 2010 | 12:00pm -

  • David Bowie

    Primer David Bowie

    Understanding the changes of one of rock’s most mercurial stars.

    November 11, 2010 | 12:00pm -

  • Martin Scorsese

    Primer Martin Scorsese

    A guide to the career of a great American director.

    October 14, 2010 | 12:00pm -

  • All In The Family

    Primer '70s sitcoms

    Revisiting the edgy, golden age of ’70s TV comedy.

    September 16, 2010 | 12:00pm -

  • The Lady Eve

    Primer Preston Sturges

    Digging into the career of an American comic master.

    August 26, 2010 | 12:00am -

  • The Seven Samurai

    Primer Akira Kurosawa

    The great director’s films included everything from samurai to Shakespeare to urban grit.

    August 12, 2010 | 12:05pm -

  • Neil Gaiman

    Primer Neil Gaiman

    A survey of Neil Gaiman, who tells stories about stories and spins dreams about dreams.

    July 15, 2010 | 1:00pm -

  • Simple Minds

    Primer Scot-Rock

    A guide to all things Scottish and rock.

    May 13, 2010 | 12:00pm -

  • Doctor Who

    Primer Doctor Who

    Everything you need to know about the many iterations of the BBC's most famous Time Lord.

    April 8, 2010 | 12:01pm -

  • Werner Herzog

    Primer Werner Herzog

    Exploring the work of the filmmaker who defined the term “eccentric genius.”

    March 11, 2010 | 12:15pm -

  • Slayer slaying

    Primer Heavy metal

    A survey of the many faces of metal.

    June 26, 2009 | 12:00am -

  • Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino

    Primer Clint Eastwood

    All the basics on the actor-director who's been America's favorite cowboy since the ’60s.

    June 5, 2009 | 12:00am -

  • Prince

    Primer Prince

    A beginner’s guide to the diminutive genius from Minneapolis.

    April 24, 2009 | 12:00am -