Brief encounters : conversations, magic moments, and assorted hijinks

Description

The former talk-show host and "New York Times" columnist draws on his extensive career to share reflections and reminiscences about Hollywood legends, American cultural icons, and everyday absurdities. Dreams, let up on us! -- The windows of the soul need cleaning -- Art did the darndest things...to your jokes -- A. Godfrey : a man for a long, long season -- More of our man Godfrey -- Real Americans, please stand up -- Dear fellow improbable... -- Further improbables -- The titan and the Pfc. -- Match him? Not likely -- I wrote it, must I also hustle it? -- Lennon's return -- A bittersweet Christmas story -- Sauce for the goose? Take a gander -- The wrath of grapes -- How do you open for a mind-reading horse? -- My life as a juvenile delinquent -- My Liz : the fantasy -- In defense of offense -- The week that was -- The first shall be last -- or, anyway, second -- Waiting (and waiting) in the wings -- I owe William Jennings Bryan an apology -- Sorry, W.J.B., to bring this up again -- Flying? Increasingly for the birds -- The great Melvino, or our Mr. Brooks -- Tough sell -- Up against the wall -- Last nude column (for now, at least) -- Deck the halls with boughs of nutty -- Marlene on the phone -- Should news come with a warning label? -- Schooling Santorum -- Road to ruin -- Groucho lives! (in two places) -- They dressed like Groucho -- Pyramid power, over me -- You gave away your babies? -- Vamping with Nora -- Comedy pain and comedy pleasure -- The fine mess maker at home -- Can you stand some more Stan? -- How are the mighty fallen, or Where's my friend? -- Ali, round two -- Back when I was packing -- More on guns, with readers -- And the Oscar doesn't go to the Oscars -- Tonight, tonight, its world is full of blight -- With Winters gone, can we be far behind? -- Missing: Jonathan Winters. Badly -- Hel-LO! You're...who again? -- Good night, sweet Soprano -- As comics say, "These kids today! I tell ya!" -- More sex, anyone? -- Tough way to lose a friend -- Cavett on booze, again -- Only in my dreams?