Elizabeth Blair

Elizabeth Blair is a Senior Producer on the Arts Desk of NPR News.

On a daily basis, she produces, edits and reports arts and cultural segments that air on NPR News magazines including Morning Edition and All Things Considered. Her recent stories explored the rise of public humiliation in popular culture, consumers' changing media habits and the late night TV wars.

In this position that she has held since 2003, Blair's varied work has included profiles of actor Neil Patrick Harris, rapper K'Naan, and the band Pearl Jam. She has written and produced long-form documentaries on such cultural icons as Paul Robeson and Billie Holiday. Blair oversaw the production of some of NPR's most popular special projects including "50 Great Voices," the NPR series on awe-inspiring voices from around the world and across time in, and the "In Character" series which explored famous American fictional characters. Blair is especially proud of her interview with Cookie Monster and her reporting on the 10th anniversary of SpongeBob.

Over the years, Blair has received several honors for her work including two Peabody Awards and a Gracie.

For three and a half years, Blair lived in Paris, France, where she co-produced Le Jazz Club From Paris with Dee Dee Bridgewater, and the monthly magazine Postcard From Paris.

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Television
11:01 pm
Thu January 26, 2012

For 'Black Nerds Everywhere,' Two Comedy Heroes

Originally published on Fri January 27, 2012 11:28 am

Comics Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele have known each other for years. They were both in the cast of MadTV. Now they're starting their own sketch-comedy series, due to launch on Comedy Central on Tuesday.

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Performing Arts
3:00 am
Tue January 17, 2012

Is It Ok To Leave A Show After Intermission?

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

There is no law against walking out the door during intermission, but it can be a dilemma. You're at a concert or a play and for whatever reason decide you don't really want to go back for the second half of the performance. If enough people think the same thing, it can mean a lot of empty seats after the break. It's something audience members do think about. And as NPR's Elizabeth Blair tells us, so do theaters and orchestras, some of which are tightening up their act.

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Television
11:01 pm
Thu December 29, 2011

Oprah Winfrey Network Still Finding Its Footing

Credit Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images
Oprah Winfrey talks to reporters during a press tour that followed the launch of her cable network, OWN, in January.

Ratings have been a major disappointment for the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), but that could change now that Oprah Winfrey is about to debut her own show on the cable channel.

When Winfrey ended her longtime show on broadcast TV earlier this year, there were lots of tears and endless tributes to the queen of daytime talk.

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The Record
1:30 pm
Fri December 16, 2011

Music In Holiday Concerts Thorny Subject For Public Schools

Credit dlewis33 / istockphoto.com
A choir in Little Rock, Ark., performs.

Originally published on Mon December 19, 2011 11:59 am

Business
3:00 am
Tue December 13, 2011

Lowes Cancels Ads On Muslim Reality Show

Calls for a boycott against home improvement giant Lowes have been streaming in. The controversy involves Lowes advertising on the reality TV show All-American Muslim, which follows the daily lives of five Arab-American families in Dearborn, Mich. Lowes pulled its ads after a conservative group complained.

Monkey See
7:57 am
Mon December 12, 2011

Beyblades: A New Spin Puts An Old Toy Back On Top

Credit Mario Tama / Getty Images
The hot holiday gift Beyblades are seen in the FAO Schwarz store in New York City.
Games & Humor
3:00 am
Mon December 12, 2011

Beyblades: Hot New Toy Borrows Ancient Concept

This Christmas, the Beyblade is sure to be a popular stocking stuffer. What's a Beyblade — it is a sophisticated top. Hasbro has taken the simple concept and added all kinds of cool features.

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