Billy Bob Thorton, Benicio Del Toro, Johnny Depp and More to Tape Spring 2002 Season of Bravo's Inside the Actors Studio

Business Wire, Jan 21, 2002

Entertainment Editors

NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Jan. 21, 2002

Bravo's award-winning series, INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO, announced today its spectacular line-up of new shows going into production beginning on Monday, January 28, 2002.

Among those set to take the stage with host James Lipton are some of the most well known faces in motion pictures, including Richard Gere, Dennis Quaid and Billy Bob Thorton. Each guest will join Lipton and his audience of MFA candidates at Manhattan's New School University and engage in an intimate conversation that gets straight to the heart of the actor's craft.

"The growing number and diversity of artists who are lining up to be guests of Inside The Actors Studio is testimony to James Lipton's reputation as a host," comments Frances Berwick, Senior Vice President of Programming for Bravo. "His skills as a master conversationalist have attracted a wide range of talented actors, directors and writers in the past. This upcoming season will most definitely continue in that tradition."

The Spring 2002 taping schedule is as follows(a):

-- January 28 -- Billy Bob Thorton

-- February 11 -- Dennis Quaid

-- February 25 -- Johnny Depp

-- March 11 -- Hugh Grant

-- April 1 -- Richard Gere

-- April 15 -- Benicio Del Toro

(a) All dates are subject to change

Upcoming Inside The Actors Studio premieres include Bruce Willis (premiering on February 10), Debra Winger (February 17) and two of last night's Golden Globe Award winners for Best Actress -- Sarah Jessica Parker and Sissy Spacek (both dates TBA).

Bravo's Inside The Actors Studio, now with more than 100 shows to its credit, launched in April 1994 with Academy Award-winning actor and longtime Actor Studio President, Paul Newman. Past guests have included: Anthony Hopkins, Danny Glover, Kevin Spacey, Steven Speilberg, Meg Ryan, Julia Roberts, Stephen Sondheim, Harrison Ford, Dennis Hopper, Faye Dunaway, Christopher Reeve, Robin Williams, Robert DeNiro, Bruce Willis, Sarah Jessica Parker, Glenn Close, Gene Hackman, Jack Lemmon, Meryl Streep, Ben Affleck and Sharon Stone. For ticket information, call The New School at 212/229-5859.

Bravo, The Film and Arts Network, offers critically acclaimed American and International Films, as well as performing arts programming, including dance, theater, music and jazz. Bravo is available to more than 64 million homes nationwide. For more information visit Bravo's website at www.bravotv.com.