Ah, the one-on-one interview. Just two people sitting down, having a conversation. The nature of that conversation can vary wildly, from a casual chat to a pointed interrogation. Nevertheless, the personal nature of this format is where the magic lies. The give-and-take of an interview doesn’t always uncover the truth – but it does reveal a lot about both the interviewer and interviewee. In the last few years alone, we’ve seen interviews establishing Presidential hopefuls, revealing the truth about AIDS in Africa and unofficially crowning the world’s funniest person. Here’s a list of some of the most revealing:
1. Charlie Rose – Barack Obama
Two years after the keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention that put him on the political radar, and two years before he ran for President, Barack Obama sat down with the venerable Charlie Rose. Fresh off of the publication of his book “The Audacity of Hope,” the Senator from Illinois was just beginning to pick up momentum in his long journey to the White House. This video is a fascinating retrospective on Obama’s view of the state of American politics before he won the Oval Office.
See also: Warren Buffet, Jay-Z, Jon Stewart.
2. 10 Questions with: The Dalai Lama
In this episode of 10 Questions, Time Magazine’s Amy Sullivan asks The Dalai Lama ten questions from the readers of Time magazine and Time.com. His Holiness answers such questions about the Chinese government, his goals for the world, and whether or not he has ever worn a pair of pants. Although his accent requires subtitles from time to time, the Dalai Lama’s messages of peace and religious harmony are crystal clear.
See also: Brian Williams, Ricky Gervais, Muhammad Yunus
3. Conversations from Penn State – Stephen Lewis
AIDS is devastating the continent of Africa. We’d like to think that we are doing a lot to help, yet Stephen Lewis says it’s not enough. Lewis, the co-director of AIDS-Free World and a former UN special envoy to the AIDS crisis in Africa, sits down with WPSU’s veteran interviewer Patty Satalia to discuss the fight against one of the world’s most deadly diseases. He criticizes the weak leadership of the United Nations, calls for the United States to care more about Africa, and defines “phantom aid,” one of the biggest obstacles to helping the continent.
See also: Temple Grandin, Ken Burns, Ben Carson
4. Artist on Artist: Andrew Garfield and Jesse Eisenberg
What is left to be said about The Social Network? Critics loved it, audiences loved it, and we loved it. The only thing left to do is watch the men who played the film’s leading roles interview each other. Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield, who played Facebook founders Mark Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin, discuss the impact of their performances, the power of the film, and their opinions on a story said to define their generation.
Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield Artist on Artist
Artist on Artist | Myspace Video
See also: Robert Downey Jr. and Richard Linklater, Josh Brolin and Eli Roth, Conan O’Brien and Jim Gaffigan
Twitter has revolutionized… well, everything. The way we communicate with each other, the way businesses run, and how news is created and reported have all been influenced by Twitter. It’s just the tip of the iceberg. Heck, even Katie Couric has a show with a Twitter-themed title where she takes questions from her Twitter followers. Ironically, she sits down with Twitter co-founder Biz Stone to talk about the rise of the social-networking leviathan. Biz also talks about the moment when he realized the power of Twitter, how Twitter has become a force for good, and how the website has influenced everyone’s lives.
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See also: Ellen DeGeneres, Al Gore, William Powers
6. Between Two Ferns – Jon Hamm
Okay, okay, so the importance of this one is a bit of a stretch, but with the introduction of the most uncomfortable hotseat in show business, Galifianakis may very well have cemented his hold on the “Funniest Person in the World” title. Or at least “Funniest Person of the Year.” Without fail, each new interview between potted plants spread virally and interrupted workdays nationwide. But Galifianakis did not rest on his laurels by repeating the same schtick over and over. He’s instead toyed with the formula, allowing some celebrity guests to fight back and even throwing a curveball at Sean Penn by substituting his “brother” Seth as the interviewer. Given that “The Hangover 2″ is filming now and he’s already been in a substantial number of movies this year, enjoy Between Two Ferns before Galifianakis reaches Ben Stiller levels of overexposure.
See also: Conan O’Brien, Natalie Portman, Steve Carell
