NPR Radio Interview Analysis

In an interview with Jane Lynch, one of the stars of Fox’s new hit show “Glee”, Melissa Block delved into the actress and her character by mixing questions with a light-hearted conversation. It is obvious that Block did a little bit of research on her subject, which made for the conversational tone of the interview. She also knew Lynch’s height and hair color. As far as the questions went, they weren’t hard hitting questions but really queries into how she got her start and how her career had evolved.

Block’s research was apparent when she was able to point out her favorite scenes from “Glee” and ask how it was to prepare for the character. Lynch happily obliged and allowed her comedic prowess to shine through just through a quick interview. One such question that showed both Block’s research and Lynch’s comedic ability was when Block asked how hard it was to prepare for the role of a hard-charging, opinionated and hated coach on a show that is mostly a musical. Lynch replied, “Oh trust me, Sue (the character’s name) is not very far beneath the surface.”

Block’s strategy was to engage Lynch in a lighthearted interview and also give the show’s audience a glimpse into the person behind the brilliant character. It was not a devious strategy or an emotional interview. There were no awkward pauses or questions that gave Lynch trouble. In fact, most of the questions got answers that were mixed with laughter. It did not seem that Lynch and Block knew each other previous to the interview, but they knew who each other were.

From this interview, I learned that when interviewing a comedic actor or a well-known person, it is wise to do your research and not approach them with a strategy that would be off-putting. Do your research and know a few things about them. Block did this well by knowing where Lynch went to school and how her career had evolved from that point on. Overall it was a great interview that provided a playful insight.