Best Of: Rob Reiner On 'Spinal Tap II' / Billy Strings

Fresh Air

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Tv & Film, Arts, Society & Culture, Books

4.4 • 34.4K Ratings

🗓️ 14 September 2025

⏱️ 49 minutes

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Summary

Rob Reiner talks with Terry Gross about directing the new sequel to Spinal Tap, the mockumentary about a heavy metal band. He’ll also talk about his remarkable life and career, like directing When Harry Met Sally and starring in All in the Family.

Also, singer songwriter and guitarist Billy Strings is one of the rare bluegrass musicians who can fill arenas with tens of thousands of fans. He’s been working to get to where he is for a long time.
"I slept with my guitar when I was four or five years old, I'd put it right under the blankets with me, and I used to kiss it good night." Strings spoke with Fresh Air's Sam Briger and brought his guitar to the studio.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	We all wonder about life's big questions. Why are we here? What are we to do and how to make sense of it all?
0:05.8	On Ye' Gods with Scott Carter, I talk with Politico's priests, actors, and atheists on how they wrestle with life's mysteries.
0:13.2	Their stories will spark reflection, challenge assumptions, and maybe even bring you some clarity on your own journey.
0:20.0	Listen to Ye gods, part of the NPR Network wherever you get your podcasts.
0:25.0	From W.HY.I. in Philadelphia, this is Fresh Air Weekend. I'm Sam Brigger.
0:30.8	Today, Rob Reiner talks about directing the new sequel to Spinal Tap, the mockumentary about a heavy metal band.
0:37.3	He'll also talk about his
0:38.3	remarkable life and career. He directed When Harry Met Sally, A Few Good Men, Stand By Me,
0:44.6	The Princess Bride, and more, and was a star of the sitcom All in the Family. Also,
0:50.1	Where the air is clear, the road is straight.
0:56.8	Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Billy Strings.
0:59.7	Strings is one of the rare bluegrass musicians who can fill arenas with tens of thousands of fans.
1:05.0	He's been working to get to where he is for a long time.
1:08.4	I mean, I slept with my guitar.
1:10.2	When I was four or five years old, I'd put it right under the blankets with me.
1:15.4	I used to kiss that good night.
1:18.7	That's coming up on Fresh Air Week.
1:23.7	With a major shift in our politics underway in this country,
1:30.5	1A is drilling down on what's at stake for you and our democracy.
1:38.8	In our weekly series, If You Can Keep It, we put these changes into focus and answer your questions about the impact of the Trump administration on the U.S. Join us every Monday for If You Can Keep It on the 1A podcast from NPR and WAMU.
1:49.0	This is Fresh Air Weekend. I'm Sam Brigger. Terry has today's first interview. Here she is.
1:55.3	Finally, there's a sequel to the groundbreaking 1984 mockumentary. This is Spinal Tap. And the director and co-star
	...

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