So hello everybody, I'm Rico Gagliano.

I'm Brendan Francis Nuneum and welcome to a special installment of the dinner party download.

Public Radio's Arts and Leisure section, it's great to have you.

Indeed, and usually we present you with a smorgasbord of info to help you excel at parties this week,

from history trivia to cocktail recipes to etiquette tips from famous folks.

Today, though, we have but a single hearty course on the menu.

That's right.

Later in the week, we'll have a full buffet, but today it's the first of what will be a series

of podcast-only extended cuts of our guest of honor interviews.

And we could think of no better way to kick it off than by giving you

this half-hour conversation with Mr. Steve Martin. He'll be performing a series of bluegrass

music shows at the Hollywood Bowl to celebrate the 4th of July. Go there if you can. And when Rico

spoke to him back in April, it just so happens he talked a lot about bluegrass. A lot. You'll hear

that. Plus conversation about Steve's early days as a comedy performer

and lots more. Hope you enjoy it. And now, take it away me.

We are here with Steve Martin. We are? Oh, great. Fantastic.

Let me tell you about him. He is a maker of laughs. He is a writer of novels, plays, and films.

He is an actor of stage and screen, but most remain to our conversation today. He is a maker of laughs. He is a writer of novels, plays and films. He is an actor of stage and screen.

But most remain to our conversation today.

He is a Grammy-winning banjo player and bluegrass musician.

His new live CD and DVD with the band The Steep Canyon Rangers,

which also features singer Edie Burkell, is weirdly called Steve Martin

...