this is the only show ( at least i watched until now ) that not only helps to know how our favorite stars are... but also helps to develop the craft for professionals ( being and wanted to be ) and know the difficulty of the craft for non-professionals, you may ask why general public should know how difficult the craft is and that is because they are the people who comments ( usually bad ) on them.i really admire James Lipton a lot , i never admired a interviewer before. what i really like him about, is the way he presents himself dominating even in front of legends. i really show my gratitude for that kind of admiring attitude.i recommend " 100th guest special " show ( if u have not seen )bec it is the only show where u can clearly understand how actors are.., i mean he complete mixture of sentiments, humor, professionalism, attitude, he way they were, etc.., and for general audience, it is Aone ENTERTAINMENT, especially when they show JULIA ROBERTS in between smiling, VOW... the amount i like is just doubled like hell, vow, hats off to Julia Roberts, well not only that, u will be finding your own favorite stars doing stuffs like that especially KEVIN SPACEY, STEVEN SPIELBERG, ROBIN WILLIAMS, JERRY LEWIS, man the list goes on...great TV show - inside the actors studio inside the actors studio's best - 100 guest specialcontinue enjoying the showsee u guys...

I admit that I am a fairly frequent viewer of this show. Whenever I know that it's on, I often wish to go right to it immediately and find out what established actor/screenwriter/director is being interviewed...and then, of course, it got to a point where a lot of the guests didn't seem all that "established" to me. I'm sorry, but Ben Affleck, Gwyneth Paltrow, Drew Barrymore, Will Smith, Sarah Jessica Parker, Melanie Griffith, Mike Myers, the voice cast of "The Simpsons"...for all of their collective accomplishments, they do not exactly strike me as the ideal choices for guests on a show that prides itself on getting the most out of legends like Spielberg, Streep, De Niro, Ford, etc. Moreover, it pained me to see episodes like ones featuring Robin Williams or "The Simpsons" cast - episodes that seemed less like informative, compelling interviews and more like bloated, tedious showcases for the guest(s)'s comedic flair, and/or versatility with voices and characters. The "Simpsons" episode in particular...I don't think I'll take this show so seriously again, after watching that disappointment. I don't know about you, but when host James Lipton starts repeatedly asking guests to answer his questions in a certain voice or character, it sort of kills the show's once-high level of credibility. Now, it's just a train wreck in the works...slowly winding down into a disastrous, unwatchable wasteland of "Talk TV".

I have watched this show many a time when im feeling distinctly bored and every time the presenter of this clearly low budgeted program seems to make my skin crawl. He is boring, wooden, has little to no charisma and places every person that enters there on to a little pedestal, which is frankly vomit inducing. The audience clap politely whenever the rare occasion is that he raises his voice to highlight some other tedious Matthew Broderick detail which seems silly and attempts to appear like a high class artsy production. Over all, the programme tends to use a very standard boring formula, which merely encourages me to change the channel whenever i see it on.Despite that , there are some rare interesting actors that appear on it, however most seem to talk to him because they havent been able to get film work in years. Has so much potential, get rid of James Lipton.

'Inside the Actors Studio' is an interview styled one hour biography programme, which has the most glamorous guests: the greatest talents of stage and screen. Never before has there been such a well constructed, intelligent, inspiring approach, to interviews.James Lipton has the privilege to take Hollywood's finest, on an often emotional journey, through their life's work; beginning at the roots of childhood and continuing on to the catalogue of events leading, inevitably, to fame.Lipton's interviewing process (along with the presence of actual students of the business in the audience) presents a wonderful aura; which is non-hyped unlike many of the impersonal three minute interviews, we often see. It's this reassuring aura that obviously makes the guests feel inclined to share - with students and the viewing audience - their wisdom and emotional experiences.Amongst just a few, we saw the hilarious Robin Williams' on-the-spot kinetic improvisations, Sharon Stone's unforgettable display of humanity (a woman with a deep passionate soul) and Laurence Fishburne's reminiscences of an unhappy childhood and his transition from a troubled, arrogant young man to the wise, relaxed Fishburne we know and love today. Even De Niro, who is renowned for his intolerance to interviews, opens up for what might be the closest we'll ever get to the 'real' De Niro.After a delightful trip - where you've laughed, applauded and even cried along with the stars - Lipton always ends his show with an unconventional but curious questionnaire; which includes the infamous question 'what's your favourite swear word' (Fishburne's was mother******/Streep's was cock******).** Essential viewing for film buffs, especially if you wanted to take notes on philosophical attitudes and Acting approaches of your favourite Hollywood stars. Alas,if you aren't an ardent fan of movies, I'm sure you'd find (as I did) James Lipton to be a warm, highly intelligent interviewer, who oozes charm and is an accommodating presence on such an important programme. **(Look out for Lipton's slightly coy stare, mouth ajar, as he looks across with awe, at a guest he genuinely admires - a treat to watch.)