Alfred E. Neuman is getting his close up from a Detroit area filmmaker. Alan Bernstein is the director of a new documentary about MAD Magazine. “When We Went MAD” interviews many of the creators who have made a scrappy little magazine with a comic book past into an influence on popular culture and humor in America. WDET’s Rob St. Mary spoke to Bernstein about the film.

To say comedy is in Pauly Shore’s DNA is an understatement. His parents opened L.A.’s legendary club “The Comedy Store” where every major comedian over the last 40 years have performed on their way to stardom. Shore came into his own under the mentorship of controversial comic Sam Kinison and became a staple on MTV in the late 1980s/early 1990s. Since then, Shore has starred in movies, on TV and has a new special called “Pauly-Tics”. He’ll be at the Magic Bag in Ferndale tomorrow evening for two shows.

“I don’t tend to analyze what I’ve done. I can’t really… I’m not entirely sure why I have succeeded, why I have been able to cut out a career in show business for over 30 years and why I still have a real hardcore fan base that has stuck with me. If there’s any secret, it’s just not to do anything that feels wrong for you.” – Chris Elliott, actor/writer/comedian

WDET’s Rob St. Mary spoke to Elliott about this new book, his work on “Get A Life” – featuring his father, Bob Elliott of the well-known 1950s comedy team “Bob & Ray” – and his most recent TV work.

Penn Jillette is the taller, talkative half of the magic duo “Penn and Teller”. In 2011, Jillette released the best-selling book “God No: Signs You May Already Be an Atheist and other Magical Tales”. This year, he’s back with a new book of essays and personal experiences called “Every Day is an Atheist Holiday”. Jillette spoke recently with WDET’s Rob St. Mary.

State version of C-SPAN is going all-digital in 2013.

Wayne State hosts public tribute to Detroit's witty weatherman Sonny Eliot

A new book on a legendary pop culture character takes a look at why we embrace the heroes we do. “Superman: the High-flying History of America’s Most Enduring Hero” is the latest book by author Larry Tye. He’ll be in the Metro Detroit area talking about the book this weekend. Tye spoke recently to WDET’s Rob St. Mary.

Fans of comics, sci-fi and other pop culture will find creators and vendors galore as part of this year’s Detroit Fanfare. The annual convention kicks off this evening at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn. Dennis Barger is one of the organizers of the event. He spoke to WDET’s Rob St. Mary

In 1988, Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Errol Morris’s film “The Thin Blue Line” helped to release an innocent man from Texas’s death row. Today, his latest book – “A Wilderness of Error: the Trials of Jeffrey MacDonald” – could do the same. Morris’s book investigates a murder case that put the Green Beret doctor behind bars for the killing of his family in North Carolina in 1970. The story was the basis for two other books and a popular 1984 TV mini-series called “Fatal Vision”. Morris spoke to WDET’s Rob St. Mary about his book, the nature of truth and how his investigation shows MacDonald should be released from prison.

Meet artists, celebrities, and a local actress with her own comics show.

“I have a healthy fear of my audience and healthy fear of failure. I fear failing my audience and that keeps me very upright, very awake, very leaning into it – never taking it for granted.” – Henry Rollins

WDET’s Rob St. Mary spoke to Rollins about his current tour, his recent journeys and his creative drives.

Autoweek magazine has announced that the Vinsetta Garage will become a new restaurant -- and the inspiration for a new cable television show about automobiles.

A documentary about a year in the life of the Detroit Fire Department called “BURN” is heading towards the finish line. WDET’s Rob St. Mary spoke to producers and directors Brenna Sanchez and Tom Putnam about the last developments with the film including the addition of comedian/actor Denis Leary as a producer.

Detroiter Hajj Flemings is the Founder and CEO of GoKit, an online identity platform that allows people to manage their online presence.

WDET is unveiling its “Crossing the Lines” series this morning. It’s an in-depth exploration of what unites us and divides us as people and as a region.

Throughout the year, we’ve been mapping the region’s beliefs, behaviors, and the language codes people use to unite and divide.

We’ve focused on issues of inclusion, exclusion, geographical boundaries and efforts to bridge those boundaries.

Our goal is to bring new perspectives and a more inclusive range of voices and views to discussing those issues that limit the region’s potential.

Detroit’s image has long been an issue that divides the region’s residents.

As part of our "Crossing The Lines" series, WDET’s Rob St. Mary has created a sound collage of media references and perceptions of Detroit over the past 50 years.

Halloween starts early this weekend at the Redford Theatre with a screening of the 1960’s horror comedy “Munster, Go Home”. The non-profit community movie house on Detroit’s Northwest side is hosting actor Butch Patrick of the 60s cult TV show “The Munsters” as part of the event. Patrick was cast as “Eddie” the wolf boy on the show. Patrick talks to WDET's Rob St. Mary about those times, what he's doing today and this weekend's event.

This past weekend, the Detroit Fanfare, a comic book and pop culture convention took place at Cobo Center. One of the guests was actor/director Peter Weller. The star of “Robocop” met up with some of the people responsible for raising the money to build a statue in Detroit in honor of the character. WDET’s Rob St. Mary met up with Weller Saturday night at the Lager House in Corktown where supporters of the Robocop statue were holding a party to support local food pantry “Forgotten Harvest”. Weller talked about his thoughts on Detroit, the Detroit Tigers, Robocop - the film and the statue effort, his current work directing the show "Sons of Anarchy" and working on his PhD in Art History at UCLA.