ITAS

The program began as a televised craft seminar for students of the Actors Studio Drama School, originally a joint venture of the Actors Studio and New School University. Since its premiere, Inside the Actors Studio has had over 200 guests. Of those guests, there have been 74 Academy Award winners: 8 directors; 4 screenwriters; 61 actors and actresses; and 2 musicians. While most of the show is a one-on-one interview conducted by Lipton, this is followed by the host submitting a questionnaire to the guest. The questionnaire concept was originated by French television personality Bernard Pivot, after the Proust Questionnaire. The ten questions Lipton asks are: 1. What is your favorite word? 2. What is your least favorite word? 3. What turns you on? 4. What turns you off? 5. What sound or noise do you love? 6. What sound or noise do you hate? 7. What is your favorite curse word? 8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? 9. What profession would you not like to do? 10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? The program usually concludes with a question-and-answer session with the students.