Eavesdropping


Lauren Weedman Tells a Tale of Moms and ‘Miss Fortune’

Lauren Weedman turned heads with her scene-stealing role on HBO's "Looking" -- which earned her a Critic's Choice nomination. She's also turned her colorful life into nine one-woman shows and two books. The latest is "Miss Fortune: Fresh Perspectives on Having It All from Someone Who Is Not Okay." She tells us about the Paul Simon concert that saved her family life.


Janice Y.K. Lee’s Vivid Glimpse Into the Lives of Expats in Hong Kong

Best-selling author Janice Y.K. Lee was born to Korean immigrants in Hong Kong. In her new novel, "The Expatriates," she paints a rich portrait of expat life in the city. The book follows the lives of three different American women in a small expat community in Hong Kong, including a Korean-American recent Columbia graduate, a wealthy housewife who struggled to conceive a child, and a mother of three who questions her identity after a shattering loss. Janice shares an excerpt from the prologue with us.


Illeana Douglas Shares the Ultimate Marlon Brando Fangirl Story

Illeana Douglas has starred in films like "To Die For" and "Cape Fear." Her new book, "I Blame Dennis Hopper," is half memoir, half love-letter to the movies. She tells us how a chance encounter with a Hollywood legend inevitably led to the biggest show business regret. Bonus: She also tells us how to came to own Marlon Brando's driftwood collection.


Photo: Ben Bernous

Maz Jobrani Tells a Tale of Two Holidays

Comic Maz Jobrani has performed on stages from the Middle East to the Middle West. His debut book is called, "I'm Not a Terrorist, but I've Played One on TV: Memoirs of a Middle Eastern Funny Man." The comedian looks back at a time when his Iranian parents had little patience for a chubby, red-suited, white-bearded man from the edge of the earth.


Josh Thomas Takes His Mum to the Top of the World

Australian Josh Thomas created, wrote and stars in the comedy series "Please Like Me." In it, he tackles coming-out and coming-of-age. The season three finale airs Friday, December 11, 10 p.m. He recalls his mother's unfortunate night of swilling Prosecco and sightseeing.