NPR News

With Thanksgiving just days away, many are struggling this weekend with what to prepare. Thanksgiving dinner's menu is hard to change, but maybe we can get away with reconsidering dessert. Guest host Linda Wertheimer gets recommendations from chef Frank Stitt, author of Southern Table.

The holiday movie season offers a short break from the assault of summer blockbusters, and it's the last chance for movie studios to push some of their award season contenders. Guest host Linda Wertheimer speaks with Washington Post movie critic Ann Hornaday about the films of this holiday season.

New Orleans' Armstrong Park re-opened Friday for the first time since Hurricane Katrina. Guest host Linda Wertheimer reflects as people are able once again to enjoy some of the Crescent City's unique charm.

On the heels of the Penn State sexual abuse scandal, Syracuse University is now dealing with similar allegations. Oklahoma State is mourning the death of two of its women's college basketball coaches, and the NBA appears to have reached a stalemate that will last the rest of the season. Guest host Linda Wertheimer talks with ESPN's Howard Bryant.

Transcript

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

With the current NBA lockout, TV networks like ESPN and TNT have had to figure out how to fill the holes left by cancelled games.

And they may lose advertising revenue, as NPR's Elizabeth Blair reports.

ELIZABETH BLAIR, BYLINE: ESPN was ready. They say they put a contingency plan in place over a year ago.

(SOUNDBITE OF FOOTBALL GAME)

UNIDENTIFIED MAN #1: But Texas A&M has so many points is their ability to run the football.