Friday, January 11th, 2008

The Farnsworth Invention

Hank Azaria and Jimmi Simpson in a scene from The Farnsworth Invention (Credits: Courtesy of The Farnsworth Invention) See More Videos

The Farnsworth Invention, a play written by Aaron Sorkin, looks at the history of television. Who should be credited with its invention: small-town, boy genius Philo T. Farnsworth or media mogul David Sarnoff? Ira discusses the play with actors Jimmi Simpson, who plays Farnsworth, Hank Azaria (aka Moe and others on The Simpsons) who plays Sarnoff, and the play's director Des McAnuff. (Credits: Play footage courtesy of The Farnsworth Invention. Produced by Flora Lichtman) See More Videos

The television has become a basic part of U.S. life -- but where did it come from? A new Broadway production takes on the story of the invention of electronic television, from technical work done by Philo T. Farnsworth, a boy genius from the small town of Rigby, Idaho, to his later battles with RCA, headed by broadcasting mogul David Sarnoff. In this segment, Ira talks with Des McAnuff, director of the play 'The Farnsworth Invention,' with Jimmi Simpson, the actor who plays the role of Farnsworth in the play, and with Hank Azaria, who plays the role of David Sarnoff.