The Farnsworth Invention (broadcast Friday, January 11th, 2008)

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

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Guests

Des McAnuff
Co-Artistic Director, Stratford Shakespeare Festival
Director, "The Farnsworth Invention"
New York, New York

Jimmi Simpson
Actor
Plays Philo T. Farnsworth in the play 'The Farnsworth Invention'
New York, New York

Hank Azaria
Actor
Plays David Sarnoff in the play 'The Farnsworth Invention'
New York, New York

Related Links

Segment produced by:Charles Bergquist

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Image: An illustration from Philo Farnsworth's patent 1773980.

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Support for Science Friday provided in part by the Noyce Foundation and The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation