On Second Thought For Thursday, November 9, 2017

Jim Gaffigan, Mike Mills, Jordan Stepp, Christopher Paul Curtis

Comedian Jim Gaffigan has appeared in “That 70s Show,” “Fargo,” “Bob’s Burgers,” and many times on “Law and Order.” But he may be best known for his stand-up comedy specials, and two seasons of "The Jim Gaffigan Show." We catch up with him ahead of a live show in Atlanta this weekend.

R.E.M.’s hit record “Automatic for the People” was released 25 years ago. In 1992, the album hit #2 on the Billboard 200 charts, and became certified 4x platinum in the United States. The record is getting an anniversary re-release, out Friday, Nov. 10. We talk with Athens’ own Mike Mills, R.E.M.’s bass player.

We asked R.E.M mega-fan Jordan Stepp to share an appreciation of the album, “Automatic for the People,” in honor of its 25th birthday. She writes about the Athens music scene for the blog, “Athens Music Junkie.”

Finding your true calling can take years, even decades. Children’s book author Christopher Paul Curtis found his calling in his 40s. After spending more than decade working at a Detroit car factory, he began writing young adult fiction about the African-American experience. He was the first American man to win the Newbery Medal literary prize. We talk with Christopher Paul Curtis ahead of an appearance in Decatur tomorrow night, Nov. 10.