Bernard Pivot’s ~ or otherwise James Lipton’s ~ Questionnaire

 

 

Fans of Inside the Actor’s Studio are familiar with James Lipton’s list of questions, which he poses to each of his guests at the end of an interview. Lipton always gives credit for this list to French talk show host Bernard Pivot, who hosted Apostrophe’s from 1975–1990 and Bouillon de Culturefrom 1990–2001.He often mentions that the list originally came from French novelist Marcel Proust (1871–1922). Proust did not actually create the questionnaire that frequently has his name attached, though he did famously answer two versions of it (once at age 13, and a second time at age 20), and thereby gave the lists a certain notoriety. Their original author is unknown.

My responses are:

James Lipton’s Questionnaire

1.What is your favorite word? ~ love (or osu!)

2.What is your least favorite word? ~ hate

3.What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? ~ intelligent integrity

4.What turns you off? ~ bigotry and small mindedness

5.What is your favorite curse word? ~ shite or feck

6.What sound or noise do you love? ~ the sound of my son’s quiet breathing as he sleeps … and his kiai!

7.What sound or noise do you hate? ~ mindless jibberjabber

8.What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? psychiatry

9.What profession would you not like to do? ~ policewoman

10.If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? ~ You were right about enlightenment, now let’s go shopping!