Interviews | Posted by TV Time Machine 09.07.12
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Actress Marilu Henner is interviewed by TV Time Machine host Jim Benson about Taxi and her remarkable memory that enables her to remember virtually every day of her life known as HSAM, Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory, which inspired her new book, Total Memory Makeover.

In this edition of TV Time Machine, we take a drive down memory lane to experience history well beyond the scope of the small screen. In this very special edition of our program, we are proud to welcome an extraordinary woman-actress, teacher, and New York Times Best-Selling author, Marilu Henner. Best known for playing cab driver Elaine Nardo on the classic comedy TV series Taxi, Ms. Henner’s television career also spans a remarkable spectrum, including the comedy Evening Shade, reality series Celebrity Apprentice, her own talk show Marilu, and consultant on the TV drama, Unforgettable.

Over these audio segments, the amazing Marilu Henner helps us relive virtually every aspect of this classic television series and her television career-quite literally-as Ms. Henner has the ability to recall her life in remarkable detail, which has inspired her new book, Total Memory Makeover, written with Lorin Henner. Again, for those of you intrepid enough to remember everything about your life, feel free to send us a forget-me-not, as we slip from the restraints of the present, to experience a most unforgettable past!

Listen to the Interview Below

Marilu Henner audio interview Segment One

In this segment, host Jim Benson talks to Marilu Henner about her early years growing up in Chicago, where her family’s dance studio helped pave the way to her stage career and originating the role of Marty in the classic Broadway musical Grease. Ms. Henner also discusses appearing in a TV commercial as the dancing Samsonite Girl, working on the pilot of Taxi and how the cast instantly clicked, and what the produces were looking for when they cast her as cab driver Elaine Nardo.  

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Marilu Henner audio interview Segment Two

For the second segment, Marilu Henner discusses working with a pre-Magnum Tom Selleck in the classic Taxi episode, Memories of Cab 804, her friendship and working releationship with Andy Kaufman (and some of the more incredible things he did both on and off the set), and her experiences working with Danny DeVito on the episode Shut It Down, where Elaine and Louie go out on a date!

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Marilu Henner audio interview Segment Three

For the final segment, host Jim Benson discusses with Marilu Henner her experiences shooting the second season Taxi finale, where Elaine performs the musical number Lullaby of Broadway, and how the cancellation of the series affected her and the cast. Finally, Marilu Henner discusses her remarkable memory that enables her to remember virtually every day of her life (known as HSAM, Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory), and talks about her book, Total Memory Makeover, which was inspired by her amazing memory abilities.

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