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CONTACT:
Mary Beth Zeman, 973-720-2444
zemanm@wpunj.edu







PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS GIVEN A LIGHT TWIST BY PETER SAGAL, CAROL LEIFER, AND CHRISTOPHER BUCKLEY AT WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY'S DISTINGUISHED LECTURER SERIES ON OCTOBER 10

Photo of Peter Sagal Photo of Carol Leifer Photo of Christopher Buckley
Peter Sagal

Peter Sagal, host of National Public Radio’s top-rated “Wait Wait...Don’t Tell Me!;” Carol Leifer, comedy performer and one of the original writers of “Seinfeld;” and Christopher Buckley, satirist and best-selling author of numerous books, will take a light-hearted look at the ongoing presidential campaign in “Are We There Yet? The Lighter Side of Election 2008,” an interactive program that kicks-off the 29th season of William Paterson University’s Distinguished Lecturer Series on October 10 in Wayne.  

Tickets for the program are $45; $40 for William Paterson faculty and staff and senior citizens; $15 for William Paterson students; and $25 for non-William Paterson students.  To purchase tickets, please call the box office at 973-720-2371 between 10 a.m. and  5 p.m. or purchase online at www.wpunj.edu/dls. The lecture will take place in Shea Center on the campus in Wayne; parking is free.

Sagal, a humorist, is the host of the Sunday morning radio quiz show, “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!,” heard by more than three million listeners each week on 450 public radio stations nationwide. On the air, he is famous for his quick wit and insightful commentary on current events. He is a native of Berkeley Heights, and is a graduate of Harvard University. Sagal is also the author of “The Book of Vice (Naughty Things and How to Do Them),” a series of comic essays about “people who misbehave, why they misbehave, and why they’re not necessarily having more fun.”

Leifer, a stand-up comedian, writer/producer and author, is considered a “trailblazer in the male-dominated world of comedy.” Her award-winning credits include Emmy nominations for her work as a writer on hit TV shows including “Seinfeld,” “Saturday Night Live,” and “The Larry Sanders Show.”  She has appeared at numerous well-known comedy clubs, including The Comic Strip, Catch a Rising Star, and the Improv. Liefer is currently writing a book, “When You Lie About Your Age, The Terrorists Win,” which explores life, love, and children after 40.  

Buckley, the best-selling author of 12 books, and a quintessential political novelist and satirist, completes the panel. He is the recipient of the ninth annual Thurber Prize for American humor, and is widely known for his wry wit.  His latest book, “Supreme Courtship,” takes aim at the judicial branch of the government. Buckley’s books and lectures provide a humorous perspective on current events and culture designed to amuse and enlighten audiences.  

The series continues with master sportswriters Frank Deford, Mike Lupica, and Selena Roberts, as they join together on November 21, 2008 for “The Art of Sportswriting,” which provides an inside look at their experiences and insights. Deford is an award-winning columnist and commentator who is now senior contributing writer at “Sports Illustrated” magazine, and appears on HBO’s “RealSports With Bryant Gumble” and on National Public Radio. Lupica is a columnist for the “New York Daily News,” commentator for ESPN, and a best-selling author. Roberts, a senior writer at “Sports Illustrated,” was previously a sportswriter and columnist for the “New York Times” where she covered the Olympics, tennis, and the New York Knicks.

A 40th anniversary celebration of the groundbreaking children’s television show, “Sesame Street,” titled “Sesame Street at 40—A Night of Celebration and Discovery with the Legendary Cast,” will round out the season on January 30, 2009. This program will feature the cast members who have helped shape the Sesame Street neighborhood into one of the most successful children’s shows on television. The group will assemble as a memorial tribute to New Jersey’s own Richard Hunt, the irrepressible and life-affirming wit behind a score of characters from “Sesame Street” and the “Muppet Show.”  

William Paterson's Distinguished Lecturer Series is presented by the William Paterson University Foundation. Partners for the 2007-2008 season included: Distinguished Partners: Mercedes-Benz USA and The Record. Benefactors: BAE Systems NES; The Nicholas Martini Foundation; Pfizer; PSE&G; and Roche Foundation. Patrons: William Paterson University Alumni Association; William Paterson University Student Activities Programming Board; and the William Paterson University Student Government Association.  

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September 23 , 2008

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