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Research shows that sleep deprivation makes people emotionally volatile and temperamental — a fact that hasn't escaped the notice of some reality TV producers, who deny contestants sleep in an effort to kick up televised drama.

The 31st Annual O. Henry Pun-Off World Championships occur Saturday in Austin, Texas. Scott Simon talks to the organizer and takes him on in a couple of rounds of the Punslingers competition.

Fresh Air film critic David Edelstein reviews Reprise, the first feature film by Norwegian writer and director Joachim Trier. The movie tells the story of two aspiring authors whose adolescent idealism is crushed by literary success.

Ratings for her daytime show are down, her magazine circulation numbers are falling, and a poll shows her popularity just isn't what it used to be. Is Oprah paying a price for publicly supporting Barack Obama's presidential campaign?

Tie sales have been dropping for years, and now the trade group that represents American tie makers is shutting down, according to JA Apparel CEO Marty Staff, who considers the tie's uncertain future.

Fresh Air's film critic says the set-up is smart — but the setups are wittier than the payoffs, and oh, what lackluster tasks await the aging adventurer and his spawn.

Book reviewer Alan Cheuse examines The Conversion, the eighth novel by Joseph Olshan. Set in present-day Italy, Olshan bring us the story of a young expatriate writer in France and Italy and his apprenticeship in art and life.

NBC's announcement that it would create an American version of the hit British TV show sounded like a desperate move. But today, the program shines, partly because of actor B.J. Novak, who plays the character Ryan Howard.

Douglas has used his celebrity status for years to call attention to nuclear disarmament and the global weapons trade. The two-time Academy Award winner is talking with lawmakers on behalf of the Ploughshares Fund, an organization that works to halt nuclear proliferation.

A British journalist, an American nurse and a Chinese partisan join forces to protect 60 orphaned children in war-torn 1930s China. Roger Spottiswoode's movie is inspired by a true story — but itself turns out to be thoroughly uninspired.