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Renowned British broadcaster Alistair Cooke, the longtime host of PBS' Masterpiece Theatre, has died at his home in New York at the age of 95. No cause of death was given, but earlier this month, Cooke retired because of heart disease. For 58 years, Cooke's Letter from America program was heard on the BBC's World Service and Britain's Radio 4. NPR's Bob Edwards has a remembrance.

Jan Berry, one half of the '60s musical duo Jan and Dean, dies at 62. William Jan Berry and Dean Torrence produced a string of gold records, including "Surf City" and "Little Old Lady from Pasadena." Berry spent nearly a year in a coma after a 1966 car accident. Hear NPR's Howard Berkes.

Four years ago, Danish director Lone Scherfig scored a surprise hit with Italian for Beginners. That film followed the strict rules of the Dogme95 movement, which holds that filmmaking austerity inspires creativity. In Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself, Scherfig moves beyond Dogme, offering a dark comedy that embraces Hollywood technique. Beth Accomando reports.

Ten years ago, Kurt Cobain -- co-founder and lead singer of the group Nirvana -- apparently committed suicide. Cobain introduced the sound known as grunge to audiences around the world. His death prompted thousands of fans to hold vigils in his hometown of Seattle, Wash. Many likened its impact to the effect John Lennon's murder had on their parents. Marcie Sillman of member station KUOW has a remembrance.

Patti Smith hit the 1970s music scene with an ecstatic blend of poetry and rock. She credits that signature sound to lessons in free-verse defiance from Arthur Rimbaud and Bob Dylan.

The Boston band Tarbox Ramblers has roots in prewar gospel and blues. The group's latest album takes off from their first record, using the old songs as a jumping-off point for leader Michael Tarbox to write primal gut rock and roll. The CD is called A Fix Back East. Meredith Ochs has a review.

Alan Cheuse reviews A Hole in Texas by 88-year-old Herman Wouk, a fictional account of a scientist involved with the Texas-based Superconducting Super Collider project. Set in the 1990s the novel has both Hollywood and Congress woven into its plot.

Does the Air America Radio Network have a future? Jon Kalish reports on the financial challenges facing the new liberal radio network and its prospects for survival.

With the Whitney Biennial just opened, some of the works have already been bought by the Whitney museum itself. Contemporary art is hot: Bloomberg LLP is funding the outdoor sculpture exhibit at the Biennial, and thousands of visitors packed The Armory Show over the weekend to look at and invest in contemporary art.

Spartan, the latest film from acclaimed writer-director David Mamet, is an espionage thriller involving a president's missing daughter, white slavery and political chicanery. The movie opens in U.S. theaters Friday. Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan has a review.