Fresh Air Weekend: Best Of — George Clooney / Costume Designer Paul Tazewell

Podcast: Fresh Air
Host: Tonya Mosley
Date: December 6, 2025
Guests: George Clooney, Paul Tazewell

Episode Overview

This “Best Of” episode spotlights in-depth interviews with two luminaries: actor/director George Clooney and Oscar/Tony/Emmy-winning costume designer Paul Tazewell. Clooney discusses the emotional themes in his new film J. Kelly, reflections on fame, friendship, and family, as well as his recent stage work and political activism. Tazewell delves into his landmark work for Wicked for Good, his personal journey into costume design, and the creative choices shaping contemporary theater and film. The episode also features rock critic Ken Tucker’s annual roundup of new Christmas songs.

George Clooney: Balancing Stardom, Family, and Speaking Out

(Interview begins at 02:57)

1. J. Kelly and the Struggles of Parenting/Regret

• Clooney stars in Noah Baumbach’s new film J. Kelly as a world-famous actor facing the consequences of prioritizing stardom over personal relationships.
• The film explores a universal struggle: balancing career with meaningful family connections, especially as children grow up and parents face missed moments.
  • Memorable Quote:

    “Most people deal with [this] in life, certainly if you have kids...there’s always this balance that we’re always trying to get right, you know...we’re never getting it perfect.” (George Clooney, 06:54)

• Clooney reflects on his own upbringing and career choices, drawing parallels to the film’s themes.

2. Views on Fame and Constructing an Honest Support System

• Clooney explains his stripped-down team and the importance of having people who can challenge or confront him.
  • He avoids being surrounded by yes-men, valuing honesty among friends over the trappings of celebrity.
  • Notable Anecdote:
    Clooney shares how close friends once called him out on drinking and driving, emphasizing the importance of accountability.

    “It was very helpful to have people that...instead of laughing...they were like, ‘Dude, that’s not cool, and you shouldn’t do that again.’” (George Clooney, 12:00)

• Attributes his stable friendships and collaborative partnerships (notably with Grant Heslov) to a deliberate, if organic, effort to keep his social circle grounded.

3. Legendary Generosity: The “Million Dollar Friends” Story

• Clooney confirms the widely reported story of gifting $1 million to each of his 12 closest friends, a gesture made before his marriage to Amal Clooney.
  • He describes the event as a heartfelt, performative thank you, mapping out their collective history and impact on his life.
  • Memorable Moment:

    “How do you thank the people that gave you a career and allowed you to have a career...and have stood by you for so long? ...Open the bags.” (George Clooney, 15:35)

4. Stage Work & Revisiting Good Night, and Good Luck

• Clooney discusses reprising Edward R. Murrow on Broadway, reflecting on the media’s power and the moral legacy of his family.
  • The stage experience felt urgent and resonant, provoking strong audience reactions every night.
  • Notable Quote:

    “We proclaim ourselves as indeed we are the defenders of freedom...But we cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home. I think that’s an important phrase.” (George Clooney reciting Murrow, 21:15)

5. Political Engagement — Why Speak Out?

• Clooney elaborates on when and why he uses his platform for activism, referencing his 2024 New York Times op-ed urging President Biden to step aside.
  • He asserts the right of public figures to express opinions, pointing to a history of activism even before fame.
  • Quote:

    “I don’t give up my freedom of speech because I have a Screen Actors Guild card...You get to say what you believe, you get to stand by what you believe, and everything people do with you is voluntary...” (George Clooney, 25:23)

— Interview with George Clooney concludes at 26:49 —

Ken Tucker’s Christmas Music Roundup

(Begins at 26:57)

• Brad Paisley — Snow Globe Town: Heartfelt country ballads and novelty tunes; standout song “Falling Just Like the Snow.”
• Mickey Guyton — Feels Like Christmas: Cheerful Motown-inspired tracks, notably “Sugar Cookie.”
• Leon Bridges — “A Merry Black Christmas”: Intimate, soulful variation on holiday themes, reflecting personal and communal experiences.
• Old Crow Medicine Show — “December 26th”: Joyful post-holiday reflection.

Quote:

“Whether you’re anxiously awaiting Christmas or already wishing the holidays would be over, here’s a lot of music that lets you know you’re not alone.” (Ken Tucker, 33:01)

Paul Tazewell: Shaping the Visual Story of ‘Wicked’ and Broadway

(Interview begins at 34:47)

1. Breaking Barriers & Winning the Oscar for Wicked

• Tazewell recounts the emotional out-of-body experience of becoming the first Black man to win the Oscar for costume design (for Wicked for Good).
  • Memorable Moment:

    “I’m the first black man to receive the costume design award for my work on Wicked...Thank you...Thank you for trusting me with bringing your characters to life. This is everything.” (Paul Tazewell’s Oscar speech, 35:34)

2. Storytelling Through Clothing: Designing for Wicked

• Explains his philosophy: costumes tell a silent story, defining character arcs alongside the script.

• Insight into the decision-making behind Elphaba’s and Glinda’s new looks in the film’s sequel—textures, silhouettes, and colors tie to their journeys.

  • Elphaba’s weathered cape and adoption of trousers denote empowerment and transformation.

    • Quote:

      “I wanted to relay that with her silhouette, but also to show the weathering of her garment...she has become a huge force, kind of a superhero.” (Paul Tazewell, 40:16)

  • The choice to dress Elphaba in black holds narrative weight, signaling mourning and otherness—a mirror to nuanced racial dynamics.

    • Insight:

      “It was the first time that a Black woman had ever been cast in that role...the whole point of the story is that she is being ostracized...there are so many similarities in the emotions story for a person of color and how that relates to Elphaba.” (Paul Tazewell, 44:25)

3. Early Inspirations: From the Wizard of Oz to The Wiz

• Tazewell’s childhood: watching the 1939 Wizard of Oz annually at Easter—enchanted by the visual magic of its transformation from sepia to Technicolor.
• Seismic impact of seeing The Wiz (1978); representation of Black culture and style in a major fantasy film was “life changing.”
  • Quote:

    “To see it told in my cultural language was life changing. It was like, oh, yeah, well, of course, you know, this all works beautifully.” (Paul Tazewell, 49:25)

4. From Performing Student to Costume Design Trailblazer

• Learned to sew from his mother at age nine, inspired by her crafts and puppet shows.

• In high school, designed and sewed costumes—including a signature white sharkskin suit for himself as the Wiz—often with family collaboration.

  • Quote:

    “I loved creating these fantasy characters through my lens...much of that time I was creating them on my own.” (Paul Tazewell, 51:29)

• Embraced costume design as a continuation of problem-solving and world-building, always bringing his unique perspective to his work.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• George Clooney, on family and regret:

  “If you’re successful, you do make yourself irrelevant. And that’s probably the way it’s supposed to be...every kid at some point has to divorce themselves from that protective sheath of their parents.” (08:04)

• Paul Tazewell, on seeing ‘The Wiz’:

  “It was everything to see that kind of disco iconography...to see it told in my cultural language was life changing.” (49:25 – 49:54)

• Clooney, on speaking out:

  “I don’t give up my freedom of speech because I have a Screen Actors Guild card.” (25:27)

• Tazewell, on the Oscar win:

  “I’m the first black man to receive the costume design award for my work on Wicked...” (35:34)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• George Clooney interview: 02:57–26:49
• Ken Tucker’s Christmas music roundup: 26:57–33:11
• Paul Tazewell interview: 34:47–52:18

For listeners and readers alike, this “Best Of” episode offers heartfelt reflection, behind-the-scenes artistry, and provocative conversation about family, art, and the storytelling power of both words and costume.