Fresh Air Weekend: Bradley Cooper, Review Of 'Better Call Saul,' David Linden

Fresh Air

Published February 7, 2015 at 8:03 AM CST

Jonathan Banks (left) plays Mike Ehrmantraut, a former cop and a hit man, on the new AMC series <em>Better Call Saul</em>. He often carries out illegal instructions from Saul Goodman (right, played by Bob Odenkirk). — Jonathan Banks (left) plays Mike Ehrmantraut, a former cop and a hit man, on the new AMC series *Better Call Saul*. He often carries out illegal instructions from Saul Goodman (right, played by Bob Odenkirk).

Fresh Air Weekend highlights some of the best interviews and reviews from past weeks, and new program elements specially paced for weekends. Our weekend show emphasizes interviews with writers, filmmakers, actors, and musicians, and often includes excerpts from live in-studio concerts. This week:

Bradley Cooper: 'Sniper' Controversy Distracts From Film's Message About Vets: The film's depiction of the Iraq war has come under scrutiny. Cooper, who portrays Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, says the conversation is moving away from "the fact that 22 vets commit suicide each day."

'Better Call Saul,' The Prequel To 'Breaking Bad,' Is As Good As The First: The new AMC show is about public defender Jimmy McGill who adopts a sleazy new persona as Saul Goodman. The show has the same tight plots, rich characters and delicious twists as its parent series.

Fingertips To Hair Follicles: Why 'Touch' Triggers Pleasure And Pain: In his latest book, neuroscientist David Linden explains the science of touch. He tells Fresh Air how pain protects, why fingertips are so sensitive and why you can't read Braille with your genitals.

You can listen to the original interviews here:

Bradley Cooper: 'Sniper' Controversy Distracts From Film's Message About Vets

'Better Call Saul,' The Prequel To 'Breaking Bad,' Is As Good As The First

Fingertips To Hair Follicles: Why 'Touch' Triggers Pleasure And Pain