Byrne speaks

Gabriel Byrne appeared on the NPR show "Fresh Air" with Terry Gross last week, and it is a really engaging 40 minutes of revelation. They talk about "In Treatment," and the extraordinary way the HBO show unveils the narrative of its characters' lives, and the great art of listening -- by the therapist, by the actor, by the radio host, by the friend. As on "In Treatment," Byrne's voice is hypnotic and persuasive.

Gross gets Byrne to talk about his Dickensian experiences as a child in Ireland with the Christian Brothers and how he finally found the theater. And it's compelling stuff. Byrne speaks of his coming of age with candor and lyrical insight. What also strikes me about the interview, though, is that Byrne has not been in therapy, and neither has Gross, who is clearly a massive fan of "In Treatment." What does that say about them? I can't say, but I do like what it says about "In Treatment."

So many people I try to introduce to the show resist, saying that they are not therapy types. The fact is, "In Treatment" isn't just addressed to therapy junkies; it's for any viewer who is drawn to the stories of people's inner lives, to powerfully written dialogue, and to some of the best acting on TV. Here's a link to the Byrne interview, which can also be podcast through iTunes.