There’s already speculation that Heath Ledger, who died in January from a prescription drug overdose, will nab another Oscar nomination for his performance as the Joker in “The Dark Knight.” Less than a year before his death, the gifted actor spoke about landing the role to arts and entertainment reporter Mark de la Viña. Though this is shorter than the usual Mercury News podcast, the brief exchange reveals much about Ledger.

Comic Ralphie May is 392-pounds of comedic gusto, but it isn’t his weight that’s attracting attention. The performer spoke to arts + entertainment reporter Mark de la Viña by phone about his knack for finding the humor in the most prickly subjects.

Author, talk show host and stand-up comic Chelsea Handler spoke to Mercury News arts, entertainment and style reporter Mark de la Viña about covering celebrities — and how she is not above such scrutiny.

Oscar-nominated director Morgan Spurlock, who broke out in 2004 with “Super Size Me,” his movie about chowing exclusively on McDonald’s fast food for 30 days, talked to Mercury News arts + entertainment reporter Mark de la Viña about his new film, “Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden?”

Actor and screenwriter Jason Segel could become the next member of the Judd Apatow (”Knocked Up”) mafia to break out. The “Freaks and Geeks” alum talked to Mercury News arts and entertainment reporter Mark de la Viña about the comedy and how he handled some seriously disquieting, full-frontal nude scenes.

Actor Gene Wilder, star of “Young Frankenstein,” is the subject of an SF Sketchfest tribute this week at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco. He spoke to arts and entertainment writer Mark de la Viña about his movies, his new career as a novelist and the enduring popularity of the comedy classic.

Doug Martsch, singer, guitarist and chief songwriter for the rock group Built to Spill, talks to Mercury News reporter Mark de la Viña about the band’s unconventional approach to its music.

Horror film icon and “Night of the Living Dead” director George Romero talks to arts and entertainment reporter Mark de la Viña about “Diary of the Dead,” the rampant sadism in contemporary fright flicks and his professional start working on “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood” in the mid-’60s.

Dave Foley, a founding member of the Kids in the Hall, talks to Mercury News reporter Mark de la Viña about the beloved sketch comedy group and its upcoming appearances at SF Sketchfest.

Comedian Anjelah Johnson became an Internet phenom on the strength of her YouTube video about a visit to a nail salon. The San Jose native, now a cast member of Fox’s “MADtv,” talks to Mercury News reporter Mark de la Viña about her post-cheerleading life as a stand-up performer.