Judith Newman, author of recent hit pieces on Bonnie Fuller and Rosie O'Donnell, gives some wisdom and experience on conducting a good interview. (Hint: don't insult them on the first question. Wow, we never thought of that!)

I remember leaving an interview with Meg Ryan and I was crying — crying — because she was answering me in monosyllables. But it was my own stupid fault. You know what question I started with, having never met this woman? I said something like, 'So, what's going on with your husband's drug problem?' And believe me, you can't recover from something like that."

Well, neither could Meg Ryan's husband, but hey!
On Interviewing [Mediabistro]