Everyone likes to pretend that they hear about new music from friends in the industry, that they just happen to discover great movies when reading celebrity blogs, and that they're so up to date on cable network television series, gallery openings and art scandals. But press them and they’ll probably admit they crib all their cultural cred from New York Times. This week, that paper sponsors their annual Arts and Leisure Week, featuring a stellar cast of writers, actors, artists and intellectuals interviewed by the people you only wish you were. Here’s a humble guide to the week. Note: All events take place at the Times Center; see bottom of page for more information.

Monday, Jan. 7

Jeff Koons is not the only artist who’s made a career of producing tricked-up kitsch, but he’s one of the best. Say what you will about his ceramic Michael Jackson (“Michael Jackson and Bubbles”) and his sculptural blow-ups of dogs, but last year’s $23.6 million auction of “Hanging Hearts” set a record for living artists. Carol Vogel picks his valuable brain tonight.

OR....

See the last of the great New York directors when Sidney Lumet is interviewed by media writer David Carr.

 
Tuesday, Jan. 8

If you’re waiting for the DVD release of the first season of “Mad Men” so you don’t have to enter mid-story but still want to know what the fuss is about, get a sense for the characters when executive producer Matthew Weiner and others discuss Madison Avenue advertising in its golden era, the early 60s. Former film critic Janet Maslin joins Stuart Elliott in the conversation.

OR....

Pay tribute to the theater company “Circle in the Square” with a discussion with its artistic director, Theodore Mann, and others.

 
Wednesday, Jan. 9

Artist-director Julian Schnabel is three-for-three with his biopics, and his latest “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” may be his best, despite the fact that its central character can only move one eyelid. Watch for Schnabel’s attempts to persuade the audience that he’s not really a filmmaker, but just an artist who happens to produce four-star films every so often.

OR....

Get one of the remaining tickets to see dancer Mark Morris.

 
Thursday, Jan. 10

Sometimes one film turns an actor from a character player to a real star. Josh Brolin did this four times last year, which each successive film (“Grindhouse,” “In the Valley of Elah,” “American Gangster” and “No Country for Old Men”) making a better case for his acting skills than the last. Caryn James focuses on his best role of the year, that of a blue-collar guy who happens to come into money in “No Country for Old Men”

OR....

Watch Tom Brokaw discuss a half-century of reporting with Times assistant managing editor Rick Burke. 

 
Friday, Jan. 11

Caterer, homemaker, media maven and, yes, jailbird Martha Stewart is one of the most remarkable entrepreneurs of the past few decades, and somehow she can’t seem to shake her unmatched talent for all things home. Food reporter Kim Severson gets the dish from the best.

OR...

The inimitable Wynton Marsalis gets center stage.

 
Saturday, Jan. 12

There aren’t many authors alive who are required reading in high school, but Edward Albee’s early successes (“The Zoo Story,” “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”) have given him the freedom to work without the glare of the spotlight. It’s time for him to be rediscovered, and this event allows you to get the early word on the four productions of Albee plays for this season.

OR...

1, 2, 3, 4, Leslie Feist discusses her craft with music critic Jon Pareles.

Brooklyn authors Paul Auster, Rick Moody and Nicole Krauss discuss their literary borough.

Nickelodeon stars The Naked Brothers Band talk about the trials and tribulations of playing for pre-teens.

 

Sunday, Jan. 13

No one needs to talk about a Mel Brooks comeback these days, but that doesn’t stop “Young Frankenstein” from being the show of the season. Here Brooks, choreographer Susan Stroman and others discuss how to make an old movie parody of even older monster movies a new Broadway hit.

OR...

Gadfly Cornel West, always happy to speak his mind, is in good company with columnist Frank Rich.

Conductor James Levine discusses his craft with music critic Anthony Tommasini.

Pulitzer Prize winning reporter Tim Weiner discusses his recent book on the C.I.A. with agency members and other reporters.

Legal writer Jeffrey Toobin speaks on his books about the Supreme Court with its best chronicler, Linda Greenhouse.

Thomas Schumacher reveals some of the magic behind Broadway productions.

All events take place at The Times Center (242 W. 41^st Street). Tickets for each event are $25. Order tickets at http://www.artsandleisureweekend.com/ or show up at the event to see if extras are available.