Distinguished Speaker Series to kick off Oct. 28

The Distinguished Speakers Series of Thousand Oaks has lined up an array of presenters for the upcoming 2008-2009 season, its eighth year at the Countrywide Performing Arts Center at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd.

The season runs from October 2008 to May 2009. The series is sold only as a subscription package and it sells out quickly. All seven presentations are available for $343 for an open seating section seat.

Following are is schedule:

•Oct. 28: commentator on international affairs, three-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Thomas Friedman.

•Nov. 18: comedian Bob Newhart.

•Jan. 20: John Bolton, former ambassador to the United Nations.

•Feb. 15: CNN's awardwinning journalist Anderson Cooper.

•March 17: documentary filmmaker Ken Burns.

•April 7: Ellen JohnsonSirleaf, reformer and Liberian president since 2005.

•May 5: Greg Mortenson, mountaineer and author of the best-selling memoir "Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time."

Each program begins at 8 p.m. and concludes with a question and answer session open to the audience and moderated by a KABC 790 TalkRadio host.

To purchase subscriptions, call the box office at (805) 449-2775 or visit www.speakersla.com.