Terry Gross

Novelist and screenwriter John Ridley. He's written for the sitcoms "Martin," "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," and "The John Larroquette Show." He also wrote the screenplay for "U-Turn," directed by Oliver Stone and starring Sean Penn. He's also a former stand-up comic. His latest work is a novel, "Love is a Racket" (Knopf).

Guest-host Barbara Bogaev interviews journalist Phil Patton, author of "Dreamland: Travels Inside the Secret World of Roswell and Area 51" (Villard Books). Patton writes about the place in the Nevada desert where the U.S. Government tests top-secret experimental military aircraft. It doesn't exist on a map, and drawings, photography, and any such depiction of the area is prohibited. Conspiracy theorists, followers of UFO's, and secret plane enthusiasts have all latched on to the place. Patton writes the "Public Eye" column for The New York Times.

Terry's interview with Allegra Goodman, the author of the novel, "Kaaterskill Falls" (Dial Press) about an orthodox Jewish family in upstate New York. This is Goodman's first novel. Her previous work, a collection of stories, "The Family Markowitz," was hailed by critics. One critic for the New York Times writes, "Goodman is brillant at capturing the clutter of both interior and exterior life. . .These stories sound like no one else's as she sharply appraises the shifts and quandaries of one variety of American Jewish life."

Mizrahi has been called a "creative visionary" in today's fashion industry. Yet he announced yesterday that he would close his business because Chanel Inc, which has bankrolled him since 1992 has quit financing him. Apparently Mizrahi's fashion line never took hold, and has been experiencing financial losses for years. In 1995 the documentary "Unzipped" was made about Mizrahi and his life. (REBROADCAST from 12/3/97)

Shock-rock star Marilyn Manson has developed a following as a cross-dressing anti-Christ. He's been likened to Alice Cooper for his ghoulish theatricality. He's also been the subject of Senate subcommittee hearings, and his concerts have been banned. His 1996 album "Antichrist Superstar" was a hit. He's written his autobiography "The Long Hard Road out of Hell" (Regan Books) about his childhood as Brian Wagner in a dysfunctional home in Canton, Ohio.

Waters' latest film is "Pecker" about a young amateur photographer who becomes the darling of the New York art world. Waters other films include, "Cry Baby," a juvenile delinquent love story set in the 1950's, which brought together such performers as Patty Hearst, Johnny Depp, Ricki Lake, David Nelson, and Polly Bergen. Waters is known for his independent, off-beat films, such as "Pink Flamingos," "Female Trouble," and "Polyester." In 1988 Waters entered the mainstream with his popular film, "Hairspray."

Historian Eric Foner is a DeWitt Clinton Professor of History at Columbia University. His new book is an examination of the concept of freedom in the United States: "The Story of American Freedom" (W.W. Norton) He writes "the meaning of freedom is as multifaceted, contentious, and ever-changing as America itself." Foner is also the author of "Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution 1863-1877."

Abbott talks about the new mini-series "Touching Evil." It premieres tomorrow night on PBS' Mystery show. Abbot's project is a five-part detective drama that takes place at a fictional London based crime unit that specializes in serial killers and organized crime. Abbott also wrote the dramas "Crackers" and "Reckless". Abbott lives in Manchester, England.

Walt Disney Company CEO Michael Eisner talks about his new memoir "Work in Progress," which has been published by Random House. Eisner took over as head of Disney in 1984. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Jane. They have three sons. Disney is now a global entertainment giant. It owns ABC TV, A&E Television, Touchstone Pictures, Miramax Films, ESPN, Lifetime, and nine television stations, ten radio stations, seven daily newspapers, theme parks, housing developments and even a cruise ship.