Terry Gross

Film critic Stephen Schiff says the new biopic about the late zoologist, Gorillas in the Mist, is malarkey, with a script that shies away from the most compelling parts of Fossey's story. But star Sigourney Weaver shines.

Tom Waits' music is changing, incorporating new styles like tango and Tin Pan Alley. He has a new performance film called Big Time, which features Waits singing different personas, and an album of the same name.

Rather than features songs from the 1970s in the recent Patty Hearst biopic, the filmmakers recruited composer Scott Johnson to write the soundtrack. His dense score combines synthesizers with heavy percussion, but retains the accessibility of pop music.

Eric Kraft created a literary alter ego named Peter Leroy; Leroy's exploits were chronicled in newsletters and, later, eight novels. Kraft's newest book, Herb 'n' Lorna, is about Leroy's grandparents, who sell erotic jewelry.

Oscar-winning actress Sally Field stars opposite Tom Hanks in the new movie Punchline. Field's character Lilah is an aspiring stand-up comic who still has a lot to learn. Field also produced the film. She talks about her early career in television, and the risks she took to pursue her dream of acting.

Harold Brodkey is famous for working on his as-of-yet unpublished novel for the past thirty years. Some critics think he's brilliant; others call him a fraud. His work deals with consciousness and memory.

Jazz singer Sheila Jordan grew up in a Pennsylvania coal mining town. She says if she had never heard Charlie Parker, she would have become a country singer. She was recently laid off from her day job of 21 years; now she can perform full-time. Bassist Harvie Swartz joins her for an in-studio performance.

Hwang's celebrated play dealt with Western ideas of women and Asian culture. His newest work is a musical about alien abductions called 1000 Airplanes on the Roof. Philip Glass composed the music.

Comedian Richard Belzer returns to Fresh Air to discuss his new satirical book. He talks about how his humor is evolving, becoming more aware of the problems of racial and sexual humor.

Performer-in-residence Dick Hyman demonstrates the techniques that defined Fats Waller's sound.