Terry Gross

Joan Micklin Silver directed the upcoming HBO special "A Private Matter." It's the story of Sherri Chessen Finkbine, host of the children's T-V show Romper Room, and her decision to have an illegal abortion in 1962. Publicity about her choice led to intense public condemnation. In the HBO special, "Miss Sherri" is played by Sissy Spacek, and her husband is played by Aidan Quinn. Among Silver's other directing credits are several films, including "Crossing Delancey," and several HBO specials.

Greg Tate is an African-American journalist who writes for the Village Voice. Under the guise of writing about a single subject, often a musician or artist, Tate's essays branch out and explore culture, politics and economic issues. He's written about topics as diverse as African musician King Sunny Ade ("ah-DAY"), the crisis of the black intellectual, and the cultural significance of writer Don DeLillo. A collection of his essays is now available. It's called "Flyboy in the Buttermilk: Essays on Contemporary America." (Fireside/Simon & Schuster)

Concert and interview with composer Anthony Davis and performers from his new opera, "Tania," -- Soprano Cynthia Aaronson, bass/baritone Mark Doss, and pianist Alan Johnson. Davis's opera premiered this week at the American Music Theatre Festival in Philadelphia. "Tania," is loosely based on the Patty Hearst story.

Author Robert Schmuhl, Professor and Director of the Program on Ethics and Media at the University of Notre Dame. His new book is "Statecraft and Stagecraft: American Political Life in the Age of Personality." (published by Notre Dame Press). He'll talk with Terry about the personalities in this year's election.

Medical anthropologist Andrea Sankar. She's written a new book that explains how to take care of a dying loved one at home. ("Dying At Home: A Family Guide for Caregiving," published by the Johns Hopkins University Press.) (REBROADCAST. Originally aired 12/05/91)

Journalist Lawrence Weschler. He's a staff writer for the New Yorker and has been covering Eastern Europe for the past decade. Terry talks with Weschler about leadership in Czechoslovakia, where parliamentary elections were just held.

Writer Francisco Goldman. He was born in Guatemala, and was raised outside of Boston. His family often returned to Guatemala for visits. After college, he returned to Guatemala to live and write, and was awakened to the brutal political reality there. He then began a career in political journalism, writing for Harper's, The New York Times Sunday Magazine and Playboy.

Filmmaker Marlon Riggs. His film about gay black men,"Tongues Untied," was shown on PBS last year, and it unleashed a storm of outrage in powerful right-wing circles. Sen. Jesse Helms (R, NC) even put together and distributed a seven-minute tape of scenes from the film, which, taken out of context, completely distorted Marlon Riggs' intentions. The documentary is often used by Congresspeople as an example of what's wrong with public broadcasting, and why it shouldn't be federally funded.

Creators and Executive Producers, David Crane and Marta Kauffman for the HBO comedy series, "Dream On." The show's main character is a divorced father who often doesn't do the right thing. The voice of his conscious is played out -- using clips from old TV shows which are edited into the show. "Dream On," won the CableACE Award for Best Comedy Series in 1991. Crane and Kauffman have been writing together for over ten years.

Drummer and composer Bobby Previte. He's ranks among the best known of Jazz's new generation of composers. In 1991 "Rolling Stone Magazine," named him their "Hot New Jazz Artist." His most recent project is the score for the Moscow Circus. He was in Russia late last summer working with the Circus's musicians when the coup attempt took place. He's collaborated on albums with such musicians as John Zorn, Wayne Horvitz, Butch Morris, and Elliot Sharp, and has released six albums for his own bands.