Terry Gross

Phil Donahue host and creator of The Phil Donahue show which originally went on the air in 1967 in Dayton, Ohio. It went into syndication in ‘69, moved to Chicago in ’74, and then to New York before going off the air. Donahue’s show gave rise to the daytime talk shows of today with audience participation and outrageous guests. (REBROADCAST FROM 11/12/85)

Alex Trebek, host of the game show "Jeopardy." He’s been hosting the show for years. And he’s played himself as host of Jeopardy in a number of TV shows including, “The Simpsons,” “Seinfeld,” “Ellen,” “The Larry Sanders Show” and many others. (REBROADCAST from 9/3/87)

Chuck Barris was the creator of “The Dating Game,” “The Newlywed Game,” and “The Gong Show.” He also composed the themes for each show. (REBROADCAST from 1/28/86)

Jack Larson was Jimmy Olsen, the cub-reporter on the original “Superman” TV show. Since then he’s become a librettist, poet, and playwright. One of his poems "The Relativity of Icarus" was part of a Joffrey Ballet." He's also written a couple of versed plays, "The Candied House," and "Cherry, Larry, Sandy, Doris, Jean, Paul." (REBROADCAST from 4/12/93)

Comedy writer Larry Gelbart. In the 1950s he was part of a team of television writers that included Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks, Neil Simon, and others who wrote for Sid Caesar's "Your Show of Shows" and "Caesar's Hour." Gelbart went on to develop and write for the television version of "M*A*S*H. Also, he wrote the screenplays for "Oh, God!" and "Tootsie," and the stage play for "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" (which has recently been revived on Broadway). (REBROADCAST from 8/19/96)

Film director Carl Reiner. He was a writer and appeared in Sid Caesar's "Your Show of Shows." He's best-known to baby boomer audiences as the creator and writer of "The Dick Van Dyke Show." He also staged several Broadway plays, including "Enter Laughing," which is based on his novel and which he later adapted to the screen. Since then, he has concentrated on film direction, specifically comedies.

Actor and comedian David Alan Grier. Grier got his start on the TV sketch comedy show In Living Color. He's films include Boomerang, Blankman, and Return to Me(REBROADCAST from 4/01/91).

Dick and Tom Smothers of the comedy duo The Smothers Brothers. In 1967, their show The Smothers Brothers Comedy hour first went on the air. The show has been credited with helping pave the way for a new generation of TV comedy shows including Saturday Night Live. (REBROADCAST from a 12/31/1985 interview.)

Actor James McDaniel is Lieutenant Arthur Fancy on NYPD Blue. McDaniel has appeared in numerous television, film and theater productions, including the films "Strictly Business," "Malcolm X," and "Alice." He's also received the Clarence Derwent Award for his performance in the Broadway play, "Six Degrees of Separation." McDaniel has appeared on the television shows "Kate and Allie," "Hill Street Blues," "L.A. Law," and "Civil Wars." (REBROADCAST from 12/10/96)

Actor Peter Falk (pronounced like “Talk”). He’s best known for his role as a rumpled L.A. detective in the 1970s TV series "Columbo," where he garnered three Emmy awards. (REBROADCAST FROM 3/15/95)