Terry Gross

Actor J.K. Simmons. He's a regular on HBO's "OZ" the graphic and disturbing drama of life in a maximum security prison. Simmons plays convict and neo-nazi Vernon Schillinger. And he has a recurring role in “Law & Order.” Simmons film credits include "The Jackal" and "Extreme Measures." (REBROADCAST from 7/30/98)

The stars of the 1980s TV series "Cagney & Lacey" Sharon Gless (Christine Cagney) and Tyne Daly (Mary Beth Lacy). The two played New York City Police detectives. "C&L" was the first TV crime show in which the two central characters were female. The TV series won 14 Emmy Awards and one Golden Globe Award. Tyne Daly is currently starring in the CBS series “Judging Amy.” (REBROADCAST from 4/27/95)

Jay Leno host of The Tonight Show. He was doing stand up during the era that included Robin Williams, Andy Kaufman, and Steve Martin. LENO took over the helm of The Tonight Show in 1992. (REBROADCAST from 10/21/96)

Former late-night talk show host Dick Cavett. He got his start writing gags for Jack Parr, when Parr was the host of The Tonight Show. Cavett then went the route of the standup comic, and in 1968 landed a morning talk show gig. Eventually he hosted his own late-night talk show opposite The Tonight Show which ran on ABC until 1975. From 1977-1982 he hosted The Dick Cavett Show five times a week on PBS. (REBROADCAST from 9/24/85)

Fred De Cordova, is the former executive producer of "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson." In 1988 he wrote his autobiography, "Johnny Came Lately," a behind-the-scenes tell-all about the workings of one of television's longest-running and highest rated shows. De Cordova credits include directing Ronald Reagan in "Bedtime for Bonzo," directing "The Jack Benny Show," "The Burns and Allen Show," and "My Three Sons." (REBROADCAST from 3/21/88)

Late-night talk show host Conan O'Brien. He took over David Letterman's spot in 1993. Previous to that, O'Brien was a writer for Saturday Night Live. His sketches included "Mr. Short Term Memory" and "The Girl Watchers." He was also a writer/producer for "The Simpsons." (REBROADCAST from 10/30/96)

Radio and television writer Sherwood Schwartz. Schwartz began writing for radio on the Bob Hope Show in 1939. When television came along, Schwartz wrote for such comedy hit shows as "The Red Skelton Show," and "My Favorite Martian." He won an Emmy Award for his comedy writing from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. In 1963 Sherwood created, wrote and produced the hit series "Gilligan's Island." He was also responsible for “The Brady Bunch.” (REBROADCAST FROM 8/26/88)

Actress Patty Duke. At the time of her 1962 film "The Miracle Worker," Duke was the youngest actress to win an Oscar, for her role as Helen Keller. At 16, she was the youngest actress in television to have a prime-time series built around her. The success, however, masked personal misery which included depressions that led to suicide attempts and a string of failed marriages. Duke has written an autobiography titled Call Me Anna. (REBROADCAST FROM 5/26/88)

Director and Actor Ron Howard. As a child he played Opie on the Andy Griffith show, and later Richie on Happy Days. He made his directorial debut in 1978 with Grand Theft Auto, he's also become one of the most prominent film directors in Hollywood.....with movies like Splash, Cocoon, Parenthood, Far And Away and The Paper and Apollo 13. (REBROADCAST FROM 6/29/95)

We begin TV week with a show devoted to sitcoms. Many people will remember Sheila James Kuehl as Zelda Gilroy on the old T-V show "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis." Her T-V career ended when rumors began to circulate that she was a lesbian -- and those rumors were true. She became a prominent lesbian activist and women's rights lawyer in Los Angeles. In November 1994, she became the first openly gay or lesbian person to be elected to the California State Assembly. (REBROADCAST FROM 3/26/92)