Terry Gross

Comedian Carol Leifer. She's been a regular as a stand up on Late Night With David Letterman, and a writer for Saturday Night Live. She also has written for comedy pal (and former boyfriend) Jerry Seinfeld -- some say the character of Elaine is based on Leifer. (Originally broadcast 12/15/93.)

Larry David, the co-creator, executive producer, and one of the writers of the comedy series "Seinfeld." David's also the basis for the character "George," Jerry Seinfeld's neurotic best friend. He was a writer for Saturday Night Live and the short-lived ABC late night series, "Fridays."(Originally broadcast 1/2/92.)

Comedian Richard Lewis portrays a spastic, tortured, self-deprecating man living a life of unrelieved pain. He says of his standup comedy that after he's finished his act "people throw prescription drugs and the names of their therapists instead of roses. I'm the wreck they can't be." Lewis has appeared roughly 35 times on the "Late Night with David Letterman" show and has had his own comedy specials on HBO. He also starred in the sitcom "Anything But Love." (Originally broadcast 6/16/88).

Comedian Steven Wright. He is the King of Understatement. . . i.e. "Wind chimes are for stupid people so they know when the wind is blowing" (REBROADCAST from 9.4.1990)

Former SNL cast member Martin Short. Though he only spent one season with the show (1984) he left a lasting impression with his characters such as Ed Grimley Jr., the cowlicked dork, and his impersonations of Katherine Hepburn and Jerry Lewis. Since then he's appeared in a number of films: "Father of the Bride" and "Father of the Bride 2" (as a flamboyant party planner) and "Mars Attacks." He also had a short-lived prime time TV show, "The martin Short Show" His latest film is "A Simple Wish" (REBROADCAST from 7/7/97)

Comedian Chris Rock. He got his start in show business performing stand-up routines in Manhattan. He spent three years on Saturday Night Live and appeared in a few films including the recent Beverly Hills Ninja. He also had a comedy and talk-show series, "The Chris Rock Show" on HBO. (REBROADCAST from 2/6/97)

Comedian Jon Lovitz. He played the pathological liar on SNL among other characters such as Annoying Man and Harry Chanukah. (REBROADCAST from 4/28/92)

For more than 40 years, Phyllis Diller has made a career out of her own poor looks, and the exploits of her bumbling, imaginary, husband, Fang. Diller paved the way for an entire generation of female comics. (Rebroadcast from 7.1.86.)

Comedy writer Alan Zweibel. He was one of the original writers for "Saturday Night Live." He discusses his 14 year friendship with Gilda Radner whom he met at SNL and teamed up with to create such memorable characters as Roseanne Roseannadanna and Emily Litella. Zweibel has written a memoir about their friendship, called "Bunny Bunny: Gilda Radner: A Sort of Love Story" (Villard Books), which has since been turned into a play. He also worked on "The Gary Shandling Show." (Rebroadcast from 8.3.89).

Comedian Joan Rivers did stand up comedy for years. She was a guest host for "The Tonight Show" and has also hosted her own talk show. In this interview from 1991, Rivers discusses her memoir, called "Still Talking." (Random House). (Rebroadcast from 11.08.91.)