Terry Gross

Comedian Jon Lovitz. He played the pathological liar on Saturday Night Live, among many other characters, such as Annoying Man and Harry Chanukah. Now he's got a comedy special coming up on May 17th on the Fox Television Network (right after "Married With Children").

Neal Jimenez wrote and co-directed the new film "The Waterdance." (Samuel Goldwyn) It's about the five months Jimenez spent in the hospital following a hiking accident that paralyzed him from the waist down. Jimenez is now in a wheelchair, as is the main character in the film, played by Eric Stoltz. Jimenez also wrote "River's Edge" and co-wrote "For the Boys," starring Bette Midler.

Filmmaker Paul Cox. He was born in Holland, and then settled permanently in Australia. You might remember his 1981 film "Lonely Hearts," which brought him international acclaim and somewhat of a cult following. His latest film, which he wrote and directed, is called "A Woman's Tale." It's about an 80 year old woman who has cancer, and in fact, it was played by an actress with cancer. Since the film was made, the woman who plays the lead, Sheila Florance, passed away. (Orion Classics)

Writer David Marc. He's the co-author of the new book, "Prime Time Prime Movers," about how TV's producers are the ones who most influence its creative and ideological direction. They cite such examples as Stephen Bochco, the creator of "Hill Street Blues," and "L.A. Law," and "Cop Rock." (published by Little, Brown & Co.)

Novelist Toni Morrison. She has a new novel "Jazz," (published by Knopf) and a new book of essays, "Playing in the Dark," (by Harvard). Her novel, "Beloved," won a Pulitzer prize. She's written six novels in all.

Terry talks with film critic Stephen Schiff about the late director Satyajit Ray from India. Ray died yesterday at the age of 70. His work was internationally acclaimed.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews the film, "Howard's End," the new Merchant-Ivory production. (Sony Classics; opens tomorrow)

Conductor and arranger John McGlinn. He re-orchestrated the Irving Berlin musical "Annie Get Your Gun" according to the original 1946 performance. In preparing the remake, McGlinn discovered that the 1966 revival of the show left out several musical numbers, which he incorporated into the current performance. McGlinn also included a song that had been written for the 1946 version, but never before recorded.

Michael Tolkin, who wrote the novel and screenplay for the new Robert Altman movie, "The Player" (Fine Line Features, opening wide tomorrow), gives a screenwriter's take on the way Hollywood works -- or doesn't. Tolkin also wrote, directed and produced the film, "The Rapture," now available on home video.

Journalist and professor of environmental studies Donella Meadows. Twenty years ago she co-authored the book, "The Limits to Growth." The book used a computer model to project the impact of growth on the environment. It caused a sensation because of it's eco-gloom and helped spur the environmental movement. Now in the authors' sequel, "Beyond the Limits," they argue that we have shot past the earth's limited resources but that we are in a better position to avoid global economic collapse because of new technical possibilities.