Before starting her comedy career, Butler survived an abusive marriage. She is now the star of the sitcom "Grace Under Fire," one of the top rated shows of the season. Her character is a single mother with three kids, and, like Butler, is divorced from an abusive husband.
"Wall Street Journal" senior writer Jane Mayer is co-author of "Strange Justice: The Selling of Clarence Thomas,: She and fellow journalist Jill Abramson, investigated sexual harassment allegations against Thomas made by Anita Hill. They found other women who had had similar experiences with Thomas, but who were never called to testify. They wanted to write an objective account of the process, and they bring their harshest criticism on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Joni Mitchell's new album, "Turbulent Indigo," which incorporates some of the tone and styles that made her famous early in her career.
Writer Howard Norman has been nominated for the National Book Award for his new novel "The Bird Artist." The book takes place in Newfoundland in 1911, and is about an artist who murders the town's lighthouse keeper. Norman is also the author of a short story collection and "The Northern Lights," a National Book Award Nominee in 1987
Wolff has been nominated for the National Book Award for his memoir "In Pharaoh's Army: Memories of the Lost War." The book is an account of Wolff's tour in Vietnam. Woff is also the author of two short story collections, a novella, and "This Boy's Life," a memoir about his childhood.
Journalist Steve Roberts. He's the senior writer for "U.S. News & World Report." Before that he covered Congress for "The New York Times." He'll talk about Tuesday's elections.
Actor David Caruso left "NYPD Blue" to pursue a film career. The show's co-creator, David Milch, will talk about writing out Caruso, who played one of the main characters. Milch was also co-creator of "Hill Street Blues," with "NYPD Blue" collaborator Steven Bochco.
From the Metropolitan Opera, soprano Dawn Upshaw. She has a new recording of Broadway showtunes, called "I Wish It So." It includes lesser known works by Marc Blitzstein and Kurt Weill as well as songs by Sondheim and Bernstein. Upshaw has played more then 20 roles at the Met, including the current "The Marriage of Figaro" and the recently completed "Idomeneo," both by Mozart.
Frazier is the author of "Family," a book which traces his ancestors back to the 1600s. His inspiration for the book came from old letters he found after the death of his parents in 1987 and 1988. Their death gave him the desire to find "a meaning that would defeat death" in the letters. Frazier is also the author of "Dating Your Mom," "Nobody Better, Better Than Nobody," and "Great Plains." He is a regular contributor to the "New Yorker."
Colonel Margarethe Cammeryer was named Nurse of the Year by the Veterans Administration and was Chief Nurse of the Washington State National Guard. She was discharged from the service in 1992 because she revealed that she is a lesbian, becoming the highest-ranking officer to be discharged solely for homosexuality. She challenged the ruling, and was reinstated in July. "Serving in Silence" is her new book about her experiences.
From the new movie documentary "Hoop Dreams," young basketball player Arthur Agee and film director Steve James. The movie traces the lives of Agee and his friend William Gates for five years as they try to follow their dreams of rising from inner city Chicago to play in the NBA. James is the director, producer and co-editor of the film.
World music critic Milo Miles reviews the new collection of singles recorded for Sam Cooke's R&B label. Miles says the only problem with it is the high price.
Gilb was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award for his collection of short stories, "The Magic of Blood." In his new novel, "The Last Known Residence of Mickey Acuna," he tells us more about life in the poor Chicano community of the Southwest.
TV dramas are becoming wildly popular again. Critic David Bianculli says two stand out from the rest: "Homicide: Life on the Streets" and "Picket Fences."
Harvey Kravits and Jack Treatman are coffee experts. Kravitz is a coffee consultant. Treatman is the co-proprietor of Old City Coffee in Philadelphia. They talk about coffee beans, coffee history and the coffee culture.
Anne Maguire and her son Patrick were part of the Maguire Seven, the family who was wrongfully arrested in 1974 on suspicion of manufacturing bombs for the Irish Republican Army. The family was tortured, tried, convicted, and jailed, and was not reunited for eleven years. Anne spent eight years in prison; Patrick spent four after being convicted at the age of 13. Anne has written a book about their experience, called "Miscarriage of Justice."
