Comedy

Comedy writer Alan Zweibel discusses his 14 year friendship with Gilda Radner. They met working on the original Saturday Night Live and teamed up to create such memorable characters as Roseanne Roseannadanna and Emily Litella. Zweibel has written a new memoir about their friendship, called "Bunny Bunny: Gilda Radner: A Sort of Love Story."

TV critic David Bianculli reviews two new comedy shows that that look at humor from a woman's point of view -- ABC's "She TV" and Showtime's "National Lampoon's Attack of the 5 Foot 2 Women."

Christopher Buckley has just written a new political satire, "Thank you for Smoking" (Random), which pokes fun at everything and everyone associated with the tobacco industry-- from anti-smoking advocates to tobacco company executives. Buckley was George Bush's speechwriter from 1981-1983 when Bush served as Vice President. The son of William F. Buckley, he is the author of other political and social satires, including "The White House Mess" and "Wet Work." He is the editor of "Forbes FYI" magazine.

Playwright, NPR commentator, housecleaner and former elf to Santa, Davis Sedaris. He launched his radio commentator career with his "SantaLand Diaries," broadcast during NPR's "Morning Edition in 1992. His humor has been described as a "caustic mix of J. D.

Actor Rip Torn, who now plays the Arty, the producer on the HBO comedy series, "The Larry Sanders Show". Torn has been a stage actor since the mid-1950's, when he left his native Texas (and his first name "Elmore") behind, for New York City and the Actors Studio. Described by one reviewer as "the good-looking no-talent with the ludicrously sinister name", Torn was often typecast as a heavy in television shows like "Dr. Kildare" and "Bonanza." (He also portrayed Henry Miller in an X-rated film version of "Tropic of Cancer.").

Author Henry Alford. Newsday reviewer Adam Begley mused about what to call Alford. "New York prankster?" Manhattan Monkeyshine Maven?" "Gotham Caparist?" His publisher calls him an investigative humorist. Alford has chronicled his offbeat investigations in his new book "Municipal Bondage: One Man's Anxiety-Producing Adventures in the Big City." (Random House.) Alford writes of his efforts to enter professions for which he was completely untutored--cosmetologist, snack food creator, dog groomer, earlobe model.

Comedienne and superstar Roseanne Arnold. Her show "Roseanne" debuted in 1988 and has consistently been a top TV series. She has often made news--she forced out the show's executive producer in a dramatic confrontation, she went public with accusations of incest, she performed a controversial rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" at a baseball game. In 1989, she published her first book, "Roseanne: My Life as a Woman" which became a best seller. Now she has written "My Lives" (Ballantine Books).

Actress and comedian Janeane Garofalo. She's a regular on HBO's "The Larry Sanders Show," where she plays the caustic casting agent, and was a regular on FOX's "The Ben Stiller Show." Now she's appearing in the new film directed and starring Ben Stiller, "Reality Bites." Her stand-up persona has been described as "a bitter, boot-wearing feminista." Which they go on to describe as "no act" on her part.

Actress Julie Kavner. In her first professional role, she played Brenda Morgenstern, the insecure younger sister of the title character, in the television series "Rhoda." She landed an Emmy award for that role. Also on television, she co-starred in "The Tracey Ullman Show" and now can be heard as the unforgettable voice of Marge on the animated sitcom, "The Simpsons," for which she also won an Emmy. She starred in the movie "This Is My Life," co-starred in "Awakenings," and appeared in 5 Woody Allen movies.

TV critic, David Bianculli, reviews new prime-time cartoon series, "The Critic," created by a team of three writer-producers from "The Simpsons." "The Critic" is about New York film reviewer and single father, Jay Sherman.

Comic writer and actor Chris Elliott. He was an Emmy award winning writer for "Late Night with David Letterman," where he originated such characters as "the panicky guy" and "the guy under the seats." Elliott followed his success on the Letterman show with his own FOX TV-series, "Get A Life," about a young adult man who lives with his parents and has a paper route. It was a cult hit. Elliott comes to the business naturally.

Comedienne Carol Leifer. She's been a longstanding regular as a stand up on Late Night With David Letterman, and a writer for Saturday Night Live. This year, she writes for comedy pal (and former boyfriend) Jerry Seinfeld -- some say the character of Elaine is based on Leifer. Last year she produced "Gaudy, Bawdy & Blue", a fictional recreation of the great "Blue" comediennes of the sixties: Belle Barth, Pearl Williams, and Rusty Warren (who's XXX-rated "Knockers Up" album sold six million copies in 1960).

The four-man comedy troupe The Firesign Theatre. The Firesigns created satire out of the political and civil upsets of the late 1960's, drawing big underground radio and college campus audiences. Now, more than ten years since the last tour, The Firesign Theatre is making a comeback. Known for their eclectic comedy routines, they're celebrating their 25th anniversary with a reunion tour.

Comedian and actor Jerry Stiller. He's currently playing George Costanza's father on this season's "Seinfeld" show. Stiller got his start in standup comedy with his wife Anne Meara as The Stillers, the befuddled jewish guy and the heart-of-gold Irish girl. They performed for nine years on the Ed Sullivan Show, and did popular radio spots for Blue Nun wine and other TV shows and specials.

Television Critic David Bianculli on the new season opener of the Simpson's show, which begins tonight; and also the season's end of the Larry Sanders's Show, which stars Gary Shandling.

TV critic David Bianculli reviews the debut of David Letterman's new talk show which premiered last night.

Writer Cynthia Heimel is a columnist for The Village Voice, and a witty observer of what goes on between men and women in this society. Her books include, "Sex Tips for Girls," "Enough About You," and "If You Can't Live Without Me, Why Aren't You Dead Yet?" Her latest book is "Get Your Tongue out of my Mouth, I'm Kissing You Goodbye!" (Atlantic Monthly Press). The book begins with an intro by her son, Brodie, who Heimel has written about in her columns. Terry will talk with Cynthia and Brodie Heimel.

Morris has always done impressions: he began lampooning the presidents when Reagan was sworn into office. Since then he's impersonated Bush, and Clinton, as well as presidental contenders, Michael Dukakis, Paul Tsongas, and Ross Perot. He brought his act to the White House Correspondents Association Dinner and comedy clubs around the country.

TV critic David Bianculli reviews a new mystery-comedy series NBC seems eager to kill -- once called Smoldering Lust, it's now in a bad time slot with the title "Black-Tie Affair."

Delaria says don't call her a lesbian: she's a dyke who does standup and jazz singing. She has a new recording of songs, "Bulldyke in a China Shop."