Comedy

British actress and comedienne Emma Thompson. She's best known here for the double role she played in "Dead Again," as a woman with amnesia and a past life. (she played opposite her husband, Kenneth Branagh). She also played a dippy Duchess in "Impromptu," and Jeff Goldlum's girlfriend in "The Tall Guy." In England she had her own show, "Thompson," which featured her in a series of comedy sketches. She's now appearing in "Howards End," a Merchant-Ivory production based on the E.M. Forster novel.

TV critic David Bianculli reviews two shows that highlight two veteran performers: James Taylor and Bob Newhart. One is on Disney and the other on Showtime. With Newhart, this is his first full-length standup act in 25 years. They'll be broadcast on Sunday.

Dame Edna Everage. Dame Edna describes herself as a housewife, megastar, investigative journalist, chanteuse, swami and polymath. She's become a media star in England and Australia, and has just written her memoir, called "My Gorgeous Life: The Life, The Loves, The Legend" (published by Simon and Schuster). Dame Edna, in case you didn't know, is a fictitious creation, the alter-ego of Australian comic Barry Humphries.

Actor Rowan Atkinson. Atkinson's one of England's best-known comic actors. He starred in the TV series, "Black Adder," and co-starred in the 1990 comedy, "The Tall Guy." Atkinson stars in his own H-B-O Comedy hour special throughout March. (Interview by Marty Moss-Coane)

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "This Is My Life," the new comedy starring Julie Kavner as a cosmetic saleswoman turned stand-up comic. It's the directorial debut of writer Nora Ephron.

Television critic David Bianculli reviews three new CBS series premiering this week; "Scorch," "Fish Police," and "The Boys of Twilight."

Charles Dutton, star of the T-V comedy series "Roc." Dutton came to acting in a very roundabout way: while serving a manslaughter sentence in the Maryland State Penitentiary, he organized the performance of a play, and realized he loved acting. ("Roc" airs Sunday nights on Fox.)

Larry David, the co creator, executive producer, and on 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."

With everyone making plans for Christmas and New Year's Eve, we wondered what magician Penn Jillette (pronounced like "Gillette") would be up to. Jillette's one half of the magic team, Pen and Teller. The pair's latest show, "Penn and Teller Rot In Hell," is now playing off
Broadway.

Comedian Chris Rock. Rock's a cast member on Saturday Night Live. He also played the junkie in the movie "New Jack City."

Cartoonist John Callahan. Callahan comes up with comics that are both funny and often offensive (a typical example: an obese man stands with his obese son in front of the refrigerator, saying "Son, someday all of this will be yours."). Callahan often pokes fun at alcoholics and the disabled, something he's qualified to do. Callahan was a alcoholic for many years, and he was left a quadriplegic after a drunk driving accident.

Television critic David Bianculli reviews "Memories of MASH," a 90-minute special that looks back at the popular TV series. It airs tonight on CBS.

Talk show host Joan Rivers. Rivers has a new memoir, called "Still Talking." (It's published Random House).

Comic actresses Kathy Najimy ("nah-JEE-me") and Mo Gaffney. Their two-woman satirical revue, "The Kathy & Mo Show," has been an Off-Broadway hit since 1985. It's debuts on HBO this Saturday.

Television critic David Bianculli reviews "The Carol Burnett Show," which premiered last Friday on CBS.

Actor John Leguizamo (pronounced "Leh-gwee-zamo"). Leguizamo created and stars in the hit one-man show "Mambo Mouth," based on his experiences as a Latino growing up in Jackson Heights, Queens. "Mambo Mouth" premieres on television this Saturday, on HBO's Comedy Hour.

Comedian Bill Cosby. Cosby talks about his TV show, his early years doing stand-up comedy, and his new book, "Childhood." It recounts some of his favorite stories of his youth. (It's published by Putnam).

Veteran standup comedian Henny Youngman. Youngman has a new memoir, called "Take My Life, Please." (It's published by Morrow).

Journalist Molly Ivins from Austin, Texas. She calls herself a "dripping fangs liberal," and believes that by being objective journalists take all the color out of human affairs. She says, "politics ought to be covered the way sports is, as a celebration of heroes and villians." She's taken on Ron and Nancy Reagan, George Bush, and the "bubbas" in the Texas Legislature.