Television

Briggs is the creator of Who Wants to Be a Millionare? which premiered on British television in September 1998 and thereby set the phrase (or its translation) "Is that your final answer?" into orbit. The shows format has been licensed in 80 countries including India, Japan, Greece, and of course, the U.S.

Tom Fontana of HBO's, Oz, the realistic drama about life in an experimental unit of a maximum security prison. Fontana also created Homicide: Life on the Street and the 1980s drama set in a city hospital, St. Elsewhere.

Robert Smigel (SMY-gull) is a writer and creator of animated comic episodes for Saturday Night Live, including “X-Presidents” and “The Ambiguously Gay Duo.” His newest effort is the new Comedy Central series “TV Funhouse,” described as a broken kid’s show for adults. The Funhouse combines real animals, puppet animals, short films and animation (Wednesday nights at 10:30). Smigel has also written a new comic book based on the X-presidents filmed shorts (called “X-Presidents”/Villard Books).

Actress Christine Baranski. She’s probably best known for her work on the T-V series “Cybill,” in which she played Maryann, the best friend of Cybill Shepherd. She’s currently starring in the T-V sitcom “Welcome To New York” (CBS). She also plays Martha May Whovier in the new film “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” She’s won two Emmys, an American Comedy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and two Tonys for her theater performances. Her film credits include “Bowfinger,” “Cruel Intentions,” and “The Birdcage.” Her plays include “The Real Thing” and “The House of Blue Leaves.”

Actress Eva Marie Saint. She starred opposite Marlon Brando in the 1954 film “On the Waterfront,” and won an academy award for her portrayal of his convent-reared girlfriend. Later she and Cary Grant teamed up for Alfred Hitchcock’s “North by Northwest.” Saint studied at the famed Actors Studio where Brando, Paul Newman, Marilyn Monroe and Dennis Hopper also did. This Sunday she stars in the CBS Sunday Movie, “Papa’s Angels.”

Comedian and actor Tim Meadows. Meadows was a regular on TV’s Saturday Night Live for some 9 years. Leon the Ladies Man, a swingin’ politically incorrect radio love doctor that he played on the show, is now featured in the new film “The Ladies Man.” Meadow recently left SNL to co-star in the new comedy “The Michael Richards show” which premieres Tuesday, October 24th.

Political Analyst Alan Schroeder. His new book “Presidential Debates: Forty Years of High Risk TV,” (Columbia University Press, 2000) examines the history of the televised presidential debate. Drawing from his experience as a print journalist and TV producer, he details the decisions that influence every aspect of the event: the color of the backdrop curtain to the camera angles chosen. He also looks at the results of past debates, discussing strategies for political effectiveness. He is an Associate Professor of Journalism at Northeastern University.

Bill Moyers has a new PBS series about death and dying, but the focus isn't just on dying; it's on trying to live a decent life in the face of death and on the movement to improve care at the end of life, such as new approaches to pain relief and hospice care. The series also examines some of the difficult personal and medical choices faced by people who are dying and their loved ones. The series is called "On Our Own Terms." It premieres Sunday evening on most PBS stations and continues over the next three consecutive nights.

Creator and executive producer of “The Powerpuff Girls” the hit cartoon series on the Cartoon Network, Craig McCracken. The show follows the adventures of three super-powered superheros, the cute but tough sisters Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup. There’s also a new CD of music inspired by the girls, “The Powerpuff Girls: Heroes and Villains” (Rhino. The cartoon airs on Wednesday nights 8 PM (PT/ET) and Fridays at 9 PM.

Voice artist and animation historian Keith Scott has written the new book “The Moose That Roared: The Story of Jay Ward, Bill Scott, a Flying Squirrel, and a Talking Moose” (St. Martin’s Press) The book is about the creator (Jay Ward) and writer (Bill Scott) of the popular Rocky & Bullwinkle TV cartoon show of the late 1950s, early 60s. The new film “The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle” is based on the characters and stars Robert Deniro, Rene Russo, and Jason Alexander. Scott also is the voice of Bullwinkle in the film.