Television

Simms is the creator of the new NBC sit-com "News Radio." He previously worked as writer for both the "The Larry Sanders Show," and "Late Night with David Letterman."

Falk is best known for his role as a rumpled L.A. detective in the TV series "Columbo," where he garnered three Emmy awards. He currently stars in the recently released film "Roommates," detailing the relationship between a grandfather and grandson.

Thomas directed the new movie, "The Brady Bunch." The film is adapted from the TV series that ran from 1969-74. But there's a twist: the innocent family is transported with all its 70's values and fashion into the 90's. Thomas also directed "Only You" and "My Breast," and played Sergeant Lucy Bates on the TV series "Hill Street Blues."

Roberts is author of eleven detective books featuring Cleveland private eye Milan Jacovich or L.A. actor/detective Saxon. The most recent novel, "The Lake Effect," is a Milan Jacovich mystery. Roberts also produced episodes of "The Lucy Show," "The Man From U.N.C.L.E.," and "The Andy Griffith Show," and was the first producer of "The Hollywood Squares."

Journalist Leslie Savan writes about television advertising. Her new book, "The Sponsored Life," reveals "how commercial values infiltrate our beliefs and desires, how we become more and more sponsored."

Braugher plays Detective Frank Pembleton on the hit NBC series. He was educated at Julliard and is an experienced Shakespearean actor. His other acting credits include the film, "Glory" and the TNT special, "The Court Martial of Jackie Robinson."

Tonight, PBS debuts the documentary series, "America's War on Poverty: Untold Stories from the Front Line." The five-part series examines President Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty, which he declared during his State of the Union Address in January 1964. It included programs like Head Start, and Job Corps. Terry will talk with Executive Producer Henry Hampton and journalist and consultant Nicholas Lemann.

Zwick directed the movies "Glory" and "Legends of the Fall," the TV series "thirtysomething," and the new highly-acclaimed, but under-watched "My So-Called Life.

Burns is the director of the hit PBS documentaries "The Civil War" and "Baseball." The former was the network's highest rated series. Burns' other documentaries include "The Brooklyn Bridge," "The Statue of Liberty," and "Empire of the Air," about the early history of radio. This interview was recorded in front of an audience at the Flynn Theater on October 27, in a benefit for Vermont Public Radio.

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.