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.

TV critic David Bianculli reviews the new series, Survivor 2.

T.V. critic David Bianculli reviews the two new reality based TV shows: The Mole, which premiered last night on ABC, and Temptation Island which premieres tonight on FOX.

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.”

TV critic David Bianculli reviews the new show “Queer as Folk,” which premieres on Showtime this Sunday night. The series is an American version of the controversial British show of the same name.

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.”

TV critic David Bianculli reviews the election night coverage.

TV critic David BIianculli reviews “Charlie's Angels” the new film based on the popular 70s tv show.