Society & Culture

Commentator Patricia McLaughlin examines the travails of buying a something to wear to a wedding.

Novelist Reginald McKnight. His first novel,"Moustapha's Eclipse" was praised for its original voice about the struggle for black identity. It also won the 1988 Drue Heinz Literature Prize. McKnight has a new novel, "I Get On the Bus," (published by Little, Brown).

Rock critic Ken Tucker profiles Maurice Starr, the man behind the hugely popular teen groups "New Kids on the Block" and "New Edition."

A remembrance of master woodworker George Nakashima, who died Friday at age 85. (Rebroadcast of 12/11/1985 interview)

Journalist Elisabeth Bumiller (pronounced BUE-mill-er). Her new book, "May You Be the Mother of a Hundred Sons," examines the repressive life of many women in India today. It's published by Random House.

Writer Walter Mosley. His first book, "Devil In A Blue Dress," is a hard boiled detective story starring a black gumshoe up against white prejudice. It's published by Norton.

Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg explores how Shakespeare went from popular entertainment to highbrow culture.

Comic George Carlin.

Theatre director Peter Sellars.

Director Norman René and playwright Craig Lucas They collaborated on the film, "Longtime Companion."

Jazz drummer Tony Williams.

Women's health....Nancy Hawley and Esther Rome of the Boston Women's Health Collective, the authors of "Our Bodies Our Selves."

Byllye Avery of the National Black Women's Health Project.

Native American activist Mary Crow Dog (Mary Brave Bird). Her memoir's called "Lakota Woman."

Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg examines the current state of black english.

Critic Laurie Stone comments on two newsworthy comedy events from last weekend--comic Andrew Dice Clay's controversial appearance on Saturday Night Live, and the Comedy Relief special on HBO.

Mahoney, who died Sunday, was born in Britain and didn't start acting until he was 37. He went on to appear in films like Say Anything and Barton Fink. Originally broadcast 1990.

Actor John Mahoney. He started out in Chicago's Steppenwolf Theater. His film roles include "Tin Men," "Eight Men Out," the randy professor in "Moonstruck," and the father in "Say Anything."

Critic Maureen Corrigan muses on the complications of buying a wedding dress, and other pre-wedding arrangements.

Guest film critic Owen Gleiberman reviews "Longtime Companion." It's about how AIDS affected the gay community in New York in the 1980's. The film, written by playwright Craig Lucas, was originally produced for the PBS series American Playhouse.