Television

We remember Jeff Moss, one of the original creators and writers of "Sesame Street." He died Thursday, at the age of 56, from colon cancer. Moss created Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch, and wrote such songs as "Rubber Ducky" and "People in Your Neighborhood." He won 14 Emmy's, four Grammy's, and an Acacdemy Award nomination for his work on "Sesame Street" and with the Muppets. Moss was also the author of books for children, including "Hieronymus White: A Bird Who Believed That He Always Was Right" (REBROADCAST from 11/30/94)

TV critic David Bianculli reviews "The Practice" and "Homicide."

TV critic David Bianculli previews the upcoming television season.

TV critic David Bianculli shares his thoughts on the Emmy Awards and coverage of the release of the Starr Report.

TV critic David Bianculli has some thoughts on the Fall TV season's new "That '70s Show" and the movie version of "The Avengers," which is out in theatres now.

Actor Joe Mantegna. He's best known for his work with playwright David Mamet in the films "Homicide," "House of Games" and the plays "Speed-the Plow" and "Glengarry Glen Ross." He's currently starring as Dean Martin in the HBO film, "The Rat Pack." (it debuts August 22)

We feature a special radio documentary about one guy's infatuation with what might have been. As a child, Dan Gediman was chosen to be one of the "Zoom" kids on the 1970s public television show "Zoom." But the deal fell through. As an adult Gediman went to find and interview the kids who were on the show to see what he missed. This segment can also be heard on the next edition of the Public Radio International program This American Life, from WBEZ.

Simmons portrays a neo-Nazi in the graphic and disturbing drama of life in a maximum security prison. The show is produced by Tom Fontana, who also wrote and produced "Homicide: Life on the Street." "Oz" just launched its second season earlier this month. Simmons' film credits include "The Jackal" and "Extreme Measures." His TV credits include: "Law and Order," "Homicide" and "Spin City."

Malick plays Nina Van Horn, a model turned fashion editor on the hit TV series "Just Shoot Me." Malick's real life is not so far off: in the seventies, she worked as a Wilhelmina model. Malick was also on the TV series "Dream On," in the role of Judith Tupper Stone, for which she won four cable ace awards.

David Bianculli reviews "X-Files: Fight The Future,"the movie version of the popular Fox TV series. The film, like the TV show, stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. You can expect the usual roster of aliens, conspiracy theorists and secret government agents. The film opens today.

Peter L. Stein is producer, director and writer of the documentary "The Castro." It will air nationally on PBS this Friday, June 12. "The Castro" is the name of a San Francisco neighborhood that is at the heart of the city's gay community. His film recently won a Peabody Award. He serves as Executive Producer of KQED's series Neighborhoods: The Hidden Cities of San Francisco. AND We'll also hear from Cleve Jones who lived in the Castro district where he became involved in the gay-rights movement. He is featured in Stein's film.

Standup-comic Bob Newhart. This Friday he performs at Carnegie Hall in New York City as part of the Toyota Comedy Festival. Newhart has been a part of the American comedy landscape since 1961 when his debut comedy album "The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart" became a surprise hit. (Now available on CD, on the Warner label) Since then he's starred in three TV shows, including the Peabody award winning original "The Bob Newhart Show." And appeared in numerous films.

TV critic David Bianculli on the 50th anniversary of Milton Berle's appearance on television.

Armistead Maupin is the author of "Tales of the City." It depicted San Francisco gay and straight lifestyles in the 1970's. In 1994 "Tales of the City" was adapted into a controversial PBS miniseries. His second novel from 1980 "More Tales of the City" (Harper Perennial) has been adapted into a Showtime channel miniseries that begins airing this month.

Film critic John Powers reviews "The Truman Show."

TV critic David Bianculli previews the final episode of "The Larry Sanders Show" on HBO which airs this Sunday.

TV critic David Bianculli reflects on the end of "Seinfeld."

Linguist Geoff Nunberf adds his thoughts about the linguistic legacy left by popular TV sitcoms.

This week "Seinfeld" wraps up its nine-year run with it's final episode. We feature a new interview and several archive interviews:Actress Julia Louis Dreyfus. She plays Elaine in "Seinfeld." Elaine is otherwise known as the "Queen of Confrontation" for her ability to take on everyone from cab drivers to soap chefs. Before starring in "Seinfeld" Dreyfus was also a cast member of "Saturday Night Live."

TV critic David Bianculli reviews the season finale of "Homicide: Life on the Street." It's the last episode for regular Andre Braugher who plays Detective Pemberton.