Television

Guest host (and our TV critic) David Bianculli interviews Tommy Smothers of the comedy duo The Smothers Brothers. In 1967, their show The Smothers Brothers Comedy hour first went on the air. The show has been credited with helping pave the way for a new generation of TV comedy shows including Saturday Night Live.

Emmy-award winning writer-producer Paul Haggis. He's written for Norman Lear's sitcoms, was writer-producer of the first season of thirtysomething, and wrote sketches for The Tracey Ullman Show. His new TV series is "EZ Streets." (Interview by David Bianculli)

This month National Geographic "Explorer" will broadcast a behind-the-scenes documentary about NFL films, whose innovative presentation of football has helped make the sport as popular as it is today. The show, which is called "Inside NFL Films: The Idol Makers," will air on August 17th at 7 PM (ET) on TBS Superstations. Marty Moss-Coane talks with Steve Sabol, the president of NFL films, who also directs many of the NFL films.

Television producer Tom Fontana has collaborated with Barry Levinson on the critically acclaimed drama "Homicide: Life on the Street." The team is now premiering a new adult drama for HBO, called "Oz," which FONTANA also wrote. "Oz" is a realistic look at an experimental unit of a maximum security prison whose aim is to rehabilitate its inmates. Each episode focuses on a specific theme, such as sex or capital punishment, and how it affects the characters. "Oz" debuted on July 12 on HBO and can be seen on Mondays at 11 PM ET.

TV critic David Bianculli looks back and ahead at the television season.

TV critic David Bianculli reviews the the last episode of Roseanne -- which is vying for viewers with a special Mad About You episode.

TV Critic David Bianculli talks about the history of television laugh tracks and a new development in their usage.

Composer Alf Clausen is the man behind the music of "The Simpsons." There's a new compliation CD of music from the animated cartoon TV series, "The Simpsons: Songs in the Key of Springfield" (Rhino).

For five years, Tabor played the part of Hank Kingsley, talk-show sidekick on the HBO comedy series, "The Larry Sanders Show." He's had many character roles on television and film. He made his film debut with a critically-acclaimed performance as Al Pacino's deranged law partner in the 1979 film "And Justice For All." He's currently starring in the TV movie "Weapons of Mass Distraction" written by Larry Gelbart. It premieres May 17.

Emergency room doctor Joe Sachs has a consultant to the popular TV drama series "E.R." He'll discuss how he works with the show, and his work in a real E.R.

TV critic David Bianculli previews the "Ellen" episode that's been talked about for months: the one in which she comes out as a lesbian.

TV critic David Bianculli reviews "In the Gloaming," the new telemovie on HBO starring Glenn Close and directed by Christopher Reeve.

She played the humorless shrink, Lilith, on the television show "Cheers" for which she won two Emmy Awards and has appeared in many films, including "Bugsy," "Malice," and "Jumanji." Now Neuwirth is starring in the hit broadway musical "Chicago" a comedy set in the Roaring Twenties. She won a Tony award for her performance as Nickie in "Sweet Charity."

TV critic David Bianculli reviews the new anthology series "The Gun."

David Bianculli reviews "Fired Up," the first show made by Kelsey Grammar's new production company, starring Sharon Lawrence.

In the wake of Xena: Warrior Princess's success, TV critic David Bianculli reviews three new TV shows: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Daria, and Spy Game. He says they're all fun to watch.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the new Great Performances special on PBS (March 7, 9PM most stations), "Ira Gershwin at 100: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall."

Literary editor of The Nation and television critic for New York Magazine John Leonard (and former Fresh Air book critic). His new book is a collection of essays, "Smoke and Mirrors: Violence, Television, and other American Cultures."

TV critic David Bianculli previews two new TV shows that are popping up in this post-sweep period: "The Practice" on ABC and a revamped "EZ Streets" on CBS. He says both are worth watching.

Filmmaker Ken Burns is the director of "The Civil War" and "Baseball," the hit documentaries on PBS. The former was the network's highest rated series. Burns' newest project is the three-hour documentary, "Thomas Jefferson" about our third president, narrated by Ossie Davis.