Television

Ralph Bakshi, who did the animation work for the cult hits "Fritz The Cat," and "Heavy Traffic." He's turned his attention away from animation to concentrate on oil painting.

Actor Danny Glover. He stared with Mel Gibson in "Lethal Weapon," and appeared in "Places in the Heart" and "The Color Purple." He stared over the summer in the Broadway presentation of Athol Fugard's "Master Harold and the Boys." He can been seen on television this Sunday night in "Mandela," an HBO presentation.

On the anniversary of soprano Maria Callas' death, classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz will review two new video cassettes of televised performances Callas gave in Hamburg, Germany in 1959 and 1962.

TV Critic David Bianculli will review the shows that are sneaking in to the schedule before the official start of the fall television season.

Syndicated cartoonist Matt Groening. His strip, titled "Life in Hell," appears in alternative papers around the country. His animated characters (rabbits) also appear on TV's "The Tracey Ullman Show."

TV Critic David Bianculli will review the new NBC show "Private Eye," produced by the original creators of "Crime Story."

Critic-at-Large Laurie Stone discusses soap operas, why she loves them, why she hates them.

Alex Trebek, host of the game show "Jeopardy."

Guest commentator David Marc will tackle the argument that television is to blame for the decline in reading.

TV critic David Bianculli isn't sure how best to describe PBS's show Alive from Off Center, which features music, dance, and performance art--but little dialog. He recommends an upcoming episode about composer Meredith Monk called Ellis Island.

TV critic David Bianculli says that the variety show is back, this time on cable. The new show Showtime Coast to Coast features a number of well-known celebrities and excellent performances.

Hugh Wilson created the television show WKRP. His much-anticpated, new program, Frank's Place, centers on a restaurant in New Orleans, and features many roles for African American actors.

John Peck, who also goes by the names The Mad Peck and Dr. Oldie, now focuses his professional interests on TV. His new book, called Mad Peck studio, anthologizes two decades' of his comics and writing.

Television critic David Bianculli reports back from a press tour in Los Angeles, where he was able to preview the shows debuting in the next few months. He shares his thoughts on the upcoming season.

Matt Neuman writes for the HBO show Not Necessarily the News, which lampoons political figures and current events. He joins Fresh Air to talk about his brand of edgy of humor.

Guest critic David Marc looks at the growing popularity of 1950s TV sitcoms. He thinks the trend reveals a troubling desire for an idealized suburban culture where whiteness and paternal authority ruled.

The British performer is an accomplished film, TV and stage actor who also had a number of hits on the British pop charts. Her Emmy-nominated variety show on the Fox Network, The Tracey Ullman Show, was just renewed for a second season.

Many viewers think Dennis Franz stole the show with his portrayal of Norman Buntz in Hill Street Blues. He stars in an upcoming comedy spinoff called Beverly Hills Buntz. Franz got his start early on in theater; small film parts later raised his profile as an actor.

Record producer, musician and songwriter Todd Rundgren joins Fresh Air to talk about his career both in-studio and on the concert stage. Recently, he's branched out into television, writing music for Pee Wee's Playhouse.

Critic Pat Aufderheide reviews two new PBS documentaries about the ways Japan struggles to remember the bombing of its two cities.