Comedy

Rock is 26 years-old and grew up in Brooklyn. He got his start in show business performing stand-up comedy routines in Manhattan. He spent three years on "Saturday Night Live" and appeared in a few films, including the recent "Beverly Hills Ninja." He has a new comedy and talk-show series, "The Chris Rock Show," premiering February 7 on HBO.

Record produce and songwriter Neil Innes is a member of The Rutles, the band which he and Eric Idle of Monty Python that spoofed the Beatles. The band has recently been reunited and has a new collection called "Archaeology." The Rutles first came to the attention of the public in 1978 when their spoof documentary "All You Need is Cash" aired. Innes also co-founded the comedy group The Bonzo Dog Band.

Brooks' latest film is a comedy called "Mother," starring Debbie Reynolds. He joins Fresh Air to talk about humor, writing movies, acting, and his relationship with his own mother.

The former Saturday Night Live performer was best known for, Pat, the gender-ambiguous character. Sweeney took the character the big screen, but the result was a flop. When her brother was diagnosed with cancer, she took him into her home to take care of him while he was getting treatment. Her parents also moved in. Sweeney began work on a performance piece as a way to deal with the situation. Her brother eventually died, and she herself was diagnosed with cancer. She's now in remission. Sweeney's one woman show is called "God Said, Ha!"

TV critic David Bianculli reviews the season premiere of the satirical HBO comedy. Bianculli says it was worth the wait.

Actor Bruno Kirbly and playwright Alan Zweibel. Zweibel wrote the play "Bunny Bunny" about his friendship with Gilda Radner, whom he met while working on "Saturday Night Live." Their friendship lasted the rest of her life. The play is on view through December 1st at Plays and Players Theatre in a Philadelphia. Kirby plays Zweibel in the play.

Satirist and columnist Harry Shearer. He is one of the creators of and performers in the mock-rock group Spinal Tap, and he is also the host of the syndicated NPR radio program, "Le Show" and a weekly commentator on ABC TV's World News Now. Shearer will give some of his impressions of the 1996 electoral campaign.

O'Brien took over David Letterman's spot in 1993, and his "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" has just celebrated it's third birthday. Previous to that, he was a writer for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons.

Terry continues her interview with Jay Leno. He talks about his early career and how he developed his style of humor.

Leno talks with Terry about his life: growing up, his struggling years as a standup (with other comics like Robin Williams, Andy Kaufman, and Steve Martin), and taking over The Tonight Show. His new memoir is called "Leading With My Chin."

Martin talks with Terry Gross about his life on stage. Next month, his new book "Picasso at The Lapin Agile and Other Plays" will be published by Grove Press. It contains one full length play and three one-acts. Martin is also author of a collection of short stories, "Cruel Shoes." His screenwriting credits include "L.A.

Wuhl talks with Terry about his new HBO comedy series "Arli$$." It is about the life of Arliss Michaels, a high powered Los Angeles sports agent. The cable sitcom began airing last month and airs Wednesday nights. Wuhl also played Larry in "Bull Durham," Alex Knox the investigative reporter in the movie "Batman," and D.J. Marty Driewitz in the film "Good Morning Vietnam."

In the 1950s, Gelbart he was part of a team of television writers that included Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks, Neil Simon, and others who wrote for Sid Caesar's "Your Show of Shows" and "Caesar's Hour." Gelbart went on to develop and write for the television version of "M*A*S*H. Also, he wrote the screenplays for "Oh, God!" and "Tootsie," and the stage play for "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" There's a new PBS special about Sid Caesar's comedy team, "Caesar's Writers."

O'Donnell's book is "Getting Over Homer" from Knopf. He's has also written two other books "Elementary Education," and "Vertigo Park: and Other Tall Tales." O'Donnell also did a stint writing for TV's Saturday Night Live. His twin brother, Steve, writes for David Letterman.

Host of Comedy Central's "Politically Incorrect," Bill Maher. The former stand-up comic's new book is "Does Anybody Have a Problem With That: Politically Incorrect's Greatest Hits," (Villard) With panelists of diverse ideologies (Patty Hearst to Al Sharpton to G. Gordon Liddy...) and sometimes explosive conflicts, the show has been described as "the McLaughlin Group on acid." Beginning in January, "Politically Incorrect" will air right after Nightline on ABC.

Stand up comic John Kawie. The Arab-American hails from Springfield, Conn. He's worked in concert with fellow comics Dennis Miller and Howie Mandel, and has been a contributor to Comedy Central's "Politically Incorrect." He appears regularly on Comedy Central's "Stand-up, Stand-up."

Publisher of The Nation, Victor Navasky. He was one of a group of writers who in 1967 conceived of a literary hoax. The book "Report From Iron Mountain," was penned by Leonard Lewin and was a satire, supposedly written by a commission of eminent scholars about the problems that would arise in the United States if "permanent peace" should arrive. The book has been compared to Swift's "A Modest Proposal" and "Dr. Strangelove" for its social and political commentary. It wasn't until 1972 that Lewin admitted the hoax.

TV critic David Bianculli reviews Saturday Night Live's new late-night comedy show competitor: Saturday Night Special on FOX.

Maureen Corrigan reviews "Kraven Images" (BridgeWorks Books) by Alan Isler.

T.V. critic David Bianculli explains how two programs are making changes to appease their respective audiences: "Murder One" and Dana Carvey's Variety Show.