Terry Gross

Filmmaker Ethan Coen makes movies with his brother Joel Coen. Their films include, "Blood Simple," "Raising Arizona," "Barton Fink," "Fargo," and "The Big Lebowski." His stories have appeared in The New Yorker, Playboy, and Vanity Fair. His first book is called, "Gates of Eden" (Rob Weisbach Books) which is a collection of stories. The Coen Brothers have a new film called “O Brother Where Art tThou.” (10/21/98)

Actor Alfred Molina (“muh-LEE-nah”). He’s starring in the new film, “Chocolat,” (“show-koh-LAHT”) about a mysterious and seductive chocolate shop that electrifies a French village. MOLINA is a Tony-nominated actor who has played in over 30 films, 30 TV movies, and many theater productions. His Tony nomination was for his role in the Broadway hit “Art.” His film credits include “Boogie Nights,” “Anna Karenina,” “Prick up Your Ears,” and “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” Molina was born in London, UK, and lives in Los Angeles.

Comedian Richard Lewis. His new book is called “The Other Great Depression,” (Public Affairs, 2000) and chronicles his recovery from alcoholism. He’s an award winning stand up comic and has appeared in over twenty movies and TV shows. Currently, he co-stars in Larry David’s HBO show “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

Editors Robert Gottlieb and Robert Kimball have collaborated on the new book “Reading Lyrics” (Pantheon Books), an anthology of some of the most important lyricists of the last century, including the lyrics of George M. Cohan, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Ira Gershwin, Lorenz Hart, Dorothy Field, Frank Loesser, Johnny Mercer, and more. The book covers the time period 1900-1975. Robert Gottlieb is the author of “Reading Jazz,” and Robert Kimball is the editor of complete lyrics collections of Cole Porter, Ira Gershwin, and Lorenz Hart.

Actress Christine Baranski. She’s probably best known for her work on the T-V series “Cybill,” in which she played Maryann, the best friend of Cybill Shepherd. She’s currently starring in the T-V sitcom “Welcome To New York” (CBS). She also plays Martha May Whovier in the new film “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” She’s won two Emmys, an American Comedy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and two Tonys for her theater performances. Her film credits include “Bowfinger,” “Cruel Intentions,” and “The Birdcage.” Her plays include “The Real Thing” and “The House of Blue Leaves.”

Garbage expert Benjamin Miller discusses the history of rubbish in New York. He’s the former director of policy planning for the New York City Department of Sanitation. He’s just written a book on the subject, entitled “Fat of the Land: Garbage in New York – The Last 200 Years.” (Four Walls Eight Windows) Miller says that the dumping of garbage has literally shaped New York City as it took over surrounding islands and bulked up Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan.

Ed Harris is starring as Jackson Pollock in a new movie about the artist’s life. We’ll feature an interview from our archives about Pollock. Kirk Varnedoe ("VAR-na-doh") was the chief curator for a major Jackson Pollock exhibit that ran last year at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Pollock is widely considered the most challenging and influential American painter of the twentieth century and one of the primary creators in modern art since 1945. Pollock was born in Cody, Wyoming in 1912.

Reporter Eric Schmitt. He covers Capitol Hill for the New York Times. He’ll talk about the new Congress and power sharing in the 50/50 Senate. Schmitt will also talk about how the just resolved Presidential election—along with a truncated transition period for George W. Bush -- may effect political decision making on the Hill.

Law Professor Cass Sunstein. An expert in Constitutional interpretation, he explains the US Supreme Court decision in Bush v. Gore handed down last night. He talks about the legal difficulties of the case, what the final decision means for each candidate, and what sort of historical precedent a decision such as this one sets for the future.