Terry Gross

Two weeks ago Congress passed a sweeping new telecommunications bill, the biggest overhaul of telecommunications law in 62 years. The bill contains a provision (the Communications Decency Act) which makes obscenity on the internet illegal, punishable by fines of up to $100,000 and prison sentences to "knowingly" transmit to minors material deemed "indecent" on on-line services.

Dr. Fred Sheftell is the co-founder of The New England Center for Headache and the co-author of the book, Headache Relief. He's also co-authored the new book, Headache Relief for Women: How You Can Manage and Prevent Pain (Little, Brown & Co.) (The New England Center for Headache is located in Stamford, Connecticut).

Columnist for The Washington Post, E. J. Dionne, Jr. He's the author of the book, Why Americans Hate Politics. His latest book is They Only Look Dead: Why Progressives will Dominate the Next Political Era (Simon & Schuster). He'll talk with Terry about the book and the results of the Iowa Caucuses.

Nancy Sinatra daughter of Frank Sinatra. She's recorded a few hits of her own including "These Boots are Made for Walking," and "Something Stupid," the duet she recorded with her father. Nancy Sinatra has written a book about her father, Frank Sinatra: An American Legend (General Publishing Group). Nancy Sinatra has a new album too, (her first in 20 years) "One More Time." (Cougar records). (WE AIRED PART OF HER INTERVIEW 12/12/95 ON THE OCCASION OF HER FATHER'S 80TH BIRTHDAY.)

Actor, director & writer Simon Callow. He's written a new acclaimed biography of Orson Welles, Orson Welles: The Road to Xanadu (Viking). Callow has appeared on stage and in many films, including "Four Weddings and a Funeral." He's also written two books on acting and a biography of Charles Laughton.

Balkans correspondent for the Financial Times, Laura Silber. She's the co-author of the new book, The Death of Yugoslavia (TV Books/Penguin, with Allan Little). In the book they look at the decisions that led to war. They write that Yugoslavia did not die a "natural death" that it was "deliberately and systematically killed off by men who had nothing to gain and everything to lose from a peaceful transition from state socialism and one-party rule to free-market democracy." There is also a accompanying TV documentary series to the book.

We remember band leader and composer Mercer Ellington, the son of Duke Ellington. He perpetuated the big band tradition his father made famous as head of the Duke Ellington Band. When he was a young man, Mercer Ellington had hoped to break into his father's band on the saxophone. But after years of frustration, he could see that he would never crack the legendary Ellington reed section. He finally was accepted as a trombone player and later played french horn and trumpet. With the death of his father in 1974, Mercer Ellington took over his father's orchestra.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "Broken Arrow."

Actor Bill Pullman. He taught drama at the University of Montana, where he rose to department head at age 27. Pullman later made his acting debut in "Ruthless People." In 1995 he was featured in the films, "Casper," "While You Were Sleeping," and "The Last Seduction." He's now starring in "Mr. Wrong." (REBROADCAST from 6/8/95)

Stand up comic Ellen DeGeneres, the star of the sitcom "Ellen." The show airs on Wednesday nights on ABC. Last year DeGeneres co-hosted the 1994 Emmy awards and received a People's Choice Award for Favorite Female in a New Television series. She now has a new book, My Point. . . And I Do Have One (Bantam News). She's now starring in "Mr. Wrong." (REBROADCAST from 9/13/95)