September 27, 2002
You Da' Manning
Indianapolis Colts quarterback, Peyton Manning, is arguably the best player in the NFL at his position. Number 18 has been the field general of one of the top rated offenses in the league since his rookie season in '99. Manning smashed nearly every rookie passing record in his debut season and is on pace to break many more but that's no surprise when you realize he comes from a family filled with quarterbacking talent. His father, Archie, was a pro-bowl QB with the New Orleans Saints, and his brother, Eli, is considered to be one of the top prospects for the Heisman trophy.

"When we get together, there is a lot of football talk. My mom really doesn't have a choice, she has had to learn to like it," says Manning.

Peyton will be spending his bye week co-hosting the NFL Today on CBS. The past two weeks, the guest hosts have been known for trying to out-dress Dion Sanders, but Peyton says there is no way he'll be able to accomplish this without an orange checkerboard suit.

"I don't think I can out-dress Dion, but I do have a clip of him biting on one of my play action passes that we're going to show. That should be fun."

He's a little nervous about his broadcast debut, but is still excited about it. This is almost like an audition for him, because once his playing days are over, we could be seeing Peyton in the studio full time.

"As long as they don't ask me how to beat the Miami Dolphins, I should be fine."

SIDE NOTE - While Peyton say in the studio, the cast of the Bob & Tom show presented him with an framed, autographed album cover of his favorite record, Eddie & the Cruisers.

SIDE NOTE - Peyton didn't seem to like it when Gunner informed him that in his Fantasy Football draft, Manning was taken third, behind Marshall Faulk and Kurt Warner. His reply was "Oh really."

September 27, 2002
Riding Naked with
Jackson Browne
In just three short decades, Jackson Browne has written and performed some of the most moving songs in popular music. With melodies like Doctor My Eyes, The Pretender, and Lives in the Balance, it’s easy to see how he’s sold over 15 million records. But even with all his hits, Browne isn’t ready to call it quits just yet. He’s recently released his 13th album, The Naked Ride Home, which is said to ‘catalogue the human condition with a grace and brilliance.’

September 26, 2002
Breakfast & a Poem
Paul Gilmartin is known for his comedic poetry, but to television viewers, is probably most recognized for his hosting duties on the TBS program Dinner and a Movie. Each Monday, Gilmartin presents audiences with a feature film, accompanied with instructions on how to make the perfect themed meal to go with it. Though his skills in the kitchen are second to none, it's his uncanny ability for rhyme that's captured the hearts of the Bob & Tom audience, with poems like Sister Joan, Undignified Ways to Die, and Circus Love.

September 26, 2002
It's the China-MAN
Comedian Mark Britten grew up in Texas under the watchful eye of a Chinese mother and a Caucasian father. This interesting mix of cultures led to a dysfunction upbringing that Mark wouldn't change at all. Though his family is a constant source of material for the Chinaman, his stage show also shows off his uncanny ability to perform dead-on impressions of a variety of celebrities, including his Arnold Schwartzenager which became a classic cut on Bob & Tom's most recent album, Radiogram.

FACTOID - The Chinaman performs many of the voices for Cartoon Network's most popular show, Dragon Ball Z.

September 25, 2002
Damon Wayans
Popular film and television star, Damon Wayans, plays Michael Kyle, a man on a tragically funny quest to live the "traditional" family life. That's just not going to happen. His stay-at-home wife became a stock market moneymaker, his only son would rather listen to rap than to his dad and his daughters are, well, daughters.

"I've want people to be able to relate to this show, that's why almost all the stories come from my life, or the life of one of the writers," says Wayans. "I don't want someone to say something like 'let's send them camping.' I want them to tell me a story about when they went camping, that way they know what it's really like, and why it's funny.

Wayan's philosophy on the show seems to be working because My Wife and Kids became the surprise smash comedy hit a season ago on ABC, It was so strong in the ratings, that the network used it to anchor their Wednesday night prime-time lineup.

"This is a great gig. As the producer of the show, I am in charge of keeping it going in the direction I want it to. I am also involved with every script, and the editing process, so I work on the thing till it airs," says Wayans. "My day pretty much starts at 10, and I go till eight... but we work for three weeks then take a week off, and I get the weekends off to spend with my real wife and kids. Plus no travel.

However, traveling he will be doing in this season's one-hour premiere. Wayans finds himself in the middle of a dream vacation in Hawaii.

"Anyone who has ever been on vacation with their family will be able to relate to this show," says Wayans. "My youngest daughter keeps charging everything to the room, my son thinks he falls in love and doesn't want to leave, and my wife is trying to make this into a second honeymoon." The comedy writes itself.

My Wife and Kids airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on ABC.

FACTOID – Damon Wayans comes from a large, and very talented family. He grew up with nine siblings, many of which also went into show business.

September 25, 2002
CSI's New Season
CBS needed a show to keep people entertained after Survivor went off the air at nine on Thursday nights. They made the right choice when CSI: Crime Scene Investigation was selected to fill that spot. The show rose to number one in the ratings, and has drawn such a huge following that it has spawned a second program in the series, CSI Miami. Robert David Hall has been a member of the cast since the start, and has enjoyed the shows success.

"I think I came on after the fourth episode," says Hall, "and it just took off after that. It's the coroner that really makes the show."

Hall of course, it referring to his role as coroner Dr. Al Robins. He has the joy of working with all the "dead" bodies on the set.

"Those aren't dummies we use, those are aspiring actors. I guess that's how you make it in showbiz today, you have to play a dead guy."

CSI’s new season debuts Thursday, September 26 on CBS, and the hope is that it will continue to be the top rated show on TV. "It's amazing how this show has taken off. I know both my wife and I hope it continues. When you do a show, you go in thinking it will tank, because so many new shows do. But my biggest critic, my son, likes it, and even my ex-wife enjoys the show. What bigger compliment could you get?"

FACTOID – Robert David Hall had both of his legs amputated as the result of his car being crushed by an 18-wheeler in 1978. That hasn’t slowed him down at all though, as he now uses prosthetics.

September 25, 2002
Larry the Cable Guy
With all the important issues facing us today, it's nice to have the stable mind and soothing voice of Larry the Cable Guy to keep everything in perspective. His way of putting a redneck, southern twist into each of his commentaries has helped transform Larry from a simple cable installer into a modern day philosopher. We're glad he takes the time each week to share his words of wisdom, and awe inspiring analogies with the rest of us.

September 25, 2002
The NFL Song: Week 3
The St. Louis Rams are 0-3, and the Carolina Panthers are 3-0! What the hell, what the hell goin' on in the NFL? These are the burning questions that we hope Duke Tumatoe addresses in this week's NFL Song along with bass player, Mark Christopher Rohrman. Who knows, we might even be treated to another poem by our own Chick McGee, though it will most likely have nothing at all to do with the NFL or even football in general.

September 24, 2002
Prime Time Tanya
Chick McGee will be glued to his high-def television set for sure (not that this is a new thing) when Tanya Memme makes her long awaited appearance on CBS's military legal drama JAG. Though she actually originates from north of the border (AKA Canada), Tanya will be portraying an exotic Mexican beauty for her prime-time network drama debut Tuesday, September 24.

"I am playing a news anchor on the show, so I really didn't get to hang out with a lot of the cast," says Tanya. "But I did get to work with the director of my favorite movie, Somewhere In Time"

And wouldn't you know it, that just happens to be Chick's favorite movie too. "You see Chick, we are just meant to be," says Tanya. Chick immediately had to leave the room for a moist towelette.

SIDE NOTE - Tanya has become an extended part of the CBS family, as she will be appearing one of their other dramas, the new CSI: Miami.

• Chick & Tanya's Dream Date
• More Tanya photos

September 24, 2002
Hey Willie!
Everyone's favorite cat-chasing, wisecracking, mischief-making, sidesplitting"alien life form” from the '80's is back! ALF has returned to toy-store shelves and TV commercials recently but his biggest gig has been showing people how to get a 20 minute phone call for less than a buck alongside Terry Bradshaw and Toby Keith.

"That was Terry Bradshaw? I thought it was Ron Howard," said ALF about his commercial costar. "The only reason I signed on was to help me get into movies.

It's been years since ALF was on the small screen on a regular basis, but his popularity is once again on the rise. "The nineties were a little rough on me. I lived in a one bedroom apartment with Gary Coleman. But now with everyone having there own show, and getting there 15 minutes, I am hoping to cash in again. I could use that half hour of fame," says the alien.

ALF creator (and voice) Paul Fusco has big plans in mind for the lovable hairball. Watch out Leno and Letterman, Fusco sees ALF as the next big thing in late night talk and hopes he'll be hosting his own show in the near future. "I'll be talking to people who've been abducted by aliens, seen bigfoot, and that kind of thing. You know, the real weirdos," says ALF. "We're just pitching the idea right now... the problem is that no one is committed yet. It's always that commitment thing. I've also been trying to get on Hollywood Squares now the Woopie's gone. We can only hope he gets it.

September 24, 2002
Everybody Loves Zany
He didn't win an Emmy and he doesn't star in a hit sitcom series, but Bob Zany's still number one in our hearts. Or at least a close second. That's because he brings us The Zany Report each and every week, whether we want him to or not. And don't forget, where there's Zany, there's also a chance for you to Fix the Joke, Bay-Bee, and win one of those Eat Salmon the Other Pink Meat T-shirts.

SIDE NOTE- This week's report was not a fixer-upper according to Tom. It was more of a tear-downer. Zany blames that on this week being more of a discussion group on how comedy works.