We are off to a Bight and Shinny New Year and here is a look at some of the celebrities and shows on Biography on A & E and the Biography Channel for January 1 - 16.

Mama Cass
Cass Elliot, one of the foursome best known as Mamas and the Papas from the sixties. She was a heavy weight lady singer who had the great voice and who loved all and who died at a young age of 32 from a heart attack. Rumors still think persist that she choked eating a sandwich. Interviews with: Michelle Phillips, Graham Nash, David Crosby, John Sebastian, and Tommy Smothers. (Biography)

Dave Chappelle
From his small town roots growing up idolizing Bill Cosby and his comedy. He rose the big time with his sometimes outlandish comedy. (A&E)

Russel Crowe
Australian actor who took the hit the American big screen in L.A. Confidential then really made it big in Gladiator. Also known for his outburst and tabloid headlines. (Biography)

Clint Eastwood
From his early days in B movies, to his first great role on the TV show Rawhide. He continued to star in TV and movies. When he starred in spaghetti westerns, such as: “A Few Dollars More”, “The Good, the Bad, the Ugly”, then onto when in 1968 he starred in two movies, his career took off. In 1971, he starred in three hit movies: “The Beguiled”, “Play Misty for Me” and his even bigger hit “Dirty Harry”. His career never slowed down, he was always making movies, either acting, producing, writing or directing. His latest movie “Million Dollar Baby” won four Oscars. (Biography)

Chris Farley
From his Second City days of improvisation and standup comedian on Saturday Night Live to his movies such as Wayne’s World and Tommyboy. Who fought drug addiction but sadly like John Belushi died from a drug overdose. Learn more about Chris Farley on Biography. (A&E)

Jodie Foster
From her Coppertone adds at age three, through her Disney movies to her Oscar wins for The Accused and The Silence of the Lambs. She has acted, directed, produced, and runs her own business.(Biography)

Jimi Hendrix
Take a trip and a look into the guitar legend who was a shy and complex and troubled musican.(Biography)

Ron Howard
From his role in Andy Griffith Show, Twilight Zone and Happy Days as a child and teenager to his acclaim as a major director, take a look at one of America’s favorite child stars and director. Interviews with Don Knotts, Andy Griffith, Henry Winkler, Nicole Kidman, Tom Hanks and Tom Cruise. (Biography)

Janis Joplin
A look inside the singer, called the ‘queen of sex, drugs and rock and roll’.(A & E)

Jayne Mansfield
The 1950s Hollywood sex symbol with the measurements that every man dreamed of and the IQ of 163. She rose to stardom with Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?, she went to to marry Mr. Universe Mickey Hargitay which help lead to his alcohol and drug addiction. She was killed in a car accident at 34 years of age.

Marilyn Monroe
Sex-symbol, movie star and model of the sixties, that spent her life struggling to prove she was anything but a dumb blonde. She married looking for love three times, two of them to famous people. One husband was to baseball great Joe DiMaggio and the other was to writer Arthur Miller. It is believed that she had personal relationships with President John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert Kennedy. She died at an early age under suspicious circumstances. Interviews with her first husband James Dougherty, Gloria Steiner and Hugh Hefner. (Biography)

Jack Nicholson
A two hours look at the one of Hollywood’s notorious bad boys, from his breakthrough performance in Easy Rider, through his great roles in movies like The Shinning, The Witches of Eastwick and many many more. Interviews with: Susan Sarandon, Faye Runaway, Greg Kinnear and Martin Landau. (Biography)

Al Pacino
From his early childhood through his first great movie role in The Graduate to his role in The Godfather and many other great movie roles. (Biography)

Priscilla Pressley
Young bride of Elvis Pressley and mother of his daughter Lisa Marie. She went into acting and into business after their divorce. (Biography)

The Vanderbilts
Cornelius Vanderbilt “Commodore” made the family’s fortune with sea and rail shipping in the 1800s. His sons and grandsons followed the Commodore’s smart business savvy and philanthropy. During the Depression a young Gloria Vanderbilt was the center of a viscous custody battle. Gloria Vanderbilt was known for her fashion and design. She is also the mother of Anderson Cooper, of CNN. (Biography)

Happy Viewing!