NBC News anchor and managing editor Brian Williams talks about media coverage of the presidential campaign and offers a view into what voter turnout could mean for this election. Jennifer Duffy, senior editor for The Cook Political Report, handicaps key U.S. Senate races.

Princeton professor Dr. Cornel West explains why he's okay with the Democratic Party being in the White House and controlling Congress. Singer-songwriter Raphael Saadiq explains how being a musician and having "the chops" must always come first; he also performs a track from his new CD.

Entertainer and longtime activist Harry Belafonte discusses whether African Americans can say, "We have overcome." Xavier University president, Dr. Norman Francis, explains the significance of the American people sending an African American to the White House.

Nationally renowned preacher Rev. Gardner Taylor, Senior Pastor Emeritus of Concord Baptist Church in Brooklyn, NY and mentor and close friend to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., tells the story of survival and acceptance that began for him with a car accident on a country road in 1937 Louisiana.

Groundbreaking comedy veteran Tommy Smothers discusses what he calls the illusion of freedom of speech in the U.S. Actress, author and activist Victoria Rowell explains why her life story is not just a foster care story.

Thomas F. "Mack" McLarty, former White House chief of staff for Bill Clinton, tells Tavis what President-elect Obama must do when he arrives in office during the country's economic crisis. Emmy-winning actress Holland Taylor describes the significance of her unique name.

Filmmaker Eugene Jarecki discusses how the Bush Doctrine goes against what the framers of the Constitution intended and would have wanted. Chef and former convicted felon, Jeff Henderson, explains how cooking at a Tavis Smiley Foundation event gave him the confidence to take the next steps in his culinary career.

The New Yorker's Jeffrey Toobin discusses the pressure that exists to add women and people of color to the Supreme Court. Ben Ratliff, jazz critic for The New York Times, explains what "The Jazz Ear" means.

California Rep. Barbara Lee tells Tavis that the first protest in her life was the fight to allow African American students to try out for her school's cheerleading team. Actress CCH Pounder shares her thoughts on her long run on the The Shield coming to an end.

Chicago Sun-Times' religion columnist Cathleen Falsani explains why people must sin boldly and how grace factors into the sinner's life. Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan performs and discusses how her music connects her with listeners and with the universe.

NBA hall-of-famer and entrepreneur Earvin "Magic" Johnson shares the childhood advice he received from his father that has made him the successful businessman that he is today.

Media mogul and philanthropist Ted Turner explains how he managed to keep his strong opinions out of CNN's coverage and discusses his new memoir, Call Me Ted.

Nobel laureate and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Toni Morrison discusses the historical significance of the presidential election and explains her new novel, A Mercy.

In a rare conversation, singer-songwriter Yusuf, better known to music fans as Cat Stevens, talks about finding new life, using culture to support moral values and his new single, "Boots and Sand."

Grammy-winning singer Natalie Cole talks about her recent health challenges and reveals for the first time that her sister is putting together an album, scheduled for a January '09 release, which combines her father's voice with those of hip-hop artists like Nas and will.i.am.

Legendary singer-songwriter James Taylor describes the difficult process of cutting down his latest CD, "Covers," to 12 songs and explains why he doesn't like to listen to himself on the radio.

Rapper-turned-Oscar-nominated actress Queen Latifah discusses her role in the new film, The Secret Life of Bees, and how she handles the role of matriarch in her career and life. NBA all-star Alonzo Mourning discusses how faith will help him through the disappointment if he's not able to return to basketball.

Pioneering actress-singer Diahann Carroll describes what it was like becoming successful at a time when African Americans were not fully accepted in society, let alone show business.

Comedians Tim Reid and Tom Dreesen, co-authors of Tim & Tom, explain how they began their interracial comedy team. A cappella singing group Naturally 7 tell the story of how the group got together and also perform.

Tavis celebrates the 1,000th episode with a look back at some memorable moments from past shows.