Q and A: Week of Aug. 22

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Q and A: Week of Aug. 22

Max Irons

Q: Last night I rented ‘Red Riding Hood’ and noticed one of the stars is Max Irons. Any relation to Jeremy Irons? — Hillary G., via e-mail

A: Max Irons, 25, is the son of Academy Award-winning English actor Jeremy Irons. Next up, Max is set to star as the title character in the feature film ‘Vivaldi,’ along with Alfred Molina, Elle Fanning and Tom Wilkinson. It is due for release in 2013.

Q: I have been hearing rumors that ‘Desperate Housewives’ has been canceled. Is that true? I hope not, as it’s my favorite show! — Emmy R., via e-mail

A: ‘Desperate Housewives’ has not been canceled; however, creator Marc Cherry recently announced that this upcoming eighth season will be the show’s last. While the news was bittersweet for everyone involved, cast and crew agree that the time has come to wrap things up on Wisteria Lane. Marc teased at ABC’s Television Critics Association party last month that this final season will return to the basics and revisit the mystery that launched the show: Mary Alice’s death. Teri Hatcher and company will return on Sunday, Sept. 25, at 9 p.m. EDT.

Leeza Gibbons

Q: I was so happy to read in your column that Leeza Gibbons would be returning to daily syndicated television in ‘America Now.’ What made her decide to return to the daily grind? — Rita E., Omaha, Neb.

A: Leeza, 54, has never been one to rest on her laurels. In fact, she prides herself on remaining busy, be it with her PBS weekly show ‘My Generation,’ her work with the Home Shopping Network and Guthy-Renker on her Sheer Cover beauty-product empire, or her tireless work as an advocate for those affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

Regarding her signing on with ‘America Now,’ which premieres Monday, Sept. 12 (check your local listings for time), Leeza told me: ‘I’m so excited, because this is a real change of pace for me going back to daily television. I’m crazy about Bill Rancic (her co-host), and we’re very excited about working together on this.

“I’ve already hit the ground running and started looking at some segments that I want to make my own, including interviewing leaders and newsmakers and celebrities about success and living without limits. There’s also consumer news, lifestyle and fitness, and things for children — we’re going to tackle all of it."

Check back later this week for my entire interview with Leeza where we talk about her new show, her recent marriage, her Sheer Cover line, and Leeza's Place, her nonprofit organization for caregivers of people with memory disorders.

Q: With all the talk of Amy Winehouse’s recent death, the death of football great Bubba Smith was overlooked. Can you give me any information on him? – Harold T. in Florida

A: Charles Aaron ‘Bubba’ Smith passed away on Aug. 3 of apparent natural causes (as of this writing, the final coroner’s report had not been released). The former defensive end for the Baltimore Colts, Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers — who some consider even more famous for his work as Moses Hightower in the ‘Police Academy’ films — was 66 at the time of his passing.