Q and A: Week of May 23

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Q and A: Week of May 23

Joseph Lyle Taylor

Q: I was so happy to hear that FX’s “Justified” has been renewed for a third season; however, I was sad to see Joseph Lyle Taylor’s character, Doyle, get killed in the second-season finale. Now that his run on “Justified” is over, where can I catch this talented actor next? — Fanny R., Tulsa, Okla.

A: Joseph’s next role is that of Martin Chisholm in the feature film “Seven Days in Utopia,” which also stars Melissa Leo, Robert Duvall and Lucas Black. Joseph told me a bit about the film: “It’s really a heartfelt movie about this kid, played by Lucas Black, finding himself. I play his father. It’s such a pretty script.


“My character rides his son hard to do his best in golf and makes him practice and this and that. He ends up giving him some bad advice, and his son ends up not winning the tournament, takes off and that is where he meets Robert Duvall (who plays Johnny Crawford) out in Utopia. He learns some life lessons out there, and he comes back and tries to make amends with his father. It’s really touching.” (Check back later this week to read our full interview.)

Q: When will one of my favorite shows, “Drop Dead Diva,” be back for its next season? — Gennifer T., via email



A: Well, you don’t have long to wait! “Drop Dead Diva” returns to Lifetime Television for its third season on Sunday, June 19. For those who haven’t seen the show, “Diva” is a one-hour comedic drama that tells the story of a shallow wannabe model who dies in a sudden accident, only to find her soul resurfacing in the body of a brilliant, plus-size and recently deceased attorney, Jane. This season’s guest stars include Paula Abdul, Kathy Griffin, Wanda Sykes, Clay Aiken, Lance Bass, Amanda Bearse, Tony Goldwyn, Howard Hesseman, Sharon Lawrence, Jennifer Tilly, Quinton Aaron and more.

Q: I was watching a new sitcom on ABC called “Happy Endings,” and the actor who plays Dave looks very familiar. What else might I have seen him in? — Jerry G., via email

A: Well, I remember Zachary Knighton best as Bryce from the shouldn’t-have-been-canceled show “FlashForward.” I also rewatched “The Prince and Me” recently, and realized that he plays one of Julia Stiles’ brothers in that movie. He’s also had guest roles on “House, M.D.” and “Bones,” as well as “Law and Order” and “Law and Order: SVU.” Stop me when something sounds familiar ….

Q: What has my favorite actress, Meryl Streep, been up to lately? — David R. in Alabama

A: Meryl is busy filming “The Iron Lady,” where she plays the U.K.’s first female prime minister, Margaret Thatcher. Word from the set is that her portrayal is astonishing, and her transformation is absolutely stunning. Look for “The Iron Lady” in late 2011, just in time to be considered for the Oscars.

Q and A: Week of Oct. 18

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Q and A: Week of Oct. 18

Q: I love Lifetime’s “Drop Dead Diva.” Has it been renewed for another season? — Kelli J., St. Louis

A: I’m happy to report that the unique comedy/drama starring the delightfully talented Brooke Elliott (pictured left) has been renewed for its third season, which is set to premiere its 13 new episodes in 2011.

Q: I really got sucked into “The Gates” this summer, and I was wondering if it will be back for a second season. With all the shows these days that have vampires and werewolves and the like, this one is truly unique, exciting and suspenseful. — Theodore F., via e-mail

A: I have to agree with you — I absolutely love “The Gates.” An ABC representative told me that there is no official word yet as to the show’s fate (as of this writing). I’m hoping it doesn’t go the way of “FlashForward,” another excellent ABC series that was canceled back in May. I just hate to get interested and invested in a series, only to have the rug pulled out from under me when it gets canceled because the network didn’t give it enough of a chance. This need for immediate ratings results really doesn’t do anything to help nourish and grow a new series.




Q: One show I am delighted to watch again is “Lou Grant,” a spin-off from the old “Mary Tyler Moore Show.” I am enjoying it again but wondered about the actors and what became of them. I know Ed Asner is still active and that Nancy Marchand passed away a few years ago. But what about some of the others? –Dorothy P., via e-mail

A: Linda Kelsey has guest-starred in many TV shows and movies, including “Day by Day,” “Matlock,” “ER” and “Touched By An Angel.” Most recently she co-starred in “Into Temptation” with Jeremy Sisto, Kristin Chenowith and Brian Baumgartner. Robert Walden has been steadily working since “Lou Grant,” starring in “Brothers” and guest-starring on “Melrose Place,” “Judging Amy,” “The West Wing” and “Law and Order: SVU,” among others. Daryl Anderson has done a myriad of different projects, from soaps (”Days of Our Lives” and “The Young and The Restless”) to TV series (”Flipper” and “The A-Team”) to movies (”The Kid” with Bruce Willis and “Human Nature” with Tim Robbins).

Q: The other day when I was listening to the radio, and old favorite song of mine, “If You Leave” by OMD, came on the radio. It made me wonder what the band was doing now and if they’ll be putting out any new material. — Michael D., West Palm Beach, Fla.

A: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, or OMD, just released “History of Modern,” its first album of new material in 14 years. I’ve heard a few tracks from the album, and I have to say that it is excellent. The 14-track CD is available in stores and online at omd.com.

Q and A: Week of August 23

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Q and A: Week of August 23

Q: I finally rented “The Cove” and was disgusted and heartbroken to witness the slaughter of those beautiful dolphins. Since the movie came out, have things gotten better over there in Japan? — Julia S., West Palm Beach, Fla.

A: I spoke with Ric O’Barry, longtime dolphin activist and subject of the award-winning documentary “The Cove.” He is sad to report that the slaughter and capture of wild dolphins still occurs, albeit on a “lesser” scale.


“The dolphin slaughter begins Sept. 1 and goes through March,” he said. “During that period last year in that the town of Taiji, the mayor and the city council implemented a no-kill policy. They were bringing dolphins in and capturing them for the dolphin swim program — the dolphin-captivity industry. But they let about 300 of them go. They still kill pilot whales, but they stopped killing bottle-nosed dolphins, probably thinking, ‘That will appease them.’ But we don’t know what’s going to happen come this Sept. 1.”

You can track Ric and his son, Lincoln’s, progress on this hot-button issue on Animal Planet’s “Blood Dolphins.” The premiere episode airs Aug. 27 (with an encore Sept. 3), and parts two and three air Sept. 10 and 17, respectively.

Q: Christopher Walken has always been a favorite of mine, and I wonder what is coming up in his future, project-wise? — Elva P., Fort Worth, Texas

A: The versatile 67-year-old actor has many big-screen movie projects in the works, including “The Irishman,” “Life’s a Beach,” “A Girl and a Gun” and “Wild Oats,” the latter of which just started filming and is a comedy co-starring Christina Ricci, Shirley MacLaine and Bill Pullman. While Christopher is an excellent dramatic actor, I love to see him cut-up in a comedy, so “Wild Oats” is one I’m especially looking forward to.

Q: I just saw Natasha Henstridge in the TV movie you recommended, “The Devil’s Teardrop,” and I really liked it. What are some other things I can see her in? — Lindsay D., via e-mail

A: Natasha told me that, while she is mulling over different projects at the moment, the next thing you can see her in is the Aug. 29 episode of Lifetime Television’s hit “Drop Dead Diva.” As Natasha explained: “I get to stir up some trouble. I play Claire Harrison, who is the partner of the law firm with J Parker — Parker & Harrison. So J Parker and Claire Harrison have some history, and I go over there and make some trouble, both businesswise and personally.”

Q: I recently watched a movie called “The Last of the Dogmen,” starring Tom Berenger, and it got me to wondering what he’s been up to lately. — Mary W., Southbury, Conn.

A: Tom can be seen on the big screen — and in 3-D — in the summer blockbuster “Inception.” (FYI: So far, this is my favorite movie of the summer.) His movie “Sinners and Saints” also is touring the festival circuit.

Q: One of my favorite reality shows is “The Real Housewives” series on Bravo. I especially love Bethenny Frankel on the New York series, and I wondered if that show and/or Bethenny would be back? — Michele M., Bel Air, Md.

A: I spoke with Bethenny recently, and she told me she has no plans to return to the “Real Housewives.” In her words: “I very highly doubt I will go back to ‘Housewives.’ I don’t see any reason or upside for that.” Besides, Bethenny is pretty busy these days as a new mom, a newlywed and promoting her “Body by Bethenny” workout DVD.

And if you are wondering how she shed all that baby weight, it’s simple: “[The weight] came off afterward, because I wasn’t extreme about dieting nor had I binged while pregnant. Just be balanced before, during and after, and treat your diet like a bank account, and you will have no issue.”

Q: I really love the addition of Lindsay Pulsipher on “True Blood,” but this makes me doubt the potential re-emergence of “FlashForward,” since Lindsay played teenaged Charlie in one of the final scenes’ flash-forwards. Should I give up on the dream of “FlashForward” being picked up by another network? — Fred J., via e-mail

A: I am sad to report that I think yes, the dream might be over. Many fans, including myself, were drawn into the exciting series and had hoped that maybe TNT or AMC would save it from extinction. When I asked Lindsay about the possibility, she wasn’t super hopeful of a “FlashForward” resurrection.


“There hasn’t been any talk of that, that I know of, unfortunately,” Lindsay tells me. “I know a lot of people really loved that show, and I think it had amazing potential to be really great next season. Unfortunately, I have not heard anything, but you never know — if another cable network wants to pick it up, that would be amazing!”

Q: What happened to the NBC drama series “Trauma”? One week it was on, the next it was gone. Will it be back? — Judy, Waverly, Ohio

A: “Trauma,” a medical drama that centers on a group of paramedics in San Francisco, was officially canceled by the network this past May due to low ratings.

Interview: Lindsay Pulsipher Mingles With Vampires

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Interview: Lindsay Pulsipher Mingles With Vampires

True Blood, which airs Sunday nights at 9 on HBO, has had everyone talking since the show began in 2008. The Emmy-nominated show, based on the series of best-selling books by Charlaine Harris, is known for its solid pedigree of featured stars and guest stars. New to the show this season is Lindsay Pulsipher (pictured left, photo credit JSquared Photography), who previously co-starred in The Beast with the late Patrick Swayze. Lindsay plays new-girl-in-town Crystal, and she just happens to stir up some trouble.

Celebrity Extra: When you came aboard True Blood, it was already a bona fide hit with a solid fan base. Was that intimidating for you, or did it get you excited to tackle this role?

Lindsay Pulsipher: I was over-the-moon excited. I was screaming at the top of my lungs when I got the news I’d been cast. Then once all that settled in, I realized the caliber of the show. I knew I was coming into a huge, huge show with a huge fan base and a big following. So there was a little bit of — panic sets in and then you think, “Oh man, can I pull this off and make people excited about this role?” So I hope that I’ve pulled through.

CE: Had you read any of the books before getting the part?

LP: You know when I got the part; I had not read the books. I made a conscious decision to hold off reading them, because I wanted to look at Crystal through the writers’ eyes on the show. And then once I kind of got a feeling for the character and I kind of knew where they were taking her and everything, I decided to start reading the books. I’m on the third book now, and it’s so good. I can see why people are so into it.

CE: What can you tell me about Crystal?

LP: Well, Crystal is just a really strong and spirited character. And I think that it’s every actor’s dream to kind of play a role that has a little meat to it. And there’s a lot for me to play with, with Crystal. She’s multilayered and she’s complex, and she’s got a lot of issues in her life right now. And she’s a little bit manic and it’s fun to be able to explore all those avenues and she’s definitely not one dimensional which is fun.

CE: What’s the overall atmosphere of the show; how is everyone to work with?

LP: It’s a very light and friendly set. Everybody has an amazing time and you can tell everybody just loves their job. And everybody is so happy to be there, which makes for such a pleasant environment. And that being said though, everybody is very professional and takes their job very seriously. And all the actors on the show are really dedicated to their characters, and they know their characters very well.

CE: Can you give me a tease about what going to come up in the next few episodes?

LP: I can definitely tell you that Crystal causes rifts in BT [Bon Temps], but it’s not just for Jason. She causes some problems for some of the other characters and gets herself into some trouble.

CE: Now, can you tell me if your character will be back in Season 4, or might that give something away?

LP: It’s probably best if I don’t answer that. It could potentially give away some spoilers. So I should probably stay away from that question (laughs).

CE: FlashForward was one of my favorite new shows of last season, and I was surprised to see you pop up in the last moments of the final episode as Teenaged Charlie. Have you heard anything about any possible chance of it being brought back, even if it's to another network?

LP: You know, there hasn’t been any talk of that that I know of unfortunately. I know that a lot of people really loved that show, and I think that it had amazing potential to be really great next season. But unfortunately I have not heard anything. But, that would be really cool if it did because I would really love to work on that show again.

CE: Yeah, I want to start a campaign for TNT to bring it back, or AMC, or any of those cutting-edge cable networks.

LP: Yeah, I know. I have a lot of friends who feel that same way. It had a lot of potential, and it was really different and interesting. I’m kind of sad that it’s not going to come back. But you never know, and if another cable network wants to pick it up, that would be amazing!

CE: Prior to this, you co-starred in The Beast with Patrick Swayze. Can you tell me what he was like as a person, and how he was to work with?

LP: Patrick is — was — such an amazing person and I can’t say enough things about him. He was sweet, kind, generous and had an amazingly dirty sense of humor. He was such a jokester. You know, always joking and making things so pleasant and light. Oh, he was such an inspiration. I can’t say enough good things about him. [Going through cancer treatment while shooting the show] really put things into perspective for me. Like if I was kind of tired or my call time was at an ungodly hour, it made me think twice of even complaining inside my head because I knew what he was going through. Never once did he come to work unprepared. He was always in top-notch form. And it was so inspiring to see.

CE: Tell me about the feature film you star in, The Oregonian.

LP: The film is amazing. It’s kind of an art horror film, if you will. My character is this girl who’s leaving home and, without giving too much away, she’s gets into a car accident. And she kind of wakes up and doesn’t know if she’s alive or dead or in purgatory somewhere. And it’s her journey discovering that. And she encounters a lot crazy things along the way, and it’s really different. I’ve never done anything like it. It’s really different and bizarre, and I’m really excited about it.

Q and A: Week of July 2

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Q and A: Week of July 2

Q: I just saw “Iron Man 2” this weekend, and I wondered about one of the actresses in the movie. In the party scene with Robert Downey Jr., there is a blond actress who looks a lot like Irina from “Desperate Housewives.” Are they one in the same? — Tess G., via e-mail

A: That’s a very good eye you have there, as the actress who played Rebecca in “Iron Man 2” is indeed the same person who plays Irina: Helena Mattsson (pictured, left). The 26-year-old beauty from Stockholm, Sweden, is indeed wreaking havoc on poor Lynette portraying her son’s gold-digging fiancée.

When I caught up with Helena recently, she told me what a joy it is to play the Russian temptress: “It is so much fun to be the villain and to be manipulative. There are so many off-tones, so many layers that only the women understand among themselves. You can always read between the lines. It is also a lot of fun to play a character who’s really far from who you are yourself, and really have fun with that and be the villain.”

Q: Did actress Amy Adams have her baby yet? I remember reading a while back that she was pregnant. — Gina H., Carson City, Nev.

A: Amy, 35, and fiance Darren Le Gallo, welcomed a 7-pound baby girl on May 15. The “Julie and Julia” star named her daughter Aviana Olea Le Gallo. Amy and Darren have been together for seven years and engaged since July 2008.

Q: Will Starz’s new show “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” be back for a second season? Also, I had heard that the show’s star, Andy Whitfield, has cancer. Is he going to be OK? — Paul F., Mansfield, Ohio

A: It was recently announced that “Spartacus” will return in January 2011 as a six-part prequel series that will once again star John Hannah and Lucy Lawless, with brief appearances by Andy Whitfield. The series has been renewed for a full second-season order, but production has been delayed while Andy is treated for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Co-star Katrina Law (pictured, left) told me that Andy is responding well to treatment, and that “he has felt the millions of prayers that are coming toward him, and it really is an inspiration for him. Keep sending them, because he really appreciates it.”

Q: I can’t believe that “FlashForward” wasn’t renewed for the 2010-11 season. What are they thinking over there at ABC? — Suzzi F., via e-mail

A: “FlashForward” did start out a little shaky, but when it came back after its hiatus, it had really pulled its act together and was cohesive, exciting, well-acted and thoughtful. I am sad we won’t get closure on a lot of those open story lines, as I was looking forward to seeing what the future of the show would bring. Hopefully a cable station like TNT, SyFy or FX will decide to pick up the show for next season.

Q: I was channel-surfing the other day and came across and old episode of “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” I was sure one of the actresses on the show that episode was Ashley Judd. Was it her? If so, what year was that? — J.W., via e-mail

A: That was indeed the “Someone Like You” star, who guest-starred on two episodes of “The Next Generation” back in 1991. That was Ashley’s first role in Hollywood, where she came after college and studied with renowned acting teacher Robert Carnegie at Playhouse West.

Q: I was happy to read in your column about David James Elliott’s new Hallmark Channel movie “Dad’s Home.” It got me to thinking that I’d love to see him in another series so I can watch him on a regular basis. Does he have any plans to come back to television in a new series? — Kim T., St. Louis

A: You’re in luck. David (pictured, left) co-stars in the summer series “Scoundrels,” which airs Sunday nights on ABC. He plays Wolf West, the incarcerated patriarch of a family of small-time criminals. His wife (Virginia Madsen) must try to make ends meet as the family tries to go straight.

David is thrilled to try on this new role, telling me: “This guy, he has a lot of me in him, and he’s got a lot of people that I know in him. It’s just a great opportunity that came along, and I’m just happy to be a part of it. He’s completely different from Harmon Rabb (his character on ‘JAG’), and that’s dynamite.”

Q: I know Alec Baldwin is very politically vocal, but is it true he is going to run for office? — Paul T., Altoona, Pa.

A: According to Alec’s spokesman, Matthew Hiltzick, this rumor is false. He told the New York Daily news that Alec has no current plans to run for office, but “who knows what may happen in the future?”

 Q: Are former cast members of the original “Beverly Hills, 90210” still friends? I grew up watching that show, and would like to think they all still get along. — Heather D., via e-mail

A: A while back, there was a much-reported riff between Shannen Doherty and the rest of the cast, which I am sure you heard of, but time seems to have softened the actress’ sharp edges. While I wouldn’t say she is best friends with her former castmates, she certainly isn’t an enemy. Many of the others regularly keep in touch. In fact, Jennie Garth (with hubby Peter Facinelli), Jason Priestley (and wife Naomi) and Brian Austin Green (with girlfriend Megan Fox) recently attended the nuptials of fellow “90210” alumnus Ian Ziering. Jennie tweeted about the event: “Had a great time at Ian and Erin’s wedding. Kind of like a mini ‘90210’ reunion. What a beautiful bride. Oh, and the groom wasn’t too bad either!”

Q: I am excited to see the new “A-Team” movie, especially because it stars one of my favorite actors, Bradley Cooper (pictured, left). He always seems to be linked to some beautiful Hollywood actress. Can you tell me who he is dating now? — Tara F., Baltimore

A: The often-shirtless star has been linked to Jennifer Esposito, with whom he had a four-month marriage, and Jennifer Aniston, whom he describes as a buddy, not a love interest. He is mum, however, when it comes to current lady-love, Renee Zellweger. The cute couple has been dating since 2009; however, he refuses to go into details about their relationship in order to keep it as private as possible (which I fully support).

Q: I just got the new Emily Giffin book, “Heart of the Matter,” and absolutely love it. Now I am hearing that her book, “Something Borrowed,” is being made into a movie. Please tell me this is true! — Rhonda H., Hamilton, Ohio

A: I am happy to report that the rumors are true. The film, which began shooting in April, is set for a 2011 release. It stars Kate Hudson as Darcy, Colin Egglesfield as Dex, Ginnifer Goodwin as Rachel and John Krasinski as Ethan. For those unfamiliar with the book series, the movie centers on a Manhattan attorney who becomes involved with her best friend’s fiance. Alcon Entertainment, headed by Hilary Swank and Molly Smith, plan to develop the sequel, “Something Blue,” as well.

Q: Who is going to take over the role of Mikaela Banes in the third “Transformers” movie now that Megan Fox has quit the franchise? — Tommy T., via e-mail

A: As of this writing, the front-runner for the role is Victoria’s Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whitely. Shooting has already started on “Transformers 3” (working title), and the project also involves Patrick Dempsey, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, and of course, Josh Duhamel and Shia LaBeouf will be returning as Captain Lennox and Sam Witwicky, respectively.

Q: I was watching “Friday Night Lights” a few weeks ago, and could have sworn that one of the co-stars was Detective Larry Zito from “Miami Vice” back in the ’80s. Was it him? What has he been up to since leaving “Miami Vice”? — Tommy D., via e-mail

A: John Diehl, 60, has been working VERY steadily since leaving the trendsetting police drama back in 1987. Most recently he portrayed Richard Sherman on “FNL.” He also has starred/guest-starred on: “L.A. Law,” “The John Larroquette Show,” “Nash Bridges” (reuniting with "Miami Vice" co-star Don Johnson), “JAG,” “The West Wing,” “Cold Case” and “Point Pleasant.” He also just wrapped two feature films, “Road to Nowhere” and “Natural Selection.”

Q: I have been a lifelong fan of the Osmonds. I know that two of the brothers, Virl and Tom, are deaf. My mom told me Merrill’s son is deaf as well. Can you tell me about him? — Paula F., Harrisburg, Pa.

A: Justin Osmond (pictured, left), Merrill’s son, was born with severe hearing loss, but can now hear with the help of hearing aids. Justin is the public-relations coordinator/spokesman for the Starkey Hearing Foundation, which has provided more than 440,000 hearing aids to underprivileged children in the U.S. and other parts of the world.

Justin told me about an instance of providing the gift of hearing to a young child that has stuck with him: “I remember one little girl in particular who changed my life forever. She was just absolutely filled with joy when she realized she could hear. Her mother told me with all the sincerity in her heart: 'I love my daughter so much. And now she can hear me tell her that I love her.’

“And then she said something that I’ll never forget: 'Justin, I hope you never measure your life by the days you have lived but by the smiles you have left behind.’” For information on how you can help, go to starkeyhearingfoundation.org.

Q: I know Alicia Witt of “Law and Order: Criminal Intent” also was in the movie “Mr. Holland’s Opus.” Was she also the little girl in “Dune”? — Cate S., via e-mail

A: This beautiful film and TV star did indeed get her break in showbiz in the 1984 David Lynch sci-fi fantasy, “Dune,” with Kyle MacLachlan and Sting. The 34-year-old actress also has appeared in “Vanilla Sky,” “The Upside of Anger,” “88 Minutes” and “Friday Night Lights,” to name a few.

Q: I watched a movie on SyFy a while back called “Brave New World” with Leonard Nimoy. I can’t find it anywhere and would love to see it again. — Robyn D. in Florida

A: I found a few out-of-print VHS copies of the 1998 remake of the classic book by Adolph Huxley on amazon.com, as well as a PAL DVD version on eBay. There are a few out there, but you’ll have to pay a pretty penny to get your hands on one. Good luck!

Q: Will James MacArthur, who played Danno in the original “Hawaii Five-0,” have any part in the new show? — Jim S., Punta Gorda, Fla.

A: Mr. MacArthur is relishing his retirement, playing golf and tennis, doing a little traveling and enjoying spending time with his family. He divides his time between his homes in Southern California and Hawaii. Currently, there are no plans for his participation in the new “Hawaii Five-0.” When I contacted him recently, he told me: “I wish the new team much success and look forward to seeing what they’ll do with the franchise.”

Q: I saw a preview for the new series “The Gates,” and one of the actors looked like Luke Mably from “The Prince and Me.” Was that him, and if so, what has he been doing since that movie? — Elly H., via e-mail

A: That is indeed the prince himself, Luke Mably (pictured, left), playing an entrepreneur with an otherworldly bloodlust in the new ABC summer drama. When I asked him why he’d been keeping such a low profile, he told me: “When ‘The Prince and Me’ first came out, I was staying in Los Angeles. I remember walking down Sunset Boulevard and someone saying to me, ‘Hey, you’re that prince guy!’ And whenever I had meetings for film roles, I would walk into the room and people would go, ‘Ah … the prince!’

“It was nice to get recognition for a role I did, and the fans of the film have been very complimentary, which I am forever grateful for and sincerely humbled by. But as time went by, I thought, I hope I won’t be known only for playing this prince guy. So I was keen to do more diverse work. I went back to London. One project I am proud of since then is a play I did called ‘Festen.’ It’s a haunting story and subject matter. Another project I’ve done, which I am keen for people to see, is a movie called ‘Exam’ (on DVD July 23).” Until then, you can catch Luke in “The Gates” on Sunday nights on ABC.

Q: Can you tell me if “Raising the Bar” has been canceled? — William F., via e-mail

A: The Steven Bochco drama, which starred Mark-Paul Gosselaar, was canceled in late 2009 by TNT. However, the network was quick to pick up another Mark-Paul starring vehicle, another lawyer series for the 2010-11 season called “Franklin and Bash.” This buddy comedy also stars Breckin Meyer of “Clueless” and “Kate and Leopold” fame.

Q: Is “Designing Women” out yet on DVD? I have “The Best of Designing Women” DVD, but would love to have all of their seasons. — Donna L., Roanoke, Va.

A: You’re in luck! Seasons one through three of this fabulous Southern Belle comedy are now available on DVD, with season four being released on Sept. 14. You can find them wherever DVDs are sold.

Q and A: Week of March 31

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Q and A: Week of March 31

Q: Jaclyn Smith (pictured) is one of my favorite actresses — she is the epitome of beauty and class. Can you tell me what she has been up to lately? — Georgia F., Chattanooga, Tenn.

A: While I agree that Jaclyn, 66, is the epitome of beauty and class, she also is the epitome of BUSY! On the acting front, she recently completed a guest-starring stint on “Law and Order: SVU,” which airs tonight. She’s also very much involved with her Jaclyn Smith Collection of clothing and home goods for K-Mart. Most recently, she has teamed up with Jose Eber and Paula Young to develop a line of wigs, extensions and hairpieces called Style by Jaclyn Smith (paulayoung.com/style-by-jaclyn-smith).


Jaclyn also is involved with a film called “1 a Minute,” a docudrama that focuses on breast-cancer awareness. “Enlightening women everywhere is so important,” says Jaclyn, who successfully battled breast cancer in 2002. “You need a mammogram every year, and you can’t base it on price analysis. If I hadn’t had mine, my diagnosis and my prognosis could have been quite different.”

Q: I was just wondering what happened to one of my favorite TV shows, “Without a Trace”? Will it be coming back? — Addie H., via e-mail

A: CBS pulled the plug on the missing-persons crime drama back in May, citing declining ratings. Series regular Anthony LaPaglia has been keeping himself very busy with various film roles, his most recent being “A View From the Bridge,” an adaptation of the famous Arthur Miller play in which Anthony will take on the lead role of Eddie (and he is also a producer). Poppy Montgomery stars in the ABC pilot “True Blue,” about six former best friends who rose through the ranks at the San Francisco Police Department and reunite to solve the murder of one of their own.

Q: I love Ralph Fiennes and try to see every movie he’s in. Has he ever been married? — Deanna S. in Florida

A: Ralph, 47, has been married once, to actress Alex Kingston from 1993-97, whom he met while they were both attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Alex is best known for playing Dr. Elizabeth Corday on “ER.” Recently, she co-starred on ex-brother-in-law Joseph Fiennes’ new ABC series, “FlashForward,” as Fiona Banks. In 2006, Ralph and longtime love, Francesca Annis (who played Gertrude to his Hamlet on Broadway), separated after 11 years together. Ralph most recently appeared in a small but unforgettable role in the Oscar-winning film “The Hurt Locker,” and will appear this May in “Clash of the Titans” with old friend and “Schindler’s List” co-star Liam Neeson.

Q: I really enjoy “History Detectives” on PBS. Will it be back soon? — Mary S., via e-mail

A: Season 8 of “History Detectives” premieres this June on PBS with new host Dr. Eduardo Pagan. In the first episode, Elyse Luray goes on the road as she investigates a story about an unusual musical instrument — the theremin.