Q and A: Week of Sept. 19

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Q and A: Week of Sept. 19

Q: One of my all-time favorite comedies is "Will and Grace," and I especially love Eric McCormack on that show. Can you tell me what he’s got coming up? I’d love to see him in something, whether on the big screen or small. — David D., via e-mail

A: TNT recently announced that Eric would be starring in its new original series "Perception," about an eccentric neuroscientist (Dr. Daniel Pierce, played by Eric) who helps solve complex criminal cases. The show also stars Rachael Leigh Cook and Kelly Rowan (“The O.C.”). The series will be 10 episodes long and will join the network’s lineup in summer 2012.

This isn’t Eric’s first foray into drama, by far, as he also starred in "The Andromeda Strain," "Who Is Clark Rockefeller?" and "Lonesome Dove," to name just a few. Also, if you happen to subscribe to Netflix or HuluPlus, you must check out his 2004 three-episode guest-starring appearance on "Dead Like Me" (which you can rent or stream) to see a side of Eric you’ve probably never seen before.

Q: Can you tell when/if "Californication" will return for another season? — John D., Columbus, Ohio

A: The David Duchovny-starring dark comedy will be back for its fifth season on Showtime beginning Jan. 8, 2012. This season will see author Hank Moody (David) even more popular (and richer) than ever after his biopic is released. Rob Lowe reprises his role as Eddie Nero, as does Madeleine Martin as Becca and Natascha McElhone as Karen. Also, Marcy and Stu continue their relationship, even though she is pregnant with ex-husband Charlie’s baby. And don’t think Ben (and his daughter Pearl) are out of the picture: The season opens with Karen, Ben, Becca and Pearl on a cross-country RV road trip.

Q: I love Joseph Fiennes and think he is absolutely superb as Merlin in "Camelot." Will he and the show be back for a second season? — Sally T., via e-mail

A: I am sorry to report that Starz has decided not to continue with the "Camelot" series, citing production difficulties. Starz released this statement to somewhat explain its position: "Due to significant production challenges, Starz has decided not to exercise the option for subsequent seasons of ‘Camelot’ with our production partners GK-tv, Octagon Films and Take 5 Productions." This certainly comes as a surprise to many viewers, considering the premiere of "Camelot" garnered the highest ratings ever for an original series on Starz, and continued to pull in high numbers for an original cable series.

Q: Why isn’t "30 Rock" on NBC’s fall schedule? I didn’t hear anything about it being canceled! — Janet F. in Florida

A: Don’t worry, Janet! "30 Rock" will be back for its sixth season at the beginning of 2012. NBC decided to postpone its premiere, mainly because of Tina Fey’s pregnancy and also to give a jump-start to some of its freshman comedies.

Q and A: Week of Nov. 29

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Q and A: Week of Nov. 29

Q: I am glad to see Tim Meadows back on television in TBS’s “Glory Daze.” Now that Conan O’Brien, Tim’s fellow “Saturday Night Live” alumnus, is also on TBS, is there any chance he will guest-star on the show? — Ralph T., via e-mail

A: Tim Meadows’ new one-hour TBS comedy will boast a variety of comedic guest stars this season, but as of now, Conan is not one of them. However, the show is only one degree of separation away from the late-night king.


Tim revealed: “We did have Andy Richter (guest star). He did an episode on the show where he plays a priest, an adviser to one of the students. And it’s a really, really funny scene. And we have a lot of other guest appearances by other comedic actors that I think people are going to be very happy about.” You can catch “Glory Daze” Tuesdays on TBS.

Q: Now that “FlashForward” is over, where else can I get my Joseph Fiennes fix? I miss watching him on a weekly basis. — Jenny A. in Texas

A: You and me both, Jenny. This spring, Joseph will star in the Starz original fantasy-drama “Camelot,” which tells the story of a teenage King Arthur (played by “The Twilight Saga”’s Jamie Campbell Bower), with Joseph playing the part of Merlin. The 10-part period drama also co-stars Claire Forlani (”Meet Joe Black”) and Eva Green (”Casino Royale”). If the series does well, it could run for multiple seasons.



Q: I collect “All in the Family” DVDs, and they seem to have stopped at Season 6. It has been a long time since they’ve put a new one out, and I wondered if and when they were planning to? — Clint K., via e-mail

A: Just in time for the holidays, “All in the Family” Season 7, which originally aired from September 1976 to March 1977, is now on store shelves. This season of the groundbreaking series — starring Carroll O’Connor, Jean Stapleton, Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers — deals with infidelity, surgery, unemployment, life-saving CPR, draft-dodgers and accidental arson. You won’t have nearly as long a wait for Season 8, as it’s scheduled to be released Jan. 11, 2011.

Q: What is the meaning of MTAC, the upstairs room with the big screen and worldwide communications on “NCIS”? – Ron S., via e-mail

A: MTAC is short for the United States Department of the Navy’s Multiple Threat Alert Center. After the bombing of the USS Cole in October 2000, as well as the terrorist events of 9/11, the Navy Antiterrorist Alert Center (ATAC) was transformed in 2002 into the MTAC. According to the Navy’s official website, “The Department of the Navy’s Multiple Threat Alert Center (MTAC) provides indications and warning for a wide range of threats to Navy and Marine Corps personnel and assets around the world.”

Q: One of my all-time favorite actresses is the beautiful and talented Jacqueline Bisset. What is she up to lately, and what can I see her in next? — Paula F., Tulsa, Okla.

A: You can catch the international superstar, who turned 66 in September, in the Hallmark Channel’s “An Old-Fashioned Christmas,” which premieres on Saturday, Dec. 11. It is the sequel to Hallmark’s highest-rated film of 2008, “An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving,” an original movie based on a short story by famed American novelist Louisa May Alcott. In this sequel, Jacqueline reprises her role as Isabella Crawford, a wealthy philanthropist traveling the world with her granddaughter, Tilly.


Of revisiting the role in the new movie, Jacqueline told me: “It’s a journey. My controlling character is having difficulty keeping Tilly in line for what I think is best for her. Isabella has good instincts about her granddaughter, but she is controlling and interfering, and she feels that is her responsibility. We are very close, but she also has seen the other side of me, which can be very suffocating. Life is complicated; relationships are complicated.”

Q: I know that “Friday Night Lights” started on DirecTV in October, and I wondered if there are plans to bring it back to NBC again in the new year, as in years past? — Eva, via e-mail

A: NBC will indeed be airing the fifth and final season in 2011, after the show ends on DirecTV’s The 101 Network, as per its agreement with DirecTV. However, an exact date has not been announced as of this writing. In the meantime, you can reacquaint yourself with the show on NBC’s website, which is streaming season-four episodes online until June 2011.

Q: The summer series “The Glades” on A&E was a great show with good plots and characters. Will this show be returning anytime soon? — Barbara E., via e-mail

A: “The Glades,” the first season of which premiered on July 11 and ended on Oct. 3, drew record ratings for A&E in the range of 3.6 million viewers, making it the most watched original drama series in the network’s history. As of the now the date is still unknown, but the show has been renewed for a second season.

Q: I could not agree more with your statement that the networks don’t give new shows a chance. I was furious when Fox canceled “Lone Star” after only two episodes. It was different, well-written and had great actors. Instead, we end up with more of the same, lame shows. — Donna W., via e-mail

A: I know, Donna, I know. If our squeaky wheel is loud enough, maybe the networks will listen. These days it seems a safer bet to take a chance on a cable network’s new show — e.g., the aforementioned “The Glades” — as cable networks tend to nurture their new shows, not cut and run at the first sign of trouble like network TV.

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.