Q and A: Week of March 12

Q: It’s official: I am hooked on “GCB.” Can you give me any info on the handsome actor who plays Blake? — Trudy F., via e-mail

A: Mark Deklin, 44, along with being a super actor is also a professional fight director, talented musician, smarty-pants English and History degree holder, father, husband, and all-around great guy. I spoke with him recently about his role of in-the-closet Blake (who’s married to Cricket, but it’s OK, because she knows and is fine with it), and he gave me some scoop: “As the season goes on, we explore the dynamic of our marriage. What are the rules? If we’re not jealous of the other’s sexual encounters, what are the things that we ARE jealous of? There are certain guidelines. Being with someone else sexually is not seen as a betrayal in that marriage, but having a best friend outside the marriage IS a betrayal. We’ve had a lot of fun figuring it out together.”

Read my entire interview with Mark here.

Q: I love ABC’s “Suburgatory,” especially Jeremy Sisto. I’ve had a crush on him since “Clueless.” Any chance that one of his former “Clueless” castmates will appear on his new show? — Justine M., via e-mail

A: Not only is there a chance, but it is actually happening: “Clueless” star Alicia Silverstone will join Jeremy on “Suburgatory” for a four-episode story arc at the end of this first season. No word yet on her character, but I can’t wait to see what they come up with!

Q: Can you tell me what one of my favorite actresses, Elaine Hendrix, has been up to lately? — Jeff D., Savannah, Ga.

A: Aside from saving animals in her spare time as the founding officer of Animal Rescue Corps, the “Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion” actress just landed a lead role opposite Judy Greer in the ABC pilot “American Judy.” The comedy centers on Judy, who gets married and moves to the suburbs, juggling stepkids, her mother-in-law and the ex-wife (Elaine) of her husband, who also happens to be the town sheriff.

Q: You always seem to be on top of this, so could you let me know as soon as you find out who the new contestants will be on the next season of “Dancing with the Stars”? — Pauline R., Oxford, Ohio

A: You know I will, Pauline. This season’s contestants are your usual hodgepodge of athletes, singers, entertainment reporters and actors (with the usual soap star thrown in for good measure. The new season, which begins March 19, consists of “Family Matters” actor Jaleel White, singer Gladys Knight, football player Donald Driver (who did very well for me in fantasy football a few years back), “The View” co-host Sherri Shepherd, singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw, “Little House on the Prairie” actress Melissa Gilbert, Disney Channel star Roshon Fegan, tennis player Martina Navratilova, soap star Jack Wagner, telenovela star William Levy, operatic singer Katherine Jenkins and “Extra” co-host Maria Menounos.

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Q and A: Week of Oct. 10

Q: I read in your column a few months back that Alicia Silverstone had given birth to a son, and it got me to thinking if she has plans to return to the big, or small, screen soon? — Darren F., Portland, Ore.

A: Alicia returns to her comedic roots with the help of Amy Heckerling, who also gave the beautiful actress her big break when she was chosen to portray Cher in the classic high-school comedy “Clueless.” With Amy writing and directing and Alicia starring, the new film “Vamps” is gearing up to bring to the new influx of vampire movies what “Clueless” brought to high-school-comedy movies.

“Vamps” centers on Alicia (“Goody”) and Krysten Ritter (“Stacy”) as they try to live as “good” vampires in New York City. “Vamps” also stars Sigourney Weaver and Malcolm McDowell, and should hit theaters some time next year.

Q: With the Emmy Awards a recent memory — and Jane Lynch doing a fabulous job hosting — I was wondering if you could tell me who will be the host for the next Academy Awards? — Deidre S., via e-mail

A: Actor/comedian Eddie Murphy, 50, has been selected to host the 84th annual Academy Awards. The ceremony, which is to be held Feb. 12, 2012, will mark the first time that the funnyman has hosted the show. His selection as the only host marks a return to the single-host format, which has gone by the wayside in recent years as the Academy opted for multiple hosts — some choices successful (Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin) and some not so successful (James Franco and Anne Hathaway). Eddie says he is “enormously honored” to be given hosting duties, and I’m excited to see what he has in store for viewers.

Q: I’m so glad that “The Mentalist” has returned for its fourth season, and I wanted to know when the previous season would be out on DVD. — Steven S., Akron, Ohio

A: Simon Baker and the rest of the crew have their work cut out for them this season, but now you can relive season three — which proved to be spellbinding and suspenseful in its own right — anytime you’d like at home, as Warner Home Video recently released it on DVD. “The Mentalist: The Complete Third Season” is a five-disc collection featuring all 24 episodes, plus two featurettes and some unaired scenes.

Q: I know you’re a fan of “Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura,” so you might be able to tell me: Will it be back for a third season? — Patrick L., via e-mail

A: I am thrilled to report that truTV recently announced that an eight-episode third season of “Conspiracy Theory” will air in 2012, with Jesse at the helm and June Sarpong at his right hand, along with newcomers Tyrel Ventura (Jesse’s son) and Sean Stone (Oliver Stone’s son). Like me, I’m sure you can’t wait to see a new season of myth-debunking, truth-seeking and Ventura-style entertainment.

Q: I really loved Ann-Marie Johnson on “In the Heat of the Night.” What can I see her in now, and is she married with children? — Virginia, C.

A: I can’t even begin to list Ann-Marie’s film and TV credits, as there are way too many of them, but I can tell you the first series I remember seeing her in was “Double Trouble” back in 1984. Since then, she has been featured in “Hill Street Blues,” “I’m Gonne Get You Sucka,” “In Living Color,” “Melrose Place,” “Ally McBeal,” “The X-Files,” “JAG,” “Pursuit of Happyness” and “NCIS.” Her most recent projects have been “Leverage” and “Fairly Legal.” Ann-Marie, 51, has been married to actor Martin Grey since 1996, and they have no children.

Q: I was watching an older movie called “Dracula III” with Rutger Hauer as Dracula, and I could have sworn the red-haired vampire also plays the assistant D.A. on “Law & Order: SVU.” Are they the same person? Also, was Mariska Hargitay, also of “SVU,” ever on the TV show “Freddy’s Nightmares”? — Kevin B., Edmore, Mich.

A: You are correct on both counts. Diane Neal did indeed play Elizabeth Blaine in the straight-to-video vampire movie “Dracula III,” starring alongside Rutger, Roy Schieder and Jason London. And back before Mariska was detective-extraordinaire Olivia Benson on “SVU,” she did indeed have a role in one of the “Freddy’s Nightmares” episodes, playing medical student Marsha, whom Freddy — played by the always-scary Robert Englund — harasses on Halloween, driving her to the brink of madness.

Q: The TV show “The Mentalist” shows Ashley Gable as producer. Is she a daughter or granddaughter of Clark Gable? — Juanita S., St. Clair Shores, Mich.

A: Ashley Gable, who recently took over as executive producer of the CBS crime drama, is not related to the iconic actor, known best for his role of Rhett Butler in “Gone With the Wind.” Clark had two children: a daughter with actress Loretta Young named Judy Lewis, who has a daughter named Maria, and a son with actress Kay Williams named John Clark Gable, who has a son named Clark James and daughter named Hayley. Ashley Gable — who, again, is no relation to Clark Gable — is a prolific writer and producer, working on such shows as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Xena: Warrior Princess,” “Crossing Jordan” and “The Mentalist,” to name just a few.

Q: Will the horror series “The Walking Dead” be back for another season? — Donna C., Warner, Okla.

A: AMC has rewarded “The Walking Dead” with a 13-episode second season (up from a six-episode first season), which is scheduled to begin Sunday, Oct. 16, at 9 p.m. ET. For those unfamiliar with the critically acclaimed series, it is based on the comic-book series of the same name and centers on a group of people who’ve survived a zombie apocalypse and are searching across America for a new, safe home away from all the killer zombies.

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Q and A: Week of May 30

Alicia Silverstone

Q: Did Alicia Silverstone have her baby yet? If so, how are they doing? — Roxie R., Denver

A: Alicia and husband Christopher Jarecki welcomed 7-pound, 15-ounce baby-boy Bear Blu Jarecki into the world on May 5. She posted the details on her website, thekindlife.com: “We are all three in love! I’m so grateful to this community for all the love, support, good wishes and happy vibes you’ve sent me during my pregnancy.”

Q: I was thrilled to see CMT’s disaster-relief concert benefiting victims of the tornadoes that affected the Southeast this past April. How did the idea come about, and how can I help? — Jan H., via e-mail

A: Living legend Hank Williams Jr. was the main brainchild behind “Music Builds: The CMT Disaster Relief Concert,” which aired May 12 on CMT. When I spoke with Hank recently, the Louisiana native and sometimes-Alabama resident told me why he felt he had to do something to help.


“This is about the victims, the people who are affected,” Williams said. “I really want this to hit home. There was a guy down there I know — I know the whole North Alabama, Birmingham, Muscle Shoals, been in Tuscaloosa forever, off and on — and he really put it in a nutshell. He said, ‘It’s not about the homes and the vehicles, we’re looking for our children and wives and fathers and mothers this morning.’ And the death count is still rising. It’s one small little thing for me to raise money for the Red Cross.”


If you want to help those devastated by the storms in the Southeast, you can donate any amount by going to americanredcross.org/cmttelethon, or you can text “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation to support the Red Cross disaster-relief efforts.

Q: Will “Harry’s Law” on NBC be renewed? I sure hope so; it is one of the best new shows on TV this year. — Bob and Ann B. in Florida

A: NBC just announced that it has renewed David E. Kelley’s legal comedy-drama series starring Kathy Bates for a second season. Word of “Harry’s” renewal comes hot on the heels that NBC decided to pass on the “Wonder Woman” reboot, which also was created by the aforementioned David E. Kelley. NBC also passed on the Don Johnson-starring vehicle, “Mann’s World,” which I was looking forward to seeing if only because of my long-standing crush on the series’ star. Fans of the “The Event” also will get no closure, as NBC declined to renew it for another season. However, spy-drama “Chuck” will return for its final season this fall. (Remember, to find out if your favorite show is returning, or to see what new shows the networks are offering, go here for all the info.)

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