Q and A: Week of Nov. 24

Q: I read in your column that “The Mentalist” would be renewed. When is it going to return? It’s one of my favorite shows. — Sissy U., via email

A: “The Mentalist” will be back for a seventh and final season on CBS for 13 episodes. The series will premiere Sunday, Nov. 30, at 9:30 p.m. ET, and will air new episodes in that time slot for five weeks before moving to Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET beginning Jan. 7. And if you need to catch up on any episodes, seasons one through six are now available on DVD for your viewing pleasure.

Q: I am so distraught that “Parks and Recreation” hasn’t premiered its new season yet. I thought you said it had been renewed! — Kallie F., via email

A: NBC’s hit sitcom has been renewed. And, like “The Mentalist,” mentioned above, it will also be its seventh and final season, which will consist of 13 episodes and premiere midseason 2015. Leslie Knope and company have not left us dangling, and will be back in a few months to tie up any loose ends.

Q: Can you tell me what Jesse Ventura has been up to? I miss watching him on his previous show, “Conspiracy Theory.” — Stanley G., Omaha, Neb.

A: Governor Ventura is still in the public eye, but not on network TV. He has his own Internet show called “Off the Grid,” which can be seen on his YouTube channel and ora.tv, and is filmed from his home in Mexico. A big selling point for Jesse is that he can talk about whatever the heck he wants on his new show; he told me: “That’s one of the reasons I think ‘Conspiracy Theory’ got cancelled after only three seasons, because in many ways, we were going where they didn’t want us to go, and we were asking questions they didn’t want asked. I love the Internet because there are no FCC regulations. There’s no government hanging over my shoulder. If I want to say ‘bullsh!t,’ I can without getting fined or anything like that. For me it was like getting the handcuffs taken off and being able to speak freely. That’s what I love about ‘Off the Grid.’”

The governor hopes to help change the mindset of people who blindly follow what the government tells us, and to pick up where his generation failed, in his words. “I lived through the ’60s, through the hippie generation, and through Vietnam, when I truly thought change was in the wind and that we were the same way. Our generation was questioning authority, much like the New Millennium young people are doing today. I’m encouraging them to stay the course. Don’t drop the ball like my generation did. I’m hoping to help correct that with the New Millennium generation by keeping them on track. I want to be the Timothy Leary of this generation. I want to be the older guy that this generation turns to in order to learn the truth. That’s kind of what I’m working to do.”

Q: Please tell me that “Dallas” hasn’t been canceled! — Karolyn, Lubbock, Texas

Q: I understand “Dallas” has been canceled? Is that true, and has any other network pick it up? — Chuck B., via email

A: I hate to be the one to confirm those cancelation rumors, but it is true: TNT has canceled the nighttime drama after and explosive third season and shocking finale. In this day and age of lots of cable and Internet channels, and with so many other shows being saved from cancelation by other networks (i.e., “Cougar Town,” “The Killing,” “Community,” "Arrested Development" and more), all hope is not necessarily lost, but as of this writing, there is no talk of the show resurrecting somewhere else. But just because I haven’t heard anything yet, doesn’t mean it won’t happen. If there is a deal in the works, odds are it would have to be kept hush-hush while details were ironed out.

Another promising aspect of it possible being picked up by another outlet is that the show’s cast and fans very much support the resurrection of “Dallas” elsewhere. Patrick Duffy (Bobby Ewing) tweeted: “I for one am not done with Bobby Ewing! Let's see if some network wants the Ewings to live on!” And Linda Gray (Sue Ellen Ewing) agreed, thanking fans for their support and tweeting, “Keep it coming so it can help get us back entertaining you!” You can help by writing/emailing TNT, and if you are on social media, use the #SaveDallas hashtag to show your support. Personally, I think “Dallas” would be a perfect fit for Netflix. What do y’all think?

Q: When will the TV show “Covert Affairs” resume the season? I hope it has not been canceled. — Nancy S., via email

A: “Covert Affairs” will be back for the second half of season five on Nov. 6 with eight more brand-new episodes. As of this writing, the USA network has yet to decide on its renewal or cancelation, probably waiting to see how the ratings for the rest of the season go. So keep watching, and encourage your friends to as well, and hopefully it will join “Satisfaction” in the renewed column, and not “Rush” in the canceled column.

Q: I read your column every week, and enjoy knowing what’s happening, coming and going. I am hooked on “The Americans.” Will it be returning? — Fran S., Rockford, Ill.

A: FX has renewed the Cold War-era espionage drama, which stars Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys, for a third season. Look for 13 new episodes starting on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 10 p.m. ET. In even-more awesome news, legendary actor Frank Langella will join the show, playing the role of Gabriel, Philip and Elizabeth’s former KGB handler who comes out of retirement to take back responsibility of overseeing them from their previous handler, Claudia (played by Margo Martindale).

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Q and A: Week of April 2

Q: I was a little apprehensive at first about how “Two and a Half Men” would be with Charlie Sheen gone, but I have to say it is still must-watch TV for me. I especially like the recurring character of Lyndsey, who plays Alan’s sometimes girlfriend. Will they stay together? — Kelly T., via e-mail

A: If Courtney Thorne-Smith has any say, they will stay together, but not for any big romantic reasons. As Courtney told me: “I love their relationship so much because of their honesty. They are two people who looked at each other and said, ’Seriously, we’re just not going to do any better.’ They’re settling; there’s none of the fantasy. It works for them. I think they are really authentic with each other, and it just makes me laugh so hard.”

Go here to read my entire interview with Courtney, where she talks about the joy of watching Jon Cryer “do his magic,” the transition from Charlie Sheen to Ashton Kutcher, and Lyndsey and Alan’s future.

Q: I am wondering what has happened to “CSI: New York,” which aired at 9 p.m. on Friday nights. Also wondering when/if “Covert Affairs” will back on the USA network for its next season? I really like all the things Annie gets into on this program. — Mary Lee C., Port Charlotte, Fla.

A: As you might have already noticed, “CSI: NY” has returned to its Friday night home (since March 30) on CBS, with five more first-run episodes left to broadcast of its eighth season. Also, the USA network has renewed “Covert Affairs” for a 16-episode third season, which is scheduled to air this summer. While an exact premiere date has not been released, I can tell you that cast and crew are back at work on the new season. Christopher Gorham, who plays Auggie, tweeted to his fans that he’s read two episodes so far of the third season, and that we need to “Get ready!”

Q: Is “Steel Magnolias” being remade? — Charlene F., via e-mail

A: Lifetime Television has snagged Queen Latifah to star in and executive produce the television adaptation of “Steel Magnolias.” While Latifah takes on the role of M’Lynn, Alfre Woodard joins her as Ouiser, with Phylicia Rashad as Clairee, Jill Scott as Truvy, Adepero Oduye as Annelle and Condola Rashad as Shelby. Production begins this month, with the premiere scheduled for later this year.

Q: Is it true that the HBO series “Luck” has been canceled because three horses died? — Rosalind R., Fort Worth, Texas

A: Unfortunately, that is true. While a second season had been ordered, producers David Milch and Michael Mann decided to pull the plug on the Dustin Hoffman-starring series, stating: “Safety is always of paramount concern. … While we maintained the highest safety standards possible, accidents unfortunately happen, and it is impossible to guarantee they won’t in the future. Accordingly, we have reached this difficult decision.”

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Q and A: Week of Oct. 31

Q: When will Tori Spelling’s reality show return to Oxygen? It’s one of my guilty pleasures, and I have to admit that I miss it! — Patty T., via e-mail

A: Tori and husband Dean McDermott will return for the sixth season of “Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood” on Tuesday, Nov. 29. Originally named “Tori and Dean: Inn Love” — where the couple opened a B-and-B while Tori was eight months pregnant with their first child — the new season will welcome the couple’s third child together, Hattie Margaret, who was born in October. Hattie joins siblings Liam and Stella, as well as Dean’s son, Jack, from a previous marriage.

Q: Will “Swamp Wars” be back on Animal Planet anytime soon? — Fred R., Baton Rouge, La.

A: Animal Planet will be bringing back “Swamp Wars” for more drama as the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s Venom One unit carries on its battle against the lethal animals that threaten South Florida. A 12-episode second season begins on Sunday, Nov. 6, at 9 p.m. ET/PT, starting with six all-new episodes and another set of six episodes slated to air in 2012.


This season has our heroes facing a Tegu lizard outbreak as well as Nile monitors and Burmese pythons — you know, just the usual deadly invasive creatures. They also battle venomous lionfish, which are proliferating the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, and have no known aquatic enemies.

Q: I read and enjoy your articles that appear in our newspaper every Sunday. I bet you can answer this: Will “Covert Affairs” on the USA channel be back? — Virginia G., Webster, N.Y.

A: “Covert Affairs” begins airing the second half of its second season on Nov. 1, with six episodes left to round out the season. And I have even more good news for you, Virginia: USA has renewed “Covert Affairs” for a 16-episode third season, to begin airing summer 2012. In fact, all of USA’s original summer programming has been renewed, including “Royal Pains” and “Necessary Roughness.”


USA co-presidents Chris McCumber and Jeff Wachtel said in a statement: “USA’s original programming blew through all expectations this summer. It’s a rare and wonderful thing to announce the pick-up of our entire summer of programming.”

Q: I remember reading in previous columns that you are a big fan of Syfy’s “Being Human,” so I figure you can tell me if/when it’ll be back for a second season? — Johnny T., via e-mail

A: I am, and I can. The werewolf/vampire/ghost paranormal drama will return for its second season on Monday, Jan. 16. As you’ll recall, last season saw the demise of Bishop at the hands of Aidan, with Aidan becoming the new leader of Boston’s vampires; Nora learned Josh is a werewolf, not revealing to him that he scratched her while he was in werewolf form; and Sally missed her window to the Great Beyond to help save Aidan.

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