Q and A: Week of June 11

Eric Winter, photo by Gabriel Goldberg

Q: I was dismayed to read that “GCB” wasn’t renewed for a second season! Is there anything we can do to save this show? — Vivian D., via e-mail

A: I’m not sure if we can save the show — if you read my column regularly, then you know I LOVE this show! — but we sure can try. First, there is a website set up where you can sign a petition: SaveGCB.com. I spoke with two of the series stars about its cancelation, and they are just as sad as we are. Eric Winter, who plays Luke Lourd, told me that “GCB” deserved to be saved because “the ‘GCB’ fans are the real deal. They’re passionate and they love their show. This is an extremely creative and smart show that just needs more of a chance to take off and run.”


Mark Deklin, who plays Blake Reilly, echoed Eric’s sentiments, telling me: “What’s really touched me the most is the way the fans have embraced Blake and Cricket. The outpouring of love and loyalty across all the social media has been astounding. So my gratitude to the fans is huge, as is my admiration and affection for my colleagues. On the night we got the news that we weren’t being renewed for a second season, I got a text from Miriam (Shor, who plays Cricket) that said, ‘I will miss you most of all, Scarecrow.’ If there was a moment in which I got a little choked up, it was probably the moment when I read that text. I’ve become incredibly fond of the Caruth-Reillys.”

Q: Can you tell me if my favorite show, “Harry’s Law,” will return next season? — Laurie B., Canton, Mich.

A: This is the part of my job that I hate: Telling good readers like you when a network has canceled their favorite show. “Harry’s Law” really struggled with ratings its second season — my guess is fans didn’t/couldn’t keep up with all the day and time changes that NBC kept dealing it.

Larry Hagman (J.R. Ewing, Dallas)

Q: I’ve been hearing about the new “Dallas,” but haven’t been able to find it on the schedule. Please tell me the show wasn’t scrapped before it even aired! — Cara D., via e-mail

A: Don’t you worry: “Dallas” returns to TV for 10 episodes on TNT beginning Wednesday, June 13, at 9/8c with a two-hour season premiere. You’re not the only one who’s excited. Personally, I can’t wait to see what the new generation of Ewings has in store for us — and Larry Hagman as J.R. will be up to no good, for sure.

Readers: I have had dozens of people write in to ask about the fate of NBC’s “Community,” and I am thrilled to report that the offbeat comedy has been renewed for a 13-episode fourth season. While it might be shorter than normal, let’s just be glad we even got another season with this talented group!

Q: I know this is the final season of “The Closer,” but it hasn’t been on in months, and I am afraid I missed the finale! — Delia D., via e-mail

A: “The Closer” returns to TNT after a six-month hiatus to air its final six episodes. So tune in Monday, July 9, at 9 p.m. ET/PT as Kyra Sedgwick and company bring seven years of this groundbreaking and record-breaking show to an end.

Q: I really like this season of “Single Ladies” on VH1. Can you tell me more about Ricky Whittle? He plays Charles on the show. — Candice W., Columbus, Ohio

A: The hunky U.K. native got his start in sports, which segued into modeling, and now he’s poised to take Hollywood and the acting world by storm. I asked Ricky recently about how he got his start in acting and he told me simply: to meet girls. “At the time, I’d loved to have said I did it because I wanted to be recognized as a great actor, but I was shallow. I was young. I’ll be honest — at that time I was at university, and I was in the library six days a week reading books. I thought, ‘Do I want to stay in the library, or do I want to be on TV and get lots of girls?’”


Aside from his gig on “Single Ladies,” you can catch him soon on the big screen in “Austenland,” which is about an American woman (played by Keri Russell) who goes to England for a fantasy vacation where you interact with people from Jane Austen books. Ricky told me: “I play Capt. George East. Basically, Jane Seymour is running a brothel, and we’re paid to romance the women who come to the resort. My character is Caribbean. He doesn’t really fit into the ‘Pride and Prejudice’ time. But you’ve got your Mr. Darcys there, and your other Austen characters. He’s a former soap actor, and he thinks he’s the best thing since sliced bread. It was very fun to play.”

Q: Can you tell me what one of my favorite actresses, Thandie Newton, has coming up? — Pete W., Omaha, Neb.

A: Thandie is set to star in the DIRECTV original suspense-drama called “Rogue,” which begins production in August and will air summer 2013 for a 10-episode run. Thandie plays a morally and emotionally conflicted cop named Grace, who is tormented by the possibility that her own actions contributed to her son’s death. Grace’s search for the truth is further complicated by her forbidden relationship with the crime boss who may have had a hand in the death.

Q: Is Josh Lucas from “The Firm” married? Does he have children? — Ann N., Fairport, N.Y.

A: The handsome 40-year-old — whose show “The Firm” was recently canceled by NBC — married his girlfriend, Jessica, in early March. The two also are expecting their first child together.

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Q and A: Week of Feb. 27

Q: I really love watching “Chelsea Lately” and “After Lately” on E! The shows’ casts really seem to have fun and get along. Please tell me this is the case! —George T., Altoona, Pa.

A: That certainly is the case. I spoke with series star Heather McDonald recently, and she told me: “We really do laugh all the time, and we really do like each other so much. So many times we’ll be laughing about something and I’ll just go, ‘Oh, don’t we have fun?’ I think it all stems from the example that Chelsea (Handler) has set, and I think that’s important. We’re like a little family where she’s the Mom, and she doesn’t allow jealousy, and she doesn’t allow any real kind of unhealthy competition in any way. We truly believe that each of our success only helps the other.”

And following Chelsea’s example of getting into the publishing industry, Heather has written her own NYT best-selling humorous memoir called “You’ll Never Blue Ball in This Town Again,” and I have to say, the book is deliciously funny. And check back later this week to read my entire interview with Heather. You don't want to miss it!

Q: Like most of the world, I was shocked and devastated to hear of Whitney Houston’s death. I really thought she was on the right path, and about to make a music and movie comeback. Did drugs play a part in her death? — Deena R., via e-mail

A: While there has been no official word as of this writing, TMZ is reporting that according to family sources, Whitney, 48, was killed by a combination of Xanax and other prescription drugs mixed with alcohol. Although she did die in the bathtub, the family was told by the coroner’s office that there didn’t appear to be enough water in her lungs for drowning to have been the cause of death. The L.A. Police Department has determined that there were no signs of foul play.

Whitney will star posthumously in the feature film “Sparkle,” which is slated for an Aug. 12 release. She also recorded two songs for the movie, which will, of course, be on the soundtrack.

Q: Is it true that two of my favorite comedians, Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis, are making a movie together? — Samuel D., via e-mail

A: It is indeed true, and I couldn’t be happier to see these two onscreen together. Will and Zach star in “Dogfight,” a comedy about two battling politicians from South Carolina who each have presidential aspirations. The movie is set to premiere Aug. 10, and also co-stars Jason Sudeikis, Dylan McDermott, Dan Aykroyd and John Lithgow.

Q: “Harry’s Law” seems to have vanished. What’s up? — Echo H., via e-mail

A: There has been a little shuffling over at NBC. At the end of January, “Harry’s Law” took about six weeks off. But don’t worry, Kathy Bates and company will return with new episodes March 11 on its new night and timeslot, Sundays at 8 p.m. ET.

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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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