Question:Holly Marie Combs of "Charmed" is pregnant on the show. Is she also pregnant in real life? — Wondering, via e-mail
Answer: Combs was not pregnant so she wore a body suit for the later stages of Piper's pregnancy. Piper had a boy in a February sweeps episode. And it's official: "Charmed" has been renewed for a sixth season.
Question:Who sings the song sung in the beginning of the TV show "The Guardian"? — G.R.T., North Kingstown, R.I.
Answer: The Wallflowers' frontman Jakob Dylan wrote and sings the theme song, "The Empire in My Mind." It's the bonus track on the band's "Red Letter Days" CD.
Question:What can you tell me about Nancy O'Dell of "Access Hollywood"? I never read anything about her as I do about other TV personalities. — E.S., Norfolk, Va.
Answer: The Access Hollywood co-anchor is a former Miss South Carolina and a summa cum laude graduate of Clemson University. Besides her TV reporting, O'Dell has made cameo appearances on many popular TV shows including "General Hospital," "Days of Our Lives," "Charmed," "Third Watch" and "V.I.P.," often donating her fee to charity. Currently, she's hosting the country music talent search show "Nashville Star" on USA network. O'Dell and her husband, Dr. Richard O'Dell, live in Los Angeles. You can keep up with her at her official Web site, www.nancyodell.com.
Question:What happened to HBO's "The Wire"? Will it come back with new shows? Who sings the theme song and can the soundtrack be purchased? — C.P., Norfolk, Va.
Answer: The acclaimed drama series begins a second season on HBO in June. Season 2 will shift the focus from the Baltimore drug war to the city's waterfront unions. Returning to the show are Dominic West as Baltimore detective James McNulty and Lance Reddick as Lt. Daniels. Joining the cast this year are Chris Bauer and James Ransone from "Third Watch," Pablo Schreiber ("Bubble Boy") and Amy Ryan ("You Can Count on Me"). "The Wire's" theme song is The Blind Boys of Alabama's rendition of Tom Waits' "Way Down in the Hole," from their Grammy-winning 2001 album "Spirit of the Century." There is no soundtrack CD available. The show's first season is currently being repeated on Sundays on HBO, following "Six Feet Under."
Question:Who is Randy Jackson on "American Idol"? Is he the same Randy Jackson of The Jackson 5? — T.L.S., Dallas
Answer: "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson has been in the music business for 20 years, but he's not a member of the Michael Jackson family. Jackson is a Grammy Award-winning producer and a former vice president of A&R at both Columbia and MCA Records. He has recorded, toured and performed with the Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Madonna, Elton John, Destiny's Child and other music stars. Michael Jackson's younger brother Steven "Randy" Jackson joined The Jacksons in 1976, replacing brother Jermaine.
Question:I'm curious to know whether the people who attend game shows and TV talk shows such as "Regis & Kelly" and "Wheel of Fortune" have to pay for their tickets, or do they get in free? — Mrs. G.F., Syracuse, N.Y.
Answer: Audience tickets are free but hard to come by for the more popular shows. There's an estimated 12-month waiting list for "Live! With Regis & Kelly." You can request tickets by writing Live, Ansonia Station, P.O. Box 230777, New York, N.Y. 10023-0777. "Wheel of Fortune" also makes tickets available for Los Angeles tapings. Call 1-800-482-9840 to get on their waiting list.
Question:I'm a great fan of USA's "The Dead Zone." The network has done honor to the Stephen King novel. My question is: Will Stephen King himself ever appear on the series? — E.L.O., Portsmouth, Va.
Answer: Although the hit cable series is based on characters created by King in his 1979 novel, the author's involvement stops there. At this time there are no plans for him to make an on-screen appearance.