Question: Out of all the women that have ever starred in a weekly television series, why is Barbara Stanwyck of "The Big Valley" the only one to be called "Miss" in the credits?
Answer: This may surprise you, but there are no hard and fast rules about who can and cannot be referred to as "Miss" in TV credits. The distinction was probably conferred upon Stanwyck because (a) she had, by all accounts, an exceptional movie career; (b) she was beloved in Hollywood for her unpretentious manner; and (c) it's a nice ego boost in lieu of a higher salary. Incidentally, Stanwyck is not the only actress to be referred to as "Miss" in opening credits. On "The Waltons," Michael Learned was referred to as "Miss Michael Learned" because the producers didn't want America to think that matriarch Olivia Walton was played by a guy.
Question: Several years ago, I remember an episode of the wonderful "Northern Exposure" about a hippie-like British rock star. The young actor impressed me very much. I have never seen him since until the recent Academy Awards show. I believe it is Jude Law. Am I right?
Answer: Sorry. It's Adam Ant, and the episode is "Heroes," which originally aired in the fall of 1992.
Question: There was a TV Western back in the 1950s that starred John Payne. I think it was on Monday night, and it reminded me of "Have Gun Will Travel." Can you tell me the name of the show? And is it on video?
Answer: "Restless Gun" is the show, and it ran on NBC from 1957 until 1959. Payne played gunfighter Vint Bonner, who traveled around the Old West righting wrongs and stuff. It's not yet on video.
Question: While watching an episode of "Joan of Arcadia" about baby-sitting, I recognized an actress named Corinne Bohrer. This reminded me that I remember seeing her in several less-than-successful sitcoms in the past, and I was hoping you could remind us of her previous work. Thanks for your help.
Answer: Bohrer played Nurse Cory Smith on the sitcom "E/R" (no relation to the drama series "ER"), which ran on CBS in 1984-85. Then came a stint as a cute witch on "Free Spirit," which could have been titled "Bewitched and the Professor," and which ran on ABC in 1989-90. Then came "Double Rush," a sitcom about bicycle messengers (oh, the comedic possibilities) that ran on CBS in 1995. And most recently, Bohrer played Tish on the Showtime sitcom "Rude Awakening," which starred Sherilyn Fenn and Lynn Redgrave and ran from 1998 until 2000. Her film credits include "Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol" and "Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love."
Question: Does the singing on the Barilla pasta commercial belong to Josh Groban?
Answer: No. It's Andrea Bocelli. The song is "Mille Lune Mille Onde" and it is on Bocelli's "Cieli di Toscana" CD.
Question: I hope you can help me. I am looking for the name of a made-for-TV Christmas movie. I think it was made 10 to 15 years ago. It was set in the 1940s during World War II. The family had three sons and one daughter. The two older sons were in the service. The pregnant daughter-in-law is living with her in-laws, and I think she was played by Courteney Cox. The daughter met a serviceman on a bus and invited him to stay with her family for the holiday. He was played by Peter Gallagher. The older son was killed right before he was to return home. Can you help? Is the movie out on video?
Answer: That's the 1998 TV movie "I'll Be Home for Christmas," which also stars Hal Holbrook and Eva Marie Saint. It's not yet on video.