Question:I remember a show in the early 1950s called "Jeff's Collie" before it was called "Lassie." Whatever happened to the boy who played Jeff? There was another boy who played his sidekick, Porky. Whatever happened to him? How long did the show run on TV?

Answer: Hey, pal, just because you saw it for the first time as "Jeff's Collie" doesn't mean it was born that way. "Lassie" began as "Lassie" on CBS in 1954 and ran until 1971. When older episodes were syndicated (appearing in reruns every day) they were re-titled. The ones featuring Jeff (Tommy Rettig), which were produced from 1954 until 1957, were called "Jeff's Collie." And the ones with Timmy (Jon Provost), which were produced from 1957 until 1964, were re-titled "Timmy and Lassie." Rettig had appeared in several movies before "Lassie," including "The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T" and "River of No Return." He had a stormy adjustment after "Lassie," including drug arrests and bankruptcy, but he later became a well-known software developer. He died in 1996 at age 54. Porky was played by Joey Vieira, who's now 63. He still does bit roles. He appeared in the Mel Gibson film "The Patriot," among others.

Question:Do you know if "Rules of Engagement" is coming back to CBS this fall?

Answer: Yes. The show will be back on Mondays after "Two and a Half Men."

Question:Which came first, Scott Baio as Chachi on "Happy Days" or Scott Baio as Dr. Stewart on "Diagnosis: Murder"?

Answer: In other words, what you're saying is Scott Baio is ageless. In a kind of creepy way. Baio played Charles "Chachi" Arcola on ABC's "Happy Days" from 1977 until 1984, beginning when he was 16 or so. He played Dr. Jack Stewart on CBS' "Diagnosis Murder" from 1993 until 1995, beginning when he was 32 or so.

Question:More years ago than I want to admit, I saw an episode of "The Twilight Zone" where a modern-day couple was driving along a highway. They stopped and walked over a hill where they found a covered wagon in which there was a sick child (or children). The parents asked for help, and the couple left some aspirin or a similar medicine. The implication was that the medication we take for granted today would have saved many lives a century ago. Can you tell me the title of this episode and if it's on DVD? I work in an 1800s living history village and this would be a great story to relate to our visitors.

Answer: That's the episode "A Hundred Yards Over the Rim" with Cliff Robertson. The plot is slightly different from the way you describe it — a pioneer sets out in search of medicine and ends up at a modern-day truck stop. It originally aired in April 1961 and is on "The Twilight Zone" season two DVD.

Question:More years ago than I care to remember there was a miniseries about a string of murders in a small Southern town. Each episode dealt with a different time period and a different police chief who was trying to solve the murders. Can you tell me the title and if it's on DVD?

Answer: That's "Chiefs," a miniseries that originally aired in 1983. It starred Charlton Heston, Keith Carradine, Stephen Collins and Danny Glover. The police chiefs were played by Wayne Rogers (as Chief Will Henry Lee in the 1920s), Brad Davis (as Chief Sonny Butts in the 1940s) and Billy Dee Williams (as Chief Tyler Watts in the 1960s).

Question:As a kid in the late 1970s, I have vivid memories of a Bermuda Triangle-type movie with a giant turtle and a mermaid. Sounds weird, but I swear it existed! What's the title? Is it on DVD?

Answer: That's "The Bermuda Depths," a 1978 TV movie with Burl Ives, Leigh McCloskey, Connie Sellecca, Carl Weathers and a big turtle. It's not yet on video or DVD.

Question:I understand that Mandy Patinkin is leaving the show "Criminal Minds." What reason is being given?

Answer: "Creative differences" is the official reason, but Patinkin has expressed his ambivalence about series TV in the past — he also left the CBS medical drama "Chicago Hope" midway through its run.

Question:I was watching "The Late Show With David Letterman" on June 14 and was very taken with the musical group that closed the program. I have no idea who they are. Can you help?

Answer: It's the group Pink Martini.

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Question:What shows were on television between 9 and 10 p.m. on Tuesday, July 18, 1961?

Answer: Eastern time, right? On NBC you had the anthology series "Thriller," hosted by Boris Karloff. That night's episode was "The Poisoner," with Murray Matheson and Sarah Marshall. On ABC you had the Western series "Stagecoach West." And on CBS you had two shows. From 9 to 9:30 you had the final episode of "The Tom Ewell Show," about a woebegone fellow surrounded by daughters, a wife and a mother-in-law. And at 9:30 you had the "Playhouse 90" production "Tomorrow," with Richard Boone and Kim Stanley, which ran until 11 p.m.

Question:I saw a movie similar to "Titanic" on TV several years before the theatrical film. This has been bothering me. My stepsister says there was a different version made. Is this true? If so, is it on DVD or video?

Answer: There have actually been several film versions of the Titanic story, but I think the one you're referring to is the 1996 "Titanic" miniseries, with Peter Gallagher, George C. Scott, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Marilu Henner and Felicity Waterman, among a bunch of other people. It's on video and DVD.

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