Question: My sister and I were just talking about the fad in the 1980s of sitcom characters visiting other sitcoms. Like when characters from "The Golden Girls" would visit "Empty Nest." At the time, it just seemed like an accepted part of sitcom culture, but it doesn't happen too much anymore.
We came up with some other examples of it, like "The Cosby Show" characters visiting "A Different World." Or the weird way that Mrs. Garrett from "The Facts of Life" became the housekeeper on "Diff'rent Strokes."
Can you give us other examples of this odd (in retrospect) phenomenon? Like did ALF ever visit other shows?
Answer: ALF did indeed make appearances on such shows as "Matlock" and "Blossom." It's important to note, however, that Mrs. Garrett (Charlotte Rae) was a regular on "Diff'rent Strokes" before her character was given the spinoff series "The Facts of Life."
Since "The Golden Girls" and "Empty Nest" were produced by the same folks and since the shows were both set in Miami, it was natural that the characters would cross-pollinate. The producers also created a show called "The Fanelli Boys," which premiered on NBC in 1990. To help boost ratings, they arranged for a visit from Sophia (Estelle Getty) of "The Golden Girls."
The characters on "Cheers" also popped up in unexpected places. Some of them appeared on an episode of the NBC hospital drama "St. Elsewhere" when some of that show's characters visited the bar. And Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammar) appeared on an episode of "Wings," which was produced by the "Cheers" folks. Of course, "Frasier" also featured guest appearances by "Cheers" characters like Sam (Ted Danson), Diane (Shelley Long), Norm (George Wendt), Cliff (John Ratzenberger), Carla (Rhea Perlman) and Woody (Woody Harrelson).
The phenomenon also occurred in the 1960s, when characters from "The Beverly Hillbillies" visited "Petticoat Junction" and the "Petticoat Junction" folks popped up on "Green Acres." And in the 1950s, Ann Sothern played her sitcom character Susie McNamara ("Private Secretary") on "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour." Danny Thomas appeared on that series, as well, with his "Make Room for Daddy" family.
Question: Were there two Dennis Hoppers? Hedda Hopper was a Hollywood columnist who had a son named Dennis. He played Paul Drake on "Perry Mason." Then there is the Dennis Hopper who just died, but I know they are not the same. They didn't look alike, and the first Dennis was dead, I think, before the latest one was around. Am I correct?
Answer: You are Mayor Wronggity McWrong of Wrongville.
William Hopper, the son of Hedda Hopper, played private eye Paul Drake on "Perry Mason," which ran on CBS from 1957-66. He died in 1970 and is not related in any way, shape or form to Dennis Hopper.
Question: About 15 years ago, I saw a movie about a deaf girl who lived out in the country and was "rescued" by two other children. Now that I think of it, Reese Witherspoon might have been in it. Does this sound familiar? Is it on DVD?
Answer: Sounds like "Wildflower," a 1991 TV movie with Witherspoon, Beau Bridges, Susan Blakely and Patricia Arquette as the deaf girl.
It's on DVD.