FILM FARE | A guide to what's on screen

Q. On a recent episode of "ER," actor Sharif Atkins' character, Michael Gallant, was deployed to Iraq for a year. Does that mean he will be gone from the show for a year? I really enjoyed watching him on "ER." -- L.L., Raleigh, N.C.
A. Atkins will be absent from "ER" but not from your TV screen. He's in the islands filming the new NBC series "Hawaii." The action drama about Honolulu's Metro Police squad also features Michael Biehn ("The Terminator"), Ivan Sergei ("Crossing Jordan") and Eric Balfour ("Six Feet Under"). "Hawaii" sneak previews Aug. 30, then premieres in its regular Wednesday night spot on Sept. 1.
Q. I thought that HBO's "Carnivale" would return for a new season. Was I wrong, or has the new season not begun yet? -- M.B., Dallas
A. The second season of the Emmy-nominated (for art direction) "Carnivale" is filming this summer. HBO has ordered 13 new episodes but has not announced a season premiere date.
Q. What is the name of the "NCIS" theme song? Who wrote it and is it on CD? -- R.M., Jerome, Pa.
A. Electronic music buffs Maurice Jackson, Matt Hawkins and Neil Martin joined forces in 2002 to form Numeriklab, a Seattle-based studio specializing in music for TV, film and video games. Their "NCIS" theme song isn't available, but if you like their music you can download other numbers from their Web site, www.numeriklab.com. "NCIS" returns for a new season this fall on CBS.
Q. Is the young man who plays Jake on "Two and a Half Men" the same one who plays Theo on "NYPD Blue"? -- D.E., via e-mail
A. No. Ten-year-old Angus T. Jones -- from Austin, Texas -- plays Jon Cryer's son Jake on the CBS sitcom. Other film roles in his young career include playing Dennis Quaid's son in "The Rookie" and George Jr. in "George of the Jungle 2." The part of Theo Sipowicz is played by 8-year-old Austin Majors.
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