Pop culture Q&A

July 8, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

By Rich Heldenfels

McClatchy Newspapers

Q. I was watching a tribute to the director Mike Nichols and could not figure out who his wife is. Who is she?

A. That’s Diane Sawyer, the newscaster for ABC. They married in April 1988, reportedly after six months of dating. She is Nichols’ fourth wife; he is her only husband. Incidentally, they married the same day as Burt Reynolds and Loni Anderson; those two untied the knot a little under seven years later.

Q. I have searched everywhere for an English TV show from the ’70s about a girl band. It had a theme song about “Sugar Mountain” or something. Did I make the whole thing up?

A. You did not. That was “Rock Follies,” about a trio called the Little Ladies. The six episodes originally aired on British TV in 1976; a second six-episode series, “Rock Follies of ’77,” followed. Charlotte Cornwell, Julie Covington and Rula Lenska starred. Lenska was in American commercials for Alberto V05 hair products. The ads prompted great amusement because Lenska was presented as a famous actress though basically unknown in the U.S.

Q. Kyle Chandler, who stars in “Friday Night Lights,” also had a TV show, a few years ago, about a guy who was able to get tomorrow’s newspaper a day in advance, which allowed him to circumvent problems. I can’t find any reference to it. I’m pretty sure the word “edition” is in the show title. I tried “Early Edition,” “Tomorrow’s Edition,” “Next Edition,” but no luck. Can you tell me the show’s name, how long it ran, and the name of his cohort?

A. That was “Early Edition,” which originally aired on CBS for four seasons, 1996 to 2000. According to “The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows,” Chandler played Gary Hobson; Shanesia Davis-Williams played his friend Marissa. In the first two seasons, Gary had a friend named Chuck — played by Fisher Stevens — who wanted to use the early edition more selfishly than Gary. The first two seasons have been released on DVD.

Q. I would like to know what makes chef Gordon Ramsay such an expert. I like his shows but I’d like to know his credentials.

A. They are extensive. Here are some, from his online biography: “Ramsay’s first years in the kitchen were spent training under culinary luminaries such as Marco Pierre White and Albert Roux in London, after which he moved to France where he worked in the kitchens of Guy Savoy and Joel Robuchon for three years where he was able to enhance his expertise in classic French cooking. In 1993, Gordon became chef of the newly opened Aubergine; within three years the restaurant was awarded two Michelin stars.

“Gordon’s first book, ‘Passion for Flavour,’ was published in 1996. ... In 1998 at the age of 31, Gordon set up his first wholly owned restaurant, Gordon Ramsay, in Chelsea. On 19th January 2001, it won its third Michelin star. In October 2001, Gordon opened Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s, which won a Michelin star in 2003. The same year saw the opening of Gordon Ramsay Holdings’ first international restaurant, Verre, located in the Dubai Hilton Creek Hotel.”

You can see more at http://www.gordonramsay.com.

Q. There was a movie I remember watching as a kid. It was called “Bride of Boogidy,” I think. I believe it was Disney-produced and shown on “Wonderful World of Disney” that used to air Sunday nights. Please let me know if I can find it somewhere and if there was a first movie to go with it. I would love to have my kids watch it.

A. “Bride of Boogedy,” which first aired in 1987 under the Disney Sunday Movie banner, was a sequel to 1986’s “Mr. Boogedy.” Unfortunately, I cannot find an authorized release of the movies on video.