Pop culture Q&A

July 29, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

By Rich Heldenfels

McClatchy Newspapers

Q. At the start of shows like “Burn Notice” and “Royal Pains” on USA Network, it says “Characters Welcome.” What does that mean?

A. It’s a slogan USA began using five years ago to “brand” the network — that is, to create a clear identification of its programming. Think of NBC’s use of “Must-See TV” or TNT’s “We Know Drama.” USA’s line is meant to suggest what an executive once called “strong, relatable characters” in its shows, regardless of whether the show is wrestling, an intense drama or something comedic.

Q. Back in the late ’40s or early ’50s, there was a movie “Times in Our Lives” or something like that. Two soldiers and a sailor who had lost his hands in combat were returning home from World War II. Dana Andrews and Fredric March were two of the actors. Could you give me some info about the other fellow?

A. The movie was “The Best Years of Our Lives.” The other fellow was Harold Russell, who lost both his hands during the war; as the New York Times noted, he “was teaching demolition work at Camp Mackall in North Carolina and a defective fuse detonated TNT that he was holding.”

Although he was not a professional actor, his effective work in “Best Years” was the only acting performance to win two Oscars: a special award “for bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans,” then the best supporting actor honor. He acted only occasionally afterward, concentrating on charitable efforts and business. In 1992, he auctioned off one of his Oscars for $60,500, in part to pay for an operation for his wife. He died in 2002.

Q. What happened to ABC’s “Happy Town”? It was on Wednesday nights. Now they’re showing reruns of “Castle.” It was just getting interesting!

A. Not interesting enough, apparently. ABC pulled it from the air in May, brought it back in June, then pulled it again, and put the last two episodes (of eight total) on its Web site, http://www.abc.go.com. And that is “Happy Town’s” unhappy ending.

Q. Can you tell me if FX is bringing back “Damages” and “Justified” for another season?

A. FX has renewed “Justified” for a second season. It did not make a deal for a fourth season of “Damages.” But DirecTV has ordered 20 new episodes of the Glenn Close drama to air over two seasons in 2011 and 2012. Unlike DirecTV’s deal for “Friday Night Lights,” where it runs premieres episodes and NBC replays them, “Damages” will be only on DirecTV. The satellite service has also acquired replay rights to the first three seasons.

Q. Can you help me remember the name of an HBO series where the protagonist was left alone watching TV all day when he was a young child and every real-life situation is played out in his head through scenes from the shows he saw growing up?

A. You are remembering “Dream On,” a comedy starring Brian Benben, more recently of “Private Practice.” He played Martin Tupper, a book editor whose thoughts were illustrated by old TV and movie scenes. Wendie Malick, now on “Hot in Cleveland,” played his ex-wife; Denny Dillon was Martin’s secretary, Toby Pedalbee. The series ran on HBO from 1990 to 1996 and, in an edited-for-broadcast version, on Fox in 1995. The first two seasons, in their HBO form, are available on DVD.

Q. In the movie “Oklahoma!,” who wrote the music and lyrics? Was the movie filmed in Oklahoma or elsewhere? Who were the stars in the original stage play? Shirley Jones in the movie is still alive. What about Gordon MacRae?

A. The 1955 movie, with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, was filmed in Nogales, Ariz. It was based on the Broadway hit starring Joan Roberts as Laurey and Alfred Drake as Curly. Jones played Laurey in the movie opposite Gordon MacRae’s Curly; MacRae died in 1986.