Pop culture Q&A

May 16, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

By Rich Heldenfels

McClatchy Tribune

Q. Back in February on Fox, there was a program called “Past Life.” I only caught two shows before it was taken off. Was that just a “filler” program, or will it be back? I thought it was a very interesting plot and hope to see more of it!

A. Not filler, but a failure. Audiences were not drawn to it, and Fox yanked it after three telecasts. Fox will burn off some unaired episodes May 28 and June 4 and 11.

Q. Do you know why “Saving Grace” was canceled and is there any hope that it will be revived?

A. It’s not done. It will return May 24 for a six-episode run concluding the series, with the two-episode finale June 21. But a revival is unlikely.

TNT was reportedly ready to air more of it but the production company opted not to continue for financial reasons. In other words, the show was costing more than the studio expected to make from additional telecasts, resale of the reruns and home-video sales. On the plus side, the decision not to renew it was made far enough in advance that the show could figure out how to end.

Q. What are the real names of the people who play Zoe and Dr. O’Hara on “Nurse Jackie?”

A. Zoe Barkow is played by Merritt Wever. Her previous credits include the movies “Righteous Kill,” “Into the Wild” and “Michael Clayton” and TV shows “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” “NCIS” and “The Wire.”

Dr. Eleanor O’Hara is played by Eve Best, a well-regarded stage actress who dips into television from time to time, though mainly in British productions. But not long ago, she played Dolley Madison in the “American Experience” profile of the famous first lady.

And now, some questions about books and movies.

Q. I read a great page turner by C.J. Box called “Blue Heaven.” I read somewhere they were going to make it into a movie. Do you know anything about this?

A. I know that in 2008, a company acquired the movie rights to the thriller, about an Idaho community which is home to many retired Los Angeles police officers. And Box — also known for his series of Joe Pickett novels — told the Los Angeles Times that “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about this as a film early on. I could see it as I wrote it.”

According to Box’s website, “a screenplay has been written and negotiations with studios are progressing.”

Q. Years ago I read the novel, “Guests of the Emperor” by Janice Young Brooks. The back cover of the novel states that the “video of it was shown March 1993 on NBC television.”

We recently reread the novel in my book club and everyone enjoyed it immensely. This book would be a wonderful teaching tool to use in my high school history class if I could find either a VHS or DVD copy to purchase to accompany the reading.

A. According to Brooks’ website, the novel was adapted for a TV movie called “Silent Cries.” I do not know of an authorized release on VHS or DVD.

Brooks’ site says that it airs occasionally on Lifetime, but I did not see a listing of it on either Lifetime or Lifetime Movie Network.

Q. I remember a made-for-TV miniseries titled “The Word,” based on Irving Wallace’s book by the same title, that was shown in the mid-’70s (I think). Do you know if this is available on DVD?

A. “The Word” was part of the glory days of TV miniseries, running eight hours (counting commercials) when it premiered in 1978.

But I do not know of an authorized DVD release, and VHS versions appear to have been cut considerably.