Pop culture Q&A

September 18, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

Pop culture Q&A

Q. I would like to know why Leah Remini and Holly Robinson Peete will not be on the new season of “The Talk.” I thought they both brought a lot to the show, and I am not sure if I will even watch this season now that they are not going to be on it.

A. The series, which began its second season last week, is still working out what it thinks is the right combination of hosts, and the combination did not include Remini and Peete. Returning for the second season of “The Talk” are Sara Gilbert (who is also an executive producer), Julie Chen and Sharon Osbourne. Sheryl Underwood is joining them as a host. In addition, Kris Jenner will fill in for Osbourne for two weeks this fall. And Molly Shannon will appear as a guest host through September.

You may recall that “The View,” which “The Talk” more than slightly resembles, also has made changes at times. The original setup involved three regulars — Meredith Vieira, Star Jones and Debbie Matenopoulos — along with Barbara Walters on some days and Joy Behar others.

Q. Several weeks ago, there was a news story about some very valuable cups that were appraised on “Antiques Roadshow.” Has that episode aired yet, or will it show up in the new season?

A. A remarkable “Roadshow” find occurred while the long-running public-TV series was taping shows in Tulsa, Okla., for telecast during its 16th season beginning in January. According to the series’ website, art expert Lark Mason “identified a collection of five late 17th- or early 18th- century Chinese carved rhinoceros-horn cups and valued the set at $1 million to $1.5 million.”

That’s the highest appraised value of an item in the show’s history. Second-highest, according to the website, was for a collection of Chinese carved jade bowls from a Raleigh, N.C., event in 2009. They were estimated to be worth as much as $1.07 million.

Q. I would like to know what happened to “America’s Most Wanted.” Did it get canceled?

A. Fox decided to switch it from weekly telecasts to quarterly specials, with the first to air Oct. 29. But Lifetime has picked up “America’s Most Wanted” as a regular series and will begin airing its 25th season later this year.

Q. Do you know where I can buy the complete DVD set of the ’80s television show “Our House”? It ran on NBC for two seasons and starred Wilford Brimley and Deidre Hall.

A. The family drama, which also featured Shannen Doherty and Chad Allen, originally aired on NBC from 1986 to 1988. I do not know of an authorized release of the show on DVD, and I do not recommend unauthorized sets.

Q. What happened to “Switched at Birth”? Believe it was on the ABC Family channel on Monday evenings. It seemed to have just gone off the air. Don’t remember reading or seeing anything about it being done. We did enjoy the program.

A. The series completed a 10-episode run with a “summer finale” in early August. ABC Family has ordered additional episodes, which will begin airing early in 2012.

The next item involves a recent question involving “My Three Sons” and my answer about the “uncles” I said were played by William Frawley and William Demarest.

Q. I enjoyed your info about “My Three Sons,” but I remembered Bub as the boys’ maternal grandfather.

A. You are correct. Bub, played by Frawley, was the father-in-law of Steve Douglas (Fred MacMurray) and maternal grandfather to Steve’s sons. Uncle Charley, played by Demarest after Frawley left the show, was Bub’s brother.

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