Pop culture Q&A

August 26, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

Pop culture Q&A

By Rich Heldenfels

Q. Many years ago (40-50) Robert Goulet starred in a TV series I believe named “Blue Light.” Is it on DVD or do you have any information regarding it?

A. Robert Goulet indeed starred in the World War II series “Blue Light,” which aired on ABC in 1966. According to “The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows,” Goulet played “American espionage agent David March ... [who] posed as a foreign correspondent who had officially renounced his American citizenship.”

That let him travel Nazi-occupied Europe, where he worked for the secret group Code: Blue Light trying to infiltrate the German high command. Filmed in Germany, the series also starred French actress Christine Carere as March’s assistant, Suzanne Duchard.

I do not know of an authorized release of the series. There is a movie, “I Deal In Danger,” assembled from episodes of the series, which is on DVD.

If your local retailer cannot get it, it is for sale from online vendors including Amazon.com and Moviesunlimited.com.

Q. Why are there no reruns of “Soap,” the weekly family comedy? I think it was in the ’70s maybe ’80s, with Billy Crystal, Diana Canova and such a great cast, I can’t think of all their names.

A. “Soap,” a parody of serialized dramas, originally aired from 1977 to 1981 on ABC. Besides Crystal and Canova, the cast included Robert Mandan, Katherine Helmond, Cathryn Damon, Richard Mulligan, Robert Guillaume (whose character was spun into his own series, “Benson”), Robert Urich, John Byner and many others.

I am surprised you called it a family comedy since it was quite controversial in its day; there were protests before it aired, and some ABC affilates reportedly refused to carry it.

But it had a healthy network run, was much repeated in syndication — and is currently in the lineup of program service Antenna TV.

In addition, all four seasons of “Soap” have been released on DVD, individually and in a complete-series set.

Q. Was just wondering, is there any chance “The Revolution” might be back? I like the hosts, Josh Elliott and Lara Spencer, when they’re on “Good Morning America,” but “Good Afternoon America” is a bit too much of the entertainment portion of the news.

A. This question refers not to the NBC series “Revolution,” which was promoted mercilessly during coverage of the Olympics, but the daytime show ABC tried out after jettisoning a couple of its daytime soaps. The lifestyle series did not appeal to viewers, and was dropped in July in favor of a short run for “Good Afternoon America.”

Speaking of which ...

Q. I was surprised to read in your mailbag that come Sept. 10, I will not be able to see “Good Afternoon America.” You said that the soap opera “General Hospital” will be at that time. Why? Where will “Good Afternoon America” be in the lineup?

A. “GAA” was announced as a nine-week series, basically filling the 2 p.m. weekday time slot after the demise of “The Revolution,” but only until “General Hospital” moves into it.

“GH” is being moved to make a place for Katie Couric’s new syndicated series, which will air at 3 p.m. weekdays on many ABC stations.

But while “GAA’s” departure in September was preordained, ABC has reportedly considered bringing it back down the road — assuming the network is happy with “GAA’s” performance and something else falls by the wayside.

2012 Akron Beacon Journal

Distributed by MCT Information Services