Sunday, January 22, 2012
Pop culture Q&A
By Rich Heldenfels
Q. I have a question that’s been bugging me. Was Kevin Bacon ever in a soap opera? Seems like it was “Ryan’s Hope” or “Guiding Light.” I may have the actor wrong.
A. Not only do you have the actor right, but you also picked the soap. Bacon was one of several actors playing Tim “T.J.” Werner on “Guiding Light” over the years; Bacon’s stint was 1980-81.
Q. When is the release date of the movie “One For The Money” by Janet Evanovich about bounty hunter Stephanie Plum whose grandmother is played by Debbie Reynolds?
A. The film starring Katherine Heigl as the character featured in the long series of Evanovich novels is set to open nationally Friday. Then we’ll see if America is as skeptical as I am about Heigl being cast in this role.
Q. A few years ago, there was a television movie about the Three Stooges. It starred Michael Chiklis as Curly. Do you know if it is available anywhere on DVD?
A. The movie originally aired on ABC in 2000, with longtime Stooges fan Mel Gibson as executive producer. Paul Ben-Victor played Moe, Evan Handler was Larry and John Kassir was Shemp. It found its way to VHS but has not, as far as I can tell, become an authorized DVD. Still, stooginess goes on; a new, big-screen version of their antics is due in theaters in April from the Farrelly brothers.
Q. I saw an interview recently with a woman who is in a new movie that is entirely silent. I do not remember the name of it, but it seems to have come and gone already. Do you know anything about this?
A. After we discussed your question on the phone, it was clear that you had heard about “The Artist,” a black-and-white, talk-free production about a silent-film actor as talkies are taking over. It has received largely positive reviews in limited release, and plenty of Oscar buzz.
Q. Can you tell me why it is so hard to find “Titanic” on DVD? The 1997 version with Leonardo DiCaprio seems almost impossible to find.
A. It is indeed difficult to track down copies of the film, with online vendors asking three- digit sums for the available copies. It appears that new copies are not being made because James Cameron is gearing up another rendition of the film, in 3-D, due in theaters in April.
Q. I am anxiously awaiting the fifth season of “Mad Men”! Can you tell me when it is scheduled to return?
A. Though I have not seen an official date from AMC, star Jon Hamm said in a recent “Doug Loves Movies” podcast interview that the series will return March 25. New York magazine calculated that it will have been 525 days since the last new episode aired.
Q. Would you please tell me when “Royal Pains” is returning?
A. The medical drama resumed Wednesday.
Do you have a question or comment about movies, TV and other popular culture? Write to rheldenfelsthebeaconjournal.com or the Akron Beacon J ournal, 44 E. Exchange St., Akron, OH 44309. Please mark the note for Mailbag and do not phone in questions. Letters may be edited. Individual replies cannot be guaranteed.
2012 the Akron Beacon Journal
Distributed by MCT Information Services
Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.