Q. I recently saw the episode of Law & Order in which assistant district attorney Serena Southerlyn was fired. She asked District Attorney Arthur Branch if it was because she was a lesbian. Did I miss something? This line did not seem to be in context with that episode or the series, for that matter. Why was that written in? Will there be a future story line? Can you also please tell me why she was written off the show? — A.R., Sunrise
A. Law & Order creator/ executive producer Dick Wolf addressed this issue on the midseason press tour. Wolf, who makes it a point not to delve deeply into the personal lives of his characters, said it was a way during Elisabeth Rohm’s last 30 seconds on the show to reveal something about her character. Wolf asked Rohm, who wanted to leave the series to pursue a movie career, if she preferred to go out with a bang or a whimper. She discussed what he had in mind and said, “This is great. Let’s go for it.”
Q. I’m prompted to write by the proliferation of ever more intrusive promos on cable channels. I’m referring to the amazingly huge, often animated promotional messages for programs that appear at the bottom of the screen. Bravo, Animal Planet and others are among the guilty parties, but it seems difficult to escape this blatant intrusion into the programming. Often, great moments in movies are spoiled by juggling squirrels and the like, often with sound effects. Where does an increasingly disgruntled viewer write to complain about this? — R.G., Orlando
A. You’re right but you didn’t go far enough. The broadcast networks are just as bad. Ways have been devised to eliminate pop-up ads on our computers, but there’s nothing we can do about it on TV. I hope venting here helped because it’s the only satisfaction you are going to get. The pop-ups might be infuriating, but they do not break any rules, not that TV has any meaningful restrictions beyond those inflicted by the word and body-part police.
Q. I need the address of The Food Network. There are cookbooks I want to order but all that is provided is an e-mail address. I will not put my credit card number on the Internet. I’m sure you understand. — R.B., West Melbourne
A. I understand caution but not an outright refusal. I buy off the Internet regularly. I’m just careful that it’s a well-established, traceable company, not someone selling cut-rate flowers or prescription drugs from Canada. If you trust the Food Network with your address by mail, there’s no reason I can see not to trust it by e-mail. In any case, the address is 75 Ninth Ave., New York, New York, 10011. That’s the corporate headquarters. (Network addresses and phone numbers are published on the inside back page of On TV.) I don’t know if they handle cookbook sales there, but good luck. (Lest this inspire a spate of requests from newcomers to the column, I do not, under any circumstances, provide the addresses of stars.)
Q. Do you have any knowledge of what happened to the wonderful Jennifer Ehle, who played Elizabeth Bennet in the BBC drama Pride and Prejudice? I keep watching for her in all the British productions, but so far, no luck. — H.W. E-mail
A. Ehle has stayed busy, although some of her work probably has had limited or no release in the United States. Titles to look for include This Year’s Love, Bedrooms & Hallways, The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Adventures in the Secret Service and a couple of films scheduled for release this year, Alpha Male and The River King.
Q. What are the current odds of American Dreams being renewed? I guess no sex, no violence, no foul language translates to no renewal. Another family show goes down the tubes. Also, is Will Estes, who plays J.J., related to Rob Estes of Melrose Place? — L.G., Orlando
A. It sounds as if you already know the odds of American Dreams being picked up for another season. However, if it is canceled, NBC can’t be faulted. It was already picked up twice with lesser ratings than other series that were canceled. This season, it is the lowest-ranked scripted series on NBC, well below others that already have been jettisoned. Still, it is being given another chance to find an audience with a shift to Wednesday nights at 8 as of March 9. Not that NBC is doing it any favors, since it will go head-to-head with Lost. It is true that American Dreams is a fine family drama, so where are the people who say this is what they want more of on TV? Will Estes is not related to Rob Estes. Will is an only child; Rob and his wife Josie Bissett have one child, a 2-year-old daughter, Maya.
Send questions to Tom Jicha, TV/Radio Writer, Sun-Sentinel, 200 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301-2293 or e-mail . Personal replies are not possible, please do not send self-addressed envelopes.
