Show finrn Wiitiiiiti Wrtiliri rrri m r?Vi ELEVISIONfTRIVI By TAYLOR MICHAELS TVDato Features SyndfcaM Q: When “Ellen" first came on the air she had a roommate named Adam How exactly did they write him off the show? DS via A: in one of the show's many retoolings Adam (Arye Gross) moved to London to accept an exciting job opportunity Q: Please settle an argument between my husband and myself on two questions I recall an episode of "The Lucy-DeComedy Hour” involving the character of actress Tallulah Bankhead My husband says that Bette Davis played Tallulah I say It was Tallulah herself Next who played Louise on “Dear John”? My husband insists it was Jane Leeves of “Frasier” but I say no Patty Smith (and Brian) via e-- - si - irmiL A: You are right on both counts That was Bankhead herself camping her way through an episode that if you recall involved her fierce allergy as she to “strawwwwwww-berries- " AUGUST 29 - SEPTEMBER 5 1 998 called them Jane Carr w ho hears a passing resemblance to Leeves played Louise on “Dear John” Q: In the Mickey Rooney TV movie “Bill: On His Own” did David Duchovny play the rabbi who befriended Bill? Jonathan Gallagher via A: No Rabbi Jeff Portman was played by actor Paul Laeber Q: In the early days of TV I talk show remember a hosted by Jerry Lester who used to d gaL swap Jokes with a What was the name of the show and who was the woman? Walter Sweikhart Montgomery Ala A: You're thinking of NBC’s “Broadway Open House" the 1950-S- I predecessor to 'The Tonight Show" For a comedy bit one night Jeny Lester invited actress Jennie Lewis to appear as Dagmar a dim g blond bombshell The routine was an instant hit with audiences and Dagmar (Lewis took the character name as her own) became Lester's sidekick and a - late-nig- ht large-buste- - poetry-spoutin- Standard-Examin- er beloved TV personality in her own right Q: Whatever happened to The Straight Dope” on A&E? It was a quirky show that answered questions from viewers about everyday things from embalming to how rats end up in toilet bowls on the fourth floor of apartment buildings -Todd Urquhart via A: “Dope” a spinoff of Cecil Adams' hip syndicated column simply didn't attract a large enough audience to survive Q: Is Robbi Chong of “Poltergeist: The Legacy” related to Rae Dawn Chong? Roger A Hatfield Del Rio Texas A: They're half sisters Comic actor Tommy Chong (of Cheech & Chong fame) is the father of both actresses Send questions of general interest to T’Data Features Syndicate 333 Glen Street Glens Falls NY 12801 ore-ma-il to tepipelinetvdatacom Only questions selected for this column will be answered Personal replies cannot be sent - 31 |