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Chipmunks "Squeakquel" on DVD/BD March 30
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Late surge gives Zips ugly road win
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Blogmail response on Hafner
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Stallworth's contract terminated
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QB in Browns future: another mock draft
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KSU Notes – February 9
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NBA Power Rankings from Around the Internet
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Buckeyes grab 18 players on signing day
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Garfield at Buchtel basketball
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Palin At The Tea Party Convention
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Republican Pre-Conditions
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Law, Love and Chocolate
Car Chase:
Collector Car Hobby Loses One of the Best—Jim Roll
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Decisions Decisions: Credit Cards or Your Mortgage?
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Loucile is looking for a Lake Erie getaway in June for three kids, ages 1, 3, and 5.
Sound Check:
Talk of the Town – Top entertainment picks for the weekend
HRLite House:
OFCCP Report
Akron Gamer:
Makers of 'Castle Crashers' unveil 'BattleBlock Theater'
See Jane Style:
Do IT this week: Layering
By Rich Heldenfels
Beacon Journal popular culture writer
Published on Thursday, Oct 22, 2009
If it's Thursday, this must be the mailbag . . .
Q: Will ''Chuck'' with Zachary Levi ever return to NBC? It was the only show we looked forward to watching during the week. We LOVED ''Chuck,'' it was totally campy and fun.
A: The network renewed the series for a third season, thanks especially to a sponsorship deal with the Subway sandwich chain. The network has planned to bring it back in March 2010, after Winter Olympics coverage. When NBC dumped Southland before that drama began its second season, there was some hope that Chuck would return sooner. But at this writing, the only official return date is the one in 2010.
Q: I've become a faithful fan of ''The Sopranos'' on A&E. (I never watched it on HBO.) I would love to match up the actors' names with their characters on the show. Do you know of a Web site where this is available?
A: A&E's Web site, http://www.aetv.com, has a cast list, with photos. Go to the site, click on ''shows,'' then ''The Sopranos,'' then ''the family.'' That will give you a photo array of the characters, which you can click on to get a description and a link to the actor's name and bio. HBO also still has a cast list; go to http://www.hbo.com, click on ''series'' at the top of the page, then ''The Sopranos,'' then ''cast and crew.''
And you should really try to see the show as it aired on HBO. The entire series is available on DVD, and the edited-down A&E cut is just not the same.
Q: Some years ago, my husband and I enjoyed a series on TV about two little boys, one black and one white. They lived in a little town, called Palmerstown, and I think that was the name of the series. It was set in the '20s or '30s, and was a wholesome family program. It did have racism in some of the themes. But good, thinking people prevailed.
A: The series you remember was at first called Palmerstown, U.S.A., and later just Palmerstown. Roots author Alex Haley was involved, and the series was inspired by his childhood friendship with a white boy in the Depression-era South. The boys were played by Jermain Hodge Johnson and Brian Godfrey Wilson; the cast also included Michael J. Fox, Bill Duke and Jonelle Allen. It had short runs on CBS in the spring of 1980 and 1981. I do not know of an authorized release on home video.
Q: Is Christian Bale any relation to James Brolin? There are times when I see a striking resemblance to the young Brolin, circa ''Marcus Welby.''
A: As far as I can determine, they are not related.
Q: I remember watching a movie about the life of Judy Garland. Also remember Aileen Quinn from ''Annie'' playing the part. Could be wrong though. Was such a good movie. I thought it was called ''Over the Rainbow.'' I've no luck in tracking anything down.
A: You are most likely remembering Rainbow, a 1978 TV movie about the young Garland, with Andrea McArdle — who starred in Annie on Broadway. I do not know of an authorized DVD release. It did come out on VHS, and I saw some high-priced copies on Amazon.com and eBay. You would have an easier time finding Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows, a more recent TV production based on the memoir by Garland's daughter Lorna Luft. It is available on DVD.
Q: I have a question about the movie that goes with the ''Unchained Melody'' song. There was a movie made in 1954 called ''Unchained,'' starring Crazy-Legs Hirsch and Barbara Bain. I have looked everywhere on the Web and can find reviews of the movie and the song, but cannot find a source for the movie. Can you help?
A: The song, later famous in a version by the Righteous Brothers and in the movie Ghost, did indeed appear in the prison drama, which starred Hirsch and Barbara Hale. Unfortunately, I do not know of an authorized release of the movie on video.
•
Do you have a question or comment about movies, TV and other popular culture? Write to rheldenfels@thebeaconjournal.com or the Akron Beacon Journal, 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.
Rich Heldenfels writes about popular culture for the Beacon Journal, in the HeldenFiles Online blog at http://heldenfels.ohio.com, on Facebook and on Twitter.
If it's Thursday, this must be the mailbag . . .
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