Q: I noticed the recent “Jeopardy!” winner Grant DeYoung was using a stool. I’m wondering why, since in all my years of viewing “Jeopardy!” I have only seen this now.
A: Apparently there is a long-standing, low-key policy that the show allows seats. The show posted on X (formerly Twitter) that “the option to sit is available to all our players!” — no questions asked. DeYoung is one of several contestants of late to use a seat; he reportedly wanted it because of back arthritis that made it hard to stand for extended periods.
Q: “Yellowstone” used to air after “60 Minutes” a few months back. Will it continue sometime?
A: The Western drama is produced for the Paramount Network (not to be confused with Paramount+). Its corporate sibling, CBS, ran episodes of “Yellowstone” to fill time when most of its regular shows were shut down by the Hollywood strikes. There have been 4 ½ seasons of the series so far, all available for streaming on Peacock. Production on the second half of the fifth season has begun, with telecasts coming in November on Paramount Network. It appears that star Kevin Costner is not a part of the remaining Season 5 episodes, due to an array of production conflicts, among them Costner’s work on “Horizon: An American Saga.” That multipart movie epic will have its first installment in theaters in late June.
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Q: Stephanie Kurtzuba has played a police captain on “Blue Bloods.” However, I am positive she played a sergeant a few seasons before that (back when Jamie had made sergeant also). Am I crazy?
A: You are not. Kurtzuba first played police Sgt. Paula McNichols back in 2019 and in more recent seasons has been playing the promoted Capt. McNichols.
By the way, “Blue Bloods” will be back this fall with the remaining episodes of its final season. Those of you who have told me about your dismay about its ending (or at the cancellation of CBS’ “So Help Me Todd”) can tell the network at cbs.com/showfeedback.
Q: I remember a black-and-white film I would guess from the early ’70s or perhaps ’60s. The storyline centered on a somewhat impoverished young boy, maybe 8 to 10 years old, living in the projects. The young boy has occasionally been bullied by neighbor kids but befriends a stray cat. It had a scene I have never forgotten. What is the name of it?
A: You remembered a touching film called “J.T.,” starring Kevin Hooks. (I won’t spoil the scene you remembered for people just discovering the film.) It originally aired in December 1969 as part of “CBS Children’s Hour” and became a holiday mainstay for many. One place you can find it now is YouTube. By the way, Hooks went on to star in the movie “Sounder” and the series “The White Shadow,” among other productions, and became a successful director, including of a “Sounder” remake.
Q: Are any of the Kenny Rogers “Gambler” movies available? I remember one where TV Western stars showed up. But nobody seems to be streaming these.
A: There are five “Gambler” movies that aired from 1980 to 1994: “The Gambler” (also known as “Kenny Rogers as The Gambler”), “Kenny Rogers as The Gambler: The Adventure Continues,” “Kenny Rogers as The Gambler Part III: The Legend Continues,” “The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw” and “Gambler V: Playing for Keeps.” “Luck of the Draw” was the one featuring a host of old Western stars. Two of the streamers listing all five are Peacock and Tubi. Some were two-part presentations, with each part listed separately.
Do you have a question or comment about entertainment past, present and future? Write to Rich Heldenfels, P.O. Box 417, Mogadore, OH 44260, or brenfels@gmail.com.
