– Tell me about Jeff Altman, who`s in ”Nurses.” What`s his hometown and where did he go to school?-J.B.
Altman is a native of Syracuse, N.Y., and attended Johns Hopkins University. In addition to many guest spots, he has been a TV regular on
”Cos” (Bill Cosby`s 1976 variety series), ”The Starland Vocal Band Show” and ”Solid Gold,” as well as ”Pink Lady,” a 1980 oddity in which he acted as interpreter for the Japanese singing group of the same name.
– Tell me about John Tesh of CBS` ”Entertainment Tonight.”-Mrs. M.L.C.
Tesh, 39, was born in Garden City, N.Y., and studied at Juilliard and North Carolina State University. He started as a radio disc jockey in North Carolina, then began anchoring news in Durham, N.C.; Orlando, Fla.; Nashville; and New York. In 1981, he switched to sportscasting for CBS, joining ”ET” in 1986. You may see ”ET” on your local CBS affiliate but it`s not a CBS program. It`s syndicated. Tesh does work for NBC on a daytime interview show that bowed this fall, ”One on One.”
– Recently, the fine actor James Franciscus died. In 1958, Franciscus played for just one year in ABC`s ”Naked City.” Did Paul Burke replace him? If not, who did?-J.W.
In a way. Franciscus played Detective Jim Halloran in the first season of show (1958-59) when it was a half hour. The show disappeared for a season and turned up again in 1960 as an hour, with Burke as the younger of the New York detective team. (John McIntire was the first older cop; he was replaced during the first season by Horace McMahon, who returned for the second version.) The hour lasted until 1963.
– I just finished reading Danielle Steel`s ”Crossings.” I seem to recall a mini-series years back by the same name. Who were the stars, when was it aired and will the networks air it again?-J.B.C.
ABC aired the mini based on Steel`s book in 1986. It starred Jane Seymour, Cheryl Ladd, Lee Horsley and Christopher Plummer. These days minis reruns are a staple of the cable channels. Keep checking.
– Why is such incorrect information used? The title of the book is
”Palomino” not ”Danielle Steel`s Palomino.” Danielle Steel is the author.-J.L.
You`re right but blame NBC. Danielle Steel`s name sells millions of books and NBC wanted to attract millions of viewers who might ignore something simply titled ”Palomino.”
– What`s Chevy Chase`s age? I heard him say on TV that he was 60. But my brother found an article that says he`s 48.-P.R.
Cornelius Crane Chase-a.k.a. Chevy-was born Oct. 8, 1943.
– I`m a big fan of John Ratzenburger, Cliff on ”Cheers.” Where can I write him?-D.
Paramount Television, 5555 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90038-3197.
– What has happened to Tommy Norden, who was Bud Ricks in ”Flipper”
?-J.E.B.
Norden, now 39, didn`t have much acting luck after ”Flipper” flipped out in 1968. He did some commercials and spent three years on the now defunct soap ”Search for Tomorrow” before ditching the actor`s life for business. He`s single and divides his time between New York and Florida.
– Give some personal information on Elizabeth Montgomery: age, ever married, children.-T.S.
Montgomery is 58, was married twice and is the mother of three.
