–Will “Deal or No Deal” be back next season? –Dan D’Or, Amherst, Ohio
It will. The Howie Mandel-hosted NBC game show is slated to air on Monday and Thursday starting in the fall. As much of a ratings boon as it’s been for the network, it will face a particular challenge on Thursday, where it will be pitted directly against two of television’s top dramas: “Grey’s Anatomy” on ABC and “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” on CBS.
–I have been enjoying “Sex and the City” repeats since last fall, but I would like to know why they are already in their third run when the series lasted six years on HBO. –Lauri Crowell, Arlington, Texas
With every series the cable network makes, a “year” for an HBO show doesn’t mean the same thing as it does in broadcast television, where it translates into 22 to 26 installments for a full season. Some “Sex and the City” seasons lasted only a dozen episodes, so if a station is airing them every weeknight in syndication (which many stations across the country are), the math alone indicates they get run through relatively quickly.
— Is Kathy Hilton, Paris and Nicky Hilton’s mother, the same person who used to be on “Family Affair” when she was a little girl? Uncle Bill, Mr. French, Buffy and Jody were the other characters. –Marlene Fanelle, Cherry Hill, N.J.
You’re thinking of Kathy Garver, who played eldest sister Cissy. They’re two different people. (Garver offers commentary on the recently released first-season DVD set of “Family Affair.”)
— I have taped and viewed every “Lost” episode from the very beginning, but somehow, the season finale did not tape properly … so I missed it totally. Can you tell me if it will be airing again soon? –Peggy Reaser, Chillicothe, Ohio
You can be certain ABC will repeat it right before the show’s third year begins this fall. Also, Buena Vista Home Entertainment is slated to release the show’s complete second season on DVD this fall; that makes total sense, since the network is likely to give viewers that extra chance to catch up before diving into fresh episodes.
— I would like to know if someone is putting out a DVD set of the show “Soap” with Billy Crystal. –Roz Kline, Largo, Fla.
Actually, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment already has. Each of the four seasons of the then-controversial 1977-81 ABC sitcom is available in a separate DVD set.
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