– Has “Heroes” been canceled, or is it just a temporary victim of the writers strike? — Jim Randolph, Long Beach, Miss.
The show has turned out to be a bit-longer-than-temporary victim, but Ali Larter, Milo Ventimiglia, Hayden Panettiere and company will return to NBC this fall for year three. The network determined it would take longer to relaunch the next phase of the series than there would be time left for this season, considering when the strike ended and how many (or how few) new episodes could have been made ready by the end of May.
– What happened to the new show “Life,” about the detective who had been falsely imprisoned and rejoined the police force when he was freed? It just disappeared. Any chance of it resurfacing? — Joan Sass, Hixson, Tenn.
More than a chance. However the rest of its current season plays out post-writers strike, the Damian Lewis-starring series already has been renewed by NBC for a second season, which will begin this fall.
– How many of the original cast members of “M*A*S*H” are still alive? — Shannon Thompson, Baltimore
Assuming you mean the television series as opposed to the 1970 movie, quite a few. McLean Stevenson (alias Lt. Col. Henry Blake) and Larry Linville (Maj. Frank Burns) are deceased, but not only are the other major players still here at this writing, many of them — including Loretta Swit (Maj. Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan) — returned to the show’s outdoor set recently for a 25th-anniversary commemoration of the airing of the final episode. And Wayne Rogers (Capt. “Trapper” John McIntyre) often turns up on Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network to display his financial acumen.
– My wife and I are wondering if Gordon Ramsay’s “Hell’s Kitchen” and “Kitchen Nightmares” will be back on the air soon, or at all. — Ralph Schlegelmilch, Dexter, Mich.
Fox is planning a second season of “Kitchen Nightmares,” though no premiere date has been announced, but the fourth round of “Hell’s Kitchen” is right around the corner. Master chef Ramsay begins putting other aspiring cuisine stars through their paces April 1 on Fox.
