When is ‘Magnum’s’ NBC debut?
Q: We’re still waiting for “Magnum P.I.” with Jay Hernandez to start on NBC. When might that be? A:
As fans know, the modern version of “Magnum P.I.” originally aired on CBS; when that network canceled it, NBC picked up the series. And after the NFL games are done and NBC’S Sunday schedule opens up, “Magnum” will arrive on the network Feb. 19.
Q: Many years ago, I remember a “Masterpiece Theatre” series called “The Jewel in the Crown.” All my younger friends say I’ve lost it, that they’ve never heard of that program. Have I really lost it? A:
No. “Jewel,” based on Paul Scott’s novels “The Raj Quartet,” consisted of 14 episodes that originally aired on “Masterpiece” in 1984-85. With a cast that included Dame Peggy Ashcroft, Art Malik and Charles Dance, the program won the Emmy Award for best limited series. It is available for streaming, including via Amazon Prime Video, and on DVD.
Q: I saw two movies that I love with Nancy Kwan: “The World of Suzie Wong” and “Flower Drum Song.” Did she make any other movies? Are they on DVD? A:
Kwan, now 83 years old, followed the hits “Suzie Wong” (1960) and “Flower Drum Song” (1961) with dozens of other films and television shows; the size of her roles and quality of the productions varied. Films that have been released on DVD include “Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.,” “Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story” and “The Wrecking Crew.”
Q: In 1 9 8 1 , “They Thirst,” a novel by Robert R. Mccammon, came out and is one of the best vampire novels I have ever read. Has there ever been a movie made of it? A:
Not that I can find. There were reportedly plans to make a TV movie of the novel in the early 1990s, but it appears that nothing has come of it.
Q: We have become addicted to “The Recruit” on Netflix but cannot find a season beyond the first one. Will it return soon with a second season? A: The first season only arrived in mid-december, and there has been no word so far on whether there will be a second season. Several analysts have looked at the positive reaction to “The Recruit” and expect Netflix will order more of it. And series creator Alexi Hawley told Collider.com, “I know things about where I would want to take it, and where I’d want to go with it. I mean obviously, you hope for success, but as you could see with that ending, I didn’t plan for failure.”
Q: What happened to the TV show “Bull”? It was taken off the air and never returned. A:
As I mentioned some time back, “Bull” had its series finale in May. Before that, there had been off-camera problems, and star Michael Weatherly announced his decision to pursue “new creative challenges.”
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. Letters may be edited.