Why do shows air out of order?
Q: When I’m watching reruns of a series, they’ll show several episodes in a row. However, most of the time those episodes are not chronological. Why aren’t they shown in their original broadcast sequence?
A: When I am watching reruns on some cable channels in the daytime, I will often see episodes run in chronological order, especially when the storyline is a multiple-episode one. But that depends on the network and the program. In broadcast and cable, programmers do not always own all the episodes and tend to focus on episodes they know are popular with viewers, even if they are out of order, and sometimes put together themed sets of telecasts (for example, airing a sequence of “NCIS” Christmas episodes during the holidays). Streaming services are more likely to have all the episodes available in order and in their entirety, but even there, it’s not always the case.
Q: In the late ’80s, there was a show called “Wiseguy” starring Ken Wahl. Where can I watch reruns?
A: The possible homes for TV shows and movies are numerous. I work hard to find the homes of various productions and to mention them here. But there’s always a chance there are other locations. As for “Wiseguy,” which aired on CBS from 1987 to 1990, Wahl starred as an undercover agent investigating organized crime for three seasons, with Steven Bauer becoming the new “wiseguy” in a brief final season. There was also a reunion movie with Wahl. The original series favored serialized, multiple-episode stories and colorful villains, played by, among others, Ray Sharkey, Tim Curry and Stanley Tucci. I have found episodes on streaming channels Tubi, Pluto, IMDb TV, Roku Channel and Peacock. There have also been some DVD releases. But some episodes are not available, apparently because of rights issues.
Q: I remember a Western movie, maybe from the late ’70s, about a gunfight. I think one actor was Johnny Cash. The ending was shown twice depicting how life would go depending on who won the gunfight. If real, is it available?
A: It’s a real movie, called “A Gunfight,” from 1971. Kirk Douglas and Johnny Cash play gunfighters who stage a duel and sell tickets to it for a big payday. At the end, after the fight is over, a character imagines what might have happened if the fight’s outcome had gone the other way. You can find the movie on YouTube.
Q: Is there any chance Cecil B. DeMille’s “Samson and Delilah” (1949, with Hedy Lamarr and Victor Mature) will be shown on TV again?
A: I can’t say when it was last on TV. I can tell you that Amazon Prime Video has it, as does Vudu. Depending on how you access Kanopy, you may also find “Samson and Delilah” there. It has been released on DVD and Blu-ray. The Movies! channel has a reference to it, although I have not seen a listing of a scheduled telecast.
Q: Are Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Ashley Williams sisters in real life?
A: The stars of the recent “Sister Swap” TV movies are indeed sisters. Kimberly Williams-Paisley is the older of the two; she’s married to musician Brad Paisley.
Q: Is it possible to bring up on demand the “Fargo” TV series? I am interested in getting the first season and watching from there. Also, will there be a fifth season?
A: I have not seen it on demand but have found the first four seasons on Hulu and Prime Video. Series creator Noah Hawley has talked about a fifth season, but he’s a busy man, and I have not seen anything recently indicating where plans stand.
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.